Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-user detection in OFDM systems using CDMA and multiple antennas

This paper deals with linear multi-user detection in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The separation of concurrently transmitted signals is based on space division and code division multiple access (SD/CDMA). The examined OFDM schemes are compared against frequency domain equalization for single-carrier transmission schemes (SC/FDE). Both show strong similarities. Therefore in this paper, we focus on a unified treatment of multi-user detection systems based on OFDM or SC/FDE. The trade-off between exploitation of diversity and user separation is analyzed for different spreading techniques and a varying number of receive antennas. The performance is evaluated in terms of both uncoded and coded bit error ratio (BER). Furthermore, a novel time domain spreading technique for OFDM systems is proposed for which the peak-to-average transmitter power ratio (PAPR) is independent of the applied spreading code.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity of a novel scaffold of thiazolidinone derivatives

Abstract We designed and synthesised novel N-substituted 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives for the evaluation of their anti-Toxoplasma gondii efficacy. This scaffold was functionalised both at the N1-hydrazine portion with three structurally different moieties and at the lactam nitrogen with substituted benzyl groups selected on the basis of our previous structure-activity relationships studies. Using three different assay methods, the compounds were assessed in vitro to determine both the levels of efficacy against the tachyzoites of T. gondii (IC50 = 5–148 μM), as well as any evidence of cytotoxicity towards human host cells (TD50 = 68 to ≥320 μM). Results revealed that ferrocene-based thiazolidinones can possess potent anti-tachyzoite activity (TI =2–64).
The status of Homo heidelbergensis (Schoetensack 1908)

The species Homo heidelbergensis is central to many discussions about recent human evolution. For some workers, it was the last common ancestor for the subsequent species Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis; others regard it as only a European form, giving rise to the Neanderthals. Following the impact of recent genomic studies indicating hybridization between modern humans and both Neanderthals and “Denisovans”, the status of these as separate taxa is now under discussion. Accordingly, clarifying the status of Homo heidelbergensis is fundamental to the debate about modern human origins. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of protein D-containing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae acute otitis media and carriage

ABSTRACT Introduction: Protein D-containing vaccines may decrease acute otitis media (AOM) burden and nasopharyngeal carriage of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Protein D-containing pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PHiD-CV (Synflorix, GSK Vaccines) elicits robust immune responses against protein D. However, the phase III Clinical Otitis Media and PneumoniA Study (COMPAS), assessing PHiD-CV efficacy against various pneumococcal diseases, was not powered to demonstrate efficacy against NTHi; only trends of protective efficacy against NTHi AOM in children were shown. Areas covered: This review aims to consider all evidence available to date from pre-clinical and clinical phase III studies together with further evidence emerging from post-marketing studies since PHiD-CV has been introduced into routine clinical practice worldwide, to better describe the clinical utility of protein D in preventing AOM due to NTHi and its impact on NTHi nasopharyngeal carriage. Expert commentary: Protein D is an effective carrier protein in conjugate vaccines and evidence gathered from pre-clinical, clinical and observational studies suggest that it also elicits immune response that can help to reduce the burden of AOM due to NTHi. There remains a need to develop improved vaccines for prevention of NTHi disease, which could be achieved by combining protein D with other antigens.
CFD and ventilation research.

UNLABELLED There has been a rapid growth of scientific literature on the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in the research of ventilation and indoor air science. With a 1000-10,000 times increase in computer hardware capability in the past 20 years, CFD has become an integral part of scientific research and engineering development of complex air distribution and ventilation systems in buildings. This review discusses the major and specific challenges of CFD in terms of turbulence modelling, numerical approximation, and boundary conditions relevant to building ventilation. We emphasize the growing need for CFD verification and validation, suggest ongoing needs for analytical and experimental methods to support the numerical solutions, and discuss the growing capacity of CFD in opening up new research areas. We suggest that CFD has not become a replacement for experiment and theoretical analysis in ventilation research, rather it has become an increasingly important partner. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS We believe that an effective scientific approach for ventilation studies is still to combine experiments, theory, and CFD. We argue that CFD verification and validation are becoming more crucial than ever as more complex ventilation problems are solved. It is anticipated that ventilation problems at the city scale will be tackled by CFD in the next 10 years.
Intensive nursing care provided to a patient with permethrin toxicosis

This article describes and evaluates the intensive nursing care provided to a feline patient with permethrin toxicosis. Permethrin is an active ingredient in some over-the-counter insecticide products. Cats are particularly sensitive to permethrin toxicosis due to a deficiency of glucouronide transferase enzyme which is necessary for permethrin metabolism. Nursing interventions should include provision of supportive care to maintain hydration, normovolaemia, normothermia and patient comfort. Recommendations for future practice include increasing awareness of the potential life-threatening complications of permethrin toxicosis and active reporting of suspected adverse reactions to enable effective monitoring and intervention as appropriate.
Genome‐wide analysis identifies 16q deletion associated with survival, molecular subtypes, mRNA expression, and germline haplotypes in breast cancer patients

Breast carcinomas are characterized by DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) with biological and clinical significance. This explorative study integrated CNA, expression, and germline genotype data of 112 early‐stage breast cancer patients. Recurrent CNAs differed substantially between tumor subtypes classified according to expression pattern. Deletion of 16q was overrepresented in Luminal A, and a predictor of good prognosis, both overall and for the nonluminal A subgroups. The deleted region most significantly associated with survival mapped to 16q22.2, harboring the genes TXNL4B and DXH38, whose expression was strongly correlated with the deletion. The area most frequently deleted resided on 16q23.1, 3.5 MB downstream of the area most significantly associated with survival, and included the tumor suppressor gene ADAMTS18 and the cell recognition gene CNTNAP4. Whole‐genome association analysis identified germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their corresponding haplotypes, residing on several different chromosomes, to be associated with deletion of 16q. The genes where these SNPs reside encode proteins involved in the extracellular matrix (CHST3 and SPOCK2), in regulation of the cell cycle (JMY, PTPRN2, and Cwf19L2) and chromosome stability (KPNB1). © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biomechanics research in ski jumping, 1991–2006

In this paper, I review biomechanics research in ski jumping with a specific focus on publications presented between 1991 and 2006 on performance enhancement, limiting factors of the take-off, specific training and conditioning, aerodynamics, and safety. The first section presents a brief description of ski jumping phases (in-run, take-off, early flight, stable flight, and landing) regarding the biomechanical and functional fundamentals. The most important and frequently used biomechanical methods in ski jumping (kinematics, ground reaction force analyses, muscle activation patterns, aerodynamics) are summarized in the second section. The third section focuses on ski jumping articles and research findings published after the establishment of the V-technique in 1991, as the introduction of this technique has had a major influence on performance enhancement, ski jumping regulations, and the construction of hill profiles. The final section proposes topics for future research in the biomechanics of ski jumping, including: take-off and early flight and the relative roles of vertical velocity and forward somersaulting angular momentum; optimal jumping patterns utilizing the capabilities of individual athletes; development of kinematic and kinetic feedback systems for hill jumps; comparisons of simulated and hill jumps; effect of equipment modifications on performance and safety enhancement.
Variability in baseball pitching biomechanics among various levels of competition

The aim of this study was to compare within-individual variability in baseball pitching among various levels of competition. It was hypothesized that variability decreases as level of competition increases. Five fastballs were analysed for 93 healthy male baseball pitchers (20 youth, 19 high school, 20 college, 20 Minor League, and 14 Major League level pitchers). Eleven kinematic, four temporal, and six kinetic parameters were quantified with a 240-Hz automated digitizing system. Three multiple analyses of variance were used to compare individual standard deviations for kinematic, temporal, and kinetic parameters among the five competition levels. There was a significant overall difference in kinematics and in six of the eleven kinematic parameters analysed: foot placement, knee flexion, pelvis angular velocity, elbow flexion, shoulder external rotation, and trunk forward tilt. Individual standard deviations tended to be greatest for youth pitchers, and decreased for higher levels of competition. Thus pitchers who advanced to higher levels exhibited less variability in their motions. Differences in temporal variation were non-significant; thus variability in pitching coordination was not improved at higher levels. Differences in kinetic variation were non-significant, implying no particular skill level has increased risk of injury due to variation in joint kinetics.
Oncogenetic tree model of somatic mutations and DNA methylation in colon tumors

Our understanding of somatic alterations in colon cancer has evolved from a concept of a series of events taking place in a single sequence to a recognition of multiple pathways. An oncogenetic tree is a model intended to describe the pathways and sequence of somatic alterations in carcinogenesis without assuming that tumors will fall in mutually exclusive categories. We applied this model to data on colon tumor somatic alterations. An oncogenetic tree model was built using data on mutations of TP53, KRAS2, APC, and BRAF genes, methylation at CpG sites of MLH1 and TP16 genes, methylation in tumor (MINT) markers, and microsatellite instability (MSI) for 971 colon tumors from a population‐based series. Oncogenetic tree analysis resulted in a reproducible tree with three branches. The model represents methylation of MINT markers as initiating a branch and predisposing to MSI, methylation of MHL1 and TP16, and BRAF mutation. APC mutation is the first alteration in an independent branch and is followed by TP53 mutation. KRAS2 mutation was placed a third independent branch, implying that it neither depends on, nor predisposes to, the other alterations. Individual tumors were observed to have alteration patterns representing every combination of one, two, or all three branches. The oncogenetic tree model assumptions are appropriate for the observed heterogeneity of colon tumors, and the model produces a useful visual schematic of the sequence of events in pathways of colon carcinogenesis. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comment on “Influence of shaft length on golf driving performance”

Kenny et al. (2008) reported that low-handicap golfers were able to produce longer carry distances with longer drivers with no concomitant decrease in accuracy. However, it was not clear whether these increments in performance were an artefact of shaft length or some other unaccounted for characteristic of the experimental drivers used. Furthermore, it was difficult to determine whether these performance gains were experienced by all or only a few of the golfers studied. Additional research is required to substantiate these findings and also to establish how shaft length is related to performance and technique in less accomplished golfers. Regardless of skill level, the realization of the potential performance benefits associated with longer drivers is, to some degree, likely to be individual-specific. Accordingly, suitable research designs emphasizing the individual--with appropriate sample and trial sizes to achieve the requisite level of statistical significance, effect size, and power--are required.
Biology of double-hit B-cell lymphomas

Purpose of reviewMature B-cell lymphomas bearing concurrent chromosomal rearrangement of MYC/8q24 and BCL2/18q21 are associated with an aggressive clinical course and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. This review summarizes the recent literature regarding the clinical and pathologic features of double-hit lymphomas and outlines current questions about the most accurate and inclusive definition of the disease. Recent findingsComprehensive evaluation of large series of aggressive mature B-cell neoplasms reveals recurrent chromosomal aberrations in the majority of cases. A subset of these lymphomas harbors multiple rearrangements, including MYC/8q24 in combination with BCL2/18q21 and/or BCL6/3q27, and displays a particularly aggressive clinical course. Recent data suggest that consideration of additional features, such as copy number alteration, quantitative protein expression, and biologic pathway activation may be important in deriving a more accurate definition of double-hit lymphoma. Despite the poor prognosis associated with this subset of lymphomas, there remains no evidence for a risk-adapted treatment strategy and no clinical, pathologic, or genetic factors that predict response to therapy. SummaryDouble-hit lymphoma remains an incompletely characterized disease entity. Large, multicenter studies are needed to define relevant clinical, genetic, and pathologic variables and to characterize appropriate risk-adapted treatment strategies.
Effect of attending to a ball during a side-cut maneuver on lower extremity biomechanics in male and female athletes

Many sports associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury require athletes attend to a ball during participation. We investigated effects of attending to a ball on lower extremity mechanics during a side-cut maneuver and if these effects are consistent for males and females. Sagittal and frontal plane hip and knee kinematics and joint moments were measured during side-cut maneuvers in 19 male and 19 female National Collegiate Athletic Association division III basketball players. Participants also experienced two side-cut conditions that required attention to a ball. Our results did not indicate that the effect of attention varies with gender. However, during side-cut conditions while attending to a ball, internal knee adductor moment was 20% greater (p = 0.03) and peak knee flexion angle was 4° larger (p < 0.01). Females demonstrated 5° less hip flexion (p = 0.046), 12° less knee flexion (p < 0.01), and 4° more knee abduction (p = 0.026) at initial contact during all side-cut conditions than males. Attention to a ball may affect lower extremity mechanics relevant to ACL injury. The validity of laboratory studies of lower extremity mechanics for sports that include attention to a ball may be increased if participants are required to attend to a ball during the task.
National standards: improving patient rights and safety of health services

Purpose – Regulation is increasingly being used in healthcare to influence the behaviour of healthcare organisations. Since 2006, a key change in Ireland has been the introduction of national regulatory standards in mental health services under new legislation. Little empirical evidence, however, exists on the effects of regulation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceived impact of standards at patient level as well as on professional and organisational practice in services. Design/methodology/approach – An anonymous online survey methodology using a self-devised questionnaire instrument was employed. A national cohort of service managers and multi-disciplinary mental health professionals were asked their views on the introduction of standards. Findings – A total of 185 individuals responded to the survey, yielding a response rate of 38 per cent. Substantial improvements were reported to have taken place across services with the most notable changes being improved safeguarding of patients’ r.
Stance limb kinetics of older male athletes endurance running performance

The aim of this study was to examine the age-based, lower limb kinetics of running performances of endurance athletes. Six running trials were performed by 24 male athletes, who were distinguished by three age groupings (S35: 26–32 years, M50: 50–54 years, M60+: 60–68 years). Lower limb coordinate and ground reaction force data were collected using a nine camera infra-red system synchronised with a force plate. A slower anteroposterior (M ± SD S35 = 4.13 ± 0.54 m/s: M60+ = 3.34 ± 0.40 m/s, p < 0.05) running velocity was associated with significant (p < 0.05) decreases in step length and discrete vertical ground contact force between M60+and S35 athletes. The M60+athletes simultaneously generated a 32% and 42% reduction (p < 0.05) in ankle joint moment when compared to the M50 and S35 athletes and 72% (p < 0.05) reduction in knee joint stiffness when compared to S35 athletes. Age-based declines in running performance were associated with reduced stance phase force tolerance and generation that may be accounted for due to an inhibited force–velocity muscular function of the lower limb. Joint-specific coaching strategies customised to athlete age are warranted to maintain/enhance athletes' dynamic performance.
Studies of tissue NMR relaxation enhancement by manganese. Dose and time dependences.

: Manganese is a powerful paramagnetic material and potential NMR contrast agent. It drastically affects the NMR properties of solutions and tissues and is less toxic than most other transition elements. It also possesses some unusual and advantageous features; it alters T1 and T2 to different degrees, and it can bind to macromolecules to become even more effective at reducing proton relaxation times. The dose dependence of tissue relaxation rate increases has been measured in mice, and proton relaxation enhancement ratios that describe binding effects have been evaluated. These ratios imply that a tenfold reduction in manganese dose is achievable when the ion binds to intracellular components, and it is demonstrated that such binding effects can be a major factor in the efficacy of contrast enhancement. The effect of manganese on the ratio T1/T2 is dose dependent so that lower doses may be more useful for some imaging techniques. The postmortem time course of relaxation times in organs containing manganese varies between organs and with manganese content, and demonstrates that the relationship between tissue relaxation enhancement and metal content is not a simple correlation with concentration since large variations in T1 and T2 can occur even when metal and water content are fixed.
Influence of basketball shoe mass, outsole traction, and forefoot bending stiffness on three athletic movements

Abstract Prior research has shown that footwear can enhance athletic performance. However, public information is not available on what basketball shoe properties should be selected to maximise movement performance. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of basketball shoe mass, outsole traction, and forefoot bending stiffness on sprinting, jumping, and cutting performance. Each of these three basketball shoe properties was systematically varied by ±20% to produce three shoe conditions of varying mass, three conditions of varying traction, and three conditions of varying bending stiffness. Each shoe was tested by 20 recreational basketball players completing maximal effort sprints, vertical jumps, and a cutting drill. Outsole traction had the largest influence on performance, as the participants performed significantly worse in all tests when traction was decreased by 20% (p < 0.001), and performed significantly better in the cutting drill when traction was increased by 20% (p = 0.005). Forefoot bending stiffness had a moderate effect on sprint and cutting performance (p = 0.013 and p = 0.016 respectively) and shoe mass was found to have no effect on performance. Therefore, choosing a shoe with relatively high outsole traction and forefoot bending stiffness should be prioritised, and less concern should be focused on selecting the lightest shoe.
A review of tobacco and alcohol use literature in the native and migrant Greek community

Substance use in Greece is marked by the frequent consumption of both alcohol and tobacco. However, the problems observed in the United Kingdom related to binge drinking are largely absent. To provide insight into this difference, a comprehensive literature review of the tobacco and alcohol use behaviours within Greek host and migrant communities was conducted. To our knowledge this is the first attempt at synthesizing previous literature on this subject. A search of various research databases returned a total of 200 articles, of which 98 were used. A quality assurance element was also built into the review process. The review confirms high levels of tobacco use and consistent use of alcohol by both the younger and general population. There is little evidence of a binge drinking culture but, alcohol related road‐traffic accidents remain a significant problem. The authors postulate that alcohol use is not regarded as an adult behaviour to be envied and is, therefore, not a stimulus for rebellion, but rather an act that is socially normal and unremarkable.
Is passive drag dependent on the interaction of kayak design and paddler weight in flat-water kayaking?

Abstract Drag is one of the major factors that influences kayaking performance. To focus on the drag of the kayak’s hull shape and the paddlers’ weight per se, the passive drag (Dp) was measured on a flat-water sprint course for one paddler with added weights. Dp was measured by an electromechanical towing device using a load cell, at incremental and constant velocities from 2.78 to 5.56 m/s. Three kayaks of different sizes and shapes (Nelo® K1 Quattro-M, ML, and L) were used and the paddlers’ body weight was adjusted with weights so the total paddler weight in the kayak was 65, 75, and 85 kg. The mean Dp increased by the power function of D = kvn (mean R2 = .990; SD .006). The Dp went from 21.37 ± 1.29 N at 2.78 m/s to 89.32 ± 6.43 N at 5.56 m/s. For the two lighter weighted kayaks (65 and 75 kg), the lowest Dp was observed with different kayak sizes (M, ML, or L) depending on the target velocity. The manufacturers suggest that paddlers should select a kayak size according to their body weight to minimise drag; however, the results of this study suggest that target velocities, and thus competition distance should also be factored into kayak selection.