Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Squeezed light generation in semiconductors

The signal to noise ratio of optical systems is ultimately limited by the shot noise due to the Poissonian statistics of the light field. In recent years there has been a considerable effort to find ways to overcome this limitation by generating non-classical light with sub-shot noise statistics. Several groups have demonstrated non-classical light generation in diode lasers or light emitting diodes, and the amplitude fluctuations have been reduced substantially below the shot noise level [1,2]. However, for phase-sensitive measurements it is necessary to generate the more general quadrature squeezed states. Such quadrature squeezed light can be generated either by second-order or third-order nonlinear processes provided the nonlinear material has very low losses at the optical wavelength. To date, the successful generation schemes for quadrature squeezed light have been restricted to atomic vapours, optical fibres, or second-order nonlinear crystals [3]. The possibility of using the large χ(3) nonlinearities of semiconductors at frequencies below the band gap where the optical absorption is small has been discussed in the literature, but so far there have been no successful experiments [4-6]. In this paper we report measurements on GaAs/Al0.3Ga0. 7As multiple quantum well waveguides and bulk ZnS in the wavelength range 750 - 890nm. Although we measure much larger nonlinearities in the quantum wells, the strong two-photon absorption is detrimental for squeezed light generation. However, in the ZnS where the laser frequency is below the two- photon absorption edge, we have succeeded in generating quadrature squeezed light in a semiconductor for the first time. On the basis of our results, we would expect that squeezed light could be generated in many other semiconductor systems provided the photon energy is less than half the band-gap energy.
A Conversation with the CHCCS 2017 Achievement Award Winner

Dr. Kori Inkpen is the CHCCS Achievement Award winner for 2017. For the past 25 years, she has worked in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), including ten years as a faculty member, first at Simon Fraser University and then at Dalhousie University, followed by another ten years in industry at Microsoft Research. Her research has focused on supporting collaboration in a variety of domains. For the invited publication by the award winner that CHCCS includes in the proceedings, again this year we are experimenting with an interview format rather than a formal paper. This permits a casual discussion of the research area(s), insights, and contributions of the award winner. What follows is an edited transcript of a conversation between Kori Inkpen and Kellogg Booth that took place on April 13, 2017, via Skype.
Glaucoma in East Greenlandic Inuit--a population survey in Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund).

PURPOSE To determine the prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) in an isolated Greenlandic Inuit community and to examine the anatomical risk factors for this disease. METHODS All individuals aged > or =40 years were examined. Visual acuity, refractive error, anterior chamber depth (ACD), intraocular pressure (IOP), gonioscopy, and optic disc characteristics were recorded. RESULTS Seventy-nine individuals (65% response rate) were examined. Mean IOP was 12.0 mmHg. ACD was shallow and decreased with age and hypermetropia. ACD was deeper than observed in the same community in 1981 and another East Greenland population in 1970. Two subjects had definite PACG (2.5 %). CONCLUSION This is the first study to use applanation tonometry in a Greenland population and confirms a low IOP as found in other populations of Inuit and Mongolians. ACD measured in 1998 was deeper than in 1981 in the same community which may represent a cohort effect indicating a secular change.
Casein Kinase I: From Obscurity to Center Stage

The casein kinase I (CKI) family of protein kinases is a group of highly related, ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinases found in all eukaryotic organisms from protozoa to man. Recent advances in diverse fields, including developmental biology and chronobiology, have elucidated roles for CKI in regulating critical processes such as Wnt signaling, circadian rhythm, nuclear import, and Alzheimer's disease progression.
Use of a Test of Psychomotor Ability in an Expanded Role

To examine the use of a test of psychomotor ability of disabled persons, a group of 118 persons with permanent impairment of one hand were given the disability rating together with the O'Connor Finger Dexterity Test. Scores showed a substantial correlation of . 69 between these two instruments. Scores on the Finger Dexterity Test were strongly correlated to the activities of daily living subscale of the Hand Disability Rating Scale (.88), while rating of disability was not. Age appeared unrelated to either test or disability scores.
Improving Accuracy of Event-Related Potentials Classification by Channel Selection Using Independent Component Analysis and Least Square Methods

This paper proposes a method for achieving a high performance of N200 and P300 classification by applying independent component analysis to select the channels, which deliver brain signals with large N200 and P300 potentials and small artifacts. In this study, the authors find out the relationship between the highest accuracy and the weights of the independent components and use this relationship to predict the optimal channels of each individual subject. They compare five channel selection methods: the ICA-based method and the curve-fitting-based method proposed in this paper, the amplitude-based method, the experiential optimal 8 channel combination and all 30 channel combination methods. The comparative studies show that the ICA-based method achieves an average accuracy of 99.3% across four subjects, which is superior to the other four methods.
Lipid and Lipoprotein Abnormalities in Alcoholic Liver Disease

Excessive alcohol ingestion results in profound derangements of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, reflecting the effects of ethanol on peripheral and hepatic lipid metabolism and its toxic effects on hepatic function. The alterations in plasma lipids and lipoproteins are secondary to complex abnormalities of lipoprotein synthesis, secretion and catabolism. The major effects of alcohol include fatty liver secondary to excessive triglyceride synthesis, resulting in an imbalance between synthesis and hepatic secretion; hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia; defective plasma cholesterol esterification; and decreased highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol. In patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, the plasma lipoproteins have an abnormal structure and apoprotein composition. Although these changes are usually reversible with abstinence from alcohol (if liver function returns to normal), they indicate serious effects of alcohol on the liver, which may culminate in cirrhosis and hepatic insufficiency. These effects of alcohol on lipids and lipoproteins should be contrasted with the elevation in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration produced by moderate alcohol intake and the possibility that this increase may protect against the development of atherosclerotic disease.
Advances in Brief Simultaneous Suppression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and c-erbB2 Reverses Aneuploidy and Malignant Phenotype of a Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cell Line

Coexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and cerbB-2 in 47–68% of ovarian cancer cells indicate their strong association with tumor formation. We examined the effects of simultaneous antisenseor immunosuppression of EGFR and c-erbB-2 expression on the invasive phenotype, aneuploidy, and genotype of cultured human ovarian carcinoma cells (NIH:OVCAR-8). We report here that suppression of both EGFR and c-erbB-2 results in regression of aneuploidy and genomic imbalances in NIH:OVCAR-8 cells, restores a more normal phenotype, and results in a more normal gene expression profile. Combined with cytogenetic analysis, our data demonstrate that the regression of aneuploidy is due to the selective apoptosis of double antisense transfected cells with highly abnormal karyotype.
A Design of the Conceptual Architecture for a Multitenant SaaS Application Platform

In this paper, the conceptual architecture of a SaaS platform that enables executing of configurable and multitenant SaaS application is proposed. Even though most of organizations utilize a standardized SaaS application developed by a SaaS developer, each of tenants would have unique requirements regarding service components. The platform provides several features for configuring these aspects of SaaS software such as organizational structure (role sets and access control), user interface, data model, workflow, and business logic. To satisfy multitenancy of SaaS application, we applied metadata driven architecture proposed by Force.com. The target SaaS platform is composed of the key components that supports SaaS Application execution environment that serves multiple tenant using a single service instance. An example scenario of SaaS software lifecycle is also described to explain how the target platform would be operated from development and deployment of SaaS application to configuration by tenants.
Differential correlation between interleukin patterns in disseminated and chronic human paracoccidioidomycosis

In an attempt to understand better the immunoregulatory disorders in paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), the possible correlation between interleukin pattern, lymphoproliferation, C‐reactive protein (CRP) and specific antibody levels was investigated in the polarized clinical forms of this disease. We studied 16 PCM patients, eight with the disseminated disease (four under treatment and four non‐treated) and eight with the chronic disease. The patients with disseminated disease exhibited high antibody titres specific to Paracoccididoides brasiliensis antigen compared with patients with the chronic form of disease. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF), IL‐1, IL‐6 and CRP in the serum of non‐treated disseminated PCM patients were increased, which correlated positively with the low mitogenic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) (P < 0·01) and with the high antibody titres (P < 0·001) of these patients. Moreover, we found in the disseminated PCM patients positive correlations between IL‐1 and IL‐6 (P = 0·0007); IL‐1 and TNF (P = 0·0045); IL‐1 and IL‐6 with the high antibody titres (P = 0·0834 and P = 0·0631, respectively); IL‐1, IL‐6 and TNF with CRP levels. By contrast, no correlations were found with those interleukins in the treated disseminated and chronic patients or in controls. It was interesting to find an inverse correlation between IL‐4 and antibody production in non‐treated disseminated PCM (r = −0·4770); moreover, a significant correlation (P = 0·0820) was found in chronic PCM patients with respect to the low level of either IL‐4 and antibody titres against fungus antigen. Chronic PCM patients also had IL‐2 levels inversely correlated with antibody production (r = −0·6313; P = 0·0628). Inverse correlations were also observed between IL‐2 and IL‐6 levels in non‐treated disseminated patients (P = 0·0501) and between IL‐2 and IL‐4 in chronic patients (P = 0·0131). The inflammatory cytokines might have a pivotal role in the genesis and in control of some aspects of the disease, such as granulomatous reaction, hypergammaglobulinaemia and depression of T cell‐mediated immunity in PCM.
Phase response of cut-off metallic hole arrays

The paper presents numerical and experimental studies of the phase of the millimeter wave transmission response of a metal plate perforated by an array of subwavelength holes as a complimentary extension of our earlier results for the magnitude of the transmission response exhibiting extraordinary transmission properties (Gomez Rivas, J. et al., Phys. Rev. B, vol.68, art.201306(R), 2003). For the experimental study, prototypes were fabricated in aluminum plates and phase measurements were performed using a millimeter wave quasioptical vector network analyzer. For the numerical study, it was assumed that the structure was infinitely periodic. The experimental results match well the numerical predictions. It was demonstrated that the transmission response phase behavior is governed by resonant and Rayleigh Wood anomalies. Currently, ongoing studies target optimization of the transmission response by properly choosing the plate size and thickness, and incorporating layered media environments. Applications to frequency selective surfaces and other quasioptical structures are anticipated.
AAT : Multi-Stage Attack Attribution in Enterprise Systems using Software Defined Networks

Multi-layer distributed systems, such as those found in corporate systems, are often the target of multistage attacks. Such attacks utilize multiple victim machines, in a series, to compromise a target asset deep inside the corporate network. Under such attacks, it is difficult to identify the upstream attacker’s identity from a downstream victim machine because of the mixing of multiple network flows. This is known as the attribution problem in security domains. We present MAAT, a system that solves such attribution problems for multi-stage attacks. It does this by using moving target defense, ie, shuffling the assignment of clients to server replicas, which is achieved through software defined networking. As alerts are generated, MAAT maintains state about the level of risk for each network flow and progressively isolates the malicious flows. Using a simulation, we show that MAAT can identify single and multiple attackers in a variety of systems with different numbers of servers, layers, and clients. Received on 08 12 2017; accepted on XXXX; published on XXXX
Androgen treatment of neonatal rats decreases susceptibility of cerebellar granule neurons to oxidative stress in vitro

Oxidative stress has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. There is substantial evidence indicating that gonadal hormones can affect neuronal cell survival via both a genomic as well as a non‐genomic mode of action. In the present study, the potential protective activity of testosterone on neuronal cells was investigated by using an in vitro/ex vivo model. Cerebellar granule cells (CGC) were prepared from 7‐day‐old rats which had been treated with a single dose of oil or testosterone propionate on postnatal day 3. After 7 days in culture, cells were exposed to oxidative challenges, including hydrogen peroxide and the nitric oxide donor S‐nitrosocysteine (SNOC), which can induce CGC death via apoptosis. Colchicine, which causes apoptosis via a different mechanism, was also used. The cells were monitored for apoptotic morphology by propidium iodide and TUNEL staining. Additionally, the presence of chromatin fragmentation was determined. CGC obtained from testosterone‐treated rats were found to be more resistant to hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide toxicity, as shown by a 75 and 45% decrease in apoptotic cells, respectively. In contrast, the susceptibility to colchicine was not modified. As CGC from testosterone‐treated pups were selectively protected from oxidative stress, different components of the antioxidant defence systems were analysed. A twofold increase in the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase was found in the CGC prepared from testosterone‐treated rats. These results suggest that in vivo treatment with androgens render CGC less vulnerable to oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis by potentiating antioxidant defences.
A Recessive Mutation in the APP Gene with Dominant-Negative Effect on Amyloidogenesis

β-Amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutations cause familial Alzheimer's disease with nearly complete penetrance. We found an APP mutation [alanine-673→valine-673 (A673V)] that causes disease only in the homozygous state, whereas heterozygous carriers were unaffected, consistent with a recessive Mendelian trait of inheritance. The A673V mutation affected APP processing, resulting in enhanced β-amyloid (Aβ) production and formation of amyloid fibrils in vitro. Co-incubation of mutated and wild-type peptides conferred instability on Aβ aggregates and inhibited amyloidogenesis and neurotoxicity. The highly amyloidogenic effect of the A673V mutation in the homozygous state and its anti-amyloidogenic effect in the heterozygous state account for the autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance and have implications for genetic screening and the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Modeling and control of average input current to enhance power density for three-phase interleaved boost converters

This paper evaluates the comprehensive optimization process of associated passive components of three-phase front-end interleaved boost converters (IBCs) to enhance the power density. It was found that the circulating zero-sequence current between rectifiers gives a negative impact on the low-order harmonics of the input current. The effect of circulating current was first analyzed in detail and the average input current model was developed in the presence of the circulating current. The model is subsequently incorporated into the development of the physics-based average current controller to compensate for harmonic distortions without sacrificing the system power density. The proposed method can be an attractive solution for enhancing the power density of low-power consumer electronic applications that need to meet the harmonic regulations.
Termination of respiratory events with and without cortical arousal in obstructive sleep apnea.

RATIONALE A total of 20-30% of respiratory events in obstructive sleep apnea are terminated without clear arousal. Arousals are thought to predispose to further events by promoting hyperventilation, hypocapnia, and upper-airway dilator muscle hypotonia. Therefore, events terminated without arousal may promote stable breathing. OBJECTIVES To compare physiologic changes at respiratory event termination with American Sleep Disorders Association (ASDA) Arousal to No Arousal, and determine whether secondary respiratory events are less common and have higher dilator muscle activity after No Arousal compared with ASDA Arousal. METHODS Patients with obstructive sleep apnea wore sleep staging, genioglossus (EMG(GG)), and tensor palatini (EMG(TP)) electrodes plus a nasal mask and pneumotachograph. During stable sleep, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was lowered for 3-minute periods to induce respiratory events. Physiologic variables were compared between events terminated with (1) ASDA Arousal, (2) No Arousal, or (3) sudden CPAP increase (CPAPinc, control). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Sixteen subjects had adequate data. EMG(GG), EMG(TP), and heart rate increased after ASDA Arousal (340 ± 57%, 215 ± 28%, and 110.7 ± 2.3%) and No Arousal (185 ± 32%, 167 ± 15%, and 108.5 ± 1.6%) but not CPAPinc (90 ± 10%, 94 ± 11%, and 102.1 ± 1%). Ventilation increased more after ASDA Arousal than No Arousal and CPAPinc, but not after accounting for the severity of respiratory event. Fewer No Arousals were followed by secondary events than ASDA Arousals. However, low dilator muscle activity did not occur after ASDA Arousal or No Arousal (EMG(GG) rose from 75 ± 5 to 125 ± 7%) and secondary events were less severe than initial events (ventilation rose 4 ± 0.4 to 5.5 ± 0.51 L/min). CONCLUSIONS Respiratory events that were terminated with ASDA Arousal were more severely flow-limited, had enhanced hyperventilation after event termination, and were more often followed by secondary events than No arousal. However, secondary events were not associated with low dilator muscle activity and airflow was improved after both No Arousal and ASDA Arousal.
A modified nonlinear forces compensation scheme based on decomposition control in high-precise servo system

This paper presents a modified compensation scheme of nonlinear forces in the DC motor system. The paper's contribution is to add repetitive control scheme into the decomposition-based control compensation scheme. Robust adaptive compensator is derived to compensate for the influence of the nonlinear friction forces and ripple force in the system. Moreover, the inducted repetitive controller is motivated by the attempt to improve the system motion trajectory tracking performance. The combination of the compensator and the repetitive controller yields the overall control law. The system stability and the uniformly ultimately position tracking performance are guaranteed by utilizing Lyapunov method. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is demonstrated by computer simulations for high-precision servo system
Effect of forward shoulder posture on pulmonary capacities of women

Posture is usually defined as the relative arrangement of the parts of the body. Normal or standard posture is the state of muscular and skeletal balance that protects the supporting structures of the body against injury or progressive deformity. Forward shoulder posture (FSP) or “rounded shoulders” is one of the numerous deviations from the normal posture. Kendall et al 1 describes FSP as abduction and elevation of the scapula and a forward position of the shoulders. In addition to abducted scapula, FSP also include winging of the scapula and medial rotation of the humerus.2 The aetiology of FSP has been attributed to several factors. Kendall et al 1 state that posture and relative alignment of body segments are affected by muscle shortening and weakness. They describe FSP as the result of the shoulders being pulled by shortened or tight anterior shoulder girdle muscles, such as the serratus anterior, pectoralis major and minor, upper trapezius and intercostalis muscles. Additionally, FSP may be caused by weakness and lengthening of the muscles that function to pull the scapula toward the spine, such as rhomboids and the middle and lower trapezius muscles.3 4 According to Knudsen,5 FSP can be attributed to the presence of excessive and habitual flexion of the back, which will eventually cause the pectoral muscles to shorten and fix the shoulders in this forward position. Muscle length changes in FSP may result in abnormal scapulohumeral rhythm, impingement of rotator cuff tendons,6 acromioclavicular joint degeneration, bicipital tendonitis3 and painful trigger areas.7 Normal quiet …
COMPONENTS OF PHENOTYPIC SELECTION: POLLEN EXPORT AND FLOWER COROLLA WIDTH IN IPOMOPSIS AGGREGATA

In the hummingbird‐pollinated herb Ipomopsis aggregata, selection through male function during pollination favors wide corolla tubes. We explored the mechanisms behind this selection, using phenotypic selection analysis to compare effects of corolla width on two components of male pollination success, pollinator visit rate and pollen exported per visit. During single visits by captive hummingbirds, flowers with wider corollas exported more pollen, and more dye used as a pollen analogue, to stigmas of recipient flowers. Corolla width was less strongly related to visit rate in the field, and had no direct effect on visit rate after nectar production and corolla length were controlled for. Moreover, the phenotypic selection differential was 80% higher for the effect on pollen exported per visit, suggesting that this is the more important mechanism of selection.
Nonparametric Inference for Location Parameters via Fréchet Functions

Given a random object on a stratified space, one defines the Fréchet mean, the Fréchet antimean and additional population parameters associated withits Fréchet function, in case this function is a Morse function as well. In this paper we give large sample and nonparametric bootstrap estimation methods for these parameters, followed by the consistency of Fréchet sample antimean and the Central Limit Theorem of Fréchet sample antimean.