Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Efficiency Improvement of a Compact Inverted Doherty Amplifier Using Bias Line Adjustment

We describe our proposal of an efficiency improvement method for a compact inverted Doherty amplifier using a bias line adjustment. In order to compensate for the capacitive parasitic components of the high-power transistors, we adjusted a lambda/4 bias line to have an inductive impedance value. The inductive bias line made parallel resonance with the capacitive internal component. The following matching network and offset line rotated the output reflection coefficient (GammaOUT) to almost -1, which was desirable for the compact inverted Doherty amplifier design. The optimum length of the bias line was found after some adjustments. Compared to the Doherty amplifier using a lambda/4 bias line, the proposed Doherty amplifier using an adjusted bias line provided improved power-added efficiencies (PAEs) of 6% and 4% points for a two-tone signal at an output power of 45 dBm and for the pi/4-DQPSK signal at an output power of 47 dBm, respectively.
The Evolving Role of Springs in Craniofacial Surgery: The First 100 Clinical Cases

Background: The use of springs in craniofacial surgery originated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in 1997 as a way of remodeling the cranial vault postoperatively. Methods: The hospital records of the first 100 operations involving spring placement were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data were recorded. Results: Two hundred forty-six springs were used in 96 patients. Results for sagittal, metopic, bicoronal, multiple synostoses, and midface surgery are presented. In total, five patients (5 percent) required further surgery because of undercorrection. There were no major complications. Spring dislodgement (5 percent) was the most common complication in early cases. Raised intracranial pressure resulted in a protocol change with the use of compressive springs. The data compare favorably with those of standard craniofacial procedures performed in the same unit. Conclusions: This therapeutic modality in craniofacial surgery has allowed minimization of the extent of surgery without compromising clinical outcomes. Springs have now become part of the authors' treatment protocol for craniosynostosis and midface surgery. The authors have shown the use of these techniques to be safe and, in selected situations, to offer significant advantages over other methods of treatment.
An Overview of Sports Betting Regulation in the United States

The United States employs an ad hoc, unconventional method of regulating sports betting, banning it almost everywhere while granting a monopoly to firms in a single state, Nevada. This approach encourages illegal sports betting markets, ignores negative externalities, and generates welfare losses among the large population of responsible recreational gamblers. I review the current state of sports betting regulation in the U.S. and assess its economic viability in advance of the Supreme Court of the United States decision on the landmark Christie v. National Collegiate Athletic Association case.
GPU Accelerated Generation of Digitally Reconstructed Radiographs for 2-D/3-D Image Registration

Recent advances in programming languages for graphics processing units (GPUs) provide developers with a convenient way of implementing applications which can be executed on the CPU and GPU interchangeably. GPUs are becoming relatively cheap, powerful, and widely available hardware components, which can be used to perform intensive calculations. The last decade of hardware performance developments shows that GPU-based computation is progressing significantly faster than CPU-based computation, particularly if one considers the execution of highly parallelisable algorithms. Future predictions illustrate that this trend is likely to continue. In this paper, we introduce a way of accelerating 2-D/3-D image registration by developing a hybrid system which executes on the CPU and utilizes the GPU for parallelizing the generation of digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs). Based on the advancements of the GPU over the CPU, it is timely to exploit the benefits of many-core GPU technology by developing algorithms for DRR generation. Although some previous work has investigated the rendering of DRRs using the GPU, this paper investigates approximations which reduce the computational overhead while still maintaining a quality consistent with that needed for 2-D/3-D registration with sufficient accuracy to be clinically acceptable in certain applications of radiation oncology. Furthermore, by comparing implementations of 2-D/3-D registration on the CPU and GPU, we investigate current performance and propose an optimal framework for PC implementations addressing the rigid registration problem. Using this framework, we are able to render DRR images from a $256\times 256\times 133$ CT volume in ${\sim}24$ ms using an NVidia GeForce 8800 GTX and in ${\sim}2$ ms using NVidia GeForce GTX 580. In addition to applications requiring fast automatic patient setup, these levels of performance suggest image-guided radiation therapy at video frame rates is technically feasible using relatively low cost PC architecture.
The Non-Classical Structural Economic Transformation of Sub-Saharan Africa: Urbanization with Premature Deindustrialization

While economic growth rates have increased in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the subcontinent remains with the highest levels of poverty, the lowest productivity, and the least structural economic transformation. Empirical evidence demonstrates that urbanization is increasing, but both the agriculture and manufacturing shares of income are either stagnant or declining. The transition into a modern industrial economy is constrained by not only international competition and the poor business climate, but also the low participation in the global value chains. The paper argues that growth in agricultural productivity is necessary but not sufficient for industrialization. Successful structural economic transformation in the SSA demands proactive increase in international connectivity, human capital, institutional quality, efficiency, andregulatory standards.The paper recommends deeper regional economic integration in SSA to enhance regional value chains in manufacturing.
Midlife Use of Written Japanese and Protection From Late Life Dementia

Background: The cognitive reserve hypothesis would predict that use of written Japanese should confer protection against dementia because of the complexity of its ideograms compared with written English. We sought to test this hypothesis in analyses from a longitudinal study of Japanese-American men. Methods: Participants were second-generation Japanese-American men (Nisei) on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, who were seen in 1965 and in subsequent examinations to detect dementia beginning in 1991–1993. Use of spoken and written Japanese was self-reported in 1965 (Analyses 1 and 2), and midlife use of written Japanese and written English was self-reported in 1994–1996 (Analysis 3). We analyzed prevalent dementia outcomes in 1991–1993 (Analysis 1, n = 3139) using logistic regression, and incident dementia outcomes in 1994–2002 (Analysis 2, n = 2299) and in 1997–2002 (Analysis 3, n = 1655) using Cox proportional hazards regression. Dementia outcomes included all-cause dementia, probable and possible Alzheimer disease, and probable vascular dementia. We adjusted models for probable and possible confounders. Results: Participants who reported proficiency with written Japanese were older and had lower incomes. For Analysis 1, there were 154 prevalent cases of dementia, 74 of Alzheimer disease, and 43 of vascular dementia; for Analysis 2, 236 incident cases of dementia, 138 of Alzheimer disease, and 45 of vascular dementia; and for Analysis 3, 125 incident cases of dementia, 80 of Alzheimer disease, and 20 of vascular dementia. There was no relationship in adjusted models between self-reported proficiency with written Japanese and any dementia outcomes. Conclusions: Proficiency with written Japanese does not appear to be protective for dementia.
Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training: The Influence of Dependent Variable Selection

Twenty-six active university students were randomly allocated to resistance (R, n 5 9), endurance (E, n 5 8), and concurrent resistance and endurance (C, n 5 9) training con-ditions. Training was completed 3 times per week in all conditions, with endurance training preceding resistance training in the C group. Resistance training involved 4 sets of upper- and lower-body exercises with loads of 4–8 repetition maximum (RM). Each endurance training session consisted of five 5-minute bouts of incremental cycle exercise at between 40 and 100% of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Parameters measured prior to and following training included strength (1RM and isometric and isokinetic [1.04, 3.12, 5.20, and 8.67 rad·s 21] strength), VO2peak and Wingate test performance (peak power output [PPO], average power, and relative power decline). Significant improvements in 1RM strength were observed in the R and C groups following training. VO2peak significantly increased in E and C but was significantly reduced in R after training. Effect size (ES) transformations on the other dependent variables suggested that performance changes in the C group were not always similar to changes in the R or E groups. These ES data suggest that statistical power and dependent variable selection are significant issues in enhancing our insights into concurrent training. It may be necessary to assess a range of performance parameters to monitor the relative effectiveness of a particular concurrent training regimen.
Biologic and Biomechanic Evaluation of Posterior Lumbar Fusion in the Rabbit| The Effect of Fixation Rigidity

Study Design The histologic and biomechanic characteristics of posterior lumbar fusion with varying rigidity of a novel internal fixation construct in the rabbit were analyzed. Objectives To evaluate this rabbit model for future studies of fusion augmentation. Summary of Background Data Previous studies in goats and dogs showed internal fixation enhances spinal arthrodesis. Methods Twenty eight New Zealand white rabbits underwent a posterior midline fusion from L4 to L6. Some animals received autogenous iliac crest bone graft, stabilized by wiring the superior facets bilaterally, and supplementation with polymethylmethacrylate. The experimental groups were iliac crest bone graft with either no fixation, wire fixation, or wire and polymethylmethacrylate fixation, and no graft and either no fixation, wire fixation, or wire and polymethylmethacrylate fixation. Animals were killed 2 months after surgery, and the specimens were nondestructively tested biomechanically for stiffness in six modes (flexion, extension, left and right bending, compression, and torsion) and histologically for evidence of fusion, revascularization, and new bone formation. Results Fusions with either wire or wire and polymethylmethacrylate fixation were significantly stiffer than those without fixation (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between the iliac crest bone graft and wire group and the iliac crest bone graft, wire, and polymethylmethacrylate group in the modes tested. Nine of 14 motion segments receiving the stiffest construct (iliac crest bone graft, wire, and polymethylmethacrylate) had evidence of solid bony fusion. None of the 12 motion segments receiving iliac crest bone graft and wire had evidence of bony fusion, but five had a flbrocartllage union with some ossification present. Eight of 12 motion segments receiving iliac crest bone graft and no fixation had predominantly fibrous unions with some fibrocartilage, and only one motion segment of 12 showed bony fusion. Conclusions This study suggests that more rigid fixation produces more successful union in rabbit posterior spinal fusion. This model may be useful in evaluating the ability of various biomaterials to augment spinal arthrodesis.
Physiological regulation of circadian and pulsatile thyrotropin secretion in normal man and woman.

The circadian and pulsatile TSH secretion profiles were investigated in 5 females at the time of menstruation and 21 healthy males by sampling blood every 10 min for 24 h. Computer-assisted analysis, i.e. the Cluster and Desade programs, revealed means of 9.9 +/- 1.7 (Cluster) and 11.4 +/- 3.9 (Desade) pulses/24 h. More than 50% of the TSH pulses were detected between 2000-0400 h. Male and female subjects showed no significant difference in the basal mean and pulsatile secretion of TSH or in the TSH response to TRH (200 micrograms). Repetition of the TSH secretion analysis in 4 healthy subjects after 1, 2, and 6 months (2 subjects) revealed a significantly better cross-correlation within than between individuals (P less than 0.0001). We modulate the circadian TSH secretion pattern by acute sleep withdrawal or prolonged sleep after a night of sleep withdrawal in six healthy male volunteers. Sleep withdrawal augmented the nightly TSH secretion (mean serum TSH, 2.1 +/- 1.3 mU/L; mean TSH in sleep, 1.3 +/- 0.5 mU/L; P less than 0.05), whereas sleep after sleep withdrawal almost completely suppressed the circadian variation (mean TSH, 1.1 +/- 0.7 mU/L; P less than 0.01). This modulation is due to a significant decrease in pulse amplitude, but not to an alteration in the frequency or temporal distribution of TSH pulses.
A Novel Role for the Glucocorticoid Receptor in the Regulation of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 mRNA Stability*

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays an important role in attracting monocytes to sites of inflammation and is the dominant mediator of macrophage accumulation in atherosclerotic plaques. We have previously shown that glucocorticoids inhibit the secretion of MCP-1 in arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) by markedly decreasing MCP-1 mRNA stability. We now report that the destabilization of MCP-1 mRNA is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The GR antagonist, RU486, blocked the effect of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) on MCP-1 mRNA stability in SMC culture. Using a previously reported in vitro mRNA gel shift and stability assay, antibodies to the GR blocked the ability of cytoplasmic extracts from Dex-treated SMC to decay MCP-1 mRNA. Recombinant human GR (rhGR) bound in a concentration-dependent manner to in vitro transcribed MCP-1 mRNA, whereas other members of the steroid hormone receptor family did not. Binding of GR to MCP-1 mRNA was specific as it was not found to bind other mRNAs. Immunoprecipitation of GR in extracts from Dex-treated SMC followed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that endogenous GR was bound specifically to MCP-1 mRNA. The addition of exogenous rhGR blocked the ability of extracts from Dex-treated SMC to degrade MCP-1 mRNA, suggesting that exogenous rhGR can compete with an endogenous GR-containing degradative complex. These data suggest a novel role for the GR in binding to and facilitating mRNA degradation. These results provide novel insights into GR function and may provide a new approach to attenuate the inflammatory response mediated by MCP-1.
Virus Subtype-Specific Features of Natural Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVsmm Infection in Sooty Mangabeys

ABSTRACT Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) SIVsmm naturally infects sooty mangabeys (SMs) and is the source virus of pathogenic infections with human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) and SIVmac of humans and macaques, respectively. In previous studies we characterized SIVsmm diversity in naturally SIV-infected SMs and identified nine different phylogenetic subtypes whose genetic distances are similar to those reported for the different HIV-1 group M subtypes. Here we report that, within the colony of SMs housed at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, at least four SIVsmm subtypes cocirculate, with the vast majority of animals infected with SIVsmm subtype 1, 2, or 3, resulting in the emergence of occasional recombinant forms. While SIVsmm-infected SMs show a typically nonpathogenic course of infection, we have observed that different SIVsmm subtypes are in fact associated with specific immunologic features. Notably, while subtypes 1, 2, and 3 are associated with a very benign course of infection and preservation of normal CD4+ T-cell counts, three out of four SMs infected with subtype 5 show a significant depletion of CD4+ T cells. The fact that virus replication in SMs infected with subtype 5 is similar to that in SMs infected with other SIVsmm subtypes suggests that the subtype 5-associated CD4+ T-cell depletion is unlikely to simply reflect higher levels of virus-mediated direct killing of CD4+ T-cells. Taken together, this systematic analysis of the subtype-specific features of SIVsmm infection in natural SM hosts identifies subtype-specific differences in the pathogenicity of SIVsmm infection.
Time domain analysis of lossy shielded cables by CAD circuit simulators

A time domain procedure is proposed to analyze by CAD circuit simulators the voltage and current wave propagation in shielded cables taking into account frequency-dependent losses. First, the line is discretized in a series-cascade of line sections. Second, each line section is modeled by a two-port network with lumped time-constant parameters obtained by applying the vector fitting technique. The series-cascade circuits are then analyzed by CAD circuit simulators. The obtained results are compared with those obtained by measurements and by the frequency domain solution of the transmission line equations.
Decreased immunoexpression of survivin could be a potential marker in human non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease progression?

Background/aim: Regulation of apoptosis in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been a theme of growing debate. Although no other study assessed the role of survivin in NAFLD, its expression has been reported in hepatic carcinogenesis because of other aetiological factors with relevant discrepancies. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of survivin immunoexpression by tissue microarray along the whole spectrum of NAFLD, including non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)‐related hepatocelular carcinoma (HCC).
From “No Big Deal” to “Losing Oneself”: Different Meanings of Mastectomy

Background: Because of early detection and advanced treatment options, more women with breast cancer survive after mastectomy and thus have to face the choice of living with or without a reconstructed breast for many years to come. Objective: This article investigates these women’s narratives about the impact of mastectomy on their lives, as well as their reflections on breast reconstruction. Methods: Fifteen women were strategically chosen from a previous population-based study on mastectomy. They were contacted for further exploration in thematic narrative-inspired interviews 4.5 years after mastectomy. Results: Three types of storylines were identified. In the first storyline, the mastectomy was described as “no big deal”; losing a breast did not disturb the women’s view of themselves as women, and breast reconstruction was not even worth consideration. In the second storyline, the women described the mastectomy as shattering their identity. Losing a breast implied losing oneself as a sexual being, a woman, and a person. The third storyline fell in between the other two; the sense of femininity was wounded, but not to the extent that they felt lost as women. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the experience of mastectomy due to breast cancer is very much individual and contextual. Losing a breast may be of minor or major importance. Implications for Practice: Healthcare practitioners should be attentive to how the women themselves experience the personal meaning of losing a breast and guard against vague preconceptions based on the breast-sexuality-femininity discourse and its connection to what the patient needs.
Schistosomes of small mammals from the Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya: new species, familiar species, and implications for schistosomiasis control

SUMMARY Recent schistosomiasis control efforts in sub-Saharan Africa have focused nearly exclusively on treatment of humans with praziquantel. However, the extent to which wild mammals act as reservoirs for Schistosoma mansoni and therefore as sources of renewed transmission following control efforts is poorly understood. With the objective to study the role of small mammals as reservoir hosts, 480 animals belonging to 9 rodent and 1 insectivore species were examined for infection with schistosomes in Kisumu, in the Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya. Animals were collected from 2 sites: near the lakeshore and from Nyabera Marsh draining into the lake. A total of 6·0% of the animals captured, including 5 murid rodent species and 1 species of shrew (Crocidura olivieri) were infected with schistosomes. Four schistosome species were recovered and identified using cox1 DNA barcoding: S. mansoni, S. bovis, S. rodhaini and S. kisumuensis, the latter of which was recently described from Nyabera Marsh. Schistosoma mansoni and S. rodhaini were found infecting the same host individual (Lophuromys flavopunctatus), suggesting that this host species could be responsible for the production of hybrid schistosomes found in the area. Although the prevalence of S. mansoni infection in these reservoir populations was low (1·5%), given their potentially vast population size, their impact on transmission needs further study. Reservoir hosts could perpetuate snail infections and favour renewed transmission to humans once control programmes have ceased.
Agricultural Policy, Employment Opportunities and Social Mobility in Rural Malawi

Despite the youth accounting for more than half of the population of Malawi, they have been marginalized and pushed to the periphery of several development policy interventions. This article interrogates the question of how the youth and policy-makers view agricultural development as a means of social mobility for youth in Malawi. The paper argues that even though agricultural production is the main occupation in Malawi, young people do not value agriculture as a means of upward social mobility. Furthermore, youth and agriculture policy frameworks provide little support to youth in terms of access to affordable farm inputs, land, extension services, value addition initiatives, and markets. It is argued that Malawi is missing the strategic policy direction by not implementing non-traditional agriculture interventions that would engage the youth in a bid to reduce massive youth unemployment.
Metabolite profiling driven analysis of Salsola species and their anti-acetylcholinesterase potential

Over 100 species of the genus Salsola are distributed in dry, arid parts of Asia, Europe and Africa, of which many species are recognised as antifungal, anticancer, antihypertensive and anthelmintic agents. Egyptian Salsola received scant characterisation of either its phytochemical composition or its biological effects. In this study, the metabolite profiles of two Salsola species viz. S. vermiculata and S. tetrandra were characterised in the aerial portions and root via ultra-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution qTOF-MS and NMR. Identified metabolites belonged to various classes including hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates, flavonoids, oxygenated fatty acids and alkaloids. Principal component analysis of derived biochemical profiles was also used for species and/or organs classification. Roots were enriched in hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates, whereas flavonoids were more abundant in aerial parts with kaempferol derivatives as major flavonoids in S. tetrandra versus quercetin in S. vermiculata. The root of S. vermiculata exhibited strong anti-acetylcholinesterase activity relative to eserine standard.