Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OOK Performance for Terrestrial FSO Links in Turbulent Atmosphere with Pointing Errors Modeled by Hoyt Distributions

Terrestrial free-space optical links are corrupted by both turbulence and misalignment losses. It is common practice to model turbulence by a gamma-gamma distribution and misalignments by a Rayleigh distribution, where the underlying assumption is that the jitter in vertical and horizontal directions is the same. In the current letter, we generalize this previous approach by modeling misalignments with a Hoyt distribution, which removes the assumption of an identical jitter variance along the horizontal and vertical axes.
Psychiatric morbidity in acromegaly

ABSTRACT— Previous reports on psychiatric morbidity in acromegaly have been unsystematic. This study examined 51 acromegalic patients for psychiatric morbidity using the General Health Questionnaire and a standard psychiatric interview, the Present State Examination. Although psychiatric morbidity was higher in the female than the male acromegalics, the study showed no increase in psychiatric morbidity in general, nor an increased incidence of depression, in comparison with general population and patient samples. No relationship was found between growth hormone levels and psychiatric morbidity. The results raise the question whether acromegalic patients show lower psychiatric morbidity than expected from patients with such an illness. The data suggest that previous reports of depression in acromegalic patients examplify the simple coincidence of a likely and an unlikely condition.
Agent Negotiation Dissolution

In Multi-Agent Systems, agents negotiate between them for coordination and collaboration, but their preferences and the autonomous behaviour of each participant agent can lead the negotiation through several steps before they find a common agreement. As every agent in a negotiation isn't aware about the other's preferences or about their decision making process, the negotiation workflow needs to go through an intense communication process that not always ends with the most desirable agreement between them. In this paper we propose a recommender system that suggests the best moment to end a negotiation. The recommendation is made from a trust evaluation of every agent in the negotiation based on their past negotiation experiences. For this, we introduce the Trust Aware Negotiation Dissolution algorithm.
Why do telemedicine systems fail to normalize as stable models of service delivery?

summary Two groups independently carried out qualitative studies of the development, implementation and evaluation of telehealth systems and services in the UK. The data collected (in more than 600 discrete data collection episodes) included semistructured interviews, observations and documents. We conducted a conjoint reanalysis of the data. The objective was to identify the conditions which dispose a telehealth service to be successful or to fail. There appear to be four conditions necessary for a telemedicine system to stabilize and then normalize as a means of service delivery. When one or more is absent, failure can be expected. These conditions are often overlooked by local proponents of telemedicine, who seem to rely on demonstrations that the equipment works as the primary criterion of success.
Occult Hydrocephalus in Children with Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVE:Many children with cerebral palsy have chronic ventriculomegaly as a consequence of perinatal intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia, without symptoms of hydrocephalus. Children with cerebral palsy who are treated with intrathecal baclofen have a higher rate of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks along the baclofen catheter than do adults treated with intrathecal baclofen. We postulated that the cause of the increased frequency of CSF leaks was increased CSF pressure, that is, occult hydrocephalus. METHODS:Lumbar punctures were performed in 24 children with cerebral palsy and asymptomatic ventriculomegaly. Their median age was 4.7 years. Mild or moderate ventriculomegaly was present in 23 children and severe ventriculomegaly was present in 1 child. RESULTS:Opening pressures were abnormally high in 23 (96%) of 24 children and ranged from 22 to 41 cm H2O (mean, 27.3 cm H2O). Opening pressures did not correlate with the extent of ventriculomegaly. CONCLUSION:Children with cerebral palsy and ventriculomegaly seem to have a high incidence of increased CSF pressure, and thus, of occult hydrocephalus. The increased pressure is probably a significant cause of the increased frequency of CSF leaks for these children during intrathecal baclofen therapy. The long-term risks of untreated increased CSF pressures in this patient population are not known but are cause for concern. Treatment with CSF shunts offers the potential of improved development, which was reported anecdotally in some children who were treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunts after their pressure was found to be increased. Prospective multicenter studies of this problem are needed.
Quantitative Trait Loci for Component Physiological Traits Determining Salt Tolerance in Rice 1

Rice ( Oryza sativa ) is sensitive to salinity, which affects one-fifth of irrigated land worldwide. Reducing sodium and chloride uptake into rice while maintaining potassium uptake are characteristics that would aid growth under saline conditions. We describe genetic determinants of the net quantity of ions transported to the shoot, clearly distinguishing between quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the quantity of ions in a shoot and for those that affect the concentration of an ion in the shoot. The latter coincide with QTL for vegetative growth (vigor) and their interpretation is therefore ambiguous. We distinguished those QTL that are independent of vigor and thus directly indicate quantitative variation in the underlying mechanisms of ion uptake. These QTL independently govern sodium uptake, potassium uptake, and sodium:potassium selectivity. The QTL for sodium and potassium uptake are on different linkage groups (chromosomes). This is consistent with the independent inheritance of sodium and potassium uptake in the mapping population and with the mechanistically different uptake pathways for sodium and potassium in rice under saline conditions (apoplastic leakage and membrane transport, respec- tively). We report the chromosomal location of ion transport and selectivity traits that are compatible with agronomic needs and we indicate markers to assist selection in a breeding program. Based upon knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of ion uptake in rice, we argue that QTL for sodium transport are likely to act through the control of root development, whereas QTL for potassium uptake are likely to act through the structure or regulation of membrane-sited transport components.
UPDATE ON FLAPPING WING MICRO AIR VEHICLE RESEARCH Ongoing work to Develop a Flapping Wing, Crawling "Entomopter"

An electromechanical multimode (flying/crawling) insect is being developed by Robert Michelson and his design team at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. The project has received initial IRAD funding from the Georgia Institute of Technology. The mechanical insect, known as an "Entomopter" is based around a new development called a Reciprocating Chemical Muscle (RCM) which is capable of generating autonomic wing beating from a chemical energy source. Through direct conversion, the RCM also provides small amounts of electricity for onboard systems and fur- ther provides differential lift enhancement on the wings to achieve roll and hence, steered flight. A testbed for the RCM technique has been constructed and demonstrated. Trimmed stable short range flight in a micro version of the entomopter is expected during 1998. In contrast to the testbed, entirely different mechanisms will be used to implement the RCM in the flying version. This paper details progress to date on the Entomopter development.
A Survey on Reproducibility in Parallel Computing

We summarize the results of a survey on reproducibility in parallel computing, which was conducted during the Euro-Par conference in August 2015. The survey form was handed out to all participants of the conference and the workshops. The questionnaire, which specifically targeted the parallel computing community, contained questions in four different categories: general questions on reproducibility, the current state of reproducibility, the reproducibility of the participants' own papers, and questions about the participants' familiarity with tools, software, or open-source software licenses used for reproducible research.
Investigation of prevalence and risk factors for Campylobacter in broiler flocks at slaughter: results from a UK survey

SUMMARY During 2007–2009 a UK-wide, 3-year stratified randomized survey of UK chicken broiler flocks was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter-infected batches of birds at slaughter. Thirty-seven abattoirs, processing 88·3% of the total UK slaughter throughput, were recruited at the beginning of the survey. Of the 1174 slaughter batches sampled, 79·2% were found to be colonized with Campylobacter, the majority of isolates being C. jejuni. Previous partial depopulation of the flock [odds ratio (OR) 5·21], slaughter in the summer months (categorized as June, July and August; OR 14·27) or autumn months (categorized as September, October and November; OR 1·70) increasing bird age (40–41 days, OR 3·18; 42–45 days, OR 3·56; ⩾46 days, OR 13·43) and higher recent mortality level in the flock (1·00–1·49% mortality, OR 1·57; ⩾1·49% mortality, OR 2·74) were all identified as significant risk factors for Campylobacter colonization of the birds at slaughter. Time in transit to the slaughterhouse of more than 2·5 h was identified as a protective factor (OR 0·52).
A compact chipless RFID tag using polarization diversity for encoding and sensing

The chipless RFID tag presented exploits the advantage offered by polarization diversity to encode more information within a given surface size. It is based on 3 split ring resonators with variable gap configuration. Depending on the used linear polarization, different resonant modes can be measured for the same resonator so that the coding capacity is increased. Since the used structure is very sensitive to polarization angle, this interesting behavior can be used to detect a rotation angle of an item with 20° of accuracy. On the other hand, contrary to most of chipless tags that need UWB operating frequencies, the proposed tag is based on diversity polarization and only narrow frequency bands are needed. Using only 3 resonant frequencies in the 3.4 GHz to 7.1 GHz band, a capacity of coding of 6 bits is reached within a tag of size 3×3 cm2. Measurements done using a bi-static radar configuration in the frequency domain validate this new concept.
Exposure of Workers in the Electric Power Industiy to Electric and Magnetic Fields

A survey of 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields in the electric power industry has distinguished differences in exposure among the employees making it possible to compare health effects as a function of exposure. The workers that were most exposed to electric and magnetic fields were linemen and substation personnel who worked on facilities at operating voltages above 20 kV. On average, they were exposed to an electric field strength above 30 V/m for approximately 1.5 to 3 hours per day and to a magnetic flux density of around 1 to 2 microT. The least exposed group were linemen working in the 0.4 to 20 kV part of the network with exposure to a magnetic field of 0.10 microT. The electric field seldom exceeded 30 V/m.
PAS Domain-Mediated WC-1/WC-2 Interaction Is Essential for Maintaining the Steady-State Level of WC-1 and the Function of Both Proteins in Circadian Clock and Light Responses of Neurospora

ABSTRACT In the frq-wc-based circadian feedback loops of Neurospora, two PAS domain-containing transcription factors, WHITE COLLAR-1 (WC-1) and WC-2, form heterodimeric complexes that activate the transcription of frequency (frq). FRQ serves two roles in these feedback loops: repressing its own transcription by interacting with the WC complex and positively upregulating the levels of WC-1 and WC-2 proteins. We report here that the steady-state level of WC-1 protein is independently regulated by both FRQ and WC-2 through different posttranscriptional mechanisms. The WC-1 level is extremely low in wc-2 knockout strains, and this low level of expression is independent of wc-1 transcription and FRQ protein expression. In addition, our data show that the PAS domain of WC-2 mediates the interactions of this protein with both WC-1 and FRQ in vivo. Such interactions are essential for maintaining the steady-state level of WC-1 and the proper function of WC-1 and WC-2 in circadian clock and light responses.
Du siècle du gène à celui de l’organisme : introduction à de nouvelles perspectives théoriques

Résumé Les organismes, qu'ils soient uni ou multi-cellulaires, sont des agents capables de créer leurs propres normes ; ils articulent continuellement leur capacité à créer de la nouveauté et de la stabilité, c'est-à-dire qu'ils combinent plasticité et robustesse. Ici, nous présentons et articulons brièvement les trois principes proposés récemment pour une théorie des organismes, à savoir : l'état par défaut, prolifération avec variation et motilité, le principe de variation et le principe d'organisation. Ces principes modifient profondément les observables biologiques et leur nature théorique par rapport aux cadres des théories physiques. Ce changement radical ouvre la possibilité d'ancrer la modélisation mathématique à des principes proprement biologiques.
Experiences on Attention Direction through Manipulation of Salient Features

In this paper we present a study on the impact on user’s fixations by localized modifications of the color properties of an image. We outline the technique used to influence the fixations of the participants, where it succeeded and where it failed. The question we address is whether pixel-wise modifications are sufficient to influence the order of fixations of the users and how strong this effect is. We developed a technique that performs localized adjustment in value, saturation and hue and conducted a user study with an eye tracker to asses its effectiveness. The results of our study imply that one can effectively influence the order and the duration of fixations of users based on localized adjustments.
Binocular form deprivation influences the visual cortex

α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors are considered to play a crucial role in synaptic plasticity in the developing visual cortex. In this study, we established a rat model of binocular form deprivation by suturing the rat binocular eyelids before eye-opening at postnatal day 14. During development, the decay time of excitatory postsynaptic currents mediated by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors of normal rats became longer after eye-opening; however, the decay time did not change significantly in binocular form deprivation rats. The peak value in the normal group became gradually larger with age, but there was no significant change in the binocular form deprivation group. These findings indicate that binocular form deprivation influences the properties of excitatory postsynaptic currents mediated by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors in the rat visual cortex around the end of the critical period, indicating that form stimulation is associated with the experience-dependent modification of neuronal synapses in the visual cortex.
Low power quadrature generation using injection-locked ring oscillator divider

A low power high frequency quadrature generator is described. The circuit output frequency is locked at one-fourth of the input injection frequency and provides quadrature output signals. The circuit can be used as the first stage of a phase switching prescaler or as a divider with a divide value of two in the quadrature mixer of a transceiver. For -2 dBm injection level, circuit works properly in all process corners and a temperature range of -20degC to +100degC with maximum 3 GHz operation frequency while its locking range is over than 1 GHz. Power consumption at maximum frequency is 528 muW at the supply voltage of 1.5 V.
Distinct glycoprotein inhibitors of influenza A virus in different animal sera

Normal horse and guinea pig sera contain the glycoprotein inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin, which inhibits the infectivity and hemagglutinating activity of influenza A viruses of the H2 and H3 subtypes. In the current study, the presence of inhibitors of influenza A virus in pig and rabbit sera was investigated. Variants of influenza virus type A/Los Angeles/2/87(H3N2) that were resistant to horse, pig, or rabbit serum were isolated. Analysis of the variant viruses with anti-hemagglutinin (HA) monoclonal antibodies revealed that antigenic changes occurred with the development of serum inhibitor resistance. Characterization of the inhibitors in pig and rabbit sera by using periodate and receptor-destroying enzyme demonstrated that carbohydrate is an important constituent of the active portion of both inhibitor molecules and that sialic acid is involved in the interaction of the inhibitors with influenza virus HA. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the HA molecule revealed that the serum-resistant variants each acquired a different set of amino acid alterations. The multiply resistant variants maintained the original amino acid changes and acquired additional changes. Sequence modifications in the HA involved the conserved amino acids within the receptor binding site (RBS) at position 137 and the second-shell RBS residues at positions 155 and 186. Amino acid changes also occurred within antigenic site A (position 145) and directly behind the receptor binding pocket (position 220). Amino acid alterations resulted in the acquisition of a potential glycosylation site at position 128 and the loss of potential glycosylation sites at positions 246 and 248. The localization of the amino acid changes in HA1 to the region of the RBS supports the concept of serum inhibitors as receptor analogs. The unique set of mutations acquired by the serum inhibitor-resistant variants strongly suggests that horse, pig, and rabbit sera each contain distinct glycoprotein inhibitors of influenza A virus.
Motion sickness in migraine and vestibular disorders

Motion sickness is a syndrome provoked by sensory conflict that involves the vestibular system with symptoms resembling those of common neuro-otological disorders including vestibular neuritis (VN) and vestibular migraine (VM). By contrast, it is generally believed that bilateral vestibular failure (BVF) causes reduced motion sickness susceptibility. We investigate differences between these conditions with a single protocol using validated objective experimental (off-vertical axis rotation, OVAR1) and validated patient-centred measures of motion sickness susceptibility.2 Five groups were studied: 1. Normal healthy controls ( n=12; mean age 51, SD 17.2; 4/12 women). 2. VN (history of acute vertigo without neurological features or hearing loss; none treated with steroids acutely; positive head thrust test; spontaneous unidirectional horizontal nystagmus; acute caloric canal paresis >30%, mean canal paresis repeated in chronic phase after 6 weeks was 38% (SD 31); n=12; disease duration range 10–33 months; mean age 45, SD 15.3; 5/12 women). 3. BVF (absent caloric or rotational responses; confirmed in chronic phase; n=8; mean age 51, SD 11.5; 3/8 women). 4. VM (recurrent episodic vestibular symptoms in association with migraine according to published criteria with no vestibular test abnormalities3; n=12; mean age 45, SD 15.3; 11/12 women). 5. Migraine without vestibular symptoms ( M ; recurrent headaches meeting International Headache Society (IHS) 2004 criteria; with/without aura but with no significant vestibular symptoms3; n=12; mean age 41, SD 13.6; 8/12 women. Two groups of patient with migraine were studied (one with vestibular symptoms, VM, and one without vestibular symptoms, M) to determine whether the presence of vestibular symptoms in the setting of migraine influences motion sickness susceptibility. The normal controls and the migraine group were screened for vestibular symptoms but did not undergo formal vestibular testing. Participants were …
Expression of HPV‐related biomarkers and grade of cervical intraepithelial lesion at treatment

New human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related biomarkers may allow better identification of clinically significant lesions that warrant excision and, conversely, identification of the false positive cases that have been overreported by traditional techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate how the expression of several HPV‐related biomarkers correlates to the severity of the lesion at treatment.
Cue exposure with coping skills training and communication skills training for alcohol dependence: 6- and 12-month outcomes.

AIMS Cue exposure treatment (CET) has shown promise in preliminary studies with alcoholics, and Communication Skills Training (CST) has been found beneficial, especially in intensive treatment programs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CET and CST in a larger controlled study when both were added to intensive treatment programs. DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS A 2 x 2 design investigated the effects of CET with urge coping skills training compared to a meditation-relaxation control, and CST compared to an education control when all were added to intensive treatment programs for alcoholics. SETTING The sites were the inpatient or partial hospital substance abuse treatment programs at a private psychiatric hospital, a state-funded residential facility and a VA medical center. PARTICIPANTS Patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence without active psychosis were eligible. MEASUREMENTS Participants were assessed for quantity and frequency of drinking, alcohol cue-reactivity, responses to high risk simulations and urge specific coping skills. FINDINGS Of 100 treated patients, 86% provided 6-month and 84% provided 12-month follow-up data. Patients who received either CET or CST had fewer heavy drinking days in the first 6 months than control patients. In the second 6 months, CET continued to result in fewer heavy drinking days among lapsers and interacted with CST to decrease quantity of alcohol consumed. CST resulted in fewer alcohol-related problems reported at 12 months. CET resulted in greater reductions in urge to drink in a measure of simulated high-risk situations. CET also resulted in greater reports of use of coping strategies during the follow-up, and many of the urge-specific strategies taught in CET were associated with reduced drinking. CONCLUSIONS Both CET and CST continue to show promise as elements of comprehensive alcohol treatment programs. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.