Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Achievable second-order coding rates for the wiretap channel

We derive lower bounds to the second-order coding rates for the wiretap channel. The decoding error probability and the information leakage measured in terms of the variational distance secrecy metric are fixed at some constants εr and εs respectively. We leverage on the connection between wiretap channel coding and channel resolvability to derive tighter secrecy bounds than those available in the literature. We then use central limit theorem-style analysis to evaluate these bounds for the discrete memoryless wiretap channel with cost constraints and the Gaussian wiretap channel.
Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment: a sibling-controlled cohort study.

BACKGROUND Paracetamol is used extensively during pregnancy, but studies regarding the potential neurodevelopmental sequelae of foetal paracetamol exposure are lacking. Method Between 1999 and 2008 all pregnant Norwegian women were eligible for recruitment into the prospective Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. The mothers were asked to report on their use of paracetamol at gestational weeks 17 and 30 and at 6 months postpartum. We used data on 48 631 children whose mothers returned the 3-year follow-up questionnaire by May 2011. Within this sample were 2919 same-sex sibling pairs who were used to adjust for familial and genetic factors. We modelled psychomotor development (communication, fine and gross motor development), externalizing and internalizing behaviour problems, and temperament (emotionality, activity, sociability and shyness) based on prenatal paracetamol exposure using generalized linear regression, adjusting for a number of factors, including febrile illness, infections and co-medication use during pregnancy. RESULTS The sibling-control analysis revealed that children exposed to prenatal paracetamol for more than 28 days had poorer gross motor development [β 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12-0.51], communication (β 0.20, 95% CI 0.01-0.39), externalizing behaviour (β 0.28, 95% CI 0.15-0.42), internalizing behaviour (β 0.14, 95% CI 0.01-0.28), and higher activity levels (β 0.24, 95% CI 0.11-0.38). Children exposed prenatally to short-term use of paracetamol (1-27 days) also had poorer gross motor outcomes (β 0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.19), but the effects were smaller than with long-term use. Ibuprofen exposure was not associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes. CONCLUSION Children exposed to long-term use of paracetamol during pregnancy had substantially adverse developmental outcomes at 3 years of age.
A communication interference suppression method for ultra high-frequency partial discharge detection

Because of its favorable corona resistant ability, ultra high-frequency (UHF) technique based partial discharge (PD) detection is widely applied in partial discharge detection of such power equipment as power transformer and gas insulated switchgear (GIS). However, in complicated electromagnetic environment of the substation, a great variety of UHF interference signals caused by communication such as mobile phone signals cause difficulties to on-site detection and diagnosis of the PD faults, thus it is hard to diagnose the test results accurately. According to the frequency domain features and characteristics of envelope waveform of partial discharge UHF signals, a comprehensive anti-interference approach, which is based on notch filter and cross-correlation analysis, is proposed in this paper. Analysis and test results show that the proposed anti-interference approach can suppress the interference caused by communication signals which is common in PD UHF detection, the detection sensitivity and accuracy of discharge pattern recognition can be improved.
A New Metasurface Superstrate Structure for Antenna Performance Enhancement

A new metasurface superstrate structure (MSS)-loaded dual band microstrip line-fed small patch antenna is presented in this paper. The proposed antenna was designed on a ceramic-filled bioplastic sandwich substrate with a high dielectric constant. The proposed 7 × 6 element, square-shaped, single-sided MSS significantly improved the bandwidth and gain of the proposed antenna. The proposed MSS incorporated a slotted patch antenna that effectively increased the measured operating bandwidth from 13.3% to 18.8% and from 14.8% to 23.2% in the lower and upper bands, respectively. Moreover, the average gain of the proposed MSS-based antenna was enhanced from 2.12 dBi to 3.02 dBi in the lower band and from 4.10 dBi to 5.28 dBi in the upper band compared to the patch antenna alone. In addition to the bandwidth and gain improvements, more directive radiation characteristics were also observed from the MSS antenna compared to the patch itself. The effects of the MSS elements and the ground plane length on the reflection coefficient of the antenna were analyzed and optimized. The overall performance makes the proposed antenna appropriate for RFID and WLAN applications.
An Even ''newer'' Animal Phylogeny

Metazoa are one of the great monophyletic groups of organisms. They comprise several major groups of organisms readily recognizable based on their anatomy. These major groups include the Bilateria (animals with bilateral symmetry), Cnidaria (jellyfish, corals and other closely related animals), Porifera (sponges), Cteno-phores (comb jellies) and a phylum currently made up of a single species, the Placozoa. Attempts to systematize the relationships of these major groups as well as to determine relationships within the groups have been made for nearly two centuries. Many of the attempts have led to frustration, because of a lack of resolution between and within groups. Other attempts have led to ''a new animal phylogeny''. Now, a study by Dunn et al., (1) using the expresssed sequence tag (EST) approach to obtaining high-throughput large phylogenetic matrices, presents an ''even newer'' animal phylogeny. There are two major aspects of this study that should be of interest to the general biological community. First, the methods used by the authors to generate their phylogenetic hypotheses call for close examination. Second, the relationships of animal taxa in their resultant trees also prompt further discussion. Introduction How animals are related to each other has been a major preoccupation of biologists for centuries. Some bold ideas about animal relationships have populated the literature, caused controversy and, in at least one case,—Cuvier and Geoffroy— destroyed a collegial and personal relationship. Most early anatomical systems of classification at this level suffered because of difficulties in establishing homology of anatomical parts. Two historical examples of this problem involve (1) the long-standing issue of establishing homology of dorsal– ventral polarity (an argument that caused the main riff between Cuvier and Geoffroy and resulted in their great confrontation in
Reduced Plasmodium vivax Erythrocyte Infection in PNG Duffy-Negative Heterozygotes

Background Erythrocyte Duffy blood group negativity reaches fixation in African populations where Plasmodium vivax (Pv) is uncommon. While it is known that Duffy-negative individuals are highly resistant to Pv erythrocyte infection, little is known regarding Pv susceptibility among heterozygous carriers of a Duffy-negative allele (+/−). Our limited knowledge of the selective advantages or disadvantages associated with this genotype constrains our understanding of the effect that interventions against Pv may have on the health of people living in malaria-endemic regions. Methods and Findings We conducted cross-sectional malaria prevalence surveys in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where we have previously identified a new Duffy-negative allele among individuals living in a region endemic for all four human malaria parasite species. We evaluated infection status by conventional blood smear light microscopy and semi-quantitative PCR-based strategies. Analysis of a longitudinal cohort constructed from our surveys showed that Duffy heterozygous (+/−) individuals were protected from Pv erythrocyte infection compared to those homozygous for wild-type alleles (+/+) (log-rank tests: LM, p = 0.049; PCR, p = 0.065). Evaluation of Pv parasitemia, determined by semi-quantitative PCR-based methods, was significantly lower in Duffy +/− vs. +/+ individuals (Mann-Whitney U: p = 0.023). Overall, we observed no association between susceptibility to P. falciparum erythrocyte infection and Duffy genotype. Conclusions Our findings provide the first evidence that Duffy-negative heterozygosity reduces erythrocyte susceptibility to Pv infection. As this reduction was not associated with greater susceptibility to Pf malaria, our in vivo observations provide evidence that Pv-targeted control measures can be developed safely.
Novel Compact Planar Crossover With Bandpass Response Based on Cross-Shaped Resonator

This paper presents a novel compact planar filtering crossover with two paths operating at different frequencies. Such codesign circuit is equal to one conventional crossover plus two bandpass filters, which can realize circuit miniaturization. It is designed based on a multimode cross-shaped resonator that contributes to both crossover and filtering functionalities. Moreover, the resonator is shared by the two transmission paths while they are isolated with each other. Thus, compactness is obtained. For validation, the filtering crossover is implemented with one path operating at 2 GHz and the other at 2.4 GHz. The theoretical and measured results are in good agreement.
Fractured reservoir potential and tectonic development of the Iniskin - Tuxedni Region, Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska

Fracture patterns can provide insight into the strain history and stress evolution of deformed strata. In southern Alaska's Cook Inlet forearc basin, hydrocarbon traps are typically fault-cored anticlines, where fractures likely aid in the migration of hydrocarbons from lower Jurassic marine strata into Cenozoic non-marine deposits. Consequently, understanding the distribution and orientation of fracture sets with respect to these structures is necessary to improving the understanding of one of Alaska's largest petroleum provinces. Furthermore, recent refinements in understanding southern Alaska's Dynamic Cenozoic tectonic evolution allow us to interpret fractures in a regional tectonic context. Despite the important role fractures likely play in the Cook Inlet petroleum system, limited work exists linking fractures to regional tectonic events and structures. The objective of chapter one is to characterize from field and remote sensing observations the orientations, distributions, and relative ages of several regionally prominent fracture sets. Field observations focus on the area of the western Cook Inlet near Augustine Volcano, north to Tuxedni Bay. Remote sensing observations expand the study area from the Alaska Peninsula in the south to Mount Spurr in the north. I identified four fracture sets—with common orientations, opening modes, and relative ages—within the sedimentary sequence that spans early Jurassic to Miocene time in the Cook Inlet forearc basin. Within the field area, these sets fall into two structural domains: 1) the Iniskin Peninsula, site of an anticline-syncline pair and reverse slip on the SW-striking Bruin Bay fault; and 2) north of Chinitna Bay, where the Bruin Bay fault strikes ~N -S and preserves primarily sinistral displacement. Chapter two is aimed at quantifying the fracture intensity of the four regional fracture sets defined in Chapter 1, which are pervasive in deformed forearc basin strata of Jurassic age in the Iniskin-Tuxedni region of the lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. I document how fracture intensity changes between the four regionally identified fracture sets of chapter one. Analysis of fracture intensity indicates that changes in fracture intensity are guided by the opening of other fractures and grain size. I also measured fractures at the thin-section scale, via back-scattered electron microscopy, to test the feasibility of using micro fracture analysis to estimate macro fracture abundance.
Eye conditions and blindness in children: Priorities for research, programs, and policy with a focus on childhood cataract

The major causes of blindness in children encompass intrauterine and acquired infectious diseases, teratogens and developmental and molecular genetics, nutritional factors, the consequences of preterm birth, and tumors. A multidisciplinary approach is therefore needed. In terms of the major avoidable causes (i.e., those that can be prevented or treated) the available evidence shows that these vary in importance from country to country, as well as over time. This is because the underlying causes closely reflect socioeconomic development and the social determinants of health, as well as the provision of preventive and therapeutic programs and services from the community through to tertiary levels of care. The control of blindness in children therefore requires not only strategies that reflect the local epidemiology and the needs and priorities of communities, but also a well functioning, accessible health system which operates within an enabling and conducive policy environment. In this article we use cataract in children as an example and make the case for health financing systems that do not lead to ‘catastrophic health expenditure’ for affected families, and the integration of eye health for children into those elements of the health system that work closely with mothers and their children.
Relationship Between Psychiatric Status, Self-Reported Outcome Measures, and Clinical Parameters in Axial Spondyloarthritis

AbstractThis article aims to compare the risks of depression and anxiety in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and investigate the relationship among self-reported outcome measures, clinical parameters, and physical variables of patients with axSpA.Patients with axSpA were recruited from Erciyes Spondyloarthritis Cohort. The patients met Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society classification criteria for axial SpA and were assessed in a cross-sectional study design for visual analog scale (VAS) pain, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life questionnaire (ASQoL), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score–C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP). Psychological status was evaluated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the associations between psychological variables and clinical parameters after adjusting for confounding variables.Of the 316 patients (142 nr-axSpA, 174 AS), 139 (44%) had high risk for depression (HADS-D score ≥7) and 71 (22.5%) for anxiety (HADS-A score ≥10). HADS-D and HADS-A scores were similar between patients with AS and nr-axSpA. Patients with high risk for depression and anxiety had higher scores in BASDAI, BASFI, and ASDAS-CRP, and also poorer scores in VAS pain and ASQoL. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the ASDAS-CRP, ASQoL, BASDAI, as well as educational level were factors associated with the risk of depression whereas the ASQoL and educational level were factors associated with the risk of anxiety.Patients with nr-axSpA and AS have similar burden of psychological distress. The quality of life (ASQoL) and educational level were factors associated with the risk of both depression and anxiety whereas disease activity (BASDAI and ASDAS-CRP) was the independent risk factor associated with depression but not anxiety in axSpA. These findings suggest that psychological status should be examined while assessing patients with axSpA including AS and nr-axSpA.
Identification and prospective validation of clinically relevant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subtypes

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasingly considered a heterogeneous condition. It was hypothesised that COPD, as currently defined, includes different clinically relevant subtypes. Methods To identify and validate COPD subtypes, 342 subjects hospitalised for the first time because of a COPD exacerbation were recruited. Three months after discharge, when clinically stable, symptoms and quality of life, lung function, exercise capacity, nutritional status, biomarkers of systemic and bronchial inflammation, sputum microbiology, CT of the thorax and echocardiography were assessed. COPD groups were identified by partitioning cluster analysis and validated prospectively against cause-specific hospitalisations and all-cause mortality during a 4 year follow-up. Results Three COPD groups were identified: group 1 (n=126, 67 years) was characterised by severe airflow limitation (postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 38% predicted) and worse performance in most of the respiratory domains of the disease; group 2 (n=125, 69 years) showed milder airflow limitation (FEV1 63% predicted); and group 3 (n=91, 67 years) combined a similarly milder airflow limitation (FEV1 58% predicted) with a high proportion of obesity, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and systemic inflammation. During follow-up, group 1 had more frequent hospitalisations due to COPD (HR 3.28, p<0.001) and higher all-cause mortality (HR 2.36, p=0.018) than the other two groups, whereas group 3 had more admissions due to cardiovascular disease (HR 2.87, p=0.014). Conclusions In patients with COPD recruited at their first hospitalisation, three different COPD subtypes were identified and prospectively validated: ‘severe respiratory COPD’, ‘moderate respiratory COPD’, and ‘systemic COPD’.
Radial Frequency Analysis of Contour Shapes in the Visual Cortex

Cumulative psychophysical evidence suggests that the shape of closed contours is analysed by means of their radial frequency components (RFC). However, neurophysiological evidence for RFC-based representations is still missing. We investigated the representation of radial frequency in the human visual cortex with functional magnetic resonance imaging. We parametrically varied the radial frequency, amplitude and local curvature of contour shapes. The stimuli evoked clear responses across visual areas in the univariate analysis, but the response magnitude did not depend on radial frequency or local curvature. Searchlight-based, multivariate representational similarity analysis revealed RFC specific response patterns in areas V2d, V3d, V3AB, and IPS0. Interestingly, RFC-specific representations were not found in hV4 or LO, traditionally associated with visual shape analysis. The modulation amplitude of the shapes did not affect the responses in any visual area. Local curvature, SF-spectrum and contrast energy related representations were found across visual areas but without similar specificity for visual area that was found for RFC. The results suggest that the radial frequency of a closed contour is one of the cortical shape analysis dimensions, represented in the early and mid-level visual areas.
Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism in Pregnancy: A Review

Importance Hyperthyroidism has important implications for pregnancy, affecting both mother and fetus. Appropriate maternal and fetal management iscritical to avoiding adverse pregnancy outcomes and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Objective To describe maternal diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism, across all stages of pregnancy. In addition, to review clinical signs of fetal thyroid dysfunction due to maternal Graves disease and discuss management considerations. Evidence Acquisition Review of published articles on PubMed and guidelines by recognized governing organizations regarding the diagnostic and management considerations for hyperthyroidism in pregnancy, from preconception to the postpartum period. Results Diagnosis of maternal hyperthyroidism involves both clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. Antithyroid medications are the mainstay of therapy, with trimester-specific pregnancy goals. Hyperthyroidism due to Graves disease has important diagnostic and management considerations for the fetus and neonate. Conclusions and Relevance Hyperthyroidism in pregnancy affects mother, fetus, and neonate. Interpretation of thyroid tests and understanding the appropriate use of antithyroid drugs are fundamental. Proper education of physicians providing care to women with hyperthyroidism is essential and starts before pregnancy. Postpartum follow-up is an essential part of the care. A systematic approach to management will ensure optimal pregnancy outcomes. Target Audience Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians Learning Objectives After completing this activity, the learner should be better able to: (1) describe the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy, (2) discuss medical management of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy, (3) review the clinical signs of fetal thyroid dysfunction, (4) describe the symptoms and treatment of thyroid storm in pregnancy, and (5) review management considerations in the postpartum period for women with hyperthyroidism.
DUst around NEarby Stars. The survey observational results

Context. Debris discs are a consequence of the planet formation process and constitute the fingerprints of planetesimal systems. Their solar system counterparts are the asteroid and Edgeworth-Kuiper belts. Aims. The DUNES survey aims at detecting extra-solar analogues to the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt around solar-type stars, putting in this way the solar system into context. The survey allows us to address some questions related to the prevalence and properties of planetesimal systems. Methods. We used Herschel/PACS to observe a sample of nearby FGK stars. Data at 100 and 160 mu m were obtained, complemented in some cases with observations at 70 mu m, and at 250, 350 and 500 mu m using SPIRE. The observing strategy was to integrate as deep as possible at 100 mu m to detect the stellar photosphere. Results. Debris discs have been detected at a fractional luminosity level down to several times that of the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt. The incidence rate of discs around the DUNES stars is increased from a rate of similar to 12.1% +/- 5% before Herschel to similar to 20.2% +/- 2%. A significant fraction (similar to 52%) of the discs are resolved, which represents an enormous step ahead from the previously known resolved discs. Some stars are associated with faint far-IR excesses attributed to a new class of cold discs. Although it cannot be excluded that these excesses are produced by coincidental alignment of background galaxies, statistical arguments suggest that at least some of them are true debris discs. Some discs display peculiar SEDs with spectral indexes in the 70-160 mu m range steeper than the Rayleigh-Jeans one. An analysis of the debris disc parameters suggests that a decrease might exist of the mean black body radius from the F-type to the K-type stars. In addition, a weak trend is suggested for a correlation of disc sizes and an anticorrelation of disc temperatures with the stellar age.