Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Massive MIMO systems with hardware-constrained base stations

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems are cellular networks where the base stations (BSs) are equipped with unconventionally many antennas. Such large antenna arrays offer huge spatial degrees-of-freedom for transmission optimization; in particular, great signal gains, resilience to imperfect channel knowledge, and small inter-user interference are all achievable without extensive inter-cell coordination. The key to cost-efficient deployment of large arrays is the use of hardware-constrained base stations with low-cost antenna elements, as compared to today's expensive and power-hungry BSs. Low-cost transceivers are prone to hardware imperfections, but it has been conjectured that the excessive degrees-of-freedom of massive MIMO would bring robustness to such imperfections. We herein prove this claim for an uplink channel with multiplicative phase-drift, additive distortion noise, and noise amplification. Specifically, we derive a closed-form scaling law that shows how fast the imperfections increase with the number of antennas.
Depression among adolescents: a study in a Bangkok slum community.

BACKGROUND Adolescents represent approximately one-fifth of the total population of Thailand. Few comprehensive surveys of adolescents living in Bangkok slums are available in the literature. To appropriately consider adolescents' development in urban planning strategies calls for the study of the relationship between depression and quality of life (QoL) of adolescents in slums. This study aimed to assess the level of depression and to describe the relationship between depression and QoL for the adolescents in a slum community of Bangkok. METHODS This is a descriptive study. Data from eight hundred and seventy-one adolescents in a Bangkok slum community were randomly collected by a survey that utilized a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale for depression level, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQoL-BREF) assessment, Thai version, for quality of life. RESULTS Thirty-four point nine percent of all respondents exhibited depressive symptoms: 27.6% of males and 40.4% of females. Twenty-six percent of adolescents indicated that they had a 'poor' quality of life. A Chi-squared test yielded a statistically significant difference in the level of depression according to the level of QoL when both genders were considered together (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis shown the association between depression and three factors: quality of life (p < 0.001), position in the family (p = 0.04) and the adolescent's place of origin (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest channels to help adolescents with depression in Bangkok slum communities. Specifically, based on the findings, interventions for adolescent depression may be more effective if gender, age group and family participation in the adolescent's development are considered in the planning and implementation of health intervention programs.
Dielectric relaxation of a composite with tungsten nano-layered spherical filler particles

The thickness and conductivity of a surface coating on filler particles in a composite material are critical parameters in controlling the frequency at which dielectric relaxation occurs. In this paper, experimental results are presented for composites formed from tungsten-coated glass microbubbles, embedded in a matrix of paraffin wax. The tungsten coating is of the order of 10 nm thick. There is an outer coating of alumina, a few nm thick, to prevent oxidation of the tungsten and to prevent the formation of conducting pathways in the composite. Dielectric relaxation is observed at around 10 GHz. A remarkable feature of the system is the way in which the relaxation frequency is shifted, by approximately six decades, from the calculated value for a similar composite formed with solid tungsten filler particles (/spl ap/10/sup 16/ Hz). This shift is attributed to the geometrical confinement of the conductor within a thin shell, and to the reduction in conductivity of the thin tungsten layer when compared with the conductivity of bulk tungsten.
Nurse Competence on Physiologic Monitors Use: Toward Eliminating Alarm Fatigue in Intensive Care Units

Background: Studies on nurse competence on alarm management are a few and tend to be focused on limited skills. In response to Phase II of implementing the National Patient Safety Goal on clinical alarm systems safety, this study assessed nurses’ perceived competence on physiologic monitors use in intensive care units (ICUs) and developed and validated a tool for this purpose. Methods: This descriptive study took place in a Magnet hospital in a Southwestern state of the U.S. A Nurse Competence on Philips Physiologic Monitors Use Survey was created and went through validation by 13 expert ICU nurses. The survey included 5 subscales with 59 rated items and two open-ended questions. Items on the first 4 subscales reflect most common tasks nurses perform using physiologic monitors. Items on the fifth subscale (advanced functions) reflect rarely used skills and were included to understand the scope of utilizing advanced physiologic monitors’ features. Thirty nurses from 4 adult ICUs were invited to respond to the survey. Results: Thirty nurses (100%) responded to the survey. The majority of nurses were from Neuro (47%) and Surgical Trauma (37%) ICUs. The data supported the high reliability and construct validity of the survey. At least one (3%) to 8 nurses (27%) reported lack of confidence on each item on the survey. On the first four subscales, 3% - 40% of the nurses reported they had never heard of or used 27 features/functions on the monitors. No relationships were found between subscales’ scores and demographic characteristics (p > .05). Nurses asked for training on navigating the central-station monitor and troubleshooting alarms, and the use of unit-specific super users to tailor training to users’ needs. Conclusion: This is the first study to create and test a list of competencies for physiologic monitors use. Rigorous, periodic and individualized training is essential for safe and appropriate use of physiologic monitors and to decrease alarm fatigue. Training should be comprehensive to include all necessary skills and should not assume proficiency on basic skills. Special attention should be focused on managing technical alarms. Increasing the number of super users is a recommended strategy for individualized and unit-specific training. There is a need for a usability testing of complex IT-equipped medical devices, such as physiologic monitors, for effective, efficient and safe navigation of the monitors.
Endometriosis of the Appendix Presenting as Acute Appendicitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Endometriosis is a common disease generally, but appendiceal endometriosis causing acute appendicitis is a very uncommon clinical phenomenon and a few cases have been reported. The authors aim to highlight the rarity of such clinical entity in Nigeria. A 29 year old nulliparous woman presented with severe right iliac fossa pains, tenderness and rebound tenderness on her second day of menstruation. She subsequently had appendicectomy and a histopathological diagnosis of appendiceal endometriosis causing acute appendicitis. Appendiceal endometriosis causing acute appendicitis is rare, and definitive diagnosis is performed through histopathological evaluation. Post-operative gynaecological follow-up is highly recommended.
Variability in the 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine content of ‘ecstasy’ tablets in the UK

Background Toxicity, such as hyperpyrexia, associated with the use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) appears to be related to serum MDMA concentrations. However, there does not appear to be a similar association with the number of tablets ingested, suggesting variation in the tablet content of MDMA. Although work has shown this variation in other areas of the world, no studies have reported on the variation of MDMA content in UK ecstasy tablets. Methods Ecstasy tablets seized from individuals attending nightclubs were analysed qualitatively to determine if they contained MDMA and quantitatively to determine the MDMA content per tablet. Results The mean amount of MDMA hydrochloride in 101 seized ecstasy tablets was 58.7±22.9 mg per tablet, with a range of 20 mg to 131 mg per tablet. The majority (96.0%) of tablets contained less than 100 mg MDMA per tablet. There appeared to be a bimodal distribution of MDMA content at approximately 20–40 mg per tablet and 60–80 mg per tablet. Conclusion There is variability in the MDMA content of ecstasy tablets in the UK. This variability could potentially put users at increased risk of acute harm due to inadvertent excess ingestion of MDMA, as they are unaware of the differences in the MDMA content. Repeat sampling and quantification of MDMA content of ecstasy tablets in the UK will allow better education of users about the potential harms associated with the variability in the MDMA content. In addition, it will provide information to allow the monitoring of changes in not only the MDMA content, but also other adulterants, in ecstasy tablets.
Understanding Attitudes Toward and Behaviors in Response to Product Placement

Product placement attitudes have largely been assessed using college students or relatively small samples. In addition, no systematic framework has been used to investigate the origins or influencing social factors of such attitudes and how these interact with demographic characteristics. Using an online survey, we adopt the consumer socialization framework to examine placement-related attitudes and behaviors among 3,340 adults. Peer communication, a variable not previously investigated in this research stream, was the strongest predictor of both product placement attitudes and behaviors. Findings also reveal differences in both attitudes and behaviors across a range of demographic characteristics, including income, gender, and ethnicity.
Effects of subcutaneous pasireotide on cardiac repolarization in healthy volunteers: A single-center, phase I, randomized, four-way crossover study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subcutaneous pasireotide on cardiac repolarization in healthy volunteers. Healthy volunteers were randomized to one of four treatment sequences (n = 112) involving four successive treatments in different order: pasireotide 600 µg (therapeutic dose) or 1,950 µg (maximum tolerated dose) bid by subcutaneous injection (sc), placebo injection and oral moxifloxacin. Maximum ΔΔQTcI occurred 2 hours post‐dose for both doses of pasireotide. Mean ΔΔQTcI was 13.2 milliseconds (90% CI: 11.4, 15.0) and 16.1 milliseconds (90% CI: 14.3, 17.9) for the 600 and 1,950 µg bid doses, respectively. Maximal placebo‐subtracted change in QTcI from baseline for moxifloxacin was 11.1 (90% CI: 9.3, 12.9) milliseconds. Both pasireotide doses caused a reduction in heart rate: maximal heart rate change compared with placebo occurred at 1 hour for pasireotide 600 µg bid and at 0.5 hours for pasireotide 1,950 µg bid, with heart rate reductions of 10.4 and 14.9 bpm, respectively. At the therapeutic dose of 600 µg, pasireotide has a modest QT‐prolonging effect. The relatively small increase of ∼3 milliseconds in ΔΔQTcI in the presence of a 3.25‐fold increase in dose suggests a relatively flat dose–effect relationship of pasireotide on ΔΔQTcI in healthy volunteers. No safety concerns for pasireotide were identified during the study.
Open and Closed Strings from Unstable D-branes

The tachyon effective field theory describing the dynamics of a non-BPS D-p-brane has electric flux tube solutions where the electric field is at its critical value and the tachyon is at its vacuum. It has been suggested that these solutions have the interpretation of fundamental strings. We show that in order that an electric flux tube can 'end' on a kink solution representing a BPS D-(p − 1)-brane, the electric flux must be embedded in a tubular region inside which the tachyon is finite rather than at its vacuum where it is infinite. Energetic consideration then forces the transverse 'area' of this tube to vanish. We suggest a possible interpretation of the original electric flux tube solutions around the tachyon vacuum as well as of tachyon matter as system of closed strings at density far above the Hagedorn density.
Preparation and Evaluation of Self-nanoemulsifying Tablets of Carvedilol

The purpose of this study was to combine the advantages of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems and tablets as a conventional dosage form emphasizing the excipients’ effect on the development of a new dosage form. Systems composed of HCO-40, Transcutol® HP, and medium-chain triglyceride were prepared. Essential properties of the prepared systems regarding carvedilol solubility, a model drug, and self-emulsification time were determined. In order to optimize self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS), formulation dispersion–drug precipitation test was performed in the absence and presence of cellulosic polymers. Furthermore, SNEDDS was loaded onto liquisolid powders. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity of the selected SNEDDS was tested using HCT-116 cells. Carvedilol showed acceptable solubility in the selected excipients. It also demonstrated improvement in the stability upon dilution with aqueous media in the presence of cellulosic polymers. Use of granulated silicon dioxide improved the physical properties of liquisolid powders containing SNEDDS. It improved the compressibility of the selected powders and the tested SNEDDS showed marked P-gp inhibition activity. Prepared self-nanoemulsifying tablet produced acceptable properties of immediate-release dosage forms and expected to increase the bioavailability of carvedilol.
ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION: MAKING IT WORK FOR STUDENTS & TEACHERS

Physical Education must assume a stronger role in elementary schools. Rising childhood obesity, exceptional family dynamics and increases in screen time are factors in students’ sedentary lifestyles. As a result, curriculum delivery and assessment and evaluation techniques have come under examination. This thesis evaluates the Feedback in Physical Education Tool (FPE Tool), designed for teachers to use when evaluating students in Physical Education. Increasing communication and supporting the development of self-regulated learners were the primary aims. Three elementary educators (Gr. 4, 5 & 6) and sixty-nine students in a mid-sized, urban elementary school volunteered to use the FPE Tool for three months. In individual interviews, teachers acknowledged the need to develop evaluation techniques in Physical Education on par with other subjects but lack of time was seen as a barrier. Evaluating the FPE Tool was somewhat problematic, as the Tool was not used as intended. Results from student surveys indicated that although some students found the FPE Tool confusing, others found feedback from their teachers, setting of goals, and the opportunity for selfevaluation to be helpful. Quantitative data indicate a decrease in students’ perceptions of their skill levels between Grades 4 and 6. This conclusion guides the direction for future research. ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION iii Acknowledgements First, I must thank the educators and the principal who voluntarily agreed to be a part of this research. Their insights, opinions and willingness to share their time, space, and ideas were paramount in completing this project. I appreciate the Waterloo Catholic District School Board for approving the course of this research, as well as the parents for allowing their children to participate and the students for so willingly taking part in this thesis. A special thank you to my advisor, Dr. Julie Mueller, for having such an avid interest in a field that requires so much attention. I appreciate your patience, guidance and the occasional “talk down from the tree” panic conversations that have stayed the course of this research over time. I would also like to recognize Dr. Dawn Buzza for sharing her wisdom and insights throughout the many drafts that came her way. Finally, to Dr. Mark Eys for graciously agreeing to be the external committee member throughout this process and for providing me with new space to think about Physical Literacy. Most importantly, I absolutely could not have completed this thesis without the support of my husband, Roly and our two children, Riley and Brynn. There were many late nights out, tears and fears along the way. Your unconditional support, encouragement and love made this possible. ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION iv Table of
Spatiotemporal Expression and Substrate Specificity Analysis of the Cucumber SWEET Gene Family

The functions of SWEET (Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter) proteins have been studied in a number of crops, but little is known about their roles in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), a model plant for studying stachyose metabolism and phloem function. Here, we identified 17 cucumber SWEET genes (CsSWEETs), located on chromosomes 1–6, and classified them into four clades. Two genes from each clade were selected for spatiotemporal expression, subcellular localization, and substrate specificity analyses. Clade I and II proteins were all hexose transporters and targeted to the plasma membrane, while clade III proteins also localized to the plasma membrane, but used sucrose as a substrate. Clade IV SWEET proteins were localized to the tonoplast, and used hexose as a substrate. The eight tested CsSWEET genes were most highly expressed in flower, which represents a large sink in plants. However, each gene also showed specific expression patterns: three of the eight tested genes were highly expressed in mature leaves, two in roots, two in fruit, two in stems, and one was detected in all tested organs. The likely biological roles of each are discussed based on the above results.
The Melatonin Agonist Ramelteon Induces Duration-Dependent Clock Gene Expression through cAMP Signaling in Pancreatic INS-1 β-Cells

Prolonged exposure to melatonin improves glycemic control in animals. Although glucose metabolism is controlled by circadian clock genes, little is known about the role of melatonin signaling and its duration in the regulation of clock gene expression in pancreatic β-cells. Activation of MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors inhibits cAMP signaling, which mediates clock gene expression. Therefore, this study investigated exposure duration-dependent alterations in cAMP element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and clock gene expression that occur during and after exposure to ramelteon, a selective melatonin agonist used to treat insomnia. In rat INS-1 cells, a pancreatic β-cell line endogenously expressing melatonin receptors, ramelteon persistently decreased CREB phosphorylation during the treatment period (2–14 h), whereas the subsequent washout induced an enhancement of forskolin-stimulated CREB phosphorylation in a duration- and concentration-dependent manner. This augmentation was blocked by forskolin or the melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole. Similarly, gene expression analyses of 7 clock genes revealed the duration dependency of the effects of ramelteon on Rev-erbα and Bmal1 expression through melatonin receptor-mediated cAMP signaling; longer exposure times (14 h) resulted in greater increases in the expression and signaling of Rev-erbα, which is related to β-cell functions. Interestingly, this led to amplified oscillatory Rev-erbα and Bmal1 expression after agonist washout and forskolin stimulation. These results provide new insights into the duration-dependent effects of ramelteon on clock gene expression in INS-1 cells and may improve the understanding of its effect in vivo. The applicability of these results to pancreatic islets awaits further investigation.
Aspartic Proteases and Major Cell Wall Components in Candida albicans Trigger the Release of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

Neutrophils use different mechanisms to cope with pathogens that invade the host organism. The most intriguing of these responses is a release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) composed of decondensed chromatin and granular proteins with antimicrobial activity. An important potential target of NETs is Candida albicans—an opportunistic fungal pathogen that employs morphological and phenotype switches and biofilm formation during contact with neutrophils, accompanied by changes in epitope exposition that mask the pathogen from host recognition. These processes differ depending on infection conditions and are thus influenced by the surrounding environment. In the current study, we compared the NET release by neutrophils upon contact with purified main candidal cell surface components. We show here for the first time that in addition to the main cell wall-building polysaccharides (mannans and β-glucans), secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) trigger NETs with variable intensities. The most efficient NET-releasing response is with Sap4 and Sap6, which are known to be secreted by fungal hyphae. This involves mixed, ROS-dependent and ROS-independent signaling pathways, mainly through interactions with the CD11b receptor. In comparison, upon contact with the cell wall-bound Sap9 and Sap10, neutrophils responded via a ROS-dependent mechanism using CD16 and CD18 receptors for protease recognition. In addition to the Saps tested, the actuation of selected mediating kinases (Src, Syk, PI3K, and ERK) was also investigated. β-Glucans were found to trigger a ROS-dependent process of NET production with engagement of Dectin-1 as well as CD11b and CD18 receptors. Mannans were observed to be recognized by TLRs, CD14, and Dectin-1 receptors and triggered NET release mainly via a ROS-independent pathway. Our results thus strongly suggest that neutrophils activate NET production in response to different candidal components that are presented locally at low concentrations at the initial stages of infection. However, NET release seemed to be blocked by increasing numbers of fungal cells.
Seven Lotus japonicus Genes Required for Transcriptional Reprogramming of the Root during Fungal and Bacterial Symbiosisw⃞

A combined genetic and transcriptome analysis was performed to study the molecular basis of the arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis. By testing the AM phenotype of nodulation-impaired mutants and complementation analysis, we defined seven Lotus japonicus common symbiosis genes (SYMRK, CASTOR, POLLUX, SYM3, SYM6, SYM15, and SYM24) that are required for both fungal and bacterial entry into root epidermal or cortical cells. To describe the phenotype of these mutants at the molecular level, we screened for differentiating transcriptional responses of mutant and wild-type roots by large-scale gene expression profiling using cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism. Two percent of root transcripts was found to increase in abundance during AM development, from which a set of AM-regulated marker genes was established. A Ser-protease (SbtS) and a Cys-protease (CysS) were also activated during root nodule development. AM-induced transcriptional activation was abolished in roots carrying mutations in common symbiosis genes, suggesting a central position of these genes in a pathway leading to the transcriptional activation of downstream genes. By contrast, AM fungus-induced gene repression appeared to be unaffected in mutant backgrounds, which indicates the presence of additional independent signaling pathways.