Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy-efficient techniques allowing intra-link errors for block-fading multiple access relaying

Two energy and computationally efficient strategies are proposed for Multiple Access Relay Channel (MARC), where all links are suffering from block fading. By exploiting the error probabilities of the intra links, defined as the links between sources and relay, relay can still utilize the received frames, even though they may contain errors, and forward them rather than discard them. This makes efficient utilization of the information of those erroneous frames and thereby reduces the frame error rate (FER). Moreover, by applying differential encoding at sources following the recursive convolutional encoding, differential detection can be used at relay for recovering the received signals from the sources; with the use of differential detection, signals can be recovered without requiring heavy computational burden for channel estimation, and hence, as a whole the necessity of the use of very powerful limit-achieving codes can also be avoided. This leads to energy efficient relay strategies.
Class-Splitting Generative Adversarial Networks

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) produce systematically better quality samples when class label information is provided. , i.e. in the conditional GAN setup. This is still observed for the recently proposed Wasserstein GAN formulation which stabilized adversarial training and allows considering high capacity network architectures such as ResNet. In this work we show how to boost conditional GAN by augmenting available class labels. The new classes come from clustering in the representation space learned by the same GAN model. The proposed strategy is also feasible when no class information is available, i.e. in the unsupervised setup. Our generated samples reach state-of-the-art Inception scores for CIFAR-10 and STL-10 datasets in both supervised and unsupervised setup.
Light and Electron Microscopic Studies on Alpha Naphtyl Acetate Esterase Activity of the Periphral Blood T Lymphocytes in Van Cats

The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and the localization of ANAE enzyme at the electron microscopic level in Van cats by using an alpha‐naphtyl acetate esterase procedure. Peripheral blood samples taken from 20 Van cats were used. The percentage of ANAE positive lymphocytes was 83.0%. Neutrophilic gra‐nulocytes gave a negative reaction, whereas monocytes, eosinophilic granulocytes showed a diffuse granular positivity. In the electron microscopic examination, ANAE positive reactions were seen in lysosomal granules found in lymphocytes.
Endovascular reconstruction for progressively worsening carotid artery dissection

Background Carotid artery dissection is an important cause of stroke in young patients. Selection criteria for endovascular repair have not been well defined and limited data exist on long-term outcomes of stent reconstruction. Objective To report the immediate and long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients treated with stent placement for progressively worsening symptomatic carotid arterial dissection despite antithrombotic therapy. Methods A single institution neuro-endovascular database was accessed to identify consecutive cases in which carotid artery dissection was treated with endovascular repair between 2006 and 2012. Clinical, demographic, radiographic, and procedural data were obtained through chart review. Results A total of 22 patients were identified and included 27 carotid artery dissection repairs with stent implantation. The mean age was 43 years (±8.7) with 13 patients being women. Traumatic dissections were seen in 9 (40.9%) patients and spontaneous dissections in 13 (59.1%) patients. All patients were symptomatic and were started on antithrombotic therapy on diagnosis. Most common indications for treatment included recurrent ischemia despite antithrombotic therapy in 15 (55.5%) arteries and enlarging dissecting aneurysm in 4 (14.8%) arteries. Mean degree of stenosis was 79.1%. Mean number of stents used was 1.88 (range 1–4). There was 1 (4.5%) asymptomatic peri-procedural thromboembolic event. Median clinical follow-up was 14 months (range 3–40) and median imaging follow-up was 14 months (range 3–38). There was 1 (4.5%) case of recurrent transient ischemic attack. There was no death, significant restenosis or stroke in the territory of the treated vessel during the duration of the follow-up. Conclusions Endovascular stent reconstruction for the treatment of selected patients with progressively worsening carotid dissection despite medical management is feasible with acceptable immediate and long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. To be able to draw more robust conclusions, further evaluation with larger number of patients and longer follow-up is needed.
Flux control exerted by mitochondrial outer membrane carnitine palmitoyltransferase over beta-oxidation, ketogenesis and tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in hepatocytes isolated from rats in different metabolic states.

The Flux Control Coefficients of mitochondrial outer membrane carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT I) with respect to the overall rates of beta-oxidation, ketogenesis and tricarboxylic acid cycle activity were measured in hepatocytes isolated from rats in different metabolic states (fed, 24 h-starved, starved-refed and starved/insulin-treated). These conditions were chosen because there is controversy as to whether, when significant control ceases to be exerted by CPT I over the rate of fatty oxidation [Moir and Zammit (1994) Trends Biochem. Sci. 19, 313-317], this is transferred to one or more steps proximal to acylcarnitine synthesis (e.g. decreased delivery of fatty acids to the liver) or to the reaction catalysed by mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA synthase [Hegardt (1995) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 23, 486-490]. Therefore isolated hepatocytes were used in the present study to exclude the involvement of changes in the rate of delivery of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) to the liver, such as occur in vivo, and to ascertain whether, under conditions of constant supply of NEFA, CPT I retains control over the relevant fluxes of fatty acid oxidation to ketones and carbon dioxide, or whether control is transferred to another (intrahepatocytic) site. The results clearly show that the Flux Control Coefficients of CPT I with respect to overall beta-oxidation and ketogenesis are very high under all conditions investigated, indicating that control is not lost to another intrahepatic site during the metabolic transitions studied. The control of CPT I over tricarboxylic acid cycle activity was always very low. The significance of these findings for the integration of fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism in the liver is discussed.
Structure and Mechanism of the Bifunctional CinA Enzyme from Thermus thermophilus *

Background: CinA is a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes reactions associated with pyridine nucleotide recycling in bacteria. Results: the structure of the enzyme shows an unusual asymmetric dimer with one of the catalytic sites in two different conformational states. Conclusion: Mechanisms for both reactions are proposed, based on structures of ligand complexes. Significance: Asymmetric enzyme dimers are rare; in this case, domain movement is necessary to promote catalysis. CinA is a widely distributed protein in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It is associated with natural competence and is proposed to have a function as an enzyme participating in the pyridine nucleotide cycle, which recycles products formed by non-redox uses of NAD. Here we report the determination of the crystal structure of CinA from Thermus thermophilus, in complex with several ligands. CinA was shown to have both nicotinamide mononucleotide deamidase and ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase activities. The crystal structure shows an unusual asymmetric dimer, with three domains for each chain; the C-terminal domain harbors the nicotinamide mononucleotide deamidase activity, and the structure of a complex with the product nicotinate mononucleotide suggests a mechanism for deamidation. The N-terminal domain belongs to the COG1058 family and is associated with the ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase activity. The asymmetry in the CinA dimer arises from two alternative orientations of the COG1058 domains, only one of which forms a contact with the KH-type domain from the other chain, effectively closing the active site into, we propose, a catalytically competent state. Structures of complexes with Mg2+/ADP-ribose, Mg2+/ATP, and Mg2+/AMP suggest a mechanism for the ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase reaction that involves a rotation of the COG1058 domain dimer as part of the reaction cycle, so that each active site oscillates between open and closed forms, thus promoting catalysis.
A study of idiosyncratic volatility in mutual fund performance

This research examines idiosyncratic volatility in mutual fund performance. It has two chapters. In the first chapter, we explore how fund managers have historically invested in stocks with different idiosyncratic volatilities and whether the idiosyncratic volatility of assets in a mutual fund portfolio is correlated with the funds performance. We find that mutual funds underweight stocks with the highest and lowest idiosyncratic volatilities; on average, loadings on high idiosyncratic volatility stocks tend to lower fund performance; and there is no evidence that actively managed funds exploit and profit from the negative relationship between idiosyncratic volatility and stock returns reported in prior studies. In the second chapter, we present “Residual Correlation” as a unifying measure of mutual fund active management. By decomposing portfolio idiosyncratic volatility into variance and covariance terms, we construct our “Residual Correlation” measure. We propose that skillful fund managers will anticipate positive unsystematic return events. By exposing their portfolios to those events, their portfolios will show correlated returns that are independent of common risk factors. Therefore, active management should be revealed through these correlated asset returns. We show that our measure can identify active management as precisely as various other measures of active management and that it also does so among groups of funds where other measures cannot.
Hospital-Related Determinants For Surgical-Site Infection Following Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Objective: To determine hospital-related risk factors for surgical-site infection (SSI) following hip arthroplasty. Design: Prospective, multicenter cohort study based on surveillance data and data collected through a structured telephone interview. With the use of multilevel logistic regression, the independent effect of hospital-related characteristics on SSI was assessed. Setting: Thirty-six acute care hospitals in the Dutch surveillance network for nosocomial infections (PREZIES), from 1996 to 2000. Patients: Thirteen thousand six hundred eighty patients who underwent total or partial hip arthroplasty. Results: A high annual volume of operations was associated with a reduced risk of SSI (risk-adjusted risk ratio [RR] per 50 extra operations, 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 0.74–0.97). With each extra full-time–equivalent infection control staff member per 250 beds available for prevention of SSI, the risk for SSI was decreased (RR, 0.48; CI95, 0.16–1.44), although the decrease was not statistically significant. Hospital size, teaching status, university affiliation, and number of surgeons and their years of experience showed no important association with the risk of SSI. Conclusion: Undergoing surgery in a hospital with a low volume of operations increases a patient's risk of SSI.
Stock Market Reaction to CEO Certification : CEO Background as a Signal 695 STOCK MARKET RESPONSE TO CEO CERTIFICATION

As a direct result of the corporate scandals that started with Enron and led to general unrest in the financial markets, the Securities and Exchange Commission required chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief financial officers of large publicly traded companies to certify their financial statements. Using market signaling theory, we propose that attributes of the CEO send important signals to the investment community as to the credibility of the CEO certification and thus the quality of the firm’s financial statements, which in turn impact the stock market reaction to the CEO certification. We find that a CEO’s shareholdings and external directorships are positively related to the abnormal returns of CEO certification. Further, the stock market penalizes a firm with a CEO who is associated with the firm’s prior financial restatement and rewards a firm with a CEO who is appointed after the firm’s prior financial restatement. Copyright  2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
"Speak up!": An Examination of the Language Capacities of Children Displaying Various Forms of Social Withdrawal and Aggression

Abstract:Language serves as a mechanism through which children are able to interact and communicate with others. Thus, when children do not develop language at a typical pace, there may be cause for concern. The purpose of the current study was to examine the language production of children displaying various forms of social withdrawal (reticent, solitary-passive, and solitaryactive behavior) and children engaging in subtypes of aggression (relational, physical, and comorbid). Participants came from preschools operated by a large private university located in the intermountain region of the western United States (N = 220, Mage = 4.58, 53% female). We observed the participating children, and teachers and parents completed reports on the children's behaviors. Results revealed that reticent, solitary-passive, and solitary-active children produced less language compared to their nonwithdrawn peers. Further analyses revealed language differences between subtypes of social withdrawal. Physically aggressive children produced less language compared to nonaggressive children, and comorbid aggressive children produced more language compared to their nonaggressive, physically aggressive, and relationally aggressive peers. The discussion focuses on contextual and conceptual factors that may play a role in understanding the relation between language production, social withdrawal, and aggression.
Market Rental Housing Affordability and Rapid Transit Catchments: Application of a New Measure in Canada

Abstract In high-income cities, the availability of affordable rental housing in locations served by fast and frequent public transportation enables low-income households access to more opportunities, including jobs, without the costs of owning and operating automobiles. This study operationalizes a residual income approach to identify market rental housing that is affordable to two household configurations (couples with children and couples without children) in two categories below the median income. The study is carried out on Canada’s least and most expensive major metropolitan housing markets, Montreal and Vancouver. In addition to spatially disaggregating the results into inside and outside rapid transit walking catchments, the results are spatially disaggregated into four zones (Urban Core, Inner City, Inner Suburbs, and Outer Suburbs). Implications of the uneven distribution of affordable rentals with respect to transit access are discussed.
Combination of Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Track 111In-Oxine–Labeled Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Neuroblastoma-Bearing Mice

Homing is an inherent, complex, multistep process performed by cells such as human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to travel from a distant location to inflamed or damaged tissue and tumors. This ability of hMSCs has been exploited as a tumortargeting strategy in cell-based cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of 111In-oxine for tracking hMSCs in vivo by combining single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 111In-labeled hMSCs (106 cells) were infused intraperitoneally in neuroblastoma-bearing mice, whereas a control group received a dose of free 111In-oxine. SPECT and MRI studies were performed 24 and 48 hours afterwards. Initially, the images showed similar activity in the abdomen in both controls and hMSC-injected animals. In general, abdominal activity decreases at 48 hours. hMSC-injected animals showed increased uptake in the tumor area at 48 hours, whereas the control group showed a low level of activity at 24 hours, which decreased at 48 hours. In conclusion, tracking 111In-labeled hMSCs combining SPECT and MRI is feasible and may be transferable to clinical research. The multimodal combination is essential to ensure appropriate interpretation of the images.
Are Albumin and Lactate Predictive Indicators for Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of age, gender, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin and lactate on mortality on critically ill patients admitted to intensive care unit due to acute kidney injury. Methods: The study included 54 critically ill patients over the age of 18, who were admitted to our Level 3 intensive care unit with the diagnosis of acute kidney injury. Patients were divided into two groups as those who did not develop mortality (Group 1) and those who developed (Group 2). Both groups were compared in terms of age, gender, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin and lactate levels in the first 24 hours of admission. In addition, patients were divided into two groups according to both albumin levels (<2.5 g/dL and ≥2.5 g/dL) and lactate levels (<2 mmol/L and ≥2 mmol/L) and examined in terms of 30-day mortality. Results: The patients’ total mortality was 68.5% (37 patients). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (Group 1 and Group 2) in terms of age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin and lactate levels (p-values, respectively: 0.13; 0.39; 0.32; 0.83; 0.52). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of 30- day mortality (p-values: 0.625; 0.127). Conclusion: Age, gender, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin and lactate levels did not affect 30-day and total mortality in our patients who were hospitalized in our intensive care unit with acute kidney injury diagnosis, and that albumin and lactate levels during admission were not a predictor of mortality in this patient group.
Au nanowire junction breakup through surface atom diffusion

Metallic nanowires are known to break into shorter fragments due to the Rayleigh instability mechanism. This process is strongly accelerated at elevated temperatures and can completely hinder the functioning of nanowire-based devices like e.g. transparent conductive and flexible coatings. At the same time, arranged gold nanodots have important applications in electrochemical sensors. In this paper we perform a series of annealing experiments of gold and silver nanowires and nanowire junctions at fixed temperatures 473, 673, 873 and 973 K (200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 700 °C) during a time period of 10 min. We show that nanowires are especially prone to fragmentation around junctions and crossing points even at comparatively low temperatures. The fragmentation process is highly temperature dependent and the junction region breaks up at a lower temperature than a single nanowire. We develop a gold parametrization for kinetic Monte Carlo simulations and demonstrate the surface diffusion origin of the nanowire junction fragmentation. We show that nanowire fragmentation starts at the junctions with high reliability and propose that aligning nanowires in a regular grid could be used as a technique for fabricating arrays of nanodots.
Evidence for the involvement of imidazoline receptors in the central hypotensive effect of rilmenidine in the rabbit

1 Rilmenidine has recently been introduced as a new centrally‐acting antihypertensive agent. We examined its cardiovascular effects after intracerebral injection to anaesthetized rabbits. Cumulative doses of rilmenidine injected intracisternally (1 to 300 μg kg−1) led to dose‐dependent decreases in arterial blood pressure and heart rate. The effective doses of rilmenidine were lower when injected centrally than when injected intravenously. 2 Pretreatment with the same dose of yohimbine or idazoxan shifted the rilmenidine dose‐response curves for its hypotensive and bradycardic effects to the right. Idazoxan, which has an imidazoline structure, proved to be a more active antagonist than yohimbine of rilmenidine centrally‐mediated cardiovascular effects. 3 The dose‐response curve for the central hypotensive effect of rilmenidine was also shifted to the right after pretreatment with a bovine brain extract. This extract contains the endogenous ligand of the imidazoline‐preferring receptors which is not a catecholamine. 4 Rilmenidine, like clonidine, proved to be active when micro‐injected into the rabbit nucleus reticularis lateralis region. 5 In conclusion, rilmenidine exhibited in the rabbit a central hypotensive effect which originated in the same area as where clonidine acts. Specific imidazoline‐preferring receptors appear to be involved in this hypotensive effect.
Disentangling Social Capital: Lab-in-The-Field Evidence on Coordination, Networks and Cooperation

Although social capital has been considered of the utmost importance for development it remains a complex and elusive concept. Different dimensions of social capital form part of the puzzle: cooperation is an individual other-regarding preference; social norms stem from beliefs about others' behavior; and the formation of such beliefs is mediated by attributes of the social network. To disentangle social capital we conduct an artefactual field experiment with 714 households at the inset of a Conditional Cash Transfer program in an urban context. To our knowledge this is the first paper that disentangles cooperation from coordination by conducting a minimum effort coordination game with Pareto ranked equilibria. Willingness to cooperate is teased out using a public goods game. By controlling for the density of network information we capture the role of connections, which is the third element of the mixture. We also look at the relation between our experimental data and traditional survey measures of social capital. Our identification strategy allows us to assess whether exposure to the program could be helping individuals overcome strategic uncertainty and select the most efficient equilibrium in the coordination game. The regressions suggest that the program helps overcome the coordination failure through different channels. In particular, the evidence suggests there is a spillover effect of the monetary incentive as it facilitates a social norm, which itself allows individuals to overcome the coordination failure. We rule out confounding factors such as individual socio-economic characteristics, social capital accumulation, willingness to cooperate and connectivity.