Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Spatial Dispersion on Reflection From Mushroom-Type Artificial Impedance Surfaces

In a spatially dispersive medium, the electric dipole moment of an inclusion cannot be related to the macroscopic electric field through a local relation. Several recent works have emphasized the role of spatial dispersion in wire media, and demonstrated that arrays of parallel metallic wires may behave very differently from a uniaxial local material with negative permittivity. Here, we investigate the effect of spatial dispersion on reflection properties of the mushroom structure introduced by Sievenpiper, based on local and nonlocal homogenization methods. The objective of this paper is to clarify the role of spatial dispersion in the mushroom structure and demonstrate that, under some conditions, it is suppressed. The metamaterial substrate, or metasurface is modeled as a wire medium covered with an impedance surface. Surprisingly, it is found that, in such a configuration, the effects of spatial dispersion may be nearly suppressed when the slab is electrically thin, and that the wire medium can be modeled very accurately using a local model.
Speed Controls the Amplitude and Timing of the Hippocampal Gamma Rhythm

Cortical and hippocampal gamma oscillations have been implicated in many behavioral tasks. The hippocampus is required for spatial navigation where animals run at varying speeds. Hence we tested the hypothesis that the gamma rhythm could encode the running speed of mice. We found that the amplitude of slow (20–45 Hz) and fast (45–120 Hz) gamma rhythms in the hippocampal local field potential (LFP) increased with running speed. The speed-dependence of gamma amplitude was restricted to a narrow range of theta phases where gamma amplitude was maximal, called the preferred theta phase of gamma. The preferred phase of slow gamma precessed to lower values with increasing running speed. While maximal fast and slow gamma occurred at coincident phases of theta at low speeds, they became progressively more theta-phase separated with increasing speed. These results demonstrate a novel influence of speed on the amplitude and timing of the hippocampal gamma rhythm which could contribute to learning of temporal sequences and navigation.
Proposed regression equations for prediction of the size of unerupted permanent canines and premolars in Yemeni sample

Objective: The aim was to formulate a prediction regression equation for Yemeni and to compare it with Moyer's method for the prediction of the size of the un-erupted permanent canines and premolars. Subjects and Methods: Measurements of mesio-distal width of four permanent mandibular incisors, as well as canines and premolars in both arches were obtained from a sample of 400 school children aged 12-14 years old (13.80 ± 0.42 standard deviation) using electronic digital calliper. The data were subjected to statistical and linear regression analysis and then compared with Moyer's prediction tables. Results: The result showed that the mean mesio-distal tooth widths of the canines and premolars in the maxillary arch were significantly larger in boys than girls (P < 0.001), while, in the mandibular arch, only lateral incisors and canines were also significantly larger in boys than in girls (P < 0.001). Regression equations for the maxillary arch (boys, Y = 13.55 + 0.29X; girls, Y = 14.04 + 0.25X) and the mandibular arch (boys, Y = 9.97 + 0.40X; girls, Y = 9.56 + 0.41X) were formulated and used to develop new probability tables following the Moyer's method. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the present study predicted widths and the Moyer's tables in almost all percentile levels, including the recommended 50% and 75% levels. Conclusions: The Moyer's probability tables significantly overestimate the mesio-distal widths of the un-erupted permanent canine and premolars of Yemeni in almost all percentile levels, including the commonly used 50% and 75% levels. Therefore, it was suggested with caution that the proposed prediction regression equations and tables developed in the present study could be considered as an alternative and more precise method for mixed dentition space analysis in Yemeni.
Replacement correction factors for photon and electron dose measurements.

A "gradient correction factor" and an "electron fluence correction factor" are used in the AAPM Task Group 21 dosimetry protocol, the product of the two being the "replacement correction factor. " The separation of two physical processes, implied by the concepts, is theoretically unfounded. The proof of this statement rests on Fano's theorem, the conditions for which constitute a case without variations in fluence or its directional and energy distributions. Deviations from these conditions represent gradients in the radiation field, affect the response of a measurement cavity, and do so by perturbing the fluence of electrons that deposit energy in the cavity. Thus, in beams of both electrons and photons, corrections are required when fluence variations exist in the vicinity of the cavity. The rationale for an electron fluence correction based on "in-scattering" and "obliquity" is weak, since the effects only occur when gradients are present. The choice of values for the two correction factors at the depth of maximum dose are particularly inconsistent with the actual characteristics of the radiation field.
Wavelength reuse for efficient transport of variable-size packets in a metro WDM network

Metropolitan WDM networks play an important role in the emerging Internet hierarchy; they interconnect the backbone WDM networks and the local access networks. The current SONET/SDH-over-WDM-ring metropolitan networks are expected to become a serious bottleneck - the so-called metropolitan gap-as they are faced with an increasing amount of bursty data traffic and quickly increasing bandwidths in the backbone networks and access networks. Innovative metropolitan WDM networks that are highly efficient and able to handle variable-size packets are needed to alleviate the metropolitan gap. In this paper we study an AWG-based single-hop WDM metropolitan network. We analyze the photonic switching of variable-size packets with spatial wavelength reuse. We derive computationally efficient and accurate expressions for the network throughput and delay. Our extensive numerical investigations - based on our analytical results and simulations - reveal that spatial wavelength reuse is crucial for efficient photonic packet switching. In typical scenarios, spatial wavelength reuse increases the throughput by 60% while reducing the delay by 40%.
Dialysis encephalopathy, bone disease and anaemia: the aluminum intoxication syndrome during regular haemodialysis.

Clinical features Dialysis encephalopathy, now attributed to aluminium intoxication, is a complication of prolonged haemodialysis first described in 1972.1 Initially the condition was over-diagnosed, and at meetings of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association and the American Society of Nephrology almost half the audience claimed to have seen at least one case. In the light of subsequent studies it seems likely that many of these claims were based upon the misinterpretation of other neurological syndromes in renal failure. However to one who has lived through an "epidemic" of this disease, the clinical picture is readily distinguished from that of most other neurological disorders. Usually the first symptom is a characteristic alteration in speech; this is partly a dysarthria due to disordered muscle action and, at the height of an attack, the tongue can be miraculously loosed by an injection of diazepam.2 However as the disease progresses dysphasia coexists with dysarthria. Speech disturbance is initially intermittent, often precipitated by dialysis, but becomes continuous. Other early features are myoclonic jerks and grand mal seizures. Two characteristic features are dyspraxia, which affects the handwriting at an early stage, and rapid fatiguability which causes performance of all structural tasks to deteriorate within a few minutes of sustained effort. Global dementia supervenes but insight is often retained until late in the illness; this is a distressing feature since the patient has often seen his fellow patients die of the same condition and appears to know what is happening to him. In the terminal stages facial grimacing, myotonic spasms and dysphagia interfere with eating and lead to inhalation pneumonia. Death occurs from inanition, infection or deliberate withdrawal of treatment.
The dynamic local: delocalisation and (re-)localisation in the search for peacebuilding identity

This article challenges the notion of the ‘local’ as a static identity or set position and argues for a processual understanding of localisation, in which constant processes of delocalisation and (re-)localisation serve as tools by which peacebuilding actors position themselves in the political economy and the social landscape of peacebuilding. Peacebuilding agency and -identity are viewed as situated in time and space and subject to constant transformation. Using the cases of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus, I argue that the positionality of local identity is contingent on the ever-changing social context and political economy of peacebuilding. By viewing processes of (re-)localisation and delocalisation as markers of agency, we can overcome the binary between local and international and investigate more subtle forms of agency in a fluid peacebuilding environment. The article identifies the ways in which peacebuilding agency facilitates the creation of a particular set of identities (identification), before investigating the processes of delocalisation and (re-)localisation in detail. The article goes on to argue that, rather than being mutually exclusive, these two processes tend to happen in parallel and thus challenge the seemingly neat binary between local and international peacebuilding identities.
Stellar population analysis on local infrared-selected galaxies

Aims. We study the stellar population of local infrared galaxies, which contain star-forming galaxies, composite galaxies, LINERs, and Seyfert 2s. We also want to find whether infrared luminosi ty and spectral class have any effect on their stellar populations. Methods. The sample galaxies are selected from the main galaxy sample of SDSS-DR4 and then cross-correlated with the IRASPSCz catalog. We fit our spectra (stellar absorption lines an d continua) using the spectral synthesis code STARLIGHT based on the templates of simple stellar population and the spectra of st ar clusters. Results. Among the 4 spectral classes, LINERs present the oldest stellar populations, and the other 3 subsamples all present substantial young and intermediate age populations and very few old populations. The importance of young populations decreases from starforming, composite, Seyfert 2 to LINER. As for the different infrared luminosity bins, ULIGs & LIGs (log(LIR/L⊙) ≥11) present younger populations than do starbursts and normal galaxies; however, the dominant contributors to mass are old populations in all sample galaxies. The fittings also give consistent results b y using the spectra of star clusters with different ages and metallicities as templates. The dominated populations in star-forming and composite galaxies are those with metallicity Z = 0.2Z⊙, while LINERs and Seyfert 2s are more metal-rich. The normal galaxies are more metal-rich than the ULIGs & LIGs and starbursts for the star-forming galaxies within different infrared luminosity bins. Additionally, we compare some synthesis results with other parameters obtained from the MPA/JHU catalog. First we find that the stellar and nebular extinctions are correlated, and the ion ized gas suffers twice as much extinction as stars. Second we confirm that Dn(4000) is a much better age indicator than HδA. Following the evolution of galaxies, Dn(4000) monotonously varies. Finally we investigate some relationships between mean stellar age, mean stellar metallicity, and nebular metallicity for the su bsample of starforming galaxies. In star-forming galaxies, the nebular metallicity Zneb is correlated with the light-weighted mean stellar ageh log t∗i L in an intermediate strength, and Zneb is weakly correlated with the mass-weighted mean stellar metallicityh Z∗i M.
A direct-conversion receiver IC for WCDMA mobile systems

A prototype design of a 2.7 V, 14.5 mA SiGe direct-conversion receiver IC for use in 3G WCDMA mobile cellular systems has been completed and measured. The design includes a bypassable LNA, a quadrature downconverter, and variable gain baseband amplifiers integrated on chip. The static sensitivity performance of the receiver IC is characterized using a software baseband processor to compute link bit-error rate.
Improvement of visual perceptual capabilities by feedback structures for robotic system FRIEND

The main aim behind the design of rehabilitation robotic systems is to support disabled people in daily life situations as well as in the working environment. This requires the autonomous execution of different tasks. In order to achieve the ability of the robotic system to operate autonomously, the sensor system for the scene observation providing the necessary inputs for the manipulator control is essential. In this paper, the main emphasis is on the development and integration of the closed-loop controls at the visual sensory input level in order to increase the robustness of the vision-based system control. Moreover, the integration of additional sensors in order to support the vision system and to increase the reliability of the whole robotic system is discussed.
High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-6, and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Levels in Asian Indians with Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance (CURES-105)

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in South Indian subjects with and without MS and among MS subjects with and without insulin resistance (IR). Methodology: From the population-based Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study, 334 subjects with MS and 342 subjects without MS were selected. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on modified National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, and VCAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) using the following formula: fasting insulin (μIU/ml) x fasting glucose (mmol/liter)/22.5. Results: Subjects with MS had significantly higher levels of all four inflammatory markers compared to those without MS: hs-CRP (2.57 vs 2.19 mg/liter) (p < .05), TNF-α (4.47 vs 3.89 pg/ml) (p < .05), IL-6 (16.22 vs 10.96 pg/ml) (p < .05), and VCAM-1 (13.8 vs 7.94 pg/ml) (p < .05). In the total study subjects, hs-CRP (r = 0.089, p = .047), TNF-α (r = 0.113, p = .040), IL-6 (r = 0.176, p = .042), and VCAM-1 (r = 0.230, p = .06) were significantly correlated with MS. With increasing quartiles of IR, mean levels of hs-CRP (p for trend <.001) and TNF-α (p for trend <.05) increased linearly. MS subjects with IR had higher levels of hs-CRP (p < .001) and TNF-α (p < .05) compared to MS subjects without IR. Conclusion: In Asian Indians, inflammatory cytokines hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and VCAM-1 are elevated in subjects with MS while hs-CRP and TNF-α are further elevated in those with MS and IR.
Fractures and mortality in relation to different osteoporosis treatments.

OBJECTIVES Few studies have assessed the effectiveness of different drugs for osteoporosis (OP). We aimed to determine if fracture and mortality rates vary among patients initiating different OP medications. METHODS We used the Medicare 5% sample to identify new users of intravenous (IV) zoledronic acid (n=1.674), oral bisphosphonates (n=32.626), IV ibandronate (n=492), calcitonin (n=2.606), raloxifene (n=1.950), or parathyroid hormone (n=549). We included beneficiaries who were ≥65 years of age, were continuously enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and initiated therapy during 2007-2009. Outcomes were hip fracture, clinical vertebral fracture, and all-cause mortality, identified using inpatient and physician diagnosis codes for fracture, procedure codes for fracture repair, and vital status information. Cox regression models compared users of each medication to users of IV zoledronic acid, adjusting for multiple confounders. RESULTS During follow-up (median, 0.8-1.5 years depending on the drug), 787 subjects had hip fractures, 986 had clinical vertebral fractures, and 2.999 died. Positive associations included IV ibandronate with hip fracture (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-4.51), calcitonin with vertebral fracture (HR=1.59, 95%CI 1.04-2.43), and calcitonin with mortality (HR=1.31; 95%CI 1.02-1.68). Adjusted HRs for other drug-outcome comparisons were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS IV ibandronate and calcitonin were associated with higher rates of some types of fracture when compared to IV zolendronic acid. The relatively high mortality associated with use of calcitonin may reflect the poorer health of users of this agent.
A random sample survey for prevalence of major neurological disorders in Kolkata.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Large scale epidemiological studies on neurological disorders are very few in India. We therefore planned to conduct a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study on a stratified randomly selected sample from the city of Kolkata to study the prevalence of major neurological disorders such as epilepsy, stroke, dementia and Parkinsonism. METHODS The method of case ascertainment was two- stage house-to-house survey; the first stage was undertaken by a field team consisting of four field workers and a neuropsychologist. Screening questionnaire based on National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) protocol was used. In the second stage a neurologist examined all the screened positive cases. RESULTS A total of 52,377 subjects participated in the study. The crude prevalence rates (per 100,000 population) of major neurological disorders with 95 per cent confidence intervals (95% CI) and age adjusted rates (AAR) based on US 2000 population were 557.5 (95% CI 496.17-624.40 and AAR - 516.77) in epilepsy, 486.85 (95% CI 377.0 to 551.11 and AAR-765.68) in stroke, 87.82 (95% CI 64.02-117.50 and AAR-168.4) in dementia and 45.82 (95% CI 29.64-67.63 and AAR-71.64) in Parkinsonism. The weighted prevalence rates (per 100,000) of the whole population based on re-screening of 10 per cent of negative samples were 763.89 (95% CI 690.55- 842.57) in epilepsy, 624.32 (95% CI 555.64-699.24) in stroke and 139.37 (95% CI 108.71-176.06) in dementia. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION A high rate of stroke and overall lower prevalence of Parkinsonism and dementia was recorded as compared to western studies. High prevalence rate of stroke emphasizes the need to study incidence, morbidity and mortality profile of stroke including its socio-economic impact and also case-control analysis to determine the underlying risk factors.
Assessment of Health Care Quality in Chronic Neurological Diseases: Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the quality of care in chronic neurological diseases, and to analyze the correlation between patients’ dependency and the quality of care. Methods: The study is designed as a descriptive and cross-sectional one. It was conducted among 184 patients who had visited neurology clinics of Ataturk University, Turkey, from March 2014 to July 2014. Data was collected by using a Self-made questionnaire, PACIC (Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care) and Barthell Index (BI). For data evaluation, percentage distribution, mean, independent samples t test, variance analysis and Pears on correlation analysis were utilized. Results: Overall mean score of PACIC scale was found to be 3.05 ± 0.57. The lowest mean score was obtained in follow-up/coordination subscale (2.73 ± 0.86) among sub-scales of the scale, the highest mean score was found to be in patient activation subscale (3.20 ± 0.74). The mean score for BI was 66.60 ± 38.22. The mean score of PACIC varied significantly according to age, marital status, education, disease diagnosis, co morbid conditions and hospitalization duration and hospital experience. Conclusion: It was found that the satisfaction of patients in terms of chronic disease is at a moderate level, and the highest score was taken in the patient activation subscale, and the lowest score was taken in the follow-up subscale. Moreover, the quality of health care perceptions of independent patients was better.
epressive disorders and the menopause transition

Aim: Depressive disorders and symptoms are common among middle-aged women. The effects of hormones on depression remain unclear. This review aims to clarify the nature of depressive disorders during the menopause transition as well as their links with climacteric syndrome, sexuality, cardiovascular risk and cognitive function. Material and methods: The recent literature on depressive disorders and menopause is reviewed. Results and conclusions: Women are more vulnerable than men to depressive disorders. Endocrine influences have been postulated but differences in, for example, coping style and response to stress may also contribute to the gender difference in the prevalence of depressive disorders. Gender differences in socialization may lead to higher rates of depression in women. There are data top suggest that menopause and depression are associated, although there is not a common clear causative factor. Women with climacteric symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and dyspareunia) are more likely to report anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Bothersome vasomotor symptoms could be associated with sleep disturbances, which in turn can increase reports of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Biopsychosocial and partner factors have a significant influence on middle-aged women’s sexuality and depressive disorders, and most antidepressants can have a negative effect on sexual response. Lastly, studies have consistently shown that women with high levels of depressive symptoms are at greater cardiovascular risk and have poorer cognitive function than non-depressed women. At present, a direct relationship between psychiatric symptoms and hormonal changes such as estrogen decrease has not been clearly found. Stress, educational level, ethnicity, socioeconomic factors and partner status may influence the prevalence and clinical course of both menopause symptoms and depressive disorders. Since in many cases depression is a lifelong condition, and is associated with severe comorbid conditions, further studies are needed to improve the early diagnosis of depression; it may be advisable to monitor a woman’s mental health during the menopause transition to prevent a depressive disorder having long-term negative consequences. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
A direct product theorem for bounded-round public-coin randomized communication complexity

A strong direct product theorem for a problem in a given model of computation states that, in order to compute k instances of the problem, if we provide resource which is less than k times the resource required for computing one instance of the problem with constant success probability, then the probability of correctly computing all the k instances together, is exponentially small in k. In this paper, we consider the model of two-party bounded-round public-coin randomized communication complexity. For a relation f ⊆ X ×Y×Z (X,Y,Z are finite sets), let R (t),pub " (f) denote the two-party t-message public-coin communication complexity of f with worst case error e. We show that for any relation f and integer k ≥ 1