Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Error performance analysis of a jointly optimal single-cochannel-interferer BPSK receiver

An analytical solution is derived for the average error-rate performance of a jointly optimal binary phase-shift keying receiver operating in the presence of one cochannel interferer and additive white Gaussian noise. The solution takes different analytical forms, depending on the region of signal-to-interference ratio. The regions depend, in turn, on the phase difference between the desired signal and the interferer signal.
Religious Market Structure, Religious Participation, and Outcomes: Is Religion Good for You?

Abstract Religion plays an important role in the lives of many Americans, but there is relatively little study by economists of the implications of religiosity for economic outcomes. This likely reflects the enormous difficulty inherent in separating the causal effects of religiosity from other factors that are correlated with outcomes. In this paper, I propose a potential solution to this long standing problem, by noting that a major determinant of religious participation is religious market density, or the share of the population in an area which is of an individual’s religion. I make use of the fact that exogenous predictions of market density can be formed based on area ancestral mix. That is, I relate religious participation and economic outcomes to the correlation of the religious preference of one’s own heritage with the religious preference of other heritages that share one’s area. I use the General Social Survey (GSS) to model the impact of market density on church attendance, and micro-data from the 1990 Census to model the impact on economic outcomes. I find that a higher market density leads to a significantly increased level of religious participation, and as well to better outcomes according to several key economic indicators: higher levels of education and income, lower levels of welfare receipt and disability, higher levels of marriage, and lower levels of divorce.
A phylogenomic study of endosymbiotic bacteria.

Endosymbiotic bacteria of aphids, Buchnera aphidicola, and tsetse flies, Wigglesworthia glossinidia, are descendents of free-living gamma-Proteobacteria. The acceleration of sequence evolution in the endosymbiont genomes is here estimated from a phylogenomic analysis of the gamma-Proteobacteria. The tree topologies associated with the most highly conserved genes suggest that the endosymbionts form a sister group with Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. , and Yersinia pestis. Our results indicate that deviant tree topologies result from high substitution rates and biased nucleotide patterns, rather than from lateral gene transfer, as previously suggested. A reinvestigation of the relative rate increase in the endosymbiont genomes reveals variability among genes that correlate with host-associated metabolic dependencies. The conclusion is that host-level selection has retarded both the loss of genes and the acceleration of sequence evolution in endocellular symbionts.
Reproductive performance of swine bred to produce purebred and two-breed cross litters.

SUMMARY These data included the records of 818 purebred gilts and sows of Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire breeding mated to produce all purebreds and all possible two-way crosses. A total of 212 gilts were slaughtered 30-day postbreeding (72 purebred matings and 140 crossbred matings) to evaluate ovulation rate, number of live embryos, average embryo length and embryo survival rate. A total of 450 litters (161 purebred and 289 crossbred) were farrowed to evaluate litter size, litter weight and average pig weight at O, 21 and 42 days postfarrowing. Litters were farrowed in the spring and fall of 1971 and 1973 and the summer of 1972. Of the 818 females selected for breeding, 16.4% failed to exhibit estrus or to be pregnant at slaughter or farrowing. Failure rates were similar for sows and gilts with Yorkshires having the most and Hampshires the least. Duroc and Yorkshire females ovulated more eggs and had more embryos 30 days postbreeding than did Hampshire females (P<.05). Yorkshires were the most productive of the straightbreds in terms of litter size and weight. Breed of dam and breed of sire effects were evident for many traits evaluated. Heterosis estimates were not significant for embryo data but were large and significant for litter size and weight at 42 days postfarrowing due to the 7.78% higher survival rate of the
Injury profiles, demography and representativeness of patients with TBI attending a regional emergency department

Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the demography and epidemiology of Finnish patients with TBI and to analyse the representativeness of a study sample. Materials and methods: This prospective multi-centre study was conducted as part of an international collaboration within the EU-funded TBIcare project. The study group was recruited from patients attending the regional emergency department (ED) of the Turku University Hospital, Finland. Pre-defined exclusion criteria included age < 18 years, more than 2 weeks from the injury and uncertain diagnosis of TBI. To be included, a need for an acute head CT (NICE-criteria) was required. Results: Of the 620 patients with TBI or suspected TBI, 203 patients were recruited to the study. Falls were the most common injury mechanism. The study group included more males than the total eligible population (p = 0.011), but no other statistical differences were found. The most common cause for being excluded was lack of information available to the research group before discharge (34%). Conclusion: This study supports previous findings that falls are the most common injury mechanism in the Western countries. Uncertainty about the diagnosis of TBI, lack of representativeness without continuous recruitment and poor information transfer about the ED attendees are major challenges for prospective TBI studies.
Within the web: the family–practitioner relationship in the context of chronic childhood illness

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the relationship between health professionals and families who have a child with a chronic illness. Study participants included 10 family groups who had a child with a chronic illness and 12 practitioners from the disciplines of nursing, medicine, dietetics, physiotherapy and speech therapy. Data were collected by narrative audiotaped interviewing. The results of this study revealed that chronic childhood illness ‘throws' families and practitioners together into a web of relationships, which must work for the sake of the child. However, children are usually excluded from the relationship. To understand and manage the child's illness, practitioners and families ‘go around’ and act ‘in-between’ relationships. While the quality of the relationship from the family perspective is not essential, relationships are more successful when practitioners recognize the uniqueness of each family web. The nature of the relationship is often simple, yet it coexists with complexity.
Protein structure comparison based o n profiles of topological motifs: a feasible way to deal with information from negative examples

We report on a new approach to protein structure comparison using the existing TOPS database. Essentially TOPS comparisons are based on searching for subgraph isomorphisms and/or maximal common subgraphs. Whilst it would be very desirable to deal with subgraphs that contain also some negative information (e.g. the absence of a particular edge), doing this is computationally unrealistic. Instead we propose a comparison against a profile of "positive" and "negative" motifs, the later can be considered as a way to capture the required negative information. Such approach allows significantly increase the accuracy of predictions – we have up to 73% correct predictions, instead of 32% obtained by using only the best motif.
F-18 FDG PET/CT for Detecting Bone and Bone Marrow Involvement in Sarcoidosis Patients

Background: The prevalence of bone involvement in sarcoidosis has been estimated to be 3% to 5%, mostly affecting the phalanges. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and distribution pattern of bone and bone marrow involvement as detected by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in sarcoidosis patients. Methods: Between June 2006 and September 2010, 122 patients suffering from severe sarcoidosis who underwent a PET/CT and met the inclusion criteria were studied. In 94 (77%) patients, the PET/CT demonstrated positive findings associated with sarcoidosis. The 94 PET/CTs were screened for the presence of bone/bone marrow localizations. Additionally, low-dose CT scans were screened for other causes of increased bone uptake. Relevant clinical data were gathered retrospectively. Results: Evidence for bone/bone marrow localizations was found in 34% of the 94 patients with PET/CT-positive findings. Of these patients, 60% showed obvious focal bone lesions at various localizations: axial skeleton (47%), pelvis (40%), extremities (34%), and skull (2%). In 40% of patients, diffuse increased uptake in both axial and peripheral bone marrow, without focal lesions, was found. Both diffuse and focal uptake were seen in 34%, whereas only focal lesions were observed in 25%. In all but 2 (6%) patients, no bone abnormalities on low-dose CT were found. Conclusions: More than one-third of PET/CT-positive sarcoidosis patients had osseous abnormalities on PET/CT. The majority of these lesions (94%) could not be detected on low-dose CT. No single localization of preference was found. These preliminary results stress the value of PET/CT imaging in the assessment of bone/bone marrow involvement in sarcoidosis patients.
Relationship between cold temperature and cardiovascular mortality, with assessment of effect modification by individual characteristics: Ibaraki Prefectural Health Study.

BACKGROUND Cold temperature has been reported to contribute to cardiovascular mortality, but it is not clear which people are more susceptible to cold temperature. METHODS AND RESULTS The relationship between ambient temperature and mortality was examined in 3,593 subjects from the Ibaraki Prefectural Health Study who died of cardiovascular disease during a mean follow-up period of 9.7±4.0 years. Daily values of meteorological variables were obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Time-stratified case cross-over analysis was used. The multivariate odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence interval) per 1°C decrease in daily maximum temperature over the day of death and the 2 days prior to this day adjusted for relative humidity were 1.018 (1.003-1.034) for all cardiovascular deaths and 1.025 (1.003-1.048) for stroke deaths. Risk-stratified analysis showed that younger subjects aged <80 years and those with hyperglycemia were more susceptible to cold temperature. The OR of all cardiovascular deaths related to cold temperature was 1.034 (1.012-1.056) for subjects aged <80 years, and that of stroke deaths was 1.076 (1.023-1.131) for those with hyperglycemia. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to cold temperature triggers cardiovascular deaths. Additionally, younger age and hyperglycemia could enhance susceptibility to cold temperature.
[Higher percentages of T regulatory cells in children at risk for developing type 1 diabetes mellitus].

INTRODUCTION The natural history of type 1 diabetes is concerned with the appearance of autoantibodies against antigens of pancreatic beta cells. The last decade revealed some evidence of the participation of T regulatory lymphocytes - cells which suppress immune response - in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes and prediabetes. AIM OF THE STUDY was the assessment of T regulatory cells in the blood of children at risk for developing type 1 the diabetes mellitus. MATERIAL AND METHODS 85 subjects, siblings of children with type 1 diabetes, were enrolled into the study. The presence of anti-GAD65 antibodies was assessed. With the use of flow cytometry the following cell subpopulations were noted: CD4+, CD4+CD25high and CD4+CD25highCD127low with the coexpression of: CD28, CD45RO, CD54, CD62L and CD134 molecules. RESULTS We did not observe any differences in white blood cell count, lymphocyte (including CD4+) count and the percentage between the examined and control groups. We noted higher percentages of T regulatory cells: CD4+CD25high, CD4+CD127low and CD4+CD25highCD127low in children with the presence of anti-GAD65 antibodies as compared to the control children. CONCLUSION Higher percentages of T regulatory cells in the blood of children with the presence of anti-GAD65 antibodies may suggest an intensive regulatory response present in patients at risk for developing type 1 diabetes.
A cross-sectional study of umbilical cord blood donor profiles and their influence on umbilical cord blood collection in a Brazilian hospital.

BACKGROUND AIMS Umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells are a new alternative to bone marrow source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and their use has increased in the last decade. Thus efforts are being made to improve the umbilical cord blood unit's quality. Besides compatibility, other factors, such as the total nucleated cell (TNC) count and the percentage of CD34(+) cells in the product, are very important for a successful transplant outcome. Our aim was to describe our donor population and assess the best cord blood collection technique at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein's cord blood bank (São Paulo, Brazil). METHODS This was a retrospective study in which all analyses were performed simultaneously. A Student's t-test was used for qualitative variables for non-matched samples. For qualitative analyses, we used either the chi-square test or the exact Fisher's test. RESULTS The stratification of the population characteristics allowed us to determine which ones had an impact on unit volume, TNC count and percentage of CD34(+) cells. A significant correlation was observed between donor characteristics and the quality of UCB units as related to maternal and gestational age, type of pregnancy, route of delivery, cord blood collection technique and birth weight. CONCLUSIONS We found that cord blood collection technique and newborn weight were significantly correlated with the TNC content. The collection technique used at our institution significantly improved the UCB unit volume and consequently the TNC count. Some findings, such as the impact of maternal age and newborn weight, have led us to re-evaluate our protocol in order to achieve better results.
The Sound of Canadian Modernisms: The Sir George Williams University Poetry Series, 1966-74

Between 1966 and 1974, faculty members of Sir George Williams University in Montreal hosted the Poetry Series—a program of poetry readings that was conceived as an ongoing encounter between local poets and a diverse range of writers from across the United States and Canada. Through analysis of sound recordings that document the Poetry Series, this essay demonstrates how these poetry events enabled anglophone Montreal poets to encounter and engage with contemporary national and international poetic philosophies and practices. The Poetry Series is interpreted in terms of efforts to define a national Canadian literature in relation to American poetics, as a platform for the performance of contending definitions of modern and avant-garde poetic practice, and as a site for developing models of artistic community. The poets whose recorded readings are analyzed include Al Purdy, Robert Creeley, Irving Layton, Jackson Mac Low, and George Bowering. In a broader sense, the essay works to read a coherent archive of documentary poetry recordings as an archeological trace of the cultural significance of the poetry reading series in the 1960s and 1970s and to consider the methodologies most useful for engaging critically with an historical audio record of a series of cultural events.
Influence of Marital Status on Vestibular Schwannoma in the United States

Objective: To evaluate the influence of marital status on sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS) in the United States. Study Design: Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Setting: National, population-based tumor registry. Subjects and Methods: The SEER database was queried to identify all patients with sporadic VS between 2004 and 2012. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify differences in tumor size at presentation, management strategy, and mortality on the basis of patient marital status. Results: Eight thousand and eight hundred thirty eight patients met inclusion criteria. When comparing patient groups on the basis of marital status, significant differences emerged. Univariable and multivariable analyses revealed that married subjects were older, had smaller tumors at presentation, and had better overall survival compared with non-married patients. After adjusting for baseline differences between groups, non-married subjects were more likely to undergo observation (odds ratio [OR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–1.35, p = 0.009), and were less likely to undergo surgery (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76–0.94, p = 0.002) than married subjects, while there was no difference between groups with regard to radiation treatment (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.88–1.11, p = 0.828). Individual differences between non-married subgroups (i.e., single, separated/divorced, and widowed) are also reported. Conclusion: Marital status influences disease presentation, treatment, and outcome in patients with sporadic VS in the United States. The authors speculate that greater social support of married subjects may drive many of these differences between groups. Future research is needed to further elucidate the underlying causes for these findings as well as the influence of other important demographic variables such as socioeconomic status and general health status.
Polyester-based redmud reinforced banana fibre composites: impact and flexural property studies

Redmud (RM)-based polymer composite is one of the most promising fillers to be used for composite preparation. In this work, redmud is used as a secondary reinforcement along with banana fibre combined with the polyester matrix. Redmud and banana fibre of varying weight percentage in the ratio 50:50 are taken for this study. Banana fibre of 30 mm optimal length is used for this study. Redmud of different weight percentages varying from 10 to 50% wt has been taken for this study. The composites are prepared by compression moulding method. Impact and flexural strength studies are carried out for different composite combinations subjected to dry and wet (moisture) conditions. The results showed that the addition of redmud filler of 10% wt and fibre of 40% wt increases the impact strength by 43% due to the more amount of energy absorption. It decreases the flexural strength by 34% respectively due to poor bonding and dispersion of filler. In the case of composites subjected to moisture study shows same phenomenon when compared with the virgin composites.
Evidence base for multimodal therapy in cachexia

Purpose of reviewThe lack of success of unimodal treatment studies in cachexia and the growing awareness that multiple components are responsible for the development of cachexia have led to the view that cachexia intervention should include multimodal treatment. The aim of this article is to examine the evidence for multimodal treatment in the management of cancer cachexia. Recent findingsThere are some studies involving multimodal treatment that indicate significant effects on cachexia outcomes. There are, however, no randomized controlled trials to date that incorporate fully a structured exercise program, nutrition, good symptom treatment as well as drug treatment, to counteract the effects of altered metabolism. SummaryThe effectiveness of any drug intervention for cancer cachexia probably will only be maximized if incorporated into multimodal treatment. Further, cachexia treatment trials should also aim to include patients at an early phase in their cachexia trajectory and use validated outcome measures.
Surgical resection and reconstruction after resection of tumors involving the sacropelvic region

Abstract Objectives: Surgical management of tumors in the sacropelvic region is a challenging field of spine surgery because of the region’s complex local anatomy and biomechanics. Recent developments in anesthesia and intensive care have allowed us to perform extended surgeries focused on the en bloc resection of sacropelvic tumors. Various techniques for the resection and for the reconstruction were published in the last decade. Methods: Sacropelvic tumor resection techniques and methods for the biomechanical and soft-tissue reconstruction are reviewed in this paper. Results: The literature data is based on case reports and case-series. Several different techniques were developed for the lumbopelvic stabilization after sacropelvic tumor resection according to three different reconstruction principles (spinopelvic fixation (SPF), posterior pelvic ring fixation (PRF), and anterior spinal column fixation (ACF)); however, long-term follow-up data and comparative studies of the different techniques are still missing. Soft-tissue reconstruction can be performed according to an algorithm depending on the surgical approach, but relatively high complication rates are reported with all reconstruction strategies. The clinical outcome of such surgeries should ideally be evaluated in three dimensions; surgical-, oncological-, and functional outcomes. The last and most important step of the presurgical planning procedure is a careful presentation of the surgical goals and risks to the patient, who must provide a fully informed consent before surgery can proceed. Discussion: Sacropelvic tumors are rare conditions. In the last decade, growing evidence was published on resection and reconstruction techniques for these tumors; however, experience at most medical centers is limited due to the low numbers of cases. The formation of international expert groups and the initiation of multicenter studies are strongly encouraged to produce a high level of evidence in this special field of spine surgery.
Strigolactones Stimulate Internode Elongation Independently of Gibberellins1[C][W]

Strigolactones stimulate internode elongation by regulating cell division using a gibberellin-independent pathway. Strigolactone (SL) mutants in diverse species show reduced stature in addition to their extensive branching. Here, we show that this dwarfism in pea (Pisum sativum) is not attributable to the strong branching of the mutants. The continuous supply of the synthetic SL GR24 via the root system using hydroponics can restore internode length of the SL-deficient rms1 mutant but not of the SL-response rms4 mutant, indicating that SLs stimulate internode elongation via RMS4. Cytological analysis of internode epidermal cells indicates that SLs control cell number but not cell length, suggesting that SL may affect stem elongation by stimulating cell division. Consequently, SLs can repress (in axillary buds) or promote (in the stem) cell division in a tissue-dependent manner. Because gibberellins (GAs) increase internode length by affecting both cell division and cell length, we tested if SLs stimulate internode elongation by affecting GA metabolism or signaling. Genetic analyses using SL-deficient and GA-deficient or DELLA-deficient double mutants, together with molecular and physiological approaches, suggest that SLs act independently from GAs to stimulate internode elongation.