Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ergodic Capacity of Composite Fading Channels in Cognitive Radios with the Product of $\kappa$-$\mu$ and $\alpha$-$\mu$ Variates

In this study, the product of two independent and non-identically distributed (i.n.i.d.) random variables (RVs) for \k{appa}-{\mu} fading distribution and {\alpha}-{\mu} fading distribution is considered. The method of the product model of RVs has been widely applied in numerous of communications fields, such as cascaded fading channels, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems, radar communications and cognitive radio networks (CRs). The exact series expressions of the product of two i.n. i.d. RVs X for \k{appa}-{\mu} variates and Y for {\alpha}-{\mu} variates are derived instead of Fox H-function to solve the problem that Fox H-function in the RVs product could not be implemented in popular mathematical software packages as Mathematica and Maple. Novel Exact close-form expressions of probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function (CDF) of proposed models are deduced to present the series expressions of product and generalized composite multipath shadowing models. Furthermore, novel exact expressions of the ergodic channel capacity (ECC) are obtained under optimal rate adaptation with constant transmit power (ORA). At last, these analytical results are confirmed with monte-carlo simulations to evaluate spectrum efficiency over generalized composite shadowing fading scenarios in CRs.
Nanofibers by green electrospinning of aqueous suspensions of biodegradable block copolyesters for applications in medicine, pharmacy and agriculture.

Poly(hexamethylene adipate)-PEO block copolymers (PHA-b-PEO) with different PEO contents were synthesized and processed to aqueous suspensions with high solid contents by a solvent displacement method followed by dialysis. The best suspension displayed a solid content of 16 wt. -% and an average particle size of 108 nm. This suspension was mixed with a small amount of high molecular weight PEO and Brij78 and electrospun into corresponding nanofibers. After extraction with water, nanofibers of PHA-b-PEO were obtained. Electrospinning of aqueous suspensions of biodegradable polyesters alleviates concerns regarding safety, toxicology and environmental problems, which are associated with spinning of such polyesters from harmful organic solvents and thereby offers novel perspectives for applications in medicine, pharmacy and agriculture. Electrospinning of polymers from aqueous suspensions avoiding harmful organic solvents is suggested to be "green electrospinning".
TEF30 Interacts with Photosystem II Monomers and Is Involved in the Repair of Photodamaged Photosystem II in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii1[OPEN]

A protein conserved in the green cell lineage binds quantitatively to PSII monomers at the stromal side of thylakoid membranes and facilitates supercomplex assembly during PSII repair. The remarkable capability of photosystem II (PSII) to oxidize water comes along with its vulnerability to oxidative damage. Accordingly, organisms harboring PSII have developed strategies to protect PSII from oxidative damage and to repair damaged PSII. Here, we report on the characterization of the THYLAKOID ENRICHED FRACTION30 (TEF30) protein in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is conserved in the green lineage and induced by high light. Fractionation studies revealed that TEF30 is associated with the stromal side of thylakoid membranes. By using blue native/Deriphat-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, sucrose density gradients, and isolated PSII particles, we found TEF30 to quantitatively interact with monomeric PSII complexes. Electron microscopy images revealed significantly reduced thylakoid membrane stacking in TEF30-underexpressing cells when compared with control cells. Biophysical and immunological data point to an impaired PSII repair cycle in TEF30-underexpressing cells and a reduced ability to form PSII supercomplexes after high-light exposure. Taken together, our data suggest potential roles for TEF30 in facilitating the incorporation of a new D1 protein and/or the reintegration of CP43 into repaired PSII monomers, protecting repaired PSII monomers from undergoing repeated repair cycles or facilitating the migration of repaired PSII monomers back to stacked regions for supercomplex reassembly.
Target DNA recognition using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to differentiate between different target DNA sequences without the use of a redox label or application of large bias voltages. This method relies on the formation of a mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAMs) composed of single-stranded DNA and a diluent, mercaptoethanol. Recognition of the DNA analytes was achieved through the significant increase in conductance for the double stranded DNA, as compared to single-stranded DNA. Non-complementary and single base-pair mismatches were also able to be differentiated.
Return to productivity following traumatic brain injury: Cognitive, psychological, physical, spiritual, and environmental correlates

Purpose.The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants and correlates of return to productivity (RTP) defined here as return to paid employment and/or school four years following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method.Participants included 46 people with TBI, part of a prospective, cohort study, and 14 friend/family member controls all employed and/or in school at time of injury or inception into the study. Variables were selected for investigation based on two models of recovery. Demographic and injury severity data including time to recover free recall were collected at time of injury, on admission to a trauma unit. Data on other variables (neuropsychological, psychological, physical, spiritual, environmental) were collected concurrent with productivity status at a mean of 4.3 years post-TBI. Results.Time to recover free recall (measured acutely), neuropsychological status, pain severity, depression, and the use of maladaptive coping behaviours were all related to productivity status (p < 0.05). When these variables were entered into exploratory, planned hierarchical logistic regression models time to free recall, pain, and maladaptive coping remained in the models with depression only dropping out because of the high correlation with pain (r > 0.80). Conclusions.Injury severity (time to free recall), physical status (pain), and psychological status (depression, coping) are important to understanding differences in productivity outcomes. Addressing pain, depression and coping in rehabilitation programs may have a positive impact on outcomes.
Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology The Noncoding RNA MALAT 1 Is a Critical Regulator of the Metastasis Phenotype of Lung Cancer Cells

The long noncoding RNA MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1), also known as MALAT-1 or NEAT2 (nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 2), is a highly conserved nuclear noncoding RNA (ncRNA) and a predictive marker for metastasis development in lung cancer. To uncover its functional importance, we developed a MALAT1 knockout model in human lung tumor cells by genomically integrating RNA destabilizing elements using zinc finger nucleases. The achieved 1,000-fold MALAT1 silencing provides a unique loss-of-function model. Proposedmechanisms of action include regulation of splicing or gene expression. In lung cancer,MALAT1 does not alter alternative splicing but actively regulates gene expression including a set of metastasis-associated genes. Consequently, MALAT1-deficient cells are impaired in migration and form fewer tumor nodules in a mouse xenograft. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) blocking MALAT1 prevent metastasis formation after tumor implantation. Thus, targeting MALAT1 with ASOs provides a potential therapeutic approach to prevent lung cancer metastasis with this ncRNA serving as both predictive marker and therapeutic target. Finally, regulating gene expression, but not alternative splicing, is the critical function ofMALAT1 in lung cancermetastasis. In summary, 10 years after the discovery of the lncRNAMALAT1 as a biomarker for lung cancer metastasis, our loss-of-function model unravels the active function ofMALAT1 as a regulator of gene expression governing hallmarks of lung cancer metastasis. Cancer Res; 73(3); 1–10. 2012 AACR.
Consequence of Indoor Air Pollution in Rural Area of Nepal: A Simplified Measurement Approach

People of developing countries especially from rural area are commonly exposed to high levels of household pollution for 3–7 h daily using biomass in their kitchen. Such biomass produces harmful smoke and makes indoor air pollution (IAP). Community-based cross-sectional study was performed to identify effects of IAP by simplified measurement approach in Sunsari District of Nepal. Representative samples of 157 housewives from household, involving more than 5 years in kitchen were included by cluster sampling. Data were analyzed by SPSS and logistic regression was applied for the statistical test. Most (87.3%) housewives used biomass as a cooking fuel. Tearing of eyes, difficulty in breathing, and productive cough were the main reported health problems and traditional mud stoves and use of unrefined biomass were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and more risk (AOR > 2) with health problems related to IAP. The treatment cost and episodes of acute respiratory infection was >2 folders higher in severe IAP than mild IAP. Simplified measurement approach could be helpful to measure IAP in rural area. Some effective intervention is suggested to reduce the severe level of IAP considering women and children.
Modeling aggregate productivity at a disaggregate level: New results for U.S. sectors and industries

This paper introduces new estimates of aggregate, sectoral, and industry productivity based on a solid framework for how industry and sectoral MFP feed into aggregate MFP. In addition, they are developed using industry data classified according to NAICS from 1987 on. Our sectoral approach confirms that the pick up in U.S. productivity in the late 1990s was not solely concentrated among producers of high-technology equipment and software, and that a surge in innovations in the retail and wholesale trade industries (the distribution sector) also contributed importantly to economic growth. More importantly, our work sheds light on the sources of the continued strong performance of U.S. productivity since 2000. We find that the major sectoral players in the late 1990s pickup were not contributors to the more recent surge in productivity. Rather, striking gains in MFP in the finance and business services sector, a resurgence in MFP growth in the industrial sector, and an end to drops elsewhere more than account for the acceleration in productivity growth in recent years.
The Contribution of Insulin-Dependent and Insulin-Independent Glucose Uptake to Intravenous Glucose Tolerance in Healthy Human Subjects

Glucose disposal occurs by both insulin-independent and insulin-dependent mechanisms, the latter being determined by the interaction of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. To determine the role of insulin-independent and insulin-dependent factors in glucose tolerance, we performed intravenous glucose tolerance tests on 93 young healthy subjects (55 male, 38 female; 18–44 years of age; body mass index, 19.5–52.2 kg/m2). From these tests, we determined glucose tolerance as the glucose disappearance constant (Kg), calculated β-cell function as the incremental insulin response to glucose for 19 min after an intravenous glucose bolus (IIR0-19), and derived an insulin sensitivity index (SI) and glucose effectiveness at basal insulin (SG) using the minimal model of glucose kinetics. To eliminate the effect of basal insulin on SG and estimate insulin-independent glucose uptake, we calculated glucose effectiveness at zero insulin (GEZI = SG [SI × basal insulin]). Insulin-dependent glucose uptake was estimated as SI × IIR0-19, because the relationship between SI and β-cell function has been shown to be hyperbolic. Using linear regression to determine the influence of these factors on glucose tolerance, we found that GEZI was significantly related to Kg (r = 0.70; P < 0.0001), suggesting a major contribution of insulin-independent glucose uptake to glucose disappearance. As expected, SI × IIR0-19 also correlated well with Kg (r = 0.74; P < 0.0001), confirming the importance of insulin-dependent glucose uptake to glucose tolerance. Although IIR0-19 alone correlated with Kg (r = 0.35; P = 0.0005), SI did not (r = 0.18; P > 0.08). By multiple regression, 72% of the variance in Kg could be explained by GEZI and S1 × IIR0-19 (r = 0.85; P < 0.0001). We conclude that insulin-independent glucose uptake is a major determinant of intravenous glucose tolerance and that the interaction of insulin sensitivity and insulin levels are more important than either factor alone as a determinant of intravenous glucose tolerance.
Glucocorticoid hormone binding to human adipose tissue

Abstract. Binding of triamcinolone was examined in cytosolic preparations of human adipose tissue obtained during surgery. A saturable specific binding was found. Non‐specific binding comprised on an average 28% of total binding. The affinity and concentration of binding sites were in the same order as previously described for glucocorticoid hormone binding in other tissues and in rat adipose tissue. There was a large difference in these variables between different individuals. The binding was inhibited competitively by non‐labelled triamcinolone, promegestone, dexa‐methasone and 17‐/? ‐estradiol, in that order of potency. The promegestone inhibition was effective requiring only about 25% higher concentration than triamcinolone to obtain inhibition of half the triamcinolone binding. There was more binding of triamcinolone in omental than in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue when expressed per unit of protein and per unit cell surface area but not when expressed per adipocyte.
Forced Expiratory Time and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness to Methacholine

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are normally performed prior to methacholine inhalation challenges (MICs). In contrast to normal baseline spirometry (FEV1, FEF25%–27%, FVC), we have observed patients with positive MICs having shortened forced expiratory times (FET100%) in the baseline pre-MIC PFT. We prospectively evaluated the correlation of abnormalities in baseline pre-MIC FET100% in patients who have positive vs. negative MICs. Prospective analysis of baseline pre-MIC FET100% and MIC results in suspected asthmatics with normal lung exams, spirometry and chest x-rays. Using a PC20 FEV1 of ≤ 8 mg/ml methacholine, there were 115 positive and 69 negative MICs. The mean (±1 SD) FET100% in the positive MIC group was 3.57 ± 1.68 sec vs. 4.73 ± 1.60 sec in the negative group. The difference in these means was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of FET100% < 4 sec in the positive (55.65%) vs. the negative (30.43%) MIC group, p < 0.001. There was also a statistically significant difference in the incidence of positive MIC in FET100% < 4 sec (75.29%) vs. FET100% ≥ 4 sec (51.52%), p < 0.001. Our results suggest that in our highly selected, well-characterized population, FET100% < 6 sec is common and FET100% < 4 sec correlates with an increased likelihood of having a positive MIC.
Risk–Return Relationship in BRIC Equity Markets: Evidence from Markov Regime Switching Model with Time-varying Transition Probabilities

A rich literature supports the existence of both positive and negative relationship between the risk and return in the developed equity markets. However, the present study attempts to capture the risk–return relationship in the most promising and opportunities-instilled emerging market club, the “BRIC” equity markets, by employing a Markov regime switching model with time-varying transition probabilities, further taking St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index (the US financial market stress) as an economic variable. The weekly benchmark index values are used in the analysis, spanning from the year 2004 to 2013. The results report the existence of time-varying transition probabilities with respect to the Brazilian and Indian markets only and fixed transition probabilities for the other countries undertaken. The Markov results support the existence of two regimes, wherein regime-1 reports a positive risk–return relationship, and regime-2 reports a negative relationship between the risk and return. Ironically, the Chinese equity market is found to be the riskiest but a perfect hedge instrument amongst others, considering its risk–return interactions in both the regimes. Furthermore, a lower level of financial stress in the US financial market is associated with a higher probability of remaining in the “Bullish” regime-1 in the Indian market as well as Brazilian market. Moreover, there is a positive co-movement between the US financial stress and the expected time-varying duration of remaining in the “Bearish” regime. This shows that due to the growing interdependence among the worldwide economies, a financial stress in one economy does have an impact on the other markets and risk–return relationship in their equity markets. An understanding of the risk–return dynamics coupled with the impact of exogenous variables is an imperative task that a portfolio manager must undertake so as to justify and manage the investments made in the equity markets.
The relationship between transcranial Current Stimulation electrode montages and the effect of the skull orbital openings

Due to its low electric conductivity, the skull has a major impact on the electric field distribution in the brain in transcranial current stimulation (tCS). However, the skull has several openings that are filled with higher conductivity soft tissues, and through which a significant fraction of the injected current may pass. We show that current entering the brain via the orbital openings increases the electric field intensity in the cortical regions near the orbit. Furthermore, this depends on the how far electrodes are placed from the orbital openings.
Specificity Determinants of CYP1B1 Estradiol Hydroxylation

Cytochrome P450 (P450)-catalyzed oxidation of the aromatic ring of estradiol can result in 2- or 4-hydroxylation. Which of these products is formed is biologically important, as the 4-hydroxylated metabolite is carcinogenic, whereas the 2-hydroxylated metabolite is not. Most human P450 enzymes, including CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, exhibit a high preference for estradiol 2-hydroxylation, but human CYP1B1 greatly favors 4-hydroxylation. Here we show that heterologous expression of the human, monkey, dog, rat, and mouse CYP1B1 enzymes yields active proteins that differ in their estradiol hydroxylation specificity. The monkey and dog orthologs, like the human enzyme, preferentially catalyze 4-hydroxylation, but the rat and mouse enzymes favor 2-hydroxylation. Analysis of the CYP1B1 sequences in light of these findings suggested that one residue, Val395 in human CYP1B1, could account for the differential hydroxylation specificities. In fact, mutation of this valine in human CYP1B1 to the leucine present in the rat enzyme produces a human enzyme that has the 2-hydroxylation specificity of the rat enzyme. The converse is true when the leucine in the rat enzyme is mutated to the human valine. The role of CYP1B1 in estradiol carcinogenicity thus depends on the identity of this single amino acid residue.
Six-Month Multicenter Study on Invasive Infections Due to Group B Streptococci in Argentina

ABSTRACT There is little information about invasive infections by group B streptococci (GBS) and their antimicrobial susceptibilities in Latin America. We performed a prospective multicenter study to determine the serotype distribution and the antimicrobial susceptibility of GBS in Argentina. We identified 58 cases, but only 44 had sufficient data to be evaluated. Eight early-, four late-, and one fatal late, late-onset neonatal infections due to GBS were found. A total of 31 patients were adults with bacteremia, skin and soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, arthritis, meningitis, abdominal infections, and renal abscess. Serotype III was prevalent in late-onset neonatal disease, and several serotypes (Ia/c, III, Ia, and II) were involved in early-onset neonatal infections. Serotypes II, Ia/c, III, and IV were commonly found in adults, with serotype II prevalent in younger adults (18 to 69 years old) and serotype Ia/c prevalent in elderly adults (>70 years old). The mortality rate attributable to GBS infections was 10.8%. All GBS were susceptible to penicillin and ceftriaxone. Resistance to clindamycin (1.7%), erythromycin (5.2%), azithromycin (5.2%), minocycline (69%), and tetracycline (72.4%), to high levels of kanamycin and amikacin (1.7%), and to intermediately high levels of gentamicin (1.7%) was observed. The bifunctional enzyme AAC6′-APH2" was detected in the isolate resistant to aminoglycosides, and other genetic determinants were identified in other resistant isolates: tetM and tetO in tetracycline-resistant streptococci and mefA and ermTR for efflux-mediated and inducible macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B-resistant streptococci, respectively. For clinical purposes and rapid and easy detection of high-level aminoglycoside-resistant GBS, a screening method that used 1,000-μg kanamycin disks is proposed.
The Influence of Civil Remedies and Proceeds of Crime Grant Programs on Canadian Streetscape Camera Surveillance Systems: Lessons from Six Cities in Ontario

Supervisory Committee Dr. Sean Hier (Department of Sociology) Supervisor Dr. André Smith (Department of Sociology) Departmental Member This thesis explores the influences of provincial grant programs on Canadian streetscape camera systems. Using qualitative interviews (N=32) and document analysis, the study explores the policymaking processes and outcomes of six Ontario cities that have engaged with the Civil Remedies and Proceeds of Crime grants. Grant programs have not only provided the financial support to facilitate the establishment or expansion of camera systems, but they have also encouraged particular patterns of implementation, design and operation of Canadian streetscape systems through the processes and conditions of the grant program, as well as through the encouragement of regional networking, policy learning and policy diffusion via policy tourism. While the Civil Remedies and Proceeds of Crime grants have influenced some similarities in streetscape camera systems, variation exists, particularly concerning privacy policies, due to idiosyncratic interpretation and adoption of diffused policies and an ambiguous and unclear privacy protection framework.