Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance enhancement through joint detection of cochannel signals using diversity arrays

Joint detection based on exploiting differences among the channels employed by several users allows a receiver to distinguish cochannel signals without reliance on spectrum spreading. This paper makes a number of new contributions to the topic: it provides an analytical expression for the union bound on average symbol error rate for an arbitrary number of users and diversity antennas in a fading environment, for both perfect and imperfect CSI, and it compares the performance of joint detection with diversity antennas against classical MMSE combining. The performance is remarkable. With accurate CSI, several users can experience good performance with only a single antenna; moreover, for perfect CSI, only a 2 dB penalty is incurred for each additional user. With several antennas, many more users than the number of antennas may be supported with a slow degradation in performance for each additional user. Furthermore, high accuracy is not required from the channel estimation process. In all cases, the performance of joint detection exceeds that of MMSE combining by orders of magnitude.
RSPH 9 methylation pattern as a prognostic indicator in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

DNA methylation is a frequent and early epigenetic event with potential application as a biomarker for cancer detection and an indicator of disease evolution. The aim of the present study was to identify novel methylation markers for the prediction of patient outcomes using microarray analysis of DNA methylation in samples from long-term follow-up patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Candidate methylation markers were selected from our previously published genome-wide methylation profiles. The clinical relevance of candidate methylation markers was determined by quantitative pyrosequencing analysis of 136 human bladder specimens (8 normal controls and 128 NMIBCs). The reversibility of DNA methylation was examined by 5-Aza-CdR treatment in human bladder cancer cell lines. The methylation patterns of candidate markers were significantly associated with aggressive clinicopathological features. In multivariate regression analysis, hypermethylation of radial spoke head 9 homolog (RSPH9) was an independent predictor of disease recurrence (hazard ratio, 3.02; P=0.001) and progression (hazard ratio, 8.25; P=0.028). The methylation level of RSPH9 decreased with 5-Aza-CdR treatment and progressively increased in its absence in bladder cancer cell lines. RSPH9 methylation is an independent prognostic indicator in NMIBC patients, and could be of value for the assessment of disease recurrence and progression and for clinical decision-making regarding treatment.
Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Drug Abuse Treatment Services

The foundations of cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis (CB/CEA) for drug abuse treatment are developect An economic model of addict choice and drug markets is presented. This model is synthesized with the current "cost of illness" methods used to measure the burden of the disease to society. The problem of doing cost-effectiveness studies in the presence of large nonhealth benefits is examined, and guidance is offered to clinical studies with a cost-effectiveness component or to stand-alone cost-effectiveness studies. References and an extensive bibliography on drug abuse treatment-related CB/CEA studies are appended.
( I)FP-CIT SPECT in suspected dementia with Lewy bodies: a longitudinal case study

Objectives: Little is known regarding the ‘ false-negative ’ or ‘ false-positive ’ striatal dopamine transporter binding on SPECT for the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We explored the clinical course in patients fulfilling the criteria for clinical DLB with a normal ( 123 I)FP-CIT SPECT (ie, SPECT scan negative, clinical features positive (S − CF+)) and patients not fulfilling DLB criteria with an abnormal scan (S+CF − ). non-DLB ’ cluster were included. Outcome measures: Scores on standardised clinical rating scales for hallucinations, parkinsonism, fluctuations, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder and visually rated ( 123 I)FP-CIT SPECT. Results: During the follow-up period, in the S+CF − group (n=7), frequency and severity of DLB symptoms tended to increase, particularly parkinsonism (7/7) and cognitive fluctuations (7/7), while severity of visual hallucinations and REM sleep behaviour disorder remained stable. The S − CF+ (n=3) fulfilled the operationalised criteria for probable DLB both at baseline and at the end of the follow-up. Conclusions: The findings suggest that systematic visual analyses of ( 123 I)FP-CIT SPECT can detect people with DLB prior to the development of the full clinical syndrome. In addition, the study indicates that some patients fulfilling clinical criteria for probable DLB have a normal scan, and further studies are required to characterise these patients better.
Antimicrobial activity of Tachyplesin 1 against Burkholderia pseudomallei: an in vitro and in silico approach

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is intrinsically resistant to many conventional antibiotics. Therefore, alternative antimicrobial agents such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are extensively studied to combat this issue. Our study aims to identify and understand the mode of action of the potential AMP(s) that are effective against B. pseudomallei in both planktonic and biofilm state as well as to predict the possible binding targets on using in vitro and in silico approaches. In the in vitro study, 11 AMPs were tested against 100 B. pseudomallei isolates for planktonic cell susceptibility, where LL-37, and PG1, demonstrated 100.0% susceptibility and TP1 demonstrated 83% susceptibility. Since the B. pseudomallei activity was reported on LL-37 and PG1, TP1 was selected for further investigation. TP1 inhibited B. pseudomallei cells at 61.69 μM, and membrane blebbing was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, TP1 inhibited B. pseudomallei cell growth, reaching bactericidal endpoint within 2 h post exposure as compared to ceftazidime (CAZ) (8 h). Furthermore, TP1 was shown to suppress the growth of B. pseudomallei cells in biofilm state at concentrations above 221 μM. However, TP1 was cytotoxic to the mammalian cell lines tested. In the in silico study, molecular docking revealed that TP1 demonstrated a strong interaction to the common peptide or inhibitor binding targets for lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli, as well as autolysin, pneumolysin, and pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Homology modelled B. pseudomallei PspA protein (YDP) also showed a favourable binding with a strong electrostatic contribution and nine hydrogen bonds. In conclusion, TP1 demonstrated a good potential as an anti-B. pseudomallei agent.
Brain stimulation for treatment and enhancement in children: an ethical analysis

Davis (2014) called for “extreme caution” in the use of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to treat neurological disorders in children, due to gaps in scientific knowledge. We are sympathetic to his position. However, we must also address the ethical implications of applying this technology to minors. Compensatory trade-offs associated with NIBS present a challenge to its use in children, insofar as these trade-offs have the effect of limiting the child’s future options. The distinction between treatment and enhancement has some normative force here. As the intervention moves away from being a treatment toward being an enhancement—and thus toward a more uncertain weighing of the benefits, risks, and costs—considerations of the child’s best interests (as judged by the parents) diminish, and the need to protect the child’s (future) autonomy looms larger. NIBS for enhancement involving trade-offs should therefore be delayed, if possible, until the child reaches a state of maturity and can make an informed, personal decision. NIBS for treatment, by contrast, is permissible insofar as it can be shown to be at least as safe and effective as currently approved treatments, which are themselves justified on a best interests standard.
The developmental psychopathology of alcohol use and alcohol disorders: Research achievements and future directions

Abstract The last 25 years have seen significant advances in our conceptualization of alcohol use and alcohol use disorders within a developmental framework, along with advances in our empirical understanding that have been potentiated by advances in quantitative methods. These include advances in understanding the heterogeneity of trajectories of alcohol outcomes; new insights about early childhood antecedents, and adolescence and emerging adulthood as important developmental periods for alcohol outcomes; a more nuanced understanding of the influences of developmental transitions, and their timing and contexts; a greater appreciation for the importance of considering multiple levels of analysis (including an increasing number of genetically informative studies); a continuing focus on studying multiple pathways underlying alcohol outcomes; and an increasing focus on studying the effects of alcohol exposure on future development. The current paper reviews these advances and suggests directions for future study.
High-Electron-Mobility $\hbox{Ge/GeO}_{2}$  n-MOSFETs With Two-Step Oxidation

We propose a two-step oxidation with high-pressure oxidation and low-temperature oxygen annealing to form ideal Ge/GeO2 stacks based on thermodynamic and kinetic control. The capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of Ge/GeO2 MISCAPs with two-step oxidation revealed significant improvements of electrical properties, and the interface states density (Dit) estimated with a low-temperature conductance method that was below 1011 eV-1 cm-2 near the midgap. On the basis of our understanding of Ge oxidation, we demonstrated very high electron mobility in Ge n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) that exceeded the universal mobility in Si-MOSFETs. The peak electron mobility in Ge n-MOSFETs with the two-step oxidation was 1100 cm2/V · s in the Al/GeO2/Ge stack. This was achieved by taking care of the Ge/GeO2 channel interface. Since we clarified that mobility was still limited by the remaining extrinsic scattering sources, the present results promise much higher performance Ge complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor.
FDG PET helpful for diagnosing SAPHO syndrome.

A 45-year-old man had chronic osteomyelitis in the right tibia since 1996 and developed severe shoulder pain recently. Bone scintigraphy was performed to exclude additional osteomyelitis originating from the primary site. Because of the bone scan results, the presence of osteomyelitis in the sternoclavicular region turned out to be very unlikely. To exclude malignancy, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography was performed. Further examination showed that the patient had palmoplantar pustulosis. This pattern led to the diagnosis of SAPHO syndrome, which is characterized by synovitis, acne, palmoplantar pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis. In this case the positron emission tomographic scan, in addition to bone scinigraphy, showed that in SAPHO syndrome certain areas are active (right ankle region) whereas the activity of the disease in other parts of the body has burned out (thoracic lesions).
Les régimes hydroclimatiques et hydrologiques d'un bassin versant de type tropical humide : l'Oubangui (République Centrafricaine)

The study of the variability of runoff from the Oubangui river, in the centre of the African continent gives sorne indications of the homogeneous climatic periods of this century. A distinct break in the runoff time series was detected in 1971, showing a new average state for central African hydroclimatology. Rainfall and runoff data from several subcatchments of the Oubangui river are analysed, using the water balance, for indications of changing hydroclimatological behaviour from these areas. The decrease in runoff was simultaneous with the decrease in rainfall. The trends for rainfall and runoff are discussed with respect to the runoff deficit and groundwater reserves. The results showed the changes were not of the same intensity for the wet part as opposed to the dry part of the Oubangui basin. The understanding of the functioning of the hydroclimate and the state of the groundwater of the Oubangui catchment indicates the great stress which exists on the groundwater reserves in the northern part of the basin.
Reciprocity and Emotions When Reciprocators Know Each Other

This is an experimental study of a three-player power-to-take game where a take authority is matched with two responders. The game consists of two stages. In the first stage, the take authority decides how much of the endowment of each responder that is left after the second stage will be transferred to the take authority (the so-called take rate). In the second stage, each responder can react by destroying any part of his or her own endowment. Two treatments are considered: one in which all players are ‘strangers’ to each other (random matching), and one in which the responders know each other from outside the lab and are more or less close ‘friends’ (whereas the take-authority is again randomly selected). We focus on how the intensity of ties between responders impacts the decisions, beliefs, and emotions of both the responders and the take-authority. Some of our findings are: (1) although take rates are about the same, friends destroy more than strange! rs when faced with high take rates; (2) coordination on the same destruction level is stronger among friends; (3) the high level of coordination among friends can be explained by their emotional reaction towards one another; (4) the difference between the actual and expected take rate is a much better predictor of experienced emotions and destruction than the difference between the actual and (what is considered as) the fair take rate.
Efficient network QoS provisioning based on per node traffic shaping

This paper addresses the problem of providing per-connection end-to-end delay guarantees in a high-speed network. We assume that the network is connection oriented and enforces some admission control which ensures that the source traffic conforms to specified traffic characteristics. We concentrate on the class of rate-controlled service (RCS) disciplines, in which traffic from each connection is reshaped at every hop, and develop end-to-end delay bounds for the general case where different reshapers are used at each hop. In addition, we establish that these bounds can also be achieved when the shapers at each hop have the same "minimal" envelope. The main disadvantage of this class of service disciplines is that the end-to-end delay guarantees are obtained as the sum of the worst case delays at each node, but we show that this problem can be alleviated through "proper" reshaping of the traffic. We illustrate the impact of this reshaping by demonstrating its use in designing RCS disciplines that outperform generalized processor sharing-based service disciplines.
Analysis of Viral Load in Children Infected with Human Metapneumovirus

Objective Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a respiratory pathogen responsible for disease and subsequent hospitalizations in young children around the world. The disease pathology, including how viral load correlates with respiratory disease severity, remains unclear. This study investigated the correlation between viral load and clinical characteristics of hMPV infections. Methods Nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) samples collected from 18 infants hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in winter were tested for hMPV by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR. Their NPA samples were collected every-other-day to monitor changes in hMPV viral load during hospitalization. Also all these 18 patients were monitored to characterize clinically their illness. Findings hMPV load was not correlated with infection severity (P=0.5, 0.9, 0.5). In contrast, the log10 of hMPV viral load was significantly different between those lasted for 6–11 days and those for less than 5 days (P=0.01), also the significant difference was shown between those of 6–11 days duration and those of more than 11 days (P=0.006), but there was no significant difference between those lasted for less than 5 days and those for more than 11 days (P=0.4). Additionally, high hMPV viral shedding occured between 6 and 11days. Conclusion hMPV load was significantly correlated with the course of illness. The association between hMPV viral load and the course of disease suggested that hMPV is an important pathogen in lower respiratory tract infection in children. But hMPV did not always lead to more severe respiratory illness.
On the advantages of serial architectures for low-power reliable computations

This paper explores low power reliable micro-architectures for addition. Power, speed, and reliability (both defect- and fault-tolerance) are important metrics of system design, spanning device, gate, block, and architectural levels. The analysis considers the low power needs of future systems at supply voltages comparable to threshold voltages (V/sub th/). Theoretical analysis and simulations show a decline of the speed advantages of parallel adders when considering wire delays. These evaluations suggest that serial adders might do better for (ultra) low power operation, with redundancy for enhancing reliability. We analyze 32-bit multiplexed serial adders. The robustness when using output-wired mirrored adder (majority) gates is shown under faulty conditions. Simulations (at 180nm, 120 nm, and 70nm) identify the supply voltages where the power-delay and energy-delay products are minimized. These show that redundant serial adders are not only low power and reliable, but can trade speed for power in a wide range (by varying V/sub DD/ both above and below V/sub th/).
Immunometabolic Responses after Short and Moderate Rest Intervals to Strength Exercise with and without Similar Total Volume

This study investigated the influence of short and moderate intervals of recovery with and without equated volume during an acute bout exhaustive strength exercise on metabolic, hormonal and inflammatory responses in healthy adults. Eight physically active men (23.5 ± 3.1) performed three randomized sequences: Short (70% of 1 RM with 30 s of rest); Moderate (70% of 1 RM with 90 s of rest); and Volume-Equated Short (70% of 1 RM with 30 s of rest between sets with a repetition volume equal to that performed in Moderate). All sequences of exercises were performed until movement failure in the squat, bench press and T-bar row exercises, respectively. Glucose, lactate, testosterone, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1ra, and MCP-1 levels were assessed at rest, immediate post-exercise, and 1 h post. There was a main effect of time for testosterone (p < 0.001). The post hoc indicated differences between post-exercise and rest and post-1 h and post-exercise (p < 0.001). Lactate increased post-exercise when compared to pre and post-1 h (p < 0.001) and maintained higher post-1 h in relation to rest. IL-6 was greater post-exercise than rest (p = 0.045) and post-1 h and rest (p = 0.020). IL-10 was greater post-exercise (p = 0.007) and post-1 h (p = 0.002) than rest. IL-1ra increased post-exercise in relation to rest (p = 0.003) and MCP-1 was greater post-exercise than rest (p < 0.001) and post-1 h (p = 0.043). There were no significant differences between conditions or interaction. Thus, both short and moderate intervals of recovery induced greater metabolic, hormonal and inflammatory responses after acute bout of exhaustive strength exercise in healthy adult.
Randomized Clinical Trial on the Use of PHYSTA Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Sexual Well-Being in Men

Eurycoma longifolia is reputed as an aphrodisiac and remedy for decreased male libido. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group study was carried out to investigate the clinical evidence of E. longifolia in men. The 12-week study in 109 men between 30 and 55 years of age consisted of either treatment of 300 mg of water extract of E. longifolia (Physta) or placebo. Primary endpoints were the Quality of Life investigated by SF-36 questionnaire and Sexual Well-Being investigated by International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Sexual Health Questionnaires (SHQ); Seminal Fluid Analysis (SFA), fat mass and safety profiles. Repeated measures ANOVA analysis was used to compare changes in the endpoints. The E. longifolia (EL) group significantly improved in the domain Physical Functioning of SF-36, from baseline to week 12 compared to placebo (P = 0.006) and in between group at week 12 (P = 0.028). The EL group showed higher scores in the overall Erectile Function domain in IIEF (P < 0.001), sexual libido (14% by week 12), SFA- with sperm motility at 44.4%, and semen volume at 18.2% at the end of treatment. Subjects with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 significantly improved in fat mass lost (P = 0.008). All safety parameters were comparable to placebo.
The frequency of prostatic involvement in radical cystectomy specimens for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency of prostatic involvement in pathologic samples of the patients who had undergone radical cystectomy due to transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. MATERIALS The files of the patients who had been subjected to radical cystectomy due to bladder TCC between 1998 and 2004 were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 164 radical cystectomies had been done during this period. Seventeen cases were excluded because the primary tumour was not TCC or the patient had previously undergone prostatectomy. RESULTS Of 147 patients, 36 (24/4%) had prostate TCC and 19 (12.9%) had prostate adenocarcinoma. Two patients had both TCC and prostate adenocarcinoma. Twenty-one cases had superficial bladder cancer (T1) and prostatic involvement was detected in TCC cases but in 9.5% of those with adenocarcinoma. The prevalence of prostate adenocarcinoma in radical cystectomy samples (due to bladder TCC) is much lower in Iranian patients in comparison with the European and American patients (vs 12.9 and 17.5 to 45%, respectively). CONCLUSION Prostatic involvement by TCC had a direct relation with the stage (P = .01) and grade (P = .008) of the bladder tumour. If we try to preserve the prostate or its capsule during the radical cystectomy procedure, attention to these findings is worthwhile
Low Dose Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Does Not Impair Spatial Learning and Memory in Two Tests in Adult and Aged Rats

Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can have detrimental impacts on the developing hippocampus, which can lead to deficits in learning and memory function. Although high levels of alcohol exposure can lead to severe deficits, there is a lack of research examining the effects of low levels of exposure. This study used a rat model to determine if prenatal exposure to chronic low dose ethanol would result in deficits in learning and memory performance and if this was associated with morphological changes within the hippocampus. Sprague Dawley rats were fed a liquid diet containing 6% (vol/vol) ethanol (EtOH) or an isocaloric control diet throughout gestation. Male and Female offspring underwent behavioural testing at 8 (Adult) or 15 months (Aged) of age. Brains from these animals were collected for stereological analysis of pyramidal neuron number and dendritic morphology within the CA1 and CA3 regions of the dorsal hippocampus. Prenatal ethanol exposed animals did not differ in spatial learning or memory performance in the Morris water maze or Y maze tasks compared to Control offspring. There was no effect of prenatal ethanol exposure on pyramidal cell number or density within the dorsal hippocampus. Overall, this study indicates that chronic low dose prenatal ethanol exposure in this model does not have long term detrimental effects on pyramidal cells within the dorsal hippocampus or impair spatial learning and memory performance.