Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Guaranteeing secure communication in OFDM network with an active eavesdropper

In this paper, the problem of resource allocation for OFDM user to guarantee secure communication is considered. There exists an active eavesdropper which is able to either eavesdrop or jam the ongoing information transmission of OFDM user but not both at the same time. The OFDM user aim is to minimize its transmit power over all subcarriers while maintaining its secrecy rate above a predefined threshold. We assume that attacker chooses between jamming and eavesdropping based on the achievable rate of user in each case to minimize the secrecy rate of legitimate user. In addition, we assume that the OFDM user knows the policy of the attacker, and hence it considers the worst case in which the secrecy rate is the minimum between the secrecy rate when attacker jams and when attacker eavesdrops. We evaluate our proposed scheme by simulations and show its effectiveness.
A microstrip antenna for 60-GHz CMOS transceiver system in a package

This paper presents a microstrip antenna for 60-GHz CMOS transceiver system. The presented structure is fabricated using standard printed circuit board technology. To achieve a design suitable for integration with transceiver systems we investigate the effect of flip-chip interconnections to the return loss. The fabricated antenna achieves broad band characteristics showing -10 dB bandwidth of 6 GHz from 59 GHz to 65 GHz and has gain of 3.4 dBi.
Magnetic resonance imaging white matter hyperintensities in clinically normal elderly individuals. Correlations with plasma concentrations of naturally occurring antioxidants.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE White matter hyperintensities are a common magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) observation in the elderly. They are believed to represent a subclinical form of ischemic brain damage, but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are still incompletely understood. We postulated that oxidative mechanisms may favor the development of these changes and therefore correlated their presence and extent with the plasma concentrations of 10 naturally occurring antioxidants. METHODS We studied 355 clinically normal volunteers 45 to 75 years of age who were randomly selected from the official community register. A 1.5-T MRI of the brain and measurements of the plasma concentrations of antioxidants including zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin, lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene, retinol, gamma- and alpha-tocopherol, as well as ascorbate were performed in all study participants. White matter hyperintensities were graded as punctate, beginning confluent, and confluent abnormalities. RESULTS Punctate, beginning confluent, and confluent white matter abnormalities occurred in 101 (28.5%), 44 (12.4%), and 14 (3.9%) individuals, respectively. Study participants with white matter damage were significantly older and had a higher frequency of arterial hypertension and cardiac disease but lower serum concentrations of total cholesterol. The plasma levels of lycopene and alpha-tocopherol were significantly lower in subjects with early confluent and confluent white matter hyperintensities, while individuals with punctate foci had an antioxidant status similar to those with normal MRI scans. Alpha-tocopherol was the only antioxidant that remained significantly and inversely related to the presence of beginning confluent and confluent white matter changes after adjustment for the between-group differences in age, arterial hypertension, cardiac disease, and cholesterol. The adjusted odds ratio for early confluent and confluent white matter abnormalities was 3.70 (95% CI, 1.69 to 8.10) in the lowest compared with the highest quartile of the alpha-tocopherol concentration. The odds ratio increased to 7.11 (95% CI, 1.63 to 22.84) when quintiles of the alpha-tocopherol level were compared. CONCLUSIONS These data do not prove a causal relation, but they provide evidence of an association between low plasma concentrations of vitamin E and a higher risk of cerebral white matter disease in elderly normal subjects.
Acoustic microscopy with mechanical scanning&#8212;A review

Acoustic waves in liquids are known to have wavelengths comparable to that of visible light if the frequency is in the gigahertz range. The phenomena of Brillouin scattering in liquids is based on such waves. In helium near 2 K acoustic waves with a wavelength of 2000 Å were studied some ten years ago at UCLA. It follows from these observations that an imaging system based on acoustic radiation with a resolving power competitive with the optical microscope is within reach if an ideal lens free from aberrations could be found. Such a lens, which was so elusive at the beginning, is now a simple device and it is the basic component in the acoustic microscope that forms the basis for this review. In this article we will establish the characteristic properties of this new instrument. We will review some of the simple properties of acoustic waves and show how a single spherical surface formed at a solid liquid interface can serve as this ideal lens free from aberrations and capable of producing diffraction limited beams. When this is incorporated into a mechanical scanning system and excited with acoustic frequencies in the microwave range images can be recorded with acoustic wavelengths equal to the wavelength of visible light. We will present images that show the elastic properties of specimens selected from the fields of material science, integrated circuits, and cell biology. The information content in these images will often exceed that of the optical micrographs. In the reflection mode we illuminate the smooth surface of a crystalline material with a highly convergent acoustic beam. The reflected field is perturbed in a unique way that is determined by the elastic properties of the reflecting surface and it shows up in the phase of the reflected acoustic field. There is a distinct and characteristic response at the output when the spacing between the object and the lens is varied. This behavior in the acoustic ieflection microscope provides a rather simple and direct means for monitoring the elastic parameters of a solid surface. It is easy to distinguish between different materials, to determine the layer thickness, and to display variations in the elastic constants on a microscopic scale. These features lead us to believe there is a promising future for the field of acoustic microscopy.
A single dose of erythropoietin reduces perioperative transfusions in cardiac surgery: results of a prospective single‐blind randomized controlled trial

We conducted a prospective single‐blind randomized study to assess whether a single 80,000 IU dose of human recombinant erythropoietin (HRE), given just 2 days before cardiac surgery, could be effective in reducing perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion (aRBCt).
Dietary patterns and their associations with childhood obesity in China

Dietary patterns represent the combined effects of foods, and illustrate efficaciously the impact of diet on health outcomes. Some findings of previous studies have limited applicability to Chinese children due to cultural factors. The presnt study was designed to identify dietary patterns and determine their relationships with obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. Data collected from 1282 children and adolescents aged 7–17 years from the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) were used. Dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis of data from three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Weight and height were measured following standard methods, and BMI was calculated. Three dietary patterns were identified: modern (high intakes of milk, fast foods and eggs), traditional north (high intakes of wheat, tubers and other cereals) and traditional south (high intakes of vegetables, rice and pork). After adjusting for some confounders and total energy intake, subjects in the highest quartiles of the modern and traditional north patterns were found to have significantly greater risk of obesity (OR 3·10, 95 % CI 1·52, 6·32, and OR 2·42, 95 % CI 1·34, 4·39, respectively). In conclusion, the modern dietary pattern and the traditional north dietary pattern were associated with higher risk of obesity. Promoting healthier eating patterns could help prevent obesity in Chinese children.
Distributed photovoltaic power generation for energy-poor households: The Nigerian perspective

Energy is a necessity in any human society. While value is added to the lives of people in societies with good energy systems, energy-poor communities are pauperized. Electricity is needed for essential human activities. Nigeria with a population of about 160 million, despite its huge non-renewable and renewable energy resources, generates below 5,000MW. Only about 64 million people have access to electricity but with load shedding and unsteady supply at best. Most rural communities are impoverished by lack of access to energy and are rendered socially and economically handicapped. This paper highlights the types and benefits of distributed generation for developing countries. Different scenarios of energy consumption by a typical village household are studied assuming moderate loads; application of off-grid photovoltaic (PV) electricity is proposed as a solution to improve the way of life of the energy-poor homes. HOMER software is used for modeling and analyzing the PV systems and the cost. The paper is concluded with some recommendations and directions for future research.
Nutrition support teams: how they work, are set up and maintained

Safe cost effective nutritional support is provided by a multidisciplinary team whose activity is overseen by a Nutrition Steering Group that reports directly to the Hospital Trust Board. When a nutrition support team (NST) is first formed, a nutrition nurse specialist enables parenteral nutrition to be given safely. An NST needs to have a clearly agreed scope of practice and needs to be able to justify its presence in terms of quality and cost savings.
Dynamic simulation comparative study of energy needs for smart positive building using concrete blockwork and clay

In this paper, we first will report on the global situation regarding energy efficiency within buildings in Morocco, a promising sector that allows a real progress in many terms. Thereby we will take an interest in the flow of thermal energy for energy efficiency. For this we will use modeling tools such as TRNSYS to analyze energy efficiency gain from building materials. Then we will simulate the behavior of the building in two different scenarii while acting on different parameters using concrete blockwork and low cost local Clay based mixture. In addition we will show the impact of these parameters in the annual energy balance.
Alemtuzumab induction with tacrolimus monotherapy in 25 pediatric renal transplant recipients

ALA induction in transplantation has been shown to reduce the need for maintenance immunosuppression. We report the outcome of 25 pediatric renal transplants between 2007 and 2010 using ALA induction followed by tacrolimus maintenance monotherapy. Patient ages were 1–19 yr (mean 14 ± 4.1 yr). Time of follow‐up was 7–51 months (mean 26 ± 13 months). Tacrolimus monotherapy was maintained in 48% of patients, and glucocorticoids were avoided in 80% of recipients. Mean plasma creatinine and GFR at one yr post‐transplant were 0.88 ± 0.3 mg/dL and 104.4 ± 25 mL/min/1.73m2, respectively. One, two, and three‐yr actuarial patient and graft survival rates were 100%. The incidence of early AR (<12 months after transplantation) was 12%, while the incidence of late AR (after 12 months) was 16%. Forty‐four percent of the recipients recovered normal, baseline renal function after an episode of AR, and 44% had persistent renal dysfunction (plasma creatinine 1.0–1.8 mg/dL). One graft was lost four yr after transplantation due to medication non‐compliance. Four (16%) patients developed BK or CMV infection. In our experience, ALA induction with tacrolimus monotherapy resulted in excellent short‐ and mid‐term patient and graft survival in low‐immunologic risk pediatric renal transplant recipients.
Inflation expectations of Brazilian consumers: an analysis based on the FGV survey

ABSTRACT An accurate assessment of inflation expectations is crucial for the management of monetary policies. However, expectations are not directly observed and are hence normally inferred either from the interest rate structure or from surveys of professional forecasters. Alternatively, a direct measure may be obtained from consumer surveys. The aim of this paper is to study the formation of inflation expectations in Brazil, using a novel dataset based on the FGV/IBRE consumer survey. Basing our model on the rational inattention hypothesis, we find that individual heterogeneity plays a very significant role in shaping individual expectations; also, Brazilians adjust expectations to current inflation and to a fixed reference value, while professional forecasts do not play a very relevant role.
Victims and Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse

Background This article aims to inform clinicians of current thinking in the area of victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. It covers prevalence data as well as identification, effects and interventions with victims, and also characteristics, assessment and treatment of perpetrators. Method The review is based on manual searches and the authors' own clinical experience. Results All clinicians should be aware of signs and symptoms that raise the possibility that someone has been or is being sexually abused and also of the possibilities of abuse of boys and of women as abusers. Methods of intervening are discussed, both in relation to victims and perpetrators. The importance of thoroughness when assessing perpetrators is emphasised because of their tendency to deny and/or minimise their offending. The demands of this work are underlined in a section on the necessary qualifications and characteristics of therapists working in this area. Conclusions Despite the lack of agreement in definitions and outcome measures used in research there are some positive findings in relation to clinical efficacy. In particular, the need for long-term treatment with those offenders who are more seriously deviant has been supported by recent research. There is a need for continuing attempts to standardise definitions and measures to aid realistic comparison of research results.
Application of IEC flicker standards to Korean distribution systems

Voltage flicker is defined as "the impression of unsteadiness of visual sensation induced by a light stimulus whose luminance or spectral distribution fluctuates with time" according to IEC standard. And it is also known as voltage fluctuation, light flicker, and flicker. In Korea, the equivalent 10 Hz voltage flicker index has been used as the standard index. But now we are faced with the change into the new standard for flicker because U.S.A and many advanced European countries adopted the IEC 61000 standard as a criterion of voltage flicker. This paper introduces the digital flicker measuring algorithm based on IEC 61000-4-15 in detail and new approach for our unique distribution system
Influence on Mitochondria and Cytotoxicity of Different Antibiotics Administered in High Concentrations on Primary Human Osteoblasts and Cell Lines

ABSTRACT Osteomyelitis, osteitis, spondylodiscitis, septic arthritis, and prosthetic joint infections still represent the worst complications of orthopedic surgery and traumatology. Successful treatment requires, besides surgical débridement, long-term systemic and high-concentration local antibiotic therapy, with possible local antibiotic concentrations of 100 μg/ml and more. In this study, we investigated the effect of 20 different antibiotics on primary human osteoblasts (PHO), the osteosarcoma cell line MG63, and the epithelial cell line HeLa. High concentrations of fluoroquinolones, macrolides, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, rifampin, tetracycline, and linezolid during 48 h of incubation inhibited proliferation and metabolic activity, whereas aminoglycosides and inhibitors of bacterial cell wall synthesis did not. Twenty percent inhibitory concentrations for proliferation of PHO were determined as 20 to 40 μg/ml for macrolides, clindamycin, and rifampin, 60 to 80 μg/ml for chloramphenicol, tetracylin, and fluoroquinolones, and 240 μg/ml for linezolid. The proliferation of the cell lines was always less inhibited. We established the measurement of extracellular lactate concentration as an indicator of glycolysis using inhibitors of the respiratory chain (antimycin A, rotenone, and sodium azide) and glycolysis (iodoacetic acid) as reference compounds, whereas inhibition of the respiratory chain increased and inhibition of glycolysis decreased lactate production. The measurement of extracellular lactate concentration revealed that fluoroquinolones, macrolides, clindamycin, rifampin, tetracycline, and especially chloramphenicol and linezolid impaired mitochondrial energetics in high concentrations. This explains partly the observed inhibition of metabolic activity and proliferation in our experiments. Because of differences in the energy metabolism, PHO provided a more sensitive model for orthopedic antibiotic usage than stable cell lines.
Performance and power analysis of asynchronous pipeline design methods

In this paper, ten asynchronous pipeline styles are studied and compared. These include GasP, MOUSETRAP, IPCMOS, LP/sub SR/2/1, LP/sub HC/, STFB, LDA, LP2/1, RSPCFB and NCL. The first five designs are based on bundled-data (BD) category while the last five are based on data-driven (DD) category. Analytical expressions for the throughput and the latency of the asynchronous styles are presented. A 4-bit 4-stage FIFO circuit based on each style is designed and simulated utilizing HSPICE with a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The simulation results are then used to compare the FIFOs in terms of throughput, latency, power dissipation and transistor count.
Psychosocial work environment and medical symptoms among Swedish commercial airline cabin crew.

BACKGROUND Associations between stress measured by the demands-control model, iso-strain model, and stress-related symptoms among cabin crew were studied. METHODS A questionnaire about psychosocial work environment and symptoms was answered by 918 (82%) flight attendants, stewards, and pursers at one airline company in 2005. Adjustment was made for age, gender, smoking, job category, and flight length using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS Weekly headaches, concentration difficulties, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms were reported at rates of 18%, 10%, 56%, and 13%, respectively. Pursers scored higher on control than the others and they had lower associations between the strain measured by the demands-control model and symptoms than stewards and flight attendants. All symptoms were more common in the high strain situation than in the low strain (reference). An active situation was related to an excess of symptoms. Low social support in the iso-strain model increased risk of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Demands-control and iso-strain models are useful in studying stress-related symptoms in cabin crews. The dimension of social support adds explanatory value.
Role of recombinational repair in sensitivity to an antitumour agent that inhibits bacteriophage T4 type II DNA topoisomerase

The bacteriophage T4‐encoded type II DNA topoisomerase is the major target for the antitumour agent m‐AMSA (4‐(9‐acridinylamino)methanesulphon‐m‐anisidide) in phage‐infected bacterial cells. Inhibition of the purified enzyme by m‐AMSA results in formation of a cleavage complex that contains the enzyme covalently attached to DNA on both sides of a double‐strand break. In this article, we provide evidence that this cleavage complex is responsible for inhibition of phage growth and that recombinational repair can reduce sensitivity to the antitumour agent, presumably by eliminating the complex (or some derivative thereof). First, topoisomerase‐deficient mutants were shown to be resistant to m‐AMSA, indicating that m‐AMSA inhibits growth by inducing the cleavage complex rather than by inhibiting enzyme activity. Second, mutations in several phage genes that encode recombination proteins (uvsX, uvsY, 46 and 59) increased the sensitivity of phage T4 to m‐AMSA, strongly suggesting that recombination participates in the repair of topoisomerase‐mediated damage. Third, m‐AMSA stimulated recombination in phage‐infected bacterial cells, as would be expected from the recombinational repair of DNA damage. Finally, m‐AMSA induced the production of cleavage complexes involving the T4 topoisomerase within phage‐infected cells.
MR1‐restricted mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and its human host have long co‐evolved. Although the host cellular immune response is critical to the control of the bacterium information on the specific contribution of different immune cell subsets in humans is incomplete. Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a prevalent and unique T‐cell population in humans with the capacity to detect intracellular infection with bacteria including Mtb. MAIT cells detect bacterially derived metabolites presented by the evolutionarily conserved major histocompatibility complex‐like molecule MR1. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of this T‐cell subset and address the potential roles for MR1‐restricted T cells in the control, diagnosis, and therapy of tuberculosis.
The Use of Transgenic and Mutant Mice to Study Oxygen Free Radical Metabolism

ABSTRACT: To distinguish the role of Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) from that of cytoplasmic CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), the mouse MnSOD gene (Sod2) was inactivated by homologous recombination. Sod2−/− mice on a CD1 (outbred) genetic background die within the first 10 days of life (mean, 5.4 days) with a complex phenotype that includes dilated cardiomyopathy, accumulation of lipid in liver and skeletal muscle, metabolic acidosis and ketosis, and a severe reduction in succinate dehydrogenase (complex II) and aconitase (a TCA cycle enzyme) activities in the heart and, to a lesser extent, in other organs. These findings indicate that MnSOD is required to maintain the integrity of mitochondrial enzymes susceptible to direct inactivation by superoxide. On the other hand, Lebovitz et al. reported an independently derived MnSod null mouse (Sod2tmlLeb) on a mixed C57BL/6 and 129Sv background with a different phenotype. Because a difference in genetic background is the most likely explanation for the phenotypic differences, the two mutant lines were crossed into different genetic backgrounds for further analyses. To study the phenotype of Sod2tmlLeb mice CD1 background, the Sod2tmlLeb mice were crossed to CD1 for two generations before the −/+ mice were intercrossed to generate −/− mice. The life span distribution of CD1〈Sod2−/−〉Leb was shifted to the left, indicating a shortened life span on the CD1 background. Furthermore, the CD1〈Sod2−/−〉Leb mice develop metabolic acidosis at an early stage as was observed with CD1〈Sod2−/−〉Cje. When Sod2tmlCje was placed on C57BL/6J (B6) background, the −/− mice were found to die either during midgestation or within the first 4 days after birth. However, when the B6〈Sod2−/+〉Cje were crossed with DBA/2J (D2) for the generation of B6D2F2〈Sod2−/−〉Cje mice, an entirely different phenotype, similar to that described by Lebovitz et al., was observed. The F2 Sod−/− mice were able to survive up to 18 days, and the animals that lived for more than 15 days displayed neurological abnormalities including ataxia and seizures. Their hearts were not as severely affected as were those of the CD1 mice, and neurological degeneration rather than heart defect appears to be the cause of death.