Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Method for the Rapid Generation of Nonsequential Light-Response Curves of Chlorophyll Fluorescence1

Light-response curves of chlorophyll fluorescence are rapidly generated from independent, nonsequential measurements through the combined use of spatially separated beams of actinic light and fluorescence imaging. Light-response curves (LCs) of chlorophyll fluorescence are widely used in plant physiology. Most commonly, LCs are generated sequentially, exposing the same sample to a sequence of distinct actinic light intensities. These measurements are not independent, as the response to each new light level is affected by the light exposure history experienced during previous steps of the LC, an issue particularly relevant in the case of the popular rapid light curves. In this work, we demonstrate the proof of concept of a new method for the rapid generation of LCs from nonsequential, temporally independent fluorescence measurements. The method is based on the combined use of sample illumination with digitally controlled, spatially separated beams of actinic light and a fluorescence imaging system. It allows the generation of a whole LC, including a large number of actinic light steps and adequate replication, within the time required for a single measurement (and therefore named “single-pulse light curve”). This method is illustrated for the generation of LCs of photosystem II quantum yield, relative electron transport rate, and nonphotochemical quenching on intact plant leaves exhibiting distinct light responses. This approach makes it also possible to easily characterize the integrated dynamic light response of a sample by combining the measurement of LCs (actinic light intensity is varied while measuring time is fixed) with induction/relaxation kinetics (actinic light intensity is fixed and the response is followed over time), describing both how the response to light varies with time and how the response kinetics varies with light intensity.
Can drawing be considered a projective measure for children's distress in paediatric dentistry?

BACKGROUND Several tools have been developed for the measurement of emotional status of the child in paediatric dental clinics including nonverbal self-report techniques. Subjective methods like drawing and Child Drawing: Hospital (CD:H) score have recently been applied in hospitalized children. Studies, however, have not attempted to analyse children's drawings as an aid to investigate the subjective feelings of children in paediatric dental settings. AIM To assess drawing as a measure for child's distress in paediatric dental settings. DESIGN Fifty-four children, aged 4-11 years, participated in this study. After finishing the first therapeutic session, the child was instructed to draw a picture of a person in a dental clinic. The pictures were scored using CD:H score sheet and the findings were compared with SEM and Frankl scores. RESULTS CD:H was correlated with both Frankl (correlation coefficient = -0.550) and SEM (correlation coefficient = +0.483) scales (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Drawing is a useful measure of children's emotional status in dental settings in a way that is easier, familiar and more enjoyable for the child patient.
Free Medial Plantar Perforator Flaps for the Resurfacing of Finger and Foot Defects

In this article, three cases in which free medial plantar perforator flaps were successfully transferred for coverage of soft‐tissue defects in the fingers and foot are described. This perforator flap has no fascial component and is nourished only by perforators of the medial plantar vessel and a cutaneous vein or with a small segment of the medial plantar vessel. The advantages of this flap are minimal donor‐site morbidity, minimal damage to both the posterior tibial and medial plantar systems, no need for deep dissection, the ability to thin the flap by primary removal of excess fatty tissue, the use of a large cutaneous vein as a venous drainage system, a good color and texture match for finger pulp repair, short time for flap elevation, possible application as a flow‐through flap, and a concealed donor scar. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 107: 1753, 2001.)
TSV fault-tolerant mechanisms with application to 3D clock networks

Three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC) has become an emerging technology in view of its advantages in packing density and flexibility in heterogeneous integration. Through Silicon Via (TSV) formation is one of the key enabling technologies for 3D ICs. While TSVs provide vertical connections between different dies for higher performance, they suffer from random open defects and thermo-mechanical stress. The potential yield loss can significantly increase the mass production cost, which in turn affects the profitability of 3D ICs. To address the TSV reliability issues, double TSV, shared spare TSV and TSV fault tolerant unit (TFU) techniques have been developed. In this paper, we briefly review them and use 3D clock networks as a vehicle to compare their effectiveness and overhead.
Antiviral cytotoxic T-cell memory by vaccination with recombinant Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular bacterium that is able to escape phagocytic vesicles and replicate in the cytoplasm of infected cells. As with viral vectors, this intracytoplasmic life cycle provides a means for introducing foreign proteins into the major histocompatibility complex class I pathway of antigen presentation. Using recombinant L. monocytogenes (rLM) strains expressing the full-length nucleoprotein (NP) or a single cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitope from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), we analyzed antiviral CTL responses induced by rLM vaccination. After vaccination, rLM was cleared from the host within 7 days while inducing an LCMV-specific ex vivo CD8+ effector CTL response. Virus-specific CTL memory was maintained for 6 months postvaccination, as demonstrated by vigorous secondary CTL responses after in vitro stimulation. A single immunization with rLM that expressed either the full-length NP gene or the CTL epitope alone resulted in LCMV NP-specific CTL precursor frequencies of approximately 1/10(4) CD8+ T cells. A second rLM vaccination resulted in enhanced virus-specific CTL activity and in vitro proliferation. rLM-vaccinated mice were protected against chronic viral infection by an accelerated virus-specific memory CTL response. These mice cleared infectious virus as well as viral antigen, suggesting that sterilizing immunity was achieved. In contrast to mice that received wild-type LM, rLM-vaccinated mice were protected from virally induced immunosuppression and splenic atrophy associated with chronic LCMV infection. The ability to elicit long-term cell-mediated immunity is fundamental in designing vaccines against intracellular pathogens, and these results demonstrate the efficacy of recombinant LM vaccination for inducing protective antiviral CTL memory.
Salivary and Urinary Excretion and Plasma–Saliva Concentration Ratios of Isoniazid in the Presence of Co-administered Ciprofloxacin

Salivary and urinary excretion and plasma–saliva concentration ratios of isoniazid (INH) in the absence and presence of ciprofloxacin (CP) were investigated in healthy female volunteers. Results obtained indicated an absorption form of interaction between INH and CP. This led to delay in gastric emptying and onset of absorption of INH in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a corresponding delay in the onset of salivary and urinary excretion of the drugs. There was a 1-hour reduction in the time to attain peak saliva concentration of INH (tmax), an insignificant difference in peak saliva concentration (Cmax), and a significant (P = 0.05) increase in AUC(0–24h) of INH in the presence of CP. Cumulative amount of INH excreted in the urine increased approximately 38% in the presence of CP. The calculated plasma–saliva concentration ratios of INH were reduced in the presence of CP and were slightly lower than the experimental values. This indicates increased amount of the drug secreted into saliva in the presence of CP and possible buccal partitioning of the drug. Overall, results of the current study indicate that CP delayed the onset but not the extent of INH absorption. Therefore, concurrent administration of the two drugs was considered relatively safe, and the absorption interaction that may have occurred may not be of reasonable clinical consequence.
Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and M13 PCR fingerprinting revealed heterogeneity amongst Cryptococcus species obtained from Italian veterinary isolates.

Cryptococcosis represents a fungal disease acquired from the environment with animals serving as host sentinels for human exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic characteristics of Cryptococcus isolates from veterinary sources (cats, dogs and birds) to understand their epidemiology and the genetic variability of the casual isolates. Mating-type PCR in connection with MLST analysis using the ISHAM consensus MLST scheme for the C. neoformans/C. gattii species complex was used to genotype 17 C. neoformans isolates. In the absence of an MLST typing scheme Cryptococcus adeliensis, C. albidus, C. aureus, C. carnescens, C. laurentii, C. magnus and C. uniguttulatus strains were typed using M13 PCR fingerprinting. All C. neoformans isolates were MATα mating type, but hybrids possessed αADa and aADα mating and serotypes. Two C. neoformans molecular types VNI, VNIV and VNIII and VNII/VNIV hybrids were identified. Amongst the 66 non-C. neoformans strains investigated 55 M13 PCR fingerprinting types were identified. The wide variety of MLST types of C. neoformans and the occurrence of αADa and aADα hybrids in our study supports the notion of genetic recombination in the area studied. The heterogeneity of the non-C. neoformans isolates remains open to further investigations and should be taken into consideration when identifying emergent pathogens.
Issues in Developing and Evaluating a Culturally Tailored Internet Cancer Support Group

The purpose of this article is to explore practical issues in developing and implementing a culturally tailored Internet Cancer Support Group for a group of ethnic minority patients with cancer—Asian Americans. Throughout the research process of the original study testing the Internet cancer support group, the research team made written records of practical issues and plausible rationales for the issues. Weekly group discussion among research team members was conducted, and the discussion records were evaluated and analyzed using a content analysis (with individual words as the unit of analysis). The codes from the analysis process were categorized into idea themes, through which the issues were extracted. The issues included those in (1) difficulties in using multiple languages, (2) collaboration with the information technology department and technical challenges, (3) difficulties in recruitment, (4) difficulties in retention, (5) optimal timing, and (6) characteristics of the users. Based on the findings, we suggest that researchers plan a workable translation process, check technical needs in advance, use multiple strategies to recruit and retain research participants, plan the right time for data collection, and consider characteristics of the users in the study design.
Doxazosin Inhibits Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1–Directed Migration of Human Monocytes

Monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1)–directed transendothelial migration of monocytes plays a key role in the early development of atherosclerosis. Migration of monocytes requires degradation of extracellular matrices, a process that involves matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP). Recent studies suggest that the &agr;1-adrenergic receptor antagonist doxazosin (Dox) might have antiatherosclerotic effects, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of Dox on MCP-1–directed monocyte migration, MMP-9 activity, and TIMP-1 expression. MCP-1 (50 ng/ml) stimulated migration of human peripheral blood monocytes (HPBM) 2.7 ± 0.42-fold and THP-1 human monocytes 5.9 ± 0.83-fold compared with unstimulated control. Dox inhibited MCP-1–induced migration in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximal reduction at 10 &mgr;M of 69.5 ± 5.9% in HPBM and 72.2 ± 3.2% in THP-1 cells. Dox blocked migration even after pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine, an irreversible &agr;1-adrenergic receptor antagonist (HPBM: phenoxybenzamine 1 &mgr;M + Dox 10 &mgr;M, 71.9 ± 2.2% inhibition; THP-1 cells: phenoxybenzamine 1 &mgr;M + Dox 10 &mgr;M: 78 ± 7.7% inhibition), suggesting that the antimigratory activity of Dox is mediated through a novel mechanism unrelated to its blocking of the &agr;1-adrenergic receptor. Dox (10 &mgr;M) inhibited MMP-9 activity by 67.6 ± 10.5%, whereas MMP-9 protein levels were not affected. Also, Dox increased PMA–induced-tissue inhibitor of MMPs-1 (TIMP-1) expression by 134.4 ± 6.6%. Dox 10 &mgr;M. The present study demonstrates a potential novel antiatherosclerotic action of Dox by blocking MCP-1–directed monocyte migration, which might be partly mediated by inhibition of MMP-9 activity.
Wireless agricultural sensor network

Enhanced agricultural methods can help to improve low productivity agriculture sectors of developing countries. In Sri Lanka, where the country is experiencing a rapid pace of development, the agriculture sector is beginning to appreciate the benefits that can be gained by merging agriculture with engineering. The use of electronic, communication, and information technologies has proven to result in productivity improvements in agriculture, but most developing countries are yet to adopt new technology due to financial and social restraints. Maintaining optimum levels in the microclimate of a crop is a key factor that affects the quality and quantity of its yield. By controlling the said microclimate, crops can be managed more effectively. The monitoring system that controls the surrounding environment must have the flexibility of addressing the diverse requirements of different cultivations, must be simple and reliable enough to operate, and most importantly must be affordable for the average farmer. In this paper, we present a method to develop a cost effective wireless sensor network that enables monitoring of an agricultural space from a single location, while enabling it to adapt to various types of cultivations. It also investigates the feasibility of establishing and promoting affordable agriculture electronics in Sri Lanka.
On-chip infrared spectroscopic sensing: Redefining the benefits of scaling

Summary form only given. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is widely recognized as a gold standard technique for chemical analysis. Traditional IR spectroscopy relies on fragile bench-top instruments located in dedicated laboratory settings, and is thus not suitable for emerging field-deployed applications such as in-line industrial process control, environmental monitoring, and point-of-care diagnosis. Recent strides in photonic integration technologies provide a promising route towards enabling miniaturized, rugged platforms for IR spectroscopic analysis. It is therefore attempting to simply replace the bulky discrete optical elements used in conventional IR spectroscopy with their on-chip counterparts. This size down-scaling approach, however, cripples the system performance as both the sensitivity of spectroscopic sensors and spectral resolution of spectrometers scale with optical path length. In light of this challenge, we will discuss two novel photonic device designs uniquely capable of reaping performance benefits from microphotonic scaling. We leverage strong optical and thermal confinement in judiciously designed micro-cavities to circumvent the thermal diffusion and optical diffraction limits in conventional photothermal sensors and achieve a record 104 photothermal sensitivity enhancement [1-3]. In the second example, an on-chip spectrometer design with the Fellgett's advantage is analyzed. The design enables sub-nm spectral resolution on a millimeter-sized, fully packaged chip without moving parts.
Humanized mouse models of Cooley's anemia: correct fetal‐to‐adult hemoglobin switching, disease onset, and disease pathology

β thalassemia major or Cooley's Anemia (CA) has been difficult to model in mice due to their lack of a fetal hemoglobin gene equivalent. This summary describes novel preclinical humanized mouse models of CA that survive on human fetal hemoglobin at birth and are blood‐transfusion dependent for life upon completion of their human fetal‐to‐adult hemoglobin switch after birth. These CA models are the first to recapitulate the temporal onset of the disease in human patients. These novel humanized CA disease models are useful for the study of the regulation of globin gene expression, synthesis, and switching; examining the onset of disease pathology; development of transfusion and iron chelation therapies; induction of fetal hemoglobin synthesis; and the testing of novel genetic and cell‐based therapies for the correction of thalassemia.
Toward an Entrepreneurship Typology of Bed and Breakfasts

A bed and breakfast (B&B) is a “nontraditional” form of accommodation that provides guests with personal service and high-level host–guest interaction, usually in rural settings where the establishment is owner-operated. This exploratory research was undertaken to categorize B&B properties as forms of rural entrepreneurship, using data collected in Taiwan. Through narrative analysis/synthesis of in-depth interviews with 25 B&B participants, an entrepreneurship typology of B&B properties was identified based on the local identities of the owner and founding motive in terms of cultural traits. Four categories (Nostalgic, Diversifying, Assimilative, and Innovative) are derived. The theoretical and practical contributions of the study are also discussed.
N-(4-Methyl-2-nitrophenyl)succinamic acid

In the title compound, C11H12N2O5, the conformation of the N—H bond in the amide segment is syn to the ortho-nitro group in the benzene ring. The amide C=O and the carboxyl C=O of the acid segment are syn to each other and both are anti to the H atoms on the adjacent –CH2 groups. Furthermore, the C=O and O—H bonds of the acid group are in syn positions with respect to each other. The dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the amide group is 36.1 (1)°. The amide H atom shows bifurcated intramolecular hydrogen bonding with an O atom of the ortho-nitro group and an intermolecular hydrogen bond with the carbonyl O atom of another molecule. In the crystal, the N—H⋯O(C) hydrogen bonds generate a chain running along the [100] direction. Inversion dimers are formed via a pair of O—H⋯O(C) interactions, that form an eight-membered hydrogen-bonded ring involving the carboxyl group.
Perspectives and potential applications of nanomedicine in breast and prostate cancer

Nanomedicine is a branch of nanotechnology that includes the development of nanostructures and nanoanalytical systems for various medical applications. Among these applications, utilization of nanotechnology in oncology has captivated the attention of many research endeavors in recent years. The rapid development of nano‐oncology raises new possibilities in cancer diagnosis and treatment. It also holds great promise for realization of point‐of‐care, theranostics, and personalized medicine. In this article, we review advances in nano‐oncology, with an emphasis on breast and prostate cancer because these organs are amenable to the translation of nanomedicine from small animals to humans. As new drugs are developed, the incorporation of nanotechnology approaches into medicinal research becomes critical. Diverse aspects of nano‐oncology are discussed, including nanocarriers, targeting strategies, nanodevices, as well as nanomedical diagnostics, therapeutics, and safety. The review concludes by identifying some limitations and future perspectives of nano‐oncology in breast and prostate cancer management. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev
Current diagnostic approaches in tumor-induced bone disease.

PURPOSE To assess the role of the current imaging methods in the diagnosis, staging and post-therapeutic monitoring of cancer-induced bone disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS 183 cancer patients underwent baseline whole body bone scintigraphy (WBBS) with 555- 740 MBq (99m)Tc-MDP. Computed tomography (CT) was carried out in 43 patients, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 26 patients with abnormal uptake on the bone scan in order to differentiate metastatic or degenerative skeletal lesions with similar scintigraphic appearance. Sixty-four patients with established tumor-induced bone disease were followed-up after their anticancer treatment. RESULTS WBBS was positive for metastatic disease in 54 patients and normal skeletal scan was obtained in 28 patients. Comparative analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of WBBS in relation to CT for diagnosis of metastatic spots in the examined group of 43 patients showed: for WBBS 93.3% (28/30) and 92.8% (13/14), respectively; for CT 90% (27/30) and 100% (13/13), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of WBBS in relation to MRI in the examined group of 26 patients showed: for WBBS 86.6% (13/15) and 77.7% (7/9), respectively/ for MRI 100% (15/15) and 88% (8/9), respectively. Scintigraphic follow-up examinations of 64 patients after appropriate therapy showed partial response (PR) in 28 cases, stable disease (SD) in 12, progressive disease (PD) in 10, pathological fractures in 11 and "flare phenomenon) in 3 cases. CONCLUSION In most cases WBBS is suffi cient to find and locate osseous metastases. Because of the lower specificity of WBBS, patients with spots of increased mineral metabolism of unclear character and persisting pain in the spine necessitate target CT or MRI to evaluate the characteristics of the detected scintigraphic changes.
Sports Coverage on BBC ALBA: Content, Value, and Position in the Scottish Broadcasting Landscape

Through a mixed-method approach, we examine the sports programming offered by BBC ALBA between 2008 and 2016 and identify the value that the channel creates in Scotland through its diverse sports portfolio. In an increasingly cluttered and complex scenario where pay-TV giants Sky and BT hold a plethora of top-tier rights and BBC Scotland and STV cannot fit more sport into their schedules, BBC ALBA serves Gaelic-speaking and national audiences with a regular diet of quality sports programming. Beyond being instrumental to filling schedules, sports content has been a gateway for Gaelic, a key driver of BBC ALBA’s investment in the creative sector and a contributor to the development of grassroots sport in Scotland. However, the financial situation under which the channel operates makes it very difficult to sustain and improve its current position. This case study demonstrates that sport broadcasting offers genuine opportunities to maintain linguistic and cultural diversity in small nations, even in a context characterized by escalating competition, dwindling resources, and the proliferation of multiple viewing portals.