Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Balancing Priorities and Emergency Measures: Luxembourg’s Council Presidency. EPIN Commentary No. 30/15 January 2016

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg held the reins of the EU Council presidency between 1 July and 31 December 2015. This was the 12th time that the second-smallest and the richest EU member state1 held the rotating Council presidency. As one of the founding members of the EU, Luxembourg has sound experience to bring to this role. It was, however, their first presidency since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and its introduction of the trio presidency format, this time including Italy and Latvia. Under the slogan ‘A Union for the Citizens’, Luxembourg had the task of concluding certain major dossiers before the end of the trio’s term and was able to contribute to its overarching agenda, especially regarding the priorities of financial stability, growth stimulation and the digital agenda.
Passing through a rocky way to reach the pick of clinical competency: A grounded theory study on nursing students’ clinical learning

Background: Clinical learning is one of the important issues that helps the perception of nursing students’ practice in a clinical setting and its effect on their professional development. The aim of this study is to describe and state the manner of clinical learning in nursing students. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted as a grounded theory. The individual semi-structured interviews and participants’ observations were taken into account with a purposive and theoretical sample of 27 participants. The data were analyzed using the grounded theory approach and the constant comparison analysis method. Results: The results showed that students use two approaches of Micro- and Macrolearning. The first includes learning conditions and situations that act like a foundation for the second one (Macrolearning). Macrolearning is a continuous process including all categories of “Facing unfavorable clinical facts”, “Clinical situation and appropriate decision making”, “Bridging the gap between practice and theory”, “Struggle for clinical independence”, and “Dynamism” in a continuum reflecting the struggle to obtain clinical competency (core variable). Conclusions: Through provision of such conditions as students’ gradual acquaintance with real situations, selection of more resistant students, use of mentorship and preceptor ship in clinical learning, enhancement of educational standards in hospitals, handling collaborative learning methods to make a cooperation spirit in internship environment, and so on, students can be helped to obtain clinical competency.
Synthesis and bioanalytical evaluation of morphine-3-O-sulfate and morphine-6-O-sulfate in human urine and plasma using LC-MS/MS.

The aim of this work was to synthesize morphine-3-O-sulfate and morphine-6-O-sulfate for use as reference substances, and to determine the sulfate conjugates as possible heroin and morphine metabolites in plasma and urine by a validated LC-MS/MS method. Morphine-6-O-sulfate and morphine-3-O-sulfate were prepared as dihydrates from morphine hydrochloride, in overall yields of 41 and 39% with product purities of >99.5% and >98%, respectively. For bioanalysis, the chromatographic system consisted of a reversed-phase column and gradient elution. The tandem mass spectrometer was operated in the positive electrospray mode using selected reaction monitoring, of transition m/z 366.15 to 286.40. The measuring range was 5-500 ng/mL for morphine-3-O-sulfate and 4.5-454 ng/mL for morphine-6-O-sulfate in plasma. In urine, the measuring range was 50-5000 ng/mL for morphine-3-O-sulfate and 45.4-4544 ng/mL for morphine-6-O-sulfate. The intra-assay and total imprecision (coefficient of variation) was below 11% for both analytes in urine and plasma. Quantifiable levels of morphine-3-O-sulfate in authentic urine and plasma samples were found. Only one authentic urine sample contained a detectable level of morphine-6-O-sulfate, while no detectable morphine-6-O-sulfate was found in plasma samples.
An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship Between IT Training Sources and IT Value

Information technology (IT) training has been identified as a key factor for the success of IT applications and the most frequently applied coping mechanism to handle changing IT. However, there is a question as to how IT training has to be conducted to obtain desired outcomes (higher levels of IT value). This paper analyses the presence of IT training sources used by firms and examines the influence on IT business value. Here, IT training is studied according to three IT training sources: in-house IT training, outside IT training, and self IT training by employees. In addition, differences in IT training sources are analysed according to two contingency factors: business size and business industry. Results show a positive relationship between IT training sources (outside and self IT training) and IT business value and confirm that IT training sources are positively related to business size and differ moderately by business industry.
Interventions to increase mammography rates among U.S. Latinas: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND In the United States, health disparities exist in mammography rates for Latinas compared with other ethnic groups. Additionally, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths among Latina women. Increased mammography rates and earlier breast cancer diagnosis can decrease breast cancer fatality rates among Latina women. METHODS The purpose of this systematic review was to contribute to the knowledge basis on breast cancer prevention for U.S. Latinas by determining the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase mammography rates among this population. Both experimental and quasi-experimental studies were included in the systematic review, and nine were located that met inclusion criteria. RESULTS Odds ratios were calculated, and the overall effect indicated a low level of effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS Implications of findings for practice and research are discussed.
Essays on Real Estate Finance

The three chapters of this dissertation investigate housing cycles and the residential housing investment in the U.S. The first chapter presents the non-monotonic relationships between the housing cycles and housing supply elasticities. Chapter Two explains this puzzling phenomenon by building up a dynamic model and emphasizes the roles played by the housing investors. The last chapter explores how residential housing investment could predict the home price dynamics both in the short run and
Detection of Coronary Artery Stenoses With Thin-Slice Multi-Detector Row Spiral Computed Tomography and Multiplanar Reconstruction

Background—We analyzed the accuracy of multi-detector row spiral computed tomography (MDCT) using a 16-slice CT scanner with improved spatial and temporal resolution, as well as routine premedication with &bgr;-blockers for detection of coronary stenoses. Methods and Results—Seventy-seven patients with suspected coronary disease were studied by MDCT (12×0.75-mm cross-sections, 420 ms rotation, 100 mL contrast agent IV at 5 mL/s). Patients with a heart rate above 60/min received 50 mg atenolol before the scan. In axial MDCT images and multiplanar reconstructions, all coronary arteries and side branches with a diameter of 1.5 mm or more were assessed for the presence of stenoses exceeding 50% diameter reduction. In comparison to invasive coronary angiography, MDCT correctly classified 35 of 41 patients (85%) as having at least 1 coronary stenosis and correctly detected 57 of 78 coronary lesions (73%). After excluding 38 of 308 coronary arteries (left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery in 77 patients) classified as unevaluable by MDCT (12%), 57 of 62 lesions were detected, and absence of stenosis was correctly identified in 194 of 208 arteries (sensitivity: 92%; specificity: 93%; accuracy: 93%; positive and negative predictive values: 79% and 97%). Conclusions—MDCT coronary angiography with improved spatial resolution and premedication with oral &bgr;-blockade permits detection of coronary artery stenoses with high accuracy and a low rate of unevaluable arteries.
Update on Evolution Algal Phylogeny and the Origin of Land Plants 1

The green algae and land plants form a monophyletic lineage (the chlorophytes) that contains both protistan and higher taxa (Graham, 1996). An important issue regarding the evolution of this green lineage that still remains in question is the identity of the green algal (i.e. flagellate) ancestor of land plants. Modern molecular phylogenetic data provide the framework for reconstructing this evolutionary history and for asking deeper questions about the origin of the genetic inventions that have played a role in the radiation of the green lineage, a group that contains nearly all levels of vegetative morphology, from single cells to filaments to well-organized colonies to complex terrestrial plants. The green lineage is, however, only one example of photosynthetic taxa that have successfully colonized our planet. A much greater diversity of plastid-containing organisms is defined by the various other forms of algae. The algae include the green algal relatives of land plants and a diverse collection of single-celled and multicellular taxa such as the heterokonts, rhodophytes (red algae), cryptophytes, chlorarachniophytes, dinoflagellates, and haptophytes. Understanding the interrelationships and origins of these lineages is an interesting problem in evolutionary biology, not only because the algae contain the dominant primary producers on this planet, but also because uncovering the ancestry of their plastids offers the possibility to gain insights into the many facets of endosymbiosis, such as endosymbiont genome reduction and gene transfer to the host nucleus (Gilson and McFadden, 1996). Present knowledge argues overwhelmingly for a cyanobacterial origin of all algal plastids, with stable incorporation of many of the endosymbiont’s genes in the host genome (Bhattacharya and Medlin, 1995). These and other recent data concerning the origins of algae and their plastids form a starting point from which the origin of the green lineage can be better understood.
Silencing Nicotiana attenuata Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases, CDPK4 and CDPK5, Strongly Up-Regulates Wound- and Herbivory-Induced Jasmonic Acid Accumulations1[W]

The plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) plays a pivotal role in plant-insect interactions. Herbivore attack usually elicits dramatic increases in JA concentrations, which in turn activate the accumulation of metabolites that function as defenses against herbivores. Although almost all enzymes involved in the biosynthesis pathway of JA have been identified and characterized, the mechanism by which plants regulate JA biosynthesis remains unclear. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are plant-specific proteins that sense changes in [Ca2+] to activate downstream responses. We created transgenic Nicotiana attenuata plants, in which two CDPKs, NaCDPK4 and NaCDPK5, were simultaneously silenced (IRcdpk4/5 plants). IRcdpk4/5 plants were stunted and aborted most of their flower primordia. Importantly, after wounding or simulated herbivory, IRcdpk4/5 plants accumulated exceptionally high JA levels. When NaCDPK4 and NaCDPK5 were silenced individually, neither stunted growth nor high JA levels were observed, suggesting that NaCDPK4 and NaCDPK5 have redundant roles. Attack from Manduca sexta larvae on IRcdpk4/5 plants induced high levels of defense metabolites that slowed M. sexta growth. We found that NaCDPK4 and NaCDPK5 affect plant resistance against insects in a JA- and JA-signaling-dependent manner. Furthermore, IRcdpk4/5 plants showed overactivation of salicylic-acid-induced protein kinase, a mitogen-activated protein kinase involved in various stress responses, and genetic analysis indicated that the increased salicylic-acid-induced protein kinase activity in IRcdpk4/5 plants was a consequence of the exceptionally high JA levels and was dependent on CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1. This work reveals the critical roles of CDPKs in modulating JA homeostasis and highlights the complex duet between JA and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.
InP-Based Generic Foundry Platform for Photonic Integrated Circuits

The standardization of photonic integration processes for InP has led to versatile and easily accessible generic integration platforms. The generic integration platforms enable the realization of a broad range of applications and lead to a dramatic cost reduction in the development costs of photonic integrated circuits (PICs). This paper addresses the SMART Photonics generic integration platform developments. The integration technology based on butt joint active-passive epitaxy is shown to achieve a platform without compromising the performance of the different components. The individual components or building blocks are described. A process design kit is established with a comprehensive dataset of simulation and layout information for the building blocks. Latest results on process development and optimization are demonstrated. A big step forward is achieved by applying high-resolution ArF lithography, which leads to increased performance for AWGs and a large increase in reproducibility and yield. The generic nature of the platform is demonstrated by analyzing a number of commercial multiproject wafer runs. It is clear that a large variety of applications is addressed with more than 200 designs from industry as well as academia. A number of examples of PICs are displayed to support this. Finally, the design flow is explained, with focus on layout-aware schematic-driven design flow that is required for complex circuits. It can be concluded that generic integration on InP is maturing fast and with the current developments and infrastructure it is the technology of choice for low cost, densely integrated PICs, ready for high-volume manufacturing.
Ecosystem of a shopping mall robot - Neel

This study is an extension to our research on long term deployment of an assistive robot in a shopping mall. In this paper, we have discussed the architecture of robot Neel using rich web interactions and Unified communication methods to stay connected with users in an interpersonal manner. This enables the robot to build rapport among users by assisting shoppers to get offers and deals based on their preferences along with assisting retailers by connecting to their target customers. After the in-person human-robot interaction, both can stay connected with each other by using unified messaging services. Also we discuss the utility of having a robot in such a scenario, where it can aid humans with the strong online recommendation and interaction engines by connecting with potential shoppers and relevant retailers in the mall. The trials provide us valuable information for long term deployment and feasibility of such autonomous, intelligent, interactive robots in our social space for having effective Human robot interactions and communication.
Software defined radio receiver based on Six-Port technology

Software Defined Radio (SDR) has been identified as one potential method to enhance the flexibility of wireless communication systems. In the past, the operating speed limitation of analog digital converter (ADC) and processing ability limitation of re-configurable chips for signal processing have slowed down the development of SDR for useful commercial application. With recent advances in the semi-conductor processing technology and the development of re-configurable devices such as digital signal processors (DSP) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), SDR has now become practical for use in system solutions including wireless LANs, audio and television broadcasting and interoperability between different radio services. In this paper, we describe the application of SDR based on Six-Port technology to provide multi-channel, multi-mode wireless digital receiver. The combination of SDR and Six-Port technology provides a great flexibility in system configuration, a significant reduction in system development cost, and also a high potential for software reuse.
Analysis of the CSFs affecting project execution: a case application

A review of the literature identifying the critical success factors (CSFs) of project execution revealed two research gaps: a too subjective selection of CSFs rather than an objective selection and too many critical factors, resulting in doubts about their criticality. To overcome these two research gaps, this study proposed a hybrid method that uses the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to obtain weightings of factors and ranks their importance. The meaning of criticality, in combination with the concept of acceptable advantage of VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), was then used to objectively identify the CSFs of project execution, using the environmental consultancy service industry in Taiwan as an example. Finally, six CSFs were found and five management implications were identified, and these findings can serve as a valuable reference for project execution in the environmental consultancy service industry. This combined method can also be used to identify the CSFs of project execution in other fields.
Review of the Fifth Annual Joint Theater Trauma System Trauma Conference

Military conflict requires the military health system to respond to new wounding patterns, geography, climate, and uncommon health hazards. A continuously learning health system will use multiple avenues to advance improvements. Conferences in a theater of operations are one such vehicle. This report documents specific issues of concern to military providers as discussed at a trauma conference conducted in the Afghanistan Theater of Operations in 2014.
Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor peptides derived from the endostatin-containing NC1 fragment of human collagen XVIII

Abstract Extracellular matrix and soluble plasma proteins generate peptides that regulate biological activities such as cell growth, differentiation and migration. Bradykinin, a peptide released from kininogen by kallikreins, stimulates vasodilatation and endothelial cell proliferation. Various classes of substances can potentiate these biological actions of bradykinin. Among them, the best studied are bradykinin potentiating peptides (BPPs) derived from snake venom, which can also strongly inhibit angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. We identified and synthesized sequences resembling BPPs in the vicinity of potential proteolytic cleavage sites in the collagen XVIII molecule, close to endostatin. These peptides were screened as inhibitors of human recombinant wild-type ACE containing two intact functional domains; two full-length ACE mutants containing only a functional C- or N-domain catalytic site; and human testicular ACE, a natural form of the enzyme that only contains the C-domain. The BPP-like peptides inhibited ACE in the micromolar range and interacted preferentially with the C-domain. The proteolytic activity involved in the release of BPP-like peptides was studied in human serum and human umbilical-vein endothelial cells. The presence of enzymes able to release these peptides in blood led us to speculate on a physiological mechanism for the control of ACE activities.
Hunting for the function of orphan GPCRs – beyond the search for the endogenous ligand

Seven transmembrane‐spanning proteins (7TM), also called GPCRs, are among the most versatile and evolutionary successful protein families. Out of the 400 non‐odourant members identified in the human genome, approximately 100 remain orphans that have not been matched with an endogenous ligand. Apart from the classical deorphanization strategies, several alternative strategies provided recent new insights into the function of these proteins, which hold promise for high therapeutic potential. These alternative strategies consist of the phenotypical characterization of organisms silenced or overexpressing orphan 7TM proteins, the search for constitutive receptor activity and formation of protein complexes including 7TM proteins as well as the development of synthetic, surrogate ligands. Taken together, a variety of ligand‐independent functions can be attributed to orphan 7TM proteins that range from constitutive activity to complex formation with other proteins and include ‘true’ orphans for which no ligand exist and ‘conditional’ orphans that behave like orphans in the absence of ligand and as non‐orphans in the presence of ligand.
Isolation and Characterization of Unusual Mycoplasma spp. from Captive Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus) in Sicily

Mycoplasmas have been isolated from birds of prey during clinical examinations, but their significance to the health of raptors is unclear. We report the isolation and characterization of four mycoplasmas found in the upper respiratory tract of four sick Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus) that were housed in a Sicilian rehabilitation center at Ficuzza, near Palermo in Sicily, before reintroduction into the wild. These included Mycoplasma gallinarum, an unidentified mycoplasma highly similar to Mycoplasma glycophilum, and two unidentified mycoplasmas with similarities to Mycoplasma falconis and Mycoplasma gateae.
An Asynchronous Peer-to-Peer Service Extension Using the General E-mail Service

The general peer-to-peer based service system formed as an overlay network on top of the underlying physical computer network and the overlay network can be distinguished with the hybrid peer-to-peer network or the pure peer-to-peer network in terms of their centralization and structure. Because of no central server, the pure peer-to-peer network can release the server management cost, the single point of failure problem, the traffic overload or the scalability problem. Regardless of this kind of advantages, the pure peer-to-peer network has the critical problem in the case of that if the peers known to have the requested shared resource is temporary offline, there is no way to connect or to send a request to that peer because there is no central server. In this paper, we proposed the asynchronous peer-to-peer service extension method using email server in pure peer-to-peer networking environment. According to this method, it is possible to provide the peer-to-peer services not only when the two edge peers are online but also when one of the edge peers is temporary offline. Therefore, the proposed method can be used to increase the service availability of the small-sized peer-to-peer network in which the shared resources are not guaranteed to be always available. Also, the proposed method can be effective for the mobile network in which mobile device is not always online.
Characterization of inter-pulse interference and fading for ultra-wideband systems

A statistical characterization is presented of the impact of the ultra-wideband (UWB) multipath channel on impulse radio and spread-spectrum UWB systems. For this purpose, the correlator output statistics are studied, since correlators are the typical first processing step in the frontends of coherent and noncoherent receivers. The analysis is based on the second and forth-order moments of the channel impulse response. It also includes a prototype pulse shape that represents the bandwidth of the received pulse and all linear system components including antenna effects. Complex-equivalent baseband representations of UWB pulses are assumed, which makes the analysis suitable for investigating bandpass-type UWB systems as defined in various IEEE standards. The analytical results are validated through the analysis of measured UWB channels.