Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bandwidth enhancement of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) slot antenna with center-fed techniques

Owing to many advantages of rectangular waveguide and microstrip lines, substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) can be used for the design of planar waveguide-like slot antenna. However, the bandwidth of this kind of antenna structure is limited because of its low profile and dielectric filling effect. In this work, center-feding technique is proposed to enhance the bandwidth of the slot antenna. To demonstrate the validity of the bandwidth enhancement technique, a linear slot antenna array with center-fed technique is proposed and implemented. The measured bandwidth of the fabricated antenna prototype is 9.8%, indicating about 145% bandwidth enhancement.
Combined cardiac and noncardiac surgery in an infant with congenital rubella syndrome: an anesthetic challenge

1 Rawal N. Analgesia for day-case surgery. Br J Anaesth 2001; 87: 73–87. 2 Armstrong KP, Cherry RA. Brachial plexus anesthesia compared to general anesthesia when a block room is available. Can J Anaesth 2004; 51: 41–44. 3 Stan TC, Krantz MA, Solomon DL et al. The incidence of neurovascular complications following axillary brachial plexus block using a transarterial approach. A prospective study of 1,000 consecutive patients. Reg Anesth 1995; 20: 482–485.
Stress, alcohol and drug interaction: an update of human research

A challenging question that continues unanswered in the field of addiction is why some individuals are more vulnerable to substance use disorders than others. Numerous risk factors for alcohol and other drugs of abuse, including exposure to various forms of stress, have been identified in clinical studies. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie this relationship remain unclear. Critical neurotransmitters, hormones and neurobiological sites have been recognized, which may provide the substrates that convey individual differences in vulnerability to addiction. With the advent of more sophisticated measures of brain function in humans, such as functional imaging technology, the mechanisms and neural pathways involved in the interactions between drugs of abuse, the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and stress systems are beginning to be characterized.
Design of wide-IF-bandwidth down-conversion mixer for 60-GHz WPAN / 3–10 GHz UWB group-1 coexistence system application

This paper presents a wide intermediate-frequency (IF) bandwidth down-conversion double-balanced Gilbert-cell mixer design in a 0.13-µm CMOS process. The load stage of the mixer is implemented by an LC tank with switched capacitors to complete three selectable sub-bands to cover the desired wide IF band. Both the RF and LO ports are integrated with Marchand baluns for single-phase input consideration. The mixer converts millimeter-wave ISM band of 57.3–59.2 GHz down to the first UWB sub-band of 3.3–5.2 GHz (total 1.9 GHz bandwidth) with a fixed local frequency of 54 GHz. The measured conversion gain is better than −3 dB over the desired IF bandwidth. The levels of input 1-dB compression point (IP1dB) are −3, −3, and −1 dBm correspond to the center frequencies of 3.8, 4.2, and 4.6 GHz, respectively. The LO-to-RF isolation and LO-to-IF isolation are better than 43 dB and 35 dB, respectively.
Evidence that fast exocytosis can be predominantly mediated by vesicles not docked at active zones in frog saccular hair cells

The prevailing model of neurotransmitter release stipulates that Ca2+ influx triggers the rapid fusion of vesicles that are docked at presynaptic active zones. Under this model, slower tonic release is supported by vesicles clustered nearby that have to translocate to the release sites before fusion. We have examined this hypothesis at the afferent synapse of saccular hair cells of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens. Detailed morphological measurements at this ribbon synapse show that on average 32 vesicles are docked at each active zone. We show that at this ‘graded’ synapse, depolarization produces an exocytotic ‘burst’ that is largely complete within 20 ms after fusion of 280 vesicles per active zone, almost an order of magnitude more than expected. Recovery from paired pulse depression occurs with a time constant of 29 ms, indicating that replenishment of this fast‐fusing pool of vesicles is also fast. Our results suggest that non‐docked vesicles are capable of fast fusion and that these vesicles constitute the vast majority of the fast‐fusing pool. The view that the population of fast‐fusing presynaptic vesicles is limited to docked vesicles therefore requires re‐evaluation. We propose that compound fusion, i.e. the fusion of vesicles with each other before and/or after they fuse with the membrane can explain multivesicular release at this synapse.
Modeling, identification and control of a force generator for vibration attenuation

This paper presents a smart force generator for vibration attenuation based on magnetostrictive material. After introducing the basic concepts, the paper develops a detailed mathematical model, and discusses its main properties. Then, a simplified linear model is identified for control design purposes. Finally, a gain scheduling control algorithm for the suppression of tonal disturbance is presented and experimental results are discussed.
Quality of life in the chemotherapy treatment of Spanish cancer patients: a comparison of general population norms

Objective: The SF‐36 Health Survey (SF‐36) is a general instrument used to assess health‐related quality of life (HRQL). The purpose of this study is to describe self‐reported information on health and the quality of life among cancer outpatients during chemotherapy treatment and to compare it with the baseline sample drawn from the general Spanish population.
Attempted suicide in west London, I. Rates across ethnic communities

Background. Two previous studies from the United Kingdom have suggested that rates of attempted suicide in Asian women are higher than in the native population. Method. Over a 1-year period we identified 434 patients presenting from one catchment area to four hospitals, after episodes of self-harm. These patients were assessed using the GHQ, CIS-R, and Life Events Inventory, and by collecting details of the attempt itself. Results. Asian women had the highest overall rates ; 1·6 times those in White women and 2·5 times the rate among Asian men. The rates were lowest among older women. Among younger Asian women (less than 30 years) the rates were 2·5 times those of White women and seven times those of Asian men. The rates among black groups were lower than expected. Self-poisoning was the commonest method of self-harm. Conclusions. Younger Asian women are vulnerable to increased rates of attempted self-harm and deserve to be studied further.
Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Multiple‐Dose Venlafaxine and Single‐Dose Lithium

Venlafaxine is a structurally novel antidepressant. Because lithium and antidepressants may be administered concomitantly, it is important to determine whether the disposition of venlafaxine and lithium is affected by coadministration. An open‐label study was conducted to evaluate the effects of multiple‐dose, steady‐state venlafaxine administration on the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of lithium. Analogously, the effects of administration of a single‐dose of lithium on the disposition of venlafaxine and its active metabolite, O‐desmethylvenlafaxine, after multiple‐dose administration of venlafaxine were assessed. Administration of 600 mg lithium carbonate did not affect venlafaxine absorption. Lithium significantly reduced the renal clearance of venlafaxine from 0.053 to 0.027 L/h/kg. However, renal excretion is not a major elimination pathway for venlafaxine; thus, lithium did not affect the total clearance of venlafaxine. Lithium administration had similar effects on elimination of O‐desmethylvenlafaxine. Multiple‐dose administration of 50 mg of venlafaxine every 8 hours produced a slight increase in the rate of lithium absorption, but did not affect the extent of lithium absorption. Total clearance (0.026 L/h/kg) and steady‐state volume of distribution (0.71 L/kg) of lithium were not affected by administration of venlafaxine. Thus, there were no clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between venlafaxine and lithium.
Active Lateral Foot Placement for 3D Stabilization of a Limit Cycle Walker Prototype

This study focuses on the application of active lateral foot placement for 3D stabilization of bipedal walkers. Within the paradigm of "limit cycle walking" foot placement is an important strategy as it can provide cyclic stability for walkers that are locally unstable. Moreover, human gait analysis studies suggest that the stability of human walking depends highly on lateral foot placement. Various simulation studies have already successfully implemented lateral foot placement in walking models, but this study demonstrates that an active lateral foot placement strategy can actually (cyclically) stabilize a physical walking robot that is locally unstable. In order to come to this result, first a study is performed on a simple 3D point mass walking model. This study establishes that, for a model with fixed step length, cyclic stability can already be obtained with a simple linear lateral foot placement strategy that only uses lateral state information (lateral position and velocity) of the center of mass. Moreover, it is found that increasing the walking speed and increasing the ankle roll stiffness enlarges the range of stable feedback gains. With this knowledge of stable feedback gains and parameter sensitivities, the same foot placement strategy is applied to the physical 3D walking prototype called Flame. Similar to the model, this prototype is shown to be unstable without foot placement and stable with the application of the simple, linear lateral foot placement strategy.
Design of a miniaturized UWB ingestible antenna for Wireless Capsule Endoscopy

In recent years, non-invasive Wireless Capsule Endoscope (WCE) has been explored extensively for the diagnosis of GI tract diseases. However the application of WCE is limited due to capsule size, propagating efficiency of the antenna, reducing effects on the human body and the data rate of the telemetry system. In this paper a miniature Ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna is designed for WCE by exploiting several miniaturization techniques such as using high-permittivity dielectric substrate and lengthening of the current flow path on the patch surface. The volume of the optimized antenna is only 81 mm3. The performances of the antenna are investigated inside a homogeneous human muscle layer. The proposed antenna resonates at 8.36 GHz with a wide -10 dB bandwidth of 500 MHz. Maximum power of 21.115 mW can be set as input to the proposed antenna in order to comply with the IEEE C95.1-1999 safety standards.
Frequencies of SDF‐1 chemokine, CCR‐5, and CCR‐2 chemokine receptor gene alleles conferring resistance to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and AIDS in Kuwaitis

The frequencies of three mutations conferring resistance to HIV/AIDS were determined in a population sample of native Kuwaitis. The CCR2‐64I, SDF1‐3′A, and CCR5‐m303 mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) tests using restriction endonucleases Bsa BI, Msp I, and Hinc II, respectively. The frequency of the mutant alleles were: for CCR2‐64I, 0.1195 (95% CI 0.0801–0.1694); for SDF1‐3′A, 0.2593 (95% CI 0.2024–0.3231), and for CCR5‐m303, less than 0.0025. Thus, the CCR2‐64I and especially SDF1‐3′A mutations are sufficiently common in Arabs and can be used for prognostic genotyping in HIV‐infected individuals from the Gulf countries. J. Med. Virol. 58:54–58, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crithidia deanei infection in normal and dexamethasone–immunosuppressed Balb/c mice

Monoxenous trypanossomatids protozoa are not believed to cause in vivo infection in verte- brate hosts throughout their life cycle. However, there are reports mentioning some cases of HIV- positive patients who have presented opportunistic infections caused by these protozoa. Recently, we have demonstrated the in vitro infection of mouse dermal fibroblasts by these protozoa. The aim of the present work is to investigate the possibility of Crithidia deanei, a endosymbiont-bearing monoxenous trypanossomatid, infect BALB/c mice under or not Dexamethasone treatment. To attend it, distinct gro- ups of adult BALB/c mice were immunosuppressed with 50 mg/kg of Dexamethasone. This immunosuppressor was administered 24 hours before infection and daily, for 15 days after C. deanei inoculation. Control groups: C. deanei–inoculated animals but non-immuno- suppressed and non-inoculated animals but immunosuppressed were also used. Light Microscopy analysis revealed an infection process characterized by the presence of the trypanossomatid inside dermal cells in the groups studied. The experimental inoculation resulted in a non-lethal infection characterized by the presence of the trypanossomatid inside dermal cells in the normal BALB/c mice, but notably, in the C. deanei–inoculated immunosuppressed group. These preliminary results lead to the following conclusions: 1) C. deanei is able to infect normal BALB/c mice; 2) the immunosupressed mice seemed to be more susceptible to the C. deanei infection compared to the control group. Besides C. deanei in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed mice provides a useful model for studies of monoxenous trypanosomatids ‘in vivo’ infection, resembling that one presumably occurring in imunodeficient individuals with AIDS.
A rapid biochemical test to aid identification of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony (SC) strains

P. RICE, B.M. HOUSHAYMI, R.A. J. NICHOLAS and R.J. MILES.2000. The ability to utilize maltose, as determined by measurement of oxygen uptake, is used to differentiate Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony (SC) and M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (all strains negative) from other members of the M. mycoides cluster (M. mycoides subsp. capri, M. mycoides subsp. mycoides large colony (LC), M. capricolum subsp. capricolum; and bovine serogroup 7; 94% of strains positive). Rapid tests for maltose utilizing ability were developed, based on hydrolysis of a chromogenic α‐glucosidase (maltase) substrate (p‐nitrophenyl‐α‐ d‐glucopyranoside, colourless) to give a brightly coloured product (p‐nitrophenol, yellow). On agar plates, colonies of maltose‐utilizing strains became coloured within 40 min.
Development and characterization dual responsive magnetic nanocomposites for targeted drug delivery systems

Abstract A drug delivery system based on dual responsive units was developed. An appealing pH- and thermo-responsive triblock terpolymer as the drug carrier was synthesized by RAFT polymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide and methacrylic acid monomers using PEG-RAFT agent. The Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation of Fe salts. Synthesized samples were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, GPC, SEM and TEM. The dual responsive behaviour and self-assembly of the triblock terpolymers in aqueous solution were investigated using UV–vis transmittance and DLS. Based on the results of DLS and TEM, the average size of micelles was 170, 125 and 30 nm. The triblock terpolymer was used as a chemotherapy drug carrier and doxorubicin as a model drug. The release rate of the drug at two different temperatures (37 °C and 42 °C) and pHs (5.8 and 7.4) was studied. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay of free doxorubicin and drug-loaded magnetic nanoparticles was studied. The MTT assay exhibited that these polymers are biocompatible and no toxicity. As well, IC50 of the DOX-loaded triblock terpolymer in MTT test demonstrated that these systems could be suitable for the treatment of cancer.
Growth and Decentralization in Bad Times Preliminary

Is decentralization beneficial to firm performance in “bad times”? We present a model where negative demand shocks increase the importance of rapid action, and improve the alignment of incentives of managers within firms. We test this idea exploiting the heterogeneous impact of the 2008-2009 Great Recession across industries and countries using firm-level cross-country panel data combined with our survey data on firm organization. Decentralized firms perform better than their centralized counterparts in terms of sales and TFP growth during crisis periods. Further, this correlation is stronger in environments when the congruence between principals and agents is weaker (e.g. in regions of low trust) and uncertainty is high. Finally, firms tend to decentralize more when hit by more severe crises. JEL No. O31, O32, O33, F23
Association of allelic losses on human chromosomal arms 11q and 16q in sporadic breast cancer

Breast‐carcinoma development presumably results from multiple mutational events in tumor‐associated genes. Certain results indicate that some tumor‐suppressor genes may combine their pathogenetic potential to synergistically promote tumor growth. In an effort to identify such mechanisms in breast tumors, a series of 77 (group 1) paired blood tumor samples from patients with sporadic mammary carcinomas was analyzed for loss of heterozygosity with 15 polymorphic markers on the chromosomal arms 7q, 11q, 13q, 16q, 17p and 17q. A significant association was observed for the combination of allelic losses on chromosomes 11q and 16q. In order to confirm these findings, we studied a second independent series of 189 breast‐tumor patients (group 2) with comparable histopathological tumor stages. Group 2 was examined for the same genetic alterations using the identical set of polymorphic markers. The data from this group confirmed the detected association of loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 11q and 16q and indicate the cooperation of putative tumor‐suppressor genes on the chromosomal arms 11q and 16q in a sub‐set of breast carcinomas. The regions involved harbor the candidate genes ATM (mutated in ataxiatelangiectasia) on chromosome 11q23 and UVO (uvomorulin, cadherin E) and BBCI (breast basic conserved 1) on chromosome 16q22‐q24. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Torticollis caused by an Infratentorial Tumour: Three Cases

Summary Three cases with torticollis caused by an infratentorial tumour are presented. A father and his son both had a Lindau tumour, and another patient had an ependymoma. It is stressed that torticollis may be the predominant or only sign of an infratentorial tumour, and that torticollis should always be suspected to have an organic origin.
Some integrated properties of galactic globular clusters

The luminosities of globular clusters are found to correlate with their half-light radii. The most luminous clusters have half-light radii r ~ 3 pc. Mean cluster luminosities are = -6.64 +/- 0.26 for r = -7.44 +/- 0.20 for 2.0 = -6.57 +/- 0.21 for clusters with r > 4.0 pc. An even fainter value = -5.85 +/- 0.36 is found for large clusters with r > 8.0 pc. These results possibly weaken confidence in the conclusion that the peak of the globular cluster luminosity distribution is a universal standard candle. In the outer Galactic halo globular clusters with red horizontal branches are fainter by about a factor of ten than are clusters with blue and intermediate color horizontal branches. Among clusters with Galactocentric distances > 10 kpc there appears to be a clear dichotomy between normal clusters (which all have [Fe/H] -5) and relatively metal-rich ([Fe/H] > - 1.0). This suggests that these relatively metal-rich halo clusters may have had an unusual evolutionary history.
Prognostic factors for chemoembolization in liver metastasis from endocrine tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aims of this study were to assess response rates, evaluate side effects and determine prognostic factors for both response and toxicity in patients with liver metastasis from endocrine tumors treated with chemoembolization. METHODOLOGY Data concerning 64 patients who underwent a total of 186 sessions of chemoembolization were retrospectively evaluated and correlated with response and toxicity after chemoembolization. RESULTS Overall clinical, morphological and biological response rates were 93%, 74% and 52% respectively. Complete control of hormone-related symptoms was obtained in 59% of patients with a mean duration of response of 15 months. Transient major complications occurred after 5.9% of sessions and 3 patients died. In the univariate and multivariate analyses, a non-pancreatic primary and chemoembolization as first-line non-surgical treatment were prognostic factors for clinical response, and <30% of liver involvement for morphological response. A significant increase in morbidity was noted in patients with more than 70% of liver involvement. CONCLUSIONS Hormone-related symptoms were controlled in the majority of patients with a non-pancreatic primary and in those treated with chemoembolization as first-line therapy. Morphological response and toxicity were respectively correlated with liver involvement of less than 30% and greater than 70%.
Genetic studies on experimental autoimmune gastritis induced by neonatal thymectomy using recombinant inbred strains between a high‐incidence strain, BALB/c, and a low‐incidence strain, DBA/2

Thymectomy on day 3 after birth induced autoimmune gastritis (AIG) at the age of 2 months in 51–73% of BALB/c mice, and in only 3–5% of DBA/2 mice. AIG was detected by histological and serological (immunofluorescence staining for detecting anti‐parietal cell autoantibody) examination. However, autoantibody was weakly positive in almost all of these DBA/2 mice when measured by ELISA using extract of murine gastric mucosa as the antigen. To investigate genetically the mechanism controlling the incidence of AIG, 11 recombinant inbred strains established by brother‐sister mating of (BALB/c x DBA/2) F2 mice (C x D2 strains) were used. Among 26 markers tested, the Mls‐1 locus on BALB/c chromosome 1 and the Hc locus coding a complement component (C5) on BALB/c chromosome 2 were found to be associated with high susceptibility to AIG. However, if one or both of the loci were of DBA/2 origin, mice showed medium or low susceptibility to AIG. For further analysis, F1, F2 and back‐cross generations of these two strains were tested, but segregation of a single susceptibility or insusceptibility gene was not obtained. Taken together, it seems probable that two or more genes are involved in the induction mechanism of AIG. We did not detect C5 deposition in AIG lesions, nor complement‐dependent cytotoxic antibody to parietal cells in serum from AIG mice. However, injection of irradiated spleen cells of DBA/2 mice into BALB/c mice thymectomized on day 3 augmented the incidence of AIG from 71 to 100%, but not that of oophoritis (33%). A relationship between Mls‐1a determinants and the pathogenesis of AIG was further suggested from the fact that Vβ6 TcR‐expressing T cells increased in number in AIG‐bearing compared with normal BALB/c mice.
Hematologic, biochemical, and endocrine effects of dexamethasone on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were given 0.11 mg/kg dexamethasone p.o. , and complete blood count and serum chemistry analyses, including insulin, thyroxine (T4) adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol level determinations, were performed at 0 hr, 24 hr, 36 hr, 48 hr, 7 days, and 17 days. Significant changes included neutrophilia, eosinopenia, lymphopenia, elevated insulin, and depressed ACTH and cortisol levels within 24 hr of dexamethasone administration. These effects were rapid, and values returned to normal within 48 hr.
An algorithm with periodic item for steering UTC(NTSC) to UTC

In order to steer master clock in timekeeping laboratory, it is necessary to identify a suitable algorithm for steering UTC(K) to UTC for a period of 45 days with 5-day latency. An algorithm is proposed to modify a traditional quadratic polynomial prediction model whose random error term is represented by a linear combination of periodic term. In the case of steering, the performance of the underlying algorithm is examined in depth, together with a comparison against simulated results of QP.