Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the convergence of blind adaptive equalizers for constant modulus signals

This paper studies the behavior of the error sequence of stop-anti-go variants of two adaptive blind equalizers, namely CMA2-2 and Sato's (1975) algorithm. It is shown that for transmitted signals with constant modulus /spl gamma/, the equalizer output can be made to lie within the circle of radius /spl gamma//spl radic/c infinitely often, for some value of c that is only slightly larger than one.
Dynamics of nonnegative solutions of one-dimensional reaction–diffusion equations with localized initial data. Part I: A general quasiconvergence theorem and its consequences

ABSTRACT We consider the Cauchy problem where f is a locally Lipschitz function on ℝ with f(0) = 0, and u0 is a nonnegative function in C0(ℝ), the space of continuous functions with limits at ± ∞ equal to 0. Assuming that the solution u is bounded, we study its large-time behavior from several points of view. One of our main results is a general quasiconvergence theorem saying that all limit profiles of u(·, t) in are steady states. We also prove convergence results under additional conditions on u0. In the bistable case, we characterize the solutions on the threshold between decay to zero and propagation to a positive steady state and show that the threshold is sharp for each increasing family of initial data in C0(ℝ).
Enhancing the egg's natural defence against bacterial penetration by increasing cuticle deposition.

The cuticle is a proteinaceous layer covering the avian egg and is believed to form a defence to microorganism ingress. In birds that lay eggs in challenging environments, the cuticle is thicker, suggesting evolutionary pressure; however, in poultry, selection pressure for this trait has been removed because of artificial incubation. This study aimed to quantify cuticle deposition and to estimate its genetic parameters and its role on trans-shell penetration of bacteria. Additionally, cuticle proteins were characterised to establish whether alleles for these genes explained variation in deposition. A novel and reliable quantification was achieved using the difference in reflectance of the egg at 650 nm before and after staining with a specific dye. The heritability of this novel measurement was moderate (0.27), and bacteria penetration was dependent on the natural variation in cuticle deposition. Eggs with the best cuticle were never penetrated by bacteria (P < 0.001). The cuticle proteome consisted of six major proteins. A significant association was found between alleles of one of these protein genes, ovocleidin-116 (MEPE), and cuticle deposition (P = 0.015) and also between alleles of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) gene and cuticle deposition (P = 0.008). With the heritability observed, genetic selection should be possible to increase cuticle deposition in commercial poultry, so reducing trans-generational transmission of microorganisms and reversing the lack of selection pressure for this trait during recent domestication.
Neglecting the porosity of hot-star winds can lead to underestimating mass-loss rates

Context. The mass-loss rate is a key parameter of massive stars. Adequate stellar atmosphere models are required for spectral analyses and mass-loss determinations. Present models can only account for the inhomogeneity of stellar winds in the approximation of small-scale structures that are optically thin. Compared to previous homogeneous models, this treatment of “microclumping” has led to reducing empirical mass-loss rates by factors of two to three. Further reductions are presently discussed in the literature, with far-reaching consequences e.g. for stellar evolution and stellar yields. Aims. Stellar wind clumps can be optically thick in spectral lines. We investigate how this “macroclumping” influences the radiative transfer and the emergent line spectra and discuss its impact on empirical mass-loss rates. Methods. The Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code is generalized in the “formal integral” to account for clumps that are not necessarily optically thin. The stellar wind is characterized by the filling factor of the dense clumps and by their average separation. An effective opacity is obtained by adopting a statistical distribution of clumps and applied in the radiative transfer. Results. Optically thick clumps reduce the effective opacity. This has a pronounced effect on the emergent spectrum. Our modeling for the O-type supergiant ζ Puppis reveals that the optically thin Hα line is not affected by wind porosity, but that the P v resonance doublet becomes significantly weaker when macroclumping is taken into account. The reported discrepancies between resonance-line and recombination-line diagnostics can be resolved entirely with the macroclumping modeling without downward revision of the mass-loss rate. In the case of Wolf-Rayet stars, we demonstrate for two representative models that stronger lines are typically reduced by a factor of two in intensity, while weak lines remain unchanged by porosity effects. Conclusions. Mass-loss rates inferred from optically thin emission, such as the Hα line in O stars, are not influenced by macroclumping. The strength of optically thick lines, however, is reduced because of the porosity effects. Therefore, neglecting the porosity in stellar wind modeling can lead to underestimating empirical mass-loss rates.
High Levels of Nucleolar Spindle-Associated Protein and Reduced Levels of BRCA1 Expression Predict Poor Prognosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Purpose Nucleolar spindle-associated protein (NuSAP1) is an important mitosis-related protein, and aberrant NuSAP1 expression is associated with abnormal spindles and mitosis. This study investigated the prognostic value of NuSAP1 in breast cancer. Methods Two sets of tissue microarrays (TMAs) that included samples from 450 breast cancer patients were constructed, of which 250 patients were training set and the other 200 patients were validation set. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the NuSAP1 levels. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the prognostic value of NuSAP1 in breast cancer. A stepwise Cox analysis was performed to construct a risk-prediction model for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). All statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software. Results There were 108 (43.5%) and 88 (44.0%) patients expressed NuSAP1 in the training set and validation set respectively. High levels of NuSAP1 expression were related to poor disease-free survival (DFS) in both training (P = 0.028) and validation (P = 0.006) cohorts, particularly in TNBC. With combination of two cohorts, both NuSAP1 (HR = 4.136, 95% CI: 1.956–8.747, P < 0.001) and BRCA1 (HR = 0.383, 95% CI: 0.160–0.915, P = 0.031) were independent prognostic indicators of DFS in TNBC. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the combination of NuSAP1 and BRCA1 significantly improved the prognostic power compared with the traditional model (0.778 versus 0.612, P < 0.001). Conclusions Our study confirms the prognostic value of NuSAP1 in breast cancer. The combination of NuSAP1 and BRCA1 could improve the DFS prediction accuracy in TNBC.
Identification of new biomarkers for human papillary thyroid carcinoma employing NanoString analysis

We previously reported an upregulation of the clock transcript BMAL1, correlating with TIMP1 expression in fresh-frozen samples from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Since frozen postoperative biopsy samples are difficult to obtain, we aimed to validate the application of high-precision NanoString analysis for formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) thyroid nodule samples and to screen for potential biomarkers associated with PTC. No significant differences were detected between fresh-frozen and FFPE samples. NanoString analysis of 51 transcripts in 17 PTC and 17 benign nodule samples obtained from different donors and in 24 pairs of benign and PTC nodules, obtained from the same donor (multinodular goiters), confirmed significant alterations in the levels of BMAL1, c-MET, c-KIT, TIMP1, and other transcripts. Moreover, we identified for the first time alterations in CHEK1 and BCL2 levels in PTC. A predictive score was established for each sample, based on the combined expression levels of BMAL1, CHEK1, c-MET, c-KIT and TIMP1. In combination with BRAF mutation analysis, this predictive score closely correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the analyzed thyroid nodules. Our study identified new thyroid transcripts with altered levels in PTC using the NanoString approach. A predictive score correlation coefficient might contribute to improve the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
Hygric buffering capacities of uncoated and coated gypsum board

To analyse the influence of a finishing coat on the hygric buffering capacities of gypsum board, dynamic experiments are performed on uncoated and coated gypsum board samples. In these experiments a harmonically changing relative humidity is imposed, while the mass response of the sample is measured quasi- continuously.Themeasuredresponseiscomparedwithanumericallypredictedresponse. Todoso,gypsumboard isimplementedasacompositematerialinafiniteelementmodelwithsorptionisothermandvapourpermeability determined for each layer of the board separately. It is found that hysteresis on the sorption isotherm plays an important role on the dynamic response of coated gypsum board.
Is there a relationship between asthma and dental erosion? A case control study.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were firstly to assess and compare the prevalence of dental erosion and dietary intake between three groups of children; children with asthma, those with significant tooth erosion but with no history of asthma, and children with no history of asthma or other medical problems. Secondly, to discover whether there was a relationship between medical history and dietary practises of these children and the levels of dental erosion. Thirdly, to measure and compare their salivary flow rates, pH and buffering capacity. METHODS The study consisted of 3 groups of children aged 11-18 years attending Birmingham Dental Hospital: 20 children with asthma requiring long-term medication, 20 children referred with dental erosion, and 20 children in the age and sex matched control group. Tooth wear was recorded using a modification of the tooth wear index (TWI) of Smith and Knight. Data on the medical and dietary history were obtained from a self-reported questionnaire supplemented by a structured interview. The salivary samples were collected under standard methods for measurements. RESULTS Fifty percent of the children in the control group had low erosion and 50% moderate erosion. However, high levels were recorded in 35% of children in the asthma group and 65% in the erosion group. There appeared to be no overall differences in diet between the groups. There was an association between dental erosion and the consumption of soft drinks, carbonated beverages and fresh fruits in all the three groups. More variables related to erosion were found in the erosion and asthma groups. A comparison between the three groups showed no significant differences in unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates, or pH and buffering capacity. CONCLUSION There were significant differences in the prevalence of erosion between the three groups, children with asthma having a higher prevalence than the control group. Although there was a relationship between the levels of erosion and some medical history and acidic dietary components, these did not explain the higher levels in asthmatic children. Further investigation is required into the factors affecting the increased prevalence of erosion in children with asthma.
Outcomes of Simultaneous Liver/Kidney Transplants Are Equivalent to Kidney Transplant Alone: A Preliminary Report

Background. With adoption of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, the number of simultaneous liver-kidney transplants (SLK) has greatly increased. A recent registry study questioned the equity of allocating kidney transplants (KTx) simultaneously with liver transplantation due to poor outcomes (Locke et al., Transplantation 2008; 85: 935). Methods. To investigate outcome of KTx in SLK, all SLK (n=36) performed at our center from January 2000 to December 2007 were reviewed and KTx outcomes compared with those of kidney transplant alone (KTA) performed during that period (n=1283). We also reviewed whether pretransplant panel reactive antibody and donor-specific antibody affected KTx outcome in SLK. Results. One- and 3-year KTx and patient survival were not different between KTA and SLK regardless of sensitization level. There were 348 (27%) KTx failures in KTA vs. 6 (17%) in SLK (NS). Overall freedom from acute cellular rejection (ACR) and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in SLK was 93 and 96% at 3 years, compared with 72 and 78% in KTA (P=0.0105 and P=0.0744, respectively). Sensitized KTx recipients had more ACR and AMR (32 and 38%) at 3 years compared with nonsensitized recipients (28 and 20%) (P=0.23 and 0.0001, respectively). No differences in ACR and AMR were observed when SLK was divided and level of sensitization compared (P=0.17 and 0.65, respectively). Conclusion. SLK is a life-saving procedure with excellent patient and graft survival. AMR incidence in the KTx appears reduced in SLK compared with KTA regardless of level of preoperative panel reactive antibody. A high level of donor-specific antibody should not preclude simultaneous transplantation when clinically indicated.
Electrical Stimulation of Motor Cortex in the Uninjured Hemisphere after Chronic Unilateral Injury Promotes Recovery of Skilled Locomotion through Ipsilateral Control

Partial injury to the corticospinal tract (CST) causes sprouting of intact axons at their targets, and this sprouting correlates with functional improvement. Electrical stimulation of motor cortex augments sprouting of intact CST axons and promotes functional recovery when applied soon after injury. We hypothesized that electrical stimulation of motor cortex in the intact hemisphere after chronic lesion of the CST in the other hemisphere would restore function through ipsilateral control. To test motor skill, rats were trained and tested to walk on a horizontal ladder with irregularly spaced rungs. Eight weeks after injury, produced by pyramidal tract transection, half of the rats received forelimb motor cortex stimulation of the intact hemisphere. Rats with injury and stimulation had significantly improved forelimb control compared with rats with injury alone and achieved a level of proficiency similar to uninjured rats. To test whether recovery of forelimb function was attributable to ipsilateral control, we selectively inactivated the stimulated motor cortex using the GABA agonist muscimol. The dose of muscimol we used produces strong contralateral but no ipsilateral impairments in naive rats. In rats with injury and stimulation, but not those with injury alone, inactivation caused worsening of forelimb function; the initial deficit was reinstated. These results demonstrate that electrical stimulation can promote recovery of motor function when applied late after injury and that motor control can be exerted from the ipsilateral motor cortex. These results suggest that the uninjured motor cortex could be targeted for brain stimulation in people with large unilateral CST lesions.
Clinical Interventions in Aging Dovepress Frailty and Cardiovascular Risk in Community- Dwelling Elderly: a Population-based Study

Background: Evidence suggests a possible bidirectional connection between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the frailty syndrome in older people. Purpose: To verify the relationship between CVD risk factors and the frailty syndrome in community-dwelling elderly. Methods: This population-based study used data from the Fragilidade em Idosos Brasileiros (FIBRA) Network Study, a cross-sectional study designed to investigate frailty profiles among Brazilian older adults. Frailty status was defined as the presence of three or more out of five of the following criteria: unintentional weight loss, weakness, self-reported fatigue, slow walking speed, and low physical activity level. The ascertained CVD risk factors were self-reported and/ or directly measured hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, waist circumference measurement, and smoking. Results: Of the 761 participants, 9.7% were characterized as frail, 48.0% as pre-frail, and 42.3% as non-frail. The most prevalent CVD risk factor was hypertension (84.4%) and the lowest one was smoking (10.4%). It was observed that among those participants with four or five risk factors there was a higher proportion of frail and pre-frail compared with non-frail (Fisher's exact test: P=0.005; P=0.021). Self-reported diabetes mellitus was more prevalent among frail and pre-frail participants when compared with non-frail participants (Fisher's exact test: P0.001; P0.001). There was little agreement between self-reported hypertension and hypertension identified by blood pressure measurement. Conclusion: Hypertension was highly prevalent among the total sample. In addition, frail and pre-frail older people corresponded to a substantial proportion of those with more CVD risk factors, especially diabetes mellitus, highlighting the need for preventive strategies in order to avoid the co-occurrence of CVD and frailty.
An Empirical Study of Geographic User Activity Patterns in Foursquare

We present a large-scale study of user behavior in Foursquare, conducted on a dataset of about 700 thousand users that spans a period of more than 100 days. We analyze user checkin dynamics, demonstrating how it reveals meaningful spatio-temporal patterns and offers the opportunity to study both user mobility and urban spaces. Our aim is to inform on how scientific researchers could utilise data generated in Location-based Social Networks to attain a deeper understanding of human mobility and how developers may take advantage of such systems to enhance applications such as recommender systems.
Does emotion predict the course of major depressive disorder? A review of prospective studies.

PURPOSE Emotional dysfunction is a hallmark of major depressive disorder (MDD). There has been wide interest in identifying the nature and significance of emotional deficits in MDD. Given the paramount goal of identifying etiological markers of MDD that can sharpen prevention and treatment efforts, researchers have pursued emotion as a functionally significant factor and predictor of clinical course in MDD. This review is the first to summarize the literature examining emotion as a predictor of the clinical course of MDD. METHOD We conducted a systematic review of all published studies reporting on the prospective relationship between positive and negative emotionality (PE and NE)--measured at the state or trait level--and the longitudinal course of MDD in diagnosed adults. Physiological, behavioural, and subjective indices of emotion were considered. The primary analyses encompassed 28 research reports that included data from 3,798 participants and tested a total of 60 hypotheses. RESULTS Lower levels of PE predicted poorer MDD course with some consistency. Paradoxically, both lower levels of state NE and higher levels of trait NE predicted poorer MDD course. The relationships between emotionality and MDD course generally held even after initial depression symptom severity was taken into account. CONCLUSION Emotion shows promise as a predictor of MDD course. Implications of these data for current theories of emotion and MDD, the apparently divergent relation between state and trait NE and course, and future directions to further clarify the functional significance of emotion in the context of MDD are discussed.
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Correlates of Exercise Motivation and Behavior in a Population-based Sample of Endometrial Cancer Survivors: an Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: Despite evidence of the benefits of exercise in cancer survivors, exercise participation rates tend to decline after treatments. Few studies have examined the determinants of exercise in less common cancer sites. In this study, we examined medical, demographic, and social cognitive correlates of exercise in endometrial cancer survivors using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).
Women's perceptions and attitudes about cervical cancer in Turkey: Kato's device as an alternative to the Pap smear.

AIMS To determine the status of women's perception and attitudes about cervical cancer and their thoughts on Kato's self-sampling device. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive research was conducted between July- December 2012 with a study populationof married women older than 18 years. RESULTS A total of 246 women volunteered, with a mean age of 34.9±9.22 (19-52). In the last year, 52.0% had been examined by a gynecologist to address a complaint or for a periodic health check. Of the 118 who had not had a gynecological examination, 42.4% indicated negligence, 26.3% stated the reason was no complaint, 14.4% feared they might receive bad results from the examination, and 8.5% stated that were shy or embarrassed. Of all of the women, 35.0% answered that they had information about cervical cancer, and 0.7% had heard about the HPV vaccine. No one in their families had received the vaccine. Of the women, 28.5% had had a Pap smear, and 71.4% of those had normal results. Of those who had never had a Pap smear, 47.2% had never heard about the test; 18.8% explained the reason for not having a test as shyness or embarrassment with a male doctor. None of the women had heard about Kato's device. Once the women were informed, 73.6% expresseed interest in use; 51.9% answered they could use it and not be embarrassed, 30.9% would use it because they did not have to see a doctor, and 17.1% would use it as it allows them to take a smear in all conditions and whenever they want. Of the women, 60.0% thought that they could not successfully use Kato's device; 40.0% thought that a smear should be taken by a doctor. CONCLUSIONS Most of the women in our population had never had a Pap smear and wanted to use the Kato's device.
Carbon storage in China's forest ecosystems: estimation by different integrative methods

Abstract Carbon (C) storage for all the components, especially dead mass and soil organic carbon, was rarely reported and remained uncertainty in China's forest ecosystems. This study used field‐measured data published between 2004 and 2014 to estimate C storage by three forest type classifications and three spatial interpolations and assessed the uncertainty in C storage resulting from different integrative methods in China's forest ecosystems. The results showed that C storage in China's forest ecosystems ranged from 30.99 to 34.96 Pg C by the six integrative methods. We detected 5.0% variation (coefficient of variation, CV, %) among the six methods, which was influenced mainly by soil C estimates. Soil C density and storage in the 0–100 cm soil layer were estimated to be 136.11–153.16 Mg C·ha−1 and 20.63–23.21 Pg C, respectively. Dead mass C density and storage were estimated to be 3.66–5.41 Mg C·ha−1 and 0.68–0.82 Pg C, respectively. Mean C storage in China's forest ecosystems estimated by the six integrative methods was 8.557 Pg C (25.8%) for aboveground biomass, 1.950 Pg C (5.9%) for belowground biomass, 0.697 Pg C (2.1%) for dead mass, and 21.958 Pg C (66.2%) for soil organic C in the 0–100 cm soil layer. The R:S ratio was 0.23, and C storage in the soil was 2.1 times greater than in the vegetation. Carbon storage estimates with respect to forest type classification (38 forest subtypes) were closer to the average value than those calculated using the spatial interpolation methods. Variance among different methods and data sources may partially explain the high uncertainty of C storage detected by different studies. This study demonstrates the importance of using multimethodological approaches to estimate C storage accurately in the large‐scale forest ecosystems.