Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining space-time block modulation with integer forcing receivers

In a recent work by Zhan et al., a new equalization technique for multiple-input multiple-output channels, applicable when linear codes are used for transmission, was proposed. In this technique, coined integer-forcing equalization, the channel matrix is equalized at the receiver to one consisting of only integer entries. It was demonstrated that for quasi-static independent flat Rayleigh fading, and when independent streams are sent over each transmit antenna, this equalization technique allows to approach quite closely maximum-likelihood performance, using standard coding and decoding of off-the-shelf linear codes designed for transmission over a scalar white Gaussian channel. In particular, the technique is optimal in the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff sense. In the present work, we describe how this receiver structure may be seamlessly combined with linear transmit diversity methods. We show that for quasi-static independent flat Rayleigh fading, this combination allows to approach closely the outage capacity of the channel using linear pre- and post-processing and standard scalar coding and decoding.
Synonymous codon bias and functional constraint on GC3-related DNA backbone dynamics in the prokaryotic nucleoid

While mRNA stability has been demonstrated to control rates of translation, generating both global and local synonymous codon biases in many unicellular organisms, this explanation cannot adequately explain why codon bias strongly tracks neighboring intergene GC content; suggesting that structural dynamics of DNA might also influence codon choice. Because minor groove width is highly governed by 3-base periodicity in GC, the existence of triplet-based codons might imply a functional role for the optimization of local DNA molecular dynamics via GC content at synonymous sites (≈GC3). We confirm a strong association between GC3-related intrinsic DNA flexibility and codon bias across 24 different prokaryotic multiple whole-genome alignments. We develop a novel test of natural selection targeting synonymous sites and demonstrate that GC3-related DNA backbone dynamics have been subject to moderate selective pressure, perhaps contributing to our observation that many genes possess extreme DNA backbone dynamics for their given protein space. This dual function of codons may impose universal functional constraints affecting the evolution of synonymous and non-synonymous sites. We propose that synonymous sites may have evolved as an ‘accessory’ during an early expansion of a primordial genetic code, allowing for multiplexed protein coding and structural dynamic information within the same molecular context.
MEASURING SURFACE SUBSIDENCE IN WUHAN, CHINA WITH SENTINEL-1 DATA USING PSINSAR

Abstract. We use the potential of Sentinel-1 for urban subsidence monitoring. A case study was conducted in Wuhan using Sentinel-1A images acquired from 22nd June 2015 to the 24th of April 2017 acquired from an ascending orbit. Our results using PSInSAR are compared to a recent study using SBAS. Moreover, in another experiment, only more recent data, containing 18 images from the 7th of March 2017 to the 14th of March 2018, have been processed in order to analysis changes in the subsidence behavior over the study area. In addition to that, the proposed method (PSInSAR) was used to measure the water height in the east lake using metallic objects as stable PS points.
Clinical Utility of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition After Traumatic Brain Injury

The performance of 100 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) was compared with that of 100 demographically matched neurologically healthy controls. Processing Speed was the only WAIS-IV factor index that was able to discriminate between persons with moderate-severe TBI on the one hand and persons with either less severe TBI or neurologically healthy controls on the other hand. The Processing Speed index also had acceptable sensitivity and specificity when differentiating between patients with TBI who either did or did not have scores in the clinically significant range on the Trail Making Test. It is concluded that WAIS-IV Processing Speed has acceptable clinical utility in the evaluation of patients with moderate-severe TBI but that it should be supplemented with other measures to assure sufficient accuracy in the diagnostic process.
Buffered clock tree synthesis for 3D ICs under thermal variations

In this paper, we study the buffered clock tree synthesis problem under thermal variations for 3D IC technology. Our major contribution is the Balanced Skew Theorem, which provides a theoretical background to efficiently construct a buffered 3D clock tree that minimizes and balances the skew values under two distinct non-uniform thermal profiles. Our clock tree synthesis algorithm named BURITO (buffered clock tree with thermal optimization) first constructs a 3D abstract tree under the wirelength vs via-congestion tradeoff. This abstract tree is then embedded, buffered, and refined under the given non-uniform thermal profiles so that the temperature-dependent skews are minimized and balanced. Experimental results show that our algorithms significantly reduce and perfectly balance clock skew values with minimal wirelength overhead.
The influence of normal aging and Alzheimer's disease in autobiographical memory highly related to the self.

OBJECTIVE Autobiographical memory (AM) comprises autobiographical episodes (AE) and personal semantics (PS). Self-defining memories (SDMs) represent peculiar memories highly relevant to personality processes and constitute crucial source for the self. To date, no research has compared normal and pathological age-related changes in the AE and PS aspects of AM (including SDMs) and their link with the self. METHOD Young adults, older adults, and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were asked to retrieve 10 AEs, 10 PSs, and 10 SDMs based on identical cue-words and to complete a subjective self-concept scale measuring the degree of certainty and the valence of the self. Memory performance was evaluated for specificity and for emotional valence using quantitative scoring based on standard neuropsychological assessments. RESULTS Compared with young adults, older adults and AD patients demonstrated a deficit in AE; nevertheless, the three groups performed equally for PS. Remarkably, older adults did not differ from young adults for SDMs characterized by high episodicity (SDMe), unlike AD patients. Concerning the self-concept scale, the valence of the self was more positive in healthy subjects than in AD patients, the latter showing higher scores for the degree of certainty. Self-concept measures were correlated with AM scores, especially SDMe, in young and older subjects but not in AD patients. CONCLUSION The implication of these findings is discussed to portray the differences between normal aging and AD concerning the link between AM and the self.
Distributed Cardinality Estimation in Anonymous Networks

We consider estimation of network cardinality by distributed anonymous strategies relying on statistical inference methods. In particular, we focus on the relative Mean Square Error (MSE) of Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimators based on either the maximum or the average of M-dimensional vectors randomly generated at each node. In the case of continuous probability distributions, we show that the relative MSE achieved by the max-based strategy decreases as 1/M, independently of the used distribution, while that of the average-based estimator scales approximately as 2/M. We then introduce a novel strategy based on the average of M-dimensional vectors locally generated from Bernoulli random variables. In this case, the ML estimator, which is the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of the denominators of the irreducible fractions corresponding to the M elements of the average vector, leads to an MSE which goes exponentially to zero as M increases. We then discuss the effects of finite-precision arithmetics in practical dynamic implementations. Numerical experiments reveal that the MSE of the strategy based on Bernoulli trials is two order of magnitude smaller than that based on continuous random variables, at a price of one order of magnitude slower convergence time.
Reinforcement learning of single legged locomotion

This paper presents the application of reinforcement learning to improve the performance of highly dynamic single legged locomotion with compliant series elastic actuators. The goal is to optimally exploit the capabilities of the hardware in terms of maximum jump height, jump distance, and energy efficiency of periodic hopping. These challenges are tackled with the reinforcement learning method Policy Improvement with Path Integrals (PI2) in a model-free approach to learn parameterized motor velocity trajectories as well as highlevel control parameters. The combination of simulation and hardware-based optimization allows to efficiently obtain optimal control policies in an up to 10-dimensional parameter space. The robotic leg learns to temporarily store energy in the elastic elements of the joints in order to improve the jump height and distance. In addition, we present a method to learn time-independent control policies and apply it to improve the energetic efficiency of periodic hopping.
Immunohistochemical and Clinical Characterization of the Basal-Like Subtype of Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Purpose: Expression profiling studies classified breast carcinomas into estrogen receptor (ER)+/luminal, normal breast-like, HER2 overexpressing, and basal-like groups, with the latter two associated with poor outcomes. Currently, there exist clinical assays that identify ER+/luminal and HER2-overexpressing tumors, and we sought to develop a clinical assay for breast basal-like tumors. Experimental Design: To identify an immunohistochemical profile for breast basal-like tumors, we collected a series of known basal-like tumors and tested them for protein patterns that are characteristic of this subtype. Next, we examined the significance of these protein patterns using tissue microarrays and evaluated the prognostic significance of these findings. Results: Using a panel of 21 basal-like tumors, which was determined using gene expression profiles, we saw that this subtype was typically immunohistochemically negative for estrogen receptor and HER2 but positive for basal cytokeratins, HER1, and/or c-KIT. Using breast carcinoma tissue microarrays representing 930 patients with 17.4-year mean follow-up, basal cytokeratin expression was associated with low disease-specific survival. HER1 expression was observed in 54% of cases positive for basal cytokeratins (versus 11% of negative cases) and was associated with poor survival independent of nodal status and size. c-KIT expression was more common in basal-like tumors than in other breast cancers but did not influence prognosis. Conclusions: A panel of four antibodies (ER, HER1, HER2, and cytokeratin 5/6) can accurately identify basal-like tumors using standard available clinical tools and shows high specificity. These studies show that many basal-like tumors express HER1, which suggests candidate drugs for evaluation in these patients.
Renal effects of TAPP, a highly selective μ‐opioid agonist

1 The effect of i.v. administration of TAPP, a highly selective and exclusively peripherally‐acting μ‐opioid receptor agonist, on urine output, urinary sodium, potassium and cyclic GMP, and on plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (IR‐ANF) levels was studied in conscious normally hydrated female rats (200–250 g). 2 TAPP treatment produced a significant dose‐dependent increase of urine output and urinary sodium, potassium and cyclic GMP excretion during the first hour. The highest TAPP dose used (2.5 mg kg−1 body weight) elicited a 10 fold elevation of urine output from 0.23 ± 0.06 ml h−1 to 2.5 ± 0.3 ml h−1 (n = 18) accompanied by augmented sodium [from 17.0 ± 4.7 μEq h−1 to 79 ± 12.7 μEq h−1, n = 18 (P < 0.001)], potassium [from 9.5 ± 2.5 μEq h−1 to 39.4 ± 6.6 μEq h−1, n = 18 (P < 0.005)], and cyclic GMP excretion [from 191 ± 21 pmol h−1 to 1340 ± 322 pmol h−1, n = 18 (P < 0.001)]. Plasma IR‐ANF rose from 22 ± 4 pg ml−1 to 508 ± 22 pg ml−1 (n = 18) (P < 0.001) 5 min after administration of TAPP (2500 μg kg−1). 3 TAPP lowered systemic blood pressure, also in a dose‐related manner, 1–5 min after injection. This decrease in blood pressure was transient and did not last more than 10 min. 4 Pretreatment with the opioid antagonist naloxone (0.8 mg per rat) abolished the diuretic, natriuretic and kaliuretic effect of TAPP (250 μg kg−1): urine output dropped from 1.16 ± 0.15 ml h−1, n = 12, to the control value of 0.15 ± 0.06 ml h−1, n = 12 (P < 0.001), sodium excretion fell from 57.5 ± 11 μEq h−1, to 21.3 ± 8.5 μEq h−1, n = 12 (P < 0.001), and potassium excretion decreased from 45.4 ± 9.7 μEq h−1, n = 12, to 16.1 ± 7.0 μEq h−1, (P < 0.001). 5 Pretreatment with anti‐ANF serum (0.4 ml) abolished the diuretic effect of TAPP: urine output diminished significantly from 1.93 ± 0.28 to 0.88 ± 0.29 ml h−1 (P < 0.01) (n = 6). The TAPP‐induced diuretic action, increased sodium/potassium excretion and elevated urinary cyclic GMP levels were also reversed by anti‐ANF antibodies. 6 Since TAPP is totally unable to cross the blood‐brain barrier, the ensemble of these observations led to the conclusion that the diuretic, natriuretic, kaliuretic and hypotensive effects produced by this μ‐opioid agonist through interaction with peripheral μ‐opioid receptors occur via ANF release.
ANALYSIS OF THE DIFFERENTIATION AND OF THE HETEROGENEITY WITHIN A POPULATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI UNDERGOING INDUCED β-GALACTOSIDASE SYNTHESIS

The kinetics of induction of the galactozymase of certain yeasts (Spiegelman, 1951) and the permease-3-galactosidase system of Escherichia coli (Monod, 1956) can, under certain conditions, be described as autocatalytic. Essentially two hypotheses have been proposed to account for such findings: (a) that the enzyme-forming system itself is autocatalytically activated (Campbell and Spiegelman, 1956) or self-reproducing (Spiegelman, 1946), or (b) that in some way the enzyme being induced intervenes in its own induction (Monod and Cohn, 1952). To evaluate these hypotheses, it should be recalled that the kinetics of formation of an enzyme by a population of cells describes events at the cellular level only if the response of each individual cell is simultaneous and equal (Benzer, 1953; Monod and Cohn, 1952). Such a response we term homogeneity. The first experimental analysis of this problem we owe to Benzer (1953) who defined the experimental conditions under which the induction of f-galactosidase would proceed in a homogeneous fashion in an E. coli (lac+) population. These were (a) conditions of gratuity, i. e. , neither the presence of the enzyme itself nor its inducer influences general cellular metabolism, and (b) a saturating concentration of inducer. Benzer (1953) also showed that heterogeneity is generated under conditions of nongratuity. The question remained however as to what the response would be at nonsaturating concentrations of inducer.
Cloning of the aerobactin-mediated iron assimilation system of plasmid ColV

The high-affinity iron assimilation system of plasmid ColV-K30 was cloned on the vector plasmid pPlac. Plasmid pABN1 was isolated by means of sensitivity to cloacin, a bacteriocin using the same outer membrane receptor as ferric aerobactin. Restriction maps were determined for this plasmid and for a subclone, pABN5. Plasmid pABN1 codes for the complete gene complex, whereas plasmid pABN5 encodes only the biosynthetic genes for aerobactin. Regulation of the uptake system by iron is retained in cloned sequences of pABN1.
Blackwell Handbook of Judgment and Decision Making

The Handbook * Contains contributions by experts from various disciplines that reflect current trends and controversies on judgment and decision making. * Provides a glimpse at the many approaches that have been taken in the study of judgment and decision making and portrays the major findings in the field. * Presents examinations of the broader roles of social, emotional, and cultural influences on decision making. * Explores applications of judgment and decision making research to important problems in a variety of professional contexts, including finance, accounting, medicine, public policy, and the law.
Linear decoding of 2D hand movements for target selection tasks using a non-invasive BCI system

In this paper, a visual interface showing target selection tasks has been designed to decode 2D velocities from a brain-computer interface (BCI) system during hand movements. Ten healthy volunteers were asked to perform hand movements using a mouse to control a cursor on the screen. Three targets were randomly highlighted and the volunteers were asked to reach them with the cursor. The actual position of the cursor and the EEG activity were simultaneously acquired. To decode hand velocity, the EEG signals registered from 16 electrodes were processed and linear models were used to obtain the transformation to velocity values of the hand movement. The results of the decoded velocity were compared to the actual values using the Pearson correlation coefficient showing average correlation coefficients of 0.39 in the X-axis and 0.47 in the Y-axis, showing an improvement over previous results obtained when applying similar techniques. It is also relevant that the number of electrodes used has been significantly reduced (from 34 to 16) and the use of a 2D environment shows a great potential in future rehabilitation systems for stroke patients.
Take me to your leader! Online Optimization of Distributed Storage Configurations

The configuration of a distributed storage system typically includes, among other parameters, the set of servers and their roles in the replication protocol. Although mechanisms for changing the configuration at runtime exist, it is usually left to system administrators to manually determine the "best" configuration and periodically reconfigure the system, often by trial and error. This paper describes a new workload-driven optimization framework that dynamically determines the optimal configuration at run-time. We focus on optimizing leader and quorum based replication schemes and divide the framework into three optimization tiers, dynamically optimizing different configuration aspects: 1) leader placement, 2) roles of different servers in the replication protocol, and 3) replica locations. We showcase our optimization framework by applying it to a large-scale distributed storage system used internally in Google and demonstrate that most client applications significantly benefit from using our framework, reducing average operation latency by up to 94%.
The stability of soft drinks intake from adolescence to adult age and the association between long-term consumption of soft drinks and lifestyle factors and body weight

Abstract Objectives To investigate the tracking of sugar-sweetened, carbonated soft drinks intake from age 15 to 33 years and the association between this intake and lifestyle factors and body weight. Design A longitudinal study with 18–20 years of follow-up. Data about diet, physical activity, smoking and dieting were collected in 1981/1979, 1991 and 1999. Body weight and height were measured in 1981/1979 and self-reported in 1999. Setting Oslo, Norway. Subjects Four hundred and twenty-two men and women. Results Tracking of soft drinks intake from adolescence into early adulthood (age 25 years) and from early adulthood into later adulthood (33 years) was moderate to high, while tracking from adolescence into later adulthood was low. Comparing those reporting a high intake of soft drinks in both 1991 and 1999 with those reporting a low intake at both times, male long-term high consumers were more likely to smoke (48 vs. 21%, P = 0.002) and reported higher intakes of energy (12.2 vs. 10.2 MJ day−1, P = 0.005) and sugar (142 vs. 50 g day−1, P < 0.001) in 1999 than did long-term low consumers. Women high consumers were less likely to be physically active (14 vs. 42%, P = 0.03) and had higher sugar intake (87 vs. 41 g day−1, P < 0.001) in 1999 than did women low consumers. There were no differences in body mass index, overweight or obesity in 1999 between long-term high and low consumers. Conclusion In this study, stability of soft drinks intake from age 15 to 25 years and from age 25 to 33 years was moderate to high, while from age 15 to 33 years it was low. Soft drinks intake from age 25 to 33 years was associated with smoking and physical inactivity, but not with body weight.
PRATHAM: A power delivery-aware and thermal-aware mapping framework for parallel embedded applications on 3D MPSoCs

In emerging 3D-ICs, thermal hotspots and high IR-drops in the power delivery network (PDN) can significantly limit overall system performance. The high core counts required to support parallel embedded applications in these 3D-ICs also notably increases communication energy. As inter-core communication patterns, IR-drop distributions, and 3D thermal profiles all influence system performance and power, it is critical that a system-level application mapping framework consider their combined effect. In this paper, for the first time, we propose a system-level parallel embedded application allocation framework (PRATHAM) that integrates a holistic solution evaluation methodology while considering the impact of network-on-chip (NoC) communication, drops in supply voltage, and the on-chip thermal profile on overall system performance, and co-optimizes on-chip IR-drop, thermal, and communication profiles, for improved overall system performance and lower energy consumption. Our experimental results indicate that PRATHAM reduces energy-delay-squared product (ED2P) by up to 43.6% over recently proposed PDN-aware and thermal-aware 3D-mapping frameworks, respectively.