Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
eFalcon — A scalable prototyping platform for next generation communication systems

The recent years showed an increasing demand for higher data rates in communication systems in general. To keep up with the reduced time-to-market in this area, an elaborate prototyping concept is inevitable. The authors propose a prototyping platform which combines the advantages of the flexibility of a digital signal processor with the efficient parallelization capabilities of a field-programmable gate array. The primary purpose of this platform is to allow a real-time capable implementation of current as well as next generation communication standards. The focus has been put on the integration of the full communication chain from the antenna to the decoded bit stream. Since the ever increasing computational complexity complicates the dimensioning of such platforms, scalability was a crucial design constraint for the presented concept. Interconnecting multiple platforms can be used to establish even complex multi-antenna systems.
Public preferences for improved urban waste management: a choice experiment

Abstract A discrete choice experiment, aiming to elicit public preferences for improvements in solid waste services, is carefully administered across socioeconomic zones in the city of Hawassa, Ethiopia. Observed and unobserved preference heterogeneity are analyzed using mixed logit choice models. The results show that there exists substantial willingness to pay to increase collection frequency and separate recyclable waste. A new issue is the focus on child labor in the waste management sector. Significant gender effects are found: women are more interested than men in increasing waste collection frequency and value the abolishment of child labor more highly, as do higher income households. As expected, respondents living in wealthier neighborhoods are more likely to pay higher service charges. Education indirectly influences preferences for waste separation. The study provides important insight into the social benefits of public investment decisions to improve the quality of solid waste management services in large cities in Ethiopia.
Mediterranean diet adherence and risk of multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We conducted a hospital-based, case-control study to examine the association between Mediterranean diet (MD) and the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Iran. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN A total of 70 patients with MS and 142 controls underwent face-to-face interviews in the major neurological clinics of Tehran, Iran. Adherence to a MD was assessed using the 9-unit dietary score, to evaluate the level of conformity of the individual's diet to the Mediterranean dietary pattern. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS Higher consumption of fruits (OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.63, p-value: 0.002) and vegetables (OR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.10-0.53, p-value: 0.001) were significantly associated with reduced MS risk. In both age adjusted and multivariate adjusted model, the OR of MS decreased significantly in the third as compared to the first tertile of MD score (age adjusted OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06-0.67; p-trend: 0.01, Multivariate adjusted OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.06-0.89, p-trend: 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that a high quality diet assessed by MD may decrease the risk of MS.
Synthesis, Characterization and Spectral Properties of Substituted Tetraphenylporphyrin Iron Chloride Complexes

A series of substituted tetraphenylporphyrin iron chloride complexes [RTPPFe(III)Cl, R=o/p-NO2, o/p-Cl, H, o/p-CH3, o/p-OCH3] were synthesized by a novel universal mixed-solvent method and the spectral properties of free base porphyrins and iron porphyrin compounds were compared with each other. The experimental results showed that the one-pot mixed solvent method was superior to the two-step method in the yields, reaction time and workup of reaction mixtures for the synthesis of iron porphyrin compounds. The highest yields (28.7%–40.4%) of RTPPFe(III)Cl were obtained in the mixed solvents propionic acid, glacial acetic acid and m-nitrotoluene under reflux for 2 h. A detailed analysis of ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), infrared (IR) and far-infrared (FIR) spectra suggested the transformation from free base porphyrins to iron porphyrins. The red shift of the Soret band in ultraviolet-visible spectra due to the presence of p-nitrophenyl substituents and the blue shift of Fe-Cl bond of TPPFeCl in far-infrared spectra were further explained by the electron transfer and molecular planarity in the porphyrin ring.
Cloning, Tissue Expression, and Chromosomal Localization of SUR2, the Putative Drug-Binding Subunit of Cardiac, Skeletal Muscle, and Vascular KATP Channels

ATP-sensitive inwardly rectifying potassium channels are expressed in a variety of tissues, including heart, skeletal, and smooth muscle, and pancreatic β-cells. Physiological and pharmacological studies suggest the presence of distinct KATP channels in these tissues. Recently, the KATP channel of β-cells has been reconstituted in functional form by coexpression of SUR, the sulfonylurea-binding protein, and the inwardly rectifying K+ channel subunit, KIR6.2. In this article, we describe the isolation of cDNAs encoding SUR-like proteins from mouse, SUR2A and SUR2B. Northern blotting showed that the highest expression of the SUR2 isoforms is in the heart and skeletal muscle, with lower levels in all other tissues. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, SUR2B is ubiquitously expressed, while the apparently alternatively spliced variant, SUR2A, is expressed exclusively in heart. In situ hybridization shows that the SUR2 isoforms are expressed in the parenchyma of the heart and skeletal muscle and in the vascular structures of other tissues. Human SUR2 was localized to chromosome 12, p12.1 by fluorescent in situ hybridization. The structure of the predicted protein and expression pattern of SUR2 suggests that it is the drug-binding channel-modulating subunit of the extrapancreatic KATP channel. Differences in sequence between SUR and between SUR2 isoforms may underlie the tissue-specific pharmacology of the KATP channel.
Phase I study of lorvotuzumab mertansine (LM, IMGN901) in combination with lenalidomide (Len) and dexamethasone (Dex) in patients with CD56-positive relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM).

8013 Background: LM is a conjugate of a maytansinoid cytotoxic agent with a CD56-binding antibody. It is designed to bind to and kill CD56-expressing cancer cells. About 70% of MM cases express CD56. LM has been shown to be active and well tolerated as a single agent for MM in a separate phase I study. Based on the single agent activity and on data from preclinical models of MM showing enhanced activity when LM is combined with Len/Dex, a phase I study assessing the combination was initiated. METHODS The study objectives are to determine the MTD, DLT and activity of LM in combination with fixed doses of Len and Dex. Patients with CD56+ relapsed or relapsed/refractory MM who have received at least 1 prior therapy (may have included Len) are eligible during dose escalation. The total trial is expected to include ~52 patients. Response is assessed per IMWG criteria. LM is given IV once weekly for 3 weeks, Len (25 mg) is given orally on Days 1-21, and Dex (40mg) is given orally once weekly for 4 weeks, all in a 4-week cycle. PK at the MTD is planned, and pharmacodynamic studies are being conducted. RESULTS Twelve patients have been enrolled (3 patients at 75, 4 at 90, and 5 at 112 mg/m2 of LM). Patient accrual to the 112 mg/m2 cohort continues. No DLTs have been reported. One SAE (fatigue considered related to Dex) and 7 combination-treatment-related grade 3 toxicities have been reported in 4 patients. No grade 4 toxicities have been observed. To date, 2 VGPRs (1 active Cycle 9; 1 off after 6 cycles to receive transplant and 4 PRs (3 active Cycles 2, 3 and 4; 1 off after 4 cycles per patient decision) have been observed; 5 of the 6 responding patients had previously received thalidomide or Len. Among the 12 patients enrolled, the median number of prior therapies is 3, with 42% having received prior Len. Both patients with VGPRs and 1 patient with a PR had prior transplant. Efficacy and safety data for all patients will be reported. CONCLUSIONS LM in combination with Len and Dex has shown objective evidence of clinical activity with an acceptable safety profile. The dose-escalation portion of the study is open to enrollment for further exploration of the MTD.
Academic Perceptions of Electronic Commerce Journals: Rankings and Regional Differences

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) has become a vital research area in the past few decades. Thousands of papers have been published in e-commerce journals and journals in related fields, such as information systems and marketing, influencing the direction and evolution of e-commerce research. The purpose of this paper is to examine how these journals are perceived by academic researchers in terms of their popularity and their contribution to the field of electronic commerce. An online survey was conducted to compare selected journals across four dimensions: popularity, relevance, academic contribution, and publication preference. The sample is comprised of a total of 162 responses from around the world. The journals are classified as either e-commerce or related fields based on their content, while e-commerce journals are further divided into comprehensive and niche journals based on their popularity. The findings indicate that scholars’ perceptions of EC journals vary depending on region, age, and academic rank. Both the overall rankings and the regional rankings of these journals are reported
Inspiratory muscle fatigue following moderate-intensity exercise in the heat.

Heavy exercise has been shown to elicit reductions in inspiratory muscle strength in healthy subjects. Our purpose was to determine the combined effects of moderate-intensity endurance exercise and a thermal load on inspiratory muscle strength in active subjects. Eight active, non heat-acclimatized female subjects (23.5 ± 1.4 yr; VO2max = 39.8 ± 2.4 ml.kg(-1). min(-1)) randomly performed two 40 min endurance exercise bouts (60% VO2max) in either a thermo-neutral (22°C/21% RH) or hot (37°C/33% RH) environment on separate days. Maximal sustained inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) was obtained pre and post exercise as an index of inspiratory muscle strength. Additional variables obtained every 10 min during the endurance exercise bouts included: rectal temperature (TRE), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2), tidal volume (VT), breathing frequency (Fb), and ratings of perceived exertion and dyspnea (RPE/RPD). Data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA. PImax was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) after exercise in the hot environment when compared to baseline and when compared to post exercise values in the thermo-neutral environment. PImax was unchanged from baseline following exercise in the thermo-neutral environment. HR and TRE were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the hot compared to the thermo-neutral environment. VE and VO2 were not significantly different between conditions. VT was unchanged between conditions whereas Fb was higher (p < 0.05) in the hot condition compared to thermo-neutral. RPE was not significantly different between conditions. RPD was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the hot compared to the thermo-neutral environment. We conclude that moderate-intensity endurance exercise (60% VO2max) in a hot environment elicits significant reductions in inspiratory muscle strength in unfit females. This finding is novel in that previous studies conducted in a thermo-neutral environment have shown that an exercise intensity of >80% VO2max is required to elicit reductions in inspiratory muscle strength. In addition, dyspnea perception during exercise is greater in a hot environment, compared to thermo-neutral, at a similar level of VE and VO2. Key PointsThe combined effects of a heat load and exercise on inspiratory muscle strength were investigated in untrained female subjects.Previous studies have shown that a very high exercise intensity (> 80% VO2max) is required to elicit reductions in inspiratory muscle strength.Prolonged submaximal exercise (40-min/60% VO2max) in a hot environment significantly reduced inspiratory muscle strength in untrained females whereas the same intensity in a thermo-neutral environment had no effect on inspiratory muscle function.These reductions in inspiratory muscle strength may be related to competition for blood flow among the locomotor, inspiratory, and cutaneous circulations.
Quantification of Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Patient Plasma by Targeted Mass Spectrometry and Stable Isotope Dilution*

Verification of candidate biomarkers requires specific assays to selectively detect and quantify target proteins in accessible biofluids. The primary objective of verification is to screen potential biomarkers to ensure that only the highest quality candidates from the discovery phase are taken forward into preclinical validation. Because antibody reagents for a clinical grade immunoassay often exist for a small number of candidates, alternative methodologies are required to credential new and unproven candidates in a statistically viable number of serum or plasma samples. Using multiple reaction monitoring coupled with stable isotope dilution MS, we developed quantitative, multiplexed assays in plasma for six proteins of clinical relevance to cardiac injury. The process described does not require antibodies for immunoaffinity enrichment of either proteins or peptides. Limits of detection and quantitation for each signature peptide used as surrogates for the target proteins were determined by the method of standard addition using synthetic peptides and plasma from a healthy donor. Limits of quantitation ranged from 2 to 15 ng/ml for most of the target proteins. Quantitative measurements were obtained for one to two signature peptides derived from each target protein, including low abundance protein markers of cardiac injury in the nanogram/milliliter range such as the cardiac troponins. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were predominantly <10 and 25%, respectively. The configured multiplex assay was then used to measure levels of these proteins across three time points in six patients undergoing alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. These results are the first demonstration of a multiplexed, MS-based assay for detection and quantification of changes in concentration of proteins associated with cardiac injury in the low nanogram/milliliter range. Our results also demonstrate that these assays retain the necessary precision, reproducibility, and sensitivity to be applied to novel and uncharacterized candidate biomarkers for verification of proteins in blood.
Multiobjective Optimization for Computation Offloading in Fog Computing

Fog computing system is an emergent architecture for providing computing, storage, control, and networking capabilities for realizing Internet of Things. In the fog computing system, the mobile devices (MDs) can offload its data or computational expensive tasks to the fog node within its proximity, instead of distant cloud. Although offloading can reduce energy consumption at the MDs, it may also incur a larger execution delay including transmission time between the MDs and the fog/cloud servers, and waiting and execution time at the servers. Therefore, how to balance the energy consumption and delay performance is of research importance. Moreover, based on the energy consumption and delay, how to design a cost model for the MDs to enjoy the fog and cloud services is also important. In this paper, we utilize queuing theory to bring a thorough study on the energy consumption, execution delay, and payment cost of offloading processes in a fog computing system. Specifically, three queuing models are applied, respectively, to the MD, fog, and cloud centers, and the data rate and power consumption of the wireless link are explicitly considered. Based on the theoretical analysis, a multiobjective optimization problem is formulated with a joint objective to minimize the energy consumption, execution delay, and payment cost by finding the optimal offloading probability and transmit power for each MD. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme and the superior performance over several existed schemes are observed.
Genetic Components of Root Architecture Remodeling in Response to Salt Stress[OPEN]

Natural variation in 347 Arabidopsis accessions reveals differential root plasticity responses to salinity, associated with 100 genetic loci, and roles for HKT1 and CYP79B2 in lateral root development. Salinity of the soil is highly detrimental to plant growth. Plants respond by a redistribution of root mass between main and lateral roots, yet the genetic machinery underlying this process is still largely unknown. Here, we describe the natural variation among 347 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions in root system architecture (RSA) and identify the traits with highest natural variation in their response to salt. Salt-induced changes in RSA were associated with 100 genetic loci using genome-wide association studies. Two candidate loci associated with lateral root development were validated and further investigated. Changes in CYP79B2 expression in salt stress positively correlated with lateral root development in accessions, and cyp79b2 cyp79b3 double mutants developed fewer and shorter lateral roots under salt stress, but not in control conditions. By contrast, high HKT1 expression in the root repressed lateral root development, which could be partially rescued by addition of potassium. The collected data and multivariate analysis of multiple RSA traits, available through the Salt_NV_Root App, capture root responses to salinity. Together, our results provide a better understanding of effective RSA remodeling responses, and the genetic components involved, for plant performance in stress conditions.
Exact Formulae for Resilience in Random Key Predistribution Schemes

As wireless sensor networks are often deployed in adverse or hostile environments, key management schemes are required for sensor nodes. The random key predistribution (RKP) scheme is a probabilistic key management scheme where each node is preloaded with a subset of keys that are randomly selected from a pool of keys. If a pair of neighbor nodes have a common key, it can be used to establish a secure link between the nodes. The q-composite RKP scheme requires that a pair of neighbor nodes have at least q common keys for a secure link. In this article, we show that the previous security analysis (i.e., resilience against node capture) of the q-composite RKP scheme is inaccurate and present new formulae for resilience in the RKP scheme and the q-composite RKP scheme.
Does immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy influence the outcome of patients with non-endocrine responsive breast cancer?

BACKGROUND/AIM In breast cancer (BC) patients, breast surgery followed by immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) might favour recurrences and metastases due to extensive surgical manipulation. We retrospectively investigated whether IBR after mastectomy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NT) influenced the outcome in patients with early and locally advanced oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative BC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1995 and 2006, 133 BC patients received NT followed by total mastectomy, 59 of whom underwent IBR. Patients receiving IBR (IBR group) were compared to patients who did not receive IBR (no-IBR group) over a prolonged median follow-up time (8.2 years). RESULTS Patients receiving IBR were on average younger than patients not receiving IBR (p<0.001). The percentage of patients with positive clinical nodal status (cN) was 19% in the IBR group and 7% in no-IBR group (p=0.036), whereas patients without IBR were more frequently diagnosed as clinical T4 (59% vs. 15%, p<0.001). The 5-year cumulative incidence of locoregional recurrences were 14% in the no-IBR group and 21% in the IBR group. The hazard of locoregional events, adjusted for age, clinical T and cN, was significantly greater in the IBR group than in the no-IBR group (hazard ratio (HR)=2.77, p=0.045). The 5-year cumulative incidences of distant metastases were similar in the two groups (p=0.414). CONCLUSION IBR following total mastectomy in patients with ER-negative disease after NT is associated with a worse rate of local relapses. More insight in mechanisms of wound healing and extent of surgery is required to further investigate this observation.
Performance analysis of uplink sparse code multiple access with iterative multiuser receiver

This paper investigates the asymptotic performance of bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) with iterative multiuser detection and decoding in uplink sparse code multiple access (SCMA) systems. The extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) characteristics analysis of the joint multiuser detector for SCMA is provided, and shows that the average detection reliability for multiple users converges to the single-user case, if ideal feedback from the decoder is available to the detector. We develop a tight analytical bound on the convolutionally encoded bit-error rate (BER) for independent Rayleigh fadings, based on the single-user bound with arbitrary multidimensional constellations. Moreover, we analyze the achievable coding and diversity gains of the SCMA-BICM system with iterative receiver. Simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the analysis.
Benchmarking Local Orientation Extraction in Fingerprint Recognition

The computation of local orientations is a fundamental step in fingerprint recognition. Although a large number of approaches have been proposed in the literature, no systematic quantitative evaluations have been done yet, mainly due to the lack of proper datasets with associated ground truth information. In this paper we propose a new benchmark (which includes two datasets and an accuracy metric) and report preliminary results obtained by testing four well-known local orientation extraction algorithms.
Bleomycin Induces Molecular Changes Directly Relevant to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Model for “Active” Disease

The preclinical model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, used to investigate mechanisms related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has incorrectly predicted efficacy for several candidate compounds suggesting that it may be of limited value. As an attempt to improve the predictive nature of this model, integrative bioinformatic approaches were used to compare molecular alterations in the lungs of bleomycin-treated mice and patients with IPF. Using gene set enrichment analysis we show for the first time that genes differentially expressed during the fibrotic phase of the single challenge bleomycin model were significantly enriched in the expression profiles of IPF patients. The genes that contributed most to the enrichment were largely involved in mitosis, growth factor, and matrix signaling. Interestingly, these same mitotic processes were increased in the expression profiles of fibroblasts isolated from rapidly progressing, but not slowly progressing, IPF patients relative to control subjects. The data also indicated that TGFβ was not the sole mediator responsible for the changes observed in this model since the ALK-5 inhibitor SB525334 effectively attenuated some but not all of the fibrosis associated with this model. Although some would suggest that repetitive bleomycin injuries may more effectively model IPF-like changes, our data do not support this conclusion. Together, these data highlight that a single bleomycin instillation effectively replicates several of the specific pathogenic molecular changes associated with IPF, and may be best used as a model for patients with active disease.