Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sparse arrays with the minimum number of elements: Recent advances

The design of maximally sparse arrays able to radiate focused beam patterns satisfying a given upper bound power mask is a research area of increasing interest. The synthesis problem can be formulated with proper constraints on the cardinality of the solution space, i.e. its ℓ0-norm. As the latter is a non-convex constraint, a different solution needs to be exploited. In this communication an innovative synthesis approach which optimizes both excitation weights and sensor positions of an array radiating pencil beam-patterns is discussed. The solution algorithm is based on sequential convex optimizations including a reweighted ℓ1-norm minimization. Numerical tests, referred to benchmark problems, show that that proposed synthesis method is able to achieve maximally sparse linear arrays, also compared with the best results reported in the literature, obtained by means of global optimization schemes.
Technical and user evaluation of a novel worm-based, on-site sanitation system in rural India

The technical performance and user acceptance of a novel on-site sanitation system based on vermifiltration was tested for over 12 months in rural India. Ten households (mean household size = 5.6 people) who had previously practised open defecation trialled a pour flush toilet linked to a vermifilter, together known as a ‘Tiger Toilet’. Technical parameters which were monitored over this period included: usage, temperature, accumulation of faecal matter and vermicompost, presence of worms, and influent and effluent quality. User satisfaction was evaluated relative to a baseline survey and through focus group discussions. The vermifilters processed human waste products effectively in a real life scenario. After 12 months there was little accumulation of faecal solids (0–10 per cent surface coverage) and effluent quality was good (chemical oxygen demand reduction = 57 per cent, faecal coliforms reduction = 99 per cent). Vermicompost accumulation was low and suggested that emptying would only be necessary ev.
A Thin and Regular Endometrium In Endometrial Cancer - Endovaginal Ultrasound Assessment.

Aim Our study had as a major objective the highlighting of more objective criteria in establishing the morphological diagnosis and the evaluation of prognosis elements in endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma, representing a specific pathology for the premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Endometrial adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor, rare in women under 40 years of age, but the incidence increases after menopause, gradually reaching a maximum between 70-79 years. Material and Methods The study included 291 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma. The patients were admitted in 2005-2010 to "Cuza-Voda" Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Iasi. The study group was diagnosed and investigated on the basis of the clinical examination and the specialized complementary explorations. The histopathological diagnosis was obtained by the processing of the hysterectomy specimen. Results The results of the study that we conducted highlight the fact that nearly half of the patients diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma were 50-59 years old. In 78.01% cases the uterus was of normal size, between 4-6cm, in 10.31% cases was increased over 6 cm and 11.68% it was of small size, less than 4 cm. Conclusions The study recommends surveillance of cases with endometrial hyperplasia especially if are associated with incriminated risk factors in the etiology of carcinoma of the uterus.
Evidence for genetic differentiation in timing of maturation among nine‐spined stickleback populations

Timing of maturation is an important life‐history trait that is likely to be subjected to strong natural selection. Although population differences in timing of maturation have been frequently reported in studies of wild animal populations, little is known about the genetic basis of this differentiation. Here, we investigated population and sex differences in timing of maturation within and between two nine‐spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) populations in a laboratory breeding experiment. We found that fish from the high‐predation marine population matured earlier than fish from the low‐predation pond population and males matured earlier than females. Timing of maturation in both reciprocal hybrid crosses between the two populations was similar to that in the marine population, suggesting that early timing of maturation is a dominant trait, whereas delayed timing of maturation in the pond is a recessive trait. Thus, the observed population divergence is suggestive of strong natural selection against early maturation in the piscine‐predator‐free pond population.
5‐Fluorouracil enhances apoptosis sensitivity of T lymphocytes mediated by CD3ε

Previous studies by our laboratory have reported that the T cell receptor (TCR) TCR/CD3 complex could mediate activation as well as apoptosis of T lymphocytes. Two tyrosine residues in the ITAM (immuno‐receptor tyrosine‐based activation motifs) of CD3ε were required for apoptosis signalling of Jurkat T lymphocytes. Stable cell lines TJK and T3JK produced from CD8− Jurkat T lymphocytes by transfection with wild‐type and mutant CD8ε (fusion of the extracellular and transmembrane domains of human CD8α to the intracellular domain of mouse CD3ε), were used with CD8− Jurkat T lymphocytes for studying the role of single intact CD3ε. 5‐Fluorouracil (5‐FU), a chemotherapeutic drug can induce cell death of many tumour cell lines. In the present experiments, we examined the expression of caspase‐3, p53 and Bid in the three cell lines induced by 5‐FU and/or anti‐CD8 antibody. We found high expression of p53 during activation‐induced cell death of TJK cells mediated by anti‐CD8 antibody and apoptosis of TJK and T3JK induced by 5‐FU, implicating p53 involvement in apoptosis of leukemia cells induced by anti‐CD8 antibody and 5‐FU. We also detected the active form of caspase‐3 and Bid in apoptotic leukemia cells after treatment with 5‐FU and/or anti‐CD8 antibody, indicating that the drug and antibody induced cell death through caspase‐3 and the signal pathway may involve the Bcl‐2 protein family. Our results showed that combined treatment with 5‐FU and anti‐CD8 antibody could enhance the rate of apoptosis induced by 5‐FU or anti‐CD8 antibody through increased expression of p53 and by promoting activation of caspase‐3 and Bid. This suggests that the combination of 5‐FU and anti‐CD8 antibody may play an important role in inducing apoptosis of leukemia cells. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distinct telomere length regulation in premalignant cervical and endometrial lesions: implications for the roles of telomeres in uterine carcinogenesis

Mouse models show that progressive shortening of telomeres with ageing causes chromosomal instability, which can lead to the initiation of cancer. However, it is unclear what roles telomere shortening plays in human carcinogenesis. The present study has investigated the involvement of telomere dynamics in uterine carcinogenesis. Using telomere‐FISH (telo‐FISH) assays, telomere lengths in premalignant and malignant cervical and endometrial lesions were measured and compared with chromosomal arm loss or gain. Telo‐FISH signals were visualized with Cy3‐labelled telomere‐specific probes and presented as telomere intensity (TI). Early‐stage cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINs), especially CIN2, had significantly shorter telomeres than corresponding normal squamous epithelia (p = 0.019), together with increased rates of chromosomal arm loss/gain (p < 0.001). Cervical cancers had relatively short telomeres, but they also showed greater heterogeneity than other sampled tissues, including those with long telomeres. In contrast, there was no significant difference between the telomere length of normal endometrium and of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. There was no significant difference in the rate of chromosomal arm loss/gain between normal endometrium and endometrial hyperplasia. These findings suggest that progressive shortening of telomeres occurs in CIN, in association with chromosomal instability, which may play critical roles in cervical carcinogenesis. In contrast, endometrial hyperplasias have relatively stable telomeres without widespread chromosome alteration, implying that endometrial carcinogenesis involves mechanisms distinct from those of cervical carcinogenesis, possibly including microsatellite instability. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sodium-Lithium Countertransport Activity in Healthy, Dyslipidemic, and Hypertensive Individuals

The aim of our study was to investigate the role of dyslipidemia on red blood cell sodium-lithium countertransport activity in healthy and hypertensive individuals. A total of 128 Caucasian individuals, aged 20 to 60 years old, were divided into 4 groups: dyslipidemic/ hypertensive, dyslipidemic/normotensive, normolipidemic/hypertensive, and normolipidemic/ normotensive (controls). Sodiumlithium countertransport activity was determined based on the Canessa et al method. Sodium-lithium countertransport activity was significantly higher in all patient groups compared with controls (P < .001) and similar in the 3 patient groups. Sodium-lithium countertransport activity was significantly and positively associated with triglyceride levels (P < .001), body mass index (P < .001), total cholesterol levels (P = .001), and systolic (P = .001) and diastolic blood pressure (P = .001). In multivariate regression analysis, triglycerides made the largest contribution to sodiumlithium countertransport variation among the variables tested (R 2 = 0.273). Our results suggest that dyslipidemia affects sodium-lithium countertransport activity independently of essential hypertension and even to a greater extent than hypertension.
Gait trajectory prediction for lower-limb exoskeleton based on Deep Spatial-Temporal Model (DSTM)

Gait trajectory prediction can not only be used to reduce the interactive resistance for passive powered exoskeleton (wearer leading exoskeleton to walk), but also be used to generate suitable gait trajectory for active powered exoskeleton. This paper proposes a gait trajectory prediction methodology using Deep Spatial-Temporal Model to predict the lower-limb joint trajectories of future gait trajectory according to historic gait data. The method can obtain the deep spatial-temporal relationship of gait trajectories by training large gait data, which avoids the complex modeling of human body and lower-limb exoskeleton. In order to make the prediction results more stable, two-step predictions are adopted to estimate the optimal future gait trajectory. Based on a gait set including 35 subjects, the experiments demonstrate that the gait trajectory prediction methodology can accurately predict the future gait trajectory.
Improving Supplier Performance in New Product Development: The Role of Supplier Development

Suppliers play an increasingly central role in helping firms achieve their new product development (NPD) goals. Although much attention has focused on managing the buyer-supplier interface, we know little about how firms can enhance a supplier�s ability to contribute to an NPD effort. Thus, we propose a theoretical model that conceptualizes supplier development activities within inter-organizational NPD projects as bilateral knowledge-sharing processes. Antecedents (supplier responsibility, skills similarity, and single sourcing strategy) and consequences of supplier development activities (on supplier, product and project performance) are examined using a sample of 153 inter-organizational NPD projects conducted within UK manufacturers. We find broad support for our hypotheses. In particular, we show that the relational rents, in the form of improved product and project performance, attained from supplier development activities in new product development are not achieved directly, but rather indirectly via improvements in the supplier�s creative and technological capabilities. Our results emphasize the importance of adopting a strategic view of the potential returns available from investing in the NPD capabilities of key suppliers, and provide clues about underlying reasons for the suboptimal experiences of many firms� collaborative NPD projects.
SNS users' para-social relationships with celebrities: social media effects on purchase intentions

In this study, the authors investigate factors that influence para-social relationships between social network service (SNS) users and celebrities and the effects on users' purchase intentions. The study shows that SNS use and para-social relationships with celebrities are positively related. User/celebrity para-social relationships and celebrity reputation also show positive relationships with purchase intentions. Gender differences affect relationships between celebrity reputation, para-social relationships and purchase intentions. The results imply that new media, particularly SNS, encourages para-social relationships, and that para-social relationships and celebrity reputations persuade SNS users to make purchase decisions. The study shows that new media stimulates consumer desires, and the new SNS environment gives celebrities more power to affect purchase decisions.
Analysis of fish assemblages in sectors along a salinity gradient based on species, families and functional groups

Here we test the effects of the east-west salinity gradient in the subtropical Paranagua Bay Estuarine Complex (PEC) on the structure of shallow water fish fauna, determined according to taxonomic (families and species) and functional composition metrics. A total of 152 species were observed. The families with the largest number of species were the Sciaenidae, Carangidae, Haemulidae and Gobiidae. The most abundant species were Atherinella brasiliensis, Harengula clupeola, Anchoa januaria and Anchoa tricolor. Marine stragglers dominated in number of species, followed by marine migrants and estuarine species. Most species were zoobenthivores, followed by piscivores and zooplanktivores. Families and species more frequently associated with estuarine conditions dominated in the mesohaline sector, and those more frequently associated with marine conditions dominated in the euhaline sector. The fish assemblages along the estuarine salinity gradient were found to be better characterized by taxonomic metrics than by functional ones. This is most likely because individuals of all functional groups inhabit all salinity sectors, and thus these metrics are not useful for differentiating assemblages along salinity gradients. Our results differ from those of other studies in tropical and subtropical estuaries, which have emphasized the importance of functional groups in determining fish assemblages along salinity gradients.
Pay -As -You -Drive Vehicle Insurance

A radial piston pump used for producing high fuel pressure in fuel systems of internal combustion engines, in particular in a common rail injection system includes a housing with at least one cylinder and a drive shaft is supported in the housing and having at least one cam section. A stroke ring is disposed encompassing the cam section a piston contained in each cylinder is supported against the stroke ring. A possibility for adjusting the delivery quantity of the radial piston pump is achieved in that an adjusting ring is disposed between the cam section and the stroke ring and the internal opening of this adjusting ring is eccentric in relation to the outer contour and can be rotated around the central axis of the internal opening into a desired angular position in relation to the cam section.
Benefits of using Golay sequences in channel swept time cross-correlation sounders

Wideband radio channel sounders used for channel characterization purposes, are traditionally based on correlation of pseudorandom maximal length sequences. However, as it is shown in this paper, larger dynamic range can be achieved and wideband parameter estimation can be improved if Golay sequences are used instead. Results of the improvement achieved by using Golay sequences are confirmed by experimental wideband radio channel measurements carried out using both kinds of sequences.
Championship Behaviors and Innovations Success: An Empirical Investigation of University Spin‐Offs*

Despite the flurry of scholarly research on champions, no prior article has explicitly addressed how different dimensions of championship behavior actually contribute to innovation success. In this article, based on an extensive literature review, the authors argue that champions display four behaviors, namely (1) pursuing innovative ideas, (2) network building, (3) persisting under adversity, and (4) taking responsibility for the idea. The authors use data from 123 university spin-offs to test proposed linear and curvilinear relationships between the four behaviors and an objective measure of innovation success, namely a longitudinal measure of sales growth. The results indicate that network building has the desired positive relationship with sales performance. Surprisingly, pursuing the innovative idea is not related to sales growth. Furthermore, the present study also reveals some dysfunctional effects of champion behaviors. Persisting under adversity and taking responsibility have the hypothesized inverted-U relationship with sales growth. The present study provides a more refined discussion of the benefits and dangers of championing behaviors. Our results show that linking technology to markets can be planned and controlled only to a very limited extent even if champions are working hard to sell the idea to potential customers. Moreover, any new idea is often competing with existing products and pursuing such ideas may result in opposition to the idea. In contrast, network building has the desired positive relationship with innovation success. Effective championing behavior keeps an innovative idea alive by mobilizing support and building coalitions around the idea with critical individuals or important third parties. Moreover, this study challenges the widespread “heroic” discussion of championing as fundamentally positive “across the board. ” The results show that persisting under adversity and taking responsibility are desirable up to some levels. Beyond such critical levels, these two champion behaviors may actually become detrimental to the innovation process. Being too persistent in the face of adversity or taking too much responsibility for the innovative idea might undermine the power of the champion's justifications for an innovation and thereby increase resistance to change. An “over-performing” champion may interpret opposing communications as an unwarranted and injurious response. By taking overmuch responsibility for the innovative undertaking, the champion is likely to discourage contributions from other team members who see no valuable opportunity to bring their expertise and knowledge to the idea.
From less promising to green? Technological opportunities and their role in (green) ICT innovation

ABSTRACT This article aims to shed light on the role of technological opportunities for green innovation by studying the case of Green ICT innovation. We test whether firms active in low-opportunity technological areas are less likely to be innovative and whether they are more likely to change their direction of technical change. To do so, we construct a firm-level panel data set for the years 1992–2009 combining patent data from the European Patent Office with firm-level data from the German Innovation Panel (Mannheim Innovation Panel). The results are based on dynamic count data estimation models applying General Methods of Moments estimators. Our results support our hypotheses: firms active in low-opportunity technological areas are less innovative but are more likely to switch from pure ICT innovation to Green ICT innovation.
Exploring the importance of employee incentives and their effectiveness in improving quality performance in a Cambodian public organization

The main purpose of this study is to identify the importance of incentives and their effectiveness in employee performance. The detail of this research will be conducted in an attempt to demonstrate whether incentives have a great potential to increase public employees’ motivation and work performance. The purpose of the research is also to illustrate to what extent incentives are used in the Cambodian public service sector. To fulfill the objective of the research as well as to obtain real and reliable data, a research study was conducted at the Cambodian Investment Board – CIB under the Council for the Development of Cambodia – CDC. The method of this research study was implemented with a qualitative analysis to investigate the work characteristic of Cambodian public employees, and to identify the correlation between the rewarding, recognition and employee work performance. In addition to the research method, the analysis of the qualitative interview data was to be done through the use of thematic analysis. After the qualitative research method was completely finished, the findings of the research study were much the same as those mentioned in the literature review. The data analysis proved a significant correlation between incentives in the form of rewards and recognition, and better work performance. Based on the findings of this research study, most of the public employees in the above mentioned organization commented that both financial and non-financial incentives are significantly important to encourage and motivate them for greater work performance. It also indicated that there was an absence of employee incentive particularly financial incentive. Meanwhile, the level of utilization of non-financial incentives is extremely poor. Therefore, within the limitations of the research study, it could be concluded that both financial and non-financial incentives have a potential effect on employee motivation and work performance in the public service organization of Cambodia.
Systemic wound signaling in plants: A new perception

Over 100 species of plants exhibit systemic wound signaling that induces the production of defensive chemicals in leaves and stems (1). The signaling is caused by herbivore attacks and also occurs in response to some pathogens (2–5). The most intensively studied systemic signaling response is that found in species of the Solanaceae family, where a systemic wound signal that is graft transmissible regulates the expression of defensive proteinase inhibitors (PIs) and polyphenol oxidase genes (6) (Fig. 1). On wounding, an 18-aa polypeptide, called systemin (7), interacts with a cell-surface receptor (8, 9) to initiate a signaling cascade that includes the release of linolenic acid (18 carbon atoms) from plant cell membranes and its subsequent conversion to 12 oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA; 18 carbon atoms) and jasmonic acid (JA; 12 carbon atoms) (10) through the well known octadecanoid pathway (11). JA activates the expression of several signaling pathway genes that up-regulate JA synthesis and the production of H2O2 (12) leading to the synthesis of PIs. OPDA and JA synthesis is analogous to elements of the inflammatory pathway in animals in which arachidonic acid (20 carbon atoms) is converted to prostaglandins (13). Systemin is considered a mobile long-distance signal, and OPDA isomers (14) and JA have been considered to be localized signals produced in target cells. Li et al., in a recent issue of PNAS (15), use two mutants defective in the wound-signaling pathway to provide evidence that JA or a derivative may also act as a long-distance transmissible signal for wound signaling. Jasmonic acid or a derivative may act as a long-distance transmissible signal for wound signaling.