What's Ahread in High-Speed Wireless Data Communications? The Future Will Be Better Tomorrow - And Different Than What We've Been Expecting

The present situation in high-speed wireless data communications is examined. While there is growing demand for wireless bandwidth, the most pressing problem affecting this situation today is the attempt to increase bandwidth by using the same technology with tricks - rather than by using innovation. Opportunities for innovation are quite good with higher carrier frequencies, since these enable simplicity and low power consumption and opening the door to truly portable wireless peer-to-peer (WP2P) networking. Numerous challenges exist in technology and design methods; however, meeting these intellectual challenges is the only route to new and exciting wireless data technologies

Customer Lifetime Value Prediction in Non-Contractual Freemium Settings: Chasing High-Value Users Using Deep Neural Networks and SMOTE

In non-contractual freemium and sharing economy settings, a small share of users often drives the largest part of revenue for firms and co-finances the free provision of the product or service to a large number of users. Successfully retaining and upselling such high-value users can be crucial to firms\u27 survival. Predictions of customers\u27 Lifetime Value (LTV) are a much used tool to identify high-value users and inform marketing initiatives. This paper frames the related prediction problem and applies a number of common machine learning methods for the prediction of individual-level LTV. As only a small subset of users ever makes a purchase, data are highly imbalanced. The study therefore combines said methods with synthetic minority oversampling (SMOTE) in an attempt to achieve better prediction performance. Results indicate that data augmentation with SMOTE improves prediction performance for premium and high-value users, especially when used in combination with deep neural networks

The Mouse INO80 Chromatin-Remodeling Complex Is an Essential Meiotic Factor for Spermatogenesis1

The ability to faithfully transmit genetic information across generations via the germ cells is a critical aspect of mammalian reproduction. The process of germ cell development requires a number of large-scale modulations of chromatin within the nucleus. One such occasion arises during meiotic recombination, when hundreds of DNA double-strand breaks are induced and subsequently repaired, enabling the transfer of genetic information between homologous chromosomes. The inability to properly repair DNA damage is known to lead to an arrest in the developing germ cells and sterility within the animal. Chromatin-remodeling activity, and in particular the BRG1 subunit of the SWI/SNF complex, has been shown to be required for successful completion of meiosis. In contrast, remodeling complexes of the ISWI and CHD families are required for postmeiotic processes. Little is known regarding the contribution of the INO80 family of chromatin-remodeling complexes, which is a particularly interesting candidate due to its well described functions during DNA double-strand break repair. Here we show that INO80 is expressed in developing spermatocytes during the early stages of meiotic prophase I. Based on this information, we used a conditional allele to delete the INO80 core ATPase subunit, thereby eliminating INO80 chromatin-remodeling activity in this lineage. The loss of INO80 resulted in an arrest during meiosis associated with a failure to repair DNA damage during meiotic recombination

COVID-19 Demand Shocks Revisited: Did Advertising Technology Help Mitigate Adverse Consequences for Small and Midsize Businesses?

Research has investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business performance and survival, indicating particularly adverse effects for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). Yet only limited work has examined whether and how online advertising technology may have helped shape these outcomes, particularly for SMBs. The aim of this study is to address this gap. By constructing and analyzing a novel data set of more than 60,000 businesses in 49 countries, we examine the impact of government lockdowns on business survival. Using discrete-time survival models with instrumental variables and staggered difference-in-differences estimators, we find that government lockdowns increased the likelihood of SMB closure around the world but that use of online advertising technology attenuates this adverse effect. The findings show heterogeneity in country, industry, and business size, consistent with theoretical expectations

The protein and contrast agent-specific influence of pathological plasma-protein concentration levels on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the protein-specific response of r1 and r2 relaxivities of commercially available gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents to variation of plasma-protein concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this in vitro study, contrast agent (gadofosveset trisodium, gadoxetate disodium, gadobutrol, and gadoterate meglumine) dilution series (0-2.5 mmol Gd/L) were prepared with plasma-protein (human serum albumin [HSA] and immunoglobulin G [IgG]) concentrations at physiological (42 and 10 g/L HSA and IgG, respectively, Normal) and at 3 pathological levels with HSA/IgG concentrations of 10/10 (solution Alb low), 42/50 (IgG mild), and 42/70 (IgG severe) g/L. Contrast-agent molar relaxivities and relaxivity-enhancing protein-contrast-agent interaction coefficients were determined on the basis of inversion-recovery and spin-echo data acquired at 1.5 and 3.0 T at 37°C. Protein-induced magnetic resonance imaging signal changes were calculated. RESULTS: The effective r1 and r2 molar relaxivities consistently increased with albumin and IgG concentrations. At 1.5 T, the r1 values increased by 10.2 (gadofosveset), 4.3 (gadoxetate), 1.3 (gadobutrol), and 1.1 L s mmol (gadoterate), respectively, from the Alb low to the IgG severe solution. At 3.0 T, the r1 values increased by 2.9 (gadofosveset), 2.3 (gadoxetate), 0.7 (gadobutrol), and 0.9 (gadoterate) L s mmol, respectively. An excess of IgG most strongly increased the r1 of gadoxetate (+40 and +19% at 1.5 and 3.0 T, respectively, from Normal to IgG severe). An albumin deficiency most strongly decreased the r1 of gadofosveset (-44% and -20% at 1.5 and 3.0 T, respectively, from Normal to Alb low). The modeling confirmed a strong gadofosveset r1 enhancement by albumin and suggested stronger IgG than albumin effects on the apparent molar relaxivity of the other agents per protein mass concentration at 1.5 T. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological deviations from normal plasma-protein concentrations in aqueous solutions result in changes of effective r1 and r2 contrast-agent relaxivities and projected signal enhancements that depend on the contrast agent, the blood-serum protein profile, and the field strength

Rapid Climate-Driven Circulation Changes Threaten Conservation of Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales

As climate trends accelerate, ecosystems will be pushed rapidly into new states, reducing the potential efficacy of conservation strategies based on historical patterns. In the Gulf of Maine, climate-driven changes have restructured the ecosystem rapidly over the past decade. Changes in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation have altered deepwater dynamics, driving warming rates twice as high as the fastest surface rates. This has had implications for the copepod Calanus finmarchicus, a critical food supply for the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). The oceanographic changes have driven a deviation in the seasonal foraging patterns of E. glacialis upon which conservation strategies depend, making the whales more vulnerable to ship strikes and gear entanglements. The effects of rapid climate-driven changes on a species at risk undermine current management approaches

Application of the LymphGen classification tool to 928 clinically and genetically-characterised cases of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

We recently published results of targeted sequencing applied to 928 unselected cases of DLBCL registered in the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN) registry (1). Clustering allowed us to resolve five genomic subtypes. These subtypes shared considerable overlap with those proposed in two independent genomic studies(2, 3), suggesting the potential to use genetics to stratify patients by both risk and biology. In the original studies, clustering techniques were applied to sample cohorts to reveal molecular substructure, but left open the challenge of how to classify an individual patient. This was addressed by the LymphGen classification tool (4). LymphGen assigns an individual case to one of six molecular subtypes. The tool accommodates data from exome or targeted sequencing, either with or without copy number variant (CNV) data. Separate gene expression data allows classification of a seventh, MYC-driven subtype defined by a double hit (DHL) or molecular high-grade (MHG) gene expression signature(5-7).HR was funded by a studentship from the Medical Research Council. DH was supported by a Clinician Scientist Fellowship from the Medical Research Council (MR/M008584/1). The Hodson laboratory receives core funding from Wellcome and MRC to the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and core funding from the CRUK Cambridge Cancer Centre. HMRN is supported by BCUK 15037 and CRUK 18362

Physical signatures of discontinuities of the time-dependent exchange-correlation potential

The exact exchange-correlation (XC) potential in time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) is known to develop steps and discontinuities upon change of the particle number in spatially confined regions or isolated subsystems. We demonstrate that the self-interaction corrected adiabatic local-density approximation for the XC potential has this property, using the example of electron loss of a model quantum well system. We then study the influence of the XC potential discontinuity in a real-time simulation of a dissociation process of an asymmetric double quantum well system, and show that it dramatically affects the population of the resulting isolated single quantum wells. This indicates the importance of a proper account of the discontinuities in TDDFT descriptions of ionization, dissociation or charge transfer processes.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

A multicentre case-control study of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as a risk factor for severe sepsis and septic shock

International audienceINTRODUCTION: We aimed to establish whether the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during evolving bacterial community-acquired infection in adults is associated with severe sepsis or septic shock. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre case-control study in eight intensive care units. Cases were all adult patients admitted for severe sepsis or septic shock due to a bacterial community-acquired infection. Control individuals were patients hospitalized with a mild community-acquired infection. Each case was matched to one control for age, presence of diabetes and site of infection. RESULTS: The main outcome measures were the proportions of cases and controls exposed to NSAIDs or aspirin during the period of observation. In all, 152 matched pairs were analyzed. The use of NSAIDs or aspirin during the observation period did not differ between cases and controls (27% versus 28; odds ratio = 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.52 to 1.64). If aspirin was not considered or if a distinction was made between acute and chronic drug treatment, there remained no difference between groups. However, the median time to prescription of effective antibiotic therapy was longer for NSAID users (6 days, 95% CI = 3 to 7 days) than for nonusers (3 days, 95% CI = 2 to 3 days; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the use of NSAIDs or aspirin during evolving bacterial infection was frequent and occurred in one-quarter of the patients with such infection. Although the use of NSAIDs by patients with severe sepsis or septic shock did not differ from their use by those with mild infection at the same infected site, we observed a longer median time to prescription of effective antibiotic therapy in NSAID users

Dynamic interaction in tropical Africa: IGCP-616Y and IGCP 646 projects and events

The scientific objectives and research program of the IGCP-646 project (2015–2018) cuts across many disciplines and includes various aspects of continental basement geology, resource exploration (mineral, water and hydrocarbons), geohazard mitigation, and climate change, all of which are of critical importance to developing countries, particularly in parts of West Africa where population pressures are on the rise. Considerable emphasis was placed on capacity building, creation of opportunities for young scientists to undertake higher degrees programs, knowledge transfer and training. The SIDA-funded “pilot project” IGCP-616Y (started in 2012), focused on three objects (i) crustal architecture, tectonic evolution and regional geology of Central Africa and the connection with NE Brazil; (ii) the Mesozoic continental rifting and breakup leading to a better integration of the onshore and offshore geology; (iii) clarification and quantification of the links between basement structures, neotectonics, climate change and landscape evolution. The IGCP-616Y and IGCP-646 projects consisted of over 250 researchers, from different countries. In the course of the projects, six annual meetings, four field trips/workshops, as well as several training sessions were organized. Here we provide a summary of the scientific targets of the projects and a summary of the organized activities