Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power allocation schemes for multichannel two-hop relaying systems

The usage of relays and OFDM can improve the performance of wireless systems in terms of data rates, coverage and reliability. In this paper we study joint subcarrier matching and power allocation for two-hop relay systems with the purpose of maximizing the total spectral efficiency. The problem is formulated as a mixed integer (binary) problem, but due to its complexity, the problem is separated into subcarrier matching and power allocation subproblems. Methods to solve both problems have been presented in previous works, but the solution to the power allocation problem still presented a high complexity. In this paper we demonstrate that the power allocation problem can be reformulated into a more tractable form, allowing us to develop suboptimal solutions based on water-filling with low computational cost. Numerical results show that the proposed suboptimal solutions are near-optimal and offer a good trade-off between performance and complexity.
Temporal Artery Versus Bladder Thermometry During Perioperative and Intensive Care Unit Monitoring

BACKGROUND:Core temperature measurements are an important component of perioperative patient monitoring. It is fairly easy to obtain core temperature measurements invasively in anesthetized patients. However, such measurements are more difficult to obtain noninvasively in awake patients. Recently, a new version of a temporal artery thermometer for noninvasive core temperature measurements (TemporalScanner™ TAT-5000) was introduced with accuracy and precision advertised as being comparable to invasive core temperature measurements. In this study, we sought to determine if this new thermometer is an acceptable substitute for invasive bladder temperature measurement. METHODS:In 35 patients undergoing neurosurgical interventions and 35 patients in the neurosurgical intensive care unit, measurements from the temporal artery thermometer were compared with those from a bladder thermometer. Four measurements were obtained from each patient. RESULTS:Overall 280 measurement pairs were obtained. The mean bias between the methods was 0.07°C ± 0.79°C; the limits of agreement were ≈3 times greater than the a priori defined limit of ±0.5°C (−1.48 to 1.62). The sensitivity for detecting fever (core temperature >37.8°C) using the temporal artery thermometer was 0.72, and the specificity was 0.97. The positive predictive value for fever was 0.89; the negative predictive value was 0.94. The sensitivity for detecting hypothermia (core temperature <35.5°C) was 0.29, and the specificity was 0.95. The positive predictive value for hypothermia was 0.31, and the negative predictive value was 0.95. CONCLUSIONS:The results of this study do not support the use of temporal artery thermometry for perioperative core temperature monitoring; the temporal artery thermometer does not provide information that is an adequate substitute for core temperature measurement by a bladder thermometer.
Spatio-temporally regularized 4-D cardiovascular C-arm CT reconstruction using a proximal algorithm

Tomographic reconstruction of cardiovascular structures from rotational angiograms acquired with interventional C-arm devices is challenging due to cardiac motion. Gating strategies are widely used to reduce data inconsistency but come at the cost of angular undersampling. We employ a spatio-temporally regularized 4-D reconstruction model, which is solved using a proximal algorithm, to handle the substantial undersampling associated with a strict gating setup. In a numerical phantom study based on the CAVAREV framework, similarity to the ground truth is improved from 82.3% to 87.6%by this approach compared to a state-of-the-art motion compensation algorithm, whereas previous regularized methods evaluated on this phantom achieved results below 80%. We also show first image results for a clinical patient data set.
Genetic Control of the Immune Response to the Ea-2 Alloantigen System of the Mouse

The immunization of selected congenic strains and hybrids against the Ea-2.1 cellular alloantigen of the mouse demonstrated that the hamagglutinating antibody response to Ea-2.1 is regulated by a gene or genes associated with the H-2 gene complex. H-2r and H-2b are, respectively, responder and non-responder haplotypes.
Vision-Force Interface for Path Specification in Tele-Manipulation

This work presents a novel vision-force based interface; allowing a local operator to visually specify a path constraint to a remote robot manipulator. By using our interface the operator is able to control a 7-DOF arm with only 2-DOF. Our interface aims to reduce task complexity and operator cognitive load. We illustrate our approach with 2 mock-up examples: 1) Closing a steam valve, 2) Gluing a T PVC pipe.
Bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in field‐contaminated Anacostia River (Washington, DC) sediment

Sediment–water partitioning behavior and bioavailability of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) were measured in field‐contaminated sediment collected from moderately polluted regions of the Anacostia River (Washington, DC, USA). Much of the sediment PAH burden was resistant to desorption: Effective partition coefficients were 2‐ to 10‐fold greater than expected from literature values, and more than 80% of PAHs remained sorbed after treatment of the sediment with a nonionic polymeric adsorbent (Amberlite XAD‐2) for 20 h. Bioaccumulation, elimination, and assimilation of each PAH in the deposit‐feeding tubificid oligochaete Ilyodrilus templetoni were measured and compared with the equivalent measurements from laboratory‐inoculated sediment. Ilyodrilus templetoni effectively accessed the desorption‐resistant fraction of these organic contaminants, as exhibited by high single‐gut passage assimilation efficiencies (ASEs) of the five PAHs (60% < ASE < 90%). However, steady‐state accumulations of PAHs by I. templetoni were very low and consistent with low pore‐water concentrations. The present results suggest that steady‐state accumulation of PAHs is controlled by pore‐water concentrations and is not necessarily related to route of uptake or assimilation efficiencies.
Temporal degradation of data limits biodiversity research

Abstract Spatial and/or temporal biases in biodiversity data can directly influence the utility, comparability, and reliability of ecological and evolutionary studies. While the effects of biased spatial coverage of biodiversity data are relatively well known, temporal variation in data quality (i.e., the congruence between recorded and actual information) has received much less attention. Here, we develop a conceptual framework for understanding the influence of time on biodiversity data quality based on three main processes: (1) the natural dynamics of ecological systems—such as species turnover or local extinction; (2) periodic taxonomic revisions, and; (3) the loss of physical and metadata due to inefficient curation, accidents, or funding shortfalls. Temporal decay in data quality driven by these three processes has fundamental consequences for the usage and comparability of data collected in different time periods. Data decay can be partly ameliorated by adopting standard protocols for generation, storage, and sharing data and metadata. However, some data degradation is unavoidable due to natural variations in ecological systems. Consequently, changes in biodiversity data quality over time need be carefully assessed and, if possible, taken into account when analyzing aging datasets.
Trauma, stress, and preconscious threat processing in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Purpose: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) have long been considered as paroxysmal dissociative symptoms characterized by an alteration of attentional functions caused by severe stress or trauma. Although interpersonal trauma is common in PNES, the proposed relation between trauma and attentional functions remains under explored. We examined the attentional processing of social threat in PNES in relation to interpersonal trauma and acute psychological stress.
The political marketing planning process: improving image and message in strategic target areas

A marketing planning framework to aid political parties in improving their image and co‐ordinating election campaigns has been developed to reflect the changing nature of electoral campaigning in the developed world towards the need for more long‐term planning; together with the development and implementation of marketing models in a wider sphere of social situations. The planning model has been developed using both a hypothetico‐deductive and an inductive approach, incorporating recent developments in US and UK political campaign management and depth interviews with political strategists in the UK. Suggests that national political parties need to co‐ordinate their election campaigns more effectively in order to strengthen their image among key citizen and voter groups by determining which target areas are most in need of resources. Further research is needed to determine how to position the party and to select and place advertising in the relevant media. Concludes that local election campaigns are becoming more co‐ordinated by national parties but that such co‐ordination neglects to provide local area research and telemarketing campaigns, and post‐election analysis exercises to monitor strengths and weaknesses in party strategy and campaign plan implementation.
Repeated DNA sequence involved in mutations affecting transport of sucrose into Streptococcus mutans V403 via the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system

Mutants of Streptococcus mutans V403 defective in the intracellular sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (product of the scrB gene) are sensitive to sucrose because of the intracellular accumulation of the phosphorylated sugar. Using a scrB mutant prepared by allelic exchange, we have isolated and characterized a number of sucrose-resistant revertants. One such mutant was found to lack the ability to transport sucrose into the cell via the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose phosphotransferase system (PTS). Genetic analysis of this strain revealed this lesion to be linked to the scrB gene. This was corroborated by the physical demonstration of an insertion mutation very near scrB. Taken together with DNA sequence information (Y. Sato, F. Poy, G. R. Jacobson, and H. K. Kuramitsu, J. Bacteriol. 171:263-271, 1989), our results indicated that all of the mutations characterized were located in the adjoining scrA gene which encodes the membrane-associated, sugar-specific enzyme II (EIIsucrose) component of the sucrose PTS in S. mutans. Biochemically, such a genetic lesion disables the sucrose PTS and prevents sucrose from entering the cell by this system. In this paper, we detail the nature of two independent insertion mutations and conclude them to be the result of duplicative transposition events into the scrA gene. This region of the chromosome was amplified and purified in large quantities by using the polymerase chain reaction. Examination of the amplified DNA revealed that the two independent insertion mutations were composed of sequences that were indistinguishable by size and by restriction site endonuclease maps. Their insertion points in the scrA gene were approximately 200 bp apart. The amplified DNA fragment was also used as a probe to demonstrate the presence of five copies of this element on the S. mutans V403 chromosome. A second strain, S. mutans V310, also was found to carry similarly arranged, multiple copies of this sequence on its chromosome, suggesting a clonal origin of V403 and V310. The small size of this sequence, its presence in multiple copies on the V403 chromosome, and its ability to duplicate itself semiconservatively into remote sites argue compellingly that it is an insertion sequence element. One such insertion mutant, with a defective sucrose PTS, was tested for virulence in rats and was found to cause caries at levels similar to those of the wild-type strain.
Investigation of infection with Dirofilaria immitis parasite in stray dogs in Tabriz city of Iran.

Dirofilaria immitis is one of the important parasites in bloodstream of dogs, causing severe cardiopulmonary complications in this animal. This nematode is common between human and dog and it has been reported from different parts of the world and some parts of Iran. The objective of this study was to investigate the Dirofilaria immitis parasite microfiler in stray dogs . The study was conducted on blood of 100 stray dogs suspected to heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) in the Tabriz city using Knott method modified. Out of 100 blood samples taken, 14 samples were positive in terms of Dirofilaria immitis microfiler, which 11 blood samples belonged to male dogs and 3 blood samples belonged to female dogs. According to findings of this study and Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs of this area, the need for more comprehensive investigation and control of the infection in Tabriz city is emphasized.
Gamma rays from annihilations at the galactic center in a physical dark matter distribution

We discuss the ! -ray signal to be expected from dark matter (DM) annihilations at the Galactic center. Wedescribe the DM distribution in the Galactic halo, based on the Jeans equatio nf or self-gravitating, anisotropic equilibria. In solving the Jeans equation, we adopted the specific correlation between the density " (r )a nd the velocity dispersion# 2(r )e xpressed by the powerlaw behavior of the DM “entropy” K " # 2/" 2/3 # r $ with $ $ 1.25% 1.3. Indicated (among others) by several recent N-body simulations, this correlation is privileged by the form of the radial pressure term in the Jeans equation, and it yields a main-body profile consistent with the classic self-similar development of DM halos. In addition, we required the Jeans solutions to satisfy regular boundary conditions both at the center (finite pressure, round gravitational potential) and on the outskirts (finite overall mass). With these building blocks, we derived physical solutions, dubbed “$ -profiles”. We find the one with $ = 1.25, suitable for the Galaxy halo, to be intrinsically flatter at the center than the empirical NFW formula, yet steeper than the empirical Einasto profile. On scales of 10 % 1 deg it yields annihilation fluxes lower by a factor 5 than the former, yet higher by a factor 10 than the latter. Such fluxes will eventually fall within the reach of the Fermi satellite. We show the e! ectiveness of the $ -profile in relieving the astrophysical uncertainties related to the macroscopic DM distribution, and discuss its expected performance as a tool instrumental in interpreting the upcoming ! -ray data in terms of DM annihilation.
Conflicting Role of Mycobacterium Species in Multiple Sclerosis

Mycobacterium is a genus of aerobic and acid-fast bacteria, which include several pathogenic organisms that cause serious diseases in mammals. Previous studies have associated the immune response against mycobacteria with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with unknown etiology. The role of mycobacteria in the pathological process has been controversial and often conflicting. We provide a detailed review of the mycobacteria that have been linked to MS over the last three decades, with a focus on Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccine for human and oral exposure to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. We will also discuss the exposure and genetic susceptibility to mycobacterial infection, the protective role of vaccination, as well as the possible mechanisms involved in initiating or worsening MS symptoms, with particular emphasis on the molecular mimicry between mycobacterial and human proteins. Finally, we will introduce topics such as heat shock proteins and recognition by innate immunity, and toll-like receptor signaling-mediated responses to Mycobacterium exposure.
Application of osteology to forensic medicine

The four main features of biological identity are sex, age, stature, and ethnic background. The forensic osteologist aims to establish these attributes for an individual from their skeletal remains. Many techniques are available for the osteological determination of sex in the adult but it is one of the most difficult biological factors to ascribe to juvenile remains. Conversely, there are a multitude of markers to estimate age in the young skeleton but ageing becomes less accurate with increasing years. Stature is usually a relatively straightforward parameter to establish in the adult. In the juvenile, it is naturally correlated with age but is complicated by differences in rates of growth both between the sexes and between individuals. Determination of ethnic identity is the least reliable and is hampered by lack of data on many populations. This paper reviews the principal methods used to establish identity and comments on their reliability and accuracy in the forensic context. Clin. Anat. 15:297–312, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Involvement of CCR3-Reactive Chemokines in Eosinophil Survival

Background: Although eosinophils undergo apoptosis and are thus eliminated from sites of inflammation, they survive longer if survival factors, such as IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF, are present. However, it is often observed that some eosinophils survive even when incubated without any survival factors (spontaneous survival). The aim of the present study was to investigate what kind of factor(s) is associated with this spontaneous survival of eosinophils. Methods: Eosinophils were purified from bronchoalveolar lavage of antigen-exposed Balb/c mice and stained with propidium iodide to detect apoptotic ones. Results: We found that the spontaneous survival of eosinophils was reduced by treatment of the cells with anti-CC chemokine receptor-3 (CCR3) antibody (Ab). Moreover, eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, and eotaxin-3 all prolonged the survival of eosinophils in a dose-dependent fashion. The survival-prolonging effect of eotaxin-1 was enhanced in the presence of eotaxin-3, indicating that these chemokines might work synergistically. Conclusion: We speculate that eosinophils survive longer under the influence of CCR3-reactive chemokines, which aid the infiltration of these cells into the tissue and that eosinophils may survive even longer if they encounter survival factors at local inflammatory sites.
The action of potassium on the superior cervical ganglion of the cat

IN searching for a non-specific stimulant of ganglion celLs, Feldberg and Vartiainen [1934] found that KCI injected into the perfused superior cervical ganglion of the cat had a number of actions, viz. at a certain dosage the ganglion was excited to discharge, doses in excess of this paralysed conduction through the ganglion, whereas doses in themselves insufficient either to excite or to paralyse produced a potentiation of the effects of a series of submaximal preganglionic stimuli. In the experiments here recorded, we have examined the effects of K+ on the response of the perfused superior cervical ganglion of the cat to single preganglionic volleys. The excitant effects of K+, which we observed, led us to investigate whether these and other ions liberated acetylcholine (ACh.) from the ganglion. The third section of this paper is concerned with the paralysing actions of K+. It seemed to us of primary importance to determine what effect, if any, K+ had upon the conduction through the ganglion of single preganglionic volleys, since the potentiating effect produced by a substance might be due to one or more of four possible processes: (a) the lowering of ganglion-cell threshold, so that previously subthreshold stimuli become effective; (b) an alteration in ganglion-cell refractory period and changes in the facilitation process involving rapidly succeeding excitations of the ganglion cell; (c) the initiation of after discharge of the ganglion; and (d) alterations in the amount or the distribution, temporal or spatial, of a transmitting substance. A study of the relation existing between the K+ content of the perfusion fluid and the appearance of ACh. in the venous effluent of the ganglion appeared the more important in view of the known intimate
Annual incidence of tsutsugamushi disease in Miyazaki prefecture, Japan in 2001-2005.

We report here the 2001 2005 epidemiological trend in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, of tsutsugamushi disease, which is endemic to this region. Serological diagnosis and confirmation of the serotypes of Orientia tsutsugamushi were done in the manner described before (1). As shown in Fig. 1, the number of patients confirmed by serological diagnosis annually was around 70 -80, and fluctuated with peaks at several-year of intervals. However, it has dropped to around 10 reports per year since 2004. From 2001 to 2005, 129 patients were confirmed; of these cases, 87 (67%) were Kawasaki type, 34 (26%) Kuroki type, and the serotypes of the remaining 8 infections could not be determined. Thus, Kawasaki and Kuroki type O. tsutsugamushi dominated in Miyazaki Prefecture. Between them, Kawasaki type was more frequent than Kuroki type; the ratio of Kawasaki type to Kuroki type was 23:11 in 2001, 23:5 in 2002, 21:15 in 2003, 11:1 in 2004, and 9:2 in 2005. Ninety-three percent of the 129 patients confirmed in 20012005 presented in the 3 months from October to December, and 84% in November and December. The percentage of patients reported in December appears to be increasing; i.e., cases in November and those in December respectively occupied 59 and 28% of cases in 1991-1995, 54 and 35% in 1996-2000, and 46 and 38% in 2001-2005. Fig. 2 showing the monthly incidence from 2001 to 2005 confirms the shift of the infection peak towards the end of the year in recent years. The patients are nearly equally distributed between sexes, with a male to female patient ratio of 68:61. In both sexes,
First Report of blaIMP-14 on a Plasmid Harboring Multiple Drug Resistance Genes in Escherichia coli Sequence Type 131

ABSTRACT The blaIMP-14 carbapenem resistance gene has largely previously been observed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. As part of global surveillance and sequencing of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli, we identified a sequence type 131 strain harboring blaIMP-14 within a class 1 integron, itself nested within an ∼54-kb multidrug resistance region on an epidemic IncA/C2 plasmid. The emergence of blaIMP-14 in this context in the ST131 lineage is of potential clinical concern.
Enhanced firefly algorithm for PQ improvement of wind energy conversion system with UPQC

This paper presents enhanced firefly Algorithm (EFA) for improving the control strategy of UPQC with the aid of wind energy conversion system (WECS). The proposed system is connected with the grid/load and their dynamic behavior is determined. The primary objective of the proposed technique is to mitigate the power quality (PQ) issues present in the system. In the proposed method, the performance of FA is updated using the crossover and mutation process. In the non-linear loading condition, the optimal solution is evaluated from the available search space considering the objective function. Initially, the objective function parameters are defined i.e., voltage, real, grid parameters, load parameters real power, reactive power and current respectively. Based on the parameters, the control pulse is produced for series APF and shunt APF. The proposed method minimizes the power loss and voltage instability problem present in the system. The proposed method is implemented using Matlab/Simulink platform and their performances are evaluated and compared with the existing base model and FA techniques.