Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-sweeping of laser wavelength and associated mode instabilities in fiber lasers

Fiber lasers may exhibit instabilities and self-pulsed regimes that can have catastrophic consequences on their components. One of the self-pulsing regimes is the recently observed spontaneous laser line sweeping (SLLS). The SLLS is characterized by periodic wavelength drift over broad spectral interval of several nanometers followed by quick bounce backward. The sweeping rate is relatively slow, of the order of nm per second. The SLLS can be explained by spatial-hole burning in the active fiber and it can be considered as a special case of instability of longitudinal modes of the laser cavity. Thanks to narrow linewidth and simple construction, the SLLS fiber lasers are attractive sources for testing of photonics components, interrogation of optical fiber sensor arrays and for laser spectroscopy. We review recent advances in investigation of the SLLS in fiber lasers including its effect on the triggering of the self-Q-switched regime and the generation of giant laser pulses.
Time Course and Predictors of Autonomic Dysfunction After Ablation of the Slow Atrioventricular Nodal Pathway

Withdrawal of parasympathetic tone has been reported after ablation in the posteroseptal right atrium and has been attributed to injury of vagal efferent fibers. The purpose of this study was to assess the time course and predictors of autonomic dysfunction after slow pathway ablation. In 30 patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, time‐ and frequency‐domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV) were measured before, 30 minutes after, and 1 day after slow pathway ablation. There were significant reductions in mean RR interval (724 ± 163 vs 836 ± 164 ms, P < 0.05), SD of RR intervals (29 ± 17 vs 40 ± 18 ms, P < 0.05), root mean squared difference (15 ± 8 vs 29 ± 17 ms, P < 0.05), and high frequency power (4.1 ± 0.4 vs 4.5 ± 0.6 log10ms2, P < 0.05) 30 minutes after ablation. However, these parameters returned to baseline 1 day after ablation. Multivariate regression identified isoproterenol dose during the diagnostic study (P = 0.02) and radiofrequency duration (P = 0.02) as statistically significant predictors of heart rate change (R2= 0.45). These findings suggest that changes in autonomic tone after ablation in the posteroseptal right atrium are transitory and resolve within 1 day of the procedure. These short‐term changes may be related to procedural variables rather than direct injury to vagal efferent fibers.
Temporal and vertical dynamics of phytoplankton net growth in Castle Lake, California

The impact of nutrient additions, zooplankton grazing and light intensity on phytoplankton net growth with depth and season was studied with five microcosm experiments in meso-oligotrophic, subalpine Castle Lake, California, during the period of summer stratification in June-September 1994. The incubations (4 day) were performed at 5 m intervals from the surface to the bottom using natural phytoplankton and zooplankton assemblages, with enrichments of phosphorus and nitrogen. The phytoplankton community was only limited by nutrients in the upper 5 m (epilimnion), as indicated by change in chlorophyll concentration. Nutrient enrichments had the greatest effect on the phyto- plankton net growth in June and July. High light inhibited the phytoplankton net growth at the surface. Low light intensities limited phytoplankton at 20 m and below, and at the end of the growing season already around 10-15 m. A deep chlorophyll maximum in the hypolimnion in June-August was not limited by either light or nutrients. The results showed variation in grazers' impact on phyto- plankton. These results suggest the importance of nutrient limitation only in the epilimnion with light inhibition at the surface, light limitation in the hypolimnion, and varying impact of zooplankton grazing in influencing the development of the phytoplankton in Castle Lake.
Doublecortin is expressed in trigeminal motoneurons that innervate the velar musculature of lampreys: considerations on the evolution and development of the trigeminal system

SUMMARY Studies in lampreys have revealed interesting aspects of the evolution of the trigeminal system and the jaw. In the present study, we found a marker that distinguishes subpopulations of trigeminal motoneurons innervating two different kinds of oropharyngeal muscles. Immunofluorescence with an antibody against doublecortin (DCX; a neuron‐specific phosphoprotein) enabled identification of the trigeminal motoneurons that innervate the velar musculature of larval and recently transformed sea lampreys. DCX‐immunoreactive (‐ir) motoneurons were observed in the rostro‐lateral part of the trigeminal motor nucleus of these animals, but not in lampreys 1 month or more after metamorphosis. Combined double DCX/tubulin and serotonin/tubulin immunofluorescence and tract‐tracing experiments with neurobiotin (NB) were also performed in larvae for further characterization of this system. Rich innervation by DCX‐ir fibers was observed on the muscle fibers of the velum but not on the upper lip or lower lip muscles, which were innervated by tubulin‐ir/DCX‐negative fibers. No double‐labelled DCX‐ir motoneurons were observed in experiments in which the tracer NB was applied to the upper lip. Innervation of velar muscles by serotonergic fibers is also reported. The present results indicate that development of the trigeminal motoneurons innervating the velum differs from that of the trigeminal motoneurons innervating the lips, which is probably related to the dramatic regression of the velum during metamorphosis. The absence of data on a similar subsystem in the trigeminal motor nucleus of gnathostomes suggests that they may be lamprey‐specific motoneurons. These results provide support for the “heterotopic theory” of jaw evolution and are inconsistent with the theories of a velar origin for the gnathostome jaw.
Long‐term haemopoiesis in human fetal liver cell cultures

Summary. Haemopoiesis in human fetal liver is almost entirely restricted to the erythroid series but when fetal liver cells were cultured under conditions established for the long‐term maintenance of adult marrow haemopoiesis, a rapid switch to granulopoiesis was observed. Erythroid progenitor cells (BFU‐E) rapidly disappeared, even though no humoral or cellular inhibitors of erythropoiesis could be detected, while myeloid progenitors (CFU‐GM) increased in number. When the fetal liver cells were seeded onto stromal layers derived from adult marrow, in which endogenous haemopoiesis had ceased, granulopoiesis was established and maintained for more than a year, considerably longer than has previously been achieved with human haemopoietic cells.
Time and frequency analyses of auditory signal detection.

Observers rated 500−msec bursts of wide−band Gaussian noise for presence or absence of a 100−msec, 500−Hz signal tone. The tone was present on half of the 400 trials and was centered in the noise bursts. Bandwidth and integration time estimates were found for each observer by correlating the observer ratings with the output of energy detectors of various bandwidths (20, 40, 100, 250 Hz) and integration times (50, 100, 300, 500 msec) to find the best correlating energy detector. The results, computed separately for signal (SN) and no signal (N) trials, indicate a bandwidth of 40 Hz and an integration time of 100 or 300 msec fit best on both SN and N trials. Energy variations in 25 50−Hz by 100−msec segments of the noise were correlated with the observer ratings and showed negative correlations in frequency and time intervals immediately surrounding the signal region on SN trials, but not on N trials. The results suggest observer monitor detectors sensitive to temporal and spectral changes in the energy of .
Effect of fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural steroid or local anesthetic injections in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and radiculitis: a randomized, controlled, double blind trial with a two-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND Lumbar disc herniation and radiculitis are common elements of low back and lower extremity pain. Among minimally invasive treatments, epidural injections are one of the most commonly performed interventions. However, the literature is mixed about their effectiveness in managing low back and lower extremity pain. In general, individual studies and systematic reviews of epidural steroid injections have been hampered by their study design, baseline differences between treatment groups, inadequate sample sizes, highly controlled settings, lack of validated outcome measures, and the inability to confirm the injectate location because fluoroscopy was not used. STUDY DESIGN A randomized, controlled, double blind, active control trial. SETTING A private, interventional pain management practice, specialty referral center in the United States. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of fluoroscopically directed caudal epidural injections with local anesthetic with or without steroids in managing chronic low back and lower extremity pain in patients with disc herniation and radiculitis. METHODS One hundred twenty patients were randomized to two groups: Group I received 10 mL caudal epidural injections of local anesthetic, lidocaine 0.5%; Group II patients received caudal epidural injections of 0.5% lidocaine, 9 mL, mixed with 1 mL of steroid. OUTCOME ASSESSMENT Multiple outcome measures were utilized. The primary outcome measures were Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index 2.0 (ODI). Secondary outcome measures were employment status and opioid intake. Significant pain relief improvement was defined as 50% or more improvement in NRS and ODI scores. RESULTS In the successful category, 77% of Group I had significant pain relief of >/= 50% and functional status improvement of >/= 50% reduction in ODI scores; in Group II it was 76%, whereas overall it was 60% and 65% in Groups I and II. Over the two years, Group I had an average number of procedures of 5.5 ± 2.8; Group II was 5.3 ± 2.4. Even though there was no significant difference in overall relief between the two groups, the average relief for each procedure was superior for steroids. LIMITATIONS Presumed limitations of this evaluation include lack of a placebo group. CONCLUSION Caudal epidural injections of local anesthetic with or without steroids might be an effective therapy for patients with disc herniation or radiculitis. The present evidence illustrates the potential superiority of steroids compared with local anesthetic at two year follow up based on average relief per procedure. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT00370799.
Risk of Serious Extrapyramidal Symptoms in Patients With Parkinson's Disease Receiving Antidepressant Drugs: A Pharmacoepidemiologic Study Comparing Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Other Antidepressant Drugs

To compare the risk of occurrence of “serious” extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressant drugs in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), the authors performed a retrospective study using the French Pharmacovigilance Database (i.e., the database recording all serious adverse drug reactions reported in France by physicians to the National French Pharmacovigilance Network). Patients with PD were identified from the case reports including at least one antiparkinsonian drug (except anticholinergics). The authors studied patients with PD exposed to at least one antidepressant (classified as imipraminics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or “other”) drug. EPS were defined as aggravation of the parkinsonian symptoms. Of the76,640 case reports registered in the database between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2000, 916 were identified as patients treated with at least one antiparkinsonian drug, including 199 treated with antidepressant drugs. Among them the authors found nine case reports of EPS (i.e., 4.5% of the patients with PD treated with at least one antidepressant). The odds ratio for EPS was 2.18 (0.47–11.35) for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, 1.17 (0.22–5.50) for imipraminics, and 0.74 (0.10–4.06) for other antidepressants. This study failed to find any significant difference in the occurrence of serious EPS according to the different classes of antidepressant drugs in patients with PD treated with dopaminergic antiparkinsonian drugs.
Optimal number of oral implants for fixed reconstructions: a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND AND AIM So far there is little evidence from randomised clinical trials (RCT) or systematic reviews on the preferred or best number of implants to be used for the support of a fixed prosthesis in the edentulous maxilla or mandible, and no consensus has been reached. Therefore, we reviewed articles published in the past 30 years that reported on treatment outcomes for implant-supported fixed prostheses, including survival of implants and survival of prostheses after a minimum observation period of 1 year. MATERIAL AND METHODS MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify eligible studies. Short and long-term clinical studies were included with prospective and retrospective study designs to see if relevant information could be obtained on the number of implants related to the prosthetic technique. Articles reporting on implant placement combined with advanced surgical techniques such as sinus floor elevation (SFE) or extensive grafting were excluded. Two reviewers extracted the data independently. RESULTS A primary search was broken down to 222 articles. Out of these, 29 studies comprising 26 datasets fulfilled the inclusion criteria. From all studies, the number of planned and placed implants was available. With two exceptions, no RCTs were found, and these two studies did not compare different numbers of implants per prosthesis. Eight studies were retrospective; all the others were prospective. Fourteen studies calculated cumulative survival rates for 5 and more years. From these data, the average survival rate was between 90% and 100%. The analysis of the selected articles revealed a clear tendency to plan 4 to 6 implants per prosthesis. For supporting a cross-arch fixed prosthesis in the maxilla, the variation is slightly greater. CONCLUSIONS In spite of a dispersion of results, similar outcomes are reported with regard to survival and number of implants per jaw. Since the 1990s, it was proven that there is no need to install as many implants as possible in the available jawbone. The overwhelming majority of articles dealing with standard surgical procedures to rehabilitate edentulous jaws uses 4 to 6 implants.
A case study of using eye tracking techniques to evaluate the usability of e-learning courses

Usability is an important quality indicator for interactive IT products, such as e-learning courses, and can directly impact learning effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. In this study, we use eye tracking method together with traditional interviewing and observing methods to evaluate and examine the functionality and usability of the homepage of an e-learning course. Through the use of eye tracking in the usability experiment, we learned finer points and developed confidence in our understanding about what drew attention, and why, on the course homepage, and by studying what people looked at and did not look at, we were able to glean more detailed insights about how the web user worked his or her way through usable and unusable designs. The integration usage of eye tracking with interviewing method produced strong corroborative results. It provided us with a richer interpretation than either technique alone. The findings from this report contribute to a broader process of iterative design and continuous development of e-learning courses or e-learning applications functionality to be effective, efficient and satisfying for students.
Effects of leptin on cat intestinal vagal mechanoreceptors

Vagal afferent nerve fibres are involved in the transmission to the central nervous system of information relating to food intake and immune reactions. Leptin is involved in the control of food intake and has specific receptors in afferent vagal neurones. To investigate the role of these receptors, we studied the effects of leptin on single vagal afferent activities from intestinal mechanoreceptors in anaesthetized cats. The activity of 35 intestinal vagal mechanoreceptors was recorded by means of glass microelectrodes implanted in the nodose ganglion. Leptin (10 μg), administered into the artery irrigating the upper part of the intestine, induced activation in 17 units (P < 0.001), inhibition in 8 units (P < 0.05), and had no effect on 10 units. The excitatory effects of leptin were blocked by the endogenous interleukine‐1β receptor antagonist, (Il‐1ra, 250 μg, i.a.). Cholecystokinin (CCK, 10 μg, i.a.) induced an activatory response only in the two types of units which were responsive to leptin alone. When leptin was administered after CCK, its excitatory effects were enhanced and its inhibitory effects were blocked, whereas it had no effect on the units which were not affected by leptin alone. The interactions between leptin and CCK are specific ones, since other substances (phenylbiguanide, a serotoninergic agonist; substance P) known to activate the mechanoreceptors did not modify the effects of leptin. These results indicate that leptin appears to play a role in the control of immune responses and food intake via intestinal vagal afferent nerve fibres and that there is a functional link between leptin and Il‐1β.
Cholangiocarcinoma: Recent progress. Part 1: Epidemiology and etiology

An attempt is made in this review to update the reader on recent developments and progress in the study of cholangiocarcinoma: a major primary carcinoma of the liver with a very poor prognosis. Knowledge of the cell biology and physiological functions of the cholangiocyte has recently so progressed that our understanding of cholangiocarcinogenetic mechanism is expected to follow. The first part of the review deals with semantic problems, temporal changes in the incidence of cholangiocarcinoma and geographic differences in epidemiology, etiologic factors (particularly opistorchiasis in Thailand and hepatolithiasis in the Far East), and discusses a recently disclosed role of hepatitis C virus infection (30% of cholangiocarcinoma patients have antibodies against hepatitis C virus in Japan).
Youth in Transition: Youth in Transition: Mental Health Problems of Black and Micmac Students at Dalhousie University *

The civil rights movements in the United States and Canada in the 1960's led Dalhousie University to an awareness of the social, educational and financial needs of racial minority youth in Nova Scotia, which resulted in the establishment of a Transitional Year Program (TYP) in 1970. Black and Micmac students, who could not enter university due to inadequate academic attainments or for financial reasons, were thus admitted to Dalhousie following a transition year of remedial courses in English and Mathematics, and courses in Black and Micmac culture and history. Initially, admission criteria were very informal and included an apparent desire for self-improvement, initiative, sense of community responsibility and evidence of sociocultural deprivation. By 1972, it became apparent that a grade eleven or twelve high school education or its equivalent was; necessary if students were to bridge their educational gap in only one year. Students are provided with tuition, books, room and board, and a small allow-
Three-Dimensional $\hbox{4F}^{2}$ ReRAM With Vertical BJT Driver by CMOS Logic Compatible Process

A new 3-D vertical bipolar junction transistor (BJT) resistive-switching memory (ReRAM) cell with complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible process has been demonstrated and characterized. A new logic-compatible BJT is vertically formed underneath the resistive stacked film of TiN/Ti/HfO2/TiN as a high-performance current driver and bit-cell selector. Using a shallow and tiny N-type lightly doped drain to be an emitter connects with ReRAM film as the bitline, a very thin and self-aligned P-pocket implant layer to be the wordline, and the N-well is the collector of the cells. As a result, the new 3-D ReRAM cell is very area saving and efficiently operated by the high-gain (β >; 50) BJT at a low voltage of 2 V for reset and 1.5 V for set. By adapting the highly shrinkable 3-D BJT current driver in ReRAM, the ReRAM is fully decoupled with the gate length and oxide thickness of logic metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors; furthermore, it can easily be scaled down to 4F2 under the lithographic limitation of defining ReRAM film with F2 area.
Culture and the prevalence of Knowledge Transfer. A case study of Egypt

The researcher believes that this paper makes an important contribution to the existing literature on knowledge transfer and the implications of cultural differences in business practice, by providing the ground work required for further research and investigation into the relationship between culture and knowledge transfer in Egypt. The word culture in this paper denotes both organizational and national culture. An understanding of national culture may be gained using Hofstedeâ€™s (2001) five indices to assess basic cultural values, as well as Trompenaars (2004) five value dimensions, among others. Corporate culture, in this article, is used as a context for leadership, employee behavior and trust, among other factors. Since this paper is an exploratory study, inferences will be made based on observation as well as on preliminary data collected through two focus groups composed of around 30 junior and senior managers each, employed in various leading multinational and local companies in Egypt within different sectors.
Differential pursuit games

A nonlinear differential pursuit game with a general closed terminal set is studied. Notions of various terminabilities are introduced. These notions include the notions of asymptotic stability, stabilizability and reachability of control systems. By using Lyapunov’s direct method; some sufficient conditions for these terminabilities of the game are obtained. As a special case, a linear differential pursuit game with the terminal set as a subspace is discussed as well.
Decrease of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in female subclinical hypothyroid patients during normalization of thyroid function: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE Subclinical hypothyroidism affects 5-15% of the general population, is especially prevalent in females, and may be associated with increased morbidity from cardiovascular disease, although it remains controversial. We recently reported a significant increase in the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a parameter of arterial stiffening and an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, in subclinical hypothyroidism without thyroiditis. The current study was performed to assess changes in baPWV in female subclinical hypothyroidism with autoimmune chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) after restoration of normal thyroid function. METHODS In a randomized placebo-controlled study, 95 female subclinical hypothyroid patients were monitored for changes in baPWV before and after levothyroxine (l-T(4)) replacement therapy. Changes in baPWV were also measured in 42 age-matched normal female subjects. RESULTS The baseline baPWV values in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were significantly higher than in normal subjects. With attainment of euthyroidism, baPWV showed a significant decrease from 1776.7+/-86.0 to 1674.3+/-79.2 cm/s (P=0.006) in patients treated with l-T(4), but the changes in baPWV and TSH were not correlated. The change in baPWV was significantly and negatively correlated with age and baseline pulse pressure, but multiple regression analysis revealed that these parameters failed to be associated with the change in baPWV. CONCLUSIONS Sustained normalization of thyroid function during l-T(4) replacement therapy significantly decreases baPWV in female subclinical hypothyroid patients with autoimmune chronic thyroiditis, suggesting the improvement of arterial stiffening and, consequently, possible prevention of cardiovascular disease.