Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bilinear Channel Estimation for MIMO OFDM: Lower Bounds and Training Sequence Optimization

Time-varying narrowband Multiple-Input Multiple- Output Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (MIMO OFDM) channel estimation is considered. The effect of finite bandwidth and practical pulse shapes renders the sparse MIMO-OFDM channel, non-sparse - this effect is denoted leakage. It is shown that the leaked MIMO OFDM channel is effectively separable in the delay and Doppler domains. A convex optimization approach, based on the atomic norm, is posed to estimate the channel parameters. With respect to the mean-squared error, the proposed scheme offers a 4 dB improvement over methods that ignore leakage and a 1.3 dB gain over a method that does consider leakage. The Cramér Rao bound (CRB) for the leaked channel parameters is derived and also exhibits decoupling in delay and Doppler. Training sequences that optimize the CRBs for delay and Doppler parameters are determined via solving key fixed-point equations. The optimized random sequences offer a performance gain on the order of 5–2.5 dB over purely random sequences. The proposed channel estimation algorithm nearly achieves the CRB, suggesting near optimality. Finally, the proposed estimation strategy, when employed on experimental data (SPACE’08), provides an average performance gain of 3 dB with respect to the probability of error in comparison to a traditional sparse channel estimation scheme.
EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER ON THE DRYMATTER ACCUMULATION, NODULATION AND YIELD IN CHICKPEA

An experiment was conducted in the field of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur during winter season of 2005 - 06 to study the effects of applied phosphorus fertilizer doses on the nodulation and yield in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Three chickpea varieties BU Chola-1, BARI Chola-6 and BARI Chola-7 and five fertilizer doses, 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg P2O5 ha -1 were used. The nodulation, growth and yield varied significantly due to the variation in the phosphorus levels. Irrespective of varieties, crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), total dry matter accumulation, the nodulation, yield and harvest index increased with the increasing rate of applied phosphorus up to 60 kg P2O5 ha -1 and then decreased with further increase of phosphorus fertilizer dose. Nodule dry weight plant-1 and the seed yield was correlated positively. But this correlation was statistically insignificant.
EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONTENT, CLEARANCE AND MACHINE TYPE ON SOME QUALITATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF RICE (TARM HASHEMI) CULTIVAR

Alwan-Alsharifi , S. K. , A. Arabhosseini, M. H. Kianmehr and A. M. Kermani, 2017. Effect of moisture content, clearance and machine type on some qualitative characteristics of rice (Tarm Hashemi) cultivar. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 23 (2): 348–355 This research includes the using of two types of machines (Satake and Yanmar),under three levels of clearance between cylinders 0.4 , 0.6 and 0.8 mm and three levels of moisture content 10–12%, 12–14% and 14–16%. Are considered for the test cracked grain percentage, brown rice percentage, husking effi ciency, head rice percentage and broken rice percentage. The results indicate that the Satake type machine is signifi cantly better than the Yanmar type machine in all studies properties. While clearance 0.8 signifi cant superiorly than two levels 0.4, 0.6 mm in all studies properties, In addition moisture content 10–12% is superior signifi cantly than two levels 12–14%, 14–16% in all studied properties. The overlap between the Satake type machine and grain moisture content 10–12% superior signifi cantly and also overlap between the Satake type machine and clearance 0.8. in all studied properties. The best results have come from the triple overlap among Satake type machine, grain moisture 10–12%, and clearance 0.8 mm in all studies properties.
Dysfunctional Inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis Airways: From Mechanisms to Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, an ATP-gated chloride channel expressed on the apical surface of airway epithelial cells. CFTR absence/dysfunction results in defective ion transport and subsequent airway surface liquid dehydration that severely compromise the airway microenvironment. Noxious agents and pathogens are entrapped inside the abnormally thick mucus layer and establish a highly inflammatory environment, ultimately leading to lung damage. Since chronic airway inflammation plays a crucial role in CF pathophysiology, several studies have investigated the mechanisms responsible for the altered inflammatory/immune response that, in turn, exacerbates the epithelial dysfunction and infection susceptibility in CF patients. In this review, we address the evidence for a critical role of dysfunctional inflammation in lung damage in CF and discuss current therapeutic approaches targeting this condition, as well as potential new treatments that have been developed recently. Traditional therapeutic strategies have shown several limitations and limited clinical benefits. Therefore, many efforts have been made to develop alternative treatments and novel therapeutic approaches, and recent findings have identified new molecules as potential anti-inflammatory agents that may exert beneficial effects in CF patients. Furthermore, the potential anti-inflammatory properties of CFTR modulators, a class of drugs that directly target the molecular defect of CF, also will be critically reviewed. Finally, we also will discuss the possible impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on CF patients, with a major focus on the consequences that the viral infection could have on the persistent inflammation in these patients.
Exploring the Impact of Implementing Building Information Modelling to Support Sustainable Development in the Lebanese Construction Industry: A Qualitative Approach

Building Information Modelling has been identified as a new and revolutionary tool capable of improving the performance of the construction sector. With a growing population and overurbanization, there is an increasing demand for construction projects in Lebanon, thus hindering the environment and consuming natural resources. The Lebanese construction sector has been neglecting the importance of sustainable development; however, this research adopts a qualitative approach to explore the influence of implementing Building Information Modelling in the Lebanese construction industry to support sustainable development. The aim of this research is to develop a framework for the successful implementation of BIM by examining the barriers limiting BIM implementation in terms of economic, social, and environmental sustainability also referred to as sustainability pillar. Interviews were carried out with construction professionals in Lebanon to understand the definition, benefits, barriers, and current sustainable performance to further examine the implementation of BIM. The framework is divided into seven components that will unlock the possibility of implementing BIM in the Lebanese construction industry to achieve sustainable growth.
On the Stability of a Turbulent Non-Premixed Methane Flame

This paper presents an experimental qualitative assessment of the stability of a turbulent, non-premixed methane flame. The burner consists of a central fuel nozzle surrounded by an annulus of co-airflow with varying swirl strength. Two distinct nozzle geometries having similar exit cross-sectional areas but different internal/orifice geometry—a rectangular and a contracted circular nozzle—were tested. They are referred to in this paper as RN and CCN, respectively. The main focus of the present study was on determining the flame liftoff and blowout velocities as well as the liftoff height and flame length, all of which can be used as indicators of the stability of non-premixed methane flame. The experimental data revealed that the blowout velocity of the RN nozzle's flame is remarkably higher than that of the CCN nozzle, and the liftoff velocity of the CCN is only slightly higher than that of the RN nozzle for identical swirl strength. In addition, the flame length of the RN nozzle is overall shorter than that of the CCN nozzle for identical test conditions, and the liftoff height of the CCN flame is higher than that of the RN flame. LDV velocity measurements were performed to determine the reacting flow overall dynamic along the centerline plane for typical jet and co-flow exit velocities. These results aimed at helping to explain the difference in flame stability between the two different nozzles' geometries in conjunction with the co-flow swirl strength.
Appendices: Applications to integrating spatial safety data into transportation planning processes

____________________________________________________________________________ 6 Introduction __________________________________________________________________________ 7 Methodology _________________________________________________________________________ 9 Home-Based Approach Definition . 9 Data and Geocoding Process . 9 Measuring exposure and travel activity . 11 Modeling Approach . 13 Testing spatial dependency . 13 Spatial error model . 14 Spatial lag model . 14 Weight matrix . 14 Model comparison and assessment. 15 Results ____________________________________________________________________________ 16 Estimated Parameters . 18 Summary and Conclusion ______________________________________________________________ 21 Acknowledgment _____________________________________________________________________ 22 References _________________________________________________________________________ 23 Case Study 2: Exploring the Cost of Traffic Crash at the Traffic Analysis Zone Level ________________ 1 Abstract _____________________________________________________________________________ 2____________________________________________________________________________ 2 Introduction __________________________________________________________________________ 3 Methodology _________________________________________________________________________ 4 Person Miles Traveled. 4 Home-Based Approach definition . 6 Data and geocoding process . 6 Cost of traffic crashes . 7 Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient . 7 Modeling approach . 8 Results and discussion _________________________________________________________________ 9
The Association between Audit Partner Busyness, Audit Partner Tenure, and Audit Efficiency

The main purpose of this study is to provide evidence of how audit partner busyness and tenure are associated with audit efficiency. Based on a pooled OLS regression analysis of 232 observations from non-financial companies listed on the Omani capital market between 2013 and 2016, the results reveal no association between partner busyness and audit efficiencyâ€”although it does improve audit efficiency for clients of the Big 4 audit firms. Moreover, longer partner tenures are shown to significantly enhance audit efficiency. Given the lack of evidence currently available, this study reinforces the importance of examining audit outcomes at the level of audit partner, providing important insights into audit efficiency for regulators, companies, and auditors. Overall, this study is one of few presenting empirical evidence on the importance of the characteristics of partner incentives in the context of audit efficiency.
The Australian Economic Review

Inequality threatens intergenerational income mobility, but different types of inequality threaten mobility in different ways, raising distinct policy challenges. This is why empirical researchers should be agnostic in the choice of statistics they use to measure intergenerational mobility. I argue that Australia is on the whole characterised by a good deal of intergenerational mobility, but that a full picture requires judicious international comparisons across different dimensions of mobility citizens care about, mobility not just of incomes, but also of position and direction, particularly the scope for upward mobility.
READY, MindSET, GO! Increasing Students’ Resilience in Counselor Education Programs

The process of becoming a counselor requires students to learn personal skills, the development of which can be emotionally onerous. An initial needs assessment in a counselor education program identified four areas of need associated with students’ resilience during counselor training: fixed mindset, low academic self-efficacy, high anxiety, and high academic contingent self-worth. The article describes the development, delivery, and assessment of a pilot curriculum offering counseling students resilience strategies that overlap with clinical tools.
Polymorphism of CD1B Gene and Its Association with Yolk Immunoglobulin (IgY) Concentration and Newcastle Disease Antibody Titer in IPB-D1 Chicken

The CD1B gene has an important role in the immune system of poultry by mediating antibody induction. The study aimed to identify the CD1B gene polymorphism and its association with the concentration of IgY and ND antibody titers in IPB-D1 chicken. As many as 111 of IPB-D1 chickens at 21 weeks old were used in this study. Polymorphism identification of the CD1B gene was made using the PCR Sequencing method, while the IgY and ND antibody titers were done using the ELISA and HI test, respectively. The associations of gene polymorphism with IgY and ND antibody titers were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure and Duncan`s Multiple Range test. The results show that there are 4 SNPs in exon 3, i.e., c.550 G>A, c.562 T>A, c.588 A>G, and c.612 C>G. All the SNPs are missense, silent mutations, and polymorphic. The c.550 G>A and c.562 T>A SNPs were in Hardy Weinberg’s equilibrium and heterozygosity (0.054-0.252) condition, while the c.588 A>G and c.612 C>G SNPs were not in equilibrium and their heterozygosity was low (0.072-0.252). The combination of 4 SNPs generated 8 haplotypes, i.e., haplotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Haplotypes 1, 2, and 8 had high frequencies (17.6%-23.5%). The c.588 A>G and c.612 C>G mutations were significantly associated (p<0.05) with IgY concentration and c.562 T>A were significantly associated (p<0.05) with ND antibody titers. The haplotypes 2 and 8 with a combination of c.588 A>G and c.612 C>G mutations had higher IgY concentration and ND antibody titers (p<0.05) compared to the other haplotypes. In conclusion, this study has identified the CD1B gene as a polymorphic and is associated with IgY concentration and ND antibody titers in IPB-D1 chicken.
13C NMR assignment of dammarane triterpenes and dendropanoxide: Application of 2D long‐range 13C1H correlation spectra

The 13C NMR chemical shifts of some dammarane‐type triterpenes, produced by oxidation of dammaran‐20(S)‐ol and 20(S)‐hydroxydammaran‐3β‐yl acetate with m‐chloroperbenzoic acid, were assigned by complete analysis of these compounds using 2D long‐range 13C1H correlation spectra and 2D INADEQUATE; it was found necessary to revise previous assignments. The 13C NMR signals of dendropanoxide were also analysed by 2D techniques including HHC relayed 13C1H correlation spectra.
Ultrasonographic measurement of the vascular wall thickness and intima-media thickness in patients with Behçet’s disease with symptoms or signs of vascular involvement: A cross-sectional study

Objectives This study aims to measure and compare bilateral carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), bilateral jugular, common femoral, and main portal vein wall thicknesses (VWTs) in Behçet’s disease (BD) patients with and without vascular involvement to obtain a cut-off value for vascular complications and determine their relationship with disease activity. Patients and methods Sixty-three BD patients (41 males, 22 females; median age: 38.0 years; min 20 - max 71 years) and 30 healthy control subjects (14 males, 16 females; median age: 40.3 years; min 21 - max 60 years) were included in this cross-sectional study between February and March 2020. According to imaging findings, BD patients were divided into two groups as those with and without vascular complications. Disease duration, medical treatment and BD manifestations of patients were questioned. Disease activity was evaluated using the Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) and the Behçet's Syndrome Activity Scale (BSAS). Two radiologists blinded to the diagnosis of BD used ultrasound to measure VWT and CIMT. Receiver operating characteristics were assessed to obtain sensitivity and specificity values for each VWT and CIMT. Results The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, and body mass index (p>0.05). There was a significant difference between the BD groups when the BDCAF and BSAS scores were compared, while there was no difference between them in terms of disease duration and medical treatment (p>0.05). All VWTs and CIMTs were significantly higher in patients with BD compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the BD groups in terms of CIMT, jugular and common femoral VWTs (p>0.05). But portal VWT was significantly higher in patients with vascular involvement (p<0.05). A cut-off value of ≥1.35 mm yielded a sensitivity of 79.2% and a specificity of 82.4% for the diagnosis of vascular involvement with the highest Youden's index (area under the curve, 0.869; 95% confidence interval, 0.783 to 0.956). Conclusion Portal VWT has high sensitivity and specificity for the screening of vascular involvement in patients with BD.
A new chemical aid for criminal investigation: dyes and latent prints

Criminalistics is a field in which there are many opportunities for the practical application of chemical reagents and the use of analytical methods that provide answers to enigmas at crime scenes. Common reagents in biochemical and medical test methods can be useful for criminalistics (forensic science). Dyes are one type of reagent that can be used in obtaining crime scene evidence. This work describes a new application of CI Solvent Black 3 dye in the location of latent fingerprints. The results show that CI Solvent Black 3 can be successfully applied in the location and development of recent and non-recent latent fingerprints on porous surfaces.
Transformational Leadership Style and Public Participation in the County Governments in Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of transformational leadership style on public participation in the county governments in Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted both descriptive and explanatory research designs. The study population comprised citizens who are registered voters in all the 47 counties in Kenya. A two stage sampling technique was used to select 8 counties and a sample of 400 respondents to participate in the study. A pilot test was conducted to detect and correct weaknesses in design and instrumentation. Of the 400 respondents, 296 completed the questionnaires properly giving a response rate of 74%. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test for internal reliability of the survey items used in the study. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations and regression analysis were used for data analysis.
Accountability versus Social Comparisons: A Theory of Pay Secrecy (and Transparency) in Organizations

This paper develops a formal model to analyze how organizations should choose between pay secrecy and transparency. We argue that by preventing employees from monitoring each other’s pay, secrecy reduces envious social comparisons relative to transparency. At the same time, secrecy weakens the employees’ ability to jointly sanction the employer for reneging on promised pay, thereby reducing the organization’s accountability. Thus, secrecy is optimal when social comparisons are pervasive, when employees’ effort is verifiable and does not require implicit incentives, or when bilateral employment relationships are strong enough to enforce implicit incentives. Our model suggests that transparency policies often advocated by consultants and policy-makers may have ambiguous effects on employee motivation and organizational performance, and that one-sidedly favorable or unfavorable views of pay secrecy should be replaced by a case-by-case approach.
When might lower-income drivers benefit from electric vehicles? Quantifying the economic equity implications of electric vehicle adoption

Introduction Electric vehicles (EVs)1 can dramatically reduce local air pollution and carbon emissions. But relatively little analysis has been done on the broader potential economic benefits as the technology matures and costs decline. In particular, EVs may benefit lowincome households for whom car ownership poses a serious financial burden (The Greenlining Institute, 2020). As governments seek to integrate decarbonization policy with environmental justice goals, it will be critical to ensure equal access to clean technology.2 However, there are still relatively few electric vehicle offerings, many of them marketed as luxury vehicles, such that EV sales have typically gone to relatively affluent households. There are critical unanswered questions about when EVs will provide benefits for lower-income households, and how the magnitude of these benefits will vary between different groups.
A new burnetiid from the middle Permian of Zambia and a reanalysis of burnetiamorph relationships

A new taxon of burnetiamorph therapsid, Mobaceras zambeziense gen. et sp. nov., is described on the basis of a partial skull recovered from the lower Madumabisa Mudstone Formation (Guadalupian) of Zambia. This taxon can be distinguished from all previously known burnetiamorphs by its unique cranial boss morphology, including a bulbous nasal boss on a ‘stalk’ and highly discretized, exaggerated anterior and posterior supraorbital bosses. Burnetiamorph phylogeny has recently become contentious; here, support for conflicting phylogenetic topologies is evaluated on a character‐by‐character basis and a revised phylogenetic analysis is presented. The clades Burnetiamorpha and Burnetiidae are supported with their traditional composition, including genera (viz. Bullacephalus and Pachydectes) recently assigned to a separate family (Bullacephalidae, here considered synonymous with Burnetiidae). The traditional dichotomy within Burnetiidae into Burnetiinae and Proburnetiinae is upheld, with Mobaceras recovered as a burnetiine, along with Bullacephalus, Burnetia, Niuksenitia, and Pachydectes.
Contagion through common borrowers. Financial

We propose a model in which banks are exposed to the risk of contagion through their portfolio of loans. We show that a solvency problem in one bank can be transmitted to another if they lend to the same borrower. The novelty is that the channel for the transmission involves banks’ monitoring incentives. The intensity with which all banks monitor a common borrower is reduced when one of the banks suﬀers a solvency shock. The reduced eﬀort intensity aﬀects the borrower’s probability of success and creates a contagion (endogenous correlation) from the balance-sheet of the aﬀected bank to the balance-sheet of the other banks lending to the same borrower. Banks hit by a solvency shock have lower incentives to monitor borrowers because less is left after paying depositors. Banks not hit by a solvency shock face borrowers’ risks entirely on their own, which increases the expected cost of lending. As a consequence, they respond by reducing the monitoring intensity for the common borrower. Bank equity can mitigate the risk of contagion.