Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Iterative Soft Cancellation With Element-Wise Extrinsic Information for Coded OTFS System

Orthogonal time-frequency-space (OTFS) modulation is able to improve the performance of the wireless communication system in a high-speed environment. This correspondence proposes an iterative soft cancellation receiver with element-wise extrinsic information for coded OTFS system. In calculating the soft estimates that are fed back to the iterative soft cancellation, existing full extrinsic information based method subtracts the entire a priori information from the a posteriori probability (APP) outputs from the decoder. In the proposed element-wise extrinsic information method, only the a priori information w.r. t the specific path (a single-element from the observation) in OTFS system is subtracted from the decoder's APP outputs. We show that the proposed approach outperforms existing a posteriori probability and full extrinsic information based iterative detection by 2 dB and 1 dB, respectively. Further, we apply extrinsic information transfer chart curve-fitting technique to optimize the code profile of the propose scheme. We demonstrate that the proposed scheme performs within 0.5 dB of the capacity limit of OTFS.
The Survival Rate of Posterior Immediate Implants in the Maxilla and Mandible: An Observational Retrospective Study of 158 Dental Implants

Background: Immediate implants are popular for the anterior sextants of the mouth and have shown a high success rate for the same. However, their installation in a fresh extraction socket in the posterior segments can also be beneficial to the patients and limit the time for the patient to start the masticatory function. However, there have been contradicting results in different studies. Objectives: The primary objective of this retrospective study was to establish correlations between factors such as implant dimensions, implant categories, implant location, and various demographic parameters in relation to the longevity of implants. This investigation was conducted through a comprehensive clinical evaluation of immediate implants situated within the molar sections of both the upper (maxillary) and lower (mandibular) jaws. Methods: Between October 2015 and August 2022, a total of 158 implants were implanted, with 87 males and 71 females undergoing implant placement following tooth extraction. All implants were reinstated between 12 and 18 weeks after they were placed. Inferential statistics were performed using SPSS Statistics version 23 (IBM Corp. Released 2015. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). The Chi-square test was employed to determine statistical significance (p=0.05) between survived and failed implants in relation to various study factors. Lastly, in order to measure the survival rate under different time periods after implant placement, the life table method and Kaplan-Meier survival rate analysis were used. Results: Success of implants was observed at 149 sites, whereas implant failure was seen at nine sites in total. From placement to loading, the implant failed at five sites, and the cumulative survival rate was found to be 96.83%, from loading to one year, implant failure was seen at three sites, and the cumulative survival rate was found to be 94.9%, from one to two years after loading implant failure was seen at only one site with cumulative survival rate to be 94.93%. From two to three years after loading, implant failure was not seen at any site. Conclusions: Regardless of implant size or insertion location, rapid implant implantation in fresh extraction sockets can result in predictable clinical outcomes.
Self-Tuning WPT System With Constant Voltage Output Under Resonance Frequency Shift

Automatic compensation techniques have become the research hotspots of wireless power transfer (WPT). In this article, a circuit with an automatic tuning function for WPT system is designed to maintain constant voltage under a shift in resonate frequencies. The proposed WPT system using LCC-S topology with automatic tuning assist circuit (ATAC) shows better antioffset performance and output characteristics compared to the conventional LCC-S topology. To make it easier to get the drive signal, ATAC's topological position is optimized. According to simulation and experiment results, more stable power and higher efficiency can be obtained by using LCC-S topology for receivers under frequency shift conditions than conventional LCC-S topology.
Student expectations of peers in academic asynchronous online discussion

In open, flexible, and distance learning, asynchronous online discussion persists as a popular means of interaction and collaboration. The research literature abounds with consideration of instructor roles and expectations of teachers and tools. Student-to-student interaction is widely acknowledged as a salient benefit of asynchronous online discussion, with implications for collaborative learning and problem-solving, as well as student satisfaction and course commitment. But what do students expect of their peers when communicating online for learning purposes? This question has seldom been considered, despite common reliance on peer-to-peer learning interactions. This small-scale case study incorporates an online focus group and semi-structured interviews with second-year undergraduate students studying primary teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand. The students in this study expect responsive, free-flowing contributions by peers, culminating in discussion that is active and interactive. Given the imperative to value student experience and to involve students in active learning, it is timely to share peer expectations so that students are accountable to their class community and are better prepared for collaborative learning through asynchronous online discussion.
A 14–32 GHz SiGe-BiCMOS Gilbert-Cell Frequency Doubler With Self-Adjusted Reduced Duty-Cycle Performance Enhancement

A novel approach to implement mixer-based frequency doublers is proposed in this article. By driving the two ports of a Gilbert-cell with in- phase signals, but reducing the switching-quad duty-cycle, the output current assumes square-wave shape at twice the input frequency, with enhanced harmonic conversion gain and free of DC offset. By avoiding the need of quadrature-signals generation, commonly required in multiplier-based frequency doublers, the performance advantage of the proposed approach is intrinsically broadband. The switching-quad duty-cycle is reduced by biasing the switching-quad transistors with a DC offset automatically regulated by a simple low-frequency loop. The article includes a detailed discussion of the operation principle, an analysis of the robustness to impairments, and thorough design considerations. The performance of the proposed architecture is finally compared against a conventional quadrature-driven Gilbert-cell doubler designed and implemented with the same technology. Realized in a SiGe-BiCMOS process, and operating at 1.5 V supply voltage, the doubler achieves state-of-the-art conversion gain (6 dB), ${P_{\mathrm{ sat}}}$ (5.7 dBm) and efficiency (17%). The operation bandwidth, of more than one octave (14–32 GHz), demonstrates a remarkable improvement against previous works.
ICT Innovation, FDI and Economic Growth: Evidence from BRICS

We make a comprehensive investigation of ICT innovation, FDI and economic growth nexus for BRICS countries for the periods between 1990 and 2021 using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) techniques. We use input-based ICT and non-ICT resources to capture ICT innovations, foreign direct inflows, gross domestic product and quantity of labor for this economic bloc. From our estimation, the following summary can be made. ICT is found to be consistently and significantly contributing to the economic growth rate of BRICS countries. However, with the negative impact of FDI on the growth rate, its interaction with ICT input resources was found to help mitigate the negative impact of FDI on economic growth which by implication suggests that adequate ICT infrastructure complemented with foreign-oriented investment can play a formidable role in increasing the growth process of the economies of BRICS. Also, non-ICT input resources and quantity of labor growth rate were found to be necessary variables worthy of giving appropriate consideration in explaining the growth rate of the economies. The study thus suggests the higher provision of both ICT and non-ICT input resources in the BRICS and a policy to attract able hands from developing countries to turn various resources for economic progress.
HPV16 E7 oncoprotein test as a triage strategy for HPV16-positive women in cervical cancer screening: long-term follow-up outcome

Background Colposcopy is recommended once human papillomavirus (HPV)16/18 infection is detected. However, not all HPV16/18-positive women will necessarily develop cervical lesions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the application of quantitative HPV16 E7 oncoprotein detection as a cervical cancer screening method for more efficient screening while minimizing unnecessary colposcopy. Methods E7 oncoprotein (HPV16) was quantitatively detected in cervical exfoliated cells of HPV16-positive women. The levels of HPV16 E7 oncoprotein in different degrees of cervical lesions were compared, and the optimal cut-off value for identifying HSIL+ was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. With a pathological diagnosis as the gold standard, the sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and Kappa value were calculated to verify the diagnostic value of the method. Women diagnosed with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) and normal women were followed up for 5 years to evaluate the predictive value of HPV16 E7 protein for disease progression/persistent infection. Results The expression level of HPV16 E7 oncoprotein was positively correlated with the degree of the cervical lesion (r = 0.589, P < 0.01). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.817 (confidence interval: 0.729–0.904). The cut-off value of E7 oncoprotein for identifying HSIL+ was 8.68 ng/ml. The SEN, SPE, PPV, NPV, and Kappa values of HPV16 E7 oncoprotein for the identification of HSIL+ were 87.1%,70.0%, 87.1%, 70.0%, and 0.571, respectively, which were higher than those of ThinPrep cytology test (TCT). The SEN, SPE, PPV, and NPV of HPV16 E7 oncoprotein in predicting disease progression/persistent infection were 93.75%, 91.30%, 88.24%, and 95.45%, respectively. Conclusion The quantitative detection of HPV 16 E7 oncoprotein can not only accurately screen cervical lesions but also achieve efficient colposcopy referral. Additionally, HPV16 E7 oncoprotein can accurately predict the progression of cervical lesions and persistent HPV infection.
Human deprivation amblyopia: treatment insights from animal models

Amblyopia is a common visual impairment that develops during the early years of postnatal life. It emerges as a sequela to eye misalignment, an imbalanced refractive state, or obstruction to form vision. All of these conditions prevent normal vision and derail the typical development of neural connections within the visual system. Among the subtypes of amblyopia, the most debilitating and recalcitrant to treatment is deprivation amblyopia. Nevertheless, human studies focused on advancing the standard of care for amblyopia have largely avoided recruitment of patients with this rare but severe impairment subtype. In this review, we delineate characteristics of deprivation amblyopia and underscore the critical need for new and more effective therapy. Animal models offer a unique opportunity to address this unmet need by enabling the development of unconventional and potent amblyopia therapies that cannot be pioneered in humans. Insights derived from studies using animal models are discussed as potential therapeutic innovations for the remediation of deprivation amblyopia. Retinal inactivation is highlighted as an emerging therapy that exhibits efficacy against the effects of monocular deprivation at ages when conventional therapy is ineffective, and recovery occurs without apparent detriment to the treated eye.
A Nonlinear Trajectory Tracking Control Strategy for Quadrotor With Suspended Payload Based on Force Sensor

To meet the realistic demands of autonomous transportation for quadrotor suspended-payload systems, it is necessary to investigate load trajectory tracking control using only onboard sensing. This article proposes a nonlinear payload trajectory tracking strategy based on the force sensor. The system employs a force sensor to measure the tension on the cable, in conjunction with the position of the quadrotor, to provide a real-time estimate of the payload position. A payload velocity observer is designed to ensure its status is always available. Furthermore, in order to meet the needs of transporting objects of varying weights, the system utilizes data feedback from the force sensor to autonomously adapt to various payload masses. Based on the payload state estimation, a payload trajectory tracking controller that only relies on onboard sensing to achieve outdoor operation is designed. And multiple sets of simulations and real-world outdoor experiments are performed to validate the effectiveness of the controller. Experimental results show that the proposed control strategy achieves satisfied performance for different payloads and different trajectories.
Association study of WNK1 genetic variants and essential hypertension risk in the Northern Han Chinese in Beijing

Background: Essential hypertension (EH) is a complex disorder resulting from interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Lysine deficient protein kinase 1 (WNK1) plays a very important role in maintaining renal potassium, sodium and chlorine ions balance as well as the regulation of blood pressure, so the WNK1 gene is considered a key gene for EH. This study thus sought to evaluate possible genetic associations between the WNK1 genetic variants and EH risk in the Northern Han Chinese population in Beijing. Methods: This study included 476 hypertensive subjects and 491 normotensive subjects. A total of 12 tag SNVs of WNK1 gene were genotyped successfully by TaqMan assay. Comparisons of the genotypic and allelic frequency between cases and controls were made by using the chi-square test. Logistic regression analyses were performed under different genetic models, and haplotype analysis was also conducted. Results: A total of 12 SNVs were identified as the tag SNVs for WNK1 gene. Significant associations were observed between WNK1 gene rs7305099 variant and EH risk, and T allele influenced hypertension risk in a protective manner. After correcting for multiple testing using Bonferroni, the significance remained for the SNV of rs7305099 in three genetic models [allele comparison, p < 0.0002, OR = 0.627, 95%CI (0.491–0.801); homozygote comparison, p < 0.0003, OR = 0.278, 95%CI (0.140–0.552); additive model, p < 0.0003, OR = 0.279, 95%CI (0.140–0.553)]. In the haplotype analyses, we found that the haplotype A-A-A-C-G-G-G was significantly associated with increased risk for EH (p = 0.043, OR = 1.23). Conclusion: Our data suggested that the rs7305099 genetic variant and the haplotype A-A-A-C-G-G-G on WNK1 gene might be associated with the susceptibility of EH in the Northern Han Chinese population. These could provide evidences to the risk assessment, early prevention and individualized therapy of EH to some extent.
Exploring the relationship between home environmental characteristics and restorative effect through neural activities

As society and the economy have advanced, the focus of architectural and interior environment design has shifted from practicality to eliciting emotional responses, such as stimulating environments and innovative inclusive designs. Of particular interest is the home environment, as it is best suited for achieving restorative effects, leading to a debate between interior qualities and restorative impact. This study explored the relationships between home characteristics, restorative potential, and neural activities using the Neu-VR. The results of the regression analysis revealed statistically significant relationships between interior properties and restorative potential. We examined each potential characteristic of the home environment that could have a restorative impact and elucidated the environmental characteristics that should be emphasized in residential interior design. These findings contribute evidence-based knowledge for designing therapeutic indoor environments. And combining different restorative potential environments with neural activity, discussed new neuro activities which may predict restorativeness, decoded the new indicators of neuro activity for environmental design.
Editorial: Re-emergence of neglected tropical diseases amid the COVID-19 pandemic: epidemiology, transmission, mitigation strategies, and recent advances in chemotherapy and vaccines

Department of Chemistry, Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar, Odisha, India, Department of Microbiology, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana, India, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan
Analyst Underreaction and the Post-Forecast Revision Drift

We find that analysts exhibit an underreaction bias when revising their forecasts and that the post-forecast revision drift (PFRD) manifests because investors appear to fixate on the biased forecast revision numbers. We further confirm the association between the bias and the PFRD by demonstrating similar patterns of cross-sectional and time-series variation in both analyst underreaction and the PFRD. In contrast to the extant literature attributing the PFRD to investors’ underreaction to analyst forecast revisions, our findings suggest that the PFRD arises from the combined effect of analyst underreaction in the forecast revision process and investor fixation on the revision numbers.
Research on Soil Moisture Estimation of Multiple-Track-GNSS Dual-Frequency Combination Observations Considering the Detection and Correction of Phase Outliers

Soil moisture (SM), as one of the crucial environmental factors, has traditionally been estimated using global navigation satellite system interferometric reflectometry (GNSS-IR) microwave remote sensing technology. This approach relies on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) reflection component, and its accuracy hinges on the successful separation of the reflection component from the direct component. In contrast, the presence of carrier phase and pseudorange multipath errors enables soil moisture retrieval without the requirement for separating the direct component of the signal. To acquire high-quality combined multipath errors and diversify GNSS-IR data sources, this study establishes the dual-frequency pseudorange combination (DFPC) and dual-frequency carrier phase combination (L4) that exclude geometrical factors, ionospheric delay, and tropospheric delay. Simultaneously, we propose two methods for estimating soil moisture: the DFPC method and the L4 method. Initially, the equal-weight least squares method is employed to calculate the initial delay phase. Subsequently, anomalous delay phases are detected and corrected through a combination of the minimum covariance determinant robust estimation (MCD) and the moving average filter (MAF). Finally, we utilize the multivariate linear regression (MLR) and extreme learning machine (ELM) to construct multi-satellite linear regression models (MSLRs) and multi-satellite nonlinear regression models (MSNRs) for soil moisture prediction, and compare the accuracy of each model. To validate the feasibility of these methods, data from site P031 of the Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) H2O project are utilized. Experimental results demonstrate that combining MCD and MAF can effectively detect and correct outliers, yielding single-satellite delay phase sequences with a high quality. This improvement contributes to varying degrees of enhanced correlation between the single-satellite delay phase and soil moisture. When fusing the corrected delay phases from multiple satellite orbits using the DFPC method for soil moisture estimation, the correlations between the true soil moisture values and the predicted values obtained through MLR and ELM reach 0.81 and 0.88, respectively, while the correlations of the L4 method can reach 0.84 and 0.90, respectively. These findings indicate a substantial achievement in high-precision soil moisture estimation within a small satellite-elevation angle range.
Hall effect study of the 
κ
-(ET)
2X
 family: Evidence for Mott-Anderson localization

We investigate the dc resistivity and Hall effect of the quasi-two-dimensional organic materials κ–(ET)2X, where X=Ag2(CN)3 and B(CN)4 and compare them with the results for X=Cu2(CN)3. All three compounds are considered to be quantum-spin-disordered Mott insulators. Despite high similarities in chemical composition and crystal structure, large differences in the dc resistivity and Hall coefficient are found. While around room temperature the dc transport properties are dominantly determined by the strength of the electron correlations, upon reducing the temperature, dc transport happens by hopping due to inherent disorder. The most disordered compound with X=Cu2(CN)3 turns out to have the lowest dc resistivity and the highest charge carrier density, i.e., in the phase diagram it is located closest to the metal-insulator transition. The least disordered compound with X=B(CN)4 shows the highest resistivity and the lowest carrier density, i.e., lies farthest from the metal-insulator transition. We explain such counterintuitive behavior within the theory of Mott-Anderson localization as a consequence of disorder-induced localized states within the correlation gap.
Cardiac Autonomic Function and Functional Capacity in Post-COVID-19 Individuals with Systemic Arterial Hypertension

Individuals diagnosed with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) are considered risk groups for COVID-19 severity. This study assessed differences in cardiac autonomic function (CAF) and functional capacity (FC) in SAH individuals without COVID-19 infection compared to SAH individuals post-COVID-19. Participants comprised 40 SAH individuals aged 31 to 80 years old, grouped as SAH with COVID-19 (G1; n = 21) and SAH without COVID-19 (G2; n = 19). CAF was assessed via heart rate variability (HRV), measuring R–R intervals during a 10-min supine period. Four HRV indices were analyzed through symbolic analysis: 0V%, 1V%, 2LV%, and 2UV%. FC assessment was performed by a 6-min walk test (6MWT). G1 and G2 showed no significant differences in terms of age, anthropometric parameters, clinical presentation, and medication use. G2 exhibited superior 6MWT performance, covering more distance (522 ± 78 vs. 465 ± 59 m, p < 0.05). Specifically, G2 demonstrated a moderate positive correlation between 6MWT and the 2LV% index (r = 0.58; p < 0.05). Shorter walking distances were observed during 6MWT in SAH individuals post-COVID-19. However, the study did not find impaired cardiac autonomic function in SAH individuals post-COVID-19 compared to those without. This suggests that while COVID-19 impacted FC, CAF remained relatively stable in this population.