Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultra-Dense HetNets Meet Big Data: Green Frameworks, Techniques, and Approaches

Ultra-dense heterogeneous networks (Ud-HetNets) have been put forward to improve the network capacity for next-generation wireless networks. However, counter to the 5G vision, ultra-dense deployment of networks would significantly increase energy consumption and thus decrease network energy efficiency, suffering from the conventional worst case network design philosophy. This problem becomes particularly severe when Ud-HetNets meet big data because of the traditional reactive request-transmit service mode. In view of these, this article first develops a big-data-aware artificial- intelligence-based framework for energy-efficient operations of Ud-HetNets. Based on the framework, we then identify four promising techniques, namely big data analysis, adaptive base station operation, proactive caching, and interference- aware resource allocation, to reduce energy cost on both large and small scales. We further develop a load-aware stochastic optimization approach to show the potential of our proposed framework and techniques in energy conservation. In a nutshell, we devote our work to constructing green Ud-HetNets of big data with the abilities of learning and inferring by improving the flexibility of control from worst case to adaptive design and shifting the manner of services from reactive to proactive modes.
OPS Imaging of Human Microcirculation: A Short Technical Report

Despite the pivotal role of microcirculation in numerous diseases, techniques for the direct assessment of human microcirculation are limited. A new approach based on orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging (Cytoscan™ microscope) allows noninvasive observation of human microcirculation in all accessible tissue surfaces. Limitations remain: application of pressure with the instrument affects blood flow, lateral movement of tissue precludes continuous investigation of a given microvascular region, and blood flow velocities above 1 mm/s cannot be measured. We addressed these problems by (a) constructing an attachment to the probe, preventing direct contact of the instrument with the observed tissue area and allowing fixation of the tissue, and (b) implementing a double-flash spatial correlation technique extending the measuring range for blood flow velocities up to ∼40 mm/s. The modified approach was tested in vitro and in vivo. Velocity readings correlated well with velocities of an external standard (r2 = 0.99, range 1.9–33.8 mm/s). Pulsatile flow patterns synchronous with heart rate with maximal velocities of about 10 mm/s could be detected in arterioles of the human sublingual mucosa. The modified instrument may prove useful to investigate the microcirculation in the context of research, diagnosis and therapy control.
The Borrelia burgdorferi circular plasmid cp26: conservation of plasmid structure and targeted inactivation of the ospC gene

The 26 to 28 kb circular plasmid of B. burgdorferi sensu lato (cp26) is ubiquitous among bacteria of this group and contains loci implicated in the mouse–tick transmission cycle. Restriction mapping and Southern hybridization indicated that the structure of cp26 is conserved among isolates from different origins and culture passage histories. The cp26 ospC gene encodes an outer surface protein whose synthesis within infected ticks increases when the ticks feed, and whose synthesis in culture increases after a temperature upshift. Previous studies of ospC coding sequences showed them to have stretches of sequence apparently derived from the ospC genes of distantly related isolates by homologous recombination after DNA transfer. We found conservation of the promoter regions of the ospC and guaA genes, which are divergently transcribed. We also demonstrated that the increase in OspC protein after a temperature upshift parallels increases in mRNA levels, as expected if regulatory regions adjoin the conserved sequences in the promoter regions. Finally, we used directed insertion to inactivate the ospC gene of a non‐infectious isolate. This first example of directed gene inactivation in B. burgdorferi shows that the OspC protein is not required for stable maintenance of cp26 or growth in culture.
Affine term structure models: A time‐change approach with perfect fit to market curves

We address the so‐called calibration problem, which consists of fitting in a tractable way a given model to a specified term structure such as yield, prepayment or default probability curves. Time‐homogeneous affine jump diffusions (HAJD) are tractable processes but have limited flexibility; they fail to perfectly replicate actual market curves. Applying a deterministic shift to the latter is a simple but efficient solution that is widely used by both academics and practitioners. However, the shift approach may not be appropriate when positivity is required, a common constraint when dealing with credit spreads or default intensities. In this paper, we address this problem by adopting a time‐change technique. Specific attention is paid to the Cox–Ingersoll–Ross model with compound Poisson jumps (JCIR), which remains standard for modeling intensities. Our time‐changed JCIR (TC‐JCIR) is compared to the shifted JCIR (JCIR++) in various credit applications such as credit default swap (CDS), credit default swaption, and credit valuation adjustment (CVA) under wrong‐way risk (WWR). The TC‐JCIR model is able to generate much larger implied volatilities and covariance effects than JCIR++ under positivity constraints and represents an appealing alternative to the latter.
The Role of ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway in Coronary Microembolization-Induced Rat Myocardial Inflammation and Injury

Aim: Inflammation plays an important role in coronary microembolization (CME)-induced myocardial injury. The present study was designed to investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway in regulating myocardial inflammation and cardiac function in a rat model of CME. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated group (sham group), CME group and PD98059 group (15 animals per group). CME was produced by injection of 42-µm microspheres into the left ventricle with occlusion of the ascending aorta. Rats in the PD98059 group were injected with PD98059, a specific ERK1/2 inhibitor, 30 min before the CME operation. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis were used to determine the activation of ERK1/2. Echocardiography was employed to evaluate cardiac function. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to assay myocardial inflammation. Expression of TNF-α mRNA was determined by RT-PCR analysis, and activity of NF-ĸB was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results: CME dramatically induced cardiac dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF, was 72.97 ± 3.20% in the CME vs. 82.69 ± 3.50% in the sham group, p < 0.05) and local myocardial inflammatory response, both of which were ameliorated significantly by PD98059 (LVEF was 76.46 ± 4.46 and p < 0.05 vs. CME group). When compared to the CME group, PD98059 markedly attenuated the increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (0.48 ± 0.11 vs. 0.92 ± 0.10, p < 0.05), expression of TNF-α mRNA (0.42 ± 0.06 vs. 0.94 ± 0.04, p < 0.05) and activity of NF-ĸB (104.83 ± 13.65 vs. 540.79 ± 24.95, p < 0.05) in CME rat myocardium. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates a novel role of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in promoting myocardium inflammation and dysfunction in CME, and suggests that ERK1/2 is a novel potential therapeutic target for CME.
Beam steering system using rotman lens for 5G applications at 28 GHz

In this paper, the design, simulation and fabrication of a five input and six output Rotman Lens switched-beam patch antenna array are described. The steering system was produced on Rogers substrate RO3006 which makes the proposed system low cost and ease of fabrication. The result shows the system capability of steer the beam for different five angels in range of −45°, −22.5°, 0°, +22.5°, and +45°. The designed steering system provides a cost effective approach for using in the 5G wireless communications at 28 GHz. The simulation and measurement results show good return loss, true time delay performance and steering capability.
Systematic mixed even- and odd-mode modeling of parallel tightly coupled transmission lines

Systematic mixed even- and odd-mode modeling for analyzing parallel tightly coupled transmission lines is presented. This coupled line model is composed of even- and odd-mode equivalent lines. And, the numerical approach is based on the modified central difference (MCD) method. The voltage and current waves propagating along the parallel tightly coupled transmission lines are monitored by the time domain analysis method. For verification of the proposed modeling, a five-section 3-dB parallel coupled line is demonstrated dynamically. In addition, the S-parameters obtained from the pulse responses are compared with those of the commercial simulator.
Intra‐cardiac echo for left atrial appendage occlusion

Left atrial appendage occlusion using the Amulet device can be accomplished with fluoroscopic and intra‐cardiac echo (ICE) imaging for guidance, obviating the need for general anesthesia and trans‐esophageal echo. The ICE device can be placed directly into the left atrium, parallel to the occluder delivery system, using a single transseptal puncture, rather than via double transseptal puncture. The ideal methods for left atrial appendage imaging and procedure guidance have yet to be defined. The utility of CT evaluation is increasingly recognized. The emergence of three‐dimensional ICE is likely to further our progress along the path of simplifying the LAAO procedure.
SATIN: A Persistent Musical Database for Music Information Retrieval

This paper introduces SATIN, the Set of Audio Tags and Identifiers Normalized. SATIN is a database of 400k audio-related metadata and identifiers that aims at facilitating reproducibility and comparisons among the MIR algorithms. The idea is to take advantage of partnerships between scientists and private companies that host millions of tracks. Scientists can send their feature extraction algorithm to companies along SATIN's identifiers and retrieve the corresponding features. This procedure allows the MIR community to have access to more tracks for classification purposes. Afterward, scientists can provide to the MIR community the classification result for each track, which can then be compared with other algorithms results. SATIN thus resolves the major problems of accessing more tracks, managing copyrights locks, saving computation time, and guaranteeing consistency over research databases. We also introduce SOFT1, the first Set Of FeaTures extracted by a company thanks to SATIN.
Recent changes in cardiovascular risk factors among women and men.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine change over the 1990s in the proportion of men and women with measured high-risk values of cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS Change in the prevalence of high-risk conditions based on clinical cutoffs for 10 cardiovascular risk factors was assessed in respondents aged > or =40 from the nationally representative, cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and IV (1999-2002). RESULTS Both sexes experienced a reduction in the prevalence of high-risk levels of cholesterol (total, high-density lipoprotein [HDL], and low-density lipoprotein [LDL]) and high homocysteine and an increase in obesity and high C-reactive protein (CRP). Changes in the prevalence of high total cholesterol and high CRP were more pronounced among women. The percentage of women with high diastolic and systolic blood pressure increased, whereas this percentage decreased among men. During the same time, there was an increase in undiagnosed high blood pressure and in the use of antihypertensive medications without achieving adequate blood pressure control among women. Both sexes increased their use of cholesterol-lowering medication. These changes in diagnosis rates and medication usage did not explain the trends in the prevalence of high-risk blood pressure or high-risk cholesterol, although the larger increase in high CRP among women is related to increased use of postmenopausal hormone therapy over the 1990s. CONCLUSIONS We found mixed trends in cardiovascular risk factors for both women and men; some improved and some deteriorated. Changes in medication use and obesity did not explain these trends.
Perceptual Evaluation of Voice Quality and Its Correlation with Acoustic Measurement

The GRBAS scale is a widely used subjective measure of voice quality. The aim of this paper is to investigate the correlation between the 'grade', 'roughness', 'breathiness', 'asthenia' and 'strain' dimensions of this scale and the objective measurements provided by the 'Analysis of Dysphonia in speech and Voice' (ADSV) software package. To do this, voice recordings of 107 samples were collected in a quiet room, and each voice was perceptually evaluated on the GRBAS scale by three experienced speech and language therapists. The same recordings were also acoustically analysed using ADSV. Statistical analysis using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient model identified a degree of moderate correlation between the result of cepstral based analysis and the GRBAS scale. A classifier such as a decision tree may then be applied to the ADSV cepstral measurement for the objective prediction of GRBAS scores. The accuracy of the classifier in predicting the score of each therapist is given in the paper.
Complex Network Security Analysis Based on Attack Graph Model

Today's computer systems face lots of challenges in the fast rate of emerging security problems. To accurately assess the security of computer network systems, one must understand how vulnerabilities can be combined to stage an attack. Attack graphs are important tools for analyzing security vulnerabilities in enterprise networks. However, the complexity of traditional method for generating attack graphs increases dramatically as the network size grows. To solve this problem, the efficiency of attack graph generation method must be improved. Based on the analysis of generation approaches to attack graphs, an attack graph generation method for complex network is proposed in this paper. In this method, the network framework and key nodes can be analyzed and searched by loopholes scanning firstly. Then, starting from these key nodes, the algorithm which combined greedy policy, forward exploration and backward searching is used to generate the attack graph. Experimental results prove that the model can make a comprehensive analysis on network security and research the estimation of network attack.
A qualitative analysis on the determinants of legitimacy of sukuk

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of the determinants (pricing, type of structure, Shariah auditing, Shariah risk and Shariah documentation) and the sukuk legitimacy among Islamic financial institutions using a qualitative approach. The paper further explained the significance of the determinants on legitimacy, evaluated the relationship between sukuk characteristics and sukuk legitimacy and examined the moderating effect of Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB) on the relationship. Design/methodology/approach The study used a purposive sampling technique to select the target respondents required for the survey (semi-structured interview). This technique is applied by selecting members of SSBs among Islamic financial institutions. A total number of ten members are selected as the sample size for the study based on their experience and basic knowledge of Fiqh Al-Mua’malat and its application in Islamic financial institutions. Findings The findings revealed that the determinants have a significant impact on the sukuk legitimacy, meaning that there is a positive and significant relationship between the determinants and the sukuk legitimacy. In addition, this study indicates the empirical evidence of the moderating effect of SSB on the relationship between the determinants and the sukuk legitimacy. Practical implications This study has added to the literature by examining the determinants of sukuk legitimacy while evaluating the moderating effect of SSB on the relationship. Besides, this might add benefits to the numerous Islamic financial institutions relating to the amendment of its regulatory frameworks with the view to pushing the sukuk market investors to move toward asset-backed structure. In addition, the SSB in central banks must also focus its attention regarding the sukuk legitimacy and its application among the various Islamic financial institutions. Originality/value This study has added a new discussion to the body of knowledge, i.e. examining the sukuk legitimacy and its relationship with sukuk determinants; hence, an approach that is not widely discussed in the previous studies. Furthermore, conducting such research in the field of Islamic finance provides novelty in the literature among both emerging and developed economies including Malaysia. This is because to the best knowledge of the researchers, there was no empirical study (within the literature) that combined these variables and evaluated their empirical significance. Accordingly, this would enlighten the Islamic Ummah and propel the society’s intensity toward contributing to knowledge and might further provide clarification on the determinants and the sukuk legitimacy to prospective scholars, precisely on the moderating effect of SSB on the relationship between determinants and legitimacy of sukuk.
Intensive care practices in brain death diagnosis and organ donation

We conducted a multicentre study of 1844 patients from 42 Spanish intensive care units, and analysed the clinical characteristics of brain death, the use of ancillary testing, and the clinical decisions taken after the diagnosis of brain death. The main cause of brain death was intracerebral haemorrhage (769/1844, 42%), followed by traumatic brain injury (343/1844, 19%) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (257/1844, 14%). The diagnosis of brain death was made rapidly (50% in the first 24 h). Of those patients who went on to die, the Glasgow Coma Scale on admission was ≤ 8/15 in 1146/1261 (91%) of patients with intracerebral haemorrhage, traumatic brain injury or anoxic encephalopathy; the Hunt and Hess Scale was 4–5 in 207/251 (83%) of patients following subarachnoid haemorrhage; and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was ≥ 15 in 114/129 (89%) of patients with strokes. Brain death was diagnosed exclusively by clinical examination in 92/1844 (5%) of cases. Electroencephalography was the most frequently used ancillary test (1303/1752, 70.7%), followed by transcranial Doppler (652/1752, 37%). Organ donation took place in 70% of patients (1291/1844), with medical unsuitability (267/553, 48%) and family refusal (244/553, 13%) the main reasons for loss of potential donors. All life‐sustaining measures were withdrawn in 413/553 of non‐donors (75%).
DFR: Directional flooding-based routing protocol for underwater sensor networks

Unlike terrestrial sensor networks, underwater sensor networks (UWSNs) have different characteristics such as a long propagation delay, a narrow bandwidth and high packet loss. Hence, existing path setup-based routing protocols proposed for terrestrial sensor networks are not applicable in the underwater environment. For example, they take much time when establishing a path between source and destination nodes due to the long propagation delay. In addition, the path establishment requires much overhead of control messages. Moreover, the dynamic and high packet loss degrades reliability, which invokes more retransmissions. Even though exiting routing protocols such as VBF were proposed to improve the reliability, they did not take into account the link quality. That is, there is no guarantee that packets reach the sink safely especially when a link is error-prone. In this paper, we therefore propose a directional flooding-based routing protocol, called DFR. Basically, DFR relies on a packet flooding technique to increase the reliability. However, the number of nodes which flood a packet is controlled in order to prevent a packet from flooding over the whole network and the nodes to forward the packet are decided according to the link quality. In addition, DFR also addresses a well-known void problem by allowing at least one node to participate in forwarding a packet. Our simulation study using ns-2 proves that DFR is more suitable for UWSNs especially when links are prone to packet loss.
Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Affects Hyaluronan Synthesis in Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells*

Background: OxLDL and the high level of hyaluronan are major triggering factors of atherosclerosis. Results: The oxLDL load of the aortic human smooth muscle cells (SMC) via the scavenger receptor LOX-1 causes ER stress, overexpression of HAS2, and hyaluronan deposition. Conclusion: the oxidized sterols driven into the SMC by oxLDL have a role in hyaluronan metabolism. Significance: oxLDL influences extracellular matrix hyaluronan. Thickening of the vessel in response to high low density lipoprotein(s) (LDL) levels is a hallmark of atherosclerosis, characterized by increased hyaluronan (HA) deposition in the neointima. Human native LDL trapped within the arterial wall undergoes modifications such as oxidation (oxLDL). The aim of our study is to elucidate the link between internalization of oxLDL and HA production in vitro, using human aortic smooth muscle cells. LDL were used at an effective protein concentration of 20–50 μg/ml, which allowed 80% cell viability. HA content in the medium of untreated cells was 28.9 ± 3.7 nmol HA-disaccharide/cell and increased after oxLDL treatment to 53.9 ± 5.6. OxLDL treatments doubled the transcripts of HA synthase HAS2 and HAS3. Accumulated HA stimulated migration of aortic smooth muscle cells and monocyte adhesiveness to extracellular matrix. The effects induced by oxLDL were inhibited by blocking LOX-1 scavenger receptor with a specific antibody (10 μg/ml). The cholesterol moiety of LDL has an important role in HA accumulation because cholesterol-free oxLDL failed to induce HA synthesis. Nevertheless, cholesterol-free oxLDL and unmodified cholesterol (20 μg/ml) induce only HAS3 transcription, whereas 22,oxysterol affects both HAS2 and HAS3. Moreover, HA deposition was associated with higher expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers (CHOP and GRP78). Our data suggest that HA synthesis can be induced in response to specific oxidized sterol-related species delivered through oxLDL.