Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A COMPACT MIMO/DIVERSITY ANTENNA WITH WLAN BAND-NOTCH CHARACTERISTICS FOR PORTABLE UWB APPLICATIONS

In this paper, a compact multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)/diversity antenna with WLAN band notch characteristics, high isolation, and good ECC suitable for portable ultra-wideband (UWB) applications is presented. The proposed antenna has optimized dimensions of 29mm× 38mm. The antenna consists of two orthogonal circular monopoles with a 50Ω microstrip feed line. In addition, to enhance the impedance bandwidth, a fractal slot, created using Minkowski fractal geometry, is introduced into the ground plane, which is located on the other side of the substrate, just below the feed line. Good isolation (≥ 21.5 dB) with a fractional bandwidth up to 220% is achieved between antenna elements by introducing two ground stubs and a rectangular slot in the ground plane. A band-notch characteristic in the WLAN band is obtained by etching an elliptical split-ring resonator (ESRR) in the radiator. Moreover, a diversity performance of the antenna in terms of ECC (< 0.01) and capacity loss (< 0.3 b/s/Hz) is performed. This paper offers, for the first time, a combined effect of fractal geometry and ESRR geometry in an antenna design. Finally, a comparison of the proposed antenna is performed with the UWB MIMO/diversity antennas existing in the literature. These results show the suitability of the presented antenna for portable UWB systems.
Image classification using three order statistics in non-Euclidean spaces

This paper presents a novel image classification scheme, named high order statistics based maximum a posterior (HOS-MAP). To bridge the gap between hum an judgment and machine intelligence, this framework first builds dissimilarity representations in a modified pseudo-Euclidean space. Then, the information of the dissimilarity increments distribution of each category is achieved based on high-order statistics of triplets of neighbor points for each image data. Finally, a maximum a posteriori algorithm with the information of Gaussian Mixture Model and triplet-dissimilarity increments distribution is adopted to estimate the relevance of each category in the database for each input new image. Experimental results on a general-purpose image database demonstrate that effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed MAP-HOR scheme.
Construction of a cDNA to the hamster CAD gene and its application toward defining the domain for aspartate transcarbamylase

cDNA complementary to hamster mRNA encoding the CAD protein, a multifunctional protein which carries the first three enzymes of pyrimidine biosynthesis, was constructed. The longest of these recombinants (pCAD142) covers 82% of the 7.9-kilobase mRNA. Portions of the cDNA were excised and replaced by a lac promoter-operator-initiation codon segment. The resultant plasmids were transfected into an Escherichia coli mutant defective in aspartate transcarbamylase, the second enzyme of the pathway. Complementation of the bacterial defect was observed with as little as 2.2 kilobases of cDNA sequence, corresponding to the 3' region of the mRNA. DNA sequencing in this region of the hamster cDNA reveals stretches which are highly homologous to the E. coli gene for the catalytic subunit of aspartate transcarbamylase; other stretches show no homology. The highly conserved regions probably reflect areas of protein structure critical to catalysis, while the nonconserved regions may reflect differences between the quaternary structures of E. coli and mammalian aspartate transcarbamylases, one such difference being that the bacterial enzyme in its native form is allosterically regulated and the mammalian enzyme is not.
Caring in Action: The Patient Care Facilitator Role

The downsizing movement left fractures in the healthcare system for patients, nurses, and healthcare providers. To heal the fractures, nurses at the Baptist Hospital of Miami developed the patient care facilitator (PCF), a clinical leadership role for nurses within a smaller area of patient responsibility (12-bed hospital), to provide caring professional nursing practice for both patients and staff. This article describes the multimethod research done to evaluate the impact of the role on continuity of care for patients and caring behaviors of nursing staff. All methods, both qualitative and quantitative, converged and clearly demonstrated the value of the PCF in providing continuity of care from a caring framework.
Multimodal courtship efficacy of Schizocosa retrorsa wolf spiders: implications of an additional signal modality

Here, we simultaneously examine both content and efficacy-based sources of selection on the visual and seismic multimodal courtship display of the wolf spider Schizocosa retrorsa. Immature field-collected S. retrorsa were reared in the laboratory on either high-quantity diet (HD) or low-quantity diet (LD) treatments. On maturation, females of each diet treatment were run in simultaneous mate choice trials with both a HD and an LD male (content-based selection). Simultaneous mate choice trials were conducted across different signaling environments (efficacy-based selection) in a fully crossed 2 3 2 design with visual treatments of light/dark (visual signal present/absent) and seismic treatments of filter paper substratum/granite substratum (seismic signal present/absent). Male copulation success did not differ across either signaling environment or diet treatment. However, copulation success was related to male leg waving displays as males who engaged in more bouts of leg waving were more likely to copulate regardless of experimental manipulations. The observation that copulation success was independent of signaling environment suggests the use of an additional courtship signal modality. Key words: courtship performance, mate choice, sexual selection, signal content, signal efficacy. [Behav Ecol]
New drugs for the treatment of coronary artery syndromes: otamixaban and ticagrelor

Acute coronary syndromes are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The objective of this evaluation is to review the clinical trials of two new drugs being developed for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes. The first drug is the anticoagulant otamixaban, and the trial compared otamixaban with unfractionated heparin and eptifibatide in acute coronary syndromes. The second drug is the antiplatelet ticagrelor, and the trial compared ticagrelor with clopidogrel in acute coronary syndromes. In the SEPIA-ACS1 TIMI 42 trial, the primary efficacy endpoint occurred in 6.2% of subjects treated with unfractionated heparin and eptifibatide, and to a significantly lesser extent with otamixaban. In the PLATO trial, the primary efficacy endpoint had occurred less in the ticagrelor group (9.8%) than in the clopidogrel group (11.7%) at 12 months. Two new drugs for acute coronary syndromes, otamixaban and ticagrelor, have recently been shown to have benefits in subjects undergoing percutaneous interventions compared to the present standard regimens for this condition.
Precursor of a Novel Scorpion Venom Peptide (BmKn1) with no Disulfide Bridge from Buthus martensii Karsch

A full‐length cDNA sequence encoding the precursor of a novel venom peptide (named BmKn1) with no disulfide bridge was first isolated from the venom gland cDNA library of Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch. The encoded precursor consisted of 70 amino acid residues including two parts: a signal peptide of 23 residues, and a putative mature venom peptide (BmKn1) of 47 residues. The sequence of BmKn1 showed no similarity to those of other scorpion venom peptides. BmKn1 may be the first member of a new venom peptide family from scorpion. Future research will be interesting to unravel further the pharmacological function of this novel scorpion venom peptide.
MK‐801 alters the effects of priming with L‐DOPA on dopamine D1 receptor‐induced changes in neuropeptide mRNA levels in the rat striatal output neurons

In a previous study, we have shown in unilaterally dopamine‐depleted rats that increased behavioral responsiveness to the dopamine D1‐receptor agonist SKF‐38393, which was induced by pretreatment with L‐DOPA, is paralleled by specific alterations in striatal neuropeptide mRNA levels. The behavioral ‘priming’ effect of L‐DOPA is prevented if L‐DOPA is preceded by the NMDA‐receptor antagonist MK‐801. In the present study, the question is addressed whether blockade of the increased behavioral responsiveness with MK‐801 also prevents the observed changes in striatal neuropeptide mRNA levels. After a challenge with SKF‐38393 (3 mg/kg, s.c.), the striatal levels of preprodynorphin, preprotachykinin, and preproenkephalin mRNA were compared between unilaterally dopamine‐depleted rats that were either primed with a single administration of L‐DOPA (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or with L‐DOPA preceded by MK‐801 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.). Priming with L‐DOPA enhanced the increase in dynorphin mRNA levels in the dorsolateral part of the dopamine‐depleted striatum that occurred after SKF‐38393. On the other hand, it had no significant effect on substance P or enkephalin mRNA levels. MK‐801 prior to L‐DOPA prevented the increased responsiveness of dynorphin regulation. However, it induced a decreased response to dopamine D1‐receptor stimulation in the substance P mRNA levels in dorsal regions of the dopamine‐depleted striatum. The levels of enkephalin mRNA after challenge with SKF‐38393 were not affected by the MK‐801 administration. These results demonstrate that the increased behavioral responsiveness to the D1‐receptor agonist SKF‐38393 after priming with L‐DOPA is primarily related to the upregulation of dynorphin mRNA levels in the dopamine‐depleted striatum. Synapse 43:1–11, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Deuterium Oxide – tothe-Mother Method Documents Adequate BreastMilk Intake among Sri Lankan Infants 1 – 4

Background: TheWHO recommends that exclusive breastfeeding should last up to 6mo. However, humanmilk intake of Sri Lankan infants has not been quantified scientifically. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to measure the human milk intake of Sri Lankan infants during the first 6 mo of age and to document the breastfeeding practices of their mothers. Methods: Forty-eight healthy mother-infant dyads were randomly recruited for this cross-sectional study at well-baby clinics. Milk intake was measured using the deuterium oxide–to-the-mother technique over a period of 2 wk. Information on breastfeeding practice and living standards of the participants were gathered using an interviewer-administered
Correlated Channel Feedback Method using Principal Component Analysis

A receiver transforms correlated channel state information (CSI) to an uncorrelated sparse CSI vector by using a principal component analysis (PCA), and feeds it back to a transmitter. The PCA extracts essential information from the CSI without redundancy that arises from the highly correlated antennas. The transmitter then recovers the original CSI through the inverse transformation of the feedback vector. To this end, we derive formally a covariance matrix of spatially correlated Rayleigh fading channels with its statistics including spatial correlation factors, channel variance, and channel delay profile. With only the knowledge of channel statistics, the transceiver can readily obtain the transformation matrix and employ a PCA based compression for CSI feedback; therefore, huge signaling overhead for the feedback can be reduced by about one quarter without compromising performance. Keywords—channel feedback; correlated channels; principal component analysis (PCA); compression
Molecular Evolutionary Analyses of Nuclear‐Encoded Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Identify an Independent Rhizopod Lineage Containing the Euglyphina and the Chlorarachniophyta

The Rhizopoda comprise a diverse assemblage of protists which depend on lobose or filose pseudopodia for locomotion. The biochemical and morphological diversity of rhizopods has led to an uncertain taxonomy. Ribosomal RNA sequence comparisons offer a measure of evolutionary relatedness that is independent of morphology and has been used to demonstrate a polyphyletic origin of the Lobosea. We sequenced complete small subunit ribosomal RNA coding regions from the filose amoebae, Euglypha rotunda and Paulinella chromatophora (Euglyphina) to position these taxa in the eukaryote phylogeny. The neighbor‐joining analyses show that E. rotunda and P. chromatophora share a monophyletic origin and are not closely related to any lobose amoebae in our analyses. Instead, the Euglyphina form a robust sister group to the Chlorarachniophyta. These results provide further evidence for the polyphyly of the Rhizopoda and support the creation of a new amoeboid lineage which includes the Euglyphina and the chlorarachniophyte algae; taxa with tubular mitochondrial cristae and filose or reticulate pseudopodia.
Techniques and methods for uncertainty management

Uncertainty is inherent in modern day strategic planning. However, there is little consensus in how to define uncertainty, what its characteristics are, and how we should relate these characteristics to the appropriate treatment or management of uncertainty. One way of identifying the different meanings of uncertainty and the techniques used for treating it, is to survey the usage of the term uncertainty and identify the techniques that are used in the context of this usage. Underlying this are two hypotheses. First, the semantic hypothesis: a consistently different usage of words must indicate meaningful differences in definition. Second, names of methods, tools, and techniques normally consist of more than one word. Using a tech mining approach, this paper analyzes methods, tools, and techniques discussed by scientists in the context of different usages of the word uncertainty. Several distinct meanings of uncertainty, as encountered in the scientific literature, are identified and explored in more depth in order to identify the associated methods, tools and techniques. We identify the leading methods for the analysis and management of uncertainty. We examine the relationship between the nature of uncertainty and the types of methods selected by scientists. Our results can be used by practitioners in selecting appropriate methods given the nature of the uncertainties encountered.
Comparison of a subjective and an objective measure of physical activity in a population sample.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare physical activity components in the long, self-administrated version of IPAQ with an accelerometer in a population sample. METHODS In total 980 subjects (18-65 years) wore an accelerometer (Actigraph) for 7 consecutive days and thereafter filled in the IPAQ. Measures of total physical activity, time spent in moderate and in vigorous activity as well as time spent sitting as assessed by the IPAQ and the Actigraph were compared. RESULTS The results showed significant low to moderate correlations (Rs = 0.07-0.36) between the 2 instruments and significantly (P < .001) higher values for sitting and vigorous intensity physical activity from the IPAQ compared with the Actigraph. The higher the values reported by the IPAQ the bigger differences were seen between the instruments. Comparison between the tertiles of total physical activity by the 2 instruments showed significant overall association with consistent agreement in the low and the high tertiles. CONCLUSION The long form of IPAQ is a valid measure of physical activity in population research. However, the IPAQ likely overestimates actual physical activity as shown by its limited ability to classify adults into low and high categories of physical activity based on accelerometer data.
Motivating participation in online innovation communities

Understanding what motivates participation in online innovation communities is now a high priority given the recent interest in crowdsourcing as an approach to increasing diversity and creativity in innovation. This article reports on the results of a survey of participants in an online innovation community to characterise and find correlations between motivation and participation styles. An analysis of the survey results show: the majority of participants were contributors or collaborators, not readers or leaders; reasons for joining collective innovation communities can be different to the reason for continuing to participate; primary motivations for participation are fun and challenge; intrinsic motivations rated higher than extrinsic; and the participants that are passionate about the online community are either new members, six months.
Comparison of airborne hyperspectral data and EO-1 Hyperion for mineral mapping

Airborne hyperspectral data have been available to researchers since the early 1980s and their use for geologic applications is well documented. The launch of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Earth Observing 1 Hyperion sensor in November 2000 marked the establishment of a test bed for spaceborne hyperspectral capabilities. Hyperion covers the 0.4-2.5-/spl mu/m range with 242 spectral bands at approximately 10-nm spectral resolution and 30-m spatial resolution. Analytical Imaging and Geophysics LLC and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation have been involved in efforts to evaluate, validate, and demonstrate Hyperions's utility for geologic mapping in a variety of sites in the United States and around the world. Initial results over several sites with established ground truth and years of airborne hyperspectral data show that Hyperion data from the shortwave infrared spectrometer can be used to produce useful geologic (mineralogic) information. Minerals mapped include carbonates, chlorite, epidote, kaolinite, alunite, buddingtonite, muscovite, hydrothermal silica, and zeolite. Hyperion data collected under optimum conditions (summer season, bright targets, well-exposed geology) indicate that Hyperion data meet prelaunch specifications and allow subtle distinctions such as determining the difference between calcite and dolomite and mapping solid solution differences in micas caused by substitution in octahedral molecular sites. Comparison of airborne hyperspectral data [from the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS)] to the Hyperion data establishes that Hyperion provides similar basic mineralogic information, with the principal limitation being limited mapping of fine spectral detail under less-than-optimum acquisition conditions (winter season, dark targets) based on lower signal-to-noise ratios. Case histories demonstrate the analysis methodologies and level of information available from the Hyperion data. They also show the viability of Hyperion as a means of extending hyperspectral mineral mapping to areas not accessible to aircraft sensors. The analysis results demonstrate that spaceborne hyperspectral sensors can produce useful mineralogic information, but also indicate that SNR improvements are required for future spaceborne sensors to allow the same level of mapping that is currently possible from airborne sensors such as AVIRIS.
Potentials and Implications of Dedicated Highway Lanes for Autonomous Vehicles

The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) will have far-reaching effects on road traffic in cities and on highways.The implementation of automated highway system (AHS), possibly with a dedicated lane only for AVs, is believed to be a requirement to maximise the benefit from the advantages of AVs. We study the ramifications of an increasing percentage of AVs on the traffic system with and without the introduction of a dedicated AV lane on highways. We conduct an analytical evaluation of a simplified scenario and a macroscopic simulation of the city of Singapore under user equilibrium conditions with a realistic traffic demand. We present findings regarding average travel time, fuel consumption, throughput and road usage. Instead of only considering the highways, we also focus on the effects on the remaining road network. Our results show a reduction of average travel time and fuel consumption as a result of increasing the portion of AVs in the system. We show that the introduction of an AV lane is not beneficial in terms of average commute time. Examining the effects of the AV population only, however, the AV lane provides a considerable reduction of travel time (approx. 25%) at the price of delaying conventional vehicles (approx. 7%). Furthermore a notable shift of travel demand away from the highways towards major and small roads is noticed in early stages of AV penetration of the system. Finally, our findings show that after a certain threshold percentage of AVs the differences between AV and no AV lane scenarios become negligible.
Natriuretic peptides: linking heart and adipose tissue in obesity and related conditions – a systematic review

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between natriuretic peptides, obesity and related comorbidities. A systematic review of the English language literature from 1996 to 2008 was performed with Pubmed/MEDLINE and the ISI Web of Knowledge. ‘Natriuretic peptides’, ‘atrial natriuretic factor’, ‘brain natriuretic peptide’, ‘obesity’, ‘body mass index’, ‘lipolysis’ and ‘adipose tissue’ were used as Mesh terms. We also conducted a handle search among the references of the original articles selected. Finally, seventy‐five studies were considered eligible for inclusion in the review. Natriuretic peptides are widely known as body homeostasis regulators. Recently, their action as lipolytic agents has been identified. Obese patients, especially those with hypertension and metabolic risk factors, have reduced plasma levels of natriuretic peptides. Whether this precedes or follows obesity and its complications remains undefined. The lipolytic effect of natriuretic peptides indicates that they may be involved in the pathophysiology of obesity. In general, studies with obese patients support paradoxical reduced levels of natriuretic peptides. However, the selection of subjects and classification of obesity and heart failure varied among the reviewed studies, rendering comparison unreliable.
Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: distinct pattern of disease

Background Patients with encephalitis associated with antibodies against N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor antibody (NMDAR-ab) encephalitis frequently show psychotic symptoms, amnesia, seizures and movement disorders. While brain MRI in NMDAR-ab encephalitis is often normal, abnormalities of cerebral glucose metabolism have been demonstrated by positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG) in a few usually isolated case reports. However, a common pattern of FDG-PET abnormalities has not been reported. Methods The authors retrospectively identified six patients with NMDAR-ab encephalitis in two large German centres who underwent at least one whole-body FDG-PET for tumour screening between January 2007 and July 2010. They analysed the pattern of cerebral uptake derived from whole-body PET data for characteristic changes of glucose metabolism compared with controls, and the changes of this pattern during the course of the disease. Results Groupwise analysis revealed that patients with NMDAR-ab encephalitis showed relative frontal and temporal glucose hypermetabolism associated with occipital hypometabolism. Cross-sectional analysis of the group demonstrated that the extent of these changes is positively associated with clinical disease severity. Longitudinal analysis of two cases showed normalisation of the pattern of cerebral glucose metabolism with recovery. Conclusions A characteristic change in cerebral glucose metabolism during NMDAR-ab encephalitis is an increased frontotemporal-to-occipital gradient. This pattern correlates with disease severity. Similar changes have been observed in psychosis induced by NMDAR antagonists. Thus, this pattern might be a consequence of impaired NMDAR function.