Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient spectral broadening of multi-mJ pulses in long hollow fibers

In this work, the capability of the new capillary design for spectral broadening of multi-mJ pulses is explored. It si demonstrated that the conservative approach (linearly polarized pulses and constant gas pressure) can work well even in the multi-mJ regime if the dimensions of the waveguide are scaled up properly. In the experiment, 2.1 mJ, 36 fs pulses from a kHz Ti:sapphire CPA system were launched into a 3 meter long stretched flexible hollow fiber assembly of 450 μm inner diameter. In case of evacuated fiber the measured transmission is 67.5%. Results show that the core contains 1.38 mJ while the full beam has 1.52 mJ energy. To the authors' knowledge this is the highest throughput ever achieved for the spectral broadening of multi-mJ pulses in a hollow fiber facilitating few-cycle pulse generation. In the experiment, the output energy is limited exclusively by the laser and not by the fiber stage. Further experiments on higher-energy lasers are in progress, whose results will also be presented.
The context of delusional experiences in the daily life of patients with schizophrenia

Background. Global characteristics and psychosocial risk factors related to delusions have been identified. The present study extends these findings to the level of everyday functioning, identifying characteristics of delusional moments (DMs) and contextual risk and protective factors for delusional exacerbations in daily life. Methods. Data were collected using the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), a time-sampling technique. Forty-eight chronic patients diagnosed with schizophrenia rated the intensity of pathological symptoms and mood states and described their thoughts and the environmental context during consecutive moments in daily life. Delusions were defined on the basis of self-rated suspicion, preoccupation, feeling controlled, and coded thought pathology. Daily context included current activity, persons present and location. Characteristics of DMs and non-delusional moments (nDMs) were compared, and a multilevel logistic regression model was used to identify contexts that might trigger or prevent DMs. Results. On average, patients experienced delusions less than one-third of the time. DMs were characterized by higher negative affect and lower positive affect. The presence of family or acquaintances decreased the risk of subsequently experiencing a DM, whereas withdrawal from activities increased this risk. Conclusions. Data support the validity of ESM for investigating delusions in schizophrenia. Daily life contexts appear to alter the probability that delusions will occur. Knowledge about such contexts may therefore be useful in helping patients develop better coping strategies and in creating therapeutic interventions that can lessen emotional distress.
Inter‐field variability in the microbial communities of hydrothermal vent deposits from a back‐arc basin

Diverse microbial communities thrive on and in deep‐sea hydrothermal vent mineral deposits. However, our understanding of the inter‐field variability in these communities is poor, as limited sampling and sequencing efforts have hampered most previous studies. To explore the inter‐field variability in these communities, we used barcoded pyrosequencing of the variable region 4 (V4) of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the archaeal and bacterial communities of over 30 hydrothermal deposit samples from six vent fields located along the Eastern Lau Spreading Center. Overall, the bacterial and archaeal communities of the Eastern Lau Spreading Center are similar to other active vent deposits, with a high diversity of Epsilonproteobacteria and thermophilic Archaea. However, the archaeal and bacterial communities from the southernmost vent field, Mariner, were significantly different from the other vent fields. At Mariner, the epsilonproteobacterial genus Nautilia and the archaeal family Thermococcaceae were prevalent in most samples, while Lebetimonas and Thermofilaceae were more abundant at the other vent fields. These differences appear to be influenced in part by the unique geochemistry of the Mariner fluids resulting from active degassing of a subsurface magma chamber. These results show that microbial communities associated with hydrothermal vent deposits in back‐arc basins are taxonomically similar to those from mid‐ocean ridge systems, but differences in geologic processes between vent fields in a back‐arc basin can influence microbial community structure.
Increasing Uplink Data Rates in HSPA by Modified Mapping of OVSF Codes

The paper is devoted to the studies on modifications of mapping of the OVSF channelization codes onto the data and control channels in HSUPA, aiming at increasing the uplink data rates. Appropriate selection of mapping can result in a link throughput gain of up to 28% as compared with the standard HSUPA transmission. An intensive HSUPA link level simulation campaign has been performed to investigate many possible mappings, to optimize the ratios of traffic to pilot channel powers and to measure parameters of the transmitted signal such as the peak-to-average power ratio and the cubic metric. The most important and representative results are summarized in this paper.
Seizure‐like activity in the disinhibited CA1 minislice of adult guinea‐pigs

1 Spontaneous activity was monitored during pharmacological blockade of GABAA receptor function in the CA1 minislice (CA3 was cut off). Synaptic inhibition was blocked by competitive GABAA antagonists bicuculline‐methiodide (Bic) or GABAZINE (GBZ) and the chloride channel blocker picrotoxin (PTX). Extra‐ and intracellular recordings using sharp electrodes were carried out in stratum radiatum and pyramidale. 2 At low antagonist concentrations (Bic, GBZ: 1‐10 μm; PTX: < 100 μm), synchronized bursts (< 500 ms in duration, interictal activity) were seen as described previously. However, in the presence of high concentrations (Bic, GBZ: 50‐100 μm; PTX: 100‐200 μm), seizure‐like, ictal events (duration 4‐17 s) were observed in 67 of 88 slices. No other experimental measures to increase excitability were applied: cation concentrations ([Ca2+]o= 2 mm, [Mg2+]o= 1.7 mm, [K+]o= 3 mm) and recording temperature (30‐32 °C) were standard and GABAB‐mediated inhibition was intact. 3 In whole‐slice recordings prominent interictal activity, but fewer ictal events were observed. A reduced ictal activity was also observed when interictal‐like responses were evoked by afferent stimulation. 4 Ictal activity was reversibly blocked by antagonists of excitatory transmission, CNQX (40 μm) or d‐AP5 (50 μm). 5 Disinhibition‐induced ictal development did not rely on group I mGluR activation as it was not prevented in the presence of group I mGluR antagonists (AIDA or 4CPG). 6 (RS)‐3,5‐DHPG prevented the induction and reversed the tertiary component of the ictal event through a group I mGluR‐independent mechanism.
Volumetric comparison of positron emission tomography/computed tomography using 4′-[methyl-11C]-thiothymidine with 2-deoxy-2-18F-fluoro-D-glucose in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

ObjectiveWe prospectively compared the diagnostic value of PET/computed tomography (CT) findings using the tracers 4′-[methyl-11C]-thiothymidine (11C-4DST) and 2-deoxy-2-18F-fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Patients and methodsThirty-eight patients with advanced HNSCC underwent 11C-4DST PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT before treatment. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were measured for both PET/CT studies; in addition, total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of 18F-FDG PET/CT and total lesion proliferation (TLP) of 11C-4DST PET/CT were measured. Absolute TLG and TLP values as well as values with various SUV thresholds were measured. All patients were followed up for 13.5±7.5 months (mean±SD) to monitor recurrence. ResultsA statistically significant correlation was observed between the primary tumor SUVmax for 11C-4DST PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT (r=0.46, P<0.01). TLP values with SUV thresholds strongly correlated with TLG values relative to the same thresholds (r=0.60–0.92, P<0.001). Nine of the 38 patients with post-treatment recurrence were identified. Receiver operating characteristic curves for TLG3.0 and TLP2.5 showed the highest prognostic ability for recurrence; the sensitivity and specificity of TLG3.0 were 89 and 72%, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of TLP2.5 were 89 and 55%, respectively. ConclusionIn patients with advanced HNSCC, the TLP of 11C-4DST PET/CT strongly correlated with the TLG of 18F-FDG PET/CT. Although there were no large differences between these values, the receiver operating characteristic curves of the absolute TLG had slightly better prognostic ability for recurrence.
The cytochrome P-450cam binding surface as defined by site-directed mutagenesis and electrostatic modeling.

Cytochrome P-450cam cationic surface charges at Lys 344, Arg 72, and Lys 392 have been altered by site-directed mutagenesis techniques. The residues at Lys 344 and Arg 72 were previously suggested as salt bridge contacts in the cytochrome b5-cytochrome P-450cam association complex and implicated in the physiological putidaredoxin-cytochrome P-450cam complex [Stayton, P. S. , Poulos, T. L. , & Sligar, S. G. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 8201-8205]. Mutations to neutralize the basic charge at Arg 72 (R72Q) and to both neutralize and reverse the charge at Lys 344 (K344Q, K344E) resulted in alteration of NADH oxidation rates in the reconstituted physiological electron-transfer system, which is rate limited by putidaredoxin-cytochrome P-450cam electron transfer. The steady-state Vmax values were apparently unperturbed, suggesting that the observed rate differences were largely attributable to Km effects. The Km values observed for the K344Q (24 microM) and K344E (32 microM) mutants are in the direction expected for neutralization and reversal of a salt bridge charge interaction. A control mutation at a basic surface charge located away from the proposed site of interaction, Lys 392 (K392Q), resulted in overall activities quantitated by NADH oxidation rates that are similar to that of wild-type cytochrome P-450cam. Calculation of the cytochrome P-450cam electrostatic field revealed a patch of positive potential at the modeled cytochrome b5 interaction site lying directly above the nearest proximal approach to the buried heme prosthetic group. These results provide experimental and theoretical evidence for the modeled cytochrome P-450cam binding site implicated in both cytochrome b5 and putidaredoxin association. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DECREASED MACULAR THICKNESS IN NONPROLIFERATIVE MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2 WITH ORAL CARBONIC ANHYDRASE INHIBITORS

Purpose: To evaluate whether carbonic anhydrase inhibitors reduce the macular thickness and/or cystic spaces in patients with macular telangiectasia (MacTel) Type 2. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with nonproliferative cystoid changes associated with MacTel seen at the University of Iowa between 2009 and 2012. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors were used in 8 patients with MacTel Type 2. Five patients with MacTel Type 2 were observed during this period. Initial and final visual acuities were documented. The presence of cystic spaces and the retinal thickness were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results: Patients treated with oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors showed significant reduction in both the cystoid cavities and central macular thickness when compared with the patients who were observed (−12.2 &mgr;m; P = 0.020). The reduction in retinal thickness was more pronounced in patients receiving acetazolamide (−20.13 &mgr;m; P = 0.007) compared with methazolamide (−6.25 &mgr;m; P = 0.177). There was no significant change in visual acuity in patients receiving carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Five patients with MacTel Type 2 did not receive treatment and demonstrated no change in visual acuity, cystoid cavities, or central macular thickness. Conclusion: Oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, particularly acetazolamide, may decrease macular cystic cavities and reduce central macular thickness but does not appear to improve visual acuity. These findings have yet to be confirmed with a prospective treatment trial.
Low-profile triband ISM dipole antenna

This paper presents a low-profile, low cost and easy to fabricate triple band ISM dipole antenna. The proposed antenna was designed to operate in the 434 MHz, 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz ISM bands. The antenna was fabricated with 20.7 × 2.7 × 0.15 (cm) dimensions and tested. The measurements show successful operation in the above-mentioned ISM bands and good performances for the antenna including −15 dB bandwidths, gain and omnidirectional radiation patterns. From measurements, this antenna also covers wireless applications within the 1.644 – 2.612 GHz frequency range including WLAN, Wi-Max and GSM.
Perioperative Statins Do Not Prevent Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether perioperative statins reduce the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. SETTING Perioperative management in hospitals that perform cardiac surgery. PARTICIPANTS Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized trials. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to compare the effects of statins versus placebo/control. Trial sequential analysis was conducted to confirm the results. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary outcome was incidence of postoperative AKI. Eight trials enrolling 3,204 patients were included. The statin arms and the control arms were comparable in incidence of postoperative AKI (risk ratio [RR] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.82-1.28), need for renal replacement therapy (RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.45-2.66), mechanical ventilation duration (mean difference [MD] = 24.84 min, 95% CI = -55.53-105.20), intensive care unit length of stay (MD = 0.04 days, 95% CI = -3.13-3.20), hospital length of stay (MD = -0.08 days, 95% CI = -0.31-0.15), and in-hospital mortality (RR = 3.76, 95% CI = 0.93-15.14). Trial sequential analysis confirmed that it is unlikely that perioperative statin therapy could achieve a 20% or more relative risk reduction in AKI incidence. CONCLUSIONS Among patients undergoing cardiac surgery, perioperative statin treatment did not reduce the risk of AKI. Statin therapy should not be initiated to prevent AKI following cardiac surgery.
Removal of sialic acid involving Klotho causes cell-surface retention of TRPV5 channel via binding to galectin-1

Klotho is a mammalian senescence-suppression protein that has homology with glycosidases. The extracellular domain of Klotho is secreted into urine and blood and may function as a humoral factor. Klotho-deficient mice have accelerated aging and imbalance of ion homeostasis. Klotho treatment increases cell-surface abundance of the renal epithelial Ca2+ channel TRPV5 by modifying its N-linked glycans. However, the precise sugar substrate and mechanism for regulation by Klotho is not known. Here, we report that the extracellular domain of Klotho activates plasma-membrane resident TRPV5 through removing terminal sialic acids from their glycan chains. Removal of sialic acids exposes underlying disaccharide galactose-N-acetylglucosamine, a ligand for a ubiquitous galactoside-binding lectin galectin-1. Binding to galectin-1 lattice at the extracellular surface leads to accumulation of functional TRPV5 on the plasma membrane. Knockdown of β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal-1) by RNA interference, but not other sialyltransferases, in a human cell line prevents the regulation by Klotho. Moreover, the regulation by Klotho is absent in a hamster cell line that lacks endogenous ST6Gal-1, but is restored by forced expression of recombinant ST6Gal-1. Thus, Klotho participates in specific removal of α2,6-linked sialic acids and regulates cell surface retention of TRPV5 through this activity. This action of Klotho represents a novel mechanism for regulation of the activity of cell-surface glycoproteins and likely contributes to maintenance of calcium balance by Klotho.
Seroprevalence study in Vojvodina (Serbia) following 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1)V.

INTRODUCTION The seroprevalence study was performed in Vojvodina during May and June 2010 in order to asses the effects of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v epidemic on herd immunity. It was a part of the Serbian Ministry of Health funded nationwide study. OBJECTIVE Prevalence of antibodies against 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v was determined in a 1% sample of the population monitored for influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infections in Vojvodina through sentinel surveillance system. METHODS The study sample involved a total of 1004 inhabitants of Vojvodina. The control group consisted of randomly selected and age-adjusted 1054 sera collected in the pre-pandemic period. Sera were tested by the reaction of hemagglutination inhibition using influenza A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) antigen in dilution from 1:8 to 1:256. Antibody titers > or = 1:32 and > or = 1:8 were considered protective and diagnostic, respectively. RESULTS The differences between control and study sera in all age groups were significant for both diagnostic > or = 1/8 and protective titres > or = 1/32 of hemagglutination inhibition antibodies (chi square test, p < 0.001). The highest percentage of seropositive subjects was registered in the age group 15-19 years followed by children aged 5-14 years. Both diagnostic and protective titres were about twice higher in the vaccinated as compared to the non-vaccinated group. There were no statistically significant differences in seroprevalence between seven districts of Vojvodina. CONCLUSION The 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v epidemic significantly influenced the herd immunity in our population regardless of low immunization coverage with highest immunity levels in adolescents aged 15-19 years and with similar herd immunity levels in all the regions in the province six months after the outbreak.
Early kinetics of serum Interleukine-17A and infarct size in patients with reperfused acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction

Background Recently, it was shown that interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is involved in the pathophysiology of reperfusion injury and associated with infarct size (IS) in experimental models of myocardial infarction. Our aim was to evaluate whether the IL-17A serum level and the IL-17A active fraction was correlated with IS in humans. Methods 101 patients presenting with a ST-elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and 10 healthy controls were included. For each participant, blood samples at admission (H0) and 4 hours after admission (H4) were collected. IL-17A serum levels were assessed using ELISA and the active fraction was assessed with a functional test. IS was determined by peak troponin and peak CK levels for every patient and by contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (ce-CMR) for 20 patients. Results The IL-17A serum level was significantly increased in STEMI patients compared to healthy controls, (0.9 pg/mL IQR [0.0–3.2] at H0 and 1.0 pg/mL IQR [0.2–2.8] at H4 versus 0.2 pg/mL IQR [0.0–0.7] for healthy controls; p<0.005). At either time points, IL-17A levels did not correlate with IS as measured by peak troponin, peak CK pr ce-CMR. Also, no correlation was found between the active fraction of IL-17A and IS. Conclusion Serum IL-17A level is significantly increased in patients at the early phase of acute MI compared to healthy controls. However, the level of IL-17A in the early hours after reperfusion does not correlate with IS.
Genetic evidence for nonrandom sorting of mitochondria in the basidiomycete Agrocybe aegerita

We studied mitochondrial transmission in the homobasidiomycete Agrocybe aegerita during plasmogamy, vegetative growth, and basidiocarp differentiation. Plasmogamy between homokaryons from progeny of three wild-type strains resulted in bidirectional nuclear migration, and the dikaryotization speed was dependent on the nuclear genotype of the recipient homokaryon. Little mitochondrial migration accompanied the nuclear migration. A total of 75% of the dikaryons from the fusion lines had both parental mitochondrial haplotypes (mixed dikaryons), and 25% had only a single haplotype (homoplasmic dikaryons); with some matings, there was a strong bias in favor of one parental haplotype. We demonstrated the heteroplasmic nature of mixed dikaryons by (i) isolating and subculturing apical cells in micromanipulation experiments and (ii) identifying recombinant mitochondrial genomes. This heteroplasmy is consistent with the previously reported suggestion that there is recombination between mitochondrial alleles in A. aegerita. Conversion of heteroplasmons into homoplasmons occurred (i) during long-term storage, (ii) in mycelia regenerated from isolated apical cells, and (iii) during basidiocarp differentiation. Homokaryons that readily accepted foreign nuclei were the most efficient homokaryons in maintaining their mitochondrial haplotype during plasmogamy, long-term storage, and basidiocarp differentiation. This suggests that the mechanism responsible for the nonrandom retention or elimination of a given haplotype may be related to the nuclear genotype or the mitochondrial haplotype or both.
VARIATION AND HERITABILITY OF OCULAR DIMENSIONS

Adult Greenland Eskimos from Umanaq town (age 15+) and villages (age 40+) were examined. Optical pachymetry, ultrasonic oculometry, corneal diameter and curvature measurements, and subjective refraction were performed in 5–600 persons. Frequent occurrence of primary angle‐closure glaucoma motivated the survey.
The Diagnostic Use of Immunohistochemical Surrogates for Signature Molecular Genetic Alterations in Gliomas

A number of key mutations that affect treatment and prognosis have been identified in human gliomas. Two major ways to identify these mutations in a tumor sample are direct interrogation of the mutated DNA itself and immunohistochemistry to assess the effects of the mutated genes on proteins. Immunohistochemistry is an affordable, robust, and widely available technology that has been in place for decades. For this reason, the use of immunohistochemical approaches to assess molecular genetic changes has become an essential component of state-of-the-art practice. In contrast, even though DNA sequencing technologies are undergoing rapid development, many medical centers do not have access to such methodologies and may be thwarted by the relatively high costs of sending out such tests to reference laboratories. This review summarizes the current experience using immunohistochemistry of glioma samples to identify mutations in IDH1, TP53, ATRX, histone H3 genes, BRAF, EGFR, MGMT, CIC, and FUBP1 as well as guidelines for prudent use of DNA sequencing as a supplemental method.
Interictal EEG and Ictal Scalp EEG Propagation Are Highly Predictive of Surgical Outcome in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Summary: Purpose: Surgical outcome in patients with mesial temporal lobe sclerosis (MTS) is worse than that in patients with temporal lobe activity (TLE) with tumors. Previous studies of the ictal EEG focused on ictal EEG onset in scalp EEG or ictal EEG propagation in invasive recordings. Ictal EEG propagation with scalp electrodes has not been reported.