Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical evaluation of ESPAR antennas and adaptive beamforming performance prediction using extracted parameters of an ESPAR antenna

Dozens of electrically steerable parasitic array radiator (ESPAR) antennas were measured in a conventional far-field measurement system. The measured directivity results were evaluated statistically. The results show that the ESPAR antennas are useful in many applications. A technique to predict the adaptive beamforming behavior of a 7-element ESPAR antenna is presented. Instead of using simulated reactances, practical reactances which were extracted from an ESPAR antenna are used in the simulation of the adaptive beamforming algorithm to make the antenna steer its main lobe to any desired direction and place null in the direction of an interference signal. The predicted beams and nulls show good agreements with those of experiments.
Laminar distribution of synaptopodin in normal and reeler mouse brain depends on the position of spine‐bearing neurons

Synaptopodin is the first member of a novel class of proline‐rich actin‐associated proteins. In brain, it is present in the neck of a subset of mature telencephalic spines and is associated closely with the spine apparatus, a Ca2+ storing organelle within the spine compartment. The characteristic region‐ and lamina‐specific distribution of synaptopodin in rat brain suggested that the distribution pattern of synaptopodin depends on the cytoarchitectonic arrangement of spine‐bearing neurons. To test this hypothesis, synaptopodin was studied in the cortex, striatum, and hippocampus of normal and reeler mice, in which developmental cell migration defects have disrupted the normal array of cells. In situ hybridization histochemistry as well as light‐ and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry were used. In brain of normal mice, the pattern of synaptopodin mRNA‐expressing cells corresponds to that of spine‐bearing neurons and synaptopodin protein is found in a region‐ and lamina‐specific distribution pattern. It is specifically sorted to the spine neck where it is associated closely with the spine apparatus. In brain of reeler mice, the pattern of synaptopodin mRNA‐expressing cells corresponds to that of the abnormally positioned spine‐bearing neurons and the region‐ and lamina‐specific distribution pattern is absent or altered. Nevertheless, synaptopodin was specifically sorted to the spine neck, as in controls. These data demonstrate that the light microscopic distribution pattern of synaptopodin protein depends on the position and orientation of the spine‐bearing neurons. The intracellular sorting process, however, is independent of positional cues. J. Comp. Neurol. 453:33–44, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Physiological mechanism‐based analysis of dose‐dependent gastrointestinal absorption of L‐carnitine in rats

We evaluated the dose‐dependent (saturable) gastrointestinal absorption of L‐carnitine, a lipid‐lowering agent, in rats by a physiological mechanism‐based approach to clarify its absorption characteristics and to examine the in vitro (in situ)–in vivo correlation in intestinal transport. The intestinal absorption rate constant (ka), which was estimated by the analysis of gastrointestinal disposition, decreased markedly from 0.1061 to 0.0042 min−1 when the dose was increased from 0.05 μmol rat−1 (low dose) to 100 μmol rat−1 (high dose). The dose‐dependence in ka was attributable to the saturability of intestinal transport that, in the perfused intestine, was similar to the saturability in ka. At the high dose, the apparent absorption rate constant (ka′) of 0.0021 min−1, which was estimated by the analysis of plasma concentrations after oral administration, was an order of magnitude smaller than the gastric emptying rate constant (kg) of 0.059 min−1 and comparable with the ka of 0.0042 min−1, suggesting that the gastrointestinal absorption of L‐carnitine is absorption‐limited in the intestine. At the low dose, where intestinal L‐carnitine absorption was far more efficient, the ka′ of 0.0172 min−1 was smaller than the ka of 0.1061 min−1 and closer to the kg of 0.072 min−1, suggesting that apparent absorption was retarded by gastric emptying which is less efficient than intestinal absorption. This shift in the rate‐determining process with an increase in dose explains the less marked dose dependence in ka′ compared with ka. The bioavailability decreased from 100 to 42% with an increase in dose. This could be accounted for quantitatively by a reduction in the fraction absorbed (Fa,oral) due to a reduction in ka, assuming first‐order absorption during the transit time of Tsi through the small intestine (Fa,oral=1−exp(−ka · Tsi)). Thus, using L‐carnitine as a model, this study has successfully demonstrated that the saturability in gastrointestinal absorption can be correlated with the intestinal transport in a quantitative and mechanism‐based manner. This should be of help not only for developing more efficient oral L‐carnitine delivery strategies, taking advantage of in vitro (in situ) information about the intestinal transport mechanism, but also for establishing a more generally applicable in vitro (in situ)–in vivo correlation in gastrointestinal absorption. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Salience in markets

A consumerâ€™s evaluation of a product often depends on the choice context. Specifically, the choice context influences which of a productâ€™s attributes the consumer perceives as outstanding, i.e., salient. This chapter is devoted to a particular model of context-dependent choice, the model of salient thinking introduced by Bordalo et al. (2013) and its application to models of industrial organization. We first restate the modelâ€™s main implications for consumer behavior. Thereafter, we address how a profit-maximizing firm responds to its consumersâ€™ choice behavior being context dependent. To this end we present a streamlined model of market competition when consumers are salient thinkers, which allows us to synthesize several important implications of context-dependent choice for market outcomes that have been discussed in the literature. Furthermore, within this model we develop novel insights regarding how firms can benefit from manipulating consumersâ€™ choice context by offering decoy goods. Finally, we survey the extant applications of the theory of salient thinking to models of industrial organization, discuss the empirical evidence in support of the theory of salient thinking, and outline avenues for future research.
Temporal evolution of epithelial, vascular and interstitial lung injury in an experimental model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis induced by butyl‐hydroxytoluene

This study was undertaken to test whether the structural remodelling of pulmonary parenchyma can be sequentially altered in a model and method that demonstrate the progression of the disease and result in remodelling within the lungs that is typical of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Three groups of mice were studied: (i) animals that received 3‐5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxytoluene (BHT) and were killed after 2 weeks (early BHT = 9); (ii) animals that received BHT and were killed after 4 weeks (late BHT = 11); (iii) animals that received corn oil solution (control = 10). The mice were placed in a ventilated Plexiglas chamber with a mixture of pure humidified oxygen and compressed air. Lung histological sections underwent haematoxylin–eosin, immunohistochemistry (epithelial, endothelial and immune cells) and specific staining (collagen/elastic fibres) methods for morphometric analysis. When compared with the control group, early BHT and late BHT groups showed significant decrease of type II pneumocytes, lower vascular density in both and higher endothelial activity. CD4 was increased in late BHT compared with early and control groups, while CD8, macrophage and neutrophil cells were more prominent only in early BHT. The collagenous fibre density were significantly higher only in late BHT, whereas elastic fibre content in late BHT was lower than that in control group. We conclude that the BHT experimental model is pathologically very similar to human usual interstitial pneumonia. This feature is important in the identification of animal models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that can accurately reflect the pathogenesis and progression of the human disease.
Neutrophilic airway inflammation is a main feature of induced sputum in nonatopic asthmatic children

Background: Asthma phenotypes are well described among children. However, there are few studies comparing airway inflammation in different clinical presentations of pediatric asthma. We tested the hypothesis that nonatopic asthma is associated with a predominant noneosinophilic inflammation in the airways, as assessed by induced sputum. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytological characteristics of induced sputum (IS) in atopic (AA), nonatopic asthmatics (NAA) and nonatopic nonasthmatic children (NANA).
Subgaleal hemorrhage: risk factors and outcomes

Subgaleal hemorrhage in the newborn is a serious adverse event that is often unrecognized and under‐appreciated. This retrospective case series aimed to determine perinatal factors associated with subgaleal hemorrhage and subsequent neonatal outcomes. Obstetric and neonatal details of 21 infants with subgaleal hemorrhage over a 10‐year period were collected. The mother was primiparous in 95% cases, 48% had a prolonged second stage (>120 minutes) and 43% had prolonged rupture of membranes (>12 hours). Thirteen infants (62%) were born by instrumental vaginal delivery. Ten infants (48%) required resuscitation at delivery. The severity of subgaleal hemorrhage was mild in four infants (19%), moderate in 10 (48%) and severe in seven (33%). Hypovolemic shock developed in 10 infants (48%), encephalopathy in 13 (62%) and coagulopathy was present in five infants (24%). There were three (14%) deaths. Long‐term outcomes were good in the surviving infants.
A spare two-tier data aggregation for grid-based wireless sensor networks

This work proposes a spare two-tier data aggregation for grid-based wireless sensor networks. A sensor node is selected to be a header in each grid. The responsibility of header is to detect generated event, announce to all other headers, and respond to a mobile sink. A mobile sink obtains the occurred event information from its grid header. Each grid has two headers. All header nodes are randomly classified into two types, group-0 and group-1. To achieve the fault tolerance, two paths (path-0 for group-0 and path-1 for group-1) were constructed. This work provides two paths between roots and mobile sinks. This work can minimize energy consumption and enhance the network fault tolerance. In this paper, we also conducted some simulations to show that the proposed scheme outperforms the CODE and TTDD. If a user is interested in an event, it issues a query to acquire data from specified regular-shape ranges. In addition, this work proposes efficient approaches to gather data from sensor networks while voids exist. Finally, experimental results show that the proposed approaches are more energy-efficient than the existing approach.
The effect of manual handling training on achieving training transfer, employee's behaviour change and subsequent reduction of work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review

This systematic review investigated the effectiveness of manual handling training on achieving training transfer, leading to a positive change in employee's manual handling behaviour and a reduction of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) following training. Six electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials or cohort studies with a control and/or comparison group that investigated the effectiveness of manual handling training. Thirteen articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following quality assessment, nine of the included articles were found to be of high quality. This systematic review suggests that there has been very little research focusing on the effectiveness of manual handling training on training transfer to employees and the associated behavioural change. This review indicates that whilst employees report understanding and awareness following training, this does not always lead to the expected behavioural change. This review also suggests it cannot be demonstrated that training transfer will lead to a reduction of WRMSDs. Practitioner Summary: This systematic review investigated the effect of manual handling training on behavioural change and WRMSDs. Thirteen articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Overall, the evidence suggests manual handling training is not effective at causing a change in employee's manual handling behaviour following training or at reducing WRMSDs.
The Münster Heart Study (PROCAM). Results of follow-up at 8 years.

The Münster Heart Study (PROCAM) was initiated in 1979 in order to examine cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular events including myocardial infarction and stroke, and mortality in people at work. Examination at entry comprised a standardized case history, measurement of blood pressure and anthropometric data, a resting electrocardiogram, and measurement of more than 20 laboratory parameters in a fasting blood sample. The prevalence data in this report are based upon a single examination of 17,437 men aged 40.4 +/- 11.3 years (mean +/- SD) and 8065 women aged 35.7 +/- 12.1 years, which took place between 1979 and 1991. Severe hypercholesterolaemia (> 300 mg.dl-1) was seen in 5% of men and 8% of women aged 45 to 64 years. In men, the prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia (> 200 mg.dl-1) rose from 5% at age 20 to 20% at age 45 and remained constant thereafter; in women the prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia increased linearly from 2% at age 20 to 7% at age 60. The LDL/HDL ratio was higher in men than in women at all age groups; in the age group 45 to 64 years, LDL/HDL ratios > 5 were approximately twice as common in men. Lipoprotein(a) levels were distributed in a highly skewed fashion. In men, a slight rise in the geometric mean lipoprotein(a) concentration occurred with age, whereas in women a dramatic increase was seen after age 40. Using multivariate analysis by the multiple logistic function method, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and log-transformed triglycerides showed a significant (P < 0.001) age-adjusted correlation with the presence of major coronary events. A risk algorithm has been developed for men aged 40 to 65 years which takes into account the independent risk factors of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, age, systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking, presence of diabetes mellitus and family history of myocardial infarction and angina pectoris. This algorithm can be used in clinical practice to calculate the 8-year risk of an individual suffering a myocardial infarction.
Use of a Drosophila Genome-Wide Conserved Sequence Database to Identify Functionally Related cis-Regulatory Enhancers

Background: Phylogenetic footprinting has revealed that cis‐regulatory enhancers consist of conserved DNA sequence clusters (CSCs). Currently, there is no systematic approach for enhancer discovery and analysis that takes full‐advantage of the sequence information within enhancer CSCs. Results: We have generated a Drosophila genome‐wide database of conserved DNA consisting of >100,000 CSCs derived from EvoPrints spanning over 90% of the genome. cis‐Decoder database search and alignment algorithms enable the discovery of functionally related enhancers. The program first identifies conserved repeat elements within an input enhancer and then searches the database for CSCs that score highly against the input CSC. Scoring is based on shared repeats as well as uniquely shared matches, and includes measures of the balance of shared elements, a diagnostic that has proven to be useful in predicting cis‐regulatory function. To demonstrate the utility of these tools, a temporally‐restricted CNS neuroblast enhancer was used to identify other functionally related enhancers and analyze their structural organization. Conclusions: cis‐Decoder reveals that co‐regulating enhancers consist of combinations of overlapping shared sequence elements, providing insights into the mode of integration of multiple regulating transcription factors. The database and accompanying algorithms should prove useful in the discovery and analysis of enhancers involved in any developmental process. Developmental Dynamics 241:169–189, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Update on complex nonpharmacological interventions for breathlessness

Purpose of reviewThe study provides a review of current evidence about the role of complex nonpharmacological strategies in managing the multidimensional components of the breathlessness experience for individuals with life-limiting conditions. Recent findingsEvidence continues to demonstrate the significant impact of breathlessness on patients’ quality of life, day-to-day activity, and physical and psychosocial functioning. Recent evidence also confirms that patients draw on a number of self-initiated actions to cope with breathlessness, although many do not use strategies that are supported by a growing body of evidence from randomized controlled trials. Current literature supports the use of multicomponent, nonpharmacological interventions comprising strategies to improve breathing efficiency and reducing psychological distress to manage breathlessness. However trials of these approaches have mostly been conducted among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer, and few studies have investigated the benefits of nonpharmacological for patients in later stages of disease. Further investigation of interventions is required across a broader range of chronic life-limiting conditions. Addressing breathlessness and its co-occurring symptoms (symptom clusters) is also an area for future enquiry. SummaryThe experience of breathlessness and strategies adopted by patients to manage the experience highlight the importance of multidimensional approaches to improve outcomes for patients with life-limiting conditions. There is good evidence to support the role of multicomponent, nonpharmacological interventions in reducing breathlessness for patients with COPD and lung cancer, although further studies are required to understand the particular clinical contexts in which such interventions are appropriate.
Risk Measures Based on Benchmark Loss Distributions

We introduce a class of quantile-based risk measures that generalize Value at Risk (VaR) and, likewise Expected Shortfall (ES), take into account both the frequency and the severity of losses. Under VaR a single confidence level is assigned regardless of the size of potential losses. We allow for a range of confidence levels that depend on the loss magnitude. The key ingredient is a benchmark loss distribution (BLD), i.e.~a function that associates to each potential loss a maximal acceptable probability of occurrence. The corresponding risk measure, called Loss VaR (LVaR), determines the minimal capital injection that is required to align the loss distribution of a risky position to the target BLD. By design, one has full flexibility in the choice of the BLD profile and, therefore, in the range of relevant quantiles. Special attention is given to piecewise constant functions and to tail distributions of benchmark random losses, in which case the acceptability condition imposed by the BLD boils down to first-order stochastic dominance. We provide a comprehensive study of the main finance theoretical and statistical properties of LVaR with a focus on their comparison with VaR and ES. Merits and drawbacks are discussed and applications to capital adequacy, portfolio risk management and catastrophic risk are presented.
Comparison between Production and Economic Indicators in the Production Strategy Selection for Polymer Flooding

The selection of a production strategy, seeking maximization of field performance according to some indicator, is a complex and important task. Choosing the indicator to be used to complete this task can lead to different results, and this choice must be carefully made to reflect the company objectives. Many companies seek only maximization of the recovery factor, neglecting costs and investments necessary to reach this goal. This may lead to a poor economic performance. Moreover, decisions that require extra investments (for instance, the use of some enhanced recovery technique such as polymer flooding) should be evaluated and taken into account in the analysis, since there are differences in the cash flow of the project options and these additional investments are important to the final decision. The objective of this paper is to compare the use of production and economic indicators in the production strategy selection, considering that there are not budget constraints or platform restrictions. The methodology consists of an optimization process using two different indicators: net present value (NPV) and oil recovery factor (RF). Three different approaches are addressed: (A) using only NPV as objective-function (OF) in the whole process; (B) using only RF as objective-function in the whole process; (C) using NPV as objective-function in the steps that the investments are not fixed (the number of wells and platform capacity are not determined yet) and changing the objective-function to RF when the main investments do not vary (number of wells and platform capacity are already determined). The application of the methodology is made in a model that represents an offshore heavy oil field using polymer flooding as recovery mechanism. The results show that NPV has advantages when considering the whole development of the field in this work conditions (no budget or platform restrictions). In this case, the consideration of the recovery factor as single indicator leads to an overestimated number of wells, resulting in bad economic performance due to high costs, even with higher oil production in relation to the optimization made considering only NPV. The advantage of using NPV is that it considers in its calculation several parameters, such as revenues from oil production, costs from oil and water production, costs from water injection, speed of recovery, and in the case of this work, the cost for polymer injection, which can
Muscular Anatomy of the Human Ventricular Folds

Objectives: Our purpose in this study was to better understand the muscular anatomy of the ventricular folds in order to help improve biomechanical modeling of phonation and to better understand the role of these muscles during phonatory and nonphonatory tasks. Methods: Four human larynges were decalcified, sectioned coronally from posterior to anterior by a CryoJane tape transfer system, and stained with Masson's trichrome. The total and relative areas of muscles observed in each section were calculated and used for characterizing the muscle distribution within the ventricular folds. Results: The ventricular folds contained anteriorly coursing thyroarytenoid and ventricularis muscle fibers that were in the lower half of the ventricular fold posteriorly, and some ventricularis muscle was evident in the upper and lateral portions of the fold more anteriorly. Very little muscle tissue was observed in the medial half of the fold, and the anterior half of the ventricular fold was largely devoid of any muscle tissue. All 4 larynges contained muscle bundles that coursed superiorly and medially through the upper half of the fold, toward the lateral margin of the epiglottis. Conclusions: Although variability of expression was evident, a well-defined thyroarytenoid muscle was readily apparent lateral to the arytenoid cartilage in all specimens.