Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectral Efficient Signaling for Half-duplex Relay Channels

We study two-hop communication protocols where one or two relay terminals assist in the communication between two transceiver terminals. All terminals operate in half-duplex mode, i.e., may not receive and transmit simultaneously at the same time and frequency. This leads to a loss in spectral efficiency due to the pre-log factor 1/2 in corresponding expressions for the achievable rate (capacity). We propose and analyze two relaying protocols that avoid the pre-log factor 1/2 but still work with halfduplex relays. Firstly, we consider a relaying protocol where two half-duplex relays, either amplify-and-forward (AF) or decodeand-forward (DF), alternately forward messages from a source terminal to a destination terminal (two-path relaying). It is shown that the protocol can recover a significant portion of the halfduplex loss. Secondly, we propose a relaying protocol where a bidirectional connection between two transceiver terminals is established via one half-duplex AF or DF relay (two-way relaying). It is shown that the sum rate of the two-way half-duplex AF relay channel achieves the rate of the one-way full-duplex AF relay channel, whereas the sum rate of the two-way half-duplex DF relay channel achieves the rate of the one-way full-duplex DF relay channel only in certain cases.
Sample size, confidence, and contingency judgement.

According to statistical models, the acquisition function of contingency judgement is due to confidence increasing with sample size. According to associative models, the function reflects the accumulation of associative strength on which the judgement is based. Which view is right? Thirty university students assessed the relation between a fictitious medication and a symptom of skin discoloration in conditions that varied sample size (4, 6, 8 or 40 trials) and contingency (delta P = .20, .40, .60 or .80). Confidence was also collected. Contingency judgement was lower for smaller samples, while confidence level correlated inversely with sample size. This dissociation between contingency judgement and confidence contradicts the statistical perspective.
Influence de la génétique dans le déterminisme du risque parodontal

La maladie parodontale est une pathologie inflammatoire initiee par des bacteries qui modulent la reponse immuno-inflammatoire et le metabolisme gingivo-osseux de l'hote. Des facteurs de risque interviennent et l'etude des polymorphismes d'interleukine a montre le role determinant de la genetique dans la susceptibilite a la parodontite. Le test genetique PST (Periodontal Susceptibility Test) qui etudie le genotype composite IL-1 permet de depister ce facteur de risque pour l'integrer dans le profil de risque parodontal du patient (Periodontal Risk Assessment). Nous etudierons le lien entre le genotype composite IL-1 avec le type de parodontite, le saignement au sondage et la profondeur de poche.
A five-level NPC bidirectional converter based on multistate switching cell operating as boost rectifier

This paper presents a five-level Neutral-Point-Clamped (NPC) bidirectional converter based on multi-state switching cell (MSSC) operating as boost rectifier for power factor correction applications. Its main features are high power factor, reduced conduction losses, reduced weight and volume, and a bidirectional power flow between the ac and dc sides of the converter. The analysis employs the principle of interleaved converters, as it can be extended to a generic number of legs and high power levels. A theoretical analysis and experimental results from a 3 kW prototype are presented.
Dying in America: improving quality and honoring individual preferences near the end of life.

► An independent, nonprofit organization that works outside of government to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to decision makers and the public. ► Established in 1970, the IOM is the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, which was chartered under President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Nearly 150 years later, the National Academy of Sciences has expanded into what is collectively known as the National Academies, which comprises the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Research Council, and the IOM.
Analyse des espèces biologiques vivant dans les piscines des installations nucléaires : vers l'identification d'espèces radiorésistantes

Les biotechnologies basees sur des microorganismes capables de survivre a de fortes doses de rayonnement ionisants et de concentrer les radionucleides constituent une technique attractive pour decontaminer les effluents nucleaires, en particulier du fait du faible volume de dechets generes. En utilisant deux methodes d’analyses directes et complementaires que sont la metagenetique et la metaproteomique, l’inventaire complet de la piscine de refroidissement d’un coeur de reacteur nucleaire (en fonctionnement et a l’arret) et d’une piscine de stockage de sources radioactives de cobalt a ete realise. Les microbiotes sont extremement differents entre les deux piscines. Une majorite de Cyanobacteria a ete identifiee dans la piscine du reacteur alors qu’une majorite de Proteobacteria l’a ete dans la piscine des sources. Durant le fonctionnement du reacteur, une majorite de Variovorax a ete identifiee. Certaines especes de Variovorax sont capables d’utiliser du H2 comme source d’energie, ce qui peut leur donner un avantage dans un environnement nucleaire aquatique. Parmi les microorganismes isoles de la piscine du reacteur, 46 bacteries ont ete identifiees. Leur capacite a resister aux rayonnements gamma et a accumuler l’uranium et le cobalt ont ete determinees. Parmi ces bacteries, six souches ont ete capables d’accumuler la totalite de l’uranium d’une solution a 5 μM, et deux d’entre elles ont entierement accumule l’uranium d’une solution a 50 μM. Ce travail presente le premier inventaire complet d’une piscine de refroidissement d’un coeur de reacteur nucleaire en fonctionnement. Cette these presente des perspectives tant sur le plan industriel avec l’utilisation des microorganismes isoles dans un procede de biodecontamination d’effluents nucleaires que sur le plan fondamental avec l’elucidation des mecanismes developpes par ces microorganismes pour resister aux rayonnements et accumuler les radionucleides.
The Relationship Between Intramuscular Pressure of the Paraspinal Muscles and Low Back Pain

Study Design The relationship between lumbar intramuscular pressure and backache with degenerative lumbar spine diseases was examined. Lumbar intramuscular pressure in 102 patients with low back pain and in 20 normal adults was compared in different positions using Miller's microtip catheter transducer. Objectives. This study sought to study the relationship between intramuscular pressure of the lumbar back muscles and degenerative lumbar diseases. Summary of Background Data Measurement of intramuscular pressure is an objective technique for diagnosing lumbar compartment syndrome. The diagnosis of chronic compartment syndrome of the lumbar back muscles is confirmed when an association between an increase in intramuscular pressure and the onset of back pain is established. As spinal alignment changes from lordosis to kyphosis, the intramuscular pressure increases and blood flow decreases. Methods Intramuscular pressure measurements of the lumbar back muscles were performed in various positions and loading. Results in patients with low back pain and in normal adults were compared. Results The intramuscular pressure levels were found to be closely related to position and loading. The pattern of changes in pressure depended on the type of disease. The changes in intramuscular pressure in the patients with backache were classified into four distinct patterns. Chronic compartment syndrome of the lumbar back muscles showed two patterns: waxing and plateau. Conclusions Measurement of intramuscular pressure of the lumbar back muscles might be an important method of obtaining a greater knowledge about backache.
Direct method for determination of shallow foundation settlements

A direct procedure for determining settlement of shallow foundations, combining the modified hyperbolic function for nonlinear stress and strain ratio with correlations from penetration test results, is presented in the paper. The 10% load, i.e. 1% of settlement to equivalent foundations diameter ratio, is used in correlations. Laboratory tests are not needed in this novel procedure, which is a considerable advantage for coarse-grained soils. A very good correspondence was established between the load-based settlement curve calculated in this way, and the settlements measured in sand during load testing of five square foundations of variable size.
Novel Dual-Broadband Planar Antenna and Its Array for 2G/3G/LTE Base Stations

A novel dual-broadband planar antenna is proposed for 2G/3G/LTE (4G) mobile communications. The proposed dual-broadband antenna consists of one element for the lower band and two elements for the upper band, making it possible to be arrayed without appearance of grating lobes in the upper band. The lower-band element comprises a pair of printed dipoles with a pair of parasitic elements for bandwidth enhancement. Two upper-band elements composed of two pairs of folded dipoles are nested inside the lower-band element, forming a compact arrayable antenna unit. The dual-broadband antenna achieves a bandwidth of 20% (800-980 MHz) for the lower band and a bandwidth of 60% (1540-2860 MHz) for the upper band. A dual-broadband antenna array that consists of 4 elements for the lower band and 8 elements for the upper band is developed for base station applications. The dual-broadband array achieves a bandwidth of 22% (780-980 MHz) for the lower band and a bandwidth of 68% (1470-3000 MHz) for the upper band, covering all the frequency bands for 2G/3G/LTE (4G) systems. Measured antenna gains for the array are ~12 dBi for the lower band and dBi for the upper band, suitable for potential applications in mobile communication base stations.
Physician reluctance to discuss advance directives. An empiric investigation of potential barriers.

BACKGROUND To determine the relative impact of five proposed barriers to physician usage of advance directives with the aim of increasing the number of advance directives generated. METHODS Questionnaires were sent to 460 internal medicine resident and attending physicians at a large New York, NY, hospital. Of these, 277 (60%) responded. We used multiple regression to measure the impact of five barriers to physician-initiated discussions of advance directives (time constraints, compensation concerns, discomfort with the subject, beliefs about appropriateness, and lack of understanding) on respondents' estimates of the number of advance directives held by respondents' patients, the number of recent advance directive discussions, and the number of discussions initiated by physicians. RESULTS Physician lack of understanding and erroneous beliefs about appropriateness had particularly strong effects, serving as barriers to recent advance directive discussions (P < .0001 and P < .0001, respectively) and total number of advance directives held (P < .0001 and P < .02). Physicians' lack of knowledge also served as a barrier to the percentage of discussions that were physician initiated (P < .003 and P < .04). Time constraints and lack of comfort affected only discussions that were physician initiated (P < .001). Compensation concerns did not appear to serve as a barrier. Respondents were supportive of the concept of advance directives but reported minimal use of them in appropriate situations. CONCLUSIONS Attention can now be focused on methods to overcome the five barriers studied and thereby enhance the execution of advance directives.
Relationship of Life Change, Maladaptive Aggression, and Upper Respiratory Infection in Male College Students

&NA; It was hypothesized that the development of a serious upper respiratory infection (URI) for which treatment is sought is antedated by a maladaptive reaction to distressing life conflicts. Twenty‐nine male college students who sought relief from sore throats at a college health service were compared with 29 symptom‐free students randomly selected from the college directory. The subjects were given a series of questionnaires and a projective test to measure the incidence of distressing life changes, patterns of maladaptive coping, and unpleasant affect. The results indicated that significantly more disappointment, failure, and role crisis appeared in the lives of individuals who became ill and sought help than in “normals. ” Defiant coping patterns and heightened unpleasant affect also distinctly characterized the URI group.
Risk Factors for Postoperative Intra-abdominal Septic Complications after Bowel Resection in Patients with Crohn’s Disease

BACKGROUND: Postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications are a serious concern with regard to postoperative morbidity and mortality in Crohn’s disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical variables that potentially impact the risk of intra-abdominal septic complications in patients with Crohn’s disease, as well al analyze the short-term prognosis in patients with postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective review with the use of hospital medical records. SETTINGS: This investigation was conducted at a single-institution, tertiary referral center in Tokyo, Japan. PATIENTS: We reviewed 550 patients that had undergone 728 intestinal anastomoses during 633 operations for primary or recurrent Crohn’s disease between January 2005 and December 2010. Postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications were defined as anastomotic leakage or intra-abdominal abscesses occurring within 1 month after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Twenty-four clinical variables were evaluated as potential risk factors for postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications. These factors were analyzed by use of univariate and multivariate methods. RESULTS: Postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications occurred in 17 cases (2.7%), with no fatalities. Of the 17 patients, 13 had anastomotic leakage and 4 had intra-abdominal abscesses. In the univariate and multivariate analyses, penetrating type (p = 0.014), operation time >180 minutes (p = 0.004), and handsewn anastomoses (p = 0.005) were significantly independent risk factors for postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications. Patients experiencing intra-abdominal septic complications had significantly higher 1-year reoperation rates (41.2%) than patients without intra-abdominal septic complications (2.3%, p < 0.0001). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by being a retrospective review, and the details regarding postoperative complications other than intra-abdominal septic complications were not completely available. CONCLUSIONS: Penetrating type, operation time >180 minutes, and handsewn anastomoses significantly increased the risk of postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications in Crohn’s disease. Postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications had a negative influence on the short-term outcome in Crohn’s disease.
Maternal smoking and hyperactivity in 8-year-old children.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and hyperactivity in 8-year-old children. METHOD The study population consisted of children from the Northern Finland 1985/86 Birth Cohort. At 8-year follow-up 9,357 children were alive. Mothers provided information both during pregnancy and at age 8. Teachers assessed children's behavior by the Children's Behavior Questionnaire (Rutter B2). Unadjusted analyses and stratification were used to study associations and confounding variables. A multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to assess the independent association between smoking and outcome. RESULTS Maternal smoking was associated with hyperactivity even after adjustment for sex, family structure, socioeconomic status, maternal age, and maternal alcohol use (odds ratio 1.30; 1.08-1.58). The association was particularly notable among children of young mothers with low social standing. A positive dose-response relationship was seen between maternal smoking and hyperactivity. CONCLUSION This study, the largest population-based prospective follow-up on fetal nicotine exposure and later behavioral disorders, confirms earlier descriptions of the link between maternal smoking during gestation and childhood hyperactivity. Discontinuation or decreased use of cigarettes during pregnancy might improve behavioral outcome of children.
CMB polarization towards clusters as a probe of the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect

The scattering of the temperature anisotropy quadrupole by free electrons in galaxy clusters leads to a now well-known polarization signal in the cosmic microwave background fluctuations. Using multifrequency polarization data, one can extract the temperature quadrupole and separate it from the contaminant polarization associated with the kinematic quadrupole due to the transverse motion of clusters. At low redshifts, the temperature quadrupole contains a significant contribution from the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect (ISW) associated with the growth of density fluctuations. Using polarization data from a sample of clusters over a wide range in redshift, one can statistically establish the presence of the ISW effect and determine the redshift dependence of the ISW contribution to the rms quadrupole. Given the strong dependence of the ISW effect on the background cosmology, the cluster polarization can eventually be used as a probe of the dark energy.
Identifying Health Beliefs Influencing Hispanic College Men's Willingness to Vaccinate against HPV

ABSTRACT This study identifies health beliefs influencing Hispanic college men's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake decision making processes. Hispanic college men were interviewed about their HPV vaccine knowledge, and information seeking behaviors. Overall, participants did not view HPV infection or vaccination as an immediate concern or priority; belief that it was a virus that only affected women, and a sense of invulnerability informed their positions. Despite these issues, most men were willing to consider getting the HPV vaccine if they received more education from health care providers, and cost concerns were addressed. These findings pointed to gaps in our understandings of Hispanic college men's HPV vaccination beliefs and provided insight into the importance of integrating this population's unique beliefs into campus health providers efforts aimed at increasing vaccination rates.
Comparison of atmospheres of incubation for primary isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni from animal specimens: 5% oxygen versus candle jar

An atmosphere with reduced oxygen tension is required for the primary isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni. Therefore, we compared use of the conventional atmosphere of 5% oxygen and 8% carbon dioxide with use of a candle jar (17% oxygen and 3% carbon dioxide) for primary isolation of C. fetus subsp. jejuni from 263 positive canine, cattle, and turkey fecal or cecal specimens. At an incubation temperature of 42 degrees C, the atmosphere with 5% oxygen resulted in more Campylobacter colonies per plate (P less than 0.005) and consistently larger Campylobacter colonies (P less than 0.005) than did the candle jar, whereas the growth of interfering flora was similar. Overall, 96% of the 263 specimens were positive for C. fetus subsp. jejuni with 5% oxygen, and 90% were positive with the candle jar (P less than 0.02). More striking differences in isolation rates were seen when both the temperature and the atmosphere were varied: 5% oxygen at 42 degrees C enabled recovery of 93% of the isolates from 70 positive specimens, versus 46% recovery with the candle jar at 37 degrees C. Results with 5% oxygen at 37 degrees C were intermediate. The addition of FBP supplement (0.25% each of ferrous sulfate, sodium metabisulfite, and sodium pyruvate) to Campy-BAP selective medium made no improvement over unsupplemented medium at 42 degrees C (whether in 5% oxygen or in the candle jar), but there was significant improvement over unsupplemented medium when both media were incubated at 37 degrees in the candle jar.
Results of a Prospective Randomized Trial of Sirolimus Conversion in Kidney Transplant Recipients on Early Corticosteroid Withdrawal

Background. The use of calcineurin inhibitors is associated with chronic nephrotoxicity and lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR). As a result, one strategy of transplant immunosuppression is calcineurin inhibitor elimination. Methods. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of a prospective randomized trial of kidney transplant recipients receiving rapid corticosteroid withdrawal, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for 1 month followed by randomization to switch to sirolimus-MMF or to stay on tacrolimus-MMF. The primary outcome was the difference in measured GFR at 1 year using intention-to-treat analysis. Results. Sixty patients were randomized to stay on tacrolimus-MMF and 62 to sirolimus-MMF. Actual graft survival (including death) at 2 years was 98.4% in the sirolimus group, 96.7% in the tacrolimus group. Sixty-three percentage of the patients in the sirolimus group withdrew during the 2-year period of the study compared with 18% of the tacrolimus group (P<0.0001), primarily related to rejection or medication side effects. Rejection during the first year occurred in 5% of the tacrolimus group and 13% of the sirolimus group (P=0.15). Measured GFR at 1 year (mean±SD) was 57.4±20.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the sirolimus group and 62.7±26.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the tacrolimus group (95% CI of difference −3.7–14.4). Conclusions. We conclude that conversion from tacrolimus-MMF to sirolimus-MMF at 1 month posttransplant in kidney recipients on rapid steroid withdrawal is poorly tolerated and does not improve GFR at 1 year.
Bibliography "Food as Heritage"

The following bibliography is conceived as a selection of international literature on food as heritage and as a marker of identity within the huge amount of works recently produced on the topic of food. The bibliography has been produced within the “Food as heritage” project, performed at University of Bologna and coordinated by Ilaria Porciani, with a team composed by Massimo Montanari, Paolo Capuzzo, Raffaele Laudani and Marica Tolomelli. “Food as heritage” is part of a wider projec.
If A-B does not predict heart disease, why bother with it? A clinician's view.

Ray asks the question: 'If A-B does not predict heart disease, why bother with it? ' (British Journal of Medical Psychology, 64 (1) 1991). Having worked for several years in prevention of heart attack recurrence, I am inclined to agree with his conclusion that the construct is a trail which should now be abandoned. Grief, hostility and social isolation, fear and work demands have each been implicated in heart disease independently of Type A.
Globalization and Food Prestige among Indian Adolescents

ABSTRACT This study provides a foundation for understanding how globalization and changing food environments are linked to cultural models of food prestige in adolescents. We used methods from cognitive anthropology, including free lists, pile sorts, and consensus modeling, to explore the meanings that Indian adolescents attribute to foods. Adolescents (n = 29) were asked to free list foods eaten outside and inside the home. Different adolescents (n = 65) were asked to pile sort and rank 30 foods identified during the free lists according to which foods are the most prestigious, traditional, routine, and advertised on television. We found that adolescents overwhelmingly believed nontraditional foods to be the most prestigious. Nonlocal foods, both from foreign countries and other regions of India, as well as foods eaten outside the home, were also considered prestigious.