Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Superimposed Training for Channel Shortening Equalization in OFDM

In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, the cyclic prefix (CP) is required to be greater than the length of the channel impulse response to avoid inter-block interference. However, a long CP decreases power and bandwidth efficiencies. Recently channel shortening equalizers (CSEs) have been introduced to enable the use of a shorter CP, but they either require perfect channel knowledge, or demand high complexity and long decoding delay when the channel is unknown. In this paper, we propose a low complexity CSE for OFDM with unknown channels by using superimposed training. Our unique design achieves bandwidth efficient channel estimation, and low complexity channel shortening equalization as well as symbol decoding. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme
Fructan production in Vernonia herbacea (Vell.) Rusby is related to adequate nitrogen supply and period of cultivation

Estudos realizados anteriormente mostraram que plantas de Vernonia herbacea cultivadas durante um ano sob uma condicao limitante de nitrogenio tiveram seu crescimento reduzido e apresentaram maiores teores de frutanos em comparacao a plantas que receberam suprimento adequado de nitrogenio. Entretanto, a producao total de frutanos foi similar nos dois grupos de plantas devido a maior biomassa dos orgaos subterrâneos de reserva das plantas N-suficientes. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar se o cultivo sob uma condicao adequada de nitrogenio, que promove o crescimento das plantas, seguido de uma condicao estressante de crescimento imposta por suprimento limitante de nitrogenio, promoveria a producao de frutanos. As plantas receberam durante um ano solucao N-suficiente (10,7 mmol L1 N-NO3). Nos seis meses subsequentes, metade das plantas passou a receber solucao N-limitante (1,3 mmol L1 N-NO3), permanecendo as demais no tratamento N-suficiente. O crescimento, a fotossintese e os carboidratos soluveis foram analisados no dia da transferencia (dia 0) e aos 30, 60, 90 e 180 dias. Aos 30 dias as plantas transferidas para N-limitado mostraram aumento significativo do crescimento e diminuicao da concentracao de frutanos, em resposta a condicao nutricional estressante. No entanto, no periodo seguinte (60 dias) o crescimento foi reduzido e a concentracao de frutanos aumentou em relacao as plantas mantidas em N-suficiente, confirmando a relacao inversa entre suprimento de nitrogenio e conteudo de frutanos. Apos 180 dias, embora a concentracao de frutanos em N-limitado tenha sido significativamente mais elevada, com uma producao de frutanos de 6,0 g planta-1, o maior ganho de biomassa de rizoforos observado nas plantas mantidas sob N-suficiente durante 18 meses, levou a uma producao de frutanos de 8,3 g planta1, compensando assim a menor concentracao de frutanos observada nessas plantas.
The Impact of Lesion Laterality on Neuropsychological Change Following Posterior Pallidotomy: A Review of Current Findings

This paper reviews seven studies evaluating the impact of lesion laterality on the neuropsychological sequelae of posterior pallidotomy for treatment of Parkinson's disease. Left lesions of the internal globus pallidus (GPi) were associated with subtle deficits on measures sensitive to frontal lobe function. The findings of a randomized clinical trial including a patient control group indicated that many of these deficits were transient, resolving by 6 months following surgery. Right GPi lesions were not consistently associated with neuropsychological deficit, except in one study that included a significant proportion of demented patients. It is hypothesized that when neuropsychological decline is present following surgery, this reflects impingement of posterior GPi lesions into proximal regions such as anterior GPi or the external pallidum that participate in cognitive basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits. The findings from neuroimaging will be important for elucidating the relationship between lesion locus and neuropsychological sequelae.
Downlink packet-scheduling considering transmission power and QoS in CDMA packet cellular systems

It is expected that as the integration proceeds between mobile communication systems and the Internet, the amount of data traffic will drastically increase in the IMT-2000 (3G) and beyond (4G) mobile communications systems. With the demand for high-speed mobile multimedia and that for supporting diverse user requirements, wireless QoS (quality of service) will play an important role and becomes a challenging issue, due to the dynamic fluctuating nature in wireless channel conditions and the limited availability of radio resources. Especially in the CDMA cellular system where radio resource is shared among cells, the dynamic fluctuating nature in the wireless channel may more-profoundly affect the user QoS. From these perspectives, this paper focuses on packet-scheduling aimed at utilizing radio resources efficiently while supporting user's QoS. Novel packet-scheduling schemes proposed here, STPD and STPD-SPF, cannot only utilize radio resource efficiently by considering required transmission power, but also support QoS of each user by monitoring buffering delay. Simulation results indicate that these schemes can improve traffic performance and QoS satisfaction rate.
Non‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate glutamate receptors in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus mediate the pressor response evoked by noradrenaline microinjected into the lateral septal area in rats

The lateral septal area (LSA) is a part of the limbic system and is involved in cardiovascular modulation. We previously reported that microinjection of noradrenaline (NA) into the LSA of unanesthetized rats caused pressor responses that are mediated by acute vasopressin release. Magnocellular neurons of the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) of the hypothalamus synthesize vasopressin. In the present work, we studied which of these nuclei is involved in the pressor pathway activated by unilateral NA injection into the LSA as well as the local neurotransmitter involved. Chemical ablation of the SON by unilateral injection of the nonspecific synapses blocker cobalt chloride (1 mM/100 nl) did not affect the pressor response evoked by NA (21 nmol/200 nl) microinjection into the LSA. However, the response to NA was blocked when cobalt chloride (1 mM/100 nl) was microinjected into the PVN, indicating that this hypothalamic nucleus is responsible for the mediation of the pressor response. There is evidence in the literature pointing to glutamate as a putative neurotransmitter activating magnocellular neurons. Pretreatment of the PVN with the selective non‐N‐methyl‐D‐asparate (NMDA) antagonist NBQX (2 nmol/100 nl) blocked the pressor response to NA microinjected into the LSA, whereas pretreatment with the selective NMDA antagonist LY235959 (2 nmol/100 nl) did not affect the response to NA. Our results implicate the PVN as the final structure in the pressor pathway activated by the microinjection of NA into the LSA. They also indicate that local glutamatergic synapses and non‐NMDA glutamatergic receptors mediate the response in the PVN. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evolving Causal Neural Networks

We introduce causal neural networks, a generalization of the usual feedforward neural networks which allows input features and target outputs to be represented as input or output units. For inferring the values of target outputs which are represented as input units, we developed a forward-backward propagation algorithm which uses gradient descent to minimize the error of the predicted output features. To deal with the large number of possible structures and feature selection, we use a genetic algorithm. Experiments on a regression problem and 5 classi cation problems show that the causal neural networks can outperform the usual feedforward architectures for particular problems.
[Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity in the patients of metabolic syndrome].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). METHODS A total of 5476 subjects were enrolled from annual health checkups. Blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, waist circumference, triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols were measured routinely. And baPWV was determined by VP-1000 (BP-203RPE III). RESULTS The values of baPWV and its change rates in MS patients were both higher than those in non-MS subjects respectively (1419.0 (1284.0 - 1586.5) cm/s vs 1275.0 (1160.5 - 1419.6) cm/s, 16.3% (6.6% - 27.3%) vs 7.1% (1.0% - 17.2%), both P < 0.01). Systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride were the important influencing components of baPWV. CONCLUSION MS patients have early alterations of arterial wall elasticity and function. And examination of pulse wave velocity helps to screen early arteriosclerosis.
Effect of Long-term Epoetin Treatment on Serum Levels of High-density Lipoprotein (HDL) and HDL-associated Enzymes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Lipid Abnormalities in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CAD) than subjects in the general population. An increased prevalence of both CAD morbidity and mortality is evident at all ages among patients with CKD.1,2 Traditional risk factors (such as dyslipidaemia, diabetes and hypertension) as well as non-traditional risk factors (including oxidant stress, inflammation and malnutrition, and also disturbances of serum Ca2+ and PO4 metabolism) associated with CKD, may further increase CAD risk in these patients.1,3 Dyslipidaemia is common in CKD patients and alterations in serum lipid profile vary widely depending on the level of kidney function and the degree of proteinuria.4,5 Prior to developing severe CKD, patients frequently have elevated serum total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. As CKD advances to kidney failure, the prevalence of high LDL cholesterol levels decreases. The classic lipid profile of late-stage CKD includes increased triglyceride levels, moderately elevated or normal LDL cholesterol levels and low highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.4,5
Speech Rate in a Pluricentric Language: A Comparison Between Dutch in Belgium and the Netherlands

This paper investigates speech rate in two standard national varieties of Dutch on the basis of 160 15 mins conversations with native speakers who belong to four different regions in the Netherlands and four in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium (Flanders). Speech rate was quantified as articulation rate and speaking rate, both expressed as the number of syllables per second (syll/s). The results show a significant effect of speakers' country of origin: subjects in the Netherlands speak 16% faster than subjects in Belgium (articulation: 5.05 vs. 4.23 syll/s, speaking: 4.23 vs. 4.00 syll/s). In addition, the independent variable sex was also found to be significant: on average, men speak 6% faster than women (articulation: 4.79 vs. 4.50 syll/s, speaking: 4.23 vs. 4.01 syll/s). The independent variable age was significant too: younger subjects speak 5% faster than older ones (articulation: 4.78 vs. 4.52 syll/s, speaking: 4.23 vs. 4.01 syll/s). The findings of this study confirm the traditional view that speech rate is determined by extralinguistic variables, but also suggest that there may be intrinsic tempo differences between language varieties.
Analysis of the Transmembrane Domain of Influenza Virus Neuraminidase, a Type II Transmembrane Glycoprotein, for Apical Sorting and Raft Association

ABSTRACT Influenza virus neuraminidase (NA), a type II transmembrane protein, is directly transported to the apical plasma membrane in polarized MDCK cells. Previously, it was shown that the transmembrane domain (TMD) of NA provides a determinant(s) for apical sorting and raft association (A. Kundu, R. T. Avalos, C. M. Sanderson, and D. P. Nayak, J. Virol. 70:6508–6515, 1996). In this report, we have analyzed the sequences in the NA TMD involved in apical transport and raft association by making chimeric TMDs from NA and human transferring receptor (TR) TMDs and by mutating the NA TMD sequences. Our results show that the COOH-terminal half of the NA TMD (amino acids [aa] 19 to 35) was significantly involved in raft association, as determined by Triton X-100 (TX-100) resistance. However, in addition, the highly conserved residues at the extreme NH2 terminus of the NA TMD were also critical for TX-100 resistance. On the other hand, 19 residues (aa 9 to 27) at the NH2 terminus of the NA TMD were sufficient for apical sorting. Amino acid residues 14 to 18 and 27 to 31 had the least effect on apical transport, whereas mutations in the amino acid residues 11 to 13, 23 to 26, and 32 to 35 resulted in altered polarity for the mutant proteins. These results indicated that multiple regions in the NA TMD were involved in apical transport. Furthermore, these results support the idea that the signals for apical sorting and raft association, although residing in the NA TMD, are not identical and vary independently and that the NA TMD also possesses an apical determinant(s) which can interact with apical sorting machineries outside the lipid raft.
Costs of patients hospitalized for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

SETTING From 1993 through 1998, 1846 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were reported in the United States. Costs associated with MDR-TB are likely to be much higher than for drug-susceptible tuberculosis due to longer hospitalization, longer treatment with more expensive and toxic medications, greater productivity losses, and higher mortality. OBJECTIVE To measure the societal costs of patients hospitalized for MDR-TB. DESIGN We detailed in-patient costs for 13 multidrug-resistant patients enrolled in a national study. We estimated costs for physician care, out-patient treatment, and productivity losses for survivors and for deceased patients. RESULTS In-patient costs averaged US$25,853 per person and $1036 per person-day of hospitalization. Outpatient costs per person ranged from $5744 to $41,821 (average $19028, or $44 a day). Direct medical costs averaged $44,881; indirect costs for those who survived averaged $32,964, and indirect costs for those who died averaged $686,381 per person. Total costs per person ranged from $28,217 to $181492 (average $89,594) for those who survived, and from $509490 to $1278066 (average $717555) for those who died. CONCLUSION The societal costs of MDR-TB varied, mostly because of length of therapy (including in-patient), and deaths during treatment.
Generalized paroxysmal fast activity: Electroencephalographic and clinical features

We reviewed electroencephalographic and clinical features of 20 patients with generalized paroxysmal fast activity (GPFA). All had seizure disorders and all but 3 had more than one seizure type. Mental retardation was present in 17 patients. In most cases no cause for the seizures could be found.
Change-point problems for the von Mises distribution

A generalized likelihood ratio procedure and a Bayes procedure are considered for change-point problems for the mean direction of the von Mises distribution, both when the concentration parameter is known and when it is unknown. These tests are based on sample resultant lengths. Tables that list critical values of these test statistics are provided. These tests are shown to be valid even when the data come from other similar unimodal circular distributions. Some empirical studies of powers of these test procedures are also incorporated.
Health Economics with Retrospective Data: Selection Bias Issues

SIR Valid conclusions from any research require careful selection and application of the methodology most appropriate to the question being addressed. In pharmacoeconomics, generalizability and feasibility are also important considerations. Decisions about whether to conduct prospective or retrospective research are often based on practical considerations such as time and resources available. Methodological rigour, however, is essential regardless of study design. Its absence provides the opportunity for bias and misleading conclusions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) minimize patient and provider bias and allow for statistical comparisons between treatment groups. Selection of a retrospective design requires equal attention to these concerns. This letter addresses potential selection bias in a retrospective, cost-minimization pharmacoeconomic study, conducted by Sclar et al. in a network health maintenance organization (HMO) that examined pharmacological treatments for depression using paid claims data. ' We also question the representativeness of the 'sample' as well as the usefulness of cost-minimization studies in general. First, such a retrospective study requires for each treatment group comparable patient populations [i.e., in terms of demographics and disease severity) and comparable provider characteristics. Because patients may have been prescribed particular drug treatments due to their specific characteristics (i.e., the assignment to treatments was not random), extra care must be taken to avoid selection bias. In particular, a retrospective study that compares antidepressant treatments for patients diagnosed with depression requires a sample design with appropriate stratification so that treatment groups contain:
Randomized placebo‐controlled trial comparing montelukast and cetirizine for treating perennial allergic rhinitis in children aged 2–6 yr

Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) were recently added to the method of treating allergic rhinitis (AR). However, in children under 6 yr old, there has been no study about its efficacy in treating AR. We aim to compare the clinical efficacy of montelukast, cetirizine and placebo in the treatment of children from 2 to 6 yr old with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), to see if there are any significant differences. Sixty children were selected and treated with montelukast, or cetirizine, or placebo once daily. The efficacy of the three agents was compared with the Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) and Total Symptom Score (TSS) by diary. In addition, we also examined serum IgE, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), blood eosinophil counts, nasal airway resistance (NAR) and eosinophil percentage in nasal smears. The results revealed that both montelukast and cetirizine were significantly efficacious compared with placebo in NAR, eosinophil percentage in nasal smears, PRQLQ, TSS and all symptom items except nasal itching, throat itching and tearing. For nasal itching, only cetirizine was significantly efficacious. On the other hand, for night sleep quality, montelukast was significantly superior to cetirizine.
Depolarization‐induced suppression of inhibition mediated by endocannabinoids at synapses from fast‐spiking interneurons to medium spiny neurons in the striatum

Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) act as retrograde inhibitory messengers in various regions of the brain. We have recently reported that endocannabinoids mediate short‐term retrograde suppression of excitatory synaptic transmission from the neocortex to medium spiny (MS) neurons, the major projection neurons from the striatum. However, it remains unclear whether endocannabinoids modulate inhibitory transmission in the striatum. Here we show that depolarization of MS neurons induces transient suppression of inhibition that is mediated by retrograde endocannabinoid signalling. By paired recording from a fast‐spiking (FS) interneuron and an MS neuron, we demonstrated that FS–MS inhibitory synapses undergo endocannabinoid‐mediated retrograde suppression. We verified that GABAergic inhibitory terminals immunopositive for parvalbumin (PV), a marker for FS interneurons, expressed CB1 receptors. These PV–CB1 double‐positive terminals surrounded dopamine D1 receptor‐positive and D2 receptor‐positive MS neurons; these constitute direct and indirect pathways, respectively. These results suggest that endocannabinoid‐mediated retrograde suppression of inhibition influences information flow along both direct and indirect pathways, depending on the activity of MS neurons.
Activation of p38 MAPK Is Required in Monocytic and Neuronal Cells for HIV Glycoprotein 120-Induced Neurotoxicity

HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 has been implicated in neurotoxin production by monocytic cells (i.e., macrophages and microglia), as well as in the pathogenesis of HIV-1–associated neurocognitive disorders. We previously showed in cerebrocortical cell cultures from rodents containing microglia, astrocytes, and neurons that overall inhibition of p38 MAPK signaling abrogated the neurotoxic effect of HIV-1 gp120. However, the time course of p38 MAPK activation and the contribution of this kinase in the various cell types remained unknown. In this study, we found that active p38 MAPK is required in monocytic lineage cells (i.e., macrophages and microglia) and neuronal cells for HIV gp120-induced neurotoxicity to occur. In cerebrocortical cell cultures, HIV-1 gp120 stimulated a time-dependent overall increase in active p38 MAPK, and the activated kinase was primarily detected in microglia and neurons. Interestingly, increased activation of p38 MAPK and neuronal death in response to gp120 were prevented by prior depletion of microglia or the presence of CCR5 ligand CCL4 or p38 MAPK inhibitors. In human monocytic THP-1 cells and primary monocyte-derived macrophages, HIV gp120-stimulated production of neurotoxins was abrogated by prior introduction into the cells of a dominant-negative p38 MAPK mutant or p38 MAPK small interfering RNA. In addition, the neurotoxic effects of cell-free supernatants from gp120-stimulated monocytic THP-1 cells were prevented in microglia-depleted cerebrocortical cells pretreated with a pharmacological inhibitor of p38 MAPK. Thus, p38 MAPK signaling was critical, upon exposure to HIV gp120, for the neurotoxic phenotype of monocytic cells and subsequent toxin-initiated neuronal apoptosis.
Comparative Description of Setups for MMW-Imaging of Persons

For the purpose of MMW-Imaging different setups can be considered. When active sensorics are applied the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) concept is often used, since real apertures would require large dimensions in order to obtain the required resolutions. The resulting images show different characteristics, depending on shape and position of the synthetic aperture. Imaging results obtained with different configurations are compared. A method of comparing different setups is presented in the following.
NEURO AND NEURO-FUZZY HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURES COMPARISON IN FDI: CASE STUDY

Abstract In this paper a hierarchical structure of several artificial neural networks has been developed for fault isolation purposes. Two different approaches have been considered. The hierarchical structure is the same for both approaches, but one uses multi-layer feedforward artificial neural networks and the other uses fuzzy neural networks. A result comparison between the two architectures will be presented. It is aimed to isolate multiple simultaneous abrupt and incipient faults from only single abrupt fault symptoms. A continuous binary distillation column has been used as test bed of the current approaches.