Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Minimum Mean Squared Error interference alignment

To achieve the full multiplexing gain of MIMO interference networks at high SNRs, the interference from different transmitters must be aligned in lower-dimensional subspaces at the receivers. Recently a distributed “max-SINR” algorithm for precoder optimization has been proposed that achieves interference alignment for sufficiently high SNRs. We show that this algorithm can be interpreted as a variation of an algorithm that minimizes the sum Mean Squared Error (MSE). To maximize sum utility, where the utility depends on rate or SINR, a weighted sum MSE objective is used to compute the beams, where the weights are updated according to the sum utility objective. We specify a class of utility functions for which convergence of the sum utility to a local optimum is guaranteed with asynchronous updates of beams, receiver filters, and utility weights. Numerical results are presented, which show that this method achieves interference alignment at high SNRs, and can achieve different points on the boundary of the achievable rate region by adjusting the MSE weights.
On the complexity of shallow and deep neural network classifiers

Recently, deep networks were proved to be more effective than shallow architectures to face complex real-world applications. However, theoretical results supporting this claim are still few and incomplete. In this paper, we propose a new topological measure to study how the depth of feedforward networks impacts on their ability of implementing high complexity functions. Upper and lower bounds on network complexity are established, based on the number of hidden units and on their activation functions, showing that deep architectures are able, with the same number of resources, to address more difficult classification problems.
Experimental investigation of the effect of hydrophobicity on the rate of frost growth in laminar channel flows

An experimental investigation of the effect of the substrate on frost growth rate is presented. Measurements of frost height as a function of time are presented for a flat, bare, horizontally oriented aluminum substrate and four coated substrates, two hydrophilic and two hydrophobic. The average frost growth rate on the hydrophilic coated aluminum substrate is 13% higher than the control substrate, while the frost growth rate on the hydrophilic kapton substrate is 4% higher. Frost grows on the hydrophobic substrates at a rate 19% and 3% lower than the reference substrate for the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated steel and PTFE tape, respectively. Differences in the receding and advancing contact angles for these substrates do not fully explain the difference in growth rates. Differences in initial water deposition, freezing, and frost growth on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates are examined using confocal microscopy. On the basis of the microscopic observations, the authors hypothesize that the water coverage on the substrate before and after freezing can affect the thermal resistance of the mature frost layer. Differences in thermal resistance, in turn, affect the growth rate.
IL28B Alleles Exert an Additive Dose Effect When Applied to HCV-HIV Coinfected Persons Undergoing Peginterferon and Ribavirin Therapy

Background Genetic studies have demonstrated a strong association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at IL28B and response to treatment with peginterferon (PEG) and ribavirin (RBV) in HCV monoinfected persons. We sought to test these associations in a prospective PEG / weight based ribavirin (WBR) treatment trial (ACTG A5178) (National Institution of Health registration number NCT00078403) in persons with HCV-HIV coinfection, and to develop a prediction score. Methods We selected subjects enrolled in A5178 who completed at least the first 12 weeks of the trial and had DNA available, and genotyped three SNPs at IL28B (rs12979860, rs12980275, rs8099917). We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between IL28B SNPs and HCV treatment outcomes and to develop the prediction score. Results 231 HCV/HIV coinfected subjects were included. We observed a strong association between IL28B genotype and response to therapy among those with genotypes 1 or 4 (odds ratio for complete early virologic responses (cEVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) was 2.98 [1.7–5.3] and 3.4 [1.7–6.9], respectively, for each additional copy of the C allele of rs12979860). Differences in frequency of the responder allele explained some of the discrepancy in HCV treatment outcomes between blacks and whites. A simple pretreatment prediction score that incorporates the IL28B genotype and baseline HCV viral load has a 93% negative predictive value (NPV) for SVR. Conclusions IL28B SNPs have an additive allele dose effect in predicting HCV treatment outcomes in HCV/HIV coinfected persons and can be incorporated into a simple pretreatment prediction score that could minimize the risk of exposure to PEG/RBV therapy for persons with unfavorable scores.
Influence in Ratings-Based Recommender Systems: An Algorithm-Independent Approach

Recommender systems have been shown to help users nd items of interest from among a large pool of potentially interesting items. Inuenc e is a measure of the eect of a user on the recommendations from a recommender system. Inuence is a powerful tool for understanding the workings of a recommender system. Experiments show that users have widely varying degrees of inuence in ratings-based recommender systems. Proposed inuence measures have been algorithm-specic, which limits their generality and comparability. We propose an algorithm-independent denition of inuence that can be applied to any ratings-based recommender system. We show experimentally that inuence may be eectiv ely estimated using simple, inexpensive metrics.
Phosphorylation-dependent subcellular translocation of a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase produces an autonomous enzyme in Aplysia neurons

We have shown previously that the subcellular distribution of a major calmodulin-binding protein is altered under conditions causing increased synthesis of cAMP in Aplysia neurons (Saitoh, T., and J. H. Schwartz, 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80:6708-6712). We now provide evidence that this Mr 55,000 protein is a subunit of a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase: (a) both the Mr 55,000 calmodulin- binding protein and kinase activity are loosely attached to the membrane-cytoskeletal complex; (b) both kinase activity and the Mr 55,000 protein are translocated from the membrane-cytoskeleton complex to the cytoplasm under conditions that cause the change in the subcellular distribution of the Mr 55,000 calmodulin-binding protein; and (c) calmodulin-binding activity of the Mr 55,000 protein and the ability to carry out the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of synapsin I are purified in parallel. The subcellular localization of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase appears to be under control of two second messengers: Ca2+ and cAMP. We find that the Mr 55,000 subunit is phosphorylated when the extracted membrane- cytoskeleton complex is incubated with Ca2+, calmodulin, and ATP, with the concomitant release of this phosphorylated peptide from the complex. Previously, we had found that, when translocation occurs in extracts in the presence of cAMP and ATP (but in the absence of Ca2+), there was no detectable phosphorylation of the Mr 55,000 subunit itself. The subcellular distribution of the subunit thus appears to be influenced by (a) cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, which, we infer, modifies some as yet unidentified structural component, causing the release of the enzyme; and (b) Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the Mr 55,000 subunit. These studies also suggest that phosphorylation has an important regulatory consequence: during the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent translocation of the Mr 55,000 subunit, the kinase appears to be activated, becoming independent of added Ca2+/calmodulin.
Improving the Classification of Percussive Sounds with Analytical Features: A Case Study

There is an increasing need for automatically class ifying sounds for MIR and interactive music applications. In the context of supervised classification, we conduc ted experiments with so-called analytical features, an approach that improves the performance of the general bag-of-frame scheme without loosing its generality. These analytical features are better, in a sense we define precisely than standard, general features, or even than ad hoc features designed by hand for specific problems . Our method allows us to build a large number of the se features, evaluate and select them automatically fo r arbitrary audio classification problems. We present here a specific study concerning the analysis of Pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine) sounds. Two problems are considered: the classification of entire sounds, for MIR applications, and the classificatio n of attack portions of the sound only, for interactive music applications. We evaluate precisely the gain obtain ed by analytical features on these two problems, in compa rison with standard approaches. 1. Acoustic Features Most audio classification approaches use either one of these two paradigms: a general scheme, called bag-offrames, or ad hoc approaches. The bag-of-frame approach [2], [17 ] consists in considering the signal in a blind way, using a systema tic and general scheme: the signal is sliced into consecuti ve, possibly overlapping frames (typically of 50ms), fr om which a vector of audio features is computed. The f eatures are supposed to represent characteristic info rmation of the signal for the problem at hand. These vectors are then aggregated (hence the “bag”) and fed to th e rest of the chain. First, a subset of available features is identified, using some feature selection algorithm. The n the feature set is used to train a classifier, from a d atabase of labeled signals (training set). The classifier thus obtained is then usually tested against another datab ase (test set) to assess its performance. MPEG7-audio ( [6]) as well as [11 ], [8] are standard sources for audio features. These features contain statistical information from the temporal domain (e.g. Ze rocrossing rate), spectral domain (e.g. SpectralCentr oid),
High Prevalence of Human Parvovirus 4 Infection in HBV and HCV Infected Individuals in Shanghai

Human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) has been detected in blood and diverse tissues samples from HIV/AIDS patients who are injecting drug users. Although B19 virus, the best characterized human parvovirus, has been shown to co-infect patients with hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus (HBV, HCV) infection, the association of PARV4 with HBV or HCV infections is still unknown. The aim of this study was to characterise the association of viruses belonging to PARV4 genotype 1 and 2 with chronic HBV and HCV infection in Shanghai. Serum samples of healthy controls, HCV infected subjects and HBV infected subjects were retrieved from Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention (SCDC) Sample Bank. Parvovirus-specific nested-PCR was performed and results confirmed by sequencing. Sequences were compared with reference sequences obtained from Genbank to derive phylogeny trees. The frequency of parvovirus molecular detection was 16–22%, 33% and 41% in healthy controls, HCV infected and HBV infected subjects respectively, with PARV4 being the only parvovirus detected. HCV infected and HBV infected subjects had a significantly higher PARV4 prevalence than the healthy population. No statistical difference was found in PARV4 prevalence between HBV or HCV infected subjects. PARV4 sequence divergence within study groups was similar in healthy subjects, HBV or HCV infected subjects. Our data clearly demonstrate that PARV4 infection is strongly associated with HCV and HBV infection in Shanghai but may not cause increased disease severity.
Segmented journeys, fragmented lives: women's forced migration to escape domestic violence

Women's journeys to escape domestic violence can be understood both as active strategies to achieve safety, and as a forced migration during which women experience both force from the abuser, and the impact of agencies and authorities. This article explores the diverse trajectories of individual women's journeys from abuse, drawing on a mixed methods research project within the United Kingdom. It involved analysis and mapping of six years of administrative data from housing-related support services, interviews with 20 women in seven locations in the Midlands, Southern England and London, groupwork with nine women in the Midlands and South Coast, surveys with 34 women in domestic violence services and on 267 calls to the National Domestic Violence Helpline, and interviews with workers in services in eight locations. Drawing on 20 women's narratives and journey graphs over time and distance, the article presents details of three women's journeys to illustrate how complex, segmented journeys are often made more fragmented by aspects of policy and practice. More effective responses could mean that women and children only make the journeys that are strictly necessary, and are more smoothly and swiftly able to move to where they can settle and rebuild their fragmented lives.
Two-stage control of an oxidative stress regulon: the Escherichia coli SoxR protein triggers redox-inducible expression of the soxS regulatory gene

Escherichia coli responds to the redox stress imposed by superoxide-generating agents such as paraquat by activating the synthesis of as many as 80 polypeptides. Expression of a key group of these inducible proteins is controlled at the transcriptional level by the soxRS locus (the soxRS regulon). A two-stage control system was hypothesized for soxRS, in which an intracellular redox signal would trigger the SoxR protein as a transcriptional activator of the soxS gene and the resulting increased levels of SoxS protein would activate transcription of the various soxRS regulon genes (B. Demple and C.F. Amábile Cuevas, Cell 67:837-839, 1990). We have constructed operon fusions of the E. coli lac genes to the soxS promoter to monitor soxS transcription. Expression from the soxS promoter is strongly inducible by paraquat in a manner strictly dependent on a functional soxR gene. Several other superoxide-generating agents also trigger soxR(+)-dependent soxS expression, and the inductions by paraquat and phenazine methosulfate were dependent on the presence of oxygen. Numerous other oxidative stress agents (H2O2, gamma rays, heat shock, etc.) failed to induce soxS, while aerobic growth of superoxide dismutase-deficient bacteria triggered soxR-dependent soxS expression. These results indicate a specific redox signal for soxS induction. A direct role for SoxR protein in the activation of the soxS gene is indicated by band-shift and DNase I footprinting experiments that demonstrate specific binding of the SoxR protein in cell extracts to the soxS promoter. The mode of SoxR binding to DNA appears to be similar to that of its homolog MerR in that the SoxR footprint spans the -10 to -35 region of the soxS promoter.
NUTRITION OF HERPETOMONAS (STRIGOMONAS) CULICIDARUM

No group offers more diverse and numerous species for the study of the comparative biochemical evolution of parasitism than does the Trypanosomidae. Unfortunately, little biochemical study of this family has been possible because of the difficulty encountered in cultivation and maintenance of many ~pecies.2~~ 6 Indeed, among the pathogens some have been impossible to culture ia d r o (e.g., Trypanosoma equiperdum, Trypanosoma congolense) and, in others, where cultures have been obtained, infectivity has not always been retai11ed.2~ In view of the limited success in identifying growth factors for exacting members of the Trypansomidae,16 it was thought that other, nonpathogenic parasites found in this family, and possessing relatively simple growth requirements, would lend themselves more easily to nutritional studies. It was assumed that certain physiological characteristics would be common to both pathogenic and non-pathogenic groups, and that consequently a study of a representative of the latter group would be a stepping-stone to the identification of requirements for the more fastidious groups. The blood requirement of many trypanosomes and Leishmania has been difficult to satisfy with simpler materials. Certain parasites grow in the presence of hemin plus serum as a blood substitute (Leishmania agamae, Leishmania ceramodactyli) but many serum requirements still defy analysis15 ( c j . SprinceZ0). Herpetomonas culicidarum, a mosquito parasite in the family Trypanosomidae, has, however, a blood requirement that can be completely replaced by hemin.16 The remaining growth factors are thermostable and are found in ordinary peptones. These considerations plus the ease of handling and lack of pathogenicity made us suppose that the nutritional requirements of this parasite could be identified by procedures successful with many exacting protists. Its morphological relationship to Leishmania and to Trypanosoma cruzi indicated that its nutritional requirements might be similar in the main to both these pathogenic groups. Herpetomonas culcidarumt was first isolated by Noguchi and Tilden16 in 1926 by streaking a saline suspension of infected mosquito gut on blood agar. M. Lwoff demonstrated in 1940,15 with the aid of hydrolyzed silk, that thiamine was essential. Little work has been done since. Materials. Experimental media were contained in 25-ml. flasks incubated at 25-28OC. The total volume in each flask was 5 ml. The flasks were covered
Bounds and Algorithms for the Knapsack Problem with Conflict Graph

We study the Knapsack Problem with Conflict Graph (KPCG), an extension of the 0-1 Knapsack Problem, in which a conflict graph describing incompatibilities between items is given. The goal of the KPCG is to select the maximum profit set of compatible items while satisfying the knapsack capacity constraint. We present a Branch-and-Bound approach to derive optimal solutions to the KPCG in short computing times. Alternative dual bound procedures are compared, as well as different branching strategies, and new effective ones are proposed. Extensive computational experiments are reported, showing that the proposed method outperforms an existing approach from the literature and a Mixed Integer Programming formulation tackled through a general purpose solver.
The voice of personality: mapping nonverbal vocal behavior into trait attributions

This paper reports preliminary experiments on automatic attribution of personality traits based on nonverbal vocal behavioral cues. In particular, the work shows how prosodic features can be used to predict, with an accuracy up to 75% depending on the trait, the personality assessments performed by human judges on a collection of 640 speech samples. The assessments are based on a short version of the Big Five Inventory, one of the most widely used questionnaires for personality assessment. The judges did not understand the language spoken in the speech samples so that the influence of the verbal content is limited. To tho best of our knowledge, this is the first work aimed at inferring automatically traits attributed by judges rather than traits self-reported by subjects.
Dysarthria due to Supratentorial and Infratentorial Ischemic Stroke: A Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Study

Background and Purpose: Dysarthria characterized by slurring with imprecise articulation without evidence of aphasia is a frequent symptom in the acute phase of cerebral ischemia, although there is little knowledge on its anatomic specificity and spectrum of associated clinical characteristics regarding diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Methods: An investigation of 101 consecutive patients with sudden-onset dysarthria due to a single or multiple lesions on DWI, corresponding to 8.7% of 1,160 patients with ischemic stroke, was made. The presence of lesions of the cranial arteries was sought by magnetic resonance angiography and reviewed with a three-dimensional rotating cineangiographic method. Results: Dysarthria was mostly associated with a supratentorial lesion (63%) and with a classic lacunar stroke syndrome in 45% of patients. Lacunar lesions on DWI were found in 69 (68%) patients, while only 45 of the patients (65%) with a lacunar infarct presented a classic lacunar syndrome with dysarthria. Pure dysarthria occurred in 15% of patients, dysarthria + pure motor hemiparesis in 14%, dysarthria + ataxic hemiparesis in 11%, dysarthria + clumsy hand syndrome in 7%, dysarthria + pure sensory stroke in 3%, dysarthria + central facial paresis in 8% and lingual paresis occurred in 2%. The lesions were due to small-artery disease in 41%, large-artery disease in 15%, cardioembolism in 10% and a mixed etiology in 3%. The cause of stroke was not identified in 17 patients. Lesions on DWI were found mainly in the corona radiata (n = 18), middle cerebral artery territory, including the motor cortex and/or insular cortex (n = 13), striatocaudate nuclei (n = 11), primary motor cortex (n = 10), internal capsule (n = 7), pons (n = 25), pontobulbar junction (n = 5) and the thalamomesencephalic junction (n = 4). Isolated cerebellar infarctions (n = 6) or associated brainstem lesions (n = 6) affected mostly the superior cerebellar artery or the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory. Conclusion: Cortical involvement was more frequent in patients with pure dysarthria than those with dysarthria and additional neurological signs, while the frequency of pontine involvement was higher in patients with additional neurological signs than those with pure dysarthria. One third of the patients with dysarthria had multiple lesions on DWI, and the most common cause of stroke was small-artery disease. Pure dysarthria, dysarthria with lingual paresis, dysarthria with clumsy hand and dysarthria with facial paresis had predictive value for lacunar lesions.
The insulin‐like growth factor I system in cerebellar degeneration

Brain insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) and its related molecules may be involved in neurodegenerative processes in which IGF‐I‐containing pathways are compromised. Since IGF‐I is present in the olivocerebellar circuitry, two types of late‐onset cerebellar ataxias (olivopontocerebellar and idiopathic cerebellar cortical atrophy) were chosen to test this hypothesis. The following significant changes in the peripheral IGF‐I system of these patients were found: low IGF‐I levels, and high IGF‐binding protein 1 (BP‐1), and BP‐3 affinity for IGF‐1. Sixty percent of the patients also had significantly low insulin levels. Patients suffering from other neurological diseases with cerebellar dysfunction and ataxia not involving the olivocerebellar pathway also had low IGF‐I levels, while IGFBPs and insulin levels were normal. Our data indicate that degeneration of an IGF‐I‐containing neuronal pathway produces significant changes in the peripheral IGF system. This suggests strongly that the endocrine (bloodborne) and the paracrine/autocrine (brain) IGF systems are linked functionally. We propose that alterations in the blood IGF‐I system may constitute a marker of some cerebellar diseases.