Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monte Carlo Estimation of PDM-QPSK/OOK and DQPSK/OOK Hybrid Systems Tolerance Against Nonlinear Effects

We compare through Monte Carlo simulations the performance of polarization-division multiplexed quadrature phase-shift keying (PDM-QPSK)/on-off keying (OOK) and differential QPSK (DQPSK)/OOK hybrid systems, taking into account nonlinear phase noise. DQPSK turns out to be better with optimal dispersion-management, while PDM-QPSK proves to be a good candidate for bit rates higher than 40 Gb/s.
Relationship between the chemiluminescent response of bovine neutrophils and changes in intracellular free calcium concentration.

The relationship between luminol dependent chemiluminescent (LDCL) response and changes in intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations in the bovine neutrophils was evaluated. LDCL responses and changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations of neutrophils were clearly detected by the stimulation with opsonized zymosan (OPZ), concanavalin A(ConA), heat-aggregated IgG (H-agg.IgG) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Patterns of LDCL responses and intracellular Ca2+ of neutrophils showed characteristic features for each stimulant. PMA was a weak stimulant of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, whereas it was a strong stimulant of LDCL response. Con A strongly stimulated an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, but was a weak stimulant of LDCL response. LDCL response of intracellular Ca(2+)-depleted neutrophils treated with ionomycin, stimulated with each stimulant was inhibited markedly without extracellular Ca2+. The sustained phase of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations stimulated with OPZ was inhibited significantly (P < 0.05) by the preincubation with anti-CD18 antibody, whereas the transient phase of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations was not inhibited. These results indicate that LDCL response is regulated at least in part by the elevation of the intracellular Ca2+, and a rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which may be mediated by specific receptors appears to be essential in the LDCL response of bovine neutrophils.
Evolutionary processes in a continental island system: molecular phylogeography of the Aegean Nigella arvensis alliance (Ranunculaceae) inferred from chloroplast DNA

Continental shelf island systems, created by rising sea levels, provide a premier setting for studying the effects of past fragmentation, dispersal, and genetic drift on taxon diversification. We used phylogeographical (nested clade) and population genetic analyses to elucidate the relative roles of these processes in the evolutionary history of the Aegean Nigella arvensis alliance (= ‘coenospecies’). We surveyed chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) variation in 455 individuals from 47 populations (nine taxa) of the alliance throughout its core range in the Aegean Archipelago and surrounding mainland areas of Greece and Turkey. The study revealed the presence of three major lineages, with largely nonoverlapping distributions in the Western, Central, and Eastern Aegean. There is evidence supporting the idea that these major lineages evolved in situ from a widespread (pan‐Aegean) ancestral stock as a result of multiple fragmentation events, possibly due to the influence of post‐Messinian sea flooding, Pleistocene eustatic changes and corresponding climate fluctuations. Over‐sea dispersal and founder events appear to have played a rather insignificant role in the group's history. Rather, all analytical approaches identified the alliance as an organism group with poor seed dispersal capabilities and a susceptibility to genetic drift. In particular, we inferred that the observed level of cpDNA differentiation between Kikladian island populations of Nigella degenii largely reflects population history, (viz. Holocene island fragmentation) and genetic drift in the near absence of seed flow since their time of common ancestry. Overall, our cpDNA data for the N. arvensis alliance in general, and N. degenii in particular, indicate that historical events were important in determining the phylogeographical patterns seen, and that genetic drift has historically been relatively more influential on population structure than has cytoplasmic gene flow.
Impact of single charged gate oxide defects on the performance and scaling of nanoscaled FETs

We report extensive statistical NBTI reliability measurements of nanoscaled FETs of different technologies, based on which we propose a 1/area scaling rule for the statistical impact of individual charged gate oxide defects on the electrical characteristic of deeply scaled transistors. Among the considered technologies, nanoscaled SiGe channel devices show smallest time-dependent variability. Furthermore, we report comprehensive measurements of the impact of individual trapped charges on the entire FET ID-VG characteristic. Comparing with 3D atomistic device simulations, we identify several characteristic behaviors depending on the interplay between the location of the oxide defect and the underlying random dopant distribution.
Investigation of differences on cortical connectivity between patients with major depressive disorder and normal subjects using MR diffusion tensor imaging

Functional and structural neuroimaging studies of major depression disorder (MDD) have identified neurophysiologic abnormalities in multiple areas of the prefrontal cortex, the insula, the amygdale and the related parts of the striatum and thalamus. The functional knowledge of MDD was mainly obtained from the fMRI and PET studies, which reveal the local differences in blood oxygenation and metabolism of the specific neurotransmitters, respectively. For the structural studies, the T1-based and DTI (diffusion tensor image)-based studies, which defined the abnormalities in cortical thickness and the integrity of the white matter, respectively, were commonly used. However, most of these studies only addressed the local differences compared to the normal subjects and were limited to provide the overall associations of the cortical connectivity within the patient group. In this study, we employed the DTI-based fiber bundle tracking technique along with the graph theoretical analysis to investigate the difference of cortical connectivity between the patients with MDD and the normal group from both the global (mean properties for all regions) and local (region-by-region) aspects. Out results concluded that: 1) there were no globally but locally significant difference between two groups, specifically, the increase of the local connectivity in parietal and occipital lobes to compensate the decrease of the connectivity in frontal and temporal lobe; 2) the connection strength from left insula to left superior temporal pole was stronger in normal group than that in MDD group; 3) the connection strengths from left putamen to left triangular inferior frontal gyrus and left precuneus, were stronger in patient group than that in normal group.
Arrayplot for visualization and normalization of cDNA microarray data

UNLABELLED Arrayplot is an application which allows filtering, visualization and normalization of raw cDNA microarray data. AVAILABILITY MS-Windows binaries are freely available for non-profit use at http://www.biologie. ens.fr/yeast-publi.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Scripts for online creation of Arrayplot files are available at http://transcriptome.ens.fr/lgm_bioinfo/
Species-Specific Immunodetection of an Entamoeba histolytica Cyst Wall Protein

Entamoeba histolytica causes intestinal disease in endemic settings throughout the world. Diagnosis of E. histolytica infection would be improved by the identification of biomarkers that are expressed by cysts of E. histolytica, but not by cysts of closely related commensal species of Entamoeba. Herein, we describe two novel monoclonal antibodies (1A4 and 1D3) produced against a spacer region of the E. histolytica Jacob2 lectin, an outer cyst wall protein. These reagents demonstrated no cross-reaction to E. dispar recombinant antigen and low picomolar molecular detection limits when paired in ELISA sandwich assays. In an immunofluorescence microscopy assay, the α-Jacob2 murine antibodies labeled cysts of three xenically cultured E. histolytica isolates but did not label cysts of three E. bangladeshi isolates. Monoclonal antibody 1A4 did not cross-react with xenic cultures of three E. dispar isolates, demonstrating specificity to E. histolytica, while monoclonal antibody 1D3 cross-reacted with two out of three E. dispar isolates. Both antibodies labeled cysts in formalin-fixed slides, a potential logistical advantage in some settings. The monoclonal antibody 1A4 was also used in an immunofluorescence microscopy assay with formalin-fixed stool specimens. Seven out of ten ELISA-positive stool specimens exhibited 1A4-labeled cyst-like objects, compared to one out of seven ELISA-negative specimens. These results demonstrate that antibodies generated against the flexible spacer of E. histolytica Jacob2 lectin recognize and bind to Jacob2 protein in whole cysts and are capable of differentiating Entamoeba species in fixed specimens. Thus, Jacob2 is a promising biomarker for use in diagnosing E. histolytica infection.
Smartphone-Based Wound Assessment System for Patients With Diabetes

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant health issue. Currently, clinicians and nurses mainly base their wound assessment on visual examination of wound size and healing status, while the patients themselves seldom have an opportunity to play an active role. Hence, a more quantitative and cost-effective examination method that enables the patients and their caregivers to take a more active role in daily wound care potentially can accelerate wound healing, save travel cost and reduce healthcare expenses. Considering the prevalence of smartphones with a high-resolution digital camera, assessing wounds by analyzing images of chronic foot ulcers is an attractive option. In this paper, we propose a novel wound image analysis system implemented solely on the Android smartphone. The wound image is captured by the camera on the smartphone with the assistance of an image capture box. After that, the smartphone performs wound segmentation by applying the accelerated mean-shift algorithm. Specifically, the outline of the foot is determined based on skin color, and the wound boundary is found using a simple connected region detection method. Within the wound boundary, the healing status is next assessed based on red-yellow-black color evaluation model. Moreover, the healing status is quantitatively assessed, based on trend analysis of time records for a given patient. Experimental results on wound images collected in UMASS-Memorial Health Center Wound Clinic (Worcester, MA) following an Institutional Review Board approved protocol show that our system can be efficiently used to analyze the wound healing status with promising accuracy.
Eleven Ways Demographic and Economic Change Is Reframing American Housing Policy

ABSTRACT In this article we identify 11 contemporary housing market and policy trends that will frame the next 10 years of federal housing policy. In each case, we review the relevant numbers before summarizing the policy issues raised by those realities. In some cases, these issues prompt specific policy recommendations. In other cases, they point to the need for greater research and debate.
Outstanding Female Superintendents: Profiles in Leadership

Suffrage efforts in the early 1900s boosted women into educational leadershiproles. At this time, superintendents throughout the United States were selectedthrough county elections (Blount,1999). Because many of these county districts hadmale superintendents who were corrupt and used dishonest financial andadministrative practices, women were elected to replace many of the men who hadpreviously held these positions. The victories of these female superintendent weresustained by honesty, credibility, and success in their roles, and by 1930, Blountnoted that women held nearly 28% of the nation's superintendencies. In a move to"turn out the ladies," however, male superintendency groups began a nationalpolitical effort to have school superintendents appointed instead of electing them.These powerful men did not want women to retain their elected positions assuperintendents and argued that superintendents should not be elected in publicelections that were so "politically charged. " The voters did not see through thispolitical ruse and agreed to the appointment of school superintendents instead ofan elective process. Because the people who were set up to appoint thesuperintendents were all men, the women who previously held superintendentpostitions began to decline; thereafter, males were appointed to nearly all of thesuperintendent positions across the nation. As a result, female superintendents allbut disappeared in the United States after several decades of progress had beenmade.
Pthreads programming - a POSIX standard for better multiprocessing

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Essays on sorting with financial securities

This dissertation studies one-to-one matching between workers and assets in a market where financial securities are offered. The quality of an asset is publicly known, but a worker’s productivity is private information. The asset side first posts contracts, under which the payment is contingent on the realized output. Then the workers direct their search based on the offers. Production exhibits complementarity so that the efficient allocation features positive assortative matching (PAM). I consider a frictionless setting in the first chapter. First, I characterize the sufficient and necessary conditions for decentralizing PAM. For any distribution of types, these conditions ensure that the set of posted contracts not only induces the workers to sort assortatively but also precludes the asset owners from poaching. In comparison with the case of full information, the asset side’s share of the matching surplus is always greater and increases with the asset quality at a faster rate in equilibrium. Second, I show that all asset owners will always be better off if the feasible contracts are replaced with steeper ones, which cost better workers more than weaker workers. The second chapter focuses on the class of output sharing contracts. I study how it affects the matching efficiency and sorting pattern in the presence of search friction. The unique equilibrium features inefficient PAM. The matched pairs fully separate into a continuum of markets, where the
Reconfigurings of Non-violence as a Matter of Sustainability and Response-ability

ABSTRACT In this paper, we explore non-violence and the responsibility for non-violence inspired by Karen Barad’s work on the material–discursive notion of response-ability. Our analysis, by way of thinking with theory, is based on a careful engagement with the life of one woman, Lena, as told by her in writing and interviews between the years 2007 and 2015. Based on her talk about violence and non-violence in her life, we produced three stories of non-violence “in-becoming”. Through these stories, our aim is to shed light on non-violence as relational; that is, how it is reconfigured in the complex entanglements of bodies, things, abstractions, and histories and how these different entanglements enable an ethically sustainable response for non-violence. In the end, by foregrounding relationality, response, and sustainability, we argue that nurturing sustainable non-violence could be enriched by expanding the focus from individual agency or collective action to the co-constituted conditions of possibilities for response-ability.
Commitment issues: toward an understanding of young people's social media choices in the multi-platform era

Social network sites (SNSs) have become a common part of everyday life for billions of people worldwide. Not everyone uses the same sites, nor are sites functionally equivalent in the eyes of users. Both established platforms and new upstarts may provide novel features or access to new audiences, yet users tend to remain on a few dominant platforms, especially Facebook, the world’s reigning social network site. The goal of the present study is to understand why people are committed to specific social network sites, given that no site encompasses either all of a person’s social connections or all possible gratifications available from online participation. Further, individuals do not always wish to have a single real-name identity for all online interactions, thus implying the necessary use of multiple accounts or sites. To understand SNS commitment, this study employs a mixed-methods research design by combining findings from a survey of 800 respondents with 50 semi-structured interviews. The research focuses on young adults in the UK and their use of four popular SNSs: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Findings indicate that network size has only a marginal effect on commitment, whereas the effect of identity performance is more pronounced, albeit in different ways on different sites. Social and informational gratifications have the strongest effect across all four SNSs, suggesting that commitment is primarily driven by repeated habit-forming experiences. To further help explain SNS commitment, this thesis employs a typology of social media users based on attitudes towards digital technology. It is evident that attitudes explain more variation in commitment than either demographic factors or personality. Qualitative analysis reinforces this finding by showing how users employ specific gratification-based repertoires to determine which sites to use and when. These findings help advance research on affordances, self-presentation and SNS use, while also making practical recommendations for social media platforms.
Characterizing Livestock Production in Portuguese Sown Rainfed Grasslands: Applying the Inverse Approach to a Process-Based Model

Grasslands are a crucial resource that supports animal grazing and provides other ecosystem services. We estimated the main properties of Portuguese sown biodiverse permanent pastures rich in legumes (SBP) starting from measured data for soil organic carbon (SOC) and using the Rothamsted Carbon Model. Starting from a dataset of SOC, aboveground production (AGP) and stocking rates (SR) in SBP, we used an inverse approach to estimate root to shoot (RS) ratios, livestock dung (LD), livestock intake (LI) and the ratio between easily decomposable and resistant plant material. Results for the best fit show that AGP and belowground productivity is approximately the same (RS is equal to 0.96). Animals consume 61% of the AGP, which is within the acceptable range of protein and energy intake. Carbon inputs from dung are also within the range found in the literature (1.53 t C/livestock unit). Inputs from litter are equally distributed between decomposable and resistant material. We applied these parameters in RothC for a dataset from different sites that only comprises SOC to calculate AGP and SR. AGP and SR were consistently lower in this case, because these pastures did not receive adequate technical support. These results highlight the mechanisms for carbon sequestration in SBP.
Influence of maternal stature, pregnancy age, and infant birth weight on growth during childhood in Yucatan, Mexico: A test of the intergenerational effects hypothesis

In developing nations, obesity has increased dramatically in the last decade, but a high prevalence of stunting still coexists. The intergenerational influences hypothesis (IIH) is one explanation for this. We test the IIH regarding variation in maternal stature, mother's age at pregnancy, and infant birth weight in relation to risk for overweight and stunting in 206 Maya children (4–6 years old) from Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico. The Maya children are compared with growth references (Frisancho 2008 : Anthropometric Standards: An Interactive Nutritional Reference of Body Size and Body Composition for Children and Adults. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press. 335 pp) for height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Almost 70% of the mothers are shorter than 150 cm. Mothers' height and child's birth weight predict overweight. Children with a mother shorter than 150 cm are less than half as likely (OR = 0.44) to be overweight compared to children whose mothers are equal to or taller than 150 cm. Children with birth weights below 3,000 g are only a third as likely to be overweight (OR = 0.28) than their peers within the range of normal birth weight (3,000–3,500 g). Sex of the child, mother's height, and birth weight predict stunting. Girls are only 40% as likely as boys to be stunted. Children with a mother below 150 cm are 3.6 times more likely of being stunted. Children with birth weights below 3000 g are over 3 times more likely to be stunted relative to children with birth weights within the normal range. Mother's age at pregnancy is not a predictor of overweight or stunting. Our findings conform the IIH and with similar studies of populations undergoing nutritional/epidemiological transitions from traditional to globalized lifestyles. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of modulated ultrasound parameters on ultrasound-induced thrombolysis

The potential of ultrasound to enhance enzyme-mediated thrombolysis by application of constant operating parameters (COP) has been widely demonstrated. In this study, the effect of ultrasound with modulated operating parameters (MOP) on enzyme-mediated thrombolysis was investigated. The MOP protocol was applied to an in vitro model of thrombolysis. The results were compared to a COP with the equivalent soft tissue thermal index (TIS) over the duration of ultrasound exposure of 30 min (p < 0.14). To explore potential differences in the mechanism responsible for ultrasound-induced thrombolysis, a perfusion model was used to measure changes in average fibrin pore size of clot before, after and during exposure to MOP and COP protocols and cavitational activity was monitored in real time for both protocols using a passive cavitation detection system. The relative lysis enhancement by each COP and MOP protocol compared to alteplase alone yielded values of 33.69 ± 12.09% and 63.89 ± 15.02% in a thrombolysis model, respectively (p < 0.007). Both COP and MOP protocols caused an equivalent significant increase in average clot pore size of 2.09 × 10−2 ± 0.01 µm and 1.99 × 10−2 ± 0.004 µm, respectively (p < 0.74). No signatures of inertial or stable cavitation were observed for either acoustic protocol. In conclusion, due to mechanisms other than cavitation, application of ultrasound with modulated operating parameters has the potential to significantly enhance the relative lysis enhancement compared to application of ultrasound with constant operating parameters.