Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Fully Numerical Method for Designing Efficient Adiabatic Mode Evolution Structures (Adiabatic Taper, Coupler, Splitter, Mode Converter) Applicable to Complex Geometries

A fully numerical method for designing efficient adiabatic mode evolution structure (AMES) (referred to as NAMES) is introduced, which can be applied to adiabatic taper, coupler, splitter, mode converter, and a wide range of AMES based devices. The method can compute efficient adiabatic waveguiding shapes for these devices, including those with complex waveguiding geometries involving 2D/3D mode connections. We introduce two algorithms for the NAMES, referred to as “maximal mode-power loss at top algorithm” and “mode-power loss at initial slope algorithm”. Both are based on keeping the mode-connection power exchange constant. We use the simple case of a waveguide taper to explain the algorithms, and then apply it to a more complex case of an adiabatic waveguide coupler to show how it can readily generate a waveguiding shape that can give the same mode-connection power transfer with a much shorter length than that based on a linear shape. In the coupler case, we show the device efficiency is equal to that based on an optimized analytical approach developed for a simple geometry, but the NAMES can address many different device types and complex device geometries all with a single numerical approach that would also enable design automation. The algorithms utilize Eigenmode Expansion (EME) simulator for field propagation with functionalities that are particularly efficient for the algorithms. We cross-checked the EME simulator results using finite-difference time-domain method. With sufficiently fine division of the structure, the waveguiding shape generated converges to basically the same shape for both algorithms and the shape is quite insensitive to the starting parameters. Thus, the NAMES given is robust, convergent, efficient, and general (not restricted to a particular device type). The NAMES would have wide applications to designing AMES based devices with complex geometries for photonic integrated circuits.
Development of a Validated Stability Indicating Rp-Hplc Method for the Estimation of Pirfenidone in Bulk Drug and Tablet Dosage form

Objective: The present work focused on developing a validated stability indicating RP-HPLC method for the estimation of pirfenidone in bulk drug and tablet dosage form. Methods: The chromatographic separation was performed on symmetry C18 (150 mm x 4.6, 5 micron) with a 1 ml/min flow rate at 315nm. The mobile phase employed was orthophosphoric acid buffer: acetonitrile (65:35). Column temperature was maintained at 30ºC. Pirfenidone was subjected to different forced degradation conditions according to ICH guidelines, including acid, base and neutral hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. Results: In alkali, acidic, oxidation and UV degradation conditions the drug shows considerable degradation. Pirfenidone was stable under neutral hydrolysis and thermal degradation. Pirfenidone was stable under extreme degradation conditions showing less than 8% of degradation in all degradation conditions. This result showed that pirfenidone was stable under stress degradation. Then the optimized method was validated for the parameters like linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness as per ICH guidelines.
RUNX inhibitor suppresses graft‐versus‐host disease through targeting RUNX‐NFATC2 axis

Patients with refractory graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) have a dismal prognosis. Therefore, novel therapeutic targets are still needed to be identified. Runt‐related transcriptional factor (RUNX) family transcription factors are essential transcription factors that mediate the essential roles in effector T cells. However, whether RUNX targeting can suppress, and GVHD is yet unknown. Here, we showed that RUNX family members have a redundant role in directly transactivating NFATC2 expression in T cells. We also found that our novel RUNX inhibitor, Chb‐M’, which is the inhibitor that switches off the entire RUNX family by alkylating agent–conjugated pyrrole‐imidazole (PI) polyamides, inhibited T‐cell receptor mediated T cell proliferation and allogenic T cell response. These were designed to specifically bind to consensus RUNX‐binding sequences (TGTGGT). Chb‐M’ also suppressed the expression of NFATC2 and pro‐inflammatory cytokine genes in vitro. Using xenogeneic GVHD model, mice injected by Chb‐M’ showed almost no sign of GVHD. Especially, the CD4 T cell was decreased and GVHD‐associated cytokines including tissue necrosis factor‐α and granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor were reduced in the peripheral blood of Chb‐M’ injected mice. Taken together, our data demonstrates that RUNX family transcriptionally upregulates NFATC2 in T cells, and RUNX‐NFATC2 axis can be a novel therapeutic target against GVHD.
Water Sorption Studies and Adsorptive Features of Highly Swollen Acrylamide-Based Ternary Hydrogels for Uranyl Ions

Highly swollen hydrogels made by the polymerization of acrylamide with citraconic acid and sodium acrylate were investigated as a function of composition to find materials with swelling and uranyl ion sorption properties. The hydrogels were prepared by free radical solution polymerization in aqueous solutions of monomers and two multifunctional cross-linkers such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate. Swelling experiments were performed in water at 25°C, gravimetrically. Some swelling kinetic parameters were found. Water diffusion was found to be non-Fickian in character. For sorption of uranyl ions into the hydrogels was studied by batch sorption technique at 25°C.
Exploring the role of fitness instructors’ interaction quality skills in building customer trust in the service provider and customer satisfaction

ABSTRACT Research question This study aimed to propose and test a model that depicts fitness instructors’ interaction quality (IQ) skills (i.e. technical, social and communication/listening) and their role in building customer trust in the service provider and customer satisfaction. Research methods Data were collected from a sample of customers of a national fitness chain in Greece. Structural equation modeling was used to establish the factorial validity of the scales and test the proposed model. Results and findings The results indicated that fitness instructors’ social and communication/listening skills positively relate to the development of customer trust in the service provider (fitness club). Furthermore, social skills were found to positively affect customer satisfaction. Nevertheless, technical skills did not have any impact either on customer trust in the service provider or on customer satisfaction. Finally, customer trust in the service provider was shown to be a key variable in the model since it partially mediated the relationship between social skills and customer satisfaction. Implications An in-depth understanding of fitness instructors’ skills, that improve the quality of interactions with customers, can guide fitness club managers to develop effective human resource policies in order to differentiate their organizations within competition, capitalizing on customer trust in the service provider and customer satisfaction.
CAN RAINMAKERS JUSTIFY THEIR PAY? THE ROLE OF INVESTMENT BANKS IN REIT M&AS

This study explicitly rejects the prima facie proposition that the top-tier investment banks are capable of delivering supernormal value creation to the shareholders of a REIT acquirer in a corporate acquisition. Using the event study method, we find that REIT acquirers advised by market-leading investment banks suffer an average cumulative abnormal return of −4.41% following the M&A announcement, whereas REIT acquirers advised by non-top-tier investment banks only suffer an average cumulative abnormal return of −1.49%. The evidence shows that the contemporary practice of employing investment banks based on the prestige of the advisory firms could potentially result in value-destroying M&As for the REIT acquirers.
Two‐dimensional monolayer designs for spintronics applications

The continuous reduction in the size of spintronic devices highly requires new low‐dimensional magnetic materials to mimic the traditional structures of spintronics in nanoscale. Since the discovery of graphene, two‐dimensional (2D) crystalline materials with atomic thickness have attracted extraordinary interests, partly due to their novel properties and potential applications in spintronics. In the past decades, many theoretical understandings and designs of 2D materials have been proposed for spintronics, indicating that the combination of spintronics and two‐dimensional crystals electronics should be an ideal evolution toward nanoscale spintronics devices and make for the bottom‐up spintronics nanoengineering. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2016, 6:441–455. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1259
Controllable drivers that influence tourists’ satisfaction and revisit intention to Semenggoh Nature Reserve: the moderating impact of destination image

ABSTRACT Ecotourism is a foremost promoted tourism product by the Malaysian government and significantly contributed to rural communities’ income. The objective of this study was to explore the empirical evidence of the relationships among service quality, satisfaction, and revisit intention to an ecotourism site in Sarawak, namely, Semenggoh Nature Reserve by considering the moderating effect of the destination image. A total of 157 international and domestic tourists who visited the Semenggoh Nature Reserve took part voluntarily in this study. WarpPLS 6.0 software was used to perform the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and hypotheses testing. The results revealed that service quality was found to significantly and positively impacting satisfaction, whereas satisfaction was found to drive revisit intentions. Additionally, the destination image was found to have a significant positive impact on tourist’s satisfaction. The study further revealed that the destination image does not enhance the relationship between satisfaction and revisit intention.
An investigation of MoP catalysts for alcohol synthesis

ii Table of contents . iv List of tables . ix List of figures . xi Nomenclature . xv Acknowledgements . xxi Dedication . xxii Co-authorship statement . xxiii Chapter
Percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP) with melphalan for patients with ocular melanoma liver metastases: Preliminary results of FOCUS (PHP-OCM-301/301A) phase III trial.

9510 Background: Ocular melanoma, the most common intraocular malignancy, frequently metastasizes to the liver but to date there is no established standard of care for hepatic-dominant ocular melanoma patients. The FOCUS trial began as a randomized, phase III trial (301) comparing PHP with best alternative care (BAC). The trial was subsequently amended (301A) to remove the BAC arm due to enrollment concerns. Methods: Eligible patients with hepatic-dominant ocular melanoma were randomized 1:1 to receive PHP or BAC (investigator’s choice of TACE, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, or dacarbazine) on the 301 trial. All eligible patients received PHP on the 301A trial. PHP patients could receive up to 6 PHP treatments, repeated every 6-8 weeks with melphalan dosed at 3.0mg/kg ideal body weight (IBW). Patients with progressive disease (PD) were discontinued from study treatment and all patients are followed until death. Patientswere imaged every 12 (±2) weeks until PD. The primary endpoint, ORR (per RECIST 1.1) as assessed by Independent Review Committee, will be characterized by the point estimate and 95% CI for each group (PHP and BAC). Categorical efficacy variables will be presented as frequency counts and percentages and 95% CI. Time-to-event variables will be summarized using Kaplan-Meier methods (median and 95% CI). Results: 144 patients were enrolled overall; 102 were assigned to PHP (301: n=43; 301A: n=59) and 42 were assigned to BAC. 91 PHP patients received treatment (301: n=40; 301A: n=51) and 32 BAC patients received treatment. At the time of this analysis, 4 PHP patients were still ongoing on study treatment with a minimum follow-up of 24 weeks. 79 PHP-treated patients and 29 BAC-treated patients were evaluable for response. ORR among PHP patients was 32.9% (26/79; 95% CI: 22.75-40.40%). ORR among BAC patients was 13.8% (4/29; 95% CI: 3.89-31.66%). The median PFS was 9.03 months (95% CI: 6.24-11.83) among PHP patients and was 3.06 months (95% CI: 2.69-5.65) among BAC patients; this difference was statistically significant ( p=0.0004). Among the 94 patients assessed for safety after treatment with PHP, 40.4% of patients experienced a serious treatment-emergent adverse event, the majority of which were hematological and resolved without sequelae. There were no treatment related deaths in the trial. Conclusions: In this analysis of preliminary data from the FOCUS trial, PHP demonstrates a statistically superior ORR and significantly prolonged PFS in comparison with BAC in the treatment of hepatic metastases from ocular melanoma. The data is encouraging as efficacious treatments for hepatic metastases from ocular melanoma are desperately needed. These early data show an improvement over the previous phase III study in terms of both efficacy (ORR and PFS) as well as toxicity using second generation filters. Clinical trial information: NCT02678572.
A study on internet addiction among medical students in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore, India

The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders IV defines addiction as a maladaptive pattern of substance use which leads to clinically significant impairment or distress meeting certain criteria occurring within the same 12 month period. This definition was used to describe habits such as tobacco and smoking. As time has passed and technology advanced, addictions are manifesting themselves in more and more unique ways. Internet addiction is a compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder that involves online and/or offline computer usage. Like other typical addictions, it has components of excessive use, withdrawal, tolerance and negative repercussions. The prevalence of such addiction has ranged between 1.5-25% between different populations. Though the internet can be utilized in a positive manner, its negative usage is what troubles clinicians.
Immune-Related DNA Methylation Data-Based Molecular Classification Associated with the Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: The combination of epigenetic drugs and immunotherapy should be able to develop an optimal treatment plan for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet its mechanism is still in the preliminary exploration stage. The purpose of this study is to analyze the DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of immune-related CpG sites to identify the molecular subtypes and CpG sites related to the prognosis of HCC. Methods: In this study, the DNA methylation and gene expression datasets were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, together with immune-related genes downloaded from the immunology database and analysis portal database to explore the prognostic molecular subtypes of HCC. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis was used for selecting the significant methylation sites, and the consensus clustering was performed to find the best molecular subtype associated with the survival of HCC. Next, we used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm to construct a prognostic-related model and performed internal verification. Finally, we explored the levels of 16 immune-related genes expression correlate with the infiltration levels of immune cells in HCC. Results: By performing consistent clustering analysis on 830 immune-related CpG sites in 231 samples of a training set, we identified seven subgroups with significant differences in overall survival. Finally, 16 classifiers of immune-related CpG sites were constructed and used in the testing set to verify the prognosis of DNA methylation subgroups, and the results were consistent with the training set. Using the TIMER database, we analyzed 16 immune-related CpG sites expression with the abundance of six types of immune infiltrating cells and found that most are positively correlated with the level of infiltration of multiple immune cells in HCC. Conclusions: This study screened potential immune-related prognostic methylation sites and established a new prognosis model of HCC based on DNA methylation molecular subtype, which may help in the early diagnosis of HCC and developing more effective personalized treatments.
Electrospun scaffold for bone regeneration

Abstract The growing trend of bone disorders often caused by accidental injury coupled with aging increasing aging population demands more effective therapeutic intervention. Bone tissue engineering is considered a unique method that provides functional bone grafts by combining biomaterial, cells, and signaling factors and can be a promising alternative to the conventional bone grafts used for bone defect treatment. However, the fabrication of a scaffold matrix with nanofeature architecture mimicking bone tissue is one of the significant challenges that limits its clinical application so far. In this context, electrospinning generating biomimetic nanofibrous scaffold structures is a potential technique that results in an excellent micro-environment for the cells to attach, migrate, proliferate, and finally differentiate in comparison to scaffolds fabricated by traditional methods and hence widely used mainly in the last decade. Although having several advantages of electrospun scaffolds, cell infiltration and mechanical strength of the scaffolds are the significant issues that need to be addressed for bone tissue engineering. Numerous concepts or strategies applied during or after electrospinning to overcome these limitations are the main focus points of the current review. This review highlights the current research related to electrospinning techniques used to fabricate bone scaffold and the influence of critical process parameters on nanofiber formation. The various recently reported advanced scaffold fabrication techniques and their advantages when combined with electrospinning process has been presented to address the limitation associated with the bone tissue engineered scaffold fabrication, which may pave the way for the fabrication of scaffold for clinical grade bone graft development in future. Graphical Abstract
A Novel and Efficient Method for the Synthesis of Methyl (R)-10-Hydroxystearate and FAMEs from Sewage Scum

In this work, the transesterification of methyl estolides (ME) extracted from the lipid component present in the sewage scum was investigated. Methyl 10-(R)-hydroxystearate (Me-10-HSA) and Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) were obtained in a single step. A three-level and four factorial Box–Behnken experimental design were used to study the effects of methanol amounts, catalyst, temperature, and reaction time on the transesterification reaction using aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCl3·6H2O) or hydrochloric acid (HCl) as catalysts. AlCl3·6H2O was found quite active as well as conventional homogeneous acid catalysts as HCl. In both cases, a complete conversion of ME into Me-10-HSA and FAMEs was observed. The products were isolated, quantified, and fully characterized. At the end of the process, Me-10-HSA (32.3%wt) was purified through a chromatographic separation and analyzed by NMR. The high enantiomeric excess (ee > 92%) of the R-enantiomer isomer opens a new scenario for the valorization of sewage scum.
Freedom-prompting reactance mitigation strategies function differently across levels of trait reactance

ABSTRACT This study assessed the relative effects of reactance mitigation strategies specifically designed to prevent or restore threatened autonomy according to message recipients’ levels of reactance proneness. An experiment (N = 230) using a 2 (inoculation mitigation: present vs. absent) × 2 (freedom threatening language: high vs. low) × 2 (restoration postscript mitigation: present vs. absent) between-subjects design was performed in the context of a safe-sex campaign message. Results showed that message strategies affected state reactance differently across levels of trait reactance. In particular, for those high in trait reactance, inoculation uniquely reduced perceived threat to freedom, which indirectly increased safe-sex intention via state reactance and attitude toward the health behavior. These results demonstrate the importance of using trait reactance as an audience segmentation variable.
Some Aspects of Emotional Functioning in Hard-of-Hearing Students

Input at early ages, hearing loss can compromise emotional health and cause learning difficulties. Nonetheless, there are relatively few relevant investigations addressing emotional development in hearing-impaired students. The current research intended to compare the self-reported emotional functioning in hearing and hearing-impaired students in order to examine whether there are differences between them. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 94 hard-of-hearing individuals and 104 typical hearing subjects between 16 and 24 years of age from three institutions in Kazakhstan. The overall happiness, life satisfaction, level of anxiety, and emotional preferences were assessed with the Subjective Happiness Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a questionnaire developed by Dodonov, respectively. The data were subjected to the multivariate analysis of variance. Children and adolescents with hearing loss are reportedly more likely than typical hearing peers to experience various psychosocial difficulties, antisocial disorders, and reactions. However, in the present research, both groups were similar regarding the emotional preferences, apart from the altruistic scale, which was significantly higher (P <0.001) in hearing-impaired participants relative to their hearing counterparts. When compared to normal-hearing persons, hard-of-hearing respondents had higher scores (P <0.001) for trait and state anxiety while having lower scores (P ≤0.001) for satisfaction with life and overall happiness, which could be seen as a matter of concern. As a potential future line of research, throwing more light on other aspects of emotional functioning in learners with hearing loss might be necessary. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory performed on hearing-impaired youth. The findings from this investigation could be of practical help to practitioners working with hard-of-hearing students, providing additional information on their emotional well-being.
Multifunctional strain-controlled graphdiyne membrane for gas separation: a theoretical study

ABSTRACT Graphdiyne (GDY) membrane with intrinsic pore has potential for gas separation. Here we report a multistage gas separation of H2/CO2/N2/CH4 gas mixture through graphdiyne by applying tensile strain using molecular dynamics simulation. The results indicate that gas permeability is remarkably enhanced through tensile strain. H2 molecules have always been able to penetrate GDY membrane, while all CH4 molecules are blocked during the progress of tensile strain up to ultimate strain. An ultrahigh H2 permeance of ∼106 GPU (gas permeation unit) and H2 selectivity towards CO2/N2/CH4 was obtained, which is larger than the acceptable value in industrial applications. As the tensile strain is between 7.5% and 10% (ϵx )–15%(ϵy ), the membrane adopted in this work can be utilised for separating CO2 from CO2/N2/CH4 mixture. When the strain level is beyond 10% (ϵx )–15% (ϵy ), the strained GDY can be served as a CH4 upgrading membrane. The ultrahigh gas permeance is ascribed to the ultrathin membrane and high-density pore, and the size sieving effect of GDY membrane with small pores is responsible for the excellent gas selectivity. The results suggest that these two-dimensional membranes with intrinsic pores could serve as the ideal multifunctional size-selective membrane for gas separation towards different separation requirements. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT