Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light Scattering Enhancement by Double Scattering Technique for Multijunction Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells

Light trapping is an important technique to increase the efficiency of thin-film silicon solar cells. Textured surfaces are known to scatter sunlight while it passes through thin-film solar cells, thereby increasing the optical pathlength and, thus, the photon absorption in the devices. In this paper, microtextured glass superstrates were prepared by the aluminum-induced texturization (AIT) method. These superstrates achieve high transmission haze values of up to 60% while maintaining a high total optical transmission. We demonstrate that both the surface structure and the roughness of the textured glass surface can be controllably adjusted by changing the AIT process parameters. Approximately 900-nm-thick aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) films are deposited onto the microtextured glass surfaces by magnetron sputtering and then further textured using wet-chemical etching in diluted HCl, creating an AZO surface that features both micrometer-scale and submicron-scale structures. Optical spectroscopy and goniophotometer measurements reveal that the light scattering capability of the substrates increases significantly due to the wet-chemical AZO texturization. The combination of microtextured AIT glass, together with the submicron-textured AZO, could be very attractive for high-efficiency double-junction micromorph thin-film Si solar cells, whereby the amorphous Si top cell benefits significantly from the AZO's submicron texture and the microcrystalline Si bottom cell benefits primarily from the microtextured glass surface.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging in a Human PET/MR Hybrid System

Purpose:The aim of this study was to test and demonstrate the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with a hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging system for simultaneous PET and magnetic resonance (MR) data acquisition. Materials and Methods:All measurements were performed with a prototype hybrid PET/MR scanner dedicated for brain and head imaging. The PET scanner, which is inserted into a conventional 3.0-Tesla high field MR imager equipped with a transmit/receive birdcage head coil, consists of 192 block detectors with a matrix of 12 × 12 lutetium oxyorthosilicate scintillation crystals combined with MR-compatible 3 × 3 avalanche photodiode arrays. In 7 volunteers and 4 patients with brain tumors, DTI was performed during simultaneous PET data readout applying a diffusion weighted echo planar sequence (12 noncollinear directions, echo time (TE)/repetition time (TR) 98 ms/5300 ms, b-value 800 s/mm2). Image quality and accuracy of DTI were assessed in comparison with DTI images acquired after removal of the PET insert. Results:The diffusion images showed good image quality in all volunteers regardless of simultaneous PET data readout or after removal of the PET scanner; however, significantly (P < 0.01) stronger rim artifacts were found in fractional anisotropy images computed from DTI images recorded during simultaneous PET acquisition, demonstrating higher eddy-current effects. In region of interest analysis, no notable differences were found in the computation of the direction of the principal eigenvector (P > 0.05) and fractional anisotropy values (P > 0.05). In the assessment of pathologies, in all 4 patients PET and DTI provided important clinical information in addition to conventional magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion:Diffusion tensor imaging may be combined with simultaneous PET data acquisition, offering additional important morphologic and functional information for treatment planning in patients with brain tumors.
Temperature Increase in the Fetus Exposed to UHF RFID Readers

Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has prominently increased during the last decades due to the rapid development of new technologies. Among the various devices emitting EMFs, those based on Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies are used in all aspects of everyday life, and expose people unselectively. This scenario could pose a potential risk for some groups of the general population, such as pregnant women, who are expected to be possibly more sensitive to the thermal effects produced by EMF exposure. This is the first paper that addresses the estimation of temperature rise in two pregnant women models exposed to ultrahigh frequency RFID by computational techniques. Results show that the maximum temperature increase of the fetus and of the pregnancy-related tissues is relatively high (even about 0.7 °C), not too far from the known threshold of biological effects. However, this increase is confined to a small volume in the tissues.
Habit learning in Tourette syndrome: a translational neuroscience approach to a developmental psychopathology.

BACKGROUND The etiology of Tourette syndrome (TS) involves disturbances in the structure and function of the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia mediate habit learning. OBJECTIVE To study habit learning in persons with TS. DESIGN Patients with TS were compared with normal controls in performance on a probabilistic classification, or habit-learning task (weather prediction). SETTING University research institute. PARTICIPANTS One hundred twenty-three children and adults, 56 with a diagnosis of TS and 67 healthy control subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Habit learning was assessed by the extent of improvement in accuracy of predictions and reaction times over trial blocks during performance of the weather prediction task. Declarative learning was assessed by performance on 3 tasks that required intact declarative memory functioning. RESULTS Children with TS were impaired at habit learning relative to normal controls (P = .01). This finding was replicated in the independent sample of adults with TS (P = .01). The rate of learning correlated inversely with the severity of tic symptoms across both samples (r = -0.34; P = .01). Thus, impaired learning accompanied more severe symptoms. Measures of declarative memory functioning, in contrast, were normal in the TS groups. CONCLUSIONS Striatal learning systems are uniquely dysfunctional in both children and adults with TS. The correlation of habit learning with symptom severity suggests that the number and severity of tics are a function of the degree to which the system for habit learning is dysfunctional. Thus, both the deficits in habit learning and the tic symptoms of TS are likely to be consequences of the previously reported anatomical and functional disturbances of the striatum in children and adults who have TS. The existence of a well-developed animal model for this learning system, which permits study of the neural and molecular bases of habit learning, has important implications for the neurobiological study of TS and for the development of new or improved therapeutics for this condition.
A practical model of low‐volume high‐intensity interval training induces mitochondrial biogenesis in human skeletal muscle: potential mechanisms

High‐intensity interval training (HIT) induces skeletal muscle metabolic and performance adaptations that resemble traditional endurance training despite a low total exercise volume. Most HIT studies have employed ‘all out’, variable‐load exercise interventions (e.g. repeated Wingate tests) that may not be safe, practical and/or well tolerated by certain individuals. Our purpose was to determine the performance, metabolic and molecular adaptations to a more practical model of low‐volume HIT. Seven men (21 ± 0.4 years, ml kg−1 min−1) performed six training sessions over 2 weeks. Each session consisted of 8–12 × 60 s intervals at ∼100% of peak power output elicited during a ramp peak test (355 ± 10 W) separated by 75 s of recovery. Training increased exercise capacity, as assessed by significant improvements on both 50 kJ and 750 kJ cycling time trials (P < 0.05 for both). Skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) biopsy samples obtained before and after training revealed increased maximal activity of citrate synthase (CS) and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) as well as total protein content of CS, COX subunits II and IV, and the mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) (P < 0.05 for all). Nuclear abundance of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ co‐activator 1α (PGC‐1α) was ∼25% higher after training (P < 0.05), but total PGC‐1α protein content remained unchanged. Total SIRT1 content, a proposed activator of PGC‐1α and mitochondrial biogenesis, was increased by ∼56% following training (P < 0.05). Training also increased resting muscle glycogen and total GLUT4 protein content (both P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that a practical model of low volume HIT is a potent stimulus for increasing skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity and improving exercise performance. The results also suggest that increases in SIRT1, nuclear PGC‐1α, and Tfam may be involved in coordinating mitochondrial adaptations in response to HIT in human skeletal muscle.
Cyclic nucleotide gated channel and Ca2+-mediated signal transduction during plant senescence signaling

Previous studies reveal that both Ca2+ and nitric oxide (NO) play pivotal roles in the plant senescence signaling cascade. However, not much is known about the molecular identity of the Ca2+ entry during senescence programming and its relationship to the downstream NO signal. Our recent study shows that Arabidopsis cyclic nucleotide gated channel2 (CNGC2) contributes to Ca2+ uptake and senescence signaling. The CNGC2 loss-of-function mutant dnd1 displays reduced Ca2+ accumulation in leaves and a series of early senescence phenotypes compared to wild type (WT). Notably, endogenous NO content in dnd1 leaves is lower than leaves of WT. Application of an NO donor can effectively rescue a number of early senescence phenotypes found in the dnd1 plants. Current evidence supports the notion that NO functions as a negative regulator in senescence signaling and our model supports this point. In this article, we expand our discussion of CNGC2 mediated Ca2+ uptake and other related signaling components involved in the plant senescence signaling cascade.
Assessment of Changes in Confidence, Attitude, and Knowledge of Non-Psychiatric Physicians Undergoing a Depression Training Program in Taiwan

Objective: To assess whether non-psychiatric physicians would benefit from a national depression training program and explore associated factors. Method: Attending physicians were asked to complete survey questionnaires of confidence, attitude, knowledge, and their willingness to implement new strategies to improve care, before and after training. Paired t-test and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the differences and explore factors associated with the domains of confidence, attitude, and knowledge. McNemar's test was used to compare the difference between the physicians' intention to change depression management before and after training. Results: Of 524 eligible physicians, 307 (59%) completed the pre- and post-program assessments. These physicians showed significantly increased knowledge score and willingness to implement new treatment strategies, as well as more positive attitude toward and confidence in treating depression. The lower corresponding baseline score was associated with greater improvement in domains of knowledge, confidence, and attitude. Completion of the training was associated with an improvement in knowledge and becoming less helpless and avoidant attitude. Other factors including non-family-medicine physicians, post-graduate education, and female gender are associated with greater improvements in various domains. Conclusions: Our study shows that even a brief educational program can positively influence the physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in treating depression. Further work is needed to monitor whether the effects of training are long-term, and can be translated into behavioral change in practice.
Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses to Alphavirus Replicon Vaccines Expressing Cytomegalovirus pp65, IE1, and gB Proteins

ABSTRACT Development of vaccines against cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important public health priority. We used a propagation-defective, single-cycle RNA replicon vector system derived from an attenuated strain of an alphavirus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, to produce virus-like replicon particles (VRP) expressing various combinations of pp65, IE1, or gB proteins of human CMV. Protein expression in VRP-infected cells was highest with single-promoter replicons expressing pp65, IE1, a pp65/IE1 fusion protein, or the extracellular domain of gB and with double-promoter replicons expressing pp65 and IE1. Protein expression was lower with double- and triple-promoter replicons expressing gB, especially the full-length form of gB. BALB/c mice immunized with VRP expressing gB developed high titers of neutralizing antibody to CMV, and mice immunized with VRP expressing pp65, IE1, or a pp65/IE1 fusion protein developed robust antigen-specific T-cell responses as measured by gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Three overlapping immunodominant pp65 peptides contained a nine-amino-acid sequence (LGPISGHVL) that matches the consensus binding motif for a major histocompatibility complex H2-Dd T-cell epitope. These data provide the basis for further development and clinical evaluation of an alphavirus replicon vaccine for CMV expressing the pp65, IE1, and gB proteins.
LONG-TERM SAFETY, HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGING, AND TISSUE TEMPERATURE MODELING OF SUBVISIBLE DIODE MICROPULSE PHOTOCOAGULATION FOR RETINOVASCULAR MACULAR EDEMA

Purpose To determine the long-term safety of high-density subvisible diode micropulse photocoagulation (810 nm), compare the clinical findings with computational modeling of tissue hyperthermia and to report results for a subset of eyes treated for diabetic macular edema (ME) documented pre- and postoperatively by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Method All eyes treated for ME from diabetic retinopathy (diabetic ME) and branch retinal vein occlusion between April 2000 and January 2010 were reviewed for subvisible diode micropulse laser-induced retinal damage. Therapeutic outcomes were reviewed for a subgroup treated for diabetic ME with pre- and postoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Laser-induced retinal thermal effects were modeled computationally using Arrhenius formalism. Results A total of 252 eyes (212 diabetic ME, 40 branch retinal vein occlusion) of 181 patients qualified. None of the 168 eyes treated at irradiance <350 W/cm2 and 7 of 84 eyes at ≥590 W/cm2 had retinal damage (P = 0.0001) (follow-up 3–120 months, median, 47). Sixty-two eyes of 48 patients treated for diabetic ME with pre- and postoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with median 12 months follow-up had no retinal injury by infrared, red-free, or fundus autofluorescence photos; fluorescein angiography or indocyanine green angiography; or spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Central foveal thickness (P = 0.04) and maximum macular thickness decreased (P < 0.0001). Modeling of retinal hyperthermia demonstrates that the sublethal clinical regimen corresponds to Arrhenius integral >0.05, while damage is likely to occur if it exceeds 1. Conclusion Subvisible diode micropulse can effectively treat retinovascular ME without laser-induced retinal damage, consistent with Arrhenius modeling of pulsed hyperthermia.
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of inhaled trichloroethylene and its oxidative metabolites in B6C3F1 mice.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for inhaled trichloroethylene (TCE) was developed for B6C3F1 mice. Submodels described four P450-mediated metabolites of TCE, which included chloral hydrate (CH), free and glucuronide-bound trichloroethanol (TCOH-f and TCOH-b), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and dichloroacetic acid (DCA). Inhalation time course studies were carried out for calibration of the model by exposing mice to TCE vapor concentrations of either 100 or 600 ppm for 4 h. At several time points, mice were euthanized and blood, liver, kidney, lung, and fat were collected and analyzed for TCE and its oxidative metabolites. Peak blood TCE concentrations were 0.86 and 7.32 microgram/mL, respectively, in mice exposed to 100 and 600 ppm TCE. The model overpredicted the mixed venous blood and tissue concentrations of TCE for mice of both exposure groups. Fractional absorption of inhaled TCE was proposed to explain the discrepancy between the model predictions and the TCE blood time course data. When fractional absorption (53%) of inhaled TCE was incorporated into the model, a comprehensive description of the uptake, distribution, and clearance of TCE in the blood was obtained. Fractional uptake of inhaled TCE was further verified by collecting TCE in exhaled breath following a 4-h constant concentration exposure to TCE and validation was provided by testing the model against TCE blood concentrations from an independent data set. The submodels adequately simulated the distribution and clearance kinetics of CH and TCOH-f in blood and the lungs, TCOH-b in the blood, and TCA and DCA, which were respectively detected for up to 43 and 14 h postexposure in blood and livers of mice exposed to 600 ppm TCE. This is the first extensive tissue time course study of the major metabolites of TCE following an inhalation exposure to TCE and the PBPK model predictions were in good general agreement with the observed kinetics of the oxidative metabolites formed in mice exposed to TCE concentrations of 100 and 600 ppm.
Point mutation in codons 12 and 61 of the ha‐ras gene in rat urinary bladder carcinomas induced by N‐[4‐(5‐nitro‐2‐furyl)‐2‐thiazolyl]formamide

Male F344 rats were fed N‐[4‐(5‐nitro‐2‐furyl)‐2‐thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) for up to 4 wk, then were given the basal diets (Prolab 3200 or AIN‐76A) with or without 5% sodium saccharin for up to 100 wk. Eleven transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs), one undifferentiated carcinoma, and two sarcomas of the urinary bladder were examined for the expression of ras gene product, p21, by immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis. Point mutation in codons 12 or 61 of the Ha‐ras genes amplified by polymerase chain reaction was examined by a slot‐blot screening procedure using allele‐specific oligonucleotide probes. Immunohistochemical staining showed enhanced immunoreactivity with the antibody to ras p21 in seven TCCs and one undifferentiated carcinoma. Western blot analysis showed faster migration of the p21 band in 6 of 11 TCCs. Oligonucleotide hybridization revealed the point mutation in codon 12 of Ha‐ras gene (GGA → GTA in 1 TCC) and in codon 61 (CAA → CGA in 5 TCCs and CAA → CTA in 1 TCC). Two mutations in codons 12 and 61 coexisted in one tumor, which were found to be present in different Ha‐ras alleles. The incidence of Ha‐ras gene mutations were similar in groups treated with (3 of 6) or without (3 of 8) sodium saccharin. These results suggest the involvement of activated Ha‐ras gene in rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis induced by FANFT.
Histoire évolutive, contexte spatial et écologique de la divergence de deux sous-espèces d'Antirrhinum majus

Identifier les mecanismes evolutifs impliques dans la speciation, i. E. Formation des especes, est crucial dans une epoque de crise de la biodiversite. A ce jour, la classification dichotomique des mecanismes impliques dans le processus de speciation (i. E. Allopatrie versus sympatrie, ecologique versus non-ecologique. . . ) n'integrent pas l'interaction dynamique qui les regit. Dans cette these, nous avons cherche a integrer au mieux les differentes composantes de la speciation - isolement spatial, ecologique et reproducteur - dans un cadre temporel. Pour cela, nous avons etudie la divergence de deux sous-especes de plantes a fleurs, Antirrhinum majus pseudomajus et A. M. Striatum aux fleurs respectivement rouges et jaunes. Nous avons integre durant cette these des approches d'ecologie (modelisation de niche) de genetique des populations (analyses de structuration genetique, inference basee sur le coalescent, ajustement de clines) a differentes echelles spatiales, de l'aire de distribution globale a une zone hybride localisee, en pensant par le detail des zones de contact. Nos resultats montrent comment les processus historiques et demographiques agissent conjointement sur la distribution actuelle des populations des deux sous especes d'A. Majus. L'ensemble de nos resultats soutient l'hypothese du role adaptatif de la couleur des fleurs dans le maintien de l'isolement a l'echelle de l'espece. De plus, la divergence de niche que nous avons detectee entre les deux sous-especes pourrait etre a l'origine de leur divergence phenotypique. Dans les zones de contact, nous avons mis en evidence des echanges de genes recurrents entre sous-especes associes a des gradients d'expansion geographique dans des directions opposees. L'ensemble de nos resultats souleve l'hypothese d'un maintien de la parapatrie entre sous-especes assure par leur exclusion competitive dans les zones de contact. En conclusion, la divergence des deux sous-especes semble resulter de la combinaison dans le temps de processus historiques neutres et demographiques actuels avec des processus selectifs associes a l'ecologie des sous especes qui modelent non independamment leur diversite.
Bi-Directional Imagined Hand Movement Classification Using Low Cost EEG-Based BCI

The notion of developing thought controlled devices (games, robots, cars etc.) is becoming increasingly popular with the introduction of low cost commercial headsets that record neuroelectric activity and the extensive research in the area of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs). In this paper, we study the feasibility of using a commercial low cost EEG amplifier which has only limited number of electrodes, to develop a motor control BCI system. The objective is to extract brain activity responsible for direction specific imagined and executed motor activity, which can be used to identify the motor task performed by the user using the simultaneously recorded EEG. An experiment is conducted to engage the user in bi-directional horizontal movement execution and imagination of the dominant hand. The analysis includes investigation of the time-frequency bins of the recorded EEG that provides maximum discrimination of directional movement. Further, the features are extracted using Filter Bank Common Spatial Pattern (FBCSP), followed by Fisher Linear Discriminant (FLD) for classification. The classification performance at various time instants of each trial are considered, and a control strategy was introduced at the classifier output to enhance performance. The performance in terms of average classification accuracy over five subjects is obtained as 81.3 % (movement execution) and 82.4 % (movement imagination). The results indicate the applicability of this EEG-BCI system to provide directional motor control to an interfaced device such as a robotic arm or a game element.