Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Precoding and Power Allocation for Cooperative MIMO Systems

The fundamental capacity limit in cooperative MIMO channels with one source-destination pair and one relay is investigated. With the channel state information (CSI) at the source and destination, the optimal precode and power allocation to maximize the capacity with the total transmit power constraints are addressed under different cooperative modes including amplify-and-forward (AF), decode-and-forward (DF) and superposition coding (SC). We study the impact of the number of receive antennas, SNR and the distance between relay and destination on the achievable capacity. The Simulation results show that AF, DF and SC have higher spectral efficiency than direct transmission (DT) for the low SNR regime case and small distance between relay and destination case. In general, SC outperforms DF which outperforms AF
The impact of political pressure on novice decision makers: are auditors qualified to make going concern judgements?

Abstract Over the past decade, the public accountancy profession has been the subject of broad criticism for its failure to adequately prepare third parties for the impending failure of client organizations. Many potential causes of auditors’ failure to issue opinions reflecting client organization’s ability to remain a going concern have been put forth, including primarily poor judgement and/or client pressures to issue a clean opinion. In this paper, we argue that the uncertainty in the decision-making process may be compounded by a relatively low level of knowledge, making the auditor’s end decision more susceptible to socio-political pressure. The paper is divided into five sections. The introductory section of the paper focuses on the widespread criticism of the accountancy profession for its inability to issue going concern opinions for questionable clients who fail shortly after the audit report is issued. In the second section of the paper, we provide an overview of extant studies that have examined how auditors accumulate and process data used to make going concern judgements in a politically sensitive environment. In the third section, we contrast this environment and the approach used by auditors in making going concern judgements with the environment and approach used by insolvency practitioners in dealing with companies in financial distress. A multi-year study in building and using a computerized model of insolvency decision processes is used as the basis for understanding the approach used by insolvency practitioners. Even though the nature of the problems faced in going concern judgements and insolvency practice are very similar, striking differences in the environment, evidence and decision processes used by the two groups of accounting experts are noted. The fourth section reports the results of a field study conducted with insolvency novices and specialists in an effort to elicit the differences in their respective decision processes. The interaction with insolvency specialists from 10 different discussion sessions reveals that senior insolvency practitioners perceive that the decision strategies of auditors is very similar to junior (novice) insolvency practitioners and that the going concern decision, as currently made, fails to include the specialized knowledge of expert decision makers. The fifth and concluding sections discuss implications of these results on auditors’ susceptibility to socio-political pressures and explores the difficulties in addressing the problems identified.
Dendritic cells star in Vancouver

The fast-moving field of dendritic cell (DC) biology is hard to keep pace with. Here we report on advances from the recent Keystone Symposium, “Dendritic Cells at the Center of Innate and Adaptive Immunity,” organized in Vancouver, BC on Feb. 1–7, 2005 by Anne O'Garra, Jacques Banchereau, and Alan Sher. New insights into the molecular mechanisms of DC function and their influence on immune regulation, their role in infectious and autoimmune disease, and new clinical applications are highlighted.
Monte Carlo-based Bidirectional Pedestrian Counting Method for Compound-Eye Sensor Systems

We propose a method for estimating counts of pedestrians walking in opposite directions, as in the case of a corridor. The proposed method utilizes a ceiling -mounted compound-eye sensor composed of multiple binary sensors with partially overlapping sensing regions. The output of the compound-eye sensor is sent to a monitoring server, which conducts a number of Monte Carlo simulations. The simulation scenario with the smallest difference from the output history of the compound-eye sensor is selected as an estimate of pedestrian counts. Simulation results show that in crowded situations the proposed method decreases relative error by up to 45%, as compared with an existing method.
Perceptions of coping with non-disease-related life stress for women with osteoarthritis: a qualitative analysis

Objective Coping with arthritis-related stress has been extensively studied. However, limited evidence exists regarding coping with stress extraneous to the disease (life stress). This study explored life stress and coping in a subset of older women with osteoarthritis from a larger longitudinal study. Setting An Australian regional university. Design This qualitative study involved semistructured telephone interviews. Potential participants were mailed a letter of invitation/participant information statement by the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). Invitations were sent out in small batches (primarily 10). Interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved using a systematic process (n=19). Digitally recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and deidentified. Data were thematically analysed. Participants Women who indicated being diagnosed or treated for arthritis in the previous 3 years in the fifth survey of the ALSWH (conducted in 2007) provided the sampling frame. Potential participants were randomly sampled by a blinded data manager using a random number generator. Results Coping with life stress involved both attitudinal coping processes developed early in life (ie, stoicism) and transient cognitive and support-based responses. Women also described a dualistic process involving a reduction in the ability to cope with ongoing stress over time, coupled with personal growth. Conclusions This is the first study to examine how individuals cope with non-arthritis-related stress. The findings add to the current understanding of stress and coping, and have implications regarding the prevention of arthritis in women. Importantly, this study highlighted the potential detrimental impact of persistent coping patterns developed early in life. Public health campaigns aimed at stress mitigation and facilitation of adaptive coping mechanisms in childhood and adolescence may assist with arthritis prevention.
Dose Responses for Chromosome Aberrations Produced in Noncycling Primary Human Fibroblasts by Alpha Particles, and by Gamma Rays Delivered at Sublimiting Low Dose Rates

Abstract Cornforth, M. N. , Bailey, S. M. and Goodwin, E. H. Dose Responses for Chromosome Aberrations Produced in Noncycling Primary Human Fibroblasts by Alpha Particles, and by Gamma Rays Delivered at Sublimiting Low Dose Rates. Radiat. Res. 158, 43–53 (2002). As the total dose of X or γ rays is delivered at lower and lower rates, the yield of chromosome aberrations progressively diminishes. Simultaneously, the shape of the dose response changes from one exhibiting pronounced upward curvature at high dose rates to one approaching linearity at low dose rates. Although the maximum sparing effect caused by lowering the dose rate can be predicted from classical cytogenetic theory, it has yet to be verified experimentally. Here, noncycling normal human fibroblasts were exposed to graded doses of 137Cs γ rays at chronic dose rates of 6.3 and 2.8 cGy h−1, dose rates that we reasoned should be lower than those required to achieve maximal sparing. This was indeed shown to be the case, after it was determined that the two chronic dose rates produced identical linear dose responses of 0.05 total aberrations per cell Gy−1. Consistent with cytogenetic theory, this value was statistically indistinguishable from the linear coefficient derived from a fit to aberration frequencies produced by high-dose-rate exposure. Exposure to 238Pu α particles also produced a linear dose response for total aberrations, whose slope—with respect to 137Cs γ rays as a reference radiation—implied a maximum RBE of 35 ± 2.
Introduced Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) invades the genome of native populations in vulnerable heathland habitats

Cytisus scoparius is a global invasive species that affects local flora and fauna at the intercontinental level. Its natural distribution spans across Europe, but seeds have also been moved among countries, mixing plants of native and non‐native genetic origins. Hybridization between the introduced and native gene pool is likely to threaten both the native gene pool and the local flora. In this study, we address the potential threat of invasive C. scoparius to local gene pools in vulnerable heathlands. We used nuclear single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers together with plastid SSR and indel markers to investigate the level and direction of gene flow between invasive and native heathland C. scoparius. Analyses of population structures confirmed the presence of two gene pools: one native and the other invasive. The nuclear genome of the native types was highly introgressed with the invasive genome, and we observed advanced‐generation hybrids, suggesting that hybridization has been occurring for several generations. There is asymmetrical gene flow from the invasive to the native gene pool, which can be attributed to higher fecundity in the invasive individuals, measured by the number of flowers and seed pods. Strong spatial genetic structure in plastid markers and weaker structure in nuclear markers suggest that seeds spread over relatively short distances and that gene flow over longer distances is mainly facilitated by pollen dispersal. We further show that the growth habits of heathland plants become more vigorous with increased introgression from the invaders. Implications of the findings are discussed in relation to future management of invading C. scoparius.
Comparative prospective randomized trial: laparoscopic versus open common bile duct exploration

Introduction: Single-stage laparoscopic procedures for common bile duct (CBD) stones are an alternative treatment option to two-stage endo-laparoscopic treatment and to open choledocholithotomy. Several reports have demonstrated the feasibility, safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic techniques. Aim: To analyse the safety and benefits of laparoscopic compared to open common bile duct (CBD) exploration. Material and methods: The prospective randomized trial included a total of 256 patients with CBD stones operated from 2005 to 2009 in a single centre. The male/female ratio was 82/174, with a median age 62.3 ±5.8 years (range 27 to 87 years). There were two groups of patients. Group I: laparoscopic CBD exploration (138 patients). Group II: open CBD exploration (118 patients). Patient comorbidity was assessed by means of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification; ASA II – 109 patients, ASA III – 59 patients. Bile duct stones were visualized preoperatively by means of US examination in 129 patients, by means of ERCP in 26 patients, and by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in 72 patients. Preoperative evaluation was done through medical history, biochemical tests and ultrasonography. Results: The mean duration of laparoscopic procedures was 82 min (range 40-160 min). The mean duration of open procedures was 90 min (range 60-150 min). Mean blood loss was much lower in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (20 ±2 v.s 285 ±27), p < 0.01. Postoperative complications were observed in 7 patients of the laparoscopic group and in 15 patients in the open group (p < 0.01). Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration was performed through a trans-cystic approach in 76 patients and via choledochotomy in 62 patients. The transcystic approach was successful in 76 patients (74.5%). External drainage was used in 25 (32.8%) patients with the transcystic approach. Conclusions: Laparoscopic CBD exploration can be performed with high efficiency, and minimal morbidity and mortality. Laparoscopic procedures have advantages over open ones in terms of postoperative morbidity and length of hospital stay.
Functional Quality-of-Life Outcomes Reported by Men Treated for Localized Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION To systematically evaluate the literature for functional quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes following treatment for localized prostate cancer. LITERATURE SEARCH The MEDLINE®, CINAHL®, EMBASE, British Nursing Index, PsycINFO®, and Web of Science™ databases were searched using key words and synonyms for localized prostate cancer treatments. DATA EVALUATION Of the 2,191 articles screened for relevance and quality, 24 articles were reviewed. Extracted data were tabulated by treatment type and sorted by dysfunction using a data-driven approach. SYNTHESIS All treatments caused sexual dysfunction and urinary side effects. Radiation therapy caused bowel dysfunction, which could be long-term or resolved within a few years. Sexual function could take years to return. Urinary incontinence resolved within two years of surgery but worsened following radiation therapy. Fatigue was worse during treatment with adjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy, and some men experienced post-treatment fatigue for several years. CONCLUSIONS This review identified that QOL outcomes reported by men following different treatments for localized prostate cancer are mostly recorded using standardized health-related QOL outcome measures. Such outcome measures collect data about body system functions but limit understanding of men's QOL following treatment for prostate cancer. Holistic outcome measures are needed to capture data about men's QOL for several years following the completion of treatment for localized prostate cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Nurses need to work with men to facilitate information sharing, identify supportive care needs, and promote self-efficacy, and they should make referrals to specialist services, as appropriate.
Rapid development of real-time systems using RTExpress/sup TM/

This paper presents the RTExpress/sup TM/ environment which is a software tool that assists a user in rapidly developing real-time embedded systems. RTExpress(TM) is a compiler and runtime environment that provides the capability for MATLAB/sup R/ script files to be directly compiled and then executed on parallel high performance computers (HPC). RTExpress/sup TM/ provides the capability to employ the power of an HPC on standard MATLAB/sup R/ without having to recode the MATLAB/sup R/ in the HPC target language. Its features include support for real-time data and machine performance visualization, multiple parallelization paradigms, multiple homogeneous parallel architectures, utilization of machine specific optimized vector libraries and native compilers, and the ability to change real-time algorithm parameters on-the-fly.
The Effect of Immigration on Suicide: A Cross-National Analysis

Research on the effects of immigration on the rate of suicide has been largely restricted to a few unsystematic case studies of individual cities and nations. This paper performs a systematic cross-national investigation of the impact of the lowered integration and culture shock associated with international migration on the suicide rate in 34 nations. A multiple regression analysis indicates that the rate of immigration affects the incidence of suicide independent of our two control variables, the proportion of the population over 65, and female participation in the labor force, an indicator drawn from the status integration approach to suicide. A 1% increase in immigration is associated with a . 13% increase in the rate of suicide. However, analysis of the relative importance of variables in explaining the variance in suicide indicates that our control variables are somewhat more important than the rate of long-term immigration. Research on the effects of immigration on the rate of suicide has been large.
Coping With Crime: Individual and Neighborhood Reactions

How is a social scientist to cope with the cornucopia of already existing studies in his or her area? How to draw useable conclusions from a body of work that might run to 5000 items? Traditional narrative integration fails to usefully portray such accumulated knowledge. Meta-analysis is an approach that systematically analyzes and synthesizes research. This book is its first full explanation. Meta-analysis treats a field of research as a complex set of data to be accumulated and integrated. As such it has much in common with survey research -- though, as causal relationships may have already been established by the studies being surveyed meta-analysis need not suffer from the limitations of survey research as a tool for establishing causes. Besides showing how to derive generalizations from very large and divergent bodies of research, the authors also provide ways for enhancing the findings of few or small research studies, and techniques for evaluating the findings of individual experiments by contrasting them with the combined weight of findings from other studies. Their approach does not enforce uniformity on different research.Instead, it is a way to enhance clarity, explicitness and openness in research reviews. Its use will speed the first step of most research projects -- to see what has been done before -- and will help researchers to avoid costly research duplication.
Factors Affecting Managerial Desires for Various Types of Employee Participation in Decision Making

Cette etude essaie de cemer les facteurs qui controlent la motivation des cadres a divers aspects de la participation a la prise des decisions, cela grâce a un long questionnaire proposea des echantillons de managers appartenant a deux entreprises canadiennes. Il est apparu que les dimensions en relation avec les attirances pour la participation a la prise des decisions au niveau du poste de travail, du departement et de la politique generate differaient fortement, ce qui met en evidence la necessite d'aborder maintenant separement ces differents degres. Le determinant le plus efficace a la participation est la conviction qu'une influence acerue du salarie ameliorera les decisions. Contrairement aux attentes, les cadres le moins satisfaits sont les plus disposes a prendre en charge les niveaux les plus eleves de la participation. Les variables de personnalite ne jouent pas un role majeur dans ces motivations, pas plus que certaines caracteristiques centrales telles que l'adhesion aux objectifs de l'organisation. This study sceks to identify factors determining managerial desires for various types of employee participation in decision making, through the use of a comprehensive questionnaire administered to samples of managers at two Canadian firms. It was found that the correlates of desires for employee participation in decision making at the job, department, and organisational policy levels differed considerably, thus indicating a need for future studies to consider each of these separately. The most powerful determinant of managerial desires for worker participation was the belief that increased worker influence would improve decisions. Contrary to expectations, those managers who were least satisfied with behavioural and attitudinal conditions within the firm were most likely to endorse higher levels of employee participation. Personality variables did not play a major role in affecting these desires, nor did certain key employee characteristics, such as commitment to organisational goals.
Trust and Managerial Problem Solving

This paper presents a model of trust and its interaction with information flow, influence, and control, and reports on an experiment based on the model to test several hypotheses about problem-solving effectiveness. The subjects were managers and the independent variable was the individual manager's initial level of trust. Groups of business executives were given identical factual information about a difficult manufacturing-marketing policy problem; half the groups were briefed to expect trusting behavior, the other half to expect untrusting behavior. There were highly significant differences in effectiveness between the high-trust groups and the low-trust groups in the clarification of goals, the reality of information exchanged, the scope of search for solutions, and the commitment of managers to implement solutions. The findings indicate that shared trust or lack of trust apparently are a significant determinant of managerial problem-solving efectiveness.1
EEG for Automatic Person Recognition

Electroencephalography is potentially more secure and privacy-compliant than traditional biometric identifiers. A related video can be seen here: http://youtu.be/5f0zflJRnvc. It depicts four maps representing the spatial distribution on the scalp of an EEG signal in time for the four bands Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta. Another related video can be seen here: http://youtu.be/X34pUw-4z_8. It depicts the spatial distribution on the scalp of an EEG amplitude spectral density (top) for frequencies ranging in the [1, 30] Hz interval (bottom).
Cytotoxic T‐cell response and AIDS‐free survival in simian immunodeficiency virus‐infected macaques

ObjectivesTo determine whether cytotoxic T lymphocytes have a beneficial effect during infection with the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in macaques. Design and methodsWe followed up 12 rhesus macaques experimentally infected with SIV. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes were detected in nine macaques, who were subdivided into a group of high responders (n=6), with a sustained and polymorphic response directed against most SIV proteins, and a second group of weak responders (n = 3), in which the responses were only transient and directed against only a few proteins. A third group was characterized by the absence of any cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response (n = 3). Proliferative responses closely paralleled cytotoxic responses in intensity and evolution. ResultsClinical profiles and CD4 cell counts were markedly linked to cytotoxic activity; five out of six macaques that responded to multiple proteins were still healthy 2 years after SIV infection, with two of them presenting a decrease in circulating CD4 cells concomitant with the disappearance of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response. Conversely, five non-responder or weak-responder macaques developed overt disease after 4–21 months. ConclusionsThese data suggest that a cytotoxic response may predict a better clinical outcome.