Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cooperative Multicast with Low-Cost Radios

A simple cooperative diversity technique is applied to point-to-multipoint communication in wireless medium suffering from Rayleigh block fading. Such a concept is especially interesting if low-cost radios, which have no advanced capabilities for fading mitigation, are used. This paper analyzes the communication reliability in terms of outage and delivery ratio, and compares cooperative and non-cooperative schemes. Results from a simple setup show that already few preselected relays can lead to performance gains. A potential application field is link-layer broadcast in a network of energy-constrained embedded devices.
Experimental evaluation of the interface fracture energy for composite pavements

In pavement structures, the weakest part is often the interface between the different material layers. In the present study and following many previous works, the Wedge Splitting Test (WST) is chosen as a quite convenient test method to get the fracture energy of such an interface. An adaptation of the WST equipment is proposed in this paper. The specimen is prepared with a cylindrical groove instead of a rectangular groove with the aim of testing specimens from construction sites. A slim wedge of 14° is used to assure principally the studying of the interface debonding phenomenon in a quasi-pure opening Mode I. A finite element study is conducted to analyse the effect of the variation of boundary conditions on the specimen. The main objective of this study is to compare the static testing results (under controlled displacement rate of 0.7 mm/min at ambient temperature close to 20°C) with those coming from the literature for Ultra-Thin White-topping type of bi-layer specimens.
Dye–Surfactant Interaction: Modulation of Photophysics of an Ionic Styryl Dye

The interesting modulation of multibond rotation–induced intramolecular charge transfer photophysics of 2‐(4‐(dimethylamino) styryl)‐1‐methylpyridinium iodide in different micelles due to different contributions of twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) and hydrogen bonding deactivation channels have been reported in this paper. 2‐(4‐(dimethylamino) styryl)‐1‐methylpyridinium iodide enters into all the micelles in different positions from the water solution due to active hydrophobic force and electrostatic field, as revealed from the shift and intensity of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) band. The presence of mechanically trapped water with the addition of salt and inherent thermodynamic water controls the ICT emission. Analysis of spectral data before and after the addition of salt confirms the orientation of 2‐(4‐(dimethylamino) styryl)‐1‐methylpyridinium iodide in cationic and anionic micelles.
Influence of chemical treatment on tensile strength, water absorption, surface morphology, and thermal analysis of areca sheath fibers

ABSTRACT Proper surface modification is highly essential to improve compatibility of natural fibers with polymer matrix to develop eco-friendly materials. In the present work, an attempt has been made to study the effect of various chemical treatments such as alkaline, acrylic acid, permanganate, sodium chlorite, and benzoylation on areca sheath fiber. After surface modifications, its density, water absorption property, mechanical property, thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and surface morphology have been thoroughly investigated. It has been observed that benzoyl chloride-treated fiber gives better performance in comparison to other treatments.
Investing in REITS: Contrarian versus Momentum

Notwithstanding the preponderance of evidence supporting the superiority of the contrarian investment strategy, other researchers have adduced evidence in support of superior performance from momentum investment strategy. This paper uses data for REITS stocks traded on the NYSE, AMEX and NASDAQ from 1990 to 2007 to ascertain the relative superiority of the contrarian and momentum REITS investment strategies. Furthermore, the paper is aimed at ascertaining the rationale for value/growth premium, if any (i.e. if risk is a credible explanation for value/growth premium). The value-growth paradigm forms the theoretical basis of the paper. Two methods: a simple sorting procedure based on the book-to-market value ratio (for contrarian) and six-months price momentum (for the momentum strategy) vis-à-vis Fama-French model are used to examine the time-varying risk of value and growth REIT portfolios. This is followed by a stochastic dominance test to verify the relative performance and risk of value and growth REIT portfolios. While the results show that both strategies provide superior performance, that of the momentum strategy is limited to only twelve months holding period. The growth premium for the momentum strategy, in addition to not being statistically significant, declines after twelve months. In contrast, the superior performance of the contrarian strategy increases over time and is found to be statistically significant for holding periods of more than, or equal to, six months. Furthermore, the results show that the superior performances are not a compensation for risk. This implies that investor psychology could be the driver for the value/growth premia.
Mathematical Processing for Simultaneous Spectrophotometric Determination of Cyclopentolate and Phenylephrine in Their Binary Mixture

Introduction: Development and validation of three simple, accurate, selective and and low cost spectrophotometric methods for simultaneous determination of cyclopentolate hydrochloride (CLO) and phenylephrine hydrochloride (PHE) in their binary mixture without need of any pre-separation step or sophisticated instruments. These methods are (I) area under the curve method using two ranges of wavelengths (255 - 260) and (271 - 275) nm. (II) Q-analysis method using two wavelengths 281.2 nm (iso-absorptive point) and 291 nm. (III) bivariate method using two wavelengths 255 and 270 nm choosen according to Kaiser method to calculate the sensitivity matrices of different wavelengths. Results and discussion: Calibration graphs were established in the range of 10-130 µg/ml for both drugs with good correlation coefficients. Conclusions: All the proposed methods were validated and successfully applied for simultaneous determination of cyclopentolate hydrochloride (CLO) and phenylephrine hydrochloride (PHE) in their bulk powder and pharmaceutical preparation Cyclophrine ® eye drops. The obtained results were statistically compared with those of the reported method by applying student’s t -test and F -test at 95 % confidence level and no significant difference was observed regarding accuracy and precision.
The effect of concrete supplements on metacognitive regulation during learning and open-book test taking.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested that when reading texts, lower achievers are more sensitive than their stronger counterparts to surface-level cues, such as graphic illustrations, and that even when uninformative, such concrete supplements tend to raise the text's subjective comprehensibility. AIMS We examined how being led astray by uninformative concrete supplements in expository texts affects achievement. We focused on the mediating role of metacognitive processes by partialling out the role of cognitive ability, as indicated by SAT scores, in accounting for the found differences between higher and lower achievers. SAMPLE AND METHOD Undergraduate students studied expository texts in their base versions or in concrete versions, including uninformative supplements, in a within-participant design. The procedure had three phases: Studying, open-book test taking, and reanswering questions of one's choice. RESULTS Overall, judgements of comprehension (JCOMPs) were higher after participants studied the concrete than the base versions, and the participants benefited from the open-book test and the reanswering opportunity. An in-depth examination of time investment, JCOMP, confidence in test answers, choice of questions to reanswer, and test scores indicated that those whose metacognitive processes were more effective and goal driven achieved higher scores. CONCLUSIONS The effectiveness of metacognitive processes during learning and test taking constitutes an important factor differentiating between higher and lower achievers when studying texts that include potentially misleading cues.
Neurogenic Cerebral Vasodilation From Electrical Stimulation of the Cerebellum in the Monkey

The effect of stimulation of fastigial nucleus (FN) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) was examined in anesthetized, paralyzed monkeys. CBF was measured with a flow transducer chronically implanted on the left common carotid artery. The left external carotid artery and its branches were ligated. Electrical stimulation of the fastigial nucleus produced rapid (within two seconds) increases in arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate. Mean carotid blood flow (MCBF) rose 77% (% 40% SEM) above control and followed the increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Calculated cerebrovascular resistance decreased immediately by 27% (% 14% SEM) below control. The increases in MCBF were not caused by a passively responding cerebrovascular bed (CVB) resulting from the stimulation or trauma to the vessels. Cerebral metabolism was not altered during stimulation as determined from the arteriovenous oxygen content difference. CBF autoregulation was still present with stimulation of the fastigial nucleus. The autoregulatory curve was shifted to a higher flow level. During the initial MAP changes in sympathectomized animals, MCBF increased to a greater extent than in the innervated animals, suggesting the presence of two neurogenic vasodilatory systems. It appears that electrical stimulation of the fastigial nucleus inhibits sympathetic tone and increases parasympathetic activity to the CVB, resulting in vasodilation and an increase in MCBF.
Schoeman Mc Et Al.: Environmental Correlates of Bat Species Richness Using Potential Distributions to Explore Environmental Correlates of Bat Species Richness in Southern Africa: Effects of Model Selection and Taxonomy

We tested the prediction that at coarse spatial scales, variables associated with climate, energy, and productivity hypotheses should be better predictor(s) of bat species richness than those associated with environmental heterogeneity. Distribution ranges of 64 bat species were estimated with niche-based models informed by 3629 verified museum specimens. The influence of environmental correlates on bat richness was assessed using ordinary least squares regression (OLS), simultaneous autoregressive models (SAR), conditional autoregressive models (CAR), spatial eigenvector-based filtering models (SEVM), and Classification and Regression Trees (CART). To test the assumption of stationarity, Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) was used. Bat species richness was highest in the eastern parts of southern Africa, with a concentration of hotspots in central Zimbabwe and Mozambique. We found support for the predictions of both the habitat heterogeneity and climate/productivity/energy hypotheses, and as we expected, support varied among bat families and model selection. Richness patterns and predictors of Miniopteridae and Pteropodidae clearly differed from those of other bat families. Altitude range was the only independent variable that was significant in all models and it was most often the best predictor of bat richness. Standard coefficients of SAR and CAR models were similar to those of OLS models, while those of SEVM models differed. Although GWR indicated that the assumption of stationarity was violated, the CART analysis corroborated the findings of the curve-fitting models. Our results identify where additional data on current species ranges, and future conservation action and ecological work are needed [Current Zoology 58 (): –, 2013]. One of the most universal features of global biodiversity is the variability of species richness across different regions. Some regions harbour a high proportion of diversity, while others are almost devoid of species, and most Schoeman MC et al.: Environmental correlates of bat species richness 2 exhibit intermediate diversity (Gaston and Blackburn, 2000). Notwithstanding burgeoning human-induced habitat loss and climate change, understanding the drivers of species richness is central to ecology and evolutionary biology. Accordingly, there has been much progress in developing robust analytical techniques to predict species distributions productivity, current climatic conditions and habitat heterogeneity constitute the dominant controls over assemblage attributes and species distributions at broad spatial scales (Field et al., 2009). However, the relative importance of these and other factors, and the ubiquity of factors across biogeographic regions and taxonomic groups are still under scrutiny. Furthermore, non-spatial and spatial models may (or may not) substantially differ in the rank …
Improved documentation of retinal hemorrhages using a wide-field digital ophthalmic camera in patients who experienced abusive head trauma.

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical use of a wide-field digital ophthalmic camera (RetCam 120; Massie Research Laboratories, Inc, Dublin, Calif) for the documentation of retinal hemorrhages in patients who experienced abusive head trauma. DESIGN Case series. SETTING Pediatric intensive care unit at a tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS Children with suspected abusive head trauma. RESULTS Eight children were studied during a 9-month period. The median age of the children was 2.25 months (range, 0.8-18.0 months). There were 4 male and 4 female patients. All patients had intracranial bleeding, documented by computed axial tomographic scans of the head. Of the 8 patients, 6 had bilateral retinal hemorrhages. All patients underwent a formal examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist (R.S. and others) using a wide-field digital ophthalmic camera. Three children died. CONCLUSIONS The wide-field digital ophthalmic camera allowed good visualization and produced high-quality photographic images, resulting in instant bedside documentation of retinal pathological features. The wide-field digital ophthalmic camera provides a new tool for the evaluation and precise documentation of retinal hemorrhages in suspected and confirmed cases of abusive head trauma.
The Effect of Ex Vivo CDDO-Me Activation on Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2–Related Factor 2 Pathway in White Blood Cells From Patients With Septic Shock

ABSTRACT Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) has been shown to protect against experimental sepsis in mice and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in ex vivo white blood cells from healthy subjects by upregulating cellular antioxidant genes. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that ex vivo methyl 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oate (CDDO-Me) activates NRF2-regulated antioxidant genes in white blood cells from patients with septic shock and protects against LPS-induced inflammation and reactive oxidative species production. Peripheral blood was collected from 18 patients with septic shock who were being treated in medical and surgical intensive care units. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the expression of NRF2 target genes (NQO1, HO-1, GCLM, and FTL) and IL-6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), monocytes, and neutrophils after CDDO-Me treatment alone or after subsequent LPS exposure. Superoxide anion (O2−) was measured to assess the effect of CDDO-Me pretreatment on subsequent LPS exposure. Treatment with CDDO-Me increased the gene expression of NQO1 (P = 0.04) and decreased the expression of HO-1 (P = 0.03) in PBMCs from patients with septic shock. Purified monocytes exhibited significant increases in the expression of NQO1 (P = 0.01) and GCLM (P = 0.003) after CDDO-Me treatment. Levels of other NRF2 target genes (HO-1 and FTL) remained similar to those of vehicle-treated cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed a trend toward increased IL-6 gene expression after CDDO-Me treatment, whereas purified monocytes showed a trend toward decreased IL-6. There was no discernible trend in the IL-6 expression subsequent to LPS treatment in either vehicle-treated or CDDO-Me–treated PBMCs and monocytes. Treatment with CDDO-Me significantly increased O2− production in PBMCs (P = 0.04). Although CDDO-Me pretreatment significantly attenuated O2− production to subsequent LPS exposure (P = 0.03), the change was comparable to that observed in vehicle-treated PBMCs. Pretreatment with CDDO-Me followed by LPS exposure had no significant effect on O2− levels in purified monocytes. These data suggest that the NRF2 pathway is differentially responsive to CDDO-Me activation in peripheral blood cells from patients with septic shock and results in increased O2− production. The data may also suggest a suppressed NRF2 pathway in white blood cells from critically ill patients.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism is associated with myocardial infarction but not with development of coronary stenosis.

BACKGROUND Although both genetic and nongenetic factors contribute to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, the identification of specific genetic lesions has lagged behind the identification of critical environmental risk factors. A reported association between myocardial infarction (MI) and the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene in European men suggests a critical role for this genomic region. However, the generality of this association remains to be determined. It also is not clear at what stage in disease progression the association with the ACE I/D polymorphism becomes important. METHODS AND RESULTS We evaluated the ACE I/D polymorphism in patients who had undergone coronary angiography (402 men and 295 women) and in 203 representative control subjects. After polymerase chain reaction amplification, genotypes were determined by agarose gel sizing and by hybridization with allele-specific oligonucleotides. After patients were categorized by the degree of coronary artery stenosis and the occurrence of an MI, the distribution of ACE I/D genotypes was evaluated by log linear analysis. Patients were genetically representative of the regional population, and patients with > 60% stenosis of their coronary arteries had the same distribution of ACE I/D genotypes as did patients with < 10% stenosis. However, among patients with stenosis, the occurrence of an MI was significantly associated with the D allele in all patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; P = .002) and in men alone (OR, 1.63; P = .006). The lack of significance in women (OR, 1.40; P = .263) is probably due to the fact that only 36 women in the present study had experienced an MI. Furthermore, the association between MI and the ACE I/D polymorphism was independent of blood pressure, smoking habits, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS Segregation of the ACE I/D polymorphism is a pervasive genetic risk factor for MI in whites but has no evident effect on the events leading to stenosis of the coronary arteries. This suggests that risk of MI is influenced by two independent processes--atherogenesis that leads to coronary stenosis followed by conversion to MI. The renin-angiotensin system appears to confer significant risk of infarction by influencing the conversion to MI but has no apparent effect on the development of atherostenosis.
A Dutch Survey on Circumpatellar Electrocautery in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Introduction: Anterior knee pain following total knee arthroplasty is estimated to occur in 4-49% of patients. Some orthopedic surgeons use circumpatellar electrocautery (diathermy) to reduce the prevalence of postsurgical anterior knee pain; however, the extent of its use is unknown. Materials and Methodology: In April 2009, a postal questionnaire was sent to all 98 departments of orthopedic surgery in The Netherlands. The questions focused on the frequency of total knee arthroplasties, patellar resurfacing, and the use of circumpatellar electrocautery. Results: The response rate was 92%. A total of 18,876 TKAs, 2,096 unicompartmental knee arthroplasties, and 215 patellofemoral arthroplasties are performed yearly in The Netherlands by the responding orthopedic surgeons. Of the orthopedic surgeons performing TKA, 13% always use patellar resurfacing in total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis, 49% use selective patellar resurfacing, and 38% never use it. Fifty-six percent of orthopedic surgeons use circumpatellar electrocautery when not resurfacing the patella, and 32% use electrocautery when resurfacing the patella. Conclusion: There is no consensus among Dutch orthopedic surgeons on the use of patellar resurfacing or circumpatellar electrocautery in total knee replacement performed for osteoarthritis. A prospective clinical trial is currently underway to fully evaluate the effect of circumpatellar electrocautery on the prevalence of anterior knee pain following total knee arthroplasty.
The Basolateral Amygdala Is Critical for Learning about Neutral Stimuli in the Presence of Danger, and the Perirhinal Cortex Is Critical in the Absence of Danger

The perirhinal cortex (PRh) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) appear to mediate distinct aspects of learning and memory. Here, we used rats to investigate the involvement of the PRh and BLA in acquisition and extinction of associations between two different environmental stimuli (e.g., a tone and a light) in higher-order conditioning. When both stimuli were neutral, infusion of the GABAA, muscimol, or the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ifenprodil into the PRh impaired associative formation. However, when one stimulus was neutral and the other was a learned danger signal, acquisition and extinction of the association between them was unaffected by manipulations targeting the PRh. Temporary inactivation of the BLA had the opposite effect: formation and extinction of an association between two stimuli was spared when both stimuli were neutral, but impaired when one stimulus was a learned danger signal. Subsequent experiments showed that the experience of fear per se shifts processing of an association between neutral stimuli from the PRh to the BLA. When training was conducted in a dangerous environment, formation and extinction of an association between neutral stimuli was impaired by BLA inactivation or NMDAR blockade in this region, but was unaffected by PRh inactivation. These double dissociations in the roles of the PRh and BLA in learning under different stimulus and environmental conditions imply that fear-induced activation of the amygdala changes how the brain processes sensory stimuli. Harmless stimuli are treated as potentially harmful, resulting in a shift from cortical to subcortical processing in the BLA.
Direct Optimization of Ranking Measures

Web page ranking and collaborative filtering require the optimization of sophisticated performance measures. Current Support Vector approaches are unable to optimize them directly and focus on pairwise comparisons instead. We present a new approach which allows direct optimization of the relevant loss functions. This is achieved via structured estimation in Hilbert spaces. It is most related to Max-Margin-Markov networks optimization of multivariate performance measures. Key to our approach is that during training the ranking problem can be viewed as a linear assignment problem, which can be solved by the Hungarian Marriage algorithm. At test time, a sort operation is sufficient, as our algorithm assigns a relevance score to every (document, query) pair. Experiments show that the our algorithm is fast and that it works very well.