Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and Development of a Compact UWB Monopole Antenna With Easily-Controllable Return Loss

This communication presents a novel cactus-shaped ultrawideband (UWB) monopole antenna fabricated on liquid crystal polymer (LCP). The proposed antenna is a very compact design, since it can be fabricated on a board with dimensions only <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$20\times28$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, while the three linear segments that comprise the cactus-shaped monopole provide a direct control on antenna matching. The proposed antenna is operating from 2.85 to 11.85 GHz and it presents very consistent omnidirectional patterns throughout the UWB frequency range. Return loss and pattern measurements are presented and the operation principles are discussed in detail. The simplicity of this topology, with the easily controllable return loss, allows for its easy implementation for various UWB subband designs, just by building suitable monopole versions, for which the only difference is the length of the three linear segments.
Narrow-band measurement and analysis of the inter-vehicle transmission channel at 5.2 GHz

The inter-vehicle transmission channel is characterised based on narrow-band measurements at 5.2 GHz. The measurement setup consists of a transmitter and a receiver, which are installed in two different vehicles. While measuring the transmission channel, both vehicles are manoeuvred in realistic road traffic scenarios. Measurements are obtained for four different classes of environments: urban, suburban (village), motorway and highway. Statistical functions, such as the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the received signal, the average Doppler power density spectrum and the level crossing rate (LCR), are derived for each class. The measured results are compared to analytical functions, such as the Rice, the Rayleigh, the Gauss or the Nakagami distribution. The least squares and the conjugate gradient method are used to fit the parameters of the analytical functions to the measurement data.
Cognitive behavioral variables mediate the associations of neuroticism and attachment insecurity with Prolonged Grief Disorder severity

Abstract Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a debilitating syndrome of grief. A recent cognitive behavioral model asserts that three processes are critical to this condition: (1) insufficient integration of the loss with autobiographical knowledge about the self and the lost person; (2) negative cognitions; and (3) anxious and depressive avoidance behaviors. These processes are assumed to contribute to PGD symptoms and to mediate the influence of personality-related vulnerabilities on the development and maintenance of these symptoms. The present study examined the mediational role of these three processes in the linkage between neuroticism, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance on the one hand and PGD symptom severity on the other hand. Self-reported data from 348 bereaved people were used. The results showed that the three personality variables were significantly associated with PGD symptom severity. Moreover, the results provided support for the mediating effects of indices of insufficient integration, negative cognitions, as well as avoidance behaviors – even after controlling for the shared variance between mediators. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
Micro-Brush Press-On Contact: A New Technique for Room Temperature Electrical and Mechanical Attachment

This paper reports a new technique called “ micro-brush” for easy mechanical attachment and electrical interconnection between two parts. Each of the two parts can be either a single die or a full wafer. They can be attached together in selected areas containing the “ micro-brushe” by simply “ pressing” them together. Each micro-brush is a large array of hair-like high-aspect-ratio metal posts. When pressed together, these metal posts bend and get engaged with others from the opposite side, creating a permanent electrical and mechanical contact, all done at room temperature. High-aspect-ratio arrays of metal posts are fabricated with an areal density of ~ 2,700,000 per cm2. The metal posts can be optionally coated with solder. Test structures have been fabricated and demonstrated mechanical and electrical attachment.
Nasotracheal intubation and epistaxis

during RSI, the DAS 2015 guidelines dictate that a supraglottic airway device (SAD) should be inserted [3]. Both the NAP4 [5] and the DAS guidelines [3] indicate that this should be a 2nd generation SAD [9]. It is perhaps this area where cricoid force has the potential to impact on airway management most as it obliterates the post-cricoid space that the distal SAD needs to occupy to be placed correctly. There is clear evidence that cricoid force must be removed during SAD placement [10]. For some devices (e.g. cLMA) re-application of cricoid force after SAD insertion will lead to airway obstruction [10]. Another advantage of a 2nd generation device such as the ProSeal LMA is that re-application of cricoid force, if deemed necessary, is unlikely to obstruct the airway [11]. There is a natural tendency in any debate for the opponents to take diametrically opposing views and this leads to selective quoting of the literature and a degree of entrenchment. As with many debates, the truth often lies somewhere in the middle – cricoid pressure has strengths and weaknesses. These need to be understood before it is used. Cricoid force remains logical when there is a high likelihood of benefit and a low risk of harm, but not when that equation is reversed. When cricoid force is applied (correctly by someone trained and rehearsed in its performance) and its effects viewed by the whole intubating team on a videolaryngoscope screen it is highly unlikely to cause harm. When there is concern that it is causing more harm than good it should be reduced, and if necessary released, while taking appropriate actions to manage aspiration if it occurs [4].
High Spontaneous Mutation Rate in the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus Is Mediated by Transposable Elements

ABSTRACT We have isolated uracil-auxotrophic mutants of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus in order to explore the genomic stability and mutational frequencies of this organism and to identify complementable recipients for a selectable genetic transformation system. Positive selection of spontaneous mutants resistant to 5-fluoroorotate yielded uracil auxotrophs with frequencies of between 10−4 and 10−5 per sensitive, viable cell. Four different, nonhomologous insertion sequences (ISs) were identified at different positions within the chromosomal pyrEF locus of these mutants. They ranged in size from 1,058 to 1,439 bp and possessed properties typical of known transposable elements, i.e., terminal inverted repeats, flanking duplicated target sequences, and putative transposase genes encoding motifs that are indicative of the IS4-IS5 IS element families. Between 12 and 25 copies of each IS element were found in chromosomal DNAs by Southern analyses. While characteristic fingerprint patterns created by IS element-specific probes were observed with genomic DNA of different S. solfataricusstrains, no homologous sequences were identified in DNA of other well-characterized strains of the order Sulfolobales.
Contrasting bacterioplankton community composition and seasonal dynamics in two neighbouring hypertrophic freshwater lakes.

We characterized the bacterioplankton community and its seasonal dynamics in two neighbouring hypertrophic lakes by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of short (193 bp) 16S ribosomal DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products obtained with primers specific for the domain Bacteria. Lake Blankaart is turbid and has a high phytoplankton biomass and episodic cyanobacterial blooms, whereas biomanipulated Lake Visvijver is characterized by clearwater conditions and the establishment of a dense charophyte vegetation. Both lakes were dominated by bacterial groups commonly found in freshwater habitats (e.g. ACK4 cluster of Actinomycetes; ACK stands for clones isolated from the Adirondack mountain lakes). Yet, cluster analysis and principal components analysis (PCA) revealed that taxon composition of the bacterioplankton community of the two lakes differs substantially and consistently throughout the season. During the study year (1998), the bacterioplankton community of both lakes showed a distinct seasonal pattern. Lake Blankaart showed a clear differentiation between winter, spring, summer and autumn. In Lake Visvijver, summer samples differed greatly from spring, autumn and winter samples. We hypothesize that the contrasting bacterioplankton in the two neighbouring shallow lakes is determined largely by the presence or absence of macrophytes.
Secrecy outage in correlated Nakagami-m fading channels

Correlation between the legitimate receiver and the eavesdropper has been seldom considered in the literature when evaluating secrecy metrics in stochastic wireless networks. In practice, however, poor scattering conditions may lead to spatially correlated channels, which can be exploited by eavesdroppers. In this paper we investigate the connection outage and secrecy outage in Poisson-distributed random networks under Nakagami-m fading and mutually correlated legitimate and eavesdropping channels. Numerical results show that correlated fading has an important effect on security, which may be either beneficial or harmful, depending on the secrecy outage constraints.
Control of robot arm using pneumatic artificial muscle with spherical joint

This paper describes the robot arm with a high affinity to a human arm, an increased demand for which is anticipated in welfare-related and elderly nursing fields. We used the spherical bearing and the pneumatic artificial muscle actuator for the arm that we developed. Moreover, to achieve the affinity, safety, and the controllability by a good balance, it examined the control law in consideration of the characteristic of the mechanism and the actuator. The pneumatic artificial muscle is lightweight and high power. In addition, it is possible for it to emit exhaust into the atmosphere because the transmission medium of its energy is air, and it needs neither a tank nor maintenance like hydraulic equipment. In addition, safety to a person and the environment is high because the base of the actuator is a soft polymeric material even if the damage to the artificial muscle is caused. On the other hand, because the device is composed of a thin film cylinder, and easily receives the influence of the outside power for the conversion of the volume change in rubber into physical contraction axially, and its passive character is strong, precise positional control is difficult. Therefore, we apply the H/sub /spl infin// control that is the method of frequency shaped, and construct a stubborn system to the unstructured uncertainty.
Multiple CD11c+ Cells Collaboratively Express IL-1β To Modulate Stromal Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Lymph Node Vascular–Stromal Growth

Lymphadenopathy in autoimmune and other lymphoproliferative diseases is in part characterized by immunoblasts and vascular proliferation. The lymph node vasculature, along with the nonvascular stromal compartment, supports lymphocyte function, and targeting vascular–stromal expansion in inflamed nodes may modulate lymphocyte function in disease. CD11c+ cells are essential for vascular–stromal proliferation and the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) needed for vascular proliferation. However, targetable CD11c+ cell–derived molecular mediators, the identity of relevant CD11c+ cells, and whether CD11c+ cells directly stimulate VEGF-expressing stromal cells are poorly understood. In this study we show that CD11c+ CD11b+ CCR2-dependent monocytes and CCR7-dependent dendritic cells express IL-1β. IL-1β blockade, IL-1β deficiency in radiosensitive cells, and CCR2/CCR7 double deficiency but not single deficiency all attenuate immunization-induced vascular–stromal proliferation. gp38+ stromal fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) that express VEGF are enriched for Thy1+ cells and partially overlap with CCL21-expressing FRCs, and FRC VEGF is attenuated with IL-1β deficiency or blockade. IL-1β localizes to the outer borders of the T zone, where VEGF-expressing cells are also enriched. Ex vivo, CD11b+ cells enriched for IL-1β+ cells can directly induce cultured gp38+Thy1+ FRCs to upregulate VEGF. Taken together, these results suggest a mechanism whereby multiple recruited CD11c+ populations express IL-1β and directly modulate FRC function to help promote the initiation of vascular–stromal growth in stimulated lymph nodes. These data provide new insight into how CD11c+ cells regulate the lymph node vascular–stromal compartment, add to the evolving understanding of functional stromal subsets, and suggest a possible utility for IL-1β blockade in preventing inflammatory lymph node growth.
Outcomes of comprehensive heart care programs in high-risk women.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to improve the fund of knowledge, reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and attain Healthy People 2010 objectives among women in model women's heart programs. METHODS A 6-month pre/post-longitudinal educational intervention of high-risk women (n = 1310) patients at six U.S. women's heart programs consisted of comprehensive heart health counseling and use of American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) Evidence-Based Guidelines as enhancement to usual care delivered via five integrated components: education/awareness, screening/risk assessment, diagnostic testing/treatment, lifestyle modification/rehabilitation, and tracking/evaluation. Demographics, before and after knowledge surveys, clinical diagnoses, laboratory parameters, and Framingham risk scores were also determined. Changes in fund of knowledge, awareness, and risk reduction outcomes and Healthy People 2010 objectives were determined. RESULTS At 6 months, there were statistically significant improvements in fund of knowledge, risk awareness, and clinical outcomes. Participants attained or exceeded >90% of the Healthy People 2010 objectives. Proportions of participants showing increased knowledge and awareness of CVD as the leading killer of women, of all signs and symptoms of a heart attack, and calling 911 increased significantly (11.1%, 25.4%, and 34.6%, respectively). Health behavior counseling for physical activity, diet, and diabetes as CVD risk factors increased significantly (28.3%, 28.2%, and 12.5%, respectively). There was a statistical 4.1% increase in participants with systolic blood pressure (SBP) <140/90 mm Hg, a 4.7% decrease in participants with total cholesterol (TC) >240 mg/dL, a 4.5% decrease in participants with TC >200 mg/dL, a 5.9% decrease in participants with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) <50 mg/dL, a 4.4% decrease in participants with HDL-C <40 mg/dL, and an 8.8% increase in diabetics with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <100 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS CVD prevention built around a comprehensive heart care model program and AHA/ACC Evidence-Based Guidelines can be successful in improving knowledge and awareness, CVD risk factor reduction, and attainment of Healthy People 2010 objectives in high-risk women. Thus, these programs could have a dramatic and lasting impact on the health of women.
Evaluation of the water-equivalence of plastic materials in low- and high-energy clinical proton beams

The aim of this work was to evaluate the water-equivalence of new trial plastics designed specifically for light-ion beam dosimetry as well as commercially available plastics in clinical proton beams. The water-equivalence of materials was tested by computing a plastic-to-water conversion factor, Hpl,w. Trial materials were characterized experimentally in 60 MeV and 226 MeV un-modulated proton beams and the results were compared with Monte Carlo simulations using the FLUKA code. For the high-energy beam, a comparison between the trial plastics and various commercial plastics was also performed using FLUKA and Geant4 Monte Carlo codes. Experimental information was obtained from laterally integrated depth-dose ionization chamber measurements in water, with and without plastic slabs with variable thicknesses in front of the water phantom. Fluence correction factors, kfl, between water and various materials were also derived using the Monte Carlo method. For the 60 MeV proton beam, Hpl,w and kfl factors were within 1% from unity for all trial plastics. For the 226 MeV proton beam, experimental Hpl,w values deviated from unity by a maximum of about 1% for the three trial plastics and experimental results showed no advantage regarding which of the plastics was the most equivalent to water. Different magnitudes of corrections were found between Geant4 and FLUKA for the various materials due mainly to the use of different nonelastic nuclear data. Nevertheless, for the 226 MeV proton beam, Hpl,w correction factors were within 2% from unity for all the materials. Considering the results from the two Monte Carlo codes, PMMA and trial plastic #3 had the smallest Hpl,w values, where maximum deviations from unity were 1%, however, PMMA range differed by 16% from that of water. Overall, kfl factors were deviating more from unity than Hpl,w factors and could amount to a few percent for some materials.
Resolution of Viable and Membrane-Compromised Bacteria in Freshwater and Marine Waters Based on Analytical Flow Cytometry and Nucleic Acid Double Staining

ABSTRACT The membrane integrity of a cell is a well-accepted criterion for characterizing viable (active or inactive) cells and distinguishing them from damaged and membrane-compromised cells. This information is of major importance in studies of the function of microbial assemblages in natural environments, in order to assign bulk activities measured by various methods to the very active cells that are effectively responsible for the observations. To achieve this task for bacteria in freshwater and marine waters, we propose a nucleic acid double-staining assay based on analytical flow cytometry, which allows us to distinguish viable from damaged and membrane-compromised bacteria and to sort out noise and detritus. This method is derived from the work of S. Barbesti et al. (Cytometry 40:214–218, 2000) which was conducted on cultured bacteria. The principle of this approach is to use simultaneously a permeant (SYBR Green; Molecular Probes) and an impermeant (propidium iodide) probe and to take advantage of the energy transfer which occurs between them when both probes are staining nucleic acids. A full quenching of the permeant probe fluorescence by the impermeant probe will point to cells with a compromised membrane, a partial quenching will indicate cells with a slightly damaged membrane, and a lack of quenching will characterize intact membrane cells identified as viable. In the present study, this approach has been adapted to bacteria in freshwater and marine waters of the Mediterranean region. It is fast and easy to use and shows that a large fraction of bacteria with low DNA content can be composed of viable cells. Admittedly, limitations stem from the unknown behavior of unidentified species present in natural environments which may depart from the established permeability properties with respect to the fluorescing dyes.
Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 December 2010–31 January 2011

This article documents the addition of 238 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alytes dickhilleni, Arapaima gigas, Austropotamobius italicus, Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Cobitis lutheri, Dendroctonus ponderosae, Glossina morsitans morsitans, Haplophilus subterraneus, Kirengeshoma palmata, Lysimachia japonica, Macrolophus pygmaeus, Microtus cabrerae, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Pallisentis (Neosentis) celatus, Pulmonaria officinalis, Salminus franciscanus, Thais chocolata and Zootoca vivipara. These loci were cross‐tested on the following species: Acanthina monodon, Alytes cisternasii, Alytes maurus, Alytes muletensis, Alytes obstetricans almogavarii, Alytes obstetricans boscai, Alytes obstetricans obstetricans, Alytes obstetricans pertinax, Cambarellus montezumae, Cambarellus zempoalensis, Chorus giganteus, Cobitis tetralineata, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, Glossina pallidipes, Lysimachia japonica var. japonica, Lysimachia japonica var. minutissima, Orconectes virilis, Pacifastacus leniusculus, Procambarus clarkii, Salminus brasiliensis and Salminus hilarii.
Aberrant Crypt Foci in the Colonic Mucosa of Rats Treated with a Genotoxic and Nongenotoxic Colon Carcinogen

Aberrant crypt foci (ACFs) are putative preneoplastic lesions in the colonic mucosa identified by examining methylene blue-stained whole mounts of colon. ACFs have been previously described in rats treated with genotoxic colon carcinogens. This study determined whether or not a nongenotoxic colon carcinogen could induce ACFs and compared the morphology of these ACFs with those induced by a genotoxic colon carcinogen. Six-wk-old Fischer-344 rats were administered dextran sulfate (DSS, nongenotoxin) in the drinking water or azoxymethane (AOM, genotoxin) by single subcutaneous injection. Rats were sacrificed at 9 and 14 wk after study initiation. Colons were fixed and stained with methylene blue, and the mucosal surface of transilluminated whole mounts was examined with a microscope. The number of ACFs and number of crypts per focus (multiplicity) were recorded. Representative ACFs were processed into glycol methacrylate for hexosaminidase enzyme histochemistry and sections of the remaining colon containing ACFs were embedded in paraffin for morphologic evaluation. In whole mounts, ACFs from AOM- and DSS-treated rats had elongated slit-to-oval-shaped lumens surrounded by a thickened and intensely stained epithelium. DSS-induced aberrant crypts differed from those induced by AOM in that they were frequently larger, tended not to form discrete foci circumscribed by normal crypts, and were located adjacent to ulcers. Total ACFs and large foci (4 or more crypts/focus) were significantly more numerous in AOM-treated rats at both time points. Histologically, DSS-induced ACFs had segmental to diffuse loss of hexosaminidase activity, mucin depletion to increased prominence of goblet cells, and marked distortion of crypt architecture. AOM-induced ACFs had diffuse loss of hexosaminidase activity, variable depletion of mucin, and less distortion of crypt architecture. Variable degrees of epithelial dysplasia were seen in ACFs with both carcinogens, but dysplasia was more severe in DSS-induced ACFs. Colonic mucosal neoplasms were induced by both carcinogens. In subchronic studies, the ACF assay may be a useful method to improve the identification and characterization of xenobiotic-induced changes in colonic mucosal crypts.
Knowledge sources, innovative activity and the performance of UK new technology based firms

We present an innovation value chain analysis for a representative sample of new technology based firms (NTBFs) in the UK. This involves determining which factors lead to the usage of different knowledge sources and the relationships that exist between those sources of knowledge; the effect that each knowledge source has on innovative activity; and how innovation outputs affect the performance of NTBFs. We find that internal (i.e. R&D) and external knowledge sources are complementary for NTBFs, and that supply chain linkages have both a direct and indirect effect on innovation. NTBFs' skill resources matter throughout the innovation value chain, being positively associated with external knowledge linkages and innovation success, and also having a direct effect on growth independent of the effect on innovation.