Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-number convolutional codes for speech-like quasi-stationary sources (Corresp.)

A quasi-stationary source is one which is stationary over short periods, but changes occasionally to a new mode of stationarity; a typical example is the speech source. Convolutional codes are designed for the speech source for use with search algorithms such as the Viterbi, stack, and M -algorithms; the design is first by heuristic means and then by an empirical optimization. These codes have the same generating structure as the usual binary convolutional codes, but employ ordinary arithmetic. It is found by experiment that, at rate 2 bits/sample (which allows telephone quality speech), such codes need not have constraint length longer than five or six, which implies a generating circuit of about 1000 states. Encoding noise becomes white and uncorrelated with simple code searching; this shows that a short fixed code can successfully decorrelate waveforms from different source modes.
EFFECT OF SELECTED FACTORS ON LONGEVITY IN CATTLE : A REVIEW

This review presents genetic, phenotypic, environmental and other factors influencing functional longevity in dairy cattle. High yielding cows show a lower risk of culling than low producing cows. Cows with a lower milk yield have an approximately 2.7 times greater risk of culling as compared to cows with an average milk production. Genetic estimation of the length of productive life is possible in both large and small herds. In small herds the genetic effect may be affected by residual effects. Strong relationships with functional longevity in cows have been found for the mammary gland, feet and legs. The udder depth, rear udder and rear udder attachment have the most important effects on the length of productive life. Similarly, cows with a sound conformation of rear legs, the fetlock and feet reach a longer productive life. Age at first calving, herd size, and region of the country have a smaller effect on cow longevity; however, the recommended age of first calving is 24 months or less. The lower age at first calving is associated with lower production in the first lactation. Other traits influencing longevity of cows include calf mortality (average 8% and neonatal mortality of female calves of 3.4%), difficult calving, as well as male or twin births, high and low milk urea nitrogen concentration and lactose percentages, as well as inbreeding, which has a significant effect on reducing longevity of cows. Improved longevity can result in an increased productivity of the herd, because replacement, reproduction and veterinary costs are lowered, while mean milk production of the herd is increased.
Health-related quality of life in children with food allergy and their parents: a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in food-allergic children and their parents can be assessed using generic and specific questionnaires. OBJECTIVES We investigated whether HRQoL scores in food-allergic children and their parents were similar to normative data and whether they were correlated. METHODS We searched PubMed, Scopus, and the New York Academy of Medicine Grey Literature Report site. Electronic searches were supplemented by perusal of the references of the papers retrieved. RESULTS Seventeen studies were eligible. Two studies compared total HRQoL scores for children with food allergy and normative data and found no significant differences. Six studies compared HRQoL questionnaire subdomain scores for children with normative data, and 4 studies compared the same scores for parents with normative data. Children with food allergy scored worse in subdomains including bodily pain, physical functioning, mental health, general health, and emotional, social, and psychological quality of life. However, they performed better in physical health, and had fewer limitations in schoolwork due to behavioral problems. Parents performed better in subdomains such as physical and environmental health, social and psychological health, and family cohesion but scored worse on social health, overall quality of life, emotional health, impact on parental time, and limitations in usual family activities. Statistically significant results for these subdomains were not invariably corroborated by subsequent studies. No study provided data on the correlation between children's HRQoL and that of their parents. CONCLUSIONS HRQoL of food-allergic children and their parents may differ from that of the normative population in certain subdomains. However, the evidence was not sufficient to draw robust conclusions.
Specifications and Evaluation of a MAC Protocol for a LP-WPAN

Industrials have been increasingly interested in wireless sensor and actuator networks to monitor and control installations. The recent IEEE 802.15. 4 standard has been developed to address vital issues of these networks, such as limited battery power and low processing capabilities. However, the standard does not meet all the requirements of industrial networks. For example, only some of the IEEE 802.15. 4 nodes save energy. Also, this standard suffers from beacon frame collisions. In this paper, we describe MaCARI, a deterministic MAC layer protocol which allows all nodes to save energy and avoids the beacon frame collisions. We discuss several optimizations to increase the performance of the protocol or to offer QoS features. We evaluated the main components of MaCARI using a simulation and a prototype on a real hardware platform in order to prove their feasibility.
Free radical production and DNA cleavage by copper chelating peptide-anthraquinones.

Two pseudopeptides incorporating a peptide metal-chelating moiety (Gly-His-Lys) and a polyhydroxy anthraquinone ring related to the nuclei of anti-tumor drugs such as mitoxantrone and ametantrone, have been synthesized. The goal was to conjugate the redox effects of a quinone ring with the iron-chelating properties of the peptide in order to generate free radical species capable of damaging DNA. Indeed quinone-containing drugs undergo, in vivo, one-electron reduction to the corresponding semiquinone radicals which, in the presence of molecular oxygen, produce a superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide and ultimately, in the presence of metal, hydroxyl radical (Fenton reaction). Hydroxyl radicals (OH.) are short-lived and extremely reactive with their bioenvironment. The interaction of both drugs with DNA has been studied by fluorescence quenching and DNA melting experiments. Spectroscopic and e.s. r. studies demonstrated that several types of Cu-complex are formed depending on the copper-drug ratio. The production of free radicals, as evidenced by spin-trapping, is optimum with a Cu/drug ratio of 0.1; in this case the metal ion is chelated by the peptide moiety. This latter complex is able to induce DNA breakage at a high level. Thus, it appears that the proposed concept works but that care must be taken in the choice of the relative concentration of copper.
The Speaker Recognition problem

Riassunto: Nell’applicazione di metodi di riconoscimento del parlatore si procede, ai fini dell’identificazione, all’estrazione di diverse caratteristiche del segnale vocale. Tale aspetto è comune ad innumerevoli altre aree applicative nelle quali si fa uso di metodi di riconoscimento basati su classificatori multipli con input diversificati. In questo lavoro si sviluppa una rassegna dei risultati ottenuti con diverse strategie. Inoltre si propone l’applicazione al problema del riconoscimento del parlatore (in un contesto text-independent) di diversi metodi basati su misture di esperti capaci di combinare classificatori di varia natura e diverse caratteristiche in input.
Visualization of Brain Activation During Attention-Demanding Tasks Using Cognitive Signal Processing

Attention is the primary cognitive process to induce a response to a stimulus. The present study aims at evaluating the activation of different brain regions while performing an attention requiring task. The analysis is achieved with the help of electroencephalography EEG recorded simultaneously during the entire period of execution of task. The relative theta and gamma power were significantly higher p=0.05 during task when compared to rest, whereas in alpha band the relative power was significantly higher p=0.05 during rest when compared to task. Event related synchronization ERS and Event Related Desynchronization ERD in relative theta power and relative alpha power respectively was observed particularly in the parietal electrodes associated with attention. Theta synchronisation and alpha desynchronization is associated with good performance further supported by the task performance with minimal errors. These event-related changes helped sustain attention and visualization of the activated brain regions was accomplished for a better depiction of the findings.
[Identification and management of hereditary predisposition to cancer of the breast and the ovary (update 2004)].

BACKGROUND Since the last recommendations, up to 2,500 new references had been published on that topic. METHODOLOGY On the behalf of the health Minister, the Ad Hoc Committee consisted of 13 experts carried out a first version revisited by five additional experts who critically analyzed the first version of the report. MAIN UPDATING Breast and ovarian cancer seem to be associated with fewer deleterious mutation of BRCA12 and BRCA2 than previously thought. The screening of ovarian cancer is still not an attractive option while in contrast MRI may be soon for these young women with dense breast, the recommended option for breast cancer screening. The effectiveness of prophylactic surgeries is now well established. French position is to favor such surgeries with regard to a quality of life in line with the expected benefit, and providing precise and standardized process described in the recommendation. CONCLUSIONS Due to methodological flaws, the low power and a short follow-up of the surveys, this statement cannot however aspire to a high stability.
Breathing exercises for asthma.

BACKGROUND There is much anecdotal evidence in Eastern and Western literature describing considerable benefits for patients with asthma when treated with breathing interventions. The term 'breathing exercise, training and retraining' has numerous interpretations depending on the nature of the therapy, therapist and cultural background. OBJECTIVES To assess the evidence for the efficacy of breathing retraining in the treatment of patients with asthma. SEARCH STRATEGY Trials were searched for in the Cochrane Airways Group trials register, Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field trials register, EMBASE: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Field, and Databases of the physiotherapy library of current research, World Congress of Physical Therapy Proceedings (1995) and AMED (Allied & Complementary Medicine Database 1985-2003/4). Hand searching of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care Journals was undertaken. Chartered physiotherapists in the field of respiratory medicine were contacted and appeals made in the 'Physiotherapy' Journal and the Physiotherapy Respiratory Care magazine. Searches were undertaken of bibliographies from the included studies and other appropriate papers. Authors of included studies were contacted for information concerning other relevant trials. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of breathing retraining in patients of all ages with a diagnosis of asthma. Breathing retraining should be a major component of the treatment intervention. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers (EH & FR) independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Authors of included trials were contacted for additional data. Where possible adverse effects were noted. MAIN RESULTS Abstracts were identified and 42 full text papers were obtained for assessment and possible inclusion. Thirty five studies were excluded. A total of five studies were included in the original review. Two further studies have been added to this update. Most studies were of small size. Two studies demonstrated significant reductions in rescue bronchodilator use and three studies showed reductions in acute exacerbations, although these were measured in different ways. Two single studies showed significant improvements in quality of life measures. Overall, benefits of breathing exercises were found in isolated outcome measures in single studies. Five studies compared breathing retraining with no active control and two with asthma education control groups. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Comparisons and conclusions were difficult to evaluate as treatment interventions and outcome measurements from the seven trials varied considerably. At present therefore no reliable conclusions can be drawn concerning the use of breathing exercises for asthma in clinical practice. However trends for improvement, notably in quality of life measurements, are encouraging and further studies including full descriptions of treatment methods and outcome measurements are required.
Pinealectomy and Constant Release of Melatonin or 5‐Methoxytryptamine Induce Testicular Atrophy in the European Hamster (Cricetus cricetus, L.)

The role of the pineal and of photoperiod in the regulation of gonadal activity has been studied in the European hamster, a wild hamster commonly found in the vicinity of Strasbourg, France. Besides the presence of a probable endogenous circannual rhythm in reproductive capacities, it appears that, as in all other hamster species studied to date, the sexual activity of this animal is directly regulated by changes in the photoperiodic environment.
Design issues in wide scanning range cognitive radios

Cognitive radios are being looked upon as the solution for the spectrum scarcity problem. Mitigating spectrum scarcity requires robust spectrum sensing receivers and frequency adaptive transmitters. Wideband cognitive radios are more attractive as they provide a wider range of secondary communication opportunities. They are accompanied by issues at the frontend architecture level, baseband distribution and spectrum sensing in the receivers. At a network level, the success of wideband cognitive radios are dependent on the network topology. This paper discusses these problems and provides guidelines for solving them.
Analysis and Comparison of ARCH Effects for Shanghai Composite Index and NYSE Composite Index

In this article, we used ARCH class model to analyze and compare the income fluctuations of Shanghai Stock Market and NYSE, and obtained the characters of fluctuation for two markets and the models which fitted to describe them. At the same time, we also analyzed the fluctuation overflow effect of two markets, validated the character that Chinese stock market was not relatively mature and possessed low international market integration degree, and put forward relative policy advances.
Equality Sets and Complexity Classes

If $h_1 $, $h_2 $ are two homomorphisms, then the equality set$\operatorname{Eq}(h_1 ,h_2 )$ of $h_1 $, $h_2 $ is $\operatorname{Eq} (h_1 ,h_2 ) = \{ w | h_1 (w) = h_2 (w)\} $. In this paper it is shown how to characterize complexity classes of formal languages in terms of equality sets of pairs of homomorphisms with bounded balance. In addition the complete twin shuffle language is investigated, and it is shown that for alphabets with at least two letters, this language cannot be represented as the equality set of a pair of homomorphisms unless both homomorphisms are erasing and have linear bounded balance.
Evaluation of the error induced by an incorrect positioning of the handset against the SAM phantom for SAR calculations

Inter-laboratory comparisons of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) calculations sometimes show discrepancies between the results. An incorrect positioning of the handset against the head phantom may be one of the possible causes of the observed discrepancies. In order to evaluate the error induced by an incorrect positioning of the device, two commercially available mobile phones with different antenna configurations — one with a built-in PIFA (Planar Inverted-F Antenna) and the other with an external helicoidal antenna- are herein selected for SAR calculations using the SAM (Specific Anthropomorphic Mannequin) head phantom. Using the initial handset/phantom position defined by international dosimetric standards as the reference configuration considered to be correct, several incorrect but nonetheless acceptable handset/phantom configurations are generated and the computed SAR values compared. Results show that deviations with respect to the reference positions may induce up to about 8% difference in the maximum 10°g averaged SAR values in the case of the mobile phone with the external helicoidal antenna.
Experiential Limitation in Judgment and Decision

The statistics of small samples are often quite different from those of large samples, and this needs to be taken into account in assessing the rationality of human behavior. Specifically, in evaluating human responses to environmental statistics, it is the effective environment that matters; that is, the environment actually experienced by the agent needs to be considered, not simply long-run frequencies. Significant deviations from long-run statistics may arise through experiential limitations of the agent that stem from resource constraints and/or information-processing bounds. The article draws together recent work from a number of areas in judgment and decision making ranging from randomness perception (Hahn & Warren, ), information sampling (Hertwig & Pleskac, ; Kareev et al., ), and consequences of choice for exploration or exploitation (e.g., Denrell, ) to demonstrate how proper consideration of these deviations leads to reevaluation of behaviors that are otherwise deemed irrational.
Multi-radar hybrid detection algorithm based on information entropy

Square law detector is generally utilized for non-coherent integration detection for multi-channel echoes formed by spatially distributed multi-radar. However, large signal to noise ratio (SNR) difference between channels generally leads to the decline of square law detection performance. Aiming at this problem, this paper proposes a multi-radar hybrid detection method based on information entropy. The presented method consists of two local detectors and one decision criteria. The two local detectors are the square law detector, and power entropy detector presented in the paper. The criterion is or rule. Numerical simulations are performed to illustrate the priority of the proposed method under different SNR differences between channels over a variety of detectors.
Adapting broadcasting sets to topology changes in packet radio networks

Most existing algorithms that maximize throughput in packet radio networks by selecting a maximal broadcasting set in each time slot of a TDMA frame cannot accommodate changes in the topology of the network. In fact, when there is a change in the network topology, these algorithms have to be rerun for the entire network to compute a new broadcasting set. This is certainly time and bandwidth consuming. In this paper, we show that the problem of adapting a maximum broadcasting set to a simple topology change in packet radio networks is NP-complete. We then propose a new heuristic that adapts a given broadcasting set to topological changes caused by the addition of new radio stations to the network. We do some experiments to show that the performance of our heuristic is almost as good as rerunning the original heuristic for the entire network. We also discuss a distributed implementation of our heuristic.
Innate immune regulation by STAT‐mediated transcriptional mechanisms

The term innate immunity typically refers to a quick but non‐specific host defense response against invading pathogens. The innate immune system comprises particular immune cell populations, epithelial barriers, and numerous secretory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, and defense peptides. Innate immune cells are also now recognized to play important contributing roles in cancer and pathological inflammatory conditions. Innate immunity relies on rapid signal transduction elicited upon pathogen recognition via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and cell:cell communication conducted by soluble mediators, including cytokines. A majority of cytokines involved in innate immune signaling use a molecular cascade encompassing receptor‐associated Jak protein tyrosine kinases and STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) transcriptional regulators. Here, we focus on roles for STAT proteins in three major innate immune subsets: neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs). While knowledge in this area is only now emerging, understanding the molecular regulation of these cell types is necessary for developing new approaches to treat human disorders such as inflammatory conditions, autoimmunity, and cancer.
REAR: Reliable Energy Aware Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

In wireless sensor networks, micro sensor nodes dispersed in real environmental field have a constraint energy capacity, so energy-efficient mechanism for wireless communication on each sensor node is so crucial. Specially, the jobs sending and processing sensing data information from on sensor node to the others are more majority parts than merely sensing some events. Thus, energy-efficient routing protocol in wireless sensor networks is necessary for increasing the network lifetime and is also influenced by many challenging factors in terms of energy, processing, and storage capacities. In this paper, we designed and implemented a reliable energy aware routing (REAR) protocol for wireless sensor networks and evaluated the performance of REAR by comparing with existing routing protocols. REAR considers residual energy capacity of each sensor node in establishing routing paths and supports multi-path routing protocol for reliable data transmission. Furthermore, REAR allows each sensor node to confirm success of data transmission to other sensor nodes by supporting the DATA-ACK oriented packet transmission. Finally, the performance evaluation results show that REAR provides energy-efficiency and reliability related to wireless communication in wireless sensor networks.
Therapeutic efficacy as predicted by quantitative assessment of murine RIF-1 tumour pH and phosphorous metabolite response during hyperthermia: an in vivo 31P NMR study

Described herein are the initial findings from an ‘in-magnet’ 31P NMR compatible hyperthermia system capable of concurrently heating and monitoring the metabolic response of murine tumours; the murine radiation induced fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) was employed for these studies. At thermal doses sufficient to raise tumour temperature to 41.5 and 43°C for a period of 30 min, a marked and rapid decrease in nucleoside triphosphate concentration and in pH was observed during the heating period, while inorganic phosphate concentration increased significantly but more gradually. These 31P NMR determined metabolic indices remained depressed/elevated throughout a 1.5 h post-hyperthermia monitoring period. Importantly, these metabolic indices correlated significantly with specific growth delay. This suggests a possible role for NMR spectroscopy in early assessment, and perhaps control, of therapeutic response to hyperthermia.
Study of the interaction of DNA and acridine orange by various optical methods

The degree of binding of acridine orange to DNA, native or denatured, has been determined by equilibrium dialysis in 0.1M and 0.001M NaCl at 20°. The nature of the binding process has been investigated by studying various optical properties of the dye–DNA complexes and by relating them to the binding ratio. All these properties were found to vary quantitatively and qualitatively according to the successive stages of the process. These stages were assumed to be a strong binding of intercalated monomers followed by formation of bound dimers and finally by external binding of aggregates of native DNA.