Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Portable low-coherence interferometer for quantitative phase microscopy of live cells

We present a compact, highly portable and inexpensive interferometric module for obtaining spatial interferograms of microscopic biological samples, without the strict stability and the highly-coherent illumination that are usually required for interferometric microscopy setups. The module is built using off-the-shelf optical elements and can easily operate with low-coherence illumination, while being positioned in the output of a conventional transmission microscope. The interferograms are processed into the quantitative amplitude and phase profiles of the sample. Based on the phase profile, the optical thickness or optical path delay profile of the sample is obtained with temporal and spatial stabilities, at the order of 0.2-0.3 nm. We show several configurations of this interferometer that are suitable for both on-axis and off-axis holographic geometries, and present various experimental results, including imaging live cells in a non-contact label-free manner and transparent elements with nano-scale thickness. Since the interferometer can be connected to the output of a transmission microscope and operate in a simple way, without involvement of an expert user with a knowledge in optics and without complicated alignment prior to every experiment, and still obtain a remarkably high accuracy, we believe that this new setup will make interferometric phase microscopy more accessible and affordable for biologists and clinicians, while significantly broadening its range of applications.
Allopolyploidization and evolution of species with reduced floral structures in Lepidium L. (Brassicaceae)

Understanding the pattern of speciation in a group of plants is critical for understanding its morphological evolution. Lepidium is the genus with the largest variation in floral structure in Brassicaceae, a family in which the floral ground plan is remarkably stable. However, flowers in more than half of Lepidium species have reduced stamen numbers, and most of these also have reduced petals. The species with reduced flowers are geographically biased, distributed mostly in the Americas and Australia/ New Zealand. Previous phylogenetic studies using noncoding regions of chloroplast DNA and rDNA internal transcribed spacer were incongruent in most New World species relationships. These data, combined with the presence of many polyploid Lepidium species, implied a reticulate history of the genus but did not provide enough information to infer the evolutionary pattern of flower structures. To address this question more thoroughly, sequences of the first intron of a single copy nuclear gene, PISTILLATA, were determined from 43 species. Phylogenetic analysis of the PI intron suggests that many species in the New World have originated from allopolyploidization, and that this is correlated with floral reduction. Interspecific hybrids were generated to understand why allopolyploidization is associated with reduced flowers. The phenotypes of F1 flowers indicate allelic dominance of the absence of lateral stamens, suggesting that propagation of dominant alleles through interspecific hybridization could account for the abundance of the allopolyploid species without lateral stamens.
Heart function and hemodynamic analysis for zebrafish embryos

The Zebrafish has emerged to become a powerful vertebrate animal model for cardiovascular research in recent years. Its advantages include easy genetic manipulation, transparency, small size, low cost, and the ability to survive without active circulation at early stages of development. Sequencing the whole genome and identifying ortholog genes with human genome made it possible to induce clinically relevant cardiovascular defects via genetic approaches. Heart function and disturbed hemodynamics need to be assessed in a reliable manner for these disease models in order to reveal the mechanobiology of induced defects. This effort requires precise determination of blood flow patterns as well as hemodynamic stress (i.e., wall shear stress and pressure) levels within the developing heart. While traditional approach involves time‐lapse brightfield microscopy to track cell and tissue movements, in more recent studies fast light‐sheet fluorescent microscopes are utilized for that purpose. Integration of more complicated techniques like particle image velocimetry and computational fluid dynamics modeling for hemodynamic analysis holds a great promise to the advancement of the Zebrafish studies. Here, we discuss the latest developments in heart function and hemodynamic analysis for Zebrafish embryos and conclude with our future perspective on dynamic analysis of the Zebrafish cardiovascular system. Developmental Dynamics 246:868–880, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT FOR RETIREMENT SAVERS: HISTORICAL EVIDENCE ON RISK AND RETURNS

An important decision facing retirement savers is how to allocate their savings across different assets. The decision includes the choice of how to divide investments between domestic and foreign holdings. This study uses return data for 1927-2005 to determine whether cross-border investing in the past would have been advantageous to retirement savers in eight large industrialized countries. By assumption investors can buy mutual fund shares in index funds for stocks and bonds in their home country and in any of seven foreign countries. The mutual funds’ foreign holdings are not hedged to protect investors against currency fluctuations. The paper’s goal is to determine whether workers in the eight countries would have obtained higher expected retirement incomes, with smaller risk of catastrophic investment shortfalls, if they invested part of their retirement savings in foreign stocks and bonds. Consistent with past theoretical and empirical findings, the results show that workers could have improved expected financial performance by investing in foreign as well as domestic equities. Remarkably, retirement savers in nearly all countries would have obtained higher average pensions with a 100% foreign allocation than with a 100% domestic allocation, even if they followed extremely naive strategies in allocating equity investments across different foreign markets. For retirement savers in most countries, though not the United States, naive overseas investment strategies would also have reduced the risk of catastrophically poor investment performance. In all countries, retirement savers who selected a global portfolio allocation along the efficient frontier could obtain better average pensions with lower risk of very small pensions than savers who restrict their investments to the domestic stock and bond funds.
Sustainability Supply Chain Management Research

Nachhaltigkeit verstanden als Gleichgewicht ökonomischer, ökologischer und sozialer Ziele nimmt nicht nur einen zentralen Stellenwert im Rahmen strategischer Unternehmensentscheidungen ein, sondern wird mehr und mehr als Weg „from good to great“ verstanden. Berücksichtigt man die wachsende Bedeutung von Outsourcing-Aktivitäten sowie einer häufig komplexen und heterogenen Fremdfertigung, ist eine nachhaltige Ausrichtung nicht nur an die Unternehmens-, sondern unweigerlich an die Supply Chain-Ebene geknüpft. Das Zusammenwachsen dieser beiden noch relativ jungen Managementkonzepte wurde bislang kaum in der Forschung berücksichtigt. Zudem stellt sich das Forschungsumfeld stark fragmentiert dar, da sich unterschiedlichste Forschungsrichtungen mit „Sustainability SCM“ auseinandersetzen. Diese Arbeit hat das Ziel das Forschungsfeld „Sustainability SCM“ zu strukturieren. Dazu werden 223 Artikel aus 60 international relevanten Zeitschriften der Jahre 1987-2010 analysiert. Die Literaturanalyse umfasst sowohl deskriptive Charakteristika, wie die zeitliche und methodische Entwicklung des Forschungsfeldes, als auch die inhaltliche Entwicklung. In diesem Zusammenhang wird der Fokus bisheriger Nachhaltigkeitsuntersuchungen analysiert, Forschungslücken aufgezeigt und Handlungsempfehlungen für zukünftige Forschungsarbeiten abgeleitet.
A new wireless network approach for high speed communication services

Future wireless communication systems will consist of at least one network with anywhere/anytime coverage supplemented by limited coverage networks offering high speed communication services with low cost per transmitted bit, and using low power consumption portable terminals. In this paper a new system architecture for limited coverage wireless communication networks, called Intermitstations, is proposed. An Intermitstations system consists of two or more nonoverlapping Infostations systems operating intermittently. That is, Infostations systems do not work simultaneously, instead they operate sequentially. Each Infostations system works periodically during a fixed time period. Due to their configuration flexibility, Intermitstations systems are intended to provide wireless communication services in a variety of different environments, including highways and hot spots located mainly in urban areas. Also, in this paper, the coverage delay in both Infostations and Intermitstations systems is mathematically analyzed. It is shown that Intermitsations can greatly decrease coverage delay relative to the Infostations architecture.
Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 deficiency suppresses unloading‐induced bone loss

Mechanosensing is one of the crucial components of the biological events. In bone, as observed in unloading‐induced osteoporosis in bed ridden patients, mechanical stress determines the levels of bone mass. Many molecules have been suggested to be involved in sensing mechanical stress in bone, while the full pathways for this event has not yet been identified. We examined the role of TRPV4 in unloading‐induced bone loss. Hind limb unloading induced osteopenia in wild‐type mice. In contrast, TRPV4 deficiency suppressed such unloading‐induced bone loss. As underlying mechanism for such effects, TRPV4 deficiency suppressed unloading‐induced reduction in the levels of mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate. In these mice, unloading‐induced increase in the number of osteoclasts in the primary trabecular bone was suppressed by TRPV4 deficiency. Unloading‐induced reduction in the longitudinal length of primary trabecular bone was also suppressed by TRPV4 deficiency. TRPV4 protein is expressed in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. These results indicated that TRPV4 plays a critical role in unloading‐induced bone loss. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 47–53, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of risk disclosure in Spanish firms

Despite the advantages of reporting on business risks and the existence of a growing demand for information, risk reporting within firms is still reduced. The present work describes briefly the main aspects related to the problematic of risk reporting and analyses the relation between corporate variables and risks disclosed by firms. Information on risks has been collected from the annual reports of 27 Spanish firms for the years 2009 and 2010. After different regression analysis to contrast hypothesis stated before, significant relations have been found out between risks disclosure and corporate variables such as profitability or level of risk.
The Significant Pathways and Genes Underlying the Colon Cancer Treatment by the Traditional Chinese Medicine PHY906

Background We attempted to explore the molecular mechanism underlying PHY906 intervention of colon cancer. Methods The microarray data of tumors treated by PHY906 and PBS alone were downloaded from the public Gene Expression Omnibus database. The dataset was further analyzed for the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their related biological functions were analyzed, followed by function and pathways. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and the significant nodes were screened by network centralities and then the significant modules analysis. Besides, they were clustered and transcriptional factors (TFs) were predicted. Results The gene expression patterns changed induced by PHY906 treatment, including 414 upregulated and 337 downregulated DEGs. The biological process of response to steroid hormone stimulus and regulation of interferon-gamma production were significantly enriched by DEGs. Ezh2 (enhancer of zeste 2) was found to be the key node in PPI network. There are 12 significant TFs predicted for module 1 genes and 3 TFs for module 2 genes. Conclusions PHY906 treatment may function in protecting the epithelial barrier against tumor cell invasion by modulating IFN-γ level and mediating cancer cell death by activating the response to steroid hormone stimulus and activating the response to steroid hormone stimulus. E2f1, Hsfy2, and Nfyb may be therapeutic targets for colon cancer. PHY906 showed treatment efficacy in modulating cell apoptosis by intervening interferon-gamma production and response to steroid hormone stimulus. Ezh2 and its TFs such as E2f1, Hsfy2, and Nfyb may be the potential therapeutic targets for anticancer agents development.
Nanoscale control of unbound and bound states of fullerene C60 molecules for ultradense data storage

The molecular-scale control of unbound and bound states of fullerene C60 molecules has been investigated. We demonstrate that an ultrathin film of C60 molecules and the use of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) realize excellent controllability of reversible switching between the unbound and bound states of C60 molecules at room temperature (RT). One of the two chemical states of C60 molecules can be selectively realized by changing the polarity of the electric field between the STM tip and the C60 film. This methodology for the chemical manipulation of unbound and bound states enables the writing, erasing, and rewriting of binary data in a C60 film with a density of 190 Tbit/inch2 at RT.
Usefulness of positron emission tomography with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose for predicting outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVES:The present study was designed to assess the usefulness of positron emission tomography with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) for predicting outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.METHODS:FDG-PET was performed in 48 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. For quantitative evaluation, a region of interest (ROI) was placed over the area of maximum activity within the lesion. A background ROI was then placed over the nontumor region of the liver. The average activity within each ROI was subsequently corrected for radioactive decay, and the standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated by dividing the tissue activity by the injected dose of radioactivity per unit body weight. SUV ratio was expressed as the tumor-to-nontumor ratio of the SUV.RESULTS:The tumor-volume doubling time, as index of the growth rate of hepatocellular carcinoma, correlated significantly with SUV ratio but did not correlate with SUV. On the basis of the SUV ratio, the patients were divided into two groups of similar size: group A, SUV ratio of ≤1.5; and group B, SUV ratio >1.5. The cumulative survival rate was significantly lower in group B than in group A. On the basis of the SUV, the patients were divided into two groups of roughly equal size: group C, ≤SUV 2.6; and group D, >SUV 2.6. The cumulative survival rate was similar in these groups. On regression analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model, the SUV ratio and tumor number were significantly related to survival.CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest that FDG-PET is useful not only for the evaluation of the malignancy of hepatocellular carcinoma but also for the prediction of outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Identification of a Bacillus subtilis spo0H allele that is necessary for suppression of the sporulation-defective phenotype of a spo0A mutation

A mutation in Bacillus subtilis spo0A codon 97 suppressed the sporulation defect caused by the spo0A9V mutation. The suppressor activity of the codon 97 mutation was evident only in the presence of a novel spo0H allele. Our results suggest that the spo0A gene product interacts with the sigma factor subunit of RNA polymerase.
Diagnostic performance of computed tomography colonography in symptomatic patients and in patients with increased risk for colorectal disease

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance (colorectal lesions) of computed tomography (CT) colonography in 111 patients, a majority of whom were at high risk for colorectal neoplasia. Material and Methods: After bowel preparation, CT colonography was performed, immediately followed by conventional colonoscopy. The diagnostic performance of CT colonography was analyzed relative to lesion size, histological diagnosis, and diagnostic certainty. Results: The sensitivity of CT colonography increased with lesion size (P<0.001), and was 91% (21/23) for lesions ⩾10 mm. All 10 carcinomas and 86% (19/22) of adenomas ⩾5 mm were detected. Unconfirmed or false-positive CT findings were generally small and/or reported with low diagnostic certainty. The specificity of CT colonography would be 45% (30/66; 95% CI 34% to 57%) if patients with findings of any size and any diagnostic certainty were selected for follow-up, and 92% (85/92; 95% CI 85% to 96%) if only patients with CT findings ⩾10 mm classified as certain were selected. Conclusion: CT colonography had a high sensitivity for lesions ⩾5 mm. The diagnostic performance increased with lesion size and degree of diagnostic certainty, and was higher for adenomas.
Towards Self-Managing Demand Side Management

E cient energy management is considered as the most important resource for future energy needs and for continuation of human progress. One of the most promising methods to optimize electric energy, the largest energy saving component in future, is planning the consumption to maximize the throughput of energy or demand side management (DSM). Since domestic consumers contribute up to 50% of electric demand, it is important that their demand is managed in an optimal way. However, implementing DSM for domestic consumers is a complex and human intensive task. Doe to these reasons, the state of the art DSM systems for domestic consumers have only realized 5% savings according to surveys. In this thesis we present a self-managing demand side management infrastructure to handle the complexities and reduce dependence on the human operators while managing demand for optimal distribution of energy. This self-managing DSM is composed of three components. First component is short term load forecasting to predict the household energy needs for the next 24 hours. The complexity of this task stems from the volatility of the individual home energy consumption patterns. To resolve this we show that through an innovative forecasting modeling paradigm and use of anthropologic and structural data we can increase our forecast accuracy by as much as 50%. The Second component of our self-managing DSM is load disaggregation mechanism. This mechanism identi es the devices which can be managed for optimal scheduling. We show that we can disaggregate the loads with only 3% error. The third component is the planning algorithm. Since scheduling the devices is an NP-complete problem, an exact solution for many typical scenarios is not feasible. We rst present an aggregating mechanism to convert the scheduling problem from binary decision to frequency domain and then solve the optimization problem with a bounded error caused by the transformation. Furthermore, since the size of the problem varies over time, to maximize the exactness of the solution and reduce the bounded error wherever possible we present Adaptable Optimization or AdOpt. AdOpt gracefully scales the system leveraging exactness of the solution against the time of computation to deliver the best possible plan. Our results show that the combination of the three techniques can result in up to 30% reduction in peak power under varied operational conditions.
Robust inferences of travel paths from GPS trajectories

Monitoring and predicting traffic conditions are of utmost importance in reacting to emergency events in time and for computing the real-time shortest travel-time path. Mobile sensors, such as GPS devices and smartphones, are useful for monitoring urban traffic due to their large coverage area and ease of deployment. Many researchers have employed such sensed data to model and predict traffic conditions. To do so, we first have to address the problem of associating GPS trajectories with the road network in a robust manner. Existing methods rely on point-by-point matching to map individual GPS points to a road segment. However, GPS data is imprecise due to noise in GPS signals. GPS coordinates can have errors of several meters and, therefore, direct mapping of individual points is error prone. Acknowledging that every GPS point is potentially noisy, we propose a radically different approach to overcome inaccuracy in GPS data. Instead of focusing on a point-by-point approach, our proposed method considers the set of relevant GPS points in a trajectory that can be mapped together to a road segment. This clustering approach gives us a macroscopic view of the GPS trajectories even under very noisy conditions. Our method clusters points based on the direction of movement as a spatial-linear cluster, ranks the possible route segments in the graph for each group, and searches for the best combination of segments as the overall path for the given set of GPS points. Through extensive experiments on both synthetic and real datasets, we demonstrate that, even with highly noisy GPS measurements, our proposed algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of both accuracy and computational cost.
The implementation of an electronic survey tool to help determine the information needs of a knowledge-based organization

One of the most difficult aspects of deriving an information management plan for a large knowledge‐based enterprise is to determine what information people require to do their various tasks as well as help them expand and update their existing knowledge. Achieving this goal can be time consuming. To speed up and yet effectively define information needs, an electronic survey tool was designed to survey the employees of a large government organization. This paper concentrates on the development and implementation of the electronic survey including survey preparation, distribution, data collection and processing, and data analysis and evaluation. Practical, tested, guidelines are included. In addition, alternative means, tools and techniques to conduct the electronic survey are discussed.