Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tunable Optical Dispersion Compensator Consisting of Simple Optics With Arrayed Waveguide Grating and Flat Mirror

We propose a tunable optical dispersion compensator (TODC) that uses an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) and a flat mirror. The TODC employs simple and cost-effective optics, and its chromatic dispersion can be changed simply by translating the AWG. We obtained a 3-dB bandwidth of 39 GHz when the dispersion was tuned within 800 ps/nm, and a maximum dispersion of plusmn3000 ps/nm.
Integration of data sources on traffic accidents

General interest geographic information is routinely produced by several public agencies. In cities, the use of smartphones and other mobile devices generates an increasing amount of unofficial georeferenced data. Although official data have usually higher reliability, it takes longer to be updated and made available, while the opposite occurs with unofficial data. This work explores the potential for integrating data from both official and unofficial sources. We present a case study with two traffic accident datasets in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. We compare official traffic accident data to unofficial data collected from the mobile app Waze. We found that 7% of accidents reported by official sources have also been reported by users of Waze. Accidents reported only by official sources are concentrated in the central region, while those recorded by Waze are mostly on some major roads all over the city.
Detection of respiratory syncytial virus by reverse transcription-PCR and hybridization with a DNA enzyme immunoassay

Nasal aspirates from 238 infants hospitalized with acute respiratory infections during the winter of 1994 and 1995 were tested for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and the viral isolation technique (VIT) and by two PCR and hybridization methods: reverse transcription PCR 1 (RT-PCR1), which amplifies the RNAs of all RSV strains, and RT-PCR-2, which allows subgroup classification of RSV. RT-PCR-1 and RT-PCR-2 detected viral sequences in 56.7% (135 of 238) and 48.3% (115 of 238) of the samples, respectively, while only 80 (33.6%) samples were found to be positive by IFA and VIT. Of the PCR-positive specimens, 57 were missed by these routine techniques in RT-PCR-1 and 45 were missed in RT-PCR-2. Although the RSV-PCR-1 and RSV-PCR-2 techniques amplified two different sequences of the RSV genome, they gave similar results for 218 (91.6%) nasal aspirates. Compared with conventional methods, the sensitivity, specificity, and agreement were 97.5, 63.9, and 75.2%, respectively, for RT-PCR-1 and 89.7, 71.9, and 77.7%, respectively, for RT-PCR-2, and for these two RT-PCR assays, the positive predictive value (PPV) and the index of agreement (kappa) were comparable and moderate, respectively: PPV was 57.8% and kappa was 0.52 in RT-PCR-1, and PPV was 60.9% and kappa was 0.54 in RT-PCR-2. However, there was a perfect correlation between the two RT-PCRs, with a PPV of 100% and an excellent index of agreement (kappa = 0.88). Therefore, most RT-PCR results were really true positive, and VIT and IFA, which missed some of them, appeared to be less sensitive.
Across scales, pronghorn select sagebrush, avoid fences, and show negative responses to anthropogenic features in winter

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are endemic to western North America where they occupy expanses of grassland and sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats. The Red Desert region in south‐central Wyoming, USA, has historically served as a stronghold for pronghorn populations, but many herds there have experienced declining population trends over the last two decades, concurrent with oil and natural gas development. These demographic changes and the potential for such energy development, its associated infrastructure, and other anthropogenic features including roads and fences to influence pronghorn habitat selection were the impetuses for our study. We sought to evaluate the potential effect of human‐induced disturbance on multi‐scale seasonal resource selection of 142 adult female pronghorn from 2013 to 2016 using 442 unique animal‐season‐year datasets. We utilized a traditional resource selection function to evaluate seasonal home‐range selection and a step‐selection function to assess fine‐scale, patch‐level seasonal selection. We also compared resource selection during daytime and nighttime hours with step‐selection analyses. At the seasonal home‐range scale, pronghorn selected for areas with more sagebrush during both seasons and areas farther from fences during summer. This trend was also apparent at the patch‐scale level, where pronghorn selected sagebrush‐dominant habitats and avoided crossing fences in all seasons during both day and night. Additionally at this scale, pronghorn selected areas farther from fences during daytime in summer. At the broader, home‐range scale, pronghorn selected areas with greater road density during summer, but with lower road densities and farther from wells during winter. Avoidance of anthropogenic features during winter was also observed at the finer, patch‐scale, with pronghorn selecting for increased density of roads and oil and natural gas wells during daytime in summer, but selecting areas farther from these features during daytime in winter. We recommend minimizing fencing and other forms of anthropogenic disturbance in high‐quality seasonal pronghorn habitats with high proportions of sagebrush, particularly during winter when risk‐avoidance responses may be amplified.
Improved RBF Neural Network Ensemble Prediction Model for PMI

Final prediction accuracy is greatly influenced by the predictive error of individual RBF network output in the process of RBF Neural Network Ensemble Prediction. The predictive value of individual RBF network model with the help of SAS statistical analysis software is analyzed, and the prediction values that are unreliable are removed out, Therefore the final prediction accuracy is increased. The PMI is predicted based on the improved model and former model, respectively. The results show that the relative prediction error is reduced by about 0.2%.
Erreichbarkeitsbasierte Raster Raumanalyse - Anwendungen in der Landesplanung

Erreichbarkeitsverhaltnisse stellen eine wichtige Voraussetzung fur die wirtschaftliche, soziale und kulturelle Entwicklung von Regionen dar. Sie sind fur wesentliche regionale Prozesse wie die wirtschaftliche Investitionstatigkeit, Abund Zuwanderung entscheidend mitverantwortlich. Gute Erreichbarkeit ist eine bedeutende Voraussetzung sowohl fur die Teilhabe einer Region an der wirtschaftlichen Prosperitat der Zentren als auch fur die Wahrnehmung potentieller Entwicklungsmoglichkeiten der Regionen. Andererseits sichert eine gute Erreichbarkeit auch die wirtschaftliche Tragfahigkeit von Betriebsstandorten. Mit der Software ERRAM (Erreichbarkeitsbasiertes Raster Raumanalysemodell) konnen bestehende oder potenzielle Standorte offentlicher oder privater Einrichtungen in Niederosterreich und Wien eingelesen und im 1.500Meter-Raster verortet werden. Ein Standort wird durch eine Rasterzelle reprasentiert. Als eine Analysemoglichkeit kann die Fahrzeit aus allen Teilen Niederosterreichs und Wiens zu einem einzelnen Standort berechnet und in einer Karte als Fahrzeitisochrone dargestellt werden. Die Anwendung stellt innerhalb der Landesentwicklungsplanung ein wesentliches Planungsinstrument dar. Neben der Raumbeobachtung ist es mit ERRAM moglich, anlassbezogen Standortentscheidungen auf einer wissenschaftlichen Grundlage zu untersuchen. Somit konnen Probleme, bei denen der Faktor Erreichbarkeit eine tragende Rolle spielt, bearbeitet und fur spezielle Fragestellungen zielgerichtet Losungen gesucht werden. Der Artikel soll illustrieren zu welchen Fragestellungen Erreichbarkeitsanalysen in der uberortlichen Planungspraxis angewandt werden.
Genetic Ablation of Calcium-independent Phospholipase A2γ Leads to Alterations in Hippocampal Cardiolipin Content and Molecular Species Distribution, Mitochondrial Degeneration, Autophagy, and Cognitive Dysfunction*

Genetic ablation of calcium-independent phospholipase A2γ (iPLA2γ) results in profound alterations in hippocampal phospholipid metabolism and mitochondrial phospholipid homeostasis resulting in enlarged and degenerating mitochondria leading to autophagy and cognitive dysfunction. Shotgun lipidomics demonstrated multiple alterations in hippocampal lipid metabolism in iPLA2γ−/− mice including: 1) a markedly elevated hippocampal cardiolipin content with an altered molecular species composition characterized by a shift to shorter chain length molecular species; 2) alterations in both choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids, including a decreased plasmenylethanolamine content; 3) increased oxidized phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species; and 4) an increased content of ceramides. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated the presence of enlarged heteromorphic lamellar structures undergoing degeneration accompanied by the presence of ubiquitin positive spheroid inclusion bodies. Purification of these enlarged heteromorphic lamellar structures by buoyant density centrifugation and subsequent SDS-PAGE and proteomics identified them as degenerating mitochondria. Collectively, these results identify the obligatory role of iPLA2γ in neuronal mitochondrial lipid metabolism and membrane structure demonstrating that iPLA2γ loss of function results in a mitochondrial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degenerating mitochondria, autophagy, and cognitive dysfunction.
A Broadband Low-Profile Multimode Microstrip Antenna

A low-profile microstrip antenna that has a broad impedance bandwidth by exciting three resonant modes is proposed. The proposed antenna mainly consists of a grid-slotted radiation patch, a metal ground, four vertical metal strips, and a vertical grounded balun feeding structure. The TM10, TM12, and antiphase TM22 modes are excited simultaneously. The vertical grounded balun feeding structure is used to avoid etching slot on the metal ground to get a high front-to-back ratio. The four vertical metal strips are introduced to enhance the impedance matching and reduce the sidelobe of the radiation pattern of the antiphase TM22 mode. With a profile of 0.07 λ0 (λ0 is the center operating wavelength in the free space), the measured −15 dB impedance operating band is 3.31–4.31 GHz, and the relative bandwidth is 26.2%. The measured front-to-back ratio is larger than 16 dB, and the sidelobe level is lower than −10 dB. The proposed antenna has a stable broadside radiation performance in the operating band.
Blind separation of mixed sources with curvelet de-noising

This paper investigates the technique of Fast Discrete Curvelet Transform (FDCT) de-noising with the Independent Component Analysis (ICA) for the separation of signals from noisy mixtures. Two approaches are presented for this purpose. In the first approach, the signals are separated using the fast ICA algorithm, and then curvelet thresholding is used to de-noise the results. The second approach uses curvelet thresholding to denoise the mixtures, and then the fast ICA algorithm to separate the signals from these mixtures. The simulation results show a better performance for image de-noising followed by separation. The Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) are used as quality evaluation metrics with signals and images, respectively.
Driving Cycle for Motorcycle Using Micro-Simulation Model *

Driving cycle of vehicle has been used in emission estimation and fuel consumption study. Existing method of data collection using car chasing technique is expensive. The technique using micro simulation approach is cheaper and fast to derive the driving cycle. In this paper a traffic simulation model Driving Cycle Micro-Simulation Model for Motorcycle has been developed. The issue of lateral and longitudinal movement aspect in motorcycle driving has been examined in the model. Parameters to cover such movement have been built in the model and applied on a stretch in Edinburgh city of Scotland. Results from model have been both calibrated and validated. The results show that Driving Cycle Micro-Simulation Model for Motorcycle gives better representation of driving cycle and it can be used to understand the effect of driving modes on emission for better understanding of vehicular emission control.
Counselor Competence and the Ethical Practice of Counseling in Korea

This article reviews the education and practice of ethics in the counseling profession in Korea. It was found that ethics is often a part of other subjects rather than a separate subject in the training programs of counseling in Korea. When training counselors on ethical issues, the ethical guidelines used are adapted from either the American Psychological Association or the American Counseling Association. Recently, there are improvements of ethics training in the counseling profession. These include the establishment of the Code of Ethics for counselors by the Korean Counseling Association, and the inclusion of ethics class in a graduate program. This article also explores the difficulties in dealing with situations of ethical violations as related to the Korean culture, and suggests strategies to improve counselors’ ability to handle such situations. Finally, the issue of counselor competence is explained in detail, as it is directly related to the protection of clients from potential harm. How to measure and maintain counselor competence is examined. The current system of counselor certification in Korea is described. Ways to improve the education and practice of ethics in the counseling profession in Korea are suggested.
Low levels of linoleic acid in plasma total lipids of HIV-1 seropositive children.

OBJECTIVE To assess the plasma fatty acid status of a group of well-nourished children with the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) and how this relates to the blood total CD4+ lymphocyte count. SUBJECTS Fourteen HIV-1 seropositive children at various stages of disease and with adequate growth indices were assessed and compared to a control group of 30 healthy children. RESULTS The concentrations (mg/dL) of plasma total fatty acids were not different between the two groups. HIV-1 seropositive children presented lower levels of 18-C essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA: linoleic acid, LA, and alpha-linolenic acid) and higher levels of their 20-C long-chain derivatives (di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, AA, and eicosapentaenoic acid) and docosahexaenoic acid in their plasma total lipids. The lowest plasma LA levels were observed in the subgroup of patients with more advanced stages of disease. In bivariate analyses the plasma LA levels related positively (Spearman r = 0.50, p = 0.06), while the LA/AA ratio related negatively (Spearman r = -0.51, p = 0.06), to the total CD4+ count. CONCLUSIONS Childhood HIV-1 infection is associated with changes in plasma fatty acid profile suggestive of an increased PUFA turnover. Decreased levels of LA (together with higher plasma AA levels) appear to be associated with more advanced clinical and biochemical stages of disease.
RpoS-dependent Promoters Require Guanosine Tetraphosphate for Induction Even in the Presence of High Levels of ςs *

RpoS-dependent promoters require ppGpp for induction in the stationary phase. This has been thought to be a simple consequence of ςS itself requiring ppGpp for its production. By using four model promoters requiring ςS for normal induction in the stationary phase, we demonstrate that ςS-dependent promoters require ppGpp even in the presence of high levels of ςSproduced ectopically. Similar to ς70-dependent promoters under positive control by ppGpp, the requirement of ςS-dependent promoters for this alarmone is bypassed by specific “stringent” mutations in the β-subunit of RNA polymerase. The results suggest that stationary phase induction of both ςS- and ς70-dependent genes requires the stringent control modulon and that stringency confers dual control on the RpoS regulon by affecting promoter activity and the levels of the required ς-factor.
MODELING THE NUCLEAR INFRARED SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION OF TYPE II ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

We present results from model fitting to the spectral energy distribution (SED) of a homogeneous sample of Seyfert II galaxies drawn from the 12 μm Galaxy Sample. Imaging and nuclear flux measurements are presented in an accompanying paper. Here we add Spitzer/IRS observations to further constrain the SEDs after careful subtraction of a starburst component. We use the library of CLUMPY torus models from Nenkova et al. and also test the two-phase models recently produced by Stalevski et al. We find that photometric and spectroscopic observations in the mid-IR (λ ≳ 5 μm) are crucial to properly constrain the best-fit torus models. About half of our sources show clear near-IR excess of their SEDs above the best-fit models. This problem can be less severe when using the Stalevski et al. models. The nature of this emission is not clear since best-fitted blackbody temperatures are very high (∼1700–2500 K) and the Type II classification of our sources would correspond to a small probability to peer directly into the hottest regions of the torus. Crucially, the derived torus parameters are quite robust when using CLUMPY models, independently of whether or not the sources require an additional blackbody component. Our findings suggest that tori are characterized by , σ ≳ 40, τ ≲ 25, ∠i ≳ 40°, Y ≲ 50, and Alosv ∼ 100–300, where is the number of clouds in the equatorial plane of the torus, σ is the characteristic opening angle of the cloud distribution, τ is the opacity of a single cloud, ∠i is the line-of-sight orientation of the torus, Y is the ratio of the inner to the outer radii, and Alosv is the total opacity along the line of sight. From these, we can determine typical torus sizes and masses of 0.1–5.0 pc and 104–106 M☉, respectively. We find tentative evidence that those nuclei with detected hidden broad-line regions are characterized by lower levels of extinction than those without one. Finally, we find no correlation between the torus properties and the presence of circumnuclear or more global star formation.
Construction of algorithms for discrete-time quasi-birth-and-death processes through physical interpretation

Abstract We apply physical interpretations to construct algorithms for the key matrix G of discrete-time quasi-birth-and-death (dtQBD) processes which records the probability of the process reaching level for the first time given the process starts in level n. The construction of G and its z-transform was motivated by the work on stochastic fluid models (SFMs). In this methodology, we first write a summation expression for by considering a physical interpretation similar to that of an algorithm. Next, we construct the corresponding iterative scheme, and prove its convergence to We construct in detail two algorithms for one of which we show is Newton’s Method. We then generate a comprehensive set of algorithms, an additional one of which is quadratically convergent and has not been seen in the literature before. Using symmetry arguments, we generate analogous algorithms for and again find that two are quadratically convergent. One of these can be seen to be equivalent to applying Newton’s Method to evaluate and the other is again novel.
Isozyme loci in brown trout (Salmo trutta L.): detection and interpretation from population data.

Previously reported results on natural populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) urged further studies using additional electrophoretically detectable loci. Samples of brain, eye, heart, kidney, liver, and muscle from approximately 50 specimens from each of two populations and a large number of muscle samples from several additional populations were examined. Electrophoretic and staining methods for the 37 enzymes studied are given in detail. Of a total of 69 loci detected, 54 loci were considered usable in population genetics screenings. The expression of the loci coding for these enzymes is described and interpreted. The results presented will serve as a basis for a more detailed examination of genetic variation in brown trout populations.
The analysis of parasite transmission by bloodsucking insects.

This review is written with the primary aim of encouraging a comparative approach to quantitative medical entomology. Its main argument is that measurements made on bloodsucking insect populations have relatively little absolute value. They are principally of use when compared with other en­ tomological or parasitological measurements. For example, a calculation often performed in medical entomology estimates the threshold biting rate of vectors required for an infection to persist in a community. In fact, measuring and combining all the entomological components of transmission will prob­ ably not produce a good estimate of this quantity. Macdonald (57) and Garrett-Jones (35, 36) contributed to the optimism of the age of malaria eradication by asserting that thresholds could be calculated. Views on malaria control have changed and, to a degree, so has the emphasis of quantitative studies. But the theory continues to be inappropriately applied, in more ways than are generally appreciated. To explain the nature of the misapplication, how it persists, and why a further shift of emphasis is needed, I begin with the concepts on which these ideas were founded-the basic case reproduction number (Ro) and the vec-
[Development of the Spanish version of the KIDSCREEN, a health-related quality of life instrument for children and adolescents].

AIMS To describe the cross-cultural development and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the KIDSCREEN questionnaire, a health related quality of life instrument (HRQL) for use in children and adolescents aged 8-18 years old. The questionnaire was cross-culturally developed in 13 European countries. METHODS A literature review and Delphi study were performed, allowing consensus to be reached on the instrument's contents and structure. More specific items and dimensions were generated in focus groups. Forward and back translation and cultural adaptation were carried out, together with a pre-test (cognitive debriefing) to select items that were acceptable in all the countries involved. A pilot study was performed to obtain the definitive version of the KIDSCREEN through Rasch analysis and preliminary information on the questionnaire's psychometric properties. RESULTS The focus groups generated 1642 possible items, which were reduced during the stages of translation-adaptation and pilot study. The definitive version of the questionnaire contains 52 items and 10 dimensions. In the Spanish version, there was less than 5% nonequivalence (acceptability) in any of the dimensions, floor and ceiling effects were acceptable, and all dimensions had Cronbach's alpha values of > 0.70 (internal consistency). CONCLUSIONS The KIDSCREEN is the first HRQL instrument for children and adolescents to be developed simultaneously in several countries. The preliminary psychometric properties of the Spanish version were acceptable.