Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wideband LNA design for SDR radio using balanced amplifier topology

This paper presents the design and development of a wideband low noise amplifier (LNA) suitable for Software Defined Radio (SDR) base station. The LNA design is based on the balanced amplifier topology, using the hybrid coupler and advanced GaAs E-PHEMPT transistor technology in order to produce a good wideband performance on all the critical parameters. By using the balanced amplifier design topology, the design yields excellent return loss, noise figure and linearity performance for the wideband application, and by utilizing the hybrid coupler in the balanced amplifier topology reduces the PCB size compared to normal balanced amplifier topology. The wideband LNA was designed on a PCB board with FR4 substrate and exhibits a small signal gain of 18 dB, noise figure of 1 dB, return loss (input and output) greater than 10 dB and IIP3 greater than 11 dBm across the wideband frequency range from 136-941 MHz (TIA-603C full frequency range), with a dual supply of 5V and total current consumptions of 120mA.
Hinge bending within the cytokine receptor superfamily revealed by the 2.4 Å crystal structure of the extracellular domain of rabbit tissue factor

Tissue factor (TF), a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily, is the obligate cofactor of coagulation factor VIIa (FVIIa), and has a pivotal role in initiating the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation through formation of the TF‐FVIIa complex. The crystal structure of the extracellular portion of rabbit TF has been solved at 2.35 Å resolution and refined to a crystallographic R‐value of 19.1% (free R‐value, 27.7%). Like the human homologue, the extracellular portion consists of two fibronectin type III domains connected by a short α‐helical segment. Unexpectedly, the two molecules in the crystallographic asymmetric unit differ in their relative domain‐domain orientation, revealing unsuspected hinge motion consisting of a rotation of about 12.7° around an axis intersecting the linker segment at residue 106. Superposition of rabbit tissue factor with free and bound human tissue factor allows for the detection of an identical, albeit smaller, hinge motion in human TF induced upon binding of FVIIa. This raises the possibility that a very similar hinge axis may be present in other members of the cytokine receptor superfamily.
Mortgage Finance in Central and Eastern Europe: Opportunity or Burden?

Household credit, especially for mortgages, has doubled over the past years in the new European Union member countries, raising concerns about the economic and social consequences of household indebtedness in the event of a macroeconomic crisis. Using household survey data for 2005, 2006, and 2007 for both old and new European Union members, this paper assesses the determinants of access to mortgage finance. It also examines whether mortgage holders were more likely to suffer financial distress compared with non-mortgage holders in the period before the global financial crisis. The analysis does not find any systematic evidence that mortgage holders are financially more vulnerable than renters or outright owners; in fact, the incidence of financial vulnerability generally fell between 2005 and 2007, possibly reflecting the strong income growth experienced by these countries over this period. In addition, although tenure status is more difficult to explain in the new European Union member countries, the analysis finds that many of the same drivers of tenure status in the older member countries generally drive tenure status in the newer member countries as well. Finally, there is no evidence that access to mortgage credit is based on expected income in the old or in the new European Union member countries.
Cost effective photovoltaic power conditioning system with simple control algorithm in DC microgrids

This paper proposes a cost effective photovoltaic (PV) generation system in DC microgrid which is helpful to achieve not only high efficiency but also cost reduction by employing simple control algorithm. While the AC interactive PV interface requires high performance processors for sinusoidal current injection to the grid, only a simple maximum power point tracker can directly control the PV module in DC microgrid without voltage compensator and current injection. Utilizing the unique principle of boundary conduction mode operation, an integrated simple controller for PV power conditioning is proposed. Prototype DC PV power conditioning system is implemented for 120 W building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) application and experimental results verify its feasibility with MPPT efficiency of 99.9 % and maximum power conversion efficiency of 98.0 %.
Molecular assembly for high-performance bivalent nucleic acid inhibitor

It is theorized that multivalent interaction can result in better affinity and selectivity than monovalent interaction in the design of high-performance ligands. Accordingly, biomolecular engineers are increasingly taking advantage of multivalent interactions to fabricate novel molecular assemblies, resulting in new functions for ligands or enhanced performance of existing ligands. Substantial efforts have been expended in using small molecules or epitopes of antibodies for designing multifunctional or better-performing ligands. However, few attempts to use nucleic acid aptamers as functional domains have been reported. In this study, we explore the design of bivalent nucleic acid ligands by using thrombin and its aptamers as the model by which to evaluate its functions. By assembling two thrombin-binding aptamers with optimized design parameters, this assembly has resulted in the successful development of a nucleic acid-based high-performance bivalent protein inhibitor. Our experimentation proved (i) that the simultaneous binding of two aptamers after linkage achieved 16.6-fold better inhibition efficiency than binding of the monovalent ligand and (ii) that such an improvement originated from changes in the kinetics of the binding interactions, with a koff rate ≈1/50 as fast. In addition, the newly generated aptamer assembly is an excellent anticoagulant reagent when tested with different samples. Because this optimized ligand design offers a simple and noninvasive means of accomplishing higher performance from known functional aptamers, it holds promise as a potent antithrombin agent in the treatment of various diseases related to abnormal thrombin activities.
Comparing Graphical and Tangible User Interfaces for a Tower Defense Game

This paper presents the design and test results of a tabletop Tangible User Interface (TUI) for a real-time strategy game. An experiment was conducted comparing the TUI and Graphical User Interface (GUI) versions of the same tower defense game application. The results show that users performed better with the GUI and found it easier to use, but reported more interest and enjoyment with the TUI. Overall, however, preference was split evenly between the two interface types. Analysis of qualitative user feedback provided further insight into these results, and based on this, suggestions are made for future research in the area of Tangible User Interfaces.
Cleaning Relations using Knowledge Bases

We study the data cleaning problem of detecting and repairing wrong relational data, as well as marking correct data, using well curated knowledge bases (KBs). We propose detective rules (DRs), a new type of data cleaning rules that can make actionable decisions on relational data, by building connections between a relation and a KB. The main invention is that, a DR simultaneously models two opposite semantics of a relation using types and relationships in a KB: the positive semantics that explains how attribute values are linked to each other in correct tuples, and the negative semantics that indicates how wrong attribute values are connected to other correct attribute values within the same tuples. Naturally, a DR can mark correct values in a tuple if it matches the positive semantics. Meanwhile, a DR can detect/repair an error if it matches the negative semantics. We study fundamental problems associated with DRs, e.g., rule generation and rule consistency. We present efficient algorithms to apply DRs to clean a relation, based on rule order selection and inverted indexes. Extensive experiments, using both real-world and synthetic datasets, verify the effectiveness and efficiency of applying DRs in practice.
Utilized Theories by Nursing in the Care of People with an Ostomy: Integrative Review

Objective: To identify in the literature the theories used by nursing professionals in the care of people with an ostomy. Method: It’s about an integrative review of the literature used in the LILACS, BDENF, PubMed Central, CINAHL, Web of Science and SCOPUS database. Results: The sample was made of 18 publications. Most of them were studies published in the last five years (44.4%), international publications (72.2%), published in international periodicals (66.7%), with level IV of evidence (83.3%). It was identified in the articles that the nursing theories were shown as the most used by the nurses in the care of people with an ostomy (55.5%), followed by the theories borrowed from psychology (38.9%) and, finally, the theories borrowed from pedagogy (22.2%). Conclusion: The nurses are using the assistance nursing models with a higher frequency to subsidize their surveys, as well as borrowed theories, mostly being performed and published internationally and with a low evidence level, highlighting the need of studies with a higher stringent methodology and, beyond this, analysis research of the used theories.
Intellectual Capital's Leverage on Shareholder Value Growth: A Lesson for Developing Economies

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether there is a correlation between the intellectual capital of employees, i.e. top managers (the agent) and the shareholder (the principal) value growth among Zimbabwean companies, listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. By using these results the aim is to further examine a possible indicator for leveraging the efficiency of intellectual capital in a developing economy as a lesson. In order to perform this investigation, intellectual capital and shareholder value are quantified with, respectively, value added per employee and share price value per employee. These measurements are gathered from 17 Zimbabwean listed companies, divided into five industry sectors, that is, services, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and information technology, and tested statistically in order to find a relationship. This means, according to the researcher`s propositions on the return on intellectual capital, that there also is a correlation between intellectual capital and shareholder value growth. In order to provide an indicator for improving companies’ intellectual capital, a statistical examination concerning the relationship between the Intellectual Capital Multiplier (IC Multiplier) and value added is also performed. This examination shows that there is a strong correlation between the IC Multiplier and value added, value added can to a degree of 84 percent be predicted by the IC Multiplier, and that working with the ratio between structural and human capital is an excellent method for companies in developing economies to increase their intellectual capital. In conclusion it can be said that most companies in this investigation show moderately low values regarding the IC Multiplier, leading to an erosion of the companies’ human capital. In order to become more stable and lower the degree of risk, these companies must improve their IC Multiplier. What this study demonstrates is that an improvement of the IC Multiplier also will have an extensive effect on the company’s shareholder value growth.
Inhibition of NAD+-dependent histone deacetylases (sirtuins) causes growth arrest and activates both apoptosis and autophagy in the pathogenic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi

SUMMARY Chagas disease, which is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects approximately 7–8 million people in Latin America. The drugs available to treat this disease are ineffective against chronic phase disease and are associated with toxic side effects. Therefore, the development of new compounds that can kill T. cruzi at low concentrations is critically important. Herein, we report the effects of a novel 3-arylideneindolin-2-one that inhibits sirtuins, which are highly conserved proteins that are involved in a variety of physiological processes. The compound KH-TFMDI was tested against the epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of T. cruzi, and its effects were evaluated using flow cytometry, light and electron microscopy. KH-TFMDI inhibited the replication of T. cruzi intracellular amastigotes with an IC50 of 0·5±0·2 μ m, which is significantly lower than the IC50 of benznidazole. The compound also lysed the highly infectious bloodstream trypomastigotes (BST) with LC50 values of 0·8±0·3 μ m at 4 °C and 2·5±1·1 μ m at 37 °C. KH-TFMDI inhibited cytokinesis and induced several morphological changes in the parasite, leading to its death by apoptosis and autophagy. This study highlights sirtuins as a potential new target for Chagas disease therapy.
The relevance of the distribution of micro-organisms within batches of food to the control of microbiological hazards from foods.

The distribution of micro-organisms within batches of food is identified as log-normal and this distribution has practical implications in the control of microbial hazards in foods. These implications are explained as effects upon counting procedures, changes in levels through processes, detection of low levels of micro-organisms, the use of indicator groups, presence/absence tests, consumer safety calculations, and sample unit size analysed.
Best practices in managing organized delivery systems.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a large public-sector healthcare delivery system, is following the lead of the private sector in seeking a more integrated approach to providing patient care. The belief is that new entities known as organized delivery systems (ODSs) will produce better, more cost-effective care. Toward this end, VA has reorganized its facilities into 22 networks. The purpose of this paper is to provide VA policymakers and managers with information about building and managing an integrated delivery system for the nation's veterans based on findings from the Health Systems Integration Study (HSIS).
The Effect of Different Lipid Components on the In Vitro Stability and Release Kinetics of Liposome Formulations

Liposomes are colloidal carriers that form when certain (phospho)lipid molecules are hydrated in an aqueous media with some energy input. The ideal liposome formulation with optimum stability will improve drug delivery by decreasing the required dose and increasing the efficacy of the entrapped drug at the target organ or tissue. The most important parameter of interest in this article was to compare the efficacy of three different liposomes formulated with DSPC, DMPC, and DPPC, all saturated neutral phospholipids with different acyl chain lengths and transition temperatures. DMPC has a phase transition temperature (Tc) below 37°C, whereas the other two phospholipids possess Tcs above the physiological temperature. These lipids were then added to a cholesterol concentration of 21% to optimize the stability of the vesicles. The liposomes were prepared by a sonication and incubated in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 4°C and 37°C. The encapsulation efficiency, initial size, and drug retention of the vesicles were tested over a 48-hr period employing radiolabeled inulin as a model drug. The phase transition temperature of liposomes, which depends on the Tc of the constituent lipids, was an important factor in liposome stability. Of all the liposomes tested, the greatest encapsulation efficiency was found for the DSPC liposomes (2.95%) that also had the greatest drug retention over 48 hr at both 4°C (87.1 ± 6.8%) and 37°C (85.2 ± 10.1%), none of these values being significantly different from time zero. The lowest drug retention was found for DMPC liposomes for which a significant difference in drug retention was seen after only 15 min at both 4°C (47.3 ± 6.9%) and 37°C (53.8 ± 4.3%). The DPPC liposomes showed a significant difference in drug retention after 3 hr at 4°C (62.1 ± 8.2%) and after 24 hr at 37°C (60.8 ± 8.9%). Following the initial drop at certain time intervals a plateau was reached for all of the liposome formulations after which no significant difference in drug retention was observed. In conclusion, liposomes with higher transition temperatures appear to be more stable in PBS either at 4°C or 37°C, indicating that the increase in acyl chain length (and therefore transition temperature) is directly proportional to stability.
Effect of infrared filter on the electrical characteristics of silicon-based PIN photo-detectors

The p-n junction is one of the most widely used technology in the semicondector device. In the various pn junction types like photodiode, solar cell and LED etc., the dark leakage current can determine the device performance and power. Therefor it is very important to minimize the dark leakage current and to optimize the device performance. [1] Among these various pn juncton diodes, photodiode has been used for a long time in the detect sensor device field. One of the important parameters in the photodetectors is the device senstivity to light. In order to enhance the photo-senstivity, many types of light filter has been tasted and used to maximize the device performance. In this present work, the dark current and photo current have been studied by measurment of I-V and C-V at different light intensity. The photo senstivity on the infrared filter types also has been investigated.
Improvements in Self-Concept Associated with Reductions in Negative Mood in Preadolescents Enrolled in an After-School Physical Activity Program

Preadolescents enrolled in either a 3 times per week, 12-week exercise program (n = 50) or a no-exercise program control condition (n = 42) during their after-school care, were assessed for indication of whether exercise-induced changes in self-concept and overall negative mood were negatively correlated. Significant improvements in ratings of self-concept and of negative mood were found over 12 wk. Inverse relationships were found between changes in physical self-concept with overall self-concept and negative mood (r = –.40 and –.36, respectively). Results supported the positive effect of exercise on the assessed psychological factors in preadolescents. Cognitive behavioral theory-based explanations of the findings were discussed.
Jamoma: A Modular Standard for Structuring Patches in Max

Jamoma is a system for developing high-level modules in the Max/MSP/Jitter environment. Jamoma consists of two parts: A recommendation and an implementation of that recommendation. Jamoma offers a compelling set of benefits to users. These benefits include fast and flexible interchange of modules, patch-building, and module construction, as well as possibilities of advanced control of the modules in performance. Jamoma modules may encapsulate any type of functionality that can be performed by Max, MSP, Jitter, its components (such as Java or JavaScript), or any third-party objects.
A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on the Manifestations of Ménière's Disease in Patients with Concomitant Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on Ménière's disease patients with concomitant obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), since recent reports suggest OSAS may cause dysfunction of the vestibular system. STUDY DESIGN Prospective study using CPAP administered to patients diagnosed with "Definite Ménière's disease" according to the guidelines of the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery and combined with OSAS. SETTING University hospital. METHODS Twenty consecutive patients, 14 male and 6 female with active, unilateral, cochleovestibular Ménière's disease refractory to medical management who also had concurrent OSAS as defined by International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Second Edition were selected to undergo solitary CPAP therapy. Audiometric testing, caloric testing, and DHI survey were conducted before and after CPAP therapy and compared to assess effectiveness of CPAP therapy as utilized for treatment of Ménière's disease. RESULTS Although caloric testing did not show significant difference, audiometric testing and results of dizziness handicap inventory were significantly improved (p < 0.05) after CPAP therapy only, without standard treatment for Ménière's disease. CONCLUSION Recent reports have suggested that OSAS may cause dysfunction of the vestibular system. We investigated whether standard therapy for OSAS would be of benefit in the management of vertigo and hearing loss in Ménière's disease patients. Our study cohort demonstrated significant improvement in both DHI and audiometric testing following solitary CPAP therapy for OSAS. Solitary CPAP therapy may become a new effective treatment strategy for Ménière's disease patients with OSAS, not just only for control of dizziness and vertigo but also for potential benefit of hearing.
Effect of exercise-induced dehydration on endurance performance: evaluating the impact of exercise protocols on outcomes using a meta-analytic procedure

Objective It is purported that exercise-induced dehydration (EID), especially if ≥ 2% bodyweight, impairs endurance performance (EP). Field research shows that athletes can achieve outstanding EP while dehydrated > 2% bodyweight. Using the meta-analytic procedure, this study compared the findings of laboratory-based studies that examined the impact of EID upon EP using either ecologically valid (EV) (time-trial exercise) or non-ecologically valid (NEV) (clamped-intensity exercise) exercise protocols. Methods EP outcomes were put on the same scale and represent % changes in power output between euhydrated and dehydrated exercise tests. Random-effects model meta-regressions and weighted mean effect summaries, mixed-effects model analogue to the ANOVAs and magnitude-based effect statistics were used to delineate treatment effects. Main results Fifteen research articles were included, producing 28 effect estimates, representing 122 subjects. Compared with euhydration, EID increased (0.09±2.60%, (p=0.9)) EP under time-trial exercise conditions, whereas it reduced it (1.91±1.53%, (p<0.05)) with NEV exercise protocols. Only with NEV exercise protocols did EID ≥ 2% body weight impair EP (p=0.03). Conclusions Evidence indicates that (1) EID ≤ 4% bodyweight is very unlikely to impair EP under real-world exercise conditions (time-trial type exercise) and; (2) under situations of fixed-exercise intensity, which may have some relevance for military and occupational settings, EID ≥ 2% bodyweight is associated with a reduction in endurance capacity. The 2% bodyweight loss rule has been established from findings of studies using NEV exercise protocols and does not apply to out-of-doors exercise conditions. Athletes are therefore encouraged to drink according to thirst during exercise.
Cleavage of cellulose by a CBM33 protein

Bacterial proteins categorized as family 33 carbohydrate‐binding modules (CBM33) were recently shown to cleave crystalline chitin, using a mechanism that involves hydrolysis and oxidation. We show here that some members of the CBM33 family cleave crystalline cellulose as demonstrated by chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses of soluble products released from Avicel or filter paper on incubation with CelS2, a CBM33‐containing protein from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). These enzymes act synergistically with cellulases and may thus become important tools for efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass. Fungal proteins classified as glycoside hydrolase family 61 that are known to act synergistically with cellulases are likely to use a similar mechanism.