Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mostly Digital Wireless UltraWide Band Communication Architecture for Software Defined Radio

The objective of this competition was to design, construct and demonstrate a working wireless communication architecture for software defined radio (SDR). The implementation had to contain at least one programmable device, the front-end analog RF circuitry, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and an analog output. This SDR student design contest required multiple disciplines. There was a need for skills in RF analog design and wave propagation for the front-end and the antennas, digital signal processing (DSP) for the physical layer, and network setup and protocols for the medium access control (MAC). A coordinated design effort in the different disciplines was necessary to ensure that the different parts work together. The main criteria for judging were innovation and success of reaching the goals that the student team had set. The target of this subject was based on a real aeronautic industry demand concerning real time, synchronized and high data-rate instrumentation wireless sensor network for in-flight aircraft test.
Gfra1 Silencing in Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells Results in Their Differentiation Via the Inactivation of RET Tyrosine Kinase1

Abstract Spermatogenesis is the process by which spermatogonial stem cells divide and differentiate into sperm. The role of growth factor receptors in regulating self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells remains largely unclear. This study was designed to examine Gfra1 receptor expression in immature and adult mouse testes and determine the effects of Gfra1 knockdown on the proliferation and differentiation of type A spermatogonia. We demonstrated that GFRA1 was expressed in a subpopulation of spermatogonia in immature and adult mice. Neither Gfra1 mRNA nor GFRA1 protein was detected in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. GFRA1 and POU5F1 (also known as OCT4), a marker for spermatogonial stem cells, were co-expressed in a subpopulation of type A spermatogonia from 6-day-old mice. In addition, the spermatogonia expressing GFRA1 exhibited a potential for proliferation and the ability to form colonies in culture, which is a characteristic of stem cells. RNA interference assays showed that Gfra1 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) knocked down the expression of Gfra1 mRNA and GFRA1 protein in type A spermatogonia. Notably, the reduction of Gfra1 expression by Gfra1 siRNAs induced a phenotypic differentiation, as evidenced by the elevated expression of KIT, as well as the decreased expression of POU5F1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Furthermore, Gfra1 silencing resulted in a decrease in RET phosphorylation. Taken together, these data indicate that Gfra1 is expressed dominantly in mouse spermatogonial stem cells and that Gfra1 knockdown leads to their differentiation via the inactivation of RET tyrosine kinase, suggesting an essential role for Gfra1 in spermatogonial stem cell regulation.
Historical epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in select countries – volume 3

Detailed, country‐specific epidemiological data are needed to characterize the burden of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection around the world. With new treatment options available, policy makers and public health officials must reconsider national strategies for infection control. In this study of 15 countries, published and unpublished data on HCV prevalence, viraemia, genotype, age and gender distribution, liver transplants and diagnosis and treatment rates were gathered from the literature and validated by expert consensus in each country. Viraemic prevalence in this study ranged from 0.2% in Iran and Lebanon to 4.2% in Pakistan. The largest viraemic populations were in Pakistan (7 001 000 cases) and Indonesia (3 187 000 cases). Injection drug use (IDU) and a historically unsafe blood supply were major risk factors in most countries. Diagnosis, treatment and liver transplant rates varied widely between countries. However, comparison across countries was difficult as the number of cases changes over time. Access to reliable data on measures such as these is critical for the development of future strategies to manage the disease burden.
The effectiveness of cultural-competence training for health professionals in community-based rehabilitation: a systematic review of literature.

AIMS To find and review studies in which investigators evaluated cultural-competence training in community-based rehabilitation settings; critique study methods, describe clinical outcomes, and make recommendations for future research. BACKGROUND A review of the effectiveness of cultural-competence training for health professionals in community-based rehabilitation settings was conducted. DATA SOURCES Research citations from 1991-2006 in CINAHL, Medline, Pubmed, PsycInfo, SABINET, Cochrane, Google, NEXUS, and unpublished abstracts were searched. METHODS Searching, sifting, abstracting, and assessing quality of relevant studies by three reviewers. Studies were evaluated for sample, design, intervention, threats to validity, and outcomes. A meta-analysis was not conducted because the studies did not address the same research question. RESULTS Five studies and one systematic review were evaluated. Positive outcomes were reported for most training programs. Reviewed studies generally had small samples and poor design. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS The paucity of studies and lack of empirical precision in evaluating effectiveness necessitate future studies that are methodologically rigorous to allow confident recommendations for practice.
Risk and Return Characteristics of Islamic Indices: An Empirical Approach

The main purpose of this research is to demonstrate the risk and return characteristics of Islamic indices. Islamic indices calculated by DJ and MSCI in the case of Turkey, Malaysia, USA, and the UK are examined in the widest time range. Respective conventional benchmark indices have also been included in the analysis to evaluate the empirical findings in a comparative manner. In the empirical research in which the mean-variance analysis framework is adopted, single and multi-factor asset pricing models are also applied together with ratio analysis. According to the empirical findings, there are noticeable differences between the risk and return characteristics of Islamic indices and their conventional counterparts depending on the country, index type and time period studied. Islamic indices tend to perform better and to have a lower level of systematic risk than their conventional counterparts. However, most of these findings and tests are not statistically significant. Therefore, in technical terms, this study concludes that there is no significant difference between the risk and return characteristics of Islamic indices and conventional counterparts. Some evidence has been found supporting the widely asserted claim that Islamic indices do not have an optimal risk-return profile by opponent researchers. However, when the absolute and risk-adjusted returns and alpha coefficients provided by Islamic indices are taken into account it appears that Islamic indices do not perform poorly than their conventional counterparts. In other words, it can be said that Islamic index investors do not bear extra costs in the examined cases.
“I’m still me – I’m still here!” Understanding the person’s sense of self in the provision of self-management support for people with progressive neurological long-term conditions

Abstract Purpose: There is increasing interest in tailoring self-management support, but little detail is available on the relevance and impact of such approaches for people with progressive neurological conditions. The aim of this study was to draw on individuals’ experiences to inform the practice of self-management support for these groups. Method: Community rehabilitation service users were purposively recruited and took part in in-depth qualitative interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was iterative and interpretative, taking a phenomenological approach. Strategies to enhance rigor were auditability, peer review, and researcher reflexivity. Results: The sample consisted of 10 adults (age 20–79 years) who were living with a range of progressive neurological conditions. Individuals demonstrated resourcefulness in developing practice-based self-management strategies. Beyond practical strategies, interviewees’ experiences were signified by reflecting on and upholding a sense of identity and a desire for purpose against the background of losses and gains over time. Linking with this overarching theme of “Sense of self” were aspects of “My body and mind”, “Time”, “Space”, “Relationships”, and “What I do”. Conclusions: Self-management approaches for individuals with progressive neurological conditions will benefit from incorporating ways of recognizing, articulating, and supporting the person’s sense of identity and purpose. Implications for rehabilitation Self-management approaches for people with progressive neurological conditions need to take account of individuals’ wishes to contribute, connect with others, and be valued as a person. Person-centred self-management support can be realized through a broader approach than solely managing disease progression. The experiences and words of people with progressive neurological conditions can be used to inform meaningful evaluation of self-management support to drive service delivery by measuring what really matters. Rehabilitation practitioners need to adapt their conceptualisations of goal setting to account for how people with progressive neurological conditions themselves interpret “progress” and “improvement”. Person-centred conversation that values who the person is can be an effective starting point for self-management interventions in people with progressive neurological conditions.
Aerosol cyclosporin therapy in lung transplant recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans

The majority of patients who develop bronchiolitis obliterans, after lung transplantation, die within 2–3 yrs after onset since treatment with conventional immunosuppression is typically ineffective. A case/control study was conducted in lung transplant recipients with biopsy-documented bronchiolitis obliterans to determine whether aerosol cyclosporin use contributed to increased survival. The cases comprised 39 transplant recipients who received open-label aerosol cyclosporin treatment in addition to conventional immunosuppression. The controls were transplant recipients treated with conventional immunosuppression alone. There were 51 controls from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and 100 from a large multicentric database (Novartis Lung Transplant Database). Forced expiratory volume in one second expressed as a percentage of the predicted value was an independent predictor of survival in all patients with bronchiolitis obliterans. Cox proportional-hazards analysis revealed a survival advantage for aerosol cyclosporin cases compared to the Pittsburgh control group. A survival advantage was also seen when comparing study cases to multicentric controls. Aerosol cyclosporin, given with conventional immunosuppression to lung transplant recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans, provides a survival advantage over conventional therapy alone.
Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) on Cultured Human Endometrial Stromal Cells and Its Role in the Interaction With Natural Killers

PROBLEM: Recent evidence emphasizes the role of natural killer cells (NKs) as potential effectors of peritoneal immune surveillance directed against the outgrowth of endometrial cells, refluxed with menstrual debris, in ectopic sites. This NK‐mediated cytotoxicity toward autologous endometrial antigens seems to be significantly decreased in endometriosis patients.
Type V Collagen Controls the Initiation of Collagen Fibril Assembly*

Vertebrate collagen fibrils are heterotypically composed of a quantitatively major and minor fibril collagen. In non-cartilaginous tissues, type I collagen accounts for the majority of the collagen mass, and collagen type V, the functions of which are poorly understood, is a minor component. Type V collagen has been implicated in the regulation of fibril diameter, and we reported recently preliminary evidence that type V collagen is required for collagen fibril nucleation (Wenstrup, R. J., Florer, J. B., Cole, W. G., Willing, M. C., and Birk, D. E. (2004) J. Cell. Biochem. 92, 113–124). The purpose of this study was to define the roles of type V collagen in the regulation of collagen fibrillogenesis and matrix assembly. Mouse embryos completely deficient in pro-α1(V) chains were created by homologous recombination. The col5a1–/– animals die in early embryogenesis, at approximately embryonic day 10. The type V collagen-deficient mice demonstrate a virtual lack of collagen fibril formation. In contrast, the col5a1+/– animals are viable. The reduced type V collagen content is associated with a 50% reduction in fibril number and dermal collagen content. In addition, relatively normal, cylindrical fibrils are assembled with a second population of large, structurally abnormal collagen fibrils. The structural properties of the abnormal matrix are decreased relative to the wild type control animals. These data indicate a central role for the evolutionary, ancient type V collagen in the regulation of fibrillogenesis. The complete dependence of fibril formation on type V collagen is indicative of the critical role of the latter in early fibril initiation. In addition, this fibril collagen is important in the determination of fibril structure and matrix organization.
The legacy of the market citizen

Book synopsis: It is the aim of this collection of essays to broaden the horizon of scholars, particularly those in law, by exploring from a range of theoretical positions the often unchallenged assumptions of the European Union, the Single Market, the institutions which have created and still control it, and the policies which continue to shape its future. The contributors offer a shared belief in the value of theory as a tool to explore new dimensions of the subject. Thus readers will find essays on the Single Market, Market citizenship, migrant workers, social policy, labour market flexibility, the GATT and community law, the free movement of goods, EC utilities law and policy, telecommunications, legislative review, litigation strategy and the EOC, community tax law, and the European Union and postmodernism.
Winter energy consumption in reading space of green library in cold regions

Received: 3 April 2018 Accepted: 20 September 2018 In recent years, green libraries are springing up in many Chinese universities. The green library is an energy-efficient type of library that provides an excellent reading environment. The library’s energy efficiency relies on the careful design of natural and artificial lighting, illumination uniformity as well as heating efficiency. Therefore, this paper attempts to laid down an energy-efficient design to make the Hebei Agricultural University Library a green library. Specifically, the comprehensive energy consumption of the reading space was evaluated through dynamic and static simulations of illumination variation, illumination uniformity, daylighting factor and supplementary lighting under different windowing conditions. The evaluation results were coupled with the enclosure energy consumption to determine the optimal energy consumption plan. From this case study, it is found that the window area in the south-facing reading space is beneficial to the energy efficiency of the whole library. Thus, the south-facing window area should be increased as much as possible.
Influenza vaccination and reduction in hospitalizations for cardiac disease and stroke among the elderly.

BACKGROUND Upper respiratory tract illnesses have been associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke. During two influenza seasons, we assessed the influence of vaccination against influenza on the risk of hospitalization for heart disease and stroke, hospitalization for pneumonia and influenza, and death from all causes. METHODS Cohorts of community-dwelling members of three large managed-care organizations who were at least 65 years old were studied during the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 influenza seasons. Administrative and clinical data were used to evaluate outcomes, with multivariable logistic regression to control for base-line demographic and health characteristics of the subjects. RESULTS There were 140,055 subjects in the 1998-1999 cohort and 146,328 in the 1999-2000 cohort, of which 55.5 percent and 59.7 percent, respectively, were immunized. At base line, vaccinated subjects were on average sicker, having higher rates of most coexisting conditions, outpatient care, and prior hospitalization for pneumonia than unvaccinated subjects. Unvaccinated subjects, however, were more likely to have been given a prior diagnosis of dementia or stroke. Vaccination against influenza was associated with a reduction in the risk of hospitalization for cardiac disease (reduction of 19 percent during both seasons [P<0.001]), cerebrovascular disease (reduction of 16 percent during the 1998-1999 season [P<0.018] and 23 percent during the 1999-2000 season [P<0.001]), and pneumonia or influenza (reduction of 32 percent during the 1998-1999 season [P<0.001] and 29 percent during the 1999-2000 season [P<0.001]) and a reduction in the risk of death from all causes (reduction of 48 percent during the 1998-1999 season [P<0.001] and 50 percent during the 1999-2000 season [P<0.001]). In analyses according to age, the presence or absence of major medical conditions at base line, and study site, the findings were consistent across all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS In the elderly, vaccination against influenza is associated with reductions in the risk of hospitalization for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and pneumonia or influenza as well as the risk of death from all causes during influenza seasons. These findings highlight the benefits of vaccination and support efforts to increase the rates of vaccination among the elderly.
Magnetooptic polariton spectra in nonlinear magnetogyrotropic medium

Spectra of magnetooptical polaritons in nonlinear magnetogyrotropic medium at presence of magnetostatic field are received. Nonlinear internal ion polarization arisen under the influence of high-frequency electromagnetic field is taken into account. The polariton spectra subjected to strength and direction of the external magnetostatic field are calculated.
Potential negative effects of a cashless society

Purpose In the past few years, several countries have begun to drastically change their economies to be entirely cash free. The point of this policy change is to hopefully prevent the amount of crime that results from the proliferation of cash. However, there are potential negative consequences to this policy change that receive little to no attention and there are several misconceptions regarding the opportunistic nature and resourcefulness of organized crime. As such, this paper aims to attempt to study these potentially negative consequences to provide some warning to countries adopting a cashless economic policy. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper relying upon an understanding of the literature in the fields of sociology, anthropology, psychology and criminology as applied to the topic of money and economic policy. Findings This paper discusses numerous negative effects to adopting a cashless economic policy, to include the proliferation of underground financing through the hawala system and organized criminal channels, the increased use of Bitcoin, the more difficult task of tracking currency through bank reporting requirements, and the potential effect of increasing other crimes, which are harder to track. Research limitations/implications This is an entirely conceptual paper. As such, it is not able to state definitively whether the outcomes discussed will occur or to what extent it may occur. Practical implications This paper could help to serve as a warning for governments wishing to adopt a cashless economic policy, and it may encourage those countries to hopefully develop safeguards to prevent some of the potentially negative effects that might result. Social implications This paper expands upon the understanding of money and the various ways that individuals may adapt or react culturally, psychologically or violently to changes in monetary policy or the form of currency itself. Originality/value There have been few if any paper discussing the consequences of cashless economic policies and its implications toward organized crime. This paper is unique in both the subject matter being discussed and the conceptual arguments it puts forth.
Age related endocrine patterns observed in polycystic ovary syndrome patients vs. ovulatory controls: descriptive data from a university based infertility center

ABSTRACT Objective To compare serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and other endocrine parameters between patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and age-matched ovulatory women. Materials and methods AMH, DHEAS, FSH, LH, PRL, TSH and total testosterone (TT) were prospectively measured in oligo-ovulatory PCOS patients (n = 595) and in ovulatory non-PCOS women (n = 157) referred to a tertiary infertility center. Mean BMI was similar across the two study populations and there were no smokers in the sample. Patients in both groups were further classified into three categories by age: < 25 yrs, 25-34 yrs, and ≥ 35 yrs. Selected clinical and demographic characteristics were tabulated for each group. Results Serum AMH was significantly higher among PCOS patients compared to non-PCOS controls in the non-stratified sample (7.54 ± 5.8 vs. 2.49 ± 2.0 ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.0001), while serum FSH, DHEAS, TSH and prolactin were similar for both groups (p > 0.05). As expected, mean (total) testosterone levels were notably different between PCOS vs. non-PCOS controls (0.84 ± 0.76 vs. 0.43 ± 0.38 ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.001), and mean AMH level was significantly lower in the oldest age category (> 35 yrs) compared to both younger control groups (p < 0.0001). Both DHEAS and total testosterone decreased with age among PCOS patients, although mean serum DHEAS for women age > 35 yrs was significantly lower than DHEAS measured in younger women with PCOS (p < 0.02). For PCOS patients, AMH remained relatively stable irrespective of age. Conclusion Although AMH can serve as a satisfactory marker of ovarian reserve, for PCOS patients the expected decline in AMH associated with reproductive aging appears attenuated despite ovarian senescence. In contrast, mean DHEAS levels were markedly lower among older PCOS women (> 35 yrs) compared to younger PCOS patients.