Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parallel decoding of turbo codes using multi-point trellis termination and collision-free interleavers

The UMTS turbo encoder is composed of parallel concatenation of two Recursive Systematic Convolutional (RSC) encoders which start and end at a known state. This trellis termination directly affects the performance of turbo codes. This paper presents performance analysis of multi-point trellis termination of turbo codes which is to terminate RSC encoders at more than one point of the current frame while keeping the interleaver length the same. For long interleaver lengths, this approach provides dividing a data frame into sub-frames which can be treated as independent blocks. A novel decoding architecture using multi-point trellis termination and collision-free interleavers is presented. Collision-free interleavers are used to solve memory collision problems encountered by parallel decoding of turbo codes. The proposed parallel decoding architecture reduces the decoding delay caused by the iterative nature and forward-backward metric computations of turbo decoding algorithms. Our simulations verified that this turbo encoding and decoding scheme shows Bit Error Rate (BER) performance very close to that of the UMTS turbo coding while providing almost %50 time saving for the 2-point termination and %80 time saving for the 5-point termination.
UNCOVERING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MOTORISTS' PREFERENCES FOR TRAVEL TIME AND RELIABILITY : IMPLICATIONS FOR ROAD PRICING

Using recent econometric advances, the authors study commuters' preferences for speedy and reliable highway travel with the goal of exploring the efficiency and distributional effects of road pricing that accounts for users' heterogeneity. Their analysis combines revealed and stated commuter choices of whether to pay a toll for congestion-free express travel or to travel free on regular congested roads. The authors find that highway users show substantial heterogeneity in their values of travel time and reliability. In addition, they show that road pricing policies catering to varying preferences can substantially increase efficiency while maintaining political feasibility.
Background of the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: II. Arteriosclerosis, Hypertension, and Selected Risk Factors

The prevention of cardiovascular disease antedates our current preoccupation with risk factors for coronary heart disease and hypertension. Indeed, earlier preventive efforts have in part been so successful that many people have forgotten that they existed. The almost forgotten entity, beriberi heart disease, was first prevented in 1883 by Takaki of Japan. With diphtheria, it was the identification of the causative bacillus by Klebs in 1883, leading finally to the development of diphtheria toxoid by Ramon in 1923, which resulted in the disappearance of diphtheritic heart disease. Success in the attack on syphilitic heart and vascular disease began with Bordet and Gengou in 1901 with the discovery of the phenomenon of complement fixation, and with the formulation of Salvarsan by Ehrlich in 1907. The story of the prevention of rheumatic fever has a large cast of characters, but special recognition must be given to Coburn for his observations confirming the role of the hemolytic streptococcus published in 1931 and showing the prophylactic value of sulfanilamide published in 1939. The important association of maternal rubella with congenital heart malformations was revealed by Gregg in 1941. Alcoholic heart disease was identified particularly by Brigden and Evans in 1957 and 1959, respectively. In relation to coronary and hypertensive heart disease, the names of Anitschkow (1933), Leary (1935), and Keys (1948) in relation to diet, of Freis (1967) in the field of hypertension treatment, of White (1927) in relation to physical exercise, and of English, Willius, and Berkson (1940) and Hammond and Horn (1954) in the role of cigarette smoking, deserve special recognition.
Dynamic CMOS-rectifying memristor multiplier architecture for power reduction

The proposed achieves dynamic power reduction of 56 % at 200 MHz, zero-static current compared to the static multiplier which is used commonly in construction of digital logic circuits. The proposed multiplier is just 17% to 34% static current, 45% critical path delay compared to CMOS array multiplier. The power-delay-product achieves 52%, 36% the static and the CMOS array, correspondingly.
A phase I/II trial of trastuzumab plus erlotinib in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer: a dual ErbB targeted approach.

BACKGROUND This phase I/II trial was conducted to determine the toxicities, recommended dose, pharmacokinetics, and response rate of erlotinib plus trastuzumab in metastatic HER2+ breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS In phase I, sequential groups of patients with unlimited previous treatment received erlotinib at dose levels of 50, 100, and 150 mg plus standard dose weekly trastuzumab. In phase II, only patients with no previous chemotherapy or trastuzumab in the metastatic setting were allowed. RESULTS The combination was well tolerated among the 16 patients enrolled in phase I, and the recommended phase II dose of erlotinib was initially set at 150 mg. After an interim review of the first 8 patients in phase II revealed a higher incidence of rash and diarrhea than expected from the phase I experience, the protocol was amended to treat new phase II patients at erlotinib 100 mg, with the opportunity to escalate to 150 mg after 3 weeks, based on individual patient tolerability. As a result of advances in other therapies aimed at HER2+ breast cancer, phase II closed before meeting its accrual goal. Among the 12 evaluable chemotherapy- and trastuzumab-naive patients treated at the recommended phase II dose level, there were 4 partial responses, and the time to progression was 9.03 months (95% CI, 1.2-undetermined). No pharmacokinetic interaction between the 2 agents was observed. CONCLUSION The combination of erlotinib and trastuzumab was well tolerated when the dose of erlotinib was tailored to individual patient experience, and there was preliminary evidence of anticancer activity.
Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells activates NF-kappaB and induces tissue factor and PAI-1 expression: a potential link to accelerated arteriosclerosis.

BACKGROUND Recent reports link C. pneumoniae infection of arteriosclerotic lesions to the precipitation of acute coronary syndromes, which also feature tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) overexpression. We investigated whether or not C. pneumoniae can induce thrombogenicity by upregulation of procoagulant proteins. METHODS AND RESULTS Human vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells were infected with a strain of C. pneumoniae isolated from an arteriosclerotic coronary artery. Tissue factor, PAI-1, and interleukin-6 expression was increased in infected cells. Concomitantly, NF-kappaB was activated and IkappaBalpha degraded. p50/p65 heterodimers were identified as the components responsible for the NF-kappaB activity. CONCLUSIONS These data provide evidence that C. pneumoniae infection can induce procoagulant protein and proinflammatory cytokine expression. This cellular response is accompanied by activation of NF-kappaB. Our results demonstrate how C. pneumoniae infection may initiate acute coronary syndromes.
The Perception of Corporate Taxpayers’ Compliance Behaviour under Self-assessment System in Nigeria

This study examines the perception of corporate taxpayers on compliance behaviour under self-assessment system in Nigeria. Data was gathered using questionnaire survey method. The questionnaires were distributed to the 267 public listed companies in Nigeria. Out of which 53 were returned and analyzed using the multiple regression statistical method of analysis. The findings in the study revealed that the corporate taxpayers perceived the tax laws to be complex for their understanding. The result also indicated that tax complexity, tax fairness, tax responsibility and compliance behaviour were found to be positively and significantly related. Therefore, the study recommended that the relevant authorities should review and simplify the tax laws for the taxpayers’ understanding.
Profils motivationnels et ajustement au travail : vers une approche intra-individuelle de la motivation

Cette etude a pour objectif d’identifier les profils motivationnels des salaries d’une entreprise privee puis d’analyser comment ces individus se differencient sur des variables d’ajustement organisationnel telles que le stress percu, la performance au travail et l’implication organisationnelle. Une analyse en cluster a permis de mettre en evidence trois profils motivationnels refletant differents niveaux de motivation autodeterminee et de motivation controlee, differemment relies aux variables organisationnelles. Le profil motivationnel le plus autodetermine (caracterise par des niveaux eleves de motivation autodeterminee, des niveaux moderes de motivation controlee et des niveaux faibles d’amotivation) est associe a des consequences generalement plus positives que les deux autres profils motivationnels (moins autodetermines). Ces resultats sont en accord avec les postulats de la theorie de l’autodetermination (Deci et Ryan, 1985) et suggerent que l’analyse en cluster est une technique particulierement interessante pour etudier et mieux comprendre la motivation des salaries envers leur activite professionnelle.
The Acquisition and Generalization of Joint Attention and Symbolic Play Skills in Young Children with Autism

For children with autism, acquiring and generalizing new skills can be particularly difficult and may be affected by child characteristics. Forty-one preschool children with autism were recruited from an existing early intervention program and then randomized to one of two treatments, a targeted intervention for symbolic play skills or one for joint attention skills. Interventions involved Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) approaches, in two teaching contexts that included similar prompt hierarchies, natural rewards (access to item), expansion, and corrective feedback. However, in the first ABA context, Naturalistic I, the children sat at the table. Components, such as scaffolding in play, greater pause times, and imitation of the child were included in the second ABA context, Naturalistic II. Mastery of children's first treatment goal was analyzed, and results indicate that children with autism generally acquired and mastered their first joint attention or symbolic play skill with the Naturalistic I approach before generalizing the skill to novel objects and activities to the Naturalistic II context. However, these findings are qualified by teaching domain and child characteristics. Overall, children had an easier time learning play skills than joint attention skills, but the mastery using the Naturalistic I methods was greater for play skills than for joint attention skills. Finally, children with higher mental and language ages reached performance mastery criteria faster than children with lower scores. These results suggest that teaching approach, type of skill, and child characteristics all affect mastery and generalization of joint attention and symbolic play skills.
Outdoor scene image segmentgation using statistical region merging

A new loom of outdoor scene image segmentation algorithm is based on the region amalgamation. Here we are going to identify both structured (e.g. buildings, persons, car, etc.) and unstructured background objects (sky, road, grass, etc.) which are containing the some characteristic based on color, intensity, and texture in sequence. Our main aim is to solve the over segmented objects and strong reflection of objects. These problems are solved by using SRM (Statistical Region Merging) algorithm. In pre-processing the input image is converted into CIE (Commission Internationalde Eclairage) color space technique. Then bottom-up segmentation process is used to capture the structured and unstructured image characteristics. Another process is the Ada boost classifier which is used to classify the background objects in outdoor environment scenes. Ada boost is focused on difficult patterns. Then the contour maps are used to detect the boundary energy. Boundary detection test is the grouping of objects with a pair of connected neighboring regions. In this paper we have used an experimental result of two databases (Gould data set and Berkeley segmentation data set) and provide accurate segmentation using region merging. Finally the statistical region merging provides the groupings of images to identify the computer vision.
Enhanced platelet aggregation and activation under conditions of hypothermia

Summary The effects on platelet function of temperatures attained during hypothermia used in cardiac surgery are controversial. Here we have performed studies on platelet aggregation in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma after stimulation with a range of concentrations of ADP, TRAP, U46619 and PAF at both 28°C and 37°C. Spontaneous aggregation was also measured after addition of saline alone. In citrated blood, spontaneous aggregation was markedly enhanced at 28°C compared with 37°C. Aggregation induced by ADP was also enhanced. Similar results were obtained in hirudinised blood. There was no spontaneous aggregation in PRP but ADP-induced aggregation was enhanced at 28°C. The P2Y12 antagonist AR-C69931 inhibited all spontaneous aggregation at 28°C and reduced all ADP-induced aggregation responses to small, reversible responses. Aspirin had no effect. Aggregation was also enhanced at 28°C compared with 37°C with low but not high concentrations of TRAP and U46619. PAF-induced aggregation was maximal at all concentrations when measured at 28°C, but reversal of aggregation was seen at 37°C. Baseline levels of platelet CD62P and CD63 were significantly enhanced at 28°C compared with 37°C. Expression was significantly increased at 28°C after stimulation with ADP, PAF and TRAP but not after stimulation with U46619. Overall, our results demonstrate an enhancement of platelet function at 28°C compared with 37°C, particularly in the presence of ADP.
Detection and Visualization of Macro Defects of Color Liquid Crystal Display through Gabor Transform

This paper proposes a novel approach for detecting macro defects in color LCDs (liquid crystal displays) by using 2-D Gabor coefficients. The absolute value of the complex Gabor coefficients of an input image are used to detect macro defects such as periodic or streak patterns. The paper also proposes a new method for reconstructing images with reduced noise through linear combination of 2-D Gabor coefficients. The reconstructed images can help human evaluators to verifjr defects. The number of reconstruction coefficients to be decided is only 11256 of that in Daugman's method using a linear combination of the Gabor functions. This greatly reduces computational complexity of the proposed method. Experiments on actual defect images showed the effectiveness of the method.
Insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins: biological actions.

I. Introduction THE insulin-like growth factors were discovered on the basis of their ability to stimulate cartilage sulfation and to replace the “sulfation factor activity” of GH, as determined using an in vivo assay, in an in vitro test system (1). The biological significance of this finding was quickly expanded beyond the study of cartilage sulfation to include stimulation of DNA synthesis (2), proteoglycan synthesis (3), glycosaminoglycan synthesis (4), and protein synthesis (5). Most of these studies used tissue preparations such as isolated diaphragm, cartilage, or epididymal fat pads to study biologicalactivity. In recognition of its generalized pleiotypic actions, in the early 1970's sulfation factor was renamed somatomedin (mediator of the effects of somatotropin) and was included in the emerging classification of broad spectrum growth factors along with platelet derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and epidermal growth factor (6). During the period in which the biological actions of .
Acquisition of Adult-Like TLR4 and TLR9 Responses during the First Year of Life

Background Characteristics of the human neonatal immune system are thought to be responsible for heightened susceptibility to infectious pathogens and poor responses to vaccine antigens. Using cord blood as a source of immune cells, many reports indicate that the response of neonatal monocytes and dendritic cells (DC) to Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists differs significantly from that of adult cells. Herein, we analyzed the evolution of these responses within the first year of life. Methodology/Principal Findings Blood samples from children (0, 3, 6, 9, 12 month old) and healthy adults were stimulated ex vivo with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, TLR4 agonist) or CpG oligonucleotides (TLR9 agonist). We determined phenotypic maturation of monocytes, myeloid (m) and plasmacytoid (p) DC and production of cytokines in the culture supernatants. We observed that surface expression of CD80 and HLA-DR reaches adult levels within the first 3 months of life for mDCs and 6–9 months of life for monocytes and pDCs. In response to LPS, production of TNF-α, IP-10 and IL-12p70 reached adult levels between 6–9 months of life. In response to CpG stimulation, production of type I IFN-dependent chemokines (IP-10 and CXCL9) gradually increased with age but was still limited in 1-year old infants as compared to adult controls. Finally, cord blood samples stimulated with CpG ODN produced large amounts of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and IL-10, a situation that was not observed for 3 month-old infants. Conclusions The first year of life represents a critical period during which adult-like levels of TLR responses are reached for most but not all cytokine responses.
Reduction algorithm for simplicial complexes

In this paper, we aim at reducing power consumption in wireless sensor networks by turning off supernumerary sensors. Random simplicial complexes are tools from algebraic topology which provide an accurate and tractable representation of the topology of wireless sensor networks. Given a simplicial complex, we present an algorithm which reduces the number of its vertices, keeping its homology (i.e. connectivity, coverage) unchanged. We show that the algorithm reaches a Nash equilibrium, moreover we find both a lower and an upper bounds for the number of vertices removed, the complexity of the algorithm, and the maximal order of the resulting complex for the coverage problem. We also give some simulation results for classical cases, especially coverage complexes simulating wireless sensor networks.
Photodynamic antimicrobial effect of safranine O on an ex vivo periodontal biofilm

The increasing resistance of oral pathogens against antibiotic measures urgently requires new therapeutic strategies. In this context, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) may play a crucial part in the future. The aim of the present study was to compare the antibacterial efficiency of aPDT using the photosensitizer safranine O with that of chlorhexidine (0.2% CHX) on an ex vivo biofilm.
Analysis of Effects of a Reading Study Skill Program for High School Learning-Disabled Students

AbstractIn this study we investigated an instructional plan for teaching a reading study skill, outlining, to high school-aged students with learning disabilities. We used a multiple baseline experimental design to measure the effectiveness of a specially designed program that provided 30 min of instruction for 10 days in the following three categories of outlining: (a) title/main topic selection and format; (b) subtopic selection and format; and (c) detail selection and format. Subjects’ skills increased as a function of the program and were generally maintained on 4- and 8-week follow-up tests. Students also increased their performances on tasks used to assess generalization.
Competitive on-line scheduling of imprecise computations

The on-line scheduling of systems of imprecise computation tasks is investigated. The system objective is to maximise the value obtained. A formal model is defined. Under certain reasonable assumptions formalized here as the weak feasible mandatory constraint a 2-competitive on-line scheduling algorithm is presented for the commonly studied uniform-density task systems. It is proven, however, that an on-line algorithm may in general perform arbitrarily poorly as compared to a clairvoyant scheduler. A case study is included illustrating how competitive on-line schedulers may be constructed for individual applications, based on their own unique characteristics.
Do bacterial cellulose membranes have potential in drug-delivery systems?

Introduction: Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extremely pure form of cellulose, which, due to its unique properties, such as high purity, water-holding capacity, three-dimensional nanofibrilar network, mechanical strength, biodegradability and biocompatibility, shows a high potential as nanomaterial in a wide range of high-tech domains including biomedical applications, and most notably in controlled drug-delivery systems. Areas covered: This appraisal is intended to cover the major characteristics of BC, followed by the key aspects of BC production both in static and agitated conditions, and a glance of the major applications of BC, giving some emphasis to biomedical applications. Finally, a detailed discussion of the different applications of BC in controlled drug-delivery systems will be put forward, with focus on topical and oral drug-delivery systems, using either native BC or composite materials thereof. Expert opinion: The limited number of studies carried out so far demonstrated that BC, or materials prepared from it, are interesting materials for drug-delivery systems. There is, however, a large field of systematic research ahead to develop new and more selectively responsive materials and eventually to conjugate them with other biomedical applications of BC under development.
Updating skyline with dynamic space set

Skyline query is an important operator in many aspects, but the existent skyline query algorithms are proposed for static dimension set, not for dynamic change dimension set. To solve the above-mentioned problem, a new algorithm of updating skyline is proposed for dynamic dimension set in this paper. When the dimension set changes, it need not test all the points, but only test some points based on sharing strategy to update the skyline. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that this algorithm can reduce redundant computation, and assure the results correct and integral.
Diálogo de pais e bebês em situação de risco ao desenvolvimento

Purpose to investigate the enunciative relationships which are established between parents and children who have risk factors for infant developmental problems, especially the effects of the risks during the language acquisition process. Methods the sample consisted of study of three children who present risks for development, who were observed from 0 to 18 months through the Clinical Risk Indicators in Child Development, and through filmed samples with parents and children interaction. The data analysis considered the enunciative approach by Carmen Silva (2007, 2009) and the psychoanalytic approach. Results by analyzing the three cases, it was possible to evidence that all of them presented difficulties of mother-baby separation, what reflected in the language semantization process, when the number of interlocutors became higher. However, the subjects evidenced the possibility of language semiotic domain, observing the three enunciative mechanisms proposed by Silva (2007). Conclusions the study evidenced that the difficulties of mother-baby separation and the weak entrance of the paternal function have made the position of the children in the language more difficult, because the children are dependant of parents’ speech for their own productions.