Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of focal ratio degradation in optical fibres for astronomical instrumentation

A differential method was used to investigate the focal ratio degradation (FRD) exhibited by, and throughput of, a selection of current-generation optical fibres. These fibres were tested to establish which would be best suited to feed the High Resolution Spectrograph being built for the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), as well as for future instruments on WIYN and SALT. The double re-imaging system of Bershady et al. (2004) was substantially modified to improve image quality and measurement efficiency, and to permit a direct FRD-measurement in the far-field. The re-imaging method compares the beam profile produced by light which passes through a fibre to that which does not. Broad and intermediate band-pass filters were used between 400-800 nm to test for wavelength dependence in the observed FRD over a wide range in beam-speeds. Our results continue to be at odds with a mico-bend model for FRD. We conclude that the new Polymicro FBP fibre is the most suitable product for broadband applications.
Performance Test of an 8 kA @ 10-T 4.2-K ReBCO-CORC Cable

CERN is developing high-current ReBCO conductor on round core (CORC) cables for application in future detector and accelerator magnets. A characterization test on a ReBCO-CORC cable sample and its joints is performed in the 10-T FRESCA cable test facility at CERN. The sample is taken from the first 12-m-long CORC production. Key is the characterization of the field- and temperature-dependent critical currents of the CORC cable at 1.9 K and 4.2 K. Secondary objectives include evaluating the response of the CORC cable to quenches and the performance of cylindrical low resistive cable terminals especially designed and manufactured for use on CORC cables. The 7.6-mm CORC cable features 8 kA at 4.2 K and 10 T, and the joint terminals show a 25 ± 5 - nΩ resistance for 20-cm length.
Accurate and Efficient Floating Point Summation

We present and analyze several simple algorithms for accurately computing the sum of n floating point numbers using a wider accumulator. Let f and F be the number of significant bits in the summands and the accumulator, respectively. Then assuming gradual underflow, no overflow, and round-to-nearest arithmetic, up to approximately 2F-f numbers can be added accurately by simply summing the terms in decreasing order of exponents, yielding a sum correct to within about 1.5 units in the last place (ulps). We apply this result to the floating point formats in the IEEE floating point standard. For example, a dot product of single precision vectors of length at most 33 computed using double precision and sorting is guaranteed correct to nearly 1.5 ulps. If double-extended precision is used, the vector length can be as large as 65,537. We also investigate how the cost of sorting can be reduced or eliminated while retaining accuracy.
Perception of age in adult Caucasian male faces: computer graphic manipulation of shape and colour information

This study investigated visual cues to age by using facial composites which blend shape and colour information from multiple faces. Baseline measurements showed that perceived age of adult male faces is on average an accurate index of their chronological age over the age range 20-60 years. Composite images were made from multiple images of different faces by averaging face shape and then blending red, green and blue intensity (RGB colour) across comparable pixels. The perceived age of these composite or blended images depended on the age bracket of the component faces. Blended faces were, however, rated younger than their component faces, a trend that became more marked with increased component age. The techniques used provide an empirical definition of facial changes with age that are biologically consistent across a sample population. The perceived age of a blend of old faces was increased by exaggerating the RGB colour differences of each pixel relative to a blend of young faces. This effect on perceived age was not attributable to enhanced contrast or colour saturation. Age-related visual cues defined from the differences between blends of young and old faces were applied to individual faces. These transformations increased perceived age.
Temperature sensitivity of circadian clocks is conserved across Drosophila species melanogaster, malerkotliana and ananassae

Light and temperature are the major environmental cycles that can synchronize circadian rhythms in a variety of organisms. Previously, we have shown that under light/dark cycles of various photoperiods, the Drosophila species ananassae exhibits unimodal activity pattern with a prominent morning activity peak in contrast with Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila malerkotliana, which show bimodal activity pattern with morning and evening activity peaks. Here we report that circadian clocks controlling activity/rest rhythm of these two less-studied species D. malerkotliana and D. ananassae can be synchronized by temperature cycles and that even under temperature cycles D. ananassae exhibits only a pronounced morning (thermophase onset) activity peak. Although D. melanogaster and D. ananassae exhibit differences in the phase of activity/rest rhythm under temperature cycles, circadian clocks of both show similar sensitivity to warm temperature pulses. Circadian period of activity/rest rhythm of D. ananassae differs from the other two species at some moderate-range temperatures; however, in conditions that are more extreme, circadian clocks of D. melanogaster, D. malerkotliana and D. ananassae appear to be largely temperature compensated.
Halwaxiids and the Early Evolution of the Lophotrochozoans

Halkieriids and wiwaxiids are cosmopolitan sclerite-bearing metazoans from the Lower and Middle Cambrian. Although they have similar scleritomes, their phylogenetic position is contested. A new scleritomous fossil from the Burgess Shale has the prominent anterior shell of the halkieriids but also bears wiwaxiid-like sclerites. This new fossil defines the monophyletic halwaxiids and indicates that they have a key place in early lophotrochozoan history.
PRECLINICAL STUDY: Ghrelin administration into tegmental areas stimulates locomotor activity and increases extracellular concentration of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens

Ghrelin stimulates appetite, increases food intake and causes adiposity by mechanisms that include direct actions on the brain. Previously, we showed that intracerebroventricular administration of ghrelin has stimulatory and dopamine‐enhancing properties. These effects of ghrelin are mediated via central nicotine receptors, suggesting that ghrelin can activate the acetylcholine–dopamine reward link. This reward link consists of cholinergic input from the laterodorsal tegmental area (LDTg) to the mesolimbic dopamine system that originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projects to the nucleus accumbens. Given that growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHSR‐1A) are expressed in the VTA and LDTg, brain areas involved in reward, the present series of experiments were undertaken to examine the hypothesis that these regions may mediate the stimulatory and dopamine‐enhancing effects of ghrelin, by means of locomotor activity and in vivo microdialysis in freely moving mice. We found that local administration of ghrelin into the VTA (1 µg in 1 µl) induced an increase in locomotor activity and in the extracellular concentration of accumbal dopamine. In addition, local administration of ghrelin into the LDTg (1 µg in 1 µl) caused a locomotor stimulation and an increase in the extracellular levels of accumbal dopamine. Taken together, this indicates that ghrelin might, via activation of GHSR‐1A in the VTA and LDTg, stimulate the acetylcholine–dopamine reward link, implicating that ghrelin is a part of the neurochemical overlap between the reward systems and those that regulate energy balance.
The Role of Public Relations during the Implementation of New General Education Curricula

“Awful” and “worthless” are some words used by students to describe the general education curriculum at Virginia Tech. Currently, the university is about to implement a revised curriculum, in part, to make it more relevant to students. Virginia Tech isn’t alone in general education reform; around 90 percent of higher education institutions are in the process of assessing or modifying their curriculum. Beyond making general education more relevant to students, colleges and universities are feeling pressure to bring out of date curricula up to 21 century standards, with best practices being guided by external agencies such as the Association of American Colleges and Universities. With a new general education curriculum to be implemented at Virginia Tech, there is a need for a strategic and clear approach to communication to avoid confusion while also highlighting the benefits of the new curriculum. Research into change management, change communication, and public relations can inform this type of plan; however, the unique organizational structure of higher education institutions must be considered. This study seeks to bring those bodies of research together. Using a grounded theory approach, this case study analyzes the general education reform processes at three universities that have revised and implemented a new general education curriculum recently.
Apes with apps

Have you ever watched a toddler play with an iPhone? Most likely, the child was completely captivated and surprisingly adept at manipulating the tiny icons. Two-year-old Teco is no different. Sitting with his Motorola Xoom tablet, he¿s rapt, his dark eyes fixed on the images, fingers pecking away at the touch screen. He can¿t speak, but with the aid of the tablet app I created for him, he's building a vocabulary that will likely total several thousand words. What¿s more, he'll be able to string those words together into simple sentences and ask questions, tell jokes, and carry on conversations.
Ecological Study of HIV Infection and Hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa: Is There a Double Burden of Disease?

An ecological correlation study of the prevalence of hypertension with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa was conducted to determine the extent to which these conditions coincide at country level. Methods Data on prevalence of hypertension were derived from a systematic search of literature published between 1975 and 2014 with corresponding national estimates on HIV prevalence and antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage from the Demographic and Health Surveys and the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS databases. National estimates on gross national income (GNI) and under-five mortality were obtained from the World Bank database. Linear regression analyses using robust standard errors (allowing for clustering at country level) were carried out for associations of age-standardised hypertension prevalence ratios (standardized to rural Uganda’s hypertension prevalence data) with HIV prevalence, adjusted for national indicators, year of study and sex of the study population. Results In total, 140 estimates of prevalence of hypertension representing 25 nations were sex-and area-matched with corresponding HIV prevalence. A two-fold increase in HIV prevalence was associated with a 9.29% increase in age, sex and study year-adjusted prevalence ratio for hypertension (95% CI 2.0 to 16.5, p = 0.01), which increased to 16.3% (95% CI 9.3 to 21.1) after adjusting for under-five mortality, GNI per capita and ART coverage. Conclusions Countries with a pronounced burden of HIV may also have an increased burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension with potential economic and health systems implications.
Aldosterone enhances 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression in colonic epithelial cells in vivo

Objective 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) metabolizes glucocorticoids, thus enabling aldosterone to bind to the mineralocorticoid receptor. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanism of epithelial 11β-HSD2 expression in the gut. Material and methods Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on a sodium-depleted diet or subjected to continuous aldosterone infusion for 4 weeks. Plasma aldosterone and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Expression of 11β-HSD2 in colonic epithelia was evaluated by Northern blotting and immunohistochemistry. T84 and Caco2 cells were stimulated with aldosterone, dexamethasone and AVP alone or in combination, and 11β-HSD2 mRNA was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Sodium-depleted and aldosterone-infused rats showed an increase of plasma aldosterone and AVP. Both treatments resulted in induction of 11β-HSD2 in the colonic epithelia at mRNA and protein levels. Positive immunoreactivity was detected in the cytoplasm of the surface epithelia in control rats. In contrast, epithelial cells in the crypt also showed immunoreactivity for 11β-HSD2 in the proximal colon of dietary sodium-depleted and aldosterone-infused rats. Induction of 11β-HSD2 mRNA was observed when T84 cells were stimulated with corticosteroids plus AVP. Conclusions Aldosterone has a pivotal role by increasing expression of 11β-HSD2 in epithelial cells of the colon. AVP may act as a synergistic hormone in aldosterone-mediated 11β-HSD2 induction.
Women's Prehospital Delay Associated With Myocardial Infarction: Does Race Really Matter?

Background/Research Objective: Well-documented disparities in cardiovascular health account for approximately one third of the difference in life expectancy between blacks and whites. Mortality from cardiovascular disease is greater among black women than among white women, and black women report longer delays in treatment seeking following onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Despite this disparate burden, there is little race-specific data on correlates of delay for black or white women. This secondary data analysis compares duration and correlates of delay in treatment seeking by race following onset of AMI symptoms. Subjects/Methods: We analyzed self-report data from 509 black and 500 white women, interviewed 4 to 6 months after AMI, using multivariable logistic and linear regression. Results/Conclusions: Median delay time was nonsignificantly shorter for black than for white women (1.0 vs 1.5 hours). Equal proportions of black and white women (57% vs 54%) sought treatment within 2 hours of symptom onset. In multivariable analyses, correct attribution of symptoms to AMI was a significant predictor of treatment seeking within 2 hours of symptom onset for black and white women (odds ratios = 2.79 and 3.86, respectively); eligibility for public insurance was a significant predictor for black women only (odds ratio = 2.3). Common comorbidities, AMI risk factors, and other demographics were not significantly associated with delay time. Insurance coverage and the correct attribution of symptoms to cardiac causes are substantial and modifiable predictors of delay in seeking treatment of AMI.
Proteomic Analysis and Identification of Paracrine Factors in Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Conditioned Media under Hypoxia

Background/Aims: We previously showed that a hypoxic environment modulates the antiarrhythmic potential of mesenchymal stem cells. Methods: To investigate the mechanism by which secreted proteins contribute to the pathogenesis of antiarrhythmic potential in mesenchymal stem cells, we used two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with MALDI-TOF-MS to perform a proteomic analysis to compare the paracrine media produced by normoxic and hypoxic cells. Results: The proteomic analysis revealed that 66 protein spots out of a total of 231 matched spots indicated differential expression between the normoxic and hypoxic conditioned media of mesenchymal stem cells. Interestingly, two tropomyosin isoforms were dramatically increased in the hypoxic conditioned medium of mesenchymal stem cells. An increase in tropomyosin was confirmed using Western blot to analyze the conditioned media between normoxic and hypoxic cells. In a network analysis based on gene ontology (GO) Molecular Function by GeneMANIA analysis, most of the identified proteins were found to be involved in the regulation of heart processes. Conclusion: Our results show that hypoxia up-regulates tropomyosin and other secreted proteins which suggests that tropomyosin may be involved in regulating proarrhythmic and antiarrhythmic functions.
How Human Am I?: EEG-based Evaluation of Virtual Characters

There is a continuous effort by animation experts to create increasingly realistic and more human-like digital characters. However, as virtual characters become more human they risk evoking a sense of unease in their audience. This sensation, called the Uncanny Valley effect, is widely acknowledged both in the popular media and scientific research but empirical evidence for the hypothesis has remained inconsistent. In this paper, we investigate the neural responses to computer-generated faces in a cognitive neuroscience study. We record brain activity from participants (N = 40)} using electroencephalography (EEG) while they watch videos of real humans and computer-generated virtual characters. Our results show distinct differences in neural responses for highly realistic computer-generated faces such as Digital Emily compared with real humans. These differences are unique only to agents that are highly photorealistic, i.e. the `uncanny' response. Based on these specific neural correlates we train a support vector machine~(SVM) to measure the probability of an uncanny response for any given computer-generated character from EEG data. This allows the ordering of animated characters based on their level of `uncanniness'.
Structure models for options pricing on non-dividend-paying stocks

Based on the Partial Distribution and the Partial Process,this paper presents the DF structure of strike price of option for the first time,and gives the DF structure pricing models,the constructive analytic models for options pricing on a non-dividend-paying stock.The models can be used in the pricing of both call options and the put options exercised at any time before the expiration.Hence,they are applicable to the pricing the American call and put option the European call and put options.The final empirical analysis of comparing with the Black-Scholes' formula gives the dependability of the options pricing formulas presented in this paper.
Effect of chemically reactive species on properties of ZnO nanowires exposed to oxygen and hydrogen plasma

We present a systematic study on the effect of oxygen and hydrogen plasma-generated reactive species on the properties of ZnO nanowires. Upon exposure to oxygen plasma, the electrical conductivity of an individual ZnO nanowire decreased with substantial changes in the surface chemistry, indicating a decrease in the number of donor-like defects and an increase in the number of electron-trapping species. In contrast, an individual ZnO nanowire exposed to hydrogen plasma showed a drastic increase in conductivity up to two orders of magnitude due to the incorporated hydrogen acting as a shallow donor inside the ZnO nanowires without a sputtering process.
A chattering free Lyapunov function based sliding mode controller applied to single phase series connected PV Inverter for grid voltage compensation

In this paper, a new type of Lyapunov function based load voltage tracking controller is proposed for series connected PV inverter for grid voltage disturbances compensation. The inverter operates during the day time as an active power compensator as well as load voltage regulator under grid voltage sag, swell or even under normal condition. The compensating voltage provided by the inverter is added vectorially in series with the grid voltage in such a way that the load voltage magnitude is maintained constant along with power flow control facility from the inverter to the load. It is shown by mathematical analysis that the controller gives chattering free sliding mode characteristics. The proposed controller shows faster dynamic response in terms of output voltage tracking capability in comparison with the other reported series connected inverter controllers. The proposed control strategy is relatively simple to implement and provides improved performance as compared to other conventional tracking controllers. Experimental results are provided to show the efficacy of the proposed controller in terms of output voltage tracking capability for the series inverter system.
Continuous cultivation of Trypanosoma brucei blood stream forms in a medium containing a low concentration of serum protein without feeder cell layers.

Blood stream forms (BSF) of Trypanosoma brucei brucei GUT at 3.1 were propagated in vitro in the absence of feeder layer cells at 37 C, using a modified Iscove's medium (HMI-18). The medium was supplemented with 0.05 mM bathocuproine sulfonate, 1.5 mM L-cysteine, 1 mM hypoxanthine, 0.2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, 1 mM sodium pyruvate. 0.16 mM thymidine, and 20% (v/v) Serum Plus (SP) (Hazleton Biologics, Lenexa, Kansas). The latter contained a low level of serum proteins (13 micrograms/ml). Each primary culture was initiated by placing 3.5-4 x 10(6) BSFs isolated from infected mice in a flask containing 5 ml of the medium (HMI-9) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 10% SP. The cultures were maintained by replacing the medium every 24 hr for 5-7 days. During this period, many BSFs died. However, from day 4 onward, long slender BSFs increased in number. On days 5-7, trypanosome suspensions were pooled and cell debris was removed by means of diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DE52) column chromatography. Blood stream forms then were collected by centrifugation, resuspended in fresh medium at 7-9 x 10(5)/ml, and transferred to new flasks. Subcultures were maintained by readjusting the BSF density to 7-9 x 10(5)/ml every 24 hr. Concentrations of FBS were reduced gradually at 5-7-day intervals by alternating the amounts of FBS and SP in HMI-9 with 5% FBS and 15% SP, with 2% FBS and 18% SP, and finally with 20% SP (HMI-18). By this method, 2-3 x 10(6) VSFs/ml were obtained consistently every 24 hr. for more than 80 days. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Reassessment of Phomopsis species on grapevines

Ten species of Phomopsis have previously been identified from grapevines. Of these, P. viticola, the causal agent of Phomopsis cane and leaf spot, and P. vitimegaspora, the causal agent of swelling arm of grapevines, have been confirmed as severe pathogens of this host. Earlier taxonomic treatments of Phomopsis species chiefly distinguished taxa based on host specificity, cultural characteristics and morphology. More recent studies have indicated, however, that these characteristics can no longer be used to distinguish species of Phomopsis due to the wide host ranges of some species, and the morphological plasticity of others. Using morphology, DNA sequences (ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2) and pathogenicity data, 15 Phomopsis spp. were distinguished from grapevines in the present study. Diaporthe helianthi, a known pathogen of sunflowers, is for the first time reported from grapevines. A further six, presently unknown species of Phomopsis, are also distinguished from grapevines. A phylogenetic analysis of ITS data generated in this study distinguished three clades containing isolates previously identified as D. perjuncta. Based on type studies, the name D. viticola can be applied to collections from Portugal and Germany. A new species, D. australafricana, is proposed for South African and Australian isolates formerly treated as D. perjuncta or D. viticola. A description for D. perjuncta is provided based on newly designated lectotype and epitype specimens. D. perjuncta is distinguished from D. viticola and D. australafricana based on morphology and DNA phylogeny. Artificial inoculations of green grapevine shoots indicated that, of the species tested, P. amygdali, a known pathogen of peaches in the USA, and P. viticola were the most virulent.