Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Picosecond kinetics of fluorescence and absorbance changes in photosystem II particles excited at low photon density.

Oxygen-evolving photosystem II particles (from Synechococcus) with about 80 chlorophyll molecules per primary electron donor (P(680)) were used for a correlated study of picosecond kinetics of fluorescence and absorbance changes, detected by the single-photon-timing technique and by a pump-probe apparatus, respectively. Chlorophyll fluorescence decays were biexponential with lifetimes tau(1) = 80 +/- 20 ps and tau(2) = 520 +/- 120 ps in open reaction centers and tau(1) = 220 +/- 30 ps and tau(2) = 1.3 +/- 0.15 ns in closed reaction centers. The corresponding fluorescence yield ratio F(max)/F(o) was 3-4. Absorbance changes were monitored in the spectral range of 620-700 nm after excitation at 675 nm with 10-ps pulses sufficiently weak (<7 x 10(12) photons/cm(2) per pulse) to avoid singlet-singlet annihilation. With open reaction centers, the absorbance changes could be fit to the sum of three exponentials. The associated absorbance difference spectra were attributed to (i) exciton trapping and charge separation (tau = 100 +/- 20 ps), (ii) the electron-transfer step P(680) (+) I(-) Q(A) --> P(680) (+) I Q(A) (-) (where I is the primary electron acceptor and Q(A) is the first quinone acceptor) (tau = 510 +/- 50 ps), and (iii) the reduction of P(680) (+) by the intact donor side (tau > 10 ns). With closed reaction centers, the absorbance changes were biexponential with lifetimes tau(1) = 170-260 ps and tau(2) = 1.6-1.75 ns. The results are explained in terms of a kinetic model that assumes P(680) to constitute a shallow trap. The results show that Q(A) reduction in these photosystem II particles decreases both the apparent rate and the yield of the primary charge separation by a factor of 2-3 and increases the mean lifetime of excitons in the antenna by a factor of 3-4. Thus, we conclude that the long-lived, nanosecond chlorophyll fluorescence is not charge-recombination luminescence but rather emission from equilibrated excited states of antenna chlorophylls.
Effects of hypothyroidism upon the granular layer of the dentate gyrus in male and female adult rats: A morphometric study

The effects of hypothyroidism upon the structure of the central nervous system of adult rats are poorly understood in spite of evidence that the mature brain is vulnerable to this condition. Existing developmental studies show that the morphological changes induced by thyroid hormone deficiency are related to alterations in neurogenesis. We studied the granular layer of the dentate gyrus under different experimental conditions of hypothyroidism, because in rodents the neurogenesis of the granule cells continues during adulthood. The following groups of rats were analysed: (1) control; (2) hypothyroid from day 0 until day 180 (hypothyroid group); (3) hypothyroid until day 30 and thenceforth maintained euthyroid (recovery group); and (4) hypothyroid since day 30 (adult hypothyroid group). Groups of 6 male rats and 6 female rats were analysed separately. The volume of the dentate gyrus granular layer and the numerical density of its neurons were evaluated, so we were able to estimate the total number of granule cells.
Electric Locomotive Bearing Fault Diagnosis Using a Novel Convolutional Deep Belief Network

Bearing fault diagnosis is of significance to enhance the reliability and security of electric locomotive. In this paper, a novel convolutional deep belief network (CDBN) is proposed for bearing fault diagnosis. First, an auto-encoder is used to compress data and reduce the dimension. Second, a novel CDBN is constructed with Gaussian visible units to learn the representative features. Third, exponential moving average is employed to improve the performance of the constructed deep model. The proposed method is applied to analyze experimental signals collected from electric locomotive bearings. The results show that the proposed method is more effective than the traditional methods and standard deep learning methods.
Growth Through Inter-sectoral Knowledge Linkages ∗

Sectors differ greatly in their degree of knowledge applicability. This paper studies the impact of inter-sectoral knowledge linkages on aggregate innovation and growth. We develop a multisector model in which exogenous inter-sectoral knowledge linkages affect firms’ sector entry/exit and R&D decisions. In the presence of barriers to diversity, the model generates sequential sectoral entry, which helps to explain firms’ patenting locations in the technology space, the empirical relationship between a sector’s knowledge applicability and other variables including R&D intensity, the number of firms and the firm size distribution in that sector. We construct an inter-sectoral knowledge diffusion matrix and simulate the model. A main finding is that barriers to diversity significantly reduce technological progress beyond what is expected from previous studies; in particular they block the knowledge circulation in the technology space and prevent firms from fully internalizing spillovers from sectors with high knowledge applicability and investing in research in these sectors.
40 GHz Millimeter-Wave Signal Generation Using a Lattice-Form Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

We propose and study a new scheme for optical millimeter-wave generation using a lattice-form Mach-Zehnder interferometer (LF-MZI) designed in a planar lightwave circuit (PLC). Our simulations demonstrate that a LF-MZI with a conventional 10 GHz Mach-Zehnder modulator can generate a stable 40 GHz signal, suitable for a radio-over-fiber (ROF) link. By using an all-optical LF-MZI in the ROF link we can avoid a 20 GHz electrical signal generator and a dual-drive LiNbO3 external modulator in the set-up. We compare the results with optical carrier suppression (OCS) technique with a dual-drive LiNbO3 modulator.
Meta-analysis of olfactory function in schizophrenia, first-degree family members, and youths at-risk for psychosis.

BACKGROUND Previous research has provided compelling support for olfactory dysfunction in schizophrenia patients, their first-degree relatives, and youth at-risk for psychosis. A previous meta-analysis revealed large effect sizes across olfactory tasks but was limited to 2 olfactory tasks and did not examine moderator variables. Thus, the current meta-analysis was undertaken to incorporate additional studies, risk cohorts, olfactory test domains, and moderator variable analyses. METHOD A meta-analysis was conducted on 67 publications examining olfactory function in schizophrenia patients and 15 publications examining olfactory functioning in youth at-risk for psychosis, first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients, and individuals with schizotypy. RESULTS Results revealed medium-to-large olfactory deficits in schizophrenia patients though significant heterogeneity was evident. Several variables moderated overall study effects. At-risk youths similarly demonstrated medium-to-large effect sizes, whereas first-degree relatives and individuals with schizotypy showed small effects. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest robust olfactory deficits in schizophrenia and at-risk youths. In schizophrenia, several variables had significant impact on these deficits and warrant consideration in prospective studies. Our findings also indicate that olfactory measures may be a useful marker of schizophrenia risk status.
Association of short‐term memory with a variant within DYX1C1 in developmental dyslexia

A substantial genetic contribution in the etiology of developmental dyslexia (DD) has been well documented with independent groups reporting a susceptibility locus on chromosome 15q. After the identification of the DYX1C1 gene as a potential candidate for DD, several independent association studies reported controversial results. We performed a family‐based association study to determine whether the DYX1C1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have been associated with DD before, that is SNPs ‘−3GA’ and ‘1249GT’, influence a broader phenotypic definition of DD. A significant linkage disequilibrium was observed with ‘Single Letter Backward Span’ (SLBS) in both single‐marker and haplotype analyses. These results provide further support to the association between DD and DYX1C1 and it suggests that the linkage disequilibrium with DYX1C1 is more saliently explained in Italian dyslexics by short‐term memory, as measured by ‘SLBS’, than by the categorical diagnosis of DD or other related phenotypes.
Leveraging birth defects surveillance data for health services research.

In this editorial, we define health services research (HSR) and its relevance and importance to birth defects surveillance and research. We briefly discuss key HSR concepts, several types of HSR data sources, and the linkage of these data for birth defects research. We also examine some challenges in data linkages and conclude by identifying research gaps in HSR for children with birth defects and their families. Health services research is multidisciplinary and broad in scope, examining how financing systems, organization structures and processes, social factors, health technologies and personal behaviors affect access to care, cost and quality of care, health and well-being (AHRQ, 2012). The leveraging of birth defects surveillance data for HSR has been noted as a critical strategy to further the public health research priorities for birth defects, including congenital heart defects (Oster et al., 2013a), craniosynostosis (Rasmussen et al., 2008a), Down syndrome (Rasmussen et al., 2008b) and orofacial clefts (Yazdy et al., 2007).
The period gene and genetic differentiation between three Brazilian populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis

Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas, is a putative species complex. Molecular polymorphism was characterized in a 266 bp fragment of L. longipalpis homologous to period, a ‘speciation gene’ from Drosophila. Samples from the Brazilian localities of Jacobina (BA), Lapinha (MG) and Natal (RN) were analysed and the data indicate that the three populations are highly differentiated, with a very low level of gene flow between them. These results are in agreement with published pheromone and copulation song studies that suggest the existence of a sibling species complex in Brazil.
From headache to kidney tumor; an example of von Hippel- Lindau disease

Background: von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare genetic condition caused by the mutation of the VHL tumor suppressor gene and predisposing to various benign or malignant tumors involving mainly central nervous system (CNS) and retinal hemangioblastomas (RHB). Although considered as occult, multiple renal cysts and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are frequent in VHL, occurring in nearly two-thirds of patients. RCC is the major neoplasm and the main cause of death in patients with this condition. Case: In this report, we present a case of an occult kidney tumor revealed by neurological symptoms of cerebellar hemangioblastoma. Conclusion: Kidney tumor was diagnosed incidentally on abdominal tomography and confirmed by histopathology analysis.
Forest detection in varying terrain using full-polarisation SAR data

A polarimetric AIRSAR image taken over rugged hill country north of Wanganui is used to assess the ability of previously developed methods to detect forested areas in a more testing landscape. The imagery was collected in November 1996 as part of the first PACRIM mission. As we are most interested in results that can be applied to satellite imagery and carbon accounting applications, only the C and L-band images are used in this analysis. Results show that at a 1-hectare mapping scale, high classification accuracies (up to 90%) were achieved between mature trees and pasture in the study region, where slopes are on average 25 deg. Keywords-forest detection; radar; SAR; polarimetry
Meta-análisis de la asociación entre las variantes VAL66MET de BDNF, 2/3/4 de APOE y la esquizofrenia

La esquizofrenia es un trastorno mental de tipo multifactorial, por lo que su etiología aún sigue en discusión, se han determinado diversos candidatos como factores de riesgo genético al fenotipo, entre ellos los postulados en el meta-análisis, el gen APOE codifica para una proteína implicada en el trasporte de lípidos, siendo la variable e4 candidata importante a factor de riesgo para la esquizofrenia, y el polimorfismo BNDF VAL66MET implicado en alteraciones de secreción intercelular en la neurotrofina, postulado en la asociación con el trastorno. Se realizó una revisión sistemática a través de diversas bases de datos, compilando 25 estudios caso-control relacionados con la asociación de alguna de las variables a la esquizofrenia, bajo estrictos criterios de elegibilidad, a partir de ellos se determinó la asociación meta-analítica utilizando el modelo de efectos aleatorios, infiriendo la incidencia del alelo de riesgo y el genotipo portador del mismo a la esquizofrenia. Se encontró una leve asociación de la variante e4 en la etnia caucásica, por otra parte, ni el alelo Met ni el genotipo portador reflejó una asociación significativa al fenotipo, estos resultados contrastan la gran cantidad de estudios contradictorios publicados en los últimos años, estableciendo un resultado global acerca de la influencia de las variantes con el genotipo.
Machine learning techniques applied to prepaid subscribers: Case study on the telecom industry of Morocco

In order to survive the fierce competition in today's telecommunication industry, it is mandatory to understand the need of customers who might think to move toward another competitor. Thus, assessing the churn prediction, which becomes a real concern in the telecom industry, is critical in predicting future trends of the industry. In this work, we wanted to determine the best and reliable prediction model in improving the competitiveness of Moroccan telecommunication sector. We focused on prepaid costumers, a group of subscribers that are unreliable, less committed to a provider, and they can end their services without prior notices. We used various machine learning techniques applied to Call Details Records (CDR) to analyze a dataset of 635997 subscribers and monitored their usage behaviors over a period of three months. The Visitor Location Register ID, which describes the locations where calls/SMS/Recharge and Data events were performed was also used to investigate the churning rate per different regions. Among models tested, we found that the Gradient Boosting Classifier (GBC) is the best classifier model with accuracy of 91% and f1 score of 89%. This model fits better the Churn prediction use case.
A Comparative Analysis of Sybil Attacks on VANET

In this research work a sincere attempt is made to review the problem of attacks in VANET domain since, network security in VANETs is of immensely challenging. The distributed nature of VANET allows each of the vehicle nodes to function both as a host as well as router to remain connected with other nodes. As nodes very frequently move in and out of the range of each other, consequently network topology also changes frequently compromising the security of the network. And it is prone to lot security gaps. This paper discusses the type of attacks and their possible solutions for mitigating the attack in context of Sybil attack. An alternative method after systematic review of the proposed in this research work shows that anonymity factor can be increased and sequence mining can detect the Sybil attack with low computational overhead and low false rate.
Les médias, un allié du terrorisme ?

Cet article questionne, a partir d'entretiens qualitatifs et d'une analyse de corpus de presse, les rapports des quotidiens burkinabe au terrorisme. Il revele que le discours journalistique produit sur le phenomene terroriste s'insere dans une logique de publicisation du terrorisme. Dramatisation, spectacularisation et exposition iconographique de l'horreur sont les traits caracteristiques de ce discours. Le traitement mediatique met egalement en evidence des postures journalistiques ou s'entremelent journalisme de combat, journalisme patriotique et journalisme de non-violence. Entre passion et emotions, la presse quotidienne privee et publique burkinabe ne se distancie pas des faits qu'elle relaie, mais s'incruste dans la production d'une rhetorique militante mettant en lumiere la mobilisation d'un « Nous » collectif et consensuel contre l'ennemi : le terrorisme.
Optimization of photopolymerized bioerodible hydrogel properties for adhesion prevention.

The aim of this study was to optimize the properties of a lubricious bioerodible hydrogel barrier for the prevention of postoperative adhesions. Water-soluble macromers based on block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(lactic acid) or poly(glycolic acid) with terminal acrylate groups were used, and these macromers were gelled in vivo by exposure to long wavelength ultraviolet light. The precursor was photopolymerized from buffered saline solution while in contact with the tissues. This resulted in the conformal coating of the tissue with an adherent hydrogel film, while forming a nonadhesive barrier at the free surface, on the treated wound site. The hydrogels were evaluated in two animal models of postsurgical adhesions, first in a rat cecum abrasion model and then in a rabbit uterine horn ischemia model. In the rat cecum model, six of seven animals treated with a hydrogel, with glycolide in the precursor as the comonomer, showed no adhesions; untreated animals and animals treated with precursor, but not gelled with light, showed consistent dense adhesions. In the rabbit uterine horn ischemia model, using hydrogels with lactide in the precursor as the comonomer, and PEG of molecular weight from 6,000 to 18,500 Da, adhesions were dramatically reduced, with occurrence in none of seven animals treated with a gel containing PEG 10,000. By contrast, the seven animals in the control group demonstrated a mean of 35% involvement of the horn length in dense, fibrous adhesions. These materials, photopolymerized in vivo in direct contact with the tissues, appear to form an adherent hydrogel barrier that is highly effective in reducing postoperative adhesions in the models used. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Simple approximations to the Cramer-Rao lower bound on direction of arrival for closely spaced sources

It is demonstrated that the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) on the directions of arrival (DOAs) of two closely spaced uncorrelated plane wave sources impinging on a uniform line array can be approximated by simple algebraic formulas which provide insight into the behavior of the bound with respect to signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), source separation, etc. These formulas are sufficiently accurate for general use with the number of sensors between about 6 and 60, for source separations down to about 0.1 of a classical beamwidth, and for SNRs from -30 to +30 dB. >
Training Principles for Power

SUMMARY THE ABILITY TO EXPRESS HIGH POWER OUTPUTS IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS UNDERLYING SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OF SPORTING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING JUMPING, THROWING, AND CHANGING DIRECTION. NUMEROUS TRAINING INTERVENTIONS HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO ENHANCE THE ATHLETE’S ABILITY TO EXPRESS HIGH POWER OUTPUTS AND IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL SPORTS PERFORMANCE CAPACITY. THIS BRIEF REVIEW EXAMINES THE FACTORS THAT UNDERLIE THE EXPRESSION OF POWER AND VARIOUS METHODS THAT CAN BE USED TO MAXIMIZE POWER DEVELOPMENT.
Persistence Theory - From Quiver Representations to Data Analysis

* Theoretical foundations: Algebraic persistence* Topological persistence* Stability Applications: Topological inference* Topological inference 2.0* Clustering Signatures for metric spaces* Perspectives: New trends in topological data analysis* Further prospects on the theory* Introduction to quiver theory with a view toward persistence* Bibliography* List of figures* Index
Do collagen fibrils of the periodontal ligament shrink with age?

Do collagen fibrils of the periodontal ligament shrink with age? Certainly not! Based on the quantitative estimation of over 25000 periodontal ligament collagen fibrils at 3 periodontal levels of 28 freshly extracted human teeth, using 10- to 75year-old subjects and high resolution electron micrographs evaluated planimetrically, the present study demonstrates with data obtained from 2 sampling procedures that the diameter of the average collagen fibril, i.e., 54 to 59 nm, is rather constant throughout the human life span. This is particularly true for the vast majority of comparatively large fibrils (i.e., 57 to 64 nm), while a numerically limited population of small fibrils (i.e., 40 to 48 nm) in fact increased in diameter with age. These results are discussed in view of analogous data for other connective tissues and of the functional and metabolic status of such tissues.
News from the Nordic Colleges of General Practitioners

In Iceland there is a fairly well-established and strong primary healthcare system, which is basically a community-based model where most patients have their own GP in a health centre in their community. Maternity care and well-child care are well coordinated and operated out of the health centres, which are all computerized and use the same data system or electronic medical records (the Saga system/program). Most health centres are state run, especially the rural ones, as well as the majority of the health centres in the capital area. Still, there are a few private-run health centres and private GPs but they are heavily restricted and there has been an insufficient increase in the number of GPs in that field for several years. The Icelandic College of Family Physicians (FÍH) has been advocating more independence of GPs and more freedom to run private GP offices. In the last few years there have been ongoing discussions and negotiations regarding that issue with the Ministry of Health, with minimal results so far. The Icelandic Medical Association (LÍ) has also been trying to keep the matter alive and recently published a report on GPs and their current and future situation comparing it with the other Scandinavian countries as well as the UK. The conclusion of the report was that it is necessary to give GPs more freedom and independence in order for patients to have more choice as well as to diversify the healthcare system, which seems to be moving more and more towards centralization. GPs in Iceland are a diverse group of doctors trained in many countries, such as for instance Iceland, the other Scandinavian countries, the UK, the USA, and Germany. Since the early 1980s all specialists in Iceland have the right to 15 days of continuing medical education (CME) (of their own choice in most cases) and get paid travelling expenses and up to t1100 for airline tickets per year. Recruitment and lack of GPs has been a problem in Iceland, as it has in the other Scandinavian countries [1,2]. Most GPs in the capital area have around 1500 patients listed and rural GPs around 1000 patients. There is still a shortage of GPs and despite the fact that physicians in Iceland are at least 1 to every 280 inhabitants, only 20% of them are GPs.
Modeling of analog circuits by using support vector regression machines

The support vector regression method is used for modeling of electronic circuits. The method ensures simple, robust and accurate modeling of electronic circuits. It yields very good results for situations not specified in the learning data set, demonstrating very good generalization property of support vector machines. The method is applicable to modeling based on the measurements or device-level circuit simulations. Several GaAs circuits (buffer, resistive mixer, ring oscillator) are modeled using the proposed method.