Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Downlink Achievable Rate Analysis in Massive MIMO Systems With One-Bit DACs

In this letter, we investigate the downlink performance of massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems where the base station is equipped with one-bit analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converters (ADC/DACs). We assume that the base station employs the linear minimum mean-squared-error channel estimator and treats the channel estimate as the true channel to precode the data symbols. We derive an expression for the downlink achievable rate for matched-filter precoding. A detailed analysis of the resulting power efficiency is pursued using our expression of the achievable rate. Numerical results are presented to verify our analysis. In particular, it is shown that, compared with conventional massive MIMO systems, the performance loss in one-bit massive MIMO systems can be compensated for by deploying approximately 2.5 times more antennas at the BS.
Intravitreal injection of crystalline cortisone as adjunctive treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy

AIM To report on clinical outcome and complications of intravitreal injection of crystalline cortisone in patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. METHODS The study included all 16 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, who received an intravitreal injection of 10–20 mg crystalline triamcinolone acetonide at the end of surgery, and who were operated on by the same surgeon. Most of the vehicle of the solution containing the cortisone crystals was removed before performing the injection. Mean follow up time was 1.64 (SD 2.15) months (median 1.23 months; range 0.20–9.20 months). The study group was compared with a control group which consisted of 144 patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy performed by the same surgeon. RESULTS In the study group compared with the control group, intraocular inflammation, as estimated clinically by slit lamp biomicroscopy, was lower, appearance of the fundus upon ophthalmoscopy in the first postoperative week was clearer, and postoperative pain in the first two postoperative days was reduced. Intraocular pressure measured at the end of the first postoperative week did not vary significantly between the groups. A pseudohypopyon consisting of cortisone crystals in the inferior anterior chamber angle was detected in one patient. Postoperative infectious endophthalmitis was not encountered. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study suggests that intravitreal injection of crystalline cortisone with most of the vehicle removed is not toxic to intraocular structures, reduces postoperative intraocular inflammation, and may be a potentially useful additional tool in the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
VE-statin/egfl7 Expression in Endothelial Cells Is Regulated by a Distal Enhancer and a Proximal Promoter under the Direct Control of Erg and GATA-2

Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels arise from existing ones by the budding out of endothelial cell capillaries from the luminal side of blood vessels. Blood vessel formation is essential for organ development during embryogenesis and is associated with several physiological and pathological processes, such as wound healing and tumor development. The VE-statin/egfl7 gene is specifically expressed in endothelial cells during embryonic development and in the adult. We studied here the regulatory mechanisms that control this tissue-specific expression. RT-qPCR analyses showed that the specificity of expression of VE-statin/egfl7 in endothelial cells is not shared with its closest neighbor genes notch1 and agpat2 on the mouse chromosome 2. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation analysis of histone modifications at the VE-statin/egfl7 locus showed that the chromatin is specifically opened in endothelial cells, but not in fibroblasts at the transcription start sites. A 13 kb genomic fragment of promoter was cloned and analyzed by gene reporter assays which showed that two conserved regions are important for the specific expression of VE-statin/egfl7 in endothelial cells; a −8409/−7563 enhancer and the −252/+38 region encompassing the exon-1b transcription start site. The latter contains essential GATA and ETS-binding sites, as assessed by linker-scanning analysis and site-directed mutagenesis. An analysis of expression of the ETS and GATA transcription factors showed that Erg, Fli-1 and GATA-2 are the most highly expressed factors in endothelial cells. Erg and GATA-2 directly control the expression of the endogenous VE-statin/egfl7 while Fli-1 probably exerts an indirect control, as assessed by RNA interference and chromatin immunoprecipitation. This first detailed analysis of the mechanisms that govern the expression of the VE-statin/egfl7 gene in endothelial cells pinpoints the specific importance of ETS and GATA factors in the specific regulation of genes in this cell lineage.
WebGuardia - an integrated penetration testing system to detect web application vulnerabilities

Due to the immense popularity of the internet, usage of web application has expanded. Since extremely sensitive information are being exchanged via web applications every day, they have become a playground for cyber criminals to steal data and to use them for malicious purposes. In this paper, we present an efficient integrated penetration testing tool to detect five of the top ten web application vulnerabilities to date. New approaches have been proposed to detect two types of vulnerabilities and existing approaches have been modified to enhance the performance of the tool. The results indicate that the proposed tool has been effective and efficient in detecting the specific web app vulnerabilities with respect to other popular open source web vulnerability scanners.
Modeling and Control of a Resonant Dual Active Bridge With a Tuned CLLC Network

This paper proposes a linear state-space model for a phase-controlled resonant dual active bridge with a tuned capacitor-inductor-inductor-capacitor network. The proposed model is useful for fast simulation and for the estimation of state variables under large signal variation. The model is also useful for control design because the slow changing dynamics of the dq variables are relatively easy to control. Using the proposed model, a decoupled control scheme was designed which allows for the control of the high frequency link currents while also improving the soft switching range of the converter. Using steady-state relationships between state variables and the system inputs, the controller was simplified from three proportional integral (PI) controllers to a single PI controller. The controller was implemented on a low cost digital signal processor and verified experimentally. The experimental and simulation results showed the proposed model's usefulness for control design and fast simulation.
Estimation of salt intake and sodium-to-potassium ratios assessed by urinary excretion among Japanese elementary school children

ABSTRACT Dietary salt intake is largely responsible for the increase in blood pressure with age. It is important to start effective prevention approaches during childhood. In this study, we estimated salt intake and sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratios assessed by urinary excretion among elementary school children in Kyoto, Japan. A total of 331 subjects aged 9–11 years participated in school checkups in April 2015. Urinary concentrations of sodium, potassium, and creatinine were measured in first morning urine samples. The subjects’ dietary habits were confirmed by questionnaires completed by their parents. The median estimated urinary sodium excretion was 129.0 mmol/day (5.7g/day of salt). In 30.2% of the subjects, their estimated salt intake exceeded their age-specific dietary goal for salt intake recommended by the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese 2015. Multivariate linear regression model analysis after adjustment for age revealed a significant positive correlation between seaweeds or fish paste products consumption and the estimated salt intake (p = 0.02 and 0.02, respectively). The median urinary Na/K ratio (mEq/mEq) was 4.5. Multivariate linear regression model analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between fruit consumption and urinary Na/K ratio (p = 0.04). These results suggest that the high sodium intake and the high Na/K ratios occur among Japanese elementary school children, and that the urinary Na/K ratio in children may be reduced by the daily consumption of fruit.
Changes in the Expression of Steroidogenic and Antioxidant Genes in the Mouse Corpus Luteum During Luteolysis1

Abstract Luteal cell death plays a key role in the regulation of the reproductive process in all mammals. It is also known that prostaglandin (PG) F2α is one of the main factors that cause luteal demise; still, the effects of PGF2α on luteal gene transcription have not been fully explored. Using microarray and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we have profiled gene expression in the corpus luteum (CL) of wild-type and PGF2α receptor knockout mice on Day 19 of pregnancy. Western blot analysis of selected genes was also performed. Because luteolysis has been shown to be associated with increased oxygen radical production and decreased progesterone synthesis, we report here changes observed in the expression of antioxidant and steroidogenic genes. We found that luteal cells express all genes necessary for progesterone synthesis, whether or not they had undergone luteolysis; however, an increase in mRNA levels of enzymes involved in androgen production, along with a decrease in the expression of enzymes implicated in estrogen synthesis, was observed. We also identified six genes committed to the elimination of free radical species that are dramatically down-regulated in the CL of wild-type animals with respect to PGF2α receptor knockout mice. Similar changes in the expression of steroidogenic and antioxidant genes were found in the CL of wild-type animals between Days 15 and 19 of pregnancy. It is proposed that an increase in the androgen:estrogen biosynthesis ratio, along with a significantly reduced expression of free radical scavenger proteins, may play an important role in the luteolytic process.
Systematic Mutational Analysis of the Intracellular Regions of Yeast Gap1 Permease

Background The yeast general amino acid permease Gap1 is a convenient model for studying the intracellular trafficking of membrane proteins. Present at the plasma membrane when the nitrogen source is poor, it undergoes ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis and degradation upon addition of a good nitrogen source, e.g., ammonium. It comprises 12 transmembrane domains (TM) flanked by cytosol-facing N- and C-terminal tails (NT, CT). The NT of Gap1 contains the acceptor lysines for ubiquitylation and its CT includes a sequence essential to exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Principal Findings We used alanine-scanning mutagenesis to isolate 64 mutant Gap1 proteins altered in the NT, the CT, or one of the five TM-connecting intracellular loops (L2, -4, -6, -8 and -10). We found 17 mutations (in L2, L8, L10 and CT) impairing Gap1 exit from the ER. Of the 47 mutant proteins reaching the plasma membrane normally, two are unstable and rapidly down-regulated even when the nitrogen source is poor. Six others are totally inactive and another four, altered in a 16-amino-acid sequence in the NT, are resistant to ammonium-induced down-regulation. Finally, a mutation in L6 causes missorting of Gap1 from the secretory pathway to the vacuole. Interestingly, this direct vacuolar sorting seems to be independent of Gap1 ubiquitylation. Conclusions This study illustrates the importance of multiple intracellular regions of Gap1 in its secretion, transport activity, and down-regulation.
Essential role for telomerase in chronic myeloid leukemia induced by BCR-ABL in mice

The telomerase protein is constitutively activated in malignant cells from many patients with cancer, including the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but whether telomerase is essential for the pathogenesis of this disease is not known. Here, we used telomerase deficient mice to determine the requirement for telomerase in CML induced by BCR-ABL in mouse models of CML. Loss of one telomerase allele or complete deletion of telomerase prevented the development of leukemia induced by BCR-ABL. However, BCR-ABL was expressed and active in telomerase heterozygous and null leukemic hematopoietic stem cells. These results demonstrate that telomerase is essential for oncogene-induced reprogramming of hematopoietic stem cells in CML development and validate telomerase and the genes it regulates as targets for therapy in CML.
Renormalization analysis of catalytic Wright-Fisher diffusions

Recently, several authors have studied maps where a function, describing the local diffusion matrix of a diffusion process with a linear drift towards an attraction point, is mapped into the average of that function with respect to the unique invariant measure of the diffusion process, as a function of the attraction point. Such mappings arise in the analysis of infinite systems of diffusions indexed by the hierarchical group, with a linear attractive interaction between the components. In this context, the mappings are called renormalization transformations. We consider such maps for catalytic Wright-Fisher diffusions. These are diffusions on the unit square where the first component (the catalyst) performs an autonomous Wright-Fisher diffusion, while the second component (the reactant) performs a Wright-Fisher diffusion with a rate depending on the first component through a catalyzing function. We determine the limit of rescaled iterates of renormalization transformations acting on the diffusion matrices of such catalytic Wright-Fisher diffusions.
Bronchiolitis: Can objective criteria predict eligibility for brief hospitalization?

OBJECTIVE To determine if 3 objective criteria - pulse oximetry, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) testing, and age - could be used to predict which children hospitalized with bronchiolitis will have brief (<36 hour) hospitalizations and therefore be potential candidates for admission to short-stay observation units. METHODS This was a retrospective medical record review of medically uncomplicated children 3 to 24 months of age with emergency department and hospital discharge diagnoses consistent with bronchiolitis who were admitted to a general pediatric ward in our university-based, tertiary care hospital between Jan. 1, 1992, and Nov. 12, 2002. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the predictor variables. RESULTS Our study consisted of 225 patients (45% female) with a median age of 7 months (interquartile range [IQR], 4-11 mo; range, 3-22 mo). Median pulse oximetry value was 94% (IQR 91%-96%; range 76%-100%), and 71% of the patients tested positive for RSV. Thirty children (13%) had brief hospitalizations <36 hours, and the median hospital length of stay for the entire study group was 70 hours (IQR 46-108 h; range 6-428 h). None of the 3 predictor variables were independently associated with brief hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS Pulse oximetry, RSV testing and age do not predict which children will have brief hospitalizations and are appropriate candidates for admission to short-stay observation units.
Assessment of Left and Right Ventricular Diastolic and Systolic Functions Using Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Patients with Coronary Slow-Flow Phenomenon

Objective Coronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) is an angiographic diagnosis characterised by a low rate of flow of contrast agent in the normal or near-normal epicardial coronary arteries. Many of the patients with CSFP may experience recurrent acute coronary syndromes. However, current clinical practice tends to underestimate the impact of CSFP due to the yet unknown effect on the cardiac function. This study was performed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) diastolic and systolic functions, using two-dimensional (2D) longitudinal strain and strain rate, in patients with CSFP, and to determine the relationships between the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) and LV and RV diastolic and systolic functions. Methods Sixty-three patients with CSFP and 45 age- and sex-matched controls without CSFP were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of CSFP was made by TFC. LV and RV diastolic and systolic functions were assessed by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Results LV peak early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (LSRe) was lower in patients with CSFP than in controls (P = 0.01). LV peak systolic longitudinal strain (LS) and LV peak systolic longitudinal strain rate (LSRs) were lower in patients with CSFP than in controls (P = 0.004 and P = 0.03, respectively). There was no difference in LV ejection fraction. RV peak early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (RSRe) was lower in patients with CSFP than in controls (P = 0.03). There were no differences in RV peak systolic longitudinal strain (RS), RV peak systolic longitudinal strain rate (RSRs), or RV fractional area change among the groups. The mean TFC correlated negatively with LSRe and RSRe in patients with CSFP (r = −0.26, P = 0.04 and r = −0.32, P = 0.01, respectively). Conclusions LV diastolic and systolic functions were impaired in patients with CSFP. CSFP also affected RV diastolic function, but not RV systolic function.
Enumeration of monadic second-order queries on trees

We consider the enumeration problem of Monadic Second-Order (MSO) queries with first-order free variables over trees. In Bagan [2006] it was shown that this problem is in CONSTANT-DELAYlin. An enumeration problem belongs to CONSTANT-DELAYlin if for an input structure of size n it can be solved by: —an O(n) precomputation phase building an index structure, —followed by a phase enumerating the answers with no repetition and a constant delay between two consecutive outputs. In this article we give a different proof of this result based on the deterministic factorization forest decomposition theorem of Colcombet [2007].
DESEMPENHO DE MÉTODOS DE ESTIMATIVA DA EVAPOTRANSPIRAÇÃO DE REFERÊNCIA PARA O MUNICÍPIO DE BOTUCATU, SP

RESUMO: O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho de diferentes métodos de estimativa da evapotranspiração de referência (ETo) em comparação com o método de Penman-Monteith padrão FAO, para o município de Botucatu, SP. Foram utilizados dados climáticos diários para estimativa da ETo, dos diferentes métodos, obtidos na estação meteorológica automática do Lajeado UNESP, Botucatu, SP. Na avaliação dos métodos foram empregados os indicadores estatísticos: coeficiente de determinação (R2), coeficiente de correlação (r), índice de concordância (d) e o coeficiente de desempenho (c). Os resultados mostraram que os métodos de Hargreaves, Turc, Priestley-Taylor e Makkink, que utilizam como variáveis de entrada a temperatura do ar e radiação solar apresentaram “ótimo” desempenho, com coeficientes “c” superiores a 0,85. O método de Jensen-Haise, mostrou desempenho “muito bom”, com coeficiente “c” igual a 0,83. Enquanto, os métodos de Benevides-Lopez e Ivanov, apenas apresentaram-se “mediano” e “sofrível”, respectivamente, não sendo recomendado o uso dos mesmos para região, considerando o período estudado. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Penman-Monteith; métodos indiretos; irrigação.
Antecedent Selection Techniques for High-Recall Coreference Resolution

We investigate methods to improve the recall in coreference resolution by also trying to resolve those definite descriptions where no earlier mention of the referent shares the same lexical head (coreferent bridging). The problem, which is notably harder than identifying coreference relations among mentions which have the same lexical head, has been tackled with several rather different approaches, and we attempt to provide a meaningful classification along with a quantitative comparison. Based on the different merits of the methods, we discuss possibilities to improve them and show how they can be effectively combined.
Coordinated Multipoint Transmission in Dense Cellular Networks With User-Centric Adaptive Clustering

Based on random network (RN) topologies generated from Poisson point processes (PPP), this paper investigates the performance of macrodiversity coordinated multipoint transmission (MD-CoMP) in dense cellular networks. First, the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) outage probability is analyzed for a typical mobile station (MS) and for the global network. Next, a user-centric adaptive clustering method is described, which is designed to maximize each MS's normalized outage capacity (goodput). Simulation are carried out and show that MD-CoMP could significantly improve both the RN and regular hexagonal network (HN) coverage performance by increasing the tenth percentile of the SINR by 12 dB if each MS uses a CoMP cluster of size four. It is also shown that MD-CoMP is more beneficial for the RN since 78 MSs in the RN would choose CoMP to optimize their normalized goodput, whereas this number is 58 in the HN. Moreover, 58 MSs in the RN have their normalized goodput doubled compared with that with no CoMP, whereas this number is 36 in the HN. The impact of predefined clustering schemes is also evaluated, to show the importance of using a fully adaptive clustering to overcome cluster-edge issues, where the MSs' performance is poor due to the limited choices of BSs.
Root Dentine Thickness and Concavity Depth in Mandibular Molars: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Population Study

Objective: The purposes of the present study were to evaluate dentine thickness and concavity depth below the furcation level of the mesial canals of the mandibular first and second molars, to examine differences between gender, age, and quadrant, and to prove if there is a relationship between root length and dentine thickness. Methods: Two hundred eleven mandibular first and second molars were included in this study. Samples were divided according to age, gender, quadrant, and root length. Measurements of dentine thickness from the external border of the root canal to the external root surface and concavity depth were recorded 1, 2, and 4 mm below the furcation level. Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were performed to estimate the influence of different variables, and a multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of dentine thickness below the furcation level. Results: First molars had a deeper concavity depth with significant differences in both 1 mm and 2 mm levels than second molars (P<0.05). According to concavity depth, there was no relationship with teeth length (P>0.05). The distal concavity was significantly deeper in the 1 and 2 mm levels (P<0.05). According to gender, the female group had a reduced dentine thickness in both mesiolingual and mesiobuccal canals in both 1 mm and 2 mm levels (P<0.05). Conclusion: Female patients have a reduced dentine thickness below the furcation level. In order to select the most appropriate instrumentation procedure in every specific case, clinicians must be aware of the dentine reduced thickness measurements to avoid procedural iatrogenic damage.
METABOLISM OF GLUCOSE AND REDUCTION OF RETINALDEHYDE IN RETINAL PHOTORECEPTORS 1

—The capacity of a variety of substrates to support reduction of retinaldehyde to retinol by preparations of outer segments from photoreceptor cells of bovine retina, the requirement for supplements, the effect of iodoacetate, and the stoichiometry of the metabolism of glucose and the reduction of retinaldehyde have been studied. Metabolism of glucose supported reduction of retinaldehyde by preparations of outer segments at approximately the rate observed for the intact retina. Throughout the physiological range of pH, the dehydrogenase reactions of the pentose cycle in outer segments provided virtually all of the reduced pyridine nucleotides that were utilized for reduction of retinaldehyde. It was concluded that reduction of retinaldehyde during light adaptation is exclusively dependent upon NADPH.