Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
STIMULATED RAMAN SCATTERING AND CROSS PHASE MODULATION ANALYSIS FOR OPTICAL NETWORKS

In optical wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems, if the number of users are increased, the crosstalk becomes more severe due to imperfections in the optical passive networks and nonlinear effects in the optical fiber. In this research paper Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) and Cross Phase Modulation (XPM) are studied as the source of nonlinear degradation in the multichannel system. The crosstalk induced by SRS and XPM has been evaluated for wavelength division multiplexed networks. In SRS induced crosstalk it is observed that as the modulation frequency increases the crosstalk decreases and for XPM as the modulation frequency increases the crosstalk increases. These variations have been observed for different transmission lengths.
Therapeutic efficacy and safety of multiple intravenous infusions of infliximab in refractory ankylosing spondylitis patients with axial involvement

Objective: To evaluate the clinical response and safety profile of infliximab in refractory ankylosing spondylitis patients. Methods: Patients with active ankylosing spondylitis, despite methotrexate therapy, were included in an open‐label, single‐centre study. Patients were given 3–5 mg/kg infliximab infusions at Weeks 0, 2, 6, and q8 etc up to Week 30, together with methotrexate at the dosage taken prior to study inclusion, and were followed‐up for a 34‐week period. Results: Nine patients with mean age 43 years and mean disease duration 7 years, diagnosed with pure axial ankylosing spondylitis were included. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), duration of morning stiffness, physician's global assessment of disease activity (PhGADA), visual analogue scale (VAS) pain, enthesis index, occiput‐to‐wall test, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) significantly improved by Week 6. No adverse events related with the drug were recorded during the 34‐week follow‐up period. Conclusion: Efficacy results are similar to those previously published. No adverse events were seen during therapy, and antinuclear antibody profiles were negative. The association of methotrexate with infliximab can improve the safety profile.
High-performance Swahili keyword search with very limited language pack: The THUEE system for the OpenKWS15 evaluation

This paper presents the Swahili keyword search system developed by the THUEE team for the OpenKWS15 evaluation, which is conducted by NIST under the IARPA Babel program. There are several highlights in the development of the system, including automatic generation of the pronunciation lexicon, aggressive data augmentation, the multilingual bottleneck feature extractor trained from 6 languages, text selection from web data for language model training, semi-supervised training for acoustic models and language models, out-of-vocabulary keyword detection using morphemes and a rich diversity of the systems for combination. A wide variety of acoustic modeling techniques are explored and compared. Up to 12 different individual systems are used for combination. The system achieves the state-of-the-art performance in the required condition of the evaluation.
Geniculocortical relay of blue-off signals in the primate visual system

A fundamental dichotomy in the subcortical visual system exists between on- and off-type neurons, which respectively signal increases and decreases of light intensity in the visual environment. In primates, signals for red-green color vision are carried by both on- and off-type neurons in the parvocellular division of the subcortical pathway. It is thought that on-type signals for blue-yellow color vision are carried by cells in a distinct, diffusely projecting (koniocellular) pathway, but the pathway taken by blue-off signals is not known. Here, we measured blue-off responses in the subcortical visual pathway of marmoset monkeys. We found that the cells exhibiting blue-off responses are largely segregated to the koniocellular pathway. The blue-off cells show relatively large receptive fields, sluggish responses to maintained contrast, little sign of an inhibitory receptive-field surround mechanism, and negligible functional input from an intrinsic (melanopsin-based) phototransductive mechanism. These properties are consistent with input from koniocellular or “W-like” ganglion cells in the retina and suggest that blue-off cells, as previously shown for blue-on cells, could contribute to cortical mechanisms for visual perception via the koniocellular pathway.
Persistent coverage control with variable coverage action in multi-robot environment

In this paper we tackle the problem of persistent coverage, where a team of agents covers an area whose amount of coverage degrades with time. The task is never accomplished completely due to the coverage decay and the agents have to revisit the domain persistently. In this framework, our contribution is a novel approach which consists not only in developing efficient motion to perform the coverage, but also in covering the domain with a variable coverage action. The agents can adapt its coverage power to the coverage error of the actuator domain, being able to reduce the energy consumption and the coverage error. We propose a new controller for the coverage power and we demonstrate by means of simulations that it is more efficient and flexible than developing the coverage with constant power.
Fast Marching farthest point sampling

We introduce the Fast Marching farthest point sampling (FastFPS) approach for the progressive sampling of planar domains and curved manifolds in triangulated, point cloud or implicit form. By using Fast Marching methods 2 , 3, 6 for the incremental computation of distance maps across the sampling domain, we obtain a farthest point sampling technique superior to earlier point sampling principles in two important respects. Firstly, our method performs equally well in both the uniform and the adaptive case. Secondly, the algorithm is applicable to both images and higher dimensional surfaces in triangulated, point cloud or implicit form. This paper presents the methods underlying the algorithm and gives examples for the processing of images and triangulated surfaces. A companion report 4 provides details regarding the application of the FastFPS algorithm to point clouds and implicit surfaces.
Fournier's gangrene: a modern analysis of predictors of outcomes.

Background Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis that carries a significant morbidity and mortality. The present study sought to identify the predisposing factors related to FG and validate the Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI) score as a prognostic tool in the care of the Fournier's patient. Methods Medstar Washington Hospital Center records were searched from January 2003 to February 2015 for all patients with a diagnosis code of FG, n=42. Epidemiologic data was collected for patients and used to calculate an FGSI score. Results The average age was 53.45 yrs and M/F ratio was 39:1. Patients presented with an average 2.675 predisposing factors; the most common was diabetes mellitus (n=21) followed by hypertension (n=18). The most common etiology was periscrotal (n=25) next to perirectal (n=9). Streptococcus was the most common source of infection (n=14). Patients on average required three surgical interventions. The average and median hospitalization period was 19.625 and 11.5 days respectively. Eleven patients developed sepsis. Twenty-four (60%) patients experienced a complication. The overall mortality was 5% (n=2). The average FGSI on admission was 5.368. Multivariate analysis showed FGSI score correlates with more surgical intervention, longer hospitalization, sepsis, complication and mortality. Conclusions The FGSI score predicts a greater likelihood of more surgical interventions, longer hospitalization period, sepsis, complications and mortality within this patient population. Diabetes mellitus continues to be the most common predisposing factors in FG patients. The mortality rate of 5% is much less than the historically reported 20-30% and may reflect improved understanding and care of this aggressive disease.
Control of Single-Phase Solar Power Generation System With Universal Active Power Filter Capabilities Using Least Mean Mixed-Norm (LMMN)-Based Adaptive Filtering Method

This paper deals with the control of a single-phase grid-tied solar photovoltaic (SPV) power generation system with an universal active power filter (UAPF) capabilities. The SPV-UAPF system consists of series and shunt voltage-source inverters (VSIs). The shunt VSI exports the real power extracted from the photovoltaic panels to the grid and local loads. In addition to handling the real power, the shunt VSI provides compensation of reactive and harmonic currents generated by the loads. The reference signals required for the control of the shunt and series VSIs of the SPV-UAPF system are estimated using the least mean mixed-norm (LMMN) adaptive identification algorithm. The performance of the LMMN-based control of the SPV-UAPF system with series shunt compensation capabilities is demonstrated using MATLAB/Simulink-based computer simulations and hardware-in-the-loop-based experimental results under various operating conditions such as solar irradiance variation, voltage sag, swell, and current harmonics.
The S. pombe mitotic regulator Cut12 promotes spindle pole body activation and integration into the nuclear envelope

The fission yeast spindle pole body (SPB) comprises a cytoplasmic structure that is separated from an ill-defined nuclear component by the nuclear envelope. Upon mitotic commitment, the nuclear envelope separating these domains disperses as the two SPBs integrate into a hole that forms in the nuclear envelope. The SPB component Cut12 is linked to cell cycle control, as dominant cut12.s11 mutations suppress the mitotic commitment defect of cdc25.22 cells and elevated Cdc25 levels suppress the monopolar spindle phenotype of cut12.1 loss of function mutations. We show that the cut12.1 monopolar phenotype arises from a failure to activate and integrate the new SPB into the nuclear envelope. The activation of the old SPB was frequently delayed, and its integration into the nuclear envelope was defective, resulting in leakage of the nucleoplasm into the cytoplasm through large gaps in the nuclear envelope. We propose that these activation/integration defects arise from a local deficiency in mitosis-promoting factor activation at the new SPB.
Comparative analysis by independent contrasts (CAIC): an Apple Macintosh application for analysing comparative data

CAIC is an application for the Apple Macintosh which allows the valid analysis of comparative (multi-species) data sets that include continuous variables. Comparison among species is the most common technique for testing hypotheses of how organisms are adapted to their environments, but standard statistical tests like regression should not be used with species data. Such tests assume independence of data points, but related species often share traits by common descent rather than through independent adaptation. CAIC uses a phylogeny of the species in the data set to partition the variance among species into independent comparisons (technically, linear contrasts), each comparison being made at a different node in the phylogeny. There are two partitioning procedures--one used when all variables are continuous, the other when one variable is discrete. The resulting comparisons can be analysed validly in standard statistical packages to test hypotheses about correlated evolution among traits, to estimate parameters such as allometric exponents, and to compare rates of evolution. Previous versions of the package have already been used widely; this version is simpler to use and works on a wider range of machines. The package and manual are freely available by anonymous ftp or from the authors.
Cognitive-driven Binaural LCMV Beamformer Using EEG-based Auditory Attention Decoding

Identifying the target speaker in hearing aid applications is an essential ingredient to improve speech intelligibility. To identify the target speaker from single-trial EEG recordings in an acoustic scenario with two competing speakers, an auditory attention decoding (AAD) method was recently proposed. Aiming at enhancing the target speaker and suppressing the interfering speaker and ambient noise, in this paper we propose a cognitive-driven speech enhancement system, consisting of a direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimator, steerable beamformers and AAD. To preserve the spatial impression of the acoustic scene, which is important when intending to switch attention between speakers, the proposed system only partially suppresses the interfering speaker. The speech enhancement performance of the proposed system is evaluated in terms of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) improvement in anechoic and reverberant conditions. The experimental results show that the proposed system can obtain a considerably large SINR improvement (between 3.1 dB and 7.5 dB) in both conditions.
Quasi-Newton method for maximum likelihood estimation of hidden Markov models

Hidden Markov models (HMMs) are used in many signal processing applications including speech recognition, blind equalization of digital communications channels, etc. The most widely used method for maximum likelihood estimation of HMM parameters is the forward-backward (or Baum-Welch) algorithm which is an early example of application of the expectation-maximization (EM) principle. In this contribution, an alternative fast-converging approach for maximum likelihood estimation of HMM parameters is described. This new techniques is based on the use of general purpose quasi-Newton optimization methods as well as on an efficient purely recursive algorithm for computing the log-likelihood and its derivative.
First stage in the development of a soft-x-ray reflection imaging microscope in the Schwarzschild configuration using a soft-x-ray laser at 18.2 nm.

We present results that demonstrate the proof of principle of a soft-x-ray reflection imaging microscope in the Schwarzschild configuration. A soft-x-ray laser operating at 18.2 nm was used as the x-ray source. Mo/Si multilayer mirrors with a normal-incidence reflectivity of ~20% per surface at 18.2-nm wavelength were used in the Schwarzschild objective.
Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of wheat bran and barley husk in the extracts with different polarity

ABSTRACT Extracts of wheat bran and barley husk with solvents of different polarity were analyzed to determine the concentration of bioactive compounds (phytic acid, saponins, flavonoids, total phenolic compounds and phenolic profile) and their antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS assays. The results showed that the phytic acid concentration in wheat bran was higher than the phytic acid concentration in barley husk. The concentration of saponins was inverse with higher concentrations in barley husk than wheat bran. The solvents with the highest extraction of phytochemicals were 80% ethanol in wheat bran and 50% acetone in barley husk. The chromatograph profile showed that wheat bran presented a greater concentration of caffeic acid and barley husk contained kampferol. The properties of extraction solvents significantly affected the concentration of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity. The addition of water to the solvents increased the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. The results for barley husk are among the first reported because there are few studies on this cereal.
B-Mode Flow Imaging of the Carotid Artery

Background and Purpose— B-mode ultrasonography has been used to evaluate cervical carotid artery lesions. Recently, the technology for direct visualization of blood reflectors has made B-mode flow imaging (B-flow) possible without the limitations of Doppler technology. We evaluated the efficacy of B-flow in examining the cervical carotid artery. Methods— Sixty patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease were examined. Conventional B-mode imaging and blood flow images by power Doppler imaging (PDI) and B-flow were obtained. Results— B-flow enabled simultaneous imaging of tissue and blood flow. Compared with PDI, B-flow provided higher spatial resolution and higher frame rate hemodynamic imaging. Consequently, a clear definition of the vessel lumen was obtained even in the stenotic portion of the carotid artery. In evaluating the degree of carotid stenosis, B-flow measurement agreed with digital subtraction angiography as well as PDI measurement. In addition, bloodstream swirl at the site of wall ulceration or vascular elongation was observed. Conclusions— B-flow was prominent in visualizing hemodynamic flow and detection of stenotic lesion in the cervical carotid artery. Combined with conventional B-mode technique, B-flow seems to be useful in evaluating carotid stenosis.
Complete Genomic Sequence of Rabies Virus from an Ethiopian Wolf

ABSTRACT Ethiopian wolves are the rarest canid in the world, with only 500 found in the Ethiopian highlands. Rabies poses the most immediate threat to their survival, causing epizootic cycles of mass mortality. The complete genome sequence of a rabies virus (RABV) derived from an Ethiopian wolf during the most recent epizootic is reported here.
Explicit Constructions of Depth-2 Majority Circuits for Comparison and Addition

All Boolean variables here range over the two-element set {-1, 1}. Given n Boolean variables $x_{i},\ldots , x_{n}, a nonmonotone MAJORITY gate (in the variables $x_{i}$) is a Boolean function whose value is the sign of $\sum^{n}_{i=1} \varepsilon_{i} x_{i}$, where each $\varepsilon_{i}$ is either 1 or -1. The COMPARISON function is the Boolean function of two $n$-bits integers $X$ and $Y$ whose value is -1 if and only if $X \geq Y$. An explicit sparse polynomial whose sign computes this function is constructed. Similar polynomials are constructed for computing all the bits of the summation of the two numbers $X$ and $Y$. This supplies explicit constructions of depth-2 polynomial-size circuits computing these functions, which use only nonmonotone MAJORITY gates. These constructions are optimal in terms of the depth and can be used to obtain the best-known explicit constructions of MAJORITY circuits for other functions like the product of two $n$-bits wamlmys and the maximum of $n$ $n$-bit numbers. A crucial ingredient is the construction of a discrete version of a sparse "delta polynomial"---one that has a large absolute value for a single assignment and extremely small absolute values for all other assignments.
High-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization of single micrometastatic tumor cells

Only few selected cancer cells drive tumor progression and are responsible for therapy resistance. Their specific genomic characteristics, however, are largely unknown because high-resolution genome analysis is currently limited to DNA pooled from many cells. Here, we describe a protocol for array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH), which enables the detection of DNA copy number changes in single cells. Combining a PCR-based whole genome amplification method with arrays of highly purified BAC clones we could accurately determine known chromosomal changes such as trisomy 21 in single leukocytes as well as complex genomic imbalances of single cell line cells. In single T47D cells aberrant regions as small as 1–2 Mb were identified in most cases when compared to non-amplified DNA from 106 cells. Most importantly, in single micrometastatic cancer cells isolated from bone marrow of breast cancer patients, we retrieved and confirmed amplifications as small as 4.4 and 5 Mb. Thus, high-resolution genome analysis of single metastatic precursor cells is now possible and may be used for the identification of novel therapy target genes.
A Scalable Approach for the Distribution of E-commerce Services Based on Application Level Active Networks

In this paper we use the idea of Application Level Active Networks to implement an efficient and easily deployable solution for the distribution of e-commerce services using cache servers which can hold dynamic content. The resulting system is an application of the ALAN concept and framework to a real and complex application (an electronic bookstore that makes use of dynamic document caching schemes). Our experiments show that significant performance gains can be obtained by e-commerce sites that use this model, improving the scalability of the target service by distributing the load among the dynamic caches. Results show reductions of server CPU load by up to 64% and improvements of client perceived response time of up to 70% under heavy load.
Protein kinase Cβ as a therapeutic target stabilizing blood–brain barrier disruption in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a hallmark of acute inflammatory lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. This disruption may precede and facilitate the infiltration of encephalitogenic T cells. The signaling events that lead to this BBB disruption are incompletely understood but appear to involve dysregulation of tight-junction proteins such as claudins. Pharmacological interventions aiming at stabilizing the BBB in MS might have therapeutic potential. Here, we show that the orally available small molecule LY-317615, a synthetic bisindolylmaleimide and inhibitor of protein kinase Cβ, which is clinically under investigation for the treatment of cancer, suppresses the transmigration of activated T cells through an inflamed endothelial cell barrier, where it leads to the induction of the tight-junction molecules zona occludens-1, claudin 3, and claudin 5 and other pathways critically involved in transendothelial leukocyte migration. Treatment of mice with ongoing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with LY-317615 ameliorates inflammation, demyelination, axonal damage, and clinical symptoms. Although LY-317615 dose-dependently suppresses T-cell proliferation and cytokine production independent of antigen specificity, its therapeutic effect is abrogated in a mouse model requiring pertussis toxin. This abrogation indicates that the anti-inflammatory and clinical efficacy is mainly mediated by stabilization of the BBB, thus suppressing the transmigration of encephalitogenic T cells. Collectively, our data suggest the involvement of endothelial protein kinase Cβ in stabilizing the BBB in autoimmune neuroinflammation and imply a therapeutic potential of BBB-targeting agents such as LY-317615 as therapeutic approaches for MS.