Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study of Optimization Problem for Amplify-and-Forward Relaying over Weibull Fading Channels

This paper addresses the power allocation and relay positioning problems in Amplify-and-forward cooperative networks over Weibull fading channels. We study adaptive power allocation (PA) with fixed relay location, optimal relay location with fixed power allocation, and joint optimization of the PA and relay location under total transmit power constraint, in order to minimize the outage probability and average error probability at high signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Analytical results are validated by numerical simulations and comparisons between the different optimization schemes and performance are provided. Results show that optimum PA brings only coding gain, while optimum relay location yields, in addition to the latter, diversity gains as well. Also, joint optimization improves both, the diversity gain and coding gain. Furthermore, results illustrate that the analyzed adaptive algorithms outperform uniform schemes.
Achieve Organ-Specific Responses Requirement for Elevated Cell Input to TCR Transfer Model and Reveals a Neonatal Immunity Develops in a Transgenic

In recent years, it has become clear that neonatal exposure to Ag induces rather than ablates T cell immunity. Moreover, rechallenge with the Ag at adult age can trigger secondary responses that are distinct in the lymph node vs the spleen. The question addressed in this report is whether organ-speciﬁc secondary responses occur as a result of the diversity of the T cell repertoire or could they arise with homogeneous TCR-transgenic T cells. To test this premise, we used the OVA-speciﬁc DO11.10 TCR-transgenic T cells and established a neonatal T cell transfer system suitable for these investigations. In this system, neonatal T cells transferred from 1-day-old DO11.10/SCID mice into newborn (1-day-old) BALB/c mice migrate to the host’s spleen and maintain stable frequency. The newborn BALB/c hosts were then given Ig-OVA, an Ig molecule carrying the OVA peptide, and challenged with the OVA peptide in CFA at the age of 7 wk; then their secondary responses were analyzed. The ﬁndings show that the lymph node T cells were deviated and produced IL-4 instead of IFN- (cid:1) and the splenic T cells, although unable to proliferate or produce IFN- (cid:1) , secreted a signiﬁcant level of IL-2. Supply of exogenous IL-12 during Ag stimulation restores both proliferation and IFN- (cid:1) production by the splenic T cells. This restorable form of splenic unresponsiveness referred to as IFN- (cid:1) -dependent anergy required a transfer of a high number of neonatal DO11.10/SCID T cells to develop. Thus, the frequency of neonatal T cell precursors rather than repertoire diversity exerts control on the development of organ-speciﬁc neonatal immunity.
Graph Based Inverse Reinforcement Learning for Social Robot Navigation

Abstract. Mobile robots that operate in human populated spaces are required to act in ways perceived as socially normative with respect to the environment considered. Past approaches have merely focussed on robot centric optimality criteria such as path lengths, heading changes, time to goal etc while ignoring social aspects like personal space intrusions. We learn how to navigate socially from demonstrations of socially normative behavior by recovering the underlying objectives (reward functions) of the demonstrations. To tackle tasks with continuous state space and action space, we use adaptative state graphs to build discrete Semi Markov Decision Processes on which we learn reward functions using Bayesian inverse reinforcement learning. The resulting algorithm provides a fast scalable IRL method for large navigation state spaces. We perform experiments using 2D crowd navigation scenario with simulated social relations. We evaluate resulting navigation behavior using a set of objective and subjective metrics. Our results show the trade-off between efficiency and social compliance and further show the importance of using social relation information in navigation.
Efficient Key Exchange for Wireless Multi-hop Networks

We present a protocol that enables to create pairwise keys between nodes in a wireless network, so that the keys are secure from an adversary, Eve, with unbounded computational and memory capabilities, but with limited network presence. Our proposed protocol works over arbitrary multi-hop networks, unlike previously proposed protocols that only work when nodes are restricted to be within the same broadcast domain. Multi-hop networks enable to support a wider range of applications; we are inspired in this paper by a traffic-anonymization application. Multi-hop networks are also more interesting technically, as they offer a much richer palette of opportunities for secrecy, that include the inherently noisy nature of wireless, the existence of multiple paths between the network nodes, and interference from concurrent transmissions. We propose a protocol that leverages these opportunities, and show that it can create keys at a rate of tens of Kbps.
From specificity to sensitivity: affective states modulate visual working memory for emotional expressive faces

Previous findings suggest that visual working memory (VWM) preferentially remembers angry looking faces. However, the meaning of facial actions is construed in relation to context. To date, there are no studies investigating the role of perceiver-based context when processing emotional cues in VWM. To explore the influence of affective context on VWM for faces, we conducted two experiments using both a VWM task for emotionally expressive faces and a mood induction procedure. Affective context was manipulated by unpleasant (Experiment 1) and pleasant (Experiment 2) IAPS pictures in order to induce an affect high in motivational intensity (defensive or appetitive, respectively) compared to a low arousal control condition. Results indicated specifically increased sensitivity of VWM for angry looking faces in the neutral condition. Enhanced VWM for angry faces was prevented by inducing affects of high motivational intensity. In both experiments, affective states led to a switch from specific enhancement of angry expressions in VWM to an equally sensitive representation of all emotional expressions. Our findings demonstrate that emotional expressions are of different behavioral relevance for the receiver depending on the affective context, supporting a functional organization of VWM along with flexible resource allocation. In VWM, stimulus processing adjusts to situational requirements and transitions from a specifically prioritizing default mode in predictable environments to a sensitive, hypervigilant mode in exposure to emotional events.
Brain-targeted solid lipid nanoparticles containing riluzole: preparation, characterization and biodistribution.

AIM Developments within nanomedicine have revealed a great potential for drug delivery to the brain. In this study nanoparticulate systems as drug carriers for riluzole, with sufficiently high loading capacity and small particle size, were prepared to a reach therapeutic drug level in the brain. MATERIALS & METHOD Solid lipid nanoparticles containing riluzole have great potential as drug-delivery systems for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and were produced by using the warm oil-in-water microemulsion technique. The resulting systems obtained were approximately 88 nm in size and negatively charged. Drug-release profiles demonstrated that a drug release was dependent on medium pH. Biodistribution of riluzole blended into solid lipid nanoparticles was carried out after administration to rats and the results were compared with those obtained by riluzole aqueous dispersion administration. Rats were sacrificed at time intervals of 8, 16 and 30 h, and the riluzole concentration in the blood and organs such as the brain, liver, spleen, heart and kidney was determined. RESULTS It was demonstrated that these solid lipid nanoparticles were able to successfully carry riluzole into the CNS. Moreover, a low drug biodistribution in organs such as the liver, spleen, heart, kidneys and lung was found when riluzole was administered as drug-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles. CONCLUSION Riluzole-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles showed colloidal size and high drug loading, a greater efficacy than free riluzole in rats, a higher capability to carry the drug into the brain and a lower indiscriminate biodistribution.
Why Map Issues? On Controversy Analysis as a Digital Method

This article takes stock of recent efforts to implement controversy analysis as a digital method in the study of science, technology, and society (STS) and beyond and outlines a distinctive approach to address the problem of digital bias. Digital media technologies exert significant influence on the enactment of controversy in online settings, and this risks undermining the substantive focus of controversy analysis conducted by digital means. To address this problem, I propose a shift in thematic focus from controversy analysis to issue mapping. The article begins by distinguishing between three broad frameworks that currently guide the development of controversy analysis as a digital method, namely, demarcationist, discursive, and empiricist. Each has been adopted in STS, but only the last one offers a digital “move beyond impartiality. ” I demonstrate this approach by analyzing issues of Internet governance with the aid of the social media platform Twitter.
Temporal-spatial validation of knot-tying procedures using RGB-D sensor for training of surgical operation

We propose a method for validating surgical knot-tying motions for beginner's self-training. Our system observes trainee's hands by a RGB-D sensor and describes the point cloud as a SHOT feature. The features are used for matching an input image sequence to that of an expert by dynamic programming. The type of the knot-tying motion is recognized by the matching score. The matching enables the system to recognize type of input knot-tying motion and to validate each frame. The system specifies inappropriate frames by temporal validation based on the difference of the matched frames. Then the system detects and shows inappropriate parts in each inappropriate frame by utilizing the spatial structure of the feature. We tested our method on a motion dataset of novice trainees and achieved favorable performance.
Irradiated mammary gland stroma promotes the expression of tumorigenic potential by unirradiated epithelial cells.

We have shown that ionizing radiation, a known carcinogen of human breast, elicits rapid, persistent, and global changes in the mammary microenvironment as evidenced by altered extracellular matrix composition and growth factor activities. To address whether these events contribute to radiogenic carcinogenesis, we evaluated the effect of irradiated mammary stroma on the neoplastic potential of COMMA-D mammary epithelial cells. Although COMMA-D cells harbor mutations in both alleles of p53, they are nontumorigenic when injected s.c. into syngeneic hosts. Unirradiated COMMA-D cells transplanted to mammary fat pads cleared previously of epithelia preferentially formed tumors in irradiated hosts. Tumor incidence at 6 weeks was 81% +/- 12 SE when animals were irradiated with 4 Gy, 3 days prior to transplantation, compared with 19% +/- 2 SE (P < 0.005) in sham-irradiated hosts. This effect was evident when cells were transplanted 1 to 14 days after irradiation. Furthermore, tumors were significantly larger (243.1 +/- 61.3 mm3 versus 30.8 +/- 8.7 mm3) and arose more quickly (100% by 6 weeks versus 39% over 10 weeks in sham hosts) in fat pads in irradiated hosts. The contribution of local versus systemic effects was evaluated using hemibody (left versus right) irradiation; tumors formed only in fat pads on the irradiated side. These data indicate that radiation-induced changes in the stromal microenvironment can contribute to neoplastic progression in vivo. Disruption of solid tissue interactions is a heretofore unrecognized activity of ionizing radiation as a carcinogen.
The evaluation of knowledge claims in an innovation project: A case study

Understanding how an organization determines what knowledge is valid leads to new insights about how firms cope with innovation. Although the evaluation of knowledge is a relevant topic in the field of knowledge management, the existing literature does not provide substantial contributions. Nonaka and Takeuchi’s (1995) theory of justification is the only established approach. This study adopts an empirical approach for improving the understanding of knowledge claim evaluation by presenting a conceptual framework based on Toulmin’s (1958) argumentation theory. We apply the framework in a small-scale study at the headquarters of a large building technology multinational. Based on the results, we reflect upon Nonaka and Takeuchi’s (1995) justification theory. Our findings indicate that the justification theory explains actual knowledge claim evaluation only partially. The unexplained parts, for which we explore alternative meanings, enlighten why innovations fail or succeed from the viewpoint of knowledge claim evaluation.
ProBiS-2012: web server and web services for detection of structurally similar binding sites in proteins

The ProBiS web server is a web server for detection of structurally similar binding sites in the PDB and for local pairwise alignment of protein structures. In this article, we present a new version of the ProBiS web server that is 10 times faster than earlier versions, due to the efficient parallelization of the ProBiS algorithm, which now allows significantly faster comparison of a protein query against the PDB and reduces the calculation time for scanning the entire PDB from hours to minutes. It also features new web services, and an improved user interface. In addition, the new web server is united with the ProBiS-Database and thus provides instant access to pre-calculated protein similarity profiles for over 29 000 non-redundant protein structures. The ProBiS web server is particularly adept at detection of secondary binding sites in proteins. It is freely available at http://probis.cmm. ki.si/old-version, and the new ProBiS web server is at http://probis.cmm. ki.si.
APOGEE: Equity in the Identification of Gifted and Talented Students

The Academic Programs for Gifted with Excellence and Equity (APOGEE) serves over 3,000 students in 30 schools in eight school districts. The program was designed to address equity in identification of gifted and talented. The top 25% of students in various categories, such as disadvantaged, minorities, underachievers, limited English speakers, and students with disabilities, are identified and placed in these APOGEE classes. The teachers receive a 45-hour graduate course to train them in implementing a talent development program based on a student-centered curriculum in which choices, group work, projects, and self-regulation are encouraged. Preliminary results indicate significant differences on a pre-post administration of the Comell Critical Thinking Test and on the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. The subgroups of the student population are proportionately represented in the program classes.
Basic framework for the economic evaluation of animal health control programmes.

The further integration of international markets means that co-ordinated policies against contagious animal infections have become increasingly important, and stricter demands for control and eradication should be expected in the future. To meet these demands, it would be desirable to create a computer simulation environment in which 'what if? ' scenarios could be performed, in order to explore the epidemiological and economic effects of various infections and control strategies. The authors propose a flexible economic framework and illustrate this framework with an example. The framework has four elements: changes in the percentage of infectious herds, changes in product quantities, changes in product prices and economic integration. Each element is specifically defined and has its own input and output data, depending on the control strategy under consideration. In an illustration of the framework, probability distributions of the different control strategies are compared and the optimal strategy is chosen, according to the attitude of the decision-maker towards risk. Such a framework can be considered as a new standardised approach for comparing and selecting animal health control strategies, by integrating technical and economic data and principles.
Self-defining future projections: Exploring the identity function of thinking about the future

The act of projecting oneself into meaningful future events may significantly contribute to a person's sense of self and identity. Yet if the role of memories, in particular self-defining memories (SDMs), in grounding the self is now well established, the identity function of anticipated future events has received comparatively little attention. This article introduces the construct of self-defining future projection (SDFP) to address this issue. Two studies show that people can readily identify significant future events that they frequently think about and that convey core information about who they are as individuals. Furthermore, a person's particular style of constructing SDMs is similarly manifested in SDFPs, suggesting that both types of events can be used to ground the self. Notably, people who display a stronger tendency to extract meaning from their past experiences also reflect more about the potential implications of imagined future events. The results further demonstrate that SDMs and SDFPs both give rise to a strong sense of personal continuity over time and are meaningfully related to self-esteem. Together these findings lend support to the idea that a person's sense of self and identity is in part nourished by the anticipation of significant future events.
‘High’‐School: The Relationship between Early Marijuana Use and Educational Outcomes

We use unique survey data linked to nearly a decade of administrative welfare data to examine the relationship between early marijuana use (at age 14 or younger) and young people's educational outcomes. We find evidence that early marijuana use is related to educational penalties that are compounded by high-intensity use and are larger for young people living in families with a history of welfare receipt. The relationships between marijuana use and both high school completion and achieving a university entrance score appear to stem from selectivity into the use of marijuana. In contrast, early marijuana use is associated with significantly lower university entrance score for those who obtain one and we provide evidence that this effect is unlikely to be driven by selection. Collectively, these findings point to a more nuanced view of the relationship between adolescent marijuana use and educational outcomes than is suggested by the existing literature.
Relationship between DNA Ploidy and Proliferative Cell Nuclear Antigen Index in Canine Hemangiopericytoma

The mitotic index is reported to be correlated with recurrence, mean patient survival, and metastasis of canine hemangiopericytoma (CHP). However, to the authors' knowledge, studies investigating the parameters that can predict recurrence or metastasis of CHP with low mitotic index have not been done. To evaluate growth kinetics of CHP with low mitotic index, a retrospective analysis of the proliferative activity by antiproliferative cell nuclear antigen monoclonal antibody and DNA contents by flow cytometry (FCM) was performed with 21 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded CHP samples. Of the 21 tumors evaluated by FCM, 6 (26.6%) were aneuploid tumors, and 15 (71.4%) were diploid tumors. There was significant correlation between the PCNA index and ploidy pattern. The diploid group had 39.1 ± 9.2 PCNA index, whereas the aneuploid group's proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index was 63.1 ± 8.2. The diploid group had mean mitotic index value of 1.140 ± 0.855, and the aneuploid group had a mean value of 1.067 ± 0.767. From these results, the CHP samples with low mitotic index were classified into either the aneuploid group with higher PCNA index or the diploid group with lower PCNA index, suggesting that DNA ploidy and proliferative activity may give an indication about malignancy of CHPs with a low mitotic index.
School reforms, principal leadership, and teacher resistance: evidence from Korea

Many countries design and implement school change with a focus on the fundamental reconfiguration in the structures of schooling. In this article, we examined the relationship between principal leadership and teacher resistance to school reforms driven by external interveners. For an empirical analysis, we took advantage of extensive data derived from 967 teachers and 32 principals in Korean vocational high schools that are now experiencing school reforms launched by the government. Our results revealed the importance of human aspects of school changes and reforms, in particular, driven by the external intervener. We first showed that a principal's initiative leadership is significantly related to the reduction of teacher resistance to change, in particular on the emotional and behavioural dimensions. Not surprisingly, teachers showed a higher level of resistance when their schools participate in the government-driven reform. Finally, teacher resistance depended upon characteristics of teachers as well as principals. These findings provide some useful policy implications for facilitating successful school reform efforts. Foremost, school reformers are advised to rethink the school change model design in a way of fully capturing human aspects in the reform process.
Vault : A SecureBinding Service

Binding services are crucial building blocks in networks and networked applications. A binding service (e.g., the Domain Name System (DNS)) maps certain information, namely, binding keys (e.g., host names), to other information, i.e., binding values (e.g., IP addresses), and answers queries for such key-value bindings. In a sense, a binding service is a specialized look-up service where each binding has an owner (the user who registers the binding), and only the owner can update or delete the binding. Clearly, building secure binding services that ensure the integrity and authenticity of bindings are vital to the correct operations of many networks and networked applications. In this paper we present a novel approach for building generic secure binding services that allow arbitrary key-value bindings as (trusted) infrastructure services to support a variety of networks and networked applications. We combine the IdentityBased Encryption (IBE) crypto-mechanisms with distributed hash table (DHT) techniques to develop an innovative architecture for building scalable, robust and secure binding services. Using this architecture, we implement a prototype system called Vault and evaluate its performance both in a local testbed and on the PlanetLab.