Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Slab-Modulated Sidewall Bragg Gratings in Silicon-on-Insulator Ridge Waveguides

A slab-modulated sidewall Bragg grating realized by periodically structural corrugation in the sides of silicon slab is demonstrated on a silicon-on-insulator ridge waveguide. Based on this structure, narrow bandwidth can be accurately controlled by varying the distance between the slab grating region and the ridge with high fabrication tolerance. And low side lobes can also be conveniently achieved by changing the extent of sidewall grating teeth. Experimental results show that bandwidths of the example devices can be changed from 0.64 to 1.4 nm, which agree well with the simulated results.
Southern blot analysis of DNA extracted from formol–saline fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissue

Model experiments were designed to assess whether DNA could be recovered from formol–saline fixed peripheral blood lymphocytes and tonsil tissue for use in Southern blot gene analysis. Lymphocytes were fixed for 30 min and tonsil for 6 and 24 h, then paraffin embedded. High molecular weight DNA was extracted by prolonged digestion (2–7 days) with proteinase K or protease XXIV in the presence of 1 per cent sodium dodecyl sulphate. Restriction, transfer and hydridization were possible without modification of standard procedures. Multiple copy sequences were demonstrated using Mspl and Bst Nl restriction and hybridization for the Y chromosome (pHY 2·1 probe), single copy genes using EcoRI and BamHl restriction for the T‐cell receptor β chain (Tβ probe), and Bgl II and Hind III for the immunoglobulin heavy chain (JH probe). Identical banding to unfixed tissue was achieved except when 24 h fixed extracts were used. With these, demonstration of the 24 KB Bam Hl/Tβ and 9·2 KB Hind III/JH bands was not obtained. These findings suggest that as the fixation time is extended, alterations to DNA will limit the available range of restriction enzyme/probe combinations. However, with careful choice of these the extraction of DNA from formalin fixed and paraffin embedded pathological tissue for Southern blotting should be profitable.
Graphene-Assisted Multiwavelength Erbium-Doped Fiber Ring Laser

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a stable multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber (EDF) ring laser based on four-wave-mixing of atomic few-layer graphene. The compact laser cavity consists of 3-m EDF, an optically deposited ultrathin graphene device, and a polarization-maintaining fiber Sagnac loop filter. The comparison between the ring laser cavity without and with the graphene device shows that the highly nonlinear graphene can be helpful to mitigate the mode competition of EDF laser and stabilize the multiwavelength oscillation. Under the assistance of the graphene device, power-equalized eleven-channel simultaneous lasing with a wavelength-spacing of 0.54 nm is achieved at room temperature. This laser has a very high extinction ratio up to 57 dB and a narrow linewidth per channel of less than 0.01 nm.
Difficult Conversations in Health Care: Cultivating Relational Learning to Address the Hidden Curriculum

The authors describe the philosophy and pedagogical approach of an innovative educational program, grounded in principles of relational learning and designed to improve the preparedness of health care professionals for engaging in challenging conversations with patients and families. The Program to Enhance Relational and Communication Skills (PERCS) is a project of The Institute for Professionalism and Ethical Practice at Children’s Hospital Boston, developed in collaboration with Education Development Center, Inc. The one-day workshop is interdisciplinary in its structure, includes practitioners with varying levels of professional experience, uses trained actors to portray patients and family members, and involves learners in improvised case scenarios. The program responds to several developments in contemporary health care: medical education reform, changing definitions of professional competence, and calls for greater attention to qualities of compassion, trust, and respect in practitioners’ relationships with patients and families. The program’s pedagogy responds to these developments by creating a safe climate for relational learning, by enacting emotionally challenging and ethically salient case scenarios, and by integrating patient and family perspectives in novel and substantive ways. By creating a curriculum and learning environment that explicitly embraces the moral experience of learners, the program’s developers aim to exert a countercultural influence on the dehumanizing effects of the hidden curriculum.
Therapeutic potential of Pirfenidone for treating equine corneal scarring.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Pirfenidone (PFD) in the treatment of equine corneal fibrosis using an in vitro model. METHODS Healthy donor equine corneas were collected and used to generate primary equine corneal fibroblasts (ECFs) by growing cultures in minimal essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Equine corneal myofibroblasts (ECMs), used as a model of equine corneal fibrosis, were produced by growing ECF cultures in serum-free medium containing transforming growth factor β1 (1 ng/mL). Trypan blue viability assays and changes in ECF morphology were utilized to determine the optimal PFD dose for this in vitro model. Trypan blue viability, phase-contrast microscopy, and TUNEL assays were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of PFD. Scratch and MTT assays were used to evaluate the effect of PFD on cellular migration and proliferation. Real-time PCR, immunoblot analysis, and immunocytochemistry were employed to determine the efficacy of PFD to inhibit ECM formation in vitro. RESULTS Topical PFD application at 200 μg/mL successfully decreased αSMA expression when compared to the TGFβ1 only treatment group (P < 0.01). PFD application ≤ 200 μg/mL did not affect ECF phenotype or cellular viability and did not result in significant cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS Pirfenidone safely and effectively inhibits TGFβ1-induced equine corneal fibrosis in vitro. In vivo studies are warranted.
Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with hypercalcemia

This report describes three cases of undifferentiated small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Their light microscopic appearance is closely akin to the small cell carcinoma of lung. The neoplastic cells exhibit few cytoplasmic dense core neurosecretory granules ultrastructurally and immunoreactivity to enolase. Two patients manifested clinically hypercalcemia which is rare in small cell carcinoma in general and, to the best of our knowledge, has not been described in association with bladder small cell carcinoma.
Antidepressant-induced Switch of β1-Adrenoceptor Trafficking as a Mechanism for Drug Action*

Reduction in surface β1-adrenoceptor (β1AR) density is thought to play a critical role in mediating the therapeutic long term effects of antidepressants. Since antidepressants are neither agonists nor antagonists for G protein-coupled receptors, receptor density must be regulated through processes independent of direct receptor activation. Endocytosis and recycling of the β1AR fused to green fluorescent protein at its carboxyl-terminus (β1AR-GFP) were analyzed by confocal fluorescence microscopy of live cells and complementary ligand binding studies. In stably transfected C6 glioblastoma cells, β1AR-GFP displayed identical ligand-binding isotherms and adenylyl cyclase activation as native β1AR. Upon exposure to isoproterenol, a fraction of β1AR-GFP (10–15%) internalized rapidly and colocalized with endocytosed transferrin receptors in an early endosomal compartment in the perinuclear region. Chronic treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine (DMI) did not affect internalization characteristics of β1AR-GFP when challenged with isoproterenol. However, internalized receptors were not able to recycle back to the cell surface in DMI-treated cells, whereas recycling of transferrin receptors was not affected. Endocytosed receptors were absent from structures that stained with fluorescently labeled dextran, and inhibition of lysosomal protease activity did not restore receptor recycling, indicating that β1AR-GFP did not immediately enter the lysosomal compartment. The data suggest a new mode of drug action causing a “switch” of receptor fate from a fast recycling pathway to a slowly exchanging perinuclear compartment. Antidepressant-induced reduction of receptor surface expression may thus be caused by modulation of receptor trafficking routes.
Microwave ablation devices for interventional oncology

Microwave ablation is one of the several options in the ablation armamentarium for the treatment of malignancy, offering several potential benefits when compared with other ablation, radiation, surgical and medical treatment modalities. The basic microwave system consists of the generator, power distribution system and antennas. Often under image (computed tomography or ultrasound) guidance, a needle-like antenna is inserted percutaneously into the tumor, where local microwave electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the probe’s active tip, producing frictional tissue heating, capable of causing cell death by coagulation necrosis. Half of the microwave ablation systems use a 915 MHz generator and the other half use a 2450 MHz generator. To date, there are no completed clinical trials comparing microwave devices head-to-head. Prospective comparisons of microwave technology with other treatment alternatives, as well as head-to-head comparison with each microwave device, is needed if this promising field will garner more widespread support and use in the oncology community.
A longitudinal study of multidimensional performance characteristics related to physical capacities in youth handball

Abstract Longitudinal research provides valuable information about change and progress towards elite performance. Unfortunately, there is a lack of longitudinal research in handball. In this study, 94 youth handball players (oldest group: n = 41; age 15–17 and youngest group: n = 53; age 13–15) were followed over a three-year period. Repeated Measures ANCOVA was conducted to reveal longitudinal changes in anthropometry and physical performance between elite and non-elite players, controlling for maturation. Maturation effects were found for anthropometry (P < 0.01) and some physical performance measures in strength and speed (P < 0.05). The lack of significant interaction effects revealed that during the three years of the study the elite players did not improve their physical performance more rapidly than the non-elites. Furthermore, they had a similar anthropometric profile to the non-elites. Elite players performed better on the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test (P < 0.01; on average 24.0 in the youngest group and 25.2% in the oldest group over the three years) and on the speed and coordination items (P < 0.05; shuttle run: 3.6 and 5.1%; cross hopping: 11.0 and 14.8%, handball-specific shuttle run: 7.6 and 7.7%; slalom dribble test: 10.7 and 8.9%; sprint 30 m: 4.9 and 3.9%). Additionally, Yo-Yo performance and coordination with and without a ball were the most discriminating factors between the playing levels. In conclusion, youth coaches and scouts within team handball should recognise the importance of good skills and an excellent endurance for talent identification purposes.
Modification of the mechanical response of the smooth muscles of pregnant mouse myometrium and guinea pig ileum by cadmium and manganese ions.

Effects of divalent cations on pregnant mouse myometrium and guinea pig ileum were investigated by recording electrical and mechanical activities.1. Application of transition metal cations (Mn, Cd, Co, Ni, and Zn) inhibited the spontaneous activities of mouse myometrium. Except for Mn, treatment with these cations in a concentration of 1mM and for 1-2min caused an irreversible suppression of the mechanical response.2. Myometrial membrane was hyperpolarized with 0.5mM Cd decreasing membrane resistance. During application, contractures induced by excess K or carbachol was inhibited. After treatment with 0.5-1mM Cd for 1-2min, electrical and mechanical activities dissociated, i. e. spike activity resumed but mechanical activity was suppressed. The membrane was depolarized by carbachol to the control value, but contraction did not developed.3. By contrast, contracture of mouse myometrium induced by excess K or carbachol application were potentiated after treatment with Mn.4. The effects of divalent cations on guinea pig ileum were essentially the same as with mouse myometrium, i. e. treatment with Mn potentiated mechanical response whereas other ions caused irreversible suppression.
Effect of Age and Gender on the Number of Motor Units in Healthy Subjects Estimated by the Multipoint Incremental MUNE Method

Purpose: Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) is a tool for estimating the number of motor units. The aim was to evaluate the multipoint incremental MUNE method in a healthy population, to analyze whether aging, gender, and the dominant hand side influence the motor unit number, and to assess reproducibility of MUNE with the Shefner modification. Materials and Methods: We studied 60 volunteers (mean age, 47 ± 17.7 years) in four groups aged 18 to 30, 31 to 45, 46 to 60, and above 60 years. Motor unit number estimation was calculated in the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) by dividing the single motor unit action potential amplitude into the maximal compound motor action potential amplitude. Results: Test–retest variability was 7%. The mean value of MUNE for APB was 133.2 ± 43 and for ADM was 157.1 ± 39.4. Significant differences in MUNE results were found between groups aged 18 to 30 and 60 years or older and between groups aged 31 to 45 and 60 years or older. Motor unit number estimation results correlated negatively with the age of subjects for both APB and ADM. Single motor unit action potential, reflecting the size of motor unit, increased with the age of subjects only in APB. Compound motor action potential amplitude correlated negatively with the age of subjects in APB and ADM. Significant correlations were seen between MUNE in APB or ADM and compound motor action potential amplitude in these muscles and the age of female subjects. A similar relationship was not found in males. Conclusions: Multipoint incremental MUNE method with the Shefner modification is a noninvasive, easy to perform method with high reproducibility. The loss of motor neurons because of aging could be confirmed by our MUNE study and seems to be more pronounced in females.
A sensitive venous bleeding model in haemophilia A mice: effects of two recombinant FVIII products (N8 and Advate®)

Summary. Haemostatic effect of compounds for treating haemophilia can be evaluated in various bleeding models in haemophilic mice. However, the doses of factor VIII (FVIII) for normalizing bleeding used in some of these models are reported to be relatively high. The aim of this study was to establish a sensitive venous bleeding model in FVIII knock out (F8‐KO) mice, with the ability to detect effect on bleeding at low plasma FVIII concentrations. We studied the effect of two recombinant FVIII products, N8 and Advate®, after injury to the saphenous vein. We found that F8‐KO mice treated with increasing doses of either N8 or Advate® showed a dose‐dependent increase in the number of clot formations and a reduction in both average and maximum bleeding time, as well as in average blood loss. For both compounds, significant effect was found at doses as low as 5 IU kg−1 when compared with vehicle‐treated F8‐KO mice. Normalization of maximum bleeding time was found at doses equal to or above 10 IU kg−1 N8 or Advate®, corresponding to plasma concentrations of approximately 10% of the level in wild type mice. The present study adds a new model to the armamentarium of bleeding models used for evaluation of pro‐coagulant compounds for treatment of haemophilia. Interestingly, the vena saphena model proved to be sensitive towards FVIII in plasma levels that approach the levels preventing bleeding in haemophilia patients, and may, thus, in particular be valuable for testing of new long‐acting variants of e.g. FVIII that are intended for prophylaxis.
MYC2 Differentially Modulates Diverse Jasmonate-Dependent Functions in Arabidopsis[W]

The Arabidopsis thaliana basic helix-loop-helix Leu zipper transcription factor (TF) MYC2/JIN1 differentially regulates jasmonate (JA)-responsive pathogen defense (e.g., PDF1.2) and wound response (e.g., VSP) genes. In this study, genome-wide transcriptional profiling of wild type and mutant myc2/jin1 plants followed by functional analyses has revealed new roles for MYC2 in the modulation of diverse JA functions. We found that MYC2 negatively regulates Trp and Trp-derived secondary metabolism such as indole glucosinolate biosynthesis during JA signaling. Furthermore, MYC2 positively regulates JA-mediated resistance to insect pests, such as Helicoverpa armigera, and tolerance to oxidative stress, possibly via enhanced ascorbate redox cycling and flavonoid biosynthesis. Analyses of MYC2 cis binding elements and expression of MYC2-regulated genes in T-DNA insertion lines of a subset of MYC2–regulated TFs suggested that MYC2 might modulate JA responses via differential regulation of an intermediate spectrum of TFs with activating or repressing roles in JA signaling. MYC2 also negatively regulates its own expression, and this may be one of the mechanisms used in fine-tuning JA signaling. Overall, these results provide new insights into the function of MYC2 and the transcriptional coordination of the JA signaling pathway.
Skin conductance correlates with perioperative stress

Background: Skin conductance (SC) as a measure of emotional state or arousal may be a tool for monitoring surgical stress in anaesthesia. When an outgoing sympathetic nervous burst occurs to the skin, the palmar and plantar sweat glands are filled up, and the SC increases before the sweat is removed and the SC decreases. This creates a SC fluctuation. The purpose of this study was to measure SC during laparoscopic cholecystectomy with propofol and remifentanil anesthaesia and to evaluate whether number and amplitude of SC fluctuations correlate with perioperative stress monitoring.
Digital Texts as Sources for Novice Writers

In this chapter, the authors review literature describing how reading processes appear to work in online and other digital environments. In particular, the nature of reading, writing, and the academic utility of new literacies is explored and applied to the digital environments of secondary school students. Writing is described as an ill-defined domain and situated theoretically in classical discourse theories as well as cognitive-linguistic approaches that explain reading and writing interactions in digital environments. Specific considerations for using digital texts as sources for written work are explained, including the role of search engine optimization techniques on reading and how access to multiple varied sources changes what students can learn. Implications and suggestions for future research are provided.
Scale- and Rhythm-Aware Musical Note Estimation for Vocal F0 Trajectories Based on a Semi-Tatum-Synchronous Hierarchical Hidden Semi-Markov Model

This paper presents a statistical method that estimates a sequence of musical notes from a vocal F0 trajectory. Since the onset times and F0s of sung notes are considerably deviated from the discrete tatums and pitches indicated in a musical score, a score model is crucial for improving timefrequency quantization of the F0s. We thus propose a hierarchical hidden semi-Markov model (HHSMM) that combines a score model representing the rhythms and pitches of musical notes with musical scales with an F0 model representing time-frequency deviations from a note sequence specified by a score. In the score model, musical scales are generated stochastically. Note pitches are then generated according to the scales and note onsets are generated according to a Markov process defined on the tatum grid. In the F0 model, onset deviations, smooth note-to-note F0 transitions, and F0 deviations are generated stochastically and added to the note sequence. Given an F0 trajectory, our method estimates the most likely sequence of musical notes while giving more importance on the score model than the F0 model. Experimental results showed that the proposed method outperformed an HMM-based method having no models of scales and rhythms.
Early Introduction and Delayed Dissemination of Pandemic Influenza, Gabon

Active surveillance in health care centers in Gabon during 2009–2011 detected 72 clinical cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (pH1N1). We found that pH1N1 virus was introduced in mid-2009 but spread throughout the country in 2010. Thus, Gabon was also affected by pH1N1.
Efficiency and Device Versatility of Graphical and Textual Passwords

We present the design, execution, and results of a user study of entry speed and error rate of a variety of password schemes used on a variety of computing platforms. A standard text-based password, a personal identification number (PIN), and three different graphical password systems were designed and deployed for use and evaluation on each of a desktop computer, a touchscreen tablet, and a touchscreen phone. We demonstrate cases on the mobile devices in which the graphical approaches exhibited faster rates of entry than the complementary textual password approach. We make a case for the study of the device versatility of authentication mechanisms and discuss potential improvements to graphical approaches to achieve greater levels of efficiency.
An Analysis of Technological Change in the United States Sulfur Industry, 1936–1960

*Paper presented at the Seventy-Seventh Annual Meeting of the American Economie Associa tion, Chicago, December 28-80, 1964. This paper was written while the author was visiting assistant professor of economics at Vanderbilt University. Thanhs are due to T. W. Schultz, H. G. Johnson, L. G. Telser, and Zvi Griliches for invaluable comments. The author is also indebted to the members of the Agricultural Economics Workshop of the University of Chicago and the Economic F acuity-and-Graduate Students Seminar of Vanderbilt University for helpful suggestions and to the Vanderbilt University Computation Centre for computer assistance.
From mixed valence to the Kondo lattice regime

Many heavy fermion materials are known to cross over from the Kondo lattice regime to the mixed valence regime or vice versa as a function of pressure or doping. We study this crossover theoretically by employing the periodic Anderson model within the framework of the dynamical mean field theory. Changes occurring in the dynamics and transport across this crossover are highlighted. As the valence is decreased (increased) relative to the Kondo lattice regime, the Kondo resonance broadens significantly, while the lower (upper) Hubbard band moves closer to the Fermi level. The resistivity develops a two peak structure in the mixed valence regime: a low temperature coherence peak and a high temperature ‘Hubbard band’ peak. These two peaks merge, yielding a broad shallow maximum upon decreasing the valence further. The optical conductivity likewise exhibits an unusual absorption feature (shoulder) in the deep mid-infrared region, which grows in intensity with decreasing valence. The involvement of the Hubbard bands in dc transport and of the effective f-level in the optical conductivity are shown to be responsible for the anomalous transport properties. A two-band hybridization-gap model, which neglects incoherent effects due to many-body scattering, commonly employed to understand the optical response in these materials is shown to be inadequate, especially in the mixed valence regime. Comparison of theory with experiment carried out for (a) dc resistivities of CeRhIn5, Ce2Ni3Si5, CeFeGe3 and YbIr2Si2, (b) pressure dependent resistivity of YbInAu2 and CeCu6, and (c) optical conductivity measurements in YbIr2Si2 yields excellent agreement.