Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the Propagation Properties of the Half-Mode Substrate Integrated Waveguide

The propagation properties of the half-mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) are studied theoretically and experimentally in this paper. Two equivalent models of the HMSIW are introduced. With the first model, equations are derived to approximate the field distribution inside and outside the HMSIW. Using the second model, an approximate closed-form expression is deduced for calculating the equivalent width of an HMSIW that takes into account the effect of the fringing fields. The obtained design formulas are validated by simulations and experiments. Furthermore, the attenuation characteristics of the HMSIW are studied using the multiline method in the frequency range of 20-60 GHz. A numerical investigation is carried out to distinguish between the contributions of the conductive, dielectric, and radiation losses. As a validation, the measured attenuation constant of a fabricated HMSIW prototype is presented and compared with that of a microstrip (MS) line and a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW). The SIW is designed with the same cutoff frequency and fabricated on the same substrate as the HMSIW. The experimental results show that the HMSIW can be less lossy than the MS line and the SIW at frequencies above 40 GHz.
A novel source-channel constant distortion model and its application in error resilient frame-level bit allocation

Compared with either heuristic or RD optimization based approaches, frame-level bit allocation strategies based on constant quality models are inadequately studied. They are, however, inherently more capable of achieving consistent video quality over the whole sequence for real-time single-pass rate control tasks. Moreover, no existing model is error-resilient. In this paper, we propose a novel error resilient source-channel constant distortion (SCCD) model, whose uniquely selected frame complexity measure effectively accomodates the joint impact from both the nonstationary source video signal and the lossy channel. Compared with its existent counterparts, our model has a higher modelling accuracy, and can be generally applied in frame-level bit allocation to enhance error robustness of rate control. As an example, an error resilient frame-level bit allocation solution is proposed based on the model. Simulation results demonstrate that for lossy video transmission, the proposed method can achieve more consistent and higher overall visual qualities than that of the other nonerror-resilient schemes, which proves the remarkable potential of the new model.
Fractional quantum Hall physics with ultracold Rydberg gases in artificial gauge fields

We study ultracold Rydberg-dressed Bose gases subject to artificial gauge fields in the fractional quantum Hall (FQH) regime. The characteristics of the Rydberg interaction give rise to interesting many-body ground states different from standard FQH physics in the lowest Landau level. The nonlocal but rapidly decreasing interaction potential favors crystalline ground states for very dilute systems. While a simple Wigner crystal becomes energetically favorable compared to the Laughlin liquid for filling fractions $\ensuremath{\nu}l1/12$, a correlated crystal of composite particles emerges already for $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\le}1/6$ with a large energy gap to the simple Wigner crystal. The presence of a new length scale, the Rydberg blockade radius ${a}_{B}$, gives rise to a bubble crystal phase for $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\lesssim}1/4$ when the average particle distance becomes less than ${a}_{B}$, which describes the region of saturated, almost constant interaction potential. For larger fillings indications for strongly correlated cluster liquids are found.
State consensus for homogeneous multi-agent systems over time-varying undirected graph

We investigate state consensus for homogeneous multi-agent systems (MASs) over time-varying undirected graphs. Different from the existing literature, we consider the use of static state feedback protocols over time-varying graphs that involve both switches, and continuous variations. Using the known results from the system theory, we are able to derive the necessary and sufficient condition for state consensus that requires the time-varying graph to be uniformly connected, and the observability of the persistent modes over the time-varying graph, which is shown to hold if the time-varying graph involves only switches, and is true generically for more general piecewise continuous time-varying graphs. A numerical example is worked out to illustrate our consensus results.
The Anti-interferon Activity of Conserved Viral dUTPase ORF54 is Essential for an Effective MHV-68 Infection

Gammaherpesviruses such as KSHV and EBV establish lifelong persistent infections through latency in lymphocytes. These viruses have evolved several strategies to counteract the various components of the innate and adaptive immune systems. We conducted an unbiased screen using the genetically and biologically related virus, MHV-68, to find viral ORFs involved in the inhibition of type I interferon signaling and identified a conserved viral dUTPase, ORF54. Here we define the contribution of ORF54 in type I interferon inhibition by ectopic expression and through the use of genetically modified MHV-68. ORF54 and an ORF54 lacking dUTPase enzymatic activity efficiently inhibit type I interferon signaling by inducing the degradation of the type I interferon receptor protein IFNAR1. Subsequently, we show in vitro that the lack of ORF54 causes a reduction in lytic replication in the presence of type I interferon signaling. Investigation of the physiological consequence of IFNAR1 degradation and importance of ORF54 during MHV-68 in vivo infection demonstrates that ORF54 has an even greater impact on persistent infection than on lytic replication. MHV-68 lacking ORF54 expression is unable to efficiently establish latent infection in lymphocytes, although it replicates relatively normally in lung tissues. However, infection of IFNAR−/− mice alleviates this phenotype, emphasizing the specific role of ORF54 in type I interferon inhibition. Infection of mice and cells by a recombinant MHV-68 virus harboring a site specific mutation in ORF54 rendering the dUTPase inactive demonstrates that dUTPase enzymatic activity is not required for anti-interferon function of ORF54. Moreover, we find that dUTPase activity is dispensable at all stages of MHV-68 infection analyzed. Overall, our data suggest that ORF54 has evolved anti-interferon activity in addition to its dUTPase enzymatic activity, and that it is actually the anti-interferon role that renders ORF54 critical for establishing an effective persistent infection of MHV-68.
Recommendations for improving the usability of formal methods for product lines

While there may be general agreement on what it means for a formal method to be usable (e.g., ease of modelling, automated and scalable analysis), there is no consensus in the software-engineering or formal-methods communities on what strategies lead to more usable formalisms. In this paper, we aim to raise discussion around such strategies by proposing fourteen concrete recommendations for achieving practical formal methods. Our recommendations apply to research in formal modelling, automated analysis, and automated transformation (e.g., transforming a model into the input to an analysis tool). Our recommendations focus on formal methods for functional requirements of software product lines, as per our experience in this area as part of a research project in collaboration with an automotive manufacturer; however, most of the recommendations apply to formal methods in general. We also provide a brief overview of a formal modelling language and an underdevelopment tool chain that realizes our recommendations.
Does a monetary union require international fiscal policy co-ordination?

I n the debate over the set up of a single European currency, one of the principal areas of concern has been the implication of a single currency for the behaviour of sovereign fiscal authorities, and the possible need to con­ strain this behaviour. 1 The importance of this problem wil l clearly depend upon the degree of effective independence that a European Central Bank can establish. However, even with a Central Bank that is independent in the sense that i t is not bound by mandate to purchase any national government debt, there wi l l still remain a situation of strategic interaction between,many sovereign fiscal authorities and the Central Bank. What are the likely out­ comes of this strategic interaction? This paper presents a theoretical analysis designed to provide some pos­ sible answers to this question. We look at a situation where the set-up of a monetary union alters the strategic environment within which fiscal auth­ orities operate. This alteration can have profound effects on the behaviour of
Force/torque sensing applied to industrial robotic deburring

Force/torque sensing is very important for several automatic and industrial robotic applications. Basically, if precise control of the forces that arise from contact between tools and parts is required to successfully complete the automatic task, then a force/torque sensor is needed along with some force/torque control technique. In this paper we focus on force/torque sensing aspects applied to industrial robotic tasks. Concentrating on a particular type of force/torque sensor, we demonstrate how to use them and how to integrate them into force/torque control applications using robots. Finally, an industrial application is presented where force control was fundamental for the success of the task.
Assumption Grammars for Process- Ing Natural Language

In this paper we examine three natural language uses of a recently developed logic grammar formalism-Assumption Grammars-particularly suitable for hypothetical reasoning. They are based on intuitionistic and linear implications scoped over the current continuation, which allows us to follow given branches of the computation under hypotheses that disappear when and if backtracking takes place. We also show two results which were surprising to us, namely: a) Assumption grammars allow a direct and eecient implementation of link grammars| a context-free like formalism developed independently from logic grammars; and b) they ooer the exibility of switching between data-driven or goal-driven reasoning, at no overhead in terms of either syntax or implementation.
Distinct Neural Representation in the Dorsolateral, Dorsomedial, and Ventral Parts of the Striatum during Fixed- and Free-Choice Tasks

The striatum is a major input site of the basal ganglia, which play an essential role in decision making. Previous studies have suggested that subareas of the striatum have distinct roles: the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) functions in habitual action, the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) in goal-directed actions, and the ventral striatum (VS) in motivation. To elucidate distinctive functions of subregions of the striatum in decision making, we systematically investigated information represented by phasically active neurons in DLS, DMS, and VS. Rats performed two types of choice tasks: fixed- and free-choice tasks. In both tasks, rats were required to perform nose poking to either the left or right hole after cue-tone presentation. A food pellet was delivered probabilistically depending on the presented cue and the selected action. The reward probability was fixed in fixed-choice task and varied in a block-wise manner in free-choice task. We found the following: (1) when rats began the tasks, a majority of VS neurons increased their firing rates and information regarding task type and state value was most strongly represented in VS; (2) during action selection, information of action and action values was most strongly represented in DMS; (3) action-command information (action representation before action selection) was stronger in the fixed-choice task than in the free-choice task in both DLS and DMS; and (4) action-command information was strongest in DLS, particularly when the same choice was repeated. We propose a hypothesis of hierarchical reinforcement learning in the basal ganglia to coherently explain these results.
Criterion Validation Testing of Clinical Metrology Instruments for Measuring Degenerative Joint Disease Associated Mobility Impairment in Cats

Introduction Degenerative joint disease and associated pain are common in cats, particularly in older cats. There is a need for treatment options, however evaluation of putative therapies is limited by a lack of suitable, validated outcome measures that can be used in the target population of client owned cats. The objectives of this study were to evaluate low-dose daily meloxicam for the treatment of pain associated with degenerative joint disease in cats, and further validate two clinical metrology instruments, the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) and the Client Specific Outcome Measures (CSOM). Methods Sixty-six client owned cats with degenerative joint disease and owner-reported impairments in mobility were screened and enrolled into a double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Following a run-in baseline period, cats were given either placebo or meloxicam for 21 days, then in a masked washout, cats were all given placebo for 21 days. Subsequently, cats were given the opposite treatment, placebo or meloxicam, for 21 days. Cats wore activity monitors throughout the study, owners completed clinical metrology instruments following each period. Results Activity counts were increased in cats during treatment with daily meloxicam (p<0.0001) compared to baseline. The FMPI results and activity count data offer concurrent validation for the FMPI, though the relationship between baseline activity counts and FMPI scores at baseline was poor (R2=0.034). The CSOM did not show responsiveness for improvement in this study, and the relationship between baseline activity counts and CSOM scores at baseline was similarly poor (R2=0.042). Conclusions Refinements to the FMPI, including abbreviation of the instrument and scoring as percent of possible score are recommended. This study offered further validation of the FMPI as a clinical metrology instrument for use in detecting therapeutic efficacy in cats with degenerative joint disease.
A case for multi-resolution auditory scene analysis

A commonly held view of auditory scene analysis is that complex auditory environments are segregated into separate perceptual streams using primitive cues that can be attended to separately. We argue that this view is inconsistent with the majority of perceptual data reported in the literature and propose an alternative model that is based on a primary, low resolution signal representation used in a passive pattern matching stage, augmented by secondary, high resolution representations that can be used in an active pattern matching stage to formulate hypotheses about the auditory scene.
Outlook: membrane junctions enable the metabolic trapping of fatty acids by intracellular acyl-CoA synthetases

The mechanism of fatty acid uptake is of high interest for basic research and clinical interventions. Recently, we showed that mammalian long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetases (ACS) are not only essential enzymes for lipid metabolism but are also involved in cellular fatty acid uptake. Overexpression, RNAi depletion or hormonal stimulation of ACS enzymes lead to corresponding changes of fatty acid uptake. Remarkably, ACS are not localized to the plasma membrane where fatty acids are entering the cell, but are found instead at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or other intracellular organelles like mitochondria and lipid droplets. This is in contrast to current models suggesting that ACS enzymes function in complex with transporters at the cell surface. Drawing on recent insights into non-vesicular lipid transport, we suggest a revised model for the cellular fatty acid uptake of mammalian cells which incorporates trafficking of fatty acids across membrane junctions. Intracellular ACS enzymes are then metabolically trapping fatty acids as acyl-CoA derivatives. These local decreases in fatty acid concentration will unbalance the equilibrium of fatty acids across the plasma membrane, and thus provide a driving force for fatty acid uptake.
Stanford Heuristic Programming Project Report No . HPP 844 Expressiveness and Language Choice

Specialized languages are often more appropriate than general languages for expressing certain information. However, specialized languages must be chosen carefully because they do not allow all sets of facts to be stated. This paper considers the problems associated with choosing among specialized languages. Methods are presented for determining that a set of facts is expressible in a language, for identifying when additional facts are stated accidentally, and for choosing among languages that can express a set of facts. This research is being used to build a system that automatically chooses an appropriate graphical language to present a given set of facts.
Expression of adhesion, attachment and invasion markers in eutopic and ectopic endometrium: a link to the aetiology of endometriosis.

BACKGROUND Cell properties, such as attachment, adhesion and invasion, are important for the normal function of the endometrium. However, it is believed that the same properties may also be involved in the development of gynaecological diseases, such as endometriosis. Endometrial cells, shed by retrograde menstruation, may have an aberrant expression of molecules involved in these functions, leading to endometriosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of proteins involved in adhesion, attachment and invasion in eutopic and ectopic endometrium. METHODS Endometrial biopsy specimens were collected from healthy volunteers (controls: proliferative phase, n = 10; secretory phase, n = 15) and from endometriosis patients (proliferative phase: n = 9, secretory phase: n = 10). Biopsy specimens from endometriomas were also collected (proliferative phase: n = 9, secretory phase: n = 10). Expression of apolipoprotein E (ApoE), integrin β-2 (ITGB2), integrin β-7 (ITGB7), Laminin γ-1 (LAMC1), CD24 molecule (CD24) and junctional adhesion molecule-1 (JAM-1) was evaluated with real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The endometrium from controls and women with endometriosis expressed ApoE, ITGB2, ITGB7, LAMC1, CD24 and JAM-1. Gene expression of ApoE and JAM-1 was decreased in both proliferative and secretory phase in the endometrium from women with endometriosis compared with control endometrium. Also, mRNA expression of LAMC1 was reduced in the endometrium from endometriosis patients compared with controls in the proliferative phase. An altered gene expression of CD24 was seen between the endometrium from endometriosis patients and endometriomas in the secretory phase. The ITGB2 protein expression was altered in epithelia cells between the endometrium from healthy volunteers and endometriosis patients in the secretory phase. CONCLUSIONS We have shown differential expression of adhesion, attachment and invasion proteins in proliferative and secretory endometrium from controls and endometriosis patients and in endometriomas. This study suggests that molecules with these properties may have a role in the anchoring of endometrial cells at ectopic sites, thus initiating the development of endometriosis.
Occupational Exposure to Carbofuran and the Incidence of Cancer in the Agricultural Health Study

Carbofuran is a carbamate insecticide registered for use on a variety of food crops including corn, alfalfa, rice, and tobacco. An estimated 5 million pounds of carbofuran is used annually in the United States, and 45% of urban African-American women have detectable levels of carbofuran in their plasma. Nitrosated carbofuran has demonstrated mutagenic properties. We examined exposure to carbofuran and several tumor sites among 49,877 licensed pesticide applicators from Iowa and North Carolina enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study. We obtained information regarding years of use, frequency of use in an average year, and when use began for 22 pesticides using self-administered questionnaires. Poisson regression was used to calculate rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for potential confounders. Lung cancer risk was 3-fold higher for those with > 109 days of lifetime exposure to carbofuran (RR = 3.05; 95% CI, 0.94–9.87) compared with those with < 9 lifetime exposure days, with a significant dose–response trend for both days of use per year and total years of use. However, carbofuran use was not associated with lung cancer risk when nonexposed persons were used as the referent. In addition, carbofuran exposure was not associated with any other cancer site examined. Although carbamate pesticides are suspected human carcinogens, these results should be interpreted cautiously because there was no a priori hypothesis specifically linking carbofuran to lung cancer.
What do Democrats do in their Spare Time? Latent Interest Detection in Multi-Community Networks

Most social network analysis works at the level of interactions between users. But the vast growth in size and complexity of social networks enables us to examine interactions at larger scale. In this work we use a dataset of 76M submissions to the social network Reddit, which is organized into distinct sub-communities called subreddits. We measure the similarity between entire subreddits both in terms of user similarity and topical similarity. Our goal is to find community pairs with similar userbases, but dissimilar content; we refer to this type of relationship as a “latent interest. ” Detection of latent interests not only provides a perspective on individual users as they shift between roles (student, sports fan, political activist) but also gives insight into the dynamics of Reddit as a whole. Latent interest detection also has potential applications for recommendation systems and for researchers examining community evolution.
Probability estimation by feed-forward networks in continuous speech recognition

The authors review the use of feedforward neural networks as estimators of probability densities in hidden Markov modelling. In this paper, they are mostly concerned with radial basis functions (RBF) networks. They not the isomorphism of RBF networks to tied mixture density estimators; additionally they note that RBF networks are trained to estimate posteriors rather than the likelihoods estimated by tied mixture density estimators. They show how the neural network training should be modified to resolve this mismatch. They also discuss problems with discriminative training, particularly the problem of dealing with unlabelled training data and the mismatch between model and data priors. <<ETX>>