Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High selectivity wideband filtering crossover using stub-loaded ring resonators

This paper proposes a high selectivity wideband filtering crossover using stub-loading ring resonators. Cascaded coupled lines are used to generate two transmission zeros near the crossover passbands. In addition, patterned grounded conductor in the grounded plane can enlarge the coupling coefficient for the coupled lines with increasing the even-mode characteristic impedance, and the isolated conductor placed inside the slot can decrease the odd-mode characteristic impedance. The filtering crossover operated at 2.2 GHz with bandwidth of 27.5% from 1.945 GHz to 2.55 GHz are designed and fabricated. It shows good return loss more than 20 dB and nice insertion loss less than 1.7 dB in passband.
The Effects of School Entry Age and Gender on Reading and Math Achievement Scores of Second Grade Students.

Parents in affluent communities have been following the suggestion of research and delaying kindergarten entry of their young age-eligible children in order to increase the likelihood of the child's academic success. This study examined the correlation between the chronological age of a child entering kindergarten and his or her performance on reading and math achievement tests in second grade. Gender differences in math and reading performance in second grade were also examined. The subject pool of 24 students was divided into three groups: the younger entrants were between the ages of 4 years 7 months to 4 years 11 months; the medial entrants, ages 5 years to 5 years 4 months; and late entrants, ages between 5 years 5 months to 5 years 7 months. Findings indicated a low or negligible correlation between kindergarten age entry and academic achievement. The younger group did not perform as well as the others in reading, but surpassed the others in math. Girls surpassed boys in both areas. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for informing school personnel about the variable abilities of children in determining age of placement. (JPB) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. The Effects of School Entry Age and Gender on Reading and Math Achievement Scores of Second Grade Students PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) May Narahara EDEL 625 Dr. Mary Jo Lass April l9f/8
erman case control study on childhood leukaemia - Basic considerations, methodology and summary of the results

In order to explore potential risk factors of childhood leukaemia, a case control study was performed including all incident cases from 1992 to 1994. The study was based on the German Childhood Cancer Registry. It was restricted to cases from West Germany and extended retrospectively until 1980 for children who were living in regions covered by a previous incidence study on nuclear installations (21). The study was conducted in close correspondence with a preceding case control study in Lower Saxony (13). Results of this study and of others published in the literature were used to define explicit hypotheses for the present study. This paper presents the methodology of the study and gives an overview of some basic results. More detailed analyses of the investigated potential risk factors will be published elsewhere. The study comprised a total of 2358 cases (leukaemias, lymphomas, selected tumours) and 2588 controls. Response rates were 81% for cases and 67% for controls. For leukaemias, the main results regarding maternal factors, pregnancy, birth, immune system, ionising radiation, parental occupation and environmental factors were as follows: Positive associations were observed between childhood leukaemias and young maternal age at birth, high birth weight, tonsillectomy and use of pesticides. Some results suggest a protective effect for allergies and vaccinations. A negative association was observed with maternal smoking and childhood leukaemia. No associations were found with frequency of stillbirths, maternal alcohol consumption, parental exposure to benzene and use of wood preservatives. X-ray examinations in early childhood and parental radiation exposure did not show any consistent associations with leukaemia. Potential risk factors were not reported more frequently by cases and controls living in 114 communities with increased incidence rates. The strength of our study lies in the large number of participating families and in the population-based approach.
Annual Production and Production: Biomass Ratios for Three Species of Stream Trout in Lake Superior Tributaries

Abstract We made estimates of annual production of stream trout in two Lake Superior tributaries in northeastern Minnesota in 1977–1978. The Caribou River (total alkalinity, 34 mg/L as CaCO3) drains part of the north shore of Lake Superior in an igneous rock geology. The Blackhoof River (total alkalinity, 83 mg/L) drains glacial drift and lake clay at the western end of Lake Superior. Annual production of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in the Caribou River was estimated to be 58.0 kg (wet weight) per hectare, reflecting low water fertility. In the Blackhoof River, annual production was 43.5 kg of brown trout Salmo trutta and 95.7 kg of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss per hectare, The total salmonid production of 139.2 kg/hectare in the Blackhoof River appeared to reflect an intermediate level of water fertility. Ratios of annual production: mean standing stock (P/B) were calculated to be 2.2 for juvenile rainbow trout, 1.7 for brook trout, and 0.9 for brown trout. These values suggest an inv.
Disappearance of a large mediastinal pseudocyst in a patient with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis after total parenteral nutrition.

OBJECTIVE To report the unusual case of a mediastinal pseudocyst in a patient with chronic pancreatitis, which resolved after conservative treatment. PATIENT A 59-year-old patient with alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis and a large mediastinal pseudocyst. INTERVENTIONS Bowel rest and total parenteral nutrition for 4 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The pseudocyst resolved completely. CONCLUSION Conservative treatment is a valuable option in patients with chronic pancreatitis presenting with a mediastinal pseudocyst, but close supervision is mandatory.
Clinical Implication of Adenosine Test at Repeat Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Procedure: The Importance of Detecting Dormant Thoracic Vein Conduction

Background— Pulmonary vein reconnection after electrical isolation is commonly observed in the context of atrial fibrillation ablation and is associated with recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias. Adenosine test was been performed to identify acute dormant conduction immediately after pulmonary vein isolation at index procedure. However, the utility of adenosine test at repeat procedure has not been reported. Methods and Results— We report 5 paroxysmal atrial fibrillation cases without any structural heart disease in which dormant thoracic vein conduction was associated with recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias. All patients had undergone circumferential ipsilateral pulmonary vein isolation at the index procedure. Superior vena cava isolation was performed if superior vena cava–triggered atrial fibrillation was identified. At the index procedure, adenosine test did not provoke venous reconduction. At the repeat procedure, adenosine provoked clinical arrhythmia in 4 out of 5 cases after transient reconnection between culprit thoracic vein and atrium despite absence of reconnection at the start of the procedure. After the elimination of the dormant conduction gaps, all patients were free from recurrent arrhythmia. Conclusions— Adenosine provokes dormant thoracic vein conduction associated with the late recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias after previous thoracic vein isolation. Thus, adenosine provocation test can specifically help identify and target the cause of recurrent atrial arrhythmia.
Outreach monitoring service for patients with indolent B‐cell and plasma cell disorders: a UK experience

Disease progression occurs in over 1% of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, monoclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis and early stage chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients every year therefore regular monitoring is indicated. We assessed the efficacy of an outreach service to replace clinic monitoring using local phlebotomy with central haematologist review of laboratory parameters and symptoms identified by a patient self‐assessment questionnaire. The service was used by 299 patients for 2 years and provided accurate monitoring, improved patient satisfaction, support for primary care and reduced the burden on haematology clinics without an increase in inter‐assessment admissions due to disease progression.
Subconjunctival bevacizumab injection in the surgery of primary pterygium: comparison with intraoperative mitomycin-C.

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of subconjunctival bevacizumab injection as adjuvant therapy in the prevention of recurrence following the surgical treatment of pterygium by comparison with intraoperative mitomycin-C application. METHODS This prospective comparative study included thirty consecutive patients with primary nasal pterygium that were surgically treated with simple excision. In addition to surgical excision, subconjunctival bevacizumab was injected in 15 eyes (group A), and, in the remaining 15 eyes, topical mitomycin-C 0.2 mg/mL was applied for 2 minutes (group B). The postoperative outcome was followed clinically for a minimum of 12 months. The main outcome criteria were recurrence rate and postoperative complications. RESULTS A significantly higher recurrence rate was found in bevacizumab group (66.7%) compared to MMC group (26.7%) (P= 0.028). In group A, conjunctival wound separation was observed in 3 of 15 eyes; however, no conjunctival separation was observed in Group B and no other serious complications were observed in either group. CONCLUSION The intraoperative use of subconjunctival bevacizumab does not seem to be effective in reducing the rate of pterygium recurrence following excision when compared with intraoperative mitomycin-C application.
The use of indomethacin to treat acute rises of intracranial pressure and improve global cerebral perfusion in a child with head trauma

Background: The use of vasoconstrictors (e.g. dihydroergotamine, indomethacin) for the treatment of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) secondary to brain trauma is controversial. In particular, it has been suggested that vasoconstrictors be employed only for intracranial hypertension secondary to hyperemia, when venous jugular bulb saturation (SjO2) is >75%. Method We administered indomethacin as a bolus i.v. (5–10 mg) on 18 occasions to a multiple‐injured 3‐year‐old child with acute rises of ICP secondary to severe brain trauma (GCS score 7) determining a large hypodensity area in and swelling of the right hemisphere.
Immunotherapy with partially purified and standardized tree pollen extracts. IV. Results from long‐term (6‐year) follow‐up

The long‐term effect of tree pollen extract immunotherapy was investigated 6 years after termination of the treatment. Subjective symptom evaluation of 36 patients 6 years after a 3‐year period of immunotherapy showed that rhinitis and asthma symptoms remained at the improved level reached just after termination of the treatment. Some 86% of the rhinitis patients and 68% of the asthma patients maintained improvement. None of the rhinitis patients developed asthma in the study period. Skin prick tests reflected the outcome of the subjective symptom assessment. The skin sensitivity of the patients decreased significantly during immunotherapy, and the skin reactions 6 years after specific immunotherapy were still significantly lower than the pretreatment levels. Total IgE and birch‐specific IgE levels were constant throughout the study period, and both the affinity and epitope specificity of the IgE antibodies of the patients were the same before, during, and 6 years after treatment. In conclusion, specific immunotherapy reduces symptoms in patients suffering from rhinitis and asthma, and the effect is maintained 6 years after termination of the treatment. Specific immunotherapy seems to prevent long‐term development of asthma in rhinitis patients. IgE measurements do not reflect the overall status of the patients.
Anhydride modification of cultivated kenaf bast fibers: Morphological, spectroscopic, and thermal studies

Kenaf bast fiber was chemically modified by using propionic and succinic anhydrides. Five retention times were compared: 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes at 100°C. Confirmation of anhydride modification was established by the weight percent gain (WPG) and was further confirmed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Based on WPG, succinylated fibers exhibited higher WPG than propionylated fibers. The results of WPG for both succinylated and propionylated fibers showed that 180 minutes was an optimum time for modification, yielding the highest WPG. The thermal stability of modified fibers was characterized with Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). Succinylated fibers showed better thermal stability than propionylated fibers. Anhydride modification also enhanced the fiber smoothness, as demonstrated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. Succinylated fibers showed a much smoother surface as compared to propionylated fibers and untreated fibers. Anhydride modification significantly decreased the contact angle of kenaf bast fibers, thus imparting good adhesion characteristics to the fibers.
Quality of Life of siblings of children included in the autism spectrum.

PURPOSE To assess the Quality of Life in siblings of children of the autism spectrum through self-response to the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF questionnaire. METHODS Social-demographic data of 77 children included in the autism spectrum, aged 3 to 16 years, were collected. From these information, 21 older siblings, aged 16 to 30 years, were selected to answer said questionnaire, proposed by the World Health Organization Mental Health Program for quality of life evaluation. RESULTS The data have shown a difference between the Environmental domain and the Physical and Psychological domains. CONCLUSION The aspects related to the environment have an important role to the perception of quality of life self-declared by the subjects. However, family individuality, coping behaviors, social support, and assistance received directly interfere on this perception.
Effect of fatigue on tibial impact accelerations and knee kinematics in drop jumps.

PURPOSE The principle of specificity suggests that it may be beneficial to undertake plyometric drop-jump training when fatigued. However, this may increase peak-impact accelerations and therefore increase the risk of injury. The aims of the study were to determine if whole-body fatigue (i) increased peak-impact acceleration on the proximal tibia during plyometric drop jumps and (ii) produced associated changes in knee-joint kinematics during landing. METHODS Fifteen physically active male subjects performed drop jumps (30 and 50 cm) when nonfatigued and when fatigued. Whole-body fatigue was induced using a treadmill running protocol that incrementally increased effort. Peak-impact acceleration was measured with an accelerometer attached to the proximal tibia. Knee-joint kinematics were assessed during the eccentric phase: angle at initial touch down, maximum angle of flexion, range of motion, and peak angular velocity. RESULTS Fatigue caused a significant increase in tibial impact acceleration and peak angular velocity in drop jumps from 30 cm (154.9 +/- 93.8 vs 192.6 +/- 103.9 m x s(-2): 24%; 675.3 +/- 60.7 vs 811.4 +/- 68.9 degrees x s(-1): 20%), but not from 50 cm (222.4 +/- 74.9 vs 234.1 +/- 83.9 m x s(-2): 5%; 962.0 +/- 189.0 vs 984.4 +/- 189.3 degrees x s(-1): 2.6%), with no associated change in the knee-joint angles assessed. It was argued, however, that rather than the neuromuscular system being selectively affected by fatigue at 30 cm and not 50 cm, drop jumps from 50 cm resulted in larger-impact accelerations with the neuromuscular system having only a limited ability to attenuate them per se, whether fatigued or nonfatigued. CONCLUSION Care should be taken when performing drop jumps from a height of 30 cm in a fatigued state because of the reduced capacity to attenuate impact accelerations at the tibia, which may be associated with an increased risk of injury.
Accumulation of CD11b+ Lung Dendritic Cells in Response to Fungal Infection Results from the CCR2-Mediated Recruitment and Differentiation of Ly-6Chigh Monocytes12

Pulmonary clearance of the encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans is associated with the CCR2-mediated accumulation of lung dendritic cells (DC) and the development of a T1 adaptive immune response. The objective of this study was to identify the circulating DC precursor(s) responsible for this large increase in lung DC numbers. An established murine model was used to evaluate putative DC precursors in the blood, bone marrow, and lungs of CCR2+/+ mice and CCR2−/− mice throughout a time course following infection with C. neoformans. Results demonstrate that numbers of Ly-6Chigh monocytes increased in parallel in the peripheral blood and lungs of CCR+/+ mice, whereas CD11c+ MHC class II+ pre-DC were 10-fold less prevalent in the peripheral blood and did not differ between the two strains. Accumulation of Ly-6Chigh monocytes correlated with a substantial increase in the numbers of CD11b+ DC in the lungs of infected CCR2+/+ mice. Comparative phenotypic analysis of lung cells recovered in vivo suggests that Ly-6Chigh monocytes differentiate into CD11b+ DC in the lung; differentiation is associated with up-regulation of costimulatory molecules and decreased Ly-6C expression. Furthermore, in vitro experiments confirmed that Ly-6Chigh monocytes differentiate into CD11b+ DC. Accumulation of Ly-6Chigh monocytes and CD11b+ DC was not attributable to their proliferation in situ. We conclude that the CCR2-mediated accumulation of CD11b+ DC in the lungs of Cryptococcus-infected mice is primarily attributable to the continuous recruitment and differentiation of Ly-6Chigh monocytes.
Does Facet Joint Inflammation Induce Radiculopathy?: An Investigation Using a Rat Model of Lumbar Facet Joint Inflammation

Study Design. The association between lumbar facet joint inflammation and radiculopathy was investigated using behavioral, histologic, and immunohistochemical testing in rats. Objectives. To develop a rat model of lumbar facet joint inflammation and ascertain whether facet joint inflammation induces radiculopathy using this model. Summary of Background Data. Both mechanical and chemical factors have been identified as important for inducing radiculopathy. In lumbar spondylosis, facet joint osteophytes may contribute to nerve root compression, which may induce radiculopathy. Furthermore, inflammation may occur in the facet joint, as in other synovial joints. Inflamed synovium may thus release inflammatory cytokines and induce nerve root injury with subsequent radiculopathy. Methods. A piece of gelatin sponge containing complete adjuvant was inserted into the L5–L6 facet joint in rats (arthritis group). Saline was used in the control group. Mechanical allodynia was determined using the von Frey test. Inflammatory cells infiltrating the epidural space were counted, and changes in cartilage were assessed histologically. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-immunoreactive cells in the L5 dorsal root ganglion were counted. Results. Mechanical allodynia was observed in the arthritis group from day 3, gradually recovering during the observation period. Significantly larger numbers of inflammatory cells had infiltrated the epidural space by days 3 and 7 in the arthritis group than in controls. Numbers of TNF-α-immunoreactive cells were significantly increased at days 1 and 3 in the arthritis group compared with controls. Predominantly small nociceptive neurons were stained. Conclusions. When inflammation was induced in a facet joint, inflammatory reactions spread to nerve roots, and leg symptoms were induced by chemical factors. These results support the possibility that facet joint inflammation induces radiculopathy.
Hiking physiology and the “quasi-isometric” concept

Abstract The literature indicates that the heart rate of a planing-dinghy sailor, in winds of 4 – 5 m · s−1, is in the range seen in aerobic athletes, yet oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O2) is roughly half that of the same individual cycling at that heart rate. Thus, although upper-body dynamic activity is a contributing factor, the dominant physiological demand must be the “quasi-isometric” stress on the lower-body anterior muscles – especially the quadriceps, which appears to impose 40 – 50% of the total oxygen demand in a typical hiking posture. Therefore, a non-trivial part of the sailor's fitness training should involve sustained quadriceps stress. Estimates of this stress on water vary widely in the literature, but about 25 – 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) tallies with endurance times recorded both in the literature and in an outline of new work reported here. Muscle blood flow is restricted under such a load, but not occluded. Laser Doppler measurements of femoral blood flow on a leg-extension ergometer found similar values during 10 – 30% MVC, much less at 40%, and marked hyperaemia on relaxation from 20% MVC or more – implying metabolic debt. Adding low-amplitude alternating leg movements while holding the same overall load stationary, and therefore increasing only internal not external work, further elevates blood flow and [Vdot]O2 both during and after exercise. Femoral-vein lactate concentration is also higher after these movements. Speculations that unusually dynamic lower-body movements by elite sailors might assist hiking endurance are not supported by these findings. Nevertheless, afloat or ashore, capillary lactate concentrations hardly ever exceed 5 mmol · l−1, even during the post-exercise surge – challenging assumptions that the quadriceps had been profoundly anaerobic while under load. On the contrary, it appears that aerobic metabolism contributes substantially, if not completely, to energy supply. A preliminary comparison of elite sailors with aerobic athletes suggests that isometric endurance at a given percentage MVC does not differ between the two groups, but the sailors have higher MVCs. In individuals not highly strength-trained, greater electromyogram activity immediately before capitulation than in an MVC performed while fresh indicates that physiological (not just volitional) limits have been reached. It is concluded that the literature and the outline of my recent work with colleagues support the view that the predominant physiological load during single-handed dinghy sailing is quasi-isometric in form and accounts for roughly half of the metabolic demand. Any more complete account of the physiology of hiking will require simultaneous on-water measurement of electromyographic, cardiovascular, and metabolic indicators in sailors extending from club to Gold Medal standard.