Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interference Efficiency: A New Metric to Analyze the Performance of Cognitive Radio Networks

In this paper, we develop and analyze a novel performance metric, called interference efficiency, which shows the number of transmitted bits per unit of interference energy imposed on the primary users (PUs) in an underlay cognitive radio network (CRN). Specifically, we develop a framework to maximize the interference efficiency of a CRN with multiple secondary users (SUs) while satisfying target constraints on the average interference power, total transmit power, and minimum ergodic rate for the SUs. In doing so, we formulate a multiobjective optimization problem (MOP) that aims to maximize ergodic sum rate of SUs and to minimize average interference power on the primary receiver. We solve the MOP by first transferring it into a single objective problem (SOP) using a weighted sum method. Considering different scenarios in terms of channel state information (CSI) availability to the SU transmitter, we investigate the effect of CSI on the performance and power allocation of the SUs. When full CSI is available, the formulated SOP is nonconvex and is solved using augmented penalty method (also known as the method of multiplier). When only statistical information of the channel gains between the SU transmitters and the PU receiver is available, the SOP is solved using Lagrangian optimization. Numerical results are conducted to corroborate our theoretical analysis.
Different definitions of the metabolic syndrome and risk of first‐ever acute ischaemic non‐embolic stroke in elderly subjects

To investigate which of the three recently proposed definitions of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is related to the excessive risk of ischaemic non‐embolic stroke in elderly individuals, and thus may be more appropriate to implement in clinical practice. In a population‐based case–control study of subjects aged older than 70 years (163 patients vs. 166 controls), we evaluated the association of first‐ever acute ischaemic non‐embolic stroke with the MetS defined by using recent definitions as proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute/American Heart Association (NHLBI/AHA). By applying the NCEP ATP III, NHLBI/AHA and IDF definitions, the prevalence of MetS in the patient group was 46%, 57.1% and 69.9%, respectively, compared with 15.7%, 18.1% and 30.7% in the control group (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). After adjusting for multiple risk factors, the odds ratio (OR) for ischaemic stroke was 2.59 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–5.42, p = 0.012] for NCEP ATP III‐defined MetS and 3.18 (95% CI: 1.58–6.39, p = 0.001) for NHLBI/AHA‐defined MetS. However, the association of IDF‐defined MetS with ischaemic stroke was not significant (OR 1.18, 95% CI: 0.50–2.78, p = 0.71). The implementation of the IDF (unlike NCEP ATP III and NHLBI/AHA) MetS definition substantially increases the number of elderly subjects labelled as having MetS without contributing to the identification of those at high risk of stroke.
THE INFLUENCE OF PERSONAL FACTORS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORGANISATIONAL RESTRUCTURING AND EMPLOYEE QUIT DECISIONS IN COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA

This study was aimed at investigating the influence of personal factors on the relationship between organisational restructuring and employee quit decision. The literature review revealed that a number of studies have been conducted on the predictors and antecedants of employee quit decisions. However, these studies did not examine any integration between them. Sample size of 375 was selected from a total population of 15,017 employees from commercial banks in Kenya. A structured questionnaire with Likert-type statements anchored on a five-point scale ranging from “Not at all (1)” to “To a great extent (5)” was used to collect data. The study employed Pearson's Product Moment Correlation and Step-wise Regression for data manipulation and tests. The results of the study indicated that cognitive interpretations had significant influence on the strength of relationship between organizational restructuring and quit decisions β=- 0.043, p<0.05). This however, suggests that one point increase in cognitive interpretations weakens the relationship between organizational restructuring and employee quit decision by 0.043. Personal attributes did not have significant influence on the strength of relationship between organizational restructuring and quit decisions.
Long-Term Anticonvulsant Therapy Worsens Outcome in Paracetamol-Induced Fulminant Hepatic Failure

1 Paracetamol hepatotoxicity has been found to be potentiated by anticonvulsant drugs in animal experiments; isolated case reports in humans sugest that long-term anticonvulsant therapy may also adversely influence outcome following overdose. 2 We compared the clinical course, after paracetamol overdose, of 18 patients on long-term anticonvulsant therapy with corresponding features in two published series of paracetamol-induced fulminant hepatic failure from this unit: 297 patients seen between 1973 and 1985 and a further 99 between October 1986 and April 1988. 3 Mortality in those patients who were taking anticonvulsants, but who did not receive N-acetylcysteine, was higher than in either of these series (93.3% vs 64.6% and vs 57.9%, P< 0.025). Although not statistically significant, there were also trends towards more severe coma (grade 3 or 4: 93.3% vs 75.4%, 1986-88), acidosis (pH less than 7.30: 40% vs 22.6%, 1973-85) and coagulopathy (prothrombin time greater than 100 s: 53.3% vs 33.7%, 1973-85). In the small number of patients given N-acetylcysteine, mortality was similar to that in the 1986-88 series (1/3 vs 15/42). 4 We conclude that chronic use of anticonvulsants enhances clinical features of paracetamol toxicity and discuss possible mechanisms by which this could be mediated.
Low Complexity Fair Scheduling in LTE Uplink Involving Different Traffic Classes

Long term evolution (LTE) has already been accepted as the de-facto 4G wireless technology. However, the bulk of the research on LTE packet scheduling is concentrated in the downlink and the uplink is comparatively less explored. In uplink, mostly channel aware scheduling with throughput maximization has been studied. Further, channel aware scheduling requires an infinitely backlogged buffer model. This makes the investigations unrealistic. Therefore, in this work, we propose an LTE uplink packet scheduling procedure with a realistic traffic source. Firstly, we advocate a joint channel and buffer aware algorithm, which seeks to maximize the actual number of bits transmitted once a user is scheduled. Thereafter, we modify our algorithm to support traffic types with delay constraints. Next, we enhance our algorithm to support multiple classes of traffic. Finally, we have introduced priority flipping to minimize bandwidth starvation of lower priority traffics in presence of higher percentage of high priority traffic. In all the proposals, we have replaced the delay constraint by minimizing the packet drop due to delay violation. This further helps in reducing the problems to a well-known assignment problem.
An Electronically Controlled 8-Element Switched Beam Planar Array

An 8-element planar antenna array with electronically controlled switchable-beam pattern is proposed. The planar antenna array consists of patch elements and operates in the 2.45 GHz ISM band. The array is integrated with a digitally controlled feed network that provides the required phases to generate 8 fixed beams covering most of the upper hemisphere of the array. Unlike typical switchable beam antenna arrays, which operate only in one plane, the proposed design is the first to provide full 3D switchable beams with simple control. Only a 3-bit digital word is required for the generation of the 8 different beams. The integrated array is designed on a 3-layer PCB on a Taconic substrate (RF60A). The total dimensions of the fabricated array are 187.1 ×261.3 × 1.3 mm3.
Kreowanie klimatu inwestycyjnego na rzecz przyciągania inwestorów zagranicznych przez jednostki samorządu terytorialnego w wybranych województwach Polski

W artykule zaprezentowano wybrane zagadnienia dotyczące aktywności wladz samorządowych wybranych wojewodztw Polski na rzecz kreowania klimatu inwestycyjnego sprzyjającego naplywowi BIZ. Artykul zostal podzielony na dwie cześci. W pierwszej zaprezentowano skale naplywu kapitalu zagranicznego do tych wojewodztw, w drugiej przedstawiono wyniki badania pn. Bezpośrednie inwestycje zagraniczne w wybranych wojewodztwach Polski – analiza porownawcza , zrealizowanego w 2015 roku przez zespol Uniwersytetu Mikolaja Kopernika w Toruniu wraz z Uniwersytetem Łodzkim, Uniwersytetem Warminsko-Mazurskim w Olsztynie i Uniwersytetem Przyrodniczym w Poznaniu.
Analysis of trends in antimicrobial resistance patterns among clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis group species from 1990 to 1994.

Antimicrobial resistance, including plasmid-mediated resistance, among Bacteroides fragilis group species is well documented. A 5-year (1990-1994) prospective, eight-center survey of 3,177 clinical isolates of Bacteroides species was undertaken to review trends in resistance, using the breakpoints for full and intermediate susceptibility established by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. No documented resistance to either metronidazole or chloramphenicol was found in this survey. Among B. fragilis isolates virtually no resistance was seen to imipenem, meropenem, ampicillin/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, or ticarcillin/clavulanate. Significant increases in resistance among B. fragilis isolates to cefotetan, ceftizoxime, and clindamycin (p < .01) were noted. Resistance to cefoxitin remained unchanged. Among the non-fragilis species of the B. fragilis group, there was virtually no resistance to imipenem, meropenem, chloramphenicol, or metronidazole. The three beta-lactamase inhibitors had increasing levels of resistance, although 95%-98% of strains were susceptible (p < .05). There was a significant decline in cefoxitin, cefmetazole, and clindamycin activity over time against these strains (p <.01). There was a significant (P < .001) increase in geometric mean minimum inhibitory concentration for most drugs and species tested from 1990 to 1994. Clusters in the eight institutions could not account for this rise in resistance. This survey demonstrates that rates of resistance of B. fragilis and non-fragilis species of B. fragilis group are increasing.
Extraction of Some Relevant Instants from EMG Signal

In this paper, an algorithm to estimate key instants in EMG signal during pre-motrice and motrice phases is developed. It detects automatically i) the onset of muscle activity when an explicite recommendation of preparation is dictated (pre-motor onset), ii) the onset of effective muscle contraction (motor onset) and iii) the instant of muscle contraction desactivation (motor offset). The algorithm is based on statistical thresholding and counting the number of samples exceeding the threshlold. The counting is ensured by elaborated temporal scanning in forward and backward directions. The threshold calculus is based on statistics of the EMG signal during muscle activity and muscle rest. The algorithm is illustrated for the superficial flexor muscle during a handgrip exercice and is validated using subjective visual inspection and objective evaluation (error rate). The results revealed that relevant instants in EMG signal are well estimated.
The Development of Cold-type Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia duringPeginterferon alfa-2a plus Ribavirin Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis CPatient: a Case Report

Peginterferon-alfa 2a or alfa 2b plus ribavirin is the treatment of choice in chronic hepatitis C. Severe adverse effects may compromise efficacy of this regiment. There are few reports of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia following interferon-alfa or peginterferon-alfa2b plus ribavirin treatment. This present report discusses autoimmune hemolytic anemia which developed during peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin treatment and caused dose cessation. The anemia was improved with discontinuation of peginterferon-alfa 2a/ribavirin and adminstration of erythropoietin stimulating agent.
Fortifying B cells with CD154: an engaging tale of many hues

Although the original antibody to what is now defined as CD40 was raised against and shown to react with bladder carcinoma cells, the major insights into the functional attributes of this important receptor molecule – now known to be found on a diverse range of cell types – have arisen from studies on B lymphocytes. This 50 000 MW glycoprotein member of the tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) family, expressed constitutively at high density throughout B-cell differentiation, provides the focus for T-cell delivered cognate help to the B cell via the capacity to engage its inducible counterstructure – CD154; or ‘CD40 ligand’ (CD40L). 1–5 The aim of this article is to review the multiple stages at which the cognate CD40–CD40L pairing might serve to direct and modify the B-cell response with a focus on data generated from human in vitro studies set within an in vivo context gleaned primarily from observations in the mouse. The consequences of engaging CD40 on lymphoma B cells are discussed while, finally, we address how the quantity and quality of the CD154 being offered to its receptor may dictate the functional outcome of the cell in question.
Pulmonary Lavage with Liquid Fluorocarbon in a Model of Pulmonary Edema

An animal model of a specific type of acute pulmonary edema was produced by instilling a concentrated sucrose solution into each mainstem bronchus of 20 dogs. The resulting disease was treated with either 100 per cent oxygen via fixed-volume ventilation with PEEP at 10 cm H2O (control group), or pulmonary lavage with oxygenated Caroxin-D fluorocarbon liquid for one hour followed by reconversion to breathing 100 per cent oxygen by mechanical ventilation with PEEP. More edema fluid was recovered during the washout period (22.8 ± 8 ml/kg) than during the corresponding time in the control group (14.2 ± 10 ml/kg). The washout group also had a significantly higher and more prolonged elevation in Pao2 than the control group. Pulmonary lavage with fluorocarbon in the treatment of acute, massive pulmonary edema appeared beneficial and warrants further study.
Experimental Determination of Kinetic Parameters for Heterotrophic Microorganisms in Biofilm under Petrochemical Wastewater Conditions

This paper presents the methods and results of Monod kinetic constant determination for heterotrophic bacterial growth in an aerated submerged fixed-bed biofilm reactor (ASFBBR) treating petrochemical wastewater. The methods originally developed for activated sludge are successfully adapted to biofilm kinetics characterization. The results are discussed and compared with the values given by other authors. The purpose of this calibration is to develop a mathematical model for a novel approach toward biofilm system dimensioning.
Comparison of an adenosine deaminase assay with ELISA for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis infection.

BACKGROUND Diagnosing tuberculous meningitis (TBM) remains problematic despite many new advanced diagnostic methods. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) assays have emerged as novel alternatives to other costly and time-consuming methods for TBM diagnosis. In the present study the usefulness of the ADA method was assessed for the diagnosis of TBM and compared with an in-house developed ELISA method for detecting the antigen 85 (Ag 85) complex of M. tuberculosis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of suspected and culture-confirmed TBM patients. MATERIAL/METHODS ADA activity in CSF was determined at 37 degrees C according to the method of Guisti and Galanti. ELISA, employing monoclonal antibodies against the purified Ag 85 complex, was used to demonstrate Ag 85 complex in CSF from TBM patients. CSF samples were obtained from 153 patients in three different groups: confirmed TBM (n=27), clinically suspected TBM (n=39), and non-TBM (n=87). RESULTS The ADA method yielded sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 86%, which are similar to those of the ELISA method (89% and 90%). The correlation between the Ag 85 complex activity in absorbance by ELISA and the ADA activity obtained in units per liter per minute (U/l/min) was also positive and significant. (Pearson's correlation coefficient r=0.3234, 95%CI: 0.1621-0.4679, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the ADA method can be performed for TBM diagnosis in low-income TB-affected regions where more sophisticated facilities are generally not available.
The inertial subrange in turbulent pipe flow: centreline

The inertial-subrange scaling of the axial velocity component is examined for the centreline of turbulent pipe flow for Reynolds numbers in the range $249\leqslant Re_{{\it\lambda}}\leqslant 986$ . Estimates of the dissipation rate are made by both integration of the one-dimensional dissipation spectrum and the third-order moment of the structure function. In neither case does the non-dimensional dissipation rate asymptote to a constant; rather than decreasing, it increases indefinitely with Reynolds number. Complete similarity of the inertial range spectra is not evident: there is little support for the hypotheses of Kolmogorov (Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, vol. 32, 1941a, pp. 16–18; Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, vol. 30, 1941b, pp. 301–305) and the effects of Reynolds number are not well represented by Kolmogorov’s ‘extended similarity hypothesis’ (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 13, 1962, pp. 82–85). The second-order moment of the structure function does not show a constant value, even when compensated by the extended similarity hypothesis. When corrected for the effects of finite Reynolds number, the third-order moments of the structure function accurately support the ‘four-fifths law’, but they do not show a clear plateau. In common with recent work in grid turbulence, non-equilibrium effects can be represented by a heuristic scaling that includes a global Reynolds number as well as a local one. It is likely that non-equilibrium effects appear to be particular to the nature of the boundary conditions. Here, the principal effects of the boundary conditions appear through finite turbulent transport at the pipe centreline, which constitutes a source or a sink at each wavenumber.
Andrographolide suppresses RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and prevents inflammatory bone loss in vivo

Osteoclasts play a pivotal role in diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and tumour bone metastasis. Thus, searching for natural compounds that may suppress osteoclast formation and/or function is promising for the treatment of osteoclast‐related diseases. Here, we examined changes in osteoclastogenesis and LPS‐induced osteolysis in response to andrographolide (AP), a diterpenoid lactone isolated from the traditional Chinese and Indian medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata.
α7 nicotinic receptor subunit is present on serotonin neurons projecting to hippocampus and septum

The serotonergic transmitter system regulates hippocampal activity through its raphe projection to hippocampus and medial septum/diagonal band of Broca complex (MS/DBB), and most likely also indirectly through its interaction with the cholinergic neurotransmitter system. Nicotine, e.g., enhances hippocampal serotonin release probably through presynaptic nicotinic receptors. We investigated the possible presence of the α7‐nicotinic subunit on serotonergic neurons projecting to hippocampus and MS/DBB. By retrograde neuronal tracing, hippocampal serotonergic neurons were identified and with double fluorescence immunostaining and Alexa‐488 bound α‐bungarotoxin the presence of active α7 receptor on their soma was determined. Most of the retrogradely labeled serotonin neurons contained the α7 subunit. A low degree of colocalization between α‐bungarotoxin and serotonin‐positive neurons suggest that the α7 subunit may be transported anterogradely to the serotonergic axonal terminals. Synapse 55:196–200, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Simulation Comparison of Hierarchical and Flat Ad Hoc Networks

Traditional ad hoc networks have flat architecture, which suffers from poor scalability. Theoretical analysis and experimental results imply that throughput for each node decreases rapidly toward zero while the number of nodes increases in such architecture. Hierarchical architecture in ad hoc networks present a trade off between cellular networks and pure ad hoc networks, in that data may be forwarded in a multi-hop fashion or through the infrastructure. In this paper, we focus on simulations of static ad hoc networks in two different architectures, namely hierarchical and flat. The paper is to investigate, benefits of hierarchical ad hoc network via computer simulations in terms of quality of service (QoS) provisioning, which includes transmit capacity, delay, delivery ratio, and scalability of the network. keywords: Ad hoc networks, sensor networks, wireless networks, hierarchical networks.
Advanced global illumination

This book provides a fundamental understanding of global illumination algorithms. It discusses a broad class of algorithms for realistic image synthesis and introduces a theoretical basis for the algorithms presented. Topics include: physics of light transport, Monte Carlo methods, general strategies for solving the rendering equation, stochastic path-tracing algorithms such as ray tracing and light tracing, stochastic radiosity including photon density estimation and hierarchical Monte Carlo radiosity, hybrid algorithms, metropolis light transport, irradiance caching, photon mapping and instant radiosity, beyond the rendering equation, image display and human perception. If you want to design and implement a global illumination rendering system or need to use and modify an existing system for your specific purpose, this book will give you the tools and the understanding to do so.