Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nature-inspired design of soft, hard and hybrid metasurfaces

Recently, there has been a growing interest in metasurfaces such as high impedance (HIZ) surfaces [1]. These structures have the advantage of exhibiting tailored reflection phase characteristics and a frequency band gap through which the surface wave cannot propagate. They have been employed to realize compact low profile antennas, TEM waveguides, microwave filters, and antenna substrates to suppress surface waves [2]. As a subcategory of metasurfaces, soft and hard surfaces can stop the propagation of waves or support a transverse electromagnetic wave along the surface, which are particularly useful in designing waveguides as well as soft and hard horn antennas [3–4]. Another example would be a hybrid surface that satisfies the balanced hybrid condition. They can be used to create hybrid-mode horns and provide low cross-polarized radiation [5]. In this paper, we utilize a robust nature-inspired optimization technique, the genetic algorithm (GA), to design metasurfaces that have customized electromagnetic properties characterized by their surface impedances [6]. Design examples of soft and hybrid metasurfaces are presented, demonstrating the capabilities of this approach. A homogenization method has also been developed to match the optimized metasurfaces to homogeneous metamaterial slabs backed by a ground plane, which can significantly facilitate the modeling of metasurfaces when incorporated with horn antennas, for example.
Why do parents enrol their children in research: a narrative synthesis

Objective Recent legislation mandating the inclusion of children in clinical trials has resulted in an increase in the number of children participating in research. We reviewed the literature regarding the reasons parents chose to accept or decline an invitation to enrol their children in clinical research. Methods We searched for qualitative studies, written in the English language that considered the experiences of parents who had been invited to enrol their children in research. SCOPUS and Web of Knowledge electronic databases and reference lists of retrieved articles and review papers were searched. Retrieved articles were synthesised using the narrative synthesis method. Results 16 qualitative studies exploring the experiences of parents living in five countries whose children had a range of health conditions of varying severity were included. The health status of the child appeared to influence parents' reasons for participation. Parents whose children had life threatening conditions often considered they had no choice but to participate and many welcomed the innovation offered through research participation. Such parents also viewed the risks of research less negatively than those whose children were healthy or in the stable stage of a chronic condition. This raises questions regarding the voluntariness of informed consent by such parents. Conclusions A tailored approach is needed when discussing research participation with parents of eligible children. While parents of healthy children may be more open to discussions of altruism, those whose children have life threatening illnesses should be given adequate information about the alternatives to, and risks of, research participation.
Experimental Study of Suppressing a Parametric Resonance in a HTSC Levitation System by a Horizontal Pendulum

This research deals with the experimental investigation of reduction in the amplitude of nonlinear oscillation in a high-Tc superconducting magnetic levitation system by using a vibration absorber. High-Tc superconducting levitation systems have very low damping and stable levitation without control. In such low-damped systems, complicated phenomena of dynamics can be easily generated by nonlinearity of the magnetic force. Our previous research showed that if the frequency of vertical excitation is in the neighborhood of double the natural frequency in the horizontal direction, horizontal oscillation can occur parametrically through nonlinear coupling between vertical motion and horizontal motion. This research investigates an effect of a vibration absorber on the parametrically excited horizontal oscillation of the levitated body. We performed experiments on a symmetric rigid bar, levitated by the electromagnetic force between superconductors fixed on the base, and magnets fixed at both ends of the bar. A simple damped horizontal pendulum is attached to the main system as a vibration absorber, so that it is linearly coupled with the main system. Through these experiments, it has been confirmed that this kind of a vibration absorber is useful for reducing the amplitude of a parametric resonance in a high-Tc superconducting levitation system.
Aberrant Promoter Methylation of the ABCG2 Gene in Renal Carcinoma

ABSTRACT ABCG2 is a ubiquitous ATP-binding cassette transmembrane protein that is important in clinical drug resistance. Little is known about the mechanism(s) regulating the expression of ABCG2. We hypothesized that DNA methylation could play a role in the epigenetic regulation of ABCG2 gene expression. The promoter methylation status of three renal carcinoma cell lines was assessed with restriction enzyme digestion-coupled PCR and bisulfite genomic sequencing. Both UOK121 and UOK143, with known methylation of the VHL promoter, showed induction of ABCG2 expression after 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment, suggesting that aberrant methylation of the ABCG2 gene was associated with gene silencing. In vitro methylation of the ABCG2 promoter-driven luciferase reporter vector resulted in a significant inhibition of transcription. Our data suggested that the ABCG2 gene is regulated coordinately at both histone and DNA levels. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that the methylated promoter in UOK121 and UOK143, but not the unmethylated one in UOK181, is associated with the methyl CpG binding domain proteins (MBDs), MBD2 and MeCP2. Histone deacetylase 1 and a corepressor, mSin3A, were identified binding to the promoter region containing the CpG island, thereby suppressing ABCG2 transcription. Reactivation of ABCG2 was achieved by treatment with 5-aza-dC, a demethylating agent, concomitant with the release of MBDs from the promoter. Furthermore, the association of methylated lysine 9 on histone H3, a hallmark of promoter methylation, with the promoter was reduced following 5-aza-dC treatment. These data suggest that DNA methylation-dependent formation of a repressor complex in the CpG island contributes to inactivation of ABCG2.
Breast and prostate cancer: an analysis of common epidemiological, genetic, and biochemical features.

I. Introduction II. Epidemiological Evidence Associating Breast and Prostate Cancer III. Incidence of Breast and Prostate Cancer in Different Countries: Dietary Factors IV. Genetic Abnormalities Common to Breast and Prostate Cancer A. AR alterations in prostate cancer B. AR alterations in breast cancer C. BRCA1 and BRCA2 alterations in breast cancer D. BRCA1 and BRCA2 alterations in prostate cancer E. Other genes associated with breast or prostate cancer V. Common Biochemical Features of Breast and Prostate Cancer A. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) B. Apolipoprotein D (apoD) C. Zn-α2-gp D. Gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 E. Pepsinogen C F. Other proteins VI. Growth Factors in Breast and Prostate Cancer A. AIGF B. KGF VII. Theories of Breast and Prostate Cancer Development: Role of Steroid Hormones VIII. Conclusions
VERY EARLY DISEASE MANIFESTATIONS OF MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2

Background: To report very early morphologic and functional alterations in patients with macular telangiectasia type 2. Methods: Patients with asymmetric disease manifestations, in whom retinal alterations characteristic for macular telangiectasia type 2 were present in one but not in the apparently unaffected fellow eye, underwent multimodal imaging and functional testing (microperimetry, visual acuity, reading ability, Amsler test). Results: Fellow eyes not allowing the diagnosis of macular telangiectasia type 2 based on hitherto diagnostic standards consistently showed a severely reduced directional cone reflectance (Stiles–Crawford effect). Optical coherence tomography revealed an asymmetric configuration of the foveal pit with focal temporal thinning most pronounced at 1° eccentricity. Topographically related, macular pigment optical density was reduced in a small wedge-shaped temporal paracentral sector, resulting in an increased signal on fundus autofluorescence and fluorescein angiography imaging. No functional deficits were detectable in fellow eyes. Haidinger brushes were perceived in the fellow eye but not in the affected index eye with pronounced loss of macular pigment. Conclusion: Specific morphologic alterations precede vascular alterations and functional deficits in macular telangiectasia type 2. The described alterations indicate a primarily degenerative process with a secondary retinal vascular phenotype, and may be helpful for early identification of patients and affected family members.
Is the Random Access Channel of LTE and LTE-A Suitable for M2M Communications? A Survey of Alternatives

The 3GPP has raised the need to revisit the design of next generations of cellular networks in order to make them capable and efficient to provide M2M services. One of the key challenges that has been identified is the need to enhance the operation of the random access channel of LTE and LTE-A. The current mechanism to request access to the system is known to suffer from congestion and overloading in the presence of a huge number of devices. For this reason, different research groups around the globe are working towards the design of more efficient ways of managing the access to these networks in such circumstances. This paper aims to provide a survey of the alternatives that have been proposed over the last years to improve the operation of the random access channel of LTE and LTE-A. A comprehensive discussion of the different alternatives is provided, identifying strengths and weaknesses of each one of them, while drawing future trends to steer the efforts over the same shooting line. In addition, while existing literature has been focused on the performance in terms of delay, the energy efficiency of the access mechanism of LTE will play a key role in the deployment of M2M networks. For this reason, a comprehensive performance evaluation of the energy efficiency of the random access mechanism of LTE is provided in this paper. The aim of this computer-based simulation study is to set a baseline performance upon which new and more energy-efficient mechanisms can be designed in the near future.
Datenhandbuch Gruppenbezogene Menschenfeindlichkeit. Längsschnittstudie der Jahre 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 und 2010

Ziel des von 2002 bis 2012 von einem Stiftungskonsortium unter Federfuhrung der Volkswagenstiftung geforderten Langzeitprojektes Gruppenbezogene Menschenfeindlichkeit war es, das Ausmas und die Entwicklung des Syndroms menschenfeindlicher Einstellungen (Rassismus/ soziale Dominanz, Fremdenfeindlichkeit, Antisemitismus, Etabliertenvorrechte, Sexismus und Heterophobie) in der Bevolkerung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland im Zeitverlauf zu analysieren und auf der Basis sozialpsychologischer und soziologischer Konzepte zu erklaren. Die Zielsetzung des Projektes war dabei nicht nur von wissenschaftlicher Relevanz, um Forschungslucken zu schliesen, sondern vor allem auch von gesellschaftspolitischer Bedeutung, weil die menschenfeindlichen Einstellungen mit der ihnen zugrunde liegenden Ideologie der Ungleichwertigkeit einem leitenden Wertgrundsatz dieser Gesellschaft, namlich der Gleichheit von Menschen, entgegenstehen und zur Legitimation von Gewalt gegen Minderheiten und Schwache dienen konnen. Das Projekt war derzeit das weltweit Einzige, das in dieser Weise sowie uber einen zehnjahrigen Zeitraum die Vorurteile gegen schwache Gruppen und deren Diskriminierungen mithilfe von Querschnitts- und Paneldaten untersuchte und theoriebasierte Ursachenanalysen publizierte. Die Paneldaten wurden in den Jahren 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 und 2010 erhoben und differenzieren sich in Panel Alpha (3000 Befragte) und Panel Beta (2000 Befragte). Letzteres stellt eine Erganzung des Panel Alpha dar und wurde, mit nahezu identischem Erhebungsinstrument, in den Jahren 2006, 2008 und 2010 erhoben, sodass die beiden Paneldatensatze zusammengespielt und in einem Datensatz verfugbar gemacht wurden. Die Stichprobe beider Panel umfasst Befragte aus der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, welche ein Mindestalter von 16 Jahren hatten und zu den Befragungszeitpunkten in einem Privathaushalt mit Telefonanschluss gemeldet waren. Insgesamt umfasst der verfugbare Datensatz sechs Erhebungswellen, 5000 Falle und 1131 Variablen (wide-Format). Das vorliegende Datenhandbuch dient der Beschreibung der Paneldaten. Dokumentiert sind grundlegende Informationen zu Anlage und Design der Studie, Grundgesamtheit, Stichprobe, Erhebung, Datenstruktur und Erhebungsinstrumenten. Das Datenhandbuch stellt eine reduzierte Fassung der Datendokumentation dar. Die vollumfangliche Dokumentation wird zur Verfugung gestellt, sobald die Daten zur sekundaranalytischen Nutzung freigegeben werden (voraussichtlich Marz 2017).
Brain-mind states: I. Longitudinal field study of sleep/wake factors influencing mentation report length.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To collect and analyze reports of mental activity across sleep/wake states. DESIGN Mentation reports were collected in a longitudinal design by combining our Nightcap sleep monitor with daytime experience sampling techniques. Reports were collected over 14 days and nights from active and quiet wake, after instrumental awakenings at sleep onset, and after both spontaneous and instrumental awakenings from REM and NREM sleep. SETTING All reports were collected in the normal home, work and school environments of the subjects. PARTICIPANTS Subjects included 8 male and 8 female undergraduate students (19-26 years of age). INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS A total of 1,748 reports, averaging 109 per subject, were collected from active wake across the day (n=894), from quiet wake in the pre-sleep onset period (n=58), from sleep onset (n=280), and from later REM (n=269) and nonREM (n=247) awakenings. Median report lengths varied more than 2-fold, in the order REM > active wake > quiet wake > NREM = sleep onset. The extended protocol allowed many novel comparisons between conditions. In addition, while spontaneous REM reports were longer than those from forced awakenings, the difference was explained by the time within the REM period at which the awakenings occurred. Finally, intersubject differences in REM report lengths were correlated with similar differences in waking report lengths. CONCLUSIONS The use of the Nightcap sleep monitoring system along with waking experience sampling permits a more complete sampling and analysis of mental activity across the sleep/wake cycle than has been previously possible.
Stability and convergence of mixed discontinuous finite element methods for second-order differential problems

In this paper we develop an abstract theory for stability and convergence of mixed discontinuous finite element methods for second-order partial differential problems. This theory is then applied to various examples, with an emphasis on different combinations of mixed finite element spaces. Elliptic, parabolic, and convection-dominated diffusion problems are considered. The examples include classical mixed finite element methods in the discontinuous setting, local discontinuous Galerkin methods, and their penalized (stablized) versions. For the convection-dominated diffusion problems, a characteristics-based approach is combined with the mixed discontinuous methods.
Lycopene Enriched Tomato Extract Inhibits Hypoxia, Angiogenesis, and Metastatic Markers in early Stage N-Nitrosodiethylamine Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Targeting altered pathways during initial stage of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development is viewed as an effective and promising strategy to control this disease. Present study investigated the potential effect of lycopene-enriched tomato extract (LycT) on hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1α, HOX, VEGF, CD31, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and alpha fetoprotein (AFP)expression during initial stages of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) induced HCC. Female Balb/c mice (8–10 wk) were assigned to 4 groups: control, NDEA (200 mg NDEA i.p./kg body weight, cumulative), LycT (5 mg lycopene orally/kg body weight; 3 times a week), and LycT + NDEA. LycT treatment began 2 wk before NDEA administration and continued until the end of the 10 wk study. The onset of HCC by NDEA was associated with significant alteration in serum biochemical markers [alanine transaminases (ALT), aspartate transaminases (AST), and alkaline phosphatases (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, A/G ratio, and bilirubin] and in liver histopathology. LycT treatment significantly reduced the levels of these markers. LycT treatment to NDEA mice also led to significant reduction in protein levels of AFP, HIF-1α, VEGF, CD31, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in comparison with NDEA group alone. These parameters are important biomarkers of hypoxia, angiogenesis, and metastasis, which reflect the advanced disease stage. The study provides evidence that prophylactic dietary supplementation with LycT may counteract HCC progression and/or protect against disease onset.
Low-level laser therapy: a standard of supportive care for cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Oral mucositis (OM) is still a common and severe acute side-effect of many oncologic treatments, especially in patients treated for head and neck cancer. It may affect quality of life, require supportive care and impact treatment planning and its efficacy. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) seems to promote pain relief and reduces OM incidence and its severity. It has been recommended for these patients as a treatment option but without any consensus in the LLLT procedure. New recommendations and perspectives for clinical trials will be discussed. Materials (Subjects) and Methods: Step by step, the efficacy of soft laser in the management of iatrogenic oral mucositis has been evaluated during the last two decades. Its effectiveness and level of recommendation got stronger with time. We will report and discuss some major results and the latest recommendations published on this topic. RESULTS The major clinical results have been reported and analysed last year in a first meta-analysis (1)). 11 randomized placebo-controlled trials were selected with a total of 415 patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. The relative risk for developing OM was significantly reduced after LLLT but only for a dose between 1 to 6 Joules per point. Pain, severity and duration of OM grade ≥ 2 were also reduced without difference with placebo for possible side-effects. Nine years after the positive results published for patients treated by radiotherapy alone (2)), a new French randomized, multicentric, phase III trial for patients treated with new standard treatment, using LLLT in accordance to recent recommendations is ongoing. Seven centers are specifically established for this trial which should include a hundred patients. CONCLUSIONS The very encouraging results of LLLT in the prevention and treatment of OM in patients treated by chemotherapy or radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer could soon be proposed as a new standard of care, according to the multinational Association of Supportive care in Cancer (MASCC) criteria. Modern lasers are less time consuming and extraoral applicators for a possible use by trained paramedical staff could be helpful to complete clinician practice. A preventive dose of 2 J/cm(2) and a curative dose of 4 J/cm(2) if using a red wavelength lasers are now recommended.
4-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-butanone modulates redox signal in gamma-irradiation-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Abstract Cellular exposure to ionising radiation leads to oxidative stress events, which refer to elevated intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The elevated levels of ROS significantly contributed to γ-radiation (IR) induced cytotoxicity. In an attempt to minimise these cytotoxic effects, antioxidant compounds have been identified to counteract radiation- associated toxicities. We mainly aimed to study the protective effect of 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-butanone (HMB) on IR-induced nephrotoxicity, whereas it was previously shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in different inflammation models. Animals were treated orally with HMB (25 mg/kg b.wt daily) then performed by whole-body gamma-irradiation of animals with 6 Gy; a single dose applied on the 15th day and animals were sacrificed at the end of the 23rd day. It was found that IR exposure significantly induced renal oxidative injury that accompanied by inflammatory disturbance. Also, NADPH oxidase and iNOS gene expressions were significantly up-regulated, while the mitochondrial enzymes (complex I & II) were significantly down-regulated in IR exposed animals. Additionally, Western immunoblotting analysis of signalling growth factor protein; p38 MAPK was significantly overexpressed. Interestingly, HMB treatment showed statistically significant amelioration in parameters with an improved histological structure upon the IR-induced nephrotoxicity. It can be concluded that modulation of NADPH-oxidase, iNOS and mitochondrial enzymes by HMB might be responsible for the amendment of the antioxidant status and impairment of p38 MAPK signal, thus attenuate the nephrotoxicity induced post IR exposure.
RAT ISOLATED PHRENIC NERVE‐DIAPHRAGM PREPARATION FOR PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY OF MUSCLE SPINDLE AFFERENT ACTIVITY: EFFECT OF OXOTREMORINE

1 Muscle spindle afferent discharges exhibiting an approximately linear length‐frequency relation could be recorded from the phrenic nerve in the isolated phrenic nerve‐diaphragm preparation of the rat. 2 Muscle spindle afferent discharges could be identified by their characteristic ‘spindle pause’ during muscle contraction and by their response to succinylcholine. 3 Cholinergic influence on spontaneous and stretch‐induced afferent discharges was indicated by the augmentation produced by physostigmine and acetylcholine. (+)‐Tubocurarine, but not atropine, prevented this augmentation indicating the presence of curariform cholinoceptors in muscle spindles. 4 Acetylcholine did not appear to be involved in the genesis of spindle afferent discharges as incubation with hemicholinium‐3 and (+)‐tubocurarine failed to affect the rate of spontaneous and stretch‐induced spindle discharges. 5 Oxotremorine markedly increased the rate of spontaneous and stretch‐induced spindle afferent discharges and this effect was prevented in the presence of hemicholinium‐3 and (+)‐tubocurarine. 6 These results with oxotremorine are of interest in connection with the observation that muscle spindle afferents are hyperactive in Parkinsonian patients.