Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymptotics of transmit antenna selection: Impact of multiple receive antennas

Consider a fading Gaussian MIMO channel with Nt transmit and Nr receive antennas. The transmitter selects Lt antennas corresponding to the strongest channels. For this setup, we study the distribution of the input-output mutual information when Nt grows large. We show that, for any Nr and Lt, the distribution of the input-output mutual information is accurately approximated by a Gaussian distribution whose mean grows large and whose variance converges to zero. Our analysis depicts that, in the large limit, the gap between the expectation of the mutual information and its corresponding upper bound, derived by applying Jensen's inequality, converges to a constant which only depends on Nr and Lt. The result extends the scope of channel hardening to the general case of antenna selection with multiple receive and selected transmit antennas. Although the analyses are given for the large-system limit, our numerical investigations indicate the robustness of the approximated distribution even when the number of antennas is not large.
Ginseng Purified Dry Extract, BST204, Improved Cancer Chemotherapy-Related Fatigue and Toxicity in Mice

Cancer related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatments. A large proportion of cancer patients experience cancer-related physical and central fatigue so new strategies are needed for treatment and improved survival of these patients. BST204 was prepared by incubating crude ginseng extract with ginsenoside-β-glucosidase. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of BST204, mixture of ginsenosides on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced CRF, the glycogen synthesis, and biochemical parameters in mice. The mice were randomly divided into the following groups: the naïve normal (normal), the HT-29 cell inoculated (xenograft), xenograft and 5-FU treated (control), xenograft + 5-FU + BST204-treated (100 and 200 mg/kg) (BST204), and xenograft + 5-FU + modafinil (13 mg/kg) treated group (modafinil). Running wheel activity and forced swimming test were used for evaluation of CRF. Muscle glycogen, serum inflammatory cytokines, aspartic aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CRE), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEUT), red blood cell (RBC), and hemoglobin (HGB) were measured. Treatment with BST204 significantly increased the running wheel activity and forced swimming time compared to the control group. Consistent with the behavioral data, BST204 markedly increased muscle glycogen activity and concentrations of WBC, NEUT, RBC, and HGB. Also, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), AST, ALT, and CRE levels in the serum were significantly reduced in the BST204-treated group compared to the control group. This result suggests that BST204 may improve chemotherapy-related fatigue and adverse toxic side effects.
Normalized (pointwise) mutual information in collocation extraction

In this paper, we discuss the related information theoretical association measures of mutual information and pointwise mutual information, in the context of collocation extraction. We introduce normalized variants of these measures in order to make them more easily interpretable and at the same time less sensitive to occurrence frequency. We also provide a small empirical study to give more insight into the behaviour of these new measures in a collocation extraction setup.
Long-Term Weight-Loss in Gastric Bypass Patients Carrying Melanocortin 4 Receptor Variants

Background The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) critically regulates feeding and satiety. Rare variants in MC4R are predominantly found in obese individuals. Though some rare variants in MC4R discovered in patients have defects in localization, ligand binding and signaling to cAMP, many have no recognized defects. Subjects/Methods In our cohort of 1433 obese subjects that underwent Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery, we found fifteen variants of MC4R. We matched rare variant carriers to patients with the MC4R reference alleles for gender, age, starting BMI and T2D to determine the variant effect on weight-loss post-RYGB. In vitro, we determined expression of mutant receptors by ELISA and western blot, and cAMP production by microscopy. Results While carrying a rare MC4R allele is associated with obesity, carriers of rare variants exhibited comparable weight-loss after RYGB to non-carriers. However, subjects carrying three of these variants, V95I, I137T or L250Q, lost less weight after surgery. In vitro, the R305Q mutation caused a defect in cell surface expression while only the I137T and C326R mutations showed impaired cAMP signaling. Despite these apparent differences, there was no correlation between in vitro signaling and pre- or post-surgery clinical phenotype. Conclusions These data suggest that subtle differences in receptor signaling conferred by rare MC4R variants combined with additional factors predispose carriers to obesity. In the absence of complete MC4R deficiency, these differences can be overcome by the powerful weight-reducing effects of bariatric surgery. In a complex disorder such as obesity, genetic variants that cause subtle defects that have cumulative effects can be overcome after appropriate clinical intervention.
Evolutionary Origins of the Endowment Effect: Evidence from Hunter-Gatherers

The endowment effect, the tendency to value possessions more than non-possessions, is a well known departure from rational choice and has been replicated in numerous settings. We investigate the universality of the endowment effect, its evolutionary significance, and its dependence on environmental factors. We experimentally test for the endowment effect in an isolated and evolutionarily relevant population of hunter-gatherers, the Hadza Bushmen of Northern Tanzania. We find that Hadza living in isolated regions do not display the endowment effect, while Hadza living in a geographic region with increased exposure to modern society and markets do display the endowment effect.
Modeling the Complex Impacts of Timber Harvests to Find Optimal Management Regimes for Amazon Tidal Floodplain Forests

At the Amazon estuary, the oldest logging frontier in the Amazon, no studies have comprehensively explored the potential long-term population and yield consequences of multiple timber harvests over time. Matrix population modeling is one way to simulate long-term impacts of tree harvests, but this approach has often ignored common impacts of tree harvests including incidental damage, changes in post-harvest demography, shifts in the distribution of merchantable trees, and shifts in stand composition. We designed a matrix-based forest management model that incorporates these harvest-related impacts so resulting simulations reflect forest stand dynamics under repeated timber harvests as well as the realities of local smallholder timber management systems. Using a wide range of values for management criteria (e.g., length of cutting cycle, minimum cut diameter), we projected the long-term population dynamics and yields of hundreds of timber management regimes in the Amazon estuary, where small-scale, unmechanized logging is an important economic activity. These results were then compared to find optimal stand-level and species-specific sustainable timber management (STM) regimes using a set of timber yield and population growth indicators. Prospects for STM in Amazonian tidal floodplain forests are better than for many other tropical forests. However, generally high stock recovery rates between harvests are due to the comparatively high projected mean annualized yields from fast-growing species that effectively counterbalance the projected yield declines from other species. For Amazonian tidal floodplain forests, national management guidelines provide neither the highest yields nor the highest sustained population growth for species under management. Our research shows that management guidelines specific to a region’s ecological settings can be further refined to consider differences in species demographic responses to repeated harvests. In principle, such fine-tuned management guidelines could make management more attractive, thus bridging the currently prevalent gap between tropical timber management practice and regulation.
Efficient field-sensitive pointer analysis of C

The subject of this article is flow- and context-insensitive pointer analysis. We present a novel approach for precisely modelling struct variables and indirect function calls. Our method emphasises efficiency and simplicity and is based on a simple language of set constraints. We obtain an O(v4) bound on the time needed to solve a set of constraints from this language, where v is the number of constraint variables. This gives, for the first time, some insight into the hardness of performing field-sensitive pointer analysis of C. Furthermore, we experimentally evaluate the time versus precision trade-off for our method by comparing against the field-insensitive equivalent. Our benchmark suite consists of 11 common C programs ranging in size from 15,000 to 200,000 lines of code. Our results indicate the field-sensitive analysis is more expensive to compute, but yields significantly better precision. In addition, our technique has been integrated into the latest release (version 4.1) of the GNU Compiler GCC. Finally, we identify several previously unknown issues with an alternative and less precise approach to modelling struct variables, known as field-based analysis.
A Mathematical Model for Pathogen Cross‐Contamination Dynamics during the Postharvest Processing of Leafy Greens

We developed a probabilistic mathematical model for the postharvest processing of leafy greens focusing on Escherichia coli O157:H7 contamination of fresh‐cut romaine lettuce as the case study. Our model can (i) support the investigation of cross‐contamination scenarios, and (ii) evaluate and compare different risk mitigation options. We used an agent‐based modeling framework to predict the pathogen prevalence and levels in bags of fresh‐cut lettuce and quantify spread of E. coli O157:H7 from contaminated lettuce to surface areas of processing equipment. Using an unbalanced factorial design, we were able to propagate combinations of random values assigned to model inputs through different processing steps and ranked statistically significant inputs with respect to their impacts on selected model outputs. Results indicated that whether contamination originated on incoming lettuce heads or on the surface areas of processing equipment, pathogen prevalence among bags of fresh‐cut lettuce and batches was most significantly impacted by the level of free chlorine in the flume tank and frequency of replacing the wash water inside the tank. Pathogen levels in bags of fresh‐cut lettuce were most significantly influenced by the initial levels of contamination on incoming lettuce heads or surface areas of processing equipment. The influence of surface contamination on pathogen prevalence or levels in fresh‐cut bags depended on the location of that surface relative to the flume tank. This study demonstrates that developing a flexible yet mathematically rigorous modeling tool, a “virtual laboratory,” can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of individual and combined risk mitigation options.
CPAR: Classification based on Predictive Association Rules

Recent studies in data mining have proposed a new classification approach, called associative classification, which, according to several reports, such as [7, 6], achieves higher classification accuracy than traditional classification approaches such as C4.5. However, the approach also suffers from two major deficiencies: (1) it generates a very large number of association rules, which leads to high processing overhead; and (2) its confidence-based rule evaluation measure may lead to overfitting. In comparison with associative classification, traditional rule-based classifiers, such as C4.5, FOIL and RIPPER, are substantially faster but their accuracy, in most cases, may not be as high. In this paper, we propose a new classification approach, CPAR (Classification based on Predictive Association Rules), which combines the advantages of both associative classification and traditional rule-based classification. Instead of generating a large number of candidate rules as in associative classification, CPAR adopts a greedy algorithm to generate rules directly from training data. Moreover, CPAR generates and tests more rules than traditional rule-based classifiers to avoid missing important rules. To avoid overfitting, CPAR uses expected accuracy to evaluate each rule and uses the best k rules in prediction.
Advertising: the Persuasion Game

The ”Persuasion Game” was originally configured to analyze a firm’s choice of how much vertical product information it would wish to reveal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a firm wants to reveal its true quality. We extend the persuasion game to bring it squarely into the economics of advertising. Extending Anderson and Renault (2006), we analyze advertising content and the information disclosed to consumers. We show that quality information takes precedence over price information and horizontal product information.
Decode-and-Forward-Based Differential Modulation for Cooperative Communication System With Unitary and Nonunitary Constellations

In this paper, we derive a maximum-likelihood (ML) decoder of the differential data in a decode-and-forward (DF)-based cooperative communication system utilizing uncoded transmissions. This decoder is applicable to complex-valued unitary and nonunitary constellations suitable for differential modulation. The ML decoder helps to improve the diversity of the DF-based differential cooperative system using an erroneous relaying node. We also derive a piecewise linear (PL) decoder of the differential data transmitted in the DF-based cooperative system. The proposed PL decoder significantly reduces the decoding complexity, as compared with the proposed ML decoder, with no significant degradation in the receiver performance. Existing ML and PL decoders of the differentially modulated uncoded data in the DF-based cooperative communication system are only applicable to binary modulated signals like binary phase shift keying and binary frequency shift keying, whereas the proposed decoders are applicable to complex-valued unitary and nonunitary constellations suitable for differential modulation under uncoded transmissions. We derive a closed-form expression of the uncoded average symbol error rate (SER) of the proposed PL decoder with M phase-shift keying constellation in a cooperative communication system with a single relay and one source-destination pair. An approximate average SER by ignoring higher order noise terms is also derived for this setup. It is analytically shown on the basis of the derived approximate SER that the proposed PL decoder provides full diversity of second order. In addition, we also derive the approximate SER of the differential DF system with multiple relays at asymptotically high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the source-relay links. It is shown by simulations that the proposed PL decoder in the differential DF cooperative system with more than one relay also achieves the maximum possible diversity.
Cloning of the regulatory genes (ompR and envZ) for the matrix proteins of the Escherichia coli outer membrane

We have cloned the regulatory gene cluster of Escherichia coli which is composed of at least two distinct genes, ompR and envZ. These genes are known to regulate the production of the outer membrane matrix proteins. The newly formed plasmids were found to complement not only ompR mutations but also envZ mutations. The ompR gene product was identified as a protein of an apparent molecular weight of 28,500.
Sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics in relation to dietary patterns among young Brazilian adults

Abstract Objective To identify dietary patterns among young adults and the relationships with socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Design Population-based, cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study. Food intake was assessed by a frequency questionnaire, and dietary patterns were identified using principal components analysis. Setting Southern Brazil. Subjects A total of 4202 men and women aged 23 years, who participated in the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. Results Five dietary patterns were identified: common Brazilian, processed food, vegetable/fruit, dairy/dessert and tubers/pasta. Subjects who had low own or maternal educational levels, low social position or who were always poor throughout life had high adherence to the common Brazilian dietary pattern. In contrast, the processed food pattern was more likely to be followed by those belonging to middle and high social position and who were never poor. Men and smokers showed high adherence to the processed food and common Brazilian dietary patterns. Vegetable/fruit pattern was more likely to be followed by women and subjects engaged in physical activity. Women also showed high adherence to the dairy/dessert pattern. Conclusions Our study among young Brazilian adults has identified distinct dietary patterns that are clearly influenced by socio-economic and lifestyle characteristics, which have important policy implications in a country with marked social and economic inequalities.
Effect of Mercerization on Surface Modification of Henequen (Agave fourcroydes) Fiber by Photo-Curing with 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (HEMA)

Abstract Henequen fibers were cured under ultraviolet (UV) radiation with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in order to improve the mechanical properties and reduce the water absorption. A series of solutions of different HEMA concentration in methanol along with photoinitiator Irgacure 907 was prepared. The radiation dose, monomer (HEMA) concentration and soaking time were optimized with respect to grafting of monomer and mechanical properties of cured fiber. 3% HEMA, 5 min soaking time, at the ninth pass of radiation, produced higher tensile strength (190%) and elongation at break (195%), than those of the virgin fiber, as well as the highest grafting value (4.2%). For further improvement of the mechanical properties, the fibers were treated with an alkali (KOH) solution of various concentrations for 1 h before curing. 10% alkali-treated fibers showed increased properties, such as grafting (5.4%), tensile strength (300%), and elongation at break (290%) over raw fiber. The treated fiber showed lower water uptake than the untreated ones. The grafted fibers were also characterized by IR and it was observed that HEMA deposited on the fiber surface may react with the cellulose backbone of the Henequen fibers.
Integrated System of Phytodepuration for Agroindustrial Wastewater: Three Different Case Studies

The effluents deriving from agricultural industries are sources of wastewater sensibly different from common civil wastewater treatment plants effluents, because they are characterized by significant amounts of nutrients and organic load. Agricultural industries require considerable water volumes for processing the farm products, in doing so generating huge volumes of wastewater, with high concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Advanced and low cost techniques for water depuration are required in such circumstances, as the use of Integrated System of Phytodepuration (ISP). In the present work, three different case studies (a dairy, a pig feedlot and a vinegar industry) are investigated: the performances of the ISPs were evaluated analyzing raw wastewaters and final effluents over a period ranging from 2 to 4 years. The results obtained show that the designed ISPs are characterized by a mean efficiency value higher than 85% for COD removal, 73% for N and 85% for P. Moreover, for the pig feedlot the ISP final effluent is characterized by a quality level not only suited for the release into surface waters but also for irrigation, while for the other two case studies is possible to release the final effluent in surface water.
Education by General Practitioners or Education and Exercises by Physiotherapists for Patients With Whiplash-Associated Disorders? A Randomized Clinical Trial

Study Design. Randomized clinical trial. Objective. To compare the effectiveness of education and advice given by general practitioners (GPs) with education, advice, and active exercise therapy given by physiotherapists (PTs) for patients with whiplash-associated disorders. Summary of Background Data. Available evidence from systematic reviews has indicated beneficial effects for active interventions in patients with whiplash-associated disorders. However, it remained unclear which kind of active treatment was most effective. Methods. Whiplash patients with symptoms or disabilities at 2 weeks after accident were recruited in primary care. Eligible patients still having symptoms or disabilities at 4 weeks were randomly allocated to GP care or physiotherapy. GPs and PTs treated patients according to a dynamic multimodal treatment protocol primarily aimed to increase activities and influence unfavorable psychosocial factors for recovery. We trained all health care providers about the characteristics of the whiplash problem, available evidence regarding prognosis and treatment, and protocol of the interventions. The content of the information provided to patients during treatment depended on the treatment goals set by the GPs or PTs. Also, the type of exercises chosen by the PTs depended on the treatment goals, and it was not explicitly necessary that exercise therapy was provided in all patients. Primary outcome measures included neck pain intensity, headache intensity, and work activities. Furthermore, an independent blinded assessor measured functional recovery, cervical range of motion, disability, housekeeping and social activities, fear of movement, coping, and general health status. We assessed outcomes at 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks after the accident. Results. A total of 80 patients were randomized to either GP care (n = 42) or physiotherapy (n = 38). At 12 and 52 weeks, no significant differences were found concerning the primary outcome measures. At 12 weeks, physiotherapy was significantly more effective than GP care for improving 1 of the measures of cervical range of motion (adjusted mean difference 12.3°; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7–21.9). Long-term differences between the groups favored GP care but were statistically significant only for some secondary outcome measures, including functional recovery (adjusted relative risk 2.3; 95% CI 1.0–5.0), coping (adjusted mean difference 1.7 points; 95% CI 0.2–3.3), and physical functioning (adjusted mean difference 8.9 points; 95% CI 0.6–17.2). Conclusions. We found no significant differences for the primary outcome measures. Treatment by GPs and PTs were of similar effectiveness. The long-term effects of GP care seem to be better compared to physiotherapy for functional recovery, coping, and physical functioning. Physiotherapy seems to be more effective than GP care on cervical range of motion at short-term follow-up.