Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generalized differential encoding: a nonlinear signal processing perspective

Incoherent detection based on differential encoding has been successfully applied to phase-shift-keying (PSK) signals because it eliminates the need for carrier phase acquisition and tracking at the receiver. This paper generalizes the idea of differential encoding by using a nonlinear transformation called multilag high-order instantaneous moment (ml-HIM). The ml-HIM decoder is capable of removing the effects of phase ambiguity, Dopper frequency, Doppler rate, and even higher order phase distortions. The degrees of freedom offered by the different lags are exploited to optimize system performance. In addition to the classical M-ary PSK, the generalized differential encoding idea is also applied to nonconstant modulus constellations, such as M-ary QAM and AM-PM.
Personal Verification/Identification via Analysis of the Peripheral ECG Leads: Influence of the Personal Health Status on the Accuracy

Traditional means for identity validation (PIN codes, passwords), and physiological and behavioral biometric characteristics (fingerprint, iris, and speech) are susceptible to hacker attacks and/or falsification. This paper presents a method for person verification/identification based on correlation of present-to-previous limb ECG leads: I (r I), II (r II), calculated from them first principal ECG component (r PCA), linear and nonlinear combinations between r I, r II, and r PCA. For the verification task, the one-to-one scenario is applied and threshold values for r I, r II, and r PCA and their combinations are derived. The identification task supposes one-to-many scenario and the tested subject is identified according to the maximal correlation with a previously recorded ECG in a database. The population based ECG-ILSA database of 540 patients (147 healthy subjects, 175 patients with cardiac diseases, and 218 with hypertension) has been considered. In addition a common reference PTB dataset (14 healthy individuals) with short time interval between the two acquisitions has been taken into account. The results on ECG-ILSA database were satisfactory with healthy people, and there was not a significant decrease in nonhealthy patients, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed method. With PTB database, the method provides an identification accuracy of 92.9% and a verification sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 89.9%.
Differentiating Arabidopsis Shoots from Leaves by Combined YABBY Activities[W][OA]

YABBY activity is required in seed plants for specification of leaves and the origin of the YABBY genes coincides with the origin of seed plant leaves. This work probes the role of YABBY genes in molding shoot programs into laminar organs by examining shoot and leaf development in plants mutant for four vegetative YABBY genes. In seed plants, leaves are born on radial shoots, but unlike shoots, they are determinate dorsiventral organs made of flat lamina. YABBY genes are found only in seed plants and in all cases studied are expressed primarily in lateral organs and in a polar manner. Despite their simple expression, Arabidopsis thaliana plants lacking all YABBY gene activities have a wide range of morphological defects in all lateral organs as well as the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Here, we show that leaves lacking all YABBY activities are initiated as dorsiventral appendages but fail to properly activate lamina programs. In particular, the activation of most CINCINNATA-class TCP genes does not commence, SAM-specific programs are reactivated, and a marginal leaf domain is not established. Altered distribution of auxin signaling and the auxin efflux carrier PIN1, highly reduced venation, initiation of multiple cotyledons, and gradual loss of the SAM accompany these defects. We suggest that YABBY functions were recruited to mold modified shoot systems into flat plant appendages by translating organ polarity into lamina-specific programs that include marginal auxin flow and activation of a maturation schedule directing determinate growth.
Information Utilization among Rural Fish Farmers in Central Agricultural Zone of Delta State , Nigeria

The study was conducted to assess the utilization of information on fish farming techniques by rural fish farmers in the Central Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria Problem of low productivity in culture fisheries persists, though there are improved packages on fish production, it is suspected that they are not adequately used by farmers. The utilization of information on fish farming technologies among farmers will always translate into efficiency in fish production and have increased productivity. The study will guide extension services in the design of fish farming messages (information) for better understanding and efficient utilization by the fish farmers. For the study, a sample size of 120 rural fish farmers was used. Data were collected with the use of structured interview schedule and analysed with the application of descriptive statistics, while the hypothesis were tested by the use of chi – square. Information used ranged from stocking rate to preservation technique. The sources of these information included extension agents, other farmers, fish farmers’ groups, university, research institutes and NGOs. The need gap of the farmers include the ones related to those already known to and were being used by them. There were significant relationship between information utilization and fish farmers’ demographic characteristics. Significant relationship also exist between sources of information utilization. It was recommended that extension agents should intensify their efforts in teaching farmers how to utilize the complex information among others.
The importance of modeling the sampling design in multiple imputation for missing data

The theory of multiple imputation for missing data requires that imputations be made conditional on the sampling design. However, most standard software packages for performing model­based multiple imputation assume simple random samples, leading many practitioners not to account for complex sample design features, such as stratification and clustering, in their imputations. Theory predicts that analyses of such multiply­imputed data sets can yield biased estimates from the design­based perspective. In this article, we illustrate through simulation that (i) the bias can be severe when the design features are related to the survey variables of interest, and (ii) the bias can be reduced by controlling for the design features in the imputation models. The simulations also illustrate that conditioning on irrelevant design features in the imputation models can yield conservative inferences, provided that the models include other relevant predictors. These results suggest a prescription for imputers: the safest course of action is to include design variables in the specification of imputation models. Using real data, we demonstrate a simple approach for incorporating complex design features that can be used with some of the standard software packages for creating multiple imputations.
The Effect of C. burnetii Infection on the Cytokine Response of PBMCs from Pregnant Goats

In humans, infection with Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, leads to acute or chronic infection, both associated with specific clinical symptoms. In contrast, no symptoms are observed in goats during C. burnetii infection, although infection of the placenta eventually leads to premature delivery, stillbirth and abortion. It is unknown whether these differences in clinical outcome are due to the early immune responses of the goats. Therefore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from pregnant goats. In total, 17 goats were included in the study. Six goats remained naive, while eleven goats were infected with C. burnetii. Toll-like receptor (TLR) and cytokine mRNA expression were measured after in vitro stimulation with heat-killed C. burnetii at different time points (prior infection, day 7, 35 and 56 after infection). In naive goats an increased expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA upon C. burnetii stimulation was detected. In addition, TLR2 expression was strongly up-regulated. In goats infected with C. burnetii, PBMCs re-stimulated in vitro with C. burnetii, expressed significantly more TNF-α mRNA and IFN-γ mRNA compared to naive goats. In contrast, IL-10 mRNA production capacity was down-regulated during C. burnetii infection. Interestingly, at day 7 after inoculation a decreased IFN-γ protein level was observed in stimulated leukocytes in whole blood from infected goats, whereas at other time-points increased production of IFN-γ protein was seen. Our study shows that goats initiate a robust pro-inflammatory immune response against C. burnetii in vitro. Furthermore, PBMCs from C. burnetii infected goats show augmented pro-inflammatory cytokine responses compared to PBMCs from non-infected goats. However, despite this pro-inflammatory response, goats are not capable of clearing the C. burnetii infection.
Frequent hSNF5/INI1 Germline Mutations in Patients with Rhabdoid Tumor

Purpose: Germline hSNF5/INI1 mutations are responsible for hereditary cases of rhabdoid tumors (RT) that constitute the rhabdoid predisposition syndrome (RPS). Our study provides the first precise overview of the prevalence of RPS within a large cohort of RT. Experimental Design: hSNF5/INI1 coding exons were investigated by sequencing and by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Results: Seventy-four constitutional DNAs from 115 apparently sporadic RT were analyzed from 1999 to 2009. Germline mutations were found in 26 patients (35%). Data from 9 individuals from 5 RPS families (siblings) were also studied. The median age at diagnosis was much lower (6 months) in patients with germline mutation (P < 0.01) than in patients without (18 months). Nevertheless, 7 of 35 patients with germline mutation (20%) developed the disease after 2 years of age. The mutation could be detected in only 1 parent whereas germline blood DNA was wild type in the 20 other parent pairs, therefore indicating the very high proportion of germ-cell mosaicism or of de novo mutations in RPS. The former hypothesis could be clearly documented in 1 case in which prenatal diagnosis was positive in a new pregnancy. Finally, the 2 years' overall survival was 7% in mutated and 29% in wild-type patients, mainly due to the worse outcome of RT in younger patients. Conclusions: Our results show a high proportion of germline mutations in patients with RT that can be found at any age and up to 60% in the youngest patients. Genetic counseling is recommended given the low but actual risk of familial recurrence. Clin Cancer Res; 17(1); 31–8. ©2011 AACR.
Spatial and Seasonal Variation of Biomineral Suspended Particulate Matter Properties in High-Turbid Nearshore and Low-Turbid Offshore Zones

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) is abundant and essential in marine and coastal waters, and comprises a wide variety of biomineral particles, which are practically grouped into organic biomass and inorganic sediments. Such biomass and sediments interact with each other and build large biomineral aggregates via flocculation, therefore controlling the fate and transport of SPM in marine and coastal waters. Despite its importance, flocculation mediated by biomass-sediment interactions is not fully understood. Thus, the aim of this research was to explain biologically mediated flocculation and SPM dynamics in different locations and seasons in marine and coastal waters. Field measurement campaigns followed by physical and biochemical analyses had been carried out from 2004 to 2011 in the Belgian coastal area to investigate bio-mediated flocculation and SPM dynamics. Although SPM had the same mineralogical composition, it encountered different fates in the turbidity maximum zone (TMZ) and in the offshore zone (OSZ), regarding bio-mediated flocculation. SPM in the TMZ built sediment-enriched, dense, and settleable biomineral aggregates, whereas SPM in the OSZ composed biomass-enriched, less dense, and less settleable marine snow. Biological proliferation, such as an algal bloom, was also found to facilitate SPM in building biomass-enriched marine snow, even in the TMZ. In short, bio-mediated flocculation and SPM dynamics varied spatially and seasonally, owing to biomass-sediment interactions and bio-mediated flocculation.
Quantitative Detection of Helicobacter pylori Gene Expression In Vivo and Relationship to Gastric Pathology

ABSTRACT The iceA locus of Helicobacter pyloriincludes one of two mutually exclusive gene families, iceA1and iceA2. Colonization with iceA1 strains is associated with enhanced acute mucosal inflammation, and adherence to gastric epithelial cells in vitro induces expression oficeA1 but not iceA2 mRNA; however, both transcripts can be detected in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine whether differing levels of iceA transcription in vivo may contribute to disease pathogenesis. RNA from 41 H. pylori-positive gastric biopsy specimens was reverse transcribed to cDNA. Quantitative PCR was performed using biotinylated iceA1, iceA2, and 16S rRNA primers, and binding of biotinylated products to streptavidin-coated plates was detected by hybridization with a fluorescein-labeled probe. iceAgenotypes were determined by PCR and sequence analysis. All 41 samples contained detectable H. pylori 16S rRNA, with similar levels in iceA1- (n = 10) andiceA2 (n = 31)-colonized patients (P = 0.34). Biopsy specimens from four (40%) and 19 (61%) persons colonized with iceA1 or iceA2strains, respectively, had detectable iceA RNA. Acute inflammatory scores were significantly higher in iceA1RNA-positive patients than in iceA1 RNA-negative,iceA2 RNA-positive, or iceA2 RNA-negative subjects (P ≤ 0.05 for each). Within theiceA2 RNA-positive group, H. pylori strains with a single 35-amino-acid cassette were associated with significantly higher mucosal iceA2 transcript levels (P= 0.014 versus strains with two cassettes). These results indicate that the levels of transcription of H. pylori iceA1 andiceA2 and of 16S rRNA are independent and that particulariceA2 gene structures are associated with enhanced transcription. The finding that iceA1 transcription levels are significantly associated with the intensity of neutrophilic infiltration suggests that heterogeneity in inflammatory scores among persons colonized with H. pylori iceA1 strains reflects levels of iceA1 transcription in vivo.
Relationship between specific surface area and the dry end of the water retention curve for soils with varying clay and organic carbon contents

Accurate description of the soil water retention curve (SWRC) at low water contents is important for simulating water dynamics and biochemical vadose zone processes in arid environments. Soil water retention data corresponding to matric potentials of less than −10 MPa, where adsorptive forces dominate over capillary forces, have also been used to estimate soil specific surface area (SA). In the present study, the dry end of the SWRC was measured with a chilled‐mirror dew point psychrometer for 41 Danish soils covering a wide range of clay (CL) and organic carbon (OC) contents. The 41 soils were classified into four groups on the basis of the Dexter number (n = CL/OC), and the Tuller‐Or (TO) general scaling model describing water film thickness at a given matric potential (<−10 MPa) was evaluated. The SA estimated from the dry end of the SWRC (SA_SWRC) was in good agreement with the SA measured with ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (SA_EGME) only for organic soils with n > 10. A strong correlation between the ratio of the two surface area estimates and the Dexter number was observed and applied as an additional scaling function in the TO model to rescale the soil water retention curve at low water contents. However, the TO model still overestimated water film thickness at potentials approaching ovendry condition (about −800 MPa). The semi–log linear Campbell‐Shiozawa‐Rossi‐Nimmo (CSRN) model showed better fits for all investigated soils from −10 to −800 MPa and yielded high correlations with CL and SA. It is therefore recommended to apply the empirical CSRN model for predicting the dry part of the water retention curve (−10 to −800 MPa) from measured soil texture or surface area. Further research should aim to modify the more physically based TO model to obtain better descriptions of the SWRC in the very dry range (−300 to −800 MPa).
Establishing Anergy as a Bona Fide In Vivo Mechanism of B Cell Tolerance

The pioneering work of Owen ([1][1]) and Burnet and Fenner ([2][2]) in the late 1940s originated the concept of immune tolerance. Subsequent experiments conducted by Billingham et al. ([3][3]) first demonstrated the active induction of immune tolerance using a skin graft rejection model. These
Universal soft pneumatic robotic gripper with variable effective length

In this study, we built a four-fingered soft robotic gripper with tunable effective finger lengths. This robotic model is purely made of soft materials and allows two working modes that require very simple control: 1) deflate the soft fingers for bending to one direction therefore to open the gripper “claw” and 2) inflate the fingers with compressed air for bending to the reverse direction, therefore to grip objects reversibly. Systematic tests of the gripping performance of the soft robotic model were conducted for 5 effective finger lengths ranging from 30 mm to 100 mm. Under each effective length, we measured the pull-off force of 8 sphere-shaped objects with diameters from 20 to 90mm, and five typical geometric shaped objects including sphere, cubic and cylinder etc. We also measured the pull-off force of gripping objects with different stiffness. Notably, we found that each object with different size prefer a “sweet” effective finger length for generating maximum pull-off force. We show that tunable effective finger length for the soft robot can significantly improve the performance when gripping multiple objects. Current soft robotic prototype exhibits a simple-control, low-cost approach of grasping objects with different size, weight, and shape as well as material stiffness, and may open up new avenues for future industrial gripping.
Mechanism of transfer of NO from extracellular S-nitrosothiols into the cytosol by cell-surface protein disulfide isomerase

N-dansylhomocysteine (DnsHCys) is quenched on S-nitrosation. The product of this reaction, N-dansyl-S-nitrosohomocysteine, is a sensitive, direct fluorogenic substrate for the denitrosation activity of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) with an apparent KM of 2 μM. S-nitroso-BSA (BSA-NO) competitively inhibited this reaction with an apparent KI of 1 μM. The oxidized form of DnsHCys, N,N-didansylhomocystine, rapidly accumulated in cells and was reduced to DnsHCys. The fluorescence of DnsHCys-preloaded human umbilical endothelial cells and hamster lung fibroblasts were monitored as a function of extracellular BSA-NO concentration via dynamic fluorescence microscopy. The observed quenching of the DnsHCys fluorescence was an indirect measure of cell surface PDI (csPDI) catalyzed denitrosation of extracellular S-nitrosothiols as decrease or increase in the csPDI levels in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells correlated with the rate of quenching and the PDI inhibitors, 5,5′-dithio-bis-3-nitrobenzoate and 4-(N-(S-glutathionylacetyl) amino)phenylarsenoxide inhibited quenching. The apparent KM values for denitrosation of BSA-NO by csPDI ranged from 12 μM to 30 μM. Depletion of membrane N2O3 with the lipophylic antioxidant, vitamin E, inhibited csPDI-mediated quenching rates of DnsHCys fluorescence by ≈70%. The KM for BSA-NO increased by ≈3-fold and Vmax decreased by ≈4-fold. These findings suggest that csPDI catalyzed NO released from extracellular S-nitrosothiols accumulates in the membrane where it reacts with O2 to produce N2O3. Intracellular thiols may then be nitrosated by N2O3 at the membrane-cytosol interface.
DROUGHT INTENSITY ON ARABLE LAND IN ROMANIA – PROCESSES AND TENDENCIES

Drought is one of the factors which may determine land degradation by aridization occurence. Under drought conditions the soil productivity decreases with negative impact on socio-economic conditions. Over 60 % of arable land is affected by drought. In this paper drought risk is evaluated at country level, processes induced by its occurrence and tendencies in future time horizons. Drought intensity was evaluated by using different indicators. Values of Palfay index which was corrected by soil properties, relief and watertable showed that in the south and south-eastern part of the country there is a high intensity of drought. The aridity index showed that there is a high variability during the time. In dry years the highest semi-arid area affected by drought is located in south-eastern part and all the other plain areas under arable use are defined as sub-humid areas. The Bagnouls-Gaussen aridity index showed that the drought occurs mostly in south-eastern part of the country for the time period of 1961-1990. For the future time horizons (2011-2020, 2041-2050, 2071-2080) the drought intensity increases. Within the time horizon of 2041-2050 the predictions show that the entire south part of Romania will be affected by high drought intensity. The environmentally sensitive area to desertification index (ESAI) showed that most of the arable land is classified as critical. The cumulated annual water deficit, the active temperature annual sum over 4 °C, the active temperature annual sum over 10 °C and the number of days with drought increased in the period of 1991-2000, in comparison with 1961-1990 time interval, mostly in western and eastern parts of the country. The same tendency is predicted for the future time horizons. Climate changes lead also in changes of hybrid productivity. Thus, in case of maize, the predictions show that the lately hybrids has higher productivity than early and medium-early ones in the time horizon of 1991-2000 in the most important arable areas. For the future time horizons (2011-2020, 2041-2050) the early and medium-early hybrids are most productive.
Global smooth solution curves using rigorous branch following

In this paper, we present a new method for rigorously computing smooth branches of zeros of nonlinear operators f: ℝ l 1 × B 1 → ℝ l 2 ×B 2 , where B 1 and B 2 are Banach spaces. The method is first introduced for parameter continuation and then generalized to pseudo-arclength continuation. Examples in the context of ordinary, partial and delay differential equations are given.
POI Popularity Prediction via Hierarchical Fusion of Multiple Social Clues

Predicting the popularity of Point of Interest (POI) has become increasingly crucial for location-based services, such as POI recommendation. Most of the existing methods can seldom achieve satisfactory performance due to the scarcity of POI's information, which tendentiously confines the recommendation to popular scenic spots, and ignores the unpopular attractions with potentially precious values. In this paper, we propose a novel approach, termed Hierarchical Multi-Clue Fusion (HMCF), for predicting the popularity of POIs. Specifically, we devise an effective hierarchy to comprehensively describe POI by integrating various types of media information (e.g., image and text) from multiple social sources. For each individual POI, we simultaneously inject semantic knowledge as well as multi-clue representative power. We collect a multi-source POI dataset from four widely-used tourism platforms. Extensive experimental results show that the proposed method can significantly improve the performance of predicting the attractions' popularity as compared to several baselines.