Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tunable spectral splitting in nanoscale graphene waveguide with coupled resonators

Abstract. We propose and investigate a graphene-based resonator-coupled waveguide system comprising input/output graphene sheet bus waveguides and two graphene nanoribbon (GNR) resonators for bandpass spectral splitting. The system is composed of two graphene sheet waveguides and two GNRs located at the same side of the waveguides with different distances. The coupling between two GNRs results in the electromagnetically induced transparency effect and the bandpass spectral splitting. Moreover, benefiting from the chemical-potential-dependent optical properties of graphene, both the spectral symmetry and operation frequency can be dynamically adjusted, separately. The structure can find potential applications for integrated tunable functional devices such as filters and modulators.
Cost-Effectiveness of Novel First-Line Therapeutic Regimens for Tuberculosis

Results—For every 100 TB patients treated, replacing standard therapy with shorter-course regimens avert an estimated 2–4 failures/relapses, 0.2–0.4 deaths, and 8–14 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), or 6–11% of all DALYs suffered. We identified three primary determinants of cost-effectiveness: drug price, continuation-phase treatment delivery costs, and deaths averted through fewer relapses. In a high treatment cost scenario (similar to Brazil), averted delivery costs outweighed higher drug costs, making novel regimens cost-saving. In a low treatment cost scenario (similar to the Philippines), a four-month regimen with a drug price of $1/day cost $66 per patient, or $840 per DALY averted, and became cost-saving if the drug price dropped below $0.37/day.
Managing uncertainty in agroforestry problems : applications of operation research models and methodologies in the wine and forestry industries.

This thesis was centered fundamentally on the application of operation research models and methodologies to problems that arise in the forestry and agricultural industries. Although those models differ in their nature and scope, they share a common objective: to increase the effectiveness of the production process modeled through the handling of the environmental (and system) uncertainty that affects its performance. In the second chapter of this thesis, we considered the problem of scheduling production under uncertainty in a sawmill, where the deterministic model proposed by Maturana et al. (2010) was extended to account for uncertainties in product demand and availability of raw materials. The robust optimization methodology of Bertsimas & Sim (2004) was applied to develop three robust models: the first considers only demand uncertainty; the second considers only supply uncertainty; and the third considers both types of uncertainties. For each of these models, we carried out experiments to evaluate both the robustness of the solutions and the effect of the conservatism level on the solutions. This last allowed us to determine the impact of both sources of uncertainty, and their interaction on the production schedules. We analyzed the behavior of the robust solutions using Monte Carlo simulation. This analysis allowed us to provide several managerial insights that could help schedulers choose the appropriate level of conservatism with respect to each source of uncertainty. In the third chapter of this thesis, we focused on the management of premium wines and we developed a two-stage heuristic to set the stock levels when an (s-1,s) policy is followed for finished goods. Bearing in mind the operations of a small export-focused Chilean winery that we had worked with, we assumed that orders arrive according to independent Poisson processes, inventories of bottled and labeled wines are reviewed continuously in time, a postponement strategy is employed for the labeling process, and there is only one labeling machine. Considering that the wine decision
A NEW METHOD AGAINST ATTACKS ON NETWORKED INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

In this paper, by incorporating knowledge of the physical system under control, we proposed the new method to detect computer attacks that change the behavior of the targeted industrial control system. By using knowledge of the physical system we are able to focus on the final objective of the attack, and not on the particular mechanisms of how vulnerabilities are exploited, and how the attack is hidden. We also analyze the safety of our solution by exploring the effects of stealthy attacks, and by hopping that automatic attack-response mechanisms will not drive the system to an unsafe state. In our paper, we proposed two module: one for changing detection by sequential detection and CUSUM statistic, other one for responsing attacks by linear model predictive control algorithm to keep the system in safety state before human operators can control the system.
Large Deviations in the Distribution of Rare Genes

A gene rare in the species is sometimes found to have an appreciable frequency in a restricted population, suggesting either genetic drift, founder effect, or local selective advantage. Recently, considerable attention has been drawn to this logical disjunction through controversy on Tay-Sachs disease [1, 2], which is due to a recessive gene relatively common in Ashkenazic Jews. While heterozygote advantage is a possible explanation, the evidence for it is not compelling [3-51. Here we show that such large deviations are not improbable, and they could very well occur due to chance alone.
Brief psychological interventions for anxiety in adult primary care patients: A review and recommendations for future research

Anxiety symptoms are prevalent in primary care, yet treatment rates are low. The integration of behavioral health providers into primary care via the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model offers a promising way to improve treatment options by adding a team member with the necessary skillset to deliver evidence-based psychological interventions for anxiety. We conducted a narrative review of psychological interventions for anxiety applied within adult primary care settings (k = 44) to update the literature and evaluate the fit of existing interventions with the PCBH model. The majority of studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 70.5%). Most interventions utilized cognitive-behavioral therapy (68.2%) and were delivered individually, faceto-face (52.3%). Overall, 65.9% of interventions (58.6% of RCTs, 91.7% of pre-post) were effective in reducing anxiety symptoms, and 77.8% maintained the gains at follow-up. Although it is encouraging that most interventions significantly reduced anxiety, their longer formats (i.e., number and duration of sessions) and narrow symptom targets make translation into practice difficult. Methodological limitations of the research included homogenous samples, failure to report key procedural details, pre-post designs, and restrictive eligibility criteria. We offer
OP-NDTJ200172 1346..1411

Background. Uromodulin (UMOD) is released by renal tubular cells into the serum (sUMOD) and urine. Lower urine UMOD has been linked to mortality and cardiovascular disease but much less is known about sUMOD. We evaluated the association of sUMOD with these outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. Methods. We measured sUMOD in a random subcohort of 933 participants enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The associations of sUMOD with all-cause mortality, incident heart failure (HF) and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD; myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality due to coronary disease or stroke) were evaluated using multivariable Cox regression, adjusting for study participants’ demographics, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albuminuria and CVD risk factors. Generalized additive models with splines were used to address the functional form of sUMOD with outcomes. Due to nonlinear associations of sUMOD with all outcomes, 2.5% of the values on either end of the sUMOD distribution were excluded from the analyses, limiting the range of sUMOD to 34.3–267.1 ng/mL. Results. The mean age was 78 6 5 years, 40% were male, sUMOD level was 127 6 64 ng/mL, eGFR was 63 mL/min/ 1.73 m and 42% had CKD defined as eGFR<60 mL/min/ 1.73 m. Patients in the lower sUMOD quartiles had lower eGFR and higher albuminuria (P< 0.01, respectively). During a median follow-up of 9.9 years, 805 patients died, 283 developed HF and 274 developed CVD. In multivariable analysis, higher sUMOD was significantly associated with a lower hazard for mortality {hazard ratio [HR] 0.89 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–0.99] per 1 standard deviation (SD) higher sUMOD}, CVD [HR 0.80 (95% CI 0.67–0.96)] and the composite endpoint [HR 0.88 (95% CI 0.78–0.99)]; the association with HF was not statistically significant [HR 0.84 (95% CI 0.70–1.01)]. Conclusion. Higher sUMOD is independently associated with a lower risk for mortality and CVD in older adults.
Effects of injected Alzheimer f3-amyloid cores in rat brain

Although amyloid deposits have long been known to accumulate in Alzheimer disease (AD) brain, their origin and significance remain speculative. Because of the lack of an in vivo model where amyloid deposits can be induced, the relationship ofthe extracellular f-amnyloid deposits to other AD pathology has never been directly investigated. Therefore, we injected SDS-isolated amyloid cores into rat cortex and hippocampus. Similarly isolated lipofuscin fractions from control human brains were injected on the contralateral side. Rats were perfused and brains were examined immunohichemi-cally at 2 days, 7 days, and 1 month after injection. Alz-50, a monoclonal antibody against abnonrally phosphorylated tau proteins, stained neurons along the cortical needle track at 2 but not 7 days after injection of either amyloid or lipofuscin. At 1 month, however, ubiquitin, Alz-50 antigen, and silver-positive structures were observed only in response to amyloid. In of animals, there was considerable neuronal loss in the hippocampal layers. In each instance, these effects were in the immediate vicinity of 13-protein immunoreactive material. Marked neuronal loss was never observed at any time after lipofuscin I jection. These results indicate a neuronal response to amyloid. When preparations of mature plaque amyloid isolated from the AD brain are injected into the rat brain, they exert neurotoxic effects and induce antigens found
Moxifloxacin based axially swept wide-field fluorescence microscopy for high-speed imaging of conjunctival goblet cells: supplement

Goblet cells (GCs) in the conjunctiva are specialized epithelial cells producing mucins on the ocular surface. GCs play important roles in maintaining homeostasis of the ocular surface, and GC dysfunction is associated with various complications including dry eye diseases. Current GC examination methods, which are conjunctival impression cytology and confocal reflection microscopy, have limitations for routine examination. Fluorescence microscopy using moxifloxacin was recently introduced as a non-invasive and high-contrast imaging method, but further development is needed to be used for GC examination. Here we developed a non-invasive high-speed high-contrast GC imaging method, called moxifloxacin based axially swept wide-field fluorescence microscopy (MBAS-WFFM). This method acquired multiple fluorescence images with the axial sweeping of the focal plane to capture moxifloxacin labeled GCs on the tilted conjunctival surface in focus and generated all-in-focus images by combining the acquired images. The imaging field of view and imaging speed were increased to 1.6 mm× 1.6 mm and 30 fps. An image processing method was developed for the analysis of GC density. MBAS-WFFM was applied to alkali burn mouse models and detected GC damage and recovery via longitudinal imaging. MBAS-WFFM could assess the status of GCs rapidly and non-invasively. We anticipate MBAS-WFFM to be a starting point for non-invasive GC examination and the diagnosis of GC associated diseases. For example, MBAS-WFFM could be used to classify dry eye diseases into detail categories for effective treatment. © 2020 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement
Subacute TGFb Exposure Drives Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Cystic Fibrosis Mice through the PI3K Pathway

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal genetic disease characterized by progressive lung damage and airway obstruction. The majority of patients demonstrate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), which is associated with more rapid lung function decline. Recent studies in the neonatal CF pig demonstrated airway smooth muscle (ASM) dysfunction. These findings, combined with observed CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression in ASM, suggest that a fundamental defect in ASM function contributes to lung function decline in CF. One established driver of AHR and ASM dysfunction is transforming growth factor (TGF) b1, a genetic modifier of CF lung disease. Prior studies demonstrated that TGFb exposure in CF mice drives features of CF lung disease, including goblet cell hyperplasia and abnormal lung mechanics. CF mice displayed aberrant responses to pulmonary TGFb, with elevated PI3K signaling and greater increases in lung resistance compared with controls. Here, we show that TGFb drives abnormalities in CF ASM structure and function through PI3K signaling that is enhanced in CFTR-deficient lungs. CF and non-CF mice were exposed intratracheally to an adenoviral vector containing the TGFb1 cDNA, empty vector, or PBS only. We assessed methacholine-induced AHR, bronchodilator response, and ASM area in control and CF mice. Notably, CF mice demonstrated enhanced AHR and bronchodilator response with greater ASM area increases compared with non-CF mice. Furthermore, therapeutic inhibition of PI3K signaling mitigated the TGFb-induced AHR and goblet cell hyperplasia in CF mice. These results highlight a latent AHR phenotype in CFTR deficiency that is enhanced through TGFb-induced PI3K signaling.
Assessing functional connectivity across three-dimensional tissue engineered axonal tracts using calcium fluorescence imaging

Objective: Micro-Tissue Engineered Neural Networks (micro-TENNs) are anatomically-inspired constructs designed to structurally and functionally emulate white matter pathways in the brain. These three-dimensional neural networks feature long axonal tracts spanning discrete neuronal populations contained within a tubular hydrogel, and are being developed to reconstruct damaged axonal pathways in the brain as well as to serve as physiologically-relevant in vitro experimental platforms. The goal of the current study was to characterize the functional properties of these neuronal and axonal networks. Approach: Bidirectional micro-TENNs were transduced to express genetically-encoded calcium indicators, and spontaneous fluorescence activity was recorded using real-time microscopy at 20 Hz from specific regions-of-interest in the neuronal populations. Network activity patterns and Correspondence: Reuben H. Kraft, reuben.kraft@psu.edu; Tel. : +01-814-867-4570 or D. Kacy Cullen, dkacy@pennmedicine.upenn. edu; Tel. : +01-215-746-8176. *Co-senior authors Author Contributions: DKC, MDS and RHK conceived the project, designed the experiments, and provided general supervision. DOA generated micro-TENNs and performed all transfection, staining, and imaging experiments. AVD, AHWC, TM designed and performed data analysis routines. AVD, MDS, DOA, RHK, and DKC contributed to drafting and editing the manuscript. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results. Supplementary Materials: The code for this study can be found at: https://github.com/PSUCompBio/microTENN-FC. HHS Public Access Author manuscript J Neural Eng. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2020 February 04. Published in final edited form as: J Neural Eng. 2018 October ; 15(5): 056008. doi:10.1088/1741-2552/aac96d. A uhor M anscript
CHI-2019-0089-ver9-Brown_3P 451..458

Background: Family members influence the behaviors and weight loss of adults in weight management programs (WMPs). Less is known about the weight control practices of children who have a parent participating in a WMP. Thus, we aimed to explore weight control practices in children of parents in WMPs. Methods: We recruited participants who were parents of least one child aged 2–18 living at home from two institution’s adult WMPs. Parents reported weight control practices for themselves and their child. We used separate logistic regression models to assess the association of each child weight control practice with parent weight control practice; child age, race, sex, and BMI z-score (BMIz); parent education; and household income. Results: Parents (N = 300) had a mean age of 41 – 7 and 85% were female. Children (N = 295) had a mean age of 9.3 – 4.9; 20% had overweight or obesity. Parents reported their child used the following weight control practices in the past year: 12% dieted, 12% ate very little food, 7% used food substitutes, 10% skipped meals, 29% increased fruit and vegetables, 25% reduced calories, 22% reduced snacking, 21% reduced fat intake, and 45% exercised. Children were more likely to utilize weight control practices if their parent utilized the same weight control practice and if children had obesity and were older. Conclusions: Children of parents attending WMPs commonly utilize weight control practices, especially older children with higher BMIz. Adult WMPs should offer guidance to parents on ways to incorporate new healthy dietary practices into their family.
CCVII. HYDROGENASE. III. THE BACTERIAL FORMATION OF METHANE BY THE REDUCTION OF ONE-CARBON COMPOUNDS BY MOLECULAR HYDROGEN

THE production of methane from a 1-carbon compound was first observed by Sohngen in his classical work on methane formation from fatty acids [Sohngen, 1910], calcium formate being quantitatively decomposed to give methane and calcium carbonate. The same culture also effected the reduction of carbon dioxide. It is important to notice that Sohngen worked with mixed cultures which produced methane also from the higher fatty acids. More recently Fischer et al. [1931] have obtained from mud a culture (not claimed by them to be pure) which reduces carbon monoxide to methane, the reaction being accelerated by various colloids. These authors suggest that carbon dioxide is an intermediate product, some evidence being adduced for the occurrence of the reaction CO + H20 + CO2 + H2.
Observing Bridge Dynamic Deformation in Vibration by Digital Photography System

As traditional surveying methods cannot monitor dynamic deformation of engineering structures, digital photography is used to monitor dynamic deformation of bridge structures in vibration. Firstly, this paper uses digital cameras to photograph a bridge in the natural state as a zero image. Then, a series of successive images are photographed during bridge vibration period. Bridge deformations in image plane coordinate system are obtained by differencing the successive images with a zero image. Lastly, they are transformed into the actual deformations in the space coordinate system by the space time baseline parallax method, and deformation curves are drawn based on the actual deformation in real time. Results show that kalman filter can filter the dynamic deformation data in real time and effectively eliminate the influence of residual noise on data accuracy. Digital photography in this paper can monitor dynamic deformation of bridge structures and draw deformation curves in real time. It can provide data support for the site decisions to the bridge structure safety. In the meantime, digital photography can warn the bridge safety, and it provides a new technical means to monitor bridge safety.
Computational Loudness Prediction: Ambiguities and Potential Improvements of ANSI S3.4-2007.

The current American national standard for computationally predicting the loudness of steady sounds, ANSI S3.4-2007, is accompanied by an informative software program implementing the procedure. This contribution suggests some mathematical formulations for parameters of the method for calculating loudness, with a special focus on clarifying potential ambiguities of the standard. The proposed changes may contribute to a more specific and thereby improved next-generation ANSI loudness standard.
Crystal Structure of Human β-Hexosaminidase B: Understanding the Molecular Basis of Sandhoff and Tay–Sachs Disease

In humans, two major β-hexosaminidase isoenzymes exist: Hex A and Hex B. Hex A is a heterodimer of subunits α and β (60% identity), whereas Hex B is a homodimer of β-subunits. Interest in human β-hexosaminidase stems from its association with Tay–Sachs and Sandhoff disease; these are prototypical lysosomal storage disorders resulting from the abnormal accumulation of GM2-ganglioside (GM2). Hex A degrades GM2 by removing a terminal N-acetylD-galactosamine (β-GalNAc) residue, and this activity requires the GM2–activator, a protein which solubilizes the ganglioside for presentation to Hex A. We present here the crystal structure of human Hex B, alone (2.4 Å) and in complex with the mechanistic inhibitors GalNAc-isofagomine (2.2 Å) or NAG-thiazoline (2.5 Å). From these, and the known X-ray structure of the GM2– activator, we have modeled Hex A in complex with the activator and ganglioside. Together, our crystallographic and modeling data demonstrate how α and β-subunits dimerize to form either Hex A or Hex B, how these isoenzymes hydrolyze diverse substrates, and how many documented point mutations cause Sandhoff disease (β-subunit mutations) and Tay–Sachs disease (α-subunit mutations).
PKC-δ and -η, MEKK-1, MEK-6, MEK-3, and p38-δ Are Essential Mediators of the Response of Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes to Differentiating Agents

Previous studies suggest that the novel protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms initiate a mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade that regulates keratinocyte differentiation. However, assigning these functions has relied on treatment with pharmacologic inhibitors and/or manipulating kinase function using over-expression of wild-type or dominant-negative kinases. As these methods are not highly specific, an obligatory regulatory role for individual kinases has not been assigned. In this study, we use small interfering RNA knockdown to study the role of individual PKC isoforms as regulators of keratinocyte differentiation induced by the potent differentiating stimulus, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). PKC-δ knockdown reduces TPA-activated involucrin promoter activity, nuclear activator protein-1 factor accumulation and binding to DNA, and cell morphology change. Knockdown of PKC downstream targets, including MEKK-1, MEK-6, MEK-3, or p38-δ, indicates that these kinases are required for these responses. Additional studies indicate that knockdown of PKC-η inhibits TPA-dependent involucrin promoter activation. In contrast, knockdown of PKC-α (a classical PKC isoform) or PKC-ε (a novel isoform) does not inhibit these TPA-dependent responses. Further studies indicate that PKCδ is required for calcium and green tea polyphenol-dependent regulation of end responses. These findings are informative as they suggest an essential role for selected PKC and MAPK cascade enzymes in mediating a range of end responses to a range of differentiation stimuli in keratinocytes.