Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Materials characterization by near-field scanning microwave microscopy

Near-field scanning microwave microscope (NFSMM) has potentials to achieve characterizations of materials with high spatial resolution and sensitivity. A wide range of applications have been addressed such as dielectric constant measurement, impedance analysis of metals and semiconductor materials/devices, gas and chemical sensing, etc. [1, 2]. In this work, we propose a home-made NFSMM to perform materials nondestructive characterization. This system includes a vector network analyzer (VNA), a matching network and an evanescent microwave probe (EMP) [3, 4]. The configuration of the system is given in Fig. 1. The broadband matching network is composed of a hybrid coupler and an impedance tuner. This matching circuit permits the measurements with high sensitivity and accuracy in the frequency range from 2 GHz to 18 GHz. It is well known that the evanescent wave is concentrated around the probe apex and decays rapidly with the distance away from the probe tip. In this study, an EMP with apex of 66 μm is used to achieve a very local characterization of materials with a sub-wavelength resolution when the tip-material separation is in the order of the apex size. The electromagnetic coupling between the probe and the material under test is also investigated using numerical simulations (ANSYS/HFSS™) based on finite element method (FEM). Thanks to the fact that microwave penetrates into the material, the electric properties (impedance and dielectric constant) of materials can be quantitatively determined based on the wave reflected by the material. The proposed microscopy platform thus allows a straightforward estimation of material properties rather than just topographic information. Furthermore, another advantage of the system is the nondestructive characterization possibility, which avoids injuring the sample surface.
Identifying emergency stages in facebook posts of police departments with convolutional and recurrent neural networks and support vector machines

Classification of social media posts in emergency response is an important practical problem: accurate classification can help automate processing of such messages and help other responders and the public react to emergencies in a timely fashion. This research focused on classifying Facebook messages of US police departments. Randomly selected 5,000 messages were used to train classifiers that distinguished between four categories of messages: emergency preparedness, response and recovery, as well as general engagement messages. Features were represented with bag-of-words and word2vec, and models were constructed using support vector machines (SVMs) and convolutional (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs). The best performing classifier was an RNN with a custom-trained word2vec model to represent features, which achieved the F1 measure of 0.839.
Cold exposure enhances fat utilization but not non-esterified fatty acids, glycerol or catecholamines availability during submaximal walking and running

Cold exposure modulates the use of carbohydrates (CHOs) and fat during exercise. This phenomenon has mostly been observed in controlled cycling studies, but not during walking and running when core temperature and oxygen consumption are controlled, as both may alter energy metabolism. This study aimed at examining energy substrate availability and utilization during walking and running in the cold when core temperature and oxygen consumption are maintained. Ten lightly clothed male subjects walked or ran for 60-min, at 50% and 70% of maximal oxygen consumption, respectively, in a climatic chamber set at 0°C or 22°C. Thermal, cardiovascular, and oxidative responses were measured every 15-min during exercise. Blood samples for serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), glycerol, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), plasma catecholamines, and serum lipids were collected immediately prior, and at 30- and 60-min of exercise. Skin temperature strongly decreased while core temperature did not change during cold trials. Heart rate (HR) was also lower in cold trials. A rise in fat utilization in the cold was seen through lower respiratory quotient (RQ) (−0.03 ± 0.02), greater fat oxidation (+0.14 ± 0.13 g · min−1) and contribution of fat to total energy expenditure (+1.62 ± 1.99 kcal · min−1). No differences from cold exposure were observed in blood parameters. During submaximal walking and running, a greater reliance on derived fat sources occurs in the cold, despite the absence of concurrent alterations in NEFAs, glycerol, or catecholamine concentrations. This disparity may suggest a greater reliance on intra-muscular energy sources such as triglycerides during both walking and running.
Deep-diving by narwhals Monodon monoceros: differences in foraging behavior between wintering areas?

Variation in resource selection among sub-populations may elucidate differences in fit- ness and life history strategies. Specifically for top marine predators, differences in movements and behavior may result from responses to variation in a patchy, dynamic environment. Satellite-linked time-depth recorders (SLTDRs) were used to examine differences in narwhal Monodon monoceros diving behavior and habitat selection among 3 sub-populations in Canada and West Greenland (n = 16 individuals). The number of dives to different depths and time allocation within the water column was investigated in 3 seasons, with a focus on 2 discrete wintering grounds in Baffin Bay. Diving parameters were calculated from binned dive data and analyzed using repeated-measures mixed models accounting for temporal autocorrelation and individual variability. The number of surface dives (0 to 50 m) and time at the surface declined between summer and winter. Clear differences were observed between 2 wintering grounds. Whales occupying one wintering ground spent most of their time diving to between 200 and 400 m (25 dives per day, SE 3), confirmed by both depth and temperature recording tags. In contrast, narwhals in a separate wintering ground spent less time at shallow depths and most of their time diving to at least 800 m (13 to 26 dives per day, SE 1 to 3). A model of occupancy time at depth showed that whales making multiple daily deep dives spent over 3 h at > 800 m (SD 0.6) and traveled 13 min (SD 1) per round trip to reach this depth. Whales diving to between 200 and 400 m spent approximately 2.5 h (SD 0.4) at this depth, traveling 5 min per round trip. The observed differences in time allocation and dive behavior indicate local variation between the 2 wintering grounds in the Baffin Bay ecosystem.
Glued intraocular lens implantation for eyes with inadequate capsular support: Analysis of the postoperative visual outcome

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the postoperative visual outcomes of fibrin glue-assisted, suture-less posterior chamber (PC) intraocular lens (IOL) implantation technique in eyes with inadequate capsule support at a tertiary eye care hospital in South India. Setting and Design: This is a retrospective, nonrandomized case series. Patients and Methods: This study analyzes 94 eyes which underwent PC-IOL implantation by fibrin glue-assisted, suture-less technique. All patients who had IOL implants by the fibrin glue-assisted PC-IOL technique from August 2009 to January 2014 were included in the study. Intra- and post-operative complications were analyzed. The postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was evaluated and recorded at the end of 6 months. Statistical Analysis: The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.1 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) using two sample paired t-test and independent t-test. Results: A total of 94 eyes of 92 patients that underwent glued IOL implantation over a period of 5 years were analyzed. Out of 94 eyes, 77 eyes (84.6%) maintained or improved on their preoperative BSCVA (P = 0.012). Conclusion: We conclude that glued IOL implantation is a feasible option in rehabilitating patients with aphakia without adequate capsular support.
Retinopathy--screening recommendations.

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an increasingly prevalent presentation in Australian general practice, where most patients receive their preventive care and management. OBJECTIVE In this article we discuss the relevant issues for clinicians and the screening recommendations for diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy. DISCUSSION Screening for diabetic retinopathy is a crucial component of preventive care, with early identification of change and timely treatment likely to prevent most blindness. Despite this, a quarter of Australians with diabetes are not appropriately screened. General practitioners must take a key role in initiating, delivering or monitoring their patient's diabetic retinopathy screening to reduce preventable blindness from diabetes mellitus. Hypertensive retinopathy indicates end organ disease but regular screening for hypertensive retinopathy is not routinely recommended.
Nonlinear propagation of agonist-induced cytoplasmic calcium waves in single astrocytes.

In astrocytes in primary culture, activation of neurotransmitter receptors results in intracellular calcium signals that propagate as waves across the cell. Similar agonist-induced calcium waves have been observed in astrocytes in organotypic cultures in response to synaptic activation. By using primary cultured astrocytes grown on glass coverslips, in conjunction with fluorescence microscopy we have analyzed agonist-induced Ca2+ wave initiation and propagation in individual cells. Both norepinephrine and glutamate elicited Ca2+ signals which were initiated focally and discretely in one region of the cell, from where the signals spread as waves along the entire length of the cell. Analysis of the wave propagation and the waveform revealed that the propagation was nonlinear with one or more focal loci in the cytoplasm where the wave was regeneratively amplified. These individual loci appear as discrete focal areas 7-15 microns in diameter and having intrinsic oscillatory properties that differ from each other. The wave initiation locus and the different amplification loci remained invariant in space during the course of the experiment and supported an identical spatiotemporal pattern of signalling in any given cell in response to multiple agonist applications and when stimulated with different agonists which are coupled via InsP3. Cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration at rest was consistently higher (17 +/- 4 nM, mean +/- S.E.M.) in the wave initiation locus compared with the rest of the cytoplasm. The nonlinear propagation results from significant changes in signal rise times, amplitudes, and wave velocity in cellular regions of active loci. Analysis of serial slices across the cell revealed that the rise times and amplitudes of local signals were as much as three- to fourfold higher in the loci of amplification. A phenomenon of hierarchy in local amplitudes of the signal in the amplification loci was observed with the wave initiation locus having the smallest and the most distal locus having the largest amplitude. By this mechanism locally very high concentrations of Ca2+ are achieved in strategic locations in the cell in response to receptor activation. While the average wave velocity calculated over the length of the cell was 10-15 microns/s, in the active loci rates as high as 40 microns/s were measured. Wave velocity was fivefold lower in regions of the cell separating active loci. The differences in the intrinsic oscillatory periods give rise to local Ca2+ waves that show the properties of collision and annihilation. It is hypothesized that the wave front provokes regenerative Ca2+ release from specialized areas in the cell where the endoplasmic reticulum is endowed with higher density of InsP3 receptor channels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Inhibition of epidermal growth factor‐induced cell transformation and Akt activation by caffeine

We found that caffeine significantly inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐ and 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA)‐induced cell transformation in the JB6 mouse epidermal cell line. The tumor promoter‐induced cell transformation was also blocked by treatment with an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, 8‐phenyltheophylline (8‐PTH). Caffeine slightly attenuated activation of EGF‐induced activator protein 1 (AP‐1) activation, which play important roles in cell transformation, but only at the highest concentration examined (1 mM). Interestingly, pretreatment with caffeine suppressed EGF‐induced phosphorylation and activation of Akt and ribosomal p70 S6 protein kinase (p70 S6K), a target of Akt, without inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) activation. The inhibition of Akt activation of caffeine was not a result of its adenosine receptor antagonism. Because Akt plays a key role in signal transduction pathways leading to cell proliferation and apoptosis, our results provide novel insight into possible mechanisms of the chemotherapeutic effect of caffeine. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Impact of the Measuring Method on Droplet Detection From Human Expiration

Summary: Tens of millions of people worldwide suffer from various types of viral infections every day at immense economic cost. There is, however, only minimal understanding of the dynamics of droplets carrying virus from human expiration, and so is the ability to control and prevent virus spread. This paper analyses the impact of the real time measuring methods on detection and quantitative characterization of droplets from human expiration.
Fundamental x-ray interaction limits in diagnostic imaging detectors: Spatial resolution.

The practice of diagnostic x-ray imaging has been transformed with the emergence of digital detector technology. Although digital systems offer many practical advantages over conventional film-based systems, their spatial resolution performance can be a limitation. The authors present a Monte Carlo study to determine fundamental resolution limits caused by x-ray interactions in four converter materials: Amorphous silicon (a-Si), amorphous selenium, cesium iodide, and lead iodide. The "x-ray interaction" modulation transfer function (MTF) was determined for each material and compared in terms of the 50% MTF spatial frequency and Wagner's effective aperture for incident photon energies between 10 and 150 keV and various converter thicknesses. Several conclusions can be drawn from their Monte Carlo study. (i) In low-Z (a-Si) converters, reabsorption of Compton scatter x rays limits spatial resolution with a sharp MTF drop at very low spatial frequencies (<0.3 cycles/mm), especially above 60 keV; while in high-Z materials, reabsorption of characteristic x rays plays a dominant role, resulting in a mid-frequency (1-5 cycles/mm) MTF drop. (ii) Coherent scatter plays a minor role in the x-ray interaction MTF. (iii) The spread of energy due to secondary electron (e.g., photoelectrons) transport is significant only at very high spatial frequencies. (iv) Unlike the spread of optical light in phosphors, the spread of absorbed energy from x-ray interactions does not significantly degrade spatial resolution as converter thickness is increased. (v) The effective aperture results reported here represent fundamental spatial resolution limits of the materials tested and serve as target benchmarks for the design and development of future digital x-ray detectors.
Humic Acids Isolated from Earthworm Compost Enhance Root Elongation, Lateral Root Emergence, and Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase Activity in Maize Roots1

Earthworms (Eisenia foetida) produce humic substances that can influence plant growth by mechanisms that are not yet clear. In this work, we investigated the effects of humic acids (HAs) isolated from cattle manure earthworm compost on the earliest stages of lateral root development and on the plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity. These HAs enhance the root growth of maize (Zea mays) seedlings in conjunction with a marked proliferation of sites of lateral root emergence. They also stimulate the plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity, apparently associated with an ability to promote expression of this enzyme. In addition, structural analysis reveals the presence of exchangeable auxin groups in the macrostructure of the earthworm compost HA. These results may shed light on the hormonal activity that has been postulated for these humic substances.
Refined Error Probability Approximations in Quasi–Static Erasure Channels

This paper considers the transmission of codewords over a quasi-static binary erasure channel, where the erasure probability changes independently at each transmitted codeword. An approximation to the random-coding union bound suggests that the error probability exceeds the outage probability by a quantity that is inversely proportional to the blocklength.
Endothelin-1 pathway in human alveolar epithelial cell line A549 and human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

AIM This study was designed to characterize the endothelin pathway in an immortalized human adenocarcinoma-derived alveolar epithelial cell line (A549) and human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (HUVEC). METHODS The release of ET-1 and big-ET-1 was measured in the incubation medium of both cell lines. The expression of mRNAs coding for the endothelin isoforms (hppET-1, -2, -3), the endothelin converting enzymes (hECE-1a, b, c, and d) and the hETA and hETB receptors was investigated using RT-PCR. The expression of ECE-1 mRNA in various human tissues and in A549 cells was investigated by Northern blot analysis and the subcellular localization of ECE-1 in A549 cells was investigated by immunoblotting using a polyclonal antibody. RESULTS Under control conditions, HUVEC release both ET-1 and big-ET-1 (ratio 5 to 1) while in A549 cells the big-ET-1 levels were below the threshold of detection. The release of these two peptides was minimally affected by various inhibitors of peptidases. However, in both cell lines phosphoramidon produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of ET-1 release and an enhanced accumulation of big-ET-1. Both HUVEC and A549 cells express the mRNAs for ppET-1, ET-A, and ET-B receptor subtypes and ECE-1 (isoforms ECE-1b, c and/or d). In addition, in HUVEC the mRNAs for ppET-2 and for the isoform ECE-1a were also detected. In A549 cells, ECE-1 had a preferential subcellular localization in the membrane fraction but was not detected in the cytosol. CONCLUSION Both A549 and HUVEC produce and release endothelin-1 through a specific enzymatic pathway, whether or not ECE-1 is the only enzyme involved remains to be determined. A549 might be used as a screening assay for drug discovery such as for inhibitors of endothelin-1 release.
Markets with Price Coherence

In markets with price coherence, the purchase of a given good via an intermediary is constrained to occur at the same price as a purchase of that same good directly from the seller (or through another competing intermediary). We examine ten markets with price coherence, including their origin and outcomes as well as concerns and policy interventions. JEL classification: D40, L11
Genome Sequence of the Halotolerant Marine Bacterium Myxococcus fulvus HW-1

ABSTRACT Myxococcus fulvus HW-1 (ATCC BAA-855) is a halotolerant marine myxobacterium. This strain exhibits complex social behaviors in the presence of low concentrations of seawater but adopts an asocial living pattern under oceanic conditions. The whole genome of M. fulvus HW-1 will enable us to further investigate the details of its evolution.
Performance Monitoring of Substance Use Disorder Interventions in the Veterans Health Administration

Background: Measuring and improving the quality of treatment for patients with substance use disorders are enduring challenges. Methods: This article describes how the Veterans Affairs health care system is using incentivized performance measures to promote more effective delivery of interventions for nicotine, illegal drug, and alcohol disorders. Results: The monitoring and incentive system has increased the delivery of evidence-based services, including screening for alcohol use disorders. Conclusions: Further work remains to be done to strengthen the connection between process-based measures and longer-term patient outcomes.
REPRODUCTIVE COSTS OF HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN IN TRANSGENIC DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Abstract Senescence may evolve when genes have antagonistic effects between early reproduction and later age-specific mortality. Although widely consistent with data of quantitative genetics, this model has yet to be validated with the identification of a specific locus presenting such trade-offs. The molecular chaperone hsp70 may be a candidate for such a gene. Heat induced expression of the Hsp70 protein in adults decreases rates of age-specific mortality during normal aging, while maternally experienced heat shock depresses the production of mature progeny. Here we show that maternal heat shock reduces the proportion of egg hatch but not the viability of successfully hatched offspring. To assess whether heat induced maternal expression of hsp70 causes reduced egg hatch, we measured the proportion of eggs that hatch from females engineered to overexpress hsp70 transgenes. We used the same transgenic strains that extend longevity upon hsp70 expression and found that Hsp70 is sufficient to suppress egg hatch. The proportion of egg hatch as a function of hsp70 expression was not reduced in the first eggs laid after maternal heat shock, but appears in later laid eggs, which were at preoogenic and early vitellogenic stages during the maternal expression of hsp70. The contervailing effects of hsp70 upon fecundity and subsequent age-specific mortality exemplify antagonistic pleiotropy, and this trade-off could contribute to the evolution of Drosophila senescence. Editor: T. Kawecki
Implementing a Workflow Agent on Federated Cloud

Workflow scheduling is the way to schedule the complex scientific workflow. In a cloud platform, the resources can be utilized more effectively and efficiently by scheduling the workflow properly. In this paper, an agent-based workflow scheduling mechanism on cloud environment is proposed. We implement a set of agents that can federate multiple clouds and automatically monitor the entire system, and manage the job if it's a workflow job. We also implement a dynamic job dispatching algorithm to reduce the VM usage amount and improve the resource utilization.
Transient Stability Improvement of Power System Using Non-Linear Controllers

This paper presents the design of a non-linear controller to prevent an electric power system losing synchronism after a large sudden fault and to achieve good post fault voltage level. By Direct Feedback Linearization (DFL) technique robust non-linear excitation controller is designed which will achieve stability enhancement and voltage regulation of power system. By utilizing this technique, there is a possibility of selecting various control loops for a particular application problem. This method plays an important role in control system and power system engineering problem where all relevant variables cannot be directly measured. Simulated results carried out on a single machine infinite bus power system model which shows the enhancement of transient stability regardless of the fault and changes in network parameters.
Monitoring tsetse fly populations. I. The intrinsic variability of trap catches of Glossina pallidipes at Nguruman, Kenya

ABSTRACT. During 1986 the tsetse fly Glossina pallidipes Austen was monitored daily at Nguruman, southwestern Kenya, using three unbaited biconical traps. This was done to investigate the nature and causes of daily variation in trap catches. The variability of the observed catches was compared to a model which includes the trapping probability and the stochastic variation in the sex‐ratio. By comparing the catches of male and female flies we are able to establish the sampling distribution of the trap catches. In addition to seasonal changes in the trap catches, day‐to‐day variations are observed and these are considered greater than the variation arising from the stochastic nature of the sampling process. Recommendations are made in relation to sampling tsetse fly populations.