Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance analysis of adaptive beamforming for OFDM-CDMA systems in ground-based communications

In this paper the use of adaptive antenna arrays for OFDM-CDMA system in ground-based communications is investigated. We present the performance of adaptive beamforming for OFDM-CDMA systems for both AWGN and Rayleigh fading channels. Three adaptive beamforming algorithms are considered: maximum SNR, minimum mean square error (MMSE), and maximum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (MSINR). The effect of a finite number of samples for estimating the appropriate statistics for beamforming algorithms is examined. Finally, the impacts of different channel conditions such as angle spread and the user location on the performance of the adaptive beamforming is evaluated.
Applying Artificial Neural Networks to Business, Economics and Finance

This paper surveys the significance of recent work on emulative neural networks (ENNs) by researchers across many disciplines in the light of issues of indeterminacy. Financial and economic forecasters have witnessed the recent development of a number of new forecasting models. Traditionally, popular forecasting techniques include regression analysis, time-series analysis, moving averages and smoothing methods, and numerous judgmental methods. However, all of these have the same drawback insofar as they require assumptions about the form of population distribution. Regression models, for example, assume that the underlying population is normally distributed. ENNs are members of a family of statistical techniques, as are flexible nonlinear regression models, discriminant models, data reduction models, and nonlinear dynamic systems. They are trainable analytic tools that attempt to mimic information processing patterns in the brain. Because they do not necessarily require assumptions about population distribution, economists, mathematicians and statisticians are increasingly using ENNs for data analysis. JEL: C3, C32, C45, C5, C63, F3, G15.
EMOTIONAL VOICE CONVERSION WITH WAVELET TRANSFORM USING DUAL SUPERVISED ADVERSARIAL NETWORKS

Emotional voice conversion (VC) is a kind of VC technique for converting prosody in speech, which can represent different emotions, while keeping the linguistic information unchanged. Recently, deep learning has dramatically improved the performance of VC systems. However, deep learning models are restricted to problems with moderate dimensions and sufficient data, so most deep learning based VC works do not focuse on the emotional VC, which is mainly affected by low-dimensional F0 features with insufficient training VC data. In this paper, to overcome the problem of moderate dimensions, we used our earlier work [1] to systematically capture the F0 features of different temporal scales with the adaptive scales continuous wavelet transform (AS-CWT) method. To deal with the difficulty of a limited amount of training data, we propose dual supervised adversarial networks (dual-SANs), which combine the GANs [2] with dual supervised learning [3] to train the MCC and CWT-F0 features. The effectiveness of GANs is due to the fact that an adversarial loss forces the generated data to be indistinguishable from real data. This is particularly powerful for image generation tasks, and it has also begun to be applied in speech synthesis. Dual supervised learning is a technique for supervised learning tasks in dual forms. The dual learning method uses one agent to represent the model for the primal task and another agent to represent the model for the dual task. Then they are asked to teach each other through a reinforcement learning process. In emotional VC task, we need to convert the voice from one emotion to another. They are dual tasks with labeled emotional voice data. Thus, due to dual supervised learning’s ability to improve the training performances and GANs’ ability to mitigate the over-smoothing problem caused in the low-level data space when converting the CWT-F0 and MCC features, we develope a novel dual-SANs model, which enables emo-
HABITAT AND NEST-SITE USE BY RED-TAILED HAWKS IN NORTHWESTERN WYOMING

We described Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) habitat in the valley portion of Grand Teton National Park during 1992-94 at three spatial scales: (1) nest tree, (2) microhabitat centered around nest trees, and (3) within the home range. Nests were found in six tree species, 22 (36%) were in coniferous and 38 (64%) were in deciduous trees. Nest-tree height, nest height, nest-tree diameterat-breast-height (DBH), and percentage height of nest in the tree means were 22 m, 16 m, 50 cm, and 72.7%, respectively. Nests were located predominantly on northwestern aspects and on moderately-steep slopes. Microhabitat selection was determined by comparing nest sites with randomly-located, non-nest sites. We measured nest-site microhabitat characteristics in 0.04-ha circles centered on nest trees and two paired non-nest sites at 60 independent locations. Compared to non-nest sites, nest-sites had a higher number of trees, taller trees, larger DBH and basal area of trees, and greater canopy cover. Among nest sites, 50 of 60 nest trees were the tallest trees in the plot, and 48 of 60 had the largest diameter. Discriminant function analysis indicated that canopy cover, basal area of trees, and distance to forest edge were the most important variables in distinguishing nest sites from non-nest sites. We calculated cover of six vegetation classes within 100% minimum convex polygon home ranges of seven breeding Red-tailed Hawk pairs, and within a 10 640 ha core study area. The proportion of habitat cover types in home ranges varied considerably among individual pairs. Among all home ranges, 75% were nonforested open grassland or shrub and 25% were forested. Habitat characteristics important to Red-tailed Hawks on our study area were mature forests of mixed conifer and deciduous trees on moderately-steep hillsides adjacent to expansive openings consisting of either sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)-grassland flats or remnant agricultural sites. Landscape-scale factors other than vegetation cover-type proportions may be more important in determining home range size and location within our study area.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF Ag / SnO 2 / CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES WITH POTENTIAL APPLICATION AS PHOTOCATALYSTS

This work reported a novel synthesis and characterization of Ag/SnO2/clay nanocomposites. The obtained materials were characterized using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, particles size distribution, BET analyses and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The Ag/SnO2/clay nanocomposites have been used as efficient and environmentally benign photocatalysts. The protocols developed using this kind of material is advantageous in terms of simple experimentation, reusable catalyst, excellent yields of the products, short reaction time and preclusion of toxic solvents. The synthesized nanosized AgSnO2/clay nanocomposites have been used as photocatalysts for degradation and discoloration of synthetic wastewater containing Eosin Y dye, xanthene fluorescent dye, under solar radiation.
Based on the Wireless Sensor Network Localization Algorithm of Locality Preserving Canonical Correlation Analysis

Wireless sensor network localization involves the dataset of physical space and signal space, and its layout accord with the characteristic of manifold. This paper uses the own characteristic of topological structure and signal space ,striving to search a right modeling approach to realize the mapping between these two spaces, thus the usage of locality preserving canonical correlation analysis (LPCCA)is put forward to realize the manifold structure and localization. To further improve the accuracy of localization algorithm, through combining specific positioning problem as regression rather than dimensionality reduction to adapt new application, developed an original wireless sensor network localization algorithm LE-LPCCA (location estimation-LPCCA) which can reflect network topological structure information. Copyright © 2013 IFSA. Keyword: Wireless sensor network, Localization, Algorithm.
Abstracting formal specifications to generate software tests via model checking

A recent method combines model checkers with specification-based mutation analysis to generate test cases from formal software specifications. However high-level software specifications usually must be reduced to make analysis with a model checker feasible. We propose a new reduction, parts of which can be applied mechanically, to soundly reduce some large, even infinite, state machines to manageable pieces. Our work differs from other work in that we use the reduction for generating test sets, as opposed to the typical goal of analyzing for properties. Consequently, we have different criteria, and we prove a different soundness rule. Informally the rule is that counterexamples from the model checker are test cases for the original specification. The reduction changes the state machine and temporal logic constraints the model checking specification to avoid generating unsound test cases. We use a Java virtual machine stack as an example of the reduction and test generation.
The Design and Optimisation of Novel Human Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors for the Management of Proliferative Disease

Tetrahydrofolate (THF) mediates DNA and RNA synthesis through production of purine and thymidylate precursors. During this process THF is reduced to the inactive dihydrofolate (DHF) and recycled back to the active DHF via a redox reaction, catalysed by dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). DHFR inhibition prevents cellular growth, hence drug design at this locus is considered valuable with DHFR antagonists having clinical relevance in proliferative disease management. This study utilised methotrexate (MTX) as lead molecule in the design and optimisation of novel DHFR antagonists. PDB crystallographic deposition 1U72 (Cody et al., 2005) 3 describing the holo MTX: human DHFR complex was modelled in SYBYL-X® v1.2 (Tripos) and affinity of MTX for the cognate receptor measured in X-SCORE v1.2 (Wang et al.,1998)to establish baseline affinity. Structure activity data and 2D-topology maps generated in PoseView v1.1 (Stierand and Gastreich, 2011) 6 guided the creation of 7 seeds in which moieties considered non-critical for binding and clinical effect were computationally modified using the GROW module of LigBuilder v1.2 (Wang et al., 2000) 7 . Each of the 7 seeds yielded 200 novel structures which were classified according to pharmacophore structure, physiochemical parameter and binding affinity. This molecular cohort was assessed for Lipinski Rule compliance which reduced the total number of viable molecules to 177. These were rendered in UCSF Chimera v1.8 (Pettersen et al., 2004) 5 and Accelerys Draw® v4.1(Accelrys Software Inc., 2013) 1 for visualisation and pharmacophoric growth deduction. The optimal structures combining affinity and Lipinski Rule compliance from each pharmacophoric group were identified, which could be further optimised for in vitro validation on the premise that they hold promise as clinically use antiproliferative drugs.
Infezione da HHV 8 e leucemia linfoblastica acuta in età pediatrica HHV 8 infection and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children

L’ herpes virus umano 8 (HHV 8) è un agente appartenente alla sottofamiglia Gammaherpesvirinae le cui sequenze nucleotidiche sono state per la prima volta identificate nel 1994 all’interno di cellule del sarcoma di Kaposi (KS) [1]. Il virus presenta una struttura tridimensionale simile a quella di HSV1 e CMV, capostipiti rispettivamente degli alfa e dei beta-herpesvirus. Le dimensioni del capside, identiche a quelle di HSV1, sono più piccole di quelle del CMV in funzione della rispettiva quantità di genoma [2]. Questi è costituito da un’unica regione codificante di circa 140 kb affiancata da sequenze ripetitive terminali di 800 paia di basi [3] e contiene geni potenzialmente oncogeni o comunque implicati sperimentalmente nel meccanismo di trasformazione cellulare [4]. Il virus esprime diversi antigeni alcuni dei quali, target della risposta anticorpale, sono stati chiamati latenti e litici. I primi, espressione della latenza virale o forse più specificamente della trasformazione oncogena, si trovano nel nucleo delle cellule infette, mentre i secondi si trovano nel citoplasma e verrebbero espressi durante la replicazione virale [5]. Anche se indagini di biologia molecolare valutano in misura più ampia la circolazione del virus [6], gli studi di sieroprevalenza dimostrerebbero come l’HHV8, almeno nei paesi occidentali e a differenza di altri virus erpetici, non sembri presentare un’ampia diffusione. La sieroprevalenza per HHV 8 nella popolazione aperta delle nazioni industrializzate varierebbe dal 2% della Francia [7] al 25% della California [8] mentre nei paesi in via di sviluppo sarebbe molto più elevata (60% circa) [9]. In particolari gruppi di soggetti, come per esempio gli omosessuali non affetti da KS, è stata segnalata una prevalenza piuttosto elevata anche in occidente (30% circa) e ciò avvalorerebbe l’importanza della trasmissione per via sessuale [10], confermata anche in aree sviluppate dell’estremo oriente [11]. Il riscontro di bassa sieroprevalenza tra gli emofilici (1-2%) e i tossicodipendenti per via endovenosa (3%) deporrebbe d’altra parte per un rilievo limitato della trasmissione parenterale [12]. Possibile comunque la trasmissione con il trapianto d’organo [13]. Interessante osservare inoltre che, mentre nel mondo industrializzato la via sessuale è considerata la più frequente modalità di trasmissione del virus, studi condotti in Eritrea [14] e in Egitto [15] sembrerebbero escludere la predominanza di tale via di trasmissione. Altre modalità di trasmissione, salivare [16], verticale [17] e fecale-orale [18], potrebbero giustificare l’elevata prevalenza e la diversa distribuzione per età che si osserva in genere nel terzo mondo. Lavori originali
A Study on the Relevance of Information in Discriminative and Non-Discriminative Media

In this paper we compare the relevance of information obtained from "discriminative" media and from "non-discriminative" media. Discriminative media are the ones which accumulate and deliver information using a heuristic selection of it. This can be made by humans, or by artificial intelligent systems, exhibiting some form of "knowledge". Non-discriminative media just collect and return information without any distinction. This can also be made by humans or by artificial systems, but there is no "knowledge" involved in the process. We ranked the words occurring in an edited electronic publication specialized in complex systems research, and we found that they approximate a modified Zipf distribution. We compared occurrences of representative words from the distribution with the occurrences in non-discriminative media. We found that a non-discriminative medium (Google) has a higher variance from of our original distribution than a semi-discriminative one (NEC Research Index), even when both appear to have their own modified Zipf distribution. We conclude that discriminative media have a higher efficiency rating, at least in the area in which they specialize, than non-discriminative media. Using the same search method, the discriminative media should deliver more relevant information. This relevancy also depends on the skills of the user, but non-discriminative media are more sensitive to poor searching skills, as there is a higher probability of delivering irrelevant information. This leads us to suggest the incorporation of intelligent classifications in different media (such as the ones suggested by the Semantic Web project), in order to increase the relevance of the delivered information.
Obtaining Dental Aesthetics for Lower Incisor Agenesis Nathalia

Tooth agenesis is a congenital disorder, which is extremely rare in lateral mandibular incisors. This article presents the case of a female patient with the absence of right lower lateral incisor and significant Bolton discrepancy. She was treated with the aid of a fixed orthodontic appliance and transpalatal bar to avoid the loss of anchorage of the posterior superior dental segment. To correct the Bolton discrepancy, stripping of 4.07 mm on the proximal faces of the anterior superior teeth was also performed. These procedures solved the occlusal disorders presented by the patient, conferring appropriate function, aesthetics and quality of life.
A Study of Crossover Operators for Genetic Algorithms to Solve VRP and its Variants and New Sinusoidal Motion Crossover Operator

Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is one of the prominent combinatorial problems and there in a need to address these problems due to increase in logistic activities across the globe. Complexity in solving the problem increases exponentially as the problems size increases. Genetic Algorithm (GA) is widely applied search method to the complex problems such as VRPs. Selection, Crossover and Mutations are the main operators used in GAs. This paper aims at studying different types of Crossover Operators used in Genetic Algorithm applied in solving variety of Vehicle Routing problems. At the end of the paper a new crossover operator ‘Sinusoidal Motion Crossover (SMC)’ is proposed and demonstrated with two illustrations.
Non-Rigid 3 D Model Retrieval Based on Topological Structure and Shape Diameter Function

With the increasing popularity of 3D technology like 3D printing, 3D modeling, etc., there is a growing need for searching similar models on the Internet. Subsequently, matching non-rigid shapes has become an active research field in computer graphics. In this paper, we present an efficient and effective non-rigid model retrieval method based on topological structure and Shape Diameter function (SDF). The integral geodesic distances are first calculated for each vertex on a mesh to construct the topological structure. Next, each node on the topological structure is assigned a local volume, which is calculated using the Shape Diameter function. Finally, we utilize the Hungarian algorithm to measure similarity between two non-rigid models. Experimental results on the latest benchmark (SHREC’ 15 Non-rigid 3D Shape Retrieval) demonstrate that our method works well compared to the state-of-the-art. Keywords-non-rigid model retrieval; integral geodesic distance; shape diameter function; the Hungarian algorithm;
DESIGN BY ACTIONS: An Affordance-based Modeling System in Spatial Design

From the viewpoint of interaction design, Gibson's affordance concept is interpreted as an emergent action possibility of the physical human-environment-system, which consists of three key components: the user, the environment, and the possible actions. It could help user to perform the suitable action within an artificial environment. This study aims to develop a formal description of affordance in spatial design. Using the formal description as groundwork, an affordance-based modeling system is then proposed to facilitate its further implementation in design and elucidate the new role of users and designers in spatial design. A simplified sink area design is used as an example to illustrate how this affordancebased modeling system works. For users of different conditions, different spatial arrangements in design will affect the performance and users’ behavior as well. This study demonstrates how design by action can be achieved, and then simulates the action sequence of different design solutions to evaluate the system performance.
Traces of engagement: narrative-making practices with smartphones on a museum field trip

In this paper, we explore museum visitor learning through the examination of the engagement in narrative-making practices of school children while visiting a natural history museum. Two groups of children are given worksheets and encouraged to use their own mobile technologies to document their visits in relation to the subject of evolutionary mechanisms. Their engagement is occasioned through this worksheet and we show how they negotiate the interpretation of the task and then go on to complete it in quite different ways. We examine, in turn, how the students structure their visits with walking paths through the museum exhibitions, and how they structure the narratives they produce to complete the tasks by using the tools at hand and incorporating different parts of the exhibits.
Analysis of Cosmic Rays from Inter-Electronic Structure of the Electron

Considering electromagnetic nature of cosmic rays, the radius of electron is got. Then complex charge and complex mass of an electron are analysed. Furthermore electromagnetic radiation generation by the electron is discussed. The work in this article can provide, radius of electron, velocity of the electron viz., 4.239(4) x 10 m/sc, angular velocity of the electron, moving mass of the electron viz., 6.618(0)x 10 Kgm, frequency of electromagnetic radiation from the electron viz., 1.795(6) x 10 Hz, wavelength of electromagnetic radiation from the electron and strength of magnetic flux density required for reversal of spin angular momentum viz., 1.877(1) x10 Wb/m , which are of considerable significance. It is interesting to note that the moving mass of the electron inside and/on periphery of the electron has a velocity of 4.239(4) x 10 m/sc which is greater than velocity of light in free space. Thus a world of Tachyon exit inside and/on periphery of the electron. The present research-paper deals with, electromagnetic nature of cosmic rays. A sequence of alternate applications and removals of external magnetic flux density ≥ 1.877(1) x10 Wb/m , that may exit in our/other galaxy, results in generation of continuous waves of cosmic rays of frequency ~ 1.795(6) x 10 Hz by complex mass/complex charge inter-electronic structure given herewith.
Neural network based fingerprint classification

In the paper the classification of fingerprints into main categories is presented. The preprocessing of a fingerprint comprises the following stages: digitization, noise reduction (filtering), segmentation and skeletonization. The classification is based on the main directions of ridges in the particular fields of the fingerprint. The Kohonen self-organizing network is used to determine the number and localization of deltas-the most characteristic structures of a fingerprint.
Performance of a coded hybrid spread spectrum communication system in the presence of partial band noise and multiple access interference

The authors evaluate the performance of a hybrid direct-sequence/frequency-hopped spread-spectrum communication system in the presence of partial band interference, multiple-access interference and additive white Gaussian noise. The system uses an MFSK modulator (M>or=2) and a noncoherent demodulator with forward error correction. Several forward-error-control coding schemes have been considered to improve the performance of the system. These schemes either reduce the signal-to-noise ratio required to achieve a desirable bit error rate with fixed number of users, frequency slots, and code rate, or they increase the number of users of the network with the rest of the system parameters fixed. It was also shown that partial band interference substantially degrades the performance of the hybrid multiple-access system. <<ETX>>