Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new two-path band pass Delta Sigma Modulator structure with tunability in filter resonance frequency

This paper presents a new two-path resonator structure which is tunable in resonance frequency. Being able to tune NTF zeros, makes it possible to overcome circuit non-idealities effects on resonator performance. In addition, tunable band pass Delta Sigma Modulator (ΔΣM) can be used in multiband receivers. Using two-path structure leads to more relaxed circuit requirements and low power consumption. Second order ΔΣM using proposed tunable resonator is simulated in both system and circuit level to verify performance. Resonance frequency can be tuned from DC to half of the sampling frequency. Circuit level realization of proposed structure is designed and simulated in 180nm CMOS.
A novel low‐power receiver topology for RF and microwave applications

A novel low‐power receiver topology for radio‐frequency and microwave applications is presented. The proposed solution exploits a simple connection between the low‐noise amplifier and the subsequent mixer, which is realized by means of a high‐value resistor and a current mirror, achieving low noise and high linearity performance with an extremely low power consumption. The criteria for its optimal design are derived in order to accomplish the main trade‐offs among noise figure (NF), linearity, and current consumption performance.
Effectiveness of concept mapping and traditional linear nursing care plans on critical thinking skills in clinical pediatric nursing course

Introduction: Concept map is a useful cognitive tool for enhancing a student's critical thinking (CT) by encouraging students to process information deeply for understanding. However, the evidence regarding its effectiveness on nursing students’ CT is contradictory. This paper compares the effectiveness of concept mapping and traditional linear nursing care planning on students’ CT. Methods: An experimental design was used to examine the CT of 60 baccalaureate students who participated in pediatric clinical nursing course in the Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran in 2013. Results: Participants were randomly divided into six equal groups of each 10 student, of which three groups were the control group, and the others were the experimental group. The control group completed nine traditional linear nursing care plans, whereas experimental group completed nine concept maps during the course. Both groups showed significant improvement in overall and all subscales of the California CT skill test from pretest to posttest (P < 0.001), but t-test demonstrated that improvement in students’ CT skills in the experimental group was significantly greater than in the control group after the program (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings support that concept mapping can be used as a clinical teaching-learning activity to promote CT in nursing students.
Simple Derivative-Free Nonlinear State Observer for Sensorless AC Drives

In this paper, a new Kalman filtering technique, unscented Kalman filter (UKF), is utilized both experimentally and theoretically as a state estimation tool in field-oriented control (FOC) of sensorless ac drives. Using the advantages of this recent derivative-free nonlinear estimation tool, rotor speed and dq-axis fluxes of an induction motor are estimated only with the sensed stator currents and voltages information. In order to compare the estimation performances of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and UKF explicitly, both observers are designed for the same motor model and run with the same covariance matrices under the same conditions. In the simulation results, it is shown that UKF, whose several intrinsic properties suggest its use over EKF in highly nonlinear systems, has more satisfactory rotor speed and flux estimates, which are the most critical states for FOC. These simulation results are supported with experimental results
Nonlinear Free Vibration of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Embedded in Viscoelastic Medium Based on Asymptotic Perturbation Method

In this paper, the nonlinear vibration of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) embedded in a Kelvin-Voigt foundation is studied. The SWCNT is considered as an elastic Euler-Bernoulli beam with vonKármán type geometrical nonlinearity. Then, the governing equation of motion is derived based on the Hamilton’s principle. The nonlocal elastic field theory is utilized to introduce the small-scale effect into the equation of motion. Using the Galerkin method, the equation of motion is reduced to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation and solved by an asymptotic perturbation method called KrylovBogolubov-Mitropolskij (KBM) method. Two analytical formulas for the fundamental frequency and displacement field are derived. The obtained results for the case of simply-supported boundary conditions are reported and the effects of amplitude, residual stresses, and viscoelastic foundation are addressed and discussed.
The Implementation of Questionnaires Design Principles Via OnlineQuestionnaire Builder

Online Questionnaire Builder (OQB) is web-based survey software that provides complete set of tools for users to conduct the overall survey process from questionnaire design and distribution to the presentation of the survey results. This paper delivers the implementation a comprehensive set of guidelines for the design of online questionnaires via our survey software. The guidelines are drawn from relevant disparate existing studies. Implementation of the design principles are mainly concerning the survey structure, layout, navigation, formatting, response format and question types. The design principles are incorporated within the survey creation software to guide questionnaire design according to best-practice, while the benefits of online-questionnaire delivery can be achieved
Association between circulating CCL2 levels and modifiable behaviors in overweight and obese adolescents: a cross-sectional pilot study

Abstract Background: We evaluated the relationship between an early inflammatory biomarker, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and other clinical biomarkers and lifestyle behaviors, in overweight/obese adolescents at high risk of developing cardiometabolic derangements. Methods: We collected anthropometric measurements, clinical biomarkers, and three 24-h dietary recalls from 21 vocational high school students (91% male), 14–19 years, with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2. Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships. Results: Mean BMI was 33.2 kg/m2 (range 25.7–45.6) and 38% were prediabetic by fasting glucose. Mean CCL2 was 512.9 pg/mL (range 220–917) and positively correlated with triglycerides (r=0.45; p=0.04) and TNF-α (r=0.57; p=0.007) and marginally negatively correlated with fruit/vegetable intake (r=–0.42, p=0.06) and omega-3 fatty acids (r=–0.41, p=0.07). Conclusions: CCL2 was positively associated with pro-inflammatory biomarkers and negatively associated with some anti-inflammatory dietary factors.
The Use of In Silico Technologies to Predict Toxicity and Fate: Implementation and Acceptance

Summary In silico technologies provide the capability to predict the toxicity and fate of chemicals without the use of animals. These approaches include the use of existing data, read-across, (quantitative) structure-activity relationships (Q)SARs and expert systems. There are a large number of implementation activities relating to the use of (Q)SARs in the forthcoming REACH legislation. Much work is being focussed on developing strategies for testing, user-friendly tools and determining how a prediction from a (Q)SAR may be evaluated for acceptance. This paper reviews these areas and identifies key areas for future research effort.
Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Inhibits Oxygen-Induced Retinal Neovascularization in a Murine Model

ABSTRACT Background: The inhibitory effects of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) on retinal neovascularization were observed in a murine model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Methods: PEDF was administered via intravitreal injection into the right eye of mice subjected to hyperoxia. The proliferative neovascular response was assessed by evaluating the vascular pattern in retinal flat-mounts and quantified by counting the number of new vascular cell nuclei extending into the internal limiting membrane. Retinas were stained for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), PEDF, and CD31 with immunohistochemical method. Results: The effect of PEDF on retinal neovascularization is related to the postnatal age at the time of injection and the number of injections. The injection of 2 µg of PEDF at postnatal day 12 (P12) and P14 markedly inhibited retinal neovascularization. Conclusion: Locally administered PEDF is a potentially effective vascular inhibitory factor for the treatment and prevention of retinopathy of prematurity.
Targeting serum antibody for cancer diagnosis: a focus on colorectal cancer

The ability of the immune system to magnify the appearance of disease by generating relatively large amounts of antibody in response to small amounts of disease makes it a natural biosensor, and serum antibodies have emerged as promising biomarkers for the detection of cancer. This review summarizes recent progress in targeting serum antibodies for cancer diagnosis, with a particular focus on colorectal cancer (CRC). Several serum antibodies have been detected at increased levels in CRC patients, including p53, carcinoembryonic antigen, Ras, topoisomerase II-α, histone deacetylase 3 and 5, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3, tropomyosin and cyclin B1. As each antibody is only present in a limited proportion of patients (usually < 40%), a combination of serum antibodies that defines the ‘immunological signature’ of cancer needs to be developed. High-throughput methods to identify new serum antibodies for cancer diagnosis are also reviewed.
The Impact of Scaling on Planning Activities in an Agile Software Development Center

This paper evaluates agile practices when applied in multi-team and multi-person-year projects. It does so through inspection of the requirements brought on by scaling projects, and applying basic agile principles to those requirements. In the introduction section the main agile principles are introduced, as well as the Lean principles upon which the agile methods are built. One of those Lean principles, Muri or overburdening of people, are addressed through the extension of the agile planning process. The extension of the most used agile planning technique (iteration planning) is described in detail, both the motivation for the extension as well as the collaboration practices behind each planning level. In the final chapter the impact of product complexities on the planning process is evaluated, and a solution to create a smooth flow in the planning/delivery cycle is presented
Evolution of red-sequence cluster galaxies from redshift 0.8 to 0.4: ages, metallicities, and morphologies

We present a comprehensive analysis of the stellar population properties and morphologies of red-sequence galaxies in 24 clusters and groups from z ~ 0.75 to z ~ 0.45. The dataset, consisting of 215 spectra drawn from the ESO Distant Cluster Survey, constitutes the largest spectroscopic sample at these redshifts for which such an analysis has been conducted. Analysis reveals that the evolution of the stellar population properties of red-sequence galaxies depend on their mass: while the properties of the most massive are well described by passive evolution and high-redshift formation, those of the less massive galaxies are consistent with a more extended star-formation history. We show that these scenarios reproduce the index-σ relations and the galaxy colours. The two main results of this work are: (1) the evolution of the line-strength indices for the red-sequence galaxies can be reproduced if 40% of the galaxies with σ < 175 km s^(−1) entered the red-sequence between z = 0.75 to z = 0.45, in agreement with the fraction derived in studies of the luminosity functions; and (2) the percentage of red-sequence galaxies exhibiting early-type morphologies (E and S0) decreases by 20% from z = 0.75 to z = 0.45. This can be understood if the red-sequence becomes more populated at later times with disc galaxies whose star formation has been quenched. We conclude that the processes quenching star formation do not necessarily produce a simultaneous morphological transformation of the galaxies entering the red-sequence.
Variable Selection in Canonical Discriminant Analysis for Family Studies

Summary In family studies, canonical discriminant analysis can be used to find linear combinations of phenotypes that exhibit high ratios of between‐family to within‐family variabilities. But with large numbers of phenotypes, canonical discriminant analysis may overfit. To estimate the predicted ratios associated with the coefficients obtained from canonical discriminant analysis, two methods are developed; one is based on bias correction and the other based on cross‐validation. Because the cross‐validation is computationally intensive, an approximation to the cross‐validation is also developed. Furthermore, these methods can be applied to perform variable selection in canonical discriminant analysis. The proposed methods are illustrated with simulation studies and applications to two real examples.
Coordinated Sub-Carrier and Band Hopping in OFDMA based Systems

We propose a novel algorithm to allocate heterogeneous users in a wideband orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system. The heterogeneity among users originate from different channel statistics experienced by the users. The total available spectrum is divided into a number of bands equal to the number of groups. For efficient time-frequency resource allocation, sub-carrier hopping and band hopping is simultaneously used in this novel multiple access scheme. Under some constraints, sub-carriers can also be assigned to different users based on known channel characteristics using dynamic sub-carrier allocation. Sub-carrier and band hopping are used for mitigating the frequency selectivity of the wireless channel and for minimizing and avoiding interference in the system. The novelty comes when users are grouped based on some pre-defined criteria and they are hopped on sub-carriers as well as on bands. The proposed scheme is equally applicable to both downlink and uplink.
Estimating real-time individual amino acid requirements in growing-finishing pigs: towards a new definition of nutrient requirements in growing-finishing pigs?

1 Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, P.O. Box 90, 2000 Route, 108 East Lennoxville, Que. , Canada J1M 1Z3; 2 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universitat de Lleida, Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain; 3 Centre de Developpement du Porc du Quebec inc., Sainte-Foy, Quebec, G1V 4M7, Canada; 4 Departement des sciences animales, Universite Laval, Quebec, Quebec, G1K 7P4 Canada; 5 Grupo de Modelagem Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil; Univ Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, 14883-262, Brazil.
Competition of beta-lactam antibiotics for the penicillin-binding proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella aerogenes, Proteus rettgeri, and Escherichia coli: comparison with antibacterial activity and effects upon bacterial morphology

The competition of a number of beta-lactam morphogenic probes for the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella aerogenes, Proteus rettgeri, and Escherichia coli has been studied. The results indicate that the various gram-negative bacteria have similar, but not identical, PBP patterns and that the individual proteins probably perform similar morphogenic functions as in E. coli K-12. Comparison of the 50% binding concentrations of the compounds for the various PBPs of the five strains with their antibacterial activity indicates that the different antibiotics are excluded to a greater or lesser degree by the outer membrane permeability barrier and that the exclusion is most pronounced in P. aeruginosa.
Progress in Discovery and Evaluation of Treatments to Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Background: Recent improvements in the survival of extremely preterm infants have been accompanied by evolution in the pathogenesis and histopathology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Although oxygen and barotrauma-induced injury remain important contributing factors, pulmonary developmental arrest appears to play an equally important causal role in prolonged respiratory illness, especially among the most immature surviving preterm newborns. To date, clinical trials have failed to demonstrate a substantial benefit of a single treatment or preventive strategy for BPD. Objectives: To evaluate the current evidence in favor of treatments that might prevent BPD. Methods: Review of clinical studies of preventive treatment strategies for BPD. Results: High frequency oscillatory ventilation, permissive hypercapnea, and inhaled nitric oxide might offer benefit to infants at risk of BPD. These and other potential preventive therapies for BPD, such as superoxide dismutase, inositol, and α1-proteinase inhibitor, deserve further study. Conclusions: Although some current treatments offer promise, no preventive therapy for BPD has proven safe and effective, except for intramuscular vitamin A. Additional studies of respiratory technologies, management strategies, and protective molecules are needed.
In vitro differentiation of HT‐29 M6 mucus‐secreting colon cancer cells involves a trychostatin A and p27KIP1‐inducible transcriptional program of gene expression

Tumor cell dedifferentiation—such as the loss of cell‐to‐cell adhesion in epithelial tumors—is associated with tumor progression. To better understand the mechanisms that maintain carcinoma cells in a differentiated state, we have dissected in vitro differentiation pathways in the mucus‐secretor HT‐29 M6 colon cancer cell line, which spontaneously differentiates in postconfluent cultures. By lowering the extracellular calcium concentration to levels that prevent intercellular adhesion and epithelial polarization, our results reveal that differentiation is calcium‐dependent and involves: (i) a process of cell cycle exit to G0 and (ii) the induction of a transcriptional program of differentiation gene expression (i.e., mucins MUC1 and MUC5AC, and the apical membrane peptidase DPPIV). In calcium‐deprived, non‐differentiated postconfluent cultures, differentiation gene promoters are repressed by a trichostatin A (TSA)‐sensitive mechanism, indicating that loss of gene expression by dedifferentiation is driven by histone deacetylases (HDAC). Since TSA treatment or extracellular calcium restoration allow gene promoter activation to similar levels, we suggest that induction of differentiation is one mechanism of HDAC inhibitor antitumor action. Moreover, transcriptional de‐repression can also be induced in non‐differentiating culture conditions by overexpressing the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p27KIP1, which is normally induced during spontaneous differentiation. Since p27KIP1 downregulation in colon cancer is associated with poor prognosis independently of tumor cell division rates, we propose that p27 KIP1 may prevent tumor progression by, at least in part, enhancing the expression of some differentiation genes. Therefore, the HT‐29 M6 model allows the identification of some basic mechanisms of cancer cell differentiation control, so far revealing HDAC and p27KIP1 as key regulatory factors of differentiation gene expression. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 42–50, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Resource allocation for OFDM-based improved DF relaying

This study considers an improved decode and forward (DF) protocol in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-based cooperative system, where the improved DF protocol implies that the source node is allowed to emit the same symbol in the second phase as that in the first phase, irrespective to whether the relay is idle or not. Because rate provision is one of the main design goals in wireless network, the authors construct an optimisation problem to improve the overall sum rate of the system and propose a joint power allocation and subcarrier pairing algorithm. Total power constraint and individual power constraints at the source node and the relay node will be treated differently. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that the authors' proposed joint algorithm for the improved DF protocol drastically harvests remarkable gains from the extra repeat transmission in the second phase and is superior to other existing methods.
Mapping of genes in BamHI fragment M of Epstein-Barr virus DNA that may determine the fate of viral infection

We used nuclease digestion to map RNA transcripts encoded in the BamHI M fragment of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome (strain B95-8). Of the five RNAs, three are rightwardly transcribed, have different cap sites but common 3' termini, and are unspliced. The two remaining RNAs are leftwardly transcribed and are 5' and 3' coterminal. One of these transcripts is spliced, resulting in the removal of a small intron from the 5' region of this RNA. We have previously published data which indicated that the BamHI M region is the first actively transcribed region of the viral genome during the replicative cycle, suggesting that one or more genes in this region is important in the initiation of EBV replication. We have now mapped two large EcoRI restriction fragments which span approximately 75% of the P3HR-1 defective genome and which contain DNA from the BamHI M region of the standard genome. The data indicate that only the coding and 5' flanking sequences for the leftwardly transcribed RNAs are intact within the defective genome. Fewer than 500 bases coding for the 3'-most regions of the rightwardly transcribed RNAs are intact, and it is unlikely that these encode functional native polypeptides. Therefore, it seems that transcriptional activation of the BamHI M-region genes is not mediated directly by the rearrangement of M genes in defective P3HR-1 EBV.
Wild Coastline Birds as Reservoirs of Broad-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Miami Beach, Florida

ABSTRACT A high rate of broad-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates was identified from seagull and pelican feces collected in the Miami Beach, Florida, area. The most commonly identified resistance determinants were CMY-2 and CTX-M-15. Those wild birds might be therefore considered vehicles for wide dissemination of multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the United States.
Design optimization model for the United Arab Emirates power sector under uncertainty

A mixed integer linear programming model for the optimal design of the United Arab Emirates power infrastructure under uncertainty is presented. The optimization objective is the minimization of the power generation costs in the UAE under techno-economic and environmental constraints. Uncertainty is considered in the carbon tax price and social benefits associated with the avoidance of air emissions. The optimization problem was formulated in the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS®). The novelty of the present work consists of determining the most suitable combination of power generation plants under uncertainty. This work also considers the introduction of alternative energy sources such as nuclear and renewables into the country's power fleet. Two case studies are solved to demonstrate the usefulness of the devised approach.