Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
L-shaped multiband microstrip patch antenna for DCS and WLAN applications

This paper presents performance of a coaxially-fed L-shaped multiband microstrip patch antenna for DCS, Wi-Fi Security (IEEE 802.11-2012) and WLAN applications. The proposed antenna has been designed by etching L-shaped structure on a rectangular patch. In order to achieve the desired bandwidth, the proposed antenna is designed using thick substrate FR4. Ansoft HFSS simulation showed that the proposed design exhibits return loss of -17dB, -28dB and -22dB at 1.70-1.75 GHz, 3.69-3.78 GHz and 5.08-5.25 GHz respectively and VSWR <; 2 for all the three bands. Further, a gain of 1.2dB, 1.8dB and 7.05dB are noted for bands of interest. The observed characteristics suggest that the proposed antenna can be employed in a modern communication system having constraints in size and weight.
Plasma platelet products and exercise-induced myocardial ischemia.

Peripheral plasma concentrations of PF-4 and TxB2 were measured by RIA in 26 patients who underwent exercise stress testing. In group A (n = 15; age 50 +/- 16, mean +/- S.D.) in whom blood sampling was performed by venipuncture, seven patients had a positive stress test associated with an increase in PF-4 concentrations from 3.3 +/- 1.6 ng/ml to 6.9 +/- 3.6 (mean +/- S.D.); six of them demonstrated a greater than 50% increase in PF-4; and only one of eight with a negative stress test had such an increase. In group B (n = 11; 49 +/- 10 yr), patients also underwent postexercise thallium-201 scanning and blood samples were obtained through an intravenous catheter. These patients consistently demonstrated higher PF-4 values (before exercise 7.5 +/- 3.9 ng/ml; after exercise 11.9 +/- 7.1), regardless of the results of the exercise and thallium studies. TxB2 concentrations were unchanged in both groups. To further evaluate the effect of catheter-collected samples on PF-4, five healthy males had serial concurrent blood sampling in opposite arms via both venipuncture and catheter. Although PF-4 concentrations in venipuncture samples were constant, those collected through the catheter increased as a function of time. On the basis of the findings in group A, enhanced platelet activation appears to be associated with exercise-induced ischemia. The observations in group B and the healthy controls indicated that catheter-collection of samples artifactually increased PF-4 concentrations.
The Non-MHC Quantitative Trait Locus Cia5 Contains Three Major Arthritis Genes That Differentially Regulate Disease Severity, Pannus Formation, and Joint Damage in Collagen- and Pristane-Induced Arthritis1

Cia5 is a locus on rat chromosome 10 which regulates the severity of collagen- and pristane-induced arthritis (CIA and PIA). To refine the region toward positional identification, Cia5 subcongenic strains were generated and studied in PIA and CIA. The protective effect of the telomeric locus Cia5a was confirmed in both models. A second arthritis severity locus (Cia5d) was identified within the most centromeric portion of Cia5. DA.F344(Cia5d) rats had a significantly lower median arthritis severity index in PIA, but not in CIA, compared with DA. On histologic analyses DA.F344(Cia5a) and DA.F344(Cia5d) congenics with PIA preserved a nearly normal joint architecture compared with DA, including significant reduction in synovial hyperplasia, pannus, angiogenesis, inflammatory infiltration, bone and cartilage erosions. Cia5 and Cia5a synovial levels of IL-1β mRNA were reduced. Although both DA.F344(Cia5) and DA.F344(Cia5a) rats were protected in CIA, the arthritis scores of DA.F344(Cia5) were significantly higher than those of DA.F344(Cia5a), suggesting the existence of a third locus where F344-derived alleles centromeric from Cia5a contribute to increased arthritis severity. The existence of the third locus was further supported by higher levels of autoantibodies against rat type II collagen in DA.F344(Cia5) congenics compared with DA.F344(Cia5a). Our results determined that Cia5 contains three major arthritis severity regulatory loci regulating central events in the pathogenesis of arthritis, and differentially influencing CIA and PIA. These loci are syntenic to regions on human chromosomes 17q and 5q implicated in the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting that the identification of these genes will be relevant to human disease.
Galactose metabolic genes in yeast respond to a ratio of galactose and glucose

Significance Almost all biological systems need to respond to multiple simultaneous inputs. In yeast catabolite repression, a textbook model for signaling integration, the preferred carbohydrate glucose is thought to inhibit the induction of galactose genes when above a threshold concentration. Instead, we show that galactose metabolic genes induction depends on the ratio of galactose and glucose. Surprisingly, a critical portion of the information processing that determines the ratio response occurs upstream of the canonical signaling pathway. The use of modern combinatorial approaches has thus revealed a new signal processing paradigm that may be common throughout biology. Natural environments are filled with multiple, often competing, signals. In contrast, biological systems are often studied in “well-controlled” environments where only a single input is varied, potentially missing important interactions between signals. Catabolite repression of galactose by glucose is one of the best-studied eukaryotic signal integration systems. In this system, it is believed that galactose metabolic (GAL) genes are induced only when glucose levels drop below a threshold. In contrast, we show that GAL gene induction occurs at a constant external galactose:glucose ratio across a wide range of sugar concentrations. We systematically perturbed the components of the canonical galactose/glucose signaling pathways and found that these components do not account for ratio sensing. Instead we provide evidence that ratio sensing occurs upstream of the canonical signaling pathway and results from the competitive binding of the two sugars to hexose transporters. We show that a mutant that behaves as the classical model expects (i.e., cannot use galactose above a glucose threshold) has a fitness disadvantage compared with wild type. A number of common biological signaling motifs can give rise to ratio sensing, typically through negative interactions between opposing signaling molecules. We therefore suspect that this previously unidentified nutrient sensing paradigm may be common and overlooked in biology.
Prevalence of childhood asthma based on questionnaires and methacholine bronchial provocation test in Korea

Background In most epidemiological survey studies, only subjective symptoms and past medical history of asthma have been used as diagnostic criteria. Even though a questionnaire survey can be performed in a large population study at low cost, limitations such as lack of objectivity and poor predictability in non‐specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness cannot be avoided.
Elevation of serum interleukin-6 but not serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor in children with Crohn's disease.

Previous studies have demonstrated elevated serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R, CD25) in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of our study was to compare serum IL-6 and IL-2R levels to see if one marker better distinguished IBD from other intestinal disorders or better reflected disease activity. Blood samples were obtained from 41 pediatric patients with Crohn's disease, 22 with ulcerative colitis, 19 with other gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, and 13 with functional abdominal pain. Disease activity and disease location were determined for patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-2R were determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean serum levels of IL-6 were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in patients with Crohn's disease when compared with individuals with ulcerative colitis, other gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, or functional abdominal pain. By comparison, there was no significant difference in mean serum levels of IL-2R in individuals with Crohn's disease compared with these other groups. Patients with moderate/severe Crohn's disease had elevated mean serum levels of IL-6 and IL-2R when compared with those with mild and inactive disease (p < 0.05); however, neither marker distinguished between inactive and mild disease. IL-6 correlated better with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; r = 0.57, p < 0.001) than did IL-2R (r = 0.28, p < 0.01). Our results suggest that elevated IL-6 levels a.e more likely to be seen in patients with Crohn's disease. Although IL-6 may be a better marker for Crohn's disease and active disease than IL-2R, it does not appear to offer any advantage over the ESR.
Changes in muscle torque following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A comparison between hamstrings and patella tendon graft procedures on 45 patients

We designed a prospective study to examine the influence of graft type (hamstring or patella tendon) on thigh muscle torque recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. 60 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, using a hamstring or patella tendon graft, were studied and 45 were followed up to 1 year. Concentric and eccentric quadriceps and hamstring torque were recorded, using an isokinetic dynamometer preoperatively, 6 and 12 months after ACL reconstruction. We found an improvement in all muscle functions in both the operated and unoperated legs during the recovery period. Graft type had no effect on recovery. During the first 6 months, torque was restored to preoperative levels and continued to improve in all muscles and actions between 6 months and 1 year.
A 0.5–9.5-GHz, 1.2- $\mu \text{s}$ Lock-Time Fractional-N DPLL With ±1.25%UI Period Jitter in 16-nm CMOS for Dynamic Frequency and Core-Count Scaling

A phase-locked loop (PLL) architecture is proposed for improved efficiency of power and thermal management techniques in system-on-chips (SoCs). PLL architecture introduces two techniques: a dual-stage phase-acquisition loop filter that enables fast lock time of 1.2 μs without any frequency overshoots and a nonlinear DCO that enables a wide frequency range of 0.5-9.5 GHz and a low period jitter of ±1.25%UI p-p with a single wideband tuning. With this proposed PLL architecture, SoC can continue its operation without any interruption caused by frequency overshoots during power and thermal management techniques like dynamic core-count scaling and dynamic voltage frequency scaling. The PLL achieves 0.45 ps rms period jitter at 3.25 GHz in fractional-N mode operation, while consuming a total power of 7.1 mW.
Clinical presentation and outcome in lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease.

PURPOSE The patterns of presentation, histologic pattern (nodular or diffuse), treatment, and long-term outcome were studied in patients with lymphocyte-predominant (LP) Hodgkin's disease (HD) to determine whether these patients should be treated differently than patients with other subtypes of HD. PATIENTS AND METHODS Pathology was reviewed for 97 patients with an initial diagnosis of LPHD made between 1970 and 1993. Seventy-five patients had LPHD on review: 55 had nodular LPHD, 14 had diffuse LPHD, and six had LP histology without subclassification. There were 60 males (80%) and 15 females (20%). Sixty-six patients (88%), presented with clinical stage (CS) I or II disease. Seventy-one patients were treated at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy (JCRT) and were considered for analysis of treatment outcome. Sixty-one of these 71 were treated with radiation (RT) alone; 17 received mantle RT alone, 27 mantle and paraaortic RT, and seven total-nodal irradiation (TNI). Ten patients with subdiaphragmatic HD received pelvic and paraaortic RT. Of the 10 remaining patients, four were treated with RT and chemotherapy (CT) and six were treated with CT alone. The median follow-up time was 10.8 years. RESULTS The 10-year actuarial freedom-from-first-relapse (FFR) and 10-year overall survival rates for the 71 patients with LPHD treated at the JCRT were 80% and 93%, respectively. The 10-year actuarial FFR by nodular (n = 51), diffuse (n = 14), and unspecified (n = 6) histologic pattern was 74%, 100%, and 60%, respectively. Overall, 14 of 71 patients have relapsed: nine of 61 with stage IA, IB, or IIA disease and five of 10 with stage IIB to IVB disease have relapsed. The median time to relapse was 53 months. Nine of 71 patients have died. Only one death has been from HD: five patients died of second cancers, two of cardiac disease, and one of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Of seven patients with second malignancies, five died. None of the second malignancies were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). CONCLUSION Patients with LPHD have different patterns of presentation, sex and age distribution, and likelihood of occult abdominal disease than patients with nodular-sclerosing (NS) or mixed-cellularity (MC) disease. The median time to relapse for LP patients was later than reported for other histologic subtypes; however, there was no pattern of continuous late relapse. With pathologic staging and standard treatment, mortality from LPHD is low; nearly all deaths have been cardiac- or second tumor-related. This suggests that less aggressive treatment for LPHD might continue to yield excellent results, while perhaps lowering the long-term risk of complications.
An evaluation of the effectiveness of stakeholder dialogue in environmental decision-making.

Stakeholder participation is recognised as an important component of sustainable environmental decision-making. This understanding is supported by an 'idealised narrative' of benefits and predictions that describes stakeholder participation as delivering both transformative and substantive products. However, the relationship between the participatory process and products is poorly understood and has rarely been examined. As a result, the momentum behind the current rise in use of stakeholder participation methods is fuelled by a number of insufficiently tested normative statements. This thesis addresses this situation by exploring the effectiveness of stakeholder participation. The academic context to this evaluation reviews the arguments for participation in public policy found within the political science, natural resource management, and planning literatures. In particular, it draws on the theory of collaborative planning and the recent emergence of a parallel critical debate that identifies the challenges to effective stakeholder participation. Framed by this context, the empirical focus of this study is based on a particular participatory process called Stakeholder Dialogue. In order to establish a measure of effectiveness that goes beyond describing results and identifies potential explanations for the products of Stakeholder Dialogue the thesis develops an original evaluation strategy based around a retrospective case study methodology. The evaluation uncovers a complex picture of relationships which challenges the notion that alongside the successful production of a substantive product, an inclusive, transparent and deliberative process will also deliver a broad set of transformative benefits. At the heart of this complexity lies the interface between the multifaceted and pervasive influence of context, in particular its influence on the expectations and interests of stakeholders, and the notions of deliberation and inclusion that define participatory practice. Failure to address this complexity is compounded by the instrumental purpose behind environmental policy together these themes frustrate the delivery of comparable benefits to all participants.
Chemokine Antagonists That Discriminate between Interleukin-8 Receptors

Human neutrophils express two interleukin (IL)-8 receptors, CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR) 1 and CXCR2. IL-8 with changes to the NH2-terminal ELR motif can block IL-8-induced neutrophil functions (Moser, B., Dewald, B., Barella, L., Schumacher, C., Baggiolini, M., and Clark-Lewis, I. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 7125–7128). We have now examined the effect of NH2-terminally modified analogs of IL-8, GROα, and PF4 on CXCR1 and CXCR2 independently. Using stable Jurkat transfectants expressing either CXCR1 or CXCR2, it was shown that analogs derived from IL-8 bound both IL-8 receptors with similar affinity and could block IL-8-induced Ca2+ mobilization. By contrast, analogs of GROα and PF4, (R)GROα and (R)PF4, bound only CXCR2 with high affinity and blocked Ca2+ mobilization induced only via CXCR2. The differential effect on CXCR1 and CXCR2 was also demonstrated in studies with isolated neutrophils. Thus (R)GROα and (R)PF4 inhibited only the GROα but not the IL-8-stimulated elastase release, and these two analogs had no effect on IL-8-elicited superoxide generation, a response that is mediated by CXCR1 but not by CXCR2. These results show that CXCR2 selective receptor antagonists can be generated based upon the secondary binding determinants of GROα and PF4. They also highlight the primary importance of CXCR1 in chemokine-mediated release of granule enzymes and superoxide generation. The selective antagonists described may be used in future studies on IL-8 receptor signaling to define distinct steps leading to various functional responses induced in neutrophils via CXCR1 and CXCR2.
Clinician perspectives on cross-education in stroke rehabilitation

Abstract Purpose: Cross-education is a neural phenomenon where strength of an untrained muscle improves after unilateral training of the opposite homologous muscle. It has been extensively studied in healthy populations and shows promise for post-stroke rehabilitation. The purpose of this study is to understand current post-stroke upper extremity rehabilitation practice; clinician’s perspectives on cross-education and; facilitators and barriers to implementation of a cross-education intervention. Materials and methods: This qualitative study used an interpretive description framework. Twenty-three occupational therapists and two physiotherapists who worked with individuals with stroke were interviewed. Digital audio files were transcribed and then line-by-line coding for units of information was conducted by two investigators. A third investigator, who was not present during the interviews, participated in category development. Results and conclusions: Cross-education is paradoxical yet promising was the primary theme. This theme was elucidated by three descriptive categories: (1) therapists worked in a forced-use paradigm; (2) there was gap in current practice for those with more severe impairments in arm function; and (3) cross-education used as an adjunct could be useful within current practice for specific patients. Therapists suggested that educational materials for clinicians, patients, and patient families would be essential to the success of cross-education to explain training the less affected limb. This study provides important foundational information about clinician perspectives that will facilitate future translational research in this area. Implications for rehabilitation Cross education, or training the stronger arm to increase strength in the weaker arm, is an intervention particularly appropriate for people with stroke who have severe impairments in arm strength. This intervention should not replace the forced use paradigm, but may be a useful adjunct in rehabilitation. Therapists perceived that education of patients, families, therapists, and doctors would be critical for cross education to be implemented successfully – as it is opposite the forced use paradigm that characterizes most of stroke rehabilitation.
Use of analog spintronics device in performing neuro-morphic computing functions

Since spintronics devices are capable of retaining digital information as their magnetization direction, development of nonvolatile memories, so-called magnetoresistive random access memories (MRAMs), to realize low-power integrated circuits with the von Neumann architecture has been one of the mainstream outlets of spintronics research pursued in the last several decades. Meanwhile, neuromorphic-computing hardware with non-von Neumann architecture has started to attract a great deal of attention in the field of microelectronics. Neuromorphic computing allows for completion of complex tasks at high speeds and at low power consumption levels that conventional von Neumann computers struggle with [1,2]. Recent researches point out that the spintronics devices also have the capable characteristics to model the human brain [3-5]. In this presentation, we describe a proof-of-concept demonstration of an associative memory operation like the human brain using a spintronics device [6]. For this purpose, we employ a recently-found spin-orbit torque (SOT) induced switching [7-9] device consisting of an antiferromagnet (AFM)/ ferromagnet (FM) stack structure [10-12], which shows an analogue-like resistance switching and thus serves as an artificial synapse in artificial neural networks.
Similarity and Agreement in Self-and Other Perception: A Meta-Analysis

The authors examined the consistency of person perception in two domains: agreement (i.e., do two raters of the same person agree? ) and similarity (i.e., does a perceiver view two persons as similar to one another? ). In each domain, they compared self-judgments with judgments not involving the self (i.e., self-other agreement vs. consensus, in the case of agreement, and assumed similarity vs. assimilation, in the case of similarity). In a meta-analysis of 24 studies, they examined the effects of several moderating variables on each type of judgment. In general, moderators exerted similar effects irrespective of whether judgments of the self were involved. Group size did have stronger effects on self-other agreement and assumed similarity than on consensus and assimilation. The authors also present evidence that new measures of assumed similarity and self-other agreement using the Social Relations Model seem to be relatively independent of the moderators.
Investing Through Economic Cycles with Ensemble Machine Learning Algorithms

Ensemble machine learning algorithms (random forest and boosting) are applied to quickly and accurately detect economic turning points in the United States and in the Eurozone over the past three decades. The two key features of those algorithms are their abilities (i) to entertain a large number of predictors and (ii) to perform both variable selection and estimation simultaneously. The real-time ability to nowcast economic turning points is gauged by using investment strategies based on economic regimes induced by our models. When comparing predictive accuracy and profit measures, the model confidence set procedure is applied to avoid data snooping. We show that such investment strategies achieve impressive risk-adjusted returns: timing the market is thus possible.
Characterizing agile supply partnerships in the fashion industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate high-involvement and short-term supply relationships, known as agile supply partnerships (ASPs), and explores the conditions that support the development of such inter-organizational relationships. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative exploratory research design was followed, based on in-depth case studies of Italian fashion footwear manufacturers and their relationships with key suppliers. Findings – ASPs appear to be most relevant in supply material categories which have a high impact on the appearance or functionality of the product. Conversely, in supply categories with a low impact, long-term partnerships are preferred. Four main characteristics of ASPs are identified: they are part of a portfolio of relationships to balance the rigidities of long-term strategic partnerships; they have project-like features; they are developed from a network of pre-qualified suppliers; they are recurring and intermittent rather than continuous or isolated o.