Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling and Measurement of the Land Mobile Satellite MIMO Radio Propagation Channel.

Three crucial factors in land mobile satellite (LMS) communication systems are the quality of service (QoS), spectral efficiency and cost. The QoS in a LMS system often suffers due to high link path loss due to the vast distances covered, signal shadowing and blockage, and a high link delay. Spectral efficiency can also be fairly low in LMS systems due to small received signal to noise ratios disabling the adoption of high order modulation techniques. Setup cost is also a major factor influencing the business case for LMS communication systems, which often makes single satellite systems more attractive than multiple satellite constellations. This thesis advances a technique for increasing QoS and spectral efficiency, without any increase in total transmit power, antenna gain or bandwidth by using multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques, which is then investigated thoroughly by theoretical and experimental means. To investigate the benefit from satellite-MIMO techniques, work began with the design of a satellite-MIMO physical-statistical channel model, which enables computer simulation of the LMS-MIMO channel. Although the single-input single-output (SISO) channel, a subset of the MIMO channel was validated partially to previously published measurement data, there was no measurement campaign data or literature that informed about the LMS-MIMO channel. The model was used to carry out an initial estimation of capacity and diversity gain available from LMS-MIMO systems. Work moved onto the wideband characterization of the satellite-MIMO channel. A measurement campaign was carried out in Guildford, U.K., where a terrestrially based artificial platform, representing two low elevation satellites in a cluster communicated with a mobile van, situated in three environments: tree-lined road, suburban and urban. Each emulated satellite contained a right and left hand circularly polarized (R/LHCP) directional antenna mounted next to each other. The vehicle contained four spatially separated omnidirectional antennas: two RHCP and two LHCP. A complete analysis was performed on the dual polarization single satellite 2x2 MIMO channel data. The data was characterized in terms of narrowband and wideband first and second order statistics for both large and small scale channel fading. The large and small scale correlation statistics were also extracted from the data across the delay and MIMO domains. The data was used to estimate the capacity and diversity gain that could be achieved from a low elevation LMS-MIMO channel. This analysis also resulted in the derivation of empirical-statistical narrowband and wideband satellite-MIMO channel models, which have been validated against the experimental measurement data. The models can be used by the global research community to help design advanced PHY and MAC layer techniques, and some interest has already been shown.
Morphological and anatomical study of the endemic species Phlomis monocephala (Lamiaceae)

Morphological and anatomical properties of the endemic species Phlomis monocephala are investigated in this study. Cross sections of root, stem and leaf parts of the plant are examined and demonstrated by photographs. Most of the anatomical properties are similar to the other members of Lamiaceae family. Raphide crystals are observed in the leaf cross section. Sclerenchyma groups are noted above the stem phloem. The morphological structure, cell numbers and distribution of glandular and eglandular hairs on the aerial organs of Phlomis monocephala have been determined. The cell numbers of head, stalk and base of capitate glandular hairs are identified.
The As-Is Journal Review Process: Let Authors Own Their Ideas.

Recently, the problems associated with the existing journal review process aroused discussions from seasoned management researchers, who have also made useful suggestions for improving the process. To complement these suggestions, we propose a more radical change: a manuscript should be reviewed on an ? as is? basis and its fate be determined in one round of review. The as-is review process shortens the time period from submission to final acceptance, reduces the workload of editors, referees and authors, provides frank author feedback to referees, and, most important, lets authors own all of the ideas in their publications.
SEPTEMCAPSULA YASUNAGAI GEN. ET SP. NOV., REPRESENTATIVE OF A NEW FAMILY OF THE CLASS MYXOSPOREA

From cultured sea-bass Lateolabrax japonicus Dr. Yasunaga (1981) reported a myxosporidian disease in Japan. Recently, cysts of the pathogen collected from the brain cavity of the fish were kindly sent by him to the authors for identification. Examination revealed that this myxosporidian is not only a new species, but also representing a new genus and a new family. Diagnosis of this new myxosporidian is given as follows.Septemcapsula yasunagai, gen. et sp.nov.Spore with seven shell valves and seven polar capsules. Each shell valve viewed laterally conical. Anterior view of the spore asterisk-like, with seven shell valves arranged equally. In front view the spore lampshade-shaped; each shell valve connected bilaterally to sutural ridges of neighbouring valves, with a polar capsule at its anterior end. Sutural line indistinct. Polar filament inconspicuous. Sporoplasm. without iodin-ophilous vacuole. well distributed. Nucleus indistinct.Measurements of the specimens (formalin preserved): spores 6.21 (4.25-7.31)μ long, 11.7 (9.35-13.94)μ wide and 8.32 (7.14-10.2)μ thick; polar capsules 3.64 (3.40 -4.25)μ long and 2.45 (2.21-2.89)μ wide,Host: Lateolabrax japonicus.Septemcapsulidae, fam. nov.Spore with seven valves and seven polar capsuies. Polar capsule situaled at the anterior end of each valve. Coelozoic in marine fish.Type genus: Septemcapsula. gen. nov.Septemcapsula, gen. nov.Characteristics as the new family.Type species: S. yasunagai, sp. novThis new species is named in honour of Dr. Norio Yasunaga.The type specimens are preserved in the Institute of Hydrobiology, Academia Si-nica.
Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida in vitro.

Objective To investigate the immunomodulation and antitumor activity of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida in vitro.Method Inhibition rate of fucoidan on the Hca-F cell line and the lymphocyte proliferation were assessed by MTT assays.The effect of fucoidan on phagocytosis of macrophages were studied by neutrol red method.The effect of fucoidan on the level of cytokine secretion of the spleen were detected by ELISA method.Result The concentration of fucoidan,less than 1 000 μg/ml,didn′t obviously inhibit Hca-F carcinoma growth in vitro.An increased tendency was observed in the proliferation capacity of lymphocyte,phagocytic activity of macrophages and relative contents of IL-6,IL-10,IL-12,IL-18 and TNF-α produced by fucoidan,in mice spleen.Conclusion Fucoidan not only affect tumor cells directly,but also exert antitumor efficiency through reinforcing cell-mediated,humeral immune response and accommodating lymphocytes to secrete cytokines.
Predictive control of 2l-vsi and 3l-npc vsi based on direct power control for mv grid-connected power applications

El objetivo de esta tesis es el desarrollo de nuevos algoritmos de control para convertidores directamente conectados a las redes de MT en tareas de regulacion de potencia. Para ello se evaluan dos de las topologias de convertidores DC/AC mas ampliamente utilizadas en el sector industrial; el convertidor bi-nivel y el tri-nivel NPC. En este contexto, se integra el conocimiento de las tecnicas de control clasicas VOC (Voltage Oriented Control) junto con las estrategias de control directo DPC (Direct Power Control), definiendo una nueva perspectiva de control orientada a convertidores de alta potencia con restricciones frecuenciales. Asi, se establecen las bases teoricas de un nuevo algoritmo del tipo predictivo; el Predictive Direct Power Control (P-DPC). Las caracteristicas de este algoritmo permiten el desarrollo de diferentes versiones, anadiendole una mayor versatilidad con respecto a las tecnicas de control habituales. Los diversos resultados de simulacion asi como los de experimentacion muestran niveles de calidad de energia en el regimen permanente comparables a los obtenidos con las tecnicas de control clasicas pero substancialmente superiores en los transitoriios. De este modo, se concluye que el P-DPC puede llegar a ser una interesante alternativa a las tecnicas VOC habituales para los convertidores conectados a la red electrica.
Specificities of children with migraine

Sažetak. U periodu od 1988. do 2005. godine u devet mesta Vojvodine, ispitano je 24.828 dece, starosti 3 do 16 godina, kako bi se utvrdila učestalost dece sa migrenskim i nemigrenskim glavoboljama i njihova specifičnost (prepoznatljive karakteristike, odnosno predisponirajuéi faktori migrenskog sindroma). Migrenski sindrom je dijagnostikovan kod 8,4% dece, češće kod devojčica (8,8% devojčice vs. 8,0% dečaci). Deçà sa migrenskim glavoboljama su značajno ređe opisivana kao neupadljiva (27,6%>) и odnosu na decu bez glavobolja (50,2%) i decu sa nemigrenskim glavoboljama (47,0%), što svakako predstavlja nedovoljno jasnu specifičnost ličnosti. Kao predisponirajuće faktore migrenskog sindroma kod dece, osim direktnog nasleđivanja, trebalo Ы prihvatiti: red rađanja (drugo dete), dužinu dojenja, starost pri uvođenju и ishranu industrijski pripremljene hrane i uzrast и коте je dete uključeno и celodnevni boravak, materijalno stanje porodice i porodičnu atmosferu, prethodno postojanje paroksizmalnog tortikolisa, epizoda vrtoglavica nejasne etiologije i recidivnog abdominalnog bola, kao i nedovoljnu dominaciju hemisfere.
Absolute Risk Aversion on the Romanian Capital Market

Stock prices move as corporate earnings prospects change, but they also move as investors change their aversion to risk. One of the central tenets of finance is that investors expect higher return for taking risk. They exchange some of their riskless securities for risky assets because they expect the total payoff in the long run to be optimal in terms of the risk-return trade-off. The previous studies proved that expected return is linearly related to risk and if we further assume investors are risk averse, the alluded relation will have to be positive. Aversion to risk is reflected on a risk premium, which consists of an expected extra return that investors require to be compensated for the risk of holding stocks. In this paper, we tried to assess the risk aversion on the Romanian capital market by using the optimal portfolio selection method.
Automatic screening of Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery for detection of oil pollution in the marine environment

This thesis is focused on marine oil spill monitoring by Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). A survey of the methodologies and technology applied in the field of oil spill remote sensing is given. Various space-borne and air-borne sensors are discussed, and results from manual and automatic analysis approaches of SAR images are compared to results from aircraft surveillance. One of the papers included in this thesis emphasises on the experience from the Northern European seas with respect to oil pollution monitoring. Several of the other papers cover studies of automatic detection and classification algorithms for ENVISAT and RADARSAT-1 SAR imagery. The main objective of this work was to develop an automatic algorithm for detection and classification of deliberate operational oil spills. Applying a supervised statistical classification approach, the algorithm consists of three main steps: detection of dark spots appearing on the sea surface in SAR images, extraction of a number of features from each dark spot, then the features make up a feature vector which is finally input to the classifier. In this thesis, it is shown that basing the classification decision only on the outcome of the statistical classifier produces too many false alarms, and therefore an additional step has been suggested. In this additional step, a confidence level for each dark spot classified as oil spill is estimated. This could be helpful when prioritising the alarms to be inspected by aerial surveillance. The dark spot detector is based on adaptive thresholding of the SAR images. Improvements to the thresholding algorithm are suggested for better detection of thin, piecewise linear dark spots. Spot features are extracted from both the dark spots themselves and their surroundings. A modified feature vector, including both new and improved features, is suggested for better description of the dark spots. Taking into consideration the variations in the extracted features, the feature space is divided into subclasses. Within each subclass, a classification of the dark spots into either the oil spill class or the look-alike class is performed. It is shown that a statistical classifier with regularized covariance matrices adapted to each subclass outperforms the simpler solution of a statistical classifier with diagonal covariance matrices and C-SVM classifiers. It is also shown that when there is enough data in the training set and a regularized classifier is applied, the performance of the algorithm is not very sensitive to using subclasses to divide the feature space.
14C/C measurements support Andreev's internode method to determine lichen growth rates in Cladina stygia (Fr.) Ahti

Growth rates and the ability to date an organism can greatly contribute to understanding its population biology and community dynamics. 1n 1954, Andreev proposed a method to date Cladina, a fruticose lichen, using total thallus length and number of internodes. No research, however, has demonstrated the reliability of this technique or compared its estimates to those derived by other means. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of {sup 14}C/C ratios to determine lichen age and growth rate in Cladina stygia (Fr.) Ahti collected from northwestern Alaska, USA. The average growth rate using {sup 14}C/C ratios was 6.5 mm {center_dot} yr{sup -1}, which was not significantly different from growth rates derived by Andreev's internode method (average = 6.2 mm {center_dot} yr{sup -1}); thus, suggesting the reliability of Andreev's simple field method for dating lichens. In addition, we found lichen growth rates appeared to differ with geographic location, yet did not seem related to ambient temperature and total precipitation.
Effects of Alkaline Gluten on the Insecticidal Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis

Insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Berliner decreases rapidly when el-posed to field conditions, but degradation can be minimized by improving the formulation. Solubilized wheat-gluten, added to sprayable formulations, forms a film upon drying that resists wash-off. Because gluten requires a pH >10 to solubilize, we examined the effects of alkaline pH (with and without gluten) on the insecticidal activity of B. thuringiensis. Efficacy of various formulations was measured by the mortality of neonate European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), fed on treated cotton leaves. In solutions with pH from 5 to 11, B. thuringiensis (13,800 IV/ml) caused greater than 90% larval mortality. Mortality declined significantly (P < 0.05) at pH 12, indicting a loss of insecticidal activity. However, adding 1% (wt:vol) gluten to the formulations provided 2 benefits that retained the activity of B. thuringiensis. First, formulations of B. thuringiensis vith gluten caused 97% mortality of larvae at pH 13 compared with 68% mortality for larvae feeding on leaves treated with the same formulation without gluten. Second, the addition of gluten helped to resist wash-off of B. thuringiensis by 5 cm of simulated rain. Response surface regression analysis indicated that higher concentrations of gluten (up to 1.5% wt:vol) and less alkaline formulations (down to pH 10.5) improved resistance to wash-off. These results indicate that residual activity of B. thuringiensis in the presence of rain may be improved by the addition of gluten to the spray mixture.
Decadal changes in blood δ13C values, at-sea distribution, and weaning mass of southern elephant seals from Kerguelen Islands

Changes in the foraging environment and at-sea distribution of southern elephant seals from Kerguelen Islands were investigated over a decade (2004–2018) using tracking, weaning mass, and blood δ13C values. Females showed either a sub-Antarctic or an Antarctic foraging strategy, and no significant shift in their at-sea distribution was detected between 2004 and 2017. The proportion of females foraging in sub-Antarctic versus Antarctic habitats did not change over the 2006–2018 period. Pup weaning mass varied according to the foraging habitat of their mothers. The weaning mass of sub-Antarctic foraging mothers' pups decreased by 11.7 kg over the study period, but they were on average 5.8 kg heavier than pups from Antarctic foraging mothers. Pup blood δ13C values decreased by 1.1‰ over the study period regardless of their sex and the presumed foraging habitat of their mothers. Together, these results suggest an ecological change is occurring within the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean with possible consequences on the foraging performance of southern elephant seals. We hypothesize that this shift in δ13C is related to a change in primary production and/or in the composition of phytoplankton communities, but this requires further multidisciplinary investigations.
SgRVE6, a LHY-CCA1-Like Transcription Factor From Fine-Stem Stylo, Upregulates NB-LRR Gene Expression and Enhances Cold Tolerance in Tobacco

Stylosanthes species are economically important tropical and subtropical forage legumes which are generally vulnerable to chilling and frost. Fine-stem stylo (S. guianensis var. intermedia) has the most superior cold tolerance among all stylo species. A REVEILLE (RVE) gene, SgRVE6, was cloned from fine-stem stylo. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that SgRVE6 encodes a transcription factor of 292 amino acid residues, which belongs to the LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL/CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1-LIKE (LCL) subgroup of RVE family and contains a SHAQKYF-class MYB domain and a LCL domain. SgRVE6 is universally expressed in root, stem and leaf tissues of fine-stem stylo and is rapidly up-regulated in all tested tissues under cold stress. Over-expressing SgRVE6 affects expression of 21 circadian clock genes, up-regulates expression of 6 nucleotide binding domain leucine-rich repeats (NB-LRR) encoding genes associated with tobacco cold tolerance, improves physiological responses to low temperature, and endows the transgenic tobaccos with higher tolerance to cold stress. This is the first time a study investigates the biological function of RVE6 in cold responses of plant species.
Using cDNA microarray to screen differently expressed genes in SH-SY5Y treated by veratridine

Aim To screen the differently expressed genes of SH-SY5Y cell treated with veratridine by using cDNA microarray.Methods In vitro cultured SH-SY5Y cells treated with Veratridine for 8 hours,and total RNA was isolated.The target sequences were hybridized to cDNA microarray HOA 5.1 of 29000 human genes.After washing,the cDNA microarraies were scanned by fluorescent scanner AXON4000B.And the fluorescent signals were analyzed by Rosetta Resolver? System.Result Compared with the control group,there were 71,182,77 differential expressed genes in SH-SY5Y treated by veratridine 50,200,800 μmol·L-1.The differential expressed genes were related with Material and energy metabolism,mitochondrial function,the cell cycle,differentiation and apoptosis,cell signal conduct,et al.Conclusion The investigations based on cDNA microarray can sequence related gene in SH-SY5Y treated by veratridine,and may provide a new idea in studing the neurotoxicity of veratridine.
Investigating the competing endogenous RNA hypothesis genome-wide and in single cells

The observation that microRNAs (miRNAs), through a titration mechanism can couple interactions of their common targets (competing endogenous RNAs or ceRNAs) has prompted a general "ceRNA hypothesis' that RNAs can regulate each other indirectly through global RNA-miRNA-RNA networks. These ceRNAs are said to "crosstalk' with each other by competing for common miRNAs. Although many individual ceRNAs have been found, fundamental questions about both the magnitude and generality of the crosstalk effect remain. In our study we combine RNA sequencing and single-molecule FISH (smFISH) approaches to both measure the magnitude of the crosstalk effect genome-wide by perturbing three known ceRNAs (Pten, Vapa, Cnot6l) and to identify mechanisms by which the crosstalk effect acts. We identify hundreds of putative ceRNAs and dissect the contributions of individual miRNAs in transmitting crosstalk. We demonstrate that while the crosstalk effect is pervasive, it nevertheless remains bounded by the size of the perturbation. Furthermore, we show that both the number and affinity of shared miRNA binding sites between targets is crucial in determining the magnitude of the crosstalk strength. Using the smFISH data, we examined the single-cell gene expression profiles of pairs of ceRNAs and found that ceRNA gene expression is correlated only in the presence of active miRNAs. Additionally, on inspecting the intra-cellular localization of RNA molecules, we found a miRNA-dependent colocalization of ceRNAs, suggesting a new signature of crosstalk between ceRNAs that extends and modifies the original hypothesis. Thesis Supervisor: Alexander van Oudenaarden Title: MIT Professor of Physics and Professor of Biology Director, Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology Thesis Supervisor: Jeff Gore Title: Latham Family Career Development Assistant Professor of Physics This work is dedicated to my grandparents Gaur Priya Devi & Krishnanand Sahay, Veena Srivastava & Shailendra Nath Srivastava who instilled in me their love for the life of the mind and the desire to share its fruits with others.
Did the thylacine violate the costs of carnivory? Body mass and sexual dimorphism of an iconic Australian marsupial

The relative body masses of predators and their prey strongly affect the predators' ecology. An accurate estimate of the mass of an extinct predator is therefore key to revealing its biology and the structure of the ecosystem it inhabited. Until its extinction, the thylacine was the largest extant carnivorous marsupial, but little data exist regarding its body mass, with an average of 29.5 kg the most commonly used estimate. According to the costs of carnivory model, this estimate predicts that thylacines would have focused on prey subequal to or larger than themselves; however, many studies of their functional morphology suggest a diet of smaller animals. Here, we present new body mass estimates for 93 adult thylacines, including two taxidermy specimens and four complete mounted skeletons, representing 40 known-sex specimens, using three-dimensional volumetric model-informed regressions. We demonstrate that prior estimates substantially overestimated average adult thylacine body mass. We show mixed-sex population mean (16.7 kg), mean male (19.7 kg), and mean female (13.7 kg) body masses well below prior estimates, and below the 21 kg costs of carnivory threshold. Our data show that the thylacine did not violate the costs of carnivory. The thylacine instead occupied the 14.5–21 kg predator/prey range characterized by small-prey predators capable of occasionally switching to relatively large-bodied prey if necessary.