Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metrics for detection of QoS degradation over wireless LAN

IEEE802.11 wireless LAN systems are being widely used and multiple wireless LAN coexistence systems like 802.11b/g are available at the same time. However, in such environments, network performance is likely to degrade because the CAMA/CA mechanism does not always work well. Especially in the 802.11b/g systems, issues on performance degradation caused by the CTS-protection mechanism come to surface. To manage and maintain the QoS in such environments, it is required to detect and estimate the QoS degradation effectively. We found that the so-called retry ratio (i.e., the retry ratio of the numbers of transmitted packets to retransmitted ones) is strongly correlated with IP-packet quality metrics through our IP packet experiments. It is thus considered that retry ratio is applicable to managing the quality of some applications over wireless LAN.
Prenatal Stress due to a Natural Disaster Predicts Adiposity in Childhood: The Iowa Flood Study

Prenatal stress can affect lifelong physical growth, including increased obesity risk. However, human studies remain limited. Natural disasters provide models of independent stressors unrelated to confounding maternal characteristics. We assessed degree of objective hardship and subjective distress in women pregnant during severe flooding. At ages 2.5 and 4 years we assessed body mass index (BMI), subscapular plus triceps skinfolds (SS + TR, an index of total adiposity), and SS : TR ratio (an index of central adiposity) in their children (n = 106). Hierarchical regressions controlled first for several potential confounds. Controlling for these, flood exposure during early gestation predicted greater BMI increase from age 2.5 to 4, as well as total adiposity at 2.5. Greater maternal hardship and distress due to the floods, as well as other nonflood life events during pregnancy, independently predicted greater increase in total adiposity between 2.5 and 4 years. These results support the hypothesis that prenatal stress increases adiposity beginning in childhood and suggest that early gestation is a sensitive period. Results further highlight the additive effects of maternal objective and subjective stress, life events, and depression, emphasizing the importance of continued studies on multiple, detailed measures of maternal mental health and experience in pregnancy and child growth.
Interaction Design for Recommender Systems

1 kirstens@sims.berkeley. edu, sinha@sims.berkeley. edu ABSTRACT Recommender systems act as personalized decision guides for users, aiding them in decision making about matters related to personal taste. Research has focused mostly on the algorithms that drive the system, with little understanding of design issues from the user’s perspective. The goal of our research is to study users’ interactions with recommender systems in order to develop general design guidelines. We have studied users’ interactions with 11 online recommender systems. Our studies have highlighted the role of transparency (understanding of system logic), familiar recommendations, and information about recommended items in the user’s interaction with the system. Our results also indicate that there are multiple models for successful recommender systems.
The Fundamental Design Approach of The RF-DC Conversion Circuit for Optimizing Its Characteristics

A Rectifying Antenna (Rectenna) is one of the most important components for a wireless power transmission. It has been developed for many applications such as Space Solar Power System (SSPS), Radio Frequency IDentification (RF-ID), and electric vehicle etc. The Rectenna consisting of RF-DC conversion circuits and receiving antennas needs to be designed for high conversion efficiency to achieve efficient power transmission. In this paper, we investigated the RF-DC conversion circuits by the theoretical analysis. And, we propose the theoretical formula for calculating the output DC voltage in giving the input voltage. The result that is calculated by the formula agreed with the simulator's result, so, we confirmed the validity of the formula we derived. The theory and the formula we derived are useful in order to know the basic operation of the RF-DC conversion circuit, and to design the circuit efficiently.
Cultivation Techniques and Medicinal Properties of Pleurotus spp.

Summary The genus Pleurotus (oyster mushroom) comprises some the most popular edible mushrooms due to their favourable organoleptic and medicinal properties, vigorous growth and undemanding cultivation conditions. It can be cultivated on log and a wide variety of agroforestry (by-)products, weeds and wastes for the production of food, feed, enzymes and medicinal compounds, or for waste degradation and detoxification. Many different techniques and substrates have been successfully utilized for mushroom cultivation and biomass production by means of solid-state and submerged liquid fermentation. However, in contrast to submerged liquid fermentation, solid-state fermentation is not often used in large scale due to severe engineering problems. Various Pleurotus species have been shown to possess a number of medicinal properties, such as antitumour, immunomodulatory, antigenotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolaemic, antihypertensive, antiplatelet-aggregating, antihyperglycaemic, antimicrobial and antiviral activities. These therapeutic activities are exhibited by extracts or isolated compounds from Pleurotus spp. fermentation broth, mycelia and fruiting bodies. In particular, polysaccharides appear to be potent antitumour and immuno-enhancing substances, besides possessing other beneficial activities. However, the biochemical mechanisms of these therapeutic activities still remain largely unknown. This review focuses on recent advances in the biotechnology of Pleurotus spp. , with emphasis on the production of fruiting bodies, the production of mycelium and bioactive compounds by solid-state and submerged liquid fermentation. The medicinal properties of this mushroom are also outlined.
The galaxy luminosity-size relation and selection biases in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

We use the Hubble Ultra Deep Field to study the galaxy luminosity‐size (M‐Re) distribution. With a careful analysis of selection effects due to both detection completeness and measurement reliability, we identify bias-free regions in the M‐Re plane for a series of volume-limited samples. By comparison to a nearby survey also having well-defined selection limits, namely the Millennium Galaxy Catalogue, we present clear evidence for evolution in surface brightness since z ∼ 0.7. Specifically, we demonstrate that the mean, rest-frame B-band � μ� e for galaxies in a sample spanning 8 mag in luminosity between MB =− 22 and −14 mag increases by ∼1.0 mag arcsec −2 from z ∼ 0.1 to 0.7. We also highlight the importance of considering surface
A Proof of Security of a Mesh Security Architecture

The IEEE 802.11s standard is tasked to provide ways of establishing and securing a wireless mesh network. One proposal establishes a Mesh Security Architecture (MSA), with an interesting key hierarchy and full protocol definitions. This paper proves the correctness and security of the MSA proposal and its corresponding protocols. We also propose and prove the security of an additional protocol (an abbreviated handshake) which offers a substantial efficiency improvement in certain instances. To prove the entire architecture secure, we utilize Protocol Composition Logic (PCL) to prove each protocol secure. From that basis, we can show the protocols compose securely to prove the entire architecture. We also contribute some novel concepts to PCL, to allow us to prove the security of the overall architecture.
An implementation of three algorithms for timing verification based on automata emptiness

Three algorithms for checking the emptiness of a timed transition system have been implemented. The first algorithm performs a straightforward reachability analysis on sets of states of the system, rather than on individual states. This corresponds to stepping symbolically through the system many states at a time. The other two algorithms are minimization algorithms. These simultaneously perform reachability analysis and minimization from an implicit system description. The paradigm for verification is to test for the emptiness of the set of all timed system executions that violate a requirements specification. Preliminary results over two simple examples indicate that memory usage is a more limiting factor than time. <<ETX>>
Estimation of Short-Term Effects of Air Pollution on Stroke Hospital Admissions in Wuhan, China

Background and Objective High concentrations of air pollutants have been linked to increased incidence of stroke in North America and Europe but not yet assessed in mainland China. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between stroke hospitalization and short-term elevation of air pollutants in Wuhan, China. Methods Daily mean NO2, SO2 and PM10 levels, temperature and humidity were obtained from 2006 through 2008. Data on stroke hospitalizations (ICD 10: I60–I69) at four hospitals in Wuhan were obtained for the same period. A time-stratified case-crossover design was performed by season (April-September and October-March) to assess effects of pollutants on stroke hospital admissions. Results Pollution levels were higher in October-March with averages of 136.1 µg/m3 for PM10, 63.6 µg/m3 for NO2 and 71.0 µg/m3 for SO2 than in April-September when averages were 102.0 µg/m3, 41.7 µg/m3 and 41.7 µg/m3, respectively (p<.001). During the cold season, every 10 µg/m3 increase in NO2 was associated with a 2.9% (95%C.I. 1.2%–4.6%) increase in stroke admissions on the same day. Every 10 ug/m3 increase in PM10 daily concentration was significantly associated with an approximate 1% (95% C.I. 0.1%–1.4%) increase in stroke hospitalization. A two-pollutant model indicated that NO2 was associated with stroke admissions when controlling for PM10. During the warm season, no significant associations were noted for any of the pollutants. Conclusions Exposure to NO2 is significantly associated with stroke hospitalizations during the cold season in Wuhan, China when pollution levels are 50% greater than in the warm season. Larger and multi-center studies in Chinese cities are warranted to validate our findings.
Estimating the Lqac Model with I(2) Variables

This paper derives a method for estimating and testing the Linear Quadratic Adjustment Cost (LQAC) model when the target variable and some of the forcing variables follow I(2) processes. Based on a forward-looking error-correction formulation of the model it is shown how to obtain strongly consistent estimates of the structural parameters from both a linear and a non-linear cointegrating regression where first-differences of the I(2) variables are included as regressors (multicointegration). Further, based on the estimated parameter values, it is shown how to test and evaluate the LQAC model using a VAR approach. A simple easy interpretable metric for measuring the model fit is suggested. In an empirical application using UK money demand data, the non-linear multicointegrating regression delivers an economically plausible estimate of the adjustment cost parameter. However, the restrictions implied by the exact LQAC model under rational expectations are strongly rejected and the metric for model fit indicates a substantial noise component in the model.
MicroRNA-214 inhibits angiogenesis by targeting Quaking and reducing angiogenic growth factor release.

AIMS Angiogenesis is a critical component of many pathological conditions in adult tissues and is essential for embryonic development. MicroRNAs are indispensable for normal vascular development, but their exact role in regulating angiogenesis remains unresolved. Previously, we have observed that miR-214 is differentially expressed in compensatory arteriogenesis. Here, we investigated the potential role of miR-214 in the process of angiogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS miR-214 is expressed in all major vascular cell types, and modulation of miR-214 levels in endothelial cells significantly affected tubular sprouting. In vivo silencing of miR-214 enhanced the formation of a perfused vascular network in implanted Matrigel plugs and retinal developmental angiogenesis in mice. miR-214 directly targets Quaking, a protein critical for vascular development. Quaking knockdown reduced pro-angiogenic growth factor expression and inhibited endothelial cell sprouting similar to miR-214 overexpression. In accordance, silencing of miR-214 increased the secretion of pro-angiogenic growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, and enhanced the pro-angiogenic action of the endothelial cell-derived conditioned medium, whereas miR-214 overexpression had the opposite effect. CONCLUSION Here, we report a novel role for miR-214 in regulating angiogenesis and identify Quaking as a direct target of miR-214. The anti-angiogenic effect of miR-214 is mediated through the down-regulation of Quaking and pro-angiogenic growth factor expression. This study presents miR-214 as a potential important target for pro- or anti-angiogenic therapies.
Extraction of Web Site Evaluation Criteria and Automatic Evaluation

This paper proposes an automated web site evaluation using machine learning to extract evaluation criteria from existing evaluation data. Web site evaluation is a significant task because evaluated web sites provide information useful to users in estimating sites validation and popularity. Although many practical approaches have been taken to present possible measuring sticks for web sites, their evaluation criteria are manually determined. We developed a method to obtain evaluation criteria automatically and rank web sites with the learned classifier. Evaluation criteria are discriminant functions learned from a set of ranking information and evaluation features collected automatically by web robots. Experiments confirmed the effectiveness of our approach and its potential in high-quality web site evaluation.
Debt dynamics and excess sensitivity of consumption to transitory wealth changes

We analyse the consumption-wealth relationship using a framework that accounts for transitory variation in wealth, and in a setting where transitory variation in household net worth is not dominated by boom and bust cycles in stock markets. We find that transitory variation in consumption depends positively on recent transitory changes in wealth. In addition, we find that gross asset wealth and household debt are positively related. Both findings constitute departures from standard lifecycle/ permanent income hypothesis theory with complete financial markets, but can be explained by the introduction of liquidity constraints.
Influence of Image Segment Size on Efficiency of SA DCT

In the paper influence of segments size on the efficiency of SA DCT is analyzed. Namely, it is shown that typical in image compression 8times8-pixel blocks are usually too small for obtaining the best PSNR values. Optimal block size depends on compression ratio, it grows from 12times12 pixels for low compression (more than 1 bit per pixel) up to 32times32 pixels or natural (non-rectangular) segmentation for less than 0.5 bits per pixel. The explanation is obvious, it is required that for a segment at least its DC component should be computed, while the number of blocks is inversely proportional to their size. The difference is also clearly seen when evaluating images subjectively
The New Epidemiology of HIV-Related Kidney Disease

HIV-related kidney disease has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the HIV population. It is clear that the epidemiology of HIV-related kidney disease has changed dramatically since the first case reports in 1984. During these early years, the predominant etiology of kidney disease in HIV was recognized as HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), an aggressive form of kidney disease with a high rate of progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Subsequently, with the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), there was a dramatic decrease in the incidence of ESRD attributed to HIV/AIDS. Although the incidence of HIV-related ESRD has plateaued in the last 15 years, the prevalence has continued to increase because of improved survival. Available prevalence estimates do not include HIV-infected individuals with comorbid ESRD, although there is growing evidence that the epidemiology of kidney disease in the HIV-infected population has changed. This article reviews the impact of risk factors such as race, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hepatitis C virus coinfection, and the chronic use of cART on the changing epidemiology of HIV-related kidney disease. Additionally in this review, we propose potential areas of translational research that will help to further characterize HIV-related kidney disease in the 21st century.
Why are East Germans not More Mobile? Analyzing the Impact of Social Ties on Regional Migration

Individuals' preferences in transition regions are still shaped by the former communist system. We test this 'Communism legacy' hypothesis by examining the impact of acculturation in a communist regime on social network participation and, as a consequence, on preferences for spatial mobility. We focus on the paradigmatic case of East Germany where mobility intentions seem to be substantially weaker than in the western part. Applying an IV ordered probit approach we firstly find that East German people acculturated in a Communist system are more invested in locally bounded informal social capital than West Germans. Secondly, we confirm that membership in such locally bounded social networks reduces the intention to move away. Thirdly, after controlling for the social network effect the mobility gap between East and West substantially reduces. Low spatial mobility of the eastern population, we conclude, is to an important part attributable to a social capital endowment characteristic to post-communist economies.
Gender and flexibility in working time in Belgium

Since the 90s European discourse tends to present flexibility as the magic tool to raise employment, even if in a context of crisis, more flexible workers will be dismissed faster. The purpose of this paper is to assess the evolution of working time arrangements in Belgium as of 1992 from a gender perspective. It appears that new innovative forms of flexibility have not spread widely in Belgium but that the basic form of time flexibility, i.e. part time work, has developed (and continues to develop) rapidly amongst women workers. Part-time work is however one of the main causes of existing gender gaps on Belgium’s labour market.
An Observational Study of the Impact of a Computerized Physician Order Entry System on the Rate of Medication Errors in an Orthopaedic Surgery Unit

Aim To assess the impact of the implementation of a Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) associated with a pharmaceutical checking of medication orders on medication errors in the 3 stages of drug management (i.e. prescription, dispensing and administration) in an orthopaedic surgery unit. Methods A before-after observational study was conducted in the 66-bed orthopaedic surgery unit of a teaching hospital (700 beds) in Paris France. Direct disguised observation was used to detect errors in prescription, dispensing and administration of drugs, before and after the introduction of computerized prescriptions. Compliance between dispensing and administration on the one hand and the medical prescription on the other hand was studied. The frequencies and types of errors in prescribing, dispensing and administration were investigated. Results During the pre and post-CPOE period (two days for each period) 111 and 86 patients were observed, respectively, with corresponding 1,593 and 1,388 prescribed drugs. The use of electronic prescribing led to a significant 92% decrease in prescribing errors (479/1593 prescribed drugs (30.1%) vs 33/1388 (2.4%), p < 0.0001) and to a 17.5% significant decrease in administration errors (209/1222 opportunities (17.1%) vs 200/1413 (14.2%), p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in regards to dispensing errors (430/1219 opportunities (35.3%) vs 449/1407 (31.9%), p = 0.07). Conclusion The use of CPOE and a pharmacist checking medication orders in an orthopaedic surgery unit reduced the incidence of medication errors in the prescribing and administration stages. The study results suggest that CPOE is a convenient system for improving the quality and safety of drug management.
The ages and metallicities of galaxies in the local universe

We derive stellar metallicities, light-weighted ages and stellar masses for a magnitude-limited sample of 175 128 galaxies drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release Two (SDSS DR2). We compute the median-likelihood estimates of these parameters using a large library of model spectra at medium‐high resolution, covering a comprehensive range of star formation histories. The constraints we derive are set by the simultaneous fit of five spectral absorption features, which are well reproduced by our population synthesis models. By design, these constraints depend only weakly on the α/Fe element abundance ratio. Our sample includes galaxies of all types spanning the full range in star formation activity, from dormant early-type to actively star-forming galaxies. By analysing a subsample of 44 254 high-quality spectra, we show that, in the mean, galaxies follow a sequence of increasing stellar metallicity, age and stellar mass at increasing 4000-A break strength. For galaxies of intermediate mass, stronger Balmer absorption at fixed 4000-A break strength is associated with higher metallicity and younger age. We investigate how stellar metallicity and age depend on total galaxy stellar mass. Low-mass galaxies are typically young and metal-poor, massive galaxies old and metalrich, with a rapid transition between these regimes over the stellar mass range 3 × 10 9 M ∗ 3 × 10 10 M� . Both high- and low-concentration galaxies follow these relations, but there is a large dispersion in stellar metallicity at fixed stellar mass, especially for low-concentration galaxies of intermediate mass. Despite the large scatter, the relation between stellar metallicity and stellar mass is similar to the correlation between gas-phase oxygen abundance and stellar mass for star-forming galaxies. This is confirmed by the good correlation between stellar metallicity and gas-phase oxygen abundance for galaxies with both measures. The substantial range in stellar metallicity at fixed gas-phase oxygen abundance suggests that gas ejection and/or accretion are important factors in galactic chemical evolution. Ke yw ords: galaxies: evolution ‐ galaxies: formation ‐ galaxies: stellar content.
Joint optimization of scheduling and multicast trees by column-generation

In a wireless network, transmissions from the various nodes have to be scheduled so as to avoid mutual interference. The pattern of interference induced by active transmissions depends on the routes along which the link-transmissions have to be scheduled; i.e., the interference that scheduling has to accommodate depends on the routing. Both routing and scheduling are mechanisms to promote the efficient use of network capacity, and in view of their interdependence, it is important to consider their joint optimization. Considering one without the other can create limitations for each function and is non-optimal. We develop an algorithm based on the column-generation technique of Linear Programming for the joint optimization of routing and scheduling for multicast flows for maximizing network capacity, and demonstrate the benefit of the joint optimization in increased capacity over the case where the routing and scheduling are separately considered.