Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Ultrawideband System for Multiuser Data Communications

In this paper, a novel ultrawideband system for multiuser data communications is proposed. In this system multiple users are allowed to transmit on-off keying modulated signals in the same time intervals and exploiting the same frequency subband. Time/frequency overlapped data frames sent by distinct users include low data rate training sequences characterized by different repetition periods. This transmission strategy, known as rate division multiple access in the technical literature, allows to ease two fundamental tasks at the receive side, namely joint channel estimation and timing synchronization. Channel estimates are exploited by a multiuser detector based on a zero forcing equalizer. Numerical results evidence that the proposed solution yields good error performance at the price of a limited complexity.
Exercise increases tryptophan availability to the brain in older men age 57-70 years.

PURPOSE Many aspects of serotonergic activity, both central and peripheral in origin, undergo significant changes with human aging. These alterations might predispose elderly people to develop mood disorders. Because previous work showed that increasing the peripheral availability of tryptophan (TRP) to the brain holds antidepressant properties, this study evaluated whether TRP availability to the brain is increased during prolonged exercise in older men. METHODS Nineteen males age 64 ± 3 yr completed a treadmill exercise bout at an HR eliciting ∼68% V˙O(2peak) for 60 min. Fasting blood was collected at rest, after 30 and 60 min of exercise, and at 90 min (after exercise). Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), total and free TRP, prolactin, ammonia, nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, and lactate were measured. RESULTS Changes in free TRP/BCAA ratio and prolactin were used as peripheral proxies of central serotonin synthesis rate and activity. The free TRP/BCAA ratio observed at baseline was increased by 102% after 1 h of exercise (P < 0.0001) and remained elevated after exercise (78% above baseline, P < 0.001). The free TRP portion in serum increased from 2.8 ± 0.7 to 5.7 ± 1.8 μmol·L⁻¹ after 1 h of exercise (P < 0.001) and was strongly correlated with plasma nonesterified fatty acid contents (r₁₇ = 0.887, P < 0.0001, all time points). Serum prolactin was significantly elevated after 1 h of exercise (8.6 ± 2.4 μg·L⁻¹, P < 0.001) and was positively correlated with free TRP/BCAA ratio (r₁₆ = 0.48, P < 0.05, all time points). CONCLUSIONS These results concur with previous observations in younger men and unveil that significant elevations in TRP availability to the brain are encountered during sustained exercise in older men. These results provide support to the hypothesis that increases in serotonin synthesis and activity might be involved in the antidepressant effect of exercise in the elderly.
Letting Patients ’ Daily Living Information Speak : A Novel Approach to Study Geriatric Patients with Dementia and Hypertension

Geriatric patients with dementia and hypertension (DAH) suffer both physically and financially. The needs of these patients mainly include improving the quality of daily living and reducing the cost of long-term care. Traditional treatment approaches are strained to meet these needs. The goal of the paper is to propose an innovative treatment approach to provide cost-effective quality therapies for geriatric patients with DAH by collecting and analyzing the multi-dimensional personal information, such as observations in daily living (ODL) from a non-clinical environment. The proposed ODLs in paper include activities, cleanliness, blood pressure, medication compliance and mood changes. To complete the system design, an incremental user-centered strategy is exploited to assemble needs of patients, caregivers, and clinicians. A service-oriented architecture (SOA) is employed to make full use of existing devices, software systems, and platforms. This health-related knowledge can be interpreted and utilized to help patients with DAH remain in their homes safely and improve their life quality while reducing medical expenditures.
Multinationale Unternehmen und internationales Personalmanagement. Eine vergleichende institutionalistische Perspektive

In diesem Beitrag wird ein Ansatz zur Erforschung der Personalpolitik in multinationalen Unternehmen vorgestellt, der sich inzwischen zu einem eigenständigen Forschungsstrang in der internationalen Personalforschung entwickelt hat. Dieser Ansatz hat im deutschsprachigen Raum bisher nur wenig Aufmerksamkeit erfahren. Es werden sowohl die Vorgehensweise in der Forschung als auch bereits vorliegende Befunde empirischer Studien auf der Basis dieses Ansatzes vorgestellt. Anschließend erfolgt eine kritische Würdigung des Ansatzes und der empirischen Studien. Dabei werden der Erklärungsbeitrag und die Erklärungsgrenzen des Ansatzes mit Blick auf die Personalpolitik multinationaler Unternehmen herausgearbeitet. Darüber hinaus werden Überlegungen zu den Entwicklungspotenzialen dieses Ansatzes angestellt.
Phylogeography and natural selection in the Tenerife gecko Tarentola delalandii: testing historical and adaptive hypotheses

Combining phylogeographic and matrix correspondence approaches in the analysis of geographical variation provides a fruitful approach to inferring the causes of molecular and morphological evolution within species. Here we present a study on the gecko Tarentola delalandii on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, which provides an outstanding model of an exceptionally high degree of phylogeographic differentiation in magnitude and pattern on a small spatial scale. We reconstruct the population history of T. delalandii using phylogeographic information, matrix correspondence tests and estimates of divergence times in conjunction with geological data. It appears that populations differentiated on three precursor islands and secondary contact followed the junction of these islands. The cytochrome b sequence appears to be evolving at least at ≈ 1% per million years in this species. Matrix correspondence tests indicate that morphological character systems may reflect ecological selection regimes (colour pattern), history (body dimensions) or both (scalation). The results imply that natural selection can override a historical legacy, but also underline the potential relevance of molecular phylogenetic data for the interpretation of geographical variation in morphology.
Treatment of severe pneumonia in hospitalized patients: results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial comparing intravenous ciprofloxacin with imipenem-cilastatin. The Severe Pneumonia Study Group

Intravenously administered ciprofloxacin was compared with imipenem for the treatment of severe pneumonia. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial, which included an intent-to-treat analysis, a total of 405 patients with severe pneumonia were enrolled. The mean APACHE II score was 17.6, 79% of the patients required mechanical ventilation, and 78% had nosocomial pneumonia. A subgroup of 205 patients (98 ciprofloxacin-treated patients and 107 imipenem-treated patients) were evaluable for the major efficacy endpoints. Patients were randomized to receive intravenous treatment with either ciprofloxacin (400 mg every 8 h) or imipenem (1,000 mg every 8 h), and doses were adjusted for renal function. The primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were bacteriological and clinical responses at 3 to 7 days after completion of therapy. Ciprofloxacin-treated patients had a higher bacteriological eradication rate than did imipenem-treated patients (69 versus 59%; 95% confidence interval of -0.6%, 26.2%; P = 0.069) and also a significantly higher clinical response rate (69 versus 56%; 95% confidence interval of 3.5%, 28.5%; P = 0.021). The greatest difference between ciprofloxacin and imipenem was in eradication of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (93 versus 65%; P = 0.009). Stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated the following factors to be associated with bacteriological eradication: absence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P < 0.01), higher weight (P < 0.01), a low APACHE II score (P = 0.03), and treatment with ciprofloxacin (P = 0.04). When P. aeruginosa was recovered from initial respiratory tract cultures, failure to achieve bacteriological eradication and development of resistance during therapy were common in both treatment groups (67 and 33% for ciprofloxacin and 59 and 53% for imipenem, respectively). Seizures were observed more frequently with imipenem than with ciprofloxacin (6 versus 1%; P = 0.028). These results demonstrate that in patients with severe pneumonia, monotherapy with ciprofloxacin is at least equivalent to monotherapy with imipenem in terms of bacteriological eradication and clinical response. For both treatment groups, the presence of P. aeruginosa had a negative impact on treatment success. Seizures were more common with imipenem than with ciprofloxacin. Monotherapy for severe pneumonia is a safe and effective initial strategy but may need to be modified if P. aeruginosa is suspected or recovered from patients.
Prenatal Metformin Exposure in a Maternal High Fat Diet Mouse Model Alters the Transcriptome and Modifies the Metabolic Responses of the Offspring

Aims Despite the wide use of metformin in metabolically challenged pregnancies, the long-term effects on the metabolism of the offspring are not known. We studied the long-term effects of prenatal metformin exposure during metabolically challenged pregnancy in mice. Materials and Methods Female mice were on a high fat diet (HFD) prior to and during the gestation. Metformin was administered during gestation from E0.5 to E17.5. Male and female offspring were weaned to a regular diet (RD) and subjected to HFD at adulthood (10-11 weeks). Body weight and several metabolic parameters (e.g. body composition and glucose tolerance) were measured during the study. Microarray and subsequent pathway analyses on the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue of the male offspring were performed at postnatal day 4 in a separate experiment. Results Prenatal metformin exposure changed the offspring's response to HFD. Metformin exposed offspring gained less body weight and adipose tissue during the HFD phase. Additionally, prenatal metformin exposure prevented HFD-induced impairment in glucose tolerance. Microarray and annotation analyses revealed metformin-induced changes in several metabolic pathways from which electron transport chain (ETC) was prominently affected both in the neonatal liver and adipose tissue. Conclusion This study shows the beneficial effects of prenatal metformin exposure on the offspring's glucose tolerance and fat mass accumulation during HFD. The transcriptome data obtained at neonatal age indicates major effects on the genes involved in mitochondrial ATP production and adipocyte differentiation suggesting the mechanistic routes to improved metabolic phenotype at adulthood.
Efficient Uzawa Algorithms for Two Phase Stefan Type Problems

In this paper we present and analyze Uzawa type algorithms for solving discretized variational inequalities arising from two phase Stefan type problems. For a Uzawa type algorithm and its improved version we show convergence and derive bounds on convergence rates. For the improved Uzawa algorithm, the convergence rate is shown to be uniformly bounded away from 1 if τh−2 is kept bounded, with τ the time stepsize and h the space meshsize.
Long-Term Durability of Tenofovir-Based Antiretroviral Therapy in Relation to the Co-Administration of Other Drug Classes in Routine Clinical Practice

Background In clinical trials, toxicity leading to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) discontinuation is rare (3% by 2 years); however in clinical practice it seems to be higher, particularly when TDF is co-administered with ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PI/r). Aims of this study were to assess the rate of TDF discontinuations in clinical practice and to identify factors associated with the risk of stopping TDF. Methods All antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naive patients initiating a TDF-based regimen were selected from the ICONA Foundation Study cohort. The primary outcome was TDF discontinuation regardless of the reason; secondary outcome measures were TDF discontinuation due to toxicity and selective TDF discontinuation (that is, TDF discontinuation or substitution, maintaining unchanged the remaining antiretroviral treatment). Results 3,618 ART-naïve patients were included: 54% started a PI/r-based and 46% a NNRTI-based based regimen. Two-hundred-seventy-seven patients discontinued TDF and reintroduced ART within 30 days without TDF. The probability of TDF discontinuation regardless of the reason was of 7.4% (95%CI:6.4–8.5) by 2 years and 14.1% (95%CI:12.2–16.1) by 5 years. The 5-year KM estimates in the PI/r vs. NNRTI group were 20.4% vs. 7.6%, respectively (log-rank p = 0.0001), for the outcome of stopping regardless of the reason, and 10.7% vs. 4.7% (p = 0.0001) for discontinuation due to toxicity. PI/r use and lower eGFR were associated with an increased risk of discontinuing TDF. Conclusion In our cohort, the frequency of TDF discontinuations was higher than that observed in clinical trials. Co-administration of TDF with PI/r was associated with an increased rate of TDF discontinuations. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms that might have led to this outcome.
Various Views on Spatial Prepositions

In this article, principles involving the intrinsic, deictic, and extrinsic use of spatial prepositions are examined from linguistic, psychological, and AI approaches. First, I define some important terms. Second, those prepositions which permit intrinsic, deictic, and extrinsic use are specified. Third, I examine how the frame of reference is determined for all three cases. Fourth, I look at ambiguities in the use of prepositions and how they can be resolved. Finally, I introduce the natural language dialog system CITYTOUR, which can cope with the intrinsic, deictic, and extrinsic use of spatial prepositions, and compare it with the approaches dealt with in the previous sections as well as to some other AI systems.
PHARMACEUTICAL CRYSTAL ENGINEERING IN MICROFLUIDIC EMULSIONS

In this paper, we present a crystallization platform that couples capillary microfluidics-based emulsion generation with evaporative crystallization for the production of monodisperse spherical agglomerates of glycine, a model molecule for API crystallization studies. This platform enables us to produce exquisitely uniform spherical agglomerates (SAs) in industrially relevant size ranges. Furthermore, on-line high-speed imaging provides valuable and hitherto unmatched insights into crystallization dynamics within emulsion droplets. We show that our system can be extended to other analogous molecules in a straightforward fashion. We also discuss several crucial aspects of crystallization dynamics that could extend our system’s applicability to industrially relevant solutes.
Ringteraction: Coordinated Thumb-index Interaction Using a Ring

The thumb has the unique property of being opposable to the other fingers and is thus used to perform specific tasks such as grasping objects, which cannot be done otherwise. In this paper we present an interactive ring that takes advantage of this biomechanical advantage, by enabling thumb-index interaction. We propose a set of gestures involving the coordinated movement of the thumb against the proximal phalanx of the index finger that we call bi-digit interaction. Further, we present several scenarios where performing bi-digit interaction is quick, easy and advantageous for users.
Productivity of millet/cowpea intercrop as affected by cowpea genotype and row arrangement

Six cowpea genotypes (Danila, IT96D-772, IT90K-277-2, IT95K-1091-3, IT96D-740, IT96D-757) were intercropped with a local millet cultivar using four row arrangements (1:1, 1:2, 2:2 and 2:4 millet to cowpea rows) in a field experiment conducted at Minjibir near Kano in the Sudan savanna ecological zone of Nigeria during the 1999 and 2000 wet seasons. Cowpea genotypes and row arrangement had no effect on the grain yield, yield attributes and partial LER of millet. However, millet panicle weight per m was significantly lower at 1:1 and 2:2 2 row arrangements compared to 1:2 and 2:4 arrangements in 2000. Mean cowpea grain yield was reduced by 47% as a result of intercropping with millet. Intercropped cowpea grain yield varied from 472 to 861 kg/ha, with IT90K-277-2 recording the highest grain yield and partial land equivalent ratio (LER). Grain yield and partial LER of cowpea were significantly higher at 2:4 row arrangement compared with the other row arrangements in both seasons. The highest total LER (1.26) and gross monetary return were obtained using the dual purpose improved medium maturing photoperiod insensitive genotype, IT90K-277-2. Row arrangement had no significant effect on the total LER in 1999 whilst in 2000 total LER was higher at 2:4 row arrangement relative to the other arrangements. In both seasons, the highest gross monetary return was obtained from 2:4 row arrangement.
Facial Rejuvenation Using Botulinum Toxin A: Review and Updates

The aesthetic applications of botulinum toxin A (Botox) are well known to certain medical and nonmedical communities. This nonsurgical rejuvenation modality continues to be in high demand in part because of the immediacy of its effects, its high safety profile, and its no-downtime recovery period. The physician interested in using Botox for facial rejuvenation needs to have a working knowledge of facial anatomy and botulinum toxin pharmacology and clinical experience with Botox injections.
Agent Based Campus Internal Network Intrusion Detection Model

The aim of the research is the modeling and impleme ntation of an intrusion detection system (IDS) with focus on internally generated intrusions on a multi-Disciplinary campus network using Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria as a case study. A.B. U Zaria campus network is a complex network cov ering three campuses, 12 faculties and over a hundr ed Departments and as such there are varied types of users with diverse a pplication requirements. Traffic data for a period of 24 months (January 2011 to December 2012) comprising of local to local and loc a to remote were used in developing the knowledge base of the IDS. The overhead of each packet derived from properties and composition of each packet is determined and used to form the behavior base of the IDS. The overhead determined is compare d to a threshold called the safe score. This is the maximum allowable overhead for an Ethernet frame and has a value of 0 . 45. The developed model hybridizes the knowledge – based and behaviorbased detection techniques and is implemented as an gent based application (using autonomous and adap tic agents or workers) in a program written in C-sharp(C#). If any packet has an overhead greater than the safe score, it is logged for further analysis. In the validation stage, the model processed 3,422,000 packets and 2328 packets were logged. Using Wiresh a k for the analysis of the logged packets, 298 packets (13% of the logged packets) were determined not to be malicious but of applications and or protocols not in the original knowledge-base and as such the knowledge base was updated. The IDS model dev loped is capable of updating its knowledge base, can sniff traffic d irectly on the network and utilizes less than 15.5% of ROM and CPU capacity at peak traffic period. It also showed about 50% im provement in the number of unknown applications and protocols identified by Netflow analyzer upon implementation .
A Global Solution to Sparse Correspondence Problems

We propose a new methodology for reliably solving the correspondence problem between sparse sets of points of two or more images. This is a key step inmost problems of computer vision and, so far, no general method exists to solve it. Our methodology is able to handle most of the commonly used assumptions in a unique formulation, independent of the domain of application and type of features. It performs correspondence and outlier rejection in a single step and achieves global optimality with feasible computation. Feature selection and correspondence are first formulated as an integer optimization problem. This is a blunt formulation, which considers the whole combinatorial space of possible point selections and correspondences. To find its global optimal solution, we build a concave objective function and relax the search domain into its convex-hull. The special structure of this extended problem assures its equivalence to the original one, but it can be optimally solved by efficient algorithms that avoid combinatorial search. This methodology can use any criterion provided it can be translated into cost functions with continuous second derivatives.
Deep vein thrombosis: a clinical review

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of blood clots (thrombi) in the deep veins. It commonly affects the deep leg veins (such as the calf veins, femoral vein, or popliteal vein) or the deep veins of the pelvis. It is a potentially dangerous condition that can lead to preventable morbidity and mortality. Aim: To present an update on the causes and management of DVT. Methods: A review of publications obtained from Medline search, medical libraries, and Google. Results: DVT affects 0.1% of persons per year. It is predominantly a disease of the elderly and has a slight male preponderance. The approach to making a diagnosis currently involves an algorithm combining pretest probability, D-dimer testing, and compression ultrasonography. This will guide further investigations if necessary. Prophylaxis is both mechanical and pharmacological. The goals of treatment are to prevent extension of thrombi, pulmonary embolism, recurrence of thrombi, and the development of complications such as pulmonary hypertension and post-thrombotic syndrome. Conclusion: DVT is a potentially dangerous condition with a myriad of risk factors. Prophylaxis is very important and can be mechanical and pharmacological. The mainstay of treatment is anticoagulant therapy. Low-molecular-weight heparin, unfractionated heparin, and vitamin K antagonists have been the treatment of choice. Currently anticoagulants specifically targeting components of the common pathway have been recommended for prophylaxis. These include fondaparinux, a selective indirect factor Xa inhibitor and the new oral selective direct thrombin inhibitors (dabigatran) and selective factor Xa inhibitors (rivaroxaban and apixaban). Others are currently undergoing trials. Thrombolytics and vena caval filters are very rarely indicated in special circumstances.
Group II intron splicing factors derived by diversification of an ancient RNA‐binding domain

Group II introns are ribozymes whose catalytic mechanism closely resembles that of the spliceosome. Many group II introns have lost the ability to splice autonomously as the result of an evolutionary process in which the loss of self‐splicing activity was compensated by the recruitment of host‐encoded protein cofactors. Genetic screens previously identified CRS1 and CRS2 as host‐encoded proteins required for the splicing of group II introns in maize chloroplasts. Here, we describe two additional host‐encoded group II intron splicing factors, CRS2‐associated factors 1 and 2 (CAF1 and CAF2). We show that CRS2 functions in the context of intron ribonucleoprotein particles that include either CAF1 or CAF2, and that CRS2–CAF1 and CRS2–CAF2 complexes have distinct intron specificities. CAF1, CAF2 and the previously described group II intron splicing factor CRS1 are characterized by similar repeated domains, which we name here the CRM (chloroplast RNA splicing and ribosome maturation) domains. We propose that the CRM domain is an ancient RNA‐binding module that has diversified to mediate specific interactions with various highly structured RNAs.