Quantiles for Fractions and Other Mixed Data

This paper studies the estimation of quantile regression for fractional data, focusing on the case where there are mass-points at zero or/and one. More generally, we propose a simple strategy for the estimation of the conditional quantiles of data from mixed distributions, which combines standard results on the estimation of censored and Box-Cox quantile regressions. The implementation of the proposed method is illustrated using a well-known dataset

Enabling virtual radio functions on software defined radio for future wireless networks

Today's wired networks have become highly flexible, thanks to the fact that an increasing number of functionalities are realized by software rather than dedicated hardware. This trend is still in its early stages for wireless networks, but it has the potential to improve the network's flexibility and resource utilization regarding both the abundant computational resources and the scarce radio spectrum resources. In this work we provide an overview of the enabling technologies for network reconfiguration, such as Network Function Virtualization, Software Defined Networking, and Software Defined Radio. We review frequently used terminology such as softwarization, virtualization, and orchestration, and how these concepts apply to wireless networks. We introduce the concept of Virtual Radio Function, and illustrate how softwarized/virtualized radio functions can be placed and initialized at runtime, allowing radio access technologies and spectrum allocation schemes to be formed dynamically. Finally we focus on embedded Software-Defined Radio as an end device, and illustrate how to realize the placement, initialization and configuration of virtual radio functions on such kind of devices

Image Denoising using Attention-Residual Convolutional Neural Networks

During the image acquisition process, noise is usually added to the data mainly due to physical limitations of the acquisition sensor, and also regarding imprecisions during the data transmission and manipulation. In that sense, the resultant image needs to be processed to attenuate its noise without losing details. Non-learning-based strategies such as filter-based and noise prior modeling have been adopted to solve the image denoising problem. Nowadays, learning-based denoising techniques showed to be much more effective and flexible approaches, such as Residual Convolutional Neural Networks. Here, we propose a new learning-based non-blind denoising technique named Attention Residual Convolutional Neural Network (ARCNN), and its extension to blind denoising named Flexible Attention Residual Convolutional Neural Network (FARCNN). The proposed methods try to learn the underlying noise expectation using an Attention-Residual mechanism. Experiments on public datasets corrupted by different levels of Gaussian and Poisson noise support the effectiveness of the proposed approaches against some state-of-the-art image denoising methods. ARCNN achieved an overall average PSNR results of around 0.44dB and 0.96dB for Gaussian and Poisson denoising, respectively FARCNN presented very consistent results, even with slightly worsen performance compared to ARCNN.Comment: Published in: 2020 33rd SIBGRAPI Conference on Graphics, Patterns and Images (SIBGRAPI

Gb/s visible light communications with colloidal quantum dot color converters

This paper reports the utilization of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots as color converters for Gb/s visible light communications. We briefly review the design and properties of colloidal quantum dots and discuss them in the context of fast color conversion of InGaN light sources, in particular in view of the effects of self-absorption. This is followed by a description of a CQD/polymer composite format of color converters. We show samples of such color-converting composite emitting at green, yellow/orange and red wavelengths, and combine these with a blueemitting microsize LED to form hybrid sources for wireless visible light communication links. In this way data rates up to 1 Gb/s over distances of a few tens of centimeters have been demonstrated. Finally, we broaden the discussion by considering the possibility for wavelength division multiplexing as well as the use of alternative colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals

Pool trading model within a local energy community considering flexible loads, photovoltaic generation and energy storage systems

This paper presents a pool trading model within a local energy community considering home energy management systems (HEMSs) and other consumers. A transparent mechanism for market clearing is proposed to incentivise active prosumers to trade their surplus energy within a rule-based pool market in the local energy community. A price-based demand response program (PBDRP) is considered to increase the consumers’ willingness to modify their consumption. The mathematical optimization problem is a standard mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem to allow for rapid assessment of the trading market for real energy communities which have a considerable number of consumers. This allows for novel energy trading strategies amongst different clients in the model and for the integration of a pool energy trading model at the level of the local energy community. The objective function of the energy community is to minimize the overall bills of all participants while fulfilling their demands. Two different scenarios have been evaluated, independent and integrated operation modes, to show the impacts of coordination amongst different end-users. Results show that through cooperation, end-users in the local energy community market can reduce the total electricity bill. This is shown in a 16.63% cost reduction in the independent operation and a 21.38% reduction in the integrated case. Revenues for active consumers under coordination increased compared to independent operation of the HEMS.© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Antiproliferative Activity Of Flavonoids From Croton Sphaerogynus Baill. (euphorbiaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Croton sphaerogynus is a shrub from the Atlantic Rain Forest in southeastern Brazil. A lyophilized crude EtOH extract from leaves of C. sphaerogynus, obtained by maceration at room temperature (seven days), was suspended in methanol and partitioned with hexane. The purified MeOH phase was fractionated over Sephadex LH-20 yielding five fractions (F1-F5) containing flavonoids, as characterized by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses. The antiproliferative activity of the crude EtOH extract, MeOH and hexane phases, and fractions F1-F5 was evaluated on in vitro cell lines NCI-H460 (nonsmall cell lung), MCF-7 (breast cancer), and U251 (glioma). The MeOH phase showed activity (mean log GI(50) 0.54) higher than the hexane phase and EtOH extract (mean log GI(50) 1.13 and 1.19, resp.). F1 exhibited activity against NCI-H460 (nonsmall cell lung) (GI(50) 1.2 mu g/mL), which could be accounted for the presence of flavonoids and/or diterpenes. F4 showed moderate activity (mean log GI(50) 1.05), while F5 showed weak activity (mean log GI(50) 1.36). It is suggested that the antiproliferative activity of the crude EtOH extract and MeOH phase is accounted for a synergistic combination of flavonoids and diterpenes.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPESP [FAPESP 2012/10079-0

Absence of functional TolC protein causes increased stress response gene expression in Sinorhizobium meliloti

The TolC protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti has previously been demonstrated to be required for establishing successful biological nitrogen fixation symbiosis with Medicago sativa. It is also needed in protein and exopolysaccharide secretion and for protection against osmotic and oxidative stresses. Here, the transcriptional profile of free-living S. meliloti 1021 tolC mutant is described as a step toward understanding its role in the physiology of the cell

High Resolution He-like Argon And Sulfur Spectra From The PSI ECRIT

We present new results on the X-ray spectroscopy of multicharged argon, sulfur and chlorine obtained with the Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Trap (ECRIT) in operation at the Paul Scherrer Institut (Villigen, Switzerland). We used a Johann-type Bragg spectrometer with a spherically-bent crystal, with an energy resolution of about 0.4 eV. The ECRIT itself is of a hybrid type, with a superconducting split coil magnet, special iron inserts which provides the mirror field, and a permanent magnetic hexapole. The high frequency was provided by a 6.4 GHz microwave emitter. We obtained high intensity X-ray spectra of multicharged F-like to He-like argon, sulfur and chlorine with one 1s hole. In particular, we observed the 1s2s^{3}S_1 \to 1s^2^{1}S_0 M1 and 1s2p^{3}P_2 \to 1s^2^{1}S_0 M2 transitions in He-like argon, sulfur and chlorine with unprecedented statistics and resolution. The energies of the observed lines are being determined with good accuracy using the He-like M1 line as a reference

Antiproliferative activity of flavonoids from croton Sphaerogynus baill. (euphorbiaceae)

Croton sphaerogynus is a shrub from the Atlantic Rain Forest in southeastern Brazil. A lyophilized crude EtOH extract from leaves of C. sphaerogynus, obtained by maceration at room temperature (seven days), was suspended in methanol and partitioned with hexane. The purified MeOH phase was fractionated over Sephadex LH-20 yielding five fractions (F1-F5) containing flavonoids, as characterized by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses. The antiproliferative activity of the crude EtOH extract, MeOH and hexane phases, and fractions F1-F5 was evaluated on in vitro cell lines NCI-H460 (nonsmall cell lung), MCF-7 (breast cancer), and U251 (glioma). The MeOH phase showed activity (mean log GI(50) 0.54) higher than the hexane phase and EtOH extract (mean log GI(50) 1.13 and 1.19, resp.). F1 exhibited activity against NCI-H460 (nonsmall cell lung) (GI(50) 1.2 mu g/mL), which could be accounted for the presence of flavonoids and/or diterpenes. F4 showed moderate activity (mean log GI(50) 1.05), while F5 showed weak activity (mean log GI(50) 1.36). It is suggested that the antiproliferative activity of the crude EtOH extract and MeOH phase is accounted for a synergistic combination of flavonoids and diterpenes2015COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informação2012/10079-