Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiuser subcarrier and bit allocation along with adaptive cell selection for OFDM transmission

A dynamic multiuser subcarrier-and-bit allocation algorithm with low computational complexity for wideband OFDM downlink transmission is proposed to exploit the multiuser diversity in this paper. Our objective is to maximize the overall spectral efficiency in terms of the number of bits per subcarrier while simultaneously satisfying the requirements on each user's data rate, bit error rate (BER), and the total transmit power. Our results show that the proposed dynamic subcarrier-and-bit allocation algorithm offers about 6 dB performance gain over OFDM using adaptive modulation with fixed subcarrier allocation. Since outages may occur when users happen to be located near the boundary of the cell, a novel adaptive cell selection scheme is proposed to further reduce the probability of outage. Our results show that the probability of outage can be reduced by one order of magnitude.
Attitudes toward the sexuality of persons with physical versus psychiatric disabilities.

OBJECTIVE Research has shown that attitudes toward different disabilities form a hierarchy, with observers exhibiting more positive attitudes toward persons with physical disabilities than toward persons with psychiatric disabilities. In addition, investigations of attitudes toward persons with a disability indicate that they are often perceived as asexual. The current study examined whether involvement of persons with either a physical or psychiatric disability in a sexual relationship moderates the relation between their type of disability and attitudes toward them. METHOD After reading one of six randomly assigned vignettes, university students (N = 195) filled out a semantic differential-based attitude scale (Katz & Shurka, 1977; Kravetz, Katz, & Albez, 1994). The six vignettes consisted of a male with a physical disability/with a psychiatric disability/without a disability, who was either involved/not involved in a sexual relationship. RESULTS An interaction between type of disability and involvement in a sexual relationship was found for two subscales of the attitudes scale, occupation and intelligence. Involvement in a sexual relationship was found to generate more positive attitudes when the target person had a physical disability but more negative attitudes when he had a psychiatric disability. CONCLUSIONS Involvement in a sexual relationship seems to work in favor of persons with a physical disability because of the association of such a relationship with normality and adaptation. However, attributing such a relationship to persons with a psychiatric disability seems to be stigmatic.
Modeling spatio-temporal nonlocality in mean-field dynamos

When scale separation in space or time is poor, the mean-field α effect and turbulent diffusivity have to be replaced by integral kernels by which the dependence of the mean electromotive force on the mean magnetic field becomes nonlocal. Earlier work in computing these kernels using the test-field method is now generalized to the case in which both spatial and temporal scale separations are poor. The approximate form of the kernel for isotropic stationary turbulence is such that it can be treated in a straightforward manner by solving a partial differential equation for the mean electromotive force. The resulting mean-field equations are solved for oscillatory α –shear dynamos as well as α2 dynamos with α linearly depending on position, which makes this dynamo oscillatory, too. In both cases, the critical values of the dynamo number is lowered due to spatio-temporal nonlocality.When scale separation in space or time is poor, the mean-field α effect and turbulent diffusivity have to be replaced by integral kernels by which the dependence of the mean electromotive force on the mean magnetic field becomes nonlocal. Earlier work in computing these kernels using the test-field method is now generalized to the case in which both spatial and temporal scale separations are poor. The approximate form of the kernel for isotropic stationary turbulence is such that it can be treated in a straightforward manner by solving a partial differential equation for the mean electromotive force. The resulting mean-field equations are solved for oscillatory α –shear dynamos as well as α2 dynamos
Fetal heart rate monitoring category 3 during the 2nd stage of labor is an independent predictor of fetal acidosis

Abstract Objective: To determine whether fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring categories during the 1st and 2nd stage of labor can predict arterial cord pH <7.2. Materials and methods: A case control study was conducted including 653 consecutive term deliveries (37 weeks gestation and above) that were divided according to fetal pH ≤ 7.2 (n = 315) and fetal pH > 7.2 (n = 338). Deliveries occurred during the year 2013 in tertiary medical center, where arterial cord pH is routinely taken after birth. Intrapartum FHR monitoring categorization was defined according to the ACOG committee guidelines by two obstetricians. Multivariable models were constructed to control for confounders. Results: Variable decelerations, late decelerations and bradycardia during the 1st and 2nd stages of labor were significantly higher in group of deliveries ended in cord pH < 7.2 compared with group of deliveries ended in cord pH > 7.2. A significant association was observed between category 2 and 3 during the 1st stage of labor and pH ≤ 7.2. However, while controlling for FHR category 3 at the 2nd stage of labor, 1st stage categorization lost its association with pH <7.2, and only category 3 during the 2nd stage were noted as an independent risk factor for acidosis. Conclusion: FHR monitoring category 3 during the 2nd stage of labor is an independent predictor of fetal acidosis as expressed by arterial cord pH < 7.2.
Perpendicular anisotropy in granular Co-Zr-O films

Soft granular Co–M–O films have promise for application in high-frequency thin-film inductors. But granular Co-based films are often found with perpendicular anisotropy, which can result in stripe domains and poor hysteresis behavior. Film microstructure was analyzed for Co-rich Co–Zr–O granular films with and without stripe-domain behavior. It is suggested that perpendicular anisotropy originates from columnar structure with Co columns perpendicular to film plane. The appearance of columnar structure is determined by sputter pressure and oxygen content.
Cooperative regulation by G proteins and Na+ of neuronal GIRK2 K+ channels

G protein gated inward rectifier K+ (GIRK) channels open and thereby silence cellular electrical activity when inhibitory G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are stimulated. Here we describe an assay to measure neuronal GIRK2 activity as a function of membrane-anchored G protein concentration. Using this assay we show that four Gβγ subunits bind cooperatively to open GIRK2, and that intracellular Na+ – which enters neurons during action potentials – further amplifies opening mostly by increasing Gβγ affinity. A Na+ amplification function is characterized and used to estimate the concentration of Gβγ subunits that appear in the membrane of mouse dopamine neurons when GABAB receptors are stimulated. We conclude that GIRK2, through its dual responsiveness to Gβγ and Na+, mediates a form of neuronal inhibition that is amplifiable in the setting of excess electrical activity. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.15751. 001
Antibodies to Mutated Citrullinated Vimentin in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diagnostic Value, Association with Radiological Damage and Axial Skeleton Affection

Background Early definitive diagnosis and effective treatment are mandatory in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as it can halt the disease progression and subsequent joints destruction. Objective To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) and its correlation with disease activity, peripheral and axial skeleton affection in RA patients. Patients and Methods A total of 123 patients with different rheumatic diseases were enrolled in a prospective-two year study at Ain Shams University hospital: 64 patients with RA and 59 patients with other rheumatic diseases as controls. RA patients were fulfilling the traditional and the new ACR/EULAR diagnostic criteria for RA. They have been followed up for two years. At baseline, all RA patients were subjected to: Clinical assessment of disease activity by taking full histories, general and local examination, measurement of 28 joint count of tender and swollen joints with calculation of disease activity score (DAS-28) for each patient. Complete blood count, erythrocytes sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor titers were performed. Anti-MCV IgG immunoglobulins’ assay was performed at the study endpoint by ELISA. RA patients were then classified into; anti-MCV positive and anti-MCV negative groups for statistical comparison. Plain X-ray was performed on the peripheral joints and scored by the Simple Erosion Narrowing score (SEN-score). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were carried out to 22 RA patients on cervical and lumbosacral regions. Results Anti-MCV antibodies were found to be of high sensitivity (79.6%) and specificity (96.6%) in diagnosing RA. The area under the curve was 0.893 at 95% confidence interval (CI), confers an odds ratio of 23.5. Anti-MCV positive RA patients had significantly higher DAS-28 and SEN-scores than anti-MCV negative patients; who were found to have more benign disease with lower incidence of erosions (P < 0.05). MRI scans revealed that; 17/22 (77%) had cervical joints involvement while, 8 (36%) had lumbo-sacral joint lesions (P < 0.05), both were correlated significantly with aggressive peripheral joint disease. Conclusion Anti-MCV antibodies are promising diagnostic and prognostic marker in RA, with high sensitivity and specificity. They may identify a subset of RA patients with aggressive early erosive disease. The axial skeleton—especially the cervical spine—could be affected in RA and this was correlated with aggressive peripheral joints’ disease. MRI scanning is a sensitive method for detecting axial skeleton involvement in RA, in attempt for better disease control and outcomes.
FOAMIX: PILOT SCALE TRIALS AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Aggregate particles can be coated with relatively small additions of bitumen by mixing cold moist aggregate with bitumen foam produced by injection of saturated steam. This process, known as the foamed bitumen process, has been widely adopted as an accepted method of treating recycled and reclaimed materials for road construction and maintenance. The quality of this material can be improved by the addition of small amounts of hydraulic or pozzolanic binder, and this is now fairly standard practice. The process can be used to treat materials in situ, or the pavement can be broken up and removed from its location and treated off site or 'ex situ'. This study examined several ex situ produced foamed bitumen materials laid in experimental pavements with the objective of determining their performance characteristics and comparing the relative properties of the ex situ produced materials with those of in situ produced materials. This information was used to develop guidance on pavement design using ex situ materials and provide recommendations for material source approval. The research indicated that the thickness of a pavement can be reduced by up to 20mm if ex situ replaces in situ mixed material. This study will help with the implementation of recycled materials and lead to more sustainable pavement construction. (A)
Object search by manipulation

We investigate the problem of a robot searching for an object. This requires reasoning about both perception and manipulation: some objects are moved because the target may be hidden behind them, while others are moved because they block the manipulator’s access to other objects. We contribute a formulation of the object search by manipulation problem using visibility and accessibility relations between objects. We also propose a greedy algorithm and show that it is optimal under certain conditions. We propose a second algorithm which takes advantage of the structure of the visibility and accessibility relations between objects to quickly generate plans. Our empirical evaluation strongly suggests that our algorithm is optimal under all conditions. We support this claim with a partial proof. Finally, we demonstrate an implementation of both algorithms on a real robot using a real object detection system.
A “Shallow Phylogeny” of Shallow Barnacles (Chthamalus)

Background We present a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of the shallow water (high intertidal) barnacle genus Chthamalus, focusing on member species in the western hemisphere. Understanding the phylogeny of this group improves interpretation of classical ecological work on competition, distributional changes associated with climate change, and the morphological evolution of complex cirripede phenotypes. Methodology and Findings We use traditional and Bayesian phylogenetic and ‘deep coalescent’ approaches to identify a phylogeny that supports the monophyly of the mostly American ‘fissus group’ of Chthamalus, but that also supports a need for taxonomic revision of Chthamalus and Microeuraphia. Two deep phylogeographic breaks were also found within the range of two tropical American taxa (C. angustitergum and C. southwardorum) as well. Conclusions Our data, which include two novel gene regions for phylogenetic analysis of cirripedes, suggest that much more evaluation of the morphological evolutionary history and taxonomy of Chthamalid barnacles is necessary. These data and associated analyses also indicate that the radiation of species in the late Pliocene and Pleistocene was very rapid, and may provide new insights toward speciation via transient allopatry or ecological barriers.
Green tea constituent epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate selectively inhibits COX‐2 without affecting COX‐1 expression in human prostate carcinoma cells

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 has been implicated in many pathologic conditions, including cancer. One practical inference of this finding is that sustained inhibition of COX‐2 could serve as a promising target for prevention or therapy of cancer. Conventional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and recently developed COX‐2‐specific inhibitors have shown considerable promise in prevention of some forms of human cancer; however, its application is limited due to severe toxic side effects on normal cells. Therefore, there is a need to define novel, nontoxic dietary constituents with proven chemopreventive effects through other pathways that also possess COX‐2 but not COX‐1 inhibitory activity. Recent studies on green tea and its major polyphenolic constituent (‐)epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) have established its remarkable cancer preventive and some cancer therapeutic effects. Here, we show that EGCG inhibits COX‐2 without affecting COX‐1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, in androgen‐sensitive LNCaP and androgen‐insensitive PC‐3 human prostate carcinoma cells. Based on our study, it is tempting to suggest that a combination of EGCG with chemotherapeutic drugs could be an improved strategy for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.
Adult socioeconomic, educational, social, and psychological outcomes of childhood obesity: a national birth cohort study

Abstract Objectives To assess adult socioeconomic, educational, social, and psychological outcomes of childhood obesity by using nationally representative data. Design 1970 British birth cohort. Participants 16 567 babies born in Great Britain 5-11 April 1970 and followed up at 5, 10, and 29-30 years. Main outcome measures Obesity at age 10 and 30 years. Self reported socioeconomic, educational, psychological, and social outcomes at 30 years. Odds ratios were calculated for the risk of each adult outcome associated with obesity in childhood only, obesity in adulthood only, and persistent child and adult obesity, compared with those obese at neither period. Results Of the 8490 participants with data on body mass index at 10 and 30 years, 4.3% were obese at 10 years and 16.3% at 30 years. Obesity in childhood only was not associated with adult social class, income, years of schooling, educational attainment, relationships, or psychological morbidity in either sex after adjustment for confounding factors. Persistent obesity was not associated with any adverse adult outcomes in men, though it was associated among women with a higher risk of never having been gainfully employed (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.3) and not having a current partner (2.0, 1.3 to 3.3). Conclusions Obesity limited to childhood has little impact on adult outcomes. Persistent obesity in women is associated with poorer employment and relationship outcomes. Efforts to reduce the socioeconomic and psychosocial burden of obesity in adult life should focus on prevention of the persistence of obesity from childhood into adulthood.
TATA-binding Protein Residues Implicated in a Functional Interplay between Negative Cofactor NC2 (Dr1) and General Factors TFIIA and TFIIB (*)

The TATA-binding protein (TBP) plays a key role in transcription initiation. Several negative cofactors (NC1, NC2, and Dr1) are known to interact with TBP in a manner that prevents productive interactions of transcription factors TFIIA and TFIIB with promoter-bound TBP. To gain insights into the regulatory interplay on the surface of TBP, we have employed mutant forms of TBP to identify amino acid residues important for interactions with the negative regulatory cofactor NC2 and the general factor TFIIB. The results show the involvement of distinct domains of TBP in these interactions. Residues (Lys-133, Lys-145, and Lys-151) in the basic repeat region are important for interactions with NC2, as well as with TFIIA (Buratowski, S., and Zhou, H. (1992) Science 255, 1130-1132; Lee, D. K. , DeJong, J., Hashimoto, S. , Horikoshi, M. , and Roeder, R. G. (1992) Mol. Cell. Biol. 12, 5189-5196), whereas a residue (Leu-189) in the second stirrup-like loop spanning S2′ and S3′ is required for interaction with TFIIB. In addition, we demonstrate that NC2 is identical to the previously cloned negative cofactor Dr1. The implications of these results for TBP structure and function are discussed.
Postictal immobility and generalized EEG suppression are associated with the severity of respiratory dysfunction

The pathophysiology of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) remains undetermined. Seizures are accompanied by respiratory dysfunction (RD). Postictal generalized electroencephalography (EEG) suppression (PGES) may follow generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS). Following GTCS patients have impaired arousal and may be motionless. Patients with SUDEP are usually prone. Postictal immobility (PI) may contribute to SUDEP by not permitting repositioning of the head to allow unimpeded ventilation. To determine whether RD and/or ictal characteristics are associated with PI, we analyzed patients with GTCS in the epilepsy monitoring unit.
The effect of long chain branching on the processability of polypropylene in thermoforming

Linear polypropylene was modified by reaction with peroxydicarbonates in a twin screw extruder to obtain varied degrees of long chain branching. The melt strength and the elasticity of the modified polymers were found to increase with the modification. The processability in foaming and thermoforming processes improved with branching and showed an optimum, beyond which higher degrees of long chain branching appeared not to help any further. The branched PP samples showed distinct strain hardening in the elongational viscosity, which was absent from the original linear melts. Melt strength, elasticity and strain hardening increased with the increase of the number of long chain branches on the main chain. The effect of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the precursor on the improvement of the processability of the polymer was examined. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:973–982, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
A structured review of the recent literature on the economic consequences of preterm birth

Although survival rates for preterm infants have greatly improved over the last three to four decades, these infants remain at risk of developing a broad range of short-term and long-term complications. Despite the large body of work on the clinical sequelae of preterm birth, relatively little is known about its economic consequences. This paper represents a structured review of the recent scientific literature on the economic consequences of preterm birth for the health services, for other sectors of the economy, for families and carers and, more broadly, for society. A total of 2497 studies were identified by a pretested literature search strategy, 52 of which were included in the final review. Of these 52 studies, 19 reported the costs associated with the initial period of hospitalisation, 35 reported costs incurred following the initial hospital discharge (without providing costs for the entire remaining period of childhood), four of which also reported costs associated with the initial period of hospitalisation, while two reported costs incurred throughout childhood. The paper highlights the variable methodological quality of this body of literature. The results of the studies included in the review are summarised and critically appraised. The paper also highlights gaps in our current knowledge of the topic and identifies requirements for further research in this area.
Exploiting portability to build an RBMT prototype for a new source language

This paper presents the work done to port a deep-transfer rule-based machine translation system to translate from a different source language by maximizing the exploitation of existing resources and by limiting the development work. Specifically, we report the changes and effort required in each of the system’s modules to obtain an English-Basque translator, ENEUS, starting from the Spanish-Basque Matxin system. We run a human pairwise comparison for the new prototype and two statistical systems and see that ENEUS is preferred in over 30% of the test sentences.
Social Influence, Popularity and Interestingness of Online Contents

From user-generated content platforms to shopping portals, an important feature of websites is to identify which contents or items are the most popular and list them on the front page — assuming these contents are also the most interesting. In this paper, we question this assumption by studying data from a major news aggregator website where stories are contributed by users, and by focusing on the consequences of social influence. We first observe that the popularity of contents is correlated with the visibility of their authors, and can thus be explained by social influence. We then provide evidence of a feedback loop between the visibility of contributors and the popularity of their contributions, which increases the importance of social influence over time. Finally we quantify the effect of social influence in making each story popular and show that this effect tends to favor less interesting stories.
Structural Interpretation of Vector Autoregressions with Incomplete Identification: Revisiting the Role of Oil Supply and Demand Shocks

Traditional approaches to structural vector autoregressions (VARs) can be viewed as special cases of Bayesian inference arising from very strong prior beliefs. These methods can be generalized with a less restrictive formulation that incorporates uncertainty about the identifying assumptions themselves. We use this approach to revisit the importance of shocks to oil supply and demand. Supply disruptions turn out to be a bigger factor in historical oil price movements and inventory accumulation a smaller factor than implied by earlier estimates. Supply shocks lead to a reduction in global economic activity after a significant lag, whereas shocks to oil demand do not. (JEL C32, L71, Q35, Q43)