Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fundamentals and Applications of Quantum Limited Optical Imaging

The field of optical imaging is focussed on techniques to extract useful information about a physical system from the spatial structure of light. There are two main themes to research in this field, the resolving of previously unknown structures ranging in size from microns in microscopy to distant galaxies in astronomical telescopy; or if the structure is selected from an a priori known set, then its unique discrimination, such as in data read-out from a CD or DVD. In general, both types of imaging involve the collection and focusing of light after interaction with the object. However, the process of information extraction can be quite different. In resolving an unknown structure, a full two dimensional image is usually desired. Here, the metric of success is generally the resolution of the final image. In most cases diffraction is the key concern, presenting the diffraction limit to the resolution of the final image as approximated by Abbe (Born & Wolf, 1999). There are ways to overcome this limit, such as by utilising non-linearities (Hell et al., 2009), or using metamaterials (Pendry, 2000) to form so called superlenses, and this is a vibrant and growing area of research. The focus of this Chapter, however, is on the second theme of imaging, discrimination between a set of known structures. As we will see, this form of imaging is important, not only for read-out of information from data storage devices, but also in other areas such as microscopy (Fabre et al., 2000; Tay et al., 2009) and satellite navigation (Arnon, 1998; Nikulin et al., 2001). In structure discrimination, the goal is not to achieve a two dimensional image, but rather to generate a signal which unambiguously distinguishes each element of the set. Hence, the diffraction limit and other constraints on imaging resolution are no longer the primary concern, but rather the signal-to-noise ratio with which the discrimination may be performed. To maximise the signal the optical measurement must be matched carefully to the set of structures to be discriminated; whereas the noise typically comes from electronic, environmental, and optical sources. Much engineering effort has been applied to minimising the noise sources for important imaging systems; however, fundamentally the quantisation of light imposes the quantum noise limit (QNL) which is outside of engineering control. In this Chapter we consider a general imaging system, and show how the optical mode carrying full signal information may be determined. We introduce spatial homodyne detection (Beck, 2000; Hsu et al., 2004) as a method to optimally extract this signal, showing
Effect of mouthwash and accelerated aging on the color stability of esthetic restorative materials.

PURPOSE To evaluate the color stability of esthetic restorative materials after immersion in mouthwashes and accelerated aging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Compomers and resin-based composites (RBC) were measured at baseline and repeatedly after immersion in three kinds of mouthwash (Listerine, Peridex, Rembrandt Age Defying) for 24 hrs and 7 days, and after aging for 150 kJ/m2. Color was measured according to CIE L*a*b* color scale on a reflection spectrophotometer. RESULTS After immersion for 7 days, the mouthwash groups did not produce significantly higher color changes than the distilled water group, except with some mouthwashes used with Tetric-Ceram. After immersion for 7 days and aging for 150 kJ/m2, the mouthwash groups did not produce significantly higher color changes than the distilled water group. Aging in weathering chamber produced color change (deltaE*) of 1.1-3.9, which was mainly influenced by the material. With some exceptions, the color changes from immersion of the RBCs and compomers in mouthwashes were not perceptible (deltaE*<3.3).
Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature

Perspectivas e o que temos, quer se discuta o texto quer se discuta o cibertexto. Dizia Ricoeur que o texto como um todo singular se pode comparar a um objecto, visto de varios lados mas nunca de todos, simultaneamente. Decidimos sempre olhar de um certo modo. Ora, estamos num tempo em que do dia para a noite varias propostas, novas perspectivas, novas formas de textualidade emergem. Necessita-se para isso de uma terminologia mais consistente do que as formas que ocorrem.
The oncogenic potential of autocrine human growth hormone in breast cancer.

Given the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer, the identity and role of factors promoting this process are of major health significance, and the study by Mukhina et al. (1) in this issue of PNAS provides such a factor. The important role of estrogens in breast cancer is exemplified by the clinical value of antiestrogens and aromatase inhibitors and by the utility of estrogen receptor status in determining patient prognosis. Increased Her2/Neu expression in estrogen receptornegative patients is an indicator of poor prognosis associated with metastasis, and it has resulted in the development of a clinically useful monoclonal antibody directed to the extracellular domain of HER2, Trastuzumab (Herceptin). HER2 status also provides a useful indicator of the response of breast cancer to other therapies such as topoisomerase inhibitors and anthracyclines. The paralog of the HER2 ligand, heregulin, epidermal growth factor, is an important mammary gland developmental factor, as is estrogen. One might therefore predict that other key hormones and growth factors regulating mammary gland development would be candidate promoters for breast cancer. For example, growth hormone (GH) has important roles in ductal elongation and the differentiation of ductal epithelia into terminal end buds, whereas prolactin is necessary for normal lobular epithelial cell proliferation and secretory function. Attention has focused on prolactin as a potential breast tumor promoter because it was early shown to act in this way with rat mammary carcinomas (2), and overexpression of prolactin in mammary tissue induces tumors in mice (3). The situation in human breast cancer is not so clear, because both prolactin and GH are able to activate the prolactin receptor in humans, and the homologous GH and prolactin receptors activate very similar signaling pathways. These class 1 cytokine receptors activate not only the Janus kinase 2 and signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (JAK2/STAT5) and JAK2/STAT3 pathways, but also Src family kinases, leading to phospholipase C γ, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) pathway activation. These pathways are capable of increasing cell proliferation, survival, and motility, and ERK activation has been implicated in metastasis. However, there is a relatively poor correlation between circulating prolactin and GH levels in breast cancer incidence and progression, and the data supporting an increased incidence of breast cancer in acromegaly are controversial (4). The latter increase, together with the elevated colon cancer and thyroid nodule risk in acromegaly, has been viewed as resulting from increased free plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 being the mediator of the somatotrophic actions of GH. Indeed, there is good correlative evidence in large populations for a relationship between free IGF-1 and breast cancer risk (4). The finding that pituitary-GH-deficient dwarf rats with low circulating IGF-1 are resistant to carcinogen-induced mammary cancer supports this view (5).
Design of a tumbling robot that jumps and tumbles for rough terrain

In obstacle-dense environments and uneven terrain, tumbling and jumping are efficient modes of locomotion for small robots. A miniature robot with hybrid motion patterns of tumbling and jumping for these environments and terrain is presented in this paper. The robot is 15cm long, 12cm wide, 4cm high, and 260g in weight with two 10cm long arms. The jumping energy is stored by using a reduction gearbox-cable mechanism to compress four torsion springs and stretch two tension springs. The robot jumps when the stored energy is released by an incomplete gear of the gearbox. The tumbling mechanism is symmetric with respect to the left and right of the body. With the tumbling mechanism, the robot can easily adjust its take-off angle when jumping. The jumping and tumbling mechanism are analyzed. Detailed implementation and experimental results are also given in this paper. The proposed robot can jump more than 53 cm high at a take-off angle of 80.54° and walk forward at a speed of 7.27cm/s.
Highly Efficient Phosphopeptide Enrichment by Calcium Phosphate Precipitation Combined with Subsequent IMAC Enrichment*S

A new method for enrichment of phosphopeptides in complex mixtures derived by proteolytic digestion of biological samples has been developed. The method is based on calcium phosphate precipitation of the phosphopeptides prior to further enrichment with established affinity enrichment methods. Calcium phosphate precipitation combined with phosphopeptide enrichment using Fe(III) IMAC provided highly selective enrichment of phosphopeptides. Application of the method to a complex peptide sample derived from rice embryo resulted in more than 90% phosphopeptides in the enriched sample as determined by mass spectrometry. Introduction of a two-step IMAC enrichment procedure after calcium phosphate precipitation resulted in observation of an increased number of phosphopeptides.
Discovering Business Models for Software Process Management - An Approach for Integrating Time and Resource Perspectives from Legacy Information Systems

Business Process Management (BPM) is becoming the modern core to support business in all type of organizations and software business is not an exception. Software companies are often involved in important and complex collaborative projects carried out by many stakeholders. Each actor (customers, suppliers or government instances, among others) works with individual and shared processes. Everyone needs dynamic and evolving approaches for managing their software projects lifecycle. Nevertheless, many companies still use systems that are out of the scope of BPM for planning and control projects and managing enterprise content (Enterprise Content Management, ECM) as well as all kinds of resources (ERP). Somehow systems include scattered artifacts that are related to BPM perspectives: control and data flow, time, resource and case, for example. It is aimed to get interoperable BPM models from these classical Legacy Information Systems (LIS). Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) allows going from application code to higher-level of abstraction models. Particularly, there are standards and proposals for reverse engineering LIS. This paper illustrates LIS cases for software project planning and ECM, looking at time and resource perspectives. To conclude, we will propose a MDE-based approach for taking out business models in the context of software process management.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Uganda genotype is the predominant cause of TB in Kampala, Uganda.

SETTING Rubaga Division, Kampala, Uganda. OBJECTIVE To use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based regions of difference (RD) analysis to study the species diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from a community-based sample of tuberculosis (TB) patients from Rubaga and to perform long sequence polymorphism (LSP) analysis to further characterise the M. tuberculosis Uganda genotype, a group of strains previously recognised by their characteristic spoligotype patterns. DESIGN For the present study, 344 consecutive TB patients attending clinics in Rubaga Division were enrolled. Sample processing and culture were performed at the National Tuberculosis and Reference Laboratory and molecular assays at Makerere Medical School. Species identification was achieved by determining the RDs, while spoligotyping and LSP analysis were performed to characterise the M. tuberculosis Uganda genotype. RESULTS Of the 344 isolates, 343 (99.7%) were M. tuberculosis sensu stricto, while one was classical M. bovis. The Uganda genotype strains characteristically lacked RD724, a locus that defines one of the major sub-lineages of M. tuberculosis, which suggested that this geographically constrained lineage is specifically adapted to a central African human host population. CONCLUSION M. tuberculosis is the most prevalent species of the M. tuberculosis complex in Kampala, and the Uganda genotype is the predominant strain.
A Comparison of Rough Set Methods and Representative Inductive Learning Algorithms

Rough set theory is a kind of new tool to deal with knowledge, particularly when knowledge is imprecise, inconsistent and incomplete. In this paper, the main techniques of inductive machine learning are united to the knowledge reduction theory based on rough sets from the theoretical point of view. The Monk's problems introduced in the early of nineties are resolved again employing rough sets and their results are analyzed and compared with those of that time. As far as accuracy and conciseness are concerned, the learning algorithms based on rough sets have remarkable superiority.
Widespread Sensory Hypersensitivity Is Not a Feature of Chronic Headache in Elders

ObjectivesTo investigate if hypersensitivity is present in elders with pain. Chronic headache was used as a model of chronic pain and mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were measured. MethodsNinety-three people with headache and 44 control individuals participated in the study. Headache patients completed a headache questionnaire. Pressure pain thresholds were measured over the forehead, upper neck, and at a remote site (tibialis anterior). Heat and cold pain thresholds were measured over the upper neck. ResultsIn the headache group, 26 had headaches classifiable as migraine, 10 with tension-type, 24 with cervicogenic, and 33 headaches were unclassifiable. There were no significant differences between the headache groups and controls in pressure and cold pain thresholds (all P>0.05). Heat pain thresholds were significantly lower in the headache groups (all P<0.01) but there were no differences between headache types (all P>0.05). No strong relationships were found between any headache variables and pain thresholds. DiscussionCentral hyperexcitability does not seem to be a feature of elders with headache. This may be as a consequence of age-related changes in the sensory system but could also be related to the nature of the stimulus provided. Further research in this area is required to better understand pain processing in elders.
The Canaries: an important biogeographical meeting place

We were delighted on two counts to be able to act as the conveners of the third biennial meeting of the International Biogeography Society (IBS) in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife in January 2007. First, the conference facilities generously provided for our use by the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife made an excellent venue for the free-flowing discussion with colleagues old and new that is the hallmark of a good academic meeting, while the symposia and poster presentations alike were of a uniformly high standard. In short, it was acknowledged by those attending to be a thoroughly successful meeting, which showed biogeography to be a dynamic and exciting discipline and demonstrated that the still recent initiative of launching the IBS in 2000 was long overdue. Second, holding the meeting in the Canary Islands provided an opportunity to bring the archipelago to the attention of the biogeographical community, hopefully generating wider interest in the biogeography, ecology, evolution and conservation of the wonderful diversity of ecosystems and species found within the archipelago. This brief introduction is divided into two parts. First, we provide a brief comment focused on the content of this Special Issue, and second, we provide a short overview of the special biogeographical setting of the Canary Islands, emphasizing the pressures on the natural environment today and some of the measures in place for the conservation of nature within the archipelago.
Haploinsufficiency of Runx1/AML1 promotes myeloid features and leukaemogenesis in BXH2 mice

Haploinsufficiency of RUNX1/AML1 is associated with familial platelet disorder with a predisposition to acute myeloid leukaemia (FPD/AML), but the causal relationship remains to be addressed experimentally. Mice heterozygous for the Runx1 null mutation, Runx1+/−, are considered to be genetically comparable with human FPD/AML patients but do not develop spontaneous leukaemia. To induce additional genetic alterations, retroviral insertional mutagenesis was employed with the use of BXH2 mice, which develop myeloid leukaemia because of the random integration of retrovirus present in the mouse. Heterozygous disruption of Runx1 in BXH2 mice resulted in a shortening of the latency period of leukaemia. In addition, BXH2‐Runx1+/− mice exhibited more marked myeloid features than control mice. Moreover, the c‐Kit gene, mutated in human RUNX leukaemias, was recurrently activated in BXH2‐Runx1+/− mice, and a colony‐forming assay revealed synergism between the Runx1+/− status and c‐KIT overexpression. In conclusion, the BXH2‐Runx1+/− system is a promising mouse model to investigate the mechanism of leukaemogenesis in FPD/AML.
Cervix cancer screening guideline judgments are not explicit and transparent.

Achim Schneider, MD, MPH Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology Campus Benjamin Franklin and Mitte Berlin, Germany Evrim Erdemoglu, MD Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology Campus Benjamin Franklin and Mitte Berlin, Germany Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology Suleyman Demirel University Isparta, Turkey Giuseppe Filiberto Vercellino Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology Campus Benjamin Franklin and Mitte Berlin, Germany
A Role for the F-Box Protein HAWAIIAN SKIRT in Plant microRNA Function1[OPEN]

HAWAIIAN SKIRT is a cofactor for Arabidopsis thaliana microRNA function and acts in an F-box-dependent manner. As regulators of gene expression in multicellular organisms, microRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial for growth and development. Although a plethora of factors involved in their biogenesis and action in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) has been described, these processes and their fine-tuning are not fully understood. Here, we used plants expressing an artificial miRNA target mimic (MIM) to screen for negative regulators of miR156. We identified a new mutant allele of the F-box gene HAWAIIAN SKIRT (HWS; At3G61590), hws-5, as a suppressor of the MIM156-induced developmental and molecular phenotypes. In hws plants, levels of some endogenous miRNAs are increased and their mRNA targets decreased. Plants constitutively expressing full-length HWS—but not a truncated version lacking the F-box domain—display morphological and molecular phenotypes resembling those of mutants defective in miRNA biogenesis and activity. In combination with such mutants, hws loses its delayed floral organ abscission (“skirt”) phenotype, suggesting epistasis. Also, the hws transcriptome profile partially resembles those of well-known miRNA mutants hyl1-2, se-3, and ago1-27, pointing to a role in a common pathway. We thus propose HWS as a novel, F-box dependent factor involved in miRNA function.
Phylogeography of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus): how many populations and how many taxa?

To resolve the population genetic structure and phylogeography of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), mitochondrial (mt) DNA control region sequences were compared among eight locations across the western Atlantic region. Fifteen haplotypes were identified among 86 individuals from Florida, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. Despite the manatee’s ability to move thousands of kilometres along continental margins, strong population separations between most locations were demonstrated with significant haplotype frequency shifts. These findings are consistent with tagging studies which indicate that stretches of open water and unsuitable coastal habitats constitute substantial barriers to gene flow and colonization. Low levels of genetic diversity within Florida and Brazilian samples might be explained by recent colonization into high latitudes or bottleneck effects. Three distinctive mtDNA lineages were observed in an intraspecific phylogeny of T. manatus, corresponding approximately to: (i) Florida and the West Indies; (ii) the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean rivers of South America; and (iii) the northeast Atlantic coast of South America. These lineages, which are not concordant with previous subspecies designations, are separated by sequence divergence estimates of d = 0.04–0.07, approximately the same level of divergence observed between T. manatus and the Amazonian manatee (T. inunguis, n = 16). Three individuals from Guyana, identified as T. manatus, had mtDNA haplotypes which are affiliated with the endemic Amazon form T. inunguis. The three primary T. manatus lineages and the T. inunguis lineage may represent relatively deep phylogeographic partitions which have been bridged recently due to changes in habitat availability (after the Wisconsin glacial period, 10 000 BP), natural colonization, and human‐mediated transplantation.
Identification of a Novel Two-Component System in Streptococcus gordonii V288 Involved in Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT Streptococcus gordonii is a pioneer colonizer of the teeth, contributing to the initiation of the oral biofilm called dental plaque. To identify genes that may be important in biofilm formation, a plasmid integration library of S. gordonii V288 was used. After screening for in vitro biofilm formation on polystyrene, a putative biofilm-defective mutant was isolated. In this mutant, pAK36 was inserted into a locus encoding a novel two-component system (bfr [biofilm formation related]) with two cotranscribed genes that form an operon. bfrA encodes a putative response regulator, while bfrB encodes a receptor histidine kinase. The bfr mutant and wild-type strain V288 showed similar growth rates in Todd-Hewitt broth (THB). A bfr-cat fusion strain was constructed. During growth in THB, the reporter activity (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) was first detected in mid-log phase and reached a maximum in stationary phase, suggesting that transcription of bfr was growth stage dependent. After being harvested from THB, the bfr mutant adhered less effectively than did wild-type strain V288 to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA). To simulate pioneer colonization of teeth, S. gordonii V288 was incubated with sHA for 4 h in THB with 10% saliva to develop biofilms. RNA was isolated, and expression of bfrAB was estimated. In comparison to that of cells grown in suspension (free-growing cells), bfr mRNA expression by sessile cells on sHA was 1.8-fold greater and that by surrounding planktonic cells was 3.5-fold greater. Therefore, bfrAB is a novel two-component system regulated in association with S. gordonii biofilm formation in vitro.
A Modified Posteromedial Approach Combined With Extensile Anterior for the Treatment of Complex Tibial Pilon Fractures (AO/OTA 43-C)

Summary: The anterior approaches that have been described for open reduction internal fixation of multifragmentary pilon fractures are designed to reconstruct the comminuted and impacted anterior articular surface onto a stable posterior column. Thus, reduction of the posterior column, particularly proper length, is critical. There are differing opinions of how best to surgically approach the posterior pilon fracture. There is also no clear indication as to the timing of both anterior and posterior reconstructions. Our objectives were (1) to develop a more midline posterior approach that might provide better visualization of the posterior aspect of the posterior column and juxtametaphyseal/diaphyseal parts of the tibia, first on the cadaver and then with patients, and (2) to use this as part of a combined posterior and anterior approach during the same anesthesia for complex tibial pilon fractures (AO/OTA 43-C) in a preliminary study of 6 patients.