Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Theoretical investigation of optical wavelength conversion techniques for DPSK Modulation formats using FWM in SOAs and frequency comb in 10 gb/s transmission systems

We have investigated the wavelength conversion techniques for differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) modulation formats in 10 Gb/s transmission systems, compared with the non-return-to-zero (NRZ) modulation format. For the wavelength conversion of DPSK modulation formats, we employed the wavelength converters based on the four-wave mixing (FWM) in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and the frequency comb generated by phase modulation. The power penalty at 10/sup -9/ bit error rate was used as a measure of the system performance degraded by the wavelength conversion. Our simulation results show that the DPSK modulation formats have a smaller power penalty than the NRZ modulation format for the wavelength conversion using the FWM effect in an SOA due to a much lower pattern effect. However, as the wavelength conversion uses the frequency comb generated by phase modulation, it has a similar power penalty compared with the NRZ modulation format. It is also shown that the DPSK modulation formats are possible to obtain the power penalty less than 0.4 dB for both wavelength conversion techniques.
A GSM-EDGE/CDMA2000/UMTS Receiver IC for Cellular Terminals in 0.13 μm CMOS

A single-chip, fully integrated GSM-EDGE/ CDMA2000/UMTS direct conversion receiver has been implemented. While the design comprises two frac-N PLLs, mixers, LNAs, fully integrated VCOs, analog anti-aliasing filters and a three-wire-bus configuration interface, the key topic is a fully configurable digital-front-end (DFE), ΔΣ ADCs and a high-speed digital serial baseband (BB) interface. The DFE's functionality includes sample-rate-conversion, channel filtering, dynamic range control, and signal conditioning for data transmission via a digital interface between RFIC and baseband IC. The described partitioning shifts some of the functionality, traditionally located in the analog-front-end (channel filtering, gain control, etc.) and baseband IC (matched filtering) to the digital-front-end. The receiver IC with a die size of 8 mm2 has been fabricated in 0.13-μm RF-CMOS. The power consumption for the DFE is 11 to 35-mW@1.5 V. The receiver shows a error-vector-magnitude (EVM) of 3.9 % in UMTS mode and 3.1 % in CDMA2000 configuration at the digital baseband interface
Project Management Considerations for Distributed Processing Applications

Many distributed information processing systems will fail because of people and organizational problems ᾢ not technical problems. These problems can be addressed by careful skill and organizational planning, by added attention to training, and by an enhanced project management methodology. This methodology must be amended to include a strong requirement for technical architecture at the start, and for thorough systems testing at the finish. Distributed systems are more complex and, to be successful, will require more work and mod expertise in the central systems staff, not less. Economies of scale will keep most of the work and expertise within the central staff.
Running head: PSEUDOTUMORS IN ASSOCIATION WITH HIP PROSTHESES 1 PSEUDOTUMORS IN ASSOCIATION WITH HIP PROSTHESES: A LITERTURE REVIEW WITH CASE STUDIES November 13, 2013 PSEUDOTUMORS IN ASSOCIATION WITH HIP PROSTHESES

With the exhibit of pseudotumor discoveries around hip replacements, the search for the cause of such abnormal masses has become a topic of great interest. Possible areas of causation include metal-on-metal hip replacements compared to metal-on-polyethylene hip replacements, patient hypersensitivity to prosthesis debris, or even prosthesis surgical position has been investigated. Although more research should be done, hypersensitivity seems to be the direction most studies are suggesting. However, more research must be done to ascertain the true reason behind the development of pseudotumors. PSEUDOTUMORS IN ASSOCIATION WITH HIP PROSTHESES 3
Misconceptions among nurses about evidence-based practice.

PURPOSE To delineate the origins and fundamental tenets of evidence-based practice (EBP) and to enhance understanding of this important term. METHODS A critical review of the literature pertaining to evidence-based practice from the fields of medicine and nursing, including international reports. FINDINGS The roots of EBP indicate this term is not a synonym for research utilization but rather is the rubric for a set of epistemologic assumptions. Key components of EBP include evidence hierarchies and systematic reviews. Differences were found between the views of EBP presented in papers published by nurses within the US compared to those published by nurses outside the US. CONCLUSIONS The literature shows incongruity in the interpretation of the basic tenets of the evidence-based paradigm. Additionally, nurses may underestimate implications of the evidence-based movement. These two problems impede nurses' participation as full partners in the advancement of evidence-based practice. They also represent a call to action to achieve a more standardized framework for advancing EBP in nursing.
Effects of preexercise feeding on markers of satellite cell activation.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine if consuming isoenergetic (25 g) doses of carbohydrate or protein versus a noncaloric placebo before conventional resistance training affected the myogenic expression of cell cycle-regulating genes as well as the muscle [DNA] acutely after exercise. METHODS Ten untrained men (mean +/- SD: age = 22 +/- 4 yr, body mass = 77.8 +/- 8.3 kg, percent body fat = 17.8 +/- 4.0) participated in three resistance exercise sessions (three sets of 10 repetitions at 80% one-repetition maximum for the bilateral hack squat, leg press, and leg extension exercises) in a crossover fashion, which were preceded by carbohydrate, protein, or placebo ingestion 30 min before training. Presupplement/preexercise and 2- and 6-h postexercise muscle biopsies were obtained during each session and analyzed for fold changes in CDK4, CYCLIN D1, MGF, MYOD, P21(CIP1), and P27(KIP1) messenger RNA expression using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction as well as muscle [DNA] using cuvette-based fluorometric methods. RESULTS Nonparametric statistics were completed, and no conditions x time interaction effects were revealed. Several exercise-mediated responses were found to occur independent of condition: 1) muscle [DNA] increased at 6 h (+40%, P < 0.05), 2) CDK4 expression increased at 6 h (+86%, P < 0.05), 3) MYOD expression increased at 6 h (+98%, P < 0.05), 4) P27(KIP1) expression decreased at 2 h (j35%, P < 0.05) and 6 h (-59%, P < 0.001), and 5) P21(CIP1) expression substantially increased 2 and 6 h postexercise (+1.250% and +4.670%, respectively, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The tandem DNA and cell cycle regulator gene expression analyses provide preliminary evidence to suggest that satellite cell activation and proliferation may be occurring at early post-exercise time points after a conventional resistance exercise bout, a phenomenon that may seemingly be independent of preexercise macronutrient ingestion.
Proton transverse relaxation rate of 17O‐enriched water

Proton transverse relaxation rates of 17O‐enriched water at pH in the neutral range were determined with isotopic compositions of 17O varying from natural abundance to 5%. Meiboom's account of the proton T 2−1 caused by the scalar interaction between the proton and 17O is generalized to accommodate new data. The generalized formulation covers 17O enrichment above the limit to which Meiboom and his co‐worker constrained all their work.
Immunogenetics of pemphigus: An update

Pemphigus are rare but informative models of organ-specific autoimmune diseases, resulting from the interplay of environmental, genetic and stochastic factors. There are many arguments to consider that pemphigus have a genetic basis involving, as many other autoimmune diseases, several different genes with additive or synergistic effects. So far, the unique strategy used to identify the contributive loci has been direct analysis of candidate genes through conventional case-control association studies. The major histocompatibility complex in particular the class II locus was demonstrated to be associated with pemphigus with a high rate of replicability. The progresses in the understanding of pemphigus physiopathology and the development of new molecular tools offer new perspectives to unveiled the genetic basis of this group of autoimmune blistering diseases, as shown by recent studies of candidate genes expressed at different levels of the autoimmune process.
Is management commitment a necessity after all in software process improvement?

Literature and practice has established that the lack of management commitment has been one of the top reasons for a failed SPI (software process improvement) initiative. The paper reports results from an ongoing study aimed at clarifying the role and the meaning of management commitment in SPI initiatives. Results from five focused interviews with SPI professionals are reported together with results from 12 SPI initiatives where the level of management commitment (in terms of concrete signs) was measured in order to test whether it would correlate with the level of success of an SPI initiative. In contrast with the evidence from the literature, the results show that none of the signs of management commitment correlated significantly with the success of the SPI initiatives. It is suggested that the concept of champion may have explained the SPI project success better than management commitment. The paper concludes that many of the SPI initiatives do not require management commitment beyond obtaining the resources needed.
Solving the forward kinematics of parallel manipulators with a genetic algorithm

A floating point genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the forward kinematic problem for parallel manipulators. This method, adapted from studies in the biological sciences, allows the use of inverse kinematic solutions to solve forward kinematics as an optimization problem. The method is applied to two 3-degree-of-freedom planar parallel manipulators and to a 3-degree-of-freedom spherical manipulator. The method converges to a solution within a broader search domain compared to a Newton-Raphson scheme. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Profit Efficiency and Competitiveness of Commercial Banks in Malaysia

— This paper attempts to identify the significance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and competitiveness to the profit efficiency of commercial banks in Malaysia. The profit efficiency of commercial banks in Malaysia, the dependent variable, was estimated using the Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA) on a sample of unbalanced panel data, covering 23 commercial banks, between 1995 to 2007. Based on the empirical results, ICT was not found to exert a significant impact on profit efficiency, whereas competitiveness, non ICT stock expenditure and ownership were significant contributors. On the other hand, the size of banks was found to have significantly reduced profit efficiency, opening up for various interpretations of the interrelated role of ICT and competition.
The role of trauma team leaders in missed injuries: Does specialty matter?

BACKGROUND Previous studies have identified missed injuries as a common and potentially preventable occurrence in trauma care. Several patient- and injury-related variables have been identified, which predict for missed injuries; however, differences in rate and severity of missed injuries between surgeon and nonsurgeon trauma team leaders (TTLs) have not previously been reported. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted on a random sample of 10% of all trauma patients (Injury Severity Score [ISS] > 12) from 1999 to 2009 at a Canadian Level I trauma center. Missed injuries were defined as those identified greater than 24 hours after presentation and were independently adjudicated by two reviewers. TTLs were identified as either surgeons or nonsurgeons. RESULTS Of our total trauma population of 2,956 patients, 300 charts were randomly pulled for detailed review. Missed injuries occurred in 46 patients (15%). Most common missed injuries were fractures (n = 32, 70%) and thoracic injuries (n = 23, 50%). The majority of missed injuries resulted in minor morbidity with only 5 (11%) requiring operative intervention. On univariate analysis, higher ISS (p < 0.01), higher maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) score of the thorax (p < 0.01), and nonsurgeon TTL status were predictive of missed injuries (p = 0.02). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that, after adjustment for age, ISS, and severe head injuries, the presence of a nonsurgeon TTL was associated with an increased odds of missed injury (odds ratio, 2.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–4.20). CONCLUSION Missed injuries occurred in 15% of patients. A unique finding was the increased odds of missed injury with nonsurgeon TTLs. Further research should be undertaken to explore this relationship, elucidate potential causes, and propose interventions to narrow this discrepancy between TTL provider types. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV. Prognostic and epidemiologic study, level III.
Metoclopramide for post-pyloric placement of naso-enteral feeding tubes.

BACKGROUND Enteral nutrition by feeding tube is a common and efficient method of providing nutritional support to prevent malnutrition in hospitalised patients who have adequate gastrointestinal function but who are unable to eat. Gastric feeding may be associated with higher rates of food aspiration and pneumonia than post-pyloric naso-enteral tubes. Thus, enteral feeding tubes are placed directly into the small intestine rather than the stomach, and the use of metoclopramide, a prokinetic agent, has been recommended to achieve post-pyloric placement, but its efficacy is controversial. Moreover, metoclopramide may include adverse reactions, which with high doses or prolonged use may be serious and irreversible. OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of intravenous metoclopramide on post-pyloric placement of the naso-enteral tube in adults. SEARCH METHODS Trials were identified by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2014, Issue 10) which includes the CUGPD group's specialised register of trials, MEDLINE (1996 to 21 October 2014), EMBASE (1988 to 21 October 2014), LILACS (2005 to 21 October 2014) We did not confine our search to English language publications. Searches in all databases were updated originally in January 2005, then in November 2008 and again in October 2014. No new studies were found in 2008 or in 2014. SELECTION CRITERIA We selected randomised controlled trials of adults needing enteral nutrition, who received intravenous or intramuscular metoclopramide to aid placement of transpyloric naso-enteral feeding tubes, compared to placebo or no intervention. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. All analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat method. We present risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN RESULTS Four studies, with a total of 204 participants were included and analysed. The trials compared metoclopramide with placebo (two trials) or with no intervention (two trials). Metoclopramide was investigated at doses of 10 mg (two trials) and 20 mg (two trials). There was no statistically significant difference between metoclopramide versus placebo or no intervention administered to promote tube placement (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.10). Metoclopramide at doses of 10 mg (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.11) and 20 mg (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.15 to 2.62) were equally ineffective in facilitating post-pyloric intubation when compared with placebo or no intervention. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS In this review, we found only four studies that fitted our inclusion criteria. These were small, underpowered studies, in which metoclopramide was given at doses of 10 mg and 20 mg. Our analysis showed that metoclopramide did not assist post-pyloric placement of naso-enteral feeding tubes.Ideally randomised clinical trials should be performed that have a significant sample size, administering metoclopramide against control, however, given the lack of efficacy revealed by this review it is unlikely that further studies will be performed.
Reproductive Biology and Delayed Selfing in Viola pubescens (Violaceae), an Understory Herb with Chasmogamous and Cleistogamous Flowers

Plant response to variation in the surrounding biotic and abiotic environment often involves mechanisms that promote reproductive assurance. The goal of this study was to determine whether production of chasmogamous (CH) and cleistogamous (CL) flowers as well as delayed CH selfing in the perennial herb Viola pubescens enhances reproductive output in a heterogeneous environment. A central Ohio population was monitored for several years to study its reproductive biology and to measure selfing rates in CH flowers. A temporal switch from CH to CL flowers corresponded with a reduction in light availability as the forest canopy formed. Although similar numbers of CH and CL flowers were produced per plant, CH flowers were nearly twice as likely to disperse seeds as CL flowers. Both floral types had similar numbers of seeds with comparable mass, and there was no difference in emergence of CH and CL seedlings. In addition to outcrossing, CH flowers were capable of delayed selfing if left unvisited by insect pollinators. This was consistent with the rate of selfing over a 2‐yr period (0.60, 0.07) measured with allozymes. Both CH and CL flowers contributed to reproduction in V. pubescens as well as delayed CH selfing, thereby creating a mating system that may be an adaptation to pollinator or resource unpredictability within the flowering season.
Sustainable Memory. How Journalism Keeps the Attention for Past Disasters Alive

This article explores how much attention journalism dedicates to past disasters in the present media coverage and asks to which extent journalism refers to present and future developments and concerns while reporting the past. Following concepts of time sociology and sociology of knowledge, we suggest overcoming the common assumption that memory belongs to the past and thus is not in line with the highly newsand eventdriven journalistic production process. By introducing the concept of sustainable memory, which covers a temporal and a thematic dimension, we therefore regard memory as a process in the present and regard future (and not past) as the epistemological perspective on memory. These considerations shall contribute to challenge the inherent contradiction of the news-value topicality as a code in journalism, on the one hand, and memory as its supposed adversary on the other hand. We present selected findings from a comparative quantitative content analysis dealing with the current media attention for two past storm surge disasters, which happened in the Netherlands in 1953 and in Germany in 1962 (n=2.799). The results show that the journalistic memory of these past events is temporally and thematically sustainable. Altogether, the theoretical considerations and empirical findings should contribute to a better integration of memory as a self-evident category in journalism research.
Toxicity testing and the effect of landfill leachate in Malaysia on behavior of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758; Pisces, Cyprinidae).

Problem Statement: Landfill leachate had been implicated in environmental pollution, developmental anomalies, birth defect and surface and groundwater pollution worldwide. This study has been conducted to determine the toxicity of landfill leachate from three different landfills in Malaysia on fry common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758; Pisces, Cyprinidae) in combination with some physico-chemical parameters analysis. Approach: Leachates were collected from Air Hitam (AHL), Ampar Tenang (ATL) and Sungai Sedu (SSL) landfills. The experiments were performed as three replicates using a total of 180 carps for each definitive test. The semi-static renewal method of acute toxicity test was used. The data obtained were statically evaluated by the use of the EPA computer program based on Finney’s Probit Analysis Method. Results: The leachate used in this study had an invariable of (1640-7600 mg L-1) COD and (321.22-956.86 mg L-1) Ammonical-N. The 96 h LC50 values of landfills leachate from the three landfills using fry C. carpio individuals with an average weight of 0.92±0.24 g and average length of 3.83±0.19 cm were found to be 1.132, 2.0 and 3.822% respectively. Among the behavioral changes observed for the individual fish at different leachate concentrations, decline in general activity, loss of balance, breathing difficulties, excessive mucosal secretion and gathering at the surface for breathing. Conclusion: This study of acute toxicity to the recommended fish species, C. caprio, is considered the first in Malaysia. Further research with toxicity testing methods directly on fish will be very useful in assessing possible ecological risk assessment of landfill leachate.
Dermal Carcinogenicity in Transgenic Mice: Relative Responsiveness of Male and Female Hemizygous and Homozygous Tg.AC Mice to 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-Acetate (TPA) and Benzene

Assessment of the carcinogenic potential of chemical agents continues to rely primarily upon the chronic rodent bioassay, a resource-intensive exercise. Recent advances in transgenic technology offer a potential resource conserving approach to carcinogen detection. Incorporation of oncogenes with known roles in the development of neoplasms into the genomes of laboratory rodents may provide new models with the potential of quickly and accurately separating carcinogenic from noncarcinogenic chemicals. The insertion of the v-Ha-ras oncogene into the genome of FVB/N mice imparts the qualities of genetically initiated skin in the transgenic mouse line designated as Tg.AC. The skin of either hemizygous (animals carrying the transgene on 1 allele) or homozygous (transgene copies on both alleles) Tg.AC mice promptly responds to the application of nongenotoxic carcinogens, such as the classical tumor promoting phorbol esters, with the development of squamous papillomas. Tumor production generally begins after 8-10 applications of 2.5 μg/mouse (3 times/wk) of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Maximal tumor response is usually in evidence within 20 wk. If this transgenic mouse line is to be useful in the identification of carcinogenic chemicals, experimental protocols must be systematically optimized. Experiments were conducted to compare the relative responsiveness of male and female hemizygous and homozygous Tg.AC mice to the dermal application of TPA and the known human leukemogen, benzene. Results revealed shipment-related variabilities in the relative responsiveness of hemizygous male and female mice to the application of the proliferative agent. Homozygous mice of both sexes were more reliable and uniform in responsiveness to both TPA and benzene. Therefore, our standard protocol for the conduct of bioassays with the Tg.AC mouse line specifies the use of homozygous males and/or females.