Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Joint Admission Control and Association for the Downlink of a mmWave Vehicular Network

In this study, we consider the problem of admission control for primary vehicles and association for secondary vehicles in a singe cell downlink vehicular network, based on vehicle-to-everything (V2X) architecture. We consider the network operates on millimeter wave (mmWave) communication at 60 GHz. Our objective is to determine the optimal topology of vehicle connectivity which maximizes the number of admitted primary vehicles, while associating all secondary vehicles to ensure the coverage. We cast the optimization problem as an l0 minimization problem. This problem is known to be combinatorial and NP-hard. Hence, we propose a sub-optimal, two- stage algorithm to solve it. With numerical results we show that the proposed algorithm achieves close to optimal performance.
Flow Design of Sewerage System - A Case Study in Taman Pandan Damai, Kuantan

Flow design parameters are important in the sewerage system design. The purpose of this research is to verify the design flow parameters in the sewerage systems within a residential area at Kuantan, Pahang. The residential area selected in this research was Taman Pandan Damai. The population equivalent was surveyed at 2244. This research is in collaboration with national sewage company Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd. ISCO 4250 Area Velocity Flow meter was installed in the Manhole (MH k) after calibration was done. Real time sewage depth, flow rate and velocity data in the sewer was collected using an ultrasonic sensor attached to the flow meter. The flow design parameters were focused on per capita flow as well as design criterion. Based on the results obtained the average per capita flow was 0.36 m3/day/person which is 60% higher than the 0.225 m3/day/person recommended in the Malaysian Sewerage Industry Guidelines. Conversely, the result of design criterion was 2.61, 44% lower than 4.7 which is also stated in the Malaysian Sewerage Industry Guidelines. This indicated that the design of the sewerage system in Taman Pandan Damai was more than capable of catering to the population equivalent serviced in that area. In other words, reduction of sewer pipeline diameters may be possible for future sewerage system design. More comprehensive studies are needed to initiate the review of revised flow design parameters taking into account the rising cost of materials around the world.
A comparative assessment of three approaches to pixel-level human skin-detection

This paper assesses the merits of three different approaches to pixel-level human skin detection. The basis for the 3 approaches has been reported in the literature. The first two approaches use simple ratios and colour space transforms respectively, whereas the third is a numerically efficient approach based on a 3D RGB probability map, first implemented by Rehg-Jones (1999). The Bayesian probabilities are made possible to compute only with the availability of a large appropriately labeled database. Over 12000 images from the Compaq skin and non-skin databases are used to quantitatively assess the three approaches. Thresholds are determined empirically to detect 95% of all skin-associated pixels and assessment is then made in terms of the percentage of non-skin pixels incorrectly accepted. The lowest of these false acceptance rates is found to be about 20% given by the 3D probability map.
Expression of multi drug resistance ( MDR 1 ) gene in human promyelocytic leukemia cell line selected with vincristine

MDR1 mediated drug resistance is one of the main problems for some cancer chemotherapies. Vincristine (VCR) is an effective drug used in clinical treatment of acute leukemias. The concentration of VCR was stepwise increased (1-50 nM) in the cell culture media of HL60 cells (AML cell line). The viability of cells was determined and the expression of MDR1 gene was studied by using reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In sensitive HL60 cells MDR1 gene expression was not present. The level of the MDR1 gene expression increased in cells with stepwise increases of VCR concentration. MDR1 gene expression was about six times more in 50 nM VCR resistant cells than in 2 nM VCR applied HL60 cells. The IC50 values in sensitive and resistant HL60 cells were 4 nM and 300 nM, respectively. The results indicated that HL60/VCR cells were 75-fold more resistant to vincristine compared to sensitive HL60 cells. It was observed that the cells that were resistant to high concentrations of VCR express MDR1 gene at high levels. [Turk J Cancer 2005;35(2):88-92]. INTRODUCTION Chemotherapy has been very effective in the treatment of non-localized cancers. However, upon relapse many cancers become resistant to further chemotherapy, even with drugs that have not been previously used. This phenomenon is termed as multidrug resistance (MDR). The mechanisms underlying this clinical phenomenon have been studied using in vitro models, leading to characterization of genes capable of conferring resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Different mechanisms have been characterized in MDR (1). One of the mechanisms that is known to contribute to this phenomenon is the expression of the ATP-dependent P-glycoprotein. P-glycoprotein is included in a large super family of transport proteins termed, ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters or traffic ATPases (2). Among these genes, multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) has been of particular interest because its overexpression can lead to resistance to drugs such as anthracyclines, vinca alkaloids and podophyllins, which are important in the treatment of leukemia (3). MDR1 gene, located on chromosome 7, encodes for a 170-kDa glycoprotein (P-gp). The broad spectrum of drugs affected by MDR1 has made it an attractive candidate to explain the phenomenon of clinical resistance, whereby leukemia cells or tumor becomes refractory to drugs to which it has never been exposed (4). YUSUF BARAN1, UFUK GÜNDÜZ1, AL‹ U⁄UR URAL2 1Middle East Technical University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ankara, 2Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Hematology, Ankara-Turkey
Detecting Learner Engagement in MOOCs using Automatic Facial Expression Recognition

Drop out rates in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are very high. Although there are many external factors, such as users not having enough time or not intending to complete the course, there are some aspects that instructors can control to optimally engage their students. To do this, they need to know how students engage throughout their video lecture. This paper explores the use of webcams to record students’ facial expressions whilst they watched educational video material to analyse their Learner Engagement levels. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were trained to detect facial action units, which were mapped onto two psychological measurements, valence (emotional state) and arousal (attentiveness), using support vector regressions. These valence and arousal values were combined in a novel manner resulting in Learner Engagement levels. Moreover, a new approach was used to combine CNNs with geometric feature-based techniques to improve the performance of the models. Two experiments were conducted and found that 9 out of 10 CNN models achieved 95% accuracy on average across the majority of the subjects, whilst the Learner Engagement detector was able to identify facial expressions that translated to Learner Engagement levels successfully. These results suggest that there is promise in this approach, in that feedback on students’ Learner Engagement can be provided back to the instructor. Additional research should be undertaken to further prove these results and overcome some limitations that were faced.
Chickpea Seed Production Manual

Although a wide range of improved chickpea cultivars are now available, many farmers still continue to grow old varieties and landraces. Thus, the achievements of chickpea improvement research have not fully translated into increased productivity at the farm level. The productivity of chickpea can be substantially enhanced by adoption of improved cultivars and associated improved production technologies. It is often seen that the farmers who do not adopt improved cultivars are also reluctant to adopt improved crop production technologies. Thus, improved cultivars provide an effi cient vehicle for transfer of other improved crop production technologies. Studies show that farmers’ lack of access to seed of new varieties is a major cause of non-adoption of new cultivars. There is an urgent need to enhance seed production of improved cultivars to ensure adequate availability of quality seed to the farmers at local level and at affordable price. Because of the minor role of the private sector in seed production of legumes, the informal seed system (seed production by non-government organizations, farmers’ groups and individual farmers) plays a signifi cant role in increasing availability of quality seed and adoption of improved cultivars. This manual provides comprehensive information on improved seed production technologies for growing a healthy seed crop of chickpea and storage of chickpea seed. The manual will be useful to all chickpea seed growers involved in formal and informal seed systems.
Partial Liquid Ventilation Versus Conventional Mechanical Ventilation with High PEEP and Moderate Tidal Volume in Acute Respiratory Failure in Piglets

This prospective randomized pilot study aimed to test the hypotheses that partial liquid ventilation combined with a high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and a moderate tidal volume results in improved gas exchange and lung mechanics without negative hemodynamic influences compared with conventional mechanical ventilation in acute lung injury in piglets. Acute lung injury was induced in 12 piglets weighing 9.0 ± 2.4 kg by repeated i.v. injections of oleic acid and repeated lung lavages. Thereafter, the animals were randomly assigned either to partial liquid ventilation (n = 6) or conventional mechanical ventilation (n = 6) at a fractional concentration of inspired O2 of 1.0, a PEEP of 1.2 kPa, a tidal volume < 10 mL/kg body weight (bw), a respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min, and an inspiratory/expiratory ratio of 1:2. Perfluorocarbon liquid 30 mL/kg bw was instilled into the endotracheal tube over 10 min followed by 5 mL/kg bw/h. Continuous monitoring included ECG, mean right atrial, pulmonary artery, pulmonary capillary, and arterial pressures, arterial blood gas, and partial pressure of end-tidal CO2 measurements. When compared with control animals, partial liquid ventilation resulted in significantly better oxygenation with improved cardiac output and oxygen delivery. Dead space ventilation appeared to be lower during partial liquid ventilation compared with conventional mechanical ventilation. No significant differences were observed in airway pressures, pulmonary compliance, and airway resistance between both groups. The results of this pilot study suggest that partial liquid ventilation combined with high PEEP and moderate tidal volume improves oxygenation, dead space ventilation, cardiac output, and oxygen delivery compared with conventional mechanical ventilation in acute lung injury in piglets but has no significant influence on lung mechanics.
A New Optimization Approach for Energy Consumption within Wireless Sensor Networks

The use of sensor networks should keep developing, mainly in such fields as scientific, logistic, military or healthcare applications. However, sensor size represents a significant limitation mainly in terms of energy autonomy and therefore of life period, for the batteries have to be too tiny. This is the reason why intensive research is being conducted nowadays on how to control sensor energy consumption within a network, taking communications into account as a priority. For this purpose we have proposed a method to calculate energy consumption within the wireless sensor networks, according to the number of information packets sent, the number of nodes. Furthermore, we have succeeded in reducing energy consumption within the sensor networks made up with nodes featuring differing data flow rates.
Efficacy and safety of OBI‐1, an antihaemophilic factor VIII (recombinant), porcine sequence, in subjects with acquired haemophilia A

Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by autoantibodies against human factor VIII (hFVIII). OBI‐1 is an investigational, B‐domain deleted, recombinant FVIII, porcine sequence, with low cross‐reactivity to anti‐hFVIII antibodies. Efficacy can be monitored with FVIII activity levels in addition to clinical assessments. This prospective, open label, phase 2/3 study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of OBI‐1 treatment for bleeding episodes in subjects with AHA. After an initial dose of 200 U kg−1, OBI‐1 was titrated to maintain target FVIII activity levels, in correlation with clinical assessments, throughout the treatment phase. All 28 subjects with AHA had a positive response to OBI‐1 treatment 24 h after initiation despite inhibition of FVIII activity levels immediately after infusion in 10 subjects with baseline anti‐porcine FVIII inhibitors. Control of the qualifying bleed was ultimately achieved in 24 of 28 subjects. No related serious adverse events, thrombotic events, allergic reactions or thrombocytopaenia occurred. The results of this study indicate that OBI‐1 is safe and effective in treating bleeding episodes in subjects with AHA. The ability to safely and effectively titrate dosing based on FVIII activity levels in this study demonstrates that OBI‐1 fulfils the unmet medical need to monitor the key coagulation parameter in AHA patients.
Saonia flava gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from coastal seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, yellow-pigmented, straight rod-shaped bacterium, strain MOLA117T, was isolated from a coastal water sample from the north-western Mediterranean Sea, near Banyuls-sur-Mer, France. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain MOLA117T was placed within the family Flavobacteriaceae, but showed less than 93 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other recognized species within the family. The most closely related genera included Arenibacter, Cellulophaga, Maribacter and Zobellia. The only isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone MK-6 and the predominant fatty acid was iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, representing over 33 % of the total fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 36.9 mol%. Strain MOLA117T required NaCl for growth, and did not exhibit gliding motility or produce flexirubin. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain MOLA117T should be considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Saonia flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Saonia flava is MOLA117T (=CIP 110873T=DSM 29762T).
Identification and Characterization of Novel Binding Epitope of Tetanus Toxoid by Phage Display Peptide Library

Phage display peptide libraries are widely used in various protein-protein interaction studies to determine the immunological binding of proteins and epitope mapping of different targets. In the present study, the peptide library is used to identify the Fab binding epitope site of Tetanus Toxoid (TT). The peptides were screened against Fab by biopanning, using a random peptide 12mer phage display library. Clones were selected based on the binding activity by phage ELISA and one of the peptide sequence (DTMSYTPNIHLL), which showed highest binding activity towards the Fab was cloned into pGEX-4T1 vector for expression and purified using glutathione agarose affinity chromatography. The binding activity of the purified peptide was demonstrated by ELISA and Immunoblot analysis. Further, analysis of the peptide sequence revealed homology of four amino acids (YTPN) to heavy chain sequence of TT. F13 Fab significantly binds to the YTPN epitope of the TT antigen as indicated by ELISA and may have potential in diagnostics.
Relationship versus Transaction Marketing in China: An Institutional Approach

This study takes a transaction governance institutional approach to predict firms’ choice between relationship versus transaction marketing in China. Drawing on the literatures on relational versus discrete transactions and their respective governance institutions of social relational governance versus market mechanisms, the paper posits that firms can either practice relationship marketing to reinforce social relational governance to support relational exchanges, or launch transaction marketing to enhance the effectiveness of market mechanisms to promote discrete transactions. The paper further argues that such decisions are determined by institutional, industry, and firm attributes. Empirical results support these arguments which provide strong research and practical implications.
GaN-Based MHz Single Phase Inverter with a High Efficiency Hybrid TCM Control Method

Triangular current mode (TCM) control for single phase inverters leads to significant improvement in efficiency at high switching frequencies. However, the huge switching frequency variation of the TCM-based inverter leads to excessive turn-off switching loss, as well as excessive core and winding losses of the inductor. For achieving better performances of TCM-based inverter, a hybrid TCM control is proposed for switching frequency limitation and maintaining high efficiency. An optimization algorithm is established for maximizing the efficiency of the hybrid TCM control. Based on an analytical loss model of GaN HEMTs in this optimization algorithm, the optimal control strategy can be determined. The results show the efficiency with optimal hybrid TCM control is higher than pure TCM operation at light loads. Finally, the proposed hybrid TCM control is verified in an interleaved GaN-based MHz single phase inverter.
Synchronous Rectification Using Resonant Capacitor Voltage for Secondary Side Resonant Active Clamp Flyback Converter

Secondary side resonant active clamp flyback (SSR-ACF) converter is a better candidate than primary side resonant active clamp flyback (PSR-ACF) converter to be used in high frequency small power supply applications. Based on the resonant capacitor voltage in SSR-ACF converter, this paper proposes an accurate synchronous rectification (SR) control method to turn off the synchronous rectifier (SRer) at the right point. Compared with the current widely used SR detecting method, the turn off point of SRer based on the presented method can not be affect by noise or voltage oscillation, and not need complicated sensing circuit. To verify the proposed SR control method, the simulation and experimental results of a 65w 19.5v output SSR-ACF converter are given. The results show that the SRer can be switched off at the right point by the proposed method. Compared with the current widely used SR detecting method, the efficiency in heavy load is improved by 0.3%.
Limited Feedback : Throughput Scaling

Combined space division multiple access (SDMA) and scheduling exploit both spatial multiplexing and multiuser diversity, increasing throughput significantly. Both SDMA and scheduling require feedback of multiuser channel sate information (CSI). This paper focuses on uplink SDMA with limited feedback, which refers to efficient techniques for CSI quantization and feedback. To quantify the throughput of uplink SDMA and derive design guidelines, the throughput scaling with system parameters is analyzed. The specific parameters considered include the numbers of users, antennas, and feedback bits. Furthermore, different SNR regimes and beamforming methods are considered. The derived throughput scaling laws are observed to change for different SNR regimes. For instance, the throughput scales logarithmically with the number of users in the high SNR regime but double logarithmically in the low SNR regime. The analysis of throughput scaling suggests guidelines for scheduling in uplink SDMA. For example, to maximize throughput scaling, scheduling should use the criterion of minimum quantization errors for the high SNR regime and maximum channel power for the low SNR regime.
Dragonfly Optimization based ANN Model for Forecasting India's Primary Fuels' Demand

This paper presents a dragonfly optimization (DFO) based ANN model for predicting India's primary fuel demand. It involves socio-economic indicators such as population and per capita GDP and uses two ANNs, which are trained through DFO algorithm. The method optimizes the connection weights of ANN models through effectively searching the problem space in finding the global best solution. Primary fuel demands during the years 1990-2012 forms the data for training and validating the model. The proposed model requires an input, the year of the forecast, and predicts the primary fuels' demand. The forecasts up to the year 2025 are compared with that of the RM with a view to illustrate the accuracy. General Terms forecasting, primary energy fuels
Mitigating Effects of Gender Diverse Board in Companies Managed by Overconfident CEOs

Prior literature posits that overconfident managers pursue aggressive investment and risk-taking strategies, and effective governance mechanism can help to restrain such behavior. We examine whether gender-diverse board helps to mitigate negative impacts of overconfident managers, and consequently improve firm performance. Specifically, we argue that women directors have different viewpoints and skill sets vis-a-vis their male counterparts – qualities that are necessary to achieve a more nuanced approach to corporate decision-making in an otherwise aggressive boardroom setting. Using data on 1500 S&P firms we find support for our main hypothesis. Further, we find that presence of only independent women director – neither gray nor insider – drives our result. Also, interestingly, we find that the positive effects of a gender-diverse board in companies headed by overconfident managers are limited to the only pre-SOX period and only limited to those firms that were SOX-non-compliant prior to the passage of SOX. Our results imply that implementing simpler governance-improving mechanism rather than imposing elaborate regulation may be in many cases equally effective in achieving desirable changes in management behavior.
Going with the Flow: Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Dough Mixers

Wheat flour dough is a rheologically complex viscoelastic material, whose unique time-dependent properties depend on the quality of the flour, the available moisture, and the extent to which the dough is mixed. The rheological properties developed in dough during mixing are governed by the rate, amount, and type of deformation applied. As a result, dough mixers have evolved into highly complex geometries that shear, stretch, and fold. In addition, they often have close wall clearances to ensure that there are no regions of ineffective mixing. Changing between mixer types, especially between batch and continuous mixers, is difficult because of the very different flow, shear, extension, and mixing profiles that characterize each one. These differences can have an effect on the mixing time as well as an effect on the gluten structure developed in the dough, which can lead to differences in the final product texture and quality. In industry, determining mixing times and designing mixer configurations is largely done on a trial and error basis. The farinograph-style twin sigma blade mixers and mixograph-style planetary pin mixers are two common devices used for assessing flour properties during mixing. Both mixers provide empirical measurements related to the rheological properties and energy input during mixing of flour and water dough. They are used to determine flour quality and moisture absorption, despite dissimilar geometries and mixing actions. The results are also frequently used as a guide for determining the mixing requirements of flour in fullsize industrial mixers. Because of their importance in the cereal industry, a complete understanding of the flow and mixing action of these particular mixer styles is needed. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation has provided a means to more fully develop that understanding.