Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Massive-MIMO Iterative Channel Estimation and Decoding (MICED) in the Uplink

Massive MIMO uses a large number of antennas to increase the spectral efficiency (SE) through spatial multiplexing of users, which requires accurate channel state information. It is often assumed that regular pilots (RP), where a fraction of the time-frequency resources is reserved for pilots, suffices to provide high SE. However, the SE is limited by the pilot overhead and pilot contamination. An alternative is superimposed pilots (SP) where all resources are used for pilots and data. This removes the pilot overhead and reduces pilot contamination by using longer pilots. However, SP suffers from data interference that reduces the SE gains. This paper proposes the Massive-MIMO Iterative Channel Estimation and Decoding (MICED) algorithm where partially decoded data is used as side-information to improve the channel estimation and increase SE. We show that users with precise data estimates can help users with poor data estimates to decode. Numerical results with QPSK modulation and LDPC codes show that the MICED algorithm increases the SE and reduces the block-error-rate with RP and SP compared to conventional methods. The MICED algorithm with SP delivers the highest SE and it is especially effective in scenarios with short coherence blocks like high mobility or high frequencies.
THE DETERMINANTS OF CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION ON CHRONIC NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN PENANG, MALAYSIA

The objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of socio-demographic factors on the acquisition of health information on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among Malaysian adults. A robust analysis was conducted on cross-sectional survey data obtained from 398 respondents in Penang (Malaysia) between August to October 2010. An ordered probit model was applied to examine the factors affecting the scale of health information. The results suggest that old individuals, rural dwellers, having chronic disease and history of serious family illnesses are 0.19%, 2.39%, 2.2% and 2.71% less likely to acquire poor health information on NCDs than others, whereas Malays, Chinese, males and those of low educated are 8.76%, 6.22%, 2.94% and 21.62% more likely to acquire poor health information on NCDs than others. Based on these findings, several intervention measures toward increasing the health knowledge among the population are recommended, which include the use of language-based mass media to advertise the information on diseases, designing health awareness campaigns in urban areas and introducing more basic health related subjects and courses into primary and secondary schools.
Quasi-Dynamic Analysis of a Local Distribution System with Distributed Generation. Study Case: The IEEE 13 Node System

Distributed generation is one of the most accepted strategies to attend the increase in electrical demand around the world. Since 2014, Colombian government agencies have enacted laws and resolutions to promote and regulate the introduction of different generation technologies into the country’s electrical system. The incorporation of distributed generation systems into conventional distribution networks can cause problems if technical studies are not previously carried out to determine the consequences of the start of the operations of these new generation technologies. This scenario represents a new challenge for distribution networks operators because they must ensure that their systems can integrate these new generation sources without affecting the correct operation of the grid. In this article, the IEEE 13 nodes system is modified by incorporating the load curves of the three types of consumers in the Colombian electricity market into the model. Additionally, distributed generation systems from non-conventional sources of energy are integrated into two system nodes in order to perform a quasi-dynamic analysis of the different electrical variables, which can be used to determine the impact of these new technologies on a local distribution system. The voltage profiles and active and reactive power do not show considerable changes in the behavior of the electrical network; however, in the simulation scenarios where distributed generators are operating, the system exhibits a considerable increase in lines losses. There are two alternatives to manage these unusual levels in the operation of the nodes with distributed generation: (1) operating these new DG nodes in islanded mode or (2) strengthening the local distribution system through the implementation of new distribution lines in the network.
Autonomous learning materials of structure and written expression for TOEFL preparation

The aim of this study was to develop appropriate autonomous learning materials of structure and written expression of TOEFL preparation for autonomous learners for the Centre for Language and Development of Yogyakarta State University based on the learning needs and target needs of the autonomous learners. The research was an educational research and development (R&D) adapting ADDIE model (Branch, 2009). Two instruments (questionnaire and test) for needs analysis and two instruments for validation were used. The data from the needs analysis and the material validation were analyzed quantitatively through descriptive statistics. The research findings revealed that the autonomous learning materials were appropriate in terms of input, learning activities, layout, design and organization. The learners’ role is to learn the materials individually and teacher's role is to be a guide and cooperator. All of the learning activities include reading of explanations of forms and functions, doing practices for forms and functions, multiple choice, and doing reflection. Every unit has the following organizing unit title, instructions for learners, grammatical form and functions, activities of forms, functions, and TOEFL tests items, online activities for further learning, learning essentials, reflection, self-test (TOEFL) and answer keys.
Flipped classroom in engineering: The influence of gender

The flipped classroom technique has been applied to a part (“Strength of Materials”) of a second‐year compulsory course called “Technology of Materials. ” Due to the number of students, the course is divided into two groups – one taught with the traditional methodology (98 students), and the other taught with the flipped one (97 students). In the traditional methodology, the teacher explains the lesson and solves the problems, with students as passive actors in the learning process. In the developed flipped classroom model, the students have edited videos on an institutional online platform, available before each face‐to‐face session. In addition, a linked activity is used to check the students’ knowledge before class. The in‐class time is dedicated to briefly reviewing the concepts explained in the video, with a special emphasis on the errors detected in the link activity, followed by groups of students solving problems. The aim of this study is to present quantitative results of the effect of the flipped classroom in engineering with a focus on the gender of the students. The results show that the flipped classroom model has a direct impact on student grades, especially for female students, which presents significant differences when compared with males of the same group. In addition, the grade standard deviation values were lower, ensuring a better general level. The students of the flipped classroom group also attended the exams in a higher ratio than others, as these students are likely to feel more confident in the knowledge they have acquired.
Probabilistic methodologies in the creep regime

Structural integrity practitioners can encounter countless, complex and often unknown uncertainties when dealing with myriad applications. The existence of such uncertainties can span the lifecycle of engineering assets: commissioning, design, prototyping, material testing, manufacturing, physical testing, in-service data, inspection data, fitness-for-service assessments and decommission. Traditionally, a deterministic mindset has prevailed amongst the engineering community at large. However, given the widening acceptance of data science and machine-learning across a plethora of industries, trends towards accepting more probabilistic and data-driven solutions have emerged in engineering. Structural integrity is facing a similar change, with the nuclear sector now slowly recognising that there are strong needs that can be fulfilled by probabilistic paradigms. Presently the use of probabilistic approaches in the nuclear sector has been limited, bespoke and mainly summoned when traditional deterministic approaches fail to deliver business targets due to over conservatism. This work formulates a complete methodology based on the Monte-Carlo approach for conducting probabilistic calculations, focusing on applications considering the R5 Volume 2/3 procedure for high-temperature Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) components. The presented methodology is generic enough to be applicable to a host of structural integrity applications. A number of case-studies are presented in Chapter 3-6 which consider specific implementation issues including the probabilistic representation of input parameters, treatment of correlations, loading uncertainties, conducting post-assessment sensitivity analyses, the extrapolation of assessment location probabilities to component-level and, thereafter, to population-level estimates. With the presented methods having implications for structural integrity applications in general, one of the aims of this work is to bridge the gap between the knowledge of statistical and probabilistic methods on one side, and the general structural integrity community on the other end. Consequentially, this work is intended to promote further implementation and engagement, aiding further acceptance within a wide range of structural integrity fields, and ultimately encouraging the creation of a unified probabilistic framework for structural integrity.
Foundations of Stable Homotopy Theory

The beginning graduate student in homotopy theory is confronted with a vast literature on spectra that is scattered across books, articles and decades. There is much folklore but very few easy entry points. This comprehensive introduction to stable homotopy theory changes that. It presents the foundations of the subject together in one place for the first time, from the motivating phenomena to the modern theory, at a level suitable for those with only a first course in algebraic topology. Starting from stable homotopy groups and (co)homology theories, the authors study the most important categories of spectra and the stable homotopy category, before moving on to computational aspects and more advanced topics such as monoidal structures, localisations and chromatic homotopy theory. The appendix containing essential facts on model categories, the numerous examples and the suggestions for further reading make this a friendly introduction to an often daunting subject.
On the Performance of Cell-Free Massive MIMO With Mixed-ADC Under Rician Fading Channels

In this letter, we introduce a mixed analog-to-digital converter (ADC) receiver architecture to cell-free massive multi-input multi-output (mMIMO) system under Rician fading channels. In particular, the mixed-ADC architecture permits some of receiver’s antennas to be implemented with economical low-resolution ADCs, while the rests are equipped with high-priced perfect ADCs. Leveraging on the additive quantization noise model (AQNM), a tight approximate uplink spectral efficiency (SE) expression with matched filtering receiver is derived, which provides us with a tool for easily quantifying the impacts of the Rician ${K}$ -factor, the quantization bit of low-resolution ADCs, and the proportion of the perfect ADCs in the mixed-ADC architecture. Numerical observations demonstrate that the mixed-ADC architecture with a small fraction of perfect ADCs has a great potential to boost the SE compared to the case with pure low-resolution ADCs. Moreover, the mixed-ADC architecture is superior to the full perfect ADCs counterpart in terms of energy efficiency (EE).
Associação entre doença periodontal e patologias sistémicas

A suspeita de associacao entre algumas patologias sistemicas e patologias da cavidade oral e antiga, sendo encontrada, desde ha varios anos, na literatura. Com efeito, egipcios, hebraicos, gregos e romanos acentuavam ja a importância da saude da boca no bem-estar geral dos individuos. O conceito de infeccao focal, com origem em 1900, estimulou a investigacao no sentido de aprofundar o conhecimento sobre o papel real das afeccoes da cavidade oral, em especial a Doenca Periodontal, na saude geral dos individuos. Esta patologia e, a seguir a carie dentaria, aquela que maior prevalencia tem na cavidade oral. E uma doenca infecciosa que afecta a gengiva e os restantes tecidos de suporte dentario e que pode culminar com a perda dos dentes. Traduz-se, numa primeira fase, por sinais e sintomas clinicos «surdos», sem qualquer tipo de dor e que por isso passa despercebido ao proprio paciente. A hemorragia gengival associada e um dos primeiros sintomas. O diagnostico precoce permite tratar estes doentes e evitar o agravamento da situacao com a consequente perda dentaria. Neste contexto, discutiremos as possiveis relacoes entre a Doenca Periodontal e as varias Patologias Sistemicas que a ela tem vindo a ser associadas, como sejam a Diabetes Mellitus, as Doencas Cardiovasculares, as Infeccoes Respiratorias, a Artrite Reumatoide e a ocorrencia de Partos Prematuros.
Considerations in Multiple Myeloma: Retreatment Settings

It is with great pleasure that I present this newsletter, “Considerations inMultipleMyeloma: Retreatment Settings,” the first in our 2009 series of newsletters featuring topics relevant to your multidisciplinary team approach to caring for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Upcoming issues will include other engaging topics, such as maintenance therapy, stem cell mobilization, sequencing strategies, and cytogenetic testing in the MM patient, in addition to such thought-provoking discussions as “Perspectives on Relevant End Points of Clinical Trials,” “Do Complete Responses Correlate With Clinical Benefit? ” and “To Transplant or Not to Transplant. That Is the Question! ” A faculty of hematologists/oncologists, oncology nurses, and oncology pharmacists help focus the discussion on 1 topic for each newsletter. It is my sincere hope that the information presented here will be of value to you in your care of patients with MM.
Demographic and Diagnostic Differences Among Suicide Ideators, Single Attempters, and Multiple Attempters Among Military Personnel and Veterans Receiving Outpatient Mental Health Care

Patients receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment who have made two or more lifetime suicide attempts (i.e., multiple attempters) report higher levels of psychopathology and are at increased risk for making additional suicide attempts relative to patients who have never attempted suicide (i.e., ideators) or made only one suicide attempt (i.e., single attempters). The present study examined these relationships among 590 Iraq and Afghanistan era military personnel and veterans using baseline data pooled from three randomized clinical trials. Diagnoses were established using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) or Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI); and history of suicide attempt was established using the Suicide Attempt Self-Injury Interview (SASII). Borderline personality disorder, but no other psychiatric diagnosis, was significantly more common among multiple attempters as compared to ideators and single attempters. Major depressive disorder was significantly more common among single and multiple attempters than ideators, but there was no difference between single and multiple attempters. Results suggest that borderline personality disorder is most strongly associated with repeated suicide attempts among military personnel and veterans in outpatient psychiatric settings.
Improvement of hand sensibility resulting from application of anaesthetic cream on the forearm: importance of dose and time

Introduction A local anaesthetic cream, EMLA®, applied temporarily to the forearm can improve sensory functions in the hands, both in healthy individuals and in patients with nerve injury. The treatment concept is an example of guided plasticity where the dynamic capacity of the central nervous system is used for therapeutic purposes. However, the optimal dose and duration of the anaesthetic cream is not known and this is addressed here. Methods Sixty healthy volunteers participated in this experimental study. They were randomised to one of six groups of 10 and received either 10 g or 20 g of EMLA® on the volar part of the forearm for either 60, 90 or 120 min, respectively. Outcome measures were touch thresholds and discriminative touch in digits II and V. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in touch threshold as well as discriminative touch in all six groups. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the six different dose and duration combinations. Conclusions It is concluded that 10 g of EMLA® applied to the volar part of the forearm for 60 min may be adequate to induce improved hand sensibility.
Fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis

Alterations of the pancreatic microperfusion are an early event in the course of pancreatitis irrespective of the underlying etiology (10). They result in reduced blood flow, capillary leakage, pancreatic and peripancreatic edema and transmigration of inflammatory cells. The source of proinflammatory mediators leading to these events have not been fully identified, but studies indicate that acinar and stellate cells as well as resident immune cells can all respond to pancreatic injury by secreting proinflammatory cytokines such as IL1b, IL-6 and TNF-α (23). Ultimately the decreased microperfusion and activation of the endothelium will also lead to hypercoagulability which, in turn, aggravates pancreatic hypoperfusion and hypoxia. The lack of oxygen as well as reperfusion damage will lead to pancreatic necrosis with sometimes catastrophic consequences such as infected pancreatic collections, sepsis, bleeding and death (9). Systemically multiorgan failure due to systemic inflammatory response syndrome, hypoperfusion and shock are common events in severe forms of acute pancreatitis, leading to mortality rates close to 50% in some patient cohorts (2).
Digital identity and the online self: Footprint strategies – An exploratory and comparative research study

Reflecting on the thousands of diverse research studies of social media representation and digital privacy, this article presents a comprehensive summary of online personal strategies. First, the evolution of academic concepts about digital identity and the online self is summarised. Then, the article investigates the key dynamics of personal strategies and control issues in detail with ideas, experiences, stories and metaphors taken from 60 qualitative interviews from Central and Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. According to the key findings of this article, the universal patterns of online personal strategies follow mostly conscious decisions, resulting in users maintaining 70% control of their digital footprints. However, the remaining 30% of online activities are unconscious floating with digital dynamics and resulting in a wide range of non-expected consequences from identity theft to kidnapping. In summary, an intercultural and intergenerational model highlights the complexity and diversity of the studied field, providing a reference framework for future studies. The closing section presents a discussion of those findings of this study that are inconsistent with commonplace assumptions and conclusions present in the academic literature, promoting for study those subjects that still need to be extended or explored.
Shuffling and Mixing Data Augmentation for Environmental Sound Classification

Smart speakers have been recently adopted and widely used in consumer homes, largely as a communication interface between human and machines. In addition, these speakers can be used to monitor sounds other than human voice, for example, to watch over elderly people living alone, and to notify if there are changes in their usual activities that may affect their health. In this paper, we focus on the sound clas-siﬁcation using machine learning, which usually requires a lot of training data to achieve good accuracy. Our main contribution is a data augmentation technique that generates new sound by shufﬂing and mixing two existing sounds of the same class in the dataset. This technique creates new variations on both the temporal sequence and the density of the sound events. We show in DCASE 2018 Task 5 that the proposed data augmentation method with our proposed convolutional neural network (CNN) achieves an average of macro-averaged F1 score of 89 . 95% over 4 folds of the development dataset. This is a signiﬁcant improvement from the baseline result of 84 . 50% . In addition, we also verify that our proposed data augmentation technique can improve the classiﬁ-cation performance on the Urban Sound 8K dataset.
The development of a two-tier multiple choice diagnostic instrument to identify secondary three and four students’ (14-17 years old) alternative conceptions in chemical bonding

Chemical bonding is a topic which many secondary students find difficult to understand. The concepts in chemical bonding are abstract; one cannot see an atom, its structure and how it reacts with other atoms. Therefore there is great potential for the formation of alternative conceptions as students try to derive meaning from what is written in the textbooks or what is said by the teacher. Thus teachers need to be able to detect and diagnose the alternative conceptions of their students so that they can challenge these alternative conceptions, and help the students to acquire scientifically acceptable ones. Methods used to determine students’ understanding of concepts include concept mapping (Novak, 1996), interviews (Carr, 1996) and multiple choice diagnostic instruments (Treagust, 1988, 1995). However, multiple choice diagnostic instruments are more readily administered and scored than the other methods, and thus are particularly useful for classroom teachers. This paper describes the development of a two-tier multiple choice diagnostic instrument to identify Secondary Three and Four students’ alternative conceptions in basic chemical bonding