Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Series-cascaded rings dual-band filter

This paper presents a new topology of dual-band bandpass filter which is based on two series-cascaded ring resonators and fed via quarter-wavelength coupled-lines. Based on such topology, a microstrip dual-band filter is designed and realized on FR4 substrate. The passbands of the dual-band filter are centered at 0.89 GHz and 1.20 GHz with relative bandwidths of 18 % and 11 %. Simulated and measured results are presented throughout this paper to validate the idea.
Genetic diversity in Proteus mirabilis isolates found in the urinary tract of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE Elevated levels of anti-Proteus antibodies but not antibodies to E. coli have been reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The suggestion has been made that P. mirabilis may have a role in the aetiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences at the genetic level inisolates of P. mirabilis obtained from controls and RA patients. METHODS A blind study was performed whereby P. mirabilis isolates obtained from urinary cultures of RA patients and controls were analysed using RAPD PCR. Isolates were then grouped on the basis of their DNA band profile after agarose gel electrophoresis, thereby allowing the composition of the Proteus population in the urinary tract to be analysed at the genetic level. RESULTS Fourteen different DNA band profiles were obtained from the 93 isolates tested: 70% of these isolates fell into only five of the 14 groups and approximately 25% of all isolates fell into one group. No differences were observed in the frequency of isolates from either control or RA subjects. CONCLUSIONS There is genetic diversity in P. mirabilis populations found in the urinary tract, but there are no differences in the frequency of these bacteria between RA patients and controls.
Performance analysis of a mobility gateway for GPRS-WLAN integration

To integrate GPRS and WLANs, we propose a GPRS-WLAN mobility gateway (GWMG) which resides on the border of the GPRS and WLAN systems. The design goal is to minimize the modifications in GPRS and WLANs, as both systems are already widely available in the market. By deploying GWMG, users can seamlessly roam between the two systems. The paper presents analytical models to quantify the performance of the design. Handoff latency and buffer size on the GWMG are analyzed. The results show that the GWMG can achieve the design goal to integrate GPRS and WLANs effectively.
Prior sleep with zolpidem enhances the effect of caffeine or modafinil during 18 hours continuous work.

INTRODUCTION Continuous military operations may disrupt sleep-wakefulness cycles, resulting in impaired performance and fatigue. We assessed the treatment efficacy of a hypnotic-psychostimulant combination to maintain sleep quality, performance, and alertness during a 42-h simulated military operation. METHODS A 6-h prophylactic sleep period with zolpidem (ZOL) followed by a 18-h continuous work period with administration at midway of 300 mg of slow release caffeine (CAF) or 200 mg of modafinil (MOD) was performed by eight healthy male subjects. Performance level was assessed with a reaction time test, a memory search test, a dual task, an attention test, and a computerized Stroop test. Cortical activation level was evaluated by the Critical Flicker Frequency test. Subjective sleepiness was evaluated using a visual analog scale and questionnaires. Effects of drugs on prophylactic and recovery sleep were also quantified from EEG recordings. RESULTS CAF and MOD maintained performance and alertness throughout the 18-h work period. As shown by EEG recordings, ZOL improved prophylactic sleep without any deleterious effect on performance immediately after waking. As a result of its positive effects on prophylactic sleep, a lower pressure for slow wave sleep during recovery sleep was observed; nevertheless, zolpidem did not enhance the effects of either psychostimulant on performance. DISCUSSION MOD and CAF may be of value in promoting performance and wakefulness during shiftwork or military operations while zolpidem improves prophylactic sleep quality without any deleterious effect after waking. We concluded that a zolpidem/ caffeine or modafinil combination could be useful in a context of environmental conditions not conducive to sleep.
New High Power / High Voltage Battery-Free Bus for Electrical Propulsion in Satellites

In this paper a solution for the power conditioning and distribution unit (PCDU) of the solar electric propulsion module (SEPM) is proposed. The electronic propulsion system is made out of ion thrusters which need a very steady supply voltage and therefore care has to be taken during switch off of the ion thrusters (beam-out) to avoid transient overvoltages (they must be less than 2%). The new conception is a new sequential switching shunt maximum power regulator (S3MPR) consisting in a sequential switching shunt regulator (S3R), to keep the SA voltage at its maximum power point (MPP) followed by a boost regulator to produce a constant 100 V to supply the electronic propulsion (EP). The PCU has been verified by means of testing on a scaled-down Power Subsystem of 1 kW output power.
The fab and the smart city: the use of machines and technology for the city production by its citizens

During the last decades, the relationship between technology and people has been continuously changing; the first computers and cnc machines appeared at the middle 50's, personal computers on the 70's, the popularization of Internet on the 90's, and more recently the smartphones (which combine both), produced an evolution on how and for what we are using extended capabilities to relate ourselves with the reality. These new tools are now part of our everyday activities and lives, giving us a vast access to the production (and consumption) of knowledge as never did before, and also the opportunity to share it from/to anywhere, at anytime, and by/for anyone. A simple microcontroller in a control room of the city could affect the lives of thousands of people, a twitted message could modify our mobility patterns, or a broken stoplight can change the time we arrive to our daily activities. It seems that we are more and more dependent on technology, but we might change that. The provision of tools for citizens to reinvent their cities could change the dependency of technology, and furthermore develop a closer relationship between humans and machines, working together for a common purpose.
Profil épidémiologique de l'HTA en milieu hospitalier à Bamako

L'auteur rapporte les resultats d'une etude prospecfive sur l'epidemiologie de l'HTA observee en milieu hospitalier. La prevalence de l'HTA parmi les motifs de consultafion externe est de 20,83 % avec une nette predominance feminine (65 %). L'HTA est familale chez 45 % des patients. Le tabac et l'obesite en sont les facteurs de risque dominants avec respectivement 42,37 % et 30,5 % de frequence
Insurance and racial differences in long-term acute care utilization after critical illness*

Objectives:To determine whether insurance coverage and race are associated with long-term acute care hospital utilization in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Design:Retrospective cohort study. Setting:Nonfederal Pennsylvania hospital discharges from 2004 to 2006. Patients:Eligible patients were aged 18 yrs or older, of white or black race, and underwent mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit during their hospital stay. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:We used multivariable logistic regression with hospital-level random effects to determine the independent association between discharge to long-term acute care hospital, insurance status, and race after appropriate controls, including a chart-based measure of severity of illness. The primary outcome measure was discharge to long-term acute care hospital. Of 66,233 eligible patients, 84.7% were white and 15.3% were black. More white patients than black patients had commercial insurance (23.4% vs. 14.9%) compared to Medicaid (10.6% vs. 29.7%) or no insurance (1.3% vs. 2.2%). Long-term acute care hospital transfer occurred in 5.0% of patients. On multivariable analysis in patients aged younger than 65 yrs, black patients were significantly less likely to undergo long-term acute care hospital transfer (odds ratio, 0.71; p = .003), as were patients with Medicaid vs. commercial insurance (odds ratio, 0.17; p < .001). Analyzing race and insurance together and accounting for hospital-level effects, patients with Medicaid were still less likely to undergo long-term acute care hospital transfer (odds ratio, 0.18; p < .001), but race effects were no longer present (odds ratio, 1.06; p = .615). No significant race effects were seen in the Medicare-eligible population aged 65 yrs or older (odds ratio for transfer to long-term acute care hospital, 0.93; p = .359). Conclusions:Differences in long-term acute care hospital utilization after critical illness appear driven by insurance status and hospital-level effects. Racial variation in long-term acute care hospital use is not seen after controlling for insurance status and is not seen in a group with uniform insurance coverage. Differential access to postacute care may be minimized by expanding commercial or Medicare insurance availability and standardizing long-term acute care admission criteria across hospitals. (Crit Care Med 2012; 40:–1149)
Design and Performance of a 24-GHz Switch-Antenna Array FMCW Radar System for Automotive Applications

We develop a 24-GHz switch-antenna array frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar system composed of a single transmitter, a single transmitting antenna, four receiving antennas, a single-pole four-throw (SP4T) switch, and a single receiving channel. The antennas are integrated with radio-frequency (RF) and intermediate-frequency (IF) circuits to reduce the interconnection loss and realize a compact whole size. The receiving antennas are periodically switched to the single receiving channel. The performance of the developed system is evaluated using beamforming methods to estimate the angle, range, and velocity.
A New Image Re-coloring Method

In this paper, we propose a new method to transform colors in the image according to the user’s emotion. First, we labeled the images into four basic emotions such as happy, sad, fear and anger from the users’ evaluation. After that, we compute color histograms using 36 quantized HSV scheme. After that, we intersect color histograms and finally construct color templates for basic emotions. To reflect the user’s preferences in color perception for specific emotion, we designed interactive genetic algorithm. First, we generate first stage individuals using color templates from the input image. From them, we extract chromosomes for HSV color space and then generate next stage individuals using crossover and mutation operations. After a few number of iterations, we stop the process and extract personalized color templates from the finalized image. Using personalized color templates, the user can generate an affection-based color transformed image according to his own preference. Survey results show that desirable results are obtained from our proposed personalized color templates.
A Static State Estimation Approach Including Bad Data Detection and Identification in Power Systems

This paper presents an efficient method for power system static state estimation along with a statistical technique of bad data detection and identification. In the estimation process, the exponential function is utilized to modify the variances of measurements in anticipation of maintaining the estimation performance under the bad data scenario. Besides, with the aid of the proposed gap statistic method, those bad data can be effectively detected and identified from the set of raw measurements. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, this method has been tested under different simulated scenarios. Test results help confirm the feasibility of the method for the applications considered.
Effects of noise and jitter on algorithms for bandpass sampling in radio receivers

Bandpass sampling (BPS) is an undersampling technique by intentional aliasing. Conventional uniform discrete sampling within an f/sub s/ band normally results in a bad signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) due to signal spectrum aliasing. The noise combined in each of the f/sub s/ bands below the highest frequency of the signal (the so called noise spectrum aliasing) and timing jitter are two causes of performance degradation in BPS system. Nonuniform BPS has the potential to suppress signal spectrum aliasing due to the aperiodic property of nonuniform sampling (NUS). In this paper, the frequency spectra of uniform sampling (US) and NUS are analyzed, signal spectrum aliasing, noise spectrum aliasing and jitter effects in BPS are studied. Finally, the performance of reconstruction algorithms (RAs) for nonuniform BPS in the presence of sources of performance degradation are discussed based on simulations.
Distress and emotional well-being in breast cancer patients prior to radiotherapy: an expectancy-based model

Understanding precursors to distress and emotional well-being (EWB) experienced in anticipation of radiotherapy would facilitate the ability to intervene with this emotional upset (i.e. higher distress, lower EWB). Thus, this study tested an expectancy-based model for explaining emotional upset in breast cancer patients prior to radiotherapy. Women affected by breast cancer (N = 106) were recruited and participants completed questionnaires prior to commencing radiotherapy. Structural equation modelling was used to test a cross-sectional model, which assessed the ability of dispositional optimism (Life Orientation Test-Revised – two factors), response expectancies (Visual Analog Scale items), medical (type of surgery, cancer stage and chemotherapy history) and demographic (age, race, ethnicity, education and marital status) variables to predict both EWB (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Emotional Well-being Subscale) and distress (Profile of Mood States – short version). The model represented a good fit to the data accounting for 65% of the variance in EWB and 69% in distress. Significant predictors of emotional upset were pessimism, response expectancies, Latina ethnicity, cancer stage and having had a mastectomy. These variables explained a large portion of emotional upset experienced prior to radiotherapy for breast cancer and are important to consider when aiming to reduce distress and improve EWB in this context.
Evolution of dosimetric quantities of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP): Impact of the forthcoming recommendations

In the last issue of this journal, Journal of Medical Physics (JMP), there was a news item[1] ‘International Commission on Radiological Protection approves New Fundamental Recommendations on Radiological Protection. ’ This appears to have made the readers of JMP curious about the changes in the forthcoming recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). One of the basic concerns of the physicists has always been the quantities and the units of radiation for both measurements and conceptual understanding. This editorial throws some light on the evolution of dosimetric quantities of ICRP and the possible impact of the forthcoming ICRP recommendations on the dosimetric quantities.
Clinical and molecular studies in a unique family with autosomal dominant limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and Paget disease of bone

Purpose: To characterize the clinical features and perform linkage analysis of candidate loci in a large Illinois family with autosomal dominant limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) and Paget disease of bone (PDB). Methods: The family includes 11 affected individuals (8 M, 3 F). Clinical, biochemical and radiologic evaluations were performed to delineate clinical features of the disorder. Linkage analysis with polymorphic markers was performed for previously identified LGMD, PDB and cardiomyopathy loci.Results: Onset of PDB is early, at a mean age of 35 y, with classic distribution involving the spine, pelvis, and skull. Muscle weakness and atrophy is progressive with mildly elevated to normal creatine phosphokinase levels. Muscle biopsy in the oldest male revealed vacuolated fibers, however, in others revealed nonspecific myopathy. Affected individuals die from progressive muscle weakness, and respiratory and cardiac failure in their 40s-60s. Linkage analysis excluded autosomal dominant and recessive LGMD, PDB, and cardiomyopathy loci.Conclusion: Autosomal dominant LGMD associated with PDB is an unusual disorder. Linkage analysis indicates a unique locus in this family.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in miRNA binding sites and miRNA genes as breast/ovarian cancer risk modifiers in Jewish high‐risk women

We hypothesized that aberrant gene silencing by miRNA may affect mutant BRCA penetrance. To test this notion, frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; n = 42) within predicted miRNA binding sites or miRNA precursors were determined and compared in 363 BRCA1 mutation carriers: asymptomatic (n = 160), breast cancer (n = 140) and ovarian cancer (n = 63) patients, and in 125 BRCA2 mutation carriers: asymptomatic (n = 48), breast cancer (n = 58) and ovarian cancer (n = 19) patients. Overall, 16 of 42 SNPs were polymorphic, 11 had a minor allele frequency greater than 5% and 9 of them maintained the Hardy‐Weinberg Equilibrium. Based on Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses, statistically significant differences were noted in BRCA2 mutation carriers by health status in 3 SNPs: CC homozygosity at rs6505162 increased ovarian cancer risk (RR 2.77; p = 0.028; 95% CI, 1.11–6.9); heterozygote SNP carriers of rs11169571 had an ∼2 fold increased risk for developing breast/ovarian cancer, whereas heterozygotes of the rs895819 SNP had an ∼50% reduced risk for developing breast/ovarian cancer. This study provides preliminary evidence for another regulatory level of penetrance of deleterious mutations in cancer predisposition genes.
Trends in mortality by neighbourhood income in urban Canada from 1971 to 1996

Analytical techniques Within each CMA, the non-institutional population and deaths were grouped into neighbourhood income quintiles on the basis of the CT percentage of population below Canada's low-income cut-offs. Life expectancy at birth, probability of survival to age 75, potential years of life lost (PYLL), and income-related excess PYLL before age 75 were calculated, as were age-specific mortality rates and agestandardized mortality rates (ASMRs) for major causes of death.
Protein Kinase D Signaling*

A rapid increase in the synthesis of lipid-derived second messengers with subsequent activation of protein phosphorylation cascades has emerged as one of the fundamental mechanisms of signal transduction in animal cells. A plethora of external signals, including hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, cytokines, bioactive lipids, and tastants promote the stimulation of the isoforms of the PLC family, including , , , and . PLCs catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to produce two second messengers: inositol 1,4,5-P3, which triggers the release of Ca from internal stores, and DAG, which elicits cellular responses through a variety of effectors (1). The most prominent intracellular targets of DAG are the classic ( , , ) and novel ( , , , ) isoforms of PKC, which are differentially expressed in cells and tissues (2, 3). The mechanisms by which PKC-mediated signals are propagated to critical downstream targets remain incompletely understood. Protein kinase D (PKD), the founding member of a new family of serine/threonine protein kinases and the subject of this minireview, occupies a unique position in the signal transduction pathways initiated by DAG and PKC. PKD not only is a direct DAG target but also lies downstream of PKCs in a novel signal transduction pathway implicated in the regulation of multiple fundamental biological processes.
Pharmacogenetics in clinical practice: considerations for testing

Pharmacogenetics is a rapidly evolving field that will undoubtedly lead to the development of pharmacogenetic tests. Such tests will need to be assimilated into healthcare systems, but represent a further call on scarce healthcare resources. Therefore, in order for a pharmacogenetic test to fulfill its potential beyond the laboratory and into the clinical environment, it must prove itself on a wide range of multifaceted criteria. The test must have proven and reproducible analytical and clinical validity, and stand up to critical appraisal of clinical utility and cost–effectiveness. Pharmacogenetic testing can be considered to be a form of screening, and the experience that has been gained to date in evaluating other forms of screening tests may prove beneficial in evaluating pharmacogenetic technology. It is essential that the goals of pharmacogenetic testing are defined as early as possible to ensure that appropriate studies can be designed to provide the evidence base, and thereby enable appropriate evaluation of the technology by clinicians and healthcare administrators for incorporation into clinical practice. This review focuses on issues that will need to be considered in the scientific assessment of pharmacogenetic testing.
Non‐synaptic mechanisms underlie the after‐effects of cathodal transcutaneous direct current stimulation of the human brain

Although cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) decreases cortical excitability, the mechanisms underlying DC‐induced changes remain largely unclear. In this study we investigated the effect of cathodal DC stimulation on spontaneous neural activity and on motor responses evoked by stimulation of the central and peripheral nervous system. We studied 17 healthy volunteers. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) of the motor area were used to study the effects of cathodal tDCS (1.5 mA, 10 min) on resting motor threshold and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded from the contralateral first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI). The electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in response to cathodal tDCS was analysed by power spectral density (PSD). Motor axonal excitability changes in response to transcutaneous DC stimulation of the ulnar nerve (0.3 mA, 10 min) were assessed by testing changes in the size of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) elicited by submaximal nerve stimulation. Cathodal tDCS over the motor area for 10 min increased the motor threshold and decreased the size of MEPs evoked by TMS for at least 60 min after current offset (t0 71.7 ± 5%, t20 50.8 ± 11%, t40 47.7 ± 7.7%, and t60 39.7 ± 6.4%, P < 0.01). The tDCS also significantly decreased the size of MEPs elicited by TES (t0 64 ± 16.4%, P= 0.09; t20 67.6 ± 10.8%, P= 0.06; and t40 58.3 ± 9.9%, P < 0.05). At the same time in the EEG the power of delta (2–4 Hz) and theta (4–7 Hz) rhythms increased (delta 181.1 ± 40.2, P < 0.05; and theta 138.7 ± 27.6, P= 0.07). At the peripheral level cathodal DC stimulation increased the size of the ulnar nerve CMAP (175 ± 34.3%, P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that the after‐effects of tDCS have a non‐synaptic mechanism of action based upon changes in neural membrane function. These changes apart from reflecting local changes in ionic concentrations, could arise from alterations in transmembrane proteins and from electrolysis‐related changes in [H+] induced by exposure to constant electric field.