Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure of Channel Quantization Codebook for Multiuser Spatial Multiplexing Systems

This paper studies the structure of the channel quantization codebook for multiuser MISO systems with limited channel state information at the base-station. The problem is cast in the form of minimizing the sum power subject to the worst-case SINR constraints over spherical channel uncertainty regions. This paper adopts a zero-forcing approach for beamforming vectors design, and use a robust optimization technique via semidefinite programming (SDP) for power control as the benchmark performance measure. We then present an alternative less complex and practically feasible method for computing the power values and present sufficient conditions on the uncertainty radius so that the resulting sum power remains close to the SDP solution. The proposed conditions guarantee that the interference caused by the channel uncertainties can be effectively controlled. Based on these conditions, we study the structure of the channel quantization codebooks and show that the quantization codebook has a product form that involves spatially uniform quantization of the channel direction, and independent channel magnitude quantization which is uniform in dB scale. The structural insight obtained by our analysis also gives a bit-sharing law for dividing the quantization bits between the two codebooks. We finally show that the total number of quantization bits should increase as log(SINR$_{target}$) as the target SINR increases.
Measuring Clinically Important Changes With Patient-Oriented Questionnaires

Background: The measurement of the patient's experience with a condition or an illness is an important and quantifiable outcome and an example of action research. By making these concerns paramount, the goals and processes of health care can be redirected from anatomical and physiologic restoration to patient-oriented outcomes. At the same time, research can illuminate the complex mechanisms responsible. Methods: Critical, analytic synthesis and review of the research evaluating the ability of self-administered questionnaires to capture clinically meaningful changes. Results: Responsiveness is differentiated from sensitivity, and statistical methods for evaluating sensitivity of instruments are referenced. Techniques for evaluating whether differences in instrument sensitivity could have occurred by chance are presented, and methods for assessing a clinically meaningful change are discussed. Conclusion: Responsiveness is the key psychometric property of an instrument if it is to be incorporated into daily practice. Improving responsiveness is a major research priority.
Diversity and specificity of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae on wild and cultivated legumes

The symbiotic partnerships between legumes and their root‐nodule bacteria (rhizobia) vary widely in their degree of specificity, but the underlying reasons are not understood. To assess the potential for host‐range evolution, we have investigated microheterogeneity among the shared symbionts of a group of related legume species. Host specificity and genetic diversity were characterized for a soil population of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae (Rlv) sampled using six wild Vicia and Lathyrus species and the crop plants pea (Pisum sativum) and broad bean (Vicia faba). Genetic variation among 625 isolates was assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of loci on the chromosome (ribosomal gene spacer) and symbiosis plasmid (nodD region). Broad bean strongly favoured a particular symbiotic genotype that formed a distinct phylogenetic subgroup of Rlv nodulation genotypes but was associated with a range of chromosomal backgrounds. Host range tests of 80 isolates demonstrated that only 34% of isolates were able to nodulate V. faba. By contrast, 89% were able to nodulate all the local wild hosts tested, so high genetic diversity of the rhizobial population cannot be ascribed directly to the diversity of host species at the site. Overall the picture is of a population of symbionts that is diversified by plasmid transfer and shared fairly indiscriminately by local wild legume hosts. The crop species are less promiscuous in their interaction with symbionts than the wild legumes.
Evaluation of 1D Nonlinear Total-Stress Site Response Model Performance at 114 KiK-net Downhole Array Sites

A comprehensive assessment of one-dimensional (1D) total-stress nonlinear site response predictions is performed using an unprecedented number of sites and ground motions. Nonlinear site response model predictions for 5626 ground motions at 114 sites in the Kiban-Kyoshin network (KiK-net) of vertical seismometer arrays in Japan are calculated using the program DEEPSOIL and compared to observed ground motions and predictions from simpler models (i.e., linear and equivalent-linear analyses in SHAKE). Statistical analyses of the model residuals indicate that the equivalent-linear and nonlinear site response models generally do not deviate from each other significantly until maximum shear strains of 0.05–0.1% are achieved at certain sites. Although the nonlinear site response model offers a slight improvement over the equivalentlinear model, the remaining trends in the residuals suggest that other factors—such as breakdowns in the 1D site response assumptions and/or poorly characterized soil properties—have significant impacts on site response behavior.
Comparative Microbial Analysis of Borehole Water and other Sources of Water in Benin Metropolis, Edo State

The comparative microbial analysis of borehole water and other sources of water in Benin metropolis, Edo state was carried out to ascertain the variation of the water quality of the different sources using standard microbiological techniques. Eight different water sources were used, which include; well waters in Ologbo and Owa, river waters in Ogbekpan and Ikpoba, rainwaters in Uwelu and Isihor, and borehole waters in Uwelu and Isihor, respectively. The mean bacteria counts ranged from 2 × 104 to 32 × 104, where the highest mean bacteria counts were observed at both Ologbo well water and Ikpoba river water. The lowest mean bacteria count was however, observed at Isihor borehole water. Bacteria counts obtained from this study were found to be higher than the accepted limit of WHO standard in all the various water samples considered. The total coliform counts ranged from 6 MPN/ml to 61 MPN/ml where the highest value was recorded in river water at Ogbekpan and lowest at Isihor borehole water. The mean faecal coliform counts were highest at Ogbekpan river water with a value of 24.7 MPN/ml and lowest at Uwelu rain water with a value of 0.3 MPN/ml, respectively). The highest mean value of fungi was obtained from rain water Uwelu with a value of 7.3 × 104 cfu/ml.
Expression of nitrous oxide reductase in Paracoccus denitrificans is regulated by oxygen and nitric oxide through FnrP and NNR

The reductases performing the four steps of denitrification are controlled by a network of transcriptional regulators and ancillary factors responding to intra- and extracellular signals, amongst which are oxygen and N oxides (NO and NO2–). Although many components of the regulatory network have been identified, there are gaps in our understanding of their role(s) in controlling the expression of the various reductases, in particular the environmentally important N2O reductase (N2OR). We investigated denitrification phenotypes of Paracoccus denitrificans mutants deficient in: (i) regulatory proteins (three FNR-type transcriptional regulators, NarR, NNR and FnrP, and NirI, which is involved in transcription activation of the structural nir cluster); (ii) functional enzymes (NO reductase and N2OR); or (iii) ancillary factors involved in N2O reduction (NirX and NosX). A robotized incubation system allowed us to closely monitor changes in concentrations of oxygen and all gaseous products during the transition from oxic to anoxic respiration. Strains deficient in NO reductase were able to grow during denitrification, despite reaching micromolar concentrations of NO, but were unable to return to oxic respiration. The FnrP mutant showed linear anoxic growth in a medium with nitrate as the sole NOx, but exponential growth was restored by replacing nitrate with nitrite. We interpret this as nitrite limitation, suggesting dual transcriptional control of respiratory nitrate reductase (NAR) by FnrP and NarR. Mutations in either NirX or NosX did not affect the phenotype, but the double mutant lacked the potential to reduce N2O. Finally, we found that FnrP and NNR are alternative and equally effective inducers of N2OR.
Distributed under Creative Commons Cc-by 4.0 the Development of Negative Self-beliefs Inventory (nsbi): Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation

Social anxiety is an emotional disorder common to various populations around the world. The newly developed Self-Beliefs Related to Social Anxiety Scale (SBSA) aims to assess three kinds of self-beliefs through 15 items that include self-related cognitive factors that evidently result in social anxiety. This study explored the psychometric characteristics of SBSA among 978 Chinese. An eight-item Negative Self-beliefs Inventory (NSBI) was developed through qualitative and quantitative analyses. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and multi-group confirmatory factor analysis suggested that NSBI contained clear, meaningful, stable, and invariant three-factor structure consistent with the original SBSA. Further analyses showed that the three subscales and the entire scale exhibited high internal consistency (0.779–0.837), good criterion validity, and good convergent and divergent validity (i.e., negative associations with flourishing and positive associations with anxiety, depression, and stress). These findings indicated that NSBI is reliable and valid for measuring negative self-beliefs in the Chinese population. A higher total score of NSBI indicates the more serious negative self-beliefs. Limitations of the present study and implications for research and practice were also discussed. Further studies are needed to evaluate the predictive ability, incremental validity, and potential role of NSBI in clinical and large-scale populations.
Safety and Efficacy of One‐Week Triple Therapy for Eradicating Helicobacter pylori in Children

Proton pump inhibitor‐based eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori has been widely studied in adults, but there have been only a few reports about this therapy in children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of 1‐week triple therapy for eradication of H. pylori and ulcer healing in children.
Personality Traits and Training Initiation Process: Intention, Planning, and Action Initiation

The article aims at investigating the role of personality traits in relation to training initiation. Training initiation is conceptualized as a goal realization process, and explained using goal theories. There are three stages of the process analyzed: intention to undertake training, plan formulation, and actual training undertaking. Two studies tested the relationships between five personality traits, defined according to the five factor model, and the stages of the goal realization process. In Study 1, which explains training intention and training plans’ formulation, 155 employees participated. In Study 2, which was time-lagged with two measurement points, and which explains intention, plans, and training actions undertaken, the data from 176 employees was collected at 3 month intervals. The results of these studies show that personality traits, mainly openness to experience, predict the training initiation process to some degree: intention, plans, and actual action initiation. The findings allow us to provide recommendations for practitioners responsible for human resource development. The assessment of openness to experience in employees helps predict their motivation to participate in training activities. To increase training motivation it is vital to strengthen intentions to undertake training, and to encourage training action planning.
The single-shot GnRH immunocontraceptive vaccine (GonaCon) in white-tailed deer: comparison of several GnRH preparations.

PROBLEM An effective, single-injection, multi-year, GnRH contraceptive agent is needed to control reproduction in overabundant white-tailed deer populations. METHOD OF STUDY Two GnRH conjugates, GonaCon (GnRH-KLH) and GonaCon-B (GnRH-blue protein), were prepared in emulsion form as one-injection and two-injection immunocontraceptive vaccine formulations. In addition, the GnRH-KLH protein conjugate was lyophilized and suspended in AdjuVac adjuvant to produce a fifth vaccine formulation. Each formulation was administered to a group of five captive adult female white-tailed deer. Reproductive performance of treated female deer was monitored for 5 years to determine the comparative efficacy of the various treatments. RESULTS The longevity of the contraceptive response (2-5 years) was strongly influenced by the design of the conjugate antigen, the adjuvant used, and the delivery form of the vaccine. CONCLUSION One-injection and two-injection formulations of GonaCon and GonaCon-B produced multi-year contraception in adult female white-tailed deer. GonaCon-B provided a longer lasting contraceptive effect.
Physicians' Assessment of Asthma Control in Low vs. High Asthma‐Related Morbidity Regions

Objectives: To analyze physician‐assessed asthma control and care compared with current guidelines criteria, in a cohort of patients from a high (HMR) vs. low asthma‐related morbidity region (LMR), as determined by a large‐scale populational survey (asthma cartography). Design: Analysis of questionnaires provided by 47 primary care physicians and asthmatic patients (HMR: 74; LMR: 73). Results: Asthma control was often suboptimal in both regions. In both regions, asthma control, the pattern of prescriptions for asthma, patient compliance, and referral for asthma education were similar; 32% of patients had been referred for asthma education, whereas 65% wanted to know more about their asthma. Conclusions: Results of regional/local cohort studies differ from those of a “population cartography,” the former probably more likely reflecting individual medical practices of physicians interested in taking part in such studies.
RELATIONS BETWEEN FORCE‐VELOCITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KNEE‐HIP EXTENSION MOVEMENT AND VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE

Relations between force-velocity characteristics of the multijoint movement of the lower limbs and vertical jump performance were investigated. A total of 67 untrained subjects (age: 19.54 ± 2.38 years; height: 166.88 ± 8.53 cm; body mass: 59.14 ± 10.82 kg, mean ± SD) performed isometric and isotonic knee-hip extension movements on a servo-controlled dynamometer, and the force-velocity relations were determined. Also, vertical jump (VJ) performance was measured with a jump gauge. The force-velocity relation was described with a linear function so that the maximum isometric force (Fmax) and the maximum unloaded velocity (Vmax) for the knee-hip extension movement were estimated by extrapolation. Maximum isometric force coincided with maximum isometric force, F0 (F0/Fmax = 1.03 ± 0.24). Maximum isometric force, Vmax, and maximum power output (Pmax) were positively correlated with VJ (r = 0.48, 0.68, and 0.76, respectively; p > 0.001). However, when Fmax, Vmax, and Pmax were normalized with body mass (BM), leg length (LL), and BM, respectively, no correlation was seen between Fmax/BM and VJ (r = 0.24, p > 0.05), and significant correlations were seen between Vmax/LL and VJ (r = 0.56, p > 0.001) and between Pmax/BM and VJ (r = 0.65, p > 0.001). On the other hand, Fmax and Vmax (r = 0.12, p > 0.05) and Fmax/BM and Vmax/LL (r = 0.05, p > 0.05) were not significantly correlated, indicating that Fmax and Vmax were independent variables. The present estimates of Fmax, Vmax, and Pmax can be useful for evaluating the actual performance of multijoint movement of the lower limbs. It is suggested that, although in untrained individuals the speed of movement might be a more important determinant of jump performance, jump performance ability has a potential to improve with increases in strength of the lower limb.
Exposure to prescription opioid analgesics in utero and risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome: population based cohort study

Objective To provide absolute and relative risk estimates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) based on duration and timing of prescription opioid use during pregnancy in the presence or absence of additional NAS risk factors of history of opioid misuse or dependence, misuse of other substances, non-opioid psychotropic drug use, and smoking. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Medicaid data from 46 US states. Participants Pregnant women filling at least one prescription for an opioid analgesic at any time during pregnancy for whom opioid exposure characteristics including duration of therapy: short term (<30 days) or long term (≥30 days); timing of use: early use (only in the first two trimesters) or late use (extending into the third trimester); and cumulative dose (in morphine equivalent milligrams) were assessed. Main outcome measure Diagnosis of NAS in liveborn infants. Results 1705 cases of NAS were identified among 290 605 pregnant women filling opioid prescriptions, corresponding to an absolute risk of 5.9 per 1000 deliveries (95% confidence interval 5.6 to 6.2). Long term opioid use during pregnancy resulted in higher absolute risk of NAS per 1000 deliveries in the presence of additional risk factors of known opioid misuse (220.2 (200.8 to 241.0)), alcohol or other drug misuse (30.8 (26.1 to 36.0)), exposure to other psychotropic medications (13.1 (10.6 to 16.1)), and smoking (6.6 (4.3 to 9.6)) than in the absence of any of these risk factors (4.2 (3.3 to 5.4)). The corresponding risk estimates for short term use were 192.0 (175.8 to 209.3), 7.0 (6.0 to 8.2), 2.0 (1.5 to 2.6), 1.5 (1.0 to 2.0), and 0.7 (0.6 to 0.8) per 1000 deliveries, respectively. In propensity score matched analyses, long term prescription opioid use compared with short term use and late use compared with early use in pregnancy demonstrated greater risk of NAS (risk ratios 2.05 (95% confidence interval 1.81 to 2.33) and 1.24 (1.12 to 1.38), respectively). Conclusions Use of prescription opioids during pregnancy is associated with a low absolute risk of NAS in the absence of additional risk factors. Long term use compared with short term use and late use compared with early use of prescription opioids are associated with increased NAS risk independent of additional risk factors.
Does Farming Have an Effect on Health Status? A Comparison Study in West Greece

Investigating the health status of agricultural workers is a challenging goal. Contradictory outcomes concerning farmers’ health are reported in the literature. In this cross-sectional study, certain clinical and neurobehavioral health outcomes were compared between farmers and non-farmers living in the same rural area. Farmers (328) and non-farmers (347), matched per age and sex, were selected randomly in an agricultural area in West Greece. Both groups underwent haematological and biochemical examinations and were administered two neurobehavioral tests, namely the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Sociodemographic, personal medical, nutritional and lifestyle data were recorded. According to personal statements, farmers suffered from hypertension, cardiovascular, orthopaedic and ENT problems in higher frequency. Haematocrit, haemoglobin and serum cholinesterase’s activity were found to be lower among farmers. Lower prevalence of hypertension and better performances on MMSE and MADRS tests were recorded in young farmers in relation to young non-farmers, while these findings were reversed in older ages. Odds Ratios were calculated through multivariate logistic regression models. Factors affecting these impairments remain to be clarified.
Analysis of an SEIVR Epidemic Model with Partial Immunization and Nonlinear Infection Rate

In this paper, an epidemic model describing the transmission dynamics of a worm with partial immunization and nonlinear rate is investigated. Using this SVEIR model, we obtain the basic reproduction number for determining whether the worm dies out completely. The global stabilities of infection-free and endemic equilibriums are proven by using two different Lyapunov functions. The impact of different parameters of this model is studied. Simulation results show that the number of susceptible and infected hosts is consistent with theoretical analysis. The model provides a theoretical foundation for control and forecasting Internet worms.
Molecular Basis of Macrolide, Triamilide, and Lincosamide Resistance in Pasteurella multocida from Bovine Respiratory Disease

ABSTRACT The mechanism of macrolide-triamilide resistance in Pasteurella multocida has been unknown. During whole-genome sequencing of a multiresistant bovine P. multocida isolate, three new resistance genes, the rRNA methylase gene erm(42), the macrolide transporter gene msr(E), and the macrolide phosphotransferase gene mph(E), were detected. The three genes were PCR amplified, cloned into suitable plasmid vectors, and shown to confer either macrolide-lincosamide resistance [erm(42)] or macrolide-triamilide resistance [msr(E)-mph(E)] in macrolide-susceptible Escherichia coli and P. multocida hosts.
A Comprehensive Evaluation of Spectral Distance Functions and Metrics for Hyperspectral Image Processing

Distance functions are at the core of important data analysis and processing tools, e.g., PCA, classification, vector median filter, and mathematical morphology. Despite its key role, a distance function is often used without careful consideration of its underlying assumptions and mathematical construction. With the objective of identifying a suitable distance function for hyperspectral images so as to maintain the accuracy of hyperspectral image processing results, we compare existing distance functions and define a suitable set of selection criteria. Bearing in mind that the selection of distance functions is highly related to the actual definition of the spectrum, we also classify the existing distance functions based on how they inherently define a spectrum. Theoretical constraints and behavior, as well as numerical tests are proposed for the evaluation of distance functions. With regards to the evaluation criteria, Euclidean distance of cumulative spectrum (ECS) was found to be the most suitable distance function.