Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Fricke dosimeter as an absorbed dose to water primary standard for Ir-192 brachytherapy

The aim of this project was to develop an absorbed dose to water primary standard for Ir-192 brachytherapy based on the Fricke dosimeter. To achieve this within the framework of the existing TG-43 protocol, a determination of the absorbed dose to water at the reference position, D(r0,θ0), was undertaken. Prior to this investigation, the radiation chemical yield of the ferric ions (G-value) at the Ir-192 equivalent photon energy (0.380 MeV) was established by interpolating between G-values obtained for Co-60 and 250 kV x-rays. An irradiation geometry was developed with a cylindrical holder to contain the Fricke solution and allow irradiations in a water phantom to be conducted using a standard Nucletron microSelectron V2 HDR Ir-192 afterloader. Once the geometry and holder were optimized, the dose obtained with the Fricke system was compared to the standard method used in North America, based on air-kerma strength. Initial investigations focused on reproducible positioning of the ring-shaped holder for the Fricke solution with respect to the Ir-192 source and obtaining an acceptable type A uncertainty in the optical density measurements required to yield the absorbed dose. Source positioning was found to be reproducible to better than 0.3 mm, and a careful cleaning and control procedure reduced the variation in optical density reading due to contamination of the Fricke solution by the PMMA holder. It was found that fewer than 10 irradiations were required to yield a type A standard uncertainty of less than 0.5%. Correction factors to take account of the non-water components of the geometry and the volume averaging effect of the Fricke solution volume were obtained from Monte Carlo calculations. A sensitivity analysis showed that the dependence on the input data used (e.g. interaction cross-sections) was small with a type B uncertainty for these corrections estimated to be 0.2%. The combined standard uncertainty in the determination of absorbed dose to water at the reference position for TG-43 (1 cm from the source on the transverse axis, in a water phantom) was estimated to be 0.8% with the dominant uncertainty coming from the determination of the G-value. A comparison with absorbed dose to water obtained using the product of air-kerma strength and the dose rate constant gave agreement within 1.5% for three different Ir-192 sources, which is within the combined standard uncertainties of the two methods.
Sexting Coercion as a Component of Intimate Partner Polyvictimization

We examined the role of sexting coercion as a component of the intimate partner abuse (IPA) construct among young adults to determine whether sexting coercion would emerge alongside other forms of partner aggression as a cumulative risk factor for psychological, sexual, and attachment problems. In a sample of 885 undergraduates (301 men and 584 women), 40% had experienced some type of coercion. Although there was some overlap between sexual coercion and sexting coercion (21% of participants had experienced both), some individuals had experienced only sexting coercion (8%) and some only sexual coercion (11%). Women were more likely than men to be coerced into sexting. Both sexting coercion and sexual coercion were significantly and independently related to negative mental health symptoms, sexual problems, and attachment dysfunction, and, notably, sexting coercion was found to be a cumulative risk factor for nearly all of these negative effects. These data support the idea that digital sexual victimization is a new component of IPA polyvictimization, potentially increasing the negative effects experienced by victims of multiple forms of partner aggression.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Reports Stock Returns and Volatility : Pricing the Short-Run and Long-Run Components of Market Risk

We explore the cross-sectional pricing of volatility risk by decomposing equity market volatility into shortand long-run components. Our finding that prices of risk are negative and significant for both volatility components implies that investors pay for insurance against increases in volatility, even if those increases have little persistence. The short-run component captures market skewness risk, which we interpret as a measure of the tightness of financial constraints. The long-run component relates closely to business cycle risk. Furthermore, a three-factor pricing model with the market return and the two volatility components compares favorably to benchmark models.
Automatic Generation of English Vocabulary Tests

This paper presents a novel method for automatically generating English vocabulary tests using TOEFL vocabulary questions as a model. English vocabulary questions in TOEFL is a multiple-choice question consisting of four components: a target word, a reading passage, a correct answer and distractors. Given a target word, we generate a reading passage from Web texts retrieved from the Internet, and then employ that reading passage and the WordNet lexical dictionary for generating question options, both the correct answer and distractors. Human evaluation indicated that 45% of the responses from English teachers mistakenly judged the automatically generated questions by the proposed method to be human-generated questions. In addition, half of the machine-generated questions were received average rating more than or equals than 3 in 5 point scale. This suggests that our machine-generated questions succeeded in capturing some characteristics of the human-generated questions, and half of them can be used for English test.
A comparison of receptive-field and tracer-coupling size of amacrine and ganglion cells in the rabbit retina

Abstract Recent studies have shown that amacrine and ganglion cells in the mammalian retina are extensively coupled as revealed by the intercellular movement of the biotinylated tracers biocytin and Neurobiotin. These demonstrations of tracer coupling suggest that electrical networks formed by proximal neurons (i.e. amacrine and ganglion cells) may underlie the lateral propagation of signals across the inner retina. We studied this question by comparing the receptive-field size, dendritic-field size, and extent of tracer coupling of amacrine and ganglion cells in the dark-adapted, supervised, isolated retina eyecup of the rabbit. Our results indicate that while the center-receptive fields of proximal neurons are approximately 15% larger than their corresponding dendritic diameters, this slight difference can be explained by factors other than electrical coupling such as tissue shrinkage associated with histological processing. However, the extent of tracer coupling of amacrine and ganglion cells was, on average, about twice the size of the corresponding receptive fields. Thus, the receptive field of an individual proximal neuron matched far more closely to its dendritic diameter than to the size of the tracer-coupled network of cells to which it belonged. The exception to this rule was the AII amacrine cells for which center-receptive fields were 2–3 times the size of their dendritic diameters but matched closely to the size of the tracer-coupled arrays. Thus, with the exception of AII cells, our data indicate that tracer coupling between proximal neurons is not associated with an enlargement of their receptive fields. Our results, then, provide no evidence for electrical coupling or, at least, indicate that extensive lateral spread of visual signals does not occur in the proximal mammalian retina.
Unidirectional single-phase AC-DC-AC three-level and two-level three-leg converters

Four unidirectional AC-DC-AC three-level and two-level three-leg converters are proposed in this paper. This converters are composed of an unidirectional rectifier and a bidirectional inverter, using three-level and two-level legs and an unidirectional NPC leg at rectifier side. When compared with the two-level leg, the three-level leg presents voltage stress reduction on switches for the same DC-link voltage level and also allows a reduction in harmonic distortion for the same switching frequency. Suitable modeling, PWM and control strategies of the systems are presented. As the converters are unidirectional, the grid current and the generated voltage at load side must be synchronized with generated voltage at grid side. That eliminates the zero-crossover distortion in the grid current caused by the use of diodes without the hysteresis control. Simulation and experimental results are also presented.
Identification of Common Pathways Mediating Differentiation of Bone Marrow‐ and Adipose Tissue‐Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Three Mesenchymal Lineages

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow (hBMSCs) and human adipose tissue (hAMSCs) represent a useful source of progenitor cells for cell therapy and tissue engineering. However, it is not clear what the similarities and differences between them are. Like hBMSCs, hAMSCs can differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic cells. Whether MSCs derived from different tissue sources represent fundamentally similar or different cell types is not clear. Given the possible different sources of MSCs for cell therapy, a comprehensive comparison of the different MSCs would be very useful. Here, we compared the transcriptome profile of hAMCS and hBMSCs during directed differentiation into bone, cartilage, and fat. Our data revealed considerable similarities between bone marrow‐derived MSCs (BMSCs) and adipose tissue‐derived MSCs (AMSCs). We uncovered an interesting bifurcation of pathways in both BMSCs and AMSCs, in which osteogenesis and adipogenesis appear to be linked in a differentiation branch separate from chondrogenesis. Our data suggest that although a set of common genes may be needed for early differentiation into all three lineages, a different set of signature genes is associated with maturation into fully differentiated cells. The recruitment of different late differentiation factors explains and supports our conclusion that BMSCs differentiate more efficiently into bone and cartilage, whereas AMSCs differentiate better into adipocytes. This study not only generated a rich database for continuing molecular characterization of various MSCs but also provided a rational basis for assessing qualities of MSCs from different sources for the purpose of cell‐based therapy and tissue engineering.
The role of interpretation in wildlife tourism

[Extract] Interpretation aims to stimulate interest, promote learning, guide visitors in appropriate behaviour for sustainable tourism and encourage enjoyment and satisfaction. This chapter discusses the role of interpretation in sustainable wildlife tourism. For the purpose of this chapter the term wildlife tourism will be restricted to activities, attractions and tours that involve non-consumptive wildlife viewing or interaction opportunities. There is very little information available on the role of interpretation in consumptive wildlife activities such as hunting or fishing. A review of interpretive methods is provided and international examples are used to illustrate the potential roles of interpretation in wildlife tourism settings. Some issues specific to the practice of interpreting wildlife are discussed. A review of evaluation research in the area of wildlife interpretation will also demonstrate that little specific research is available and that there has been virtually no theoretical discussion of how to design effective wildlife interpretation. The authors have been involved in a long running program of interpretation evaluation and wildlife tourism research. This chapter presents a conceptual model based on both this research and theories from educational and social psychology. This mindfulness model is presented to assist readers' understanding of how to design interpretation that attracts attention and fosters learning and enjoyment.
A DNA binding motif coordinating synthesis and degradation in proofreading DNA polymerases.

The functional significance of the conserved motif ‘YxGG/A’, located between the 3′‐5′ exonuclease and polymerization domains of eukaryotic‐type DNA polymerases, has been studied by site‐directed mutagenesis in phi29 DNA polymerase. Single substitutions at this region were obtained, and 11 phi29 DNA polymerase mutant derivatives were overproduced in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Nine mutants showed an altered polymerase/3′‐5′ exonuclease balance on a template/primer DNA structure, giving rise to three different mutant phenotypes: (i) favored polymerization (high pol/exo ratio); (ii) favored exonucleolysis (low pol/exo ratio); and (iii) favored exonucleolysis and null polymerization. Interestingly, these three different phenotypes could be obtained by mutating a single amino acid at the ‘YxGG/A’ motif. All different phenotypes could be directly related to defects in DNA binding at a particular active site. Thus, a high pol/exo ratio was related to a poor stability at the 3′‐5′ exonuclease active site. On the contrary, a low pol/exo ratio or null polymerization capacity was related to a poor stability at the polymerization active site and either a normal or an increased accessibility to the exonuclease active site. These results allow us to propose that this motif, located in the connecting region between the N‐terminal and C‐terminal domains, has a primary role in DNA binding, playing a critical role in the coordination or cross‐talk between synthesis and degradation.
Clinical Analysis of Fractional Exhaled and Nasal Nitric Oxide in AllergicRhinitis Children

The primary aim of this study was to assess whether Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) and Nasal Nitric Oxide (nNO) can be used as a mean of diagnosis in Allergic Rhinitis (AR) without asthma or not , and discuss their correlation. Fifteen healthy children and thirty children with AR, but without asthma, were enrolled. A questionnaire about clinical features of AR children had been completed by parents. The levels of FeNO and nNO were measured by NIOX MINO (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Sweden). IBM SPSS statistics 20.0 software was used to analyse the data.
[Multidisciplinary health care needs of psychologically distressed cancer patients in a Comprehensive Cancer Center].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Considering the prolonged life-expectancies and the resulting demands that are placed on cancer patients and their relatives, the importance of specific counseling and support services including psycho-oncology, social services, nutritional, and exercise counseling has profoundly increased. The main focus of the current study was to evaluate the multidisciplinary health care needs of emotionally distressed cancer patients whoe were treated in a Comprehensive Cancer Center. METHODS AND STUDYGROUP: 831 out-patients were evaluated with regard to their psychological distress level and their multidisciplinary health care needs for specialist services of psycho-oncology, social services, nutritional, and exercise counseling using a tablet-PC assisted screening questionnaire. Separate analyses were completed for patients with and without psychological distress. RESULTS One third of the screened patients showed clinically relevant psychological distress. Health care needs for all specialist services were significantly greater among these patients compared to patients without psychological distress (all p-values < 0.005). The higher needs were foremost presented by the number of needed specialist services (p < 0.001): two thirds of the psychologically distressed patients demonstrated, besides the need for a psycho-oncological service, a need for two or three further specialist services, whereas among patients without psychological distress more than 70% showed a need for at most one specialist service. CONCLUSION Multidisciplinary health care needs of psychologically distressed cancer patients should be systematically addressed in a Comprehensive Cancer Center, and patients should be offered a coordinated and integrated health care program.
Self-reported at-home postoperative recovery.

Although 75% of elective surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, no measures of patients' at-home postoperative recovery were found in the literature. The postdischarge surgical recovery (PSR) scale was designed to serve as a dependent variable capable of measuring variations in perceived recovery in patients dismissed within 24 hours of their surgical procedure. Five concepts: health status; activity; fatigue; work ability; and expectations, derived from an ethnographic analysis, are represented in the 15-item 10-point semantic differential scale. The PSR scale exhibited strong internal consistency in two samples (alpha=.88-.91). The concurrent validity coefficient between the PSR scale and the previously tested Wolfer-Davis Recovery Inventory (1970) was . 76 (n = 163; p< or =.001). Construct validity was supported by the relationship (r=.72, p< or =.001) between patients' reported percentage of recovery (0-100%) and PSR scores. Construct val idity was also supported by correlations between the PSR scale and in-home assessment by a master clinical nurse specialist (r=.77, p=.003, n=12) and by trained in-home observers (r=.71, p< or =.001, n=59). Clinicians or researchers interested in the extent of perceived at-home Postoperative recovery may now search for symptom patterns and changes over time in a variety of ambulatory surgery patients using the PSR scale.
Effect of coupling point selection on distortion in Internet-distributed hardware-in-the-loop simulation

Internet-distributed hardware-in-the-loop (ID HIL) simulation integrates HIL setups between geographically dispersed engineering teams and fosters concurrent systems testing early in the design process. The question naturally arises: what is the cost in fidelity incurred by distributing the simulation across Internet links? The degree to which an Internet-distributed simulation loses fidelity relative to a single location HIL setup is referred to as distortion in this paper. Various factors affect distortion, including the Internet's delay, jitter, and loss, as studied extensively in the literature. Additional considerations, however, such as the coupling points, i.e., the particular points at which the system model shall be divided to enable distribution across the Internet, also affect distortion. The aim of this paper is to turn coupling point selection into a design decision that can be used to minimize distortion. To quantify distortion, a frequency-domain metric is proposed using a linear systems framework. This metric is then used to analyze how the choice of the coupling point affects distortion, and it is also linked to a sensitivity function, which is easier to interpret physically. This analysis can be used in an ID-HIL setup to pick a coupling point that gives minimal distortion, and is the first step towards analyzing the trade-off between stability robustness and transparency in an ID-HIL system.
Improving radiation hardness of EEPROM/flash cell by N2O annealing

The effects of an N/sub 2/O anneal on the radiation effects of a split-gate electrical erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM)/flash cell with a recently-proposed horn-shaped floating gate were studied. We have found that although the cells appear to survive 1 Mrad(Si) Co/sup 60/ irradiation without data retention failure, the write/erase cycling endurance was severely impeded after irradiation. Specifically, the write/erase cycling endurance was degraded to 20 K from the pre-irradiation value of 50 K. However, by adding an N/sub 2/O annealing step after the interpoly oxidation, the after-irradiation write/erase cycling endurance of the resultant cell can be significantly improved to over 45 K. N/sub 2/O annealing also improves the after-irradiation program and erase efficiencies. The N/sub 2/O annealing step therefore presents a potential method for enhancing the robustness of the horn-shaped floating-gate EEPROM/flash cells for radiation-hard applications.
High-throughput glycosylation analysis of therapeutic immunoglobulin G by capillary gel electrophoresis using a DNA analyzer

The Fc glycosylation of therapeutic antibodies is crucial for their effector functions and their behavior in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. To monitor the Fc glycosylation in bioprocess development and characterization, high-throughput techniques for glycosylation analysis are needed. Here, we describe the development of a largely automated high-throughput glycosylation profiling method with multiplexing capillary-gel-electrophoresis (CGE) with laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection using a DNA analyzer. After PNGaseF digestion, the released glycans were labeled with 9-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (APTS) in 96-well plates, which was followed by the simultaneous analysis of up to 48 samples. The peak assignment was conducted by HILIC-UPLC-MS/MS of the APTS-labeled glycans combined with peak fractionation and subsequent CGE-LIF analysis of the MS-characterized fractions. Quantitative data evaluation of the various IgG glycans was performed automatically using an in-house developed software solution. The excellent method accuracy and repeatability of the test system was verified by comparison with two UPLC-based methods for glycan analysis. Finally, the practical value of the developed method was demonstrated by analyzing the antibody glycosylation profiles from fermentation broths after small scale protein A purification.
Benefits of decomposing wide CMOS transistors into minimum-size gates

In this paper we show how decomposition of a wide CMOS transistor into a multi-finger FET with gates of minimum size can be beneficial for the reduction of delay and power-delay products in logic gates. This design possibility, which we call a minimum-split transistor (MST), seems to be largely overlooked in the literature. In a 90 nm CMOS process we compare the design to wide transistors. By exploiting the narrow-width effect, reduced parasitic capacitances from a shorter active channel and increased gate-drain spacing, we achieve up to 75–85% higher operation speed at a similar or reduced power consumption. The worst-case timing delay is reduced by 35–40% along with the nominal values. The design technique is considered valuable, in particular for critical time paths. The paper takes the perspective of subthreshold logic design at 200 mV, but the technique is also useful above threshold. A statistical experiment also investigates how Vth variation in MSTs changes with the number of parallell gates.
TNF-α 308 G/A polymorphism and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

AIM The purpose of the present study was the analysis of the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) -308 G/A and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective case-control study was performed, enrolling 78 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 107 controls. Every patient had a complete gynecological examination with cervical sampling and colposcopy and TNF-α 308 G/A genotyping. RESULTS The homozygous AA genotype was extremely rare in the study group. The GG genotype was the one most frequently encountered in all classes of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and controls. No statistical differences were found in global comparison between cases and controls [odds ratio (OR)=3, p=0.09], nor between well-documented cases of more evolved high-grade squamous cervical intraepithelial lesion versus controls (OR=1.2, p=0.68). However, the results were significant for invasive carcinoma (OR=10.8261, 95% confidence interval=1.0748-109.0511, p=0.0433). CONCLUSION The presence of an A allele at -308 TNF-α represents a risk for invasive carcinoma.