Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circuit-Model Analysis of Frequency Selective Surfaces With Scatterers of Arbitrary Geometry

An equivalent-network model is here proposed to characterize two-dimensional planar periodic arrays of arbitrary scatterers/apertures embedded in a layered environment. The model is an extension of the approach previously developed by some of the authors, which only considered simple rectangular scatterers. A key underlying assumption in the present approach is that the current/field distribution in the scatterer can be factorized so that the spatial profile is independent of the frequency in the considered range of interest. This approximation is proven to work properly for a great variety of useful planar scatterer/aperture patterns, even at frequencies within the diffraction regime. The spatial current/field profile is determined from a full-wave simulation at a single and low frequency value. Our numerical results are validated through comparison to commercial simulators for very wide frequency ranges as well as with previously proposed circuit-model approaches.
Effects of Oleuropein and Peracetic Acid as Sanitizing Agents for Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes Biofilms

The development of more efficient sanitizers for reducing the biofilm produced by pathogenic bacteria is of great importance, especially in the food industry. The aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the efficiency of oleuropein (OLE), extracted from olive leaves, and peracetic acid (PAA), alone or in combination, to inactivate biofilms formed by a strong biofilm-producer strain of Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 7644). A disk diffusion method was also used to assess the susceptibility of the ATCC 7644 strain cells to OLE and/or PAA. Triplicate biofilm assays were prepared on stainless steel coupons (1x1 cm 2 ) during 48 h without stirring. After incubation, the stainless steel was washed (NaCl 0.85%) and immersed in solutions of OLE (5.0 mg/mL) and/or PAA (2.0%) for 1 min. After 1-min treatment, the disinfectant solutions were removed from the tube. Two mL of sodium thiosulfate 0.1 M was placed in the tube to stop reaction. The inactivation of biofilms was assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. L. monocytogenes cells tested in the disk diffusion method was not susceptible to OLE (inhibition zone (IZ) = 6 mm), although its susceptibility was intermediate for PAA (IZ = 8.67 mm) and higher for PAA+OLE (IZ = 14 mm). Compared with PAA, OLE alone in contact with biofilms had also lower bactericidal activity on the biofilms. However, the treatment of OLE in combination with PAA resulted in greater inactivation of L. monocytogenes cells in biofilms. Results indicate a potential application of OLE for enhancing the bactericidal effect of PAA against L. monocytogenes biofilms , although further studies are necessary to understand the mechanisms of action of OLE in combination with commercial chemical sanitizers.
Analysis of NMDA‐independent long‐term potentiation induced at CA3—CA1 synapses in rat hippocampus in vitro

1 Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were evoked at synapses formed by Schaffer collaterals/commissural (CA3) axons with CA1 pyramidal cells using the rat hippocampal slice preparation. Long‐term potentiation (LTP) was induced at these synapses using a pairing protocol, with 50 μm d,l‐APV present in the artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). 2 Quantal analysis of the amplitudes of the control and conditioned EPSCs showed that the enhancement of synaptic strength was due entirely to an increase in quantal content of the EPSC. No change occurred in the quantal current. 3 These results were compared with those obtained from a previous quantal analysis of LTP induced in normal ACSF, where both quantal current and quantal content increased. The results suggest that calcium entering via NMDA receptors initiates the signalling cascade that results in enhanced AMPA currents because it is adding to cytoplasmic calcium from other sources to reach a threshold for this signalling pathway, or because calcium entering via NMDA receptors specifically activates this signalling pathway.
New quadratic baryon mass relations

By assuming the existence of (quasi)linear baryon Regge trajectories, we derive new quadratic Gell-Mann{endash}Okubo-type baryon mass relations. These relations are used to predict the masses of the charmed baryons absent from the baryon summary table so far, in good agreement with the predictions of many other approaches. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Tactile change detection

Interest in the use of tactile information displays has grown rapidly in recent years. However, relatively little research has been conducted to explore any cognitive and/or attentional limitations that may be inherent when using the body as a receptor surface for the transmission of information. In the present study, participants attempted to detect changes to tactile patterns presented sequentially on the body surface. The patterns consisted of 1-3 vibrotactile stimuli presented for 200 ms with a blank interstimulus interval of 800 ms. The pattern of tactile stimulation was repeatedly changed (alternating between two different patterns) on 50% of the trials, while no change occurred on the remaining trials. The results showed that participants often failed to detect the changes to the consecutively-presented tactile patterns. This finding may reflect a tactile equivalent of the phenomenon of change blindness reported in previous visual studies. The implications of these finding for human tactile interface design are discussed.
Power and Narrative in Project Management: Lessons Learned in Recognising the Importance of Phronesis

ions in the activity of lessons learned within project management is what is 1 While there are many industry-specific and cross-industry reports that support this view (Bloch et al 2012; Geneca 2011; KPMG 2010; IBM 2008; CGI 2010; The Guardian 2008,) see also Flyvbjerg 2010, the Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of the few that claims that project management is improving;
An Experimental Study of Minimum Mean Cycle Algorithms

We study algorithms for the minimum mean cycle problem, a parametric version of shortest path feasibility (SPF). The three basic approaches to the problem are cycle-based, binary search, and tree-based. The first two use an SPF algorithm as a subroutine, while the latter uses a parametric approach. When implementing the SPF-based methods, one has a choice of SPF algorithms and incremental optimization strategies. There are also several ways to handle precision issues. This leads to dozens of variants, which we systematically compare. Our experimental setup is more comprehensive than in previous studies. In our experiments, the tree-based method and two implementations of the cycle-based method outperformed other approaches, including binary search.
How Robust Is Your Project? From Local Failures to Global Catastrophes: A Complex Networks Approach to Project Systemic Risk

Current societal requirements necessitate the effective delivery of complex projects that can do more while using less. Yet, recent large-scale project failures suggest that our ability to successfully deliver them is still at its infancy. Such failures can be seen to arise through various failure mechanisms; this work focuses on one such mechanism. Specifically, it examines the likelihood of a project sustaining a large-scale catastrophe, as triggered by single task failure and delivered via a cascading process. To do so, an analytical model was developed and tested on an empirical dataset by the means of numerical simulation. This paper makes three main contributions. First, it provides a methodology to identify the tasks most capable of impacting a project. In doing so, it is noted that a significant number of tasks induce no cascades, while a handful are capable of triggering surprisingly large ones. Secondly, it illustrates that crude task characteristics cannot aid in identifying them, highlighting the complexity of the underlying process and the utility of this approach. Thirdly, it draws parallels with systems encountered within the natural sciences by noting the emergence of self-organised criticality, commonly found within natural systems. These findings strengthen the need to account for structural intricacies of a project’s underlying task precedence structure as they can provide the conditions upon which large-scale catastrophes materialise.
Measurement of urinary hippuric and m-methylhippuric acids by gas chromatography

Buchet, J. P., and Lauwerys, R. R. (1973). British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 125-128. Measurement of urinary hippuric and m-methylhippuric acids by gas chromatography. A gas chromatographic method for the determination of hippuric and m-methylhippuric acids in urine is described. A known amount of heptadecanoic acid (internal standard) is added to the urine before its extraction with ethyl acetate. After evaporation of the solvent, the acids are methylated with diazomethane. The residue is taken up in methanol and injected into the gas chromatograph. The ratio of the height of the hippuric or m-methylhippuric acid peak to the height of the heptadecanoic acid peak is calculated and by reference to a calibration curve prepared in the same conditions the urine concentration of the two acids is determined.
Medical Illness and the Acceptance of Suffering

This article challenges the belief that depression and anxiety are the inevitable consequences of medical illness. The authors describe how cognitive behavioral therapy can help individuals accept their disabilities and modify the distorted thinking patterns which may compound their suffering. Three case studies demonstrate the successful application of cognitive techniques to feelings of depression and anxiety in two patients with Stage III ovarian carcinoma and one patient with multiple sclerosis.
Socioeconomic variation in participation in colorectal cancer screening

OBJECTIVES: To investigate socioeconomic variation in participation in flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening for colorectal cancer. DESIGN: A prospective study nested within a multicentre randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of FS screening for the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer (the UK flexible sigmoidoscopy trial). SETTING: Glasgow, Scotland. PARTICIPANTS: 55–64 year old adults, registered with general practitioners participating in the FS trial. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Screening participation measured at three levels: questionnaire return; interest in screening; attendance at screening. RESULTS: Socioeconomic deprivation was a strong predictor of participation. Return of the screening questionnaire, expression of interest in screening, and attendance at the test, were all lower in more deprived groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the need to consider ways to reduce inequalities in screening uptake, in parallel with the introduction of any new screening programmes, to avoid exacerbating social gradients in cancer mortality.
Supporting the supermarket shopping experience through a context-aware shopping trolley

Shopping in supermarkets is becoming an increasingly interactive experience as stores integrate technologies to support shoppers. While shopping is an essential and routine type of consumer behaviour, emerging technologies posses the qualities to change our behaviour and patterns while shopping. This paper describes CAST - a context-aware shopping trolley designed to support the shopping activity in a supermarket through context-awareness and the acquiring of user attention. The design is based on understandings of supermarket shopping needs and behaviour derived from previous studies. The system supports customers in finding and purchasing products from a shopping list. A field evaluation showed that CAST affected the shopping behaviour and experience in more ways, e.g. more uniform behaviour in terms of product sequence collection, ease of finding products. However, they saved no significant time of the shopping activity.
Genome wide molecular analysis of minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia

This study used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array technology to study copy number changes and to determine regions of loss of heterozygosity in minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia. Several chromosomal regions were found to be deleted or duplicated, and mutations in 163gene were the most frequent mutations detected. Background Minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia is heterogeneous in karyotype and is defined by immature morphological and molecular characteristics. This originally French-American-British classification is still used in the new World Health Organization classification when other criteria are not met. Apart from RUNX1 mutation, no characteristic molecular aberrations are recognized. Design and Methods We performed whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis and extensive molecular analysis in a cohort of 52 patients with minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia. Results Many recurring and potentially relevant regions of loss of heterozygosity were revealed. These point towards a variety of candidate genes that could contribute to the pathogenesis of minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia, including the tumor suppressor genes TP53 and NF1, and reinforced the importance of RUNX1 in this leukemia. Furthermore, for the first time in this minimally differentiated form of leukemia we detected mutations in the transactivation domain of RUNX1. Mutations in other acute myeloid leukemia associated transcriptions factors were infrequent. In contrast, FLT3, RAS, PTPN11 and JAK2 were often mutated. Irrespective of the RUNX1 mutation status, our results show that RAS signaling is the most important pathway for proliferation in minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia. Importantly, we found that high terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase expression is closely associated with RUNX1 mutation, which could allow an easier diagnosis of RUNX1 mutation in this hematologic malignancy. Conclusions Our results suggest that in patients without RUNX1 mutation, several other molecular aberrations, separately or in combination, contribute to a common minimally differentiated phenotype.
Initial Reactions in Anaerobic Alkane Degradation by a Sulfate Reducer, Strain AK-01

ABSTRACT An alkane-degrading, sulfate-reducing bacterial strain, AK-01, isolated from a petroleum-contaminated sediment was studied to elucidate its mechanism of alkane metabolism. Total cellular fatty acids of AK-01 were predominantly C even when it was grown on C-even alkanes and were predominantly C odd when grown on C-odd alkanes, suggesting that the bacterium anaerobically oxidizes alkanes to fatty acids. Among these fatty acids, some 2-, 4-, and 6-methylated fatty acids were specifically found only when AK-01 was grown on alkanes, and their chain lengths always correlated with those of the alkanes. When [1,2-13C2]hexadecane or perdeuterated pentadecane was used as the growth substrate, 13C-labeled 2-Me-16:0, 4-Me-18:0, and 6-Me-20:0 fatty acids or deuterated 2-Me-15:0, 4-Me-17:0, and 6-Me-19:0 fatty acids were recovered, respectively, confirming that these monomethylated fatty acids were alkane derived. Examination of the 13C-labeled 2-, 4-, and 6-methylated fatty acids by mass spectrometry showed that each of them contained two 13C atoms, located at the methyl group and the adjacent carbon, thus indicating that the methyl group was the original terminal carbon of the [1,2-13C2]hexadecane. For perdeuterated pentadecane, the presence of three deuterium atoms, on the methyl group and its adjacent carbon, in each of the deuterated 2-, 4-, and 6-methylated fatty acids further supported the hypothesis that the methyl group was the terminal carbon of the alkane. Thus, exogenous carbon appears to be initially added to an alkane subterminally at the C-2 position such that the original terminal carbon of the alkane becomes a methyl group on the subsequently formed fatty acid. The carbon addition reaction, however, does not appear to be a direct carboxylation of inorganic bicarbonate. A pathway for anaerobic metabolism of alkanes by strain AK-01 is proposed.
Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service over Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) in LTE based Femtocell

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) provides a mechanism to support effective delivery of multimedia traffic over cellular network for all users which request the same multimedia data. It was introduced in 3GPP release 6 and has been developed in recent release in term of enhanced MBMS (eMBMS). Current eMBMS can support two kinds of transmission, namely Single-cell transmission (in this mode the MBMS data only can be transmitted inside one single cell coverage) and Multi-cell transmission (in this mode the MBMS data are sent by different cells that are tightly synchronized), which also known as Single Frequency Network (SFN). In SFN all base stations transmit the same signal at the same time and over the same frequency channel to user equipment. In SFN, the transmissions received from multiple cells will, as seen from the UE, appear as a single transmission subject to severe multipath propagation. SFN can bring benefit whichs changes the interference or destructive signal to constructive signal and contain longer cyclic prefix than conventional transmission. Femtocells are low-power wireless access points that operate in licensed spectrum to connect standard mobile devices to a mobile operator's network using residential DSL or cable broadband connections. Current Macrocells could support indoor coverage but with some limitations caused by thick walls, high locations and other indoor obstacles. Those were a challenges need to be solved and Femtocells offers more efficient solutions to handle indoor coverage. When first introduced, Femtocells can solved the poor quality of indoor voice and data services. When those problems are solved, more services demanded to be supported by Femtocell, e.g. multimedia services.
The Impact of Integrating Oral Health Education into a Medical Curriculum

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate our pilot program incorporating oral health education into the medical curriculum by evaluating students' perspectives on the oral health curriculum. Subjects and Methods: Two hundred second-year students were asked to fill in a presession survey online regarding their familiarity with basic oral health concepts and their comfort level with performing oral examinations, and a postsession survey on paper that repeated the presession questions and added questions on the effectiveness of the session. Results: Of the 200 students, 164 (82%) participated in the surveys. The pre- and postsurvey results showed that the session helped students become more comfortable with performing oral examinations and recognizing risks for periodontal disease, with an increase from 40 (27%) to 119 (82%) and 51 (35%) to 124 (86%), respectively. Conclusion: In this study, the oral health education session contributed to an increase in student awareness and understanding of oral health. Considering the reported effectiveness of the interactive session on student comfort with performing a basic clinical examination, this model shows promise for further use in other institutions.
OPSS : a simulator for large scale Peer-to-Peer streaming systems

In this paper we present the OPSS simulator which is designed to simulate a large scale (i.e. in the order of 100K nodes) peer to peer streaming system. OPSS is able to simulate a fair (i.e. “TCP-like”) sharing of the uplink and downlink bandwidth of each peer among the different peers that are connected. OPSS is based on an existing simulator for TCP-like bandwidth sharing and it offers the possibility to implement the logic of the P2P distribution algorithm as separate module. Therefore it allows to simulate the behavior of arbitrary tree-based or mesh-based approaches. In this paper, we implemented two trivial tree-based and mesh-based approaches for which we could easily find an analytic model of chunk distribution delay. The results of the model have been compared with the simulation output, showing an excellent fit. Source code of OPSS is available under the GPL license.
Comparison of hormonal receptor and HER2 status between ultrasound-guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy and surgery in breast cancer patients

Purpose: To evaluate the concordance of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) statuses between ultrasound (US)-guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy (CNB) and surgery and to analyze whether the clinicopathological and imaging features including those from mammography and ultrasonography can predict the concordance in breast cancer patients. Methods: The concordance of receptor status between CNB and surgery was assessed for 55 breast cancers in 55 women who underwent CNB before treatment. The clinicopathological and imaging features and the concordance rates were compared between the non-neoadjuvant chemotherapy (non-NAC) group and the NAC group according to the initial treatment. The concordance rates were analyzed according to the clinicopathological and imaging features, by using the chi-square or Fisher exact test and McNemar test for the categorical and the independent t-test for continuous variables. Results: Among 55 women, 22 women (40%) were part of the non-NAC group and 33 women (60%) were part of the NAC group. The concordance rates were 0.86-1.00 in the non-NAC group and 0.76-0.88 in the NAC group. In all three receptors, the difference in the concordance rate between the two groups was not significant. In the NAC group, the absence of axillary lymph node metastasis (1.00, P=0.02) and visibility of cancer on mammography (0.93, P=0.04) showed the higher concordance of the HER2 status. Conclusion: Concordance of the receptor status between surgery and US-guided 14-gauge CNB was feasible in breast cancer patients. The absence of axillary lymph node metastasis after NAC and the visibility of cancer on mammography prior to NAC may be helpful for predicting the concordance of HER2 in breast cancer patients.
An Efficient Multi-hop ARP Scheme for Wireless LAN based Mesh Networks

One of the important functions of wireless mesh networks is multi-hop packet forwarding among fixed wireless routers. The current proposal for the IEEE 802.11s specification (i.e., the standardization effort for WLAN-based mesh networks) focuses on adding such mesh functionality into wireless LAN devices in the MAC layer (L2). Here, a route discovery process for a destination will be based on its MAC address to find a multi-hop path towards the destination. Clearly, in order to achieve the destination's MAC address before route discovery ARP request/reply packets will be delivered in a multi-hop fashion. This may cause significant bandwidth consumption due to uncontrolled ARP flooding. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-bop ARP scheme (MARP) for more efficient MAC address resolution in WLAN-based mesh networks. Two different approaches are presented; one for utilizing a proxy ARP when there is a root portal available, and the other for integrating route discovery information into ARP request/reply frames (for on-demand route establishment) when there is no root portal available. The preliminary simulation results show that our proposed MARP reduces the end-to-end latency as well as the control packet overhead