Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A QoS Enabled MAC Protocol for Wireless Ad hoc Networks with Power Control

Multimedia communication over wireless networks has become the driving technology for many important applications, experiencing dramatic market growth and promising revolutionary experiences in personal communication, gaming, entertainment, military, security, environment monitoring, and more. The advances in wireless communications and growth of real-time applications have necessitated the development of wireless networks that can support high Quality of Service (QoS) and power control. A node in an ad hoc network is normally battery operated which poses a huge constraint on the power consumption of such a node. Hence, designing a power efficient MAC protocol for ad hoc wireless networks is a major challenge. In this paper, we propose a reservation based, asynchronous MAC protocol called Multi-rate Multi-hop MAC Protocol (MMMP) with power control for multi-hop ad hoc networks. The protocol conserves power and provides QoS guarantees for multimedia traffic. MMMP with power control achieves this by having every node maintain two reservation tables to keep track of ongoing transmissions. It calculates the appropriate transmission power (i.e the power level high enough to reach the destination node rather than transmitting at maximum power) based on node distances, which results in energy savings without causing throughput degradation. Simulation results obtained using the C programming language indicate that MMMP-Power Control outperforms IEEE 802.11 in all performance metrics and can efficiently handle a large range of traffic intensity. It also outperforms other similar state of the art MAC protocols.
Subliminal unconscious conflict alpha power inhibits supraliminal conscious symptom experience

Our approach is based on a tri-partite method of integrating psychodynamic hypotheses, cognitive subliminal processes, and psychophysiological alpha power measures. We present ten social phobic subjects with three individually selected groups of words representing unconscious conflict, conscious symptom experience, and Osgood Semantic negative valence words used as a control word group. The unconscious conflict and conscious symptom words, presented subliminally and supraliminally, act as primes preceding the conscious symptom and control words presented as supraliminal targets. With alpha power as a marker of inhibitory brain activity, we show that unconscious conflict primes, only when presented subliminally, have a unique inhibitory effect on conscious symptom targets. This effect is absent when the unconscious conflict primes are presented supraliminally, or when the target is the control words. Unconscious conflict prime effects were found to correlate with a measure of repressiveness in a similar previous study (Shevrin et al., 1992, 1996). Conscious symptom primes have no inhibitory effect when presented subliminally. Inhibitory effects with conscious symptom primes are present, but only when the primes are supraliminal, and they did not correlate with repressiveness in a previous study (Shevrin et al., 1992, 1996). We conclude that while the inhibition following supraliminal conscious symptom primes is due to conscious threat bias, the inhibition following subliminal unconscious conflict primes provides a neurological blueprint for dynamic repression: it is only activated subliminally by an individual's unconscious conflict and has an inhibitory effect specific only to the conscious symptom. These novel findings constitute neuroscientific evidence for the psychoanalytic concepts of unconscious conflict and repression, while extending neuroscience theory and methods into the realm of personal, psychological meaning.
Impact of IEEE 802.11 PHY/MAC Strategies on Routing Performance in Wireless Mesh Networks

Current routing mechanisms proposed for adhocnetworks are still feasibly applied in Wireless Mesh Networks given their similarities. Many researchers have conducted numerous simulations for comparing the performances of these routing protocols under various conditions and constraints. Most made comparisons are not aware of PHY/MAC layers and their impact on routing performances. In this paper we study through simulations the impact of PHY/MAC protocols on higher layers. The considered protocols include three propagation models, i.e., Free Space, TwoRayGround and Shadowing, three different PHY/MAC protocols specified IEEE 802.11 standards namely, 802.11b, 802.11s and 802.11n, and finally three routing protocols, i.e., AODV, OLSR and HWMP. In a comparative way, we investigate the effectiveness of these protocols when they coexist on a wireless mesh network environment. Our results show that the routing strategy can significantly impact the network performance only if it is strongly linked to the characteristics of the lower layers.
Grammars and Processors MS-CIS-92-53 LINC LAB 231

The paper discusses the role of grammars in sentence processing, and explores some consequences of the "Strong Competence Hypothesis" of Bresnan and Kaplan for combinatory theories of grammar. Comments University of Pennsylvania Department of Computer and Information Science Technical Report No. MSCIS-92-53. This technical report is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/cis_reports/475 Grammars and Processors MS-CIS-92-53 LINC LAB 231
Asymmetries in Housing and Financial Market Institutions and EMU

Despite convergence pressures, differences in housing and financial market institutions across the 15 member states of the European Union are still enormous. This paper argues that they have profound effects on the responsiveness of output and inflation in the different countries to changes in short-term interest rates, as well as to asset market shocks of external origin. The economic reasoning behind this claim is set out and the institutional differences are described. The paper assesses the sometimes conflicting empirical evidence on this issue. Barriers to convergence and implications for labour market flexibility are discussed. The UK, Ireland, Finland and Sweden tend to cluster at one extreme of the relevant institutional characteristics. The paper concludes with a set of proposals for institutional reforms which would significantly reduce the tensions within EMU and the potential for instability in these economies entailed by EMU membership.
Uplink Throughput of TDMA Cellular Systems with Multicell Processing and Amplify-and-Forward Cooperation Between Mobiles

Cooperation between base stations and collaborative transmission between mobile terminals are two technologies currently under study as promising paradigms for next generation communications systems. In this paper, we provide a first look to the interplay between these two approaches by studying the per-cell achievable sum-rate (throughput) of different cooperative protocols under a simplified model for the uplink of a TDMA cellular system. The analysis is limited to non-regenerative (amplify-and-forward) cooperation schemes between terminals for their'simplicity and appeal to a practical implementation. A closed form expression for the (asymptotic) achievable rate of multicell processing combined with amplify-and-forward collaboration at the terminals is derived for an AWGN (i.e., no fading) scenario. Moreover, the impact of fading is investigated numerically, allowing to draw some conclusions on the impact of multicell diversity (or macrodiversity) on the performance of collaborative schemes among the terminals. In particular, we show that while AF cooperation is generally advantageous for single cell processing (i.e., with no collaboration between base stations), its benefits when combined with multicell processing are limited to the regime of low to moderate transmission rates.
Real-Time License Plate Recognition on an Embedded DSP-Platform

In this paper we present a full-featured license plate detection and recognition system. The system is implemented on an embedded DSP platform and processes a video stream in real-time. It consists of a detection and a character recognition module. The detector is based on the AdaBoost approach presented by Viola and Jones. Detected license plates are segmented into individual characters by using a region-based approach. Character classification is performed with support vector classification. In order to speed up the detection process on the embedded device, a Kalman tracker is integrated into the system. The search area of the detector is limited to locations where the next location of a license plate is predicted. Furthermore, classification results of subsequent frames are combined to improve the class accuracy. The major advantages of our system are its real-time capability and that it does not require any additional sensor input (e.g. from infrared sensors) except a video stream. We evaluate our system on a large number of vehicles and license plates using bad quality video and show that the low resolution can be partly compensated by combining classification results of subsequent frames.
Pancreatico-pleural and bronchial fistulae and associated pseudocysts: case series.

CONTEXT Pancreatico-pleural fistula is rare complication of chronic or acute pancreatitis. Previous studies have reported imaging features and various management options of this condition including conservative/medical management, endoscopic treatments and surgery.This article reviews the myriad of imaging appearances of this condition in multimodality imaging and different strategies for the successful management in a short case series. METHODS After obtaining the institutional ethics committee approval, retrospective review of the medical records of five patients of pancreatico-pleural fistulae who were diagnosed and successfully managed in our hospital in 2012 and 2013 was done. Follow up with out patient records of these patients was also included.Findings were compared with the current available literature on this entity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Pancreatico-pleural fistulae presents with massive pleural effusion.A high index of suspicion is essential for accurate diagnosis. Demonstration of the fistulous tracts requires cross sectional imaging with contrast enhanced CT being most commonly used and affords accurate diagnosis. MRI demonstrates the tracts and ductal disruptions with greater detail and are helpful in confirming the CT findings. Endoscopic ultrasound and ERCP also offer potential of diagnosis, although being technically demanding and invasive is reserved for interventions. Management of these conditions should be initially conservative with endoscopic stenting being offered in selected cases with favourable anatomy and not responding to conservative management. Surgery is reserved for cases not responding to conservative and endoscopic management. CONCLUSION In conclusion this case series highlights the clinical and imaging spectrum of pancreatico-pleural fistulae and provides insight into the different management strategies that can be adopted for this condition.
Default diagnosis and prognosis for a preventive and predictive maintenance. Application to a distillation column

The distillation process is largely used in many applications such a petrochemical production, natural gas processing, and petroleum refineries, etc. Usually, maintenance of the chemical reactors is very costly and it disrupts production for long periods of time. All these factors really demonstrate the fundamental need for effective fault diagnosis and prognostic strategies that they are able to reduce and avoid the greatest number of thes problems and disasters. The first part of our work aims to propose a reliable diagnostic method that can be used in the steady-state regime of a nonlinear procedure. Moreover, we propose a modified procedure of the fuzzy c-means clustering method (MFCM) where MFCM calculates the percentage variation between the two clustered classes. The purpose of using MFCM is to reduce the computing time and increase the performance of the classifier. The results of the proposed method confirm the ability to classify between normal mode and eight abnormal modes of faults. Our second goal aims to propose a prognosis reliable method used to estimate the degradation path of a distillation column and calculate the lifetime percentage of this system. The work presents an approach based on adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) combined with (FCM) to predict the future path and calculate the lifetime percentage of the system. The results obtained demonstrate the validity of the proposed technique to achieve the needed objectives with a high-level accuracy. To improve ANFIS performance we propose Parzen windows distribution as a new membership function for ANFIS algorithm. Results demonstrated the importance of the proposed technique since it proved to be highly successful in terms of reducing the time consumed. Additionally, Parzen windows had the smallest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The last part of this thesis was focusing on the proposing of new algorithm which can be applied to obtain real-time monitoring system which relies on the fault production module to reach the diagnosis module in contrast to the previous strategies ; this means this method predict the future state of the system then diagnosis what is the probable fault source. This proposed method has proven to be a reliable process that can evaluate the degradation of a distillation column and subsequently diagnose the possible faults or accidents that can emerge as a result of the estimated degradation. This new approach combines the benefits of ANFIS with the benefits of feedforward ANN. The results were demonstrated that the technique achieved with a high level of accuracy, the objective of prediction and diagnosis especially when applied to the data obtained from automated distillation process in the chemical industry.
The Construction Wage Stabilization Program

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATES the effect of the Construction Industry Stabilization Committee (CISC) on negotiated unionized construction settlements between 1971 and 1973. ’ The results suggest that the CISC reduced negotiated settlements directly by its presence and indirectly through mitigating wage interdependencies, as speculated by D. Q. Mills. After a review of Mills’ tentative findings, estimates of a model incorporating wage interdependence and CISC presence are presented, and the direct and indirect components of the CISC effect are estimated.
Celiac disease.

thought to be, and screening of selected population groups may reveal many new cases. Tissue transglutaminase appears to have a significant role in the degradation of gliadin and antigen production. Specific gliadin epitopes have been defined using T-cell responses. Bone disease is a significant problem for patients with celiac disease but management guidelines are being developed. Refractory sprue (nonresponsive celiac disease) appears to be a manifestation of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma in most cases. Curr Opin
A unidirectional wideband printed Quasi-Yagi antenna for microwave breast imaging

Active microwave imaging (MWI) is a promising medical modality for breast cancer detection, and is implemented via ultra-wideband (UWB) microwave imaging and microwave tomography. Regardless of technique, the spearhead of any microwave imaging system is an array of antennas, which illuminate the target and collect the scattered energy. The antenna element is expected to be compact, wideband, efficient and high-gain, ideally focusing all radiated energy inside the target. This paper describes a printed quasi-Yagi antenna, which features a unidirectional driver-reflector pair and two closely-spaced directors. The directors increase the operational bandwidth significantly while maintaining a broadband front-to-back ratio (FBR) above 10 dB. The antenna operates in the 2.0-3.3 GHz range (55% fractional bandwidth), and exhibits a maximum gain of 5 ± 0.5 dBi and high efficiency. The architecture of the antenna is inherently simple and its impedance bandwidth is practically unaffected by the presence of the breast phantom.
Honesty–Humility in Contemporary Students: Manipulations of Self-Image by Inflated IQ Estimations

The HEXACO model offers a complement to the Big Five model, including a sixth factor, Honesty–Humility, and its four facets (Sincerity, Fairness, Greed-avoidance, and Modesty). The four facets of Honesty–Humility and three indicators of intelligence (one performance-based cognitive ability test, one self-estimated academic potential, and one self-report of previous IQ test results) were assessed in students entering higher education (N= 187). A significant negative correlation was observed between Honesty–Humility and self-reported intelligence (r =−.37), most evident in the Modesty facet. These results may be interpreted as tendencies of exaggeration, using a theoretical frame of psychological image-management, concluding that the Honesty–Humility trait captures students' self-ambitions, particularly within the context of an individualistic, competitive culture such as Sweden.
A solution for reducing high bias in estimates of stored carbon in tropical forests (aboveground biomass)

A nondestructive method for estimating the amount of carbon stored by individuals, communities, vegetation types, and coverages, as well as their volume and aboveground biomass, is presented. This methodology is based on information on carbon stocks obtained through three-dimensional analysis of tree architecture and artificial neural networks. This technique accurately incorporates the diversity of plant forms measured in plots, transects, and relev\'es. Stored carbon in any vegetation type is usually calculated as half the biomass of sampled individuals, estimated with allometric formulas. The most complete of these formulas incorporate diameter, height, and specific gravity of wood but do not consider the variation in carbon stored in different organs or different species, nor do they include information on the wide array of architectures present in different plant communities. To develop these allometric models, many individuals of different species must be sacrificed to identify and validate samples and to minimize error. It is common to find cutting-edge studies that encourage logging to improve estimates of carbon. In our approach we replace this destructive methodology with a new technique for quantifying global aboveground carbon. We demonstrate that carbon content in forest aboveground biomass in the pantropics could rise to 723.97 Pg C. This study shows that a reevaluation of climatic and ecological models is needed to move toward a better understanding of the adverse effects of climate change, deforestation, and degradation of tropical vegetation.
Regulation of Cell Signaling Pathways Iroquois homeobox transcription factor ( Irx 5 ) promotes G 1 / S-phase transition in vascular smooth muscle cells by CDK 2-dependent activation

Liu D, Pattabiraman V, Bacanamwo M, Anderson LM. Iroquois homeobox transcription factor (Irx5) promotes G1/S-phase transition in vascular smooth muscle cells by CDK2-dependent activation. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 311: C179–C189, 2016. First published May 11, 2016; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00293. 2015. —The Iroquois homeobox (Irx5) gene is essential in embryonic development and cardiac electrophysiology. Although recent studies have reported that IRX5 protein is involved in regulation of the cell cycle and apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, little is known about the role of IRX5 in the adult vasculature. Here we report novel observations on the role of IRX5 in adult vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Comparative studies using primary human endothelial cells, VSMCs, and intact carotid arteries to determine relative expression of Irx5 in the peripheral vasculature demonstrate significantly higher expression in VSMCs. Sprague-Dawley rat carotid arteries were subjected to balloon catherization, and the presence of IRX5 was examined by immunohistochemistry after 2 wk. Results indicate markedly elevated IRX5 signal at 14 days compared with uninjured controls. Total RNA was isolated from injured and uninjured arteries, and Irx5 expression was measured by RT-PCR. Results demonstrate a significant increase in Irx5 expression at 3–14 days postinjury compared with controls. Irx5 genetic gainand loss-offunction studies using thymidine and 5-bromo-2=-deoxyuridine incorporation assays resulted in modulation of DNA synthesis in primary rat aortic VSMCs. Quantitative RT-PCR results revealed modulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (p27), E2F transcription factor 1 (E2f1), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna) expression in Irx5-transduced VSMCs compared with controls. Subsequently, apoptosis was observed and confirmed by morphological observation, caspase-3 cleavage, and enzymatic activation compared with control conditions. Taken together, these results indicate that Irx5 plays an important role in VSMC G1/S-phase cell cycle checkpoint control and apoptosis.
Dopamine agonists at repeated “autoreceptor‐selective” doses: Effects upon the sensitivity of A10 dopamine autoreceptors

Previous reports have established the ability of dopamine (DA) agonists to stimulate inhibitory DA autoreceptors at doses which minimally stimulate postsynaptic DA receptors, suggesting that hyperactive DA transmission may be controlled clinically by treatment with DA agonists. Little is known, however, about the possible loss of autoreceptor sensitivity that may occur after repeated treatment with low doses of DA agonists. Extracellular single cell recording and microinotophoretic techniques were used to measure the sensitivity of impulse‐regulating DA autoreceptors on A10 DA cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of chloral hydrate‐anesthetized rats pretreated for seven days with repeated subcutaneous (s.c.) doses of the DA agonist apomorphine (APO). The ability of intravenous (i.v.) administration of the potent D2 DA agonist quinpirole (QUIN) to inhibit the firing of A10 cells was not attenuated in rats pretreated with repeated low doses (2 X 50 μg/kg/day, s.c.) of APO for 7 days, although higher doses (2 X 250 or 500 μg/kg/day) did cause subsensitive responses to QUIN. In rats pretreated with repeated low doses of APO, microiontophoretic application of DA on A10 cells revealed somewhat subsensitive responses. However, ibotenic acid lesions of postsynaptic cells in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) prior to initiation of APO treatment (2 X 50 μg/kg/day) did not alter the response of A10 cells to systemic QUIN, contradicting the possibility that the feedback projection from the NAc to the VTA was compensating for autoreceptor downregulation during systemic challenge with QUIN. In contrast, administration of the irreversible DA antagonist EEDQ (2 mg/kg, i.p.) to control and APO‐treated rats (2 X 50 μg/kg/day) 24 hr prior to recording did reveal a difference in A10 cell sensitivity to systemic QUIN and to microiontophoretic DA between the two groups, suggesting that “spare” DA autoreceptors may have concealed the down‐regulation of autoreceptors induced by repeated low doses of APO. Challenge of A10 DA cells with the partial DA autoreceptor agonist (–)‐3‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)‐N‐n‐propylpiperidine [(–)3‐PPP], for which an autoreceptor reserve should not exist, produced slightly attenuated responses in APO‐treated rats (2 X 50 μg/kg/day). These findings provide evidence for the existence of spare somatodendritic DA autoreceptors on A10 DA cells with respect to potent DA agonists, suggesting that repeated administration of “autoreceptor‐selective” doses of DA agonists may not result in a diminished inhibition of DA neuronal activity.