Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Precise azimuth-to-frequency mapping for effective and efficient compensation of motion errors in airborne SAR

In this work we focus on the Precise Topography- and Aperture-dependent algorithm, briefly PTA, proposed in the recent literature to remove the residual errors still affecting airborne SAR data focused with standard two-step Motion Compensation algorithms. More specifically, we first show that the azimuth-to-frequency mapping used by the PTA procedure is not fully appropriate, because it does not account for the presence of the residual motion errors themselves. Then, we show how to calculate the correct azimuth-to-frequency mapping able to fully account for the presence of the residual motion errors. Finally, we show how to modify the original PTA in such a way to properly exploit the correct azimuth-to-frequency mapping previously discussed.
An investigation of errors in direct counts of aquatic bacteria by epifluorescence microscopy, with reference to a new method for dyeing membrane filters.

A number of methods for observing freshwater bacteria by epifluorescence (incident light fluorescence) microscopy are examined. The suitability of each method for quantitative studies using black membrane filters is assessed. In spite of inadequacies it was considered that the use of acridine-based fluorochromes provided the best available estimate of the bacterial population. The errors which may arise when these stains are used were examined and it was noted that small changes in methodology could cause significant differences in the results obtained. The largest errors were associated with changes in volume of sample filtered and the pore size of the membrane used. A procedure for sample treatment is suggested and a new method for dyeing membrane filters is given which allows the use of 0·22-μm pore size membranes of the cellulose ester and polycarbonate type.
Small supernumerary marker chromosomes – progress towards a genotype-phenotype correlation

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) are still a major problem in clinical cytogenetics as they are too small to be characterized for their chromosomal origin by traditional banding techniques, but require molecular cytogenetic techniques for their identification. Apart from the correlation of about one third of the sSMC cases with a specific clinical picture, i.e. the i(18p), der(22), i(12p) (Pallister Killian syndrome) and inv dup(22) (cat-eye) syndromes, most of the remaining sSMC have not yet been correlated with clinical syndromes. Recently, we reviewed the available >1600 sSMC cases (Liehr T, sSMC homepage: http://mti-n.mti.uni-jena.de/∼huwww/MOL_ZYTO/sSMC.htm). A total of 387 cases (including the 45 new cases reported here) have been molecularly cytogenetically characterized with regard to their chromosomal origin, the presence of euchromatin, heterochromatin and satellite material. Based on analysis of these cases we present the first draft of a basic genotype-phenotype correlation for sSMC for all human chromosomes apart from the chromosomes Y, 10, 11 and 13.
Use of Portable Global Positioning System (GPS) Devices in Exposure Analysis for Time-location Measurement

Exposure analysis is a critical component of determining the health impact of pollutants. Global positioning systems (GPS) could be useful in developing time-location information for use in exposure analysis. This study compares four low cost GPS receivers with data logging capability (Garmin 60, Garmin Forerunner 201, GeoStats GeoLogger and Skytrx minitracker MT4100) in terms of accuracy, precision, and ease of use. The accuracy of the devices was determined at two known National Geodetic Survey points. The coordinates logged by the devices were compared when the devices were carried while walking and driving. The Garmin 60 showed better accuracy and precision than the GeoLogger when they were placed at the geodetic points. The Forerunner and Skytrx did not record when they were kept stationary. When the subject wore the devices while walking, the location of the devices differed by about 8 m on average between any two device combinations involving the four devices. The distance between the coordinates logged by the devices decreased when the devices were carried with their antennas facing the sky. All the devices showed similar routes when they were used in a car. All the devices except the Forerunner had satisfactory signal reception when they were worn and when they were carried in the car. The GeoLogger is less comfortable for the subject because of specific wearing requirements. This evaluation found that the Garmin 60 and the Skytrx may be useful in personal exposure analysis studies to record time-location data.
A Psychometric Investigation of Gender Differences and Common Processes Across Borderline and Antisocial Personality Disorders

The comorbidity between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is well-established, and the 2 disorders share many similarities. However, there are also differences across disorders: most notably, BPD is diagnosed more frequently in women and ASPD in men. We investigated if (a) comorbidity between BPD and ASPD is attributable to 2 discrete disorders or the expression of common underlying processes, and (b) if the model of comorbidity is true across sex. Using a clinical sample of 1,400 drug users in residential substance abuse treatment, we tested 3 competing models to explore whether the comorbidity of ASPD and BPD should be represented by a single common factor, 2 correlated factors, or a bifactor structure involving a general and disorder-specific factors. Next, we tested whether our resulting model was meaningful by examining its relationship with criterion variables previously reported to be associated with BPD and ASPD. The bifactor model provided the best fit and was invariant across sex. Overall, the general factor of the bifactor model significantly accounted for a large percentage of the variance in criterion variables, whereas the BPD and AAB specific factors added little to the models. The association of the general and specific factor with all criterion variables was equal for men and women. Our results suggest common underlying vulnerability accounts for both the comorbidity between BPD and AAB (across sex), and this common vulnerability drives the association with other psychopathology and maladaptive behavior. This in turn has implications for diagnostic classification systems and treatment.
Work-Family Balance of Knowledge Workers In Poland

The subject of managing both work and family spheres has drawn a lot of academic attention in the last few decades. Various models of work-family balance have been created. Yet, the most widely used, and perhaps the most feasible are models that measure balance by its absence. In the study, we use the work to family conflict model to investigate how work interrupts the family life. We focus on knowledge workers, as among this group the boundary between work and family spheres continue to be more and more blurry, especially with the presence of new information and communication technologies. In the research, we show how different working patterns and work attitudes influence family life. Additionally, we analyze the impact of usage of ICTs at home for professional reasons on familial harmony. In order to conduct the analysis we use the secondary data from the Social Diagnosis 2013 Project. The analysis is conducted on the group of knowledge workers (nkw=1, 457) and the rest of the workers (now=5, 955). The knowledge workers who used the Internet and e-mail at home for professional reasons were found to be more likely to face family problems than ones who did not use the new technologies in this manner. The relation between working hours and struggling with family problems has turned out to be non-linear and changing depending on the work environment perception. The results suggest that in general knowledge workers, who report work problems, have higher probability of struggling with problems in family than individuals who do not. The workers, who do not perceive their work as problematic, are more likely to have problems in family long very long hours. The individuals who work long hours are less likely to be subject to family problems, if they do not struggle with work-related problems. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n22p292
Super-hydrophobicity fundamentals: implications to biofouling prevention

Abstract The theory of wetting on super-hydrophobic surfaces is presented and discussed, within the general framework of equilibrium wetting and contact angles. Emphasis is put on the implications of super-hydrophobicity to the prevention of biofouling. Two main lines of thought are discussed, viz. i) “mirror imaging” of the Lotus effect, namely designing a surface that repels biological entities by being super-hydrophilic, and ii) designing a surface that minimises the water-wetted area when submerged in water (by keeping an air film between the water and the surface), so that the suspended biological entities have a low probability of encountering the solid surface.
A Complete Observation Model for Tracking Vehicles from Mobile Phone Signal Strengths and Its Potential in Travel-Time Estimation

Tracking vehicles from mobile phones has applications, among others, in traffic monitoring, location-based services, and personal navigation. We address the problem of tracking vehicles from received signal strength (RSS) sequences generated by mobile phones carried by passengers. A mobile phone periodically measures the RSS levels from the associated cell tower and several (six for GSM) strongest neighbor cell towers. Each such measurement is known as an RSS fingerprint. However, due to various effects, the contents of fingerprints may vary over time even when measured at the same location. These variations have two components. First is the fluctuation of the RSS levels. Second is the variation of the set of cell towers reported in fingerprints. The latter is not properly modeled by traditional methods. To address both components of variation, we propose a probabilistic model for RSS fingerprints that specifies for each gird-location in the area of interest, the distribution of the probability of observing any fingerprint at that location. We then use it as the observation model of a Dynamic Bayesian Network to track vehicles. Experiments on several roads demonstrate a 40% reduction in average error with our method compared to its traditional counterparts. Using RSS sequences of phone calls made by road users, our algorithm produced better travel-time estimates than comparison methods for a selected road segment with an average error of 13% with respect to travel-times computed through manual license plate recognition.
NONTRANSITIVITY OF PATERNITY IN A BIRD

Abstract In many animals reproductive success is determined after insemination by the interaction of male and female processes. While sperm competition is reasonably well understood in some taxa, other processes, such as cryptic female choice and differential early embryo mortality resulting from genetic incompatibilities, are less well understood. The relative importance of these different factors contributing to reproductive success is difficult to assess. Here we control for male-mediated effects (which are often considerable and can mask more subtle processes) through the artificial insemination of known numbers of sperm in the domestic fowl to reveal that male reproductive success is nontransitive across females: the success of a particular male depends on the background against which his sperm compete for fertilization. Two potential processes could account for this effect: cryptic female choice (sperm choice) or differential early embryo mortality. Regardless of the mechanism, nontransitivity of male reproductive success has important evolutionary consequences, including the maintenance of variation in male fitness.
A High Resolution Structure of an Inhibitor Complex of the Extracellular Nuclease of Staphylococcus aureus

Two isomorphously substituted derivatives of the nucleaseCa2+-thymidine 3’,5’-diphosphate complex have been prepared and used in an x-ray crystallographic study of the molecular structure. In one case, 5-iododeoxyuridine 3’,5’-diphosphate was used in place of thymidine 3’,5’diphosphate (a net replacement of CHB by I), and, in the other, BaZf was used in place of Ca2f. Intensities of all reflections and their Friedel pairs within the 4 A sphere were measured on this inhibitor complex and its two substituted derivatives; in addition, approximately 35% of the data between 4 A and 2 A were collected, selection being made on the basis of the peak to background ratios. These data have been used to produce an electron density map of sufficient quality to allow a complete tracing of the peptide chain except for a few residues at each terminus which presumably project into solution and are too disordered to be distinguishable from solvent. Approximately 30 residues are involved in three separated sections of helix, and about 24 residues form a three-stranded section of antiparallel P-pleated sheet. Residues 44 to 53 form a loop which is loose, highly exposed to solvent, and somewhat disordered. Residues Lys-48 and Lys-49, which are selectively vulnerable to trypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis, lie at the extremum of this loop. The most significant feature of the nuclease structure is a large pocket which serves as the inhibitor binding site. With the electron density maps now available, the lining of this pocket is revealed to be predominantly neutral or hydrophobic with the exception of several residues which specifically participate in binding the calcium ion and the nucleoside diphosphate. Of the latter, the most conspicuous
Soil Clay Content Mapping Using a Time Series of Landsat TM Data in Semi-Arid Lands

Clay content (fraction < 2 µm) is one of the most important soil properties. It controls soil hydraulic properties like wilting point, field capacity and saturated hydraulic conductivity, which in turn control the various fluxes of water in the unsaturated zone. In our study site, the Kairouan plain in central Tunisia, existing soil maps are neither exhaustive nor sufficiently precise for water balance modeling or thematic mapping. The aim of this work was to produce a clay-content map at fine spatial resolution over the Kairouan plain using a time series of Landsat Thematic Mapper images and to validate the produced map using independent soil samples, existing soil map and clay content produced by TerraSAR-X radar data. Our study was based on 100 soil samples and on a dataset of four Landsat TM data acquired during the summer season. Relationships between textural indices (MID-Infrared) and topsoil clay content were studied for each selected image and were used to produce clay content maps at a spatial resolution of 30 m. Cokriging was used to fill in the gaps created by green vegetation and crop residues masks and to predict clay content of each pixel of the image at 100 m grid spatial resolution. Results showed that mapping clay content using a OPEN ACCESS Remote Sens. 2015, 7 6060 time series of Landsat TM data is possible and that the produced clay content map presents a reasonable accuracy (R 2 = 0.65, RMSE = 100 g/kg). The produced clay content map is consistent with existing soil map of the studied region. Comparison with clay content map generated from TerraSAR-X radar data on a small area with no calibration point revealed similarities in topsoil clay content over the largest part of this extract, but significant differences for several areas. In-situ observations at those locations showed that the Landsat TM mapping was more consistent with observations than the TerraSAR-X mapping.
Algorytmy przeciwdziałania przeciążeniom w sieciach komputerowych z wykorzystaniem zmiennych niepewnych

Praca dotyczy wykorzystania zmiennych niepewnych do wyznaczania algorytmow przeciwdzialania przeciązeniom w sieciach komputerowych. Opracowano rozne wersje problemow niepewnych oraz przeanalizowano wyznaczone algorytmy ich rozwiązania z wykorzystaniem badan symulacyjnych. Przedstawiono najwazniejsze wyniki z punktu widzenia projektow sieci komputerowej.
Managerial equity incentives withdrawal and corporate value of listed companies in China: Analyses based on institutional change perspective

Based on agency theory and corporate governance theory, we analyze the relationship between the withdrawal of managerial equity incentives and corporate value from the perspective of institutional change. Using the data of equity incentives execution and withdrawal declared from 2006 to 2012 in China listed firms, we test our hypotheses by investigating the synergy effect on corporate value, governance quality and incentives withdrawal. The study indicates: Firstly, we find corporate value and governance quality have a significant impact on the withdrawal of managerial equity incentives, which discloses the selective bias; Secondly, the institutional change of equity incentives facilitate better firms with low profitability or high value to accomplish their incentives program; Additionally, we do not find the obvious market response to the declaration of equity incentives withdrawal in contrast to the significant market response to the declaration of equity incentives execution. Event study meanwhile also shows the weaker market response to the declaration of equity incentives execution for withdrawn firms compared to the response of those firms incentives executed smoothly.
Obesity and adipokines: effects on sympathetic overactivity

Abstract Excess body weight is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, increasing the risk of hypertension, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia, recognized as the metabolic syndrome. Adipose tissue acts as an endocrine organ by producing various signalling cytokines called adipokines (including leptin, free fatty acids, tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6, C‐reactive protein, angiotensinogen and adiponectin). A chronic dysregulation of certain adipokines can have deleterious effects on insulin signalling. Chronic sympathetic overactivity is also known to be present in central obesity, and recent findings demonstrate the consequence of an elevated sympathetic outflow to organs such as the heart, kidneys and blood vessels. Chronic sympathetic nervous system overactivity can also contribute to a further decline of insulin sensitivity, creating a vicious cycle that may contribute to the development of the metabolic syndrome and hypertension. The cause of this overactivity is not clear, but may be driven by certain adipokines. The purpose of this review is to summarize how obesity, notably central or visceral as observed in the metabolic syndrome, leads to adipokine expression contributing to changes in insulin sensitivity and overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for characterization of focal splenic lesions in dogs.

BACKGROUND Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with perflubutane microbubbles improves the diagnostic accuracy to differentiate benign and malignant focal liver lesions in dogs. HYPOTHESIS Perflubutane microbubbles-enhanced ultrasonography is useful for differentiation of benign from malignant focal splenic lesions in dogs. ANIMALS Twenty-nine clinical dogs with single or multiple focal splenic lesions detected by conventional ultrasonography. METHODS Prospective clinical observational study. Perflubutane microbubbles-enhanced ultrasonography was performed in 29 dogs with focal splenic lesions. Qualitative assessment of the enhancement pattern was performed in the early vascular, late vascular, and parenchymal phases. RESULTS In the early vascular phase, a hypoechoic pattern was significantly associated with malignancy (P=.02) with sensitivity of 38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25-38%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 84-100%). In the late vascular phase, a hypoechoic pattern was significantly associated with malignancy (P=.001) with sensitivity of 81% (95% CI, 66-90%) and specificity of 85% (95% CI, 65-95%). There was no significant difference between malignant and benign lesions during the parenchymal phase. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Hypoechoic splenic nodules in the early and late vascular phases with perflubutane microbubbles-enhanced ultrasonography are strongly suggestive of malignancy in dogs.
ANN based RF-MRAS speed estimation of induction motor drive at low speed

In this paper, artificial neural network assisted MRAS based speed estimator is presented for the poly-phase induction motor drive. The adaptive model of conventional RF-MRAS is replaced by a neural network in order to immune the system from rotor resistance variation and for the reduction of complex mathematical computational efforts. To train the network, Levenberg-Marquardt back-propagation algorithm is used. The result is simulated at different operating conditions, particularly at low speeds.
Acute haematogenous osteomyelitis in children

The authors of this Clinical Review (BMJ 2014;348:g66, doi:10. 1136/bmj.g66) have alerted us to an error. They would like to correct the statement “Benzylpenicillin or a cephalosporin should be added in children not immunised against H influenzae,” which is located in the third paragraph of the section “How is osteomyelitis treated? ” This sentence should have read: “A second or third generation cephalosporin (e.g. cefuroxime or cefotaxime) should be added in children not immunised against H influenzae. ”
COMPARISON OF PSYCHIATRIC AND NONPSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS IN NURSING HOMES *

Extension of the provisions of the Kerr-Mills Act (Medical Assistance to the Aged) to patients with psychotic conditions who either have outlived their mental illnesses or have improved to a sufficient extent to be placed in the community without direct psychiatric supervision, has led to the placement of thousands of patients in nursing homes from state mental hospitals. Questions have been raised regarding the wisdom of placing such patients with the physically ill and the mentally well. Shore (1) believes that the “well” aged can tolerate the mentally “ill” aged in small doses and in small numbers. However, when they have to eat, sleep and play with the same group for twenty-four hours a day, it may be too much for the “well” aged. Kaplan (2) emphasizes the advantages of keeping patients of similar types together. In effect he suggests separating the ambulatory and mentally alert from the more physically disabled, and these in turn from the confused, disturbed patients. Stotsky and Margolin (3) raise some question regarding the wisdom of segregating former mental patients from others. Kidd (4) notes that when attempts were made to segregate geriatric and psychiatric patients, misplacements were made for about one-fourth of the total psychiatric population and one-third of the total geriatric group. Bullock (5) studied 1,085 residents in 75 nursing homes and found a significant correlation between physical condition and mental condition. Walton, Bennett and Nahemow (6) reported no difference between the mentally normal and those with chronic brain syndrome for conformity to the norms of the homes for the aged, but a significant difference for integration into the home. In contrast, patients with functional psychiatric disorders were significantly less conforming but not significantly less well integrated to the home than were normal persons. Psychiatric status was correlated with performance on a mental status questionnaire. Goldfarb and collaborators (7-9) performed an extensive series of studies for the purpose of correlating the physical and mental status of patients in homes for the aged, nursing homes, and state mental hospitals. They found that poor mental functional status-as measured by a brief standardized mental status examination, a psychiatric evaluation, a perceptual test, and a test of ability to perceive tactile stimulation of the face and hands simultaneously-was highly corre-