Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Dispersion-Free Interleaver for Bidirectional DWDM Transmission Systems

We propose a novel dispersion-free interleaver using optical delay lines by accurately locating the zeros in the transfer function. It has been implemented with the design of interleaver pairs with the same amplitude responses but opposite phase responses for bidirectional dense wavelength-division multiplexed (DWDM) transmission systems. The measured results are consistent with device simulation. We have further modified the original three-port design using unidirectional amplification, and a fourport interleaver has been built and demonstrated to achieve bidirectional DWDM transmission. In this paper, we fully studied and verified the applications of our four-port interleavers in bidirectional transmission. We demonstrated a bidirectional strain-line system over 210 km and a recirculating loop transmission over a 500-km standard single-mode fiber using 10-Gb/s on-off keying signals. Furthermore, we also demonstrated return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) and nonreturn-to-zero DPSK modulation formats for more than 230 km of transmission. For comparison, the different amplification functions, such as the erbium-doped fiber amplifier and the semiconductor optical amplifier, have also been probed in this paper. The experimental results have clearly illustrated the desirable functions of this novel bidirectional amplifier in this dispersion-free interleaver.
Analysis on Adaptability of Monitoring Methods for Oil Spill by Using SAR Imagery

As is well known, the ocean plays a key role in global ecological environment. In this paper, we introduced the basic principle of monitoring oil spill by using SAR images. On the basis of that, we systematically analyzed the applicability of various methods for monitoring oil spill by using SAR images. The conclusion shows that the ANN method and the OTSU method have the advantages of timeliness and efficiency in oil spill monitoring, while the Markov Chain method cost more time due to its capability in reducing the effect of internal ocean wave.
MicroRNA-375 suppresses human colorectal cancer metastasis by targeting Frizzled 8

microRNAs are aberrantly expressed during the development and progression of a variety of human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Of these microRNAs, microRNA-375 (miR-375) was previously observed to be downregulated in human colorectal cancer(CRC) plasma and tissues, but its functions are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of miR-375 on CRC metastasis. Specifically, miR-375 expression was significantly decreased in human CRC tissues compared with their matched noncancerous tissues (NCTs), and low levels of miR-375 predicted tumor metastatic potential. The up-regulation of miR-375 suppressed colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and reduced tumor metastases in murine models established by both orthotopic implantation and spleen injection. Furthermore, we identified Frizzled 8 (FZD8) as a direct target of miR-375 in CRC, and miR-375 negatively regulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling by suppressing FZD8. More importantly, FZD8 expression inversely correlated with overall survival in human CRC patients and is a likely independent predictor of survival. Therefore, we concluded that miR-375 functions as a tumor-suppressive microRNA by directly acting upon FZD8, which may serve as a new therapeutic target to inhibit tumor metastasis in CRC.
The influence of non-technical factors on code review

When submitting a patch, the primary concerns of individual developers are “How can I maximize the chances of my patch being approved, and minimize the time it takes for this to happen? ” In principle, code review is a transparent process that aims to assess qualities of the patch by their technical merits and in a timely manner; however, in practice the execution of this process can be affected by a variety of factors, some of which are external to the technical content of the patch itself. In this paper, we describe an empirical study of the code review process for WebKit, a large, open source project; we replicate the impact of previously studied factors - such as patch size, priority, and component and extend these studies by investigating organizational (the company) and personal dimensions (reviewer load and activity, patch writer experience) on code review response time and outcome. Our approach uses a reverse engineered model of the patch submission process and extracts key information from the issue tracking and code review systems. Our findings suggest that these nontechnical factors can significantly impact code review outcomes.
PD98059 Prevents Neurite Degeneration Induced by Fibrillar β‐Amyloid in Mature Hippocampal Neurons

Abstract: How senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are linked represents a major gap in our understanding of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We have previously shown that the addition of fibrillar β‐amyloid (Aβ) to mature hippocampal neurons results in progressive neuritic degeneration accompanied by the enhanced phosphorylation of adult tau isoforms. In the present study, we sought to obtain more direct evidence of the signal transduction pathway(s) activated by fibrillar Aβ leading to tau phosphorylation and the generation of dystrophic neurites. Our results indicated that fibrillar Aβ induced the progressive and sustained activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in mature hippocampal neurons. On the other hand, the specific inhibition of the MAPK signal transduction pathway by means of PD98059, a MAPK kinase (MEK) specific inhibitor, prevented the phosphorylation of tau (at Ser199/Ser202) induced by fibrillar Aβ. In addition, the inhibition of MAPK activation partially prevented neurite degeneration. Taken collectively, our results suggest that the sustained activation of the MAPK signal transduction pathway induced by fibrillar Aβ may lead to the abnormal phosphorylation of tau and the neuritic degeneration observed in AD.
Creation of individual photo selections: read preferences from the users' eyes

The automated selection of satisfying subsets from large collections of photos is a central challenge in multimedia research. Objective criteria like the depiction of persons or the photo quality are met by existing approaches. But it is difficult to know the users' personal interest, which plays an important role in the selection process. The expected spread of devices with eye tracking support in the near future allows us to measure this interest in a new way. In an experiment with 12 participants, we derive the most interesting photos of a collection for every person from gaze information recorded during the free viewing of the photos. We can show that the eye tracking information delivers valuable information about the users' preferences by comparing the results to a manual selection. The selection based on gaze information significantly outperforms baseline approaches and improves the results by up to 17%. For photo sets of personal interest this improvement is even up to 23%.
Polymerization of safflower oil in a diesel lubrication system

Oxidative addition polymerization of lubrication oil contaminated with safflower oil diesel fuel was investigated in laboratory apparatus simulating conditions prevailing in a diesel engine crankcase. Primary research objectives were the identification and testing of key additives which might suppress problems of excessive viscosity rise and alkalinity decline of lubrication/safflower oil mixtures. Both commercial and base stock medium-speed locomotive lubrication oils were investigated with 5.0 weight percent safflower oil contamination. Oil mixtures were exposed to elevated temperature and were contacted by percolation with either oxygen or nitrogen to provide an oxidizing atmosphere and agitation or simply agitation. Copper, a known diesel engine wear metal, was introduced as a polymerization catalyst. Lubrication oils were evaluated with and without safflower oil and additives. Both commercial and base stock oils with no safflower oil were found to polymerize at a moderate baseline level. Amines were found to show little alkalinity maintenance efficacy while performance by an overbased calcium phenate was relatively good. Numerous antioxidants were tested for ability to disrupt the mechanisms leading to polymerization. Two widely-used antioxidants, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate and zinc diamyl-dithiocarbamate, were found to promote polymerization of oil mixtures in this research. This unexpected result is almost certainly a result of promotion catalysis by zinc. A metal deactivator N-N'-disalicylidene-1,2-propanediamine retarded viscosity rise, apparently by chelating wear metal catalysts. This beneficial inhibition seemed to be prominent during the initiation phase of the addition polymerization mechanism. Research demonstrated that the overbased calcium phenate and metal deactivator N-N'-disalicylidene-1,2--pro-panediamine could be combined to effectively delay viscosity rise and suppress alkalinity decline. Both compounds are strong candidates for inclusion in any commercial lube oil to be used with plant oil fuel. POLYMERIZATION OP SAFFLOWER OIL IN A DIESEL LUBRICATION SYSTEM by John Walter Olson A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of ' Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Montana State University Bozeman, Montana March 1988
Study of a U-tube heat exchanger using a shape-stabilized phase change backfill material

This article describes the use of FLUENT software to simulate the heat transfer performance of U-tube heat exchangers in the ground source heap pump using the backfill materials of shape-stabilized phase change materials and crushed stone concrete. In this study, the shape-stabilized phase change material is a mixture of decanoic acid and lauric acid with the following mass concentration compositions: decanoic acid = 60%, silica = 10%, and expanded graphite = 6%. The mixture of shape-stabilized phase change material has a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 1.528 W/(m·K) and a latent heat of 109.2 kJ/kg. From the results of a 12-h simulation of the heat transfer dynamics, the heat exchange for a unit borehole depth of backfilling with shape-stabilized phase change material is 1.223 times the heat exchange for a unit borehole depth of backfilling with crushed stone concrete. In addition, the thermal influence radius of the backfill materials of shape-stabilized phase change material is 0.9 times of that of crushed stone concrete. As a result, under the same area of the buried pipes region, the shape-stabilized phase change material backfill can achieve a heat exchange 1.359 times that of crushed stone concrete backfill. Meanwhile, using shape-stabilized phase change material could contain the sustaining decline in coefficient of performance of heat pump at refrigerate condition to a certain extent and the appropriate physical parameters of phase change materials are also crucial.
Traffic situation estimator for Adaptive Cruise Control

A traffic situation estimator capable of analyzing driving behavior utilizing an image analysis-based tracking module is presented. The behavior is analyzed by using a state machine driven counter to estimate the traffic rhythm and determine if the detected vehicles are approaching, getting away, have been overtaken or have overtaken the ego-vehicle. Depending on the result, the traffic situation estimator suggest different reactions, either to drive faster, slower or optionally suggest to overtake vehicles ahead to help the driver to follow the traffic rhythm which in turn will improve safety and energy efficiency. The proposed approach is implemented in a smart-phone and has shown good performance while testing the application on a two-lane highway.
Risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection with peripherally inserted central venous catheters used in hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) are now widely used for intermediate and long-term access in current-day health care, especially in the inpatient setting, where they are increasingly supplanting conventional central venous catheters (CVCs) placed percutaneously into the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral veins. Data on the risk of PICC-related bloodstream infection (BSI) with PICCs used in hospitalized patients are limited. STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine the risk of PICC-related BSI in hospitalized patients. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study using data from two randomized trials assessing the efficacy of chlorhexidine-impregnated sponge dressing and chlorhexidine for cutaneous antisepsis. METHODS PICCs inserted into the antecubital vein in two randomized trials during from 1998 to 2000 were prospectively studied; most patients were in an ICU. PICC-related BSI was confirmed in each case by demonstrating concordance between isolates colonizing the PICC at the time of removal and from blood cultures by restriction-fragment DNA subtyping. RESULTS Overall, 115 patients had 251 PICCs placed. Mean duration of catheterization was 11.3 days (total, 2,832 PICC-days); 42% of the patients were in an ICU at some time, 62% had urinary catheters, and 49% had received mechanical ventilation. Six PICC-related BSIs were identified (2.4%), four with coagulase-negative staphylococcus, one with Staphylococcus aureus, and one with Klebsiella pneumoniae, a rate of 2.1 per 1,000 catheter-days. CONCLUSION This prospective study shows that PICCs used in high-risk hospitalized patients are associated with a rate of catheter-related BSI similar to conventional CVCs placed in the internal jugular or subclavian veins (2 to 5 per 1,000 catheter-days), much higher than with PICCs used exclusively in the outpatient setting (approximately 0.4 per 1,000 catheter-days), and higher than with cuffed and tunneled Hickman-like CVCs (approximately 1 per 1,000 catheter-days). A randomized trial of PICCs and conventional CVCs in hospitalized patients requiring central access is needed. Our data raise the question of whether the growing trend in many hospital hematology and oncology services to switch from use of cuffed and tunneled CVCs to PICCs is justified, particularly since PICCs are more vulnerable to thrombosis and dislodgment, and are less useful for drawing blood specimens. Moreover, PICCs are not advisable in patients with renal failure and impending need for dialysis, in whom preservation of upper-extremity veins is needed for fistula or graft implantation.
Diagnosis and management of superficial bladder cancer.

Superficial transitional cell carcinoma is defined as a transitional cell urothelial tumor that is confined to the mucosa, stages Ta or CIS, or with invasion of the lamina propria, T1. The initial treatment is transurethral resection with an attempt to remove all tumor. This should provide an accurate histologic grade and stage, and from this information a prognosis can be determined. The important predictive factors that correlate with a new occurrence or true recurrence and the development of a subsequent tumor with muscle invasion are a high tumor grade, lamina propria invasion, a positive cytology following resection, multifocal tumors, dysplasia or carcinoma in situ from mucosal biopsies of normal appearing urothelium, and a prior history of bladder cancer. Based on these factors, the recurrence rate varies from 30 to 80% and progression with a muscle invasive tumor up to 30%. Intravesical chemotherapy or "immunotherapy" following tumor resection has been shown to diminish the likelihood of a recurrence. Thiotepa has been used for the longest period of time. It is relatively inexpensive, safe if myelosuppression is closely monitored, and effective. Mitomycin C was more effective than Thiotepa in randomized trials, but is significantly more expensive. This has retarded its use as a first-line agent. It has been shown to eradicate persistent tumor in 30 to 40% of patients who have failed Thiotepa. Mitomycin C is also highly effective when used for prophylaxis. Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has recently been demonstrated to be an effective intravesical therapeutic agent. It is effective both for treatment and prophylaxis. BCG is relatively safe and inexpensive. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Knowing Who's Boss: Implicit Perceptions of Status from the Nonverbal Expression of Pride Perceptions of Status and the Pride Expression

Evolutionary theory suggests that the universal recognition of nonverbal expressions of emotions functions to enhance fitness. Specifically, emotion expressions may send survival-relevant messages to other social group members, who have the capacity to automatically interpret these signals. In the present research, we used 3 different implicit association methodologies to test whether the nonverbal expression of pride sends a functional, automatically perceived signal about a social group member's increased social status. Results suggest that the pride expression strongly signals high status, and this association cannot be accounted for by positive valence or artifacts of the expression such as expanded size due to outstretched arms. These findings suggest that the pride expression may function to uniquely communicate the high status of those who show it. Discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for social functions of emotion expressions and the automatic communication of status. Although the bulk of research on emotion expressions has examined how these expressions are recognized and distinguished from one another (e.g., Keltner & Ekman, 2000), an equally longstanding but less extensively researched line of inquiry has examined the ultimate function of each expression (see, In this vein, most expressions have been assumed to serve a communicative function; fear, for example, transmits a rapidly and universally interpreted signal informing onlookers of important environmental events (Ohman, 2002; Ohman & Mineka, 2001). Indeed, the large body of cross-cultural recognition data on emotion expressions (e.g., Ekman & Friesen, 1971; Ekman et al., 1987) is consistent with the claim that these expressions serve communicative functions. However, relatively little empirical work has addressed the question of what, precisely, each expression communicates , beyond knowledge of the emotion displayed. From an evolutionary perspective, humans should be expected not only to show accurate and quick recognition of the particular emotion expressed (e.g., " fear "), but they also should be able to decode what each expression means (e.g., " Danger! "). Those studies that have examined the meaningful content conveyed by emotion expressions have largely focused on the broad distinction between positive and negative expressions, demonstrating that the former typically send approach-oriented messages, and the latter more avoidance-oriented messages (e.g., Mogg & Brad-ley, 1999). Further research has shown that these approach/ avoidance messages can be perceived even when expressions are displayed subliminally, suggesting a nonconscious perception process (Winkielman & Berridge, 2003). Several researchers have suggested that the " self-conscious " emotion of pride evolved, in …
Missing women—revisited

Reduction in female mortality has been counterbalanced by sex selective abortions The concept of “missing women,” which was presented in an editorial I wrote in this journal 11 years ago, refers to the terrible deficit of women in substantial parts of Asia and north Africa, which arises from sex bias in relative care.1 The numbers are very large indeed. For example, using as the standard for comparison the female:male ratio of 1.022 observed in sub—Saharan Africa (since women in that region receive less biased treatment), I found the number of missing women in China to be 44m, in India 37m, and so on, with a total that easily exceeded 100m worldwide,a decade or so ago. Others used different methods and got somewhat different numbers—but all very large (for example, Stephan Klasen's sophisticated demographic model yielded 89m for the countries in question). 2 How have things moved more recently? At one level they have not changed much. The ratio of women to men in the total population, while changing slowly (getting a little worse in China and a little better in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and west Asia), has not altered radically in any of these countries. Even though the total numbers of missing women have continued to grow (Klasen's 89m is now 93m for the same countries and 101m for the …
Developmental regulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in rat testis: comparison of changes in ODC activity with changes in ODC mRNA levels during testicular maturation.

These studies were undertaken to analyze the changes in testicular ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA levels and ODC activity in rats from birth to maturity. Levels of ODC mRNA were initially low in animals aged 10-17 days. Beginning at 21 days, ODC mRNA levels began to rise, reaching maximal levels by 40 days (p less than 0.01). The size of the 2.2- and 2.6-kb ODC mRNAs did not appear to change with age, as determined by Northern blot analysis. The increase in ODC mRNA that began at 21 days paralleled the increase in testis weight. This increase in ODC mRNA preceded the appearance of rat protamine-1 mRNA, a germ cell-specific mRNA found in round spermatids, which was first detected on Day 40. In contrast, levels of sulfated glycoprotein-2 mRNA, which, in the testis, is found exclusively in Sertoli cells, were highest at Day 17 and thereafter declined gradually with age. Unlike the increase in ODC mRNA levels, ODC activity was highest in 10-day-old animals and thereafter declined steadily with age, reaching minimal levels by 40 days (p less than 0.01). Thus, the increase in testicular ODC mRNA levels was in marked contrast to the decrease in testicular ODC activity. Incubation of cytosolic extract from 40-day-old animals with that from 10- or 17-day-old animals inhibited ODC activity approximately 50%, when compared to cytosols from 10- or 17-day-old animals. Dialysis of cytosol from 40-day-old animals prior to incubation with cytosol from 10-day-old animals relieved this inhibition. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)