Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carrier phase estimation for 53.6 Gbaud QPSK signal encoded by low-rate FEC

A CPE aiming at the low SNR region and targeting PSK formats encoded with a low-rate FEC is evaluated for the first time. Via numerical simulation of a 53.6 Gbaud DP-QSPK signal with a coding rate of 0.48, we confirm that pilot-aided CPE achieves a 0.3 dB SNR improvement over a typical blind CPE at a low-rate FEC Q-limit of 1.2 dB.
Could Cells from Your Nose Fix Your Heart? Transplantation of Olfactory Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Cardiac Infarction

This study examines the hypothesis that multipotent olfactory mucosal stem cells could provide a basis for the development of autologous cell transplant therapy for the treatment of heart attack. In humans, these cells are easily obtained by simple biopsy. Neural stem cells from the olfactory mucosa are multipotent, with the capacity to differentiate into developmental fates other than neurons and glia, with evidence of cardiomyocyte differentiation in vitro and after transplantation into the chick embryo. Olfactory stem cells were grown from rat olfactory mucosa. These cells are propagated as neurosphere cultures, similar to other neural stem cells. Olfactory neurospheres were grown in vitro, dissociated into single cell suspensions, and transplanted into the infarcted hearts of congeneic rats. Transplanted cells were genetically engineered to express green fluorescent protein (GFP) in order to allow them to be identified after transplantation. Functional assessment was attempted using echocardiography in three groups of rats: control, unoperated; infarct only; infarcted and transplanted. Transplantation of neurosphere-derived cells from adult rat olfactory mucosa appeared to restore heart rate with other trends towards improvement in other measures of ventricular function indicated. Importantly, donor-derived cells engrafted in the transplanted cardiac ventricle and expressed cardiac contractile proteins.
Muscle deoxygenation and neural drive to the muscle during repeated sprint cycling.

PURPOSE To investigate muscle deoxygenation and neural drive-related changes during repeated cycling sprints in a fatiguing context. METHODS Nine healthy male subjects performed a repeated-sprint test (consisting of 10 x 6-s maximal sprints interspaced by 30 s of recovery). Oxygen uptake was measured breath-by-breath; muscle deoxygenation of the vastus lateralis was assessed continuously using the near-infrared spectroscopy technique. Surface electromyograms (RMS) of both vastus lateralis and biceps femoris were also recorded. Furthermore, before and after the repeated-sprint test, the percentage of muscle activation by voluntary drive (twitch-interpolated method) was measured during a maximal voluntary contraction. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Consistent with previous research, our data showed a significant power decrement during repeated-sprint exercise. There was also a progressive muscle deoxygenation, but our data showed that the ability of the subjects to use available O2 throughout the entire repeated-sprint test was well preserved. Our data displayed a significant decrement in the RMS activity during the acceleration phase of each sprint across the repeated-sprint exercise. Moreover, decrement in motor drive was confirmed after exercise by a significant decrease in both percentage of voluntary activation and RMS/M-wave ratio during a maximal voluntary contraction. CONCLUSION In this experimental design, our findings suggest that the ability to repeat short-duration (6 s) sprints was associated with the occurrence of both peripheral and central fatigue.
Expression of a Catalytically Inactive Sphingosine Kinase Mutant Blocks Agonist-induced Sphingosine Kinase Activation

Sphingosine kinase (SK) catalyzes the formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid messenger that plays an important role in a variety of mammalian cell processes, including inhibition of apoptosis and stimulation of cell proliferation. Basal levels of S1P in cells are generally low but can increase rapidly when cells are exposed to various agonists through rapid and transient activation of SK activity. To date, elucidation of the exact signaling pathways affected by these elevated S1P levels has relied on the use of SK inhibitors that are known to have direct effects on other enzymes in the cell. Furthermore, these inhibitors block basal SK activity, which is thought to have a housekeeping function in the cell. To produce a specific inhibitor of SK activation we sought to generate a catalytically inactive, dominant-negative SK. This was accomplished by site-directed mutagenesis of Gly82 to Asp of the human SK, a residue identified through sequence similarity to the putative catalytic domain of diacylglycerol kinase. This mutant had no detectable SK activity when expressed at high levels in HEK293T cells. Activation of endogenous SK activity by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-1β, and phorbol esters in HEK293T cells was blocked by expression of this inactive sphingosine kinase (hSKG82D). Basal SK activity was unaffected by expression of hSKG82D. Expression of hSKG82D had no effect on TNFα-induced activation of protein kinase C and sphingomyelinase activities. Thus, hSKG82D acts as a specific dominant-negative SK to block SK activation. This discovery provides a powerful tool for the elucidation of the exact signaling pathways affected by elevated S1P levels following SK activation. To this end we have employed the dominant-negative SK to demonstrate that TNFα activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1,2) is dependent on SK activation.
Predicting the Presence of Adjacent Infections in Septic Arthritis in Children

Background: The gold standard for treatment of septic arthritis is urgent surgical debridement. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may identify osteomyelitis, subperiosteal abscesses, and intramuscular abscesses, which frequently occur with septic arthritis. If these adjacent infections are not recognized, initial treatment may be inadequate. The purpose of this study is to develop a prediction algorithm to distinguish septic arthritis with adjacent infections from isolated septic arthritis to determine which patients should undergo preoperative MRI. Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective review of 87 children treated for septic arthritis was performed. All patients underwent MRI. Sixteen variables (age, sex, temperature, WBC, CRP, ESR, ANC, hematocrit, platelet count, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, symptom duration, weight-bearing status, prior antibiotic therapy, and prior hospitalization) from admission were reviewed. Graphical and logistical regression analysis was used to determine variables independently predictive of adjacent infection. Optimal cutoff values were determined for each variable and a prediction algorithm was created. Finally, the model was applied to our patient database and each patient with isolated septic arthritis or adjacent infection was stratified based upon the number of positive predictive factors. Results: A total of 36 (41%) patients had isolated septic arthritis and 51 (59%) had septic arthritis with adjacent foci. Five variables (age above 3.6 y, CRP>13.8 mg/L, duration of symptoms >3 d, platelets <314×103 cells/&mgr;L, and ANC>8.6×103 cells/&mgr;L) were found to be predictive of adjacent infection and were included in the algorithm. Patients with ≥3 risk factors were classified as high risk for septic arthritis with adjacent infection (sensitivity: 90%, specificity: 67%, positive predictive value: 80%, negative predictive value: 83%). Conclusions: Age, CRP, duration of symptoms, platelet count, and ANC were predictive of adjacent infections. Patients who met ≥3 criteria are at high risk for adjacent infection and may benefit from preoperative MRI. Level of Evidence: Level III—retrospective comparative study.
Gain enhancement of the Vivaldi antenna with band notch characteristics using zero‐index metamaterial

In this letter, a tapered slot ultrawide band (UWB) Vivaldi antenna with enhanced gain having band notch characteristics in the WLAN/WiMAX band is presented. In this framework, a reference tapered slot Vivaldi antenna is first designed for UWB operation that is, 3.1–10.6 GHz using the standard procedure. The band‐notch operation at 4.8 GHz is achieved with the help of especially designed complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) cell placed near the excitation point of the antenna. Further, the gain of the designed antenna is enhanced substantially with the help of anisotropic zero index metamaterial (AZIM) cells, which are optimized and positioned on the substrate in a particular fashion. In order to check the novelty of the design procedure, three distinct Vivaldi structures are fabricated and tested. Experimental data show quite good agreement with the simulated results. As the proposed antenna can minimize the electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by the IEEE 802.11 WLAN/WiMAX standards, it can be used more efficiently in the UWB frequency band. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:233–238, 2016
Distributed self‐organizing bandwidth allocation for priority‐based bus communication

The raising complexity in distributed embedded systems makes it necessary that the communication of such systems organizes itself automatically. In this paper, we tackle the problem of sharing bandwidth on priority‐based buses. Based on a game theoretic model, reinforcement learning algorithms are proposed that use simple local rules to establish bandwidth sharing. The algorithms require little computational effort and no additional communication. Extensive experiments show that the proposed algorithms establish the desired properties without global knowledge ortextita priori information. It is proven that communication nodes using these algorithms can co‐exist with nodes using other scheduling techniques. Finally, we propose a procedure that helps to set the learning parameters according to the desired behavior. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lack of Effect of Psychosocial Stress on Maternal Corticotropin-Releasing Factor and Catecholamine Levels at 28 Weeks' Gestation

OBJECTIVE: Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and catecholamines are among the major hormones activated during the adaptive response to stressful stimuli. In pregnant women, serum CRF and catecholamines levels increase during labor and preterm delivery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether psychosocial stress measures are correlated with serum CRF or urinary catecholamine ie, epinephrine, norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA)/ levels in healthy midtrimester pregnant women. METHODS: A large group of white pregnant women (n = 382) participated in the present study. The Work Conditions Questionnaire and the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview were administered to measure job stress and general life stress, respectively. Urine and blood specimens were collected at 28 weeks of gestation at the time of psychosocial evaluation. Epinephrine, NE, and DA were quantified in the urine by a highly sensitive method based on an amperometric detector. Serum CRF and cortisol levels were measured in blood specimens by using specific radioimmunoassays. RESULTS: Serum CRF and cortisol levels did not vary between patients with high and low scores on psychological tests, and no correlation was found between CRF and cortisol levels. One job stress measure, low job latitude, was signnficantly associated with a mild increase in NE and DA levels in the afternoon and night (P <. 05, analysis of variance). Serum cortisol levels were inversely correlated with NE in the morning (r= -0. 447; P = .002) and night segments (r = -0.391; P = .007) and with DA in the night period (r = -0.367; P = .013). CONCLUSION: The absence of a signficant relationship between CRF/cortisol and psychosocial stress measures in pregnant women suggests that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to psychosocial stress may be masked at midtrimester by the constantly high levels of placental CRF, whose control is beyond the influence of environmental stressors.
Site-Specific Plant Condition Monitoring Through Hyperspectral Alternating Least Squares Unmixing

Alternating least squares (ALS) is a blind source separation method commonly used in chemometrics to simultaneously estimate the absorption spectrum and concentration of different components in a chemical sample. In this study, the transferability of ALS from chemometrics to agricultural remote sensing is evaluated. Due to the subpixel contribution of background components, spectral unmixing has become an indispensable processing step in the spectral analysis of agricultural areas. Yet, traditional unmixing techniques only allow estimating the subpixel cover distribution of different components, but fail to provide an estimate of pure spectral signature of the crop component. This info is, however, highly valuable, as this pure crop signature could be used to monitor the health status of trees. Here, we anticipate that ALS can provide a solution. ALS estimates both the concentration and the absorption spectra of different components in a chemical sample and this can easily be translated into estimating both the subpixel cover fraction and spectral signature of different components in a mixed image pixel. We tested the performance of ALS on binary synthetic mixtures of citrus canopy and soil spectra, as well as on a ray-tracing experiment of a virtual orchard. ALS indeed allowed to simultaneously estimate the subpixel cover distribution (RMSE=0.05), as well as the pure spectral signatures of different endmembers (RRMSE<;0.12), and considerably improved the extraction of biophysical parameters (Δ R2 up to 0.43). Thus, ALS provides a promising new image analysis tool for agricultural remote sensing.
Fuel alcohol biosynthesis by Zymomonas anaerobia: Optimization studies

The optimum operating conditions for growth and ethanol production of Zymomonas anaerobia ATCC 29501 were established. The optimum pH range and temperature were found to be 5.0–6.0 and 35°C, respectively. Based on the results obtained from the temperature optimization study, an Arrhenius‐type temperature relationship for the specific growth rate was developed. The growth and ethanol production of this microbe also have been optimized in terms of concentrations of glucose, essential nutrients, and minerals. With optimum medium and operating conditions, an ethanol concentration of 96 g/L was obtained in 23 h. Both growth and ethanol yield coefficients in dependence on initial glucose concentrations were determined.
Inhibition of Geranylgeranylation Mediates the Effects of 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA Reductase Inhibitors on Microglia*

Inflammatory responses involving microglia, the resident macrophages of the brain, are thought to contribute importantly to the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and possibly other neurodegenerative disorders. The present study tested whether the mevalonate-isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway, which affects inflammation in many types of tissues, tonically regulates microglial activation. This question takes on added significance given the potential use of statins, drugs that block the rate-limiting step (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase)) in mevalonate and cholesterol synthesis, in AD treatment. Both mevastatin and simvastatin caused a concentration- and time-dependent activation of microglia in cultured rat hippocampal slices. This response consisted of a transformation of the cells from a typical resting configuration to an amoeboid, macrophage-like morphology, increased expression of a macrophage antigen, and up-regulation of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α. Evidence for proliferation was also obtained. Statin-induced microglial changes were blocked by mevalonate but not by cholesterol, indicating that they were probably due to suppression of isoprenoid synthesis. In accord with this, the statin effects were absent in slices co-incubated with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, a mevalonate product that provides for the prenylation of Rho GTPases. Finally, PD98089, a compound that blocks activation of extracellularly regulated kinases1/2, suppressed statin-induced up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-α but had little effect on microglial transformation. These results suggest that 1) the mevalonate-isoprenoid pathway is involved in regulating microglial morphology and in controlling expression of certain cytokines and 2) statins have the potential for enhancing a component of AD with uncertain relationships to other features of the disease.
Frequent use of lubricants for anal sex among men who have sex with men: the HIV prevention potential of a microbicidal gel.

OBJECTIVES This study assessed frequency of rectal lubricant use, opinions about rectal microbicidal gels, and willingness to participate in acceptability trials of rectal microbicides among Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS Latino MSM (N = 307) living in New York City were surveyed from October 1995 through November 1996. Eleven Latino MSM participated in a focus group. RESULTS Among those having anal sex during the prior year, 93% used lubricants (59% always and 74% in at least 80% of sexual encounters) regardless of condom use. Of the 29 men who practiced anal sed but did not use condoms, 90% used lubricants with similar frequency. Of those using lubricants, 94% used at least 1 teaspoon per occasion. A transparent product, free of smell and taste, was favored. Of the MSM in the sample, 92% said that they would use a lubricant with an anti-HIV microbicidal agent, and 87% expressed interest in participating in an acceptability trial. Product and dispenser preferences also were discussed. CONCLUSIONS A rectal lubricant with microbicidal properties appears acceptable and desirable to Latino men who have anal sex with other men.
Coupled Thermal-Hydraulic/Electromagnetic Analysis and Interpretation of the Test Results of the ITER TFPRO2 OST1 Conductor

The THELMA code is used to study the coupled thermal-hydraulic electro-magnetic problem of the current and temperature distribution inside the TFPRO2 Nb3Sn SULTAN sample, which was tested in 2007. The code computes self-consistent voltage and temperature values both on the jacket, where they are measured, and inside the cable, where they are more directly representative of the conductor performance. The measured temperature gradients, related to non-uniform Joule heating at the joint and in the high-field region, as well as to non uniform current distribution, are reasonably well reproduced by the model, together with the voltage-current characteristics.
PCA-Based Algorithms to Find Synergies for Humanoid Robot Motion Behavior

Applying principal component analysis (PCA) to find synergy signal for specific motion of Robot is a standard method. However, implementation of PCA gives synergy solely on quantitative basis. The algorithms proposed in this paper advocates the enhancement of qualitative measure of PCA to locate well-coordinated synergy signals. The two main control strategies of central nervous system (CNS) are taken into account for enhancement of algorithms. First one is the CNS strategy of separate synergy generation for individual limbs and second is the trajectory generation of complex movement using via-points. The proposed algorithms find the synergy without loss of generality of implementation. Humanoid robot NAO is used as a robotic platform to test the result of the algorithm. The synergy for a group of motors is calculated by implementing the algorithm on motors position sensor data of the robot corresponding to three motion pattern 1. Knee bend sitting–standing, 2. Sitting–standing on chair, and 3. Walking. T.
Large scale expression, purification and 2D crystallization of recombinant plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase.

P-type ATPases convert chemical energy into electrochemical gradients that are used to energize secondary active transport. Analysis of the structure and function of P-type ATPases has been limited by the lack of active recombinant ATPases in quantities suitable for crystallographic studies aiming at solving their three-dimensional structure. We have expressed Arabidopsis thaliana plasma membrane H+-ATPase isoform AHA2, equipped with a His(6)-tag, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The H+-ATPase could be purified both in the presence and in the absence of regulatory 14-3-3 protein depending on the presence of the diterpene fusicoccin which specifically induces formation of the H+-ATPase/14-3-3 protein complex. Amino acid analysis of the purified complex suggested a stoichiometry of two 14-3-3 proteins per H+-ATPase polypeptide. The purified H(+)-ATPase readily formed two-dimensional crystals following reconstitution into lipid vesicles. Electron cryo-microscopy of the crystals yielded a projection map at approximately 8 A resolution, the p22(1)2(1) symmetry of which suggests a dimeric protein complex. Three distinct regions of density of approximately equal size are apparent and may reflect different domains in individual molecules of AHA2.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Attachment , social network and homelessness in young people

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A MAGNETAR-LIKE OUTBURST FROM A HIGH-B RADIO PULSAR

Radio pulsars are believed to have their emission powered by the loss of rotational kinetic energy. By contrast, magnetars show intense X-ray and γ-ray radiation whose luminosity greatly exceeds that due to spin down and magnetar luminosity is believed to be powered by intense internal magnetic fields. A basic prediction of this picture is that radio pulsars of high magnetic field should show magnetar-like emission. Here we report on a magnetar-like X-ray outburst from the radio pulsar PSR J1119–6127, heralded by two short bright X-ray bursts on 2016 July 27 and 28. Using target of opportunity data from the Swift X-ray Telescope and NuSTAR, we show that this pulsar’s flux has brightened by a factor of in the 0.5–10 keV band, and that its previously soft X-ray spectrum has undergone a strong hardening with strong pulsations appearing for the first time above 2.5 keV, with phase-averaged emission detectable up to 25 keV. By comparing Swift-XRT and NuSTAR timing data with a pre-outburst ephemeris derived from Fermi Large Area Telescope data, we find that the source has contemporaneously undergone a large spin-up glitch of amplitude . The collection of phenomena observed thus far in this outburst strongly mirrors those in most magnetar outbursts and provides an unambiguous connection between the radio pulsar and magnetar populations.