Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light confinement in low contrast slot waveguide structures investigated

The advent of slot waveguide structure has led the field of nano-photonics into an era, where maximum light can be confined inside low index slot guarded by high index slabs. Already in use slot waveguides (contrast ratio is 2.42) have two distinct properties over the conventional waveguides, i.e. high E-field amplitude, optical power, optical intensity in low index materials and a strong E-field confinement is localized to nanometer-size low index regions. We hereby propose a low contrast double slot waveguide structure (contrast ratio is 1.65); where low index slots comprising of air surrounded with high index glass slabs. The whole structure is based on substrate comprising of glass whereas cladding is of air. Novelty lies in showing high E-field amplitude, optical power, optical intensity and a strong E-field confinement in low index slot regions. Low contrast double slot structure usage in forming passive nano-devices had been verified by simulating a Y-branch coupler.
Review: Metabolic Control of Immune System Activation in Rheumatic Diseases

Metabolic pathways mediate lineage specification within the immune system through the regulation of glucose utilization, a process that generates energy in the form of ATP and synthesis of amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids to enable cell growth, proliferation, and survival. CD4+ T cells, a proinflammatory cell subset, preferentially produce ATP through glycolysis, whereas cells with an antiinflammatory lineage, such as memory and regulatory T cells, favor mitochondrial ATP generation. In conditions of metabolic stress or a shortage of nutrients, cells rely on autophagy to secure amino acids and other substrates, while survival depends on the sparing of mitochondria and maintenance of a reducing environment. The pentose phosphate pathway acts as a key gatekeeper of inflammation by supplying ribose‐5‐phosphate for cell proliferation and NADPH for antioxidant defenses. Increased lysosomal catabolism, accumulation of branched amino acids, glutamine, kynurenine, and histidine, and depletion of glutathione and cysteine activate the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), an arbiter of lineage development within the innate and adaptive immune systems. Mapping the impact of susceptibility genes to metabolic pathways allows for better understanding and therapeutic targeting of disease‐specific expansion of proinflammatory cells. Therapeutic approaches aimed at glutathione depletion and mTOR pathway activation appear to be safe and effective for treating lupus, while an opposing intervention may be of benefit in rheumatoid arthritis. Environmental sources of origin for metabolites within immune cells may include microbiota and plants. Thus, a better understanding of the pathways of immunometabolism could provide new insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of the rheumatic diseases.
Contrat et culture dans les relations interentreprises en Chine

La situation de la Chine en matiere de respect des engagements contractuels dans les rapports entre entreprises est peu brillante et ce aux yeux non seulement des observateurs etrangers mais aussi des Chinois eux-memes. Pourtant, le recours aux contrats formels pour regler la vie sociale y est massif et systematique, et leur usage reste d’actualite dans les relations interentreprises. Comment expliquer cette bizarrerie ? Quel(s) role(s) jouent les contrats formels dans les transactions et cooperations interentreprises ? Une etude s’appuyant sur des entretiens qualitatifs dans cinq entreprises de differentes categories nous a conduit a mettre en avant certains aspects de la culture chinoise pour apporter des elements de reponse a ces questions. Il apparait que les contrats formels fonctionnent comme une piece d’un systeme, fonde sur la reciprocite, qui regit les cooperations interentreprises.
A ZVS integrated single-input-dual-output DC/DC converter for high step-up applications

This paper presents a novel integrated dc/dc topology with a step-up output and a step-down output. A new control scheme is developed to regulate both outputs simultaneously. Compared with discrete configurations, the proposed integrated converter utilizes a lower number of switches due to the reuse of components. The converter characteristics are studied comprehensively. It is demonstrated that all MOSFETs are turned on at zero voltage with reduced switching losses. For the step-up stage, the converter provides a high boost ratio and is able to clamp the switch voltage spikes. For the step-down stage, the steady-state characteristics and the dynamic performances are similar to that of the conventional buck converter. Moreover, the step-down output port can be extended to multiple ports, where the single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) version of converter can be derived. A 250 W, 42 V to 390 V and 15 V converter prototype is designed, analyzed and tested. The experimental results are presented to verify the feasibility of the topology.
A Model for the Multiperiod Multiobjective Power Generation Expansion Problem

A long-term multiobjective model for the power generation expansion planning of electric systems is described and evaluated in this paper. The model optimizes simultaneously multiple objectives (i.e., minimizes costs, environmental impact, imported fuel and fuel price risks) and decides the location of the planned generation units in a multiperiod planning horizon. Among the attributes considered in the model are the investment and operation cost of the units, the environmental impact, the amount of imported fuel, and the portfolio investment risk. The approach to solve this problem is based on multiobjective linear programming and the analytical hierarchy process. A case study from the Mexican Electric Power System is used to illustrate the proposed framework
Abdominal cryptorchidism presenting with an acute abdomen

A 44-year-old man with epilepsy and intellectual disability presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of right iliac fossa pain, vomiting, nausea and intermittent fevers. The patient’s parents also reported a loss of weight of around 13 kg in the preceding few weeks. On examination, the abdomen was distended with tenderness and guarding in the right iliac fossa. A scrotal examination was not performed. Initial plain abdominal radiograph (Fig. 1) revealed a dilated loop of large bowel, with no masses present. No appreciable pneumoperitoneum was seen. Laboratory investigations demonstrated a mild leucocytosis (11.1 ¥ 10/L) with a neutrophilia (9.4 ¥ 10/L) and a normocytic normochromic anaemia (haemoglobin 108 g/L). Laparoscopy revealed a large necrotic and haemorrhagic right iliac fossa mass involving the caecum and sigmoid colon, which had caused a large bowel obstruction at the level of the sigmoid colon. This was converted to a midline laparotomy (Fig. 2). On mobilizing the right hemi colon, the vas deferens was found to be entering the tumour. There were three soft frond-like deposits of metastatic tumour on the peritoneum in the lower abdomen. Frozen section of these showed partially necrotic malignancy of likely yolk sac origin. A total colectomy was performed with an end ileostomy in the right lower quadrant. Primary anastomosis was not attempted at this time because of significant anaemia, which could not be corrected because of a desire to avoid blood products, according to the wishes of the patient’s carer and medical power of attorney. The patient made satisfactory recovery post-surgery and was discharged day 10. Histopathology demonstrated a 180 mm ¥ 150 mm ¥ 100 mm tumour with attached appendix, caecum and sigmoid colon. The tumour was composed of haemorrhagic necrotic areas with viable tumour comprising only a minor portion of the entire mass. Histology and immunohistochemistry revealed a mixed germ cell tumour of approximately 70% seminoma and 30% yolk sac tumour, arising from an undescended testis. The tumour extended beyond the testicular capsule and involved the subserosa of the sigmoid bowel, but did not involve the mucosa. There was no lymphovascular invasion, with reactive changes only in the 21 lymph nodes examined. There was no evidence of an embryonal element within the tumour.
Exploreing K-Means with Internal Validity Indexes for Data Clustering in Traffic Management System

Traffic Management System (TMS) is used to improve traffic flow by integrating information from different data repositories and online sensors, detecting incidents and taking actions on traffic routing. In general, two decision making systems-weights updating and forecasting are integrated inside the TMS. The models need numerous data sets for making appropriate decisions. To determine the dynamic road weights in TMS, four (4) different environmental attributes are considered, which are directly or indirectly related to increase the traffic jam– rain fall, temperature, wind, and humidity. In addition, peak hour is taken as an additional attribute. Usually, the data sets are classified by instinct method. However, optimum classification on data sets is vital to improve the decision accuracy of the TMS. Collected data sets have no class label and thus, cluster based unsupervised classifications (partitioning, hierarchical, grid-based, density-based) can be used to find optimum number of classifications in each attribute, and expected to improve the performance of the TMS. Two most popular and frequently used classifiers are hierarchical clustering and partition clustering. K-means is simple, easy to implement, and easy to interpret the clustering results. It is also faster, because the order of time complexity is linear with the number of data. Thus, in this paper we are going to demonstrate the performance of partition k-means and hierarchical k-means with their implementations by Davies Boulder Index (DBI), Dunn Index (DI), Silhouette Coefficient (SC) methods to outline the optimal number classifications (features) inside each attribute of TMS data sets. Subsequently, the optimal classes are validated by using WSS (within sum of square) errors and correlation methods. The validation results conclude that k-means with DI performs better in all attributes of TMS data sets and provides more accurate optimum classification numbers. Thereafter, the dynamic road weights for TMS are generated and classified using the combined k-means and DI method.
Ablation of atrial fibrillation: for whom and how?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Approximately seven million people suffer from AF in Europe, and it is likely that several more millions suffer from ‘silent’, undiagnosed AF.1 w1–w3 Once AF has manifested, it is usually a chronically progressing arrhythmia (figure 1A). The presence of AF, especially of long periods of the arrhythmia, causes pronounced electrical and structural alterations in the atria, thereby perpetuating AF and promoting its recurrence. In addition, chronic underlying comorbidities, a genetic predisposition to AF, and ‘natural’ ageing processes remodel the atria and contribute to the initiation and progression of AF (figure 1B). Figure 1 (A) ‘Natural’ time course of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a patient. Before the diagnosis of AF, most patients probably experience asymptomatic episodes of the arrhythmia. With the exception of rare patients with ‘true lone AF’, AF recurrences become longer and more frequent over time, and finally result in chronic forms of AF. The majority of patients progresses from persistent AF—that is, AF that is managed by rhythm control interventions—to long lasting persistent AF and finally permanent or accepted AF that is managed by rate control and antithrombotic therapy. Reproduced with permission from Kirchhof et al . 1 (B) Different ‘vicious circles’ that contribute to AF. In addition to electrical triggers, often located in the pulmonary veins and the posterior left atrium (red circle), shortening of the atrial action potential can promote multiple wavelet reentry (blue circle), and structural remodelling of the atria contributes to conduction disturbances and electrical isolation of atrial myocardium (green circle). Furthermore, there is a bidirectional interaction between left ventricular dysfunction and atrial dysfunction (brown circle) in AF patients. Unfortunately, only a part of the atrial damage can be prevented by preventing AF (black pie piece), while other parts are due to other, often extracardiac …
The Relationship between Initial and Ongoing Fees in Franchising: A Meta-Analysis

28 p. ; Includes bibliographical references (pp. 23-26). ; "September, 2016. " We thank Josef Windsperger and Catherine Connelly for comments on previous versions of this chapter. This chapter has benefited from feedback received from reviewers and participants at the 2015 EMNet International Conference on Economics and Management of Networks and the 2016 International Society of Franchising conference.
Non-antiarrhythmic drugs prolonging the QT interval: considerable use in seven countries.

AIMS Many drugs belonging to different therapeutic classes appear to share a potentially fatal side-effect: ventricular tachyarrhythmias associated with QT prolongation. The aim of this study was to assess the relevance and the magnitude of the problem in seven countries by grouping all nonantiarrhythmic drugs according to the type of evidence on QT prolongation and analysing their sales data. METHODS We divided all nonantiarrhythmic QT-prolonging agents into the following categories (in increasing order of clinical relevance): group A, drugs with published clinical or preclinical evidence on QT prolongation or with relevant official warnings; group B, drugs with published clinical or preclinical evidence; group C, drugs with published clinical evidence; group D, drug with published clinical evidence on torsades de pointes or ventricular arrhythmias associated with QT prolongation; group E, drugs belonging to group D with official warnings. We retrieved 1998 sales data from community pharmacies in seven countries (Australia, Denmark, England, Germany, Greece, Italy and Sweden). Data for individual agents were expressed as defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000/day). Overall use in each country was calculated for each drug group. Groups D and E were considered as the most clinically relevant. RESULTS Among the 102 nonantiarrhythmic agents meeting at least one of the inclusion criteria, 33 drugs had sales data > or =1 DDD/1000/day and 71 drugs had a use > or =0.1 DDD/1000/day in at least one country. Among the 37 nonantiarrhythmic agents with published reports of ventricular arrhythmias associated with QT prolongation, 12 compounds had sales data > or =1 DDD/1000/day. Total consumption in each country ranged: from 51.9 to 94.7 DDD/1000/day for group A; from 51.6 to 92.7 DDD/1000/day for group B; from 37.1 to 76.6 DDD/1000/day for group C; from 12.9 to 29.1 DDD/1000/day for group D; and from 5.8 to 15.3 DDD/1000/day for group E. CONCLUSIONS In spite of wide variations in the sales of individual agents, the overall extent of use of nonantiarrhythmic QT-prolonging drugs was of the same order of magnitude in all countries. The significant use of drugs belonging to categories D and E should prompt careful risk/benefit assessment of each agent.
Kündigungsschutzrecht in den USA und in Deutschland: ein Beitrag zur ökonomischen Rechtsvergleichung

Der Beitrag pladiert fur die Verwendung der okonomischen Analyse als Methode der Rechtsvergleichung. Mit ihrer Hilfe wird gezeigt, das das Vorurteil unbegrundet ist, der Kundigungsschutz sei in den USA ? schwacher? (arbeitgeberfreundlicher) als in Deutschland. Die erwartete Abfindungszahlung kann in beiden Rechtssystemen durchaus gleich hoch ausfallen (in Deutschland ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Abfindung hoher, in den USA die Hohe der Zahlung). Eine institutionenokonomische Analyse zeigt daruber hinaus, das die Beteiligung des Betriebsrates an Kundigungen in Deutschland opportunistisches Verhalten der Arbeitgeber und Arbeitnehmer einzudammen hilft. Diese Art der Sicherung spezifischer Investitionen in Humankapital konnte zur Erklarung des empirischen Befundes beitragen, das in Deutschland die Arbeitsproduktivitat i.a. hoher ist als in den USA.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems: a research agenda

The continuing development of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems has been considered by many researchers and practitioners as one of the major IT innovations in this decade. ERP solutions seek to integrate and streamline business processes and their associated information and work flows. What makes this technology more appealing to organizations is increasing capability to integrate with the most advanced electronic and mobile commerce technologies. However, as is the case with any new IT field, research in the ERP area is still lacking and the gap in the ERP literature is huge. Attempts to fill this gap by proposing a novel taxonomy for ERP research. Also presents the current status with some major themes of ERP research relating to ERP adoption, technical aspects of ERP and ERP in IS curricula. The discussion presented on these issues should be of value to researchers and practitioners. Future research work will continue to survey other major areas presented in the taxonomy framework.
GeLexi project: Sentence Parsing Based on a GEnerative LEXIcon

The principal aim of our research team, called GeLexi, is to legitimate a new sort of generative grammar via verifying its computational implementability. This grammar is more radically "lexicalist" than any earlier one: no phrase structure trees are generated, but word order is accounted for by means of ranked parameters. Another novelty is the extension of "total lexicalism" to morphology: lexical items are assigned not to words but to morphemes. Our parser, in accordance with the basic task of every generative grammar, decides whether a sentence is grammatical, and if it is, then provides a morphophonological analysis, a compilation of grammatical relations, and two kinds of semantic representations. At the end we show some examples to demonstrate our procedures, among them a sentence containing the conjunction es 'and', which is our latest development.
Spherical formation of regular tetrahedra

In this paper, we study the problem of tracking and encircling a moving target by agents in the 3-dimensional space. Specifically, a group of agents are driven to a regular tetrahedron formation on a spherical surface and simultaneously keep the center of this spherical formation coinciding with the target to be tracked. In the proposed method, to avoid the singularity caused by spherical parameterisations in control, we directly consider the spherical formation in space S2. Besides, the protocol proposed does not contain any information of the desired formation beforehand. Rather the constructed formation pattern is attributed to the properties of space S2 and the inter-agent topology.
Amelioration of Abnormalities Associated with the Metabolic Syndrome by Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) Consumption and Aerobic Exercise in Rats

The present study evaluates the protective effects of an antioxidant-rich extract of Spinacea oleracea (NAOE) in abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in rats. HPTLC of NAOE revealed the presence of 13 total antioxidants, 14 flavonoids, and 10 phenolic acids. Rats administered with fructose (20% w/v) in drinking water for 45 days to induce abnormalities of MetS received NAOE (200 and 400 mg/kg, po), the standard drug gemfibrozil (60 mg/kg, po), aerobic exercise (AE), and a combination of NAOE 400 mg/kg and AE (NAOEAE) daily for 45 days. All treatments significantly altered the lipid profile and attenuated the fructose-elevated levels of uric acid, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and marker enzymes (AST, LDH, and CK-MB) in serum and malondialdehyde in the heart and restored the fructose-depleted levels of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase). A significant decrease in blood glucose and insulin levels decreased insulin resistance, and improved glucose tolerance was observed in the treatment animals when compared with the fructose-fed animals. The best mitigation of MetS was shown by the NAOEAE treatment indicating that regular exercise along with adequate consumption of antioxidant-rich foods such as spinach in diet can help control MetS.
Role for the Amino-Terminal Region of Human TBP in U6 snRNA Transcription

Basal transcription from the human RNA polymerase III U6 promoter depends on a TATA box that recruits the TATA box-binding protein (TBP) and a proximal sequence element that recruits the small nuclear RNA (snRNA)-activating protein complex (SNAPc). TBP consists of a conserved carboxyl-terminal domain that performs all known functions of the protein and a nonconserved amino-terminal region of unknown function. Here, the amino-terminal region is shown to down-regulate binding of TBP to the U6 TATA box, mediate cooperative binding with SNAPc to the U6 promoter, and enhance U6 transcription.
LA CONDUCTA DE AYUDA DESDE LA PERSPECTIVA ATRIBUCIONISTA

Las situaciones de exito y fracaso son experiencias comunes en la vida de todas las personas y constituyen vivencias importantes que van formando parte de nuestra vida y contribuyen a configurar nuestra forma particular de comportarnos; indudablemente que los efectos que dichas experiencias pueden tener sobre cada uno de nosotros son diferentes, no solo por la intensidad de la experiencia como tal, sino fundamentalmente por la forma en que percibimos y procesamos el exito o fracaso que tuvimos. Una importante caracteristica humana es tratar de encontrar explicaciones a los hechos que vive, fundamentalmente tratando de encontrar la o las causas que los han provocado y que explican su ocurrencia; en otras palabras, atribuimos causas, a veces en forma demasiado audaz, que posibilitan construir cognitivamente la experiencia en forma integral y significativa, aunque en ocasiones dicha construccion pueda alejarse bastante de la realidad.
Lealdade nos EnANPADs de 2000 a 2010: Um Levantamento Bibliométrico

Anualmente, a ANPAD promove varios eventos academicos, por meio de suas diversas instâncias, que funcionam como espacos para o intercâmbio entre professores, pesquisadores e estudantes. Entre estes eventos esta o EnANPAD, atualmente reconhecido como o maior da comunidade cientifica e academica de Administracao no Pais, configurando-se como grande incentivador da producao cientifica nesta area. O objetivo deste estudo e realizar, a partir de uma pesquisa bibliometrica, analise da producao academica de Marketing que tenha trazido as palavras lealdade ou fidelidade ou fidelizacao em seus titulos, utilizando-se, como unidade de analise, os EnANPADs entre os anos de 2000 e 2010. Identificaram-se 45 artigos com aquelas caracteristicas dentre os 8.097 artigos publicados nos referidos eventos e os 806 artigos situados no eixo tematico Marketing. A analise dos dados incluiu a distribuicao quantitativa dos trabalhos e as abordagens metodologicas utilizadas, que foram tratadas pela estatistica descritiva, e posteriormente analisadas. Dentre as conclusoes, destaca-se a concentracao dos trabalhos oriundos de escolas governamentais situadas na porcao meridional do Pais, e a falta de rigor dos autores em especificar a abordagem metodologica utilizada. Ao final, lancam-se sugestoes para futuras pesquisas.