Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outage Analysis of Relay Assisted Cooperative Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access systems Over Nakagamai-m Fading

This paper deals with the performance of cooperative relaying system (CRS) integrated with non orthogonal multiple access (NOMA). In particular, we study the performance of CRS in terms outage probability by using NOMA over Nakagami-m fading channels. Analytical expressions are derived for the outage probability and the corresponding expressions for Rayleigh fading are obtained here as special case of Nakagami-m fading. Some numerical examples are given in this paper for illustration purposes. All analytical results are validated via simulation.
Overview of the ImageCLEF 2012 Scalable Web Image Annotation Task

The ImageCLEF 2012 Scalable Image Annotation Using Gen- eral Web Data Task proposed a challenge, in which as training data instead of relying only on a set of manually annotated images, the ob- jective was to make use of automatically gathered Web data, with the aim of developing more scalable image annotation systems. To this end, the participants were provided with a new dataset, composed of 250,000 images for training, which included various visual feature types, and tex- tual features obtained from the websites in which the images appeared. Two subtasks were defined. The first subtask employed the same test set as the ImageCLEF 2012 Flickr Photo Annotation subtask, with the particularity that both the Flickr and Web training sets had to be used. The idea was to determine if the Web data could help to enhance the annotation performance in comparison to using only manually annotated data. The second subtask consisted in using only automatically gathered Web data to develop an image annotation system. For this, we provided a development and test sets of 1,000 and 2,000 images, respectively, both manually annotated for 95 and 105 concepts, respectively. The partici- pants of the first subtask were not able to take advantage of the Web data to enhance the annotation performance. On the contrary, in the second subtask interesting results were obtained. As expected, the over- all performance of the systems is worse than using manually annotated data, nonetheless, the results are promising when analyzing per concept. For some concepts the performance is relatively good, confirming that the Web data can in fact be quite useful. Moreover, due to the low par- ticipation and the relatively simple techniques used, it is believed that there is considerable room for improvement on both subtasks.
featureCounts: an efficient general purpose program for assigning sequence reads to genomic features

MOTIVATION Next-generation sequencing technologies generate millions of short sequence reads, which are usually aligned to a reference genome. In many applications, the key information required for downstream analysis is the number of reads mapping to each genomic feature, for example to each exon or each gene. The process of counting reads is called read summarization. Read summarization is required for a great variety of genomic analyses but has so far received relatively little attention in the literature. RESULTS We present featureCounts, a read summarization program suitable for counting reads generated from either RNA or genomic DNA sequencing experiments. featureCounts implements highly efficient chromosome hashing and feature blocking techniques. It is considerably faster than existing methods (by an order of magnitude for gene-level summarization) and requires far less computer memory. It works with either single or paired-end reads and provides a wide range of options appropriate for different sequencing applications. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION featureCounts is available under GNU General Public License as part of the Subread (http://subread.sourceforge.net) or Rsubread (http://www.bioconductor.org) software packages.
Performance Enhancement of Stand-Alone DFIG Systems With Control of Rotor and Load Side Converters Using Resonant Controllers

In this paper, the control of a stand-alone doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind power conversion system with unbalanced and nonlinear loads is investigated. Under these load conditions, the quality of stator voltage and current waveforms of the DFIG is strongly affected due to the negative and distorted components, reducing the performance of other normal loads connected to the DFIG. To tackle this problem, the control strategy is comprehensively developed in both rotor-side converter (RSC) and load-side converter (LSC) of the DFIG. The LSC is used as an active power filter to compensate for unbalanced and distorted stator currents whereas the RSC is developed to fully eliminate unbalanced and harmonic voltages at the point of common coupling. The proposed compensation method is based on current controllers in either the RSC or the LSC, which employ a proportional integral plus a resonant controller. These current controllers are controlled in the positive synchronous reference frame so that the rotor current and stator current are directly regulated without decomposing sequential components. Analytical issues on how to eliminate unbalanced and distorted components in the stator voltage and current are also described in this paper. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy, experimental results with 2.2-kW DFIG topology are presented and discussed in the paper.
REMOTE SENSING MEASUREMENTS OF AEROSOL OPTICAL THIC KNESS AND CORRELATION WITH IN-SITU AIR QUALITY PARAMETERS DUR ING A BIOMASS BURNING EPISODE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Smoke haze related to biomass burning is a recurri ng environmental problem in Southeast Asia which has affected air quality not o nly in the source regions, but also in the surrounding areas. Air quality monitoring stations and meteorological stations in the region provide valuable information on the concentrations f criteria pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and particul ate mass (PM10) during the haze episodes. Due to the limited coverage of the air quality moni t ring stations, it is difficult to study and monitor the spatial and temporal variability of the smoke haze caused by biomass burning, especially in areas without ground-based instrument ation. As such, in this paper, we combine the standard in-situ measurements of PM 10 with remote sensing imagery obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODI S) on board the Terra and Aqua satellites. The columnar AOT is first derived from MODIS images for regions where PM 10 measurements are available and a correlation betwee n AOT and PM10 measurements is then established. Based on this empirical correlation, i t is also shown that MODIS AOT can be used to estimate air quality categories as defined in th e Air Pollutant Index (API) used by Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) and the Pollutant S tandards Index (PSI) used by Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA). With this integr ated approach, we hope to complement and enhance current capabilities in monitoring air quality during the haze episodes.
Dividing attention in the classroom reduces exam performance

Abstract The intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices (laptop, tablet, and cell phone) has transformed the modern college lecture into a divided attention task. This study measured the effect of using an electronic device for a non-academic purpose during class on subsequent exam performance. In a two-section college course, electronic devices were permitted in half the lectures, so the effect of the devices was assessed in a within-student, within-item counterbalanced experimental design. Dividing attention between an electronic device and the classroom lecture did not reduce comprehension of the lecture, as measured by within-class quiz questions. Instead, divided attention reduced long-term retention of the classroom lecture, which impaired subsequent unit exam and final exam performance. Students self-reported whether they had used an electronic device in each class. Exam performance was significantly worse than the no-device control condition both for students who did and did not use electronic devices during that class.
UNIFORM REDUCTION ERROR ANALYSIS BY RAY BULAND

By taking advantage of asymptotic results from the statistical literature, it is possible to develop marginal confidence intervals and joint confidence regions for hypocentral parameters derived from Jeffreys' uniform reduction earthquake location algorithm. The method currently used to compute confidence intervals is ad hoc and can result in substantial errors. Monte Carlo experiments have been used to indicate typical deviations from the asymptotic distribution for finite numbers of observations. Also, the statistical theory can be applied to estimating the efficiency of the uniform reduction algorithm when applied to various models of the travel-time residual probability density function. Further, the nonuniqueness of the uniform reduction algorithm can be understood and eliminated by appealing to well-known results from robust statistical theory. Finally, it is possible to derive a weighting function which is asymptotically efficient for any presumed residual model.
p53: The Attractive Tumor Suppressor in the Cancer Research Field

p53 is one of the most studied tumor suppressors in the cancer research field. Of note, over 50% of human tumors carry loss of function mutations, and thus p53 has been considered to be a classical Knudson-type tumor suppressor. From the functional point of view, p53 is a nuclear transcription factor to transactivate a variety of its target genes implicated in the induction of cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and apoptotic cell death. In response to cellular stresses such as DNA damage, p53 is activated and promotes cell cycle arrest followed by the replacement of DNA lesions and/or apoptotic cell death. Therefore, p53 is able to maintain the genomic integrity to prevent the accumulation of genetic alterations, and thus stands at a crossroad between cell survival and cell death. In this paper, we describe a variety of molecular mechanisms behind the regulation of p53.
Ischemic Preconditioning: Neuronal Survival in the Face of Caspase-3 Activation

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved process critical to tissue development and tissue homeostasis in eukaryotic organisms and, when dysregulated, causes inappropriate cell death. Global ischemia is a neuronal insult that induces delayed cell death with many features of apoptosis. Ischemic preconditioning affords robust protection of CA1 neurons against a subsequent severe ischemic challenge. The molecular mechanisms underlying ischemic tolerance are unclear. Here we show that ischemia induces pronounced caspase-3 activity in naive neurons that die and in preconditioned neurons that survive. Preconditioning intervenes downstream of proteolytic processing and activation of caspase-3 (a protease implicated in the execution of apoptosis) and upstream of the caspase-3 target caspase-activated DNase (CAD, a deoxyribonuclease that catalyzes DNA fragmentation) to arrest neuronal death. We further show that global ischemia promotes expression of the pro-survival inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) family member cIAP, but unleashes Smac/DIABLO (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases/direct IAP-binding protein with low pI), a factor that neutralizes the protective actions of IAPs and promotes neuronal death. Preconditioning blocks the mitochondrial release of Smac/DIABLO, but not the ischemia-induced upregulation of IAPs. In the absence of Smac/DIABLO, cIAP halts the caspase death cascade and arrests neuronal death. These findings suggest that preconditioning preserves the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane, enabling neurons to survive in the face of caspase activation.
The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract. The outlet glaciers to the embayment of the Larsen-B Ice Shelf started to accelerate soon after the ice shelf disintegrated in March 2002. We analyse high resolution radar images of the TerraSAR-X satellite, launched in June 2007, to map the motion of outlet glaciers in detail. The frontal velocities are used to estimate the calving fluxes for 2008/2009. As reference for pre-collapse conditions, when the glaciers were in balanced state, the ice fluxes through the same gates are computed using ice motion maps derived from interferometric data of the ERS-1/ERS-2 satellites in 1995 and 1999. Profiles of satellite laser altimetry from ICESat, crossing the terminus of several glaciers, indicate considerable glacier thinning between 2003 and 2007/2008. This is taken into account for defining the calving cross sections. The difference between the pre- and post-collapse fluxes provides an estimate on the mass imbalance. For the Larsen-B embayment the 2008 mass deficit is estimated at 4.34 ± 1.64 Gt a−1, significantly lower than previously published values. The ice flow acceleration follows a similar pattern on the various glaciers, gradually decreasing in magnitude with distance upstream from the calving front. This suggests stress perturbation at the glacier front being the main factor for acceleration. So far there are no signs of slow-down indicating that dynamic thinning and frontal retreat will go on.
Relationships between Place Cell Firing Fields and Navigational Decisions by Rats

This study examined the performance of spatial problems by rats when purely behavioral manipulations disturb the relationship between the place cell representation and the cues used to solve the problems. Place cells were recorded while rats performed a task in which they had to locate a goal in a gray cylinder. In the “far” task, the unmarked goal was displaced by a large fixed distance from a white card on the cylinder wall. In the “near” task, the unmarked goal was directly in front of the card. Finally, in the “cue” task the goal was marked by a black disk on the cylinder floor. Relationships between visible stimuli and place cell activity were manipulated by conducting either “hidden” (with the rat in its home cage) or “visible” (with the rat in the recording apparatus) rotations of the wall card and, when present, independent rotations of the black disk. Hidden card rotations generally caused equal firing field rotations, whereas visible card rotations often did not cause fields to move. In the far task, visible card rotations were associated with a strong decrease of correct responses in the card-referred goal area. Most rats tended to search the goal in the field-referred area. In the near task, visible card rotations were associated with a moderate decrease of performance, with rats searching the goal at the wall card. Finally, field placements had no effect on performance in the cue task. Thus, visible rotations tended to disrupt the relationship between firing fields and cues in all tasks but impaired performance only in the task that required map-based navigation. These results provide strong new evidence in favor of the spatial mapping theory of hippocampal function.
Variation in thyroid function tests in patients with stable untreated subclinical hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE Knowledge of variation in thyroid function is important for interpretation of thyroid function tests. We aimed to describe intra-individual variation in thyroid function in patients with stable, untreated subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) compared to euthyroid individuals to assess the importance of monitoring SCH patients. DESIGN We measured thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), and free triiodothyronine (fT3) monthly for 1 year in a longitudinal study of 15 untreated SCH patients with initial TSH 5-12 mU/L, without trends in TSH, and compared findings with results from 15 euthyroid individuals. MAIN OUTCOME CV% was 17.0, 6.1, and 6.2 for TSH, fT4, and fT3, respectively. Overall CV% for TSH was lower in SCH patients than controls. Contrary to euthyroid individuals, CV% in SCH patients increased with rising mean TSH (r2 = 0.29, p = 0.04). Individual disease set points were established with 45, 6, and 6 tests for TSH, fT4, and fT3, with 95% confidence. Differences required between two test results were 40%, 15%, and 15%, respectively, with 90% confidence. CONCLUSION Percent variation in TSH was lower in SCH than in euthyroid controls, but increased with higher mean TSH. The number of tests needed to establish disease set points was high. The difference required between two tests to be truly different was 40% for TSH and 15% for fT4 and fT3.
Detection of G-quadruplex DNA in mammalian cells

It has been proposed that guanine-rich DNA forms four-stranded structures in vivo called G-quadruplexes or G4 DNA. G4 DNA has been implicated in several biological processes, but tools to study G4 DNA structures in cells are limited. Here we report the development of novel murine monoclonal antibodies specific for different G4 DNA structures. We show that one of these antibodies designated 1H6 exhibits strong nuclear staining in most human and murine cells. Staining intensity increased on treatment of cells with agents that stabilize G4 DNA and, strikingly, cells deficient in FANCJ, a G4 DNA-specific helicase, showed stronger nuclear staining than controls. Our data strongly support the existence of G4 DNA structures in mammalian cells and indicate that the abundance of such structures is increased in the absence of FANCJ. We conclude that monoclonal antibody 1H6 is a valuable tool for further studies on the role of G4 DNA in cell and molecular biology.
Pension reform , employment by age , long-run growth , and income at old-age in an OLG model with heterogeneous abilities

We study the effects of pension reform in a four-period OLG model for an open economy where hours worked by three active generations, education of the young, the retirement decision of older workers, and aggregate growth, are all endogenous. Within each generation we distinguish individuals with high, medium or low ability to build human capital. This extension allows to investigate also the effects of pension reform on the income and welfare levels of different ability groups. Particular attention goes to the income at old-age and the welfare level of low-ability individuals. Our simulation results prefer an intelligent pay-as-you-go pension system above a fully-funded private system. When it comes to promoting employment, human capital, growth, and aggregate welfare, positive effects in a pay-as-you-go system are the strongest when it includes a tight link between individual labor income (and contributions) and the pension, and when it attaches a high weight to labor income earned as an older worker to compute the pension assessment base. Such a regime does, however, imply welfare losses for the current low-ability generations, and rising inequality in welfare. Complementing or replacing this ‘intelligent’ pay-as-you-go system by basic and/or minimum pension components promotes welfare of the current and (maybe) future low-ability generations, but is negative for aggregate welfare, employment and growth. Better is to maintain the tight link between individual labor income and the pension also for low-ability individuals, but to strongly raise their replacement rate.
Fe b 20 06 RHESSI OBSERVATION OF FLARE ELEMENTS

RHESSI observations of elementary flare bursts are presented. These solar flare elements are distinct emission peaks of a duration of some tens of seconds present in the hard X-ray light curves. They are characterized by consistent soft-hard-soft spectral behavior, which can be described in a quantitative way and compared which predictions from acceleration models. A detailed analysis of hard X-ray images for an M5 class flare shows that elementary flare bursts do not occur at distinct locations, but as twin X-ray sources move smoothly along an arcade of magnetic loops. This observation apparently contradicts the predictions of standard translation invariant 2. 5dimensional reconnection models.
Livelihood Security and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Low and Middle Income Settings: A Systematic Review

Introduction We sought to examine the association between livelihood security and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) in low- and middle-income countries (LIMC). Methods Performing a systematic review, we searched, independently and in duplicate, 7 electronic databases and 2 conference websites for quantitative surveys that examined the association between indicators of livelihood security and adherence to ARVs in LIMC between 2000–2010. Criteria for relevance were applied to complete papers (quantitative study with estimates of associations) and quality assessment was conducted on those deemed relevant. We performed three regressions to measure the association between each type of livelihood and adherence. Results Twenty original studies and 6 conference abstracts were included, the majority from Africa (n = 16). Seventeen studies and 3 conference abstracts were cross-sectional and 3 studies and 3 abstracts were prospective clinical cohort studies, with considerable variation in quality for studies of each design type. Among the diverse populations represented, we observed considerable variation in associations between measurements of livelihood indicators and increasingly accepted adherence measures, irrespective of study design or quality. A financial capital indicator, financial constraints/payment for ARV medication, was more commonly associated with non-adherence (3/5 studies). A human capital indicator, educational level, was most commonly associated with adherence (11/20 studies). Discussion Additional better quality research examining livelihood security is required to inform provision of optimal supports for adherence and mitigation of the impacts of HIV/AIDS.
Microminiature packaging and integrated circuitry: The work of E. F. Rent, with an application to on-chip interconnection requirements

Research on Rent's rule in electrical engineering, the applied sciences, and technology has been based on the publication of a 1971 interpretation of Rent's memoranda by B. S. Landman and R. L. Russo. Because of the wide impact of Rent's work and requests from researchers, we present his original memoranda in this paper. We review the impact of Rent's work and present the memoranda in the context of IBM computer hardware development since the 1950s. Furthermore, because computer hardware components have changed significantly since the memoranda were written in 1960, a new interpretation is needed for today's ultra-large-scale integrated circuitry. On the basis of our analysis of the memoranda, one of the authors' personal knowledge of the 1401 and 1410 computers, and our experience in the design of high-performance circuitry for microprocessor chips, we have derived an historically equivalent interpretation of Rent's memoranda that is suitable for today's computer components. We describe an application of our historically equivalent interpretation to the problem of assessing on-chip interconnection requirements of control logic circuitry in the IBM POWER4TM microprocessor.