Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linear precoding for time-varying MIMO channels with low-complexity receivers

This paper considers linear precoding for time-varying multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. We show that linear minimum mean-squared error (LMMSE) equalization based on the conjugate gradient (CG) method can result in significantly reduced complexity compared with conventional approaches. This reduction is achieved by incorporating a condition number constraint into the precoder optimization framework, which leads to clustered eigen-values of the measurement covariance matrix. The cost is a small increase in MSE compared to the optimal precoder.
Memory Trace Oblivious Program Execution

Cloud computing allows users to delegate data and computation to cloud service providers, at the cost of giving up physical control of their computing infrastructure. An attacker (e.g., insider) with physical access to the computing platform can perform various physical attacks, including probing memory buses and cold-boot style attacks. Previous work on secure (co-)processors provides hardware support for memory encryption and prevents direct leakage of sensitive data over the memory bus. However, an adversary snooping on the bus can still infer sensitive information from the memory access traces. Existing work on Oblivious RAM (ORAM) provides a solution for users to put all data in an ORAM; and accesses to an ORAM are obfuscated such that no information leaks through memory access traces. This method, however, incurs significant memory access overhead. This work is the first to leverage programming language techniques to offer efficient memory-trace oblivious program execution, while providing formal security guarantees. We formally define the notion of memory-trace obliviousness, and provide a type system for verifying that a program satisfies this property. We also describe a compiler that transforms a program into a structurally similar one that satisfies memory trace obliviousness. To achieve optimal efficiency, our compiler partitions variables into several small ORAM banks rather than one large one, without risking security. We use several example programs to demonstrate the efficiency gains our compiler achieves in comparison with the naive method of placing all variables in the same ORAM.
Distributed scheduling in a time-varying channel

This paper studies distributed scheduling in a wireless network with a time-varying channel. The delay-throughput performance of distributed scheduling is compared to that of centralized scheduling based on proportional fairness. The relative performance of a distributed scheduling scheme depends on whether the channel is memoryless or time-correlated. Distributed scheduling achieves a good delay-throughput performance relative to proportional fair scheduling in a time-correlated channel. Delay-differentiation in general requires joint power control and scheduling.
On the Energy Efficiency Prospects of Network Function Virtualization

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) has recently received significant attention as an innovative way of deploying network services. By decoupling network functions from the physical equipment on which they run, NFV has been proposed as passage towards service agility, better time-to-market, and reduced Capital Expenses (CAPEX) and Operating Expenses (OPEX). One of the main selling points of NFV is its promise for better energy efficiency resulting from consolidation of resources as well as their more dynamic utilization. However, there are currently no studies or implementations which attach values to energy savings that can be expected, which could make it hard for Telecommunication Service Providers (TSPs) to make investment decisions. In this paper, we utilize Bell Labs' GWATT tool to estimate the energy savings that could result from the three main NFV use cases Virtualized Evolved Packet Core (VEPC), Virtualized Customer Premises Equipment (VCPE) and Virtualized Radio Access Network (VRAN). We determine that the part of the mobile network with the highest energy utilization prospects is the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) where virtualization of functions leads to a 22% reduction in energy consumption and a 32% enhancement in energy efficiency.
Using personal preference in calculating rating scores for recommendations

Online shopping is a common shopping style for human being nowadays. Rating mechanisms usually exist in most of the shopping sites. Therefore, predicting which products a customer is going to buy next from the rating information becomes possible, making recommender systems important for online shopping. The success of an online shopping site can be dominated by the quality of the recommender system involved. One factor for the quality is whether the user preference can be taken into account in the recommender system. A method that examines if a user's rating truly reflects a product's quality was proposed by Allahbakhsh and Lgnjatovic. By giving different weights to users' ratings according to the examined results, products are recommended to interested users automatically. However, the method does not consider that preferences are different among different individual users. In this paper, we propose a method which is also based on the examined results, but takes personal preference into account as well. As a result, different recommendations are preferably provided to different users. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Optical Signal Processing by Phase Modulation and Subsequent Spectral Filtering Aiming at Applications to Ultrafast Optical Communication Systems

This paper describes optical signal processing based on optical phase modulation and subsequent optical filtering, which is applicable to 160-Gb/s optical time-division multiplexed (OTDM) subsystems. Ultrafast phase modulation of an optical signal is done by self-phase modulation (SPM) and cross-phase modulation (XPM) when an optical pulse passes through a nonlinear optical fiber. Such phase modulation induces the spectral shift of the optical signal. Various types of optical signal processing are realized simply by filtering out the spectral-shifted component. Using SPM-based pulse reshaping in a 500-m-long silica-based highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF), we demonstrate highly stable generation of a 10-GHz 2-ps optical pulse train tunable over the entire C band. A phase-locked loop (PLL) can suppress the slow phase drift of the output pulse train induced by fluctuations of the nonlinear fiber length, enabling the application of the pulse generator to a 160-Gb/s OTDM transmitter. Based on XPM in a 2-m-long photonic crystal fiber, optical time-division demultiplexing of 160-Gb/s optical signals is demonstrated. The long-term stability is drastically improved as compared with the device composed of a conventional silica-based HNLF, because the short fiber length reduces the phase fluctuation between the signal and control pulses. Instead of nonlinear fibers, an electrooptic modulator such as a (LN) modulator also performs the phase modulation in a more practical manner. We propose and demonstrate an optoelectronic time-division demultiplexing scheme for a 160-Gb/s OTDM signal, which consists of an LN phase modulator driven by a 40-GHz electrical clock and an optical bandpass filter (BPF). We also demonstrate base-clock recovery from a 160-Gb/s optical signal with an optoelectronic PLL. The phase comparator is simply composed of an LN phase modulator and an optical BPF, ensuring the stable and reliable operation in the 160-Gb/s receiver.
How does variability in cells aging and growth rates influence the malthus parameter

The aim of this study is to compare the growth speed of different populations of cells measured by their Malthus parameter. We focus on both the age-structured and size-structured equations. A first population (of reference) is composed of cells all aging or growing at the same rate $v¯$. A second population (with variability) is composed of cells each aging or growing at a rate v drawn according to a non-degenerated distribution $ρ$ with mean $v¯$. In a first part, analytical answers are provided for the age-structured model. In a second part, numerical answers based on stochastic simulations are derived for the size-structured model. It appears numerically that for experimentally plausible division rates the population with variability proliferates more slowly than the population of reference. The decrease in the Malthus parameter we measure, around 2% for distributions $ρ$ with realistic coefficients of variations around 15-20%, is determinant since it controls the exponential growth of the whole population.
Structure of Proteasome-Pba1-Pba2 Complex

Background: Pba1-Pba2 facilitates proteasome -ring assembly. Results: Pba1-Pba2 bindsmature proteasomes using C-terminalmotifs and sequesters -subunit N termini. It does not activate and is not degraded by isolated 20S proteasomes. Conclusion: Pba1-Pba2 is important for proteasome-dependent maintenance of mitochondrial function. The structure is consistent with multiple roles in proteasome assembly. Significance:Models of proteasome assembly and Pba1-Pba2 proteasome function are advanced.
Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Point Mutations Using Allele‐Specific Oligonucleotides

This unit describes high‐throughput mutation analysis using hybridization with pooled allele‐specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probes. The approach can be used to screen one gene for many allelic mutations or to screen several loci for several allelic mutations each. Because tetramethyl ammonium chloride (TMAC) is added to the hybridization solution, the melting temperature of each oligonucleotide is independent of G–C content and oligonucleotides of the same length can be hybridized simultaneously. The pooled probes will give a positive hybridization signal from any PCR‐amplified DNA sample containing a sequence complementary to any of the ASOs in the pool of oligonucleotide sequences. If many PCR‐amplified samples are spotted onto a single membrane, multiple individuals can then be screened simultaneously for many mutant sequences. This multiple ASO hybridization technique is appropriate only for circumstances when hybridization with any one of the pooled probes is expected to be uncommon.
A virtual bridge certificate authority-based cross-domain authentication mechanism for distributed collaborative manufacturing systems

The virtual enterprise VE is a new collaborative intelligent manufacturing paradigm that pools the core competencies of its member enterprises through computer networks to exploit transient market opportunities. The successful operation of such an organization is strongly dependent on its information securities, in which cross-domain authentication among entities of different member enterprises is a crucial issue. This problem is particularly difficult in VEs because of their collaborative nature in terms of agility, market dynamics, low cost, and diversity of collaboration modes. In this paper, we put forward a novel virtual bridge certificate authority BCA trust model, based on which an efficient cross-domain authentication scheme is further presented. The proposed scheme is implemented by the distributed verifiable secret sharing protocol and the threshold elliptic curve cryptosystem signature algorithm. It has the same advantages of simple construction and short length of inter-enterprise certification paths as the BCA model but does not need to create and maintain a dedicated physical BCA. In addition, the proposed scheme has the merits of high bit security, high efficiency, low cost, conspiracy attack resistance, and adaptability to diverse collaboration modes of VE. Therefore, the scheme is suitable for cross-domain authentications in VEs, especially for resource-limited applications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tree level recursion relations in general relativity

Recently, tree-level recursion relations for scattering amplitudes of gluons in Yang-Mills theory have been derived. In this note we propose a generalization of the recursion relations to tree-level scattering amplitudes of gravitons. We use the relations to derive new simple formulae for all amplitudes up to six gravitons. In particular, we present an explicit formula for the six graviton non-MHV amplitude. We prove the relations for MHV and next-to-MHV n-graviton amplitudes and for all eight-graviton amplitudes.
The Impact of Perceived Risk on Information Search: A Study of Finnish Tourists

The aim of the study was to examine the impact of perceived risk on travel behavior and information search, and explore the mediating effect of tourist type. The results based on a quantitative survey of Finnish travelers' show how risk-prudent and risk-aversive tourists use specific types of information sources, i.e. sources provided particularly for the purposes of tourists. The same pattern is repeated when Cohen's (1972) typologies of tourist behavior was used as a mediating variable. In addition, the findings add to the perceived risk research discourse by showing how an identified set of risks significantly alters travel behavior, and how perceived destination specific risks affect the perceived safety image of a whole country. Finally, the empirical evidence implies that the external information sources used by the respondents may be categorized into public sources, tourism sources, friends and relatives, and governmental information; findings with strong managerial implications.
Feeding the open abdomen.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine if early enteral nutrition improves outcome for trauma patients with an open abdomen (OA). METHODS Retrospective review was used to identify 78 patients who required an OA for >or=4 hospital days, survived, and had available nutrition data. Demographic data and nutrition data comprising enteral nutrition initiation day and daily % target goal were collected. Patients were divided into 2 groups: early enteral feeding (EEN), initiated <or=4 days within celiotomy; and late enteral feeding (LEN; >4 days). Outcomes included infectious complications, early closure of the abdominal cavity (<8 days from original celiotomy), and fistula formation. RESULTS Fifty-three of 78 (68%) patients were men, with a mean age of 35 years; 74% had blunt trauma. Forty-three of 78 (55%) patients had EEN, whereas 35 of 78 (45%) had LEN. There was no difference with respect to demographics, injury severity, or infectious complication rates. Thirty-two of 43 (74%) patients with EEN had early closure of the abdominal cavity, whereas 17 of 35 (49%) patients with late feeding had early closure (p = .02). Four of 43 (9%) patients with EEN demonstrated fistula formation, whereas 9 of 35 (26%) patients with late feeding formed fistulae (p = .05). The EEN group had lower hospital charges (p = .04) by more than $50,000. CONCLUSIONS EEN in the OA was associated with (1) earlier primary abdominal closure, (2) lower fistula rate, (3) lower hospital charges.
Early Life Stress Interacts with the Diet Deficiency of Omega-3 Fatty Acids during the Life Course Increasing the Metabolic Vulnerability in Adult Rats

Early stress can cause metabolic disorders in adulthood. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) deficiency has also been linked to the development of metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess whether an early stressful event such as maternal separation interacts with the nutritional availability of n-3 PUFAs during the life course on metabolic aspects. Litters were randomized into: maternal separated (MS) and non-handled (NH). The MS group was removed from their dam for 3 hours per day and put in an incubator at 32°C on days 1° to 10° postnatal (PND). On PND 35, males were subdivided into diets that were adequate or deficient in n-3 PUFAs, and this intervention was applied during the subsequent 15 weeks. Animal's body weight and food consumption were measured weekly, and at the end of the treatment tissues were collected. MS was associated with increased food intake (p = 0.047) and weight gain (p = 0.012), but no differences were found in the NPY hypothalamic content between the groups. MS rats had also increased deposition of abdominal fat (p<0.001) and plasma triglycerides (p = 0.018) when compared to the NH group. Interactions between early life stress and n-3 PUFAs deficiency were found in plasma insulin (p = 0.033), HOMA index (p = 0.049), leptin (p = 0.010) and liver PEPCK expression (p = 0.050), in which the metabolic vulnerability in the MS group was aggravated by the n-3 PUFAs deficient diet exposure. This was associated with specific alterations in the peripheral fatty acid profile. Variations in the neonatal environment interact with nutritional aspects during the life course, such as n-3 PUFAs diet content, and persistently alter the metabolic vulnerability in adulthood.
Differences in Motivation of Adult and Younger Undergraduates

Adults in their twenties, thirties, forties, and older have enrolled in increasing numbers in higher education institutions as the number of traditional age students has declined. Colleges and universities that were once filled with youths are now actively recruiting the adult population to make up the enrollment deficit caused by declining numbers of youth who either do not exist or are developing career lines that do not include traditional higher education. If these adult learners are to be adequately served, institutions of higher education must assess their needs and motivations, understand the differences between adult learners and the traditional age college student, and make appropriate adjustment in administrative procedures, programming, and the teaching-learning process. The motivation of adults to seek learning has been researched in recent years. Houle [7] interviewed twenty-two adult learners and derived three learner types from that sample. They were identified as goal oriented, activity oriented, and learning oriented. In a national survey Johnstone and Rivera [8] reported relationships between demographic variables such as age, sex, and socioeconomic status and the reasons for enrolling in some kind of organized learning experience. More recently, Cross [6] reported the results of research conducted by the National Center for Educational Statistics, and related adult education participants' responses to demographic variables.
Endothelial function and markers of endothelial activation in relation to cardiovascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) although it is not clear whether an increased risk of CVD is a general feature of SLE or whether it applies only to a subgroup of patients. Our objective was to evaluate endothelial function and markers of endothelial activation in relation to CVD in SLE. Methods: Twenty‐six women with SLE and previous CVD (SLE/CVD cases, defined as objectively verified angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, or intermittent claudication; 52±8.2 years) were compared with age‐matched SLE women without CVD (SLE controls) and population control women. Flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery after reactive hyperaemia and nitroglycerin‐mediated dilatation (NMD) after sublingual nitroglycerin administration were determined by ultrasound. Soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule‐1 (sVCAM‐1) were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: FMD and NMD levels did not differ between SLE controls and population controls. In SLE cases FMD and NMD were not assessed because of interference with nitro‐related medication. sVCAM‐1 discriminated between SLE cases, SLE controls, and population controls (ng/mL; 814±221 vs. 545±214 vs. 401±189, p<0.01), whereas sTM (ng/mL; 5.2±2.8 vs. 4.2±1.9 vs. 3.0±0.5) differed between both SLE groups and controls (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study SLE women free of CVD had good endothelial function (FMD), a possible marker of protection from lupus‐related CVD. In addition, high levels of sVCAM‐1, associated with systemic tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNFα) activity, were identified as a novel discriminator for SLE‐related CVD. This supports our hypothesis that SLE patients with enhanced systemic TNFα activity are at high risk of developing CVD.
Social Identity Theory and Self‐categorization Theory: A Historical Review

The social identity approach (comprising social identity theory and self-categorization theory) is a highly influential theory of group processes and intergroup relations, having redefined how we think about numerous group-mediated phenomena. Since its emergence in the early 1970s, the social identity approach has been elaborated, re-interpreted, and occasionally misinterpreted. The goal of this paper is to provide a critical, historical review of how thinking and research within the social identity approach has evolved. The core principles of the theories are reviewed and discussed, and their effect on the field assessed. Strengths and limitations of the approach are discussed, with an eye to future developments.
Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Stabilized Polymer–Trypsin Conjugates with Autolysis Resistance

Protein digestion by trypsin has been widely used in many industrial and research applications. However, extensive use of trypsin is limited because of the rapid decrease in enzymatic activity caused by autolysis at optimal pH and temperature. To improve the enzymatic performance of trypsin, we synthesized highly stabilized polymer–trypsin conjugates using vinylmethylether-maleic acid copolymer (VEMAC) via multi-point attachment. The VEMAC modification significantly enhanced the thermal stability of trypsin, and the resulting conjugates showed a strong resistance to autolysis. VEMAC-modified trypsin (VEMAC-Tryp) showed maximum activity at 55 °C and at 1.4-fold higher levels than that of unmodified trypsin. Bovine serum albumin was effectively digested by VEMAC-Tryp, indicating that the modified trypsin can be used for digestion of high molecular weight substrates. VEMAC modification is a simple and cost-effective strategy to obtain fully active modified enzymes, and may be used to develop bioreactors.
Second Generation Antipsychotics Improve Sexual Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Randomised Controlled Trial

The impact of antipsychotic drug treatment on sexual function was investigated during a randomised trial comparing first generation antipsychotics (FGAs) to (nonclozapine) second generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Sexual function and quality of life were (rater-blind) assessed in 42 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia (aged 18–65) using the self-report version of the Derogatis Interview for Sexual Function (DISF-SR) and the Heinrichs Quality of Life Scale (QLS), prior to, and 12 weeks following, a change in medication from an FGA drug to either an FGA or SGA drug. SGAs significantly improved sexual function compared to FGAs. Change in sexual function was associated with change in quality of life. Where impaired sexual functioning is a distressing adverse effect of treatment with an FGA agent, consideration should be given to switching to an SGA.