Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GMSK modulation for deep space applications

Due to scarcity of spectrum at 8.42 GHz deep space X-band allocation, many deep space missions are now considering the use of higher order modulation schemes instead of the traditional binary phase shift keying (BPSK). One such scheme is pre-coded Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK). GMSK is an excellent candidate for deep space missions. GMSK is a constant envelope, bandwidth efficient modulation whose frame error rate (FER) performance with perfect carrier tracking and proper receiver structure is nearly identical to that of BPSK. There are several issues that need to be addressed with GMSK however. Specifically, we are interested in the combined effects of spectrum limitations and receiver structure on the coded performance of the X-band link using GMSK. The receivers that are typically used for GMSK demodulations are variations on offset quadrature phase shift keying (OQPSK) receivers. In this paper we consider three receivers: the standard DSN OQPSK receiver, DSN OQPSK receiver with filtered input, and an optimum OQPSK receiver with filtered input. For the DSN OQPSK receiver we show experimental results with (8920, 1/2), (8920, 1/3) and (8920, 1/6) turbo codes in terms of their error rate performance. We also consider the tracking performance of this receiver as a function of data rate, channel code and the carrier loop signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). For the other two receivers we derive theoretical results that will show that for a given loop bandwidth, a receiver structure, and a channel code, there is a lower data rate limit on the GMSK below which a higher SNR than what is required to achieve the required FER on the link is needed. These limits stem from the minimum loop signal-to-noise ratio requirements on the receivers for achieving lock. As a result of this, for a given channel code and a given FER, there could be a gap between the maximum data rate that BPSK can support without violating the spectrum limits and the minimum data rate that GMSK can support with the required FER depending on the type of GMSK receiver that is used.
Haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in human term and preterm neonatal blood

Whilst cord blood (CB) contains a significant number of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells suitable for bone marrow transplantation, levels of these cells are very low in the adult circulation. In previous studies, we demonstrated that stem and progenitor cells are present in neonatal blood (NB) and reported the first sibling transplant using a combination of CB and NB for a patient with β‐thalassaemia major. However, our preliminary data showed that the number of CD34+ cells decreased rapidly in the peripheral blood of neonates soon after birth. To further investigate the mechanism of the change of stem and progenitor cells in NB, we measured the steady‐state levels of CD34+ cells, early progenitor subsets and the expression of adhesion molecules, in term and preterm neonates.
Algorithms for NP-hard Optimization Problems and Cluster Analysis

Algorithms for NP-hard Optimization Problems and Cluster Analysis by Nan Li The set cover problem, weighted set cover problem, minimum dominating set problem and minimum weighted dominating set problem are all classical NP-hard optimization problems of great importance in both theory and real applications. Since the exact algorithms, which require exhaustive exploration of exponentially many options, are infeasible in practice, approximation algorithms and heuristic algorithms are widely used to find reasonably good solutions in polynomial time. I propose novel algorithms for these four problems. My algorithms for the weighted set cover and minimum weighted dominating set problems are based on a three-step strategy. For the weighted set cover problem, in the first step, we reserve the sets indispensable for the optimal solution and reduce the problem size. In the second step, we build a robust solution with a novel greedy heuristic. Sets are iteratively selected according to a measure which integrates the weight, the coverage gain for the current iteration and the global coverage capacity of each set. It favors the sets that have smaller weights and better extend or consolidate the coverage, especially on the items that are contained in less sets. Since the obtained solution tends to have a robust coverage, in the third step, we further improve it by removing the redundant sets in an efficient way. For the minimum weighted dominating set problem, we first reserve the indispensable vertices for the optimal solution. Then we convert it into a weighted set cover problem to solve it. These two algorithms can be used to solve the set cover problem and minimum dominating set problem by simply considering all the sets or vertices as having the same weights. Extensive experimental evaluations on a large number of synthetic and real-world set cover instances and graphs from many domains demonstrate the
On the Futility of Blind Search: An Algorithmic View of No Free Lunch

The paper is in three parts. First, we use simple adversary arguments to redevelop and explore some of the no-free-lunch (NFL) theorems and perhaps extend them a little. Second, we clarify the relationship of NFL theorems to algorithm theory and complexity classes such as NP. We claim that NFL is weaker in the sense that the constraints implied by the conjectures of traditional algorithm theory on what an evolutionary algorithm may be expected to accomplish are far more severe than those implied by NFL. Third, we take a brief look at how natural evolution relates to computation and optimization. We suggest that the evolution of complex systems exhibiting high degrees of orderliness is not equivalent in difficulty to optimizing hard (in the complexity sense) problems, and that the optimism in genetic algorithms (GAs) as universal optimizers is not justified by natural evolution. This is an informal tutorial papermost of the information presented is not formally proven, and is either common knowledge or formally proven elsewhere. Some of the claims are intuitions based on experience with algorithms, and in a more formal setting should be classified as conjectures.
Effect of the starting and turning performances on the subsequent swimming parameters of elite swimmers

Abstract In the present research, we examined the effect of the starting and turning performances on the subsequent swimming parameters by (1) comparing the starting and turning velocities with the swimming parameters on the emersion and mid-pool segments and (2) by relating the individual behaviour of swimmers during the start and turns with subsequent behaviour on each swimming lap. One hundred and twelve 100 m performances on the FINA 2013 World Swimming Championships were analysed by an image-processing system (InThePool 2.0®). At the point of the start emersion, the swimming parameters of the 100-m elite swimmers were substantially greater than the mid-pool parameters, except on the breaststroke races. On the other hand, no diminution in the swimming parameters was observed between the turn emersion and the mid-pool swimming, except on the butterfly and backstroke male races. Changes on the surface swimming kinematics were not generally related to the starting or turning parameters, although male swimmers who develop faster starts seem to achieve faster velocities at emersion. Race analysts should be aware of a transfer of momentum when swimmers emerge from underwater with implications on the subsequent swimming kinematics, especially for male swimmers who employ underwater undulatory techniques.
Kdm6a overexpression improves the development of cloned mouse embryos

Summary Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an important technique for life science research. However, most SCNT embryos fail to develop to term due to undefined reprogramming defects. Here, we show that abnormal Xi occurs in somatic cell NT blastocysts, whereas in female blastocysts derived from cumulus cell nuclear transfer, both X chromosomes were inactive. H3K27me3 removal by Kdm6a mRNA overexpression could significantly improve preimplantation development of NT embryos, and even reached a 70.2% blastocyst rate of cleaved embryos compared with the 38.5% rate of the control. H3K27me3 levels were significantly reduced in blastomeres from cloned blastocysts after overexpression of Kdm6a. qPCR indicated that rDNA transcription increased in both NT embryos and 293T cells after overexpression of Kdm6a. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of Kdm6a improved the development of cloned mouse embryos by reducing H3K27me3 and increasing rDNA transcription.
Regime-Switching Analysis for the Impacts of the Exchange Rate Uncertainty on the Taiwan ’ s Corporate Values

A second-moment regime-switching regression, which considers not only a switching intercept and a switching slope, but a switching error variance is applied to investigate the impacts of the exchange rate uncertainty (ERU) on the corporate values (CVs) for the industries concerned in Taiwan. Two different regimes of a strong-impact and a weak-impact are identified. However, the dominant power varies from industry to industry. The Wald statistics for the null of equality are mixed, which shows that if the Markov-switching (MS) model is appropriate, the ERU might not be the major factor but other factors, which could switch the CVs of Taiwan’s industries. Nonetheless, for the model’s volatility influence, the data of eight industries are shown to fit a two-state model when the volatility is stimulated. Finally, based on the 10% significant level, a two-state first-order MS model is appropriate for the "goodness of fit" analysis.
Improvement in Word Recognition Score with Level Is Associated with Hearing Aid Ownership among Patients with Hearing Loss

Market surveys consistently show that only 22% of those with hearing loss own hearing aids. This is often ascribed to cosmetics, but is it possible that patients apply a different auditory criterion than do audiologists and manufacturers? We tabulated hearing aid ownership in a survey of 1000 consecutive patients. We separated hearing loss cases, with one cohort in which word recognition in quiet could improve with gain (vs. 40 dB HL) and another without such improvement but nonetheless with audiometric thresholds within the manufacturer’s fitting ranges. Overall, we found that exactly 22% of hearing loss patients in this sample owned hearing aids; the same finding has been reported in many previous, well-accepted surveys. However, while all patients in the two cohorts experienced difficulty in noise, patients in the cohort without word recognition improvement were found to own hearing aids at a rate of 0.3%, while those patients whose word recognition could increase with level were found to own hearing aids at a rate of 50%. Results also coherently fit a logistic model where shift of the word recognition performance curve by level corresponded to the likelihood of ownership. In addition to the common attribution of low hearing aid usage to patient denial, cosmetic issues, price, or social stigma, these results provide one alternative explanation based on measurable improvement in word recognition performance.
Interaction of a C-terminal Truncated Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein with Plasmid DNA Vaccine Leads to in vitro Assembly of Heterogeneous Virus-like Particles

Recently, it has been shown that HCV core proteins (HCcAg) with C-terminal deletions assemble in vitro into virus-like particles (VLPs) in the presence of structured RNA molecules. Results presented in this work showed that a truncated HCcAg variant covering the first 120 aa (HCcAg.120) with a 32 aa N-terminal fusion peptide (6xHistag-XpressTMepitope) interacts with plasmid DNA vaccine. Interestingly, the buoyant density of VLPs containing HCcAg.120 in CsCl gradients changed from 1.15-1,17 g mLˉ1 to 1.30-1.34 g mLˉ1 after addition of plasmid DNA to assembly reactions. In addition, a delay in electrophoretic mobility of HCcAg.120-plasmid samples on agarose gels was observed indicating a direct interaction between VLPs and nucleic acids. Remarkably, addition of either plasmid DNA or tRNA to assembly reactions leaded to heterogeneous and larger VLPs formation than those observed in HCcAg.120 assembly reactions. VLPs containing HCcAg.120 induced a specific IgG antibodies in mice that reacted with hepatocytes from HCV-infected patients. VLPs obtained in this work would be important to elucidate the mechanisms behind the ability of HCcAg to assemble into a nucleocapsid structure. Besides, the capacity of particles containing HCcAg.120 to interact with nucleic acids could be used in the development of DNA vaccines and viral vectors based on these particles.
Increased levels of methylglyoxal-metabolizing enzymes in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells from insulin-dependent diabetic patients with diabetic complications: aldose reductase, glyoxalase I, and glyoxalase II--a clinical research center study.

Levels of aldose reductase, glyoxalase I, and glyoxalase II in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients with long term diabetic complications were compared to levels in IDDM patients without complications and to those in nondiabetic controls. Cells were isolated from 22 asymptomatic long term IDDM patients, 22 symptomatic IDDM patients, and 16 controls, using a double gradient centrifugation procedure. Aldose reductase was determined by Western blots using polyclonal antiserum to human aldose reductase purified from skeletal muscle. Glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II were determined spectrophotometrically. Aldose reductase in mononuclear cells from symptomatic IDDM patients is significantly elevated compared to that in asymptomatic IDDM patients (mean +/- SEM, 0.96 +/- 0.20 vs. 0.46 +/- 0.08 microgram/mg protein; P < 0.02). Aldose reductase was not detected in polymorphonuclear cells. Glyoxalase I in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells from symptomatic IDDM patients is significantly elevated compared to that in controls [mean for mononuclear cells, 0.46 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.03 mumol/min.mg (P < 0.05); mean for polymorphonuclear cells, 0.16 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.10 +/- 0.01 mumol/min.mg (P < 0.002)]. Glyoxalase II is significantly elevated only in polymorphonuclear cells from symptomatic IDDM patients compared to controls (mean, 0.13 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.063 +/- 0.016 mumol/min.mg; P < 0.005). Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase were not significantly different in these populations. Aldose reductase, glyoxalase I, and glyoxalase II are involved in the metabolism of methylglyoxal, suggesting that methylglyoxal may play a role in the etiology of diabetic complications.
CAR chasing: canine adenovirus vectors–all bite and no bark?

This review deals primarily with canine adenovirus serotype 2 (CAV‐2) vectors and gives a simplified overview of how the various domains of virology, cellular and molecular biology, as well as immunology, come into play when trying to understand and ameliorate adenovirus (Ad)‐mediated gene transfer. The generation of early region 1 (E1)‐deleted (ΔE1) CAV‐2 vectors, the lack of pre‐existing humoral immunity, trafficking, the use of the coxsackie B adenovirus receptor (CAR), the surprising neuronal tropism, and the ability to migrate via axons to afferent regions of the central and peripheral nervous system, are described. Due to these intrinsic properties, CAV‐2 vectors may be powerful tools for the study of the pathophysiology and potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like lysosomal storage disorders, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and others. Other potential uses include anti‐tumoral and anti‐viral vaccines, tracer of synaptic junctions, pain therapy, cancer therapy (e.g. K9 CRAds), and gene transfer to other somatic tissues. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unhappy doctors: what are the causes and what can be done?

As the response to a recent BMJ editorial showed, unhappy doctors are a worldwide phenomenon. In this article, based on workshops with doctors in the United States and United Kingdom, Nigel Edwards and colleagues suggest that the cause is a breakdown in the implicit compact between doctors and society: the individual orientation that doctors were trained for does not fit with the demands of current healthcare systems. They outline what a new compact might look like Richard Smith's editorial in the BMJ about unhappiness in the medical profession provoked a huge response and confirmed that this is an international and widespread problem.1–4 We describe here the views of doctors themselves, gleaned from workshops in the United States and the United Kingdom, on the problem and what might be done about it. #### Summary points Several reports from around the world describe declining morale among doctors, but little is known about the reasons Workload and pay, though important, do not fully explain the problem A key factor seems to be a change in the psychological compact between the profession, employers, patients, and society so that the job is now different from what doctors expected Developing a new compact that is more acceptable to the profession is important Clinical leaders have a potentially crucial role in developing a new compact There is limited evidence to inform the debate, and therefore this article and our longer report5 are based on literature on the subject and seminars held in Massachusetts last August and in London in October. As with Smith's original article the ideas should be treated as tentative. In the US seminar the participants were managers and medical executives from various healthcare systems including Kaiser Permanente. The UK participants were mostly senior members of the medical profession, educators, officers of the BMA, …
Presettlement forests and fire in southern Alabama

Although the loss of Pinus palustris P. Mill. (longleaf pine) dominated communities and the alteration of the presettlement fire regimes have been documented, there is little information on the ecology of the presettlement lower Coastal Plain forests of the southeastern United States. We used 12 637 witness trees, which were recorded by General Land Office surveyors between 1820 and 1846, to identify presettlement witness tree associations and to explore witness tree – environmental variable relationships. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was used to identify three witness tree associations including a Pinus spp. – Quercus marilandica (L.) Muenchh. association, a Quercus spp. – Carya spp. association, and a Persea spp. – Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. association. Canonical correspondence analysis and contingency tables were used to describe and test witness tree relationships with slope, elevation, and soil drainage. Additionally, bearing distances, used as an indicator of forest density, were compared a.
A rubric for assessing teachers' lesson activities with respect to TPACK for meaningful learning with ICT

Teachers' technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) for meaningful learning with ICT describes their knowledge for designing ICT lesson activities with respect to five dimensions: active, constructive, authentic, intentional, and cooperative. The ICT lesson activities designed by teachers can be assessed to determine the strengths and weaknesses of their TPACK for meaningful learning with ICT in practice. This study describes the conception, validation, and implementation of a rubric for assessing ICT lesson activities with respect to the dimensions of meaningful learning with ICT. It was conducted with 55 Singaporean pre-service teachers trained to teach Chinese as a second language. The 217 lesson activities they designed during a compulsory ICT module were rated using the rubric. High ratings were obtained for the active dimension because the activities involved students using and manipulating ICT tools. However, the ratings for the other dimensions were lower because opportunities for students' personal meaning-making, exploration of real-world phenomena, collaboration through divergent knowledge construction, as well as self-diagnosis and management of learning gaps were not as well supported in these activities. The uses of this rubric for enhancing TPACK assessment, ICT course design and the development of TPACK activity types will be discussed in the paper.
Magnetic nanostructures

Characteristic results of magnetism in small particles, thin films and tunnel junctions are presented. As a consequence of the reduced atomic coordination in small clusters and thin films the electronic states and density of states are modified. Thus, magnetic moments and magnetization are affected. Generally, in clusters and thin films magnetic anisotropy plays a special role. In tunnel junctions the interplay of magnetism, spin currents and superconductivity are of particular interest. In ring-like mesoscopic systems Aharonov–Bohm-induced currents are studied. Results are given for single transition metal clusters, cluster ensembles, thin films, mesoscopic structures and tunnel systems.
Detection of melanoma cells in peripheral blood stem cell harvests of patients with progressive metastatic malignant melanoma

The detection of melanocyte‐specific messenger RNA in patients with malignant melanoma suggests the potential contamination of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvests by neoplastic cells. In this study, the melanocyte‐specific transcripts of tyrosinase and Melan‐A/MART‐1 were used to detect neoplastic cells in PBSC harvests of nine metastatic malignant melanoma patients. Only one patient’s PBSC harvest tested positive for tyrosinase. All harvests were negative for Melan‐A/MART‐1. Our results suggest that contamination of PBSC harvests with neoplastic cells may not contribute to disease progression following high‐dose chemotherapy in advanced malignant melanoma.
Successful Regulatory T Cell-Based Therapy Relies on Inhibition of T Cell Effector Function and Enrichment of FOXP3+ Cells in a Humanized Mouse Model of Skin Inflammation

Background Recent clinical trials using regulatory T cells (Treg) support the therapeutic potential of Treg-based therapy in transplantation and autoinflammatory diseases. Despite these clinical successes, the effect of Treg on inflamed tissues, as well as their impact on immune effector function in vivo, is poorly understood. Therefore, we here evaluated the effect of human Treg injection on cutaneous inflammatory processes in vivo using a humanized mouse model of human skin inflammation (huPBL-SCID-huSkin). Methods SCID beige mice were transplanted with human skin followed by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 20‐40 × 106 allogeneic human PBMCs. This typically results in human skin inflammation as indicated by epidermal thickening (hyperkeratosis) and changes in dermal inflammatory markers such as the antimicrobial peptide hBD2 and epidermal barrier cytokeratins K10 and K16, as well as T cell infiltration in the dermis. Ex vivo-expanded human Treg were infused intraperitoneally. Human cutaneous inflammation and systemic immune responses were analysed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Results We confirmed that human Treg injection inhibits skin inflammation and the influx of effector T cells. As a novel finding, we demonstrate that human Treg injection led to a reduction of IL-17-secreting cells while promoting a relative increase in immunosuppressive FOXP3+ Treg in the human skin, indicating active immune regulation in controlling the local proinflammatory response. Consistent with the local control (skin), systemically (splenocytes), we observed that Treg injection led to lower frequencies of IFNγ and IL-17A-expressing human T cells, while a trend towards enrichment of FOXP3+ Treg was observed. Conclusion Taken together, we demonstrate that inhibition of skin inflammation by Treg infusion, next to a reduction of infiltrating effector T cells, is mediated by restoring both the local and systemic balance between cytokine-producing effector T cells and immunoregulatory T cells. This work furthers our understanding of Treg-based immunotherapy.