Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dispersions of Rhodamine-Labeled Silica Spheres: Synthesis, Characterization, and Fluorescence Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy

Monodisperse colloidal silica spheres, with a total radius of 200 nm, labeled with the fluorescent dye rhodamine isothiocyanate (RITC) in a core of 100 nm radius have been synthesized. The particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and by static and dynamic light scattering. The fluorescence properties and dye concentration in the particles were measured with fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. Stable dispersions of these hydrophilic, charge-stabilized silica spheres in polar solvents and of organophilic, sterically stabilized, 1-octadecanol-coated silica spheres in apolar solvents were studied with fluorescence confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). The bleachability of these particles was determined with CSLM and compared with particles labeled with the dye fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The possibilities and limitations of confocal microscopy to study individual fluorescent particles in the bulk of concentrated model dispersions are discussed and demonstrated with CSLM graphs of a time series showing colloidal crystallization (crystal growth rate approximately 4 pm/s), an equilibrium between a colloidal liquid and colloidal crystal interface, and a binary mixture of RITCand FITC-labeled spheres. Further, the feasibility of using the RITC-labeled spheres with other techniques relying on fluorescence is discussed as well.
The distribution and function of sea urchin histamine receptor 1 in larval Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

The distribution and function of sea urchin histamine receptor 1 in larval Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Keegan Lutek University of Guelph, 2016 Advisor: Dr. Andreas Heyland In marine invertebrate complex life histories, planktonic larvae metamorphose into benthic juveniles that then develop into sexually mature adults. Hormonal or neurotransmitter-based signalling systems have evolved to regulate complex life histories and ensure settlement on the benthos and metamorphosis into juveniles occur after sufficient growth (i.e. metamorphic competence), in appropriate habitats. Modulators of metamorphic competence keep larvae prepared to settle and metamorphose until reception of a specific settlement cue. Histamine modulates metamorphic competence in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus; however, this signalling system is not fully understood. I determined the distribution and function of sea urchin histamine receptor 1 (suH1R) throughout S. purpuratus larval development. suH1R is found in the mouth and arm tips of larvae, and expression increases exponentially through development. Knockdown of suH1R leads to cell death in the arms. I suggest that suH1R inhibits apoptosis and/or maintains cell viability throughout larval development and may maintain metamorphic competence in S. purpuratus.
Compositional effect on TCP phase formation in Ru-containing Ni-based single crystal superalloys

Microstructural instability involving the formation of topologically close-packed (TCP) phases is restricted during the alloy development of Ni-based single crystal superalloys. In this study, the effects of alloying elements including Co, Cr, Mo and Ru on the formation of different TCP phases were investigated in a series of single crystal superalloys. Experimental results showed that more additions of Cr and Mo promoted the TCP phase formation, while Co and Ru played a positive role in improving microstructural stability. It is indicated that σ, P and R phases existed with various morphology and compositions in different experimental alloys during thermal exposure at 1100 ∘ C. The content of Co, Cr and Mo in those alloys affected the types of TCP phases significantly, while Ru additions showed a negligible effect. R phase was prone to form in alloys containing high level of Co addition. Meanwhile, the ratio of Cr and Mo content had strong influence on the formation of σ and P phases in alloys containing low level of Co addition. The effects of alloying additions on the elemental partitioning ratios between γ and γ ′ phases contributed to their corresponding influence on TCP phase formation.
EFFECT OF DIVERSITY IN WORKPLACE ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY IN KENYA

Diversity is increasingly recognized and utilized as an important organizational resource in regards to whether the goal is to be an employer of choice, to provide excellent customer service, or to maintain a competitive edge. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of work diversity on employee performance in the banking industry in Kenya. The study also sought to determine the effect of education diversity, ethnic diversity, gender diversity and age diversity on employee performance in the banking industry in Kenya. A descriptive research design was used in this research. The study target population was all the middle level managers working at the headquarters of all the 43 commercial banks in Kenya. This study used stratified random sampling to select 30% of the commercial banks. The sample size of this study was therefore 221 middle level managers. Semi structured questionnaires was used in research study to collect primary data. Quantitative data in the structured questionnaires was examined by use of the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 21). Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to analyze quantitative data. The data was then represented in tables and graphs. Content analysis was used in the analysis of qualitative data. Additionally, correlation and regression analysis were used to establish whether there is a relationship between the dependent and the independent variables. The study established that gender diversity was influencing employee performance in the banking industry most, followed by education diversity and ethnic diversity. However, the association between age diversity and employee performance was insignificant. The study therefore recommends that workplace diversity management practices should be developed bring together the work experience of the old and the technological capabilities of the young to improve employee performance.
Care of the Patient with ALS Page 3

Justification. ALS is a progressive, degenerative motor neuron disease of unknown cause. Muscle atrophy and spasticity in limb and bulbar muscles result in weakness and loss of ambulation, oropharyngeal dysfunction, weight loss, and ultimately respiratory failure. Although advances in understanding the pathophysiology of ALS have stimulated the development of new drug therapies, the mainstay of treatment for ALS patients remains symptomatic management. The practice parameters presented here comprise the first recommendations for the management of ALS based on a prescribed review and analysis of the peer-reviewed literature. These practice parameters were developed to improve the care and the quality of life of people with ALS by providing a rational basis for managing the disease.
First Revision A heat equation for freezing processes with phase change Stability analysis and applications

In this work the stability properties as well as possible applications of a partial differential equation (PDE) with state-dependent parameters are investigated. Among other things, the PDE describes freezing of foodstuff, and is closely related to the (Potential) Burgers’ Equation. We show that for certain forms of coefficient functions, the PDE converges to a stationary solution given by (fixed) boundary conditions that make physical sense. These boundary conditions are either symmetric or asymmetric of Dirichlet type. Furthermore we present an observer design based on the PDE model for estimation of innerdomain temperatures in block-frozen fish and for monitoring freezing time. We illustrate the results with numerical simulations.
Image Transformation via Neural Network Inversion

While prior experiments have shown it is possible to approximately reconstruct inputs to a neural net given an output from one of its frontal layers, it becomes increasingly difficult as one moves toward the back layers, as the number of possible inputs that create the same output increases. In a convolutional neural net that performs image classification, only the end result label can be interpreted as a definite, concrete topic in the real world. Our experiment makes use of the information obtained by inverting based on a class label, the last layers output, to change an existing image to match said label rather than performing traditional inversion.
Climate effect on radial growth of Pinus sylvestris at its southern and western distribution limits.

The associations between tree-ring width and climatic variables, the tree age effect on climate-growth relationship and the drought index impact on radial growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were studied in Mediterranean environments in the Iberian Peninsula. Dendrochronological techniques were applied to construct six tree-ring width chronologies for P. sylvestris. The association between tree growth and climate was analysed with correlation coefficients and bootstrapped response functions. Drought index (DRI) was used to detect the effects of aridity. Tree-ring width was positively correlated with rainfall in the growing season but this association stated earlier at the lowest altitudinal sites. The effects of temperature varied according to the site. The response to climatic variables depended on the age of the trees: more of the variability was explained by climatic variables in young stands than in old stands. The significant association between radial growth and DRI suggests that drought is a determining factor in the radial growth of P. sylvestris. Climate forecast scenarios show an increase in rainfall irregularity in the Mediterranean region so the differential tree response to rainfall at different elevations can be used to predict tree growth for determining silvicultural treatments.
Is sclerophylly of Mediterranean evergreens an adaptation to drought

SUMMARY The potential role of sclerophylly (leaf hardness and rigidity) in the control of leaf dehydration and rehydration was investigated in two sclerophylls (Viburnum tinus and Ilex aquifolium) and two non-sclerophylls (Hedera helix ssp. helix and Sambucus nigra). After leaves were dehydrated in the pressure chamber, water transport from the apoplast (mainly consisting of xylem conduits and mechanical cells) to symplast was detected 15 min from pressure release, in terms of a spontaneous increase in leaf water potential (ϕ1). This ϕ1 increase was much larger in sclerophylls than in non-sclerophylls. Positive pressures applied to leaves simulated the tensions developing in the leaf apoplast under water stress conditions, causing water to be expelled from leaf xylem conduits and mechanical cells and transferred to the leaf symplast, thus leading to symplast rehydration and to the consequent ϕ1 increase. No correlation was found between the leaf modulus of elasticity at full turgor or the degree of sclerophylly (in terms of the ratio of leaf d. wt to surface area) and the characteristic rehydration time of the leaves, i.e. between the two main parameters expressing the rigidity of the leaf blade and the rate of leaf rehydration. However, when changes in ϕ1 were measured as a function of leaf water deficit (RWD), equal ϕ1s corresponded with larger RWDs during leaf rehydration than during leaf dehydration in the two non-sclerophylls. In particular, the two sclerophylls showed rehydration of their leaf apoplast and symplast completely and simultaneously. By contrast, the two non-sclerophylls showed a persisting water loss, localized, it is likely, in their xylem conduits and mechanical cells. In other words, the two sclerophylls did not recover from water loss more rapidly than non-sclerophylls but they recovered from xylem cavitation more completely. The major elasticity of the cavitation strain shown by the two sclerophylls studied was interpreted as of advantage to plants subjected to diurnal large drops in ϕ1 followed by nocturnal recovery. This is the case in Mediterranean sclerophylls growing in areas characterized by high humidity of the air condensing on the soil at night. The same mechanism of cavitation recovery, however, would be useless in very xeric areas. The hypothesis is advanced that sclerophylly of Mediterranean species may derive from similar anatomical structures developed in species formerly adapted to more humid environments which later migrated to more arid zones.
Freezability and Fertility of Marwari Horse Semen a t Farmer's Doorstep

The present study was aimed to assess the success o f Marwari horse semen freezing at owner's doorstep (field level) be sides to record conception rate and fertility using frozen semen for artificia l insemination (AI). A total of 108 ejaculates out of twenty stallions were collect ed, evaluated and subjected for freezing. Ejaculates that had progressive sperm post-thaw motility (PTM) ≥30% were kept stored for use in AI as this is an in ternationally accepted minimum standard. AI was performed in Marwari mares at farm using frozen- thawed semen. In present study, sperm PTM in ejaculates subjected for freezing ranged between 7.5±1.44 to 46.5±1.44%. Based on sperm PTM% range 40%, horses were categorized as poor, moderate and good freezers, respectively. Conception at the end of breeding season was 37.5% (36/96), while the average number of AI per conception was 2.66 . Fertility of stallion's using frozen semen AI was 3 7.5% and 36.45%, based on pregnancy at the end of breeding season and foal bo rn, respectively. There were individual variations in ejaculates success to freezing, however, semen can be frozen with satisfactory results in field th at resulted in an acceptable conception and fertility using frozen semen in hors es.
Fluticasone , azithromycin and montelukast therapy in reducing corticosteroid exposure in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT : a case series of eight patients

Department of Medicine, University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals, Seattle, WA, USA; Stem Cell Transplant Program, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Cancer Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA and Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
Relapse of Tourette Syndrome with Clozapine in a Patient of Paranoid

Tourette syndrome (TS) is characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics and is commonly associated obsessive– Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Comorbidity between TS and schizophrenia has been less commonly described. In this case report a case of schizophrenia with comorbid TS is described in which symptoms of TS relapsed when the patient was started on clozapine. Exacerbation of TS with clozapine has been reported in few case reports in the literature. Our case highlights the fact that clozapine should be used with caution in patients with schizophrenia who have tic disorder.
Comparison of salivary Visfatin in patients with periodontitis and peri-implantitis in an Iranian population

Background. Visfatin (pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor) is a salivary biomarker secreted from a variety of cells and is thought to have some proinflammatory and immune-modulating effects. This study compared salivary concentrations of visfatin in patients with chronic periodontitis and periimplantitis and healthy individuals. Methods. In this cross-sectional and descriptive trial, patients were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The whole saliva samples were collected; then according to the measured clinical parameters the patients were categorized to peri-, chronic periodontitis and periodontally healthy individuals. The concentrations of visfatin were evaluated using a standard ELISA kit. The salivary concentrations of visfatin were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test. A probability value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results. A total of 40 participants (21 females and 19 males) were enrolled in this study. The mean salivary visfatin concentrations in the periodontally healthy individuals, periimplantitis patients and chronic periodontitis patients were 23.97 ng/mL, 12.83 ng/mL and 11.95 ng/mL, respectively. However; visfatin levels were higher in healthy individuals compared to other groups No significant differences were found in salivary visfatin concentrations between the three groups. Conclusion. Under the limitations of this study, no significant relationships were found regarding salivary concentrations of visfatin among periimplantitis and chronic periodontitis patients as compared to healthy individuals; however, more studies are required in this regard.
Non-altruistic Equilibria

Which choice will a player make if he can make one of two choices in which his own payoffs are equal, but his rival’s payoffs are not equal, that is, one with a large payoff for his rival and the other with a small payoff for his rival? This paper introduces non-altruistic equilibria for normal-form games and extensive-form non-altruistic equilibria for extensive-form games as equilibrium concepts of non-cooperative games by discussing such a problem and examines the connections between their equilibrium concepts and Nash and subgame perfect equilibria that are important and frequently encountered equilibrium concepts.
Drug Addiction and Personal Responsibility

This project examines drug addiction and personal responsibility from the perspective of three different types of theories of addiction: full responsibility, diminished responsibility, and no responsibility. The rational theory of addiction is the fully responsibility theory. The philosophical insights by R. Jay Wallace and George Graham are the diminished responsibility theories. Berridge and Robinson’s Incentive Salience theory of drug addiction is the no responsibility theory examined. My conclusion is that diminished responsibility frameworks are the most suitable in a therapeutic context because they are most sensitive to relevant normative aspects. INDEX WORDS: Addiction, Personal responsibility, Therapy, Normative, Incentive salience DRUG ADDICTION AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Phytochemistry and Toxicity Studies of Telfairia Occidentalis Aqueous Leaves Extract on Liver Biochemical Indices in Wistar Rats

This study assessed the effect of oral ad ministration of aqueous extract of Telfairiaoccidentalis (TO) leaves on liver biochemical indices in Wistar albino rats. Fifty rats weighing 150-200g were div ided into 2 groups A and B, to test for acute (10 days) and sub-acute (4 weeks) effect respectively. Each group consisted of 25 rats, which were fu rther div ided into 5 sub-groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Sub-group 1 served as control and was orally gavaged with standard animal feed only, while sub-groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were the test groups. In addition to the standard animal feed, 500mg/kg, 1000mg/ kg, 2000mg/kg and 4000mg/ kg of the extract was orally gavaged to the test groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The standard animal feed g iven to the control and test groups contained the same amount of daily calories and protein. The acute and sub-acute administration of the extract caused significant differences in values of Aspartate amino Transferase(AST), Aspartate to Alanine amino Transferase(AST/ALT) rat io, Total protein, A lbumin, Globulin, Albu min/ Globulin ratio, Total body weight, Total and Conjugated bilirubin (P < 0.001) between test and control groups. Seru m levels of other parameters were statistically non-significant. There was no obvious evidence of hepato-toxicity detected in this study.
Revealing the state space of turbulent pipe flow by symmetry reduction

Abstract Symmetry reduction by the method of slices is applied to pipe flow in order to obtain a quotient of the streamwise translation and azimuthal rotation symmetries of turbulent flow states. Within the symmetry-reduced state space, all travelling wave solutions reduce to equilibria, and all relative periodic orbits reduce to periodic orbits. Projections of these solutions and their unstable manifolds from their infinite-dimensional symmetry-reduced state space onto suitably chosen two- or three-dimensional subspaces reveal their interrelations and the role they play in organizing turbulence in wall-bounded shear flows. Visualizations of the flow within the slice and its linearization at equilibria enable us to trace out the unstable manifolds, determine close recurrences, identify connections between different travelling wave solutions and find, for the first time for pipe flows, relative periodic orbits that are embedded within the chaotic saddle, which capture turbulent dynamics at transitional Reynolds numbers.
Three dimensional particle based modelling of frictional behaviour in shear zones

Three dimensional numerical simulations were conducted by particle based modelling of fracture, flow and comminution of rock to investigate frictional behaviour in shear zones. As the model can simulate the process of fault formations from solid rock mass and the process of flow in the shear zones with gouge layers straightforwardly, frictional behaviour under complex topology of shear layers with gouge materials are naturally represented without artificial prescription. The potential of this model is illustrated by means of a simulation of a tri-axial compression test of rock. Then, a fault formation and frictional behaviour in resultant shear zones can be studied using this model.
A study of TiO_2 binder-free paste prepared for low temperature dye-sensitized solar cells

A binder-free titania paste was prepared by chemical modification of an acidic TiO_2 sol with ammonia. By varying the ammonia concentration, the viscosity of the acidic TiO_2 suspension increased, thereby allowing uniform films to be cast. The photoelectrochemical performance of TiO_2 electrodes, cast as single layers, was dependent on the thermal treatment cycle. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the extent of residual organics and found that acetates from the TiO_2precursor preparation were retained within the electrode structure after thermal treatment at 150 °C. Electrodes of nominal thickness 4 μm produced an energy conversion efficiency as high as 5.4% using this simple thermal treatment.
WordNet and Genetic Algorithm based Latent Semantic Indexing

The information with the development of the Internet is growing expotentially. Latent Semantic indexing method in the process of document classification. In this paper, to increase the precision by referring to the WordNet, using a genetic algorithm to try to propose a new document classification method. Keywords—clustering; WordNet; Genetic Algorithm; Latent Semantic Indexing, Clustering, Classification