Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploiting Historical Spectrum Occupancy Information for Adaptive Spectrum Sensing

At present wireless devices are able to select their working frequency only to a limited extend although several measurements have shown that the current spectrum regulations are inefficient. Dynamic spectrum access is seen as a promising approach that might solve this inefficiency. Spectrum sensing is one of the main tasks involved. We compare in this paper four methods to efficiently sense the current spectrum based on the spectrum occupancy information statistics. The parameters of all methods are extracted from spectrum occupancy data gathered during an extensive measurement campaign. We show that the usage of historical information considerably improves the spectrum sensing process. We also show that the modelling of the periodic behaviour of the licensed signals leads to negligible performance enhancements because only very few periods shorter than several minutes can be found within 20 MHz-6 GHz.
Site-specific prediction of West Nile virus mosquito abundance in Greater Toronto Area using generalized linear mixed models

Mosquito surveillance programs provide a primary means of understanding mosquito vector population dynamics for the risk assessment of human exposure to West Nile virus (WNv). The lack of spatial coverage and missing observations in mosquito surveillance data often challenge our efforts to predict this vector-borne disease and implement control measures. We developed a WNv mosquito abundance prediction model in which local meteorological and environmental data were synthesized with entomological data in a generalized linear mixed modeling framework. The discrete nature of mosquito surveillance data is accommodated by a Poisson distributional assumption, and the site-specific random effects of the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) capture any fluctuation unexplained by a general trend. The proposed Poisson GLMMs efficiently account for the nested structure of mosquito surveillance data and incorporate the temporal correlation between observations obtained at each trap by a first-order autoregressive model. In the case study, Bayesian inference of the proposed models is illustrated using a subset of mosquito surveillance data in the Greater Toronto Area. The relevance of the proposed GLMM tailored to WNv mosquito surveillance data is highlighted by the comparison of model performance in the presence of inevitable but quantifiable uncertainties.
Clostridium perfringens Delta Toxin Is Sequence Related to Beta Toxin, NetB, and Staphylococcus Pore-Forming Toxins, but Shows Functional Differences

Clostridium perfringens produces numerous toxins, which are responsible for severe diseases in man and animals. Delta toxin is one of the three hemolysins released by a number of C. perfringens type C and possibly type B strains. Delta toxin was characterized to be cytotoxic for cells expressing the ganglioside GM2 in their membrane. Here we report the genetic characterization of Delta toxin and its pore forming activity in lipid bilayers. Delta toxin consists of 318 amino acids, its 28 N-terminal amino acids corresponding to a signal peptide. The secreted Delta toxin (290 amino acids; 32619 Da) is a basic protein (pI 9.1) which shows a significant homology with C. perfringens Beta toxin (43% identity), with C. perfringens NetB (40% identity) and, to a lesser extent, with Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxin and leukotoxins. Recombinant Delta toxin showed a preference for binding to GM2, in contrast to Beta toxin, which did not bind to gangliosides. It is hemolytic for sheep red blood cells and cytotoxic for HeLa cells. In artificial diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes, Delta and Beta toxin formed channels. Conductance of the channels formed by Delta toxin, with a value of about 100 pS to more than 1 nS in 1 M KCl and a membrane potential of 20 mV, was higher than those formed by Beta toxin and their distribution was broader. The results of zero-current membrane potential measurements and single channel experiments suggest that Delta toxin forms slightly anion-selective channels, whereas the Beta toxin channels showed a preference for cations under the same conditions. C. perfringens Delta toxin shows a significant sequence homolgy with C. perfringens Beta and NetB toxins, as well as with S. aureus alpha hemolysin and leukotoxins, but exhibits different channel properties in lipid bilayers. In contrast to Beta toxin, Delta toxin recognizes GM2 as receptor and forms anion-selective channels.
The Essential Phosphoinositide Kinase MSS-4 Is Required for Polar Hyphal Morphogenesis, Localizing to Sites of Growth and Cell Fusion in Neurospora crassa

Fungal hyphae and plant pollen tubes are among the most highly polarized cells known and pose extraordinary requirements on their cell polarity machinery. Cellular morphogenesis is driven through the phospholipid-dependent organization at the apical plasma membrane. We characterized the contribution of phosphoinositides (PIs) in hyphal growth of the filamentous ascomycete Neurospora crassa. MSS-4 is an essential gene and its deletion resulted in spherically growing cells that ultimately lyse. Two conditional mss-4-mutants exhibited altered hyphal morphology and aberrant branching at restrictive conditions that were complemented by expression of wild type MSS-4. Recombinant MSS-4 was characterized as a phosphatidylinositolmonophosphate-kinase phosphorylating phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2). PtdIns3P was also used as a substrate. Sequencing of two conditional mss-4 alleles identified a single substitution of a highly conserved Y750 to N. The biochemical characterization of recombinant protein variants revealed Y750 as critical for PI4P 5-kinase activity of MSS-4 and of plant PI4P 5-kinases. The conditional growth defects of mss-4 mutants were caused by severely reduced activity of MSS-4(Y750N), enabling the formation of only trace amounts of PtdIns(4,5)P2. In N. crassa hyphae, PtdIns(4,5)P2 localized predominantly in the plasma membrane of hyphae and along septa. Fluorescence-tagged MSS-4 formed a subapical collar at hyphal tips, localized to constricting septa and accumulated at contact points of fusing N. crassa germlings, indicating MSS-4 is responsible for the formation of relevant pools of PtdIns(4,5)P2 that control polar and directional growth and septation. N. crassa MSS-4 differs from yeast, plant and mammalian PI4P 5-kinases by containing additional protein domains. The N-terminal domain of N. crassa MSS-4 was required for correct membrane association. The data presented for N. crassa MSS-4 and its roles in hyphal growth are discussed with a comparative perspective on PI-control of polar tip growth in different organismic kingdoms.
Is more better or worse? New empirics on nuclear proliferation and interstate conflict by Random Forests 1

In the literature on nuclear proliferation, some argue that further proliferation decreases interstate conflict, some say that it increases interstate conflict, and others indicate a non-linear relationship between these two factors. However, there has been no systematic empirical investigation on the relationship between nuclear proliferation and a propensity for conflict at the interstate–systemic level. To fill this gap, the current paper uses the machine learning method Random Forests, which can investigate complex non-linear relationships between dependent and independent variables, and which can identify important regressors from a group of all potential regressors in explaining the relationship between nuclear proliferation and the propensity for conflict. The results indicate that, on average, a larger number of nuclear states decrease the systemic propensity for interstate conflict, while the emergence of new nuclear states does not have an important effect. This paper also notes, however, that scholars should investigate other risks of proliferation to assess whether nuclear proliferation is better or worse for international peace and security in general.
Non-Negative Matrix Factorization Applied to Auditory Scenes Classification

This master's thesis is dedicated to the automatic classification of auditory scene using non-negative matrix factorization. A particular attention is paid to the performances achieved by the non-negative matrix factorization in sound sources detection. Our intuition was that a good classification could be achieve if we could efficiently detect the sources within auditory scenes. It appears on short artificial examples that taking into account the non-stationarity of the spectral content of the sound sources improves the source detection. Finally, our classification method is applied to a corpus of soundscapes of train stations and the results are compared with previous classifications methods. We finally conclude that using non-negative matrix factorization significantly improves the classification. Ce rapport de master est dédié à la classification automatique de scènes sonores utilisant la factorisation en matrices non-negatives. Une attention particulière est portée aux performances de la factorisation en matrices non-negatives dans le cadre de la détection de sources sonores. Notre intuition première a été qu'une classification performante pourrait être réalisée grâce une détection de sources efficace. Il s'est révélé sur de courts ex-emples artificiels que la prise en compte de la non-stationarité du contenu spectral des sources sonores améliore la détection de sources. Enfin, notre méthode de classification a été appliquée à un corpus de paysages sonores de gares et les résultats ont été comparé à d'autres méthodes de classification. Nous avons finalement conclu que l'utilisation de la factorisation en matrices non-négatives améliore significativement la classification. ii Acknowledgements
Prior Surgery Determines Islet Yield and Insulin Requirement in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis

Background Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TP-IAT) is safe and effective in the management of intractable pain associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Prevention of pancreatogenic diabetes after TP-IAT is related to islet yield from the diseased pancreas. The purpose of this study is to compare islet yield and insulin requirement in the 76 patients who underwent different surgical procedures before TP-IAT at the Medical University of South Carolina between 2009 and 2011. Methods Patients were grouped into four categories based on the operation they had before TP-IAT: transduodenal sphincteroplasty/no prior surgery (n=50), Whipple or Beger procedure (n=14), distal pancreatectomy (n=8), or lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (n=4). Islets were harvested from pancreases of those patients at our current good manufacturing practice facility. Total unpurified islets were transplanted into patients via portal vein infusion. Pancreatic fibrosis, islet yield, cell viability, and insulin requirement were measured. Results The pancreases of transduodenal sphincteroplasty/no prior surgery and Whipple or Beger procedure patients were less fibrotic and had higher islet yield compared with those who had distal pancreatectomy or lateral pancreaticojejunostomy. Higher islet yield also correlated with a greater diabetes-free rate and a lesser insulin requirement at the following intervals: preoperative, postoperative, and 6 months after TP-IAT. Conclusions Prior surgery is strongly correlated with the extent of pancreatic fibrosis, islet yield, and insulin requirements in CP patients undergoing TP-IAT. The history of prior pancreatic resection and drainage procedures may be used to predict postoperative islet function and help to determine the optimal timing for TP-IAT in CP patients.
T cell-mediated airway hyperreactivity in mice.

Inadequate reactions of the immune system, i.e. allergic or hypersensitivity reactions, may lead to lung tissue injury and possibly airway hyperreactivity. In extrinsic asthma, mast cells are considered to play a pivotal role in inducing hyperreactivity by producing various mediators. Immunoglobulin E is a well-known inducer of mast cell mediator release, and is thus often considered important. Asthma induced by a small molecular moiety such as toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is only in 15% of patients associated with increased IgE levels. TDI is a known inducer of cellular immune responses. We are investigating the relationship of type IV hypersensitivity, as an example of IgE-independent cellular hypersensitivity, with the induction of airway hyperreactivity. We have studied mice which were sensitized with picryl chloride. After antigen challenge in such sensitized mice, peribronchial and perivascular accumulation of macrophages and lymphocytes was highest 48 h after challenge. Two hours after challenge and from 7 days onwards no infiltration was found. At several time points after challenge, changes in smooth muscle tone of mouse tracheas were measured isometrically. The response to carbachol increased from 2 h after challenge, reaching a maximum 48 h after challenge and lasted for at least 3 weeks. This hyperreactivity was not found in athymic (nude) mice. We conclude from these preliminary data that airway hyperreactivity can be immunologically induced other than by IgE, and that in this model it is not associated with the presence of a mononuclear infiltrate. These experimental data indicate a potential role for T cells in inducing airway hyperreactivity, a common denominator of patients suffering from asthma.
The Buy-In: A Qualitative Investigation of the Textbook Purchase Decision

Textbooks constitute a significant component of educational costs that many students are choosing to avoid. This study examines the student textbook purchase decision making process. Qualitative analyses of survey responses are employed to better understand the purchase decision process and the perceived value of educational materials. Our findings extend the literature by exposing the complex decisionmaking analysis that occurs. The implications of these findings are discussed as recommendations to instructors on improving textbook adoption amongst students. Instructors are encouraged to assess textbook adoption, assess the required textbook relative to supplemental material, and if necessary manage messaging to increased adoption rates.
Glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis

Background Early diagnosis is crucial for management of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Among innovative and promising biomarkers, the recent interest raised on glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB (GPBB) has prompted us to perform a meta-analysis of published studies. Materials and methods: A systematic electronic search was carried out on PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar, with no date restriction, to retrieve all articles that have investigated the early diagnostic performance of GPBB in patients with suspected AMI, and directly reported or allowed calculation of sensitivity and specificity. A meta-analysis of the reported sensitivity and specificity of each study and pooled area under the curve (AUC) was then performed by random effect approach. Heterogeneity was assessed by I-square statistics. Results: Eight studies were finally selected for analysis (941 subjects; 506 cases and 435 controls), with a high heterogeneity (I-squared, 86.3%). The resulting pooled estimates and 95% confidence interval were 0.854 (0.801–0.891) for sensitivity, 0.767 (0.713–0.815) for specificity, 0.826 (0.774–0.870) for negative predictive value, 0.802 (0.754–0.844) for positive predictive value, and 0.754 (0.602–0.907) for AUC. In those studies that have simultaneously assessed GPBB and a troponin immunoassay, the combination of these biomarkers did not significantly improve the performance of troponin alone. Conclusion: GPBB does not meet the current requirements for an efficient diagnosis of AMI when used as a stand-alone test, whereas its combination with troponin merits further investigation in larger trials.
Limited sampling strategy for the estimation of mycophenolic acid area under the curve in adult renal transplant patients treated with concomitant tacrolimus.

BACKGROUND Significant relationships between the mycophenolic acid (MPA) area under the concentration-time curve (AUC(0-12h)) and the risks for acute rejection and side effects have been reported. We developed a practical method for estimation of MPA AUCs. Regression equations were developed using repeated cross-validation for randomly chosen subsets, characterized statistically, and verified for acceptable performance. METHODS Twenty-one renal transplant patients receiving 0.5 or 1.0 g of mycophenolate mofetil twice daily and concomitant tacrolimus provided a total of 50 pharmacokinetic profiles. MPA concentrations were measured by a validated HPLC method in 12 plasma samples collected at predose and at 30 and 60 min; 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 h; 1 and 2 weeks; and 3 months after transplantation. Twenty-six 1-, 2-, or 3-sample estimation models were fit (r(2) = 0.341-0.862) to a randomly selected subset of the profiles using linear regression and were used to estimate AUC(0-12h) for the profiles not included in the regression fit, comparing those estimates with the corresponding AUC(0-12h) values, calculated with the linear trapezoidal rule, including all 12 timed MPA concentrations. The 3-sample models were constrained to include no samples past 2 h. RESULTS The model using c(0h), c(0.5h), and c(2h) was superior to all other models tested (r(2) = 0.862), minimizing prediction error for the AUC(0-12h) values not included in the fit (i.e., the cross-validation error). The regression equation for AUC estimation that gave the best performance for this model was: 7.75 + 6.49c(0h) + 0.76c(0.5h) + 2.43c(2h). When we applied this model to the full data set, 41 of the 50 (82%) estimated AUC values were within 15% of the value of AUC(0-12h) calculated using all 12 concentrations. CONCLUSIONS This limited sampling strategy provides an effective approach for estimation of the full MPA AUC(0-12h) in renal transplant patients receiving concomitant tacrolimus therapy.
Academic achievement

The motivation of students is an important issue in higher education, particularly in the context of the increasing diversity of student populations. A social-cognitive perspective assumes motivation to be dynamic, context-sensitive and changeable, thereby rendering it to be a much more differentiated construct than previously understood. This complexity may be perplexing to tutors who are keen to develop applications to improve academic achievement. One application that is within the control of the tutor, at least to some extent, is the use of praise. Using psychological literature, the article argues that in motivating students, the tutor is not well served by relying on simplistic and common sense understandings of the construct of praise and that effective applications of praise are mediated by students’ goal orientations, which of themselves may be either additive or interactive composites of different objectives and different contexts.
Competing perspectives on graduate employability: possession, position or process?

Employability has become, and is likely to continue to be, a major issue for a variety of stakeholders in higher education. The article examines three competing perspectives on employability, termed here as the ‘possessive’, ‘positioning’ and ‘processual’ approaches. The first of these, based on notions of skills and attributes, dominates the policy and practice discourse but, it is argued, is deeply flawed in theoretical terms. The second perspective, based on social positioning theory, is shown to be more in accord with the evidence of employment outcomes, but tends, arguably, to lead to a ‘counsel of despair’. The processual perspective is then presented, particularly focusing on the concept of graduate identity. The article argues that this is theoretically robust, is supported by empirical evidence, and provides a sound basis for curriculum and other forms of intervention to enhance graduate employability.
Improving Participation in Worksite Wellness Programs: Comparing Health Education Classes, a Menu Approach, and Follow-up Counseling

Findings are presented from a study to compare four types of worksite wellness programs to reduce cardiovascular risks. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study was implemented in four large manufacturing plants, similar in demographic characteristics. At the end of the three-year study period, the two sites that included individual outreach and counseling had engaged about 46 percent of identified smokers and 54 percent of the overweight into smoking cessation and weight loss activities, respectively. This compares with fewer than 10 percent at the site offering health education classes only, and less than one percent at the control site. In order to achieve these results, the outreach and follow-up counseling was coupled with a menu of interventions for smoking cessation and weight loss, to accommodate the needs of people who cannot or will not participate in classes. The menu includes guided self-help, one-to-one counseling, mini-groups, and full classes.
Host range of Drechslera avenacea, a fungus with potential for use as a biological control agent of Avena fatua

A range of plants was tested for their susceptibility to Drechslera avenacea (M.A. Curtis ex Cooke) Shoem. , the possible active ingredient in a bioherbicide for use against the weed Avena fatua. Test plants were chosen on the basis of phylogenetic proximity to the weed, recorded susceptibility to closely related pathogens or physical proximity in agricultural systems to wheat, the crop in which the weed is to be controlled. The fungus caused mortality of A. fatua and Avena byzantina cv. Yarren. Sporulation occurred on A. fatua and, on one occasion (of three challenges), on Brassica napus cv. Oscar. Severe disease symptoms were recorded on 13 species of grass and mild infection on a further seven species. We observed a much broader host range than previously recorded. The reasons for, and implications of, this are discussed and the suitability of D. avenacea as a bioherbicide assessed.
Studying Values: Personal Adventure, Future Directions

This article first gives a brief overview of my adventures in developing two theories of values and the methods to measure them. First came my theory of the basic values on which individuals in all cultures differ. Then, quite unexpectedly, the opportunity arose to develop a theory of cultural values on which societies differ. As the story unfolds, I tell of failures, triumphs, and challenges. Values research has expanded in the past two decades beyond my wildest early imaginings. The second section of the article presents some ideas about future directions worth pursuing in values research. It describes competing theories and controversies as well as ways to go beyond them. I hope it will stimulate further advances in this field to which I have devoted more than 20 years.
Communicating sociocultural norms and social and religious practices in Iranian death notices

ABSTRACT Drawing on a corpus of 100 randomly collected death notices published in an Iranian national newspaper, this study examined generic structures as well as their lexico-grammatical patterning to reveal what communicative functions are articulated by these generic components. Basing our identification of moves on Swales [1990. Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press], we identified 12 rhetorical moves in the corpus. We illustrated that these recurrent rhetorical moves reflect the Iranian sociocultural norms, as well as social and religious beliefs. Also, the results substantiated [Kress, Gunther, and Theo van Leeuwen. 1996. Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design. London: Routledge] multimodality perspective on textual analysis in that they rejected linguistic items as the only meaning-making device and identified colour, position, photo and size, among others, as worthwhile veritable semiotic devices.