Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Throughput of Wireless LANs with Multipacket Reception Capability under Bounded Delay-Moment Requirements

With the rapid proliferation of broadband wireless services, it is of paramount importance to understand how fast data can be sent through a wireless local area network (WLAN). Thanks to a large body of research following the seminal work of Bianchi, WLAN throughput under saturated traffic condition has been well understood. By contrast, prior investigations on throughput performance under unsaturated traffic condition was largely based on phenomenological observations, which lead to a common misconception that WLAN can support a traffic load as high as saturation throughput, if not higher, under nonsaturation condition. In this paper, we show through rigorous analysis that this misconception may result in unacceptable quality of service: mean packet delay and delay jitter may approach infinity even when the traffic load is far below the saturation throughput. Hence, saturation throughput is not a sound measure of WLAN capacity under nonsaturation condition. To bridge the gap, we define safe-bounded-mean-delay (SBMD) throughput and safe-bounded-delay-jitter (SBDJ) throughput that reflect the actual network capacity users can enjoy when they require finite mean delay and delay jitter, respectively. Our earlier work proved that in a WLAN with multi-packet reception (MPR) capability, saturation throughput scales superlinearly with the MPR capability of the network. This paper extends the investigation to the nonsaturation case and shows that superlinear scaling also holds for SBMD and SBDJ throughputs. Our results here complete the demonstration of MPR as a powerful capacity-enhancement technique for WLAN under both saturation and nonsaturation conditions.
The Neural Autoregressive Distribution Estimator

We describe a new approach for modeling the distribution of high-dimensional vectors of discrete variables. This model is inspired by the restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), which has been shown to be a powerful model of such distributions. However, an RBM typically does not provide a tractable distribution estimator, since evaluating the probability it assigns to some given observation requires the computation of the so-called partition function, which itself is intractable for RBMs of even moderate size. Our model circumvents this diculty by decomposing the joint distribution of observations into tractable conditional distributions and modeling each conditional using a non-linear function similar to a conditional of an RBM. Our model can also be interpreted as an autoencoder wired such that its output can be used to assign valid probabilities to observations. We show that this new model outperforms other multivariate binary distribution estimators on several datasets and performs similarly to a large (but intractable) RBM.
Sleep homeostasis during repeated sleep restriction and recovery: support from EEG dynamics.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Sleep reduction normally causes a homeostatic response during subsequent recovery sleep, but this does not seem to be true for repeated partial sleep loss. The aim of the present study was to test the response to repeated partial sleep loss through detailed focus on spectral data and parts of sleep. DESIGN The experiment involved 4 h of sleep across 5 days in the laboratory (partial sleep deprivation [PSD]), followed by 3 days of recovery sleep. PSD was achieved through a delayed bedtime. Nine individuals participated. To avoid "laboratory monotony," subjects were permitted to leave the lab for a few hours each day. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS All sleep stages and the latencies to sleep and slow wave sleep (SWS) showed a significant reduction during PSD. However, SWS and TST (total sleep time) during the first half of sleep increased gradually across days with PSD. During the first recovery sleep, SWS was significantly increased, while stage 1 and latency to stage 3 were reduced. All were back to baseline on the second night of recovery sleep. Summed spectral power during the first 3.8 h of sleep showed a gradual and robust increase (50% above baseline) in the range 1.25-7.25 Hz across days with PSD up to first recovery sleep and then returned to baseline. CONCLUSIONS SWS and summed power density in a broad low-frequency band respond to repeated partial sleep deprivation in a dose-response fashion during the first 4 h sleep, apparently reflecting a robust and stable homeostatic response to sleep loss.
In the Eyes of Turkish EFL Learners: What Makes an Effective Foreign Language Teacher?.

espanolInvestigaciones sobre las cualidades de profesores con exito en Turquia indican que los estudiantes consideran la eficacia del profesor como la capacidad para garantizar un entorno en el que se pueda desarrollar una interaccion profesor-estudiante positiva. No obstante, son necesarios mas estudios para poder clarificar la percepcion que tienen los estudiantes sobre las cualidades de los profesores eficaces de lengua extranjera. El objetivo de estos estudios es el de proveer a los educadores con la informacion necesaria sobre la implementacion de programas para el desarrollo de profesores de lenguas. Con este proposito, 998 estudiantes de una universidad estatal en Turquia participaron en una encuesta para determinar cuales son las cualidades que ellos creen caracteristicas en un profesor de ingles con exito. Los resultados muestran un perfil detallado sobre el Ingles universitario como lengua extranjera y sobre la percepcion que los estudiantes tienen respecto a conocimientos especificos pedagogicos, rasgos personales, habilidades profesionales y conducta en el aula EnglishResearch on the qualities of successful teachers in Turkey indicates that students consider teacher effectiveness as the ability to ensure an environment in which positive student-teacher interaction can take place. However, further studies are needed to clarify students� perceptions of the qualities of effective foreign language teachers, in particular, thus providing educators with necessary information concerning the implementation of language teacher development programs. Therefore, 998 undergraduate students at a state university in Turkey were asked to complete a survey concerning the qualities they believed are characteristic of a successful English language teacher. The results provide a detailed profile of university English as a foreign language (EFL) students� perceptions with respect to pedagogy-specific knowledge, personality traits, professional skills and classroom behavior
WHY LURKERS LURK

The goal of this paper is to address the question: ‘why do lurkers lurk? ’ Lurkers reportedly makeup the majority of members in online groups, yet little is known about them. Without insight into lurkers, our understanding of online groups is incomplete. Ignoring, dismissing, or misunderstanding lurking distorts knowledge of life online and may lead to inappropriate design of online environments. To investigate lurking, the authors carried out a study of lurking using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with ten members of online groups. 79 reasons for lurking and seven lurkers’ needs are identified from the interview transcripts. The analysis reveals that lurking is a strategic activity involving more than just reading posts. Reasons for lurking are categorized and a gratification model is proposed to explain lurker behavior.
Indoor air quality assessment in and around urban slums of Delhi city, India.

UNLABELLED The present study aims at investigating the indoor air quality (IAQ) in selected households in one of the urban slums i.e. the Nizamuddin slums in Delhi, the capital city of India. The study includes investigations and assessments on associated health effects on the occupants living in inefficiently designed houses having poor ventilation. The monitoring of indoor air pollutants e.g. the respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), the carbon dioxide (CO2), the carbon monoxide (CO), the sulphur dioxide (SO2) and the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for all three seasons i.e. summer (April-June 2004), rainy (July-September 2004) and winter (December 2004-February 2005) have been conducted. In addition, the spirometry tests on the occupants, particularly the womenfolk and children have been performed to determine the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI). Questionnaire survey has also been conducted in the households during the study period to investigate the sick building syndrome (SBS). The study reveals maximum concentration of indoor air pollutants in households during winters (December 2004-February 2005) associated with aggravated respiratory problems like cough, phlegm, wheezing, and breathlessness among occupants particularly the women occupants. Besides, decrement in lung function indices (i.e. FVC and/or FEV1) due to increased concentrations of RSPM and CO2 indoors during winter period has also been observed in the women respondents. The study concludes that women and children indoors are most vulnerable to respiratory problems compared to other sexes. A high SBS score is observed in these 'urban poor' households because of inadequate ventilation. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS 'High indoor airborne pollutants during winter are associated with respiratory problems for women and children in houses in urban slum in Delhi. The work demonstrated the need of further studies of indoor air quality for the 'urban poor' in developing countries. '
Age-dependent influences on the origins of autoimmune diabetes: evidence and implications.

A decade ago we proposed that environmental factors operating in early life lead to type 1 diabetes, outlining the evidence and the implications if the hypothesis was true (1). Today we can be confident that environmental factors can indeed operate in childhood to cause type 1 diabetes, but we now review evidence that this is unlikely to be true in the generality of cases of type 1 diabetes. Indeed, type 1 diabetes presenting in adult life is remarkably distinct from diabetes presenting in children in terms of its genetic, immune, metabolic, and clinical features. If the mechanism and timing of disease induction is also distinct in adult-onset, compared with childhood-onset, type 1 diabetes, then these differences would have implications for our understanding of the disease pathogenesis, prediction, and prevention. The aim of this article is to explore the different influences of genetic and nongenetic factors on type 1 diabetes according to the age of clinical disease onset and the potential consequences of such differences. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the destruction of insulin-secreting islet cells by an immune-mediated process. This adverse immune response is induced and promoted by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors and is one of a group of autoimmune diseases that affect ∼10% of the population in the developed world (2–5). Type 1 diabetes is genetically determined as shown by family, twin, and genetic studies. The frequency of type 1 diabetes is higher in siblings of diabetic patients (e.g., 6% by age 30 years in the U.K.) than in the general population (0.4% by age 30 years) (6). Familial clustering could be caused by shared genetic or environmental factors, and to distinguish between them, twin studies have been used. Higher concordance rates for autoimmune diseases in identical compared with nonidentical twins is …
Effects of biofilm formation on haemodialysis monitor disinfection.

BACKGROUND Biofilms are composed of communities of micro-organisms adhering to essentially any surface. We evaluated whether biofilm formation in the hydraulic circuit of a purposely contaminated haemodialysis monitor would modify the efficacy of different disinfection modalities against bacteria and endotoxin concentrations. METHODS A water-borne Pseudomonas aeruginosa (109) suspension was recirculated for 1 h and was left standing for 72 h (stationary phase) in the hydraulic circuit of the monitor. The monitor was then washed and disinfected by different physical (heat, 85 degrees C) or chemical (hypochlorite or peracetic acid) disinfection modalities (protocol A). In protocol B, the bacterial suspension was also recirculated for 1 h, but the monitor was then immediately washed and disinfected by different chemical disinfection modalities (hypochlorite or peracetic acid). RESULTS Biofilm formation was revealed by scanning and confocal laser electron microscopy after the stationary phase (protocol A), but was absent when the monitor was immediately washed and disinfected (protocol B). In the presence of biofilm (protocol A), heat in association with citric acid was the most effective modality for reducing both colony forming units and endotoxin concentrations, whereas heat by itself was the least effective method of disinfection. Dwelling (60 h) with diluted peracetic acid completely prevented the formation of biofilm. In the absence of biofilm (protocol B), chemical disinfection proved to be effective against both colony forming units and endotoxin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS We found that biofilm formation may markedly reduce the efficacy of presently available disinfection modalities. Therefore, different disinfection modalities and the combined action of descaling (by citric acid) and disinfection (physical/chemical agents) should be used periodically in haemodialysis monitors. In addition, dwelling with diluted peracetic acid should be adopted whenever monitors are not in use.
Multilayer power printed structures suitable for controlling EMI noises generated in power converters

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) noises generated in power converters are diffused on the surface of conductors. This means influences occur from radiated EMI noises emitted from power transmission lines as well as conducted EMI noises transmitted from them. EMI noises diffusing on the surface of conductors are generally difficult to control using conventional concentrated constant theory. Thus, a new approach based on distributed constant circuit theory is needed in order to control EMI noises. A power converter structure to control EMI noises using multilayer power printed circuit technology is studied in this paper. A structure which can control EMI noises should simultaneously satisfy two conditions, i.e., one to shut down and one to attenuate EMI noises. The structure satisfying these conditions is studied through simulations using the Transmission-Line Modeling Method. The simulations show that the diffusion of EMI noises is controlled by dividing the flow of currents produced by EMI noises into the horizontal and perpendicular directions. That is, the horizontal current flow is controlled inside using the differences in the resistance produced from differences between inner and outer diameter of power transmission lines and the perpendicular current flow can be controlled by properly designing the thickness of the dielectric layer sandwiched between P-and N-power transmission lines with the symmetrical structure. Moreover, it is confirmed by simulations and experiments that the attenuation of EMI noises is affected by the width of the power transmission lines. It is expected that the results obtained in this paper can provide important rules when designing power converters with EMI noise control functions which use the multilayer power printed circuit technology.
Kangaroo Mother Care – a review

summary Kangaroo Mother Care is a simple and beneficial intervention for the care of low birth weight infants. Although initially conceived for use in developing countries with limited resources, its use has expanded worldwide as clinicians, administrators and parents become familiar with the psychological, physiological, clinical and cost benefits associated with the practice. A recently documented benefit has specific relevance to blood transfusion medicine.
Inhibition of thermohaline mixing by a magnetic field in Ap star descendants : implications for the Galactic evolution of 3He

Aims. To reconcile the measurements of 3 He/H in Galactic HII regions with high values of 3 He in a couple of planetary nebulae, we propose that thermohaline mixing is inhibited by a fossil magnetic field in red giant stars that are descendants of Ap stars. Methods. We examine the effect of a magnetic field on the salt-finger instability, using a local analysis. Results. We obtain a threshold for the magnetic field of 10 4 −10 5 Gauss, above which it inhibits thermohaline mixing in red giant stars located at or above the bump. Fields of that order are expected in the descendants of the Ap stars, taking into account the contraction of their core. Conclusions. We conclude that in a large fraction of the descendants of Ap stars thermohaline mixing does not occur. As a consequence these objects must produce 3 He as predicted by the standard theory of stellar evolution and as observed in the planetary nebulae NGC 3242 and J320. The relative number of such stars with respect to non-magnetic objects that undergo thermohaline mixing is consistent with the statistical constraint coming from observations of the carbon isotopic ratio in red giant stars. It also satisfies the Galactic requirements for the evolution of the 3 He abundance.
Effects of a computerized working memory training program on working memory, attention, and academics in adolescents with severe LD and comorbid ADHD: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Youths with coexisting learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk for poor academic and social outcomes. The underlying cognitive deficits, such as poor working memory (WM), are not well targeted by current treatments for either LD or ADHD. Emerging evidence suggests that WM might be improved by intensive and adaptive computerized training, but it remains unclear whether this intervention would be effective for adolescents with severe LD and comorbid ADHD. METHODS A total of sixty 12- to 17-year olds with LD/ADHD (52 male, 8 female, IQ > 80) were randomized to one of two computerized intervention programs: working memory training (Cogmed RM) or math training (Academy of Math) and evaluated before and 3 weeks after completion. The criterion measures of WM included auditory-verbal and visual-spatial tasks. Near and far transfer measures included indices of cognitive and behavioral attention and academic achievement. RESULTS Adolescents in the WM training group showed greater improvements in a subset of WM criterion measures compared with those in the math-training group, but no training effects were observed on the near or far measures. Those who showed the most improvement on the WM training tasks at school were rated as less inattentive/hyperactive at home by parents. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that WM training may enhance some aspects of WM in youths with LD/ADHD, but further development of the training program is required to promote transfer effects to other domains of function.
Bacterial and fungal communities respond differently to varying tillage depth in agricultural soils

In arable cropping systems, reduced or conservation tillage practices are linked with improved soil quality, C retention and higher microbial biomass, but most long-term studies rarely focus on depths greater than 15 cm nor allow comparison of microbial community responses to agricultural practices. We investigated microbial community structure in a long-term field trial (12-years, Lincoln, New Zealand) established in a silt-loam soil over four depth ranges down to 30 cm. Our objectives were to investigate the degree of homogenisation of soil biological and chemical properties with depth, and to determine the main drivers of microbial community response to tillage. We hypothesised that soil microbiological responses would depend on tillage depth, observed by a homogenisation of microbial community composition within the tilled zone. Tillage treatments were mouldboard plough and disc harrow, impacting soil to ∼20 and ∼10 cm depth, respectively. These treatments were compared to a no-tillage treatment and two control treatments, both permanent pasture and permanent fallow. Bacterial and fungal communities collected from the site were not impacted by the spatial location of sampling across the study area but were affected by physicochemical changes associated with tillage induced soil homogenisation and plant presence. Tillage treatment effects on both species richness and composition were more evident for bacterial communities than fungal communities, and were greater at depths <15 cm. Homogenisation of soil and changing land management appears to redistribute both microbiota and nutrients deeper in the soil profile while consequences for soil biogeochemical functioning remain poorly understood.
Myopic Solutions of Affine Dynamic Models

New sufficient conditions are presented for a dynamic process to have a myopic optimum and for a sequential game to possess a myopic equilibrium point. An optimum or an equilibrium point is said to be myopic if it can be specified by solving a static optimization problem or a static Nash game. The results are applied to an aquaculture harvesting model and a dynamic oligopoly model with advertising decisions.
The Influence of Parental Involvement on Parenting Self-Efficacy among Parents with Middle Childhood Children

This study aimed to determine the influence of three dimensions of parental involvement, which are expressive, instrumental and mentoring/ advising together on parenting self-efficacy. This research also discussed the dimension which was the most powerful predictor of parenting self-efficacy among parents with middle childhood children. This quantitative study was done by adapting Self-Efficacy for Parenting Task Index (SEPTI) to measure parenting self-efficacy, while Father/ Mother Involvement Scale – Reported (F/MIS-R) was used to measure parental involvement. The participant were 306 parents (aged 25-45 years) with children in middle childhood (aged 5 - 12 years) consisting of 152 fathers and 154 mothers. Participants obtained by convenience sampling technique. The results indicated that three dimensions of parental involvement together significantly influenced Parenting Self-Efficacy both in father (R2=.313. F (3,148) = 23,962, p<0.01) as well as mother (R2=.246. F (3,150) = 17 612, p<0.01). This research also found that the dimensions of mentoring/ advising on father (β=.420, p<0.01) and expressive dimension on mother (β=.262, p<0.05) are the most powerful predictor of parenting self-efficacy among parents with middle childhood children. The implications of this research can be used for parents with middle childhood children and will be discussed in this article.