Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF OFDM BY USING DIFFERENT CLIPPING TECHNIQUES

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) has become the popular modulation technique in high speed wireless communications. One of the main disadvantages of Orthogonal Frequency Division multiplexing (OFDM) is its high Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR), which significantly reduces the efficiency of the High Power Amplifier (HPA). Due to the simplest way for PAPR reduction, clipping techniques are frequently used in practice for OFDM PAPR reduction. In this paper, Classical-Clipping (CC), Deep-Clipping (DC) and SmoothClipping (SC) are implemented for reducing the PAPR of an OFDM system. The effectiveness of these techniques in terms of PAPR-reduction average power variation and total system degradation are evaluated.
Back to Basics for Monolingual Alignment: Exploiting Word Similarity and Contextual Evidence

We present a simple, easy-to-replicate monolingual aligner that demonstrates state-of-the-art performance while relying on almost no supervision and a very small number of external resources. Based on the hypothesis that words with similar meanings represent potential pairs for alignment if located in similar contexts, we propose a system that operates by finding such pairs. In two intrinsic evaluations on alignment test data, our system achieves F1 scores of 88–92%, demonstrating 1–3% absolute improvement over the previous best system. Moreover, in two extrinsic evaluations our aligner outperforms existing aligners, and even a naive application of the aligner approaches state-of-the-art performance in each extrinsic task.
Q-deformed su(2|2) boundary S-matrices via the ZF algebra

Beisert and Koroteev have recently found a bulk S-matrix corresponding to a q-deformation of the centrally-extended su(2|2) algebra of AdS/CFT. We formulate the associated Zamolodchikov-Faddeev algebra, using which we derive factorizable boundary S-matrices that generalize those of Hofman and Maldacena.
A Mathematical Programming Formulation for Sparse Collaborative Computer Aided Diagnosis

A mathematical programming formulation is proposed to eliminate irrelevant and redundant features for collaborative computer aided diagnosis which requires to detect multiple clinically-related malignant structures from medical images. A probabilistic interpretation is described to justify our formulations. The proposed formulation is optimized through an effective alternating optimization algorithm that is easy to implement and relatively fast to solve. This collaborative prediction approach has been implemented and validated on the automatic detection of solid lung nodules by jointly detecting ground glass opacities.
A stability index for feature selection

Sequential forward selection (SFS) is one of the most widely used feature selection procedures. It starts with an empty set and adds one feature at each step. The estimate of the quality of the candidate subsets usually depends on the training/testing split of the data. Therefore different sequences of features may be returned from repeated runs of SFS. A substantial discrepancy between such sequences will signal a problem with the selection. A stability index is proposed here based on cardinality of the intersection and a correction for chance. The experimental results with 10 real data sets indicate that the index can be useful for selecting the final feature subset. If stability is high, then we should return a subset of features based on their total rank across the SFS runs. If stability is low, then it is better to return the feature subset which gave the minimum error across all SFS runs.
A non-enteric adenovirus A12 gastroenteritis outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A gastroenteritis outbreak that occurred in 2013 in a low-income community in Rio de Janeiro was investigated for the presence of enteric viruses, including species A rotavirus (RVA), norovirus (NoV), astrovirus (HAstV), bocavirus (HBoV), aichivirus (AiV), and adenovirus (HAdV). Five of nine stool samples (83%) from patients were positive for HAdV, and no other enteric viruses were detected. Polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis, which revealed four strains and one strain of non-enteric HAdV-A12 and HAdV-F41, respectively. The HAdV-A12 nucleotide sequences shared 100% nucleotide similarity. Viral load was assessed using a TaqMan real-time PCR assay. Stool samples that were positive for HAdV-A12 had high viral loads (mean 1.9 X 107 DNA copies/g stool). All four patients with HAdV-A12 were < 25 months of age and had symptoms of fever and diarrhoea. Evaluation of enteric virus outbreaks allows the characterisation of novel or unique diarrhoea-associated viruses in regions where RVA vaccination is routinely performed.
The Use of Hopscotch Game in Teaching Speaking to the First Grade Students of English Department of IKIP PGRI Madiun in the Academic Year of 2013/2014

Hopscotch Game is one of the media in teaching speaking. It is purposed to help the students more interested in teaching-learning process. The objectives of this research are to describe: 1) the procedure of using hopscotch game in teaching speaking, 2) the advantages of using hopscotch game in teaching speaking, 3) the disadvantage of using hopscotch game in teaching speaking. This research was done at IKIP PGRI Madiun from September-December 2013. The subject of the study was the students of 1A of English Department of IKIP PGRI Madiun consisting of 30 students, it uses descriptive qualitative method for data analysis. The researcher did some steps such as pre activity, whilst activity, and post activity. In collecting the data, the researcher applied several techniques including observation, interview, and documentation. The result of the research shows that: 1) there are some procedures of using hopscotch, 2) hopscotch game makes students have fun in speaking class, and it can be a media to motivate students in the teaching-learning process. 3) the disadvantage of hopscotch game is spending much time. Based on the result of this research, some suggestions are presented to the lecturer, and the students. The lecturer is expected to apply various kinds of approach or method such as hopscotch game in teaching speaking in order to make the teaching learning process more interesting and fun. The students are expected to practice speaking English actively without being afraid of making mistakes, because the lecturer will rectify and help them to be better in speaking English.
Self-deployment algorithms for mobile sensors networks

Large and sophisticated networks of sensors are being developed and deployed in a variety of environments, from military surveillance, to environmental monitoring, and smart spaces. Adding mobility to sensors, by placing them on robots, can make the sensors more useful but at the cost of adding new challenges. We focus on the problem of automated deployment of the sensors, in particular on how to disperse a group of robots in an unknown environment so as to cover the environment as much as possible while staying within communications range. We assume there is no central control, the robots operate independently, and the only communications among them are to ensure they are within communication range. Whenever a robot loses communication, it moves to attempt to regain communication. We evaluate different algorithms based on the percentage of the environment that the group of robots succeeds in observing, the percentage of time the robots are within communications range, and how long it takes for them to reacquire communication.
Architecture for Privacy-Preserving Integration and Querying of Distributed and Heterogeneous Data

More and more applications rely heavily on large amounts of data in the distributed storages collected over time or produced by large scale scientific experiments or simulations. An important fact is that many organizations collect, store, and use various types of information about individuals. In consequence, such data sharing is subject to constraints imposed by privacy of individuals or data subjects as well as data confidentiality of institutions or data providers. Given a query spanning multiple databases, query should not only be executed efficiently by the system, but results should not contain individually identifiable information. In addition, institutions should not reveal their databases to each other apart from the query results. We propose a distributed anonymization protocol that allows independent data providers to build a virtual anonymized databases, and a secure query protocol that allows clients to query those virtual databases. We also suggest a distributed data sharing and integration architecture for querying distributed heterogeneous and possibly private databases. Our system provides efficient and scalable query execution interface that integrates data seamlessly and transparently and presents a novel approach to secure data sharing for horizontally partitioned databases.
Low leakage and minimum energy consumption in CMOS logic circuits

This paper presents a novel design to reduce sub threshold leakage current. The leakage controlled transistors are utilized to change dynamically the ground voltage level which is based on output voltage level of logic gate. The leakage controlled transistors (LCT's) are utilized to reduce the leakage power and static energy consumption (static power-delay product) while maintaining the performance of delay. Simulation result based on 32nm Berkeley predictive technology model shows that the proposed technique achieves better performance than conventional designs.
Experimental Impulse-Momentum-Based Dynamic Simulation for Rigid Bodies with Simultaneous Contacts

In this paper, we propose an experimental impulse-momentum-based approach to make artificially discrete impulses between rigid bodies with multiple contacts. It is impossible for us to sense precisely impulsive waves between such bodies. For this reason, we calibrate each impulsive distribution of encountered bodies by minimizing the differences of their momentum variations in real and virtual dynamic simulations. If number of contact point is one, we can distinguish vertical and horizontal planes at the contact in each local coordinate system. Therefore, an uncertain parameter set (width and height of impulse, and coefficient of restitution) of vertical impulse and the other set (static and kinetic friction coefficients) of horizontal impulse are individually calibrated. However, if the number is more than two, they should be simultaneously calibrated along X, Y, and Z axes of the global (absolute) coordinate system. Furthermore in order to get more precise multiple impulses, we successively calibrate impulse transmission ratios of two or more contacts between three or more bodies. Finally, by comparing artificial and experimental dynamic simulations, we ascertain feasibility of our impulse-momentum-based approach.
Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation: Post Trial Follow-Up of Randomized Groups

Background Evidence on long term effectiveness of public health strategies for lowering blood pressure (BP) is scarce. In the Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation (COBRA) Trial, a 2 x 2 factorial, cluster randomized controlled trial, the combined home health education (HHE) and trained general practitioner (GP) intervention delivered over 2 years was more effective than no intervention (usual care) in lowering systolic BP among adults with hypertension in urban Pakistan. However, it was not clear whether the effect would be sustained after the cessation of intervention. We conducted 7 years follow-up inclusive of 5 years of post intervention period of COBRA trial participants to assess the effectiveness of the interventions on BP during extended follow-up. Methods A total of 1341 individuals 40 years or older with hypertension (systolic BP 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic BP 90 mm Hg or greater, or already receiving treatment) were followed by trained research staff masked to randomization status. BP was measured thrice with a calibrated automated device (Omron HEM-737 IntelliSense) in the sitting position after 5 minutes of rest. BP measurements were repeated after two weeks. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the primary outcome of change in systolic BP from baseline to 7- year follow-up. The multivariable model was adjusted for clustering, age at baseline, sex, baseline systolic and diastolic BP, and presence of diabetes. Findings After 7 years of follow-up, systolic BP levels among those randomised to combined HHE plus trained GP intervention were significantly lower (2.1 [4.1–0.1] mm Hg) compared to those randomised to usual care, (P = 0.04). Participants receiving the combined intervention compared to usual care had a greater reduction in LDL-cholesterol (2.7 [4.8 to 0.6] mg/dl. Conclusions The benefit in systolic BP reduction observed in the original cohort assigned to the combined intervention was attenuated but still evident at 7- year follow-up. These findings highlight the potential for scaling-up simple strategies for cardiovascular risk reduction in low- and middle- income countries. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00327574
Higher degree committee members' perceptions of quality assurance of Doctoral education: a South African perspective

In South Africa four key policy discourses underpin doctoral education: growth, capacity, efficiency, and quality discourses. This article contributes to the discourse on quality by engaging with quality assurance from the perspective of the decision makers and implementers of macro policy (national), meso (institutional), and micro (faculty/departmental) levels. We explore the perceptions that members of higher degree committees in the field of Education have of the quality assurance of doctoral education. Our data are drawn from a national survey questionnaire completed by these respondents at all public South African institutions that offer a doctorate in Education. The insights gained reside within four categories: positionality, policy, programmes, and people (stakeholders). Thereafter, we problematised the main results using academic freedom in a mode 3 knowledge production environment as a lens, which revealed thought provoking directions for future research about doctoral education.
Looking Inside the Black Box: Are Human Resource Practices Really Associated with Employer Performance?

Despite an extensive body of research examining human resource management and performance, relatively little research has addressed this issue using both employer and employee-related outcomes. In addition, little research has focused on small firms. This study uses data from three sources (Canadian manufacturing employers, private sector employers in New Zealand, and a regional sample of small businesses in Atlantic Canada) to examine the relationship between human resource management practices and perceptions of employer performance. The findings indicate that the effect of human resource management practices on employer financial performance is mediated by overall employee satisfaction and workplace performance.
A Macro-Level Approach to Understanding Use of E-Collaboration Technologies

The term e-collaboration technologies (ECT) in an organization refers to the collective system of interactive computer-based tools that facilitate a variety of group tasks. It thus includes among others, electronic mailing systems, bulletin boards, intranets and extranets, messaging systems, group support systems, decision rooms, computer conferencing tools, and computer based video-conferencing systems, etc. ECTs have often been referred to in the literature, using various terms to highlight specific uses such technologies have been put to. These include group decision support systems, group support systems, computer supported collaborative work, groupware, and collaborative technologies. ECTs are among the many IT applications that have seen a rapid deployment in organizations due to greater use of task-teams and groups. There is thus an increased use of inter-departmental and cross-functional teams (Sarker, Valacich, & Sarker, 2005). Groups are hence viewed as a “basic unit of the formal organization structure” (Applegate, 1991). Second, the coming of the PCs, the advent of easy-to-use software and the developments in network technologies constitute additional impetus for the use of computers to support collaborative work in organizations. Use of technology support for collaborative work is believed to increase productivity in organizations. It is hence important to examine the use of such technologies in greater depth (Markus, 1994). Increasing access to communication technologies without adequately understanding the task requirements and the potential change in the work environment and processes may lead to information overload and may not benefit the user. This study therefore, aims at enhancing our understanding of the broad factors influencing the use of ECT in organizations. The article is organized in the following manner. The first section reviews concerned literature relevant to the use of ECT in organizations. The second section describes a framework depicting the drivers of ECT use in organizations. The framework represents a macro level perspective of the phenomenon. The subsequent section highlights the implications of such a framework and the potential for further research.
MAQASID AL-SYARI’AH DALAM PANDANGAN JASSER AUDA:

The fundamental problem in Islamic law (Maqasid al-Syari’ah) is how the goal of Islamic law can be useful for justice and bring benefit for all levels of society. However, the effort to bring justice in law is a dinamic and long time process. Through system approach, Jasser Auda tries develops a new frame of mind for the development of Islamic law in this era. There are six concepts of Auda system approach; Cognition, Wholeness, Opennes, Interrelated-Hierarchy, Multidimensionality and Purposefulness. This article discuss about those six concepts and the implementation in Isamic law.
A new PID-type Fuzzy neural network controller based on Genetic Algorithm with improved Smith predictor

Owing to the problem of control difficulty for the complex system, which has the characteristics of the large inertia, the pure time-delay and the model uncertainty in the industrial processes, a new PID-type fuzzy neural network controller (FNNC) based on Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) inference is proposed. Real-coded Chaotic Quantum-inspired Genetic Algorithm (RCQGA) is used to optimize the membership function parameters and TSK parameter sets simultaneously with faster convergence speed and more powerful optimizing ability. The pure time-delay effect of the complex object is compensated by a Smith predictor combined with Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network identifier. The structure and control tactics of the controller are presented and tested by simulations and experiments in the heating furnace system. The proposed algorithm, as confirmed by the results of simulation and experiment compared with the Smith-Fuzzy-PID controller, exhibits good dynamic adjustment, high steady-state accuracy, strong resistant ability to interference and good robustness.
Stochastic Partitioning Strategies for Providing Scalable of Quality of Service Routing in Large Networks

In today's Internet with its multiple services, there is a growing need to provide quality of service (QoS) guarantees tailored to specific services rather than the best-effort QoS that is currently provided. One of the most important mechanisms for providing QoS guarantees is QoS routing. However, the main drawback to the use of QoS routing algorithms is their inability to scale well to large networks. This is particularly problematic in the Internet where the number of nodes (switches, routers, terminals) is growing exponentially with time. One solution to deal with this scalability problem is to divide a network into manageable blocks (sub-systems) and this is known as network partitioning. This paper focuses on a review of the so called stochastic partitioning methods that dynamically change a network partition according to the traffic patterns in the network in order to minimise an objective function that reflects the computational effort involved in the underlying routing algorithms used in the network. Such methods therefore exploit the interactions between the network topology, the traffic flows and the routing which are not collectively considered by other forms of partitioning. The review suggests that a method called Clique Stochastic Partitioning looks to be the most promising and this is examined further in the paper. A recommendation of the review is that future large networks, such as the Internet, should be designed to exhibit completely connected sub-structures in their topologies (called cliques). Then stochastic partitioning can be used to scale any routing algorithms so that the computational effort remains bounded to a manageable value as the number of network nodes grows.
Skeleton-based agent development for electronic institutions

In this paper we describe an approach for semi-automatic agent development. We focus on the scenario in which agents are designed to follow an electronic institution, a formalism to specify open agent organisations. In our approach, an initial design pattern is automatically extracted from a given electronic institution. This pattern is then offered to programmers willing to develop agents to perform in the electronic institution. Our approach supports developers when modifying the initial simple design pattern into more sophisticated programs.
Norisoboldine, an Anti-Arthritis Alkaloid Isolated from Radix Linderae, Attenuates Osteoclast Differentiation and Inflammatory Bone Erosion in an Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Dependent Manner

Norisoboldine (NOR), the primary isoquinoline alkaloid constituent of the root of Lindera aggregata, has previously been demonstrated to attenuate osteoclast (OC) differentiation. Accumulative evidence has shown that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays an important role in regulating the differentiation of various cells, and multiple isoquinoline alkaloids can modulate AhR. In the present study, we explored the role of NOR in the AhR signaling pathway. These data showed that the combination of AhR antagonist resveratrol (Res) or α-naphthoflavone (α-NF) nearly reversed the inhibition of OC differentiation through NOR. NOR could stably bind to AhR, up-regulate the nuclear translocation of AhR, and enhance the accumulation of the AhR-ARNT complex, AhR-mediated reporter gene activity and CYP1A1 expression in RAW 264.7 cells, suggesting that NOR might be an agonist of AhR. Moreover, NOR inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB-p65, resulting in the evident accumulation of the AhR-NF-κB-p65 complex, which could be markedly inhibited through either Res or α-NF. Although NOR only slightly affected the expression of HIF-1α, NOR markedly reduced VEGF mRNA expression and ARNT-HIF-1α complex accumulation. In vivo studies indicated that NOR decreased the number of OCs and ameliorated the bone erosion in the joints of rats with collagen-induced arthritis, accompanied by the up-regulation of CYP1A1 and the down-regulation of VEGF mRNA expression in the synovium of rats. A combination of α-NF nearly completely reversed the effects of NOR. In conclusion, NOR attenuated OC differentiation and bone erosion through the activation of AhR and the subsequent inhibition of both NF-κB and HIF pathways.