Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A low complexity MIMO-OFDM detector with interference cancellation in time-varying channels

A low complexity multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) detection scheme is proposed to reduce the unexpected performance degradation from inter-carrier interference (ICI) and channel estimation errors in time-varying channels. On the basis of ICI analysis and channel estimation error model, we adopt the diagonal banded ICI structure to design the minimum square error criteria based detection scheme with interference cancellation (MMSE-IC). The complexity of proposed MMSE-IC detection scheme is lower than that of MMSE-MIMO scheme and comparable to the turbo-equalization (TE-MMSE) scheme. The simulation results show that the MMSE-IC detection scheme outperforms the TE-MMSE scheme and can effectively avoid error propagation with the existence of ICI and channel estimation errors.
Change Point Estimation of Location Parameter in Multistage Processes

— knowing the time of a process change would simplify the search, identification, and removal of the special causes that disturbed the process. Since, in many real world manufacturing systems, the production of goods comprises several autocorrelated stages; in this paper, the problem of the change point estimation for such processes is addressed. A first order autoregressive model (AR(1)) is used to model a multistage process observations, where a X-chart is established for monitoring its mean. A step change is assumed for the location parameter of the model. After receiving an out-of-control signal, in order to determine the stage and the sample that caused the change (hence finding the time of the step change), two maximum likelihood estimators are proposed. At the end, the applicability of the proposed estimators is demonstrated by a numerical example.
A survey on global requirements elicitation issues and proposed research framework

Requirements Elicitation is a practice [1] that aids in determining the needs of customers, users and stakeholders in building systems and software that can result in a high probability of satisfying such needs. Requirements Elicitation is the most complex part of the Requirements Engineering (RE) phases and demands as much attention, especially in Global Software Development scenarios, so as to minimize the impacts of failures. On one side, researchers and practitioners are cognizant of the fact that most project failures are attributed to poor requirements. On the other side, there are several recommendations, tools, methods, etc. available to overcome the said issues pertaining to requirements. Despite such recommendations, challenges still “persist”. This paper attempts to understand the issues that impact effectiveness and efficiencies of global requirements elicitation through literature reviews and discussions with practitioners. This paper proposes a research framework to reflect the state-of-the-art and state-of-the practice requirement elicitation issues that currently exist and also provide critical guidance that elicitation issues and uncertainty have on the overall RE success.
Automatic control of bicycles with a balancer

In this paper, trajectory tracking and balancing control for autonomous bicycles with a balancer are discussed. In the proposed control method, an input-output linearization is applied for trajectory tracking control and a nonlinear stabilizing control is used for the balancing control. The control methods are designed independently first and their interference is compensated for later. The stability of the bicycles is ensured with the method even when the desired speed is zero. The effectiveness of the proposed method is shown by several numerical simulations using a detail model of a bicycle
Household formation and the great recession

During the Great Recession, the rate at which Americans formed households fell sharply. Though the rate has recently picked up, it isn’t fast enough to make up for the shortfall in household formation that occurred over the last several years. An analysis of recent household formation patterns shows that the greatest shortfall occurred among young adults and that it is related to weak economic conditions. Housing choices have shifted as well, with a greater proportion of young households living in rental housing rather than owner-occupied homes.
A Novel Method for Fingerprint Core Point Detection

Fingerprint recognition is a method of biometric authentication that uses pattern recognition techniques based on high- resolution fingerprints images of the individual. Fingerprints have been used in forensic as well as commercial applications for identification as well as verification. Singular point detection is the most important task of fingerprint image classification operation. Two types of singular points called core and delta points are claimed to be enough to classify the fingerprints. The classification can act as an important indexing mechanism for large fingerprint databases which can reduce the query time and the computational complexity. Usually fingerprint images have noisy background and the local orientation field also changes very rapidly in the singular point area. It is difficult to locate the singular point precisely. There already exists many singular point detection algorithms, Most of them can efficiently detect the core point when the image quality is fine, but when the image quality is poor, the efficiency of the algorithm degrades rapidly. In the present work, a new method of detection and localization of core points in a fingerprint image is proposed.
Intestinal Innate Antiviral Immunity and Immunobiotics: Beneficial Effects against Rotavirus Infection

The mucosal tissues of the gastrointestinal tract are the main portal entry of pathogens such as rotavirus (RV), which is a leading cause of death due to diarrhea among young children across the globe and a major cause of severe acute intestinal infection in livestock animals. The interactions between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and immune cells with RVs have been studied for several years, and now, it is known that the innate immune responses triggered by this virus can have both beneficial and detrimental effects for the host. It was demonstrated that natural RV infection in infants and experimental challenges in mice result in the intestinal activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and striking secretion of proinflammatory mediators that can lead to increased local tissue damage and immunopathology. Therefore, modulating desregulated intestinal immune responses triggered by PRRs activation are a significant promise for reducing the burden of RV diseases. The ability of immunoregulatory probiotic microorganisms (immunobiotics) to protect against intestinal infections, such as those caused by RVs, is among the oldest effects studied for these important group of beneficial microbes. In this review, we provide an update of the current status on the modulation of intestinal antiviral innate immunity by immunobiotics and their beneficial impact on RV infection. In addition, we describe the research of our group that demonstrated the capacity of immunobiotic strains to beneficially modulated TLR3-triggered immune response in IECs, reduce the disruption of intestinal homeostasis caused by intraepithelial lymphocytes, and improve the resistance to RV infections.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES IS IT IS OR IS IT AIN ’ T MY OBLIGATION ? REGIONAL DEBT IN A FISCAL FEDERATION Russell

This paper studies the repayment of regional debt in a multi-region economy with a central authority: who pays the obligation issued by a region? With commitment, a central government will use its taxation power to smooth distortionary taxes across regions. Absent commitment, the central government may be induced to bailout the regional government in order to smooth consumption and distortionary taxes across the regions. We characterize the conditions under which bailouts occur and their welfare implications. The gains to creating a federation are higher when the (government spending) shocks across regions are negatively correlated and volatile. We use these insights to comment on actual fiscal relations in three quite different federations: the US, the European Union and Argentina. Russell Cooper Department of Economics University of Texas Austin, TX 78712 and NBER cooper@eco.utexas. edu Hubert Kempf EUREQua, Universite Paris-1 Pantheon-Sorbonne 106 Boulevard de l’Hopital F-75013 Paris FRANCE hubert.kempf@univ-paris1.fr Dan Peled Department of Economics University of Haifa Haifa 31905 ISRAEL dpeled@econ.haifa. il Is it is or is it Ain’t my Obligation? Regional Debt in a Fiscal Federation ∗ Russell Cooper†, Hubert Kempf‡, and Dan Peled§
Determination of Boron, Phosphorus, and Molybdenum Content in Biosludge Samples by Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES)

A novel analytical method for accurate determination of boron (B), phosphorous (P), and molybdenum (Mo) content in biosludge samples based on a relatively recent analytical technique, microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES), is developed in the present work. Microwave assisted acid digestion method is utilized to extract B, P, and Mo from biosludge. To demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of the present MP-AES method, its results are compared with those obtained using two well-established techniques, i.e., flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Matrix variation in the MP-AES technique is found to result in minimal changes. Precision and accuracy of the developed method are demonstrated using replicate analyses of certified sewage sludge reference material, EnviroMAT (BE-1). The limit of quantification and detection of B, P, and Mo in the extracts are determined; the linear regression coefficient was greater than 0.998 for all the three techniques. Analytical wavelengths are selected according to the sensitivity and interference effects. The results obtained in this work demonstrate the potential of MP-AES technique for the determination of B, P, and Mo content in biosludge, which achieved lower detection limits, higher accuracy, and better reproducibility as compared to other techniques.
P2Y12 receptor blockade synergizes strongly with nitric oxide and prostacyclin to inhibit platelet activation

Aims In vivo platelet function is a product of intrinsic platelet reactivity, modifiable by dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), and the extrinsic inhibitory endothelial mediators, nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2), that are powerfully potentiated by P2Y12 receptor blockade. This implies that for individual patients endothelial mediator production is an important determinant of DAPT effectiveness. Here, we have investigated this idea using platelets taken from healthy volunteers treated with anti‐platelet drugs. Methods Three groups of male volunteers (n = 8) received either prasugrel (10 mg), aspirin (75 mg) or DAPT (prasugrel + aspirin) once daily for 7 days. Platelet reactivity in the presence of diethylammonium (Z)‐1‐(N,N‐diethylamino)diazen‐1‐ium‐1,2‐diolate (DEA/NONOate) and PGI2 was studied before and following treatment. Results Ex vivo, PGI2 and/or DEA/NONOate had little inhibitory effect on TRAP‐6‐induced platelet reactivity in control conditions. However, in the presence of DAPT, combination of DEA/NONOate + PGI2 reduced platelet aggregation (74 ± 3% to 19 ± 6%, P < 0.05). In vitro studies showed even partial (25%) P2Y12 receptor blockade produced a significant (67 ± 2% to 39 ± 10%, P < 0.05) inhibition when DEA/NONOate + PGI2 was present. Conclusions We have demonstrated that PGI2 and NO synergize with P2Y12 receptor antagonists to produce powerful platelet inhibition. Furthermore, even with submaximal P2Y12 blockade the presence of PGI2 and NO greatly enhances platelet inhibition. Our findings highlight the importance of endothelial mediator in vivo modulation of P2Y12 inhibition and introduces the concept of refining ex vivo platelet function testing by incorporating an assessment of endothelial function to predict thrombotic outcomes better and adjust therapy to prevent adverse outcomes in individual patients.
A SAR-based interactive digital exhibition of Korean cultural artifacts

Digital reconstruction and exhibition of cultural heritages have been actively explored in recent years due to the advancement of AR techniques and the development of software and hardware of camera and projector systems. In addition, realistic representation of material appearance is greatly improved by the advancement in computer graphics research. For example, polynomial texture maps (PTM) and reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) are being efficiently employed to represent heterogeneous materials that often have been the characteristics of cultural artifacts. Although advanced computer graphics technology can generate realistic results, an exhibition of cultural heritage is still a challenging task. This is because experiencing these reconstructed digital replicas of the cultural artifacts through a traditional display system could inhibit immersive experience due to its contrived impression. In this paper, we present a novel interactive digital exhibition system based on the spatial augmented reality, which can authentically represent and explore cultural artifacts using polynomial texture maps and projection mapping techniques. Experimental results show that our digital exhibition system generates realistic scenes, representing Korean cultural artifacts authentically, and well provides immersive experience through user interaction.
Who Needs an External Anchor? CEPS Working Document No. 161, March 2001

This paper argues that there might be non-monotonic relationship between the strength of the domestic framework for fiscal policy and the interest of a country to use an external anchor to achieve price stability. Countries with a strong domestic framework, e.g. low public debt, little pressure for excessive expenditure and an efficient tax system, would anyway enjoy low inflation rates and therefore have little need for an external anchor. Countries with high debt or very weak institutions would greatly benefit from an external anchor to save them from the extreme inflation rates they would otherwise have to endure because the market knows that the temptation for them to inflate public debt away is so strong. By contrast, countries with moderately weaknesses might be in a situation where they need some inflation to supplement government revenues with seigniorage, but the inflation resulting from the interaction with the market, which knows about this, is still moderate. Applied to the enlargement process this implies that both countries with very strong and those with very weak institutions might have an interest in joining the euro area quickly. The choices of Estonia (very strong) and Bulgaria (very weak), to adopt the euro/DM via currency boards, seem to reflect these considerations.
Canine Polydactyl Mutations With Heterogeneous Origin in the Conserved Intronic Sequence of LMBR1

Canine preaxial polydactyly (PPD) in the hind limb is a developmental trait that restores the first digit lost during canine evolution. Using a linkage analysis, we previously demonstrated that the affected gene in a Korean breed is located on canine chromosome 16. The candidate locus was further limited to a linkage disequilibrium (LD) block of <213 kb composing the single gene, LMBR1, by LD mapping with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for affected individuals from both Korean and Western breeds. The ZPA regulatory sequence (ZRS) in intron 5 of LMBR1 was implicated in mammalian polydactyly. An analysis of the LD haplotypes around the ZRS for various dog breeds revealed that only a subset is assigned to Western breeds. Furthermore, two distinct affected haplotypes for Asian and Western breeds were found, each containing different single-base changes in the upstream sequence (pZRS) of the ZRS. Unlike the previously characterized cases of PPD identified in the mouse and human ZRS regions, the canine mutations in pZRS lacked the ectopic expression of sonic hedgehog in the anterior limb bud, distinguishing its role in limb development from that of the ZRS.
An incremental viterbi algorithm

This paper describes an incremental version of the Viterbi dynamic programming algorithm. The incremental algorithm is shown to dramatically reduce memory usage in long state sequence problems compared with the standard Viterbi algorithm while having no measurable impact on the algorithms runtime. In addition, the set of problems which the Viterbi algorithm can be applied is extended by the incremental algorithm to include problems of finding optimal paths in realtime domains. The Viterbi algorithm is widely used to find optimal paths in hidden Markov models (HMM), and HMMs are frequently applied to both streaming data problems where realtime solutions can be of interest, and to large state sequence problems in areas like bioinformatics. In this paper we apply the incremental algorithm to finding optimal paths in a variant of the burst detection HMM applied to the novel problem of detecting user activity levels in digital evidence data derived from hard drives.
The caveolar paradox: suppressing, inducing, and terminating eNOS signaling.

It is now established that specialized plasmalemmal lipid microenvironments, termed lipid rafts by Simons and Toomre,1 take part in various signal transduction processes. One subset of lipid rafts (which contain mostly cholesterol and sphingolipids) is found in plasmalemmal vesicles termed caveolae. The term caveolae (“little caves”) was introduced more than 40 years ago to describe plasma membrane invaginations identified by electron microscopy in a wide variety of cell types. Originally, these 50- to 100-nm plasmalemmal vesicles were shown to participate in the transcellular transport of macromolecules (transcytosis) and in the uptake of small molecules (potocytosis). 2 However, it is only recently, with the identification of caveolins as the structural coat component of caveolae, that it has been recognized that caveolae are involved in signal transduction by ensuring the compartmentation of signaling molecules, such as G protein and tyrosine kinase–associated receptors, as well as endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The identification of such distinct roles raises the question of how the same organelle can participate in these apparently quite different functions simultaneously. However, in the case of eNOS, recent data suggest that both of these functions (ie, as signaling platforms and intracellular trafficking modules) are, in fact, intimately related and complementary. Although both eNOS and caveolins have several consensus sequences that have been proposed to participate in protein-protein interactions, evidence for a functional association between eNOS and caveolins exists only for the caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD), a juxtamembrane region of 20 amino acids in the C-terminal moiety of caveolin.4 Like other modular protein domains, the scaffolding domain of caveolin facilitates the generation of preassembled oligomeric proteins and, in addition, maintains these various signaling proteins in their off state.2 3 4 Note, however, that the presence of a CSD consensus–binding sequence does not necessarily imply that a given protein …
The Inhibition of Spinal Astrocytic JAK2-STAT3 Pathway Activation Correlates with the Analgesic Effects of Triptolide in the Rat Neuropathic Pain Model

Neuropathic pain (NP) is an intractable clinical problem without satisfactory treatments. However, certain natural products have been revealed as effective therapeutic agents for the management of pain states. In this study, we used the spinal nerve ligation (SNL) pain model to investigate the antinociceptive effect of triptolide (T10), a major active component of the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. Intrathecal T10 inhibited the mechanical nociceptive response induced by SNL without interfering with motor performance. Additionally, the anti-nociceptive effect of T10 was associated with the inhibition of the activation of spinal astrocytes. Furthermore, intrathecal administration of T10 attenuated SNL-induced janus kinase (JAK) signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling pathway activation and inhibited the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, interleukin-1 beta, and tumour necrosis factor-α, in dorsal horn astrocytes. Moreover, NR2B-containing spinal N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) was subsequently inhibited. Above all, T10 can alleviate SNL-induced NP via inhibiting the neuroinflammation in the spinal dorsal horn. The anti-inflammation effect of T10 may be related with the suppression of spinal astrocytic JAK-STAT3 activation. Our results suggest that T10 may be a promising drug for the treatment of NP.
Acid-Induced Gene Expression in Helicobacter pylori: Study in Genomic Scale by Microarray

ABSTRACT To understand the RNA expression in response to acid stress ofHelicobacter pylori in genomic scale, a microarray membrane containing 1,534 open reading frames (ORFs) from strain 26695 was used. Total RNAs of H. pylori under growth conditions of pH 7.2 and 5.5 were extracted, reverse transcribed into cDNA, and labeled with biotin. Each microarray membrane was hybridized with cDNA probe from the same strain under two different pH conditions and developed by a catalyzed reporter deposition method. Gene expression of all ORFs was measured by densitometry. Among the 1,534 ORFs, 53 ORFs were highly expressed (≧30% of rRNA control in densitometry ratios). There were 445 ORFs which were stably expressed (<30% of rRNA in densitometry) under both pH conditions without significant variation. A total of 80 ORFs had significantly increased expression levels at low pH, while expressions of 4 ORFs were suppressed under acidic condition. The remaining 952 ORFs were not detectable under either pH condition. These data were highly reproducible and comparable to those obtained by the RNA slot blot method. Our results suggest that microarray can be used in monitoring prokaryotic gene expression in genomic scale.
The latitude dependence and probability distribution of polar mesospheric turbulence

We consider in-situ observations and results from a global circulation model to study the latitude dependence and probability distribution of polar mesospheric turbulence. A comparison of summer observations at 69° N and 79° N shows that mesospheric turbulence weakens towards the summer pole. Furthermore, these data suggest that at both latitudes in about ~70% of all samples there are non-turbulent altitude bins in the considered altitude range between 70 and 95 km. The remaining 30% with detectable turbulence show an approximately log-normal distribution of dissipation rates. A low-resolution model version with a gravity wave (GW) parameterization explains the observed latitude dependence as a consequence of a downshift of the breaking levels towards the summer pole and an accompanying decay of turbulent heating per unit mass. When we do not use a GW parameterization but employ a high spatial resolution instead to simulate GW effects explicitly, the model predicts a similar latitudinal dependence with weakening turbulence towards the summer pole. In addition, the model also produces a log-normal distribution of dissipation rates. The simulated probability distribution is more narrow than in the observations since the model resolves at most mid-frequency GWs, whereas real turbulence is also excited by smaller-scale disturbances. The GW resolving simulation suggests a weaker tropospheric GW source at polar latitudes as the dominating mechanism for the latitudinal dependence.