Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-complexity switched soft demapper for rotated non-uniform constellation DVB-NGH systems

In this paper, we propose a low-complexity switched soft demapper for rotated non-uniform constellation (e.g., nonuniform QAM, non-uniform APSK) DVB-NGH systems. The constellation would be twisted seriously through an I/Q independent fading channel. The requirement for two-dimensional (2D) soft demapping leads to the exponentially increased complexity. The proposed demapper classifies the received symbols into the following two types based on a decision criterion: a) Those not seriously twisted symbols can be separated into two independent components after zero forcing (ZF) equalization for low-complexity one-dimensional (1D) soft demapping; b) Those seriously twisted ones require implementing 2D soft demapping to avoid performance degradation. Our simulations verify that the proposed scheme reduces the demapping complexity by 70% and 45% for a rotated non-uniform QAM (NU-QAM) and a nonuniform APSK (NU-APSK) respectively while the performance degradation is negligible as compared to the traditional full search algorithm. The demapper can be further simplified by combining the proposed scheme with other simplified algorithms for 2D soft demapping. The proposed demapper exploits the channel state information and can be applied not only to the rotated NU-QAM, but also to the NU-APSK constellation.
P3F-5 An Ultrasonic Through-Wall Communication System with Power Harvesting

Electromagnetic "wireless" techniques are ineffective for communicating through a solid steel barrier due to the shielding effect of the metal. Although holes can be made in the barrier to allow wires to pass through, they are often undesirable because they can reduce the integrity of the barrier. In contrast, ultrasound propagates readily through steel and can be used to convey information without degrading the barrier. Since it may be inconvenient to periodically access the sensor side of the barrier, it is also desirable to make the sensor/communication system operate for an indefinite period without servicing. Power harvesting can be used to derive electric power for the circuits from the ultrasonic power applied at the other side of the barrier, making batteries unnecessary. This paper describes an ultrasonic communication system with power harvesting using two ultrasonic transducers and continuous-wave ultrasound techniques. Experimental results are presented, which were obtained using a 5.7 cm thick steel block with 2.54 cm piezoelectric transducers at 1 MHz. The data shows reliable communication at rates of up to 55 kbps and power delivery of over 0.25 W.
Essential oils of Satureja, Origanum, and Thymus species: chemical composition and antibacterial activities against foodborne pathogens.

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the species restricted to Greece and the eastern Mediterranean region, Satureja spinosa L. and Thymus longicaulis L. ; species endemic to central and south Greece, Satureja parnassica ssp. parnassica Heldr. and Sart ex Boiss. ; species endemic to the island of Crete, Origanum dictamnus L. ; and species widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, Satureja thymbra L. and Origanum vulgare L. subsp. hirtum, were determined by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the essential oils were evaluated against a panel of five foodborne bacteria (Escherichia coli 0157:H7 NCTC 12900, Salmonella enteritidis PT4, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Listeria monocytogenes ScottA, and Bacillus cereus FSS 134). The analytical data indicated that various monoterpene hydrocarbons and phenolic monoterpenes constitute the major components of the oils, but their concentrations varied greatly among the oils examined. The antibacterial assay results showed that 5 muL doses of the essential oils extracted from the endemic Satureja species in Greece possess remarkable bactericidal properties, which are clearly superior as compared to those of Origanum and Thymus species essential oils. Therefore, they represent an inexpensive source of natural mixtures of antibacterial compounds that exhibit potentials for use in food systems to prevent the growth of foodborne bacteria and extend the shelf life of the processed food.
Quantification of lipoprotein X and its relationship to plasma lipid profile during different types of parenteral nutrition.

An abnormal lipoprotein (LP), detected in plasma during total parenteral nutrition, has been shown to be similar to LPX observed in cholestasis and in familial lecithin-cholesterol-acyl-transferase (LCAT) deficiency. However, the conditions which facilitate the appearance of LPX during total parenteral nutrition are unclear; potential determining factors could be lipid input, plasma lipid levels, and/or inhibition of LCAT activity. An investigation was conducted on 12 patients receiving total parenteral nutrition for 3 wk by simultaneously evaluating plasma LPX (via a quantitative method) as well as total cholesterol, phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein B, and LCAT activity. Daily total nonprotein calories (40 kcal/kg body weight) and nitrogen input (250 mg/kg body weight) were fixed in this study. Three 7-day periods were defined: during periods 1 and 3, lipid emulsion (10 or 20% Intralipid) and glucose were given as nonprotein calories (glucose-lipid periods); in period 2, glucose was administered alone as the sole source of nonprotein energy (glucose period) so that the total energy input was not modified. During periods 1 and 3, the patients were randomly assigned to receive either 9 g (period 1) and 12 g (period 3) of PL/day for 7 days, or 12 and 9 g of PL/day. By infusing either 10 or 20% Intralipid, TG input was varied concomitantly so that the subjects received 75, 100, or 150 g/day in periods 1 and 3. During the glucose-lipid periods, plasma LPX was measurable from the 2nd day and increased progressively. Its increment was closely related to a rise in unesterified cholesterol and PL (r = 0.7; p less than 0.05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein UL16 traffics through the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL16 gene encodes a glycoprotein that interferes with the immune response to the virus‐infected cell. In vitro, UL16 interacts with MICB and ULBPs that are ligands for the stimulatory receptor NKG2D, expressed on NK cells and CD8+T cells. UL16 expression has been shown to promote intracellular accumulation of MICB, ULBP1 and 2 and thus, interfere with the immune response to HCMV‐infected cells. The mechanism that has been suggested for UL16‐mediated MICB downmodulation is retention in the ER. Here, we studied the intracellular localization and maturation of UL16 and MICB in HCMV‐infected cells and transfectant systems. UL16 trafficked through the ER, TGN and progressed to the plasma membrane, after which the protein was internalized. Strikingly, UL16 was also observed in the inner nuclear membrane. MICB was also localized in the TGN in HCMV‐infected cells. These data suggest that MICB trafficking might be affected after its transit through the ER.
Migration and attitudes towards domestic violence against women: a case study of Libyan migrants in the UK

ABSTRACT This article analyses attitudes to domestic violence against women (DVAW) among Libyan migrants in the north of England; this is the first such study of Libyan migrants. One hundred seventy-five (175) respondents were interviewed in a questionnaire survey and 20 in semi-structured interviews. Migrant status has been identified as an important marker or precarity; gendered and racialised experiences deepen structural forms of insecurity. The research explored the impact of migration on participants’ attitudes to DVAW. The concepts of gender regime and gender order, additionally, help to provide a framework for understanding of the multifaceted nature of unequal gender relations within Libyan Arab communities. The study found that gender and educational level were the most important variables associated with views about DVAW within the sample, whereas length of stay in the UK was not statistically associated with attitudes towards domestic violence. The article explores reasons for relative continuity in beliefs about DVAW in the context of the insecurities of migration. Despite continuities, shifts and changes are taking place within many women’s lives.
An improved approach to open set text-independent speaker identification (OSTI-SI)

This paper focuses on open set text independent speaker identification which is one of the most challenging subclass of Speaker recognition. The initial stage is similar to closed set speaker identification, where the distortion for each test voice against all train voices are determined. The distortions after normalization is set as decision criteria which eases the process of thresholding. The threshold variation which is mostly independent of dataset but dependent on the size of train data set and its values are quite similar for three datasets. The identification rate with balanced False Acceptance Rate(FAR) and False Rejection Rate(FRR) is 73–86%.
The Impact of the Current Expected Credit Loss Standard (Cecl) on the Timing and Comparability of Reserves

The new forward-looking credit loss provisioning standard, CECL, is intended to promote proactive provisioning as loan loss reserves can be conditioned on expectations of the economic cycle. We study the degree to which one modeling decision–expectations about the path of future house prices – affects the size and timing of provisions for first-lien residential mortgage portfolios. While we find that provisions are generally less pro-cyclical compared to the current incurred loss standard, CECL may complicate the comparability of provisions across banks and time. Market participants will need to disentangle the degree to which variation in provisions across firms is driven by underlying risk versus differences in modeling assumptions.
Great expectations: assessing the impact of commercialization-focused policies among Malaysia’s public research institutes

ABSTRACT In 2006, the Malaysian government released its 9th five-year development plan which, among other things, directed the country’s numerous public research institutes (PRIs) to focus primarily on commercializing technologies stemming from their respective research agendas. This directive envisioned a de facto division of labor between universities, that would emphasize basic research, and PRIs, that would become Malaysia’s translational research and technology commercialization hubs. Employing a scientific and technical human capital conceptual lens, this paper assesses the extent to which PRIs have met the expectations of the new commercialization directive through the analysis of data collected during a 2011–2012 survey among university and PRI researchers. First, we find descriptively that, in comparison to university researchers, PRI researchers do not differ substantially in terms of average patents and prototypes produced, our proxies for technology commercialization. Second, we investigate factors among PRI researchers that explain commercialization behavior and find that holding a PhD correlates strongly with publication and patenting behavior while conducting applied research and expressing adequate commercialization support correlates modestly with prototyping behavior. Implications for research and policy are discussed.
Fluctuating Corticosteroid-Responsive Auditory Neuropathy/Dyssynchrony Is Suggestive of Central Nervous System Pathology

Objective: To highlight diagnostic and management features of auditory neuropathy/auditory dyssynchrony (AN/DS) due to central demyelinating disorder. Patients: A child with AN/DS due to central nervous system pathologic findings. Interventions: Audiometry, auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, otoacoustic emission test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium contrast, intravenous corticosteroid treatment, antiviral treatment, stereotactic biopsy, and cyclophosphamide immunomodulation. Main Outcome Measures: Pure-tone audiometry, speech discrimination testing, ABR, and MRI. Results: A 12-year-old girl presented with acute sensorineural hearing loss, abnormal ABR, and normal otoacoustic emissions consistent with AN/DS. The hearing loss demonstrated fluctuation and corticosteroid responsiveness. Magnetic resonance imaging and stereotactic biopsy revealed brainstem demyelination consistent with multiple sclerosis. Definitive treatment consisted of cyclophosphamide immunomodulation. Conclusion: Although recent focus on pathophysiology of AN/DS has shifted from auditory nerve abnormalities to dyssynchrony within the cochlea, cases associated with fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss and responsiveness to corticosteroid therapy should raise the suspicion of central nervous system pathologic findings. Therefore, it is crucial to obtain brain MRI with contrast enhancement in all patients with AN/DS. This is critical in patients undergoing cochlear implantation because MRI may be contraindicated postoperatively.
Risk‐stratification management of febrile neutropenia in pediatric hematology‐oncology patients: Results of a French nationwide survey

In 2012, new international guidelines for children with chemotherapy‐induced febrile neutropenia (FN) were issued, recommending reduced‐intensity management strategy based on stratification of infectious risks. Some studies have highlighted practice disparities in different countries and within the same country. Our aim was to assess the current management strategies for the treatment of chemotherapy‐induced FN in children in France.
Constructing New Representations and the Implications for Decision Making Theory: Learning from Archimedes

In general decision making theory modeling inferential reasoning, there is an information asymmetry that arises from the fact that the universe of possibles, which is assumed to be stable, is not formalized as conditional in operative rules. Standing as a classic counter&#8208;example is an innovational model (the Archimedes thought experiment) in which the universe of discourse, that is, the reference universe, must be reframed and extended. Here, new theoretical foundations are put forth: (1) a formalized concept of a reference universe; (2) a two&#8208;fold rationality, with or without an excluded middle, to operate within a reference universe; or (3) a non&#8208;reflexive identity entailed in a reframing process, adding a new dimension to the existing knowledge base. This opens outlooks for modeling a process whereby new representations for decision making can be constructed. Moreover, it is a process that constitutes a unique vantage point from which to observe innovative situations and to contemplate the link to paradox theory in management research.
Teori dan Implementasi Gaya Kepemimpinan Kepala Sekolah

Indonesia faces many problems in education. The main problem is raised from the low ability of the headmaster to manage the school. This is related to leadership style. This study aims to explore leadership styles in the field of education and discusses how headmasters should apply leadership styles in schools. Some appropriate leadership styles are applied by the headmaster consisting of (1) managerial leadership, (2) transformational leadership, (3) transactional leadership, (4) instructional leadership and (5) positive leadership. Therefore, the headmaster not only applies a leadership style while managing the school but must be able to combine and contextualize leadership styles based on the need to obtain school goals.
The “Heart” of Peritoneal Dialysis

Cardiovascular disease accounts for more than half of all deaths in end-stage renal disease patients receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. The recent demonstration of the important association between residual renal clearance (but not PD clearance) and overall and cardiovascular survival in chronic PD patients has led us to further explore the mechanisms that can potentially explain the close link between residual renal function and cardiovascular disease in this population. This John Maher Award Lecture provides a review of my own work and that of other groups that provides support for the importance of residual renal function not only in providing small-solute clearance but also in maintaining the cardiovascular health, nutrition status, and wellbeing of PD patients. Data are provided to demonstrate why preservation of residual renal function may be the key to improving survival and cardiovascular outcomes in PD patients.
Racial Presidentialities: Narratives of Latinxs in the 2016 Campaign

The 2016 presidential nomination saw signifıcant discussions about Latinx communities and Latinx identities. Such concerns, of course, are not new in electoral politics or campaign discourse. However, the 2016 campaign provided an especially potent and varied sampling of political discourses about Latinx communities and Latinx identities, from discussions of the GOP’s so-called “Hispanic problem” and political prognostication about the so-called “Latino vote” to Donald Trump’s promises to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. In this essay, I consider how some of these electoral discourses are reflective of and shape what I call “racial presidentialities. ” In their book The Prime-Time Presidency, Trevor Parry-Giles and Shawn Parry-Giles defıne presidentiality as “a discourse that demarcates the cultural and ideological meaning of the presidency for the general public. ” In another book, Constructing Clinton, they write that rhetorics of presidentiality “defıne, in part, the American community by offering a vision of this central and vital offıce. ” Rhetorics of presidentiality use the president and the offıce of the presidency as referents or signs, constructing broader ideologies about national identity and national culture. The presidentiality concept indexes the ways in which popular understandings of the presidency condense and construct national identities, myths, and ideologies. With the term racial presidentialities I refer to a particular thread in broader rhetorics of presidentiality: those political and cultural discourses
National digital forensics framework for Bangladesh

At recent time, cybercrime has increased significantly in the world and also in Bangladesh due to consequence of massive digitalization efforts in every sector. These types of offense require systematic probing in order to be revealed properly at the court of law. This research work proposed a comprehensive digital forensics framework to facilitate forensically ready common standard digital forensics to the investigators. The framework recommended proactive and reactive forensics to enable live and post forensics issues. The purpose of the proposed framework is to allow systematic postmortem of digital forensics. Moreover, it allows further investigations suggested during examination or analysis phase. An expert system is introduced into the framework to improve efficiency through inference engine. This assistive system included digital forensics case database as a history keeper to store all documentations and results of the accomplished forensics examination. The inference engine is expected to generate a priority list from the historical data by a proposed algorithm. In addition, the expert system is expected to guide examiners during forensics. Furthermore, dissemination of forensics outcomes anticipated automatically to the authorized investigators by this system. However, the proposed framework is based on theoretical approach which is expected to be evaluated and implemented using assistive expert system in the future.
Assessing the Penetrating Abilities of Experimental Preparation with Dental Infiltrant Features Using Optical Microscope: Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND The aim of the infiltration technique is to penetrate demineralized enamel with a low viscosity resin. Icon® (DMG) is the first ever and so far the only dental infiltrant. Bacteriostaticity is one of the properties that should be inherent in dental infiltrants, but Icon lacks this feature. OBJECTIVES The aim of the preliminary study was to properly choose a dye which would allow us to assess the penetrating abilities of our own, experimental preparation with features of a dental infiltrant with bacteriostatic properties and to compare using an optical microscope the depth of infiltration of the designed experimental preparation with the infiltrant available on the market. MATERIAL AND METHODS The preparation is supposed to infiltrate decalcified human enamel and be assessed with an optical microscope. Eosin, neutral fuchsine and methylene blue were added to experimental preparation with dental infiltrant features and to Icon® (DMG) in order to assess the depth of penetration of the experimental solution into the decalcified layers of enamel. RESULTS The experimental solution mixes well with eosin, neutral fuchsine, and methylene blue. CONCLUSIONS During the preliminary study, the authors concluded that the experimental solution mixes well with methylene blue, neutral fuchsine, and eosin. An addition of eosin to a preparation which infiltrates inner, demineralized enamel layers, facilitates the assessment of such a preparation with an optical microscope. A designed experimental solution with the main ingredients, i.e., 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) with a ratio of 75% to 25% penetrates the demineralized (decalcified) inner parts of the enamel and polymerizes when exposed to light. In order to assess the infiltration of the experimental solution into the demineralized enamel layers, it is required to improve the measurement techniques that utilize optical microscopy.
A Large‐Sample Test of a Semi‐Automated Clavicle Search Engine to Assist Skeletal Identification by Radiograph Comparison

In 2014, a morphometric capability to search chest radiograph databases by quantified clavicle shape was published to assist skeletal identification. Here, we extend the validation tests conducted by increasing the search universe 18‐fold, from 409 to 7361 individuals to determine whether there is any associated decrease in performance under these more challenging circumstances. The number of trials and analysts were also increased, respectively, from 17 to 30 skeletons, and two to four examiners. Elliptical Fourier analysis was conducted on clavicles from each skeleton by each analyst (shadowgrams trimmed from scratch in every instance) and compared to the search universe. Correctly matching individuals were found in shortlists of 10% of the sample 70% of the time. This rate is similar to, although slightly lower than, rates previously found for much smaller samples (80%). Accuracy and reliability are thereby maintained, even when the comparison system is challenged by much larger search universes.
Formation of carotenoids by rhodotorula glutinis in whey ultrafiltrate

The growth and carotenoid biosynthesis of the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis was studied by cocultivation with Lactobacillus helveticus in cheese ultrafiltrate containing 3.9% and 7.1% lactose. By growing this mixed culture in a 15‐L fermentor MBR AG (Switzerland) at an air flow rate of 0.5 L/L min and agitation at 220 rpm for 6 days, a total yield of carotenoids of 268 μg/g dry cells wasobtained. Carotenoids were formed almost parallel with the cell growth, anda maximum production was reached at an early stationary phase. A high‐performance liquid chromatographic system (HPLC) permitting simultaneous determination of major carotenoid pigments was used. The three main pigments (torularhodin, β‐carotene, and torulene) were formed in Rhodotorula glutinis, and reached a maximum concentration as follows: 182.0, 43.9, 23.0 μg,g dry cells. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.