Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Highly directive and Gaussian far-field emission from “giant” photonic trumpets

Photonic trumpets are broadband dielectric antennas that efficiently funnel the emission of a point-like quantum emitter—such as a semiconductor quantum dot—into a Gaussian free-space beam. After describing guidelines for the taper design, we present a “giant” photonic trumpet. The device features a bottom diameter of 210 nm and a 5 μm wide top facet. Using Fourier microscopy, we show that 95% of the emitted beam is intercepted by a modest numerical aperture of 0.35. Furthermore, far-field measurements reveal a highly Gaussian angular profile, in agreement with the predicted overlap to a Gaussian beam Mg=0.98. Future application prospects include the direct coupling of these devices to a cleaved single-mode optical fiber. The calculated transmission from the taper base to the fiber already reaches 0.59, and we discuss strategies to further improve this figure of merit.
Lower Dietary Inflammatory Index Scores Are Associated with Lower Glycemic Index Scores among College Students

The association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), the glycemic index (GI), and the glycemic load (GL) is not known, although it is known that carbohydrates are pro-inflammatory. We aimed to measure the association between the DII and both GI and GL among college students. In this cross-sectional study, 110 college students completed a 3-day food diary, which was used to calculate the DII, the GI, the GL, and the healthy eating index (HEI)-2010. Least square means and 95% confidence intervals of the GI, the GL, and the HEI-2010 were presented per DII tertile using generalized linear mixed models. Participants in tertile 1 of DII scores had lower GI and GL scores, but higher HEI-2010 scores than those in tertile 3. Pearson correlations showed that DII score was positively correlated with the GI score (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), but negatively correlated with the HEI-2010 (r = −0.56, p < 0.001). DII score was not correlated with GL score. Results from this study suggest that increased inflammatory potential of diet, as represented by higher DII scores, was associated with increased GI scores and lower quality of diet on the HEI-2010. Use of the DII suggests new directions for dietary approaches for preventing chronic diseases that moves beyond convention by decreasing systemic inflammation.
Polymer origami: programming the folding with shape

Abstract The design of three-dimensional (3D) microstructures is an interesting, fascinating and highly challenging research topic. One of the very promising approaches for 3D microstructuring, inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding – origami, is based on self-folding films. Such films consist of two kinds of materials with different volume expansion properties and are able to form different structures ranging from simple tubes to highly complex 3D shapes. In this review, our recent progress in the design of polymer bilayers and understanding of their folding is summarized.
The in flu ence of litho-and pedogenic pro cesses on Luvisols formation of se lected area

The ob jec tive of the study was to de ter mine the ef fect of lithoand pedogenic pro cesses on soils of the se lected area of Vistula Gla ci ation, based on pro file dis tri bu tion of unweathered com po nents such as ti ta nium, zir co nium and sil ica in re la tion to their mor phol ogy, min er al ogy, micromorphology and physicochemical prop er ties. The pre dom i nant type of soil in the study area are Luvisols. Anal y sis of tex ture al lowed to clas sify the in ves ti gated soils to sandy silts with loamy ma te rial as their sub soil. In the bulk soil sil ica dom i nates and its con tent was in the range 71.4 to 88.6%. The con tent of TiO2 within the pro files is fairy sim i lar, with out clear pat terns in the pro file dis tri bu tion. The to tal con tent of zir co nium in the sam ples was in range of 95.13 to 212.15 mg ́ kg. In the pro file dis tri bu tion of zir co nium higher con tent of Zr was ob served in the up per ho ri zons com pared to the top layer in all of the ana lysed pro files, in di cat ing dif fer ent or i gin of soil ma te rial. Sta tis ti cal anal y sis showed pos i tive cor re la tion be tween the to tal con tent of zir co nium and the con tent of frac tion Æ 0.05–0.002 mm (cor re la tion co ef fi cient value: 0.692384; sig nif i cance level – p < 0.05) and neg a tive cor re la tion be tween zir co nium and clay con tent (cor re la tion co ef fi cient: –0.668157; p < 0.05). The lith o logic dis con ti nu ity within pro files of the in ves ti gated soils has been ad di tion ally has proved by X-ray anal y sis of the clay frac tion. The micromorphological anal y sis con firmed the com plex gen e sis of the stud ied soils. The re sults of the study clearly showed an over all inhomogeneity and strat i fi ca tion of the soils. Stud ied Luvisols did not form as weath er ing prod uct of ho mo ge neous bed rock. Changes in granulometric and chem i cal com po si tion within soil pro files are the con se quence of translocation of clay frac tion dur ing lessivage as well as lith o logic dis con ti nu ity of the solum.
TEM Analysis of Pulse Laser Deposited BaFe12O19 Films on SiC

BaFe12O19 is a ferrite (barium hexaferrite, BaM) with magnetoplumbite structure. Its high permeability ( > 100) and strong uniaxial anisotropy (HA~17kOe) combined with the easy direction of magnetization along the c-axis makes BaM of great importance for microwave device applications [1]. The progress in ferrite devices and next generation monolithic microwave integrated circuits strongly depends of ability to integrate BaM with semiconductor processing technologies. Integrating BaM with wide band gap semiconductors (e.g. SiC or GaN), which can function in high-temperature, high-power, and high-frequency environments is especially desirable [2]. In order to achieve effective integration of BaM on semiconductors, such challenges as lattice mismatch, thermal mismatch, and interface mixing need to be overcome, while maintaining tight stoichiometric control of the BaM film.
Impairment of Mitochondria in Adult Mouse Brain Overexpressing Predominantly Full-Length, N-Terminally Acetylated Human α-Synuclein

While most forms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are sporadic in nature, a small percentage of PD have genetic causes as first described for dominant, single base pair changes as well as duplication and triplication in the α-synuclein gene. The α-synuclein gene encodes a 140 amino acid residue protein that interacts with a variety of organelles including synaptic vesicles, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi vesicles and, reported more recently, mitochondria. Here we examined the structural and functional interactions of human α-synuclein with brain mitochondria obtained from an early, pre-manifest mouse model for PD over-expressing human α-synuclein (ASOTg). The membrane potential in ASOTg brain mitochondria was decreased relative to wildtype (WT) mitochondria, while reactive oxygen species (ROS) were elevated in ASOTg brain mitochondria. No selective interaction of human α-synuclein with mitochondrial electron transport complexes cI-cV was detected. Monomeric human α-synuclein plus carboxyl terminally truncated forms were the predominant isoforms detected in ASOTg brain mitochondria by 2-dimensional PAGE (Native/SDS) and immunoblotting. Oligomers or fibrils were not detected with amyloid conformational antibodies. Mass spectrometry of human α-synuclein in both ASOTg brain mitochondria and homogenates from surgically resected human cortex demonstrated that the protein was full-length and postranslationally modified by N-terminal acetylation. Overall the study showed that accumulation of full-length, N-terminally acetylated human α-synuclein was sufficient to disrupt brain mitochondrial function in adult mice.
Detection limit of glucose concentration in noninvasive sensing with near infrared spectroscopy

By analyzing two kinds of influence of the variation of glucose concentration on optical properties and its light propagation effect,the relationship among detection limit of glucose concentration,source-detector separation and the signal-to-noise ratio of measurment system is derived.According to different thicknesses of epidermis and dermis,their effects on detection limit of glucose concentation are researched with Monte Carlo method.The research results show that the effective photons from dermis layer can be more than 50% by selecting optimal source-detector separation,and the requirement of FDA for noninvasive glucose sensing can be satisfied when supposing the instrument SNR is 10 000.
Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Early Life-History Stages and Settlement of the Coral-Eating Sea Star Acanthaster planci

Coral reefs are marine biodiversity hotspots, but their existence is threatened by global change and local pressures such as land-runoff and overfishing. Population explosions of coral-eating crown of thorns sea stars (COTS) are a major contributor to recent decline in coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef. Here, we investigate how projected near-future ocean acidification (OA) conditions can affect early life history stages of COTS, by investigating important milestones including sperm motility, fertilisation rates, and larval development and settlement. OA (increased pCO2 to 900–1200 µatm pCO2) significantly reduced sperm motility and, to a lesser extent, velocity, which strongly reduced fertilization rates at environmentally relevant sperm concentrations. Normal development of 10 d old larvae was significantly lower under elevated pCO2 but larval size was not significantly different between treatments. Settlement of COTS larvae was significantly reduced on crustose coralline algae (known settlement inducers of COTS) that had been exposed to OA conditions for 85 d prior to settlement assays. Effect size analyses illustrated that reduced settlement may be the largest bottleneck for overall juvenile production. Results indicate that reductions in fertilisation and settlement success alone would reduce COTS population replenishment by over 50%. However, it is unlikely that this effect is sufficient to provide respite for corals from other negative anthropogenic impacts and direct stress from OA and warming on corals.
Improvement of the Uranium Sequestration Ability of a Chlamydomonas sp. (ChlSP Strain) Isolated From Extreme Uranium Mine Tailings Through Selection for Potential Bioremediation Application

The extraction and processing of uranium (U) have polluted large areas worldwide, rendering anthropogenic extreme environments inhospitable to most species. Noticeably, these sites are of great interest for taxonomical and applied bioprospection of extremotolerant species successfully adapted to U tailings contamination. As an example, in this work we have studied a microalgae species that inhabits extreme U tailings ponds at the Saelices mining site (Salamanca, Spain), characterized as acidic (pH between 3 and 4), radioactive (around 4 μSv h−1) and contaminated with metals, mainly U (from 25 to 48 mg L−1) and zinc (from 17 to 87 mg L−1). After isolation of the extremotolerant ChlSP strain, morphological characterization and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-5.8S gene sequences placed it in the Chlamydomonadaceae, but BLAST analyses identity values, against the nucleotide datasets at the NCBI database, were very low (<92%). We subjected the ChlSP strain to an artificial selection protocol to increase the U uptake and investigated its response to selection. The ancestral strain ChlSP showed a U-uptake capacity of ≈4.30 mg U g−1 of dry biomass (DB). However, the artificially selected strain ChlSG was able to take up a total of ≈6.34 mg U g−1 DB, close to the theoretical maximum response (≈7.9 mg U g−1 DB). The selected ChlSG strain showed two possible U-uptake mechanisms: the greatest proportion by biosorption onto cell walls (ca. 90%), and only a very small quantity, ~0.46 mg g−1 DB, irreversibly bound by bioaccumulation. Additionally, the kinetics of the U-uptake process were characterized during a microalgae growth curve; ChlSG cells removed close to 4 mg L−1 of U in 24 days. These findings open up promising prospects for sustainable management of U tailings waters based on newly evolved extremotolerants and outline the potential of artificial selection in the improvement of desired features in microalgae by experimental adaptation and selection.
Comparative Analysis of Perioperative and Mid-Term Results of TECAB and MIDCAB for Revascularization of Anterior Wall

Objective Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB) and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) grafting through minithoracotomy are currently the two minimally invasive surgical techniques of left ventricular anterior wall revascularization. We aimed to compare both techniques in terms of perioperative and mid-term results. Methods Arrested heart TECAB was carried out in 204 patients with a median (range) age of 60 (53–76) years and a median (range) EuroSCORE I of 2 (0–3). Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass was performed in 60 patients with a median (range) age of 66 (54–75) years and a median (range) EuroSCORE I of 2 (1–5). Both techniques were used for single or sequential internal mammary artery grafts to the anterior wall. Operative times, conversion rates, and surgical complications as well as mid-term results were compared between the groups after a median follow-up of 36 months. Results No perioperative deaths were noted. Rates of myocardial infarction (TECAB: 1.5% vs MIDCAB: 0%, P = 0.463) and stroke (TECAB: 1.5% vs MIDCAB: 0%, P = 0.454) were not significantly different between the groups. Total operative times were longer in the TECAB compared with the MIDCAB group [292 (250–345) minutes in TECAB versus 201 (173–289) minutes in MIDCAB (P < 0.001)]. Intensive care unit stay and total length of stay were similar between the groups. There was no difference in mid-term survival (TECAB: 1.5% vs MIDCAB: 1.7%, P = 0.298) and freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (TECAB: 12.4% vs MIDCAB: 5.1%, P = 0.358). Conclusions Robotically assisted arrested heart TECAB and robotic MIDCAB perform equally in terms of perioperative results and mid-term follow-up in this single-center patient cohort.
Hypothalamic Ventricular Ependymal Thyroid Hormone Deiodinases Are an Important Element of Circannual Timing in the Siberian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

Exposure to short days (SD) induces profound changes in the physiology and behaviour of Siberian hamsters, including gonadal regression and up to 30% loss in body weight. In a continuous SD environment after approximately 20 weeks, Siberian hamsters spontaneously revert to a long day (LD) phenotype, a phenomenon referred to as the photorefractory response. Previously we have identified a number of genes that are regulated by short photoperiod in the neuropil and ventricular ependymal (VE) cells of the hypothalamus, although their importance and contribution to photoperiod induced physiology is unclear. In this refractory model we hypothesised that the return to LD physiology involves reversal of SD expression levels of key hypothalamic genes to their LD values and thereby implicate genes required for LD physiology. Male Siberian hamsters were kept in either LD or SD for up to 39 weeks during which time SD hamster body weight decreased before increasing, after more than 20 weeks, back to LD values. Brain tissue was collected between 14 and 39 weeks for in situ hybridization to determine hypothalamic gene expression. In VE cells lining the third ventricle, expression of nestin, vimentin, Crbp1 and Gpr50 were down-regulated at 18 weeks in SD photoperiod, but expression was not restored to the LD level in photorefractory hamsters. Dio2, Mct8 and Tsh-r expression were altered by SD photoperiod and were fully restored, or even exceeded values found in LD hamsters in the refractory state. In hypothalamic nuclei, expression of Srif and Mc3r mRNAs was altered at 18 weeks in SD, but were similar to LD expression values in photorefractory hamsters. We conclude that in refractory hamsters not all VE cell functions are required to establish LD physiology. However, thyroid hormone signalling from ependymal cells and reversal of neuronal gene expression appear to be essential for the SD refractory response.
Ancient origin of lubricated joints in bony vertebrates

Synovial joints are the lubricated connections between the bones of our body that are commonly affected in arthritis. It is assumed that synovial joints first evolved as vertebrates came to land, with ray-finned fishes lacking lubricated joints. Here, we examine the expression and function of a critical lubricating protein of mammalian synovial joints, Prg4/Lubricin, in diverse ray-finned fishes. We find that Prg4 homologs are specifically enriched at the jaw and pectoral fin joints of zebrafish, stickleback, and gar, with genetic deletion of the zebrafish prg4b gene resulting in the same age-related degeneration of joints as seen in lubricin-deficient mice and humans. Our data support lubricated synovial joints evolving much earlier than currently accepted, at least in the common ancestor of all bony vertebrates. Establishment of the first arthritis model in the highly regenerative zebrafish will offer unique opportunities to understand the aetiology and possible treatment of synovial joint disease. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.16415. 001
Patent foramen ovale

The frequency of patent foramen ovale is 25% in general population. In 40% of cerebral ischemic events, there is not a demonstrable cause, and in 40% of these patients it can be found a patent foramen ovale, once this is capable of allowing a right to left shunt there is a possibility of a thrombus to pass, and this can cause 1 Cardiólogo intervencionista, Hospital Honduras Medical Center, Tegucigalpa. 2 Médica General a stroke. Clinical case: A 24 years old female had two transient ischemic attacks without any determinate cause. On an echocardiogram, a patent was found foramen ovale. Once the foramen ovale was diagnosed on this patient, without any other cause to explain the transient ischemic attacks and also the spontaneous right-to-left shunt, the percutaneous closure was decided. Conclusion: in this case surgery procedure was decided and the size of the foramen, the recurring ischemic attacks and the patient’s age were taken. In a two-year period the results were totally satisfactory.
Safety of pulmonary function testing: data from 20 years

Background Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is a key investigation in the evaluation of individuals with respiratory symptoms; however, the safety of routine and specialised PFT testing has not been reported in a large data set. Using patient safety incident (PSI) records, we aimed to assess risk of PFT and to characterise these events and any associated risk factors. Methods In this single-centre audit, demographics and PSI data were collected and categorised for PFT performed between 1996 and 2016 and subdivided into cardiopulmonary or non-cardiopulmonary events. The severity of each PSI was rated using the NHS National Patient Safety Agency and any hospital admission reported. Results There were 119 PSIs reported from 186 000 PFT; that is, 0.6 PSIs per 1000 tests. Cardiopulmonary PSIs were 3.3 times more likely to occur than non-cardiopulmonary (95% CI 2.17 to 5.12). Syncope was the most frequently occurring cardiopulmonary PSI. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was associated with 2 PSIs per 1000 tests. PSIs necessitating hospital admission and/or emergency department attendance occurred approximately once every 10 000 tests and there was no PFT-associated mortality. Conclusion Routine and specialised PFT is safe for patients, in the context of established screening preparticipation guidelines. In the event of a PSI, these are likely to be low risk of harm. Our findings highlight the most common PSIs encountered during PFT to facilitate risk reduction.
A New Saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a Crushing Feeding Mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China)

Background Equipped with an effective predatory feeding mechanism enhanced by large and sharp teeth, pointed snout and elongate body, saurichthyiform fishes are considered common fish-eaters in the early Mesozoic aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, because of the similar body plan across species, saurichthyiforms are also regarded evolutionally conservative, with few morphological and ecological changes during their long history. However, their phylogenetic affinity remains unclear as to whether they are chondrostean, neopterygian or stem-actinopteran, and likewise the intrarelationships of the group have rarely been explored. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we report a new saurichthyiform from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou, China, based on the well-preserved specimens including a 3-D braincase. The new taxon, Yelangichthys macrocephalus gen. et sp. nov., is unique among saurichthyiforms in having a peculiar neurocranium with a broad orbital tectum, paired posterior myodomes, a deep, transverse fossa in the posterodorsal part of the orbit, and a feeding mechanism structured for durophagy. Phylogenetic analysis places Yelangichthys gen. nov. at the most basal position in the Saurichthyiformes as the sister to Saurichthyidae, and a new family Yelangichthyidae is erected to include only Y. macrocephalus gen. et sp. nov. The monophyly of the Chondrostei comprising [Saurichthyiformes + Acipenseriformes] Birgeriiformes is supported, but not the monophyly of Saurichthys, the type genus of Saurichthyidae. With its outstanding osteological details, Yelangichthys gen. nov. greatly increases the neurocranial variations in saurichthyiforms, and its novel feeding structure suggests the consumption of hard-preys instead of fishes. Conclusions/Significance Our findings highlight the detailed osteology of a saurichthyiform braincase and its feeding design. We suggest that saurichthyiforms are closely allied to the Acipenseriformes. Saurichthyiforms were very diverse in the cranial osteology and they might have undergone a rapid evolutionary radiation via, for the new material here, transforming the feeding mechanism and thus exploiting the food resources unsuitable for other saurichthyiforms.
IDENTIFICATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES IN LAMINATED COMPOSITE PLATESUSING GENETIC ALGORITHM

The elastic properties of composite materials depend on diverse factors like the configuration of the laminates, constituent materials used, production method adopted etc. Hence, it is generally impossible to find these properties in standard tables or databases. The determination of material parameters of the complex materials, such as fibre reinforced composites, present serious difficulties when applying traditional test methods. To overcome these difficulties, an optimized search procedure, viz., genetic algorithm (GA), has been used to provide an additional technique of evaluating material properties from the measured natural frequencies. In general, GA performs directed random searches through a given set of criteria. These criteria are required to be expressed in terms of objective function, which is usually referred to as a fitness function. This paper describes the capability, reliability and modelling of GA for indirect (non-destructive) prediction of mechanical properties regarding the model development in the finite element method (FEM) and the analytical formulation (Exact Solution). A few examples are presented to identify the material properties of homogeneous isotropic, orthotropic, and anisotropic plates with various stacking sequences, boundary conditions and aspect ratio for showing the ability and performance of this technique.