Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fundamental Limits of Electronic Signal Processing in Direct-Detection Optical Communications

Electronic signal processing is becoming very attractive to overcome various impairments that affect optical communications, and electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) represents a typical application in the currently designed systems. However, the inherent limits in performance achievable by electronically processing the signal at the output of a nonlinear photodetector have not received the attention they deserve. In this paper, we investigate the information-theoretic limits of electronic signal processing in transmission systems employing direct photodetection and two possible modulation formats: 1 on-off keying (OOK) with nonreturn-to-zero pulses; and 2 optical duobinary modulation (ODBM). The analysis is based on the computation of the information rate, i.e., the maximum achievable data transfer rate, and accounts for the modulation format as well as relevant parameters of the transmission scheme. In particular, we investigate the impact of sampling rate, uncompensated chromatic dispersion (CD), and quantization resolution of the electrical signal at the output of a direct photodetector. For OOK systems, the obtained results show that the optical signal-to-noise ratio penalty entailed by EDC can be limited to about 2 dB at most values of CD of interest in current applications. Moreover, ODBM systems at high values of CD can almost perform as OOK systems at zero CD. For all the considered modulation formats, the obtained results show that the received electrical signal can be sampled at a rate of two samples per bit interval and quantized with a precision of 3 bits per sample to practically achieve the ultimate performance limits.
Prevalence of anxiety and depression among doctors; the unscreened and undiagnosed clientele in Lahore, Pakistan

Objectives: To analyze prevalence of anxiety and depression among doctors serving in a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, with a study of impact of relevant demographic features. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, from February 2014 to Jan 2015. Participants were doctors serving in subject hospital for at least six months duration. Standardized Hospital Anxiety Depression Score (HADS) inventory was selected as inventory. Formal approval from hospital ethical committee and written informed consent from participants were obtained. Demographic characteristics of participants were recorded as independent variables; anxiety and depression scores being outcome variables. Data analysis was done via descriptive statistics (SPSS-20), qualitative data expressed as frequencies, percentages; quantitative as mean ± standard deviation(SD). Cross tabulation was done via chi-square, p-value < 0.05 considered as significant. Results: Out of 203 volunteers, 97(47.78%) responded. Score of anxiety was 7.04±4.470, maximum being 19, scores of depression was 4.94±3.605, maximum score being 15. Mild to moderate anxiety and depression were revealed in 33(34%) and 24(24.8%) respectively, while 7(7.2%) and 1(1.0%) had severe anxiety and depression respectively. There was strong positive relation between anxiety and depression (p<0.001). There was significant impact of service years on depression (p-0.011) and gender on anxiety (p-0.002), 9(17.31%) males and 24(53.33%) females had mild to moderate anxiety while 4(7.69%) males and 3(6.66%) females revealed severe anxiety and other variables did not reveal significant impact on HADS scores. Conclusion: Doctors showed high grades of anxiety and depression. They must be promptly screened and managed at all medical institutions.
The plasma emission model of RX J1856.5-3754

A spectral analysis of the nearby, isolated neutron star RX J1856.5-3754 is presented. Applying the kinetic approach, the distribution functions of emitting electrons are derived and the entire spectra is fitted. It is found that waves excited by the cyclotron mechanism occur in the radio domain. We confirm that the cyclotron instability is quite efficient, since the estimations show that the time of wave-particle interaction is long enough for particles to acquire perpendicular momentum and generate observed radiation. The lack of rotational modulation is discussed and the pulsar spin period estimated.
Assessing potential: the development of selection procedures for the Oxford medical course

In this paper, we examine the methods by which candidates are selected for the Oxford Medical School in the light of the literature on assessment in general and candidate selection in particular. We review changes in the process that attempt to capture the best of evidence‐supported practice while preserving or enhancing the features identified as being peculiar strengths of the Oxford learning environment. These changes aim to improve fairness, reliability and validity, while permitting candidate‐specific approaches that allow for differences of prior experience and opportunity. Over the last three years, the outcome has been a marked convergence between the approaches to selection in Oxford with commonly accepted standards of assessment.
An improved PV system based on dual axis solar tracking and MPPT

This paper presents the design and construction of a photovoltaic system (PV system) using dual axis solar tracking and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller to improve the efficiency of PV cell output power. The dual axis solar tracking technique is designed to track the sun both the azimuth angle and altitude angle to enable the solar panel perpendicular to the illumination of the sun. The MPPT algorithm is designed to keep the PV system operating at maximum power point, a modified variable step size incremental conductance algorithm has been proposed in this paper to meet the requirements of response speed and dynamic stability. Both the solar tracking and MPPT algorithms are implemented into TMD320F2812 controller. Simulations and practical experiments have been made through Matlab/Simulink and prototype device respectively. The results show that both the solar tracking and MPPT algorithms could improve the efficiency of PV array output power.
A MoM analysis and optimization of leaky waveguide (LWG) antennas using S2DS technique

Coupling Loss (C.L.) is a key parameter for designing the Leaky Waveguide (LWG) Antennas. In this paper, a new method for analyzing and optimization of LWG antennas to obtain a desired Coupling Loss is presented. This is done by optimizing the spacing between slots using piecewise uniform slot spacing scheme. The Method of Moments (MoM) and Spectrum of Two Dimensional Solutions technique (S2DS) are combined to achieve a fast and accurate method for calculating the unknown distribution of the electric field in the slots. These fields are then used to find the radiation pattern and C.L. of the antenna. Excitation fields at the slots are evaluated by considering the mutual couplings between slots. To maintain the C.L along the antenna within a given desired level, an optimization scheme is employed to adjust the slot spacing such that the propagation loss along the antenna is compensated.
A Structured Instrument Design Approach: The Video-Organ

The Video-Organ is an instrument for the live performance of audio-visual material. To design an interface we apply a modular approach, in an attempt to split up the complex task of finding physical interfaces and mappings to control sound and video as generated by the computer. Generally, most modules, or instrumentlets as they are called, consist of a human interface element mapped to a certain effect. To describe the instrumentlets a design space is used consisting of the parameters degrees of freedom, range and precision. This paper is addressing the notion that traditional approaches to composition are challenged and changed in this situation, where the material is both audio and visual, and where the design and development of an instrument becomes involved in the process of performing and composing.
Which Societies Provide a Strong Religious Socialization Context? Explanations Beyond the Effects of National Religiosity

Religious socialization occurs within the immediate family as well as in the broader social context. Previous research has shown that parents’ religiosity matters less for the transmission of religious beliefs in devout than in secular nations, implying smaller costs of religious socialization. In this article we test which other societal factors affect the transmission of religious beliefs: anti-religious policies in formerly socialist countries, economic development, and income inequality. Our results indicate that societies with high levels of income inequality seem to provide the most favorable context for religious socialization. Individuals develop strong religious beliefs even if they only received little religious socialization within the family. Formerly socialist nations increased socialization costs through the overall suppression of religious practice. Economic development has no impact on socialization effects, suggesting that inequality is a more important driver of religious change than previously thought.
Early discharge using single cardiac troponin and copeptin testing in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS): a randomized, controlled clinical process study

Abstract Aims This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated whether a process with single combined testing of copeptin and troponin at admission in patients with low-to-intermediate risk and suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) does not lead to a higher proportion of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) than the current standard process (non-inferiority design). Methods and results A total of 902 patients were randomly assigned to either standard care or the copeptin group where patients with negative troponin and copeptin values at admission were eligible for discharge after final clinical assessment. The proportion of MACE (death, survived sudden cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), re-hospitalization for ACS, acute unplanned percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, or documented life threatening arrhythmias) was assessed after 30 days. Intention to treat analysis showed a MACE proportion of 5.17% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.30–7.65%; 23/445] in the standard group and 5.19% (95% CI 3.32–7.69%; 23/443) in the copeptin group. In the per protocol analysis, the MACE proportion was 5.34% (95% CI 3.38–7.97%) in the standard group, and 3.01% (95% CI 1.51–5.33%) in the copeptin group. These results were also corroborated by sensitivity analyses. In the copeptin group, discharged copeptin negative patients had an event rate of 0.6% (2/362). Conclusion After clinical work-up and single combined testing of troponin and copeptin to rule-out AMI, early discharge of low- to intermediate risk patients with suspected ACS seems to be safe and has the potential to shorten length of stay in the ED. However, our results need to be confirmed in larger clinical trials or registries, before a clinical directive can be propagated.
Influence Neighbourhoods in CiteSeer: A Case Study

We are interested in using purely network-based techniques to assist in matching instances across databases that can be represented as complex networks. In particular we are interested in the individuality of the influence neighbourhood of a node (the sub graph induced by its in-neighbours) in a directed network. We derive a paper citation network from the archived Cite Seer database and use this network as a case study of influence neighbourhoods. We show that papers can reliably be distinguished by their influence neighbourhoods.
JXP4BIGI: a generalized, Java XML-based approach for biological information gathering and integration

MOTIVATION In the post-genomic era, biologists interested in systems biology often need to import data from public databases and construct their own system-specific or subject-oriented databases to support their complex analysis and knowledge discovery. To facilitate the analysis and data processing, customized and centralized databases are often created by extracting and integrating heterogeneous data retrieved from public databases. A generalized methodology for accessing, extracting, transforming and integrating the heterogeneous data is needed. RESULTS This paper presents a new data integration approach named JXP4BIGI (Java XML Page for Biological Information Gathering and Integration). The approach provides a system-independent framework, which generalizes and streamlines the steps of accessing, extracting, transforming and integrating the data retrieved from heterogeneous data sources to build a customized data warehouse. It allows the data integrator of a biological database to define the desired bio-entities in XML templates (or Java XML pages), and use embedded extended SQL statements to extract structured, semi-structured and unstructured data from public databases. By running the templates in the JXP4BIGI framework and using a number of generalized wrappers, the required data from public databases can be efficiently extracted and integrated to construct the bio-entities in the XML format without having to hard-code the extraction logics for different data sources. The constructed XML bio-entities can then be imported into either a relational database system or a native XML database system to build a biological data warehouse. AVAILABILITY JXP4BIGI has been integrated and tested in conjunction with the IKBAR system (http://www.ikbar.org/) in two integration efforts to collect and integrate data for about 200 human genes related to cell death from HUGO, Ensembl, and SWISS-PROT (Bairoch and Apweiler, 2000), and about 700 Drosophila genes from FlyBase (FlyBase Consortium, 2002). The integrated data has been used in comparative genomic analysis of x-ray induced cell death. Also, as explained later, JXP4BIGI is a middleware and framework to be integrated with biological database applications, and cannot run as a stand-alone software for end users. For demonstration purposes, a demonstration version is accessible at (http://www.ikbar.org/jxp4bigi/demo.html).
Myocardial Strain Analysis in Acute Coronary Occlusion: A Tool to Assess Myocardial Viability and Reperfusion

Background— This study proposes 2 new echocardiographic indices with potential application in acute coronary artery occlusion to differentiate between viable and necrotic myocardium and to identify reperfusion. We investigated whether the ratio between systolic lengthening and combined late and postsystolic shortening (L-S ratio) could identify viable myocardium and whether systolic myocardial compliance, calculated as systolic lengthening divided by systolic pressure rise, could identify necrotic myocardium. Methods and Results— In anesthetized dogs, we measured left ventricular (LV) pressure and long-axis strain by Doppler echocardiography (SDE) and sonomicrometry. The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 15 minutes with 3-hour reperfusion (n=6), for 4 hours with 3-hour reperfusion (n=6), or for 4 hours with no reperfusion (n=6). Myocardial work was quantified by pressure–segment length analysis, necrosis by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, and edema by water content. L-S ratio and systolic compliance were calculated by SDE. The L-S ratio ranged between 0.00 and 1.00 and was well correlated with regional myocardial work (r=0.77, P<0.0001). In entirely passive myocardium, the L-S ratio approached 1 and was similar in viable (0.88±0.02) and necrotic (0.81±0.03) myocardium. Compliance, however, was reduced in necrotic myocardium owing to edema (0.07±0.01%/mm Hg) but was preserved in viable myocardium (0.15±0.01%/mm Hg, P<0.05). Reperfusion of viable myocardium caused a reduction of the L-S ratio after 15 minutes (0.57±0.06, P<0.05), reflecting recovery of function. Reperfusion of necrotic myocardium caused no change in the L-S ratio, but compliance was further reduced within 15 minutes (0.03±0.01%/mm Hg, P<0.05). Conclusion— Myocardial L-S ratio and compliance by SDE identified active contraction and necrosis, respectively. These indices should be tested clinically for assessment of myocardial viability and reperfusion.
Sexual risk reduction needs of adolescents living with HIV in a clinical care setting

Abstract As anti-retroviral therapy becomes increasingly available, young people living with HIV need tailored support to adopt healthy sexual behaviors. There has been a gap in the availability of culturally appropriate techniques for secondary prevention and sexual risk reduction in this target group. This formative study assessed sexual and reproductive health needs and problems, as well as determinants of sexual risk-taking among young people living with HIV aged 11–21 years attending the Paediatric Infectious Disease Clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Theoretical guidance was provided by the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model. Socio-demographic and selected psychosexual data were assessed using a brief anonymous questionnaire. A total of 75 young people living with HIV participated in eight focus group discussions. In addition, one focus group was conducted with adult key informants (service providers). About a quarter of the young participants reported prior or current sexual experience. The study revealed knowledge gaps relating to reproductive health, HIV transmission, and contraceptive methods. Motivations for protection included hope for the future, good counseling, and fear of the consequences of sexual activity such as unwanted pregnancies. Barriers to adopting preventive behaviors included peer pressure, poverty, HIV-related stigma, ignorance of their partners, alcohol use, and a desire to have children for the older ones. Young sero-positive people in this setting lacked specific behavioral skills, such as disclosure of HIV status to their sexual partners, this being closely linked to fear of rejection and stigma. HIV-positive youths need support in developing the appropriate behavioral skills to adopt healthy sexual behaviors. Interventions in this field need to be developmentally appropriate and tailored to young people's specific needs. Structural interventions should at the same time address and reduce HIV-related stigma and socio-economic needs of young people living with HIV.
The Category of the Mind: Folk Psychology of Belief, Desire, and Intention

According to the everyday understanding of the mind (called folk psychology), people’s belief and desire causally combine to determine their intention, which in turn controls their action. However, recent empirical investigations have shown that psychologists’ and laypeople’s intuitions are not always in agreement about this common sense. To shed light, in this study folk psychology of belief, desire, and intention is conceptualized as a category of the mind; that is, a kind of category that embodies people’s causal knowledge about human action. Four experiments explored the implications of this conception for understanding and prediction of social action (Experiments 1 and 2) and for explanation of simple scripted action (Experiments 3 and 4). The results showed that the present conception of folk psychology is useful in guiding empirical investigation. A systematic investigation of folk psychology may revitalize Heider's research program on naive psychology.
The Number of Different Binary Functions Generated by NK-Kauffman Networks and the Emergence of Genetic Robustness

We determine the average number $ \vartheta (N, K) $, of \textit{NK}-Kauffman networks that give rise to the same binary function. We show that, for $ N \gg 1 $, there exists a connectivity critical value $ K_c $ such that $ \vartheta(N,K) \approx e^{\phi N} $ ($ \phi > 0 $) for $ K K_c $. We find that $ K_c $ is not a constant, but scales very slowly with $ N $, as $ K_c \approx \log_2 \log_2 (2N / \ln 2) $. The problem of genetic robustness emerges as a statistical property of the ensemble of \textit{NK}-Kauffman networks and impose tight constraints in the average number of epistatic interactions that the genotype-phenotype map can have.
Passing Go with DNA Sequencing: Delivering Messages in a Covert Transgenic Channel

DNA which carries genetic information in living organisms has become a new steganographic carrier of secret information. Various researchers have used this technique to try to develop watermarks to be used to protect proprietary products, however, as recent advances in genetic engineering have made it possible to use DNA as a carrier of information, we have realized that DNA steganography in the living organism also facilitates a new, stealthy cyber-attack that could be used nefariously to bypass entrance control systems that monitor and screen for files and electronic devices. In this paper, we explain how "DNA-courier" attacks could easily be carried out to defeat existing monitoring and screening techniques. Using our proposed method, we found that DNA as a steganographic carrier of secret information poses a realistic cyber-attack threat by enabling secret messages to be sent to an intended recipient without being noticed by third parties.
Using Generalizability Theory to Estimate the Reliability of Writing Scores Derived from Holistic and Analytical Scoring Methods

Issues surrounding the psychometric properties of writing assessments have received ongoing attention. However, the reliability estimates of scores derived from various holistic and analytical scoring strategies reported in the literature have relied on classical test theory (CT), which accounts for only a single source of variance within a given analysis. Generalizability theory (GT) is a more powerful and flexible strategy that allows for the simultaneous estimation of multiple sources of error variance to estimate the reliability of test scores. Using GT, two studies were conducted to investigate the impact of the number of raters and the type of decision (relative vs. absolute) on the reliability of writing scores. The results of both studies indicated that the reliability coefficients for writing scores decline as (a) the number of raters is reduced and (b) when absolute decisions rather than relative decisions are made.
Guaranteed accuracy computations in systems and control

This paper is concerned with the problem of validation in the context of numerical computations in control. We explore the possibility of using computer algebra tools and interval methods to compute solutions which have guarantees on accuracy, e.g. which are not subject to unknown errors due to rounding or approximation. We demonstrate that this is possible for two common norms of a linear system (L2 and L∞) and H2-optimal controller synthesis. We further discuss some of the issues involved in achieving a validation property for other problems of controller synthesis.
The Study of SLC26A4 Gene Causing Autosomal Recessive Hearing Loss by Linkage Analysis in a Cohort of Iranian Populations

Sensorineural non-syndromic hearing loss is the most common disorder which affects 1 in 500 newborns. Hearing loss is an extremely heterogeneous defect with more than 100 loci identified to date. According to the studies, mutations in GJB2 are estimated to be involved in 50- 80% of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss cases, but contribution of other loci in this disorder is yet ambiguous. With regard to studies, DFNB4 locus (SLC26A4) can be classified as the second cause of hearing loss. So, this study aimed to determine the contribution of this locus in hearing loss as well as the frequency of SLC26A4 gene mutations in a population in the west of Iran. In this descriptive laboratory study, we included 30 families from the west of Iran with no mutation in GJB2 gene. Linkage analysis was performed by DFNB4 (SLC26A4) molecular markers (STR). The families with hearing loss linked to this locus were further analyzed for mutation detection. SLC26A4 gene exons were amplified and analyzed using direct DNA sequencing. In studied families, 2 families displayed linkage to DFNB4 locus. Identified mutations include mutation in exon 5 (c.416 G>T) and in splicing site of exon 7 (IVS-2 A>G or c.919-2 A>G).