Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High performance transmit/receive modules in 0.13 µm SiGe:C BiCMOS for short range F-band MIMO radars

Transmit and Receive (TX/RX) F-band radar modules are presented. Both modules are implemented in a state of the art SiGe:C BiCMOS featuring high-speed HBTs with fT/fmax of 300/500 GHz. The TX is based on a frequency octupler that consists of a cascade of three Gilbert cells, covering the upper F-band from 120-140 GHz and providing differential output power of up to 6 dBm, the highest values reported to date for BiCMOS. The RX uses the identical frequency octupler followed by a mixer, transformer and a differential LNA, giving altogether conversion gain of 25 dB. Both chips are packaged and connected to off-chip patch antennas using bondwire interconnects with dedicated compensation structures. Initial measurement trials proved full functionality of the realized frontend across 114-152 GHz. It has also been demonstrated that wire-bonding, when properly designed, is still an attractive solution for chip to antenna interconnects even above 110 GHz.
The Early Snail Acquires the Learning. Comparison of Scores for Conditioned Taste Aversion Between Morning and Afternoon

The pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis acquires conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and maintains its memory for more than a. month. Snails in our laboratory were cultured at 20 °C on a. 12: 12 light-dark cycle (light from 7 am to 7 pm). To examine the hours during which snails acquire CTA effectively, we trained some snails in the morning and others in the afternoon, and then compared their scores. CTA developed in both cases, but scores were significantly better in the morning than in the afternoon. To elucidate the cause of this difference in scores, we observed the voluntary activity of snails and found the circadian rhythm reflected in the snails’ free-movement distances; distances at the circadian time 0–12 (daytime) were significantly longer than those at the circadian time 12–24 (nighttime). This rhythm was kept up for at least 3 days, even in constant darkness. In conclusion, L. stagnalis should be trained in the morning to acquire associative learning, possibly because of its greater propensity to roam about at that time as opposed to the afternoon.
Characterization of Cytokine-Induced Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells from Normal Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Tumor immune tolerance can derive from the recruitment of suppressor cell populations, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). In cancer patients, increased MDSCs correlate with more aggressive disease and a poor prognosis. Expression of 15 immune factors (TGFβ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, GM-CSF, M-CSF, IDO, fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, c-kit ligand, inducible NO synthase, arginase-1, TNF-α, cyclo-oxygenase 2, vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) by MDSC-inducing human solid tumor cell lines was evaluated by RT-PCR. Based upon these data, cytokine mixtures were then tested for their ability to generate suppressive CD33+ cells from healthy donor PBMCs in vitro by measuring their ability to inhibit the proliferation of, and IFN-γ production by, fresh autologous human T cells after CD3/CD28 stimulation. Induced MDSCs were characterized with respect to their morphology, surface phenotype, and gene expression profile. MDSC-inducing cancer cell lines demonstrated multiple pathways for MDSC generation, including overexpression of IL-6, IL-1β, cyclo-oxygenase 2, M-CSF, and IDO. CD33+ cells with potent suppressive capacity were best generated in vitro by GM-CSF and IL-6, and secondarily by GM-CSF + IL-1β, PGE2, TNF-α, or VEGF. Characterization studies of cytokine-induced suppressive cells revealed CD33+CD11b+CD66b+HLA-DRlowIL-13Rα2int large mononuclear cells with abundant basophilic cytoplasm. Expression of inducible NO synthase, TGFβ, NADPH oxidase, VEGF, and/or arginase-1 was also upregulated, and Transwell studies showed suppression of autologous T cells to be contact dependent. Suppressive CD33+ cells generated from PBMCs by GM-CSF and IL-6 were consistent with human MDSCs. This study suggests that these cytokines are potential therapeutic targets for the inhibition of MDSC induction in cancer patients.
Absence of L-Selectin Delays Mucosal B Cell Responses in Nonintestinal Effector Tissues1

Previous studies suggest that lymphocyte trafficking to head and neck lymph nodes, also referred to as cranial-, oral-, nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (CONALT), is L-selectin (L-Sel) dependent, despite coexpression of α4β7, resulting in their marked reduction in L-Sel-deficient (L-Sel−/−) mice. Consequently, early phase (16 days) Ab responses to cholera toxin (CT) are diminished. The following studies reveal that lack of mucosal effector responses is not caused by loss of inductive immune responses in the L-Sel−/− CONALT. Indeed, there was an increased accumulation of total IgA, but not Ag-specific IgA Ab-forming cells (AFC) in L-Sel−/− CONALT. This increased accumulation was not evident in L-Sel+/+ CONALT. Identification of lymphocyte-homing receptors on L-Sel−/− and L-Sel+/+ CONALT lymphocytes revealed no significant differences in expression of α4β7, which might contribute to lymphocyte homing in the absence of L-Sel. Studies of CONALT responses during the late phase (6 wk post-intranasal immunization) revealed the number of lymphocytes recovered from L-Sel−/− CONALT was less than L-Sel+/+ CONALT; however, L-Sel−/− CT-specific and total AFC did not vary from 16-day responses, suggesting a defect in CT-specific B cell export. No significant differences in α4β7 expression between L-Sel−/− and L-Sel+/+ CONALT were noted. Yet, these increases in CONALT AFC correlated with restoration of immunity in L-Sel−/− nasal passages and reproductive tracts.
Studies on the glutathione S‐transferase proteome of adult Drosophila melanogaster: Responsiveness to chemical challenge

GSTs from adult Drosophila melanogaster have been partially purified using three different affinity chromatography media and separated by 2‐DE. Nine GSTs have been identified by MALDI‐TOF MS. In the absence of special treatments, eight GSTs could be positively identified. These were DmGSTs D1 (the dominant Delta isoform which was present in five protein zones of differing pI) and D3 (and possibly also D5); the Epsilon‐class GSTs E3, 6, 7 and 9 and a previously uncharacterised, probable member of the class, CG16936. The Sigma‐class DmGSTS1 was prominent. DmGSTD2 was detected only after pretreatment of the flies with Phenobarbital (PhB). Treatment with Paraquat (PQ) led to an increase in the total GST activity, as measured with the substrates 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and 3,4‐dichloro‐nitrobenzene (DCNB) and an increase in the relative amounts of the D1, D3, E6 and E7 isoforms. PhB treatment led to increases in the relative amounts of the D1, D2, E3, E6, E7 and E9 isoforms detected with a possible depression in the relative amount of GSTS1. CG16936 was unaffected by either pretreatment.
Direct Identification of Major Blood Culture Pathogens, Including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, by a Panel of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Assays Using Peptide Nucleic Acid Probes

ABSTRACT Rapid identification of four major pathogens from 1,231 positive blood cultures by fluorescence in situ hybridization with peptide nucleic acid probes (AdvanDx Inc., Woburn, Mass.) was evaluated. For Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans results agreed with conventional identification. The lower sensitivity of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa assay should not compromise the utility of the four assays.
Application of Kalman Filter method based on time series model in the landslide deformation forecast

Considering that the influence of enviornmental factors is different to deformation monitor points in different places of the landslide, some AR(n) models were preset, by means of calculation, AR(n) model whose residual standard deviation was small was chosen as the primary model, parameters of the primary model were looked as the status vector with dynamic noises to erect Kalman Filter Model. The example proved that the method can raise the fitting and forecast accuracy of the model.
A 190-GHz amplifier with gain-boosting technique in 65-nm CMOS

This paper demonstrates a 190-GHz, 3 stages CMOS amplifier based on cascode topology using 65-nm standard RF CMOS 1P9M technology. To design a high gain amplifier at G-band using CMOS process, the gain-boosting technique is adopted to enhance the maximum stable gain (MSG) performance in this work. Based on the experimental results, the peak gain is 16.3 dB at 190 GHz, with 3-dB bandwidth from 188 to 192 GHz, and the core area of chip size is 0.29 mm2.
Microtransplantation of Cellular Membranes From Squid Stellate Ganglion Reveals Ionotropic GABA Receptors

The squid has been the most studied cephalopod, and it has served as a very useful model for investigating the events associated with nerve impulse generation and synaptic transmission. While the physiology of squid giant axons has been extensively studied, very little is known about the distribution and function of the neurotransmitters and receptors that mediate inhibitory transmission at the synapses. In this study we investigated whether γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activates neurotransmitter receptors in stellate ganglia membranes. To overcome the low abundance of GABA-like mRNAs in invertebrates and the low expression of GABA in cephalopods, we used a two-electrode voltage clamp technique to determine if Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with cell membranes from squid stellate ganglia responded to GABA. Using this method, membrane patches containing proteins and ion channels from the squid’s stellate ganglion were incorporated into the surface of oocytes. We demonstrated that GABA activates membrane receptors in cellular membranes isolated from squid stellate ganglia. Using the same approach, we were able to record native glutamate-evoked currents. The squid’s GABA receptors showed an EC50 of 98 μmol l–1 to GABA and were inhibited by zinc (IC50 = 356 μmol l–1). Interestingly, GABA receptors from the squid were only partially blocked by bicuculline. These results indicate that the microtransplantation of native cell membranes is useful to identify and characterize scarce membrane proteins. Moreover, our data also support the role of GABA as an ionotropic neurotransmitter in cephalopods, acting through chloride-permeable membrane receptors.
Stem cells and alopecia: a review of pathogenesis

Recent work has focused on the hair follicle as the main source of multipotent stem cells in the skin. The hair follicle bulge contains multipotent stem cells that can form the epidermis, hair follicles and sebaceous glands and help in repopulation of the epidermis after injury. The localization of these stem cells to the bulge area may explain why some types of inflammatory alopecia cause permanent loss of hair (cicatricial alopecia) (such as lichen planopilaris and discoid lupus erythematosus), while others (such as alopecia areata) are reversible (noncicatricial alopecia). The lack of distinctive bulge morphology in human hair follicles has hampered studies of bulge cells. To date, the best marker for bulge stem cells in human hair is cytokeratin (CK) 15; human bulge cells have been reported to express CK15 selectively throughout all stages of the hair cycle in different types of follicles. There is direct evidence in the mouse, and indirect evidence in the human, that compromising the integrity of the sebaceous gland and/or bulge is important in the development of alopecia. Several interesting studies have been done in the last few years to investigate the role of stem cells in alopecia, especially nonscarring types. This is a review about the role of stem cells in the pathogenesis of alopecia (scarring and nonscarring).
Factors Influencing Farm Crime in Kenya: Opinions and Experiences of Farmers

Although agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, the industry is faced with rapid social, cultural, economic, and technological changes that have significantly increased crime levels in rural areas. In particular, communal, social, and individual controls are diminishing, and the result is an increase of criminal activities against agricultural operations. The aim of the study was to assess factors associated with levels of agricultural theft and vandalism in Kenya, based on the perceptions of farmers themselves. The research was carried out in the Soy division of Uasin Gishu County. A multistage sampling approach, which incorporates purposive, random, and systematic techniques, was used to select respondents within the case study locations. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a representative sample of 200 farmers. Key informant interviews and informal discussions were conducted with local administration officers, namely, village elders, sub chiefs and chiefs, to supplement information derived from the survey. The study used routine activity theory to explain how perceived changes in communities where the farmers lived have created opportunities for the commission of crime. Based on the findings, the study recommends programs which create employment opportunities for both youth and disadvantaged persons in rural Kenya.
Socioeconomic status and the utilization of diagnostic imaging in an urban setting

Background: In publicly funded health care systems, the utilization of health care services should be equitable, irrespective of socioeconomic status (SES). Although the association between SES and health care utilization has been examined in Canada relative to surgical, cardiac and preventive health care services, no published studies have specifically explored the association between SES and diagnostic imaging. Methods: We examined over 300 000 diagnostic imaging claims made in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority between Apr. 1, 2001, and Mar. 31, 2002. Using patient postal codes, we assigned SES on the basis of average household incomes in Canada's 1996 census. Using multiple regression, we examined the association between income quintile, patient age group (≤16, 17–64, ≥ 65 years), patient morbidity level according to the Johns Hopkins University Adjusted Clinical Group method (high, moderate, low), and imaging modality (general radiology, vascular, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and general and obstetric ultrasound). Results: Relative rates (RR) of diagnostic imaging utilization (highest v. lowest income quintile) were significantly increased in pediatric and adult patient groups at all morbidity levels receiving general radiology (highest RR 2.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.07–2.93); pediatric and adult patient groups at high and low morbidity levels and elderly patient groups at low morbidity levels receiving general ultrasound (highest RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.20–4.26); pediatric and adult patient groups at all morbidity levels and elderly patients at high and moderate morbidity levels receiving magnetic resonance imaging (highest RR 2.51, 95% CI 1.78– 3.52); and adult patient groups at all morbidity levels receiving computed tomography (highest RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.35– 1.59). A lower RR of diagnostic imaging utilization in the highest income quintile was found only among patients receiving obstetric ultrasound (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73–0.87). No significant associations were found among elderly patients receiving general radiology or computed tomography or adult patients receiving vascular imaging. Interpretation: We found a pattern of increased diagnostic imaging utilization in patient groups with a higher SES. Further research is needed to better understand the nature of this finding and how it contributes to health outcomes.
Head sway response to optic flow: effect of age is more important than the presence of unilateral vestibular hypofunction.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine how older adults with vestibular impairment use sensory feedback for postural control. METHODS Nine older adult subjects with unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH, mean age 69 y) and 14 older (mean age 70 y) and 8 young adult controls (CON, mean age 28 y) viewed full-field optic flow scenes while standing on a fixed or sway-referenced support surface. The subjects with UVH had 100% caloric asymmetry. Optic flow consisted of sinusoidal anterior-posterior movement of the visual surround at three frequencies and three amplitudes of stimulation. The anterior-posterior head sway was measured. The number of head sway responses that were coupled to the optic flow and magnitude of head sway during optic flow relative to during quiet stance on fixed floor was quantified. RESULTS The number of trials in which the head sway response was significantly coupled to the optic flow was significantly greater in the Older UVH and Older CON subjects compared with the Young CON subjects. Furthermore, the magnitude of head sway was two to three times greater in Older UVH and CON compared with Young CON subjects. There was no difference in coupling or magnitude of head sway between Older UVH and Older CON subjects. The amplitude of sway was also dependent on the amount of surface support, stimulus frequency, and stimulus amplitude. CONCLUSIONS Older adults with unilateral vestibular hypofunction who are able to effectively compensate show no difference in postural responses elicited by optic flow compared with age-matched controls.
Dendritic morphology, local circuitry, and intrinsic electrophysiology of principal neurons in the entorhinal cortex of macaque monkeys

Little is known about the neuroanatomical or electrophysiological properties of individual neurons in the primate entorhinal cortex. We have used intracellular recording and biocytin‐labeling techniques in the entorhinal slice preparation from macaque monkeys to investigate the morphology and intrinsic electrophysiology of principal neurons. These neurons have previously been studied most extensively in rats. In monkeys, layer II neurons are usually stellate cells, as in rats, but they occasionally have a pyramidal shape. They tend to discharge trains, not bursts, of action potentials, and some display subthreshold membrane potential oscillations. Layer III neurons are pyramidal, and they do not appear to display membrane potential oscillations. The distribution of dendrites and of axon collaterals suggests that neurons in layers II and III are interconnected by a network of associational fibers. Layer V and VI neurons are pyramidal and tend to discharge trains of action potentials. The distribution of dendrites and axon collaterals suggests that there is an associative network of principal neurons in layers V and VI, and they also project axon collaterals toward superficial layers. Importantly, entorhinal cortical neurons in monkeys appear to exhibit significant differences from those in rats. Morphologically, neurons in monkey entorhinal layers II and III have more primary dendrites, more dendritic branches, and greater total dendritic length than in rats. Electrophysiologically, layer II neurons in monkeys exhibit less sag, and subthreshold oscillations are less robust and slower. Some monkey layer III neurons discharge bursts of action potentials that are not found in rats. The interspecies differences revealed by this study may influence information processing and pathophysiological processes in the primate entorhinal cortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 470:317–329, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tax wedge, employment and productivity: micro and macro evidence

Fiscal policy has an important role in determining development in modern economies. The tax wedge on labour income may create distortions in the labour market leading to low employment and growth but, at the same time, resources taken from labour taxation can be devoted to welfare financing. These considerations have been widely debated and the aim of this paper is to present an overview on recent literature on this topic.
Software-based hand-held ultrasound color Doppler imaging system

Due to improved portability and patient acceptability, a recently-developed hand-held ultrasound machine has been tested in various emerging clinical applications, e.g., ambulatory healthcare. For miniaturization, in a hand-held ultrasound machine, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) have been widely used. However, since the clinical utility of a hand-held ultrasound machine is continuously evolving, it would be appropriate to have improved functional flexibility, especially in mid and back-end processing. In this paper, we present a software-based hand-held ultrasound system where a single digital signal processor (DSP) is utilized to support color Doppler imaging in real time.
High Speed LED-to-Camera Communication using Color Shift Keying with Flicker Mitigation

LED-to-camera communication allows LEDs deployed for illumination purposes to modulate and transmit data which can be received by camera sensors available in mobile devices like smartphones, wearable smart-glasses, etc. Such communication has a unique property that a user can visually identify a transmitter (i.e., LED) and specifically receive information from the transmitter. It can support a variety of novel applications such as augmented reality through mobile devices, navigation using smart signs, fine-grained location specific advertisement, etc. However, the achievable data rate in current LED-to-camera communication techniques remains very low to support any practical application. In this paper, we present <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathsf {ColorBars}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ColorBars</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="hu-ieq1-2913832.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>, an LED-to-camera communication system that utilizes Color Shift Keying (CSK) to modulate data using different colors transmitted by the LED. It exploits the increasing popularity of Tri-LEDs (RGB) that can emit a wide range of colors. We show that commodity cameras can efficiently and accurately demodulate the color symbols. <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathsf {ColorBars}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ColorBars</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="hu-ieq2-2913832.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> ensures flicker-free and reliable communication even in the presence of inter-frame loss and diversity of rolling shutter cameras. We implement <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathsf {ColorBars}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ColorBars</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="hu-ieq3-2913832.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> on embedded platform and evaluate it with Android and iOS smartphones as receivers. Our evaluation shows that <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathsf {ColorBars}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ColorBars</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="hu-ieq4-2913832.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> can achieve a data rate of 7.7 Kbps on Nexus 5, 3.7 Kbps on iPhone 5S, and 2.9 Kbps on Samsung Note8. It is also shown that lower CSK modulations (e.g., four and eight CSK) provide extremely low symbol error rates (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$<10^{-3}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mrow><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:msup><mml:mn>10</mml:mn><mml:mrow><mml:mo>-</mml:mo><mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msup></mml:mrow></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="hu-ieq5-2913832.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>), making them a desirable choice for reliable LED-to-camera communication.