Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Noninvasive Platform for Imaging and Quantifying Oil Storage in Submillimeter Tobacco Seed1[W][OA]

Summary: This study describes a non-invasive NMR approach that enables counting of seeds inside the intact tobacco capsule, to measure seed sizes, to model the seed interior in three dimensions, to quantify the lipid content, and to visualize lipid gradients. While often thought of as a smoking drug, tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) is now considered as a plant of choice for molecular farming and biofuel production. Here, we describe a noninvasive means of deriving both the distribution of lipid and the microtopology of the submillimeter tobacco seed, founded on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. Our platform enables counting of seeds inside the intact tobacco capsule to measure seed sizes, to model the seed interior in three dimensions, to quantify the lipid content, and to visualize lipid gradients. Hundreds of seeds can be simultaneously imaged at an isotropic resolution of 25 µm, sufficient to assess each individual seed. The relative contributions of the embryo and the endosperm to both seed size and total lipid content could be assessed. The extension of the platform to a range of wild and cultivated Nicotiana species demonstrated certain evolutionary trends in both seed topology and pattern of lipid storage. The NMR analysis of transgenic tobacco plants with seed-specific ectopic expression of the plastidial phosphoenolpyruvate/phosphate translocator, displayed a trade off between seed size and oil concentration. The NMR-based assay of seed lipid content and topology has a number of potential applications, in particular providing a means to test and optimize transgenic strategies aimed at the manipulation of seed size, seed number, and lipid content in tobacco and other species with submillimeter seeds.
Design of beam-steerable parasitic patch arrays using variable reactive loads

The design of patch-type Electronically Steerable Parasitic Array Radiator (ESPAR) that is capable of steering its main beam along either Ä-plane or E-plane with satisfactorily low side-lobe level (SLL) is presented. The continuous beam-steering along both principle planes is realized through adjusting the reactive loads of the associated passive patch elements. The analytic formula for the resultant steering direction is given. The steerable angular range of the prototype designs is up to ±30° and ±20°, respectively. Several design considerations and issues encountered are discussed as well.
Economic Policy Coordination as a Game Involving Economic Stability and National Sovereignty

The economic crisis has paved the way for reconsideration of the Eurozone's constitutional design. This paper shows that what may seem as a massive empowerment of European institutions at the cost of national economic sovereignty in actual constitutional practice has left economic policy coordination largely unchanged. By means of conceptualising its previous and current patterns as a game between supranational and national institutions, it is shown that the scale of change has been widely exaggerated. The new Eurozone design has mitigated in practice the extent to which national economic sovereignty has been undermined, but only at the cost of shifting to the European Central Bank the burden of shoring up the stability of the common currency; such burden the ECB is bound to prove unable to sustain in the long run.
Explaining age-specific inequalities in mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease and ischaemic heart disease among South Korean male public servants: relative and absolute perspectives

Objective: To examine age-specific patterns in the ability of major cardiovascular risk factors to explain relative and absolute socioeconomic inequalities in mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: South Korea. Subjects: 575 377 male public servants aged 30–64 with 16 998 deaths between 1995 and 2003. Main outcomes: All-cause, CVD, and IHD mortality. Results: Four cardiovascular risk factors (cigarette smoking, blood pressure, fasting serum glucose, and serum total cholesterol) were significantly associated with mortality risk. Changing relationships in socioeconomic distribution of risk factors with age were observed. The magnitude of reduction in percent change in absolute risk was greater than that in relative risk. While the risk factors explained only 15.2% of excess RR for all-cause mortality in low-income men aged 30–44, the absolute excess risk of all-cause mortality was reduced by 48.3% when the risk factors were removed from the whole population. This pattern was generally true for all causes, CVD, and IHD, and true for all age groups and risk factors examined. Cigarette smoking and hypertension were the leading contributors in explaining relative and absolute inequality in mortality. Conclusion: Policy efforts to eliminate major cardiovascular risk factors in the general population may have a significant effect on reducing the absolute burden of socioeconomic inequality in mortality. Policy efforts to attenuate socioeconomic inequality in cardiovascular risk factors need to be directed to younger age groups in South Korea.
Nuclear targeting of viral and non-viral DNA

The nuclear envelope presents a major barrier to transgene delivery and expression using a non-viral vector. Virus is capable of overcoming the barrier to deliver their genetic materials efficiently into the nucleus by virtue of the specialized protein components with the unique amino acid sequences recognizing cellular nuclear transport machinery. However, considering the safety issues in the clinical gene therapy for treating critical human diseases, non-viral systems are highly promising compared with their viral counterparts. This review summarizes the progress on exploring the nuclear traffic mechanisms for the prominent viral vectors and the technological innovations for the nuclear delivery of non-viral DNA by mimicking those natural processes evolved for the viruses as well as for many cellular proteins.
Detection of glucose abnormalities in patients with acute coronary heart disease: Study of reliable tools in clinical practice

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of glucose abnormalities in patients with acute coronary syndrome and to assess the reliability of certain clinical or analytical variables to predict a pathologic result of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 3 months from discharge. Subjects and methods: Prospective study of 102 patients admitted to the coronary care units. Patients were classified according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. Three months after discharge, an OGTT was performed to non-diabetic patients. Results: Forty-six (45.1 %) patients were identified as diabetic (5 previously undiagnosed) and 56 (54.9%) as non-diabetic. OGTT identified 22% of diabetes, 33% of impaired glucose tolerance, and 45% of normal glucose tolerance. Fasting glucose (r=0.55, p<0.001), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=0.46, p<0.001), low HDL cholesterol (HDL-c) levels (r=−0.34, p<0.02), waist-hip ratio (r=0.45, p<0.01), high systolic blood pressure (r=0.5, p<0.01), and presence of acute myocardial infarction (r=0.46, p<0.001) at admission resulted significant to predict a pathologic result of OGTT. Conclusions: Glucose abnormalities are frequent in acute coronary syndrome patients. Certain clinical and analytical markers at admission such as fasting glucose, HbA1c, HDL-c<40 mg/dl, waist-hip ratio, and systolic blood pressure, are useful to recognize patients with a higher predisposition to present a pathologic result in OGTT at 3 months from discharge.
Oxytocin: Its Mechanism of Action and Receptor Signalling in the Myometrium

Oxytocin is a nonapeptide hormone that has a central role in the regulation of parturition and lactation. In this review, we address oxytocin receptor (OTR) signalling and its role in the myometrium during pregnancy and in labour. The OTR belongs to the rhodopsin‐type (Class 1) of the G‐protein coupled receptor superfamily and is regulated by changes in receptor expression, receptor desensitisation and local changes in oxytocin concentration. Receptor activation triggers a number of signalling events to stimulate contraction, primarily by elevating intracellular calcium (Ca2+). This includes inositol‐tris‐phosphate‐mediated store calcium release, store‐operated Ca2+ entry and voltage‐operated Ca2+ entry. We discuss each mechanism in turn and also discuss Ca2+‐independent mechanisms such as Ca2+ sensitisation. Because oxytocin induces contraction in the myometrium, both the activation and the inhibition of its receptor have long been targets in the management of dysfunctional and preterm labours, respectively. We discuss current and novel OTR agonists and antagonists and their use and potential benefit in obstetric practice. In this regard, we highlight three clinical scenarios: dysfunctional labour, postpartum haemorrhage and preterm birth.
Vertical Planar Printed Unidirectional Antenna

A novel printed vertically oriented unidirectional antenna is proposed. The proposed antenna is composed of a bowtie-shaped electric dipole, a loop antenna that works as a magnetic dipole, and a microstrip-to-stripline transition balun. All of them are printed in the same plane perpendicular to the ground. With a single vertical planar structure as well as large beamwidth, the proposed antenna would find itself suitable for improving the H-plane maximum steering angle when involved in an array application. The antenna operates at 2.6 GHz with an impedance bandwidth of 17.1% for SWR ≤ 2, stable unidirectional radiation pattern with low cross polarization, low back radiation, nearly identical E- and H-plane patterns, and stable gain of around 6.5 dBi over the operating frequencies. The antenna also fulfills the requirement for outdoor applications as it is direct current (dc) grounded.
Effects of atomoxetine and methylphenidate on sleep in children with ADHD.

STUDY OBJECTIVES This study compared the effects of atomoxetine and methylphenidate on the sleep of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study also compared the efficacy of these medications for treating ADHD in these children. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, crossover trial. SETTING Two sleep disorders centers in the United States; 1 in a private-practice setting and 1 in a hospital setting. PATIENTS 85 children diagnosed with ADHD. INTERVENTIONS Twice-daily atomoxetine and thrice-daily methylphenidate, each for approximately 7 weeks. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Relative to baseline, the actigraphy data indicated that methylphenidate increased sleep-onset latency significantly more than did atomoxetine (39.2 vs 12.1 minutes, p < .001). These results were consistent with the polysomnography data. Child diaries indicated that it was easier to get up in the morning, it took less time to fall asleep, and the children slept better with atomoxetine, compared with methylphenidate. Parents reported that it was less difficult getting their children up and getting them ready in the morning and that the children were less irritable, had less difficulty getting ready for bed, and had less difficulty falling asleep with atomoxetine, compared with methylphenidate. There were no significant differences between medications using the main measures of efficacy for ADHD treatment. Atomoxetine was superior on some secondary ADHD treatment-efficacy measures, based on parent reports. The only significant differences in treatment-emergent adverse events were greater incidence of decreased appetite and greater incidence of insomnia with methylphenidate. CONCLUSIONS Patients receiving twice-daily atomoxetine had shorter sleep-onset latencies, relative to thrice-daily methylphenidate, based on objective actigraphy and polysomnography data. Although both medications decreased nighttime awakenings, the decrease was greater for methylphenidate.
A Comprehensive Study of Short-Circuit Ruggedness of Silicon Carbide Power MOSFETs

The behavior of silicon carbide (SiC) power MOSFETs under stressful short-circuit (SC) conditions is investigated in this paper. Two different SC failure phenomena for SiC power MOSFETs are thoroughly reported. Experimental evidence and TCAD electrothermal simulations are exploited to describe and discriminate the failure sources. Physical causes are finally investigated and explained by means of properly calibrated numerical investigations and are reported along with their effects on devices' SC capability.
Topography of the Northern Hemisphere of Mercury from MESSENGER Laser Altimetry

Mercury Inside and Out The MESSENGER spacecraft orbiting Mercury has been in a ∼12-hour eccentric, near-polar orbit since 18 March 2011 (see the Perspective by McKinnon). Smith et al. (p. 214, published online 21 March) present the most recent determination of Mercury's gravity field, based on radio tracking of the MESSENGER spacecraft between 18 March and 23 August 2011. The results point to an interior structure that differs from those of the other terrestrial planets: the density of the planet's solid outer shell suggests the existence of a deep reservoir of high-density material, possibly an Fe-S layer. Zuber et al. (p. 217, published online 21 March) used data obtained by the MESSENGER laser altimeter through to 24 October 2011 to build a topographic map of Mercury's northern hemisphere. The map shows less variation in elevation, compared with Mars or the Moon, and its features add to the body of evidence that Mercury has sustained geophysical activity for much of its history. Mercury’s topography indicates sustained geophysical activity for most of the planet’s geological history. Laser altimetry by the MESSENGER spacecraft has yielded a topographic model of the northern hemisphere of Mercury. The dynamic range of elevations is considerably smaller than those of Mars or the Moon. The most prominent feature is an extensive lowland at high northern latitudes that hosts the volcanic northern plains. Within this lowland is a broad topographic rise that experienced uplift after plains emplacement. The interior of the 1500-km-diameter Caloris impact basin has been modified so that part of the basin floor now stands higher than the rim. The elevated portion of the floor of Caloris appears to be part of a quasi-linear rise that extends for approximately half the planetary circumference at mid-latitudes. Collectively, these features imply that long-wavelength changes to Mercury’s topography occurred after the earliest phases of the planet’s geological history.
A clinical study of reactive psychosis

Manifest psychopathology, life events, family history and personality traits were studied in a group of 22 patients diagnosed to have reactive psychosis. Individually matched healthy controls were also assessed for life events. The patient group had significantly higher weighted stress scores than the controls. Compared with Scandinavian patients, the study patients had more delusions, hallucinations and emotional syndrome.
Physical Modeling Based Graphical Simulator of Water-Ink Diffusion and Multi-Stroke Superposition

Diffusion and superposition are the most important and complicated artistic effects in computer simulation of Chinese ink-wash drawing. This paper proposes a physical-based simulation method, which is grounded on the diffusion-effect model. First we establish particle movement equations to calculate the diffusion amount of water-ink particles according to Brownian motion and Capillary effect. In the process of modeling, the author introduces the concepts of dynamic water-ink diffusion and static water-ink diffusion, taking full account of the relevance between water diffusion and ink diffusion. We also propose additional processes including water evaporation and ink deposition to assist the diffusion process. Our algorithm successfully simulated the irregular diffusion edge and its trail, the hemp-like texture of diffusion area, the light texture between the original area and diffusion area, and the special superposition effect as well.
Coronary atherosclerosis in end-stage idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: an innocent bystander?

AIMS Coronary atherosclerosis is occasionally found in the hearts of patients diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM), who have undergone heart transplantation (HTx). This study investigates the pathology of coronary trees in IDCM patients and correlates the findings with risk factors for atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS The coronary trees of hearts excised at transplantation from 55 IDCM patients [43 males, mean (+/-SD) age at diagnosis and HTx: 37.4+/-13.4 and 42.1+/-14.6 years, respectively] underwent systematic pathological investigation. The inclusion criteria were: interval between the last pre-HTx angiography and the HTx of <10 years and the absence of ischaemic events in between; the absence of ventricular scars at pathological study; optimal pre-HTx medical treatment, and no ventricular assist devices. The median time between the pre-HTx angiography and the HTx was 13 months (range: 1-93). Fifteen of the 55 patients (27%) had critical plaques in at least one of the 70 segments of the epicardial coronary tree. A multivariate statistical analysis showed that male sex, age, and dyslipidaemia were independent predictors of critical atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION One-fourth of the patients with end-stage IDCM hearts excised at HTx (all with angiographically normal coronary arteries at first diagnosis) have bystander critical coronary atherosclerosis whose functional role (if any) deserves investigation.
An incremental ensemble classifier learning by means of a rule-based accuracy and diversity comparison

In this paper, we propose an incremental ensemble classifier learning method. In the proposed method, a set of accurate and diverse classifiers are generated and added to the ensemble by means of accuracy and diversity comparison. The selection of classifiers in ensemble starts with a layer (where data is partitioned into any given number of clusters and fed to a set of base classifiers) and then continues to improve the bias-variance (i.e., accuracy and diversity). Optimal ensemble classifier selection is done through accuracy-precedence-diversity comparison, i.e., a model with better accuracy is preferred but in the case of models with the same accuracy, better diversity is preferred. The comparison is made on the class decomposed accuracies (i.e., all class accuracies are decomposed to a scalar value). A non-identical set of base classifiers is trained on the clusters of data in a layer and the center of the cluster is recorded as an identifier to the corresponding base classifiers set. Decisions from multiple base classifiers are fused to an ensemble class output using majority voting for each pattern and finally the decisions across multiple layers are combined using majority voting. The proposed method is evaluated on UCI benchmark datasets and compared with the recently proposed ensemble classifiers including the Bagging and Boosting. Through comparison, we demonstrate that the proposed method improves the performance of the base classifiers and performs better than the existing ensemble methods.
Crisis management at small liberal arts colleges: Perspectives on presidential decision making

CRISIS MANAGEMENT AT SMALL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES: PERSPECTIVES ON PRESIDENTIAL DECISION MAKING C. Andrew McGadney Eric J. Kaplan Moments of crisis, whether on the busy streets of major metropolitan cities or at small, intimate liberal arts campuses across the country, require adept management strategies, effective leadership, and prompt decision-making attributes. As it relates to small liberal arts colleges, their presidents’ ability to manage effectively, lead, inspire, and project confidence during moments of crisis is critical to the success of the communities they serve. The critical question that this research project addresses is how crisis situations on liberal arts colleges are managed by presidents. This study explores the complexities of crisis management, presidential leadership, and decision-making attributes at three small liberal arts colleges and the responses during different crisis scenarios. The institutions in the study share characteristics in terms of their relative size, private nature, and liberal arts focus. Although the crises differ, the study investigates the preparation, actions during the crisis, and post-crisis review in order to understand crisis management by the leadership of small liberal arts colleges. I consulted and examined the relevant literature regarding crisis management and presidential leadership; however, I identified a gap in the literature, specifically vi as it relates to crisis moments at small liberal arts institutions. I used a comparative casestudy approach to analyze the three cases. The results highlight the complications I observed in discussing crisis scenarios at each location, the importance of communication strategies, the influence and value of a highly performing leadership team, and the importance of presidential leadership style.
Type of CFTR mutation determines risk of pancreatitis in patients with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Different mutations in the cystic fibrosis gene (CFTR) are associated with different functional status of the exocrine pancreas. We investigated whether CFTR genotypes determine the risk of pancreatitis in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). METHODS Patients with pancreatic-sufficient CF were identified from 2 CF population-based databases (N = 277; 62 with pancreatitis and 215 without pancreatitis); patients' genotypes and clinical characteristics were analyzed. The loss of pancreatic function associated with each CFTR genotype was determined based on the pancreatic insufficiency prevalence (PIP) score. RESULTS Patients with pancreatitis were more likely to have genotypes associated with mild (70%) than moderate-severe (30%) PIP scores (P = .004). The cumulative proportion of patients who developed pancreatitis through to the age of 50 years was significantly greater for genotypes associated with mild (50%) than moderate-severe (27%) PIP scores (P = .006). The genotype associated with mild PIP scores had a hazard ratio of 2.4 for pancreatitis (95% confidence interval, 1.3-4.5; P = .006). Patients with pancreatitis were diagnosed with CF at an older median age than those without pancreatitis (14.9 years [interquartile range, 9.5-27.7] vs 9.3 years [interquartile range, 1.5-21.4]; P = .003) and had lower mean levels of sweat chloride than patients without pancreatitis (74.5 ± 26.2 mmol/L vs 82.8 ± 25.2 mmol/L; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS Specific CFTR genotypes are significantly associated with pancreatitis. Patients with genotypes associated with mild phenotypic effects have a greater risk of developing pancreatitis than patients with genotypes associated with moderate-severe phenotypes. This observation provides further insight into the complex pathogenesis of pancreatitis.