Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Joint MIMO-OFDM and MAC Design for Broadband Multihop Ad Hoc Networks

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are very promising techniques to exploit spatial diversity and frequency diversity in the physical layer of broadband wireless communications. However, the application of these techniques to broadband multihop ad hoc networks is subject to inefficiencies since existing medium access control (MAC) schemes are designed to allow only one node to transmit in a neighborhood. Therefore, adding more relays to increase the transmission range decreases the throughput. With MIMO-OFDM, multiple transmissions can coexist in the same neighborhood. A new transceiver architecture with MIMO-OFDM and MAC scheme is proposed in this paper. The new MAC scheme multiple-antennas receiver-initiated busy-tone medium access (MARI-BTMA) is based on receiver-initiated busy-tone medium access (RI-BTMA) and uses multiple out of band busy tones to avoid the collision of nodes on the same channel. With the proposed MAC scheme, multiple users can transmit simultaneously in the same neighborhood. Although basic MARI-BTMA shows good performance at high traffic load, to improve the performance at low traffic loads, 1-persistent MARI-BTMA is proposed so that users can choose different MAC scheme according to the statistical traffic load in the system. In this paper, both theoretical and numerical analysis of the throughput and delay are presented. Analysis and simulation results show the improved performance of MARI-BTMA compared with RI-BTMA and carrier sensing medium access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA).
Direct Evidence for Two Different Neural Mechanisms for Reading Familiar and Unfamiliar Words: An Intra-Cerebral EEG Study

After intensive practice, unfamiliar letter strings become familiar words and reading speed increases strikingly from a slow processing to a fast and with more global recognition of words. While this effect has been well documented at the behavioral level, its neural underpinnings are still unclear. The question is how the brain modulates the activity of the reading network according to the novelty of the items. Several models have proposed that familiar and unfamiliar words are not processed by separate networks but rather by common regions operating differently according to familiarity. This hypothesis has proved difficult to test at the neural level because the effects of familiarity and length on reading occur (a) on a millisecond scale, shorter than the resolution of fMRI and (b) in regions which cannot be isolated with non-invasive EEG or MEG. We overcame these limitations by using invasive intra-cerebral EEG recording in epileptic patients. Neural activity (gamma-band responses, between 50 and 150 Hz) was measured in three major nodes of reading network – left inferior frontal, supramarginal, and inferior temporo-occipital cortices – while patients silently read familiar (words) and unfamiliar (pseudo-words) items of two lengths (short composed of one-syllable vs. long composed of three-syllables). While all items elicited strong neural responses in the three regions, we found that the duration of the neural response increases with length only for pseudo-words, in direct relation to orthographic-to-phonological conversion. Our results validate at the neural level the hypothesis that all words are processed by a common network operating more or less efficiently depending on words’ novelty.
OF HEAVY-ION INDUCED SINGLE EVENT TRANSIENTS IN 32 nm AND 45 nm SILICON-ON-INSULATOR TECHNOLOGIES

for providing me with the opportunity and support needed to complete my studies. I especially thank Dr. Daniel Loveless and Jeff Kauppila for designing the test chips used in this research and for providing guidance throughout the entirety of this work. I am also extremely appreciative of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and BAE Systems for funding this research.
Isolation of Cellulolytic Organisms from the Gut Contents of Termites Native to Nepal and Their Utility in Saccharification and Fermentation of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Lignocellulose is one of the most abundant renewable materials that could serve as a source for fermentable sugars. However, its commercial deployment is limited by the fact that lignocellulose is recalcitrant and requires heroic efforts to release sugars. Although very few, there are cellulose degrading organisms in nature that can efficiently degrade the cellulosic biomass and one among them is termite. Termites are responsible for mass turnover of the cellulosic biomass and they accomplish this task by harbouring a consortium of cellulolytic and lignolytic microorganisms. In the present study, we have isolated eight bacterial and five fungal cellulose degrading organisms from the gut of a termite native to Nepal via basal culture medium enrichment with filter paper as substrate. The isolated organisms were identified as Bacillus sp. , Cellulomonas sp. , Enterobacter sp. , and Aspergillus sp. The Congo red screening assay for cellulase production showed the largest zone of hydrolysis (38 mm) for Aspergillus sp. The carboxymethyl cellulose assay revealed that the Bacillus sp (S3B8; 0.12± 0.01 IU/ml obtained within96 hours) and Aspergillus sp. (S3F3; 0.07 ±0.01 IU/ml obtained within 168 hours) were most efficient cellulase producers. The saccharification and fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol was successfully achieved via culturing of selected bacterial [Bacillus (S3B8)] and fungal isolates [Aspergillus (S3F3)] and then fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S2Y1). Further characterization of these organisms and optimization of fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass is ongoing.
The WD40 Repeat Protein Fritz Links Cytoskeletal Planar Polarity to Frizzled Subcellular Localization in the Drosophila Epidermis

Much of our understanding of the genetic mechanisms that control planar cell polarity (PCP) in epithelia has derived from studies of the formation of polarized cell hairs during Drosophila wing development. The correct localization of an F-actin prehair to the distal vertex of the pupal wing cell has been shown to be dependent upon the polarized subcellular localization of Frizzled and other core PCP proteins. However, the core PCP proteins do not organize actin cytoskeletal polarity directly but require PCP effector proteins such as Fuzzy and Inturned to mediate this process. Here we describe the characterization of a new PCP effector gene, fritz, that encodes a novel but evolutionarily conserved coiled-coil WD40 protein. We show that the fritz gene product functions cell-autonomously downstream of the core PCP proteins to regulate both the location and the number of wing cell prehair initiation sites.
Bone grafting the scaphoid nonunionA systematic review of 147 publications including 5 246 cases of scaphoid nonunion

In order to elucidate the history of scaphoid nonunion and to evaluate whether or not the problem has been solved, we have reviewed the literature from 1928 to 2003 for union rates, postoperative immobilization periods and complications of the different scaphoid bone grafting procedures. The outcomes of 5 246 scaphoid nonunions were evaluated in three treatment groups. In the first group involving nonvascularized bone grafting without internal fixation, we found a union rate of 80% (95% CI: 78–82) after an average immobilization period of 15 weeks. In the second group involving nonvascularized bone grafting with internal fixation, the figures were 84% (CI: 82–85) and 7 weeks, respectively. In the last group involving vascularized bone grafting with or without internal fixation, the figures were 91% (CI: 87–94) and 10 weeks, respectively. We found no prospective randomized studies comparing different operative treatments of scaphoid nonunion. We conclude that there still is a need for improvement in the treatment of scaphoid nonunion.
Protein folding transition states probed by loop extension

We propose a new way to characterize protein folding transition states by (1) insertion of one or more residues into an unstructured protein loop, (2) measurement of the effect on protein folding kinetics and thermodynamics, and (3) analysis of the results in terms of a rate‐equilibrium free energy relationship, αLoop. αLoop reports on the fraction of molecules that form the perturbed loop in the transition state. Interpretation of the changes in equilibrium free energy using standard polymer theory can help detect residual structure in the unfolded state. We illustrate our approach with data for the model proteins CI2 and the alpha spectrin SH3 domain.
A novel G-quadruplex-forming GGA repeat region in the c-myb promoter is a critical regulator of promoter activity

The c-myb promoter contains multiple GGA repeats beginning 17 bp downstream of the transcription initiation site. GGA repeats have been previously shown to form unusual DNA structures in solution. Results from chemical footprinting, circular dichroism and RNA and DNA polymerase arrest assays on oligonucleotides representing the GGA repeat region of the c-myb promoter demonstrate that the element is able to form tetrad:heptad:heptad:tetrad (T:H:H:T) G-quadruplex structures by stacking two tetrad:heptad G-quadruplexes formed by two of the three (GGA)4 repeats. Deletion of one or two (GGA)4 motifs destabilizes this secondary structure and increases c-myb promoter activity, indicating that the G-quadruplexes formed in the c-myb GGA repeat region may act as a negative regulator of the c-myb promoter. Complete deletion of the c-myb GGA repeat region abolishes c-myb promoter activity, indicating dual roles of the c-myb GGA repeat element as both a transcriptional repressor and an activator. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ) represses c-myb promoter activity and binds to the c-myb T:H:H:T G-quadruplexes. Our findings show that the T:H:H:T G-quadruplex-forming region in the c-myb promoter is a critical cis-acting element and may repress c-myb promoter activity through MAZ interaction with G-quadruplexes in the c-myb promoter.
randomised trial sexually transmitted infections among gay men : A cognitive behavioural intervention to reduce

Objective To determine the effectiveness of a brief cognitive behavioural intervention in reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted infections among gay men. Design Randomised controlled trial with 12 months’ follow up. Setting Sexual health clinic in London. Participants 343 gay men with an acute sexually transmitted infection or who reported having had unprotected anal intercourse in the past year. Main outcome measures Number of new sexually transmitted infections diagnosed during follow up and self reported incidence of unprotected anal intercourse. Results 72% (361/499) of men invited to enter the study did so. 90% (308/343) of participants returned at least one follow up questionnaire or re-attended the clinic and requested a check up for sexually transmitted infections during follow up. At baseline, 37% (63/172) of the intervention group and 30% (50/166) of the control group reported having had unprotected anal intercourse in the past month. At 12 months, the proportions were 27% (31/114) and 32% ( 39/124) respectively (P = 0.56). However, 31% (38/123) of the intervention group and 21% (35/168) of controls had had at least one new infection diagnosed at the clinic (adjusted odds ratio 1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 2.74). Considering only men who requested a check up for sexually transmitted infections, the proportion diagnosed with a new infection was 58% (53/91) for men in the intervention group and 43% (35/81) for men in the control group (adjusted odds ratio 1.84, 0.99 to 3.40). Using a regional database that includes information from 23 sexual health clinics in London, we determined that few participants had attended other sexual health clinics. Conclusions This behavioural intervention was acceptable and feasible to deliver, but it did not reduce the risk of acquiring a new sexually transmitted infection among these gay men at high risk. Even carefully designed interventions should not be assumed to bring benefit. It is important to evaluate their effects in randomised trials with objective clinical end points.
Complex Codon Usage Pattern and Compositional Features of Retroviruses

Retroviruses infect a wide range of organisms including humans. Among them, HIV-1, which causes AIDS, has now become a major threat for world health. Some of these viruses are also potential gene transfer vectors. In this study, the patterns of synonymous codon usage in retroviruses have been studied through multivariate statistical methods on ORFs sequences from the available 56 retroviruses. The principal determinant for evolution of the codon usage pattern in retroviruses seemed to be the compositional constraints, while selection for translation of the viral genes plays a secondary role. This was further supported by multivariate analysis on relative synonymous codon usage. Thus, it seems that mutational bias might have dominated role over translational selection in shaping the codon usage of retroviruses. Codon adaptation index was used to identify translationally optimal codons among genes from retroviruses. The comparative analysis of the preferred and optimal codons among different retroviral groups revealed that four codons GAA, AAA, AGA, and GGA were significantly more frequent in most of the retroviral genes inspite of some differences. Cluster analysis also revealed that phylogenetically related groups of retroviruses have probably evolved their codon usage in a concerted manner under the influence of their nucleotide composition.
Magnetosonic Harmonic Falling and Rising Frequency Emissions Potentially Generated by Nonlinear Wave‐Wave Interactions in the Van Allen Radiation Belts

Magnetosonic waves play a potentially important role in the complex evolution of the radiation belt electrons. These waves typically appear as discrete emission lines along the proton gyrofrequency harmonics, consistent with the prediction of the local Bernstein mode instability of hot proton ring distributions. Magnetosonic waves are nearly dispersionless particularly at low harmonics and therefore have the roughly unchanged frequency time structures during the propagation. On the basis of Van Allen Probes observations, we here present the first report of magnetosonic harmonic falling and rising frequency emissions. They lasted for up to 2 hr and occurred primarily in the dayside plasmatrough following intense substorms. These harmonic emission lines were well spaced by the proton gyrofrequency but exhibited a clear falling (rising) frequency characteristic in a regime with the temporal increase (decrease) of the proton gyrofrequency harmonics. Such unexpected structures might be produced by the nonlinear interactions between the locally generated magnetosonic waves at the proton gyrofrequency harmonics and a constant frequency magnetosonic wave propagating away from the Earth.
Reliability and validity of the Thai version of the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale – Second Edition in clinical samples

Purpose The Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is regarded as the most acceptable tool for measuring obsessive–compulsive disorder symptom severity. Recently, the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale – Second Edition (Y-BOCS-II) was developed for better measurement. The study reported here aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale – Second Edition (Y-BOCS-II-T). Patients and methods The original version of the Y-BOCS-II was translated into Thai, which involved forward translation, synthesis of the translation, and back translation. Modification and cross-cultural adaptation were completed accordingly. The developed Y-BOCS-II-T, together with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, was administered to 41 patients who had a primary diagnosis of obsessive–compulsive disorder. The patients then completed the Pictorial Thai Quality of Life instrument and Patient Health Questionnaire. Lastly, the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the Clinical Global Impression – Severity Scale (CGI-S) of all patients were blindly rated by another experienced psychiatrist who was not the interviewer. Results The mean total score of the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale – Second Edition – Severity Scale (Y-BOCS-II-SS) and the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale – Second Edition – Symptom Checklist (Y-BOCS-II-SC) were 18.44 (standard deviation =10.51) and 15.85 (standard deviation =9.58), respectively. The Y-BOCS-II-T had satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha =0.94 for the Severity Scale, and Kuder–Richardson Formula 20 =0.90 for the Symptom Checklist). Inter-rater reliability was excellent for both the Y-BOCS-II-SS and Y-BOCS-II-SC. Factor analysis of Y-BOCS-II-SS items revealed a two-factor component associated with obsession and compulsion. The Y-BOCS-II-SS correlated highly with the CGI-S and GAF (r =0.75 and −0.76, respectively), but the Y-BOCS-II-SC correlated moderately (r=0.42 for CGI-S; r=−0.39 for GAF). The Y-BOCS-II-SS and Y-BOCS-II-SC slightly to moderately correlated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Pictorial Thai Quality of Life, which might indicate the comorbidity depression and its effect on quality of life. Conclusion The Y-BOCS-II-T is a psychometrically reliable and valid measure for the assessment of both severity and characteristics of obsessive–compulsive symptoms in Thai clinical samples.
MR Imaging Findings in 2 Cases of Late Infantile GM1 Gangliosidosis

SUMMARY: Late infantile GM1 gangliosidosis is a rare lysosomal disorder characterized by mental deterioration and progressive spastic, cerebellar, and extrapyramidal signs, without facial dysmorphisms and organomegaly. Neuroimaging findings have been reported in only a few cases. Here we report on predominant globus pallidus MR signal-intensity abnormalities in 2 patients with the late infantile form of GM1 gangliosidosis.
Towards a secure patient information access control in ubiquitous healthcare systems using identity-based signcryption

While ubiquitous healthcare applications over the Internet promise increasing efficiency, accuracy, and availability of medical treatment, security has received increasing attentions as one of the critical research challenges. In this paper, we consider security issues due to increasing access sharing of patient information resources in the networked environment. We propose a novel efficient access control in order to provide various security characteristics, such as authentication, confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation for ubiquitous systems. In our communication environment, we deploy the recently developed concepts of identity-based signcryption in which the network effectively solves the problem of single point of failure in the traditional public-key infrastructure (PKI) supported system by providing key generation and key management services without any assumption of pre-fixed trust relationship between network devices.
Psychological Stress and Coping: Framework for Poststroke Psychosocial Care

Abstract The ability to deal with and manage a chronic condition such as stroke requires a learning process embedded in personal experience that is often emotionally taxing as well as physically fatiguing. Stroke survivors typically need help in balancing demands and resources and in preventing or effectively coping with stress emotions to conserve energy. The major constructs outlined in this article provide a framework for psychosocial care to promote the experience of wellness in stroke survivors.
Validity of the General Conceptual Ability Score From the Differential Ability Scales as a Function of Significant and Rare Interfactor Variability

Abstract. Some researchers have argued that discrepant broad index scores invalidate IQs, but others have questioned the fundamental logic of that argument. To resolve this debate, the present study used a nationally representative sample of children (N = 1,200) who were matched individually for IQ. Children with significantly uneven broad index score profiles and those with even broad index score profiles had equivalent reading and math skills. Discrepant broad index scores found in only 15%, 10%, 5%, and 1% of the population, respectively, also failed to differentially predict academic achievement. In addition, significantly higher Verbal broad index scores were not differentially predictive of reading achievement, nor were significantly higher Nonverbal/Spatial broad index scores differentially predictive of math achievement. It was concluded that the global ability score is the most parsimonious predictor of academic achievement, despite the presence of significant and rare variability among broad index scores.
Simultaneous versus sequential bilateral implantation in young children: Effects on central auditory system development and plasticity

The aim of this study was to determine whether children who received early, simultaneous, bilateral cochlear implants showed more rapid development of the central auditory pathways compared to children who received early, sequential, bilateral implants. In 20 children, over the first 15 months following bilateral implantation, we assessed longitudinal changes in the morphology and latency of the P1 cortical response, which is generated within the auditory cortex. Our results showed that by 3.5 months post-implantation, mean P1 latencies for both groups of children were within normal limits. Overall, the developmental trajectory of the P1 response did not differ significantly for the two groups over the 15-month period. Our results suggest that bilateral implantation, whether sequential or simultaneous, occurring within a sensitive period of 3.5 years, takes advantage of the high degree of plasticity in the developing central auditory nervous system.
Self-Reported Responses to Player Profile Questions Show Consistency with the Use of Complex Attentional Strategies by Expert Horseshoe Pitchers

The advantages on an external focus of attention have been demonstrated for a variety of sport tasks. The constrained action hypothesis (Wulf et al., 2001) argues that focusing externally on the movement effect results in the use of automated processes for movement control. In contrast, focusing internally in an attempt to control the movements of the body disrupts normally automated processes and degrades performance. Research on experts, however, suggests that they may adopt more complex attentional strategies. The present study provided a unique opportunity to examine expert horseshoe players’ attentional strategies as indicated by their self-reported responses to questions included in a National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) player profile questionnaire. Responses submitted by 83 top NHPA players were examined to determine the frequency of references to the use of internal and external focus points and identify categories related to attentional strategies. Results indicated that the large majority of players reported using focus points that are consistent with an external focus of attention and that their thoughts corresponded to one or more categories related to technique, mental focus or concentration, general success, use of external focus cues, and emotional control. The findings are consistent with the view that experts may adopt complex attentional strategies that encompass both an external focus and thoughts about a variety of other performance related factors.