Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kerdock codes for limited feedback MIMO systems

A codebook based limited feedback strategy is a practical way to obtain partial channel state information at the transmitter in precoded multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless systems. Construction of conventional codebooks, such as Grassmannian and Fourier codebooks, relies on nonlinear search and iterative algorithms which often does not exhibit structure to ease storage or online search computation. Furthermore, multiple codebooks are needed to support beamforming and spatial multiplexing. In this paper, we propose a new codebook design based on Kerdock codes and mutually unbiased bases which enjoys performance similar to previously known codebooks. The proposed Kerdock codebook with quaternary alphabet has systematic construction, reduced storage, and reduced online search computation. Special structure in the codebook is used to derive a spatial multiplexing codebook from multiple columns of the beamforming codebook resulting in further storage reduction.
Activity synchrony and social cohesion: a fission-fusion model

A social group can only be spatially coherent if its members synchronize activities such as foraging and resting. However, activity synchronization is costly to individuals if it requires them to postpone an activity that would be personally more profitable in order to do what the rest of the group is doing. Such costs will be particularly high in groups whose members belong to different age, size or sex classes since the optimal allocation of time to various activities is likely to differ between such classes. Thus, differences in the costs of activity synchronization between and within classes could cause non–homogenous groups to be less stable than homogenous groups, with the result that homogenous groups predominate in the population: that is, they could cause ‘social segregation’ of animals of different sex, size or age. We develop a model that predicts the degree of social segregation attributable to differences in activity synchronization between homogenous and non–homogenous groups and use this model in determining whether activity synchronization can explain intersexual social segregation in red deer (Cervus elaphus). Differences in activity synchronization between mixed–sex and unisex groups of red deer explained 35% of the observed degree of intersexual social segregation, showing that activity synchronization is an important cause of social segregation in this species.
Effects of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on the gonadal pathophysiology, sperm morphology, and reproductive performance of male rats.

Dietary exposure of adult male F344 rats to 0, 320, 1250, 5000, or 20,000 ppm DEHP for 60 consecutive days resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in total body, testis, epididymis, and prostate weights at 5000 and 20,000 ppm. Degenerative changes were observed in testis, along with decreased testicular zinc content, reduced epididymal sperm density and motility, and increased occurrence of abnormal sperm at 20,000 ppm. There was a trend towards reduced testosterone and increased luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in serum at 5000 and 20,000 ppm. The mean percentage of fertile animals was unchanged and reduction in fertility parameters, although not marked in severity, were correlated with gonadal effects. Average litter size was reduced at 20,000 ppm, but initial pup weights and growth were unaffected. There were no grossly observed abnormalities in the offspring and the rate of neonatal deaths was similar in control and DEHP treated groups. Characteristic toxicity manifestations of DEHP included dose-dependent enlargement of liver and reduced sperm triglycerides and cholesterol. Additionally, serum albumin and total proteins were dose dependently increased upon treatment with DEHP. Cessation of exposure to DEHP initiated partial to complete recovery from toxicity in most cases. The magnitude of recovery were variable with that of the gonads being slower than other systems. These data suggest a lack of reproductive dysfunction in F344 male rats at DEHP doses below 20,000 ppm which produced measurable testicular degeneration and afflicted epididymal sperm morphology under the present experimental conditions. ImagesFIGURE 3.FIGURE 3.
Re-annotating the Mycoplasma pneumoniae genome sequence: adding value, function and reading frames.

Four years after the original sequence submission, we have re-annotated the genome of Mycoplasma pneumoniae to incorporate novel data. The total number of ORFss has been increased from 677 to 688 (10 new proteins were predicted in intergenic regions, two further were newly identified by mass spectrometry and one protein ORF was dismissed) and the number of RNAs from 39 to 42 genes. For 19 of the now 35 tRNAs and for six other functional RNAs the exact genome positions were re-annotated and two new tRNA(Leu) and a small 200 nt RNA were identified. Sixteen protein reading frames were extended and eight shortened. For each ORF a consistent annotation vocabulary has been introduced. Annotation reasoning, annotation categories and comparisons to other published data on M.pneumoniae functional assignments are given. Experimental evidence includes 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis in combination with mass spectrometry as well as gene expression data from this study. Compared to the original annotation, we increased the number of proteins with predicted functional features from 349 to 458. The increase includes 36 new predictions and 73 protein assignments confirmed by the published literature. Furthermore, there are 23 reductions and 30 additions with respect to the previous annotation. mRNA expression data support transcription of 184 of the functionally unassigned reading frames.
Simvastatin promotes angiogenesis and prevents microvascular remodeling in chronic renal ischemia

We tested the hypothesis that statins would decrease renal injury in renal artery stenosis (RAS) by restoring angiogenesis and attenuating intrarenal microvascular (IMV) remodeling. Single‐kidney hemodynamics and function were quantified using electron‐beam‐computed tomography (CT) in normocho‐lesterolemic pigs after 12 wk of experimental RAS, RAS supplemented with simvastatin (RAS+simvastatin), and normal controls. Renal circulation was also studied in vivo using angiography and ex vivo using a unique 3D micro‐CT imaging technique. Angiogenic and remodeling pathways were subsequently explored in renal tissue. Blood pressure and the degree of stenosis were similarly increased in RAS groups. Simvastatin in RAS enhanced both intrarenal angiogenesis and peri‐stenosis arteriogenesis and increased the expression of angiogenic growth factors and hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α. Furthermore, simvastatin decreased tissue‐transglutaminase expression and IMV inward remodeling, restored IMV endothelial function, decreased fibrogenic activity, and improved renal function. Chronic simvastatin supplementation promoted angiogenesis in vivo, decreased ischemia‐induced IMV remodeling, and improved IMV function in the stenotic kidney, independent of lipid lowering. These novel renoprotective effects suggest a role for simvastatin in preserving the ischemic kidney in chronic RAS. — Chade, A. R. , Zhu, X. , Mushin, O. P., Napoli, C. , Lerman, A. , Lerman, L. O. Simvastatin promotes angiogenesis and prevents microvascular remodeling in chronic renal ischemia. FASEB J. 20, E1014–E1023 (2006)
Effect of an immunomodulatory regimen for cancer prevention: A case report

In the present case study, an immunomodulatory regimen for cancer prevention is reported. A patient with an abnormally high level of the tumor markers, carbohydrate antigen-724 (CA724), CA19–9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), although without any detectable tumor, was treated with an immunomodulatory therapy featuring an infusion of cytokine-induced autologous killer cells (CIKs) at the request of the patient. Following the therapy, the three tumor markers rapidly decreased to below the normal reference level, although there still were slight fluctuations within a narrow range frequently. The patient was monitored for 21 months to the present day and no abnormality was observed. The results indicated that this therapy may be applied as a novel strategy that is effective and reliable for cancer prevention. As there is no promising regimen for the prevention of malignancies to date, such a treatment may become a major cancer prophylactic regimen, particularly for patients who are at a high risk of cancer.
Downward Wage Rigidity and Optimal Steady-State Inflation

This paper examines the impact of downward wage rigidity (nominal and real) on optimal steady-state inflation. For this purpose, we extend the workhorse model of Erceg, Henderson and Levin (2000) by introducing asymmetric menu costs for wage setting. We estimate the key parameters by simulated method of moments, matching key features of the cross-sectional distribution of individual wage changes observed in the data. We look at five countries (the US, Germany, Portugal, Belgium and Finland). The calibrated heterogeneous agent models are then solved for different steady state rates of inflation to derive welfare implications. We find that, across the European countries considered, the optimal steady-state rate of inflation varies between zero and 2%. For the US, the results depend on the dataset used, with estimates of optimal inflation varying between 2% and 5%. JEL Classification: E31, E52, J4
The Microcirculation in Experimental Hypertension: State‐of‐the‐Art Review

Information concerning the microcirculation has been obtained largely by intravital microscopy of selected tissues in the rat-skeletalrat-skeletal muscle and splanchnic viscera, as well as in the cheek pouch of the hamster. The data for the most part pertain to the spontaneous form of hypertension in the SHR strain of rats and renovascular forms of the disease involving surgical manipulation of the kidney or its blood supply. Direct measurements of pressure and flow in exteriorized skeletal muscle preparations reveal a 2- to 3-fold increase in resistance to flow. An increase in resistance appears in the terminal arterioles and their precapillary branches as early as at 4 weeks of age for SHR animals and is progressively exacerbated in older more mature animals. The increase in microvascular resistance appears to develop as a consequence of neurogenic and humoral mechanisms which act initially on larger arterioles (50–100 μm) and subsequently on the peripheral arterioles (15–25 μm in diameter). The smaller arterioles not only show an increased tone under steady state conditions but what can be referred to as a functional rarefaction in which 30° to 50° of the precapillary extensions of the arterioles are shut off for varying periods from the active muscle circulation. Structural rarefaction (a reduced number of arterioles) is seen only in the late stages of the SHR syndrome and can account for a small portion of the increase in peripheral resistance. The cause and effect relationship between the microvascular changes and the associated elevation in systemic pressure cannot be unequivocally demonstrated in intravital preparations. Hypertension induced by different experimental modalities does not have a consistent microcirculatory counterpart, leading to the conclusion that depending on the precise mechanisms involved in the initiation of the syndrome, microcirculatory derrangements can arise as either initiating or secondary phenomena. Tissue pathology is uniformly associated with a reduction in arterial supply, and uneven distribution of blood and red cell hematocrit in the network proper. On the postcapillary side, there is a trend for venular tortuosity and distension.
A Novel Image Processing Filter Designed Using Discrete Fourier Invariant Signal

In this paper, a new image processing filter is proposed. In order to construct this image smoothing filter, one dimensional discrete Fourier invariant signal generated by an iterative design principle based on gradient descent method is used. The filter shape and values in spatial and frequency domain is almost the same. The proposed filter can be used as a kernel matrix in image processing to perform blurring as well as high frequency noise suppression. Also it can be used as an optimal two dimensional window for spatial-frequency spectral analysis of images.
An Annotated Bibliography on Scheduling Algorithms for Fixed and Dynamic Priority Real-Time Systems , with Hard , Firm or Soft Deadline Tasks , and Emphasis on Feasibility Testing [ Draft ]

In this report we present an annotated bibliography on research work relating to real-time scheduling of tasks. Special emphasis is placed on the different off-line and on-line schedulability testing algorithms for hard, firm and soft real-time tasks. Each proposed algorithm is presented and analyzed in terms of asymptotic time and space complexity. Algorithms are critically examined, when there is sufficient information, with respect to pragmatic issues and hidden overheads in implementation. Both fixed-priority and dynamic-priority methods are presented and analyzed.
Analyzing Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreads Using Strength Ratios

The writers backanalyzed 39 well-documented liquefaction-induced lateral spreads in terms of a mobilized strength ratio, su (mob)∕ σ vo ′ using the Newmark sliding block method. Based on the inverse analyses results, we found that the backcalculated strength ratios mobilized during lateral spreads can be directly correlated to normalized cone penetration test tip resistance and standard penetration test blow count. Remarkably, Newmark analysis-based strength ratios mobilized during these lateral spreads essentially coincide with liquefied strength ratios backcalculated from liquefaction flow failures. The mobilized strength ratios appear to be independent of the magnitude of lateral displacement (at least for displacements greater than 15 cm ) and the strength of shaking (in terms of peak ground acceleration). Furthermore, the mobilized strength ratios backcalculated from these cases appear to be consistent for a given depositional environment and do not appear to be severely impacted by potential water l.
Converging an overlay network to a Gradient topology

In this paper, we investigate the topology convergence problem for the gossip-based Gradient overlay network. In an overlay network where each node has a local utility value, a Gradient overlay network is characterized by the properties that each node has a set of neighbors containing higher utility values, such that paths of increasing utilities emerge in the network topology. The Gradient overlay network is built using gossiping and a preference function that samples from nodes using a uniform random peer sampling service. We analyze it using tools from matrix analysis, and we prove both the necessary and sufficient conditions for convergence to a complete gradient structure, as well as estimating the convergence time. Finally, we show in simulations the potential of the Gradient overlay, by building a more efficient live-streaming peer-to-peer (P2P) system than one built using uniform random peer sampling.
The High-Frequency/Acceleration Head Heave Test in Detecting Otolith Diseases

Objective: To investigate whether transient, high-acceleration interaural head heaves (translational vestibulo-ocular reflex [tVOR]) could aid in the diagnosis of otolith diseases. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Thirteen patients with symptoms suggestive of otolith diseases and 10 age-matched controls. Interventions: Patients underwent a clinical otoneurologic examination and standard laboratory audiovestibular evaluation, including audiometry, electronystagmography with bithermal caloric, Halmagyi-Curthoys head thrust test with search coils, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential. All subjects underwent subjective visual vertical (SVV) and tVOR testings. Main Outcome Measures: Sensitivity (ratio of peak eye to peak head velocities) and velocity gain (ratio of actual to ideal peak eye velocities). Results: Five of 13 patients showed no abnormality in any tests. Of the remaining 8, 3 (38%) had reduced tVOR responses, whereas 1 (13%) had abnormal SVV. Sensitivity and velocity gains were symmetrically reduced in 2 patients, who had symptoms for 8 and 24 months. A third patient, symptomatic for 7 weeks, had asymmetric reduction of tVOR responses and a deviated SVV. Conclusion: Both head heave and SVV tests detect acute, asymmetric otolith diseases. Subjective visual vertical test relies on imbalance of utricular tone and may not detect bilateral symmetric diseases or partial diseases with central compensation. Our preliminary data in a small group of patients show that measuring the tVOR in a higher and more physiologic range of frequencies may serve as useful adjunct to detect acute and chronic otolith dysfunction and seems to be superior to the SVV in detecting bilateral symmetric or asymmetric otolith diseases.
DF-strings from D3D̄3 as Cosmic Strings

We study Dirac-Born-Infeld type effective field theory of a complex tachyon and U(1)×U(1) gauge fields describing a D3D̄3 system. Classical solutions of straight global and local DFstrings with quantized vorticity are found and are classified into two types by the asymptotic behavior of the tachyon amplitude. For sufficiently large radial distances, one has linearlygrowing tachyon amplitude and the other logarithmically-growing tachyon amplitude. A constant radial electric flux density denoting the fundamental-string background makes the obtained DF-strings thick. The other electric flux density parallel to the strings is localized, which represents localization of fundamental strings in the D1-F1 bound states. Since these DF-strings are formed in the coincidence limit of the D3D̄3, these cosmic DF-strings are safe from inflation induced by the approach of the separated D3 and D̄3.
Wildlife Conservation, Safari Tourism and the Role of Tourism Certification in Kenya: A Postcolonial Critique

Abstract Kenya's national parks and game reserves form the pillar of the country's tourism industry, and wildlife viewing and safari tourism are significant generators of income and foreign exchange. The promulgation of pioneer national parks in Kenya in the mid-20th century followed colonial practices of “exclusion” and “divide and rule” which marginalized local communities in decision-making processes and initiation of tourism programmes and wildlife conservation initiatives. Government supported policies and programmes that focused on wildlife protection and promotion of safari tourism also accentuated human-wildlife conflicts and contributed to species loss and habitat fragmentation. This study examines the evolution of Kenya's wildlife conservation policies and safari tourism programmes, and argues that safari tourism in Kenya has privileged Western models of tourism development and wildlife conservation, with historic exclusion of indigenous communities still ongoing today, though some improvements are evident. Postcolonial legacies influence the political economy of tourism in regard to the Maasai in Kenya; inequitable power relations are illustrated with the help of a literature review as well as a case example. The study offers suggestions to guide the development of future tourism certification programmes and indicators related to protected areas and safari tourism. Such programmes should be cognizant of Kenya's postcolonial context and attend to social and cultural sustainability, including issues of inclusion, exclusion and empowering local communities to participate directly in the management and ownership of environmental and tourism resources.
EICOSANOIDS AND RELATED COMPOUNDS – AN INTRODUCTION Eicosanoid Structures and Key Enzymes 1 . Some Definitions

The term eicosanoid is used to embrace biologically active lipid mediators (C20 fatty acids and their metabolites), including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes and other oxygenated derivatives, which are produced primarily by three classes of enzymes, cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), lipoxygenases (LOX) and cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases. The key precursor fatty acids are 8c,11c,14c-eicosatrienoic (dihomo-γ-linolenic or 20:3(n-6)), 5c,8c,11c,14c-eicosatetraenoic (arachidonic or 20:4(n-6)) and 5c,8c,11c,14c,17c-eicosapentaenoic (20:5(n-3) or EPA) acids (see our web page on ‘polyunsaturated fatty acids’). However, it is now impossible to discuss these compounds and their biological activities properly without also considering the docosanoids (resolvins and protectins) derived from 4c,7c,10c,13c,16c,19c-docosahexaenoic acid (22:6(n-3) or DHA), and related products formed by non-enzymic means (isoprostanes). Similarly, plant products such as the jasmonates and other oxylipins derived from 9c,12c,15coctadecatrienoic (α-linolenic or 18:3(n-3)) acid have analogous structures and functions. It is noteworthy that the precursor fatty acids for all of these belong to both the omega-6 and omega-3 families.
A Tool for Investigating the Synonymy Relation in a Sense Disambiguated Thesaurus

This paper describes an exploration of the implicit synonymy relationship expressed by synonym lists in an on-line thesaurus. A series of automatic steps was taken to properly constrain this relationship. The resulting groupings of semantically related word senses are believed to constitute a useful tool for natural language processing and for work in lexicography.
Text classification with a Primal SVM endowed with domain knowledge

In this paper we solve a document classification task by incorporating prior/domain knowledge onto the SVM. The algorithm consists in to learn a prior classifier in the primal space (words) from an ‘external’ source of information to the text classification itself: patterns of reader’s eyes movements when reading relevant words for discriminating texts. This prior weight vector is then plugged into the SVM optimisation in the primal space. Experimental results include a comparison of the proposed algorithm with plain SVM classifiers and with an alternative way of mixing textual and eye information based on the SVM-2K.
Privacy-Preserving OLAP: An Information-Theoretic Approach

We address issues related to the protection of private information in Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) systems, where a major privacy concern is the adversarial inference of private information from OLAP query answers. Most previous work on privacy-preserving OLAP focuses on a single aggregate function and/or addresses only exact disclosure, which eliminates from consideration an important class of privacy breaches where partial information, but not exact values, of private data is disclosed (i.e., partial disclosure). We address privacy protection against both exact and partial disclosure in OLAP systems with mixed aggregate functions. In particular, we propose an information-theoretic inference control approach that supports a combination of common aggregate functions (e.g., COUNT, SUM, MIN, MAX, and MEDIAN) and guarantees the level of privacy disclosure not to exceed thresholds predetermined by the data owners. We demonstrate that our approach is efficient and can be implemented in existing OLAP systems with little modification. It also satisfies the simulatable auditing model and leaks no private information through query rejections. Through performance analysis, we show that compared with previous approaches, our approach provides more effective privacy protection while maintaining a higher level of query-answer availability.