Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of packet erasure mitigation technique using a digital fountain code for wearable wireless body area networks

This paper presents a digital fountain code as a design criterion in order to mitigate packet erasure in wireless wearable body area networks (WBANs). First, we measure its radio propagation around the human body between two antennas attached to participants, and then analyze the measurement results from the standpoint of occurrence ratio of packet erasure. Then, we evaluate the application of digital fountain code into such WBANs where a rateless code is introduced as such code in order to provide a design criterion for the code.
Patterns of ossification in the manus of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): Hyperphalangy and delta‐shaped bones

With the transition from terrestrial to aquatic habitats, cetacean forelimbs have undergone significant modifications in bone morphology and soft tissue distribution. Some, but not all, of these modifications are also demonstrated in other lineages of extant and extinct secondarily aquatic tetrapods. This study examines the ontogenetic pattern of ossification of the manus of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), using plain film radiography. Two modifications examined are hyperphalangy (number of phalanges per digit increased beyond the typical mammalian number) and the morphology of delta‐shaped bones. Hyperphalangy in Phocoena phocoena is apparent in digits 2 and 3. Phalangeal counts in all digits are variable (sometimes between the right and left flippers of the same individual) and are not necessarily correlated with age. Phalangeal ossification and epiphyseal fusion proceeds along the proximo–distal axis within each digit. In addition, digits 2 and 3 are at a more advanced stage of ossification than more abaxial digits. Delta‐shaped bones appear to be a normal stage in the ossification of phalanges in all digits except the third, and may persist in the adult in certain digits. In humans, this morphology is a developmental anomaly usually associated with other malformations, such as polydactyly or syndactyly. Delta‐shaped bones in the cetacean manus display a consistent orientation and the process by which they are formed may be similar to that in extinct marine reptiles. J. Morphol. 258:200–206, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does sanctioning disabled claimants of unemployment insurance increase labour market inactivity? An analysis of 346 British local authorities between 2009 and 2014

Imposing financial penalties on claimants of unemployment insurance may incentivise labour market re-entry. However, sanctions may have differential effects depending on the work-readiness of the claimants. Here, I explore whether sanctioning disabled claimants is associated with greater labour market activity or inactivity among disabled people data on 346 British local authorities between 2009 and 2014. When the number of sanctioned disabled claimants rises (as a proportion of all claimants), the disability rate among economically inactive people becomes larger. There is no clear relationship between sanctioning disabled claimants and the employed disability rate.
Integrated Structural Parameter and Robust Controller Design for Attitude Tracking Maneuvers

Complex nonlinearity and strong coupling in the pitch-yaw-roll of a rotorcraft make it difficult for the attitude control of unmanned aerial vehicles, especially in the presence of wind disturbances and plant uncertainties. To confront these problems, this paper presents a control scheme of two sequential steps, structural parameter determination and robust controller design, in order to achieve the desired attitude regulation performance and disturbance attenuation capability. For the structural parameter design, key structural parameters are specified such that the open-loop transfer functions, from torque inputs to angular velocities, exhibit positive-real properties in particular frequency ranges to incorporate robustness into the controller design. Then, a dual-loop structured controller is designed using dynamic inversion approaches and singular perturbation techniques. The controlled inner loop provides adequate decoupling such that the outer loop may control each Euler angle independently, and proportional-derivative control is used in each outer loop to achieve a desired attitude tracking performance. The effectiveness of the control scheme is verified via an attitude tracking example.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Liver Transplant Surgery and Hospice Use: Parallels, Differences, and Unanswered Questions

Despite well-documented racial/ethnic disparities in liver transplantation and hospice enrollment, reasons for these disparities are unclear. This study was conducted to elucidate what is known and unknown about the underlying causes of racial/ethnic disparities in liver transplantation and hospice enrollment. The root causes of inequities in access to liver transplantation and hospice are as yet poorly understood. Potential contributors to differences include differences in preferences, mistrust of the health care system, geographic factors such as neighborhood, health care system factors such as access to care and managed care versus fee-for-service insurance status, and social factors such as the availability of a full time caregiver. Although the goals of care are different, by examining hospice and transplant surgery side by side in the larger context of health disparities, a number of potentially promising avenues for future research have been uncovered.
Human-in-the-Loop Mobile Networks: A Survey of Recent Advancements

Recent developments of smart devices and mobile applications have significantly increased the level at which human users interact with mobile systems. As a result, human activities, usage behavior, and perceived experience of users weigh increasingly on the performance of mobile networks, which has created new challenges for system operation in various aspects, such as increasing uncertainty, selfishness in operations, and complicated performance evaluation. On the other hand, the strong engagement of a large population of human users makes it possible to take advantage of the unique features of human behavior and to leverage the computing powers owned by users. Due to these emerging features of mobile networks, their design and evaluation require a hybrid view of human factor and information technology, and a paradigm shift is required for designing a new human-in-the-loop architecture by actively learning, adapting, and steering user behavior, so as to exploit the human factor in future ubiquitous mobile systems, and to greatly enhance system efficiency and provide superior quality-of-experience to users. The goal of this survey is to summarize recent results that focus on understanding and exploiting the human factor in mobile networks. In the tutorial, we summarize and discuss novelties of these formulations, adopted methodologies, and interesting results. We also point out some future research directions.
Perfect Phylogenies via Branchings in Acyclic Digraphs and a Generalization of Dilworth’s Theorem

Motivated by applications in cancer genomics and following the work of Hajirasouliha and Raphael (WABI 2014), Hujdurović et al. (IEEE TCBB, 2018) introduced the minimum conflict-free row split (MCRS) problem: split each row of a given binary matrix into a bitwise OR of a set of rows so that the resulting matrix corresponds to a perfect phylogeny and has the minimum possible number of rows among all matrices with this property. Hajirasouliha and Raphael also proposed the study of a similar problem, in which the task is to minimize the number of distinct rows of the resulting matrix. Hujdurović et al. proved that both problems are NP-hard, gave a related characterization of transitively orientable graphs, and proposed a polynomial-time heuristic algorithm for the MCRS problem based on coloring cocomparability graphs. We give new, more transparent formulations of the two problems, showing that the problems are equivalent to two optimization problems on branchings in a derived directed acyclic graph. Building on these formulations, we obtain new results on the two problems, including (1) a strengthening of the heuristic by Hujdurović et al. via a new min-max result in digraphs generalizing Dilworth’s theorem, which may be of independent interest; (2) APX-hardness results for both problems; (3) approximation algorithms; and (4) exponential-time algorithms solving the two problems to optimality faster than the naïve brute-force approach. Our work relates to several well-studied notions in combinatorial optimization: chain partitions in partially ordered sets, laminar hypergraphs, and (classical and weighted) colorings of graphs.
Implications of uncertain patent rights for German start-ups’ commercialisation activities and access to external capital

Abstract Start-ups may benefit in two ways from patenting their inventions: from the appropriation value and the certification effect of patents which reveals the ventures’ ‘quality’ to investors. As long as the patent office’s grant decision is pending both benefits may not realise. We confirm for a data-set of German start-ups that pending patent applications decrease the likelihood of market launch for new ventures. Regarding the certification effect, we find that pending patent applications attract risk-seeking investors, while more cautious investors do not react upon pending patent applications.
ON PERFORMATIVITY: OPTION THEORY AND THE RESISTANCE OF FINANCIAL PHENOMENA

The issue of performativity concerns the claim that economics shape rather than merely describe the social world. This idea took hold following a paper by Donald MacKenzie and Yuval Millo entitled “Constructing a Market, Performing Theory: The Historical Sociology of a Financial Derivatives Exchange” (2003). That paper constitutes an important contribution to the history of economic thought, since it provides an original way to focus on the scientific construction of the real economy. The authors discuss the empirical success of the Black–Scholes–Merton (BSM) model on the Chicago Board Options Exchange during the period from 1973 to 1987. They explain this success in part as instead of discovering pre-existing price regularities, the model was used by traders to anticipate option prices in their arbitrages. As a result, option prices came to correspond to the theoretical prices derived from the BSM model. In the present article I show that this is not a completely correct conclusion, since the BSM model never became a self-fulfilling model. I would claim that the October 1987 stock market crash is empirical proof that the financial world never fit with the economic theory underpinning the BSM.
Pathway for Heme Uptake from Human Methemoglobin by the Iron-regulated Surface Determinants System of Staphylococcus aureus*

The iron-regulated surface proteins IsdA, IsdB, and IsdC and transporter IsdDEF of Staphylococcus aureus are involved in heme acquisition. To establish an experimental model of heme acquisition by this system, we have investigated hemin transfer between the various couples of human methemoglobin (metHb), IsdA, IsdB, IsdC, and IsdE by spectroscopic and kinetic analyses. The efficiencies of hemin transfer from hemin-containing donors (holo-protein) to different hemin-free acceptors (apo-protein) were examined, and the rates of the transfer reactions were compared with that of indirect loss of hemin from the relevant donor to H64Y/V68F apomyoglobin. The efficiencies, spectral changes, and kinetics of the transfer reactions demonstrate that: 1) metHb directly transfers hemin to apo-IsdB, but not to apo-IsdA, apo-IsdC, and apo-IsdE; 2) holo-IsdB directly transfers hemin to apo-IsdA and apo-IsdC, but not to apo-IsdE; 3) apo-IsdE directly acquires hemin from holo-IsdC, but not from holo-IsdB and holo-IsdA; and 4) IsdB and IsdC enhance hemin transfer from metHb to apo-IsdC and from holo-IsdB to apo-IsdE, respectively. Taken together with our recent finding that holo-IsdA directly transfers its hemin to apo-IsdC, these results provide direct experimental evidence for a model in which IsdB acquires hemin from metHb and transfers it directly or through IsdA to IsdC. Hemin is then relayed to IsdE, the lipoprotein component of the IsdDEF transporter.
On the Functional Aspects of Variability in Postural Control

VAN EMMERIK, R.E. A. , and E.E. H. VAN WEGEN. On the functional aspects of variability in postural control. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 177–183, 2002. Current research in nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory has challenged traditional perspectives that associate high variability with performance decrement and pathology. It is argued that variability can play a functional role in postural control and that reduction of variability is associated with changes in balance with aging and neurological disease.
Factors that are key influences to effective interprofessional collaborative child protection decision making and practice : social workers' perceptions

Social work practitioner knowledge and understanding of interprofessional collaborative child protection decision making and practice is critical to addressing the incessant concerns about failings of social workers in their statutory lead role and to informing ongoing social work policy reforms regarding new directions for practice and training. This study investigated what social workers perceive as key influences to effective interprofessional collaborative child protection practice as well as the social workers perceptions of decision making during this process. Combining elements of two systems models, Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) learning together systems model (SCIE, 2012) and Falkov’s systemic family focussed model (Falkov, 2013), a constructivist-interpretivist qualitative research design was adopted. Two qualitative research methods were employed: semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 social workers and direct, non-participant, observations were carried out at 20 child protection meetings. Findings were later compared using a triangulation protocol to explore convergence between the two strands of data, and to ensure rigour and trustworthiness in the study. This study found that the effectiveness of interprofessional collaborative child protection decision making and practice, as perceived by social workers, and the systematic identification and the systemic understanding are determined by four factors: multi-level relationship influences; multi-level organisational influences; external influences and decision making influences. Multi-level relationship influences are located at three different spheres: professionals’ relationship influences; lead social workers’ relationship influences and family members’ relationships influences. The multi-level organisational influences are also located within the interaction of three organisational levels: professionals, lead social workers and family members. Within each of these influences are ‘barriers’ and ‘enablers’ which can also be systematically identified and systemically understood. A number of key contributions to knowledge and originality were identified including: the development of a visual unified systemic conceptual model illustrating the systemic interaction between the various influences; evidence of the centrality of multi-level relationship influences; evidence of the use of discretional intuitive multiple professional judgements and decision making criteria iv The main conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that research focused on social workers’ knowledge and understanding of interprofessional collaborative child protection decision making and practice, as the lead professionals, proposes a conceptual model for the systematic identification of child protection concerns and the systemic understanding of this process, with some degree of discretion in professional judgement and decision making.
GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF A SELECTION RESPONSE IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

Abstract Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping has become an established and effective method for studying the genetic architecture of complex traits. In this report, we use a QTL mapping approach in combination with data from a large selection experiment in Arabidopsis thaliana to explore a response to selection of experimental populations with differentiated genetic backgrounds. Experimental populations with genetic backgrounds derived from ecotypes Landsberg and Niederzenz were exposed to multiple generations of fertility and viability selection. This selection resulted in phenotypic shifts in a number of life-history and fitness-related characters including early development time, flowering time, dry biomass, longevity, and fruit production. Quantitative trait loci were mapped for these traits and their positions were compared to previously characterized allele frequency changes in the experimental populations (Ungerer et al. 2003). Quantitative trait locus positions largely colocalized with genomic regions under strong and consistent selection in populations with differentiated genetic backgrounds, suggesting that alleles for these traits were selected similarly in differentiated genetic backgrounds. However, one QTL region exhibited a more variable response; being positively selected on one genetic background but apparently neutral in another. This study demonstrates how QTL mapping approaches can be combined with map-based population genetic data to study how selection acts on standing genetic variation in populations.
Coordinated Regulation of Growth Genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

It is imperative that quiescent Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells respond rapidly to fresh medium: the cell that initiates growth and division soonest has the most progeny. Several laboratories have used DNA microarrays to identify transcripts that are altered when fresh medium is added to quiescent cells. We combined published data with our own to address several questions: Do these experiments taken together identify a core set of genes that is reproducibly affected when quiescent cells are stimulated by nutrient repletion? Is this gene set co-regulated in response to other environmental challenges? Does promoter histone occupancy correlate with the mRNA data? Despite diverse experimental designs, the data were highly correlated, generating a set of nutrient repletion transcripts. Glucose addition accounted for the response. These transcripts were also coregulated in response to diverse stresses. Promoters were associated with increased histone acetylation and decreased histone occupancy when induced, and high histone occupancy with low acetylation when repressed. The presence of RRPE and PAC promoter elements correlated with nutrient responsiveness and a dynamic pattern of histone occupancy and acetylation. Correlative evidence supports the idea that some mRNAs may be upregulated by release from sequestration in RNA-protein complexes.
Identifying the critical determinants of TQM and their impact on company performance: Evidence from the hotel industry of Greece

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to enrich the existing literature by determining the underlying structure (latent factors) of total quality management (TQM) practices and their impact on company performance outcomes in the Greek hotel industry. Design/methodology/approach The research questions were examined using a sample of 153 top-and middle-level hotel-quality managers. Exploratory factor analyses, coupled with multiple linear regression analyses, were used to examine the extent to which elements of TQM influence hotel performance. Findings The TQM factors revealed by the present empirical research in the hotel industry are the quality practices of top management, strategic quality planning, employee quality management, customer focus and employee knowledge and education. On the other hand, the performance dimensions revealed through the present study are summarized as: financial performance, customer focused performance and service quality performance. The results also confirmed that most of the TQM elements are antecedents of hotel business performance. Practical implications Hotel managers/owners using reliable and valid frameworks comprising TQM practices and performance outcomes may better address their efforts by choosing whether to invest in company refurbishing or better train their personnel to maximize hotel performance. Originality/value The purpose of this study is to enrich the existing literature by identifying and confirming the enablers and outcomes of TQM specifically within the hospitality industry. Moreover, the relationship between the implementation of TQM practices and superior company performance is also examined due to the past contradictory results regarding this matter.
Further Evidence on the Usefulness of Real-Time Datasets for Economic Forecasting

In this paper, we assess the relevance of real-time datasets for forecasting. We construct a variety of real-time prediction models and evaluate their performance in a series of ex-ante prediction experiments that are designed to mimic forecasting approaches used when constructing forecasts in real-time for output, prices and money. We assess the models within univariate and multivariate frameworks by including revision errors as regressors, allowing us to examine the marginal predictive content of the revision process. In another multivariate application for output we add money, thus examining the real-time predictive content of money for income. The most important result we obtain is that the choice of which release of data to predict seems not to have an impact on which releases of data should be used in estimation and prediction construction but that differences in how to utilize realtime datasets do arise when the variable being modelled and predicted changes. Overall our findings point to the importance of making real-time datasets available to forecasters, as the revision process has marginal predictive content, and because predictive accuracy increases when multiple releases of data are used when specifying and estimating prediction models. This underscores the importance of collecting and maintaining such real-time datasets.
DTMB monitoring tool based on a commercial set-top box

Currently in LACETEL, Research & Development Telecommunications Institute, Cuba, it is under development a DTMB tool, built on the hardware of commercial TV receivers. The present work focuses on the development of the needed functionalities over two different hardware platforms. It is covered the main functionalities implemented so far, the monitoring of signal parameters, its presentation on screen and the workflow for statistics processing. Since the result is to transform TV receivers into measuring instruments, it is also described the process followed for calibration and adjustment of the parameters being measured by the tools.
Non linear filtering for the estimation of the respiratory component in heart rate

Three quite general nonlinear adaptive filters were tested both for cancelling/estimating the contribution of the respiratory activity in the RR time series and for estimating a nonlinear model of RR time series. The Volterra 2nd order filter, bilinear system, tree-structured piecewise linear filter were considered. The algorithms used for the convergence are similar to known Recursive Least Squares and to Least Mean Square. Absolute error, square error or fourth power error were used in the "optimum" criterion. The rest of the nonlinear adaptive filters on time series of patients under different pathophysiological conditions (normal, hypnotic relaxation, periodic breathing, transplant) showed no significant improvement in comparison with the linear filters. Although nonlinear filters performed better in specific intervals than linear filters, they were found to be more sensitive to noise and artifacts. <<ETX>>