Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-Stage Maximum Likelihood Estimation (TSMLE) for MT-CDMA Signals in the Indoor Environment

This paper proposes a two-stage maximum likelihood estimation (TSMLE) technique suited for multitone code division multiple access (MT-CDMA) system. Here, an analytical framework is presented in the indoor environment for determining the average bit error rate (BER) of the system, over Rayleigh and Ricean fading channels. The analytical model is derived for quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation technique by taking into account the number of tones, signal bandwidth (BW), bit rate, and transmission power. Numerical results are presented to validate the analysis, and to justify the approximations made therein. Moreover, these results are shown to agree completely with those obtained by simulation.
Ligand-induced CaMKIIα hub Trp403 flip, hub domain stacking and kinase inhibition

γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) analogs are small molecules that bind competitively to a specific cavity in the oligomeric CaMKIIα hub domain. Binding affects conformation and stability of the hub domain, which may explain the neuroprotective action of some of these compounds. Here, we describe molecular details of interaction of the larger-type GHB analog 2-(6-(4-chlorophenyl)imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine-2-yl)acetic acid (PIPA). Like smaller-type analogs, PIPA binding to the CaMKIIα hub domain promoted thermal stability. PIPA additionally inhibited CaMKIIα kinase activity by reducing CaM sensitivity. A high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of a stabilized CaMKIIα (6x mutant) hub construct revealed details of the binding mode of PIPA, which involved outward placement of tryptophan 403 (Trp403), a central residue in a flexible loop close to the upper hub cavity. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) solution structures and mass photometry of the CaMKIIα wildtype hub domain in the presence of PIPA revealed a high degree of ordered self-association (stacks of CaMKIIα hub domains). This stacking neither occurred with the smaller compound 3-hydroxycyclopent-1-enecarboxylic acid (HOCPCA), nor when Trp403 was replaced with leucine (W403L). Additionally, CaMKIIα W403L hub was stabilized to a larger extent by PIPA compared to CaMKIIα hub wildtype, indicating that loop flexibility is important for holoenzyme stability. Thus, we propose that ligand-induced outward placement of Trp403 by PIPA, which promotes an unforeseen mechanism of hub domain stacking, may be involved in the observed reduction in CaMKIIα kinase activity. Altogether, this sheds new light on allosteric regulation of CaMKIIα activity via the hub domain.
CYRI-B loss promotes enlarged mature focal adhesions and restricts microtubule and ERC1 access to the cell leading edge

CYRI proteins promote lamellipodial dynamics by opposing Rac1-mediated activation of the Scar/WAVE complex. This activity also supports resolution of macropinocytic cups, promoting internalisation of surface proteins, including integrins. Here, we show that CYRI-B also promotes focal adhesion maturation and dynamics. Focal adhesions in CYRI-B-depleted cells show accelerated maturation and become excessively large. We probed the composition of these enlarged focal adhesions, using a Bio-ID screen, with paxillin as bait. Our screen revealed changes in the adhesome suggesting early activation of stress fibre contraction and depletion of the integrin internalisation mediator ERC1. Lack of CYRI-B leads to more stable lamellipodia and accumulation of polymerised actin in stress fibres. This actin acts as a barrier to microtubule targeting for adhesion turnover. Thus, our studies reveal an important connection between lamellipodia dynamics controlled by CYRI-B and microtubule targeting of ERC1 to modulate adhesion maturation and turnover.
Harmonic Balance Approach To Predict Period-Doubling Bifurcations In Nearly Symmetric CNNs

This paper further investigates a basic issue that has received attention in the recent literature, namely, the robustness of complete stability of standard Cellular Neural Networks (CNNs) with respect to small perturbations of the nominal symmetric interconnections. More specifically, a class of third-order CNNs with a nominal symmetric interconnection matrix is considered, and the Harmonic Balance (HB) method is exploited for addressing the possible existence of period-doubling bifurcations, and complex dynamics, for small perturbations of the nominal interconnections. The main result is that there are indeed parameter sets close to symmetry for which period-doubling bifurcations are predicted by the HB method. Moreover, the predictions are found to be reliable and accurate by means of computer simulations.
Heterogeneity in slow synaptic transmission diversifies Purkinje cell timing

The cerebellum plays an important role in diverse brain functions, ranging from motor learning to cognition. Recent studies have suggested that molecular and cellular heterogeneity within cerebellar lobules contributes to functional differences across the cerebellum. However, the specific relationship between molecular and cellular heterogeneity and diverse functional outputs of different regions of the cerebellum remains unclear. Here, we describe a previously unappreciated form of synaptic heterogeneity at parallel fiber synapses to Purkinje cells. In contrast to uniform fast synaptic transmission, we found that the properties of slow synaptic transmission varied by up to three-fold across different lobules of the mouse cerebellum, resulting in surprising heterogeneity. Depending on the location of a Purkinje cell, the time of peak of slow synaptic currents varied by hundreds of milliseconds. The duration and decay-time of these currents also spanned hundreds of milliseconds, based on lobule. We found that, as a consequence of the heterogeneous synaptic dynamics, the same brief stimulus was transformed into prolonged firing patterns over a range of timescales that depended on Purkinje cell location
Optimal power allocation in block fading Gaussian channels with causal CSI and secrecy constraints

The optimal power allocation that maximizes the secrecy capacity (SC) of block fading Gaussian (BF-Gaussian) networks with causal channel state information (CSI), M-block delay tolerance and a frame based power constraint is examined. In particular, the SC maximization is formulated as a dynamic program. First, the SC maximization without any information on the CSI is studied; in this case the SC is maximized by equidistribution of the power budget, denoted as the "blind policy". Next, extending earlier results on the capacity maximization of BF-Gaussian channels without secrecy constraints, transmission policies for the low SNR and the high SNR regimes are proposed. When the available power resources are very low the optimal strategy is a "threshold policy". On the other hand when the available power budget is very large a "constant power policy" maximizes the frame secrecy capacity. Subsequently, a novel universal transmission policy is introduced, denoted in the following as the "blind horizon approximation" (BHA), by imposing a blind policy in the horizon of unknown events. Through numerical results, the novel BHA policy is shown to outperform both the threshold and constant power policies as long as the mean channel gain of the legitimate user is distinctively greater than the mean channel gain of the eavesdropper. Furthermore, the secrecy rates achieved by the BHA compare well with the secrecy rates of the secure waterfilling policy in the case of acausal CSI feedback to the transmitter.
A Cyber-Enabled Stabilizing Control Scheme for Resilient Smart Grid Systems

A parametric controller is proposed for transient stability of synchronous generators after the occurrence of a disturbance in the power grid. The proposed controller based on feedback linearization control theory relies on receiving timely phasor measurement unit (PMU) information from selected parts of the power grid to employ fast acting flywheels that are situated near synchronous generators. The local storage devices aim to balance a swing equation model of the synchronous generator to drive the associated rotor speed to stability. The advantages of the proposed controller include that it is tunable and integrates well with existing governor controls in contrast to other forms of PMU-based control. Further, a comparison is drawn between the proposed controller and recently proposed nonlinear controllers for transient stabilization. Numerical results show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed controller when applied to the 39-bus 10-generator New England power system.
“Surprise” Loading in Flexion Increases the Risk of Disc Herniation Due to Annulus-Endplate Junction Failure: A Mechanical and Microstructural Investigation

Study Design. Microstructural investigation of compression-induced herniation of the flexed lumbar disc. Objective. To provide a microstructural analysis of the mechanisms of annular wall failure in healthy discs subjected to flexion and a rate of compression comparable with the maximum rate at which the muscles of the spinal column can generate a force. Summary of Background Data. Clinical evidence indicates the involvement of the endplate in herniation. It is known that both an elevated rate of compression and a flexed posture are necessary to cause disc failure either within the midspan of the annulus or at the annular-endplate interface. However, the question of what effect a sudden or “surprise” loading might have on the mode of failure is, as yet, unanswered. Methods. Twenty-four healthy mature ovine lumbar motion segments were compressed to failure in high physiological flexion (10º). This occurred over approximately 5 mm of crosshead displacement in 0.75 seconds that resulted in a displacement rate of 400 mm/min (defined as a “surprise” rate) and was intended to simulate the maximum rate at which the muscles of the spinal column can generate a force. The damaged discs were then analyzed microstructurally. Results. Fifty-eight percent of discs suffered annular-endplate junction rupture, 25% suffered midspan annular rupture, and the balance of 17% endplate fracture. Microstructural analysis indicated that annular rupture initiated at the endplate apical ridge in the mid-to-outer region of the annulus in both annular-endplate and midspan annulus rupture. Conclusion. Motion segments subjected to a “surprise” loading rate are likely to fail via some form of annular rupture. Failure under such sudden loading occurs mostly via rupture of the annular-endplate junction and is thought to arise from a rate-induced mechanostructural imbalance between the annulus and the endplate. Level of Evidence: N/A
Targeting MYC dependence in cancer by inhibiting BET bromodomains

The MYC transcription factor is a master regulator of diverse cellular functions and has been long considered a compelling therapeutic target because of its role in a range of human malignancies. However, pharmacologic inhibition of MYC function has proven challenging because of both the diverse mechanisms driving its aberrant expression and the challenge of disrupting protein–DNA interactions. Here, we demonstrate the rapid and potent abrogation of MYC gene transcription by representative small molecule inhibitors of the BET family of chromatin adaptors. MYC transcriptional suppression was observed in the context of the natural, chromosomally translocated, and amplified gene locus. Inhibition of BET bromodomain–promoter interactions and subsequent reduction of MYC transcript and protein levels resulted in G1 arrest and extensive apoptosis in a variety of leukemia and lymphoma cell lines. Exogenous expression of MYC from an artificial promoter that is resistant to BET regulation significantly protected cells from cell cycle arrest and growth suppression by BET inhibitors. MYC suppression was accompanied by deregulation of the MYC transcriptome, including potent reactivation of the p21 tumor suppressor. Treatment with a BET inhibitor resulted in significant antitumor activity in xenograft models of Burkitt's lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia. These findings demonstrate that pharmacologic inhibition of MYC is achievable through targeting BET bromodomains. Such inhibitors may have clinical utility given the widespread pathogenetic role of MYC in cancer.
Machine Learning Approach to Document Classification using Concept based Features

Text mining refers to the process of deriving high-quality information from text. Text processing involves in search and replace in electronic format of text. A number of approaches have been developed to represent and classify text documents. Most of the approach tries to attain good classification performance while taking a document only by words. We propose a concept based methodology instead of terms. It represents the meaning of text to reduce the features. Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm is applied for document classification. Then the performance measure is compared with document classification using original features and concept based features. This methodology enhances the document classification accuracy.
Quantitation of effects of subinhibitory concentrations of trimethoprim on P fimbria expression and in vitro adhesiveness of uropathogenic Escherichia coli

The ability to adhere to and colonize urogenital mucosa is an important virulence attribute of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. This adherence, which appears to be mediated by P fimbriae, may be affected by antibiotics or other agents that affect fimbrial expression. We describe here an enzyme immunofiltration assay to quantitate fimbriation and the application of that technique to measurement of the effects of sublethal doses of trimethoprim on P fimbrial expression. Effects on P fimbriation correlated with effects on the adherence of treated bacteria to cultured T24 bladder carcinoma epithelial cells; i.e., trimethoprim treatment decreased both P fimbriation and bacterial adherence. It was possible to quantitate effects on P fimbriation when type 1 fimbriae were also present. The enzyme immunofiltration assay may be useful for studies on the role of fimbriae in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections, and it may facilitate identification of antimicrobial agents that interfere with bacterial adherence to mucosal surfaces.
Monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) predicts behavioral aggression following provocation

Monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) has earned the nickname “warrior gene” because it has been linked to aggression in observational and survey-based studies. However, no controlled experimental studies have tested whether the warrior gene actually drives behavioral manifestations of these tendencies. We report an experiment, synthesizing work in psychology and behavioral economics, which demonstrates that aggression occurs with greater intensity and frequency as provocation is experimentally manipulated upwards, especially among low activity MAOA (MAOA-L) subjects. In this study, subjects paid to punish those they believed had taken money from them by administering varying amounts of unpleasantly hot (spicy) sauce to their opponent. There is some evidence of a main effect for genotype and some evidence for a gene by environment interaction, such that MAOA is less associated with the occurrence of aggression in a low provocation condition, but significantly predicts such behavior in a high provocation situation. This new evidence for genetic influences on aggression and punishment behavior complicates characterizations of humans as “altruistic” punishers and supports theories of cooperation that propose mixed strategies in the population. It also suggests important implications for the role of individual variance in genetic factors contributing to everyday behaviors and decisions.
Face perception in monkeys reared with no exposure to faces

Infant monkeys were reared with no exposure to any faces for 6–24 months. Before being allowed to see a face, the monkeys showed a preference for human and monkey faces in photographs, and they discriminated human faces as well as monkey faces. After the deprivation period, the monkeys were exposed first to either human or monkey faces for a month. Soon after, the monkeys selectively discriminated the exposed species of face and showed a marked difficulty in regaining the ability to discriminate the other nonexposed species of face. These results indicate the existence of an experience-independent ability for face processing as well as an apparent sensitive period during which a broad but flexible face prototype develops into a concrete one for efficient processing of familiar faces.
An Intact Brachyury Function Is Necessary to Prevent Spurious Axial Development in Xenopus laevis

We have previously shown that the member of the HES family hairy2 induces the ectopic expression of dorsal markers when it is overexpressed in the ventral side of Xenopus embryos. Intriguingly, hairy2 represses the mesoderm transcription factor brachyury (bra) throughout its domain in the marginal zone. Here we show that in early gastrula, bra and hairy2 are expressed in complementary domains. Overexpression of bra repressed hairy2. Interference of bra function with a dominant-negative construct expanded the hairy2 domain and, like hairy2 overexpression, promoted ectopic expression of dorsal axial markers in the ventral side and induced secondary axes without head and notochord. Hairy2 depletion rescued the ectopic dorsal development induced by interference of bra function. We concluded that an intact bra function is necessary to exclude hairy2 expression from the non-organiser field, to impede the ectopic specification of dorsal axial fates and the appearance of incomplete secondary axes. This evidence supports a previously unrecognised role for bra in maintaining the dorsal fates inhibited in the ventral marginal zone, preventing the appearance of trunk duplications.
Assessing Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) Tree Dynamic Change in USF Forest Preserve Area Using Mixture-Tuned Matched Filtering and Multitemporal Satellite Imagery

vii Chapter One: Introduction . 1 1.1 Wetlands . 1 1.2 Remote sensing technology . 3 Chapter Two: Research Objectives and Questions . 7 Chapter Three: Background . 9 3.1 Bald cypress landscape . 9 3.2 Spectral characteristics of bald cypress . 10 Chapter Four: Study Area and Data Sets . 13 4.1 Study area . 13 4.2 Data sets . 15 Chapter Five: Methodology . 18
Programmable matter by folding

Programmable matter is a material whose properties can be programmed to achieve specific shapes or stiffnesses upon command. This concept requires constituent elements to interact and rearrange intelligently in order to meet the goal. This paper considers achieving programmable sheets that can form themselves in different shapes autonomously by folding. Past approaches to creating transforming machines have been limited by the small feature sizes, the large number of components, and the associated complexity of communication among the units. We seek to mitigate these difficulties through the unique concept of self-folding origami with universal crease patterns. This approach exploits a single sheet composed of interconnected triangular sections. The sheet is able to fold into a set of predetermined shapes using embedded actuation. To implement this self-folding origami concept, we have developed a scalable end-to-end planning and fabrication process. Given a set of desired objects, the system computes an optimized design for a single sheet and multiple controllers to achieve each of the desired objects. The material, called programmable matter by folding, is an example of a system capable of achieving multiple shapes for multiple functions.
Haemostatic effects of a new combined oral contraceptive, nomegestrol acetate/17β-estradiol, compared with those of levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol

Summary Use of oral contraceptives (OC) that combine a progestogen with synthetic ethinyl estradiol (EE) is associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism. NOMAC/E2 is a new monophasic OC that combines nomegestrol acetate (NOMAC), a highly selective progestogen, with 17β-estradiol (E2). The study objective was to compare the effects on markers of haemostasis of NOMAC/E2 (2.5 mg/1.5 mg) versus the second-generation OC, levonorgestrel (LNG)/EE (100 μg/20 μg). Healthy women (age 18–38 years) received once-daily treatment for three consecutive 28-day cycles in a double-blind, randomised study: either NOMAC/E2 for 24 days with a four-day placebo interval (n=45) or LNG/ EE for 21 days with a seven-day placebo interval (n=45) per cycle. Mean changes from baseline to end-of-treatment in coagulation markers, including prothrombin fragment 1+2 (primary endpoint), fibrinolysis markers and platelet functions were assessed. Mean prothrombin fragment 1+2 levels (primary endpoint) did not increase with NOMAC/E2 compared with LNG/EE ( –0.02 vs. +0.08 nM, p<0.01). Other significant differences between NOMAC/E2 and LNG/EE were mean changes in antithrombin (+0.3% vs. –4.4%, p<0.001), activated protein C resistance – normalised ratio (+0.20 vs. +0.46, p<0.01), D-dimer ( –53 vs. +43 ng/ml, p<0.001), plasminogen (+6% vs. +30%, p<0.0001) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 ( –3.1 vs. –8.0 ng/ml, p<0.001). There was no effect of either treatment on platelet aggregation. The NOMAC/E2 pill regimen has fewer adverse effects on blood biological coagulation and fibrinolysis markers than LNG/EE. This suggests that NOMAC/E2 could have a more favourable venous thromboembolism risk profile than LNG/EE; further epidemiological data are required to confirm this.
Control of Ocular Blood Flow

The eye has a dual vascular supply. The uveal vessels are distributed within the choroid, the ciliary body, and the iris; and the retinal vessels within the inner parts of the retina. The vascularization of the uvea is very rich and the blood flow is high, which stabilizes the temperature of the eye. The vascularization of the retina is relatively sparse, which is an obvious advantage for the optics. The perfusion pressure in the eye can be defined as the local arterial blood pressure minus the intraocular pressure. Reductions in perfusion pressure, caused by increments in intraocular pressure, or reductions in mean arterial pressure reduce the blood flow in the choroid. In the retina, there are efficient autoregulatory mechanisms that prevent changes in flow within a wide range of perfusion pressures. Stimulation of the cervical sympathetic chain causes vasoconstriction in the uvea, with near-maximal effects as 10 Hz. The sympathetic nerves are not activated during moderate hemorrhage. They apparently prevent overperfusion and breakdown of intraocular barriers under conditions of acute elevation of the arterial blood pressure. Electrical stimulation of the oculomotor nerve causes cholinergic vasoconstriction in the anterior uvea. Near-maximal vasoconstriction is obtained between 10 and 20 Hz. In conscious animals, muscarinic blockade causes vasodilatation in the iris, indicating that there is a basal traffic in the vasomotor fibers of the oculomotor nerve. Electrical stimulation of the facial nerve causes vasodilatation in the uvea that cannot be prevented by muscarinic blockade: near-maximal vasodilatation is obtained between 10 and 20 Hz. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide is probably the transmitter that mediates the response to stimulation of the facial nerves.