Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chart-based Design of LDPC Codes for Inter-Symbol Interference Channels

The subject of this paper is the design of lowdensity parity-check (LDPC) codes concatenated with a Gray mapped quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK) modulator for transmission over inter-symbol (ISI) channels. In particular, we will present several results considering important partial response channels (PRCs). Using an extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart-based analysis, we give insights into the behavior of an iterative detector/decoder for LDPC codes transmitted over ISI channels. In particular, we will discuss if there is a real need for LDPC codes specifically optimized for ISI channels. Using the proposed analysis method, we design LDPC codes tailored for ISI channels. We show that, if the channel impulse response is short, an ad hoc optimized LDPC code is very similar to that optimized for an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel, reducing significantly the need for code optimization. On the other hand, if the impulse response of the ISI channel is long, ad hoc optimized LDPC codes achieve sensible gain with respect to LDPC codes optimized for AWGN channel.
The Prokinetic Face of Ghrelin

This review evaluated published data regarding the effects of ghrelin on GI motility using the PubMed database for English articles from 1999 to September 2009. Our strategy was to combine all available information from previous literature, in order to provide a complete structured review on the prokinetic properties of exogenous ghrelin and its potential use for treatment of various GI dysmotility ailments. We classified the literature into two major groups, depending on whether studies were done in health or in disease. We sub-classified the studies into stomach, small intestinal and colon studies, and broke them down further into studies done in vitro, in vivo (animals) and in humans. Further more, the reviewed studies were presented in a chronological order to guide the readers across the scientific advances in the field. The review shows evidences that ghrelin and its (receptor) agonists possess a strong prokinetic potential to serve in the treatment of diabetic, neurogenic or idiopathic gastroparesis and possibly, chemotherapy-associated dyspepsia, postoperative, septic or post-burn ileus, opiate-induced bowel dysfunction and chronic idiopathic constipation. Further research is necessary to close the gap in knowledge about the effect of ghrelin on the human intestines in health and disease.
Assessment of Differential Pulmonary Blood Flow Using Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Comparison With Radionuclide Perfusion Scintigraphy

Objectives:We sought to assess the agreement between lung perfusion ratios calculated from pulmonary perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and those calculated from radionuclide (RN) perfusion scintigraphy. Materials and Methods:A retrospective analysis of MR and RN perfusion scans was conducted in 23 patients (mean age, 60 ± 14 years) with different lung diseases (lung cancer = 15, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease = 4, cystic fibrosis = 2, and mesothelioma = 2). Pulmonary perfusion was assessed by a time-resolved contrast-enhanced 3D gradient-echo pulse sequence using parallel imaging and view sharing (TR = 1.9 milliseconds; TE = 0.8 milliseconds; parallel imaging acceleration factor = 2; partition thickness = 4 mm; matrix = 256 × 96; in-plane spatial resolution = 1.87 × 3.75 mm; scan time for each 3D dataset = 1.5 seconds), using gadolinium-based contrast agents (injection flow rate = 5 mL/s, dose = 0.1 mmol/kg of body weight). The peak concentration (PC) of the contrast agent bolus, the pulmonary blood flow (PBF), and blood volume (PBV) were computed from the signal-time curves of the lung. Left-to-right ratios of pulmonary perfusion were calculated from the MR parameters and RN counts. The agreement between these ratios was assessed for side prevalence (sign test) and quantitatively (Deming-regression). Results:MR and RN ratios agreed on side prevalence in 21 patients (91%) with PC, in 20 (87%) with PBF, and in 17 (74%) with PBV. The MR estimations of left-to-right perfusion ratios correlated significantly with those of RN perfusion scans (P < 0.01). The correlation was higher using PC (r = 0.67) and PBF (r = 0.66) than using PBV (r = 0.50). The MR ratios computed from PBF showed the highest accuracy, followed by those from PC and PBV. Independently from the MR parameter used, in some patients the quantitative difference between the MR and RN ratios was not negligible. Conclusions:Pulmonary perfusion MRI can be used to assess the differential blood flow of the lung. Further studies in a larger group of patients are required to fully confirm the clinical suitability of this imaging method.
Legionella Persistence in Manufactured Water Systems: Pasteurization Potentially Selecting for Thermal Tolerance

Legionella is an opportunistic waterborne pathogen of increasing public health significance. Pasteurization, otherwise known as super-heat and flush (increasing water temperature to above 70°C and flushing all outlets), has been identified as an important mechanism for the disinfection of Legionella in manufactured water systems. However, several studies have reported that this procedure was ineffective at remediating water distribution systems as Legionella was able to maintain long term persistent contamination. Up to 25% of L. pneumophila cells survived heat treatment of 70°C, but all of these were in a viable but non-culturable state. This demonstrates the limitations of the culture method of Legionella detection currently used to evaluate disinfection protocols. In addition, it has been demonstrated that pasteurization and nutrient starvation can select for thermal tolerant strains, where L. pneumophila was consistently identified as having greater thermal tolerance compared to other Legionella species. This review demonstrates that further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of pasteurization as a disinfection method. In particular, it focuses on the potential for pasteurization to select for thermal tolerant L. pneumophila strains which, as the primary causative agent of Legionnaires disease, have greater public health significance compared to other Legionella species.
On Combining Multiple Classifiers Using an Evidential Approach

Combining multiple classifiers via combining schemes or meta-learners has led to substantial improvements in many classification problems. One of the challenging tasks is to choose appropriate combining schemes and classifiers involved in an ensemble of classifiers. In this paper we propose a novel evidential approach to combining decisions given by multiple classifiers. We develop a novel evidence structure - a focal triplet, examine its theoretical properties and establish computational formulations for representing classifier outputs as pieces of evidence to be combined. The evaluations on the effectiveness of the established formalism have been carried out over the data sets of 20- newsgroup and Reuters-21578, demonstrating the advantage of this novel approach in combining classifiers.
High diagnostic yield of clinically unidentifiable syndromic growth disorders by targeted exome sequencing

As syndromic short stature and overgrowth are heterogeneous and the list of causative genes is rapidly expanding, there is an unmet need for identifying genetic causes based on conventional gene testing or karyotyping. Early diagnosis leads to the proper management of the patient and providing genetic counseling for family members at risk in a timely manner.
A 77-GHz Phased-Array Transceiver With On-Chip Antennas in Silicon: Receiver and Antennas

In this paper, we present the receiver and the on-chip antenna sections of a fully integrated 77-GHz four-element phased-array transceiver with on-chip antennas in silicon. The receiver section of the chip includes the complete down-conversion path comprising low-noise amplifier (LNA), frequency synthesizer, phase rotators, combining amplifiers, and on-chip dipole antennas. The signal combining is performed using a novel distributed active combining amplifier at an IF of 26 GHz. In the LO path, the output of the 52-GHz VCO is routed to different elements and can be phase shifted locally by the phase rotators. A silicon lens on the backside is used to reduce the loss due to the surface-wave power of the silicon substrate. Our measurements show a single-element LNA gain of 23 dB and a noise figure of 6.0dB. Each of the four receive paths has a gain of 37 dB and a noise figure of 8.0 dB. Each on-chip antenna has a gain of +2 dBi
Jekyll Encodes a Novel Protein Involved in the Sexual Reproduction of Barley[W][OA]

Cereal seed development depends on the intimate interaction of filial and maternal tissues, ensuring nourishment of the new generation. The gene jekyll, which was identified in barley (Hordeum vulgare), is preferentially expressed in the nurse tissues. JEKYLL shares partial similarity with the scorpion Cn4 toxin and is toxic when ectopically expressed in Escherichia coli and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). In barley, jekyll is upregulated in cells destined for autolysis. The gene generates a gradient of expression in the nucellar projection, which mediates the maternal–filial interaction during seed filling. Downregulation of jekyll by the RNA interference technique in barley decelerates autolysis and cell differentiation within the nurse tissues. Flower development and seed filling are thereby extended, and the nucellar projection no longer functions as the main transport route for assimilates. A slowing down in the proliferation of endosperm nuclei and a severely impaired ability to accumulate starch in the endosperm leads to the formation of irregular and small-sized seeds at maturity. Overall, JEKYLL plays a decisive role in the differentiation of the nucellar projection and drives the programmed cell death necessary for its proper function. We further suggest that cell autolysis during the differentiation of the nucellar projection allows the optimal provision of basic nutrients for biosynthesis in endosperm and embryo.
Communications in Mathematical Physics Looped Cotangent Virasoro Algebra and Non-Linear Integrable Systems in Dimension 2 + 1

We consider a Lie algebra generalizing the Virasoro algebra to the case of two space variables. We study its coadjoint representation and calculate the corresponding Euler equations. In particular, we obtain a bi-Hamiltonian system that leads to an integrable non-linear partial differential equation. This equation is an analogue of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (of type B) equation.
Toughened Unsaturated Polyester Composites Reinforced with Slag Material

ABSTRACT Slag powder, which is a by-product during the steel making process, has been utilized in this study. It was comminuted followed by stearic acid treatment. The mineralogical composition of the unmodified and modified slag was inspected using energy dispersive spectrophotometer. The effectiveness of the stearic acid treatment was followed by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy. The potential of unmodified and modified slag as reinforcement for unsaturated polyester mixed with solution of nitrile butadiene rubber to produce toughened polyester was evaluated. The toughened polyester has been fabricated by casting technique from solution state. The impact of unmodified and modified slag on the mechanical and thermal characteristics of the composites was inspected. The fire resistance of the composite was evaluated by exposing the composites to direct open flame. The fracture surfaces of the impacted samples were viewed under scanning electron microscope. This was done to obtain an idea on the dispersion pattern and the quality of bonding between the slag and the matrix. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Investigation of Theory of Mind in ADHD and Normal Children and its Relationship with Response Inhibition

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the relationship between theory of mind and inhibitory responses in normal children and ADHD. Methods: This study is descriptive study, a sample size of 25 patients ADHD children and 30 normal children, who were randomly selected. Research instruments are questionnaires Theory of mind and computerized Stroop test. Results: The results showed that, there are significant differences between in response inhibition and theory of mind in ADHD and normal children, so that children with ADHD, both components have a problem. The correlation and regression results showed that there is significant relationship between theory of mind and Response inhibition, also response inhibition is as a predictor of theory of mind. Discussion: The present study showed in comparison with normal children, the performance in executive function and theory of mind is weaker in ADHD children, also relationship between executive function and theory of mind.
A comparative study of natural rubber modified with ground tire rubber of truck

The recycling of waste rubber has considerable significance in term of environmental protection and energy conservation. Considering that most of the relevant literature is concerned with tire recycling, the aim of this work was to develop and characterize the elastomeric samples of natural rubber (NR) composites filled with ground tire rubber of truck (GTR) devulcanized by microwave (DGTR). The tire rubber was ground under ambient conditions and subjected to microwave exposure for 3, 5 and 10 minutes. The samples were developed by the incorporation of 10, 30 and 50 phr (parts per hundred of rubber) of the devulcanized GTR-t into the rubber matrix and subsequent revulcanization. The physical mechanical properties: tensile strength, elongation at break, shore A hardness and modulus were determined. The changes in the chemical characteristics were evaluated with cross-link density, sol fraction and Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analyses. In addition, the samples have been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results were compared with an unfilled sample of NR submitted to the same conditions
Cueing retrospective verbal reports in usability testing through eye-movement replay

An experimental validation is presented of a novel method for usability testing that entails the playback of dynamic eye-tracking data to cue the elicitation of retrospective verbal reports. Participants in our study produced: (1) think-aloud reports during an online search task, and (2) retrospective reports during another online search task, with reports being cued by the playback of either the screen capture of events or the participant's own eye-movements. Task-completion times and response rates were recorded for all reporting methods. Fewer participants completed the search task whilst thinking aloud, indicating the reactivity of this technique. Verbal transcripts were coded for instances of usability problems. The eye-cued method identified more usability problems than the think-aloud or screen-cued methods. A significant interaction between search engine type and retrospective cue type suggests that the value of the eye-cue method for eliciting usability problems may be greatest with more complex search environments. Our results demonstrate that when cued appropriately, retrospective reports may be less reactive and more informative than other verbalisation techniques.
The transcription factor Cabut coordinates energy metabolism and the circadian clock in response to sugar sensing

Nutrient sensing pathways adjust metabolism and physiological functions in response to food intake. For example, sugar feeding promotes lipogenesis by activating glycolytic and lipogenic genes through the Mondo/ChREBP‐Mlx transcription factor complex. Concomitantly, other metabolic routes are inhibited, but the mechanisms of transcriptional repression upon sugar sensing have remained elusive. Here, we characterize cabut (cbt), a transcription factor responsible for the repressive branch of the sugar sensing transcriptional network in Drosophila. We demonstrate that cbt is rapidly induced upon sugar feeding through direct regulation by Mondo‐Mlx. We found that CBT represses several metabolic targets in response to sugar feeding, including both isoforms of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pepck). Deregulation of pepck1 (CG17725) in mlx mutants underlies imbalance of glycerol and glucose metabolism as well as developmental lethality. Furthermore, we demonstrate that cbt provides a regulatory link between nutrient sensing and the circadian clock. Specifically, we show that a subset of genes regulated by the circadian clock are also targets of CBT. Moreover, perturbation of CBT levels leads to deregulation of the circadian transcriptome and circadian behavioral patterns.
Cheat-proof playout for centralized and distributed online games

We explore exploits possible for cheating in real-time, multiplayer games for both client-server and distributed, serverless architectures. We offer the first formalization of cheating in online games and propose an initial set of strong solutions. We propose a protocol that has provable anti-cheating guarantees, but suffers a performance penalty. We then develop an extended version of this protocol, called asynchronous synchronization, which avoids the penalty, is serverless, offers provable anti-cheating guarantees, is robust in the face of packet loss, and provides for significantly increased communication performance. This technique is applicable to common game features as well as clustering and cell-based techniques for massively multiplayer games. Our performance claims are backed by analysis using a simulation based on real game traces.
CatchSync: catching synchronized behavior in large directed graphs

Given a directed graph of millions of nodes, how can we automatically spot anomalous, suspicious nodes, judging only from their connectivity patterns? Suspicious graph patterns show up in many applications, from Twitter users who buy fake followers, manipulating the social network, to botnet members performing distributed denial of service attacks, disturbing the network traffic graph. We propose a fast and effective method, CatchSync, which exploits two of the tell-tale signs left in graphs by fraudsters: (a) synchronized behavior: suspicious nodes have extremely similar behavior pattern, because they are often required to perform some task together (such as follow the same user); and (b) rare behavior: their connectivity patterns are very different from the majority. We introduce novel measures to quantify both concepts ("synchronicity" and "normality") and we propose a parameter-free algorithm that works on the resulting synchronicity-normality plots. Thanks to careful design, CatchSync has the following desirable properties: (a) it is scalable to large datasets, being linear on the graph size; (b) it is parameter free; and (c) it is side-information-oblivious: it can operate using only the topology, without needing labeled data, nor timing information, etc., while still capable of using side information, if available. We applied CatchSync on two large, real datasets 1-billion-edge Twitter social graph and 3-billion-edge Tencent Weibo social graph, and several synthetic ones; CatchSync consistently outperforms existing competitors, both in detection accuracy by 36% on Twitter and 20% on Tencent Weibo, as well as in speed.
How do chemotherapeutic agents damage the ovary?

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy treatment in premenopausal women is associated with an increased risk of premature ovarian failure (POF) but the exact mechanism through which this occurs is uncertain. In this review we examine the current evidence for the direct action of chemotherapeutic agents on the ovary and discuss possible molecular pathways through which follicle loss may occur. METHODS A systemic search of the databases, PubMed and Google Scholar, was made for all English language articles through to 2011 in each subject area discussed. RESULTS POF results from the loss of primordial follicles but this is not necessarily a direct effect of the chemotherapeutic agents. Instead, the disappearance of primordial follicles could be due to an increased rate of growth initiation to replace damaged developing follicles. Likewise, the loss of oocytes need not necessarily be a direct result of damage: evidence suggests that chemotherapy drugs can also induce oocyte death indirectly via damage to somatic cells. Specific molecular mechanisms and likely ovarian targets are discussed for some of the anti-cancer drugs most commonly used to treat premenopausal women. Finally, we consider current and prospective methods of preserving fertility. CONCLUSIONS It is likely that different chemotherapeutic drugs act through a range of mechanisms and on different target cells. More research into the cellular mechanisms underpinning chemotherapy-induced follicle loss could lead to the generation of treatments specifically designed to prevent POF.
Uncoupling oxidative/energy metabolism with low sub chronic doses of 3-nitropropionic acid or iodoacetate in vivo produces striatal cell damage

A variety of evidence suggests that the failure of cellular metabolism is one of the underlying causes of neurodegenerative diseases. For example, the inhibition of mitochondrial function produces a pattern of cellular pathology in the striatum that resembles that seen in Huntington's disease. However, neurons can also generate ATP through the glycolytic pathway. Recent work has suggested a direct interaction between mutated huntingtin and a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Yet little work has been gone into examination of the cellular pathology that results from the inhibition of this alternative energy source. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to characterize the cellular pathology that results in the striatum of mice after treatment with a toxin (iodoacete, IOA) that compromises anaerobic metabolism. This striatal pathology is compared to that produced by a widely studied blocker of mitochondrial function (3-nitropropionic acid, 3-NP). We found that low doses of either toxin resulted in significant pathology in the mouse striatum. Signs of apoptosis were observed in both experimental groups, although apoptosis triggered by IOA treatment was independent from caspase-3 activation. Importantly, each toxin appears to produce cellular damage through distinct mechanisms; only 3-NP generated clear evidence of oxidative stress as well as inhibition of endogenous antioxidants. Understanding the distinct pathological fingerprints of cell loss produced by blockade of oxidative and anaerobic metabolisms may give us insights into neurodegenerative diseases.
Sleep Disorders in Childhood Neurogenetic Disorders

Genetic advances in the past three decades have transformed our understanding and treatment of many human diseases including neurogenetic disorders. Most neurogenetic disorders can be classified as “rare disease,” but collectively neurogenetic disorders are not rare and are commonly encountered in general pediatric practice. The authors decided to select eight relatively well-known neurogenetic disorders including Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Prader–Willi syndrome, Smith–Magenis syndrome, congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, achondroplasia, mucopolysaccharidoses, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Each disorder is presented in the following format: overview, clinical characteristics, developmental aspects, associated sleep disorders, management and research/future directions.