Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loop-Dipole Composite Antenna for Wideband Microwave-Based Medical Diagnostic Systems With Verification on Pulmonary Edema Detection

A unidirectional and compact antenna for wideband microwave-based medical diagnostic applications is presented. The main part of the antenna is formed from the combination of loop and dipole interleaved structures. To enable the antenna to resonate at a low frequency within a compact substrate area, a pair of slots is created on the loop's vertical arms, whereas the dipole's structure is tapered to compensate for the negative effect of the capacitively loaded slots. With the proposed configuration, the antenna acts as an array of two dipoles and a quasi-Yagi antenna at lower and higher frequencies, respectively, and thus radiates mainly in one direction. The antenna has a compact size (with respect to the wavelength at the lowest operating frequency) of 0.23 × 0.23, making it 50% smaller than similar designs. It has a measured fractional bandwidth of 55% at 0.65-1.15 GHz and peak gain and front-to-back ratio of 3.8 dBi and 11 dB, respectively. To verify the practicality of the antenna, it is applied in an array configuration and successfully tested in detecting pulmonary edema in realistic simulation and experimental environments.
Long-Term Outcome of Eight Cats with Non-Iymphoproliferative Nasal Tumours Treated by Megavoltage Radiotherapy

A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the long term survival of eight cats with non-lymphoproliferative nasal tumours treated by megavoltage radiotherapy alone. Adenocarcinoma was the most commonly diagnosed tumour. Megavoltage radiotherapy was given to eight cats in 4–6 fractions of 4–8 Gys over a 16 to 28 day period. Seven cats completed the radiotherapy schedule and only two cases developed mild acute radiotherapy side effects. Median survival time after the completion of the radiotherapy course as calculated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was 382 days. The 1 year survival rate was 63%. All cats were euthanased because of either a poor response to radiotherapy or recurrence of the nasal tumour. This study demonstrates that a coarse fractionation regime of megavoltage radiotherapy can provide effective long-term palliative treatment for feline nasal tumours. The coarse fractionation schedule has the advantages of requiring only four to six treatments.
Interactive Text Generation for Information Retrieval

Interactive text generation is aimed at facilitating text generation in those situations where text typing is somehow constrained. This approach achieves a significant amount of typing effort reduction in most tasks. Natural language based interfaces for information retrieval constitute a good scenario to include this kind of assistance in order to improve the system usability and provide considerable help in constrained input-interfaces. An initial proposal is presented here along with an experimental framework to assess its appropriateness.
Improving ED specimen TAT using Lean Six Sigma.

PURPOSE Lean and Six Sigma are continuous improvement methodologies that have garnered international fame for improving manufacturing and service processes. Increasingly these methodologies are demonstrating their power to also improve healthcare processes. The purpose of this paper is to discuss a case study for the application of Lean and Six Sigma tools in the reduction of turnaround time (TAT) for Emergency Department (ED) specimens. This application of the scientific methodologies uncovered opportunities to improve the entire ED to lab system for the specimens. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH This case study provides details on the completion of a Lean Six Sigma project in a 1,000 bed tertiary care teaching hospital. Six Sigma's Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control methodology is very similar to good medical practice: first, relevant information is obtained and assembled; second, a careful and thorough diagnosis is completed; third, a treatment is proposed and implemented; and fourth, checks are made to determine if the treatment was effective. Lean's primary goal is to do more with less work and waste. The Lean methodology was used to identify and eliminate waste through rapid implementation of change. FINDINGS The initial focus of this project was the reduction of turn-around-times for ED specimens. However, the results led to better processes for both the internal and external customers of this and other processes. The project results included: a 50 percent decrease in vials used for testing, a 50 percent decrease in unused or extra specimens, a 90 percent decrease in ED specimens without orders, a 30 percent decrease in complete blood count analysis (CBCA) Median TAT, a 50 percent decrease in CBCA TAT Variation, a 10 percent decrease in Troponin TAT Variation, a 18.2 percent decrease in URPN TAT Variation, and a 2-5 minute decrease in ED registered nurses rainbow draw time. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS This case study demonstrated how the quantitative power of Six Sigma and the speed of Lean worked in harmony to improve the blood draw process for a 1,000 bed tertiary care teaching hospital. The blood draw process is a standard process used in hospitals to collect blood chemistry and hematology information for clinicians. The methods used in this case study demonstrated valuable and practical applications of process improvement methodologies that can be used for any hospital process and/or service environment. ORIGINALITY/VALUE While this is not the first case study that has demonstrated the use of continuous process improvement methodologies to improve a hospital process, it is unique in the way in which it utilizes the strength of the project focussed approach that adheres more to the structure and rigor of Six Sigma and relied less on the speed of lean. Additionally, the application of these methodologies in healthcare is emerging research.
Comparison of three post-filtering algorithms for residual acoustic echo reduction

We consider an acoustic echo control system composed of a short conventional acoustic echo canceller combined with a post-filter in a teleconference context. The post-filter is implemented in an open-loop structure in the frequency domain, which provides good adaptive performance and flexibility for the choice of the post-filter length. Three post-filtering algorithms are compared in terms of residual echo attenuation and near-end speech distortion. The effect of the post-filter length is also examined. Our study confirms that the post-filtering approach provides high residual echo attenuation. Moreover, it appears that the distortion of the near-end speech can be controlled by choosing appropriately the post-filter length.
Liposomal antibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases

Introduction: Liposomal delivery systems have been utilized in developing effective therapeutics against cancer and targeting microorganisms in and out of host cells and within biofilm community. The most attractive feature of liposome-based drugs are enhancing therapeutic index of the new or existing drugs while minimizing their adverse effects. Areas covered: This communication provides an overview on several aspects of liposomal antibiotics including the most widely used preparation techniques for encapsulating different agents and the most important characteristic parameters applied for examining shape, size and stability of the spherical vesicles. In addition, the routes of administration, liposome–cell interactions and host parameters affecting the biodistribution of liposomes are highlighted. Expert opinion: Liposomes are safe and suitable for delivery of variety of molecules and drugs in biomedical research and medicine. They are known to improve the therapeutic index of encapsulated agents and reduce drug toxicity. Recent studies on liposomal formulation of chemotherapeutic and bioactive agents and their targeted delivery show liposomal antibiotics potential in the treatment of microbial infections.
CONSID: A Toolbox for Contaminant Source Identification

Model‐based contaminant source identification plays an important role in effective site remediation. In this article, a contaminant source identification toolbox (CONSID) is introduced as a framework for solving contaminant source identification problems. It is known that the presence of various types of model uncertainties can severely undermine the performance of many existing source estimators. The current version of CONSID consists of two robust estimators for recovering source release histories under model uncertainty; one was developed in the deterministic framework and the other in the stochastic framework. To use the robust estimators provided in CONSID, the user is required to have only modest prior knowledge about the model uncertainty and be able to estimate the bound of model deviations resulting from the uncertainty. The toolbox is designed so that other source estimators can be added easily. A step‐by‐step guidance for using CONSID is described and an example is provided.
Comprehending spoken metaphoric reference: a real-time analysis.

Speakers and writers often use metaphor to describe someone or something in a referential fashion (e.g., The creampuff didn't show up for the fight to refer to a cowardly boxer). Research has demonstrated that readers do not comprehend metaphoric reference as easily as they do literal reference (Gibbs, 1990; Onishi & Murphy, 1993). In two experiments, we used a naming version of the cross-modal lexical priming (CMLP) paradigm to monitor the time-course of comprehending spoken metaphoric reference. In Experiment 1, listeners responded to visual probe words of either a figurative or literal nature that were presented at offset or 1000 ms after a critical prime word. Significant facilitatory priming was observed at prime offset to probes consistent with the metaphorical interpretation of the figuratively referring description, yet no priming was found for either probe type at the downstream location. In Experiment 2, we partially replicated Experiment 1 results at prime offset and found no priming at a probe point placed 1000 ms upstream from prime onset. Taken together, the data from these two experiments indicate that listeners are able to comprehend metaphoric reference faster than literal reference. Moreover, the effect appears to be strongest at prime offset, suggesting that activation of the nonliteral interpretation is closely tied to the relationship between the figuratively referring description and the intended referent. Implications for theories of metaphor comprehension, as well as for research in spoken metaphor, are discussed.
Efficiently searching the optimal design space

One of the primary advantages of a high-level synthesis system is its ability to explore the design space. This paper presents several methodologies for design space exploration that compute all optimal tradeoff points for the combined problem of scheduling, clock length determination, and module selection. We discuss how each methodology takes advantage of both the structure within the design space itself as well as the structure of, and interaction between, each of the three subproblems.
Nutritional myodegeneration as a cause of dysphagia in adult horses: three case reports

Three cases of nutritional myodegeneration caused by selenium deficiency in adult horses are described. Difficulty in eating and drinking was a common clinical sign in all horses. Blood biochemistry revealed a marked elevation of muscle enzymes and low glutathione peroxidase activity or low selenium concentration in whole blood in all cases. The treatment with sodium selenite and vitamin E was instituted in all horses. Two of them were euthanized because of continuing muscle injuries, one patient was cured. The post-mortem examination of euthanized horses revealed pale muscles that were distributed with bilateral symmetry on hind and thoracic limbs, diaphragm, tongue, masticatory and intercostal muscles and the myocardium. Histopathology revealed the areas of degeneration and necrosis. Large groups of regenerating fibres and pronounced lymphoplasmocytic reaction among the groups of intact fibres were also present. The clinical outcome of the disease is probably influenced by timely diagnosis and treatment.
The Role of Internal Audit Function on Corporate Governance and Management

The purpose of the paper is to examine the research question about the role of internal audit function on management and corporate governance. This paper is updated with the latest theories regarding the role of internal auditing on management and corporate governance. It has been made literature review so as to be revealed the role of internal audit function on management and corporate governance. It is found that internal auditing is an important part of the success of corporate governance. Especially, it is one of the pillars of corporate governance. Furthermore, it is found that internal audit function is a vital tool for the management and for the success of a company. The good operation of internal audit function can be a tool for the improvement of quality of the corporate governance and management. Both corporate governance and management can increase the competiveness of a company.
Survival benefit of surgical approach for advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer: A retrospective analysis

Head and neck cancer is increasingly being managed through nonsurgical approaches. Evidence comes from studies that have mainly examined patients with laryngeal cancer. Few studies, with limited sample size, have focused on the comparative outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical approaches in patients with advanced oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer.
Impact of Investment Deposits & Risk Taking On Capital Decisions in Islamic Banks of Islamic Financial Services Board Member Countries

Purpose: This study analyzes the impact of investment deposits and risk taking on capital decisions in Islamic Banks of selected Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) countries (Pakistan, UAE, Qatar, and Malaysia). Five Islamic banks of each country were selected as a sample for the period of 2010 to 2014. Methodology: The panel data was used. Fixed/random effect was selected on the bases of Hausman test. Findings: The results of current study show the significant impact of investment deposits (Profit Sharing Investment Account) and risk on capital decision (Capital Adequacy Ratio). Recommendations: This study recommends improvement in the implementation of profit and loss sharing to curb unnecessary risk taking for making effective capital decisions in Islamic Banks.
What Drives Consumers to Express without Prior Consumption Experience? The Role of Identity Signals on Consumers' Word-of-Mouth Transmission

Word-of-mouth (WOM) communication is one of the most powerful forces in consumer decision. Extant previous researches have examined the motivations and effects of WOM and found that it is common for consumers to use WOM as a source of self-signaling; individuals strategically choose what to talk. However, few prior researches distinguish WOM of their own experience from that of others. This research proposes that usage of identity-signals on product message frame can exert positive influence on potential consumers who have not yet purchased or consumed the firm’s product or service. Across two experiments, this research shows that the fundamental psychological motive to manage one’s impression can lead consumers to transmit WOM given identity-signals in the product message. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrate that the tendency to transmit WOM is likely to increase when individuals with no prior consumption experience on a product is framed with identity-relevant message. Experiment 2 reveals that consumers with no prior consumption experience had greater impression management motive, thereby increasing their intent of WOM transmission. This research concludes that given the identityrelevant message on the same product domain, individuals are more likely to transmit WOM as they strategically manage impression to others about the product with which they have no purchase or consumption experience.
Induction of radioprotective peroxiredoxin‐I by ionizing irradiation

Results of this study indicate a radioprotective effect of peroxiredoxin‐I. Peroxiredoxin‐I is an antioxidant that scavenges hydroperoxides, whereas reactive oxygen species are the main mediators of ionizing radiation toxicity. We hypothesized that peroxiredoxin‐I might be induced by cellular exposure to radiation and act to protect them against its cytotoxic effects. Western blot and Northern blot analyses were used to assess peroxiredoxin‐I protein and mRNA expression. Rat C6 glioma cells were engineered to overexpress sense or antisense human peroxiredoxin‐I using retroviral vectors. Clonogenic cell survival was used to assess radiosensitivities of the engineered cells. Ionizing radiation induced peroxiredoxin‐I protein and mRNA expression in human HT29 colon cancer and rat C6 glioma cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner over a 24 hr period. To determine the effect of peroxiredoxin‐I on radiation responses, C6 glioma cells were engineered to overexpress sense or antisense human peroxiredoxin‐I. In clonogenic assays, cells overexpressing peroxiredoxin‐I were more radioresistant. Cells transduced with antisense peroxiredoxin‐I were marginally more sensitive to radiation toxicity. Irradiation can induce peroxiredoxin‐I expression, and the increased peroxiredoxin‐I may protect cells from further radiation damage. These results suggest that protection by peroxiredoxin‐I may play an important role in the survival of glioma and colon cancer cells in patients undergoing radiation therapy. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An E-field probe based near-field measurement system for on- and in-body antennas

For the characterization of the antennas for medical diagnostics or implanted devices, an E-field probe based antenna measurement system is presented here. Since the devices work in the near-field range of the antenna, the near-field measurement of the antennas is performed. A liquid phantom, a mixture from PEG and water, is chosen to emulate different tissues with regards to their dielectric properties. The system is characterized from 0.5 GHz to 5 GHz with pattern measurement both in E- and H-plane of the antennas. The short measured distance of 4-6 cm between two antennas in the liquid phantom is maintained. Benefiting from the positioning system with high accuracy motors and the small size of the probe for capturing the E-fields, the measurement system exhibits an extremely reliable results of the near-field pattern.
Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in Cambodian children

SUMMARY We analysed Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from children, hospitalized from January 2004 to July 2008 in the largest paediatric hospital complex in Cambodia. Specimens were tested for drug susceptibility and genotypes. From the 260 children, 161 strains were available. The East African-Indian genotype family was the most common (59·0%), increasing in frequency with distance from the Phnom Penh area, while the frequency of the Beijing genotype family strains decreased. The drug resistance pattern showed a similar geographical gradient: lowest in the northwest (4·6%), intermediate in the central (17·1%), and highest in the southeastern (30·8%) parts of the country. Three children (1·9%) had multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The Beijing genotype and streptomycin resistance were significantly associated (P < 0·001). As tuberculosis in children reflects recent transmission patterns in the community, multidrug resistance levels inform about the current quality of the tuberculosis programme.
Estimating negative likelihood ratio confidence when test sensitivity is 100%: A bootstrapping approach

Objectives Assessing high-sensitivity tests for mortal illness is crucial in emergency and critical care medicine. Estimating the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the likelihood ratio (LR) can be challenging when sample sensitivity is 100%. We aimed to develop, compare, and automate a bootstrapping method to estimate the negative LR CI when sample sensitivity is 100%. Methods The lowest population sensitivity that is most likely to yield sample sensitivity 100% is located using the binomial distribution. Random binomial samples generated using this population sensitivity are then used in the LR bootstrap. A free R program, “bootLR,” automates the process. Extensive simulations were performed to determine how often the LR bootstrap and comparator method 95% CIs cover the true population negative LR value. Finally, the 95% CI was compared for theoretical sample sizes and sensitivities approaching and including 100% using: (1) a technique of individual extremes, (2) SAS software based on the technique of Gart and Nam, (3) the Score CI (as implemented in the StatXact, SAS, and R PropCI package), and (4) the bootstrapping technique. Results The bootstrapping approach demonstrates appropriate coverage of the nominal 95% CI over a spectrum of populations and sample sizes. Considering a study of sample size 200 with 100 patients with disease, and specificity 60%, the lowest population sensitivity with median sample sensitivity 100% is 99.31%. When all 100 patients with disease test positive, the negative LR 95% CIs are: individual extremes technique (0,0.073), StatXact (0,0.064), SAS Score method (0,0.057), R PropCI (0,0.062), and bootstrap (0,0.048). Similar trends were observed for other sample sizes. Conclusions When study samples demonstrate 100% sensitivity, available methods may yield inappropriately wide negative LR CIs. An alternative bootstrapping approach and accompanying free open-source R package were developed to yield realistic estimates easily. This methodology and implementation are applicable to other binomial proportions with homogeneous responses.
Secret-Key Distribution Based on Bounded Observability

This paper reviews an approach to secret-key distribution based on the bounded observability (BO) model. First, the information-theoretic framework of secret-key agreement from a correlated random source is reviewed. Next, the BO model is introduced. In the context of this model, the BO condition is presented as a necessary and sufficient condition for the possibility of secret-key distribution. This condition describes limits on the information obtained by observation of a random object, and models the practical difficulty of completely observing random physical phenomena. Finally, an implementation of secret-key distribution based on BO in an optical fiber system is described.
Efficient quantum algorithms for the hidden subgroup problem over semi-direct product groups

In this paper, we consider the hidden subgroup problem (HSP) over the class of semidirect product groups Zpr ⋊ Zq, for p and q prime. We first present a classification of these groups in five classes. Then, we describe a polynomial-time quantum algorithm solving the HSP over all the groups of one of these classes: the groups of the form Zpr ⋊ Zp, where p is an odd prime. Our algorithm works even in the most general case where the group is presented as a black-box group with not necessarily unique encoding. Finally, we extend this result and present an efficient algorithm solving the HSP over the groups Zprm ⋊ Zp.
Managing organizational learning ambidexterity: An exploratory study of Australian large service organizations

III ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . VI LIST OF FIGURES . VII LIST OF TABLES . VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS . IX CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 BACKGROUND . 1 1.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS . 3 1.3 CONTRIBUTION OF THE THESIS . 3 1.4 LAYOUT OF THE THESIS . 4 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 7 2.