Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tensor-Based Multiuser Detection for Uplink DS-CDMA Systems with Cooperative Diversity

In the present paper, a semi-blind receiver for a multiuser uplink DS-CDMA (Direct-Sequence Code-Division Multiple-Access) system based on relay aided cooperative communications is proposed. For the received signal, a quadrilinear Parallel Factor (PARAFAC) tensor decomposition is adopted, such that the proposed receiver can semi-blindly estimate the transmitted symbols, channel gains and spatial signatures of all users. The estimation is done by fitting the tensor model using the Alternating Least Squares (ALS) algorithm. With computational simulations, we provide the performance evaluation of the proposed receiver for various scenarios. Keywords— Semi-blind receiver, DS-CDMA, Cooperative communications, PARAFAC, Tensor model, Alternating least squares.
Computing Stable Models of Normal Logic Programs Without Grounding

We present a method for computing stable models of normal logic programs, i.e., logic programs extended with negation, in the presence of predicates with arbitrary terms. Such programs need not have a finite grounding, so traditional methods do not apply. Our method relies on the use of a non-Herbrand universe, as well as coinduction, constructive negation and a number of other novel techniques. Using our method, a normal logic program with predicates can be executed directly under the stable model semantics without requiring it to be grounded either before or during execution and without requiring that its variables range over a finite domain. As a result, our method is quite general and supports the use of terms as arguments, including lists and complex data structures. A prototype implementation and non-trivial applications have been developed to demonstrate the feasibility of our method.
Limitations of Current Financial Reporting: A Case for Integrated Reporting

Purpose - The landscape of corporate reporting is about to change completely. The article aims to determine the disclosures required if the new form of reporting is adopted as an upshot of limitations of the current financial reporting and sustainability reporting. Though top few companies have in the recent past started preparing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports and sustainability report as per Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), guidelines along with Annual Report, there seems to be certain gaps which the companies need to fill. Though Integrated Reporting is successfully adopted in South Africa and countries of Europe, its viability or need in India has been examined with the help of current research paper.Design/methodology/approach - The research paper comprises of a literature review, extraction of factors using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Multiple Regression Analysis among the factors identified as dependent and independent. Factor scores of limitations of financial reporting and the disclosures sought in new form of reporting emerging due to the limitations were then used in the Multiple Regression to predict the degree of dependence of disclosures sought as a result of failure of current financial reporting.Findings - A new form of reporting is evolving due to the limitations of current financial reporting, which should have information about ecological footprints of operations, Economic, Social, and Environmental impact.Research limitations/implications - The research paper underpins the idea of incorporation of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) issues and Sustainability into the core strategy of business. It is hoped that this research will provide insights relating to the importance of understanding environmental, and social sustainability in achieving long term success.
Evaluation of Tools and Techniques for the Generation of Warning Alerts: A Survey Paper

Quality assurance is a key factor for the improvement of an organisational behaviour. It is quite challenging to enhance an organisational performance without realising internal errors and mistakes done by its employees. We have also experienced that most of the security solutions are unsuccessful wherever human behaviour is involved. Organisations sometimes pay huge cost for its survival especially when human error is untraceable and misleading. Online survey has been conducted from different professionals serving at different positions in different organisations. Variety of multi-agent system tools (MAS) is available in the market for modelling and simulation of human behaviour. Brahms modelling and simulation tool has been selected among different multi-agent system tools due to its distinguished features to detect human errors in an organisation which supports warning alert generation system.
[Reliability of a measurement technique to characterise standing properties and to quantify balance capabilities of healthy subjects on an unstable oscillatory platform (Posturomed)].

INTRODUCTION Specific sensomotoric training is recommended to improve walking dysfunctions, prevent injurious falls or improve the reaction capacities of athletes. The oscillatory Posturomed platform can be used as a simple measuring procedure to characterise balance ability. Standard values for the one legged stance or test-retest reliability are unknown. METHOD 55 healthy subjects (37 +/- 15 years) were tested during one legged stance on the unstable Posturomed platform. We recorded the total path of the platform in mm as balance recovery movements (BRM) as well as the ratio of failed attempts. To evaluate Test-Retest-Reliability, 12 subjects were retested one month later. RESULTS To maintain balance, healthy subjects required twice as many BRM in anterior-posterior (AP) direction (40.7 +/- 26 mm) as in medio-lateral (ML) (17.4 +/- 8 mm). 8 % of the recorded attempts were counted as failed attempts due to subjects' unstable standing. On average, subjects required 15.5 +/- 18 mm less BMR when standing on their stronger leg than on the other leg. Younger subjects (25 +/- 2 y) required less BMR than older (59 +/- 11 y) subjects (49.2 versus 64.7 mm, p = 0.006). Subjects with a high level of physical training required less BMR. Test-Retest measurements showed an average difference of 3.9 +/- 6.1 mm. DISCUSSION The Posturomed Platform can be used to evaluate stance ability and characterise the patterns of one legged stance. The measurements are reproducible, but include a small learning effect. Further studies including EMG could provide more understanding of neuromuscular control mechanisms and their adaption to training.
Balancing customer and marketing inputs to maximize the value experience

Customer co-creation has been recognized in the marketing literature as a beneficial activity for both firms and customers, however, further research is needed to more fully understand how firms and customers work together to maximize the value creations. In order to extend this area, the present study conducts two studies to empirically test how customer participation interacts with other factors to influence customer shopping experience and behavior responses. In the experiment study, an updated typology of service context was developed to examine how customer input and service provider input along other factors to influence value co-creation outcomes. A computer stimulated gift shopping experiment is designed to examine customer co-creations across four service contexts (relational service context, customer dominant service context, service provider dominant service context, and discrete service context). In the experiment study, the authors report the study results through recruiting 189 student subjects to answer how they felt after reading one of sixteen developed scenarios. In the survey study, a conceptual model is proposed for testing how service provider customer orientation and customer participation work together to influence customer experiences and corresponding behaviors. Using data collected from 415 consumers registered on the panel list of a market survey company, SEM techniques are used to examine how the value propositions offered by sellers and customer coproductions produce outcome. The customer participation in survey study is
Interaction of Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (PECAM) with α2,6-Sialylated Glycan Regulates Its Cell Surface Residency and Anti-apoptotic Role*

Background: N-Glycan α2,6-sialylation regulates the cell surface residency of an anti-apoptotic molecule, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM). Results: An α2,6-sialylated oligosaccharide inhibited the homophilic PECAM interaction and a cluster-type α2,6-sialyl N-glycan probe bound to PECAM-immobilized beads. Conclusion: PECAM is a weak sialic acid binding lectin. Significance: There is a possibility of using a glycan-based method to modulate angiogenesis. The luminal sides of vascular endothelial cells are heavily covered with a so-called glycocalyx, but the precise role of the endothelial glycocalyx remains unclear. Our previous study showed that N-glycan α2,6-sialylation regulates the cell surface residency of an anti-apoptotic molecule, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), as well as the sensitivity of endothelial cells toward apoptotic stimuli. As PECAM itself was shown to be modified with biantennary N-glycans having α2,6-sialic acid, we expected that PECAM would possess lectin-like activity toward α2,6-sialic acid to ensure its homophilic interaction. To verify this, a series of oligosaccharides were initially added to observe their inhibitory effects on the homophilic PECAM interaction in vitro. We found that a longer α2,6-sialylated oligosaccharide exhibited strong inhibitory activity. Furthermore, we found that a cluster-type α2,6-sialyl N-glycan probe specifically bound to PECAM-immobilized beads. Moreover, the addition of the α2,6-sialylated oligosaccharide to endothelial cells enhanced the internalization of PECAM as well as the sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli. Collectively, these findings suggest that PECAM is a sialic acid binding lectin and that this binding property supports endothelial cell survival. Notably, our findings that α2,6-sialylated glycans influenced the susceptibility to endothelial cell apoptosis shed light on the possibility of using a glycan-based method to modulate angiogenesis.
Enhanced screening efficiency for endocrine-disrupting chemicals in milk and powdered milk using UPLC/QTOF-MS by the introduction of dansyl chloride derivatisation

This study developed and validated a sensitive analytical method for simultaneous screening of four classes of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (i.e. progestogens, androgens, oestrogens and phenols) in milk and powdered milk using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS). Dansylation of oestrogens and phenols enhanced the ionisation efficiency and shifted the ionisation mode from negative to positive, which allowed for the simultaneous analysis of four EDCs in one chromatographic run. An efficient sample pre-treatment minimised the matrix effects. The mass errors for the precursor and product ions for 26 target compounds varied between −2.8 and 2.3 mDa; and the limits of detection (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) for milk and powdered milk were less than 0.04 µg l−1 and 0.10 µg kg−1, respectively. The proposed method was successfully used to analyse multiple types of real samples, including normal temperature whole milk, infant formula and whole powdered milk. In 11 samples, two target compounds, progesterone and androstenedione, were detected. The progesterone concentrations ranged from 8.1 to 12.7 µg l−1 in milk, and from 1.2 to 32.0 µg kg−1 in infant formulas and whole powdered milks. The androstenedione concentrations varied from 0.39 to 0.79 µg l−1 in milks, and from 0.29 to 1.2 µg kg−1 in infant formulas and whole powdered milks. Two post-target compounds, one isomer of oestriol and 5α-dihydroprogesterone, were tentatively identified by post-target analysis in two of 11 real samples.
The feto-maternal distribution of diazepam in early human pregnancy.

A study of the feto-maternal distribution of diazepam is presented. 10 pregnant women received 10 mg of diazepem intramuscularly as a premedication prior to abortion by hysterotomy. The drug was found in all fetal and maternal samples taken 40-120 minutes after injection. The feto-maternal ratio of diazepam concentration was 1.2, whereas ratios of 1.8 have been found at labor. All tissue samples from the fetal brain liver, and placenta contained diazepam, the the concentrations were lower than fetal-plasma concentrations. The lowest concentration was found in fetal brain tissue. Diazepam was not found in the amniotic fluid, but it has been detected with carbon-14-labeled diazepam.
Binding of the histone chaperone ASF1 to the CBP bromodomain promotes histone acetylation

Significance The Creb-binding protein (CBP) transcriptional coactivator contains a histone acetyl transferase domain and a bromodomain. Bromodomains bind to acetylated lysines, and their function as previously understood was limited to mediating recruitment to chromatin via binding to acetylated proteins. Here we show that the acetyl lysine-binding activity of the CBP bromodomain has unexpected roles in CBP-mediated acetylation of nonchromatin bound histones, and we show that the interaction between a bromodomain and acetyl lysine is stimulated by autoacetylation. Furthermore, we find that the histone chaperone anti-silencing function 1 binds to the bromodomain of CBP to present free histones correctly for efficient acetylation. Through a combination of structural, biochemical, and cell-based analyses, these studies enhance our understanding of bromodomain function and regulation. The multifunctional Creb-binding protein (CBP) protein plays a pivotal role in many critical cellular processes. Here we demonstrate that the bromodomain of CBP binds to histone H3 acetylated on lysine 56 (K56Ac) with higher affinity than to its other monoacetylated binding partners. We show that autoacetylation of CBP is critical for the bromodomain–H3 K56Ac interaction, and we propose that this interaction occurs via autoacetylation-induced conformation changes in CBP. Unexpectedly, the bromodomain promotes acetylation of H3 K56 on free histones. The CBP bromodomain also interacts with the histone chaperone anti-silencing function 1 (ASF1) via a nearby but distinct interface. This interaction is necessary for ASF1 to promote acetylation of H3 K56 by CBP, indicating that the ASF1–bromodomain interaction physically delivers the histones to the histone acetyl transferase domain of CBP. A CBP bromodomain mutation manifested in Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome has compromised binding to both H3 K56Ac and ASF1, suggesting that these interactions are important for the normal function of CBP.
A scalable replica selection strategy based on flexible contracts

The effectiveness of a replica selection strategy depends on its ability to take into account the metrics that really contribute to the improvement of the QoS perceived by the users. These metrics depend mainly on the replicated application semantics and on the host and network resources that the clients own. We present a replica selection strategy that adapts its criteria dynamically so as to satisfy application providers' and clients' requirements, aggregated into an application binding contract and a client binding contract respectively. We also propose simple access performance heuristics which guide the default selection criteria when a binding contract is not required or is impossible to evaluate. Our protocol also aims to achieve scalability, by using the concept of logical domain, which represents the reduced scope for replica selection.
Stochastic Geometry Based Framework for Coverage and Rate in Heterogeneous Networks with Sectored Fractional Frequency Reuse

Modern day cellular networks are driven by the need to provide ubiquitous connectivity with very high spectral efficiency to both indoor and outdoor users, hence the need to deploy small cells over conventional macrocells in a Heterogeneous Network (Hetnet) deployment. To alleviate the resulting inter-cell and cross-tier interference, effective inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) schemes such as Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) are employed, and have been widely studied in perfect geometry network scenarios which are too idealistic and not easily adaptable to the complexity of Hetnets. This work provides an analytical framework for the performance of such FFR schemes in Hetnets with antenna sectorization employed at the macro tier, by leveraging stochastic geometry tools to model base station locations of both macro and femto tiers using the Poisson Point Process (PPP). We study the effects of varying system parameters and consider cross-tier femto interference commonly ignored in many analytical works in literature. Furthermore, the femtocells employ a sensing algorithm to minimize spectrum sharing with macro users in close proximity, especially at the transition areas of center and edge region where cross-tier interference could be monumental. Numerical simulations are used to evaluate performance of the proposed framework in terms of coverage probability and average user rate, and results are compared with traditional FFR schemes and the No-FFR deployment. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first analytical framework characterizing sectored-FFR schemes using stochastic geometry tools in Hetnets.
Corporate Real Estate in the Singapore Stock Market

AbstractThis paper investigates the relationship between corporate real estate asset holdings and the value of non-real estate firms. Our specific hypothesis is that the proportion of real estate holdings does affect positively rates of common stock returns due to the capital growth opportunities presented by real estate. Our findings using a yearly cross-sectional test during 1995–99 provide some support to the hypothesis. This helps explain why some non-real estate firms own properties—to increase shareholder value. However, it remains unclear as to whether the real estate impact is highly significant. This is because the influence of other real estate related factors such as debt ratio and firm size has to be jointly considered in stock market valuation. Finally, the implications of the results are highlighted.
Power system stability using decentralized under frequency and voltage load shedding

Load shedding (LS) is the last emergency control action against voltage or frequency instability or even system blackout. Conventional LS relays, often rely on only frequency data and due to equality of the frequency throughout the entire power system, there is the possibility of coincidence operation of relays and perhaps over load shedding. Besides, the LS locations are already determined regardless of disturbance location and may not be adaptive to the event scale and place. This paper addresses the decentralized coordination of Under Frequency Load Shedding (UFLS) and Under Voltage Load Shedding (UVLS) schemes in the LS relays instead of independent methods. The independent and constant frequency and voltage stage thresholds are merged to achieve a united and new elliptical thresholds. Since in addition to frequency, the voltage drop information is also employed in the new method, the load curtailment is started from the vicinity of failure point and radially propagates in the network until not only the frequency collapse is completely prevented, but also the frequency settles down in the permissible range. Numerical simulations which are carried out in DigSilent PowerFactory software confirm the efficiency of proposed methodology to stabilize the power system after a severe contingency.
Farm-level crop yield distribution estimated from country-level crop damage

Abstract Commercial yield insurances are not available for Finnish farmers. However, local legislation and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the EU are moving towards commercial yield insurances. The crop damage compensation (CDC) programme implemented in Finland will expire within a few years and CAP rules suggest premium support of up to 65% for commercial yield insurances. Regardless of these major changes, Finnish insurance companies have not yet shown great interest in supplying insurance schemes. We strongly believe that this is due to uncertainty over the yields to be insured. Asymmetric information is a well-established phenomenon in the insurance industry. In yield insurances, it results from farmers having better knowledge of their yields than insurance companies. This paper estimates the unknown and latent farm-level crop yield distribution that is consistent with the indemnity frequency realized under the CDC programme implemented in Finland. The frequency of granted indemnity payments reveals the underlying yield density function interest among potential yield insurance companies. The estimated yield distribution is normalized to and compared with the aggregate level yield distribution as well as farm-level observations from various sources. The results reveal that no unambiguous answer exits for insurance company needs.
Flexible sensor sheet for real-time pressure monitoring in artificial knee joint during total knee arthroplasty

As described in this paper, we propose a sheet-type pressure sensor to support assistive technology for artificial knee joint replacement. The proposed pressure sensor consists of two sheets: an electrode sheet with metal wiring and a flexible polymer-based insulating layer on 80 µm polyimide film, as well as a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet that can function as a pressure-to-resistance sensor. We developed a 5 cm × 7 cm pressure sensor sheet with 116 sensing points. The multiple sensing sheet is expected to monitor the pressure distribution in an artificial knee joint during total knee arthroplasty to improve patients' quality of life.
Effects of the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Dulaglutide on the Structure of the Exocrine Pancreas of Cynomolgus Monkeys

Clinical and nonclinical studies have implicated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist therapy as a risk factor for acute pancreatitis in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is critical to understand the effect that dulaglutide, an approved GLP-1 receptor agonist, has on the exocrine pancreas. Dulaglutide 8.15 mg/kg (approximately 500 times the maximum recommended human dose based on plasma exposure) was administered twice weekly for 12 months to cynomolgus monkeys. Serum amylase and lipase activities were measured and 6 sections of each pancreas were examined microscopically. Ductal epithelial cell proliferation was estimated using Ki67 labeling. Dulaglutide administration did not alter serum amylase or lipase activities measured at the end of treatment compared to control values. An extensive histologic evaluation of the pancreas revealed no changes in the acinar or endocrine portions and no evidence of pancreatitis, necrosis, or pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia. An increase in goblet cells noted in 4 of the 19 treated monkeys was considered an effect of dulaglutide but was not associated with dilation, blockage, or accumulation of mucin in the pancreatic duct. There was no difference in cell proliferation in ductal epithelium between control and dulaglutide-treated monkeys. These data reveal that chronic dosing of nondiabetic primates with dulaglutide does not induce inflammatory or preneoplastic changes in exocrine pancreas.