Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance analysis of LDR UWB non-coherent receivers in multipath environments

This paper presents an analytical comparison of three modulation schemes applied to two low data rate (LDR) ultra wideband (UWB) non-coherent receivers, namely the quadratic detector and the differential detector. In order to evaluate properly the impact of UWB multipath channels on performance, new statistical models on energy collection are proposed, and then taken into account in the analytical expressions of the error probability. Finally, critical system parameters, such as the optimal integration time for energy collection or major synchronization tolerances (coarse synchronization granularity, clock constraints) are derived from the obtained results.
Timing of primary tooth emergence among U.S. racial and ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVES To compare timing of tooth emergence among groups of American Indian (AI), Black and White children in the United States at 12 months of age. METHODS Data were from two sources - a longitudinal study of a Northern Plains tribal community and a study with sites in Indiana, Iowa and North Carolina. For the Northern Plains study, all children (n = 223) were American Indian, while for the multisite study, children (n = 320) were from diverse racial groups. Analyses were limited to data from examinations conducted within 30 days of the child's first birthday. RESULTS AI children had significantly more teeth present (Mean: 7.8, Median: 8.0) than did Whites (4.4, 4.0, P < 0.001) or Blacks (4.5, 4.0, P < 0.001). No significant differences were detected between Black and White children (P = 0.58). There was no significant sex difference overall or within any of the racial groups. CONCLUSIONS Tooth emergence occurs at a younger age for AI children than it does for contemporary White or Black children in the United States.
Precipitating Factors for Delirium in Hospitalized Elderly Persons: Predictive Model and Interrelationship With Baseline Vulnerability

Objective. —To prospectively develop and validate a predictive model for delirium based on precipitating factors during hospitalization, and to examine the interrelationship of precipitating factors and baseline vulnerability. Design. —Two prospective cohort studies, in tandem. Setting. —General medical wards, university teaching hospital. Patients. —For the development cohort, 196 patients aged 70 years and older with no delirium at baseline, and for the validation cohort, 312 comparable patients. Main Outcome Measure. —New-onset delirium by hospital day 9, defined by the Confusion Assessment Method diagnostic criteria. Results. —Delirium developed in 35 patients (18%) in the development cohort. Five independent precipitating factors for delirium were identified: use of physical restraints (adjusted relative risk [RR], 4.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5 to 7.9), malnutrition (RR, 4.0; 95% CI, 2.2 to 7.4), more than three medications added (RR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6 to 5.4), use of bladder catheter (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.7), and any iatrogenic event (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.2). Each precipitating factor preceded the onset of delirium by more than 24 hours. A risk stratification system was developed by adding 1 point for each factor present. Rates of delirium for low-risk (0 points), intermediate-risk (1 to 2 points), and high-risk groups (≥3 points) were 3%, 20%, and 59%, respectively (P Conclusions. —A simple predictive model based on the presence of five precipitating factors can be used to identify elderly medical patients at high risk for delirium. Precipitating and baseline vulnerability factors are highly interrelated and contribute to delirium in independent, substantive, and cumulative ways. (JAMA. 1996;275:852-857)
Epigenetic changes in B lymphocytes associated with house dust mite allergic asthma

Although there is no doubt about the influence of the genetic background in the onset of the allergic diseases, Epigenome-Wide Association Studies are needed to elucidate the possible relationship between allergic diseases and epigenomic dysregulation. In this study we aimed to analyze the epigenetic patterns, in terms of DNA methylation, of three well-characterized populations of house dust mite allergic subjects, aspirin-intolerant asthmatics and controls. As a first, genome-wide phase, we used the HELP assay to study the methylation patterns in CD19+ B lymphocytes in these populations, and found that there are reproducible epigenetic differences at limited numbers of loci distinguishing the groups, corroborated by bisulphite MassArray in a second validation phase of an expanded 40 subject group. These validated epigenetic changes occur at loci characterized as important for the immune response. One such locus is a new candidate gene, CYP26A1, which shows differential methylation patterns and expression levels between groups. Our results suggest that epigenomic dysregulation may contribute to the susceptibility to allergic diseases, showing for the first time differences in DNA methylation between allergic and non-allergic healthy subjects, both globally and at specific loci. These observations indicate that the epigenome may offer new pathophysiological insights and therapeutic targets in atopic diseases.
Voice - How humans communicate?

Voices are important things for humans. They are the medium through which we do a lot of communicating with the outside world: our ideas, of course, and also our emotions and our personality. The voice is the very emblem of the speaker, indelibly woven into the fabric of speech. In this sense, each of our utterances of spoken language carries not only its own message but also, through accent, tone of voice and habitual voice quality it is at the same time an audible declaration of our membership of particular social regional groups, of our individual physical and psychological identity, and of our momentary mood. Voices are also one of the media through which we (successfully, most of the time) recognize other humans who are important to us—members of our family, media personalities, our friends, and enemies. Although evidence from DNA analysis is potentially vastly more eloquent in its power than evidence from voices, DNA cannot talk. It cannot be recorded planning, carrying out or confessing to a crime. It cannot be so apparently directly incriminating. As will quickly become evident, voices are extremely complex things, and some of the inherent limitations of the forensic-phonetic method are in part a consequence of the interaction between their complexity and the real world in which they are used. It is one of the aims of this article to explain how this comes about. This subject have unsolved questions, but there is no direct way to present the information that is necessary to understand how voices can be related, or not, to their owners.
Asymmetric threshold vertical price transmission in wheat and flour markets in Dhaka (Bangladesh): seemingly unrelated regression analysis

The analysis of price transmission for commodities requiring processing in vertical markets is challenged by fuzzy policy environments in the case of developing countries. However the analyses of threshold and asymmetries in price transmission at different levels of vertical markets provide a good indicator of market efficiency. The paper employs threshold cointegration that takes into account the asymmetric adjustment towards a long-run equilibrium and short-run price transmission. The paper investigates the non-linear price adjustment in short- and long-run in vertical markets of wheat and flour in Bangladesh. Using monthly wholesale and retail prices of wheat and flour for data from FAOStat for the period January 2008 to February 2016 we develop an asymmetry threshold error correction model for three vertical chains namely (i) wholesale and retail markets of flour, (ii) wholesale markets of wheat and flour, (iii) wholesale markets of wheat and retail markets of flour. We find evidence of threshold effects in vertical wheat-flour markets. The speed of adjustment towards the long-run equilibrium is different when the price deviations exceed the threshold value from when price deviations are below the threshold. Additionally, we find evidence of short-run price asymmetries implying that downstream price responds faster when upstream price increases than when the latter falls. This validates the hypothesis of `rocket and feature` principle in the wheat-to-flour markets in Bangladesh. Proximate reasons for these differences are discussed.
Do social factors affect where patients die: an analysis of 10 years of cancer deaths in England.

BACKGROUND This study investigated whether indices of social deprivation were related to the proportion of cancer patients who died at home. METHODS Data were derived from death registrations for all cancer deaths 1985-1994 in England. Two indices of deprivation (Underprivileged Area Score (UPA), or Jarman, and Townsend scores) were calculated for each electoral ward; 1991 Census data were used. The scores use combinations of variables, including the percentage in overcrowded homes, the percentage of elderly people living alone, the percentage of one-parent families, etc. A high score indicates more deprivation. The main outcome measures were the proportion (in five and ten year averages) of cancer deaths which occurred at home, calculated for every electoral ward (with populations usually ranging from 5000 to 11,000). Spearman rho was used to test for correlations between the proportion of cancer deaths at home and deprivation score. Electoral wards were categorized by deprivation score into three groups of equal size and analysed over 10 years. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the relative association of different patient based and electoral ward variables with cancer death at home. p < 0.05 (two-tailed) was taken as significant. RESULTS There were over 1.3 million death registrations from cancer in the 10 years. The proportion who died at home was 0.27, in hospital 0.47, and other setting 0.26. There were wide variations (0.05-0.75) in the proportion of people who died at home in different electoral wards. Small inverse correlations were found between the percentage who died at home and the UPA (-0.35; p < 0.001) and Townsend (-0.26; p < 0.001) scores. The correlations were greatest in North Thames (-0.63, UPA) and smallest in West Midlands (-0.20, UPA). The proportion of home deaths for the different bands of deprivation were: 0.30 (low deprivation), 0.27 (middle deprivation) and 0.24 (high deprivation). Plotting the trends over 10 years suggests no change in this relationship. Multiple regression analysis predicted several ward and patient characteristics and accounted for 30 per cent of the variation. Increased age (patient variable), Jarman score and ethnic minorities (both ward variables) were associated with fewer patients dying at home. Being male and having cancer of the digestive organs were associated with home death. CONCLUSION There are wide variations in the percentage of cancer deaths at home in different electoral wards. Social factors are inversely correlated with home cancer death, and may explain part of this variation. Home care in deprived areas may be especially difficult to achieve.
Insider Ownership and Analyst Forecast Properties

In this article, we investigate the effect of insider ownership on analyst forecast properties and find a significant nonlinear relationship between the two. Specifically, in the low to medium range, a rise in insider ownership improves analyst forecast properties (making them more accurate and less dispersed), but a further rise in insider ownership beyond moderate levels leads to deteriorating forecasts. We also find that this nonlinear relationship is attenuated for firms in countries with better investor protection. We interpret our findings as evidence that the role of insider ownership as an interest alignment or entrenchment mechanism is diminished in these countries due to their stronger investor protection.
Social Capital and Politeness Strategies in Fostering Ethnic Relations in Malaysia and the Philippines

Social capital helps in developing relationships among people in a community or from one community to the other. The concept of social capital focuses on social relationships or individual relationship which is an important tool in building a united and progressive society. Social capital is essential for facilitating peaceful and effective relationships among people in a modern and progressive society.
Ubiquitylation and Degradation of Serum-inducible Kinase by hVPS18, a RING-H2 Type Ubiquitin Ligase*

Serum-inducible kinase (SNK) is a member of polo-like kinases that serve as regulators of multiple events during cell division. Rapid changes in the activity and abundance of SNK were reported after the serum stimulation and after the activation of synaptic transmission in the brain. Yet the detailed mechanisms that control the level of SNK protein have not been fully elucidated. In this report, we show that the RING-H2 domain of hVPS18 (human vacuolar protein sorting 18) has a genuine ubiquitin ligase (E3) activity. Using the yeast two-hybrid screening, we identify SNK as a candidate substrate of hVPS18. The half-life of SNK is increased in HeLa cells that down-regulated hVPS18 by lentivirus-mediated small hairpin RNA interference. Furthermore, the delayed entry into S phase is observed in HeLa cells overexpressing hVPS18. These results suggest that hVPS18 may play an important role in regulation of SNK activity through its ubiquitin ligase.
Mutual synchronization of robots via estimated state feedback: a cooperative approach

In this paper, a controller that solves the problem of position synchronization of two (or more) robot systems, under a cooperative scheme, in the case when only position measurements are available, is presented. The synchronization controller consists of a feedback control law and a set of nonlinear observers. Coupling errors are introduced to create interconnections that render mutual synchronization of the robots. It is shown that the controller yields semiglobal exponential convergence of the synchronization closed-loop errors. Experimental results show, despite obvious model uncertainties, a good agreement with the predicted convergence.
The pathogenesis of bornaviral diseases in mammals

Abstract Natural bornavirus infections and their resulting diseases are largely restricted to horses and sheep in Central Europe. The disease also occurs naturally in cats, and can be induced experimentally in laboratory rodents and numerous other mammals. Borna disease virus-1 (BoDV-1), the cause of most cases of mammalian Borna disease, is a negative-stranded RNA virus that replicates within the nucleus of target cells. It causes severe, often lethal, encephalitis in susceptible species. Recent events, especially the discovery of numerous new species of bornaviruses in birds and a report of an acute, lethal bornaviral encephalitis in humans, apparently acquired from squirrels, have revived interest in this remarkable family of viruses. The clinical manifestations of the bornaviral diseases are highly variable. Thus, in addition to acute lethal encephalitis, they can cause persistent neurologic disease associated with diverse behavioral changes. They also cause a severe retinitis resulting in blindness. In this review, we discuss both the pathological lesions observed in mammalian bornaviral disease and the complex pathogenesis of the neurologic disease. Thus infected neurons may be destroyed by T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. They may die as a result of excessive inflammatory cytokine release from microglia. They may also die as a result of a ‘glutaminergic storm’ due to a failure of infected astrocytes to regulate brain glutamate levels.
Organohalogens in A Whale-Blubber-Supplemented Diet Affects Hepatic Retinol and Renal Tocopherol Concentrations in Greenland Sled Dogs (Canis familiaris)

The aim of this study was to examine the plasma, liver, and kidney status of vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (α-tocopherol) in two groups of Greenland sled dogs (Canis familiaris), with a total number of 16 bitches and 8 pups. The dogs were fed either minke whale (Balaenoptera acuterostrata) blubber (exposed dogs) or uncontaminated (control group) porcine fat for up to 12 to 21 mo of age. The daily intake of 50–200 g whale blubber (mean: 112 g) constituted between 10.4 and 11.7 µg/kg body weight ∑organohalogen contaminants (OHC) (or between 4.6 and 6.1 µg/kg body weight ∑polychlorinated biphenyls [PCB]). Retinol was approximately 18% and α-tocopherol 22% higher in the diet of the exposed dogs compared to controls. In adipose tissue, mean of ΣOHC was 92 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and 5005 ng/g lw for all control (n = 12) and exposed dogs (n = 10), respectively. Hepatic retinol correlated negatively with Σ-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (ΣDDT) and and Σ‐polybrominated diphenyl ethers (ΣPBDE) for all exposed animals. A negative correlation between kidney α‐tocopherol and ΣPCB concentrations was observed, whereas two positive significant correlations were observed between kidney retinol and Σ-chlordane-related compounds (ΣCHL) and dieldrin concentrations. Hepatic α-tocopherol concentrations were significantly lower in exposed compared to controls, most likely due to a combination by OHC exposure and high dietary intake of unsaturated fatty acids. These results suggest that dietary exposure from OHC may, even at low concentrations, possibly affect retinol and α-tocopherol status in Arctic top predators.
Hepatic resection for large hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of UCSF criteria.

BACKGROUND Treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a challenge, especially when the disease presents at an advanced stage. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the efficacy of liver resection in patients who fulfil or exceed University of California San Francisco (UCSF) criteria by assessing longterm outcome. METHODS Between 2002 and 2008, 59 patients with large HCC (>5 cm) underwent hepatectomy. Thirty-two of these patients fulfilled UCSF criteria for transplantation (group A) and 27 did not (group B). Disease-free survival and overall survival rates were compared between the two groups after resection and were critically evaluated with regard to patient eligibility for transplant. RESULTS In all patients major or extended hepatectomies were performed. There was no perioperative mortality. Morbidity consisted of biliary fistula, abscess, pleural effusion and pneumonia and was significantly higher in patient group B. Disease-free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 66%, 37% and 34% in group A and 56%, 29% and 26% in group B, respectively (P < 0.01). Survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 73%, 39% and 35% in group A and 64%, 35% and 29% in group B, respectively (P= 0.04). The recurrence rate was higher in group B (P= 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Surgical resection, if feasible, is suggested in patients with large HCC and can be performed with acceptable overall and disease-free survival and morbidity rates. In patients eligible for transplantation, resection may also have a place in the management strategy when waiting list time is prolonged for reasons of organ shortage or when the candidate has low priority as a result of a low MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) score.
The Stoichiometry of Binding of the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Origin Binding Protein, UL9, to OriS(*)

A number of studies have demonstrated that the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) UL9 protein, which is a homodimer in solution, binds to two high affinity binding sites in each origin of replication. Interaction between the proteins bound at the two sites leads to the formation of a complex nucleoprotein structure. The simplest models for this binding interaction predict two possible binding stoichiometries: 1) one UL9 dimer is bound at each site; or 2) one UL9 monomer is bound at each site so that one UL9 dimer occupies both sites. Two recent papers have addressed this issue by using indirect methods to measure the binding stoichiometry. Martin et al. (Martin, D. W., Muñoz, R. M., Oliver, D., Subler, M. A., and Deb, S.(1994) Virology 198, 71-80) reported that a monomer of [Medline] UL9 binds to a single high affinity site, and Stabell and Olivo (Stabell, E. C., and Olivo, P. D.(1993) Nucleic Acids Res. 21, 5203-5211) concluded that a dimer of UL9 binds to a single high affinity site. We have directly measured the stoichiometry of binding of the carboxyl-terminal DNA binding domain of UL9 (t-UL9) to the origin of replication using a double-label gel shift assay. Using a short synthetic double-stranded oligonucleotide containing a single UL9 binding site, one protein-DNA complex was detected in the gel shift assay, and the molar ratio of UL9 DNA binding domains to DNA binding sites in this complex was determined to be 2.0 ± 0.1 (n = 13). Using the minimal origin sequence excised from plasmid DNA, two protein-DNA complexes were detected. The binding stoichiometry of the faster migrating complex was 1.8 ± 0.1 (n = 15), and the stoichiometry of the more slowly migrating band was 3.7 ± 0.4 (n = 15). The simplest explanation for these data is that UL9 binds to the origin of replication as a homodimer with one dimer bound at both high affinity sites.
The Triumph of Density and the Agony of Sprawl Glaeser's Solutions for Improving Our Cities

The city is more and more often hailed as the paradigmatic form of a new sustainable development, both economic and environmental. Glaeser’s book is another significant contribution to this popular awakening. Without contesting the point, Richard Ocejo shows how the arguments put forward in the book may reflect only a partial view of the city, one that misses out on its most important asset: people’s actual practices and experiences.
Sunscreen sensitization: a three-year study.

BACKGROUND In the last decade UV filters have been incorporated in a large number of cosmetic products. OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of sunscreen allergy in patients with a suspected photodermatitis. METHODS 108 patients were patch-tested with the Gruppo Italiano Ricerca Dermatiti da Contatto e Ambientali (GIRDCA) standard series and photopatch-tested with the photopatch series. RESULTS Allergy and/or photoallergy to sunscreening agents was diagnosed in 8 subjects (7.4%). Oxybenzone was positive in 4 patients, isoproyl dibenzoylmethane in 3 patients, p-aminobenzoic acid and 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate in 1 patient, respectively. CONCLUSION Our results obtained during a 3-year period (January 1990 to June 1993) confirm that sunscreens are presently the commonest photoallergens.
Rule-Based Versus Discretionary Fiscal Policy

Fiscal policy can be of a discretionary or rule-based nature. This article discuses selected examplesof fiscal rules as well as presents the advantages and disadvantages of following them. The aim of the article is to solve dilemmas about the positive and negative consequences of strict regulations of contemporary fiscal policy. Therefore, a hypothesis is tested concerning whether the following of rules in macroeconomic policy is a more beneficial solution than carry in goutadiscretionary policy. The hypothesis was not clearly verified. On the one hand, it was stated that it is usually more beneficial to follow standard rulesdue tohigher reliability formarkets. On the otherhand, that entails lower flexibility, which may be especially disadvantageous during a crisis.