Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Does Channel Coding Affect the Design of Uplink SCMA Multidimensional Constellations?

Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) is a potential non-orthogonal multiple access candidate for future wireless systems. The key performance indicators (KPIs) of uplink SCMA multidimensional constellations (MdCs) that should be considered in their design process have recently been identified in conjunction with the LTE turbo code for different channel scenarios. However, it is questionable whether the same KPIs are applicable to designing MdCs when a different error correcting code is employed. In this paper, we investigate the effect of the high-rate and low-rate 5G low density parity check (LDPC) codes on determining KPIs in designing MdCs for uplink SCMA systems under various channel scenarios. Through simulations, we show that similar results to the LTE turbo coded case occur in the presence of 5G LDPC code, with one notable exception over one specific scenario. The exception is in the performance of one MdC, which has a low number of distinct points; its performance is significantly worse than predicted by the KPIs when the low-rate 5G LDPC code is employed. This phenomenon happens due to the inherent structure of the 5G LDPC code, in which we propose a pseudorandom interleaver to rectify the problem.
Architecture and implementation of the socket interface on top of GAMMA

GAMMA (the Genoa active message machine) is a lightweight messaging system for fast and Gigabit Ethernet. It is based on an active message-like paradigm and provides a performing, cost-effective alternative to proprietary high-speed networks, e.g. Myrinet, with the combination of low end-to-end latency and high throughput. GAMMA supports the important class of MPI based parallel applications via the MPI/GAMMA interface [G. Ciaccio], but up to now support for the also important class of socket based cluster applications is still missing. This paper describes two different approaches to how the socket interface can be adapted to GAMMA: The first is transparent for both application and GAMMA layer, the second is only transparent for the application. First performance results with the so-called GAMMA sockets are given. They show that the second approach performs almost as good as native GAMMA communication.
Military Support and Rescue Robot

In this era of a politically unstable world, there is a growing demand for the use of military robots to aid the soldiers to perform perilous missions. This paper focuses on the design and build of a semi-autonomous, unmanned robotic system used for various military and rescue operations. Dangerous tasks such as bomb disposal, enemy territory surveillance, search and rescue can be efficiently carried out by the MSRR, Military Support and Rescue Robot. This reduces the risk of losing the lives of both soldiers and civilians. With the help of live feed from the wireless camera and data analysis of environmental composition by various sensors, of the area under surveillance, the soldiers can better prepare for their missions. Using Arduino and Zigbee technology, the above-mentioned tasks can be achieved. The different sensors and the robotic arm are connected to the Arduino mega which in turn is connected to the Zigbee. Data transmission and receiving are through Zigbee technology. This prototype design overcomes the weakness of the existing models and thus provides better support for military operations.
The mammalian Mre11-Rad50-nbs1 protein complex: integration of functions in the cellular DNA-damage response.

DNA-repair functions can be generally divided according to the type of DNA damage that is repaired by a given pathway and by the mechanistic scheme by which that repair is effected. The requirement for some form of DNA recombination distinguishes the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) from nucleotide-excision repair (NER), DNA-mismatch repair, or base-excision repair. Because DSBs are repaired by DNA recombination, these lesions are extraordinarily potent inducers of genetic alteration. Given this property, it is not surprising that the formation of DSBs is critical to the initiation of programmed DNA recombination events such as immunoglobulin-gene recombination (see Maizels 1999 [in this issue]), mating-type switching, and meiotic exchange; these events occur in cell lineages that diversify their coding potential during normal differentiation.
Blind restoration/superresolution with generalized cross-validation using Gauss-type quadrature rules

In many restoration/superresolution applications, the blurring process, i.e., point spread function (PSF) of the imaging system, is not known. We estimate the PSF and regularization parameters for this ill-posed inverse problem from raw data using the generalized cross-validation method (GCV). To reduce the computational complexity of GCV we propose efficient approximation techniques based on the Lanczos algorithm and Gauss quadrature theory. Data-driven blind restoration/superresolution experiments are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our method.
Supporting Quality-Of-Service of Mobile Commerce Transactions

With the deployment of 3G and 4G mobile networks, a sizable proportion of e-commerce traffic is expected to move to these networks. These transactions are likely to be diverse. Mobile transactions can include unique requirements such as atomicity (all or none steps), push or pull, security, and privacy. Some mobile commerce transactions may not be completed because users are mobile, unpredictable link characteristics, and other problems associated with wireless networks. Therefore, the probability of completing mobile transactions is an important parameter for measuring quality-of-service of a network supporting mobile commerce. The transaction completion probability measures the ability of networks to support completion of transactions. This research focuses on improving the support of mobile commerce transactions by the underlying wireless networks. Mobile commerce traffic is classified as messaging, information connectivity, and transactions in order to provide efficient quality-of-service to various applications. This paper introduces the use of priority, sociability and delegation to improve the transaction completion in wireless networks.
New approaches to funding not-for-profit organisations

This paper seeks to record and to explain the enormous growth in interest over the last few years in the provision of loans and other investment to not-for-profit organisations. It argues that this funding development fills a gap in the market. It describes the following new approaches: social investment, the provision of ‘patient capital’, and an ‘investment’ or ‘venture philanthropy’ approach to grant making. The factors driving the growth in use of these approaches are examined and their relevance to fundraising charities considered. Finally, the paper discusses how key stakeholders including the government and charitable trusts are adapting to this new environment. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications
Precoding with the Assistance of Attitude Information in Millimeter Wave MIMO System

Digital beamforming (DBF) is considered as an efficient method to overcome the high propagation loss of millimeter wave (mmWave) communication, but the acquisition of channel state information (CSI) brings huge training overhead, especially in high mobility scenarios. To tackle this challenge, we consider using attitude information from motion sensors to reduce the training overhead of DBF in this paper. We first analyze the characteristics of mmWave uplink channel when the attitude of user equipment (UE) rotates, and it shows that only the precoder needs to be redesigned after the rotation. Therefore, we develop a novel attitude information aided precoding algorithm, which approaches the performance of conventional singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm. The proposed algorithm reduces the channel estimation and feedback overhead significantly compared to the conventional one. Finally, the simulation results show that the proposed algorithms allow mmWave systems to approach their performance limits.
Strategies in transition : the internationalization of Finnish forest industry companies

Sajasalo, Pasi Strategies in transition – the internationalization of Finnish forest industry companies Jyväskylä, University of Jyväskylä 2003, 223 p. (Jyväskylä Studies in Business and Economics, ISSN 1457-1986; 23) ISBN 951-39-1423-2 Finnish Summary Diss. The aim of the dissertation is to advance our knowledge and understanding related to the internationalization processes of the Finnish forest industry companies by answering the following questions in which, it is considered, the internationalization of business activities plays an important role: how has it been possible for a group of once small companies operating from a small and remote country to rise into such prominent positions within the forest industry internationally? And: by which means have the remaining companies come to be what they are today? The thesis consists of three parts: 1) an introductory essay, laying down the frame of reference of the study, 2) three articles, each of which approaches the phenomenon studied from different viewpoint, and 3) discussion and reflection synthesizing the contributions of the three articles included in the dissertation. The main arguments of the study are interrelated. It is argued that 1) due to internationalization processes multifaceted and complex nature it is necessary to approach the subject from multiple perspectives, and to utilize multiple levels of analysis to enable holistic representation and analysis of the phenomenon, and 2) due to its complex processual nature, internationalization is best approached by adopting a longitudinal research strategy to its analysis. Thus, the starting point of the study is discontent with much of the recent IB research with its ever-narrowing focus and static approaches. The results of the dissertation highlight the importance of the mid-1990s as a watershed in the orientation of the Finnish forest industry firms international involvement strategy. Prior to the mid-1990s the process was characterized by small steps in order to accumulate experiential knowledge of international operations, later to be replaced by spectacular mergers and international acquisitions, resulting in the three remaining companies that have reached mature stage of internationalization with operations in dozens of countries.
Spatial mapping of fluorophore quantum yield in diffusive media

Abstract. Fluorescence quantum yield (QY) indicates the efficiency of the fluorescence process. The QY of many fluorophores is sensitive to local tissue environments, highlighting the possibility of using QY as an indicator of important parameters such as pH or temperature. QY is commonly measured by comparison to a well-known standard in nonscattering media. We propose a new imaging method, called quantum yield imaging (QYI), to spatially map the QY of a fluorophore within an optically diffusive media. QYI utilizes the wide-field diffuse optical technique spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) as well as planar fluorescence imaging. SFDI is used to measure the optical properties of the background media and the absorption contributed by the fluorophore. The unknown QY is then calculated by combining information from both modalities. A fluorescent sample with known QY is used to account for instrument response. To demonstrate QYI, rhodamine B and SNARF-5 were imaged in liquid phantoms with different background optical properties. The methanol:water ratio and pH were changed for rhodamine B and SNARF-5 solvents, respectively, altering the QY of each through a wide range. QY was determined with an agreement of 0.021 and 0.012 for rhodamine B and SNARF-5, respectively.
Social Networks of Researchers in Business To Business Marketing: A Case Study of the IMP Group 1984-1999

Science is a social process that functions through social networks of researchers that form invisible colleges. Analysis of these social networks provides a means for examining the structure of relations among researchers. The Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) group, "an informal international group of scholars concerned with developing concepts and knowledge in the field of business-to-business marketing and purchasing," is used as a case study of a network of researchers because it has been responsible for considerable research over the last decades in the area of business-to-business marketing, yet its structure remains hidden because of its informal network characteristics. The results of a social network analysis of the IMP group is described based on the pattern of co-authorship at annual IMP conferences. The results reveal a power law distribution of paper co-authorship and a small world network that conforms to the results of studies of other types of social networks. A core network of 57 researchers is identified and its network properties are described, including how it has evolved over time. The study provides the basis for further studies of the social networks of marketing and business researchers.
Diagnostic prediction tools for bacteraemia caused by 3rd generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in suspected bacterial infections: a nested case-control study

Objectives Current guidelines for empirical antibiotic treatment poorly predict the presence of 3rd generation cephalosporin resistant Enterobacteriaceae (3GC-R EB) as a cause of infection, thereby increasing unnecessary carbapenem use. We aimed to develop diagnostic scoring systems to better predict the presence of 3GC-R EB as a cause of bacteraemia. Methods A retrospective nested case-control study was performed that included patients ≥18 years in whom blood cultures were obtained and intravenous antibiotics were initiated. Each patient with 3GC-R EB bacteraemia was matched to four control infection episodes within the same hospital, based on blood culture date and onset location (community or hospital). Starting from 32 described clinical risk factors at infection onset, selection strategies were used to derive scoring systems for the probability of community- and hospital-onset 3GC-R EB bacteraemia. Results 3GC-R EB bacteraemia occurred in 90 of 22,506 (0.4%) community-onset and in 82 of 8,110 (1.0%) hospital-onset infections, and these cases were matched to 360 community-onset and 328 hospital-onset control episodes, respectively. The derived community-onset and hospital-onset scoring system consisted of 6 and 9 predictors, respectively, with c-statistics of 0.807 (95% confidence interval 0.756-0.855) and 0.842 (0.794-0.887). With selected score cutoffs, the models identified 3GC-R EB bacteraemia with equal sensitivity as existing guidelines, but reduced the proportion of patients classified as at risk for 3GC-R EB bacteraemia (i.e. eligible for empiric carbapenem therapy) with 40% in patients with community-onset and 49% in patients with hospital-onset infection. Conclusions These prediction rules for 3GC-R EB bacteraemia may reduce unnecessary empiric carbapenem use.
Extensions of Atanassov's Intuitionistic Fuzzy Interaction Bonferroni Means and Their Application to Multiple-Attribute Decision Making

The Bonferroni mean (BM) was originally presented by Bonferroni and had been generalized by many researchers on Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy sets (AIFSs) for its capacity to capture the interrelationship between input arguments. Nevertheless, the forms of the combinations of the newly proposed interaction theory on AIFSs with BM are very single, and the existing BMs on AIFSs are not consistent with aggregation operations on the ordinary fuzzy sets. As complements to the existing generalizations of BM under Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy environment, this paper develops the extended Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy interaction Bonferroni mean (EIFIBM) and the extended weighted Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy interaction Bonferroni mean, which can evolve into a series of BMs by taking different generator functions that reflect the different preference attitudes of the decision makers. In addition, some of the EIFIBMs are consistent with aggregation operations on the ordinary fuzzy sets, and some of the EIFIBMs consider the interactions between the membership and nonmembership functions of different Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy sets; thus, they can be used in more decision situations. We investigate the properties of these new extensions and apply them to multiple-attribute decision-making problems with admissible orders. Finally, numerical examples show the validity and feasibility of the new approaches.
Conformal Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonance Systems With Extended Range

In this paper, a simple design for extending the range of a Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system is presented. The design consists of a traditional Conformal Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonance (CSCMR) system that incorporates a repeater resonator, known as the U-loop resonator. Simulated and measured results show that the proposed system with the U-loop provides larger efficiency at transfer distances beyond its original optimal efficiency, achieving a peak efficiency of greater than 70% at a distance equivalent to the diameter of the U-loop, up to distances of 480 mm. The proposed system can also maintain efficiencies greater than 60% irrespective of the angular position of the receiver (RX) around the U-loop.
Synthesis of an enzyme-dependent prodrug and evaluation of its potential for colon targeting.

AIM To synthesize dexamethasone-succinate-dextran (DSD) conjugate and to evaluate the potentiality of DSD for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. METHODS Dexamethasone was attached to dextran (average molecular weight=70,400 Dalton) using succinate anhydride in an anhydrous environment catalyzed by 4-dimethylaminopyridine and 1, 1'-carbonyldiimidazole. The chemical structure of DSD was identified by UV, IR and NMR, and the in vivo drug release behavior of this prodrug was investigated after oral administration of DSD suspension. RESULTS The DSD conjugate was obtained in two steps and the content of dexamethasone in DSD was 11.28 %. The dextran prodrug was stable in rat stomach and small intestine and negligibly absorbed from these tracts. Four to nine hours after the oral administration, most of the prodrug (>95 %) had moved to the cecum and colon, and was easily hydrolyzed by an endodextranase. Recover of dexamethasone from colon and cecum after administration of DSD conjugate was 6-12 folds higher than the recovery after administration of unmodified dexamethasone (t=2.74, P<0.05). The preferential release of free dexamethasone in cecum and colon over that in the small intestine was statistically significant (t=2.27, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that dextran conjugates may be useful in selectively delivering glucocorticoids to the colon.
Parasporal bodies of Bacillus laterosporus sporangia

Intact colonies of Bacillus laterosporus examined by thin-section transmission electron microscopy revealed sporangia in various stages of development and degeneration as the endospores matured. The sporangia formed a surface layer of hexagonally arranged subunits. The variety of parasporal bodies raised questions of developmental and ecologic utility.
Metabolic imaging Metabolic imaging in the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is associated with a well known increased risk of coronary disease, but the syndrome or its components are also associated with adverse cardiac remodeling and decreased function [1,2]. Changes in myocardial substrate preference, efficiency, and energetics probably contribute to cardiac remodeling and dysfunction [3–5]. The focus of this review is on noninvasive imaging techniques and the insights they have provided on myocardial metabolism and the pathogenesis of noncoronary heart disease associated with the metabolic syndrome. Heart Metab. 2006;30:11–14.
Effects of active recovery on autonomic and haemodynamic responses after aerobic exercise

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of active recovery on autonomic and haemodynamic responses after exercise in healthy adults. Nineteen healthy young male individuals underwent two experimental sessions: exercise with active recovery (AR) and exercise with passive recovery (PR). The exercise sessions comprised three phases: warm‐up (5 min), exercise phase (cycle ergometer, 30 min, intensity between 60 and 70% of the heart rate reserve) and recovery (5 min). In the AR, the subjects remained cycling in the recovery phase at intensity between 30% and 35% of heart rate reserve, while in the PR, the subjects stopped the exercise after finishing the exercise phase. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and over the 30 min after the interventions. There were no differences for systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate and rate pressure product between active and passive recovery sessions. Also, all heart rate variability parameters changed similarly after exercise with passive or active recovery sessions. In summary, exercise with active recovery does not affect the autonomic and haemodynamic responses after moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise in healthy young male individuals.
Predicting the Empirical Robustness of the Ontology Reasoners based on Machine Learning Techniques

Reasoning with ontologies is one of the core tasks of research in Description Logics. A variety of reasoners with highly optimized algorithms have been developed to allow inference tasks on expressive ontology languages such as OWL (DL). However, unexpected behaviours of reasoner engines is often observed in practice. Both reasoner time efficiency and result correctness would vary across input ontologies, which is hardly predictable even for experienced reasoner designers. Seeking for better understanding of reasoner empirical behaviours, we propose to use supervised machine learning techniques to automatically predict reasoner robustness from its previous running. For this purpose, we introduced a set of comprehensive ontology features. We conducted huge body of experiments for 6 well known reasoners and using over 1000 ontologies from the OREâ2014 corpus. Our learning results show that we could build highly accuracy reasoner robustness predictive models. Moreover, by interpreting these models, it would be possible to gain insights about particular ontology features likely to be reasoner robustness degrading factors.
Investments in consumer relationships: a critical reassessment and model extension

This study is a critical reassessment and extension of De Wulf et al.'s (2001) framework investigating retail investments in consumer relationships. Their initial model relates four types of relationship marketing efforts to perceived relationship investment, in turn influencing relationship quality and ultimately behavioural loyalty. Based upon signalling theory, we extend this model by introducing product and service efforts as additional antecedents. Moreover, in contrast to the use of self-reported measures in the initial model, we apply customer database information in order to measure the construct of behavioural loyalty. Based upon 187 consumers reporting on their relationship with a Belgian apparel retailer, the SEM results provide guidelines for retailers how to increase the quality of their relationships with consumers by strengthening consumers' perceptions of relationship investment.