Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Myopic Optic Disc Tilt and the Characteristics of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measured by Spectral-domain Optical Coherence Tomography

PurposeTo investigate the correlation between myopic optic disc tilt and the characteristics of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by Cirrus HD spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). MethodsA total of 255 eyes of 255 healthy young male participants with various degrees of refractive errors (mean spherical equivalent, −3.17±2.40 D; range, −11.00 to 0.00 D) underwent ophthalmic examinations, including refractive error, axial length, and optic disc area measurement. The degree of horizontal/vertical optic disc tilt was evaluated by cross-sectional images obtained by the Cirrus HD OCT. The average, superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal quadrant thickness and superior/inferior peak locations of the peripapillary RNFL were also measured with the Cirrus HD OCT. ResultsOn the univariate analysis, eyes with more temporally tilted optic discs (horizontal tilt) had higher myopia, greater axial length, a thinner average, superior, nasal, and inferior RNFL, thicker temporal RNFL, and more temporally positioned superior/inferior peak locations (all P values <0.001). The degree of inferior optic disc tilt (vertical tilt) was associated with high myopia and a more temporally positioned inferior peak location (all P values <0.05). On multivariate analysis, eyes with more temporally tilted optic discs had a thicker temporal RNFL and more temporally positioned superior/inferior peak locations. ConclusionsThe characteristics of the peripapillary RNFL thickness were associated with the degree of myopic optic disc tilt, especially in the temporal area. The degree of myopic optic disc tilt should be considered when interpreting the RNFL thickness measured by the Cirrus HD OCT.
Sturgeon conservation genomics: SNP discovery and validation using RAD sequencing

Caviar‐producing sturgeons belonging to the genus Acipenser are considered to be one of the most endangered species groups in the world. Continued overfishing in spite of increasing legislation, zero catch quotas and extensive aquaculture production have led to the collapse of wild stocks across Europe and Asia. The evolutionary relationships among Adriatic, Russian, Persian and Siberian sturgeons are complex because of past introgression events and remain poorly understood. Conservation management, traceability and enforcement suffer a lack of appropriate DNA markers for the genetic identification of sturgeon at the species, population and individual level. This study employed RAD sequencing to discover and characterize single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) DNA markers for use in sturgeon conservation in these four tetraploid species over three biological levels, using a single sequencing lane. Four population meta‐samples and eight individual samples from one family were barcoded separately before sequencing. Analysis of 14.4 Gb of paired‐end RAD data focused on the identification of SNPs in the paired‐end contig, with subsequent in silico and empirical validation of candidate markers. Thousands of putatively informative markers were identified including, for the first time, SNPs that show population‐wide differentiation between Russian and Persian sturgeons, representing an important advance in our ability to manage these cryptic species. The results highlight the challenges of genotyping‐by‐sequencing in polyploid taxa, while establishing the potential genetic resources for developing a new range of caviar traceability and enforcement tools.
Microstructure property study of ZnO single crystal irradiated with 200 MeV 86Kr17+ ions

ZnO single crystal materials irradiated with 200 MeV energy 86Kr17+ ions have been analyzed by a series of theoretical calculations, Raman spectroscopy and TEM tests, etc. After irradiation by 200 MeV 86Kr17+ ions, two broad vibrational absorption peaks appeared and there is no obvious change in other characteristic peaks. By measuring the Raman spectra of the incident light perpendicular to and parallel to the z axis of the crystal, it was proved that the vibration absorption peak of 526 cm−1 ∼ 600 cm−1 is caused by defects related to oxygen vacancy (VO). The experimental data fully proved that ZnO single crystal has good radiation resistance. These data are of great significance for the application of ZnO materials in various new devices in the future.
Significant improvement of styrene oxidation over mononuclear/binuclear carboxyl metal phthalocyanine-attapulgite composites

Abstract Novel tetrasubstituted carboxyl metal phthalocyanine-ATP composites (CoTCPc-ATP) and hexa-substituted binuclear carboxyl metal phthalocyanine-ATP (biCoTCPc-ATP) catalysts were prepared by an ultrasonic impregnation method. The as-prepared samples are characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The oxidation of styrene was examined by using tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant when CoTCPc-ATP/biCoTCPc-ATP composites are employed as catalysts. It was found that the biCoTCPc-ATP/composites exhibited more efficient catalysts comparing with CoTCPc-ATP in the styrene oxidation reaction. For the reason that the binuclear phthalocyanine had an enlarged π electron conjugated system, could provide more active sites and possessed the enhanced electronic reserve capacity compared with the mononuclear metal phthalocyanine contributing to the more prominent catalytic performance. Both composites can catalyze the oxidation of styrene to form styrene oxide as the main product along with benzaldehyde as the secondary product. Furthermore, the potential mechanism of the catalytic oxidation of styrene is also proposed.
Event Detection in Crowds of People by Integrating Chaos and Lagrangian Particle Dynamics

This paper proposes a system for automatic video analysis to detect events in video sequences with crowds of people. In detail, the proposed system consists of three subsystems: 1) the first identifies the motion areas, resorting to chaos theory using joint histogram between consecutive frames, 2) the second one creates a flow motion map that describes the behavior of motion pixels by using Lagrangian Particle Dynamics Theory and, 3) the last one uses self organizing maps (SOM) for segmenting the flow motion map in order to detect events. The proposed method was tested on a set of 30 videos, describing crowds in different scenarios, collected from the BBC Motion Gallery, achieving an average accuracy of about 87% in detecting events such as people stopping, people laying on the ground, group of people fighting, obstacles on the road and long queues.
Resistance mechanisms for the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib.

BACKGROUND Ibrutinib is an irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and is effective in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Resistance to irreversible kinase inhibitors and resistance associated with BTK inhibition have not been characterized. Although only a small proportion of patients have had a relapse during ibrutinib therapy, an understanding of resistance mechanisms is important. We evaluated patients with relapsed disease to identify mutations that may mediate ibrutinib resistance. METHODS We performed whole-exome sequencing at baseline and the time of relapse on samples from six patients with acquired resistance to ibrutinib therapy. We then performed functional analysis of identified mutations. In addition, we performed Ion Torrent sequencing for identified resistance mutations on samples from nine patients with prolonged lymphocytosis. RESULTS We identified a cysteine-to-serine mutation in BTK at the binding site of ibrutinib in five patients and identified three distinct mutations in PLCγ2 in two patients. Functional analysis showed that the C481S mutation of BTK results in a protein that is only reversibly inhibited by ibrutinib. The R665W and L845F mutations in PLCγ2 are both potentially gain-of-function mutations that lead to autonomous B-cell-receptor activity. These mutations were not found in any of the patients with prolonged lymphocytosis who were taking ibrutinib. CONCLUSIONS Resistance to the irreversible BTK inhibitor ibrutinib often involves mutation of a cysteine residue where ibrutinib binding occurs. This finding, combined with two additional mutations in PLCγ2 that are immediately downstream of BTK, underscores the importance of the B-cell-receptor pathway in the mechanism of action of ibrutinib in CLL. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and others.).
Multiple Software Product Lines for Service Oriented Architecture

Combining the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Software Product Line (SPL) paradigms is an emerging research area that has gained a considerable interest in recent years. We observe that the approaches proposed in the literature address mostly the variability modeling of Service Providers (SPs) (e.g., developing and composing SPs). However, handling the variability of Service Consumers (SCs) and how to interrelate the variability of SCs and SPs have not been studied. In this paper, our objective is to carry out an in-depth and rigorous study that addresses these issues. We propose a new model-based, top-down, formal and end-to-end SOA approach based on the Multiple SPLs (MSPL) paradigm. The main idea is to develop an MSPL composed of two dependent SPLs for SP and SC in order to generate customized, valid and consistent SPs and SCs. We propose that the variability of each SPL is managed by a Feature Model (FM). In order to ensure the consistency between these two SPLs and in particular between their FMs, we define the automated analysis update operator based on formal propositional logical techniques. We developed a tool that implements all the required steps of our approach and we demonstrate its efficiency in a practical case study.
Structure–Activity Relationship of Trifluoromethyl‐Containing Metallocenes: Electrochemistry, Lipophilicity, Cytotoxicity, and ROS Production

We report the synthesis of trifluoromethylated metallocenes (M=Fe, Ru) and related metal‐free compounds for comparison of their biological properties with the aim to establish structure–activity relationships toward the anti‐proliferative activity of this compound class. All new compounds were comprehensively characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 19F), mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. A single‐crystal X‐ray structure was obtained on the Ru derivative, 1‐(1‐hydroxy‐1‐hexafluoromethylethyl)ruthenocene (3). The cytotoxicity of all compounds was tested on MCF‐7, HT‐29, and PT‐45 cells, and IC50 values as low as 12 μM were observed. Both the metallocene moiety and the hydroxy function are crucial for cytotoxicity. In addition, the activity decreased sharply even if only one trifluoromethyl group was replaced with a methyl group. Electrochemical investigations by cyclic voltammetry revealed that all CF3‐containing compounds are harder to oxidize than the unsubstituted metallocenes. Moreover, log P determination by RP‐HPLC showed the fluorinated derivatives to have higher lipophilicity, with log P values up to 4.6. At the same time, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Jurkat cells by these compounds was investigated by flow cytometry. Strong ROS production was shown exclusively for the bis‐CF3 derivative 1‐(1‐hydroxy‐1‐hexafluoromethylethyl)ferrocene (1) after 6 and 24 h. Also on the Jurkat cell line, only compound 1 strongly induces necrosis after 24 and 48 h, as shown by annexin V/propidium iodide staining. No induction of apoptosis was observed. We propose that compound 1 is more efficiently incorporated into cancer cells relative to all other derivatives, causing significant induction of oxidative stress within the cell, which ultimately leads to cell death.
Air Nicotine Monitoring for Second Hand Smoke Exposure in Public Places in India

Background: Air nicotine monitoring is an established method of measuring exposure to second hand smoke (SHS). Not much research has been done in India to measure air nicotine for the purpose of studying exposure to SHS. It is a risk factor and many diseases are known to occur among non smokers if they are exposed to second hand smoke. Objective: To conduct monitoring of air nicotine for second hand smoke exposure in public places across major cities in India. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted across four cities across the country, using passive air monitoring. The buildings included hospitals, secondary schools, Governmental offices, bars and restaurants. The buildings were selected through convenience sampling method keeping in view specific sentinel locations of interest. Result: The presence of air nicotine was recorded in most of the buildings under the study, which included government buildings, hospitals, schools, restaurants and entertainment venues (bars) in all four cities under the study. The highest median levels of air nicotine were found in entertainment venues and restaurants in cities. Conclusion: The presence of air nicotine in indoor public places indicates weak implementation of existing smoke free law in India. The findings of this study provide a baseline characterization of exposure to SHS in public places in India, which could be used to promote clean indoor air policies and programs and monitor and evaluate the progress and future smoke-free initiatives in India.
A meta-analysis of the use of electronic reminders for patient adherence to medication in chronic disease care

We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to January 2014 which evaluated the effects of electronic reminders on patient adherence to medication in chronic disease care. A random-effects model was used to pool the outcome data. Subgroup analyses were performed to examine a set of moderators. Data from 20 studies, representing 22 RCTs, were synthesized. Thirteen trials utilized short message service (SMS) reminders, three used pager reminders and six employed electronic alarm device-triggered reminders. The meta-analysis showed that the use of electronic reminders was associated with a significant, yet small, improvement in patient adherence to medication (pooled Cohen’s d=0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.18, 0.41). The effect was sensitive to sample size, type of disease and intervention duration. The frequency and type of electronic reminders appeared to have no moderating effect on medication adherence. The use of electronic reminders seems to be a simple and potentially effective way of improving patient adherence to chronic medication. Future research should concern the optimum strategies for the design and implementation of electronic reminders, with which the effectiveness of the reminders is likely to be augmented.
Intuitions About Combining Opinions: Misappreciation of the Averaging Principle

Averaging estimates is an effective way to improve accuracy when combining expert judgments, integrating group members judgments, or using advice to modify personal judgments. If the estimates of two judges ever fall on different sides of the truth, which we term bracketing, averaging must outperform the average judge for convex loss functions, such as mean absolute deviation (MAD). We hypothesized that people often hold incorrect beliefs about averaging, falsely concluding that the average of two judges estimates would be no more accurate than the average judge. The experiments confirmed that this misconception was common across a range of tasks that involved reasoning from summary data (Experiment 1), from specific instances (Experiment 2), and conceptually (Experiment 3). However, this misconception decreased as observed or assumed bracketing rate increased (all three studies) and when bracketing was made more transparent (Experiment 2). Experiment 4 showed that flawed inferential rules and poor extensional reasoning abilities contributed to the misconception. We conclude by describing how people may face few opportunities to learn the benefits of averaging and how misappreciating averaging contributes to poor intuitive strategies for combining estimates.
On Parsing Preferences

It is argued that syntactic preference principles such as Right Association and Minimal Attachment are unsatisfactory as usually formulated. Among the difficulties are: (1) dependence on ill-specified or implausible principles of parser operation; (2) dependence on questionable assumptions about syntax; (3) lack of provision, even in principle, for integration with semantic and pragmatic preference principles; and (4) apparent counterexamples, even when discounting (1)--(3). A possible approach to a solution is sketched.
Timing synchronization in super-regenerative receivers with a single quench cycle per symbol

Super-regenerative receivers (SRR) are known for their ultra-low power (ULP) consumption. However, its wide frequency selectivity seriously degrades performance especially in the presence of interference. An attractive approach to address this problem is by lowering the quench rate of the SRR to the modulation rate. However, this brings in uncertainty due to lack of oversamples and leads to the timing synchronization problem in demodulation. This paper proposes a timing synchronization method for SRR with a single quench cycle per modulated symbol. A novel asynchronous preamble structure and an associated timing synchronization algorithm are proposed. Significant performance gains are obtained due to the improved frequency selectivity enabling the SRR system to adhere to the constraints set forth by the IEEE 802.15. 4 standard while maintaining the ULP advantage.
A CMOS Analog Front-End for Tunnelling Magnetoresistive Spintronic Sensing Systems

This paper presents a CMOS readout circuit for an integrated and highly-sensitive tunnel-magnetoresistive (TMR) sensor. Based on the characterization of the TMR sensor in the finite-element simulation, using COMSOL Multiphysics, the circuit including a Wheatstone bridge and an analogue front-end (AFE) circuit, were designed to achieve low-noise and low-power sensing. We present a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) that biases and amplifies a TMR sensor array using switched-capacitors external noise filtering and allows the integration of TMR sensors on CMOS without decreasing the measurement resolution. Designed using TSMC 0.18 µm 1V technology, the amplifier consumes 160 nA at 1.8 V supply to achieve a dc gain of 118 dB and a bandwidth of 3.8 MHz. The results confirm that the full system is able to detect the magnetic field in the pico-Tesla range with low circuit noise (2.297 pA/√Hz) and low power consumption (86 µW). A concurrent reduction in the power consumption and attenuation of noise in TMR sensors makes them suitable for long-term deployment in spintronic sensing systems.
Influence of liquid crystal cladding on light propagation in a tapered optical fiber

The research is based on properties of a tapered optical fiber, ability to influence external factors on the propagating light beam in the fiber and anisotropic properties of the liquid crystal (LC) mixture that surrounds a tapered region. The combination of these elements is possible by creating a liquid crystal cell consisting of a layer orientating a liquid crystal (LC) between conductive layers. In that type of a sandwich construction, we can change the orientation of LC molecules under influence of the applied electrical voltage. The second interesting feature of LC is change in a structure that results from the degree of molecules’ alignment. When temperature rises, structure of LC changes from smectic through nematic to an isotropic liquid. Both the molecules orientation as well as the LC structure changes modified a refractive index of structure, which directly affects the propagating light beam in a tapered optical fiber. The spectral characteristics in the 500 -1100 nm range for a LC cell filled with a mixture of 1550* oriented orthogonally to the cross section of the tapered optical fiber are presented. Changes on spectral characteristics depended on manipulation of such parameters as: electrical voltage (0-200 V), frequency (1-10 Hz), shape of electrical signal, and time course for different voltage in the range 20-180 V.
Central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial characteristics in healthy, cataract, and glaucoma patients

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe and compare endothelial cell parameters and central corneal thickness (CCT) in four different groups of patients (patients with cataract, patients with glaucoma, elderly healthy subjects, and young healthy subjects) and identify correlations between these characteristics, patient age, and sex. Methods Before conducting invasive procedures, 104 patients were examined using a non-contact specular microscope. Parameters examined included endothelial cell density (ECD), percentage of regular hexagonal cells (6A), average size of endothelial cells (Ave), and CCT. Patients’ ages and sexes were also noted. Results A total of 47 (45%) patients were men and 57 (55%) were women. CCT, ECD, 6A, and Ave in cataract group were 540 (±64) μm, 2633 (±430) cells/mm2, 60 (±10)%, and 390 (±66) μm, respectively; these values in the glaucoma group were 553 (±32) μm, 2484 (±82) cells/mm2, 60 (±10)%, and 397 (±58) μm. In the elderly group these figures were 545 (± 39) μm, 2394 (±416) cells/mm2, 64 (±10)%, and 386 (±43) μm; and in young healthy subjects the values were 555 (±43) μm, 2940 (±345) cells/mm2, 66 (±10)%, and 345 (±42) μm. A weak inverse correlation was observed between ECD and subject age (r = −0.459; P < 0.05) and between ECD and CCT (r = 0.232; P < 0.05). CCT was inversely correlated with patient age (r = −0.13; P = 0.189), but statistically significant data was observed only for the glaucoma group (r = −0.572; P < 0.05). Conclusion ECD in young subjects was higher than in elderly subjects in all groups; these patients have more endothelial cells and smaller, thicker corneas. The corneal endothelium cells in males have more regular hexagonal cells than do females. No difference in CCT and the ECD was observed between sexes. CCT and average size of endothelial cells do not differ between groups.
Avaaj Otalo: a field study of an interactive voice forum for small farmers in rural India

In this paper we present the results of a field study of Avaaj Otalo (literally, "voice stoop"), an interactive voice application for small-scale farmers in Gujarat, India. Through usage data and interviews, we describe how 51 farmers used the system over a seven month pilot deployment. The most popular feature of Avaaj Otalo was a forum for asking questions and browsing others' questions and responses on a range of agricultural topics. The forum developed into a lively social space with the emergence of norms, persistent moderation, and a desire for both structured interaction with institutionally sanctioned authorities and open discussion with peers. For all 51 users this was the first experience participating in an online community of any sort. In terms of usability, simple menu-based navigation was readily learned, with users preferring numeric input over speech. We conclude by discussing implications of our findings for designing voice-based social media serving rural communities in India and elsewhere.