Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental Comparison of FBMC and OFDM for Multiple Access Uplink PON

Filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) is a favourable candidate for next generation optical access networks due to its capability to operate without a cyclic prefix and its high resilience to synchronization errors in the system. In this paper, we analyze the performance of FBMC in upstream passive optical networks (PON), without the employment of inter optical network unit (inter-ONU) frequency guard bands. By using both experimental work and numerical simulations, the impact of relative time offsets on inter-ONU orthogonality is studied. Furthermore, numerical simulations are also used to study the impact of frequency offsets in such systems. Moreover, comparisons are drawn to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based upstream PONs. This paper experimentally demonstrates that imperfect time synchronization impacts all subcarriers in an OFDM system, while it affects only the immediately adjacent subcarriers in an FBMC system, which could be corrected for by the restoration of synchronicity between users. A simple feedback mechanism is experimentally demonstrated to automatically restore orthogonality and synchronization between users in order to validate the practical implementation of the scheme.
First Report of an OXA-48-Producing Multidrug-Resistant Proteus mirabilis Strain from Gaza, Palestine

ABSTRACT We report the first multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis strain producing the carbapenemase OXA-48 (Pm-OXA-48) isolated at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, Palestine. Draft genome sequencing of Pm-OXA-48 identified 16 antimicrobial resistance genes, encoding resistance to β-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, phenicols, streptothricin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Complete sequencing of the blaOXA-48-harboring plasmid revealed that it is a 72 kb long IncL/M plasmid, harboring carbapenemase gene blaOXA-48, extended spectrum β-lactamase gene blaCTX-M-14, and aminoglycoside resistance genes strA, strB, and aph(3′)-VIb.
The cervical cancer screening program from a midwife's perspective

Background. Midwives in Sweden are responsible for taking Papanicolaou (Pap) smears as part of the cervical cancer screening program. The aim of this study was to investigate midwives knowledge, experience and management of the cervical cancer screening program, and their apprehension of women's knowledge about Pap‐smear screening. Methods. A postal questionnaire was sent to midwives working in primary health care in 3 different areas in Sweden. A total of 156 (77%) out of 201 midwives completed the questionnaire. Results. Four of 5 midwives considered themselves to have the education they needed to manage the screening program. However, the study indicated that midwives lacked a basic structure when giving information. As many as every third midwife refrained from or had an irrelevant answer to the proposed question, what is meant by a cellular atypia? Almost all midwives saw themselves as the main informant about Pap‐smear screening. At the same time, the midwives perceived that women lacked knowledge about cellular atypia, and thought it was the same as cancer. Some 38% of the midwives expressed a wish to terminate the ‘assembly line‐like’ screening system. The remaining midwives were completely satisfied with the organisation. Conclusions. Many midwives lacked time and a structured guidance when discussing screening and cervical atypia. Improvement in the organisation and certified education for Pap‐smear screening with access to recent research, could develop a more empowering exchange between the midwives and the women participating in cervical screening.
Inflammatory Disease as Chronic Stress

Abstract: It is now established that communication between the CNS and the immune system is bidirectional, that endocrine factors can alter immune function and that immune responses can alter both endocrine and CNS responses. In many respects CNS and endocrine responses to acute inflammation are similar to the changes associated with acute stress exposure. In contrast, during chronic inflammation associated with adjuvant induced arthritis (AA), although circulating levels of corticosterone are increased, the peptidergic regulation of the hypothalamus is different from that seen during acute stress. As the disease progresses, a paradoxical reduction occurs in CRH mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), whereas PVN AVP mRNA increases. These data suggest that there is increased expression of AVP mRNA within the CRH cells of the PVN with an increased emphasis on AVP regulation of HPA output. Additionally, HPA function is altered during chronic inflammation such that responses to psychological stress (i.e. restraint) are significantly dampened, while responses to further inflammatory challenges are maintained. These data suggest that alterations in PVN peptide colocalization may be important in regulating the progression of peripheral inflammatory responses and that the effects of inflammation on the hypothalamus alter stress‐responsive systems. In addition to the AA model, we have similarly observed alterations in PVN peptide mRNA expression with disease onset in the murine MRL lpr/lpr and MRL +/+ model of SLE. Disease onset in murine SLE is spontaneous and does not rely on exogenous application of adjuvant; however, decreased levels of CRH in the PVN were observed from early disease onset in this animal model. It is suggested that alterations in CRH regulation in response to either acute or chronic inflammation may contribute as etiological factors to both psychiatric (i.e. neuropsychiatric SLE) and stress‐related disease.
The Flexible Item Selection Task (FIST): A Measure of Executive Function in Preschoolers

Abstraction and cognitive flexibility were assessed in 197 preschool children at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of age using the Flexible Item Selection Task, a task adapted from the Visual-Verbal Test (Feldman & Drasgow, 1951). On this new inductive task, children were shown a set of 3 cards and required to select 2 cards that matched each other on 1 dimension (Selection 1) and then to select a different pair of cards that matched each other on another dimension (Selection 2). Thus, 1 of the 3 cards always had to be selected twice according to different dimensions. Two-year-olds failed to understand basic task requirements as assessed by a criterial measure. Three-year-olds did more poorly on Selection 1 than 4- and 5-year-olds (who performed near ceiling), suggesting that 3-year-olds had difficulty with the abstraction component of the task. Four-year-olds did worse than 5-year-olds on Selection 2, suggesting that they had difficulty with the cognitive flexibility component (i.e., difficulty selecting the same card on more than 1 dimension). Results are discussed in terms of the development of executive function.
Cognitive-Empowered Femtocells: An Intelligent Paradigm of a Robust and Efficient Media Access

Driven by both the need for ubiquitous wireless services and the stringent strain on radio spectrum faced in today’s wireless communications, cognitive radio (CR) have been investigated as a promising solution to deploy Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs) for an efficient spectrum utilization. Communication devices with CR capabilities are able to access spectrum bands licensed for other wireless services in an opportunistic and secondary fashion, while preventing harmful interference to incumbent licensed services. However, a lesson learned from early experiences in developing such macro-cellular networks is that it becomes increasingly less economically viable to develop CR macrocellular infrastructures for increasing data rates in both line-of-sight as well as non-line-of-sight situation of WRAN, and the corresponding quality of service (QoS) in macrocellular networks is also noticeably degraded due to path loss, shadowing, and multipath fading due to wall penetration. Moreover, there are several challenges to make the real-world CR enabling dynamic spectrum access a difficult problem to implement without harmful interference. First, the hardware design of cognitive radio on the physical layer involves the tuning over a broad range of spectrum to detect a weak signal in a dynamic environment of fading channels, which in turn makes identification of the spectrum opportunities hard to achieve in an efficient and accurate manner. Second, opportunistic media access based on imperfect spectrum usage information obtain from physical layer brings up undesirable interference issue, as well as reliability issues introduced by mutual interference. Third, the curial issue is to determine which channels to use for data transmissions in presence of the dynamic and opportunistic nature of wireless environments, in the case where pre-defined dedicated control channel is not available in the complex and heterogenous networks. In this dissertation, a novel framework called Cognitive-Empowered Femtocell (CEF), which combines CR techniques with femtocell networking, is introduced to tackle these challenges and achieve better spectrum reuse, lower interference, easy integration, wider network coverage, as well as fast and cost effective early stage WRAN. In this framework, a sensing coordination scheme is proposed to gracefully unshackles the master/slave relationship between central controllers and end users, while maintaining order and coordination such that better sensing precision and efficiency can be achieved. As such, the network intelligence can be expanded from controlling the intelligence paradigm to better understand the satisfy wireless user needs. We also discuss design and deployment aspects such as sensing with reasoning approach, gossip-enabled stochastic media access without a dedicated control channel, all of which are important to the success of the CEF framework.
What's in a name and when does it matter? The hot and cold market impacts on underpricing of certification, reputation and conflicts of interest in venture capital backed Korean IPOs

This article analyses the impact of the participation of venture capital (VC) firms on underpricing in 372 businesses brought to IPO during the period 1999-2001 in KOSDAQ. Korea's second-tier stock market, KOSDAQ, has grown dramatically since 1999 and about half of the firms listed in KOSDAQ during this period were VC-backed, thus providing a good testing ground for empirical analysis. We measure VC participation in terms of pre IPO share-ownership by VC firms and attempt to differentiate IPO impacts between VCs grouped in terms of their reputation (measured by their dominance of the VC market, and by their affiliation in terms of ownership by banks and security companies). In estimating impacts we control for a wide range of variables which may affect the extent of underpricing. These include uncertainty inducing factors such as the age, size, profitability, leverage, and technical riskiness (measured by sector and R&D intensity) of the firm brought to IPO. We also control for market conditions using proxies for hot and cold market effects based on the numbers of contemporaneous IPOs, underpricing trends and market price movements. Finally in addition to allowing for the impact of underwriting quality we control for share overhang and price revision effects. We find that, controlling for other relevant factors, pre-IPO ownership by VCs has an insignificantly negative impact on underpricing in both hot and cold markets. However in cold markets reputational effects within the VC group do matter. In those conditions the top 3 VCs and those owned by or affiliated with banks are significantly associated with lower underpricing. The same is true for the quality of underwriting. However in hot market conditions none of these effects are present.
The presence of an extensive intraductal component following a limited excision correlates with prominent residual disease in the remainder of the breast.

Previous studies of patients with infiltrating ductal breast cancer treated with conservative surgery (ie, limited excision) and radiotherapy have indicated that the presence of an extensive intraductal component (EIC) in the excision specimen is highly associated with subsequent breast recurrence. The reason for this association is not clear, but possible explanations include the presence of more extensive disease in the breast or increased radiation resistance among tumors with an EIC (EIC+) compared with those without (EIC-) tumors. To investigate this association further, we related the presence or absence of an EIC in the primary tumors of 214 women who underwent mastectomy to the likelihood of finding additional foci of cancer in their mastectomy specimens using a correlated pathologic-radiologic mapping technique. Primary tumors that were EIC+ were significantly more likely to have carcinoma in the remainder of the breast than those which were EIC--(74% v 42%; P = .00001). This difference was primarily due to the presence of residual intraductal carcinoma. Seventy-one percent of EIC+ patients had residual intraductal carcinoma compared with 28% of EIC-patients (P less than .00001). In particular, 44% of EIC+ patients had "prominent" residual intraductal carcinoma compared with 3% of EIC-patients (P less than .00001). We conclude that patients whose tumors contain an EIC more frequently have a large subclinical tumor burden in the remainder of the breast compared with patients whose tumors do not contain an EIC. This observation may explain the association between EIC and subsequent breast recurrence when patients are treated with a limited excision before radiotherapy.
Growth and Mycorrhizal Community Structure of Pinus sylvestris Seedlings following the Addition of Forest Litter

ABSTRACT We report the effects of pine and oak litter on species composition and diversity of mycorrhizal fungi colonizing 2-year-old Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings grown in a bare-root nursery in Lithuania. A layer of pine or oak litter was placed on the surface of the nursery bed soil to mimic natural litter cover. Oak litter amendment appeared to be most favorable for seedling survival, with a 73% survival rate, in contrast to the untreated mineral bed soil (44%). The concentrations of total N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were higher in oak growth medium than in pine growth medium. Relative to the control (pH 6.1), the pH was lower in pine growth medium (5.8) and higher in oak growth medium (6.3). There were also twofold and threefold increases in the C content of growth medium with the addition of pine and oak litter, respectively. Among seven mycorrhizal morphotypes, eight different mycorrhizal taxa were identified: Suillus luteus, Suillus variegatus, Wilcoxina mikolae, a Tuber sp. , a Tomentella sp. , Cenococcum geophilum, Amphinema byssoides, and one unidentified ectomycorrhizal symbiont. Forest litter addition affected the relative abundance of mycorrhizal symbionts more than their overall representation. This was more pronounced for pine litter than for oak litter, with 40% and 25% increases in the abundance of suilloid mycorrhizae, respectively. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that changes in the supply of organic matter through litter manipulation may have far-reaching effects on the chemistry of soil, thus influencing the growth and survival of Scots pine seedlings and their mycorrhizal communities.
Ontogenetic Variation in the Bony Labyrinth of Monodelphis domestica (Mammalia: Marsupialia) Following Ossification of the Inner Ear Cavities

Ontogeny, or the development of an individual from conception to death, is a major source of variation in vertebrate morphology. All anatomical systems are affected by ontogeny, and knowledge of the ontogenetic history of these systems is important to understand when formulating biological interpretations of evolutionary history and physiology. The present study is focused on how variation affects the bony labyrinth across a growth series of an extant mammal after ossification of the inner ear chambers. Digital endocasts of the bony labyrinth were constructed using CT data across an ontogenetic sequence of Monodelphis domestica, an important experimental animal. Various aspects of the labyrinth were measured, including angles between the semicircular canals, number of turns of the cochlea, volumes of inner ear constituents, as well as linear dimensions of semicircular canals. There is a strong correlation between skull length and age, but from 27 days after birth onward, there is no correlation with age among most of the inner ear measurements. Exceptions are the height of the arc of the lateral semicircular canal, the angular deviation of the lateral canal from planarity, the length of the slender portion of the posterior semicircular canal, and the length of the canaliculus cochleae. Adult dimensions of several of the inner ear structures, such as the arcs of the semicircular canals, are achieved before the inner ear is functional, and the non‐ontogenetic variation in the bony labyrinth serves as an important source for behavioral, physiological, and possibly phylogenetic information. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Model Averaging in Markov-Switching Models: Predicting National Recessions with Regional Data

This paper estimates and forecasts U.S. business cycle turning points with state-level data. The probabilities of recession are obtained from univariate and multivariate regime-switching models based on a pairwise combination of national and state-level data. We use two classes of combination schemes to summarize the information from these models: Bayesian Model Averaging and Dynamic Model Averaging. In addition, we suggest the use of combination schemes based on the past predictive ability of a given model to estimate regimes. Both simulation and empirical exercises underline the utility of such combination schemes. Moreover, our best specification provides timely updates of the U.S. business cycles. In particular, the estimated turning points from this specification largely precede the announcements of business cycle turning points from the NBER business cycle dating committee, and compare favorably with competing models.
Capacity of Social-Aware Wireless Networks With Directional Antennas

The widespread of smart phones has brought new social-aware features to wireless networks. Users prefer to forward traffic to their social contacts in social-aware networks, which is highly different from the traditional uniform traffic pattern. To this end, we analyze a social-aware wireless network, which is modeled by the social contacts between nodes, and explore its impact on network throughput capacity. We present that it can refine social contacts, thus improving the network capacity. Moreover, directional antennas are applied to further enhance the capacity performance, which can reduce the interference brought by other simultaneous communications. We derive the throughput capacity for social-aware networks with single-beam and multi-beam directional antenna, respectively. For single-beam directional antenna, we prove that when wireless networks are dominated by traffics of short-distance social contact, the throughput capacity can be promoted from order of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(\Theta ({1}/{\theta ^{2}}n\,\text {log}\,n)^{1/2})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Theta ({1}/{\theta ^{2} \text {log}\,n})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. In addition, when the beamwidth <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\theta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> is at order of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Omega ({1}/{({\log {n}})^{1/2}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, the throughput capacity is a constant. Thus, the wireless network is scalable. For multi-beam antennas, we prove that when sidelobe gain <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$G_{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is at order of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$o(G_{m})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, where <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$G_{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is main lobe gain, compared with the single-beam case, the network capacity can achieve the order of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Theta ({1}/{\theta ^{2}\text {log}\,n})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>.
Taste responses to mixtures: analytic processing of quality.

The tastes of 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), 100 mM sucrose, and 1 mM quinine hydrochloride in mixtures were investigated in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) with a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) paradigm. CTAs, established in golden hamsters by injection of lithium chloride, were quantified as percent suppression of control 1-hr stimulus intake. CTAs for 10 of 15 stimulus pairs with common components symmetrically cross-generalized, suggesting that component qualities were recognized in binary and ternary mixtures. However, CTAs to quinine were hardly learned and were weakly expressed when quinine was mixed with NaCl, and generalizations from multiple to single stimuli were stronger than vice versa (i.e., asymmetric). The behaviors reflect peripheral inhibition and/or central mixture suppression. Nonetheless, components retain their distinct qualities in mixtures, suggesting that taste processing is analytic.
Analysis of Inhalable Dust Produced in Manufacturing of Wooden Furniture

To provide an in-depth understanding of preventing occupational diseases and improving working conditions, characteristics of inhalable dust were studied. The results showed that total dust concentration (TDC) from mechanical sanding, portable planning and sanding, putty sanding, and painting sanding with inadequate exhaust ventilation were higher than occupational exposure limits (OELs). The more the furniture material was sanded and the worse the dust exhaust apparatus, the higher the TDC was. The TDC from portable planer sanding and dry sanding and putty sanding was in the range from 8.4 mg/m3 to 8.7 mg/m3 and from 5.3 mg/m3 to 8.4 mg/m3, respectively. The TDC from mechanical sanding and painting sanding was in the range from 4.4 to 6.4 mg/m3 and from 3.4 mg/m3 to 4.9 mg/m3, respectively. More than 90% suspended particulate matter in their TDC had a PM10 in all aforementioned results. The sanding procedure produced 6.7% to 8.2% free silica in the total particulate matter, in addition to wood dust, putty dust, or painting dust. Heavy metals in dust from putty sanding and painting exceeding the OELs were lead (Pb; > 0.3 mg/m3) and cadmium (Cd; > 0.01 mg/m3). There was a large amount of granular grinding material, cluster putty, planar painting dust, and a small amount fibroid wood dust in the dust from putty sanding and painting sanding.
How Androcentric is Western Philosophy

L'A. rejette les arguments metaphorique, theorique et culturel prouvant l'androcentrisme de la philosophie occidentale en un sens pervasive, c'est-a-dire revendicant une alternative feministe. L'A. montre qu'un seul argument non-pervasive peut prouver l'andocentrisme de la philosophie, c'est-a-dire qu'il requiert l'abandon de toute forme androcentrique, au profit d'un discours pluraliste rendant compte de la variete de la philosophie et de la culture