Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Throughput/Reliability Tradeoffs in Spread Spectrum Multi-Hop Ad-Hoc Wireless Networks with Multi-Packet Detection

Wireless ad hoc networks with nodes capable of simultaneous multiple packet reception are considered. We focus on spread spectrum networks and address the relationship between the packet detection success, probability of the packet success over multiple hops, and asymptotic throughput capacity of the network in terms of power and bandwidth resources as well as the multi-packet detection capability of the nodes. In the second part of the paper we consider network with nodes employing partitioned code division multiple access (CDMA) transmission and joint iterative reception. We study local communication in the network and derive a relationship between the probability of detection success and a fraction of the multiple access channel capacity that can be achieved at any communicating node.We use this result to demonstrate that near optimum throughput and reliable end-to-end communication can be achieved in the network with use of a practical detection method. Finally, we present simulation results which demonstrate the advantage of partitioned CDMA with iterative receivers over CDMA with linear receivers in a network setting.
The influence of an animal on social interactions of nursing home residents in a group setting.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of the presence and absence of a dog on the frequency and types of social interactions among nursing home residents during a socialization group. Point sampling was used to evaluate the behaviors of 36 male nursing home residents at a Veterans Administration Medical Center under two conditions, Dog Present and Dog Absent. A significant difference in verbal interactions among residents occurred with the dog present, F(1, 69) = 4.92, p < . 05. These findings are consistent with existing literature, thus providing further evidence of the value of Animal Assisted Therapy programs as an effective medium for increasing socialization among residents in long-term care facilities. Because an increase in social interactions can improve the social climate of an institution and occupational therapists frequently incorporate group process into their treatment, the therapeutic use of animals can become a valuable adjunct to reaching treatment goals.
Shuffling adenovirus promoters: a viral recombinant with early region 1A under late transcriptional control.

Adenovirus recombinants were constructed in which a copy of the major late promoter was inserted either upstream or in place of the promoter for early region 1A (E1A). The ectopic late promoter directs a 20‐ to 100‐fold increase in the level of cytoplasmic RNA from E1A. The RNA is correctly processed at the normal splice and polyadenylation sites, and directs the in vitro synthesis of the full complement of E1A proteins. Furthermore, the novel transcripts are translated in vivo, since the recombinants are fully viable on HeLa cells notwithstanding the loss in one case of the intact E1A promoter.
Controllable Local Clock Signal Generator for Deep Submicron GALS Architectures

In the paper a local clock signal generator is presented. The structure was designed in regard to use it in GALS (globally asynchronous locally synchronous) architectures. The circuit was implemented in UMC (United Microelectronics Corporation) 90 nm CMOS technology. Performed post-layout electrical simulations shown that generated frequency can be efficiently controlled in different working conditions with relative error not greater than 13%.
Bacteria-flagellate interactions in the microbial food web of the oligotrophic subtropical North Pacific

The number and relative strengths of trophic linkages in the microbial community of the oligotrophic subtropical North Pacific were studied in 12 experiments from August 1998 to April 1999 at Stn ALOHA (100 km north of Oahu, Hawaii). Collected seawater was manipulated by sequential size-fractionation to truncate the food web at different organism sizes (1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 µm), and the response variable, net bacterial growth rate, was assessed from flow cytometric analyses of the changes in cell abundance (combined heterotrophic bacteria and Prochlorococcus) after 24 h incuba- tions. The corresponding size structure of the protistan grazer assemblage was measured microscop- ically. With a coefficient of variability of 7% and a 2-fold range overall, total bacterial abundance dis- played relatively low temporal variability. Despite the relative constancy of standing stock, however, microbial community interactions varied markedly among the experiments. For experiments con- ducted at higher levels of bacterial biomass, the bacteria showed little growth response to the removal of predators and may have been resource limited. In contrast, the growth response was high- est when conditions were defined by relatively low bacterial biomass and high heterotrophic flagel- late biomass. Trophic cascades were evident only at intermediate to high levels of bacterial biomass, and may appear in transitions between high and low levels of bacterial biomass. These results sug- gest that resources and predators oscillate in importance in regulating open-ocean microbial popula- tions. In such oscillations, the indirect influences of a protistan predatory chain may determine the balance between resource limitation and strong predatory control.
A Silicon Central Pattern Generator Controls Locomotion in Vivo

We present a neuromorphic silicon chip that emulates the activity of the biological spinal central pattern generator (CPG) and creates locomotor patterns to support walking. The chip implements ten integrate-and-fire silicon neurons and 190 programmable digital-to-analog converters that act as synapses. This architecture allows for each neuron to make synaptic connections to any of the other neurons as well as to any of eight external input signals and one tonic bias input. The chip's functionality is confirmed by a series of experiments in which it controls the motor output of a paralyzed animal in real-time and enables it to walk along a three-meter platform. The walking is controlled under closed-loop conditions with the aide of sensory feedback that is recorded from the animal's legs and fed into the silicon CPG. Although we and others have previously described biomimetic silicon locomotor control systems for robots, this is the first demonstration of a neuromorphic device that can replace some functions of the central nervous system in vivo.
Ifosfamide in the Adjuvant Therapy of Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Ifosfamide and anthracyclines are the only active agents in advanced soft tissue sarcomas. Doxorubicin was always used in sarcomas, whereas ifosfamide was reintroduced in the clinic after the discovery of mesna which prevents its typical dose-limiting toxicity: hemorrhagic cystitis. In the adjuvant setting, doxorubicin was used alone or in combination in the first-generation trials, whereas its parent compounds epirubicin and ifosfamide were employed in the second-generation adjuvant trials, which started in the early 90s. Other relevant aspects of the second-generation trials are the use of the hematopoietic growth factors and the increase of the dose intensity, the introduction of more restrictive selection criteria and the use of the two most active agents, ifosfamide and anthracyclines. Only the Italian cooperative trial has been concluded, and the results reported and updated. After a median follow-up of 89.6 months (range 56–119), the intention-to-treat analysis still reveals a difference in overall survival which, however, is not statistically significant. However, the 5-year overall survival estimate, which is a reasonable end point for the survival analysis of adjuvant treatment in soft tissue sarcomas, was 66.0 and 46.1% for the treatment and the control groups, respectively (p = 0.04).
Functional electrical stimulation by means of the ‘Ness Handmaster Orthosis’ in chronic stroke patients: an exploratory study

Objective: To gain experience with ‘Ness Handmaster Orthosis’ treatment in chronic stroke patients, to identify suitable patients, and to study the effects of treatment. Design: Exploratory, uncontrolled trial with measurement of motor functions and muscle tone of the upper extremity prior to, during, upon completion, and six weeks after a treatment period. Setting: A rehabilitation centre in the Netherlands. Subjects: Eighteen chronic stroke patients (more than six months post stroke), who exhibited upper extremity dysfunction due to spastic paresis. Intervention: A 10-week therapy programme of functional electrical stimulation by means of the ‘Ness Handmaster Orthosis’. Results: The results of 15 patients were available for analysis. The differences in motor score and muscle tone before and at the end of treatment were statistically significant (p = 0.008 and 0.021, respectively). The follow-up measurements showed that the effects on motor functions and muscle tone decreased after therapy completion. Stratification of the patients in two subgroups indicated that patients with initial high motor scores benefited most during the intervention period. Conclusion: The present study suggests that Handmaster treatment possesses therapeutic opportunities in chronic stroke patients with spastic paresis of the upper extremity.
HypoCol (red yeast rice) lowers plasma cholesterol – a randomized placebo controlled study

Abstract Objective. The primary endpoint in our study was to investigate the effect of a red yeast rice (RYR) product on plasma lipids. Design. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study was performed. Patients were randomized to either RYR (HypoCol, 4 capsules/day) (n=22) or placebo (n=20) for 16 weeks. Inclusion criteria were male or female, 18–75 years, LDL-cholesterol between 3.0 and 6.0 mmol/L, fasting triglyceride level less than 4.5 mmol/L. Results. Patients receiving RYR experienced a significant reduction in LDL-cholesterol (23.0%) and total cholesterol (15.5%) compared to placebo after 16 weeks of treatment (p<0.001). Conclusion. The tested red yeast rice product demonstrated a significant cholesterol lowering effect compared to placebo, and was well tolerated in this Caucasian population.
Enhanced Reduced Pin-Count Test for Full-Scan Design

This paper presents enhanced reduced pin-count test (E-RPCT) for low-cost test. E-RPCT is an extension of traditional RPCT for circuits in which a large number of digital IC pins is multiplexed for scan. The basic concept of E-RPCT is to provide access to the internal scan chains via an IEEE 1149.1 compatible boundary-scan architecture, instead of direct access via the IC pins. The boundary-scan chain performs serial/parallel conversion of test data. E-RPCT also provides I/O wrap to test non-contacted pins. The paper presents E-RPCT for full-scan design, as well as for full-scan core-based design.
Twice-daily application of topical corticosteroids with a squirt system for patients with steroid-responsive olfactory impairment

Abstract Conclusion: Twice-daily topical corticosteroid treatment using a squirt system was beneficial in maintaining improvements in olfactory dysfunction which had been achieved by oral steroid treatment. Objectives: Some patients suffering from olfactory dysfunction respond well to corticosteroids. However, maintaining these improvements is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the maintenance effect of twice-daily topical steroid treatment using a squirt system. Methods: Twenty-two anosmic patients with an increase in odor threshold, discrimination, and identification (TDI) scores in Sniffin’ Sticks tests by more than six points after 1-week of oral steroid treatment were enrolled. All the patients used a squirt system to apply topical corticosteroids and were followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months. Results: Nineteen, 16, and 10 patients were followed-up at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, respectively. All the patients had significant visual analog scale scores improvements compared to pre-treatment. The mean improvements in TDI scores were 9.80 (p < 0.001), 11.58 (p = 0.001), and 13.87 (p = 0.005) after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment, respectively. The self-rated and objective olfactory function scores were maintained with steroid squirt therapy without significant decline, even in the patients who were followed up for 6 months.
Understanding Information Security Compliance - Why Goal Setting and Rewards Might be a Bad Idea

Since organizational information security policies can only improve security if employees comply with them, understanding the factors that affect employee security compliance is crucial for strengthening information security. Based on a survey with 200 German employees, we find that reward for production goal achievement negatively impacts security compliance. Whereas a distinct error aversion culture also seems to impair security compliance, the results provide no evidence for an impact of error management culture, affective commitment towards the organization, security policy information quality or quality of the goal setting process. Furthermore, the intention to comply with security policies turns out to be a bad predictor for actual security compliance. We therefore suggest future studies to measure actual behavior instead of behavioral intention.
Intradermal immunization with ovalbumin‐loaded poly‐ɛ‐caprolactone microparticles conferred protection in ovalbumin‐sensitized allergic mice

Background Although immunotherapy has been reported as the only treatment able to revert the T‐helper type 2 (Th2) response, its administration has some disadvantages such as the requirement of multiple doses, possible side‐effects provoked by conventional adjuvants and the risk of suffering an anaphylactic shock. For these reasons, drug‐delivery systems appear to be a promising strategy due to its ability to (i) transport the allergens, (ii) protect them from degradation, (iii) decrease the number of administrations and (iv) act as immuno‐adjuvants.
The effects of active and passive recovery on short-term, high intensity power output.

The advantage of active over passive recovery from long and intermediate duration exercise is well documented. Success has been attributed to metabolite washout and/or lactate (La) utilization by the active musculature. This study was designed to determine whether active recovery was superior to passive rest during short duration, high intensity performance. On 4 separate days, six athletes performed a set of eight 6-s power tests separated by 30-s recovery intervals under two recovery conditions. Recovery conditions involved either sitting passively on the bike (P) or actively pedaling (A) at 60 rpm using 1 kg resistance. A MANOVA on peak power (PP), fatigue rate (F), and total work (TW) showed a significant difference due to recovery condition, F(3, 169); p < . 0001. Separate ANOVAs revealed that PP (A = 1192.85 watts, P = 1134.57 watts; p < .0001) and TW (A = 6.59 kJ, P = 6.23 kJ; p < .0001) differed significantly between conditions. No difference was found for F (A = 80.12 watts.sec-1, P = 79.80 watts.sec-1). Results indicate that active recovery provides superior performance to passive rest in repeated short-term, high intensity power activities.
Reliance on external cues during serial sequential movement in major depression

Maintenance of motor set in patients with unipolar major depression was examined. Twelve melancholic and 12 non-melancholic depressed patients and 24 age matched controls performed a serial choice reaction time task while external cues aiding maintenance of a motor set were systematically removed. Melancholic patients were significantly slower than controls with no reduction in external cues and with a moderate reduction in external cues. At a high level of reduction in external cues, seven of 12 melancholic patients (but only three of 12 non-melancholic patients and controls) were unable to complete the task; suggesting a greater reliance on external cues, perhaps implicating a failure of motor planning ability in melancholic patients. This, in turn, may point to a prefrontal (premotor) deficit in melancholic depression, with possible commonalities with Parkinson's disease.
Biased Estimation Properties of the Pseudolinear Tracking Filter

Estimation bias in the pseudolinear filter applied to bearings-only target tracking is discussed. Approximate expressions for the pertinent error terms are developed and subsequently used to predict tracking performance under realistic operating conditions. It is shown that once own-ship executes a maneuver, only the estimated range vector remains biased; the corresponding velocity vector becomes asymptotically unbiased. Further investigation reveals that this range bias is highly dependent upon geometry and can be altered by additional own-ship maneuvers. Experimental data are presented to support these findings.
How does market orientation affect product innovation in China's manufacturing industry: The contingent value of dynamic capabilities

We conceptualize and empirically test a mode that links different types of market orientation and product innovation, moderating by dynamic capabilities. Survey responses from China's manufacturing industry firms indicate that niche market orientation is more strongly positively related with product innovation than is mass market orientation. Meanwhile firms with high levels of dynamic capabilities better effects two types of market orientation and product innovation. The results have significant implications for firm strategies to facilitate product innovations and achieve competitive advantages.
[An autopsy specimen study of benign hyperplastic nodules in the peripheral zone of the prostate].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the correlation and anatomic association of benign hyperplastic nodules in the peripheral zone (PZ) with those in the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate, and to compare the histological components of the two kinds of nodules. METHODS We obtained benign hyperplastic nodules specimens from the PZ and TZ by autopsy, measured the distance between the outer surface of the nodules and the inner gland, observed the integrity of the surgical envelope of the prostate, and determined the histological components of the two kinds of nodules by HE staining, immunohistochemistry and automatic quantitative image analysis. RESULTS The surgical envelope of the prostate was integrated and the distance between the nodules of the PZ and the outer surface of the inner gland was about 2.5 to 5 mm ([3.9 +/- 0.8] mm), with no signs of anatomic connection in between. The stromata and epithelia in the nodules accounted for (69.32 +/- 8.35)% and (16.08 +/- 5.36)% in the PZ and (74.58 +/- 8.95)% and (15.82 +/- 6.41)% in the TZ. CONCLUSION Benign hyperplastic nodules may originate from the PZ of the prostate and not correlate with the inner gland hyperplasia in the TZ, but with no statistical difference between the histological components of the two kinds of nodules.
Factors Affecting the Objectives of Information Security Management

The issue of information security management (ISM) had been widely studied with different approaches and from different perspectives. To have the right security objectives is the primary step to achieving an effective security program. Based on the contingency theory, a conceptual model of factors that determine ISM objectives was proposed. To validate this model, a webbased survey with open-ended question was conducted. The responses from 120 certified information security practitioners were categorized and analyzed. The paper contributes to theory as it extends previous studies applying the technological, organizational and environmental framework to include factors that impact ISM. Further, it contributes to practice as it increases the awareness and importance of ISM.
The clinical utility of induced sputum for the diagnosis of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia in HIV-infected patients: a prospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND Bacterial pneumonias have been overcoming pneumocytosis in frequency. Controversy still remains about how to manage immunocompromised patients and those with lung diseases. Sputum analysis is a noninvasive and simple method, and when interpreted according to specific criteria it may help with diagnosis. We conducted a study to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicted values, and the accuracy of induced sputum (IS) for bacterial community-acquired pneumonia diagnosis in HIV-positive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cross sectional study evaluated a diagnostic procedure in a reference hospital for HIV patients in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. From January 1, 2001 to September 30, 2002, 547 HIV-positive patients were analyzed and 54 inpatients with pulmonary infection were selected. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) were considered the gold standards. Gram stains and quantitative cultures of IS and BAL were obtained. The cut-offs for quantitative cultures were 10(6) CFU/mL for IS and 10(4) CFU/mL for BAL. RESULTS The mean age was 35.7 years, 79.6% were males and 85.2% were caucasians. The mean lymphocyte count was 124.8/mm(3). Bacterial pneumonia was diagnosed in 20 patients. The most prevalent bacteria was Streptococcus pneumoniae. Considering IS for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia, sensitivity was 60%, specificity 40%, the positive predictive value was 80%, negative predictive value 20% and accuracy 56%. CONCLUSION IS with quantitative culture can be helpful for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in HIV-positive patients.
Which algorithm for scheduling add-on elective cases maximizes operating room utilization? Use of bin packing algorithms and fuzzy constraints in operating room management.

BACKGROUND The algorithm to schedule add-on elective cases that maximizes operating room (OR) suite utilization is unknown. The goal of this study was to use computer simulation to evaluate 10 scheduling algorithms described in the management sciences literature to determine their relative performance at scheduling as many hours of add-on elective cases as possible into open OR time. METHODS From a surgical services information system for two separate surgical suites, the authors collected these data: (1) hours of open OR time available for add-on cases in each OR each day and (2) duration of each add-on case. These empirical data were used in computer simulations of case scheduling to compare algorithms appropriate for "variable-sized bin packing with bounded space. " "Variable size" refers to differing amounts of open time in each "bin," or OR. The end point of the simulations was OR utilization (time an OR was used divided by the time the OR was available). RESULTS Each day there were 0.24 +/- 0.11 and 0.28 +/- 0.23 simulated cases (mean +/- SD) scheduled to each OR in each of the two surgical suites. The algorithm that maximized OR utilization, Best Fit Descending with fuzzy constraints, achieved OR utilizations 4% larger than the algorithm with poorest performance. CONCLUSIONS We identified the algorithm for scheduling add-on elective cases that maximizes OR utilization for surgical suites that usually have zero or one add-on elective case in each OR. The ease of implementation of the algorithm, either manually or in an OR information system, needs to be studied.