Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
General analysis of multiuser MIMO systems with regularized zero-forcing precoding under spatially correlated Rayleigh fading channels

A general framework for the analysis of expected per-user signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) of a multiuser multiple-input-multiple-output system is presented. Our analysis assumes spatially correlated Rayleigh fading channels with regularized zero-forcing precoding on the downlink. Unlike previous works, our analytical expressions are averaged over the eigenvalue densities of the complex Wishart distributed channel correlation matrix. To aid the derivation of the expected per-user SINR, we derive a closed-form expression for the joint density of two arbitrary eigenvalues of the complex Wishart matrix. In the high signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) regime, with zero-forcing precoding, we derive analytical expressions to approximate the instantaneous per-user SNR and show that it is approximately gamma distributed. The generality of the approximations is validated with numerical results over a wide range of system dimensions, spatial correlation and SNR levels.
Generating Efficient Outcome Points for Convex Multiobjective Programming Problems and Its Application to Convex Multiplicative Programming

Convex multiobjective programming problems and multiplicative programming problems have important applications in areas such as finance, economics, bond portfolio optimization, engineering, and other fields. This paper presents a quite easy algorithm for generating a number of efficient outcome solutions for convex multiobjective programming problems. As an application, we propose an outer approximation algorithm in the outcome space for solving the multiplicative convex program. The computational results are provided on several test problems.
Ultrasound‐Guided Transthoracic Biopsy of Peripheral Lung, Pleural, and Chest‐Wall Lesions

Ultrasound (US)-guided transthoracic biopsy is well suited for the sampling of those mediastinal, hilar, pleural, chest-wall, and peripheral lung lesions that provide an adequate acoustic window to the transducer. Chest-wall, pleural, and peripheral lung lesions are generally hypoechoic relative to their surrounding tissues. A special puncture transducer is used to perform US-guided biopsy with real-time visualization of the biopsy needle and the lesion. For vascular lesions and lesions adjacent to mediastinal vessels, a color Doppler puncture device is now available. The accuracy of US-guided biopsy of peripheral lung lesions or chest-wall lesions is 88% to 100%, with particular utility in the diagnosis of pulmonary masses with large necrotic centers. Other lung lesions amenable to US-guided biopsy diagnosis include those producing superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, Pancoast's syndrome, or obstructive pneumonitis. Pulmonary consolidation, lung abscess, and parapneumonic effusions are easily sampled for microbiologic diagnosis. The peripheral nature of lesions accessed by US guidance accounts for a very low rate of complications. Although US-guided needle biopsy requires certain expertise, the technique is relatively easy to master and can be performed in many situations where computed tomography-guided biopsy would previously have been used.
Effects of predrilling on the osseointegration potential of mini-implants.

OBJECTIVES To determine a reliable method of drilling a pilot hole when using a self-tapping surface-treated mini-implant and to evaluate stability after placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS Implant sites were predrilled in 12 rabbits with two devices: a conventional motor-driven handpiece and a newly developed hand drill. Mini-implants were then inserted in a complete random block design. Samples were divided into 1-week and 6-week groups to investigate osseointegration capacity in relation to the two time intervals. Mechanical and histomorphometric assessments were performed. RESULTS Mechanical analysis revealed no difference in maximum removal torque or total removal energy between the motor-driven predrilling group and the hand-drilling group. No difference was found between the 1-week group and the 6-week group. Histomorphometric evaluation showed no difference in the bone-implant contact (BIC) ratio or the bone volume (BV) area. For the time interval, a statistically significant increase in BIC and BV area was found in the 6-week group when compared to the 1-week group. CONCLUSIONS The osseointegration potential of the motor-driven predrilling method was not different from that of the manual predrilling method with the newly developed hand drill. Hand drilling may be an attractive predrilling method in preference to the conventional motor-driven pilot drilling.
On the delay performance of block codes for discrete memoryless channels with feedback

In this paper, a queueing model for discrete memoryless channels with block coding and feedback is developed. Blocks that cannot be decoded without error are retransmitted at once. Statistical delay bounds are derived using the framework of the statistical network calculus. The delay performance of block codes with more or less redundancy is investigated. Numerical results are shown for the BCH code family. It is found that coding rates in the wide range from 3/4 to 1/4 achieve comparably small delays. The model is extended to include soft combining. It is shown that soft combining can reduce delays significantly.
Hormone therapy in menopausal women with cognitive complaints

Objective: To evaluate the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on cognition and subjective quality of life (QoL) in recently postmenopausal women with cognitive complaints. Methods: Cognitive Complaints in Early Menopause Trial (COGENT) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, pilot study of 180 healthy postmenopausal women aged 45 to 55 years, randomly assigned to receive either placebo or conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg/medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg for 4 months. Outcome measures included memory, subjective cognition, QoL, sexuality, and sleep, which were assessed at baseline and month 4. Results: The study was terminated before the expected final sample size of 275 due to a decrease in enrollment coinciding with the publication of findings from the Women’s Health Initiative. There were no differences between groups on any cognitive or QoL measures, except for an increase in sexual interest and thoughts with HT. Modest negative effects on short- and long-term verbal memory approached significance (p < 0.10). Women with baseline vasomotor symptoms (VMS) showed a decrease in VMS and an improvement in general QoL, but no cognitive benefit vs placebo. Conclusions: With the power to detect an effect size of ≥0.45, this study suggests potential modest negative effects on verbal memory that are consistent with previous hormone therapy trials in older women. GLOSSARY: BTA = Brief Test of Attention; BVRT = Benton Visual Retention Test; COGENT = Cognitive Complaints in Early Menopause Trial; CRT = Educational Testing Service Card Rotation Test; CVLT = California Verbal Learning; FAS = Letter Fluency Test; HERS = Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study; HT = hormone therapy; MFSQ = McCoy Female Sexuality Scale Questionnaire; MFQ = The Memory Functioning Questionnaire; PANAS = Positive and Negative Affect Scale; PSQI = The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; QoL = subjective quality of life; SWAN = Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation; UQoL = Utian Quality of Life; VMS = vasomotor symptoms Test; WHI = Women’s Health Initiative; WHISCA = WHI Study of Cognitive Aging; WMS-R/DGT-F, MS-R/DGT-B = Digit Span Forward and Backward Subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised.
Superconducting integrated circuit fabrication with low temperature ECR-based PECVD SiO/sub 2/ dielectric films

A superconducting integrated circuit fabrication process has been developed to encompass a wide range of applications such as Josephson voltage standards, VLSI scale array oscillators, SQUIDs, and kinetic-inductance-based devices. An optimal Josephson junction process requires low temperature processing for all deposition and etching steps. This low temperature process involves an electron cyclotron resonance-based plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of SiO/sub 2/ films for interlayer dielectrics. Experimental design and statistical process control techniques have been used to ensure high quality oxide films. Oxide and niobium etches include endpoint detection and controlled overetch of all films. An overview of the fabrication process is presented. <<ETX>>
Describing knowledge integration in innovation processes

In order to sustain competitive advantages, many companies are being challenged to shift their strategy from “Closed Innovation” to “Open Innovation”, and also to “Crowd Innovation”. In “Closed Innovation”, knowledge or information was created and stored in tightly integrated organizations. Their knowledge and information were the resources to be protected by companies. The concept of “Open Innovation” encourages companies to combine internal and external knowledge and information for new value propositions. Business alliances, joint-ventures and M&A are the typical activities in “Open Innovation”.
A preliminary assessment of epidural chloroprocaine for day procedures

Twenty‐five patients underwent epidural anaesthesia with a new formulation of chloroprocaine 3% (1.0–1.5 ml. 10 cm body height−1) for a variety of day procedures. The mean (range) duration of surgery was 17 (5–35) min. The mean (range) time taken to establish maximal block was 16 (15–21) min and the mean (range) time to ambulation was 78 (55–95) min after administration of chloroprocaine. Twenty‐three patients experienced a decrease in systolic arterial blood pressure of up to 15% of baseline values with another two decreasing by up to 25%. Two patients complained of severe backache immediately after operation and a further 16 and four patients reported mild or moderate backache respectively. Operating conditions were excellent in all but one patient and 23 patients said they would be happy to have the same anaesthetic again.
Microglial cells are a component of the perivascular glia limitans

The ultrastructural relation between microglial cells and cerebral blood vessels was studied in rat brains by immune electron microscopy using antibodies against the common leukocyte antigen (Oxl), the complement receptor 3 (Ox42), and against class I and class II histocompatibility antigens (MHC antigens; Ox3, Ox6, Oxl8, and I1‐69). Microglial cell processes were found incorporated between the astrocytic foot processes of the glia limitans in 4–13% of cerebral microvessels. After intravenous injection of γ‐interferon, either alone or in combination with tumor necrosis factor, these microglial cell processes expressed classes I and II MHC antigens. Studies in (Lewis × DA)F1‐DA bone marrow chimeras demonstrated that these cell processes belonged to resident microglia. This study suggests that microglial cells may play an important role in antigen recognition at the blood‐brain barrier.
OZONE EXPOSURE DECREASES UVB SENSITIVITY IN A UVB‐SENSITIVE FLAVONOID MUTANT OF Arabidopsis

Abstract— The impact of sequential exposure to ozone (O3) and UVB (290–320 nm) was studied using two genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana differing in UVB sensitivity. The negative impact of UVB on dry matter production and photosynthetic pigments was absent in the ecotype Landsberg erecta (LER), while the negative impact of UVB was more pronounced when LER plants preexposed to O3 were irradiated with UVB. However, the growth of tt5 plants (a mutant virtually incapable of synthesizing flavonoids) was significantly affected by the UVB exposures, while the impact of UVB was significantly counteracted when tt5 plants pre‐exposed to O3 were irradiated with UVB. These results suggest that pre‐exposure to O3 decreased sensitivity of tt5 but increased sensitivity of LER to UVB. Concentrations of UV‐absorptive compounds were almost the same in plants exposed to UVB alone or sequentially to O3 and UVB. Exposures of LER and tt5 to UVB enhanced both ascorbic acid and glutathione as well as their redox state compared to control plants. Pre‐exposure to O3 enhanced the total ascorbic acid and glutathione as well as the redox state of ascorbate and glutathione in tt5 but decreased the redox state in LER. Irradiation of plants pre‐exposed to O3 with UVB enhanced the redox state of ascorbate and glutathione slightly in tt5 but decreased it further in LER. The high redox state of ascorbate and glutathione in tt5 pre‐exposed to O3 would have protected plants from UVB and decreased their sensitivity to UVB in spite of their inability to synthesize flavonoids. The decreased redox state in O3‐exposed LER plants would have enhanced their sensitivity to UVB. These results suggest that O3 influences plant response to UVB in environments enriched with both O3 and UVB.
A 175µW 100MHz-2GHz inductorless receiver front-end in 65nm CMOS

This paper presents an inductorless ultra-low power frontend for applications such as sensor networks and medical implants. By using a completely inductorless topology the chip area is just 0.017mm2, excluding pads. A real input impedance of 300Ω is achieved with current feedback. Manufactured in 65nm CMOS, it measures more than 17dB gain from 100MHz to 2000MHz while consuming only 175µW from a 0.9V supply (The LNA consumes 115µW). The measured noise figure and IIP3 is 11dB and −16.8dBm respectively.
Trends in Fidelis Lead Survival: Transition From an Exponential to Linear Pattern of Lead Failure Over Time

Background—The Sprint Fidelis implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead was recalled in 2007 because of an elevated risk of lead fracture. Several studies have demonstrated an accelerating risk of lead failure over time. We sought to identify predictors and characterize trends of Fidelis lead failure. Methods and Results—We evaluated 604 Fidelis leads with ≥90 days of follow-up implanted at our institution. Fidelis lead survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Analysis of log-log plots of cumulative hazard plots was performed to assess changes in lead failure rate over time. During follow-up of 3.3±1.7 years, 51 (8.4%) Fidelis lead failures were identified. The 3-year and 5-year Fidelis lead survival rates were 93.5% and 85.3%, respectively. Female sex was the only significant predictor of lead failure (heart rate, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1–3.9; P<0.0001). The rate of lead failure initially increased exponentially with a power of 2.3 (95% CI, 2.22–2.43; P<0.0001). However, log-log analysis of cumulative hazard for leads functioning at 2 and 4 years revealed a stable rate of failure of 4.5%/year. Mathematical modeling of the Fidelis lead failure demonstrated a transition from an exponential to linear pattern of lead failure at 2.9 years. Conclusions—After 3 years, failure rates of Fidelis leads stabilize but at a significantly elevated rate. Female sex is associated with a doubling of the risk of Fidelis lead failure. These findings have implications for Fidelis lead management decisions that are based on the prediction of lead failure risk.
An Investigation of Media Selection Among Directors and Managers: From "Self" to "Other" Orientation

The study investigates the media selection behavior of directors (executives) and managers through the use of multiple methods. The findings indicate the directors were more "self" oriented in their media choices, more often choosing media based on access/ease of use criteria, while the managers were more "other" oriented, more often making choices based on media richness/social presence criteria. These differences have implications in the interpretation of communication from directors and managers to the rest of the organization and suggest a model for understanding the use of "rich" and "lean" communication media. The literature review of the study makes a major contribution by fitting together the multiple theories applied to the area and showing how conflicting results from all the established media selection theories make sense in different circumstances.
Inhibitory function of P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion by the polysaccharides from Sanguisorba officinalis

Abstract Context: P-selectin is a promising target for inflammatory-related diseases. Polysaccharides are the active ingredients of Sanguisorba officinalis L. (Rosaceae) responsible for its anti-inflammatory activities; however, the molecular mechanism is not clear yet. Objective: This study evaluates the effects of polysaccharides (SOPs) from Sanguisorba officinalis on their antagonistic function against P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion. Materials and methods: The antagonistic function of SOPs was investigated by flow cytometry and static adhesion assay at the concentrations of 25 and 100 μg/ml. The dynamic interaction between HL-60 cells and CHO-P cell monolayer treated with SOPs (25 and 100 μg/ml) was analyzed in a parallel plate flow chamber, and quantitatively calculated by ImageJ software (NIH, Bethesda, MD). In vitro protein binding assay was carried out to evaluate the blocking effects of SOPs (25 and 100 μg/ml) on the interaction between P-selectin and PSGL-1. Results: SOPs-treatment (100 μg/ml) significantly reduced the percentage of HL-60 cells binding to P-selectin (p < 0.01) determined by flow cytometry. In addition, SOPs (25 and 100 μg/ml) markedly blocked the adhesion between HL-60 cells and CHO-P cells under static condition, and the inhibitory rates reached 39.9% and 71.2%, respectively. Compared with the positive control group, SOPs-treatment (25 and 100 μg/ml) significantly reduced the percentage of HL-60 cells rolling on CHO-P cell monolayers by 43.5% and 75.2%, respectively. Protein binding assay showed the interaction between P-selectin and PSGL-1 was significantly blocked by SOPs. Discussion and conclusion: SOPs possess a significant antagonistic function against P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion, and SOPs could be considered as a promising candidate for amelioration of inflammation-related diseases.
Natural history and screening model for high‐risk human papillomavirus infection, neoplasia and cervical cancer in the Netherlands

A simulation model is presented that assumes that persistent infection with high‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. For the estimation of the model parameters, data of recent Dutch follow‐up studies were reanalyzed. The predicted incidences of cervical cancer, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1, CIN2 and CIN3) and abnormal cytology were validated with nationwide figures and population‐based screening results. The model predicted a lifetime risk for cervical cancer of 2.9% with a peak at age 48 years. The predicted lifetime risk dropped to 0.4% when attending cervical screening. For women who were not hrHPV infected at 30 years, the lifetime risk was 1.6%. Sensitivity analyses were performed to check natural history assumptions that were only weakly identified from available data sets. The incidence of CIN3 observed with screening appeared a useful clinical end point as the predicted incidence was robust against changes in the sensitivity of cervical cytology and the duration to CIN3. The model can be used to study the health‐economic benefits that can be achieved in nationwide screening when including an hrHPV test. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High resolution ultrasonic array imaging using positivity constraints on the scattering amplitudes

In this paper a beamforming method for ultrasonic array imaging is presented that performs com- pensation in both the spatial and temporal domain based on a maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation approach. The presented MAP estimator performs a regularized inversion of the propagation operator for the ultrasonic array system at hand by constraining the scattering amplitudes to be positive which applies in applications where the scatterers have higher acoustic impedance than the surrounding medium. The novel non-linear MAP beamformer is compared to a linear beamformer based on a minimum mean squared error (MMSE) criteria as well as to the traditional delay-and-sum (DAS) beamformer with respect to both resolution and signal- to-noise ratio. The algorithms are compared using both simulated and measured data. The results show that the non-linear MAP beamformer has superior temporal and lateral resolution compared to DAS beamforming and the ability to suppress noise is better for the non-linear MAP beamformer compared to both the linear MMSE beamformer and the DAS beamformer.
Vaginal colonization or infection with Candida albicans in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women during pregnancy and during the postpartum period. Women and Infants Transmission Study Group.

We evaluated the relationship between immunologic status and vaginal colonization or infection with Candida albicans for 605 women enrolled in a multicenter, prospective cohort study of mother-to-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). A low CD4+ lymphocyte level (< 14% vs. > or = 14%, which corresponds to an absolute count of approximately 200 x 10(6)/L) was associated with a two- to fivefold increased likelihood of vaginal colonization (odds ratio [OR], 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-5.19) and vaginal candidiasis (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.21-7.71) during pregnancy and during the postpartum period (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.51-5.88 and OR, 5.45; 95% CI, 1.73-16.6, respectively). These associations persisted in multivariate logistic regression analyses. No associations with CD8+ lymphocyte levels or CD8+ CD38+ or other lymphocyte subset levels were found after adjustment for CD4+ cell level and other covariates. However, postpartum (but not antepartum) antibiotic use and pregnancy were also associated with vaginal colonization and candidiasis (P < or = .001 for each). Vaginal candidiasis was not associated with an increased risk of mother-to-infant transmission of HIV-1; however, a related, more inclusive variable, clinical vaginitis or vaginosis of any etiology at the last antepartum visit, was associated with mother-to-infant transmission (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.07-3.43). These findings emphasize the complex, multifactorial nature of vaginal candidiasis and highlight the need for safe and effective treatment and prevention strategies for women with advanced HIV infection.
Investigation of Multigrid Preconditioner for Integral Equation Fast Analysis of Electromagnetic Scattering Problems

This paper proposes a multigrid preconditioner for integral equation fast analysis of electromagnetic scattering problems. The multigrid model is constructed by recursively dividing every triangular element on the coarse level into 4 small ones. The Rao-Wilton-Glisson (RWG) basis functions defined on the coarse level are expressed with linear combinations of those on the fine level, and the expansion coefficients of which are used to construct the restriction and interpolation operator. To further accelerate the convergence of iterative solution, a set of solenoidal basis functions on the coarse level are constructed additionally, which are also expressed with linear combinations of RWG basis functions on the fine level and adopted to construct the second restriction and interpolation operator. The two sets of coarsening techniques are then combined together to remove the low-frequency components of the iterative error. Numerical results show that the proposed method can reduce both the steps of iteration and CPU time compared with the iterative solver without preconditioning.