Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Adaptive and Efficient Local Spectrum Sensing Scheme in Cognitive Radio Networks

A proliferation in wireless applications is growing the demand of radio spectrum which is limited as a result one of the major issues faced in wireless communication technology is spectrum scarcity. Cognitive radio (CR) solves the problem of spectrum scarcity by dynamically accessing the spectrum holes in the radio spectrum created by absence of the licensed primary user while bringing no interference to primary users. To achieve fast sensing speed and precise accuracy, cooperative spectrum sensing is usually employed but at the cost of cooperation overhead among CR users which can be reduced by improving local spectrum sensing accuracy. Wellknown local spectrum sensing schemes are matched filter detection (MFD), energy detection (ED) and cyclostationary feature detection (CFD). An adaptive local spectrum sensing scheme is proposed in this paper. First, a number of channels available in a bandwidth of interest are sensed serially. The scheme determines a better matched filter, or a combination of energy and cyclostationary detectors based on the available information of the signal present in the channel. If information about PU waveform in a channel is not sufficient, then the combined energy and cyclostationary detection, spectrum sensing is done on the basis of estimated SNR which is calculated in advance for available channels. A concept of SNR wall is discussed for energy detection. One-order cyclostationary detection is performed in time domain in place of cyclostationary detection in frequency domain so that the real-time operation and low-computational complexity can be achieved. To evaluate the scheme‟s performance, the results are compared with conventional single-stage detector like MFD, ED and CFD. The performance comparison is made based on the probability of detection Pd , probability of false alarm Pfa and overall detection time T0 .
Classifying Handwritten Digits on the Grassmann Manifold

Empirical studies have shown that the collection of handwritten digits when acquired under a uniform condition forms a differentiable manifold which can be well approximated with linear structures. That is, each point on the manifold is associated with a geometry that parameterizes linear structures. Because of this, the problem of comparing a pair of digits can be turned into the problem of calculating the distance between two linear structures in their respective geometric space. In this paper, we present a new classification paradigm that builds upon the linear structure that arises from the Grassmann manifold and benchmark our empirical results on the publicly available MNIST database with two other geometrically sound methods. Without any further preprocessing, the classification performed on the Grassmann manifold achieves the best result among these three approaches.
Measuring the Effectiveness of Privacy Tools for Limiting Behavioral Advertising

—Online Behavioral Advertising (OBA) is the practice of tailoring ads based on an individual’s activities online. Users have expressed privacy concerns regarding this practice, and both the advertising industry and third parties offer tools for users to control the OBA they receive. We provide the ﬁrst systematic method for evaluating the effectiveness of these tools in limiting OBA. We ﬁrst present a methodology for measuring behavioral targeting based on web history, which we support with a case study showing that some text ads are currently being tailored based on browsing history. We then present a methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of tools, regardless of how they are implmented, for limiting OBA. Using this methodology, we show differences in the effectiveness of six tools at limiting text-based behavioral ads by Google. These tools include opt-out webpages, browser Do Not Track (DNT) headers, and tools that block blacklisted domains. Although both opt-out cookies and blocking tools were effective at limiting OBA in our limited case study, the DNT headers that are being used by millions of Firefox users were not effective. We detail our methodology and discuss how it can be extended to measure OBA beyond our case study.
Glycoprotein Hypersecretion Alters the Cell Wall in Trichoderma reesei Strains Expressing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dolichylphosphate Mannose Synthase Gene

ABSTRACT Expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DPM1 gene (coding for dolichylphosphate mannose synthase) in Trichoderma reesei (Hypocrea jecorina) increases the intensity of protein glycosylation and secretion and causes ultrastructural changes in the fungal cell wall. In the present work, we undertook further biochemical and morphological characterization of the DPM1-expressing T. reesei strains. We established that the carbohydrate composition of the fungal cell wall was altered with an increased amount of N-acetylglucosamine, suggesting an increase in chitin content. Calcofluor white staining followed by fluorescence microscopy indicated changes in chitin distribution. Moreover, we also observed a decreased concentration of mannose and alkali-soluble β-(1,6) glucan. A comparison of protein secretion from protoplasts with that from mycelia showed that the cell wall created a barrier for secretion in the DPM1 transformants. We also discuss the relationships between the observed changes in the cell wall, increased protein glycosylation, and the greater secretory capacity of T. reesei strains expressing the yeast DPM1 gene.
Synergistic effect of two E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzymes in SCFhFBH1 catalyzed polyubiquitination

Ubiquitination is a post translational modification which mostly links with proteasome dependent protein degradation. This process has been known to play pivotal roles in the number of biological events including apoptosis, cell signaling, transcription and translation. Although the process of ubiquitination has been studied extensively, the mechanism of polyubiquitination by multi protein E3 ubiquitin ligase, SCF complex remains elusive. In the present study, we identified UbcH5a as a novel stimulating factor for poly-ubiquitination catalyzed by SCFhFBH1 using biochemical fractionations and MALDI-TOF. Moreover, we showed that recombinant UbcH5a and Cdc34 synergistically stimulate SCFhFBH1 catalyzed polyubiquitination in vitro. These data may provide an important cue to understand the mechanism how the SCF complex efficiently polyubiquitinates target substrates. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(1): 25-29]
Modeling the global emission, transport and deposition of trace elements associated with mineral dust

Trace element deposition from desert dust has important impacts on ocean primary productivity, the quantification of which could be useful in determining the magnitude and sign of the biogeochemical feedback on radiative forcing. However, the impact of elemental deposition to remote ocean regions is not well understood and is not currently included in global climate models. In this study, emission inventories for eight elements primarily of soil origin, Mg, P, Ca, Mn, Fe, K, Al, and Si are determined based on a global mineral data set and a soil data set. The resulting elemental fractions are used to drive the desert dust model in the Community Earth System Model (CESM) in order to simulate the elemental concentrations of atmospheric dust. Spatial variability of mineral dust elemental fractions is evident on a global scale, particularly for Ca. Simulations of global variations in the Ca / Al ratio, which typically range from around 0.1 to 5.0 in soils, are consistent with observations, suggesting that this ratio is a good signature for dust source regions. The simulated variable fractions of chemical elements are sufficiently different; estimates of deposition should include elemental variations, especially for Ca, Al and Fe. The model results have been evaluated with observations of elemental aerosol concentrations from desert regions and dust events in non-dust regions, providing insights into uncertainties in the modeling approach. The ratios between modeled and observed elemental fractions range from 0.7 to 1.6, except for Mg and Mn (3.4 and 3.5, respectively). Using the soil database improves the correspondence of the spatial heterogeneity in the modeling of several elements (Ca, Al and Fe) compared to observations. Total and soluble dust element fluxes to different ocean basins and ice sheet regions have been estimated, based on the model results. The annual inputs of soluble Mg, P, Ca, Mn, Fe and K associated with dust using the mineral data set are 0.30 Tg, 16.89 Gg, 1.32 Tg, 22.84 Gg, 0.068 Tg, and 0.15 Tg to global oceans and ice sheets.
Effective Utilization of Cow Dung with Distillery Waste Water as Substrate in Microbial Fuel Cell for Electricity Generation

Pakistan facing serious problem of electricity couple with handling of waste water generated from industries. In this regard study was focused to investigate the reduction of waste water from industry couple with energy generation from that source. Different blending ratio of cow dung manure was used with distillery waste water to make substrate for electricity generation in microbial fuel cell. Microbial fuel cell was used alternative environment for anode and cathode chamber. An aerobic condition for anode and aerobic condition for cathode chamber, fish pump is used for creating aerobic condition in cathode chamber for oxidation of proton coming from anode chamber through salt bridge. The maximum power production was measured at 50/50 about 2300 mv/l. and minimum 230mv/l. The addition of cow dung manure could benefit for power generation with distillery waste water.
Hierarchical self-refining consensus architectures and soft consensus functions for robust multimedia clustering

Tesis doctoral en Tecnologias de la Informacion y las Comunicaciones y su Gestion. El acto de defensa de tesis tuvo lugar en Barcelona en Junio de 2009 ante el tribunal formado por los doctores Paolo Rosso (Univ. Politecnica de Valencia), Aristides Gionis (Yahoo! Research), Juan Jose Rodriguez (Univ. de Burgos), Jordi Turmo (Univ. Politecnica de Catalunya) y Ester Bernado (La Salle - Univ. Ramon Lull). La calificacion obtenida fue Sobresaliente Cum Laude.
Lovastatin induces neuroprotection by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines in 6-hydroxydopamine treated microglia cells.

PURPOSE/AIM This study aims to investigate the impact of lovastatin on neuroinflammation in 6-OHDA-treated microglia cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated microglia cells were used to investigate the neuroprotective nature of lovastatin. After incubation with 6-OHDA and/or lovastatin for 24 h, test kits were used to detect the levels of LDH and glutamate, which were released from PC12 cells exposed to different culture media. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were determined by RT-PCR and the protein levels were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS LDH and glutamate levels in 6-OHDA-incubated PC12 cells increased, when compared with those in the controls, while incubation with lovastatin inhibited this elevation. The expression levels of TNF-α IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly upregulated after treatment with 6-OHDA. The 6-OHDA-stimulated mRNA and protein levels of TNF-α IL-6 and IL-1β were reduced by lovastatin. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that Lovastatin is able to induce neuroprotection by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines. The data provide direct evidence of the potential application of lovastatin for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases.
Initial experience evaluating 90yttrium-radiolabeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen chimeric T84.66 in a phase I radioimmunotherapy trial.

Chimeric T84.66 (cT84.66) is a high-affinity (5 x 10(10) M-1) anti-carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) IgG1. In a recently completed pretherapy imaging trial, 111In-labeled cT84.66 demonstrated targeting of CEA-producing metastatic sites and low immunogenicity, with human antichimeric antibody (HACA) response in only 1 of 15 patients after a single administration. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate cT84.66-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid labeled with 90Y in a dose-escalation Phase I trial. Patients with metastatic CEA-producing malignancies received imaging doses of 5 mCi 111In-labeled cT84.66 first, followed 1-2 weeks later by 5 mg cT84.66 labeled with the therapeutic dose of 90Y. Immediately following the therapeutic infusion, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid was administered by continuous i.v. infusion over 3 days at 250 mg/m2 body surface area/24 h. Biodistribution, tumor targeting, absorbed radiation dose estimates, antibody clearance, and HACA response were evaluated through blood samples, 24-h urine collections, and nuclear images performed at serial time points after infusion. To date, three patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have been evaluated at the first dose level of 5 mCi/m2. No side effects were associated with antibody administration. Localization of the antibody to nonhepatic metastatic sites was observed. Size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated the formation of CEA:antibody complexes in serum in all three patients. A significant variation among patients in the clearance rate of the antibody and complexes from blood to liver was seen, which resulted in a reciprocal relationship between estimated liver dose and red marrow dose. Patients who demonstrated faster clearance to liver demonstrated greater excretion of a low-molecular-weight metabolite through the urine. Two patients developed HACA response, which persisted at 4 months after therapy. At this first dose level, no tumor responses were seen and reversible grade 1 thrombocytopenia was observed in 2 patients. cT84.66 demonstrated effective localization in CEA-producing tumors. Its low immunogenicity after a single administration makes it attractive for further evaluation as a radioimmunotherapeutic agent. However, further evaluation is needed to determine whether its immunogenicity will remain low after multiple administrations. Additionally, in two of the three patients, we identified rapid clearance of the antibody to the liver. This underscores the need to identify, characterize, and understand further those factors that influence the biodistribution and clearance of anti-CEA antibodies to allow for better selection of patients for therapy and rational planning of radioimmunotherapy.
Do consumer choices augment narcissism? The role of self-referent processing

Abstract Drawing on the choice and self-referent processing literatures, we hypothesized that the act of making consumer choices will augment narcissism, because it directs attention to the self (i.e., increases self-referencing). Results of three experiments provided support for the proposed path from choice to narcissism via self-referencing (indirect effect), but not for the path from choice to narcissism (total effect). This pattern, first reported in Experiment 1, held only for agentic choices (e.g., products for personal use), which prompt thoughts about the self, and not for communal choices (e.g., charitable organizations), which prompt thoughts about others (Experiment 2). Also, this pattern generalized across agentic choices of public and private products (Experiment 3). We consider theoretical and practical implications.
Time-based assessment for H.264 decoder

With the developing of internet and wireless networks, H.264 video communication is applied more and more widely in embedded system. But, there is a troublesome problem of the decoding speed in embedded applications. In order to solve the problem, knowing which part is the most time-consuming in the decoder is important. In this paper, a method of time assessment for H.264 decoder is proposed, and it is used in JM8.6. The result of time assessment is also be given in this paper. Experimental results show that the most time-consuming parts of JM8.6 is the function of pixel interpolation, reading one macro-block, decoding one macro-block, inverse transform, and removing block effect.
Synthesis of fluorescent analogs of relaxin family peptides and their preliminary in vitro and in vivo characterization

Relaxin, a heterodimeric polypeptide hormone, is a key regulator of collagen metabolism and multiple vascular control pathways in humans and rodents. Its actions are mediated via its cognate G-protein-coupled receptor, RXFP1 although it also “pharmacologically” activates RXFP2, the receptor for the related, insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), which has specific actions on reproduction and bone metabolism. Therefore, experimental tools to facilitate insights into the distinct biological actions of relaxin and INSL3 are required, particularly for studies of tissues containing both RXFP1 and RXFP2. Here, we chemically functionalized human (H2) relaxin, the RXFP1-selective relaxin analog H2:A(4-24)(F23A), and INSL3 to accommodate a fluorophore without marked reduction in binding or activation propensity. Chemical synthesis of the two chains for each peptide was followed by sequential regioselective formation of their three disulfide bonds. Click chemistry conjugation of Cy5.5 at the B-chain N-terminus, with conservation of the disulfide bonds, yielded analogs displaying appropriate selective binding affinity and ability to activate RXFP1 and/or RXFP2 in vitro. The in vivo biological activity of Cy5.5-H2 relaxin and Cy5.5-H2:A(4-24)(F23A) was confirmed in mice, as acute intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of these peptides (but not Cy5.5-INSL3) stimulated water drinking, an established behavioral response elicited by central RXFP1 activation. The central distribution of Cy5.5-conjugated peptides was examined in mice killed 30 min after infusion, revealing higher fluorescence within brain tissue near-adjacent to the cerebral ventricle walls relative to deeper brain areas. Production of fluorophore-conjugated relaxin family peptides will facilitate future pharmacological studies to probe the function of H2 relaxin/RXFP1 and INSL3/RXFP2 signaling in vivo while tracking their distribution following central or peripheral administration.
Planning of graspless manipulation by multiple robot fingers

Graspless manipulation is to manipulate objects without grasping by just pushing, tumbling and so on. One of the main difficulties in graspless manipulation is planning. To reduce the load of computation, we adopt a two-step approach: 1) construction and simplification of contact state graph at geometry level; and 2) planning of manipulation at mechanics levels. In this paper, we focus the latter and propose an algorithm to plan mechanically feasible manipulation. It generates digraphs that represent C-subspaces for all the contact states, and unites them into one big graph, which we call a manipulation-feasibility graph. The manipulation plan can be obtained by searching the graph. This algorithm is implemented for planar graspless manipulation by multiple robot fingers, and the planned results obtained are shown.
Chagas Disease: Still Many Unsolved Issues

Over the past 20 years, the immune effector mechanisms involved in the control of Trypanosoma cruzi, as well as the receptors participating in parasite recognition by cells of the innate immune system, have been largely described. However, the main questions on the physiopathology of Chagas disease remain unanswered: “Why does the host immune system fail to provide sterile immunity? ” and “Why do only a proportion of infected individuals develop chronic pathology? ” In this review, we describe the mechanisms proposed to explain the inability of the immune system to eradicate the parasite and the elements that allow the development of chronic heart disease. Moreover, we discuss the possibility that the inability of infected cardiomyocytes to sense intracellular T. cruzi contributes to parasite persistence in the heart and the development of chronic pathology.
Carbon cycling under 300 years of land use change: Importance of the secondary vegetation sink

We have developed a dynamic land model (LM3V) able to simulate ecosystem dynamics and exchanges of water, energy, and CO2 between land and atmosphere. LM3V is specifically designed to address the consequences of land use and land management changes including cropland and pasture dynamics, shifting cultivation, logging, fire, and resulting patterns of secondary regrowth. Here we analyze the behavior of LM3V, forced with the output from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) atmospheric model AM2, observed precipitation data, and four historic scenarios of land use change for 1700–2000. Our analysis suggests a net terrestrial carbon source due to land use activities from 1.1 to 1.3 GtC/a during the 1990s, where the range is due to the difference in the historic cropland distribution. This magnitude is substantially smaller than previous estimates from other models, largely due to our estimates of a secondary vegetation sink of 0.35 to 0.6 GtC/a in the 1990s and decelerating agricultural land clearing since the 1960s. For the 1990s, our estimates for the pastures' carbon flux vary from a source of 0.37 to a sink of 0.15 GtC/a, and for the croplands our model shows a carbon source of 0.6 to 0.9 GtC/a. Our process‐based model suggests a smaller net deforestation source than earlier bookkeeping models because it accounts for decelerated net conversion of primary forest to agriculture and for stronger secondary vegetation regrowth in tropical regions. The overall uncertainty is likely to be higher than the range reported here because of uncertainty in the biomass recovery under changing ambient conditions, including atmospheric CO2 concentration, nutrients availability, and climate.
Immune recovery after autologous stem cell transplantation is not different for HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma.

BACKGROUND High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) are feasible and effective salvage treatments for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related relapse or refractory lymphoma. Among the main concerns with ASCT in HIV-infected persons is the additional immune depletion caused by treatment, which could amplify the preexisting immune deficit. The aims of our study were to assess the impact of conventional chemotherapy before salvage treatment was administered, in this population, and to evaluate immune reconstitution dynamics during ASCT. METHODS All 33 HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients who underwent comparable ASCT protocols at the National Cancer Institute (Aviano, Italy) who underwent 1 month of follow-up after transplantation were included in a prospective immunological study. Demographic, clinical, and immunovirological data were obtained before administration of induction therapy, during transplantation, and at 24 months of follow-up. RESULTS Before HDC, no significant differences were observed in CD4(+) cell subsets and signal joint T cell receptor excision circles (sjTRECs), although HIV-infected persons had inverted ratios of CD4(+) cells to CD8(+) cells because they had higher CD8(+) T cell counts, compared with HIV-uninfected persons. After ASCT, this inversion was also observed in HIV-uninfected patients up to 24 months. CD4(+) cell subsets had similar recoveries, with a temporary setback in HIV-infected persons 3 months after reinfusion, together with an increase in infections. sjTRECs demonstrated similar dynamics in both populations and serve as a useful predictive marker of recovery of CD4(+) cell subsets. No significant changes emerged in HIV DNA levels during the follow-up period, with values at 24 months significantly lower than those at baseline. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that ASCT in HIV-infected persons with lymphoma does not worsen the initial immune impairment and does not enhance viral replication or the peripheral HIV reservoir in the long term.