Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coordinated multipoint multiuser-MIMO transmissions over backhaul-constrained mobile access networks

We investigate coordinated multipoint (CoMP) multiuser multiple-input-and-multiple-output (multiuser-MIMO) downlink transmissions over mobile access networks yielding different backhaul constraints. The larger number of base stations (BSs) participating in CoMP, the higher user throughput can be expected if there is no constraint in mobile backhaul networks. Limited capacity and latency in mobile backhaul networks impose constraints on the number of BSs that can actually participate in CoMP. We propose a CoMP system architecture with multiple clustering steps that that takes into account these backhaul constraints and enables to avoid selecting BSs which do not have enough backhaul network capability. The system-level simulation shows how much performance gain user can expect by improving backhaul network capability.
Composition and Ultrastructure of Streptomyces venezuelae

Streptomyces venezuelae is a filamentous bacterium with branching vegetative hyphae embedded in the substrate and aerial hyphae bearing spores. The exterior of the spore is inlaid with myriads of tiny rods which can be removed with xylene. The spore wall is approximately 30 nanometers thick. Occasionally, it can be seen that the plasma membrane and the membranous bodies within a spore are connected. The spore's germ plasm is not separated from the cytoplasm by a nuclear envelope. The cell walls of the vegetative hyphae, which are about 15 nanometers thick, are structurally and chemically similar to those of gram-positive bacteria. The numerous internal membranous bodies, some of which arise from the plasma membrane of the vegetative hypha, may be vesicular, whirled, or convoluted. Membranous bodies are usually prominent at the hyphal apices and are associated with septum formation. The germ plasm is an elongate, contorted, centrally placed area of lower electron density than the hyphal cytoplasm. The spores differ from the vegetative hyphae, not only in fine structure, but also in the arginine and leucine contents of their total cellular proteins.
Effect of Soil Temperature on K and Ca Concentrations and on ATPase and Pyruvate Kinase Activity in Potato Roots

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) 'Spunta' plants were grown with the root zone covered by different types of polyethylene plastic mulches. The plastic mulches used were transparent, white, co-extruded black and white, and black. As a control, plants were grown without plastic mulch. The parameters analyzed were soil temperature, root concentration of K and Ca, and enzymatic activities of ATPase and pyruvate kinase (PK), measured as basal and in the presence of K + and Ca 2+ . The physical characteristics of the plastic mulches directly influenced soil and root temperatures in potato plants. In addition, the concentration of cations in the roots (particularly Ca 2+ ) and basal ATPase activity were affected by soil temperature, whereas basal PK was not affected by soil temperature. The use of co-extruded black and white plastic mulch improved the nutritional status of Ca in the roots of potato plants. Finally, the basal ATPase and PK activities in the presence of K + and Ca 2+ were related with the root levels of these cations.
Abdominal abscesses with enteric communications: CT findings.

CT examinations of four proven abdominal abscesses with enteric communications are reported. All the patients received oral contrast (3% Gastrografin solution). Three patients recieved rectal contrast. The patient who did not receive rectal contrast had a prior abdominoperineal resection. Contrast material was administered intravenously unless there was a contraindication or a suspected enteric vesical fistula. A representative case is described.
Head Shape and Abnormal Appearance of Tympanic Membranes

We examined 187 males to evaluate the hypothesis that short-headed persons more often have otitis media than long-headed persons. The subjects were seen as part of routine health screening before attending recreational summer camp. The photographic appearance of each tympanic membrane was judged on two separate occasions by an otolaryngologist who categorized them as “normal”, “abnormal”, or “cannot determine”. The repeatability of the categorizations was fair: kappa = 0.44. Only the tympanic membranes categorized identically twice were used for data analysis. The left-right symmetry of the tympanic membrane categorizations was fair: correlation coefficient phi = 0.42. Subjects categorized as having bilaterally normal tympanic membranes were considered to have not had previous otitis media (N = 95). In contrast, subjects categorized as having at least one abnormal tympanic membrane were considered to have had previous otitis media (N = 13). Head length and width, measured by calipers, and the cephalic index (width divided by length) × 100 were determined for each person. On the average, the cephalic index of the normal subjects was lower than that for the subjects with otitis media (t = 3.06, p < 0.005). These data support the suggestions of Pautow (1925) and Worley et al. (1987): dolichocephalic persons have otitis media less often than do brachycephalic persons. Though this association is not useful in clinical care of the individual patient, it may be considered a weak external manifestation of the different cranial base and eustachian tube anatomy found in persons with otitis media.
Akkadian Omens from Hattuša and Emar: The šumma immeru and šumma ālu Omens

Abstract This article presents editions of KBo. 36, 47 and KBo. 42, 116, both fragments of Akkadian omens found in attuša. KBo. 42, 116 is identified as a fragment of šumma immeru omens. KBo. 36, 47 obverse is demonstrated to be an Akkadian šumma immeru omen text almost identical to the Emar šumma immeru recension. Its reverse is proven to be an Akkadian recension of šumma ālu omens that can be identified with Tablet 41 of the canonical šumma ālu series. This invites us to discuss the textual history of these omen genres and their transmission to the so-called Western Periphery.
Direct fabrication of multi-tier structures in dielectric materials for dual damascene processing

In the back end of line (BEOL) processing of advanced microprocessors several levels (ten or more) of wiring and associated via (interconnects) are required. Through these wiring-via levels signal and power can be carried throughout the chip and to the chip carrier. The semiconductor industry uses the dual damascene approach to fabricate a wiring- and a via-level simultaneously. However, the dual damascene processing requires more than twenty process steps for one wiring-via level. For an advanced microprocessor with more than ten wiring-via levels the step count for interconnects exceeds that for front end processing. Currently, the dual damascene processing is becoming the most time-consuming step in the processing sequence and affects the throughput of the semiconductor industry essentially. In this work we present a novel approach to fabricate a multi-tier structure for dual damascene processing based on UV nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL). By using a soft polymer (PDMS) template with multi-tier patterns, a dual damascene structure for one wiring level and one via level can be directly imprinted in a functional dielectric material simultaneously. This UV-NIL based dual damascene processing reduces the total process steps drastically. The possibility of UV-NIL for dual damascene processing and imprintable dielectric materials as interlayer dielectric (ILD) will be discussed.
Understanding the control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate synthesis and the prospects for management of chronic infections in cystic fibrosis

Decades of research have been dedicated to the study of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram‐negative, environmental bacterium that secretes the exopolysaccharide alginate during chronic lung infection of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Although P. aeruginosa utilizes a variety of factors to establish a successful infection in the lungs of CF patients, alginate has stood out as one of the best‐studied prognostic indicators of chronic lung infection. While the genetics, biosynthesis and regulation of alginate are well understood, questions still remain concerning its role in biofilm development and its potential as a therapeutic target. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief summary of alginate biosynthesis and regulation, and to highlight recent discoveries in the areas of alginate production, biofilm formation and vaccine design. This information is placed in context with a proposed P. aeruginosa infectious pathway, highlighting avenues for the use of existing therapies as well as the potential for novel agents to reduce or eliminate chronic infections in CF patients.
Crash Fatality Rates After Recreational Marijuana Legalization in Washington and Colorado

Objectives To evaluate motor vehicle crash fatality rates in the first 2 states with recreational marijuana legalization and compare them with motor vehicle crash fatality rates in similar states without recreational marijuana legalization. Methods We used the US Fatality Analysis Reporting System to determine the annual numbers of motor vehicle crash fatalities between 2009 and 2015 in Washington, Colorado, and 8 control states. We compared year-over-year changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates (per billion vehicle miles traveled) before and after recreational marijuana legalization with a difference-in-differences approach that controlled for underlying time trends and state-specific population, economic, and traffic characteristics. Results Pre-recreational marijuana legalization annual changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado were similar to those for the control states. Post-recreational marijuana legalization changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado also did not significantly differ from those for the control states (adjusted difference-in-differences coefficient = +0.2 fatalities/billion vehicle miles traveled; 95% confidence interval = −0.4, +0.9). Conclusions Three years after recreational marijuana legalization, changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado were not statistically different from those in similar states without recreational marijuana legalization. Future studies over a longer time remain warranted.
Vision-Based Front Vehicle Detection and Its Distance Estimation

Vision-based driver assistant systems are very promising in Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). This paper will propose a system that can detect front vehicles and estimate the nearest car distance from the host car. In a companion paper, we have developed a scene analysis module that deals with scene segmentation and natural object labeling of forward-looking images by the use of fuzzy adaptive resonance theory (ART) and fuzzy inference techniques. Based on this technique, the proposed system can detect the front vehicles and then estimate the distance of the nearest car from us. The validity of our proposed scheme in car detection and the distance estimation was verified to be very successful by field-test experiments.
Total Antioxidant Capacity and Nuclear DNA Damage in Keratinocytes after Exposure to H2 O2

Abstract Studies of oxidative stress have classically been performed by analyzing specific, single antioxidants. In this study, susceptibility to oxidative stress in the human keratinocyte cell line NCTC2544 exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2) was measured by the TOSC (total oxyradical scavenging capacity) assay, which discriminates between the antioxidant capacity toward peroxyl radicals and hydroxyl radical. The generation of H2 O2-induced DNA damage, total antioxidant capacity and levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione Stransferase, glutathione peroxidase) were studied. Exposure to H2 O2-induced DNA damage that was gradually restored while a significant reduction in cellular TOSC values was obtained independently of stressor concentrations and the degree of DNA repair. Whereas TOSC values and cell resistance to H2 O2 showed a good relationship, the extent of DNA damage is independent from cellular total antioxidant capacity. Indeed, maximum DNA damage and cell mortality were observed in the first 4 h, whereas TOSC remained persistently low until 48 h. Catalase levels were significantly lower in exposed cells after 24 and 48 h. Keratinocytes exposed after 48 h to a second H2 O2 treatment exhibited massive cell death. A possible linkage was observed between TOSC values and NCTC2544 resistance to H2 O2 challenge. The TOSC assay appears to be a useful tool for evaluating cellular resistance to oxidative stress.
Gender and Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Weight Perception and Weight Control Behavior in Korean Adults

Aim: In Korea, obesity is more prevalent among men and lower socioeconomic groups. To explain this obesity disparity, we compared weight perception and weight control behavior across gender and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: We analyzed data from 16,260 participants aged 20 years or older in a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. SES indicators included education and income levels. Weight under-perception was defined when participants considered themselves lighter than their measured BMI status. Either no active or inappropriate weight control (i.e., trying to gain weight in obese individuals) was considered to be unhealthy patterns. Multivariate prevalence ratios were calculated using log-binomial regressions. Results: Men had a higher prevalence of weight under-perception (24.5 vs. 11.9%) and unhealthy patterns of weight control behavior (57 vs. 40%) than women. Low education level was associated with weight under-perception (ptrend = 0.022 in men, ptrend < 0.001 in women). Both education and income levels were significantly associated with patterns of weight control behavior (for education: ptrend < 0.001 in men and women; for income: ptrend = 0.047 in men, ptrend < 0.001 in women). Conclusion: Weight perception and weight control behavior significantly varied by gender and SES. Public actions should be directed toward improving perception and behavior of high-risk populations.
What Does the Value of Modern Medicine Say About the $50,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life-Year Decision Rule?

Background:In the United States, $50,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life-Year (QALY) is a decision rule that is often used to guide interpretation of cost-effectiveness analyses. However, many investigators have questioned the scientific basis of this rule, and it has not been updated. Methods:We used 2 separate approaches to investigate whether the $50,000 per QALY rule is consistent with current resource allocation decisions. To infer a lower bound for the decision rule, we estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness of recent (2003) versus pre-“modern era” (1950) medical care in the United States. To infer an upper bound for the decision rule, we estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness of unsubsidized health insurance versus self-pay for nonelderly adults (ages 21–64) without health insurance. We discounted both costs and benefits, following recommendations of the Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. Results:Our base case analyses suggest that plausible lower and upper bounds for a cost-effectiveness decision rule are $183,000 per life-year and $264,000 per life-year, respectively. Our sensitivity analyses widen the plausible range (between $95,000 per life-year saved and $264,000 per life-year saved when we considered only health care's impact on quantity of life, and between $109,000 per QALY saved and $297,000 per QALY saved when we considered health care's impact on quality as well as quantity of life) but it remained substantially higher than $50,000 per QALY. Conclusions:It is very unlikely that $50,000 per QALY is consistent with societal preferences in the United States.
Differentiation and functional maturation of human cd14+ adherent peripheral blood monocytes by xenogeneic endothelial cells: up-regulation of costimulation, cytokine generation, and toll-like receptors1

Background. Dendritic cells (DCs) can be generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after stimulation with exogenous granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin (IL)-4. Further, extravasation of monocytes through human endothelial cells can also cause differentiation, maturation, and expression of DC-specific phenotype. However, it is unclear whether human DCs can be generated from monocytes under the influence of xenogeneic endothelial cells in the absence of exogenous cytokines. We therefore analyzed and compared the effect of human and porcine endothelial cells on the differentiation of human monocytes into DC. Methods. Adherent peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes were cultured in the presence of different cytokine combinations, human or porcine endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, and analyzed for DC-specific antigen expression, antigen-presenting capacity, cytokine and chemokine generation, and expression of Toll-like receptors by flow cytometry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results. Human monocytes express a DC-specific surface phenotype and efficiently present allo- and xenoantigens to allogeneic T cells after co-culturing with allogeneic and xenogeneic endothelial cells, respectively. Differentiation of monocytes under different stimulating conditions is also accompanied by the up-regulation of costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, CD86), adhesion molecules (CD54), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, synthesis of cytokines tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, IL-12p70, IL-10, and differential expression of message for Toll-like receptors. Conclusions. Porcine aortic endothelial cells can provide immunostimulatory signals to human peripheral blood adherent monocytes similar to allogeneic endothelial cells through the participation of innate immune mechanisms.
Analysis of the N-terminal region of the 47-kilodalton integral membrane lipoprotein of Treponema pallidum

The 47-kDa lipoprotein is an abundant integral membrane protein and dominant immunogen of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. Previous DNA sequencing of the 47-kDa-lipoprotein gene did not reveal consensus features representative of other bacterial lipoprotein genes; this prompted further analyses with emphasis on elucidation of the N terminus of the molecule. To assist in localizing start signals for the protein, the transcription initiation site for the 47-kDa-antigen gene was determined. RNA isolated from both T. pallidum and recombinant Escherichia coli expressing the 47-kDa antigen was used as a template in reverse transcriptase primer extension. Upon analysis of cDNA products, transcription initiation was localized to one nucleotide in T. pallidum and to two adjacent nucleotides in E. coli. When various primers were used in DNA sequencing reactions for these analyses, a previously undetected nucleotide (G) was found in the purported 5' untranslated region; this altered the upstream reading frame to reveal plausible sites for ribosome binding (GGAGG), translation initiation (GTG start codon), and signal peptidase II processing (Val-Val-Gly-Cys). Discounting acylation, the molecular weight of the mature polypeptide is 45,756 (approximately 46,600 with acylation). To derive nonacylated 47-kDa antigen for further structure-function studies, the 47-kDa-antigen gene was subcloned without acylation signals as a genetic construct encoding a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein; following cleavage with thrombin, the nonacylated 47-kDa protein was hydrophilic rather than amphiphilic but retained its antigenicity when tested against 116 human serum samples from patients with various stages of syphilis.
An Efficient Algorithm for Ethernet Topology Discovery in Large Multi-subnet Networks

Topology discovery is a crucial requirement for a number of network management and troubleshooting tasks. Major portion of our today's networks comprises of Ethernet LANs. In this paper we have devised, developed and implemented a topology discovery algorithm for Ethernet LANs. Our topology discovery algorithm makes minimum use of information available through switches in the form of Address Forwarding Tables. We have devised a necessary and sufficient condition under which our topology discovery algorithm discovers accurate layer 2 topology, while only single MAC Address from each switch for each subnet needs to be present in the Address Forwarding Table (AFT) of switches. We have used the concept of direction awareness by exploiting the property of switches, by which they populate their Address forwarding tables. We demonstrate that our topology discovery algorithm works equally well in case of multi-subnet switched domains and for all practical purposes our topology discovery algorithm can discover accurate topology.
Schizophrenic performance when distractors are present: attentional deficit or differential task difficulty?

Studies purporting to demonstrate an attentional dysfunction in schizophrenia have usually compared the performance of patient and control subjects in both a neutral and a distractor condition (e.g., Lawson, McGhie, & Chapman, 1967; Rappaport, 1967). Schizophrenics typically perform less adequately than the controls in both conditions. This result alone is not particularly surprising given the general inefficiency of schizophrenic s. More important is the finding that the decrement in schizophrenic performance is significantly greater in the distractor condition. This differential deficit has been taken to mean that the specific ability mediating performance on the distractor task (i.e., attention) is a particularly important area of loss, and one that may be central to our understanding of the disorder.
Beyond Calories: An Integrated Approach to Promote Health, Longevity, and Well-Being

In 1948, the World Health Organization defined health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'. Detractors claim that this definition of health is utopian and unrealistic. However, accumulating evidence from experimental studies suggests that aging is not inevitably linked with the development of chronic diseases, and the age-associated accumulation of molecular damage can be prevented or greatly delayed by dietary and genetic manipulations that downregulate key cellular nutrient-sensing pathways. Nonetheless, to obtain a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, we as human beings need to go beyond nutrition or pharmacological treatments and implement a combination of interventions that enhance not only our metabolic health but also our psychological, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development, our social relationships and cultural well-being. This perspective highlights a range of scientific research-based interventions that can potentially be used to promote human health and longevity. We will also briefly address the importance of environmental health in achieving this goal.
Synthesis of turning pattern trajectories for a biped robot in a scene with obstacles

This work deals with a specific walking pattern in biped robot locomotion $an ability to turn. This ability, which is an essential part of a free walk on a 2D surface, is indispensable for a walk among obstacles. Only the turning operation property is considered. Using local information about its surroundings obtained from the robot sensors, and depending-on the shape and location of an obstacle on its way, the turning strategy is applied to negotiate the obstacle and resume stable motion. One difficulty is in maintaining robot stability during turning. The control strategy is based on the zero moment point. Motion stability is ensured by adjusting the swing leg center of mass and hip position trajectories in a trial and error fashion. The procedure is fast enough for real-time implementation. Simulation experiments demonstrate the stability of motion when negotiating various obstacles.