Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antennas for UWB-Systems

The number of antennas is nearly unlimited because almost any piece of metallization or dielectric can radiate an electromagnetic wave. The problem to solve is that this radiation is properly what is required. Basic principles for ultra-wide-band (UWB) radiation are presented and discussed in this paper. The discussion is based on definitions for the characterization of UWB antennas. Basic principles for UWB radiation are discussed. For each of these principles an example UWB antenna is presented. The final outcome is that there are also a number of UWB antennas, but not each one is suited for any application.
Intraoperative infusion of S(+)-ketamine enhances post-thoracotomy pain control compared with perioperative parecoxib when used in conjunction with thoracic paravertebral ropivacaine infusion.

OBJECTIVE The authors explored the use of continuous postoperative subpleural paravertebral ropivacaine alone combined with intraoperative S(+)-ketamine or perioperative parecoxib as a new approach to pain control after major thoracotomy. DESIGN A randomized study. SETTINGS A single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS Eighty patients underwent elective thoracotomy under general anesthesia. METHODS Study patients were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: group K (n = 27) received intraoperative S(+)-ketamine (0.5 mg/kg as a preincisional bolus followed by a continuous infusion 400 μg/kg/h), group P (n = 27) received perioperative parexocib (40 mg before extubation and 12 hours postoperatively), and group C (n = 26) served as the control group. At the end of surgery, all patients received a subpleural paravertebal infusion of ropivacaine. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Pain was assessed by visual analog scores and supplemental morphine consumption with PCA up to 48 hours postoperatively. The duration of stay and postoperative functional parameters also were collected. Compared with ropivacaine alone, S(+)-ketamine significantly reduced pain scores at rest and during movement at 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. Moreover, at 24 and 48 hours, pain was less after S(+)-ketamine compared with parexocib. S(+)-ketamine also reduced morphine needs in comparison to placebo at 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours and in comparison to parexocib at 48 hours after thoracotomy. There were no differences in parameters for lung or bowel function, mobilization time, or ICU and hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS In patients with thoracotomy, postoperative paravertebral ropivacaine combined with intraoperative S(+)-ketamine provided better early postoperative pain relief than ropivacaine and perioperative parexocib or ropivacaine alone.
Using Supervised Machine Learning to Automatically Build Relevance Judgments for a Test Collection

This paper describes a new approach to building the query based relevance sets (qrels) or relevance judgments for a test collection automatically without using any human intervention. The methods we describe use supervised machine learning algorithms, namely the Naïve Bayes classifier and the Support Vector Machine (SVM). We achieve better Kendall's tau and Spearman correlation results between the TREC system ranking using the newly generated qrels and the ranking obtained from using the human-built qrels than previous baselines. We also apply a variation of these approaches by using the doc2vec representation of the documents rather than using the traditional tf-idf representation.
Organization of co-occurring Axis II features in borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVES Considerable heterogeneity exists in the comorbid Axis II features that frequently accompany borderline personality disorder (BPD). These features have potential to be meaningfully organized, relate to specific BPD presentation, and have implications for treatment process and outcome. The present study explored patterns of Axis II comorbidity in order to identify subtypes of BPD. DESIGN A well-defined sample of 90 patients diagnosed with BPD was recruited as part of an RCT study. Participants were administered the International Personality Disorder Examination (Loranger, 1999) to diagnose BPD and assess comorbid Axis II features. Other measures were also administered to assess aspects of current work and relationship functioning, symptomatology, and self-concept. METHODS AND RESULTS Q-factoring was used to develop subtypes based on commonly occurring Axis II profiles, identifying three: Cluster A (elevated paranoid and schizotypal features), Cluster B (elevated narcissistic and histrionic features), and Cluster C (elevated avoidant and obsessive-compulsive features). An additional factor analysis revealed two dimensions underlying the comorbid features identifiable as: extraversion versus introversion and antagonism versus constraint. Validity of these two maps of comorbidity was explored in terms of the BPD criteria themselves, as well as on work and relationship functioning, identity diffusion, views of self and others, positive and negative affect, behavioural dyscontrol, and symptomatic distress. CONCLUSIONS Clinically meaningful subtypes can be identified for BPD based on co-occurring Axis II features. Further research is needed to replicate and further establish base-rates of these subtypes as well as their differential implications for treatment.
An application of high-power electromagnetic pulse: Forming of sheet metal using electromagnetic waves

In this study, the application of high velocity metal forming process by means of electromagnetic field is proposed. Electromagnetic Sheet Metal Forming (ESMF) is a process of forming sheet metal with very high speed (in milliseconds) without mechanical contact using the energy density of a pulsed magnetic field. In this process, deformation of the workpiece is driven by a transient electric current that is induced in a coil using a capacitor bank and discharge switch. This study presents some experiments and their results by examining the effects of different parameters in the proposed ESMF setup. The analysis and modelling of Electromagnetic sheet metal forming (ESMF) process is presented, as well. It has been seen that, it is possible to design a new system using the outcomes of this study.
Validation of a new symptom impact questionnaire for mild to moderate cognitive impairment

Background: Patient-reported outcomes assessment enhances the understanding of disease impact in a range of disorders. At mild levels of cognitive impairment the patient perspective on functioning, behavior and symptoms can be particularly valuable for syndrome characterization when clinical and neuropsychological findings are limited. We have evaluated the psychometric performance of the 55-item Patient-Reported Outcomes in Cognitive Impairment (PROCOG)©, a new patient-reported measure, to measure mild to moderate cognitive impairment symptoms and their impact from the perspective of patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The sample of 75 DAT patients, 78 MCI patients and 33 cognitively intact control subjects (> 64 years) was recruited through medical centers in the U.SA. Validity was assessed through correlation to the Quality of Life – Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) and Centers for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale (CES-D) and neuropsychological assessments (WAIS subscales and MMSE). Results: PROCOG scores for MCI patients were generally intermediate between DAT and control subjects. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were acceptable. Correlations with the CES-D and QOL-AD were in the moderate to high range; correlations with the neuropsychological measures were low to moderate. Conclusions: The PROCOG demonstrated good to excellent psychometric properties among a sample of older adults with MCI and DAT as well as cognitively intact older adult control subjects and provides a method for collecting unique information on the patient experience of cognitive impairment. Subscales permit focused evaluation of domains relevant to the patient's experience of cognitive impairment.
Impact of diabetes mellitus on rehospitalization for heart failure among survivors of acute myocardial infarction in the percutaneous coronary intervention era.

BACKGROUND There is little data regarding the clinical impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on heart failure (HF) among survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era. METHODS AND RESULTS The present study group comprised 4,035 survivors who underwent PCI within 24 h of the onset of symptoms. DM was an independent predictor of rehospitalization for HF by multivariate analysis (hazard ratio (HR) 1.576, P=0.010). The risk of rehospitalization for HF was similar between patients with DM who did not have an enlarged left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDd<51 mm) before discharge and patients without DM who showed an increase in LVDd (>or=51 mm) (HR 1.020, P=0.959). In the DM group, the hemoglobin A1c level before discharge was similar between patients with and without rehospitalization for HF (7.5+/-1.9% vs 7.4+/-1.6%, P=0.455), whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was higher in patients with than without rehospitalization for HF (1.80+/-3.63 vs 0.75+/-2.03 mg/dl, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS DM is an independent predictor of rehospitalization for HF after AMI in the PCI era. Diabetic patients without left ventricular remodeling should be treated as a high-risk group for HF. Measurement of hs-CRP level may be useful for predicting rehospitalization because of HF in diabetic patients after AMI.
Volumetric Evaluation of Void/Gap Formation and Microleakage Cementing Fiber Posts on Extracted Teeth with Three Different Cements

PURPOSE To evaluate microleakage in roots restored with fiber posts cemented using three different luting cements, to measure the volume of voids/gaps within the obturated/postcemented root canals, and to examine whether microleakage and the volume of voids/gaps were correlated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-six extracted human mandibular incisors were decoronated, and the root canals were obturated using gutta-percha and sealer in the experimental groups (n = 30). Six roots were used as controls. A standard post space was prepared, and an identically sized fiber post was cemented in each experimental specimen using one of three luting cements (Panavia F2.0, Bifix SE, GC FujiCEM; n = 10 each). The specimens were scanned using micro-computed tomography, and the volume of voids/gaps was determined. The specimens were then subjected to a fluid filtration assay to evaluate microleakage. RESULTS The volume of voids/gaps was significantly lower in the GC FujiCEM group, and significantly less microleakage occurred in the Bifix SE group compared with other groups (both p < 0.001). A significant correlation between the volume of voids/gaps and leakage was found only in the Panavia F2.0 group (p = 0.003; r = 0.830). No such correlation was found in the analysis of all groups combined. CONCLUSIONS The group with the greatest volume of voids/gaps (Bifix SE) showed the least microleakage, and the group with the smallest volume of voids/gaps (GC FujiCEM) showed the most microleakage. Panavia F2.0 ranked between and exhibited significant correlation.
Sequences of beta-lactamase genes encoding CTX-M-1 (MEN-1) and CTX-M-2 and relationship of their amino acid sequences with those of other beta-lactamases

Amino acid sequences determined either by protein sequencing or by DNA sequencing are identical for cefotaximases CTX-M-1 and MEN-1, whereas CTX-M-2 is 84% identical to CTX-M-1/MEN-1. Both beta-lactamases are distantly related to other plasmidic class A enzymes (homology to TEM-1 is 38.1% for CTX-M-1/MEN-1 and 36.5% for CTX-M-2); the closest relationship was with the chromosomal beta-lactamase of Klebsiella oxytoca E23004 (homologies of 74.5% for CTX-M-1/MEN-1 and 77.9% for CTX-M-2). The cefotaximases CTX-M-1/MEN-1 and CTX-M-2 represent two members of a new subgroup of plasmidic class A beta-lactamases.
Clinical features and outcome of HIV‐related cytomegalovirus pneumonia

Objective:To describe the characteristics and outcomes of HIV-infected patients with biopsy-proven cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia. Design:Retrospective study. Setting:A 900-bed acute care facility in New York City. Patients:Eighteen HIV-infected patients with pathologically confirmed CMV inclusions in lung tissue without other pathogens and 36 control patients with biopsy-proven Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) selected for comparisons by computer-generated random sequential numbers. Main outcome measures:Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological findings, and in-hospital mortality. Results:Eighteen HIV-infected patients were found to have CMV lung infection alone. Pathologic findings were pneumonitis (n = 11); pneumonitis and pulmonary vasculitis (n = 1); and CMV inclusions alone (n = 6). All presented with respiratory symptoms (cough or dyspnea), 89% had fever, 83% had radiological abnormalities, and 56% had severe hypoxemia. The pulmonary presentation was similar except for higher lactate dehydrogenase (median, 449 versus 329 IU/l; P = 0.03) and presence of pleural effusions (33 versus 0%; P = 0.001) in CMV patients. Multivariate analysis showed that CD4 counts ≤ 12 × 106/l (odds ratio, 9.2; P = 0.029) and extrapulmonary CMV (odds ratio, 20.4; P = 0.039) were independently associated with CMV pneumonia. Seventeen patients received specific anti-CMV therapy for a mean of 22 ± 13 days. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with CMV pneumonia (odds ratio, 11.9; P = 0.002). The median time from admission to death was 31 days. Conclusions:CMV lung infection was seen in severely immunosuppressed HIV-positive patients and was associated with clinical pneumonitis with high early mortality. Although the clinical features resemble PCP, the presence of extrapulmonary CMV disease should suggest the diagnosis of CMV pneumonia.
Towards a new vocabulary of urbanisation processes: A comparative approach

Contemporary processes of urbanisation present major challenges for urban research and theory as urban areas expand and interweave. In this process, urban forms are constantly changing and new urban configurations are frequently evolving. An adequate understanding of urbanisation must derive its empirical and theoretical inspirations from the multitude of urban experiences across the various divides that shape the contemporary world. New concepts and terms are urgently required that would help, both analytically and cartographically, to decipher the differentiated and rapidly mutating landscapes of urbanisation that are being produced today. One of the key procedures to address these challenges is the application of comparative strategies. Based on postcolonial critiques of urban theory and on the epistemologies of planetary urbanisation, this paper introduces and discusses the theoretical and methodological framework of a collaborative comparative study of urbanisation processes in eight large metropolitan territories across the world: Tokyo, Hong Kong/Shenzhen/Dongguan, Kolkata, Istanbul, Lagos, Paris, Mexico City and Los Angeles. In order to approach these large territories, a specific methodological design is applied mainly based on qualitative methods and a newly developed method of mapping. After the presentation of the main lines of our theoretical and methodological approach we discuss some of the new comparative concepts that we developed through this process: popular urbanisation, plotting urbanism, multilayered patchwork urbanisation and the incorporation of urban differences.
Monetary integration in the ASEAN Economic Community challenge: the role of the exchange rate on inflation in Indonesia

The implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 required some form of monetary integration, such as exchange rate management. This paper investigates the role of the exchange rate on the inflation rate in Indonesia. Using the monthly data series from 1970 to 2015, we find that the nominal exchange rate affects the inflation rate at a low transmission speed rate. However, the exchange rate volatility and depreciation threshold may accelerate the speed of the exchange rate's transmission to inflation. Thus, studies with short-lagged variables, or studies in different periods may lead to different findings, as shocks and changes in exchange regimes occur regularly in Indonesia. These findings are important as they imply that Indonesia may fail to reach the aims of the AEC if it fails to coordinate its exchange rate policy with the rest of the AEC.
Changes in cerebral functioning associated with normal aging.

It has been suggested that the normal aging process is characterized by a pattern of neuropsychological performance decline that implies relatively greater vulnerability of right-hemisphere functions. This hypothesis was tested in a sample of 68 volunteers aged 20-75 who were free of systemic and neurologic illness. Neuropsychologic measures of lateralized and focal function were specifically selected to eliminate systematic procedural differences among tests (e.g., timed vs. untimed, overlearned vs. unfamiliar). Inferences about the localizing significance of each measure were based on previously demonstrated double dissociation of function in lesion studies. Results suggested that declines in cerebral efficiency are not differentially lateralized. Age correlated performance changes implied bilateral reduction that was significantly more pronounced on operations associated with frontal-lobe function. Anatomic and theoretical explanations for this pattern were discussed.
10.7-Gb/s Real-Time Transmission Over 1-mm Large-Core Polymer Optical Fiber Using Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation

We report 10.7-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) real-time transmission over a 1-mm large-core polymethylmetacrylate polymer optical fiber (POF) using maximum likelihood sequence estimation. A maximum link length of 10 m of a standard step-index POF (SI-POF) and 35-m graded-index POF (GI-POF) was achieved with a fiber coupled power of 0 dBm, in order to comply with consumer eye-safety regulations. In order to show the robustness of this approach, the influence of fiber bends and different launching conditions were investigated. If the optical output power is increased to ${+}{\rm 2}~{\rm dBm}$ the link length can be increased up to 40 m of GI-POF.
1,3,4-tri-O-galloyl-6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranose, a new anti-proliferative ellagitannin, regulates the expression of microRNAs in HepG(2) cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. 1, 3, 4-tri-O-galloyl-6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranose (BJA32515) is a new natural ellagitannin compound extracted from Balanophora Japonica MAKINO. The effect of BJA32515 on the expression of miRNAs in cancer cells has not yet been explored. Objective The present study was carried out to examine the changes in miRNA expression profiles in human HepG(2) hepatocarcinoma cells following BJA32515 exposure. METHODS The proliferation of BJA32515-exposed HepG(2) cells was assessed using a colorimetric assay (cell counting kit-8). The miRNA expression profile of the cancer cells was analyzed using a miRNA array and quantitative real-time PCR. Apoptosis was assessed by annexin V and propidium iodide staining. RESULTS BJA32515 inhibited the cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in HepG(2) cancer cells. The exposure to BJA32515 also caused alterations in the miRNA expression profile in the cells, with 33 miRNAs upregulated and 59 down-regulated. The up-regulation of let-7a and miR-29a and the down-regulation of miR-373 and miR-197 were verified by quantitative real-time PCR. CONCLSION: BJA32515-modifed miRNA expression may mediate the antiproliferative effect of this compound in HepG(2) cancer cells.
Military and Civilian Wives: Update on the Labor Force Gap

groups, the labor force participation rate for "other" war veterans is relatively low, about 30 percent. The last group identified through the survey was peacetime veterans, generally those who served between World War II and the Korean conflict, between the Korean conflict and Vietnam, and during the post-Vietnam era. In early 1986, there were 330,000 peacetime veterans, 71 percent of whom were labor force participants . The Bureau of Labor Statistics will make the data on female veterans available upon request . El comparing the labor force patterns of military and civilian wives. ' The recent situation is described first and is followed by a review of trends since 1970 .
Rapid endocytosis and recycling of wheat germ agglutinin binding sites on CHO cells: Evidence for two compartments in a nondegradative pathway

The internalization and recycling of CHO cell plasma membrane components have been quantified by using iodinated wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) as an adsorptive tracer. Most of these binding sites are thought to be composed of a subpopulation of plasma membrane proteins called high‐molecular‐weight acidic glycoproteins (HMWAG). Greater than 90% of the WGA bound on the cell surface can be removed by brief treatment with N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). At 37°C, endocytosis of WGA that had been allowed to bind to the surface at 4°C is curvilinear with an initial rapid phase occurring with a t1/2 of 6–8 min. Within 20 min, accumulation has slowed gradually to steady‐state with 65% of the cell‐associated WGA located intracellularly or resistant to remova by GlcNAc. These portions are unaffected by increasing the extracellular concentration of WGA from 0.003 μM. By using pulse‐chase experiments, the observed decrease in rate of endocytosis is shown to be due to return of the WGA‐HMWAG complexes to the cell surface. More than 60% of the WGA that had been internalized is recycled within 30 min, with a mean t1/12 of 17 min. Recycling involved at least two intracellular populations where a significant fraction ( < 30%) of the WGA‐HMWAG complexes are lost gradually from the rapidly recycling pool. Most of the WGA‐HMWAG complexes that had internalized are not delivered to the lysosome. These results demonstrate the magnitude of rapid and continuous recycling of WGA binding sites between the cell surface and endosomes in fibroblasts.
LC-MS/MS method for hepcidin-25 measurement in human and mouse serum: clinical and research implications in iron disorders

Abstract Background: The peptide hepcidin plays a central role in regulating dietary iron absorption and body iron distribution. This 25-amino acid hormone is produced and secreted predominantly by hepatocytes. Hepcidin has been suggested as a promising diagnostic marker for iron-related disorders. However, its accurate quantification for clinical use remains so far challenging. In this report we describe a highly specific and quantitative serum hepcidin method using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Material: The analytical validation included the determination of the limit of detection, of quantification, repeatability, reproducibility and linearity. This assay was developed for human and mouse hepcidin. The human assay was performed on serum patients with unexplained microcytic anemia. We applied our LC-MS/MS method for quantifying hepcidin-1 in mouse in various conditions: inflammation, hemolytic anemia, Hamp-1, Hjv and Hfe KO mice. Results: We show that the LC-MS/MS is suitable for accurate determination of hepcidin-25 in clinical samples, thereby representing a useful tool for the clinical diagnosis and follow-up of iron-related diseases. In mouse, a strong correlation between hepatic Hamp-1 mRNA expression and serum hepcidin-1 levels was found (r=0.88; p=0.0002) and the expected variations in mouse models of iron disorders were observed. Conclusions: Therefore, we propose this adaptive LC-MS/MS method as a suitable method for accurate determination of hepcidin-25 in clinical samples and as a major tool contributing to the clinical diagnosis, follow-up and management of iron-related disorders. It also opens new avenues to measure hepcidin in animal models without interspecies antigenic limitations.