Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sub-Nyquist channel estimation over IEEE 802.11ad link

Nowadays, millimeter-wave communication centered at the 60 GHz radio frequency band is increasingly the preferred technology for near-field communication since it provides transmission bandwidth that is several GHz wide. The IEEE 802.11ad standard has been developed for commercial wireless local area networks in the 60 GHz transmission environment. Receivers designed to process IEEE 802.11ad waveforms employ very high rate analog-to-digital converters, and therefore, reducing the receiver sampling rate can be useful. In this work, we study the problem of low-rate channel estimation over the IEEE 802.11ad 60 GHz communication link by harnessing sparsity in the channel impulse response. In particular, we focus on single carrier modulation and exploit the special structure of the 802.11ad waveform embedded in the channel estimation field of its single carrier physical layer frame. We examine various sub-Nyquist sampling methods for this problem and recover the channel using compressed sensing techniques. Our numerical experiments show feasibility of our procedures up to one-seventh of the Nyquist rates with minimal performance deterioration.
The Structure and Management of Conflict: Fighting or Defending the Status Quo

Although conflict and negotiation studies have examined symmetrical structures in which both parties want change, or asymmetrical structures in which one party wants change and the other to maintain the status quo, no research provided a direct comparison of both structures. Two experiments were conducted to fill this void. Results show that in asymmetrical structures challengers engage in more problem solving and more contending, have less of a loss frame and perceive less control than defendants, and are perceived be less successful. In symmetrical structures, behavior and attitudes of parties are more alike and there is more reciprocation of problem solving and yielding. Furthermore, findings reveal that challengers see their defendant as less friendly and more dominant than defendants see their challengers. Finally, no evidence was obtained that social value orientation moderates these effects. Implications for conflict theory and research, and for third party interventions in symmetrical versus asymmetrical conflicts, are discussed.
Genetic characterization of commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolates recovered from vineyard environments

One hundred isolates of the commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Zymaflore VL1 were recovered from spontaneous fermentations carried out with grapes collected from vineyards located close to wineries in the Vinho Verde wine region of Portugal. Isolates were differentiated based on their mitochondrial DNA restriction patterns and the evaluation of genetic polymorphisms was carried out by microsatellite analysis, interdelta sequence typing and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Genetic patterns were compared to those obtained for 30 isolates of the original commercialized Zymaflore VL1 strain. Among the 100 recovered isolates we found a high percentage of chromosomal size variations, most evident for the smaller chromosomes III and VI. Complete loss of heterozygosity was observed for two isolates that had also lost chromosomal heteromorphism; their growth and fermentative capacity in a synthetic must medium was also affected. A considerably higher number of variant patterns for interdelta sequence amplifications was obtained for grape‐derived strains compared to the original VL1 isolates. Our data show that the long‐term presence of strain VL1 in natural grapevine environments induced genetic changes that can be detected using different fingerprinting methods. The observed genetic changes may reflect adaptive mechanisms to changed environmental conditions that yeast cells encounter during their existence in nature. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unified Impedance Model of Grid-Connected Voltage-Source Converters

This paper proposes a unified impedance model of grid-connected voltage-source converters for analyzing dynamic influences of the phase-locked loop (PLL) and current control. The mathematical relations between the impedance models in the different domains are first explicitly revealed by means of complex transfer functions and complex space vectors. A stationary (αβ-) frame impedance model is then proposed, which not only predicts the stability impact of the PLL, but also reveals its frequency coupling effect. Furthermore, the impedance shaping effects of the PLL on the current control in the rotating (dq-) frame and the stationary ( αβ-) frame are structurally comapred. The frequency-domain case studies on a three-phase grid-connected converter are next presented, and subsequently validated in time-domain simulations and experimental tests. The close correlations between the measured results and theoretical analysis confirm the effectiveness of the stationary-frame impedance model.
Insect Meal in the Fish Diet and Feeding Cost: First Economic Simulations on European Sea bass Farming by a Case Study in Italy

This proposal aims to estimate the incidence of fish meal basis diet into the total farm cost structure and how the weight can change considering different hypotheses related to introduction of insect meal into the diet. Hypotheses were proposed on the basis of increasing levels of insect meal into the diet and different prices for purchasing this meal. Economic effects were simulated according to some empirical trials carried out into the scientific literature and were applied to the European sea bass farming. A case study approach on a specialized off-shore sea bass farm in Italy was proposed. It is a small-scale farm that solely produce for local and domestic market. Findings suggest that feeding cost amounts to about 63% of the total farm cost. Possible introduction of insect meal – specifically composed by Tenebrio molitor basis – would force farmers to increase feeding cost. As it stands today, higher environmental sustainability expected by inclusion of insect meal would not be gone with more economic convenience. However technological development, higher competition into the insect meal industry, increase of production scale, and adoption of strategies aimed to weaken bargaining power between fish farmers and meal suppliers could generate a price decrease.
Intelligent Reflecting Surface-Aided Wireless Communications: A Tutorial

Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is an enabling technology to engineer the radio signal propagation in wireless networks. By smartly tuning the signal reflection via a large number of low-cost passive reflecting elements, IRS is capable of dynamically altering wireless channels to enhance the communication performance. It is thus expected that the new IRS-aided hybrid wireless network comprising both active and passive components will be highly promising to achieve a sustainable capacity growth cost-effectively in the future. Despite its great potential, IRS faces new challenges to be efficiently integrated into wireless networks, such as reflection optimization, channel estimation, and deployment from communication design perspectives. In this paper, we provide a tutorial overview of IRS-aided wireless communications to address the above issues, and elaborate its reflection and channel models, hardware architecture and practical constraints, as well as various appealing applications in wireless networks. Moreover, we highlight important directions worthy of further investigation in future work.
Evaluation of dental and basal arch forms using cone-beam CT and 3D virtual models of normal occlusion

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the mandibular dental and basal arches using CBCT, and to assess the correlation between basal arch dimensions derived from CBCT and 3-dimensional (3D) virtual models in a cohort sample exhibiting normal occlusions. Methods: The facial axis (FA) and root centre (RC) points of mandibular teeth were identified on 32 CBCT images. FA and WALA points were digitised on 3D models of 28 mandibular casts from the same sample. The relationships between dental and basal arch dimensions, and between the two basal depth dimensions derived from RC and WALA points were statistically assessed by Pearson’s correlation. Results: Strong correlations were found between dental and basal intercanine and intermolar arch widths. Also, the basal intercanine width showed a moderate correlation with dental intermolar width and depth. The basal intercanine and intermolar widths measured on 3D models showed moderate correlations with those measurements on CBCT, whereas the basal canine and molar depths showed no correlations. Conclusions: The dental and basal anterior and posterior arch widths were strongly correlated in normal occlusion. No correlations were found between the arch depths measured from WALA points and RC points. Hence, RC points may represent more useable landmarks compared to WALA points in the evaluation of basal arch forms. It is recommended that the relationship between the dental and basal arches is evaluated during treatment planning in order to improve arch co-ordination.
Surrogates of Relationship Marketing and Bank Customer Retention: A Study of University Lecturers in Southeast Nigeria

The influx of banks in university campuses across Nigeria has motivated the need to unearth the most potent dimension(s), tool(s), or driver(s) of relationship marketing that significantly influence lecturers who are bank customers to retain patronage with a bank operating within a campus. The study was guided by a research schema which was the basis for the formulation of five conceptual hypotheses. Five relationship marketing tools – communication, commitment, trust, promise fulfillment, and social bonding – where all explored to determine their predictive power on a bank customer retention. A structured questionnaire was designed on a five-point like scale. Data collected were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC). Statistical support was found for all the dimension of relationship marketing as predictors of bank customer retention. However, commitment, trust, and promise fulfillment are the strongest or most potent predictors of bank customer retention, while communication and social bonding are weak predictors of bank customer retention of lecturers within university campuses. Hence, this study posits the Commitment-Trust-Promise Fulfilment Model of Relationship Marketing, thereby challenging Commitment-Trust Theory of Relationship Marketing. Key recommendations, with their concomitant managerial implications, include: first, banks operating within university campuses should make adequate budgetary provision for the purpose of executing a sound relationship marketing programme for its bank customers who are university lecturers; second, training and retraining on a constant basis in the area of relationship marketing (with strong focus on commitment, trust, and promise fulfillment) can be conducted for the marketing staff of banks operating within the university campuses.
Modelling Valuations for Eq-5d Health States: An Alternative Model Using Differences in Valuations

Objectives. The EQ-5D is a preference-based measure of health and is increasingly being used in the evaluation of health technologies. A ‘tariff’ of values for all 243 EQ-5D health states has been generated using direct valuations on a subset of these states. The tariff is used to express the value of differences between health states, and so this paper explores whether a tariff with better predictive ability can be calculated using differences between values rather than using the values themselves. Methods. The original tariff (reported in this journal) was based on valuations for 42 EQ-5D states elicited from a representative sample of 2997 members of the UK general population using the time trade-off method. This same data are used to estimate a tariff based upon the differences in value between the worst possible state (33333) and all other states. Results. A simple model that fits the data well is one in which the differences in value between 33333 and all other states are explained in terms of the change in each dimension plus a term to pick up whether some dimensions change by the maximum amount whereas others do not change at all. The mean absolute difference between the actual values and those predicted by this model is 0.03 (compared with 0.039 in the original model). Conclusion. The model presented in this paper predicts the difference between 33333 and all other states remarkably well and can be used to generate a tariff for all EQ-5D health states. In fact, this model more accurately predicts the values of states for which there are direct observations, and so we recommend its comparison with the original model in evaluative studies.
Analysis of Nonlinear Torsional Dynamics Using Second-Order Solutions

Based on the modal series method, this paper derives the second- and first-order solutions of torques for investigating nonlinear torsional dynamics. The derivatives of the two types of solutions are compared to explain the advantage of the second-order solutions. The index is given for evaluating the feasibility of solutions. Subsequently, several nonlinearity indices are defined to quantify the effects of nonlinear modal interactions on torsional dynamics, and the suitable indices are determined for analyzing nonlinear torsional dynamics. The systematic method is developed for the analysis of nonlinear torsional dynamics. Furthermore, the concept of nonlinear modal interactions is extended to deal with both the fundamental and the combination modes; the nonlinearity contribution factors are emphasized. The study is implemented on two modified cases from the IEEE first benchmark model, which validates the presented method for investigating torsional dynamics in the stressed case and gives new engineering insights into nonlinear torsional dynamics.
Analysis of the 5-cell single phase MMC natural balancing mechanism

This paper pertains to the analysis of natural balancing properties of a 5-Cell Modular Multi-Level Converter (5C-MMC) under Phase Shifted Pulse Width Modulation (PS-PWM) control schemes. The key enabling feature for the natural balancing analysis is a set of linear transformations of the input space and state space of the overall system. In the transformed space, we utilize frequency domain methods to describe the self-balancing properties of the converter. The crux of our proposal is showing that all the cell capacitor voltages converge exponentially fast to a common level; hence achieving natural balancing. The accuracy of the transformed model is verified through comparison with a detailed time domain simulation of the original system.
How Movement Properties Affect Prey Encounter Rates of Ambush versus Active Predators: A Comment on Scharf et al.

Using an individual‐based model, Scharf and coworkers showed that ambush predators may encounter prey more frequently than active predators. We show that this surprising result emerges because active predators were oblivious to prey during movement, an assumption that refutes the common conception about active foraging and lessens the key difference between these foraging modes. A revised model confirms that active predators always encounter prey more frequently, unequivocally supporting the authors’ conclusion that the advantage of active predators diminishes as prey moves faster or more directionally. We suggest that movement‐dependent perception quality can determine the relative efficiency of these two foraging modes.
VIVID is a flavoprotein and serves as a fungal blue light photoreceptor for photoadaptation

Blue light regulates many physiological and developmental processes in fungi. Most of the blue light responses in the ascomycete Neurospora crassa are dependent on the two blue light regulatory proteins White Collar (WC)‐1 and ‐2. WC‐1 has recently been shown to be the first fungal blue light photoreceptor. In the present study, we characterize the Neurospora protein VIVID. VIVID shows a partial sequence similarity with plant blue light photoreceptors. In addition, we found that VIVID non‐covalently binds a flavin chromophore. Upon illumination with blue light, VIVID undergoes a photocycle indicative of the formation of a flavin‐cysteinyl adduct. VVD is localized in the cytoplasm and is only present after light induction. A loss‐of‐function vvd mutant was insensitive to increases in light intensities. Furthermore, mutational analysis of the photoactive cysteine indicated that the formation of a flavin‐cysteinyl adduct is essential for VIVID functions in vivo. Our results show that VIVID is a second fungal blue light photoreceptor which enables Neurospora to perceive and respond to daily changes in light intensity.
Drinking reports from collateral individuals.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Subject self-reports are the primary source of research and clinical data on drinking behavior. In this report, we review and summarize the current literature on the reliability and accuracy of alcohol abusers' self-reports of alcohol consumption and related behaviors in relation to similar reports provided by collateral informants. CONCLUSIONS Recent research supports the assertion that subjects provide accurate reports about their drinking and associated consequences. When discrepancies have been observed between reports provided by subjects and collaterals, the subjects' data in almost all cases have painted a picture of poorer functioning. The greatest degree of agreement between subjects and collaterals is likely when collaterals are in frequent contact with the subject, are spouse/partners and are confident about the reports they are providing.
A narrative on Islamic insurance in Bangladesh: problems and prospects

This study aims to find out the problems of family Takaful (Islamic Life Insurance) operations in Bangladesh and proposes strategies to overcome the problems. ,Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 32 respondents from two family Takaful operators in Dhaka, Bangladesh. ,The study finds a number of problems of family Takaful which relate to the government, Takaful company and the Shariah board. Lack of governing guidelines for Takaful companies in Bangladesh is causing numerous operational problems of family Takaful. To overcome these obstacles, the government should propose separate Act for Takaful. This requires support from the stakeholders along with Islamic scholars in the country. ,It is anticipated that the findings and suggestions of the study will assist the policymakers in improving the situation of family Takaful companies particularly in Bangladesh. ,If the proposed suggestions are implemented in Takaful companies, the problems facing Takaful will likely be solved and more people will take part in Takaful. This would contribute to developing the country economically, raise Islamic values and foster peace and harmony in the society. ,Mainly, this study is based on the primary research that has been conducted in family Takaful companies in Bangladesh.
Strong Impact of CD4+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells and Limited Effect of T Cell-Derived IL-10 on Pathogen Clearance during Plasmodium yoelii Infection

It is well established that CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in the course of different infectious diseases. However, contradictory results have been published regarding to malaria infection. In this study, we report that specific ablation of Foxp3+ Tregs in Plasmodium yoelii-infected DEREG-BALB/c mice leads to an increase in T cell activation accompanied by a significant decrease in parasitemia. To better understand how Foxp3+ Tregs orchestrate this phenotype, we used microarrays to analyze CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs and CD4+CD25−Foxp3− T cells in the course of P. yoelii infection. Using this approach we identified genes specifically upregulated in CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in the course of infection, such as G-protein-coupled receptor 83 and Socs2. This analysis also revealed that both CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs and CD4+CD25−Foxp3− T cells upregulate CTLA-4, granzyme B, and, more strikingly, IL-10 during acute blood infection. Therefore, we aimed to define the function of T cell-derived IL-10 in this context by Cre/loxP-mediated selective conditional inactivation of the IL-10 gene in T cells. Unexpectedly, IL-10 ablation in T cells exerts only a minor effect on parasite clearance, even though CD8+ T cells are more strongly activated, the production of IFN-γ and TNF-α by CD4+CD25- T cells is increased, and the suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ Tregs is reduced upon infection. In summary, these results suggest that CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs modulate the course of P. yoelii infection in BALB/c mice. Moreover, CD4+ T cell-derived IL-10 affects T effector function and Treg activity, but has only a limited direct effect on parasite clearance in this model.
Economic Assessment of Using Electric Vehicles and Batteries as Domestic Storage Units in the United Kingdom

Increasing residential renewable energy generation and the consumers’ demand for reducing their electricity bills leads to new opportunities to use electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries as domestic storage units. This paper assesses the economic feasibility of Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and domestic battery systems in the United Kingdom (UK). To do the analysis, a UK average EV and domestic battery have been established; called UKEV and UKBat respectively. The UKEV characteristics were determined by taking a weighted average from the five highest selling EVs in the UK. An arithmetic mean was used for the individual UKBat features based on seven models currently available on the UK market. The UKEV and UKBat were compared under four scenarios. These are Ofgem’s two domestic electricity profile classes (PC1, PC2) and two existing time-of-use tariffs; one with two and the other with three rates during a day. Maximum annual saving for the consumer was estimated to be around 35% and 57% per annual electricity bill for the EV and battery, respectively. On average, for both UKEV and UKBat, the three-rate tariff yielded 30% more savings than the two-rate tariff. Battery degradation cost was the major parameter affecting the economic feasibility of V2H and domestic batteries, but these costs are expected to continue to fall. Suitable time-of-use tariff design is the key to maximising consumers’ savings in using these units.
The Role of Public Pension Funds in Corporate Governance: Evidence from Proxy Voting

Public pension funds argue that proxy voting is a primary method of governing companies for them. This paper examines their proxy voting behavior and documents several important determinants. Compared to institutional investors with greater business ties with portfolio firms (e.g., mutual funds), public pension funds are more inclined to vote in favor of (against) shareholder (management) proposals. They support their fellow public pension funds’ and labor unions’ proposals the most and individual investors’ proposals the least. Although more supportive than mutual funds, public pension funds support socially responsible proposals to a lesser degree than other types of shareholder proposals. Public pension funds are more willing to vote against management proposals for firms headquartered in their home state. Funds active in filing shareholder proposals are more likely to vote against (in favor of) management (shareholder) proposals, so are funds from states with strong democratic legislators and public unions. Finally, public pension funds’ votes are important to the voting outcomes of both management and shareholder proposals. JEL Classification: G23; G34