Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decision Feedback Multiuser Detection: A Systematic Approach

A systematic approach to decision feedback multiuser detection is introduced for the joint detection of symbols of K simultaneously transmitting users of a synchronous correlated waveform multiple-access (CWMA) channel with Gaussian noise. A new performance criterion called symmetric energy is defined which is a low-noise indicator of the joint error rate that at least one user is detected erroneously. Even the best linear detectors can perform poorly in terms of symmetric energy compared to the maximum-likelihood detector. A general class of decision feedback detectors (DFDs) is defined with O(K) implementational complexity per user. The symmetric energy of arbitrary DFD and bounds on their asymptotic effective energy (AEE) performance are obtained along with an exact bit-error rate and AEE analysis for the decorrelating DFD. The optimum DFD that maximizes symmetric energy is obtained. Each one of the K! optimum, decorrelating, and conventional DFDs, that correspond to the K! orders in which the users can be detected, are shown to outperform the linear optimum, decorrelating, and conventional detectors, respectively, in terms of symmetric energy. Moreover, algorithms are obtained for determining the choice of order of detection for the three DFDs which guarantee that they uniformly (user-wise) outperform their linear counterparts. In addition to optimality in symmetric energy, it is also shown that under certain conditions, the optimum DFD achieves the AEE performance of the exponentially complex maximum-likelihood detector for all users simultaneously. None of the results of this paper make the perfect feedback assumption. The implications of our work on power control for multiuser detection are also discussed.
Structure and heme binding properties of Escherichia coli O157:H7 ChuX

For many pathogenic microorganisms, iron acquisition from host heme sources stimulates growth, multiplication, ultimately enabling successful survival and colonization. In gram‐negative Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shigella dysenteriae and Yersinia enterocolitica the genes encoded within the heme utilization operon enable the effective uptake and utilization of heme as an iron source. While the complement of proteins responsible for heme internalization has been determined in these organisms, the fate of heme once it has reached the cytoplasm has only recently begun to be resolved. Here we report the first crystal structure of ChuX, a member of the conserved heme utilization operon from pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 determined at 2.05 Å resolution. ChuX forms a dimer which remarkably given low sequence homology, displays a very similar fold to the monomer structure of ChuS and HemS, two other heme utilization proteins. Absorption spectral analysis of heme reconstituted ChuX demonstrates that ChuX binds heme in a 1:1 manner implying that each ChuX homodimer has the potential to coordinate two heme molecules in contrast to ChuS and HemS where only one heme molecule is bound. Resonance Raman spectroscopy indicates that the heme of ferric ChuX is composed of a mixture of coordination states: 5‐coordinate and high‐spin, 6‐coordinate and low‐spin, and 6‐coordinate and high‐spin. In contrast, the reduced ferrous form displays mainly a 5‐coordinate and high‐spin state with a minor contribution from a 6‐coordinate and low‐spin state. The νFe‐CO and νC‐O frequencies of ChuX‐bound CO fall on the correlation line expected for histidine‐coordinated hemoproteins indicating that the fifth axial ligand of the ferrous heme is the imidazole ring of a histidine residue. Based on sequence and structural comparisons, we designed a number of site‐directed mutations in ChuX to probe the heme binding sites and dimer interface. Spectral analysis of ChuX and mutants suggests involvement of H65 and H98 in heme coordination as mutations of both residues were required to abolish the formation of the hexacoordination state of heme‐bound ChuX.
Deep Ultraviolet Standoff Photoacoustic Spectroscopy of Trace Explosives

We demonstrate deep ultraviolet (UV) photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) of trace explosives using a sensitive microphone at meter standoff distances. We directly detect 10 µg/cm2 of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and ammonium nitrate (AN) with 1 s accumulations from a 3 m standoff distance. Large PAS signals for standoff detection are achieved by exciting into the absorption bands of the explosives with a 213 nm laser. We also investigate the impact of the deep UV photochemistry of AN on the PAS signal strength and stability. We find that production of gaseous species during photolysis of AN enhances the PAS signal strength. This deep UV photochemistry can, however, limit the PAS signal lifetimes when detecting trace quantities.
Optimal Binary One-Error-Correcting Codes of Length 10 Have 72 Codewords

The maximum number of codewords in a binary code with length n and minimum distance d is denoted by A(n, d). By construction it is known that A(10, 3)/spl ges/72 and A(11, 3)/spl ges/144. These bounds have long been conjectured to be the exact values. This is here proved by classifying various codes of smaller length and lengthening these using backtracking and isomorphism rejection. There are 562 inequivalent codes attaining A(10, 3)=72 and 7398 inequivalent codes attaining A(11, 3)=144.
Morphometric connectivity analysis to distinguish normal, mild cognitive impaired, and Alzheimer subjects based on brain MRI

This work investigates a novel way of looking at the regions in the brain and their relationship as possible markers to classify normal control (NC), mild cognitive impaired (MCI), and Alzheimer Disease (AD) subjects. MRI scans from a subset of 101 subjects from the ADNI study at baseline was used for this study. 40 regions in the brain including hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, white, and gray matter were segmented using FreeSurfer. From this data, we calculated the distance between the center of mass of each region, the normalized number of voxels and the percentage volume and surface connectivity shared between the regions. These markers were used for classification using a linear discriminant analysis in a leave-one-out manner. We found that the percentage of surface and volume connectivity between regions gave a significant classification between NC and AD and borderline significant between MCI and AD even after correction for whole brain volume at baseline. The results show that the morphometric connectivity markers include more information than whole brain volume or distance markers. This suggests that one can gain additional information by combining morphometric connectivity markers with traditional volume and shape markers.
Nephrotoxic activity of methanolic extract of Sapindus laurifolius in rats

The Sapindus laurifolius methanolic leaf extract was evaluated for phytochemical analysis, acute and repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity study in Wistar rats. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, flavanoids and glycosides. In acute toxicity study, S. laurifolius leaf extract was found to be non toxic up to 2 g/kg. In repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity, leaf extract administered at the doses 50, 200 and 800 mg/kg and limit dose of 1000 mg/kg. There was a significant (P< 0.05) increase in AST, ALT, BUN and serum creatinine in rats administered with high dose of leaf extract. The histopathological changes confined to liver, kidney and intestine, which revealed mild to moderate hepatotoxicity, severe nephrotoxicity and increased goblet cell activity. The changes were found to correlate with increased dose of leaf extract. Satellite group administered with 800 mg/kg of leaf extract revealed damage to the kidney and liver continued even after the treatment has been stopped or animals may require still longer duration for recovery.
Quantitative comparisons of urgent care service providers.

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to develop, validate, and use a survey instrument to measure and compare the perceived quality of three types of US urgent care (UC) service providers: hospital emergency rooms, urgent care centres (UCC), and primary care physician offices. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH This study develops, validates, and uses a survey instrument to measure/compare differences in perceived service quality among three types of UC service providers. Six dimensions measured the components of service quality: tangibles, professionalism, interaction, accessibility, efficiency, and technical quality. FINDINGS Primary care physicians' offices scored higher for service quality and perceived value, followed by UCC. Hospital emergency rooms scored lower in both quality and perceived value. No significant difference was identified between UCC and primary care physicians across all the perspectives, except for interactions. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS The homogenous nature of the sample population (college students), and the fact that the respondents were recruited from a single university limits the generalizability of the findings. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The patient's choice of a health care provider influences not only the continuity of the care that he or she receives, but compliance with a medical regime, and the evolution of the health care landscape. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS This work contributes to the understanding of how to provide cost effective and efficient UC services. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This study developed and validated a survey instrument to measure/compare six dimensions of service quality for three types of UC service providers. The authors provide valuable data for UC service providers seeking to improve patient perceptions of service quality.
Novel calibration procedure for SVBRDF estimation of 3D objects using directional illumination and structured light projection

Estimation of geometry and reflectance of 3D objects requires that surface geometry is registered together with photometric data. We present a method which combines geometrical camera calibration and photometric calibration into a single procedure utilizing only one calibration target. Using structured light projection and directional illumination, the surface of a 3D object can be registered with an integrated measuring device. To estimate spatial distribution of reflectance parameters, a Spatially Varying Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (SVBRDF) model is used. We also show a 3D image processing method to estimate SVBRDF parameters using an arbitrary defined array of illuminators and algorithms to reconstruct this surface using specialized visualization software. This approach allows for effective measurement of geometry and visual properties of 3D objects represented by a dense point cloud model. It can become a valuable tool for documentation of digital heritage and in industrial computer vision applications.
On random coding error exponents of watermarking systems

Watermarking codes are analyzed from an information-theoretic viewpoint as a game between an information hider and an active attacker. While the information hider embeds a secret message (watermark) in a covertext message (typically: text, image, sound, or video stream) within a certain distortion level, the attacker processes the resulting watermarked message, within limited additional distortion, in attempt to invalidate the watermark. For the case where the covertext source is memoryless (or, more generally where there exists some transformation that makes it memoryless), we provide a single-letter characterization of the maximin game of the random coding error exponent associated with the average probability of erroneously decoding the watermark. This single-letter characterization is in effect because if the information hider utilizes a memoryless channel to generate random codewords for every covertext message, the (causal) attacker will maximize the damage by implementing a memoryless channel as well. Partial results for the dual minimax game and the conditions for the existence of a saddle point are also presented.
Bicalutamide inhibits androgen‐mediated adhesion of prostate cancer cells exposed to ionizing radiation

Cell adhesion plays an important role in proliferation, metastasis, and tumor growth and may represent a potential vulnerability in treatment of prostate cancer patients. Bicalutamide (Casodex) has been used as an anti‐androgen agent for prostate cancer patients during hormone ablation therapy. This study focuses on the effect of Bicalutamide on cell adhesion to fibronectin (FN) in prostate cancer cells.
PROBLEM OF IMPERCEPTION OF DISEASE AND OF IMPAIRED BODY TERRITORIES WITH ORGANIC LESIONS RELATION TO BODY SCHEME AND ITS DISORDERS

UNAWARENESS OF DISEASE There is a group of patients affected with cerebral hemiplegia, usually of the left side, who show the strange feature of lack of awareness of their own defect. Not only do such patients tend to behave as though they could move their disabled limbs perfectly, but they deny their paralysis altogether. The phenomenon is observed not rarely if looked for. Its occurrence seems to depend on the mode and rapidity of onset of the defect rather than on its extent and severity. The more sudden the onset, the more likely is the symptom to occur. The condition is usually transient, but may sometimes persist for a longer or shorter period, even until death. The phenomenon of nonperception of disease has also been observed in patients with cortical blindness from bilateral lesion of the occipital lobe. Besides, it has been noted in persons with visual field defects from
The Association between Metabolic Syndrome-Related Indicators and Ten-Year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: An Epidemiologic Assessment

Objectives. This study explored the association between metabolic syndrome-related indicators and the ten-year risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the middle-aged and elderly population. Methods. Data were collected from residents in Southern Taiwan through a health screening program, carried out from March 2007 to May 2008. The present study used the risk assessment tool of the Framingham Heart Study and adopted ≦10% as low risk, 11~20% as medium risk, and >20% as high risk for CVD. Results. We found that subjects with abdominal obesity and hypertension had significantly higher 10-year risk for CVD than those who had normal waist circumference and blood pressure (OR=2.07 and 24.52, resp.). Subjects with hypertriglyceridemia were 1.86 times more at risk for developing medium risk of CVD than those who had normal triglyceride levels. Furthermore, individuals with reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) had significantly higher 10-year risk for CVD than those who had normal HDL-C. Conclusions. Metabolic syndrome-related indicators were positively associated with 10-year risk for CVD. Waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, triglyceride and HDL-C might be good indicators for predicting the risk of CVD for middle-aged and elderly populations.
Simple quantitation for potential serum disease biomarker peptides, primarily identified by a peptidomics approach in the serum with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Background We previously reported peptide candidates of disease biomarkers for pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome using a novel peptidomic analytical method, BLOTCHIP®-MS. The aim of this study was to establish a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system for quantitation of such peptides and to validate their usefulness as disease biomarkers of pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome including gestational hypertension/pre-eclampsia. Methods We focused on three peptide fragments, kininogen-1439–456 (PDA039), kininogen-1438–456 (PDA044) and cysteinyl α2-HS-glycoprotein341–367 (PDA071). Using polyclonal antibodies specific for each peptide, suitable conditions for the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system were investigated. The quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay values were confirmed by quantitative matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS analyses. Using the established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems, serum samples from gestational hypertension/pre-eclampsia patients and paired serum samples from healthy pregnant females were analysed. Results The optimum sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay conditions for PDA039/044 quantitation were developed. Quantitation of PDA071 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay failed, presumably due to issues with polyclonal antibody specificity for the native peptide. Bland–Altman plots showed a satisfactory correlation between the serum PDA039/044 concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and that by quantitative MS analysis. Although the PDA044 concentration showed no significant change during pregnancy, including gestational hypertension/pre-eclampsia patients, the serum PDA039 concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.0001) in the patients. Conclusions The simple quantitation technology for PDA039 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was established for the first time. PDA039 confirmed its clinical utility as a disease biomarker for gestational hypertension/pre-eclampsia by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system using clinical samples. The information provided from the present study would be a new valuable addition in the field of gestational hypertension/pre-eclampsia research.
Glucose sampling: importance of citrate

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A survey and comparative analysis of the various routing protocols of Internet of Things

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into various swarm intelligence-based routing protocols for Internet of Things (IoT), which are currently available for the Mobile Ad-hoc networks (MANETs) and wireless sensor networks (WSNs). There are several issues which are limiting the growth of IoT. These include privacy, security, reliability, link failures, routing, heterogeneity, etc. The routing issues of MANETs and WSNs impose almost the same requirements for IoT routing mechanism. The recent work of worldwide researchers is focused on this area. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides the literature review for various standard routing protocols. The different comparative analysis of the routing protocols is done. The paper surveys various routing protocols available for the seamless connectivity of things in IoT. Various features, advantages and challenges of the said protocols are discussed. The protocols are based on the principles of swarm intelligence. Swarm intelligence is applied to achieve optimality and efficiency in solving the complex, multi-hop and dynamic requirements of the wireless networks. The application of the ant colony optimization technique tries to provide answers to many routing issues. Findings Using the swarm intelligence and ant colony optimization principles, it has been seen that the protocols’ efficiency definitely increases and also provides more scope for the development of more robust, reliable and efficient routing protocols for the IoT. Research limitations/implications The existing protocols do not solve all reliability issues and efficient routing is still not achieved completely. As of now no techniques or protocols are efficient enough to cover all the issues and provide the solution. There is a need to develop new protocols for the communication which will cater to all these needs. Efficient and scalable routing protocols adaptable to different scenarios and network size variation capable to find optimal routes are required. Practical implications The various routing protocols are discussed and there is also an introduction to new parameters which can strengthen the protocols. This can lead to encouragement of readers, as well as researchers, to analyze and develop new routing algorithms. Social implications The paper provides better understanding of the various routing protocols and provides better comparative analysis for the use of swarm-based research methodology in the development of routing algorithms exclusively for the IoT. Originality/value This is a review paper which discusses the various routing protocols available for MANETs and WSNs and provides the groundwork for the development of new intelligent routing protocols for IoT.
In silico analysis and DHPLC screening strategy identifies novel apoptotic gene targets of aberrant promoter hypermethylation in prostate cancer

Aberrant DNA methylation has been implicated as a key survival mechanism in cancer, whereby promoter hypermethylation silences genes essential for many cellular processes including apoptosis. Limited data is available on the methylation profile of apoptotic genes in prostate cancer (CaP). The aim of this study was to profile methylation of apoptotic‐related genes in CaP using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC).