Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing Impulsive Interference in Impulse Radio UWB Networks

Wireless sensor networks are ideally built on low-cost, low-complexity nodes that have a low power consumption to guarantee a long network lifetime. These are all properties that can potentially be achieved with impulse radio ultra-wide band (IR-UWB). In addition, IR-UWB has a fine timing resolution resulting in accurate ranging and localization possible. For all these reasons, IR-UWB is an extremely interesting physical layer technology for wireless sensor networks. In this article, we consider the management of impulsive interference in IR-UWB networks. Impulsive interference is due to uncoordinated concurrent transmissions. It occurs, for instance, when several independent piconets operate in close vicinity and is also present in some MAC layer proposals that allow concurrent transmissions. If not properly addressed, impulsive interference can severely affect the throughput and energy consumption of an IR-UWB network; as such, it already needs to be taken into account in the design phase. First, we show that impulsive interference is a serious concern for IR-UWB networks. Second, we present techniques at the physical layer and at the link layer to cope with and combat such interference efficiently. Finally, we present DCC-MAC as an example of an interference-aware design.
Cloning and sequencing of a laccase gene from the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus

The gene (pox1) encoding a phenol oxidase from Pleurotus ostreatus, a lignin-degrading basidiomycete, was cloned and sequenced, and the corresponding pox1 cDNA was also synthesized and sequenced. The isolated gene consists of 2,592 bp, with the coding sequence being interrupted by 19 introns and flanked by an upstream region in which putative CAAT and TATA consensus sequences could be identified at positions -174 and -84, respectively. The isolation of a second cDNA (pox2 cDNA), showing 84% similarity, and of the corresponding truncated genomic clones demonstrated the existence of a multigene family coding for isoforms of laccase in P. ostreatus. PCR amplifications of specific regions on the DNA of isolated monokaryons proved that the two genes are not allelic forms. The POX1 amino acid sequence deduced was compared with those of other known laccases from different fungi.
Government Spending, Monetary Policy, and the Real Exchange Rate

A robust prediction across a wide range of open-economy macroeconomic models is that an unanticipated increase in public spending in a given country appreciates it currency in real terms. This result, however, contradicts the findings of a number of recent empirical studies, which instead document a signifi.cant and persistent depreciation of the real exchange rate following an expansionary government spending shock. In this paper, we rationalize the findings of the empirical literature by proposing a small-open-economy model that features three key ingredients : incomplete and imperfect international financial markets, sticky prices, and a not-too-aggressive monetary policy. The model predicts that in response to an unexpected increase in public expenditures, the risk-adjusted long-term real interest rate falls, causing the real exchange rate to depreciate. We establish this result both analytically, within a special version of the model, and numerically for the more general case.
Does Contingent Capital Induce Excessive Risk-Taking?

In this paper, we analyze the effect of the conversion price of CoCo bonds on equity holders’ incentives. First, we use an option-pricing context to show that CoCo bonds can magnify equity holders’ incentives to increase the riskiness of assets and decrease incentives to raise new equity in a crisis in cases in which conversion transfers wealth from CoCo bond holders to equity holders. Second, we present a clinical study of the CoCo bonds issued so far. We show that (i) almost all existing CoCo bonds are designed in a way that implies a wealth transfer from CoCo bond holders to equity holders at conversion and (ii) this contractual design is reflected in traded prices of CoCo bonds. In particular, CoCo bonds are short volatility with a magnitude five times greater than that which can be observed for straight bonds. These results are robust and economically significant. We conclude that the CoCo bonds issued so far can create perverse incentives for banks’ equity holders.
Evidence for Large-Scale Structure in the Lyα Forest at z > 2.6;

We present a search for spatial and redshift correlations in a 2 Å resolution spectroscopic survey of the Lyα forest at 2.15 < z < 3.37 toward 10 QSOs concentrated within a 1° diameter field. We find a signal at 2.7 σ significance for correlations of the Lyα absorption-line wavelengths between different lines of sight over the whole redshift range. The significance rises to 3.2 σ if we restrict the redshift range to 2.60 < z < 3.37, and to 4.0 σ if we further restrict the sample to lines with rest equivalent widths 0.1 ≤ W0 < 0.9 Å. We conclude that a significant fraction of the Lyα forest arises in structures whose correlation length extends at least over 30' (~26 h-1 comoving Mpc at z = 2.6 for H0 ≡ 100 h km s-1 Mpc-1, Ω = 1.0, Λ = 0). We have also calculated the three-dimensional two-point correlation function for Lyα absorbers; we do not detect any significant signal in the data. However, we note that line blending prevents us from detecting the signal produced by a 100% overdensity of Lyα absorbers in simulated data. We find that the Lyα forest redshift distribution provides a more sensitive test for such clustering than the three-dimensional two-point correlation function.
"Heading for the Clouds?" Implications for Cloud Computing Adopters

Cloud computing projects have many implications, including issues such as security, compliance, funding, cohesion with existing systems, operational resource requirements, and number of employees involved. In order to gain a better understanding of why businesses are interested in adopting cloud services in spite of these potential difficulties, we interviewed senior IT personnel at five different organizations about their processes related to cloud decisions, their thoughts before and during the process, and the outcome of their endeavor. Our results provide insights from their perspectives into the similarities and differences among the organizations and the implications of going into the cloud. We conclude with a list of recommended questions and areas to consider for use by other organizations looking into adopting cloud services. The ultimate goal is to help businesses considering a cloud computing project by providing advice from other organizations based on their experience.
Influence of different drying methods on microtensile bond strength of self-adhesive resin cements to dentin

Abstract Objective. This study investigated the effect of different drying methods of dentin surface on the bonding efficacy of self-adhesive resin cements (SRCs). Materials and methods. Three SRCs (RelyX U200, RU; Maxcem Elite, ME; and BisCem, BC) and one resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RelyX Luting 2, RL) were used. The characteristics of the materials were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis and surface roughness and contact angle measurements. Human dentin surfaces were finished with 600-grit silicon carbide paper and assigned to three groups according to these drying methods: ethanol dehydration, drying by waiting for 10 s after blot-drying and blot-drying. The four cements were used for luting composite overlays to the dried dentin. After 24 h storage at 37°C and 100% relative humidity, stick-shaped specimens with a cross-sectional area of 0.8 mm2 were prepared and stressed to failure in tension at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min (n = 27). Failure modes of fractured specimens were assessed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Results. RL was the most hydrophilic, followed by BC and ME and then RU. All the luting cements luted to ethanol-dehydrated dentin showed zero bond strengths. For the three SRCs, drying by waiting produced higher microtensile bond strengths than blot-drying. RU showed the best bonding performance in the above two dentin conditions. RL showed significantly higher bond strength in blot-drying condition than in drying-by-waiting (p < 0.001). Conclusions. This study suggests that dentin surface moisture has a crucial effect on the bond strength of SRCs.
Position-based Methods for the Simulation of Solid Objects in Computer Graphics

The dynamic simulation of solids has a long history in computer graphics. The classical methods in this field are based on the use of forces or impulses to simulate joints between rigid bodies as well as the stretching, shearing and bending stiffness of deformable objects. In the last years the class of position-based methods has become popular in the graphics community. These kinds of methods are fast, unconditionally stable and controllable which make them well-suited for the use in interactive environments. Position-based methods are not as accurate as force based methods in general but they provide visual plausibility. Therefore, the main application areas of these approaches are virtual reality, computer games and special effects in movies. This state of the art report covers the large variety of position-based methods that were developed in the field of deformable solids. We will introduce the concept of position-based dynamics, present dynamic simulation based on shape matching and discuss data-driven approaches. Furthermore, we will present several applications for these methods.
Unveiling the Role of the Integrated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in Leishmania Infection – Future Perspectives

The integrated endoplasmic reticulum stress response (IERSR) is an evolutionarily conserved adaptive mechanism that ensures endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and cellular survival in the presence of stress including nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, and imbalance of Ca+ homeostasis, toxins, and microbial infection. Three transmembrane proteins regulate integrated signaling pathways that comprise the IERSR, namely, IRE-1 that activates XBP-1, the pancreatic ER kinase (PERK) that phosphorylates the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 and transcription factor 6 (ATF6). The roles of IRE-1, PERK, and ATF4 in viral and some bacterial infections are well characterized. The role of IERSR in infections by intracellular parasites is still poorly understood, although one could anticipate that IERSR may play an important role on the host’s cell response. Recently, our group reported the important aspects of XBP-1 activation in Leishmania amazonensis infection. It is, however, necessary to address the relevance of the other IERSR branches, together with the possible role of IERSR in infections by other Leishmania species, and furthermore, to pursue the possible implications in the pathogenesis and control of parasite replication in macrophages.
School choice, family characteristics, and home-school relations : Contributors to school achievement ?

Urban low-income 5th-graders participated in a school-choice study. Families utilizing choice schools (N = 73) were more likely to be African American, lower-income, and high-risk neighborhood residents than families whose children attended assigned schools (N = 100). Firm-responsive parenting, family togetherness, and family supportiveness also were linked positively to utilization of choice. Parent involvement in children's schooling was higher in neighborhood schools. School choice positively predicted children's mathematics achievement and school orientation. Parents who chose schools rated the teachers as practicing more parent-involvement strategies than parents of assigned students, but teachers reported equal practices. Parent ratings of school quality did not differ between conditions, nor did teachers or parents report better relationships in either condition.
Appetite Regulatory Peptides and Insulin Resistance

The discovery of leptin in 1994 provoked the interest in the adipose tissue which was no longer considered as an inert tissue storing energy in the form of triglycerides but as the greatest endocrine organ in human body [1, 2]. As a growing number of people suffer from obesity and metabolic syndrome, understanding the mechanisms by which various hormones and neurotransmitters have influence on energy balance, weight control and insulin resistance has been a subject of intensive research.
Molecular Analysis of the Diversity of Sulfate-Reducing and Sulfur-Oxidizing Prokaryotes in the Environment, Using aprA as Functional Marker Gene

ABSTRACT The dissimilatory adenosine-5′-phosposulfate reductase is a key enzyme of the microbial sulfate reduction and sulfur oxidation processes. Because the alpha- and beta-subunit-encoding genes, aprBA, are highly conserved among sulfate-reducing and sulfur-oxidizing prokaryotes, they are most suitable for molecular profiling of the microbial community structure of the sulfur cycle in environment. In this study, a new aprA gene-targeting assay using a combination of PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis is presented. The screening of sulfate-reducing and sulfur-oxidizing reference strains as well as the analyses of environmental DNA from diverse habitats (e.g., microbial mats, invertebrate tissue, marine and estuarine sediments, and filtered hydrothermal water) by the new primer pair revealed an improved microbial diversity coverage and less-pronounced template-to-PCR product bias in direct comparison to those of the previously published primer set (B. Deplancke, K. R. Hristova, H. A. Oakley, V. J. McCracken, R. Aminov, R. I. Mackie, and H. R. Gaskins, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:2166-2174, 2000). The concomitant molecular detection of sulfate-reducing and sulfur-oxidizing prokaryotes was confirmed. The new assay was applied in comparison with the 16S rRNA gene-based analysis to investigate the microbial diversity of the sulfur cycle in sediment, seawater, and manganese crust samples from four study sites in the area of the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc, Caribbean Sea (Caribflux project). The aprA gene-based approach revealed putative sulfur-oxidizing Alphaproteobacteria of chemolithoheterotrophic lifestyle to have been abundant in the nonhydrothermal sediment and water column. In contrast, the sulfur-based microbial community that inhabited the surface of the volcanic manganese crust was more complex, consisting predominantly of putative chemolithoautotrophic sulfur oxidizers of the Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria.
Feature Selection of Power Quality Disturbance Signals with an Entropy-Importance-Based Random Forest

Power quality signal feature selection is an effective method to improve the accuracy and efficiency of power quality (PQ) disturbance classification. In this paper, an entropy-importance (EnI)-based random forest (RF) model for PQ feature selection and disturbance classification is proposed. Firstly, 35 kinds of signal features extracted from S-transform (ST) with random noise are used as the original input feature vector of RF classifier to recognize 15 kinds of PQ signals with six kinds of complex disturbance. During the RF training process, the classification ability of different features is quantified by EnI. Secondly, without considering the features with zero EnI, the optimal perturbation feature subset is obtained by applying the sequential forward search (SFS) method which considers the classification accuracy and feature dimension. Then, the reconstructed RF classifier is applied to identify disturbances. According to the simulation results, the classification accuracy is higher than that of other classifiers, and the feature selection effect of the new approach is better than SFS and sequential backward search (SBS) without EnI. With the same feature subset, the new method can maintain a classification accuracy above 99.7% under the condition of 30 dB or above, and the accuracy under 20 dB is 96.8%.
Instructional Leadership at the District Level: A Closer Look at Autonomy and Control

Results from a multistate study illustrate a new perspective on district instructional leadership, a perspective that moves beyond the autonomy-control dichotomy. For fourth-grade mathematics, districts seem to have vague intentions to direct instructional content but no strategy for doing so. Districts do not develop teachers' capacities for making content choices, but neither do they make systematic use of the tools available to persuade teachers to adopt district content priorities. Few districts deserve criticism for oppressive content control, but few seriously support teacher autonomy.
Tracheobronchial epithelium of the sheep: I. Quantitative light‐microscopic study of epithelial cell abundance, and distribution

Glutaraldehyde‐infused tracheas and airways of five castrated sheep were microdissected following the axial airway of the left cranial and caudal lobes. Airway branches were assigned binary numbers indicating their specific location in the tracheobronchial tree. Samples of known airway generation were resin embedded and examined by light‐microscopy. Based on differences in cell morphology, staining properties, and distribution, eight major cell groups were recognized and quantified: four mucous cell categories (M1, M2, M3, and M4), ciliated, basal, Clara, and serous cells. The last cell category was restricted to submucosal glands. Tracheal epithelium had the most cells per unit length, primarily due to large numbers of basal cells. Basal cells are found in the epithelium of airways without cartilage or glands. The total mucous cell population (M1, M2, and M3) in proximal airways was relatively constant. M4 mucous cells were present in glands of proximal airways and in the epithelial lining of the airways without glands. The most distal airways were lined by Clara and ciliated cells. A small number of the most proximal noncartilaginous airways had mucous (M1, M2, M3, and M4), basal, and Clara cells sharing the epithelial lining. We conclude that in the sheep lung: (1) epithelial cell distribution does not correlate with airway wall components; (2) more than one type of secretory epithelial cell can share the lining of the same airway; and (3) Clara cell distribution is based on airway generation and proximity to alveoli.
Virtual machine re-assignment considering migration overhead

We introduce a mathematical model formulation for scheduling virtual machine (VM) migrations in data centers. The model is aimed at minimizing the number of active physical host servers over time. Our goal is not only to avoid overload situations resulting from aggressive consolidation mechanisms but also overload situations caused by overhead-intenisve VM migrations. Although various VM scheduling approaches have been proposed in the literature, so far predictable resource demands caused by VM migrations are not directly considered in mathematical scheduling models, which can easily entail unplanned overload situations and resulting performance degradation. We propose a new model formulation, which explicitly takes the migration overheads into account while recalculating and executing VM allocations over time. Experimental results based on VM resource demand time series from a data center show that the model allows for significant server savings compared to a static assignment of VMs to physical hosts, while avoiding overload situations.
Partial Resistance to Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-α Agonists in ZDF Rats Is Associated With Defective Hepatic Mitochondrial Metabolism

OBJECTIVE—Fluxes through mitochondrial pathways are defective in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle, but it is unclear whether similar mitochondrial defects play a role in the liver during insulin resistance and/or diabetes. The purpose of this study is to determine whether abnormal mitochondrial metabolism plays a role in the dysregulation of both hepatic fat and glucose metabolism during diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Mitochondrial fluxes were measured using 2H/13C tracers and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in ZDF rats during early and advanced diabetes. To determine whether defects in hepatic fat oxidation can be corrected by peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR-)-α activation, rats were treated with WY14,643 for 3 weeks before tracer administration. RESULTS—Hepatic mitochondrial fat oxidation in the diabetic liver was impaired twofold secondary to decreased ketogenesis, but tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity and pyruvate carboxylase flux were normal in newly diabetic rats and elevated in older rats. Treatment of diabetic rats with a PPAR–α agonist induced hepatic fat oxidation via ketogenesis and hepatic TCA cycle activity but failed to lower fasting glycemia or endogenous glucose production. In fact, PPAR-α agonism overstimulated mitochondrial TCA cycle flux and induced pyruvate carboxylase flux and gluconeogenesis in lean rats. CONCLUSIONS—The impairment of certain mitochondrial fluxes, but preservation or induction of others, suggests a complex defect in mitochondrial metabolism in the diabetic liver. These data indicate an important codependence between hepatic fat oxidation and gluconeogenesis in the normal and diabetic state and potentially explain the sometimes equivocal effect of PPAR-α agonists on glycemia.
Older Peopleís Perceptions of the Neighbourhood: Evidence from Socially Deprived Urban Areas

Neighbourhoods contribute significantly to shaping their residents’ identities. For older people, the neighbourhood may be even more important than for younger people. Ageing can be associated with an intensification of feelings about locality and space, and the neighbourhood may contribute significantly to older people's quality of daily life. Within the context of a study that examines the concerns of older people living in areas of England characterised by intense social deprivation, the article explores perceptions of the local environment. Findings are reported from an empirical study conducted in nine socially deprived neighbourhoods across three cities. Data collection consisted of a survey of 600 people aged 60 and over, and in-depth interviews with 130 people of the same age group. The article focuses on older people's views in relation to both positive and negative aspects of their local environment. It concludes with a discussion of three key themes: first, the question of older peopleís attachment to their neighbourhood; second, the issue of variation between areas; and third, the impact of place on the quality of older people's daily life.