Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust joint precoder and equalizer design in MIMO communication systems

We address joint design of robust precoder and equalizer in a MIMO communication system using the minimization of weighted sum of mean square errors. In addition to imperfect knowledge of channel state information, we also account for inaccurate awareness of interference plus noise covariance matrix and power shaping matrix. We follow the worst-case model for imperfect knowledge of these matrices. First, we derive the worst-case values of these matrices. Then, we transform the joint precoder and equalizer optimization problem into a convex scalar optimization problem. Further, the solution to this problem will be simplified to a depressed quartic equation, the closed-form expressions for roots of which are known. Finally, we propose an iterative algorithm to obtain the worst-case robust transceivers.
Accelerating t-SNE using tree-based algorithms

The paper investigates the acceleration of t-SNE--an embedding technique that is commonly used for the visualization of high-dimensional data in scatter plots--using two tree-based algorithms. In particular, the paper develops variants of the Barnes-Hut algorithm and of the dual-tree algorithm that approximate the gradient used for learning t-SNE embeddings in O(N log N). Our experiments show that the resulting algorithms substantially accelerate t-SNE, and that they make it possible to learn embeddings of data sets with millions of objects. Somewhat counterintuitively, the Barnes-Hut variant of t-SNE appears to outperform the dual-tree variant.
Mutations in haemagglutinin that affect receptor binding and pH stability increase replication of a PR8 influenza virus with H5 HA in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets and may contribute to transmissibility

The H5N1 influenza A viruses have circulated widely in the avian population for 10 years with only sporadic infection of humans observed and no sustained human to human transmission. Vaccination against potential pandemic strains is one strategy in planning for future influenza pandemics; however, the success of live attenuated vaccines for H5N1 has been limited, due to poor replication in the human upper respiratory tract (URT). Mutations that increase the ability of H5N1 viruses to replicate in the URT will aid immunogenicity of these vaccines and provide information about humanizing adaptations in H5N1 strains that may signal transmissibility. As well as mediating receptor interactions, the haemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza facilitates fusion of the viral membrane and genome entry into the host cell; this process is pH dependent. We have shown in this study that the pH at which a panel of avian influenza HA proteins, including H5, mediate fusion is higher than that for human influenza HA proteins, and that mutations in the H5 HA can reduce the pH of fusion. Coupled with receptor switching mutations, increasing the pH stability of the H5 HA resulted in increased viral shedding of H5N1 from the nasal cavity of ferrets and contact transmission to a co-housed animal. Ferret serum antibodies induced by infection with any of the mutated H5 HA viruses neutralized HA pseudotyped lentiviruses bearing homologous or heterologous H5 HAs, suggesting that this strategy to increase nasal replication of a vaccine virus would not compromise vaccine efficacy.
Inhibition of BACE1 Activity by a DNA Aptamer in an Alzheimer’s Disease Cell Model

An initial step in amyloid-β (Aβ) production includes amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage via β-Site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). Increased levels of brain Aβ have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Thus, β-secretase represents a primary target for inhibitor drug development in AD. In this study, aptamers were obtained from combinatorial oligonucleotide libraries using a technology referred to as systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). A purified human BACE1 extracellular domain was used as a target to conduct an in vitro selection process using SELEX. Two DNA aptamers were capable of binding to BACE1 with high affinity and good specificity, with Kd values in the nanomolar range. We subsequently confirmed that one aptamer, A1, exhibited a distinct inhibitory effect on BACE1 activity in an AD cell model. We detected the effects of M17-APPsw cells that stably expressed Swedish mutant APP after aptamer A1 treatment. Aβ40 and Aβ42 concentrations secreted by M17-APPsw cells decreased intracellularly and in culture media. Furthermore, Western blot analysis indicated that sAPPβ expression significantly decreased in the A1 treated versus control groups. These findings support the preliminary feasibility of an aptamer evolved from a SELEX strategy to function as a potential BACE1 inhibitor. To our knowledge, this is the first study to acquire a DNA aptamer that exhibited binding specificity to BACE1 and inhibited its activity.
On a surprising relation between the Marchenko-Pastur law, rectangular and square free convolutions

n this paper, we prove a result linking the square and the rectangular R-transforms, the consequence of which is a surprising relation between the square and rectangular versions the free additive convolutions, involving the Marchenko-Pastur law. Consequences on random matrices, on infinite divisibility and on the arithmetics of the square versions of the free additive and multiplicative convolutions are given.
Measuring fuzzy domination in fuzzy weighted directed social networks

In social networks, we are viewing the weighted sociogram as having the edge weights which measure the intensity of the relationship with the adjacent nodes. The weights on the arcs are determined by using a web system named Intensity Relationship Analyzer & Presenter. Due to lack of some reliability on the calculated values we use the concept of fuzzy to get the approximate values of the intensity i.e. imprecise edge weights. In this paper we use triangular fuzzy number (TFN) for the imprecise problem of edge weights. Here we use Type-1 fuzzy set to describe “how strong is the relationship between the two adjacent nodes” or “how much node is dependent on other node” by calculating relationship intensity. After calculating the relationship intensity as the edge weights we use a relational power function to represent the relational power of any node in the network. In this paper dominance relations between the nodes are calculated fuzzy edge weights contained in directed sociogram. We use β-measure to calculate fuzzy dominance in weighted directed social network.
2016 Ieee International Conference on Big Data (big Data) When Do Luxury Cars Hit the Road? Findings by a Big Data Approach

—In this paper, we focus on a study of the timing of different kinds of cars on the road. This information will enable us to infer the life style of the car owners. The results can further be used to guide marketing towards car owners and setting auto insurance policies. Conventionally, this kind of study is carried out by sending out questionnaires, which is limited in scale and diversity. To solve this problem, we propose a fully automatic method to conduct this study at scale. Our study is based on publicly available surveillance camera data. Images from the public traffic cameras are downloaded every minute. After obtaining the images, we apply faster R-CNN (region-based convolutional neural network) to detect the cars in the downloaded images and a fine-tuned VGG16 model is used to recognize the car makes. Based on the recognition results, we present a data-driven analysis on the relationship between car makes and their appearing times, with implications on lifestyles.
PET/CT Is Complementary to Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in Assessment of Irradiated Neck in Head and Neck Cancers

Background. Accurate assessment of irradiated neck in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is essential. Fine-needle aspiration cytology is often performed for suspicious lesions but it is limited by its low negative predictive value (NPV). We postulated that F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) can overcome this limitation by its high NPV value and allow for a more accurate assessment of irradiated neck in HNSCC. Methods. Fifty-four HNSCC patients were included for the study. They all received previous irradiation to the neck. Clinical characteristics, details of radiotherapy, PET/CT results, follow-up findings, and final histological diagnosis were analyzed. Results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and NPV were 95.8%, 96.7%, 95.8%, and 96.7%, respectively. Age, sex, radiation dose, interval between PET/CT and radiotherapy completion, nature of radiotherapy, and use of second course of radiotherapy were not found to affect diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT. A new algorithm for investigation of masses in irradiated neck is proposed. Conclusions. PET/CT is an effective diagnostic tool and has a complementary role to FNAC in the management of irradiated neck in head and neck cancers, particularly in cases where suspicious lesions were identified but FNAC showed negative results.
Kinematic analysis of tongue movement control in spastic dysarthria

This study provided a quantitative analysis of the kinematic deviances in dysarthria associated with spastic cerebral palsy. Of particular interest were tongue tip movements during alveolar consonant release. Our analysis based on EMA measures indicated that speakers with spastic dysarthria had a restricted range of articulation and disturbances in articulatory-voicing coordination. The degree of kinematic deviances was greater for lower intelligibility speakers, supporting an association between articulatory dysfunctions and intelligibility in spastic dysarthria.
Bias corrected bootstrap bandwidth selection

Current bandwidth selectors for kernel density estimation that are asymptotically optimal often prove less promising under more moderate sample sizes. The point of this paper is to derive a class of bandwidth selectors that attain optimal root-n convergence while still showing good results under small and moderate sample sizes. This is achieved by minimizing bias corrected smoothed bootstrap estimates of the mean integrated squared error. The degree of bias correction determines the rate of relative convergence of the resulting bandwidth. The bias correction targets finite sample bias rather than asymptotically leading terms, resulting in substantial improvements under smaller sample sizes. In a simulation study, the new methods are compared to several of the currently most popular bandwidth selectors, including plug-in, cross-validation and other bootstrap rules. Practical implementation, and the choice of the oversmoothing bandwidth are discussed.
D-dimer levels and risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

CONTEXT Widespread screening of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) for thrombophilic risk factors has become common clinical practice. Because of the increasing number of risk factors, assessing the risk of recurrence in an individual patient is intricate; therefore, a laboratory method that measures multifactorial thrombophilia is required. OBJECTIVE To prospectively study the relationship between the risk of recurrent VTE and D-dimer, a global marker of coagulation activation and fibrinolysis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective cohort study of 610 patients older than 18 years who were treated with oral anticoagulants for at least 3 months with a first spontaneous VTE, in whom D-dimer levels were measured shortly after discontinuation of oral anticoagulation. The study was conducted at the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria. Patients entered the study at time of discontinuation of oral anticoagulants and were observed at 3-month intervals during the first year and every 6 months thereafter from July 1992 to October 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Objectively documented symptomatic recurrent VTE. RESULTS A total of 79 (13%) of 610 patients had recurrent VTE with a mean observation time of 38 months. Patients with recurrence had significantly higher D-dimer levels compared with those without recurrence (553 ng/mL vs 427 ng/mL, P =.01). Compared with patients with D-dimer levels of 750 ng/mL or higher, the relative risk (RR) of recurrence was 0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-1.4), 0.6 (95% CI, 0.3-1.2), and 0.3 (95% CI, 0.1-0.6) in patients with D-dimer levels of 500 to 749 ng/mL, 250 to 499 ng/mL, and less than 250 ng/mL, respectively. The cumulative probability of recurrent VTE at 2 years was 3.7% (95% CI, 0.9%-6.5%) among patients with D-dimer levels of less than 250 ng/mL compared with 11.5% (95% CI, 8.0%-15.0%) among patients with higher levels (P =.001). Patients with D-dimer levels of less than 250 ng/mL had a 60% lower RR of recurrence compared with patients with higher levels (RR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.8). CONCLUSION Patients with a first spontaneous VTE and a D-dimer level of less than 250 ng/mL after withdrawal of oral anticoagulation have a low risk of VTE recurrence.
DARPA communicator dialog travel planning systems: the june 2000 data collection

This paper describes results of an experiment with 9 different DARPA Communicator Systems who participated in the June 2000 data collection. All systems supported travel planning and utilized some form of mixed-initiative interaction. However they varied in several critical dimensions: (1) They targeted different back-end databases for travel information; (2) The used different modules for ASR, NLU, TTS and dialog management. We describe the experimental design, the approach to data collection, the metrics collected, and results comparing the systems.
Biological Crystallography Structures of the B1 Domain of Protein L from Peptostreptococcus Magnus with a Tyrosine to Tryptophan Substitution

The three-dimensional structure of a tryptophan-containing variant of the IgG-binding B1 domain of protein L has been solved in two crystal forms to 1.7 and 1.8 A Ê resolution. In one of the crystal forms, the entire N-terminal histidine-tag region was immobilized through the coordination of zinc ions and its structural conformation along with the zinc coordination scheme were determined. However, the ordering of the histidine tag by zinc does not affect the overall structure of the rest of the protein. Structural comparisons of the tryptophan-containing variant with an NMR-derived wild-type structure, which contains a tyrosine at position 47, reveals a common fold, although the overall backbone root-mean-square difference is 1.5 A Ê. The Y47W substitution only caused local rearrangement of several side chains, the most prominent of which is the rotation of the Tyr34 side chain, resulting in a 6 A Ê displacement of its hydroxyl group. A small methyl-sized cavity bounded by-strands 1, 2 and 4 and the-helix was found in the structures of the Y47W-substituted protein L B1 domain. This cavity may be created as the result of subsequent side-chain rearrangements caused by the Y47W substitution. These high-resolution structures of the tryptophan-containing variant provide a reference frame for the analysis of thermodynamic and kinetic data derived from a series of mutational studies of the protein L B1 domain.
Kinempt: a Kinect-based prompting system to transition autonomously through vocational tasks for individuals with cognitive impairments

Kinect is used as assistive technology for individuals with cognitive impairments to achieve the goal of performing task steps independently. In a community-based rehabilitation program under the guidance of three job coaches, a task prompting system called Kinempt was designed to assist two participants involving pre-service food preparation training. Results indicate that for participants with cognitive disabilities, acquisition of job skills may be facilitated by use of Kinempt in conjunction with operant conditioning strategies.
Detection of presence of parasites in human RBC in case of diagnosing malaria using image processing

Malaria is the commonest protozoal infestation in human being residing in nearly 3 billion victims across 107 countries and 1-3 million deaths per year round the globe. The disease is generally diagnosed by examining properly stained peripheral blood smear as the malarial parasite particularly invades red blood corpuscles (RBC) of the circulatory system. For this reason, proper analysis of RBC is the most confirmatory diagnosis of malaria. Here in this paper, correct identification of presence of malarial parasite within RBC has been detected and severity of the disease is measured by analyzing the stage (i.e. Ring trophozoite, Merozoite, Schizont etc) of Plasmodium sp. , the malarial parasite using different image processing tools and techniques. After several pre-processing activities, area of the infested corpuscle is calculated and Sobel Edge detection method is used to find the boundary of the corpuscles. Then Harris corner points are used to formulate a metric that can determine the severity of the disease. The purpose of this paper is to highlight this medico-technical aspect only.
Provably Secure Partially Blind Signature Scheme Based on Quadratic Residue

Partially blind signature schemes are the most important ingredient for anonymity in oﬀ-line e-cash system. In this paper, a new approach to setup formal security arguments in random oracle model for factorization based partially blind signature schemes is presented. Then a provably secure and eﬃcient scheme based on quadratic residue is proposed. The approach also allows one to give formal proofs in the random oracle model for all the factorization based fully blind signature schemes. Our scheme takes an outstanding performance in computational costs compared to the existing schemes.
Postdiagnosis Alcohol Consumption and Breast Cancer Prognosis in the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project

Background: Alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for incident breast cancer. However, its role in breast cancer prognosis remains unclear. Methods: We conducted an investigation of postdiagnosis alcohol consumption with recurrence and mortality among 9,329 breast cancer patients in the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project. Women were diagnosed from 1990 to 2006 with AJCC Stage I-III breast tumors from three prospective US cohorts. Alcohol intake was assessed at cohort entry (mean 2.1 years postdiagnosis) using a food frequency questionnaire. HR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using delayed entry Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for known prognostic factors. Results: After a mean follow-up of 10.3 years, 1,646 recurrences and 1,543 deaths were ascertained. 5,422 women (58%) were considered drinkers (≥0.36 g/day of alcohol, ≥0.25 drinks/week) with a median of 5.3 g/day. Overall, compared with nondrinking, regular alcohol intake (≥6.0 g/day) was not associated with risk of recurrence (HR for 6 to less than 12 g/day, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.86–1.24; HR for 12 to less than 24 g/day, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.93–1.34; HR for ≥24 g/day, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.84–1.31). However, risk varied significantly by menopausal status (P for interaction < 0.05). Postmenopausal women who regularly consumed alcohol (≥6.0 g/day) had increased risk of recurrence (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01–1.40). Alcohol intake was not associated with mortality. Conclusions: Regular alcohol consumption was not associated with breast cancer recurrence and total mortality overall, yet recurrence risk was only elevated in postmenopausal women. Impact: The association between alcohol intake and recurrence may depend on menopausal status at breast cancer diagnosis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(1); 32–41. ©2012 AACR.
An approach for the restoration of Atomic Force Microscope images enabling a combination of cantilever and feedback signals at different scanning speeds

The Atomic Force Microscope using contact mode forms the image by contacting the sample surface with a sharp tip that is attached to the free end of a cantilever. While the sample is scanned horizontally the cantilever deflects. The deflection of the cantilever can be sensed among several methods. For instance, optical beam deflection where this method is often used because of it's simplicity. While the scanning process of the sample stage, the detected deflection is compared with the set point deflection. Then, the error signal which is the difference between the detected and set point deflection is minimized by moving the sample stage in the Z - direction. At a set point value this closed -loop feedback operation can maintain the cantilever deflection and hence the tip - sample interaction force. The sample surface is approximately traced by the resulting 3D movement of the sample stage. Therefore, usually the topographic image can be formed from the electrical signals which are used to drive the sample stage scanner in the Z- direction. In this paper, the AFM topographic image is constructed using values obtained by summing the height image that is used for driving the Z- scanner and the deflection image with a weight function that is ∝ close to 3. The value of ∝ has been determined experimentally using trail and error. This method gives more faithful topographic image.
Economic Development and Strikes: An Examination of the Haas and Stack Model

The evidence presented by Haas and Stack (1983) suggests that a parabolic relationship exists between a nation's level of industrialization and the strike activity among its labor force. Their model is tested using data from a different time period. Criticisms of the original model, including problems of heteroskedasticity, autocorrelation and multicollinearity, are addressed here. The findings of this study support only marginally the conclusions reached by Haas and Stack, in that the relationship is confirmed to be curvilinear.
A sieve electrode as a potential autonomic neural interface for bionic medicine

We examined the applicability of a sieve electrode to the autonomic nervous system as a potential neural interface for bionic medicine. We developed, using a Si-semiconductor process, a sieve electrode having a square diaphragm (1 mm in one side, 12 /spl mu/m in thickness) with 30-81 penetrating square holes (50-100 /spl mu/m in one side). In the first protocol, we implanted the sieve electrode to the vagal nerve in rats. One hundred and twenty days after the implantation, cuff electrodes were attached to the vagal nerve proximal and distal to the sieve electrode under halothane anesthesia. The evoked action potential was recorded from the sieve electrode by nerve stimulation via the cuff electrodes. The evoked action potential was also recorded from the cuff electrodes by nerve stimulation via the sieve electrode. In the second protocol, we implanted the sieve electrode to the renal sympathetic nerve in rabbits. Forty days after the implantation, the spontaneous action potential or sympathetic nerve activity was recorded under pentobarbital anesthesia. In conclusion, we were able to record the evoked and spontaneous action potentials using the sieve electrode. The sieve electrode will provide a useful neural interface for recording and stimulating the autonomic nervous system.