Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical and terahertz energy concentration on the nanoscale in plasmonics

We introduce an approach to implement full coherent control on nanometer length scales. It is based on spatiotemporal modulation of the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) fields at the thick edge of a nanowedge. The SPP wavepackets propagating toward the sharp edge of this nanowedge are compressed and adiabatically concentrated at a nanofocus, forming an ultrashort pulse of local fields. The profile of the focused waveform as a function of time and one spatial dimension is completely coherently controlled. We establish the principal limits for the nanoconcentration of the terahertz (THz) radiation in metal/dielectric waveguides and determine their optimum shapes required for this nanoconcentration. We predict that the adiabatic compression of THz radiation from the initial spot size of vacuum wavelength m R μ λ 300 0 0 ≈ ≈ to the unprecedented final size of nm 250 100 − = R can be achieved, while the THz radiation intensity is increased by a factor of 10 to 250. This THz energy nanoconcentration will not only improve the spatial resolution and increase the signal/noise ratio for THz imaging and spectroscopy, but in combination with the recently developed sources of powerful THz pulses, will allow the observation of nonlinear THz effects and a variety of nonlinear spectroscopies (such as two-dimensional spectroscopy), which are highly informative. This should find a wide spectrum of applications in science, engineering, biomedical research and environmental monitoring. We also develop a theory of the spoof plasmons propagating at the interface between a dielectric and a real conductor. The deviation from a perfect conductor is introduced through a finite skin depth. The possibilities of guiding and focusing of spoof plasmons are considered. Geometrical parameters of the structure are found which provide a good guiding of such modes. Moreover, the limit on the concentration by means of planar spoof plasmons in case of non-ideal metal is established. These properties of spoof plasmons are of great interest for THz technology. INDEX WORDS: Nanoplasmonics, Surface plasmon polaritons, Adiabatic concentration, Full coherent control on nanoscale, Nanowedge, Terahertz, Coaxial waveguide, Spoof plasmons, Nanoscale, Nanofocus, Terahertz (THz) energy nanoconcentration OPTICAL AND TERAHERTZ ENERGY CONCENTRATION ON THE NANOSCALE IN PLASMONICS
Inclusion criteria for pharmacodynamic and clinical trials in chronic idiopathic constipation: pitfalls in using Rome III for functional constipation

Selection of the appropriate patients to take part in any pharmacodynamic or clinical trial is essential for the context and relevance of the trial and to realistically assess the efficacy and safety of an experimental treatment for the condition of interest. There is continued interest in the development of medications for chronic idiopathic constipation or constipation resulting from use of opiates.
Preparation and Characterization of Polylactic Acid-Based Biodegradable Blends Processed Under Microwave Radiation

Properties of the biodegradable polymers like PDLLA and PCL can be modified by blending them with each other and with other polymers like Starch. In the present study we have prepared blends of PDLLA, PCL and starch in different proportions and then subjected to microwave radiation. Using microwave, time of reaction has been reduced to 3–30 min as microwave radiation is associated with more even distribution of heat. The results indicate a direct linkage between the polymers indicating the formation of a chemical linkage between the two molecules as opposed to just a physical blend.
REGENT: A Framework for Realistic Generation of Network Traffic

Network security research is highly dependent on traffic datasets. Fair and comprehensive analysis as well as performance evaluations of different solutions for problems such as detections of intrusions, anomalies and attacks, requires traffic traces that closely resemble data from operational network. Currently available datasets are either getting obsolete with time, or lacking important information such as ground truth of data and payloads in the traffic. While making little compromises, an alternate solution to this problem is to generate traffic data. However, care has to be taken that such a solution is capable to cope up with the changing characteristics of traffic; more generally, it should be flexible enough to generate traffic with specific characteristics as required by a user. In this work, we develop a framework for realistic generation of network traffic, called REGENT, which takes traffic models as input. In REGENT, different protocols generate real traffic independently, and based on the specific models (such as distribution for inter-arrival time between connections, distribution for connection size, etc.) provided by a user. We conduct experiments wherein REGENT takes protocol models as input, and generates real traffic as output. Using analysis, we show that the characteristics of the generated traffic (protocols) are close to the models specified as input.
Small bowel carcinoma in crohn's disease. Distinguishing features and risk factors

An 86‐year‐old woman who developed small bowel adenocarcinoma 40 years following in‐continuity bypass of a 60‐cm segment of regional ileitis represents the 22nd reported patient with this complication of bypassed Crohn's disease. Her case demonstrates several of the typical clinical features of such cancers: late recrudescence of disease following a 40‐year period of relative quiescence; delayed diagnosis due to misinterpretation of the clinical picture (intestinal obstruction, abdominal mass, intraabdominal abscess, and fistula formation) as due to inflammatory bowel disease; and an exceedingly poor prognosis with rapid widespread local dissemination and death. Histologically, severe dysplasia was demonstrated both in close proximity to and at a distance from the lesion. The increasing number of case reports of adenocarcinoma arising at the site of long‐standing Crohn's disease, many with dysplasia within areas of diseased bowel, is further evidence that Crohn's disease is a precancerous condition. Physicians must continue to search for methods of earlier diagnosis to improve the prognosis of small bowel carcinoma in Crohn's disease.
Estimation of Fractal Dimension of a Noisy Time Series

Estimation of the fractal dimension by using correlation dimension of precipitation time series play a fundamental role in the development of dynamic models of meteorological phenomena. As we know that the fractal dimension provides bounds for the number of independent variables necessary to model the system. We computed the correlation dimensions by Takens algorithm, Grassberger and Procaccia algorithm and by R/S method which gives the lower bound. In this paper, the fractal dimension by the method of correlation dimension of 20-years monsoon daily rainfall time series from June to September of Lahore region is estimated. The simulation of our time series is also considered which is based on wavelet fractional Brownian motion (wfBm) as a model that exhibits the self-similarity. General Terms Fractals, Time series analysis
Rapid acceleration and braking: Inspirations from the cheetah's tail

Stimulated by recent biomechanics research of the cheetah, a novel tail controller system for rapid acceleration and braking is presented. To understand the targeted behaviour of a cheetah performing a longitudinal manoeuvre and the effects an actuated tail has, a simple mathematical template was developed. Subsequently feedback controllers were designed based on our hypothesis. Finally, the control system was experimentally tested on a reduced order robot model which increased its manoeuvrability considerably.
Radiative Properties of Multilayer Thin Films With Positive and Negative Refractive Indexes

In 1968, Veselago [1] predicted that there could still be propagating waves in a medium that had simultaneously negative permittivity e and permeability μ, because the product of e and μ would be positive. However, to ensure energy conservation, he concluded that the refractive index must use the negative square root of the product of e and μ (i.e., n = eμ). A consequence is certain unusual optical features in negative-index media. The electric field vector E , magnetic field vector H and wave vector k are a left-handed triplet, the basis for calling materials with simultaneously negative e and μ “left-handed materials” (LHMs). LHMs would have novel optical properties. Light at non-normal incidence would bend to the side opposite that in a normal RHM; positive lenses would become negative; a flat slab could focus. The phase velocity of an electromagnetic wave would be opposite to the direction of energy flux, resulting in a reversed Doppler effect. Photons would have negative momentum and apply tension to the interface upon reflection. Recently, this kind of material has been demonstrated experimentally to exist. Shelby et al. [2] measured the scattering angle of the transmitted beam through a prism manufactured from a composite material consisting of a two-dimensional array of copper wires and split ring resonators and showed that the effective refractive index of the material is negative at microwave frequencies. Recent theoretical studies also showed that some photonic crystals might have negative-refraction properties in the near infrared spectral region [3]. Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Multifaceted Role of Sialylation in Prion Diseases

Mammalian prion or PrPSc is a proteinaceous infectious agent that consists of a misfolded, self-replicating state of a sialoglycoprotein called the prion protein, or PrPC. Sialylation of the prion protein N-linked glycans was discovered more than 30 years ago, yet the role of sialylation in prion pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Recent years have witnessed extraordinary growth in interest in sialylation and established a critical role for sialic acids in host invasion and host-pathogen interactions. This review article summarizes current knowledge on the role of sialylation of the prion protein in prion diseases. First, we discuss the correlation between sialylation of PrPSc glycans and prion infectivity and describe the factors that control sialylation of PrPSc. Second, we explain how glycan sialylation contributes to the prion replication barrier, defines strain-specific glycoform ratios, and imposes constraints for PrPSc structure. Third, several topics, including a possible role for sialylation in animal-to-human prion transmission, prion lymphotropism, toxicity, strain interference, and normal function of PrPC, are critically reviewed. Finally, a metabolic hypothesis on the role of sialylation in the etiology of sporadic prion diseases is proposed.
Clinical use of pregabalin in the management of central neuropathic pain

Central neuropathic pain (central pain) is treated with antidepressants, various anticonvulsants, opioids, and cannabinoids, but in many cases treatment is insufficient and associated with a range of side-effects. This review addresses a new treatment for neuropathic pain, the anticonvulsant pregabalin. We review the pharmacology, mode of action, pharmacokinetics, and safety of pregabalin as well as two randomized efficacy studies in central pain and a brief overview of efficacy in peripheral neuropathic pain. Pregabalin appears to have efficacy in treating central pain comparable to that in peripheral neuropathic pain as well as efficacy of other recommended drugs for central pain. Pregabalin also improves disturbed sleep and anxiety. Pregabalin is well tolerated; the most common side-effects are somnolence, dizziness, ataxia, and weight gain. Pregabalin is suitable for patients on multiple drugs although there may be additive CNS-related side-effects. Thus, pregabalin has a primary role in central pain patients.
Multiagent Model for Distributed Peak Shaving System with Demand-Side Management Approach

Energy management is one of the most important problems in the world today, due among other reasons to the increase in clients electricity demand which generates the Peak Load problem. The rise of Smart Grids as a new paradigm, developed mainly to address those requirements, allows the design and implementation of more complex management and monitoring systems. In this paper, we propose a modelization based on Organizational Multiagent System (MAS) for a distributed control system. Its main aims consist into address the Peak Load problem with Cyber-Physical Systems using the Demand-Side Management approach. The control decision process of the system implements an Artificial Immune Network algorithm to determine the state of consumption of any controlled device connected to the Smart Grid. The first stage of the ASPECS methodology was adopted in order to develop the proposed models. The simulation results show a reduction of about 20% in energy consumption. We conclude that the MAS approach adopted fits the requirements to model the proposed AIN-Peak Shaving System.
The active site of TthPolX is adapted to prevent 8-oxo-dGTP misincorporation

Full genome sequencing of bacterial genomes has revealed the presence of numerous genes encoding family X DNA polymerases. These enzymes play a variety of biological roles and, accordingly, display often striking functional differences. Here we report that the PolX from the heat-stable organism Thermus thermophilus (TthPolX) inserts the four dNTPs with strong asymmetry. We demonstrate that this behaviour is related to the presence of a single divergent residue in the active site of TthPolX. Mutation of this residue (Ser266) to asparagine, the residue present in most PolXs, had a strong effect on TthPolX polymerase activity, increasing and equilibrating the insertion efficiencies of the 4 dNTPs. Moreover, we show that this behaviour correlates with the ability of TthPolX to insert 8-oxo-dGMP. Although the wild-type enzyme inefficiently incorporates 8-oxo-dGMP, the substitution of Ser266 to asparagine resulted in a dramatic increase in 8-oxo-dGMP incorporation opposite dA. These results suggest that the presence of a serine at position 266 in TthPolX allows the enzyme to minimize the formation of dA:8-oxo-dGMP at the expense of decreasing the insertion rate of pyrimidines. We discuss the structural basis for these effects and the implications of this behaviour for the GO system (BER of 8-oxo-dG lesions).
Biomineralization: Principles and Concepts in Bioinorganic Materials Chemistry

1. Inorganic structures of life 2. Biomineral types and functions 3. General principles of biomineralization 4. Chemical control of biomineralization 5. Boundary-organized biomineralization 6. Organic matrix-mediated biomineralization 7. Morphogenesis 8. Biomineral tectonics 9. Biomineral-inspired materials chemistry
Performance of PCS handset antennas in mobile environments

FDTD modeling of two handset-mounted antennas in the proximity of the user was performed to investigate the effects of some aspects of the communications environment on antenna performance. We have shown that: (i) the antenna mean effective gain (MEG) is strongly influenced by the type of the environment; (ii) much less power is absorbed in the user's head when the polarization diversity antenna is used instead of the monopole antenna; and (iii) antenna performance is underestimated if ground reflections are not taken into account.
Stem‐Like Ovarian Cancer Cells Can Serve as Tumor Vascular Progenitors

Neovascularization is required for solid tumor maintenance, progression, and metastasis. The most described contribution of cancer cells in tumor neovascularization is the secretion of factors, which attract various cell types to establish a microenvironment that promotes blood vessel formation. The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that tumors are composed of cells that may share the differentiation capacity of normal stem cells. Similar to normal stem cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the capacity to acquire different phenotypes. Thus, it is possible that CSCs have a bigger role in the process of tumor neovascularization. In this study, we show the capacity of a specific population of ovarian cancer cells with stem‐like properties to give rise to xenograft tumors containing blood vessels, which are lined by human CD34+ cells. In addition, when cultured in high‐density Matrigel, these cells mimic the behavior of normal endothelial cells and can form vessel‐like structures in 24 hours. Microscopic analysis showed extensive branching and maturation of vessel‐like structures in 7 days. Western blot and flow cytometry analysis showed that this process is accompanied by the acquisition of classic endothelial markers, CD34 and VE‐cadherin. More importantly, we show that this process is vascular endothelial growth factor–independent, but IKKβ‐dependent. Our findings suggest that anti‐angiogenic therapies should take into consideration the inherent capacity of these cells to serve as vascular progenitors. STEM CELLS 2009;27:2405–2413
Commercial GaSb cell and circuit development for the Midnight Sun® TPV stove

Most residential heating applications for thermophotovoltaic generation are very price-sensitive. Some applications are possible at a few dollars per Watt, but widespread on-grid acceptance will require electric generation pricing no greater than $1 per Watt. Two recent discoveries make such pricing possible using GaSb cells. First, cells have been successfully processed on polycrystalline material, which means that drastic cost reduction is possible in crystal growth. This also means that larger wafers can be fabricated, dropping cell processing costs. And second, it has been demonstrated that circuits can be assembled in a shingled pattern on a thermally-matched substrate. This has the dual benefit of greatly reducing the required labor for circuit assembly and substantially improving system packing factors.
cobICA: A concentration-based, immune-inspired algorithm for ICA over Galois fields

An interesting and recent application of population-based metaheuristics resides in an unsupervised signal processing task: independent component analysis (ICA) over finite fields. Based on a state-of-the-art immune-inspired method, this work proposes a new ICA algorithm for finite fields of arbitrary order that employs mutation and local search operators specifically customized to the problem domain. The results obtained with the new technique indicate that the proposal is effective in performing component separation, and the analysis includes a preliminary study on image separation.
Microenvironment and tumor progression of melanoma: New therapeutic prospectives

Malignant melanoma is a very representative disease in terms of tumor progression processes. During its evolution, a series of events takes place; among these, the cells’ ‘out-of-control’ growth and loss of homeostasis play crucial roles in the genesis of the tumor itself and its subsequent progression. These events involve several molecular mechanisms associated with both melanocyte transformation and changes to/in the surrounding microenvironment. In particular, interactions between transformed cells and between these cells and the local extracellular matrix (ECM) play key roles in melanoma progression. A description of main ECM molecules involved in melanoma tumor progression, of different cell types present in the tumor microenvironment, and the interactions between all these elements, will be discussed in this review. Taking a broad view of the activity of these cells, molecules, and systems and mechanisms that allow for interference with their expression/function could be useful for designing potential combinations of specific target therapies and immunotherapies that could be more efficient approaches against malignant melanoma.
Rhesus Rhadinovirus R15 Encodes a Functional Homologue of Human CD200

ABSTRACT A viral CD200 homologue (vCD200) encoded by open reading frame R15 of rhesus rhadinovirus (RRV), a gammaherpesvirus closely related to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), is described here. RRV vCD200 shares 30% and 28% amino acid identity with human CD200 (huCD200) and HHV-8 vCD200, respectively. In vitro analysis indicated that an Fc fusion (vCD200-Fc) is expressed as a glycoprotein with a core molecular mass of 53 kDa. Utilizing monoclonal antibodies raised against vCD200-Fc, vCD200 expression was detected on the surfaces of and within supernatants from infected fibroblasts. Furthermore, in vitro assays demonstrated that vCD200-Fc treatment of monocyte-derived macrophages reduces tumor necrosis factor transcript and protein levels, implying that RRV encodes a functional vCD200.
Complex(iti)es of the ubiquitous RNA-binding CSP41 proteins

Photosynthetic eukaryotes encode two copies of the CSP41 (Chloroplast Stemloop binding Protein of 41 kDa) protein that are of cyanobacterial origin. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the two CSP41 proteins belong to the group of most-abundant chloroplast proteins. Multiple functions have been described for CSP41 proteins, including roles in chloroplast rRNA metabolism and transcription. CSP41a and CSP41b interact physically. Recent data show that CSP41b is an essential and major component of high-molecular weight complexes that form in the dark, disassemble in the light, and bind chloroplast mRNAs coding for photosynthetic proteins and some ribosomal RNAs, but not the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP). This, together with the effects seen in leaves of plants lacking CSP41b, implies that complexes containing CSP41 proteins stabilize untranslated mRNAs and precursor rRNAs. This occurs in a redox-dependent manner and seems to be important in the absence light when the translation is less active. In this scenario, translation and transcription is secondarily affected by the decreased transcript stability.
The financial toxicity of cancer treatment: a pilot study assessing out-of-pocket expenses and the insured cancer patient's experience.

PURPOSE Cancer patients carry rising burdens of health care-related out-of-pocket expenses, and a growing number of patients are considered "underinsured. " Our objective was to describe experiences of insured cancer patients requesting copayment assistance and to describe the impact of health care expenses on well-being and treatment. METHODS We conducted baseline and follow-up surveys regarding the impact of health care costs on well-being and treatment among cancer patients who contacted a national copayment assistance foundation along with a comparison sample of patients treated at an academic medical center. RESULTS Among 254 participants, 75% applied for drug copayment assistance. Forty-two percent of participants reported a significant or catastrophic subjective financial burden; 68% cut back on leisure activities, 46% reduced spending on food and clothing, and 46% used savings to defray out-of-pocket expenses. To save money, 20% took less than the prescribed amount of medication, 19% partially filled prescriptions, and 24% avoided filling prescriptions altogether. Copayment assistance applicants were more likely than nonapplicants to employ at least one of these strategies to defray costs (98% vs. 78%). In an adjusted analysis, younger age, larger household size, applying for copayment assistance, and communicating with physicians about costs were associated with greater subjective financial burden. CONCLUSION Insured patients undergoing cancer treatment and seeking copayment assistance experience considerable subjective financial burden, and they may alter their care to defray out-of-pocket expenses. Health insurance does not eliminate financial distress or health disparities among cancer patients. Future research should investigate coverage thresholds that minimize adverse financial outcomes and identify cancer patients at greatest risk for financial toxicity.