Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance of High Order QAM under Transmit Nonlinearities

High data rate demands of new generations of communication systems necessitate the use of higher and higher order QAM schemes. However, the nonlinearities in various stages of the transmitter may hinder the performance of higher order QAM and limit the transmission rate enhancements. As observed in many studies in the literature, outermost constellation points are usually more adversely affected by nonlinearities and larger regions of uncertainty form around them. We focus on nonuniform error vector magnitude (EVM) values of QAM symbols in this paper and present achievable rates. Furthermore, we propose a simplified receiver that considers the unequal EVM distribution by splitting the constellation into multiple regions and compare the performance of the receiver to that of a conventional receiver taking into account average EVM.
Secure Transmission for GPQSM System Exploiting Artificial Noise and Signal Space Diversity

In this paper, a secure generalised precoding aided quadrature spatial modulation (SGPQSM) scheme is proposed to resist the passive eavesdropping that is unknown to the transmitter. With the help of artificial noise in the null space, the SGPQSM scheme can retain all the advantages of generalised precoding aided quadrature spatial modulation (GPQSM) at the legitimate receiver while producing interference to the eavesdropper. Signal space diversity (SSD) is also used to increase the "diversity order". Then the secrecy capacity of our proposed SGPQSM is analyzed and the optimal power allocation between signal and artificial noise is investigated. Simulation results demonstrate that our SGPQSM can significantly improve the secrecy performance. In multiple-input multiple-output systems, the proposed SGPQSM scheme performs better than the existing secure scheme.
Evaluation of released malathion and spinosad from chitosan/alginate/gelatin capsules against Culex pipiens larvae

Efficacy of spinosad and malathion loaded in eco-friendly biodegradable formulations was evaluated for controlling Culex pipiens larvae. Malathion (organophosphorus larvicide) and spinosad (naturally derived insecticide) were loaded on chitosan/alginate/gelatin capsules. Capsules were characterized by size measurement, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and water uptake. In vitro release kinetics of the larvicides was studied in the running and stagnant water. Biochemical studies on the larvae treated with technical and formulated insecticides were also demonstrated. The results indicated that the released spinosad was active for a long time up to 48 and 211 days in the running and stagnant water, respectively. However, the capsules loaded with malathion showed larvicidal activity for 20 and 27 days in the running and stagnant water, respectively. Technical and formulated malathion and spinosad had an inhibition effect on acetylcholinesterase, carboxylesterase, and glutathione S-transferase. The results proved that the prepared capsules consisting of biodegradable polymers containing larvicides could be effective as controlled-release formulation against C. pipiens larvae for a long period.
Spectrum Utility: A Novel Metric for Efficient Spectrum Usage in Next-Generation Networks

This paper proposes a novel spectrum utility (SU) metric that assesses the efficiency of spectrum usage by a set of heterogeneous applications. Unlike the traditional spectrum efficiency (SE), the proposed metric does not blindly consider the achievable bit- rate, but captures the most relevant performance metrics for each of the considered applications. Specifically, it is formulated as an aggregated utility that combines the satisfaction level with respect to the various requirements with an innovative pricing model based on it to derive the total revenue generated for the spectrum owner. To get insight into the usefulness of the proposed metric, the proposed methodology is instantiated for an illustrative use case, where a mixture of delay- sensitive (i.e., interactive video) and -tolerant (i.e., file transfer) applications are established in dense indoor deployments. The obtained results reveal that the proposed SU significantly outperforms the legacy SE in assessing how efficiently a limited frequency spectrum is utilised from the perspective of the total revenue, particularly when the quality- of- experience (QoE) perceived during video sessions is degraded. This calls for a novel SU-aware ecosystem, where the spectrum sharing models, billing policies and resource allocation mechanisms (e.g., medium access control (MAC) and radio resource management (RRM)) are jointly revisited to maximise the overall SU.
Outdoor Experimental Trials of Advanced Downlink NOMA Using Smartphone-Sized Devices

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is a novel multi-user multiplexing scheme that improves spectral efficiency for LTE enhancements and 5G. By overlapping radio resources (e.g., time/frequency/code), but assigning different powers to the multiplexed users, NOMA is able to improve the system performance and fairness. To assess the performance of downlink NOMA under realistic conditions and confirm its feasibility with real hardware, we conducted experimental trials in outdoor environments using smartphone-sized NOMA chipset-embedded devices. This paper introduces our trial setup and trial results of NOMA combined with closed-loop 4x2 SU-MIMO.
Biomarkers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: current findings

Numerous biomarkers have been unveiled in the rapidly evolving biomarker discovery field, with an aim to improve the clinical management of disorders. In rare diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, this endeavor has created a wealth of knowledge that, if effectively exploited, will benefit affected individuals, with respect to health care, therapy, improved quality of life and increased life expectancy. The most promising findings and molecular biomarkers are inspected in this review, with an aim to provide an overview of currently known biomarkers and the technological developments used. Biomarkers as cells, genetic variations, miRNAs, proteins, lipids and/or metabolites indicative of disease severity, progression and treatment response have the potential to improve development and approval of therapies, clinical management of DMD and patients’ life quality. We highlight the complexity of translating research results to clinical use, emphasizing the need for biomarkers, fit for purpose and describe the challenges associated with qualifying biomarkers for clinical applications.
High-Resolution Remote Sensing Image Change Detection by Statistical-Object-Based Method

We implemented a change detection method based on a multitemporal object using a chi-square method and iterative trimming to find the changed object in the past. Trapping in the sample data does not obey Gaussian distribution, and the detection result is not ideal. To fix this problem, we proposed a method based on the law of cosines with a box-whisker plot. First, using the incremental segmentation method to segment the image and selecting the optimum combination of spatial, spectral, and contextual features by the Optimum Index Factor method, we constructed the feature space of different time images. Then, the law of cosines was used to calculate the change index of every object. Finally, we identified changed objects by analyzing the change index using the box-whisker plot. High-resolution remote sensing images of GF-1 were used as the experimental data. The experimental results show that the correct detection accuracy and omissions rate accuracy are much better than the results of the traditional multitemporal-object-based change detection.
Joint Power Allocation and Match Access for Physical Security of Heterogeneous Cellular Networks

In this paper, we investigate the Physical Layer Security (PLS) of a multiple friendly jammers and multiple users wireless system in Device-to-Device (D2D) communications underlaying cellular networks with an eavesdropper. The aim is to maximize the increase of secrecy capacity of the entire system through optimal power allocation and jamming matching under various practical constraints. Firstly, the total increase secrecy capacity of D2D pairs with the help of jamming is derived, then we obtain optimal jamming power for each D2D pair and formulate the D2D pairs and jammers matching problem in the weighted bipartite graph via designing the Kuhn-Munkres (KM) algorithm. Finally, numerical results demonstrate that our scheme could greatly improve the secrecy performance of heterogeneous D2D and cellular networks.
Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Lateral and Medial Hypothalamus in Cocaine Dependence: An Exploratory Study

The role of dopamine in cocaine misuse has been extensively documented for the mesocorticolimbic circuit. Preclinical work from earlier lesion studies to recent multidisciplinary investigations has suggested that the hypothalamus is critically involved in motivated behavior, with the lateral and medial hypothalamus each involved in waking/feeding and resting/satiety. However, little is known of hypothalamus function and dysfunction in cocaine misuse. Here, we examined resting state functional connectivity of the lateral and medial hypothalamus in 70 individuals with cocaine dependence (CD) and 70 age as well as gender matched healthy controls (HC). Image pre-processing and analyses followed published work. Compared to HC, CD showed increased lateral hypothalamic connectivity with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and decreased functional connectivity with the ventral precuneus. CD showed increased medial hypothalamic connectivity with the inferior parietal lobule and decreased connectivity with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and ventral striatum. Further, at trend level significance, the connectivity strength between lateral hypothalamus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was positively correlated with total amount of cocaine use in the past month (p = 0.004, r = 0.35) and the connectivity strength between medial hypothalamus and ventral striatum was negatively correlated with cocaine craving as assessed by the Tiffany Cocaine Craving Questionnaire (p = 0.008, r = −0.33). Together, the findings demonstrated altered resting state functional connectivity of the hypothalamus and may provide new insight on circuit level deficits in cocaine dependence.
A Novel System for Content-Based Retrieval of Single and Multi-Label High-Dimensional Remote Sensing Images

This paper presents a novel content-based remote sensing (RS) image retrieval system that consists of the following. First, an image description method that characterizes both spatial and spectral information content of RS images. Second, a supervised retrieval method that efficiently models and exploits the sparsity of RS image descriptors. The proposed image description method characterizes the spectral content by three different novel spectral descriptors that are: raw pixel values, simple bag of spectral values and the extended bag of spectral values descriptors. To model the spatial content of RS images, we consider the well-known scale invariant feature transform-based bag of visual words approach. With the conjunction of the spatial and the spectral descriptors, RS image retrieval is achieved by a novel sparse reconstruction-based RS image retrieval method. The proposed method considers a novel measure of label likelihood in the framework of sparse reconstruction-based classifiers and generalizes the original sparse classifier to the case both single-label and multi-label RS image retrieval problems. Finally, to enhance retrieval performance, we introduce a strategy to exploit the sensitivity of the sparse reconstruction-based method to different dictionary words. Experimental results obtained on two benchmark archives show the effectiveness of the proposed system.
High-Intensity Interval Training Performed by Young Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is as a time-efficient alternative to moderate- or low-intensity continuous exercise for improving variables related to endurance and anaerobic performance in young and adolescent athletes. Objectives: To assess original research about enhancement of endurance and anaerobic exercise performance in young and adolescent athletes performing HIIT. Method: Relevant articles published in peer-reviewed journals were retrieved from the electronic databases PubMed and SPORTDiscus in December 2017. Inclusion criteria were: (i) controlled trials (HIIT vs. alternative training protocol) with pre-post design; (ii) healthy young athletes (≤18 years); (iii) assessing variables related to endurance and exercise performance. Hedges' g effect size (ES), and associated 95% confidence intervals were calculated for comparison of any outcome between experimental (HIIT) and alternative training protocol. Results: Twenty four studies, involving 577 athletes (mean age: 15.5 ± 2.2 years), were included in this review. HIIT exerted no or small positive mean ES on peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), running performance, repeated sprint ability, jumping performance and submaximal heart rate. Although the mean ES for changes in VO2peak with HIIT is small (mean g = 0.10±0.28), the average increase in VO2peak from pre to post HIIT-interventions were 7.2 ± 6.9% vs. 4.3 ± 6.9% with any other alternative intervention. HIIT largely and positively affected running speed and oxygen consumption at various lactate- or ventilatory-based thresholds, as well as for sprint running performance. Calculations showed negative mean ES for change-of-direction ability (large), and peak blood lactate concentrations (small). Mean duration per training session for HIIT was shorter than for control interventions (28 ± 15 min vs. 38 ± 24 min). Conclusion: The present findings suggest that young athletes performing HIIT may improve certain important variables related to aerobic, as well as anaerobic, performance. With HIIT, most variables related to endurance improved to a higher extent, compared to alternative training protocols. However, based on ES, HIIT did not show clear superiority to the alternative training protocols. Nevertheless, young athletes may benefit from HIIT as it requires less time per training session leaving more time for training sport specific skills.
Indistinguishable gene expression between healthy eyes and eyes with unilateral exfoliative glaucoma

Background Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy associated with visual field loss. There are different types of glaucoma, among them exfoliative glaucoma. Glaucoma can present as unilateral or bilateral. The present study aimed to show the association between gene expression and exfoliation in unilateral glaucoma cases. Methods Included patients were suffering from exfoliative glaucoma in one eye, meanwhile the other eye was healthy and used as a control. Lens capsule and conjunctival biopsies were taken from both eyes. Gene expression was analyzed. Results Both groups were completely different at baseline regarding intraocular pressure, visual acuity before the operation, visual field damage, optic nerve damage, etc. As for gene expression, the only significant difference was found in CYP1B1 from lens capsules. None of the other genes studied showed differential expression in either lens capsules or conjunctival biopsies. Conclusion No difference in gene expression was found between eyes with and without exfoliative glaucoma. Exfoliative glaucoma seems to be a bilateral disease, though the phenotype is not always clinically present.
Multi-Band RF Planar Sensor Using Complementary Split Ring Resonator for Testing of Dielectric Materials

In this paper, an attractive multi-band RF planar sensor, suitable for non-destructive testing of dispersive materials, is proposed. The proposed sensor is based on a number of complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) unit cells etched in the ground plane of the microstrip line. Each CSRR unit cell can be represented by a narrow band reject filter with its center frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of the respective CSRR cell. The proposed technique is used to design the two, three and four band microwave sensors operating at 1.5 GHz, 2.45 GHz, 3.8 GHz, and 5.8 GHz. The distance between the two adjoining CSRRs is minimized for each case without appreciably increasing the inter-cell coupling effect. The transcendental equations required for determining the complex permittivity of the material under test in terms of the resonant frequency are derived from the numerical data obtained using the electromagnetic solver, the CST studio. These numerical equations are then used to obtain the dielectric properties of various test samples, which are measured using the vector network analyzer. The detailed air gap analysis is also performed for checking the accuracy of the designed planar sensor under the real situation. The proposed sensors are fabricated on 0.8 mm thick FR4 substrates using the standard photolithography technique. A number of standard samples are tested using the fabricated sensors in multiple frequency bands, and a good agreement between the obtained results and the data available in literature shows the applicability of the proposed scheme.
Neural Correlates of Outcome Anticipation in Multiple Sclerosis

Outcome anticipation is not only a mental preparation for upcoming consequences, but also an essential component of learning and decision-making. Thus, anticipation of consequences is a key process in everyday functioning. The striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex are among the key regions that have been shown to be involved in outcome anticipation. However, while structural abnormalities of these regions as well as altered decision-making have been noted in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), neural correlates of outcome anticipation have not been explored in this population. Thus, we examined the neural correlates of outcome anticipation in MS by analyzing brain activation in individuals with MS while they performed a modified version of a card-guessing task. Seventeen MS and 13 healthy controls performed the task while functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was obtained. To achieve maximal anticipatory response and prevent the possibility of differential performance on the task, participants were presented with monetary rewards only on 50% of the trials. While replicating previous evidence of structural abnormalities of the striatum in MS, our results further showed that individuals with MS exhibited greater activation in the putamen, right hippocampus, and posterior cingulate cortex during outcome anticipation compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, even though there was no strategy that participants could learn in order to predict outcomes, 76% of participants with MS indicated that they used strategies while performing the task. We thus propose that the increased neural activation observed in MS during outcome anticipation might be explained by a failure in recognizing the lack of regularity in the task structure that could result in using strategies to perform the task.
Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods for a Low Complexity LTE-Advanced Joint Detector

To meet the goal of tenfold increase in spectral efficiency, interference cancellation and multiuser detection are expected to be important tasks of fifth-generation (5G) radio access systems. Both tasks can be realized by joint detection algorithms. However, joint detection algorithms such as maximum likelihood (ML) detection have a high computational complexity. Previous works have shown that joint detectors based on Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods can achieve similar results compared to ML detection with a large reduction in the computational complexity for systems with a large number of streams or users. The purpose of this work is to present a MIMO joint detector based on MCMC methods and evaluate it within the constraints of LTE Advanced (LTE-A), namely, using at most 8 transmit antennas and 64-QAM modulation. The evaluation is done separately from the channel decoder. Moreover, the complexity of the presented algorithm is compared to the one of an ML detector. The results show that the proposed MIMO detector offers a similar detection error rate compared to an ML detector. Furthermore, it was observed that the complexity reduction is significant for systems with more than six transmit antennas.
A new targeted capture method using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries as baits for sequencing relatively large genes

To analyze a specific genome region using next-generation sequencing technologies, the enrichment of DNA libraries with targeted capture methods has been standardized. For enrichment of mitochondrial genome, a previous study developed an original targeted capture method that use baits constructed from long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons, common laboratory reagents, and equipment. In this study, a new targeted capture method is presented, that of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) double capture (BDC), modifying the previous method, but using BAC libraries as baits for sequencing a relatively large gene. We applied the BDC approach for the 214 kb autosomal region, ring finger protein 213, which is the susceptibility gene of moyamoya disease (MMD). To evaluate the reliability of BDC, cost and data quality were compared with those of a commercial kit. While the ratio of duplicate reads was higher, the cost was less than that of the commercial kit. The data quality was sufficiently the same as that of the kit. Thus, BDC can be an easy, low-cost, and useful method for analyzing individual genome region with substantial length.
Cluster-based analysis of wideband millimeter-wave channel for corridor environment

This paper presents a complete wideband millimeter-wave (mmW) channel model at 25.5 and 39.5 GHz in corridor environment for line-of-sight (LoS) scenario, including path loss model and cluster-level multipath model. Based on direction-scan measurement results with two antenna polarization scenarios, the path loss models considering shadowing and cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) are extracted. Influenced by the building materials and structures, about 5 dB extra gain exists in 25.5 GHz channel. Using auto-clustering algorithm, some statistical inter- and intra-cluster parameters are analyzed and compared with previous measurement results at similar environment and bands. The work here contributes to evaluate performance of mmWave communication applied in the future fifth generation (5G) system.
Pilot Allocation for Interference Coordination In Two-Tier Massive MIMO Heterogeneous Network

In this paper, we investigate pilot allocation problem in two-tier time division duplex (TDD) heterogeneous network (HetNet) with mMIMO. First, we propose a new pilot allocation scheme to maximize ergodic downlink sum rate of macro users (MUs) and small cell users (SUs), where the uplink pilot overhead and cross-tier interference are jointly considered. Then, we theoretically analyze the formulated problem and propose a low complexity one-dimensional search algorithm to obtain the optimum pilot allocation. In addition, we propose two suboptimal pilot allocation algorithms to simplify the computational process and improve SUs' fairness, respectively. Finally, simulation results show that the performance of the proposed scheme outperforms that of the traditional schemes.