Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hybrid precoding for DL massive MU-MIMO systems with distributed antenna deployments

Massive Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) using distributed antenna systems (DASs) have emerged as a promising architecture for future mobile communications, because of their advantage in improving the spectral efficiency and power efficiency. Unfortunately, the RF transceivers introduce huge cost due to the higher complexity of the hardware with the antennas increase. In this paper we consider a massive MU-MIMO system which encompasses an hybrid beamforming architecture and distributed antennas. In the hybrid beamformer the analog beamformer controls the phase in the corresponding phase shifter of a given antenna and the zero-forcing baseband processing is applied afterwards over the effective channel. Geometrical one ring scattering model is adopted for the channel and the results show that, relative to the co-located massive MU-MIMO with the same antenna configuration, MU-MIMO-DAS alternative allows to achieve a significantly higher performance.
Macroencapsulation Protects Against Sensitization after Allogeneic Islet Transplantation in Rats

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risks of sensitization by islet grafts encapsulated in a bilaminar immunoprotective membrane. Methods. We studied five groups of Lewis rats: one control group (no islets), two groups that received free islets (200 or 1000 s.c.), and two groups that received encapsulated ones (200 or 1000 s.c.) from Dark Agouti (DA) rats. Four weeks later, abdominal heterotopic DA-heart transplantation was performed on the same recipients. The time-to-heart graft rejection was assessed by the cessation of heart contractions. Rejection was confirmed by histological examinations. Antidonor antibodies were determined by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Results. The control animals had a mean heart graft survival of 6.4 days. The free islet groups had significantly shorter heart graft survivals—i.e., 4.8 days (200 islets) and 1.0 day (1000 islets) (P<0.001)—while those of the encapsulated islet groups were about the same as that of the control group—i.e., 6.4 days (200 islets) and 6.0 days (1000 islets). In the free islet groups, anti-DA antibodies developed in 7/10 (200 islets) and 8/8 (1000 islets) animals after the islet transplantation. In the encapsulated groups, 1/10 (200 islets) and 3/8 (1000 islets) animals developed anti-DA antibodies after these transplantations. All animals had anti-DA antibodies at the time of heart graft rejection. On histological examination all grafts showed various features of rejection. Conclusions. The bilaminar membrane protects against sensitization and prevents accelerated rejection of a subsequent vascularized graft, at least during the first month after the islet transplantation.
EFFECTS ON PROTEIN KINASE C AND GENE EXPRESSION IN A HUMAN MAST CELL LINE, HMC‐1, FOLLOWING MICROWAVE EXPOSURE

We used a resonant cavity which delivered a continuous wave exposure at 864.3MHz at an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 7W/kg to determine non‐thermal biological effects of microwave exposure. A human mast cell line, HMC‐1, was used as the biological target. Cells were given three exposures each of 20‐min duration daily for 7 days. The temperature of the cell culture medium during the exposure fell to 26.5°C. Effects were seen on localization of protein kinase C, and expression of three genes of 588 screened. The affected genes included the proto‐oncogene c‐kit, the transcription factor Nucleoside diphosphate kinase B and the apoptosis‐associated gene DAD‐1. Stress response genes were variably upregulated. No significant effect on morphology or on F‐actin distribution was detected. We conclude that low‐power microwave exposure may act on HMC‐1 cells by altering gene expression via a mechanism involving activation of protein kinase C, and at temperatures well below those known to induce a heat shock response.
Abnormally high thromboxane biosynthesis in homozygous homocystinuria. Evidence for platelet involvement and probucol-sensitive mechanism.

Homocystinuria due to homozygous cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism characterized by a high incidence of thrombosis and premature atherosclerosis. We evaluated TXA2 biosynthesis in vivo and several in vitro tests of platelet function in 11 homocystinuric patients and 12 healthy controls. In vitro, patients' platelet aggregation was within control values as were TXB2 formation, fibrinogen binding, and ATP secretion in response to thrombin. In contrast, the urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-TXB2, a major enzymatic derivative of TXA2, was > 2 SD of controls in all patients (1,724 +/- 828 pg/mg creatinine, mean +/- SD, in patients vs. 345 +/- 136 in controls, P < 0.001). The administration to four patients of low-dose aspirin (50 mg/d for 1 wk) reduced metabolite excretion by > 80%. The recovery of 11-dehydro-TXB2 excretion over the 10 d that followed aspirin cessation occurred with a pattern consistent with the entry into the circulation of platelets with intact cyclooxygenase activity. Prolonged partial reduction in the abnormally high excretion of both 11-dehydro-TXB2 and 2,3-dinor-TXB2, was also observed in seven patients who ingested 500 mg daily for 3 wk of the antioxidant drug probucol. These results provide evidence for enhanced thromboxane biosynthesis in homocystinuria and for its partial dependence on probucol-sensitive mechanisms. Furthermore, the elevated TXA2 formation in homocystinuria is likely to reflect, at least in part, in vivo platelet activation.
Analysis of the small band-rejected antenna with the parasitic strip for UWB

A novel band-rejected ultrawideband antenna with one parasitic strip is presented in this paper. It is designed to work on a substrate FR4 that has a thickness of 1 mm and relative permittivity of 4.6, and to operate from 3 to 17 GHz. The proposed antenna is fed by microstrip line and utilizes the parasitic strip to reject the frequency band (5.15-5.825 GHz) limited by IEEE 802.11a and HIPERLAN/2. The size of the antenna is 20/spl times/20 mm/sup 2/ and this antenna has good radiation characteristics. Effects of varying the location and length of the parasitic strip and the structure of the ground and monopole patch on the antenna performance have also been studied.
Natural Resources and Sub-National Economic Performance: Do Economic or Political Institutions Matter?

The differentiation in the impact of resources on economic growth is often explained by the specifics of political and institutional factors. The aim of this paper is to study this effect looking separately at economic and political institutions and at their interaction. Unlike most empirical papers in the literature, this paper considers the intra-national variation of institutional environment and political decision-making mechanisms, using a dataset of the Russian regions. It shows that sub-national variation of the quality of institutions indeed matters for the growth effects of resources and conjectures about possible mechanisms of these influences. Specifically, in Russia there is a positive and robustly significant resource effect observed only for regions with high quality of economic institutions and low democracy. This paper also studies the differentiation between the resource-extracting regions and regions, exporting, but not extracting resources, and shows that only for the former resource effect is conditional on institutional quality.
Falls after Stroke

Falls are common at all stages after stroke, occurring in the acute, rehabilitative, and chronic phases. Consequences of falls include death or serious injury, minor injuries, functional limitations, reduced mobility and activity, and fear of falling. These consequences can have implications for independence and quality of life after stroke. The high frequency of falls may be due to a combination of existing falls risk factors prior to the stroke as well as impairments from the stroke, such as decreased strength and balance, hemineglect, perceptual problems, and visual problems. This paper reviews the magnitude of the problem of falls in people with stroke, highlights risk factors, and summarizes the limited randomized controlled trial evidence on falls prevention in this population. There is a need for further high quality research investigating the effectiveness of interventions to reduce falls and injury in people with stroke from onset through to the chronic stage.
Explaining vote switching to niche parties in the 2009 European Parliament elections

Assuming that the electoral success of niche parties in EP elections is largely due to the vote switching in EP elections, this study seeks to explore the motivations leading mainstream party supporters to switch to niche parties in EP elections (niche switching voters). From the results of analyses, some important findings could be drawn. First, for niche switching voters, the ‘protest voting’ motivation is very important motive. In particular, they are strongly driven by their profound distrust in mainstream politics in switching to niche parties. Second, unlike the existing literature, European considerations matter in their voting behavior. Third, vote choice based on the niche issues also has important effect on their voting behavior. This demonstrates clearly that, niche switching voters are different from other switching voters.
Standard atlas of the gross anatomy of the developing inner ear of the chicken

During development, the chicken inner ear undergoes a series of morphological changes which give rise to the various structures found in the adult, including the mature semicircular canals, utricle, saccule, cochlear duct, endolymphatic duct and sac, and neurons of the eighth cranial nerve ganglion. Beginning as a hollow epithelial sphere, the inner ear is sculpted into this complex labyrinth of fluid‐filled ducts punctuated by their associated sensory end organs. In this report, the three‐dimensional complexity of the developing inner ear of the chicken embryo is documented in the form of a standard atlas. The protocol involved fixation, dehydration, and clearing of embryonic heads harvested at daily intervals, followed by injection of an opaque dye (enamel paint suspension) into the fluid ducts of the inner ear. The position of the ear is shown relative to surface landmarks at seven different stages of development, ranging from embryonic day 5 (E5) to E18. Also shown are higher‐power photomicrographs of the inner ear in isolation taken at daily intervals at E3–E17 and viewed from two orthogonal positions. Three orthogonal views are shown at 6‐hour intervals during the critical stages of semicircular canal formation (E6–E7). Quantitative measurements of the linear dimensions of the inner ear (dorsoventral, anteroposterior, and mediolateral axes) as a function of time indicate a linear increase in the growth of the ear from E3 through E18. This atlas should prove valuable for evaluating mutant phenotypes in inner ear morphogenesis following gene perturbation experiments in the chicken. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
‘How to make the most of your time in the Chair’: EU presidencies and the management of Council debates

ABSTRACT How to manage a successful Council presidency continues to be a subject for debate. The literature has come a long way in identifying the roles and tasks of the presidencies. The debate is about the powers they have and the normative constraints they face while performing these roles. This paper focuses on how presidencies can effectively manage internal Council debates. We suggest a three-step mechanism that links performance to success. We subsequently perform a process tracing analysis of five Council presidencies and assess their relative performance in one (prioritized) issue area: the EU's Balkan enlargement policies. We argue that success depends on the fit between the Chair's and the Council's consecutive moves, in which the former has a first mover disadvantage. This explains why it has proven so difficult for presidencies to fulfil the roles that, with hindsight, were required.
Design of low-profile broadband dual-polarized integrated patch sub-array for X-band SAR payload on small satellite

A practical low-profile broadband dual-polarized patch sub-array is designed for highly integrated X-band SAR payload on small satellite with enhanced isolation, suppressed cross-polarization and reduced side-lobe level. The proposed sub-array is lightweight with low profile (due to its tile structure realized by multi-layer PCB process). The proposed sub-array has 14-dB operating bandwidths of 0.7 GHz for both H- and V-pol radiations with isolation above 40 dB. It achieves the realized gain of 15 dBi. The side lobe levels are below -20 dB. The cross-to-co polarization ratios are lower than -40 dB at the bore-sight maximum-gain direction.
Service development to meet the needs of 'people with communication disabilities' in developing countries.

PURPOSE In spite of the catastrophic consequences of impaired communication skills on the quality of human life, development of services for people with communication disabilities have low priority in health care and rehabilitation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in developing countries. The low coverage levels of the limited services which do exist in these countries, indicate a need to develop new and innovative service structures. It is to this end, given the limited literature available, that this review looks mainly at articles of a descriptive nature based on clinical experience. The review seeks to identify ideology which could be used to under-pin alternative service delivery and structures. METHOD Three collections of literature relevant to the topic under discussion are identified, one collection relates to impairment categories, one to disability perspectives and one to speech and language therapy provision. It is recognized that all three collections are needed to form a basis for innovative change, but this review aims to examine the latter collection only, referring the reader to items in the other collections, when relevant. RESULTS The information reviewed is analysed for recurring themes and the results are seen to concur with many of the disability perspectives expressed in present day literature.
Open journalism: dynamics of change and continuity in news work in the 21st century

This review of eight years of research into digital media addresses the methodological and epistemological issues and tensions arising out of the emergence of new communicative spaces that have expanded the range of actors involved in the construction of the news. Until recently, journalism has developed as a relatively closed professional culture for the production of knowledge, based on a system of editorial control. Yet digital media technologies have disrupted established concepts of communication, prevailing notions of space and time and the distinction between public and private spheres. The research in this portfolio highlights elements of change and continuity in the way journalists think about and engage in their work, through processes of adaptation shaped by cultural, social, economic and technological factors. The work reveals how far participatory media technologies are transforming how journalists and audiences relate to the news in a profession where norms and routines that have remained, until now, decidedly consistent. But it goes beyond a focus on journalists as a distinct group to advance ideas about how the media environment itself is being reconfigured, particularly due to the development of social media. The research presented here on Twitter reveals how news and information have become woven into social awareness streams that represent a constantly updated public account of the experiences, interests and opinions shared by the platform’s users. They are able to reframe or reinterpret messages through networked platforms that extend the dissemination of news through social interaction, infusing hybridity in news production, selection and dissemination
Stent-Related Iliac Artery and Iliac Vein Infections: Two Unreported Presentations and Review of the Literature

Purpose: To discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of stent-related infections on the basis of 2 new cases and historical review. Case Reports: Two previously unreported cases of vascular stent infection are presented with a summary of cases from the literature. One case involved an iliac artery stent infection secondary to a remote bacteremia 6 months after stent placement. The other case was an early iliac vein stent infection, a previously unreported site of this complication. Both cases were diagnosed by use of computed tomography and were treated surgically after medical management failed. Both patients survived. Conclusions: A high index of suspicion is necessary for the diagnosis of stent infections, and an aggressive treatment is usually necessary for survival. Prophylactic antibiotics should definitely be considered in cases involving repeat interventions and prolonged catheterization, as well as before bacteremia-inducing therapies.
The time-frame of acute resistance exercise effects on football skill performance: The impact of exercise intensity

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the recovery rate of football skill performance following resistance exercise of moderate or high intensity. Ten elite football players participated in three different trials: control, low-intensity resistance exercise (4 sets, 8–10 repetitions/set, 65–70% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]) and high-intensity resistance exercise (4 sets, 4–6 repetitions/set, 85–90% 1RM) in a counterbalanced manner. In each experimental condition, participants were evaluated pre, post, and at 24, 48, 72 h post exercise time points. Football skill performance was assessed through the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test, long passing, dribbling, shooting and heading. Delayed onset muscle soreness, knee joint range of motion, and muscle strength (1RM) in squat were considered as muscle damage markers. Blood samples analysed for creatine kinase activity, C-reactive protein, and leukocyte count. Passing and shooting performance declined (P < 0.05) post-exercise following resistance exercise. Strength declined post-exercise following high-intensity resistance exercise. Both trials induced only a mild muscle damage and inflammatory response in an intensity-dependent manner. These results indicate that football skill performance is minimally affected by acute resistance exercise independent of intensity suggesting that elite players may be able to participate in a football practice or match after only 24 h following a strength training session.
Orocecal Transit Time in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

Background The importance of intestinal dysmotility in functional dyspepsia is a controversial issue. Goals To investigate the orocecal transit time in patients with functional dyspepsia, as well as a possible association between intestinal transit and the presence of anxiety or Helicobacter pylori infection in these patients. Study The participants in this study were 23 patients with dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia and 24 control subjects. Orocecal transit time was measured by the lactulose hydrogen breath test. The presence of anxiety was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Results No significant difference in orocecal transit times was found between patients (median, 55 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI], 40–60 minutes) and control subjects (median, 50 minutes; 95% CI, 40–60 minutes;p = 1). In the assessment, 15 patients (73%) scored for anxiety on the HAD scale, and 15 patients (65%) had positive test results for H. pylori. There was no significant difference in orocecal transit times between the patients with (median, 55 minutes; 95% CI, 40–63 minutes) and those without H. pylori infection (50 minutes; 95% CI, 40–68 minutes;p = 0.85), or between the patients with (median, 45 minutes; 95% CI, 40–68 minutes) and those without (60 minutes; 95% CI, 40–63 minutes;p = 0.77) anxiety. Conclusions Orocecal transit time is within the normal range in patients with functional dyspepsia. Anxiety and H. pylori infection do not seem to influence orocecal transit time in these patients.
Firm‐Level Monopsony and the Gender Pay Gap

Using a dynamic labor supply model and linked employer-employee data, I find evidence of substantial search frictions, with females facing a higher level of frictions than males. However, the majority of the gender gap in labor supply elasticities is driven by across firm sorting rather than within firm differences, a feature predicted in the search theory literature, but which has not been previously documented. The gender differential in supply elasticities leads to 3.3% lower earnings for women. Roughly 60% of the elasticity differential can be explained by marriage and children penalties faced by women but not men.
Diagnostic Tests in Chronic Kidney Disease

OVERVIEW • Urinary protein excretion of <150 mg/day is normal (∼30 mg of this is albumin and about 70–100 mg is Tamm-Horsfall (muco)protein, derived from the proximal renal tubule). Protein excretion can rise transiently with fever, acute illness, urinary tract infection (UTI) and orthostatically. In pregnancy, the upper limit of normal protein excretion is around 300 mg/day. Persistent elevation of albumin excretion (microalbuminuria) and other proteins can indicate renal or systemic illness. • Repeat positive dipstick tests for blood and protein in the urine two or three times to ensure the findings are persistent. • Microalbuminuria is an early sign of renal and cardiovascular dysfunction with adverse prognostic significance. • Non-visible haematuria (NVH) is present in around 4% of the adult population – of whom at least 50% have glomerular disease. • If initial glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is normal, and proteinuria is absent, progressive loss of GFR amongst those people with NVH of renal origin is rare, although long-term (and usually community-based) follow-up is still recommended. • Adults aged 40 years old or more should undergo cystoscopy if they have NVH. • Any patient with NVH who has abnormal renal function, proteinuria, hypertension and a normal cystoscopy should be referred to a nephrologist. • Blood pressure control, reduction of proteinuria and cholesterol reduction are all useful therapeutic manoeuvres in those with renal causes of NVH. • All NVH patients should have long-term follow-up of their renal function and blood pressure (this can, and often should be, community-based). • Renal function is measured using creatinine, and this is now routinely converted into an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) value quickly and easily. • The most common imaging technique now used for the kidney is the renal ultrasound, which can detect size, shape, symmetry of kidneys and presence of tumour, stone or renal obstruction.