Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular genetic framework for protophloem formation

Significance The emergence of vascular tissues played a central role in the plant conquest of land. Both xylem and phloem are essential for the development of flowering plants, yet little is known about the molecular genetic control of phloem specification and differentiation. Here we show that delicate quantitative interplay between two opposing signaling pathways determines cellular commitment to protophloem sieve element fate in root meristems of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Our data suggest that a recently described phloem-specific protein is a positive, quantitative master regulator of phloem fate. The phloem performs essential systemic functions in tracheophytes, yet little is known about its molecular genetic specification. Here we show that application of the peptide ligand CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION 45 (CLE45) specifically inhibits specification of protophloem in Arabidopsis roots by locking the sieve element precursor cell in its preceding developmental state. CLE45 treatment, as well as viable transgenic expression of a weak CLE45G6T variant, interferes not only with commitment to sieve element fate but also with the formative sieve element precursor cell division that creates protophloem and metaphloem cell files. However, the absence of this division appears to be a secondary effect of discontinuous sieve element files and subsequent systemically reduced auxin signaling in the root meristem. In the absence of the formative sieve element precursor cell division, metaphloem identity is seemingly adopted by the normally procambial cell file instead, pointing to possibly independent positional cues for metaphloem formation. The protophloem formation and differentiation defects in brevis radix (brx) and octopus (ops) mutants are similar to those observed in transgenic seedlings with increased CLE45 activity and can be rescued by loss of function of a putative CLE45 receptor, BARELY ANY MERISTEM 3 (BAM3). Conversely, a dominant gain-of-function ops allele or mild OPS dosage increase suppresses brx defects and confers CLE45 resistance. Thus, our data suggest that delicate quantitative interplay between the opposing activities of BAM3-mediated CLE45 signals and OPS-dependent signals determines cellular commitment to protophloem sieve element fate, with OPS acting as a positive, quantitative master regulator of phloem fate.
Capacity-Outage-Tradeoff (COT) for Cooperative Networks

We propose a novel relationship that characterizes the fundamental tradeoff between the capacity and the outage performance of a multi-user cooperative network. As far as we are aware, no such tradeoff has previously been explicitly investigated in cooperative networks that utilize realistic modulation and channel codes. We show that increased repetition cooperation maps to regions of increased transmission reliability but degrades the system capacity. Careful system design is essential to balance reliability and capacity performance and this can only be achieved through optimization with the aid of these tradeoff curves. We present both theoretical and simulation results on the tradeoffs. Furthermore, we also optimize the tradeoff relationship by employing closed-form optimized partner selection and power allocation schemes, and show that large gains can be made in both outage performance and capacity compared with blind cooperation. The proposed methodology presented in this paper can also be extended to address different system scenarios and performance metrics.
Wireless Relay Selection in Pocket Switched Networks Based on Spatial Regularity of Human Mobility

Pocket switched networks (PSNs) take advantage of human mobility to deliver data. Investigations on real-world trace data indicate that human mobility shows an obvious spatial regularity: a human being usually visits a few places at high frequencies. These most frequently visited places form the home of a node, which is exploited in this paper to design two HomE based Relay selectiOn (HERO) algorithms. Both algorithms input single data copy into the network at any time. In the basic HERO, only the first node encountered by the source and whose home overlaps a destination’s home is selected as a relay while the enhanced HERO keeps finding more optimal relay that visits the destination’s home with higher probability. The two proposed algorithms only require the relays to exchange the information of their home and/or the visiting frequencies to their home when two nodes meet. As a result, the information update is reduced and there is no global status information that needs to be maintained. This causes light loads on relays because of the low communication cost and storage requirements. Additionally, only simple operations are needed in the two proposed algorithms, resulting in little computation overhead at relays. At last, a theoretical analysis is performed on some key metrics and then the real-world based simulations indicate that the two HERO algorithms are efficient and effective through employing only one or a few relays.
Long term effects of intensity of upper and lower limb training after stroke: a randomised trial

Objective: To assess long term effects at 1 year after stroke in patients who participated in an upper and lower limb intensity training programme in the acute and subacute rehabilitation phases. Design: A three group randomised controlled trial with repeated measures was used. Method: One hundred and one patients with a primary middle cerebral artery stroke were randomly allocated to one of three groups for a 20 week rehabilitation programme with an emphasis on (1) upper limb function, (2) lower limb function or (3) immobilisation with an inflatable pressure splint (control group). Follow up assessments within and between groups were compared at 6, 9, and 12 months after stroke. Results: No statistically significant effects were found for treatment assignment from 6 months onwards. At a group level, the significant differences in efficacy demonstrated at 20 weeks after stroke in favour of the lower limb remained. However, no significant differences in functional recovery between groups were found for Barthel index (BI), functional ambulation categories (FAC),action research arm test (ARAT), comfortable and maximal walking speed, Nottingham health profile part 1(NHP-part 1), sickness impact profile-68 (SIP-68), and Frenchay activities index (FAI) from 6 months onwards. At an individual subject level a substantial number of patients showed improvement or deterioration in upper limb function (n=8 and 5, respectively) and lower limb function (n=19 and 9, respectively). Activities of daily living (ADL) scores showed that five patients deteriorated and four improved beyond the error threshold from 6 months onwards. In particular, patients with some but incomplete functional recovery at 6 months are likely to continue to improve or regress from 6 months onwards. Conclusions: On average patients maintained their functional gains for up to 1 year after stroke after receiving a 20 week upper or lower limb function training programme. However, a significant number of patients with incomplete recovery showed improvements or deterioration in dexterity, walking ability, and ADL beyond the error threshold.
Structure and spatial variability of mayfly (Ephemeroptera) communities in the upper Hron River basin

Mayflies were sampled from eleven sites in six tributaries of the upper Hron River. Mayfly communities were ordinated and related to environmental factors using multiple regression and principal component analysis. Communities of headwater sites were dominated by Rhithrogena iridina which was gradually replaced by Baetis alpinus, at the lower reaches. Total mayfly species richness was inversely related to stream slope and overall abundance was inversely related to altitude. The prominent factor influencing mayfly communities was a complex longitudinal gradient as proposed by the river continuum concept. There were no significant differences in community composition and structure between the left-and right-hand tributaries of the Hron River.
Evaluation of Weight Change During Carboplatin Therapy in Dogs With Appendicular Osteosarcoma

Background The prevalence of cancer cachexia in veterinary medicine has not been studied widely, and as of yet, no definitive diagnostic criteria effectively assess this syndrome in veterinary patients. Objectives (1) To determine the patterns of weight change in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma treated with amputation and single‐agent carboplatin during the course of adjuvant chemotherapy; and (2) to determine whether postoperative weight change is a negative prognostic indicator for survival time in dogs with osteosarcoma. Animals Eighty‐eight dogs diagnosed with appendicular osteosarcoma. Animals were accrued from 3 veterinary teaching hospitals. Methods Retrospective, multi‐institutional study. Dogs diagnosed with appendicular osteosarcoma and treated with limb amputation followed by a minimum of 4 doses of single‐agent carboplatin were included. Data analyzed in each patient included signalment, tumor site, preoperative serum alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), and body weight (kg) at each carboplatin treatment. Results A slight increase in weight occurred over the course of chemotherapy, but this change was not statistically significant. Weight change did not have a significant effect on survival. Institution, patient sex, and serum ALP activity did not have a significant effect on survival. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Weight change was not a prognostic factor in these dogs, and weight loss alone may not be a suitable method of determining cancer cachexia in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma.
Chemical compositions and antibacterial activity of extracts obtained from the inflorescences of Cirsium canum (L.) all

The aim of this study was to investigate phenolic acids and flavonoids in methanolic, dichloromethane, acetone and ethyl acetate extracts and fractions from inflorescences of Cirsium canum (L.). RP-HPLC analysis enabled identification of the following: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, luteolin-7-glucoside, apigenin-7-glucoside, kaempferol-3-glucoside, linarin, apigenin, rutoside, luteolin and kaempferol. The antimicrobial activity of tested extracts was determined in vitro against reference microorganisms, including bacteria or fungi, belonging to yeasts. Our data showed that the tested extracts had no influence on the growth of the reference strains of Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts belonging to Candida spp. Among them, the fractions possessed the highest activity against Gram-positive bacteria, especially Streptococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae belonging to pathogens and Streptococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis belonging to opportunistic microorganisms.
Detection of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in blood culture by a single PCR assay

A multiplex PCR assay was developed to screen blood cultures from children in The Gambia with suspected pneumonia for the simultaneous detection of Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates. Analysis of 295 blood cultures showed that PCR detected the organisms in all samples positive by culture in two samples infected with H. influenzae type b and four samples infected with S. pneumoniae that were culture negative, indicating that this method is sensitive for detecting these organisms in blood cultures.
Clinical Interpretation of Indices of Quality of Glycemic Control and Glycemic Variability

Abstract The practicing physician is faced with the task of interpreting > 2 dozen indices of quality of glycemic control and glycemic variability. It would be desirable to have reference data from relevant patient populations (eg, patients with the same type of diabetes, duration of diabetes, therapeutic regimen, or glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] levels). The physician can then select the appropriate reference set for interpretation of results for each patient. Institutions and clinics may wish to develop their own reference data. Results can be interpreted as excellent, good, fair, or poor, corresponding with quartiles of their distributions. Each index of glycemic control and variability can be given a numerical score in terms of its percentile within the selected reference population. One can then compute the mean and standard deviation of the percentile scores to obtain an integrated measure of the quality of glycemic control or variability. We calculated quartiles for measures of quality of glycemic control and variability. One can use the percent coefficient of variation (%CV) with criteria that apply irrespective of the HbA1c level as a general rule for interpretation of glycemic variability. For example, a %CV < 33.5% can be regarded as excellent, a %CV between 33.5% to 36.8% as good, a %CV between 36.8% to 40.6% as fair, and a %CV > 40.6% as poor. A graphical display can be used to make more accurate assessments for narrow HbA1c ranges, as the percentiles of the %CV can change systematically with HbA1c level or with mean glucose level.
The relationship of neuropsychological functioning to adaptation outcome in adolescents with spina bifida

Adolescents with spina bifida (SB) vary in their ability to adapt to the disease, and it is likely that numerous risk and protective factors affect adaptation outcomes. The primary aim was to test neuropsychological impairment, exemplified herein by executive dysfunction, as a risk factor in the Ecological Model of Adaptation for Adolescents with SB. Specific hypotheses were that: (1) executive functioning predicts the adaptation outcome of functional independence in adolescents with SB; (2) executive functioning mediates the impact of neurological severity on functional independence; and (3) family and adolescent protective factors are related to functional independence and moderate the relationship between executive functioning and functional independence. Forty-three adolescents aged 12–21 years completed neuropsychological measures and an interview that assessed risk, adolescent and family protective factors, and functional independence. Age, level of lesion, executive functioning, and the protective factor adolescent activities were significantly correlated with the functional independence outcome. In hierarchical regression analysis, the model accounted for 61% of the variance in functional independence outcomes. Executive functioning mediated the impact of neurological severity on functional independence. (JINS, 2008, 14, 793–804.)
Mediators of a successful web-based smokeless tobacco cessation program.

AIM To examine self-efficacy and program exposure as possible mediators observed treatment effects for a web-based tobacco cessation intervention. DESIGN The ChewFree trial used a two-arm design to compare tobacco abstinence at both the 3- and 6-month follow-up for participants randomized to either an enhanced intervention condition or a basic information-only control condition. SETTING Internet in US and Canada. PARTICIPANTS Our secondary analyses focused upon 402 participants who visited the web-based program at least once, whose baseline self-efficacy rating showed room for improvement, who reported that they were still using tobacco at the 6-week assessment, and for whom both 3- and 6-month follow-up data were available. INTERVENTION An enhanced web-based behavioral smokeless tobacco cessation intervention delivered program content using text, interactive activities, testimonial videos and an ask-an-expert forum and a peer forum. The basic control condition delivered tobacco cessation content using static text only. MEASUREMENTS Change in self-efficacy and program exposure from baseline to 6 weeks were tested as simple and multiple mediators on the effect of treatment condition on point-prevalence tobacco abstinence measured at 3- and 6-month follow-up. FINDINGS While both participant self-efficacy and program exposure satisfied the requirements for simple mediation, only self-efficacy emerged as a mediator when we used the more robust test of multiple mediation. CONCLUSIONS Results confirm the importance of self-efficacy change as a probable underlying mechanism in a successful web-based behavioral intervention. While program exposure was found to be a simple mediator of tobacco abstinence, it failed to emerge as a mediator when tested with self-efficacy change in a multiple mediator test suggesting that self-efficacy and program exposure share a complex, possibly reciprocal relationship with the tobacco abstinence outcome. Our results underscore the utility of searching for mediators in research on web-based interventions.
Botz-4-sale: surviving organized DDoS attacks that mimic flash crowds

Recent denial of service attacks are mounted by professionals using Botnets of tens of thousands of compromised machines. To circumvent detection, attackers are increasingly moving away from bandwidth floods to attacks that mimic the Web browsing behavior of a large number of clients, and target expensive higher-layer resources such as CPU, database and disk bandwidth. The resulting attacks are hard to defend against using standard techniques, as the malicious requests differ from the legitimate ones in intent but not in content. We present the design and implementation of Kill-Bots, a kernel extension to protect Web servers against DDoS attacks that masquerade as flash crowds. Kill-Bots provides authentication using graphical tests but is different from other systems that use graphical tests. First, Kill-Bots uses an intermediate stage to identify the IP addresses that ignore the test, and persistently bombard the server with requests despite repeated failures at solving the tests. These machines are bots because their intent is to congest the server. Once these machines are identified, Kill-Bots blocks their requests, turns the graphical tests off, and allows access to legitimate users who are unable or unwilling to solve graphical tests. Second, Kill-Bots sends a test and checks the client's answer without allowing unauthenticated clients access to sockets, TCBs, and worker processes. Thus, it protects the authentication mechanism from being DDoSed. Third, Kill-Bots combines authentication with admission control. As a result, it improves performance, regardless of whether the server overload is caused by DDoS or a true Flash Crowd.
Platelet functional and transcriptional changes induced by intralipid infusion

Summary Multiple studies have shown the effects of long-term exposure to high-fat or western diets on the vascular system. There is limited knowledge on the acute effects of high circulating fat levels, specifically on platelets, which have a role in many processes, including thrombosis and inflammation. This study investigated the effects of acute, high-fat exposure on platelet function and transcript profile. Twenty healthy participants were given an intravenous infusion of 20% Intralipid emulsion and heparin over 6 hours. Blood samples were taken prior to and the day after infusion to measure platelet function and transcript expression levels. Platelet aggregation was not significantly affected by Intralipid infusion, but, when mitochondria function was inhibited by carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) or oligomycin, platelet aggregation was higher in the post-infusion state compared to baseline. Through RNA sequencing, and verified by RT-qPCR, 902 miRNAs and 617 mRNAs were affected by Intralipid infusion. MicroRNAs increased include miR-4259 and miR-346, while miR-517b and miR-517c are both decreased. Pathway analysis identified two clusters significantly enriched, including cell motility. In conclusion, acute exposure to high fat affects mitochondrial-dependent platelet function, as well as the transcript profile.
A New Model for Secondary Prevention of Stroke: Transition Coaching for Stroke

Non-adherence to stroke prevention medications is a risk factor for first-ever and recurrent stroke. As of yet, there are no guidelines for processes to recognize and address medication non-adherence in stroke patients. We developed a new model of post-discharge prevention care that measures and addresses medication-taking (transition coaching for stroke or TRACS). TRACS includes personalized education about risk factors and medications prior to discharge, follow-up telephone calls, and appointments with a stroke nurse practitioner (NP). The stroke NP asks about medication use (persistence) and whether doses are missed (adherence), and helps to solve problems with access to medications or side effects. In an analysis of 142 patients enrolled in TRACS from October 2012 to February 2014, medication persistence (use of medications from discharge to the time of measurement) was about 80%. Medication persistence at NP visit was higher in those patients with a first-ever stroke (78.9%) vs. those with recurrent stroke (60.7%; p = 0.045). Concerted efforts with 2-day RN follow-up calls and earlier NP appointments to improve medication-taking behaviors are underway.
Screening for and managing diabetic retinopathy: current approaches.

PURPOSE The anatomy of the eye and the pathogenesis, clinical features, and prevalence of vision impairment from diabetic retinopathy are described. Screening and risk factors for and treatment of diabetic retinopathy also are addressed. SUMMARY The macula and fovea play a critical role in vision. Several interrelated biochemical pathways involving aldose reductase, advanced glycation end products, and protein kinase C link chronic hyperglycemia with retinal capillary endothelial cell damage and dysfunction in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Vision loss and blindness from diabetic retinopathy usually are the result of vascular leakage or ischemia. Screening for retinopathy should be performed within three to five years after the onset of type 1 diabetes and shortly after the diagnosis of type 2 disease, with annual follow-up examinations in both types of diabetes. In patients with diabetic retinopathy, severe vision impairment is less common and less readily corrected than mild vision impairment, and vision impairment is more common and less readily corrected in elderly patients with diabetes than in younger diabetics. Modifiable risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include A1C level, hypertension, cigarette smoking, and dyslipidemia. Tight control of blood glucose concentrations and blood pressure can reduce the risk for and progression of diabetic retinopathy. Aspirin therapy and smoking cessation also are recommended. Dyslipidemia in patients with diabetes is associated with retinopathy progression and vision loss. Treatment of dyslipidemia provides cardiovascular benefits in patients with diabetes, but whether it provides vision benefits remains to be determined. Laser photocoagulation therapy reduces the risk of vision loss in patients with diabetic macular edema, severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, or proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Intraocular surgery may be used for patients with vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment of the macula. CONCLUSION Therapeutic approaches used for patients with or at risk for diabetic retinopathy include drug therapy to reduce modifiable risk factors, laser photocoagulation, and intraocular surgery. Screening plays an important role in early detection and intervention to prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy.