Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A fast channel allocation algorithm for wireless data broadcast over digital TV terrestrial broadcast system

In this paper, we propose a fast channel allocation algorithm for wireless data broadcast over digital TV terrestrial broadcast (DTTB) system with the number of channels and the number of data items given. With the proposed algorithm, the system is divided into broadcast and on-demand channels for minimizing the average access time. In order not to impact the delivery of intrinsic MPEG-2 stream in DTTB system, the stuffing of MPEG-2 stream is employed for data transmission in all channels. In broadcast channels, a heuristic algorithm is employed to schedule the transmission, and in on-demand channels FIFO is considered. Extensive simulations show that the proposed algorithm is very close to the optimal one derived by enumeration and outperforms the traditional Pure Push scheme, and the complexity is much lower than existing algorithms.
Prevalence of obesity in Kuwait and its relation to sociocultural variables

This study ascertains the prevalence of obesity and its relationship with some sociocultural characteristics in Kuwaiti society. The sample involved 212 men and 212 women, most of whom are overweight and obese. Grades 1 (body mass index [BMI] > 25–30 kg m−2), 2 (BMI > 30–40) and 3 (BMI > 40) of obesity characterize 71.2% of the sample. Most individuals are in grade 2 obesity, 37.2%. Grade 1 obesity is seen in 31.4% of the sample. Obesity increases with age, especially in women. The heaviest women are aged 60 years or older (mean BMI of 33.8), about the same mean as in the 50–59‐year‐old age group. The highest frequency of grades 1 and 2 obesity occur in women 30–39 years old. Fifty per cent of the underweight women are 20–29 years old or are over 60 years old. Most women of normal weight are 20–29 years old. For the men, 60% of the underweight sample are 50–60 years old. Male respondents between 30 and 39 years old are the heaviest; 42.7% of the sample are within grade 1 obesity and 40.7% of the sample within grade 2 obesity. The smallest percentage of men in grades 1 and 2 obesity are those 50–59 years old. An association was found between some sociocultural variables and obesity. Data show an increasing prevalence of obesity in Kuwait compared with some previous studies.
On the interior resonance problem when applying a hybrid FEM/MoM approach to model printed circuit boards

A hybrid finite element method/method of moments (FEM/MoM) technique is used to analyze a printed circuit board power bus structure where the source and observation points are in the near field. The FEM is used to model the lossy region between the planes of the board including the source. The MoM is used to model the region outside the planes and provide a radiation boundary condition to terminate the FEM mesh. Numerical results for a bridged power bus structure are compared with measurements. A nonphysical interior resonance of the electric field integral equation is observed. The problem can be avoided by using a hybrid technique based on a combined field integral equation.
Applying multi-criteria approaches to ontology ranking: a comparison with AKTiveRank

Recent years have seen a progressive spread of ontologies. This indicates the need for instruments for their evaluation and ranking. However, most of the developed algorithms are based on a single metric, thus focusing on a unique feature and neglecting other potentially meaningful aspects. Others perform a weighted aggregation of different metrics, thus resulting in poor tunability and sensitivity to measurement errors. In this context, we propose the adoption of general purpose and flexible multi-criteria decision analysis techniques which represent a total novelty for ontologies. Two methods belonging to the Electre family are presented: Electre I and Electre III. Both techniques are compared to the well-known AKTiveRank procedure, demonstrating their suitability for ontology ranking. The former best identifies the most promising candidates amongst a set of alternatives. The latter provides a set of tuning parameters for making thin ranking procedures.
Wet Electrons at the H2O/TiO2(110) Surface

At interfaces of metal oxide and water, partially hydrated or “wet-electron” states represent the lowest energy pathway for electron transfer. We studied the photoinduced electron transfer at the H2O/TiO2(110) interface by means of time-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy and electronic structure theory. At ∼1-monolayer coverage of water on partially hydroxylated TiO2 surfaces, we found an unoccupied electronic state 2.4 electron volts above the Fermi level. Density functional theory shows this to be a wet-electron state analogous to that reported in water clusters and which is distinct from hydrated electrons observed on water-covered metal surfaces. The decay of electrons from the wet-electron state to the conduction band of TiO2 occurs in ≤15 femtoseconds.
Induction of Antitumor Acquired Immunity by Baculovirus Autographa californica Multiple Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Infection in Mice

ABSTRACT The baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) has been studied as a gene therapy vector. Here, we demonstrated that AcMNPV induces antitumor acquired immunity. These results suggest that AcMNPV has the potential to be an efficient virus or tumor therapy agent which induces innate and acquired immunity.
Risk-Taking and Creativity: Convergent, but Not Divergent Thinking Is Better in Low-Risk Takers

The relationship between risk-taking and creativity is critical to understanding social harmony and innovation. Although some studies have assessed the link between risk-taking and divergent thinking, the association between risk-taking and convergent thinking remains unclear. Two studies were conducted to systemically investigate whether risk-taking is linked to convergent thinking. In Study 1, a sample of 127 healthy participants performed a Chinese remote associate test (RAT) and completed a risk-taking questionnaire. As predicted, risk-taking was negatively correlated with RAT performance, implying that risk-taking has a negative association with convergent thinking. Study 2 was an online survey study that replicated Study 1 and extended the measures to include self-rated risk and a measure of divergent thinking (the alternate uses task). The findings were fully replicated, showing that low risk-taking goes with better convergent thinking and risk-taking was not significantly correlated with divergent thinking. Furthermore, the risk-taking/convergent-thinking relationship was best described by a linear regression model in both studies. Taken together, these results suggest that appropriate reductions in risk-taking can boost convergent thinking.
Microbial asymmetric hydrolysis of 3‐substituted glutaric acid diamides

Micro‐organisms were screened for their ability to produce (R)‐3‐(4‐chlorophenyl) glutaric acid monoamide (CGM) from 3‐(4‐chlorophenyl) glutaric acid diamide (CGD) through stereoselective hydrolysis. (R)‐CGM is a useful synthetic intermediate for arbaclofen.
Altered osmoregulation of ompF in integration host factor mutants of Escherichia coli

Osmoregulation of the porin protein OmpF was strongly altered in integration host factor (IHF) mutants. These mutants produced approximately 15-fold more OmpF than did the parent strain when grown in media of intermediate osmolarity. At high osmolarity IHF mutants continued to produce considerable amounts of OmpF, although this protein was undetectable in the parent grown under these conditions. Experiments with an ompF-lacZ chromosomal fusion strain suggested that these changes in osmoregulation in large part involve alterations in transcriptional activity of the ompF promoter. These results add to the growing list of genes whose expression is modified in IHF mutants.
System Margining Surrogate-Based Optimization in Post-Silicon Validation

There is an increasingly higher number of mixed-signal circuits within microprocessors. A significant portion of them corresponds to high-speed input/output (HSIO) links. Post-silicon validation of HSIO links is critical to provide a release qualification decision. One of the major challenges in HSIO electrical validation is the physical layer (PHY) tuning process, where equalization techniques are typically used to cancel any undesired effect. Current industrial practices for PHY tuning in HSIO links are very time-consuming, since they require massive laboratory measurements. On the other hand, surrogate modeling techniques allow to develop an approximation of a system response within a design space of interest. In this paper, we analyze several surrogate modeling methods and design of experiments techniques to identify the best approach to efficiently optimize a receiver equalizer. We evaluate the models performance by comparing with actual measured responses on a real server HSIO link. We then perform a surrogate-based optimization on the best model to obtain the optimal PHY tuning settings of an HSIO link. Our methodology is validated by measuring the real functional eye diagram of the physical system using the optimal surrogate model solution.
An Active Damping Method Based on a Supercapacitor Energy Storage System to Overcome the Destabilizing Effect of Instantaneous Constant Power Loads in DC Microgrids

This paper presents a novel active damping method to overcome instability problems of dc microgrids (MGs) caused by constant power loads (CPLs). This method is implemented based on the existing energy storage system (ESS) in the dc MGs. As an indispensable part in the dc MGs, the ESS in this paper is used for more than just compensating the conventional power unbalance in the system, it has taken an additional responsibility and is used for adjusting the system damping to deal with the instability problems induced by the CPLs as well. First, the stability criteria of a simplified dc MG are analyzed. Based on this, an active damping method that aims at virtually reshaping the loads in the dc MG is introduced. With the proposed method, which is realized by a supercapacitor ESS in this paper, the CPLs in the system are virtually reduced and the resistive loads are virtually increased. Therefore, the destabilizing effect of the CPLs in the dc MG is eliminated. Simulations and experiments are conducted and the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified. This method is suitable to be applied in the dc MG with various elements and variable operation modes.
Authority, Autonomy, and Family Relationships Among Adolescents in Urban and Rural China

Approximately 700 urban and rural 10th- (M=16.6 years) and 12th- (M=18.9 years) grade students in China completed measures assessing their beliefs about parental authority and individual autonomy, as well as aspects of their relationships with their parents. Urban adolescents indicated a greater willingness to disagree openly with their parents, a greater intensity of conflict with their parents, lower levels of cohesion with their parents, and a lower frequency of discussions with their fathers. Urban males were distinct from all other adolescents in terms of several aspects of their family relationships, reporting the earliest expectations for autonomy, the lowest levels of closeness with their mothers, and the least frequent discussions with their fathers.
Voltage-Mode Multifunction Filters Employing a Single DVCC and Grounded Capacitors

In this paper, two novel voltage-mode (VM) single-input-three-output (SITO) second-order multifunction analog filters for simultaneously realizing low-pass, bandpass, and high-pass responses from the same topology are proposed. They employ a single dual-output differential voltage current conveyor (DVCC), two grounded capacitors, and three resistors. Both of the proposed filters offer the following two important features: the simultaneous realization of low-pass, bandpass, and high-pass responses and the use of a minimum number of grounded capacitors and a single DVCC. The nonideal gain effects of the developed structures are examined. To show the performance of the proposed VM filters, computer simulation results using the SPICE program, together with ideal ones, are drawn.
Temperature-dependent transmission and latency of Holospora undulata, a micronucleus-specific parasite of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum

Transmission of parasites to new hosts crucially depends on the timing of production of transmission stages and their capacity to start an infection. These parameters may be influenced by genetic factors, but also by the environment. We tested the effects of temperature and host genotype on infection probability and latency in experimental populations of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum, after exposure to infectious forms of its bacterial parasite Holospora undulata. Temperature had a significant effect on the expression of genetic variation for transmission and maintenance of infection. Overall, low temperature (10 °C) increased levels of (multiple) infection, but arrested parasite development; higher temperatures (23 and 30 °C) accelerated the onset of production of infectious forms, but limited transmission success. Viability of infectious forms declined rapidly at 23 and 30 °C, thereby narrowing the time window for transmission. Thus, environmental conditions can generate trade-offs between transmission relevant parameters and alter levels of multiple infection or parasite-mediated selection, which may affect evolutionary trajectories of parasite life history or virulence.
Early warning tools to identify children at risk of deterioration: a discussion.

SC IE N C E P H O TO L IB R A R Y Being able to identify children at risk of clinical deterioration in ward settings and facilitate a timely referral to intensive care is clearly important. Paediatric ‘early warning tools’ to assess risk are beginning to emerge in the UK, based on extensive adult experience with such tools (Buist et al 2002, Goldhill et al 1999, Odell et al 2002, Ridley and Leary 2003, Subbe et al 2001). These tools have the potential to optimise patient outcomes, improve quality of care and reduce the length of ITU stay with its associated costs. However, there is a need for caution in the development of these early warning tools: the paediatric team cannot just modify adult tools without any primary research or audit data on their use in children. In this article we argue that although these tools are likely to be very useful, they must be developed from primary audit and research data as there are key physiological differences between adults and children. Scoring tools need to be validated properly to ensure that they do in fact identify children at risk, and any resultant benefits need to be measured.
A model of enterprise knowledge integration capability

In this paper a model is presented to explore the relationship between organizational culture, social capital, absorptive capacity and knowledge integration capability. Through theory analysis, the research framework was built and structural equation model was constructed. Then an empirical research was carried out based on a sample of 309 Chinese enterprises. Research results proved that organizational culture and absorptive capacity have positive direct effects on enterprise knowledge integration capability. Meanwhile, organizational culture has a positive effect on social capital, and social capital has a positive significant effect on absorptive capacity. The result also indicated that social capital does not directly promote enterprise knowledge integration capability, which has not been paid adequate attention to by many researchers and enterprises so far.
What is the incidence of conversion pseudodementia?

DURKHEIM, E. (1952) Suicide. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. GLOVER,G. R. (1990) The mental health of Asians in Britain. British Medical Journal,301,239â€”240. INEICHEN, B. (1993) Responding to adversity: mental illness, religion and social change among British Asians. In Religion and Ethnicity: MinoritiesandSocial Changein the City (ed. R. Barot). KokPharos. SONI RALEIGH, V. S. , BULUSU, L. & BALARAJAN, R. (1990) Suicides among immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. British Journal of Psychiatry. 156,46-50.
The Schoenus spikelet: a Rhipidium? A floral ontogenetic answer

The inflorescence unit of Schoenus nigricans and S. ferrugineus consists of a zigzag axis and distichously arranged bracts, each of which may or may not subtend a bisexual flower. Each flower seems to terminate a lateral axis. These features have led to a controversy about the nature of the inflorescence unit, particularly whether it is monopodial or sympodial. It was often seen as a pseudospikelet composed of a succession of lateral axes, each subtended by the prophyll of the previous axis, as in a rhipidium. Many authors, however, consider the inflorescence units of all Cyperaceae to be indeterminate, racemose, actual spikelets. In our study, we present new SEM observations on the floral ontogeny of S. nigricans, corroborating a monopodial interpretation of the spikelet. Concaulescent growth of the flower primordium and the spikelet apex explains: (1) the presence of a peduncle under the flower, (2) the advanced development of the subtending glume compared to its own flower primordium, and (3) the position of the distal glume with regard to the distal flower primordium.
Laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation for iatrogenic distal ureteral stricture.

OBJECTIVE The authors describe their experience with laparoscopic extravesical neoureterocystostomy for iatrogenic distal ureteral stricture using a transperitoneal intracorporeal freehand suturing technique. MATERIAL AND METHOD Three patients with distal ureteral strictures underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal extravesical ureteral reimplantation. A 77-year-old male underwent a Lich-Gregoir antireflux ureteral reimplantation following complications arising from transurethral resection of the prostate, and two females, aged 28 and 34 years, underwent refluxing ureteral reimplantation with concurrent psoas hitch after gynecologic surgery. The authors reviewed patient records to assess peri- and postoperative outcomes following definitive laparoscopic management of stricture segments. RESULTS All procedures were completed entirely using a laparoscopic approach. No intra- or post-operative complications were reported. Operative times ranged between 180-250 minutes and mean blood loss was 50-150 ml. The mean time to restarting oral intake was 12 hours. Pathological evaluation confirmed benign lesions in each case and follow-up imaging confirmed satisfactory functional results. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic extravesical neoureterocystostomy for iatrogenic distal ureteral strictures is a safe and efficacious procedure. Larger cohorts and longer-term results are required before this technique is considered first-line therapy in this patient group.
Immobiline‐based two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis: An optimised protocol for resolution of human colonic mucosal proteins

An optimised protocol for the production of two‐dimensional protein patterns of human colonic mucosal cells using immobilised pH gradients in the first dimension is presented. We tested a wide variety of solubilising agents and electrophoretic parameters, separately and in combination. Protein solubilisation was found to be best using a lysis solution containing 9 M urea, 2% Triton X‐100, 2% 2‐mercaptoethanol, 0.8% Pharmalyte pH 3—10 and 8 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). Horizontal streaking of basic proteins in the first dimension was virtually eliminated by a combination of washing Immobiline strips in 100 mM asorbic acid, pH 4.5, for 24 h before use and isoelectric focusing samples at 40°C. The presence of 2% glycerol in the first dimension resulted in tighter resolution throughout the entire pH range. The use of these conditions may prove to have broad applicability to the generation of optimally resolved Immobiline‐based two‐dimensional protein patterns of many other tissues.
Age‐Related Differences in Lower Extremity Power After Support Surface Perturbations

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine a comprehensive measure relating to the ability to generate, absorb, and transfer mechanical energy introduced by a perturbation. It was hypothesized that this measure would reveal age‐related differences leading to different balance recovery responses (i.e., feet‐in‐place and compensatory step).
Lateral-Wave Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves in the Lithosphere

The possibility of lateral-wave propagation of electromagnetic waves between horizontal electric dipoles near the floor of the ocean is reviewed. The general exact integrals for the radial electric field, which is the most useful component for lateral-wave transmission, are evaluated numerically for a range of possible conductivities of the lithospheric rock. Graphs and contour diagrams are shown and discussed for frequencies from 10 Hz to 1 GHz and radial distances from 0.1 to 100 km. Conditions under which very low frequencies provide the greatest range are defined, and also conditions under which a high-frequency window is available that offers by far the greatest radial range.
Ca2+ spark‐dependent and ‐independent sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak in normal and failing rabbit ventricular myocytes

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ leak is an important component of cardiac Ca2+ signalling. Together with the SR Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA)‐mediated Ca2+ uptake, diastolic Ca2+ leak determines SR Ca2+ load and, therefore, the amplitude of Ca2+ transients that initiate contraction. Spontaneous Ca2+ sparks are thought to play a major role in SR Ca2+ leak. In this study, we determined the quantitative contribution of sparks to SR Ca2+ leak and tested the hypothesis that non‐spark mediated Ca2+ release also contributes to SR Ca2+ leak. We simultaneously measured spark properties and intra‐SR free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]SR) after complete inhibition of SERCA with thapsigargin in permeabilized rabbit ventricular myocytes. When [Ca2+]SR declined to 279 ± 10 μm, spark activity ceased completely; however SR Ca2+ leak continued, albeit at a slower rate. Analysis of sparks and [Ca2+]SR revealed, that SR Ca2+ leak increased as a function of [Ca2+]SR, with a particularly steep increase at higher [Ca2+]SR (>600 μm) where sparks become a major pathway of SR Ca2+ leak. At low [Ca2+]SR (<300 μm), however, Ca2+ leak occurred mostly as non‐spark‐mediated leak. Sensitization of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) with low doses of caffeine increased spark frequency and SR Ca2+ leak. Complete inhibition of RyR abolished sparks and significantly decreased SR Ca2+ leak, but did not prevent it entirely, suggesting the existence of RyR‐independent Ca2+ leak. Finally, we found that RyR‐mediated Ca2+ leak was enhanced in myocytes from failing rabbit hearts. These results show that RyRs are the main, but not sole contributor to SR Ca2+ leak. RyR‐mediated leak occurs in part as Ca2+ sparks, but there is clearly RyR‐mediated but Ca2+ sparks independent leak.
Identification of a Dithiazoline Inhibitor of Escherichia colil,d-Carboxypeptidase A

ABSTRACT The enzyme l,d-carboxypeptidase A is involved in the recycling of bacterial peptidoglycan and is essential in Escherichia coli during stationary phase. By high-throughput screening, we have identified a dithiazoline inhibitor of the enzyme with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 3 μM. The inhibitor appeared to cause lysis of E. coli during stationary phase, behavior that is similar to a previously described deletion mutant of l,d-carboxypeptidase A (M. F. Templin, A. Ursinus, and J.-V. Holtje, EMBO J. 18:4108-4117, 1999). As much as a one-log drop in CFU in stationary phase was observed upon treatment of E. coli with the inhibitor, and the amount of intracellular tetrapeptide substrate increased by approximately 33%, consistent with inhibition of the enzyme within bacterial cells. Stationary-phase targets such as l,d-carboxypeptidase A are largely underrepresented as targets of the antibiotic armamentarium but provide potential opportunities to interfere with bacterial growth and persistence.