Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Achieved throughput of OFDM‐based cognitive radio systems in the presence of inphase quadrature imbalance

Cognitive radio (CR) systems based on orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing have so far obtained a great deal of attention in wireless communications requiring higher data rates. It is well known that the highest achievable data rate in a wireless communication system is restricted by some factors including the wireless communication channel and the hardware imperfection, which are unavoidable in practice. One of the most important implementation issues that significantly affects the performance of the receiver and the transmitter is the amplitude and phase imbalance in the inphase and quadrature branches, or for brevity inphase and quadrature imbalance (IQI). This imbalance is due to non‐ideal local oscillators at the transmitter or at the receiver of direct conversion systems. In this paper, the ergodic capacity is investigated in a CR system based on orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing. We also inspect the outage probability, which is restricted by the common IQI challenge in the transmitter of the secondary user (SU) and in the receiver of the SU in a Rayleigh fading channel. First, we obtain an approximate closed‐form expression for the ergodic capacity and the outage probability in a multi‐carrier system. Then we investigate the special cases in which IQI only exists at the receiver or at the transmitter. We show that when IQI only exists at the transmitter of the SU, the approximate closed‐form outage probability of the SU approaches its exact value. Also, when IQI only exists at the receiver or at the transmitter of the SU, the approximate closed form of the ergodic capacity of the secondary link approaches its exact value. Numerical results validate the obtained analytical expression in the CR system. Our results may serve in the evaluation of the trade‐off between the required quality of service (in terms of secondary achieved throughput and the outage probability) and CR system parameters in the presence of IQI. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Classifier System and Co-evolutionary Hybrid Approach to Restoration Service of Electric Power Distribution Networks

The method proposed by the author is intended for assistance in decision-making (concerning changes of connections) by operators of complex distribution systems during states of malfunction (particularly in the events of malfunctions, for which the consequences encompass extended parts of the network), through designation of connection action scenarios (creating substitute configurations). It is the use by the classifying system working with the co-evolution algorithm that enables the effective creation of substitute scenarios for the Medium Voltage electric power distribution network. The author also completed works concerning the possibility of using cooperation of the evolutionary algorithm and the co-evolutionary algorithm with local search algorithms. The method drawn up may be used in current systems managing the work of distribution networks to assist network operators in taking decisions concerning connection actions in supervised electric power systems.
Metabolic effects of intensive insulin therapy in critically ill patients.

Our aim was to investigate the effects of glycemic control and insulin concentration on lipolysis, glucose, and protein metabolism in critically ill medical patients. For our methods, the patients were studied twice. In study 1, blood glucose (BG) concentrations were maintained between 7 and 9 mmol/l with intravenous insulin. After study 1, patients entered one of four protocols for 48 h until study 2: low-insulin high-glucose (LIHG; variable insulin, BG of 7-9 mmol/l), low-insulin low-glucose (LILG; variable insulin of BG 4-6 mmol/l), high-insulin high-glucose [HIHG; insulin (2.0 mU . kg(-1). min(-1) plus insulin requirement from study 1), BG of 7-9 mmol/l], or high-insulin low-glucose [HILG; insulin (2.0 mU.kg(-1). min(-1) plus insulin requirement from study 1), BG of 4-6 mmol/l]. Age-matched healthy control subjects received two-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps achieving insulin levels similar to the LI and HI groups. In our results, whole body proteolysis was higher in patients in study 1 (P < 0.006) compared with control subjects at comparable insulin concentrations and was reduced with LI (P < 0.01) and HI (P = 0.001) in control subjects but not in patients. Endogenous glucose production rate (R(a)), glucose disposal, and lipolysis were not different in all patients in study 1 compared with control subjects at comparable insulin concentrations. Glucose R(a) and lipolysis did not change in any of the study 2 patient groups. HI increased glucose disposal in the patients (HIHG, P = 0.001; HILG, P = 0.07 vs. study 1), but this was less than in controls receiving HI (P < 0.03). In conclusion, low-dose intravenous insulin administered to maintain BG between 7-9 mmol/l is sufficient to limit lipolysis and endogenous glucose R(a) and increase glucose R(d). Neither hyperinsulinemia nor normoglycemia had any protein-sparing effect.
Black Brant Branta bernicla nigricans grit acquisition at Humboldt Bay, California, USA

The Black Brant Branta bernicla nigricans is a seagrass-obligate goose, strongly tied to the estuaries of the Pacific Flyway coast of North America. Black Brant are unique in that they remain reliant on their traditional food resource, in contrast to other Brent Goose populations that now readily switch to feed on agricultural land during migration and in winter. While Black Brant use of coastal estuaries within the Pacific Flyway is determined mainly by the presence of Common Eelgrass Zostera marina , accessible grit sites are a second, often overlooked, yet essential requirement that may be in part responsible for stop-over duration within these coastal estuaries. This paper synthesises existing literature and presents previously unpublished data from a series of studies conducted at Humboldt Bay, California, describing the role and importance of grit sites to Black Brant. We found that the local environment influences gizzard grit composition and, although evidence for grit selectivity by Brant makes it challenging, it is possible to link a Brant’s current gizzard contents to a previously used bay or grit site. The interval between successive sightings of ringed individuals identified at the primary grit site varied (mean ± s.d. = 8.6 ± 9.6 days, range = 4.5–10.1 days). We suggest that, during spring staging, individual geese must weigh trade-offs of time spent taking grit with time lost for other activities – including foraging.
Hyperlipidemia and type I 5'-monodeiodinase activity: regulation by selenium supplementation in rabbits.

Male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups: (I) control, (II) high-fat-diet (HFD) fed, and (III) HFD fed + selenium supplemented. After 3 mo of treatment, there was a significant increase in serum cholesterol and triglycerides in the HFD-fed group as compared to the control. However in the selenium (Se)-supplemented group, the levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly less as compared to group II. HFD feeding resulted in decreased serum Se levels, but supplementation of dietary Se along with HFD, as in group III, showed an apparent increase in its levels. The Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the liver and the aorta increased significantly in HFD-fed animals and also showed an additional significant increase on Se supplementation. Both serum T3 and T4 levels showed a significant decrease on HFD feeding. However, supplementation of Se led to a significant increase in the levels of these parameters viz-à-viz HFD-fed animals. HFD feeding significantly decreased the activity of type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'-DI) in the liver from group II rats. On supplementation of Se along with HFD, the activity increased in the liver. However, there was no significant change in its activity in the aorta. The 5'-DI activity in the thyroid showed an opposite trend in comparison with peripheral tissues (i.e., liver). The important finding of this study is that in the hyperlipidemic state, deiodinase in the thyroid behaves in a different manner as compared to its activity in extrathyroidal tissues.
Genomic and transcriptomic hallmarks of poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid cancers.

BACKGROUND Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) are rare and frequently lethal tumors that so far have not been subjected to comprehensive genetic characterization. METHODS We performed next-generation sequencing of 341 cancer genes from 117 patient-derived PDTCs and ATCs and analyzed the transcriptome of a representative subset of 37 tumors. Results were analyzed in the context of The Cancer Genome Atlas study (TCGA study) of papillary thyroid cancers (PTC). RESULTS Compared to PDTCs, ATCs had a greater mutation burden, including a higher frequency of mutations in TP53, TERT promoter, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway effectors, SWI/SNF subunits, and histone methyltransferases. BRAF and RAS were the predominant drivers and dictated distinct tropism for nodal versus distant metastases in PDTC. RAS and BRAF sharply distinguished between PDTCs defined by the Turin (PDTC-Turin) versus MSKCC (PDTC-MSK) criteria, respectively. Mutations of EIF1AX, a component of the translational preinitiation complex, were markedly enriched in PDTCs and ATCs and had a striking pattern of co-occurrence with RAS mutations. While TERT promoter mutations were rare and subclonal in PTCs, they were clonal and highly prevalent in advanced cancers. Application of the TCGA-derived BRAF-RAS score (a measure of MAPK transcriptional output) revealed a preserved relationship with BRAF/RAS mutation in PDTCs, whereas ATCs were BRAF-like irrespective of driver mutation. CONCLUSIONS These data support a model of tumorigenesis whereby PDTCs and ATCs arise from well-differentiated tumors through the accumulation of key additional genetic abnormalities, many of which have prognostic and possible therapeutic relevance. The widespread genomic disruptions in ATC compared with PDTC underscore their greater virulence and higher mortality. FUNDING This work was supported in part by NIH grants CA50706, CA72597, P50-CA72012, P30-CA008748, and 5T32-CA160001; the Lefkovsky Family Foundation; the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering; the Byrne fund; and Cycle for Survival.
Potentiation by a Taste of Toxicosis-Based Context Conditioning: Effects of Varying the Test Fluid

Rats that drank water in a distinctive environment and were then injected with lithium chloride (water-lithium condition) were compared with those given an added taste on those conditioning sessions (sucrose-lithium condition). In three experiments this taste potentiated a conditioned aversion to the context, as measured by suppression of intake of another solution: either a novel sour taste (Experiments 1 and 2) or a familiar saline solution (Experiment 3). In contrast, this potentiation effect was not detected when subjects were tested with water, whether a high or low dose of lithium was used (Experiment 2). Instead, in Experiments 1 and 2 water-lithium subjects drank less water than did the sucrose-lithium subjects on such tests i.e. an apparent overshadowing effect, which was the opposite outcome to that found previously using almost identical procedures. Intake on recovery sessions in another context suggested that, when water is used as the test fluid, potentiation can be masked by two factors: a context-dependent aversion to water in water-lithium subjects, and a conditioned inhibition effect of water in sucrose-lithium subjects. These may account for previous failures to detect potentiation of context conditioning.
Effects of caffeine, nicotine, ethanol and sodium selenite on pancreatic carcinogenesis in hamsters after initiation with N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine.

The modulating effects of caffeine, nicotine, ethanol and sodium selenite on development of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)-amine (BOP)-initiated pancreatic tumors were investigated. Female Syrian golden hamsters were given s.c. injections of BOP (10 mg/kg body weight) or saline alone once a week for 3 weeks and then administered 2000 p.p.m. caffeine, 25 p.p.m. nicotine, 20% ethanol or 4 p.p.m. sodium selenite in their drinking water for the next 37 weeks. Control animals were given tap water alone after BOP initiation. Only the BOP-treated groups developed pancreatic adenocarcinomas and dysplasias. The multiplicity of pancreatic carcinomas was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in animals receiving caffeine than in the controls. In addition, caffeine treatment slightly increased the incidence of carcinomas. Nicotine and ethanol also showed tendencies to enhance pancreatic carcinogenesis, although there were statistically no significant differences regarding lesion development. In contrast, sodium selenite administration was associated with a tendency for a decrease in the number of carcinomas and dysplasias. Thus, among these chemicals of obvious significance to human life-style, caffeine enhanced the development of pancreatic tumors when administered during the post-initiation phase in this hamster model.
The Xenopus LIM-homeodomain protein Xlim5 regulates the differential adhesion properties of early ectoderm cells

One of the earliest lineage restriction events in embryogenesis is the specification of the primary germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. In Xenopus, germ layer specification occurs prior to gastrulation and requires the transcription factor VegT both for the cellautonomous specification of endoderm and the generation of mesoderm-inducing signals. In the absence of VegT, ectoderm is formed in all regions of the embryo. In this work, we show that VegT-depleted vegetal cells (prospective endoderm) behave like animal cells in sorting assays and ectopically express early markers of ectoderm. To gain insight into how ectoderm is specified, we looked for candidate ectoderm-specific genes that are ectopically expressed in VegT-depleted embryos, and examined the role of one of these, the LIM homeobox gene Xlim5, in ectoderm development. We show that overexpression of Xlim5 in prospective endoderm cells is sufficient to impair sorting of animal cells from vegetal cells but is not sufficient (at similar doses) to induce ectoderm-specific genes. In whole embryos, Xlim5 causes vegetal cells to segregate inappropriately to other germ layers and express late differentiation markers of that germ layer. Inhibition of Xlim5 function using an Engrailed repressor construct or a morpholino oligonucleotide causes loss of animal cell adhesion or delay in neural fold morphogenesis, respectively, without significantly affecting early ectoderm gene expression. Taken together, our results provide evidence that a primary role for Xlim5 is to specifically regulate differential cell adhesion behaviour of the ectoderm.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility, safety and long-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS The clinical data of patients with NSCLC and severe COPD (preoperative FEV1% <50%) who underwent VATS lobectomy from January 2000 to January 2011 were retrospectively analyzed to identify their demographic parameters, postoperative complications and outcomes. RESULTS The preoperative FEV1/FVC was <70% and FEV1% <50% in all 61 patients in this study, with a mean preoperative FEV1 of 0.99 L (0.54-1.58 L) and mean FEV1% of 38.4% (22-49.82%). All of the 61 patients underwent the VATS lobectomy or sleeve resection plus systemic lymph node dissection. The mean operative time was 218 minutes (120-355 minutes), with a mean intraoperative blood loss of 342 mL (50-1,600 mL). None of the patients converted to thoracotomy. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that age and TNM staging after tumor resection were independent predictive factors for the 5-year survival in those patients (P=0.014 and 0.013). CONCLUSIONS With preoperative imaging studies, pulmonary function assessment and target positioning, VATS lobectomy can be safely and effectively performed for patients with NSCLC and severe COPD to achieve a satisfying long-term survival outcome.
Patients' and relatives' experience of difficulties following severe traumatic brain injury: The sub-acute stage

The present study aimed to (1) identify the difficulties most frequently reported by individuals with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the time of discharge from a sub-acute rehabilitation brain injury unit as well as difficulties reported by their relatives, (2) compare patients' and relatives' reports of patient difficulties, and (3) explore the role of injury severity, disability and other factors on subjective experience of difficulties. The primary measure was the European Brain Injury Questionnaire (EBIQ) administered to patients and to one of their close relatives at discharge. Results from 52 patients and 50 relatives indicate that the most frequent complaints in both groups related to somatic and cognitive problems. Relatives reported significantly more difficulties than patients on all subscales of the EBIQ. However, the level of complaints in both patients and relatives was low compared to other studies using the EBIQ. Furthermore, the effects of injury severity and general level of functioning had limited impact on the subjective experience of difficulties. Implications of these findings, specifically as they pertain to the sub-acute stage are discussed.
Determinants of binge drinking and alcohol use by young Australian women.

PROBLEM There is little empirical research concerning the role and culture of drinking behavior of young women. METHODS 1,441 female high school students responded to a survey questionnaire containing quantity frequency measures of alcohol consumption and two sex roles scales. The Australian Sex Role Scale and the Women in Society Questionnaire. FINDINGS Frequency of heavy drinking behaviors such as bingeing and getting drunk were a common occurrence. Levels of alcohol consumption and patterns of bingeing and getting drunk were related to the respondents frequency of drinking. Comparison between the two sex role scales and drinking behavior revealed that frequent and heavy drinkers were more likely to have masculine type personality traits and more liberal and contemporary views on the role of women in society. CONCLUSIONS Young women who do not conform to traditional sex role stereotyping are likely to engage in what is considered to be risky health behaviors that have traditionally been associated with males.
STABILITY OF GLOBAL SYNKINESES IN CHRONIC STROKE SUBJECTS

Background and purpose: Global synkineses [GS] are non-purposive associated movements on the affected side of hemiparetic subjects [HS] triggered during a voluntary effort. GS appear in a predictable fashion with well-established torque patterns. The purpose of this study is to assess the stability and consistency of GS measurements during multiple trials (n=3) and sessions (n=3) in chronic HS. Method: A convenience sample of fourteen chronic (i.e. time post CVA >1 year) HS was evaluated. GS on the affected upper limb of the HS were quantified with static multiarticular dynamometry and surface electromyography during maximal contralateral hand grips. Reliability and stability of GS torques and electromyographic measurements were assessed using the index of dependability and standard error measurement (SEM) in a decision study (Dstudy). Results: Increases in the contralateral maximal hand grip force between the first and subsequent sessions were accompanied both by increases in the amplitude of elbow flexion torques and by elbow flexor muscle EMG activities. Indices of dependability for torque (.53 to 75) and EMG (.34 to .70) GS measurements for one session and one trial were low. However, reliable quantification of GS and acceptable SEMs were achieved with the use of two separate measurement sessions and two trials per session. Conclusion and Discussion: GS in chronic HS are relatively stable and most pronounced at the elbow. However, they are force sensitive and demonstrate change between measurement sessions. This change seems to depend on the level of voluntary force exerted and possibly, on the spasticity of the subject. Further research should focus on the standardization of a GS measurement protocol.
Inattention, Hyperactivity, Impulsivity—Epidemiology and Correlations: A Nationwide Greek Study From Birth to 18 Years

We examined the prevalence of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]-like symptoms) at 7 and 18 years in a Greek birth cohort, and associated factors. Information was derived from a representative sample of 2695 Greek individuals followed-up from birth to18 years through 3 questionnaire surveys (1983, 1990, 2001). At 7 years, the prevalence of hyperactivity was 7%, inattention 9.5%, and impulsivity 7% for all children, while a significant decrease was observed at 18 years. Adverse perinatal factors, poor academic performance, fights or quarrels with peers, comorbidity, and a higher frequency of physical punishment and accidents during childhood were found to be associated with ADHD-like symptoms at 7 years. Factors identified to be related with these symptoms at 18 years included male gender, maternal stress, smoking during pregnancy, physical punishment, and psychological problems in childhood. These longitudinal findings provide significant information for health and educational planning in Greece and other countries.
Alfalfa Root Nodule Carbon Dioxide Fixation : II. Partial Purification and Characterization of Root Nodule Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase.

A nonphotosynthetic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) was partially purified from the cytosol of root nodules of alfalfa. The enzyme was purified 86-fold by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and reactive agarose with a final yield of 32%. The enzyme exhibited a pH optimum of 7.5 with apparent K(m) values for phosphoenolpyruvate and magnesium of 210 and 100 micromolar, respectively. Two isozymes were resolved by nondenaturing polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. Subsequent electrophoresis of these isozymes in a second dimension by sodium dodecyl sulfate slab gel electrophoresis yielded identical protein patterns for the isozymes with one major protein band at molecular weight 97,000. Malate and AMP were slightly inhibitory (about 20%) to the partially purified enzyme. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase comprised approximately 1 to 2% of the total soluble protein in actively N(2)-fixing alfalfa nodules.
Intelligent Interaction ( ACII ) Assessing Personality through Objective Behavioral Sensing

Traditional personality assessment techniques often rely on subjective report obtained from questionnaires. This work complements traditional techniques by exploring objective measures of traits at the behavior level. We explored behavior features extracted from smartphone sensing data, and used selected features to predict the traits of the Five Factor Model. The specific dataset we explored was the StudentLife dataset. We found behavior features corresponding to each trait, and were able to predict the traits with varying degrees of accuracy. The best result of each trait are: Extraversion (91.2%), Agreeableness (67.6%), Conscientiousness (70.6%), Neuroticism (79.4%), Openness(73.5%). Our results suggest that behavioral measures extracted from smartphone sensing data has potential in the assessment of personality.