Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Further Comments on "Pulse Waveform Degradation Due to Dispersion in Waveguide" (Correspondence)

A concise and careful review of the Elliott analysis of how a pulsed carrier wave is distorted after propagating down a waveguide is given. This review, in conjunction with the more recent work of Haskell and Case, derives the time region for which the Elliott (corrected) solution is valid. It is shown that if the pulse contains a sufficient number of carrier cycles, and if the guide is long enough compared to a free-space wavelength at the carrier frequency, then the Elliott solution is valid for practically all times.
Digital certification in the Brazilian e-government

This article aims to analyze the role of digital certification in the development process of the electronic government actions in Brazil, as well to provide future perspectives. Qualitative research was done and the data gathering performed through semi-structured interviews. Ten nationally recognized stakeholders were interviewed either for the conceiving of public policies regarding electronic government as well for the implementation and inspection of related projects. The study demonstrates that digital certification is straightly connected with information security. Indirectly, the security that digital certification provides is the major condition for the development of the electronic government, once it can provide the bases for the improvement of internal process in Public Administration and the increase of public services and better quality for the interface between the State and the citizen.
Properties and Computational Consequences of Fast Dendritic Spikes during Natural Behavior

Dendritic membrane potential was recently measured for the first time in drug-free, naturally behaving rats over several days. These showed that neuronal dendrites generate a lot of sodium spikes, up to ten times as many as the somatic spikes. These key experimental findings are reviewed here, along with a discussion of computational models, and computational consequences of such intense spike traffic in dendrites. We overview the experimental techniques that enabled these measurements as well as a variety of models, ranging from conceptual models to detailed biophysical models. The biophysical models suggest that the intense dendritic spiking activity can arise from the biophysical properties of the dendritic voltage-dependent and synaptic ion channels, and delineate some computational consequences of fast dendritic spike activity. One remarkable aspect is that in the model, with fast dendritic spikes, the efficacy of synaptic strength in terms of driving the somatic activity is much less dependent on the position of the synapse in dendrites. This property suggests that fast dendritic spikes is a way to confer to neurons the possibility to grow complex dendritic trees with little computational loss for the distal most synapses, and thus form very complex networks with high density of connections, such as typically in the human brain. Another important consequence is that dendritically localized spikes can allow simultaneous but different computations on different dendritic branches, thereby greatly increasing the computational capacity and complexity of neuronal networks.
De-Escalation Training Receptivity and First-Line Police Supervision: Findings from the Louisville Metro Police Study

Despite calls for police reform that include changes to use of force training and field supervision, evidence regarding their impact is sorely lacking. This study examines survey data collected from first-line supervisors in the Louisville (KY) Metro Police Department after department-wide de-escalation training. Presented as part of a larger randomized controlled trial study, descriptive results from this survey demonstrate that, despite high levels of reported confidence in supervisory ability, supervisors infrequently engage in the activities that support and reinforce subordinates’ use of de-escalation skills. Results from multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression models further show that only supervisors’ receptivity to de-escalation training is a significant predictor of engaging in activities that support the training tenets for subordinates. Combined with previous findings, the emerging research and policy implications suggest that training receptivity is critical, and further, that field supervision continues to be an under-utilized mechanism to reduce police use of force.
Formation of Self-Assembled Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles and Absorption Enhancement of Ω-3s by Phospholipids and Oleic Acids

This study aimed to optimize and evaluate self-assembled liquid crystalline nanoparticles (SALCs) prepared from phospholipids and oleic acid for enhancing the absorption of Ω-3s. We explored the structure and optimal formulation of SALCs, which are composed of Ω-3 ethyl ester (Ω-3 EE), phospholipids, and oleic acid, using a ternary diagram and evaluated the improvement in Ω-3 dissolution, permeation, and oral bioavailability. The in vitro dissolution and pharmacokinetics of Ω-3 SALCs were compared with those of Omacor soft capsules (as the reference). The shape of the liquid crystal was determined according to the composition of phospholipids, oleic acids, and Ω-3s and was found to be in cubic, lamellar, and hexagonal forms. The dissolution rates of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) obtained from Ω-3 SALCs were 1.7 to 2.3-fold higher than those of the Omacor soft capsules. Furthermore, a pharmacokinetic study in male beagle dogs revealed that Ω-3 SALCs increased the oral bioavailability of Ω-3 EE by 2.5-fold for EPA and 3.1-fold for DHA compared with the reference. We found an optimal formulation that spontaneously forms liquid crystal-based nanoparticles, improving the bioavailability of EPA and DHA, not found in the existing literature. Our findings offer insight into the impact of nanoparticle phase on the oral delivery of oil-soluble drugs and provide a novel Ω-3 EE formulation that improves the bioavailability of EPA and DHA.
Utilisation of Supplementary Nutrition Service at Anganwadi Centres in a Block of Ganjam District, Odisha: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: In India, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme provides a package of services to different groups of the target population. The Anganwadi Centre (AWC) is the focal point for delivery of these services. At AWCs, supplementary food is provided to children below six years, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Aim: To assess the pattern of utilisation of supplementary nutrition by the beneficiaries and to explore the factors leading to non utilisation of supplementary nutrition. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from October 2016 to October 2018 in AWCs in Ganjam district, Odisha, India. Multistage random sampling was used to select the AWCs. By using table of random numbers, 24 AWCs were selected. From each AWC, 12 beneficiaries were selected randomly. So a total of 288 beneficiaries were selected. Out of 288 beneficiaries, 240 beneficiaries were eligible for supplementary nutrition. Rates and proportions were calculated. The Chi-square test was used for testing association between variables. Results: All the AWCs were providing supplementary food as per menu chart and were using standard measure for distribution of raw food. Supplementary food was consumed by 188 (78.3%) beneficiaries. The reason given by most of the respondents {28 (53.8%)} for non utilisation of supplementary nutrition was that they did not like the taste of the food. A statistically significant association was found between utilisation of supplementary nutrition and factors like education, socio-economic status and occupation of women. Conclusion: Although supplementary nutrition was provided by all the AWCs, it was not consumed by some beneficiaries due to lack of variety, taste and bad quality of food. The Take Home Ration (THR) was shared among the family members resulting in dilution of the service.
Wakes Calculation in a Offshore Wind Farm

This paper is focusing on the wake modeling in large offshore wind farms. Over the sea the ambient turbulence is much lower than onshore, wakes persist for long distances, mixing in a complex pattern. Hence an accurate evaluation of the wakes become crucial in the estimation both of the production and loads. Regarding loads the main effect of the turbines wakes is an increase of turbulence compared to the ambient one. A careful assessment of the wakes is therefore required when analyzing offshore wind farms. The approaches in estimating the wake losses go from simple theoretical or empirical laws to full rotor aerodynamic calculations; in between there is a range of intermediate calculations. Two approaches will be presented: the use of relative simple equations (also called analytical models) which are the standards in the wind resource assessment and a more accurate, but computationally more demanding, the actuator disc technique.
IPSadas: Identity‐privacy‐aware secure and anonymous data aggregation scheme

Intelligent systems are technologically advanced machines that can sense and respond to the surrounding environment. They have been widely used in medicine, military, transportation, automation, and other fields. However, when these systems deal with their environments, problems such as leakage of identities may occur. The adversary can damage the system communication and attack important nodes. To handle resource‐constrained wireless sensor network environments, we propose a secure and anonymous data aggregation scheme. First, based on the bilinear mapping operation and onion routing concepts, we propose a key negotiation and secure information transmission scheme, which conducts confidential transmission and anonymous forwarding of messages in data aggregation. Second, an aggregation routing scheme based on link direction and residual energy is proposed to pledge messages that can arrive the base station without passing through many nodes, which saves network resources to a certain extent. Third, on the basis of the first two contributions, we propose an identity‐privacy‐aware secure and anonymous data aggregation scheme that protects the identity's privacy. This scheme can conceal the real identity of important nodes and protect the anonymity of messages and link relationships. In addition, an anonymous identity update and synchronization scheme is also proposed to ensure the reliability and security of communication. Meanwhile, our performance evaluations and simulations show that the proposed framework is more effective than several standard schemes with respect to the ability against various attacks, security, and overhead.
Mining Inconsistent Emotion Recognition Results With the Multidimensional Model

The paper deals with the challenge of inconsistency in multichannel emotion recognition. The focus of the paper is to explore factors that might influence the inconsistency. The paper reports an experiment that used multi-camera facial expression analysis with multiple recognition systems. The data were analyzed using a multidimensional approach and data mining techniques. The study allowed us to explore camera location, occlusions and algorithm factors in the late fusion of emotion recognition results. We proposed to use a multidimensional data model for mining the various interdependencies between the factors of inconsistency. The study allowed the exploration of challenges in multichannel emotion recognition. It was achieved by comparing the consistency of obtained emotions and identification of rules determining conditions when the obtained emotions are consistent. However, the main novelty of the paper is the method of mining the inconsistencies. The study might be interesting both for researchers dealing with integration in emotion recognition, as well as for practitioners who use automatic emotion analysis software and expect to get valid results.
Fully differential switched opamp with enhanced common mode feedback

A switched op amp with a fast common mode feedback (CMFB) circuit is presented. The proposed fully differential two stage amplifier needs CMFB only for the second stage, and thus a fast and simple passive CMFB circuit may be used. The amplifier is capable of 1 V operation and has no limitation on the maximum supply voltage.
European Aid: Human Rights Versus Bureaucratic Inertia?

Most studies on foreign aid and human rights have ignored the role of bureaucratic inertia in the allocation process. By not controlling for which developing countries have received aid in the past and how much aid they have received, continuity of aid flows remains unaccounted for. Additionally, previous studies have not allowed for a possible non-linear relationship between human rights and aid. This study investigates aid commitments from the European Commission, Germany, France, and the UK, paying attention to non-linear effects of human rights on aid commitments and the role of bureaucratic inertia. Using data from 1978 to 2003, the study investigates how past aid commitments, the level of human rights violations, and substantial changes in the respect for human rights influence the decision of European donors on whom to give aid to, how to choose a new recipient country that did not receive aid previously, and how much aid to give to countries that made it past the gatekeeping stage. Controlling for various donor interests and recipient needs, the results show that, despite donors' emphasis on human rights in official documents, the human rights situation in developing countries does not consistently shape European aid commitments. Only Germany commits less aid to more repressive countries. However, recent substantial improvements of the human rights records are rewarded by both Germany and France when deciding whom to give aid to. Bureaucratic inertia seems to be a major obstacle to the consistent implementation of human rights consideration in European aid allocation.
Current Methods for the Isolation and Cultivation of Microglia (Review)

The role and morphological features of microglia (M1 and M2 microglia, “stellate”, “amoeboid”, giant, round-shaped, rod-shaped, dysfunctional, etc.) in vivo under physiological conditions and during the development of neurodegenerative diseases have been described. Various methods and techniques of microglia isolation from adult (density gradient isolation, use of “magnetic beads”, from mesenchymal bone marrow progenitor cells) and newborn (obtaining from a mixed glial culture, density gradient isolation) animals have been considered, including microglia isolation from the cerebral cortex or hippocampus. Various methods of cell cultivation have been shown, including obtaining two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell cultures (on scaffolds, hydrogels, nanofibers), co-cultures on slice cultures of the hippocampus, as well as changes in microglia during cultivation.
Atypical Hyperplasia at the Margin of Frozen Sections from Breast-Conserving Surgery

Atypical Hyperplasia at the Margin of Frozen Sections from BreastConserving Surgery Yong Min Na, M.D., Young Jae Ryu, M.D., Hyo Soon Lim, M.D., Ph.D., Ji Shin Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Jin Seong Cho, M.D., Jung Han Yoon, M.D., Ph.D., Min Ho Park, M.D., Ph.D. Departments of Surgery, Radiology, Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Jeollanam-do; Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea
Dependence of InGaN Quantum Well Thickness on the Nature of Optical Transitions in LEDs

The design of the active region is one of the most crucial problems to address in light emitting devices (LEDs) based on III-nitride, due to the spatial separation of carriers by the built-in polarization. Here, we studied radiative transitions in InGaN-based LEDs with various quantum well (QW) thicknesses—2.6, 6.5, 7.8, 12, and 15 nm. In the case of the thinnest QW, we observed a typical effect of screening of the built-in field manifested with a blue shift of the electroluminescence spectrum at high current densities, whereas the LEDs with 6.5 and 7.8 nm QWs exhibited extremely high blue shift at low current densities accompanied by complex spectrum with multiple optical transitions. On the other hand, LEDs with the thickest QWs showed a stable, single-peak emission throughout the whole current density range. In order to obtain insight into the physical mechanisms behind this complex behavior, we performed self-consistent Schrodinger–Poisson simulations. We show that variation in the emission spectra between the samples is related to changes in the carrier density and differences in the magnitude of screening of the built-in field inside QWs. Moreover, we show that the excited states play a major role in carrier recombination for all QWs, apart from the thinnest one.
High-frequency harmonic distortion in feedback amplifiers: analysis and applications

An approach for the evaluation of high-frequency harmonic-distortion factors in feedback systems is proposed and the results obtained are applied to feedback amplifiers. Under the assumption that transistors are not driven out of their linear operating regions, small-signal analysis and conventional algebra are exploited to derive understandable and compact expressions highly improving the comprehension of harmonic-distortion generation. The impact of the frequency compensation utilized (namely, dominant-pole or Miller technique) on linearity performance is evaluated and the high-frequency distortion properties of closed-loop single-stage and two-stage amplifiers are analyzed and compared. The accuracy of the analysis, also in view of the given applications, is confirmed through extensive simulations with Spectre on idealized models as well as on CMOS transistor-level circuits. Despite the approximated nature of the analytical models, predicted data are found in very close agreement with simulations in nearly all the frequency range of interest.
Comparative diversity analysis of cowpea genotypes using multivariate approaches

Cowpea improvement is possible if the information on genetic diversity among existing genotypes is available. Principal Component Analysis and Mahalanobis D2 analysis were used to analyse 30 cowpea genotypes based on eleven quantifiable traits. The whole variance was divided into eleven major principal components using PCA, with the top three PCs with eigenvalues >1 accounting for 69.47 per cent of the total variation. From the analysis of the first two PCs and Mahalanobis D2 analysis, it was confirmed that genotypes viz., AVCP-1, PGCP-1, PGCP-13, CGD-1406, and CGD-1439 were scattered apart in all four quadrates of the bi-plot and fall in clusters with high inter-cluster distance representing maximum genetic variation. As a result, 30 cowpea genotypes had genetic and phenotypic differences that could be used to improve the cowpea by simple selection and crossing potential parents.
Role of SPAK–NKCC1 signaling cascade in the choroid plexus blood–CSF barrier damage after stroke

Background The mechanisms underlying dysfunction of choroid plexus (ChP) blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier and lymphocyte invasion in neuroinflammatory responses to stroke are not well understood. In this study, we investigated whether stroke damaged the blood–CSF barrier integrity due to dysregulation of major ChP ion transport system, Na + –K + –Cl − cotransporter 1 (NKCC1), and regulatory Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase (SPAK). Methods Sham or ischemic stroke was induced in C57Bl/6J mice. Changes on the SPAK–NKCC1 complex and tight junction proteins (TJs) in the ChP were quantified by immunofluorescence staining and immunoblotting. Immune cell infiltration in the ChP was assessed by flow cytometry and immunostaining. Cultured ChP epithelium cells (CPECs) and cortical neurons were used to evaluate H 2 O 2 -mediated oxidative stress in stimulating the SPAK–NKCC1 complex and cellular damage. In vivo or in vitro pharmacological blockade of the ChP SPAK–NKCC1 cascade with SPAK inhibitor ZT-1a or NKCC1 inhibitor bumetanide were examined. Results Ischemic stroke stimulated activation of the CPECs apical membrane SPAK–NKCC1 complex, NF-κB, and MMP9, which was associated with loss of the blood–CSF barrier integrity and increased immune cell infiltration into the ChP. Oxidative stress directly activated the SPAK–NKCC1 pathway and resulted in apoptosis, neurodegeneration, and NKCC1-mediated ion influx. Pharmacological blockade of the SPAK–NKCC1 pathway protected the ChP barrier integrity, attenuated ChP immune cell infiltration or neuronal death. Conclusion Stroke-induced pathological stimulation of the SPAK–NKCC1 cascade caused CPECs damage and disruption of TJs at the blood–CSF barrier. The ChP SPAK–NKCC1 complex emerged as a therapeutic target for attenuating ChP dysfunction and lymphocyte invasion after stroke.
Factors Affecting Secondary School Students’ Academic Achievements in Chemistry

Secondary school students continue to consider chemistry as difficult to learn and develop a negative attitude towards it. This leads to low achievement in the subject and reduces their interest. Studies on students' achievement in chemistry have been conducted and different instructional strategies of teaching and learning have been provided. Nonetheless, there are persisting misconceptions and factors that hinder the achievement of students, even after the implementation of suggested strategies. By applying innovative teaching approaches as remedial to teaching and learning barriers, students' achievement may be improved; and the retention of the learned material may be enhanced. In this study, we conducted a literature search to collect any related literature. Sixty-one studies were obtained; some of them were not related to our investigation; and those which did not answer the research question were excluded, we remained with 13 studies. The selection of studies was based on year of publication, and language. These studies were published in English and between 2011 and 2021. Consequently, this review highlights the influence of teaching methods on students' achievements, updating teachers on the factors affecting students' achievements in Chemistry, misconceptions in chemistry instruction, and ways for remedying those misconceptions, as well as methods for improving students’ academic achievements.