Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Photonic Crystal Fibers

Photonic crystal fibers guide light by corralling it within a periodic array of microscopic air holes that run along the entire fiber length. Largely through their ability to overcome the limitations of conventional fiber optics—for example, by permitting low-loss guidance of light in a hollow core—these fibers are proving to have a multitude of important technological and scientific applications spanning many disciplines. The result has been a renaissance of interest in optical fibers and their uses.
Pain Behavior and the Development of Pain-related Disability: The Importance of Guarding

ObjectiveTo examine prospectively the association between the 4 categories of objectively assessed pain behavior and various disability outcomes. In the present study, relationships among the 4 categories of pain behavior and various disability-related outcomes were examined. MethodsOne hundred forty-eight workers were identified within 6 weeks of a first episode of low-back pain in the workplace. During a physical examination, observations were made of guarding, words, sounds, and facial expressions of pain. Three months later, participants were evaluated with respect to return to work and standardized self-report measures of pain-related disability. Administrative records were examined to determine the number of days lost and costs associated with their rehabilitation. ResultsOnly guarding showed consistent prospective associations with all disability outcomes. When examined in the context of other variables that have been associated with disability in the same population, guarding showed consistent independent associations. DiscussionGuarding behavior may play a role in the transition from acute to chronic pain. The findings underscore the multidimensional nature of pain behavior and suggest that there is value in examining overt pain behaviors in prospective studies of the development of chronic occupational pain disability.
The effect of stress and boundaries on segmental duration in a corpus of authentic speech (british English)

Research into the effect of stress and boundaries on segmental duration in speech has, for obvious reasons, most often been applied to carefully constructed sentences pronounced in laboratory conditions. The availability of a large labelled database of British English (Aix-Marsec) provides an opportunity to test different hypotheses concerning the factors influencing segmental duration from a corpus of authentic speech (defined as speech produced with the intent of communicating its meaning to the listener). In particular, in this paper, we look at the effect of stress and boundaries on prosodic structure in British English. Recent work has suggested that while word boundaries seem definitely to have a significant effect of the duration of segments, once the number of segments in the narrow rhythm unit is known, there is no orthogonal effect of word stress. In this study we look in particular at effects of word and intonation unit boundaries and at their possible interaction with stress and find that while intonation unit boundaries definitely affect segmental duration, no similar effect could be shown for word boundaries.
Linagliptin Lowers Albuminuria on Top of Recommended Standard Treatment in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Renal Dysfunction

OBJECTIVE Preclinical data suggest that linagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, may lower urinary albumin excretion. The ability of linagliptin to lower albuminuria on top of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition in humans was analyzed by pooling data from four similarly designed, 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trials. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A pooled analysis of four completed studies identified 217 subjects with type 2 diabetes and prevalent albuminuria (defined as a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR] of 30−3,000 mg/g creatinine) while receiving stable doses of RAAS inhibitors. Participants were randomized to either linagliptin 5 mg/day (n = 162) or placebo (n= 55). The primary end point was the percentage change in geometric mean UACR from baseline to week 24. RESULTS UACR at week 24 was reduced by 32% (95% CI −42 to −21; P < 0.05) with linagliptin compared with 6% (95% CI −27 to +23) with placebo, with a between-group difference of 28% (95% CI −47 to −2; P = 0.0357). The between-group difference in the change in HbA1c from baseline to week 24 was −0.61% (−6.7 mmol/mol) in favor of linagliptin (95% CI −0.88 to −0.34% [−9.6 to −3.7 mmol/mol]; P < 0.0001). The albuminuria-lowering effect of linagliptin, however, was not influenced by race or HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (SBP) values at baseline or after treatment. CONCLUSIONS Linagliptin administered in addition to stable RAAS inhibitors led to a significant reduction in albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal dysfunction. This observation was independent of changes in glucose level or SBP. Further research to prospectively investigate the renal effects of linagliptin is underway.
The Coxsackievirus-Adenovirus Receptor Protein Can Function as a Cellular Attachment Protein for Adenovirus Serotypes from Subgroups A, C, D, E, and F

ABSTRACT Attachment of an adenovirus (Ad) to a cell is mediated by the capsid fiber protein. To date, only the cellular fiber receptor for subgroup C serotypes 2 and 5, the so-called coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) protein, has been identified and cloned. Previous data suggested that the fiber of the subgroup D serotype Ad9 also recognizes CAR, since Ad9 and Ad2 fiber knobs cross-blocked each other’s cellular binding. Recombinant fiber knobs and3H-labeled Ad virions from serotypes representing all six subgroups (A to F) were used to determine whether the knobs cross-blocked the binding of virions from different subgroups. With the exception of subgroup B, all subgroup representatives cross-competed, suggesting that they use CAR as a cellular fiber receptor as well. This result was confirmed by showing that CAR, produced in a soluble recombinant form (sCAR), bound to nitrocellulose-immobilized virions from the different subgroups except subgroup B. Similar results were found for blotted fiber knob proteins. The subgroup F virus Ad41 has both short and long fibers, but only the long fiber bound sCAR. The sCAR protein blocked the attachment of all virus serotypes that bound CAR. Moreover, CHO cells expressing human CAR, in contrast to untransformed CHO cells, all specifically bound the sCAR-binding serotypes. We conclude therefore that Ad serotypes from subgroups A, C, D, E, and F all use CAR as a cellular fiber receptor.
Live long and prosper : aging in East Asia and Pacific

The population in East Asia and Pacific is aging rapidly, raising concerns about the implications for the region’s economic future. This report aims to crystallize what is known about the rapidly changing and diverse demographics of East Asian and Pacific countries. It documents policy frameworks on aging and explores the implications of alternative reform options. Its purpose is not only to provide a comprehensive review of aging in the region and associated policy responses, but also to encourage policy debate by facilitating comparison of policy regimes across the region. Aging raises many challenges and risks, which East Asian and Pacific countries are well positioned to manage - provided they make policy choices that promote appropriate behavioral change by households and employers. The overview is organized as follows: the first section reviews the demographic and epidemiological transitions in East Asia and Pacific. The second section discusses the living standards and other indicators of welfare of older people in the region, such as sources of support and living arrangements. The third section discusses the effects of aging on growth, the labor force, savings, and government budgets, and the ways in which countries can manage them. The fourth section looks at challenges facing pension, health, and long-term care systems. The final section provides some concluding thoughts.
The effect of music therapy on cognitive functions in patients with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Objectives: The aim of the present study was to meta-analyze the effect of music therapy (MT) on cognitive functions in patients with dementia. Method: A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL and RILM up to 8 September 2016. We included all randomized controlled trials that compared MT with standard care, or other non-musical types of intervention, evaluating cognitive outcomes in patients with dementia. Outcomes included global cognition, complex attention, executive function, learning and memory, language, and perceptual-motor skills. Results: From 1089 potentially relevant records, 110 studies were assessed for eligibility, and 7 met the inclusion criteria, of which 6 contained appropriate data for meta-analysis (330 participants, mean age range 78.8–86.3). Overall, random-effects meta-analyses suggested no significant effects of MT on all outcomes. Subgroup analysis found evidence of a beneficial effect of active MT on global cognition (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.57, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Despite the limited evidence of the present review, it is important to continue supporting MT as a complementary treatment for older adults with dementia. RCTs with larger sample sizes are needed to better elucidate the impact of MT on cognitive functions.
A Relational Multi-Schema Data Model and Query Language for Full Support of Schema Versioning

Schema versioning is a powerful tool not only to ensure reuse of data and continued support of legacy applications after schema changes, but also to add a new degree of freedom to database designers, application developers and final users. In fact, different schema versions actually allow one to represent, in full relief, different points of view over the modelled application reality. The key to such an improvement is the adoption of a multi-pool implementation solution, rather that the single-pool solution usually endorsed by other authors. In this paper, we show some of the application potentialities of the multi-pool approach in schema versioning through a concrete example, introduce a simple but comprehensive logical storage model for the mapping of a multi-schema database onto a standard relational database and use such a model to define and exemplify a multi-schema query language, called MSQL, which allows one to exploit the full potentialities of schema versioning under the multi-pool approach.
A novel mechanism for the regulation of amyloid precursor protein metabolism

Modifier of cell adhesion protein (MOCA; previously called presenilin [PS] binding protein) is a DOCK180-related molecule, which interacts with PS1 and PS2, is localized to brain areas involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, and is lost from the soluble fraction of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. Because PS1 has been associated with γ-secretase activity, MOCA may be involved in the regulation of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing. Here we show that the expression of MOCA decreases both APP and amyloid β-peptide secretion and lowers the rate of cell-substratum adhesion. In contrast, MOCA does not lower the secretion of amyloid precursor-like protein (APLP) or several additional type 1 membrane proteins. The phenotypic changes caused by MOCA are due to an acceleration in the rate of intracellular APP degradation. The effect of MOCA expression on the secretion of APP and cellular adhesion is reversed by proteasome inhibitors, suggesting that MOCA directs nascent APP to proteasomes for destruction. It is concluded that MOCA plays a major role in APP metabolism and that the effect of MOCA on APP secretion and cell adhesion is a downstream consequence of MOCA-directed APP catabolism. This is a new mechanism by which the expression of APP is regulated.
A comparative study of electromagnetic generator via finite element element analysis

Energy scavenging from ambient sources is an attractive alternative to batteries because of an almost unlimited lifetime and is environmentally safe. Environmental vibration is a particularly attractive energy source because of its abundance, and several scavenging techniques such as piezoelectric, electrostatic and electromagnetic (EM) transduction. Since it is quite easy to keep a strong magnetic field with a permanent magnet, electromagnetic vibration-power generators are preferred in many applications. This paper presents a comparative study of electromagnetic generator via Finite Element Analysis (FEA). It involves the investigation of the magnetic behaviours for several configurations of electromagnetic generator. The configuration varies in terms of types of magnet and the arrangement of the magnet. Finite element models are developed and further analyzed via ANSYS software. Analyses are conducted prior to investigate the magnetic behaviours of the electromagnetic generator such as the flux lines, the magnetic flux density and also the electromotive force (emf) produced.
Neisseria meningitidis Type IV Pili Composed of Sequence Invariable Pilins Are Masked by Multisite Glycosylation

The ability of pathogens to cause disease depends on their aptitude to escape the immune system. Type IV pili are extracellular filamentous virulence factors composed of pilin monomers and frequently expressed by bacterial pathogens. As such they are major targets for the host immune system. In the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis, strains expressing class I pilins contain a genetic recombination system that promotes variation of the pilin sequence and is thought to aid immune escape. However, numerous hypervirulent clinical isolates express class II pilins that lack this property. This raises the question of how they evade immunity targeting type IV pili. As glycosylation is a possible source of antigenic variation it was investigated using top-down mass spectrometry to provide the highest molecular precision on the modified proteins. Unlike class I pilins that carry a single glycan, we found that class II pilins display up to 5 glycosylation sites per monomer on the pilus surface. Swapping of pilin class and genetic background shows that the pilin primary structure determines multisite glycosylation while the genetic background determines the nature of the glycans. Absence of glycosylation in class II pilins affects pilus biogenesis or enhances pilus-dependent aggregation in a strain specific fashion highlighting the extensive functional impact of multisite glycosylation. Finally, molecular modeling shows that glycans cover the surface of class II pilins and strongly decrease antibody access to the polypeptide chain. This strongly supports a model where strains expressing class II pilins evade the immune system by changing their sugar structure rather than pilin primary structure. Overall these results show that sequence invariable class II pilins are cloaked in glycans with extensive functional and immunological consequences.
Detecting Colluding Blackhole and Greyhole Attacks in Delay Tolerant Networks

Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) is developed to cope with intermittent connectivity and long delay in wireless networks. Due to the limited connectivity, DTN is vulnerable to blackhole and greyhole attacks in which malicious nodes intentionally drop all or part of the received messages. Although existing proposals could accurately detect the attack launched by individuals, they fail to tackle the case that malicious nodes cooperate with each other to cheat the defense system. In this paper, we suggest a scheme called Statistical-based Detection of Blackhole and Greyhole attackers (SDBG) to address both individual and collusion attacks. Nodes are required to exchange their encounter record histories, based on which other nodes can evaluate their forwarding behaviors. To detect the individual misbehavior, we define forwarding ratio metrics that can distinguish the behavious of attackers from normal nodes. Malicious nodes might avoid being detected by colluding to manipulate their forwarding ratio metrics. To continuously drop messages and promote the metrics at the same time, attackers need to create fake encounter records frequently and with high forged numbers of sent messages. We exploit the abnormal pattern of appearance frequency and number of sent messages in fake encounters to design a robust algorithm to detect colluding attackers. Extensive simulation shows that our solution can work with various dropping probabilities and different number of attackers per collusion at high accuracy and low false positive.
Information is a Common Core dish best served first

There has been a spike in negative comments about mathematics and standards since the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Regardless of whether the comments are fueled by social media or traditional media, educators need to be armed with strategies for helping parents understand, navigate, and embrace the Common Core’s mathematics content and practices. In this article, the author outlines three strategies and accompanying action steps that can help school leaders and teachers to be proactive rather than reactive when addressing parent concerns about the Common Core math standards. While the examples in this article are embedded in elementary mathematics, the strategies and action steps apply to all K-12 settings.
Diagnostic accuracy of coeliac serological tests: a prospective study

Objective The best way to test serologically for coeliac disease (CD) remains controversial, with endomysial (EMA), transglutaminase (TTG), and gliadin antibodies (AGA) being assessed in various combinations with no apparent standardization. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether TTG-IgA+/−TTG-IgG could be used as a replacement for endomysial antibodies as a reliable screen for CD in patients presenting to a major Australian tertiary referral hospital for assessment of symptoms consistent with CD. Methods Individuals referred for gastroscopic assessment of possible CD were prospectively evaluated by duodenal biopsy assessment. The following diagnostic methods were compared: dual-isotype transglutaminase (TTG-dual), combined-isotype transglutaminase (TTG-IgA+G), TTG-IgA, combined-isotype gliadin antibodies (AGA-IgA+G), AGA-IgA, and endomysial antibody assays. Clinical performance characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve for receiver-operating characteristic analysis; AUROC) were assessed for all kits. Results The correlation between transglutaminase kits was generally good, with the best transglutaminase kit demonstrating high correlation (r=0.86) with endomysial antibodies. A comparison of different types of endomysial antibody assays displayed variable diagnostic performance (sensitivity 61.90–68.42%; specificity 80.00–98.57%; AUROC 0.71–0.83). Sensitivity (90.48–92.31%), specificity (80.77–82.89%) and AUROC values (0.92–0.94) for dual-isotype transglutaminase kits displayed narrow ranges. AGA assays were less sensitive (AGA-IgA: 42.31–46.15%; AGA-IgG: 61.54%) and less specific (AGA-IgA: 85.09–87.73%; AGA-IgG: 82.46–84.09%). Dual-isotype transglutaminase testing was diagnostically equivalent to transglutaminase-IgA (AUROC 0.92 versus 0.91, P=0.33). Conclusions Our study suggests that transglutaminase screening (using the IgA±IgG isotype) is a sensitive and specific alternative to endomysial antibody testing in the serological assessment of CD. On the basis of our findings, AGA antibody testing no longer appears to be an essential part of the diagnostic strategy for adult CD.
Adjuvant chemotherapy and prognostic factors in stage II colon cancer--Izmir Oncology Group Study.

BACKGROUND Although adjuvant chemotherapy is a standard treatment in stage III colon cancer, its benefit is not as clear for stage II patients. In this retrospective analysis, we aimed to evaluate the survival of patients with low-risk stage II colon cancer, the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk stage II colon cancer patients, and prognostic factors in stage II disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and seventeen patients who were diagnosed with stage II colon cancer between January 2006 and December 2011 were included in the study. Patients were stratified into two groups as being low-risk and high-risk according to risk factors for stage II disease. Adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy were administered to the patients with risk factors. RESULTS Ninety-four patients were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy due to high risk factors and 23 were monitored without treatment. Median follow-up time was 43 months. In terms of disease free survival and overall survival, adjuvant chemotherapy did not provide a statistically significant difference. Univariate analysis demonstrated that bowel obstruction was the major risk factor for shortened disease-free survival, while bowel perforation and perineural invasion were both negative prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS The recommendation of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer is not clear. In our study, it was found that adjuvant chemotherapy did not contribute to survival in high-risk stage II patients. Due to the fact that prognosis of stage II patients is good, many more patients will be needed for statistically significant differences in survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy containing 5 fluorouracil is being used to high-risk stage II patients although it is not a standard treatment approach.
Lengre liv, nye hjelpemønstre i familien?

Lengre liv gjor at familieband pa tvers av generasjoner varer lenger enn noen gang for. Dette innebaerer at det a ha bade foreldre, barn og barnebarn ikke er uvanlig. I denne artikkelen tar jeg et flergenerasjonsperspektiv og under-soker hjelpemonstre blant kvinner og menn i tre- og firegenerasjonsstrukturer fra to vinkler: besteforeldres pass av barnebarn og voksne barns omsorg for eldre foreldre. Sporsmal som stilles er om det har betydning for barnebarnpass at besteforeldre har foreldre som lever, og om det har noe a si for hjelp til for-eldre at voksne barn har barnebarn. Analysene, som er basert pa data fra LOGG, viser at det ikke er antall generasjoner som har betydning, men om henholdsvis foreldre og barnebarn faktisk hjelpes. Sammenhengen mellom hjelp oppover og nedover i generasjonslinjen er positiv, men kun for kvinner. Bestemodre med foreldre de hjelper, er mer tilboyelige til a passe barnebarn enn det bestemodre uten et slikt hjelpeansvar er. Tilsvarende, voksne dotre som har barnebarn de passer, stiller i storre grad opp for foreldre enn det dotre som ikke er involvert i barnebarnpass gjor. Funnene tyder dermed pa at nar kvinner star overfor bade eldre og yngre familiegenerasjoners behov, hjelper mange av dem bade oppover og nedover.
The Global Challenge

This article is a lightly edited version of the tenth William Walker Oration. In it, the author argues for greater balance in education and its administration; greater balance between continuity and constant change, dependence and independence, individualism and community, and homogeneity and heterogeneity. More specifically the article puts the case for greater emphasis on continuity, independence, community and heterogeneity to balance what is seen as the current overemphasis on constant change, dependence, individualism, and homogeneity. It concludes by offering a key, the key of a research-based approach to development or learning, to open the way to achieving greater balance in the increasing global challenge that is the future of educational administration.
A study of emergency response work: patterns of mobile phone interaction

This paper presents descriptive accounts of time-critical organizing in the domain of emergency response. Patterns of mobile phone interaction in such work is analyzed showing how the dyadic exchange of mobile phone numbers between the actors plays an important role in the social interactions in the organizing and sensemaking of the emergency. Enacted sensemaking is used as an analytical framework. Implications for design of emergency response information technology are outlined and discussed.