Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Probabilistic Routing Protocol for Heterogeneous Sensor Networks

The past five years witnessed a rapid development in wireless sensor networks, which have been widely used in military and civilian applications. Due to different requirements in their application environment, sensors with different capacities, power, and so on are deployed. Data routing in such heterogeneous sensor networks is a challenging task. On one hand, the heterogeneous features bring about the diversity in their transmission ranges, which subsequently lead to asymmetric links in the communication graph. As a result, conventional routing strategies based on undirected graphs become unsuitable. On the other hand, sensors communicate with each other through intermittent asymmetric links. It is important to provide assurable delivery rate for mission critical applications. In this paper, we propose ProHet: a Probabilistic routing protocol for Heterogeneous sensor networks, which can deal with asymmetric links well and work in a distributed manner with low overhead and assurable delivery rate. The ProHet protocol first produces a bidirectional routing abstraction by finding a reverse routing path for every asymmetric link. Then, it uses a probabilistic strategy to choose forwarding nodes based on historical statistics, which is shown to achieve assurable delivery rate by theoretical analysis. Extensive simulations are conducted to verify the efficiency of the proposed protocol.
Security and Privacy for Cloud-Based IoT: Challenges

The Internet of Things is increasingly becoming a ubiquitous computing service, requiring huge volumes of data storage and processing. Unfortunately, due to the unique characteristics of resource constraints, self-organization, and shortrange communication in IoT, it always resorts to the cloud for outsourced storage and computation, which has brought about a series of new challenging security and privacy threats. In this article, we introduce the architecture and unique security and privacy requirements for the next generation mobile technologies on cloud-based IoT, identify the inappropriateness of most existing work, and address the challenging issues of secure packet forwarding and efficient privacy preserving authentication by proposing new efficient privacy preserving data aggregation without public key homomorphic encryption. Finally, several interesting open problems are suggested with promising ideas to trigger more research efforts in this emerging area.
Assessing the Environment for Introduction of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in India

This paper presents findings from a study conducted in 2007 and 2008 in two states in India: Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The objectives of the study were to: (i) design effective and appropriate HPV vaccine delivery systems for 10- to 14-year-old girls; (ii) design a communication strategy for HPV vaccine delivery; and (iii) devise an HPV vaccine advocacy strategy. The study populations included girls, parents, and local-, district-, and national-level stakeholders. A mixture of group discussions, visual representation techniques, face-to-face interviews, desk and health facility record reviews, field obser- vations, and consultative workshops were used to collect the data. Study findings showed that the policymakers, health care providers, parents, and adolescents were aware and concerned about cervical cancer; would welcome vaccination if safe, effective, affordable, and accessible. Health systems did not re- quire large infrastructure investments to introduce HPV vaccine; basic cold chain and logistic equipment were available. New outreach systems for adolescent girls need to be tested through demonstration projects. No policies would compro- mise the introduction of HPV vaccination. An HPV vaccine program, requiring public education and provider training, could be delivered. Policymakers' safety and vaccine efficacy concerns can be addressed through targeted advocacy efforts. Three broad approaches were suggested: (i) merge HPV vaccination with already established immunization services; (ii) package HPV immunization with adolescent health services or as a part of a cancer control service; and (iii) deliver HPV vaccinations through either routine immuni- zation services or a campaign using schools as sites for school-going girls and anganwadi or village health centers for non-school-going girls.
Preservation of algebraicity in free probability

We show that any matrix-polynomial combination of free noncommutative random variables each having an algebraic law has again an algebraic law. Our result answers a question raised by a recent paper of Shlyakhtenko and Skoufranis. The result belongs to a family of results with origins outside free probability theory, including a result of Aomoto asserting algebraicity of the Green function of random walk of quite general type on a free group.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin through Nuclear Factor-κB Activation in Endothelial Cells*

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces adhesion molecules on endothelial cells during inflammation. Here we examined the mechanisms underlying VEGF-stimulated expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. VEGF (20 ng/ml) increased expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin mRNAs in a time-dependent manner. These effects were significantly suppressed by Flk-1/kinase-insert domain containing receptor (KDR) antagonist and by inhibitors of phospholipase C, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, sphingosine kinase, and protein kinase C, but they were not affected by inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) 1/2 or nitric-oxide synthase. Unexpectedly, the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3′-kinase inhibitor wortmannin enhanced both basal and VEGF-stimulated adhesion molecule expression, whereas insulin, a PI 3′-kinase activator, suppressed both basal and VEGF-stimulated expression. Gel shift analysis revealed that VEGF stimulated NF-κB activity. This effect was inhibited by phospholipase C, NF-κB, or protein kinase C inhibitor. VEGF increased VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 protein levels and increased leukocyte adhesiveness in a NF-κB-dependent manner. These results suggest that VEGF-stimulated expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin mRNAs was mainly through NF-κB activation with PI 3′-kinase-mediated suppression, but was independent of nitric oxide and MEK. Thus, VEGF simultaneously activates two signal transduction pathways that have opposite functions in the induction of adhesion molecule expression. The existence of parallel inverse signaling implies that the induction of adhesion molecule expression by VEGF is very finely regulated.
Synthetic biology of fungal natural products

Synthetic biology is an ever-expanding field in science, also encompassing the research area of fungal natural product (NP) discovery and production. Until now, different aspects of synthetic biology have been covered in fungal NP studies from the manipulation of different regulatory elements and heterologous expression of biosynthetic pathways to the engineering of different multidomain biosynthetic enzymes such as polyketide synthases or non-ribosomal peptide synthetases. The following review will cover some of the exemplary studies of synthetic biology in filamentous fungi showing the capacity of these eukaryotes to be used as model organisms in the field. From the vast array of different NPs produced to the ease for genetic manipulation, filamentous fungi have proven to be an invaluable source for the further development of synthetic biology tools.
Sources of variability in birth defects prevalence rates.

BACKGROUND The characteristics and methodologies of state-based birth defect surveillance systems might influence reported prevalence rates, making comparisons among states difficult. Standardizing methods to minimize variability beyond true differences in prevalence will aid national surveillance efforts and birth defects prevention programs. METHODS Using data provided in the January 2000 Congenital Malformations Surveillance Report from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, we characterized the surveillance methodologies among all sites. We then identified prevalence rates that are highly varied among systems that use each of our specified methodologies. We also examined the standards used by other collective health registries that exist across geographical boundaries. RESULTS Large differences in prevalence rates across case ascertainment methods (active, passive, or combination of both) were observed for some conditions, but not for others. We identified additional factors which may influence prevalence rates, including case ascertainment sources, case inclusion criteria, and inclusion of elective terminations and stillbirths. The impact of each of these factors on prevalence rates may be defect-specific. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that while some variability is expected due to differences in the true prevalence of birth defects, extreme differences among states are more likely due to differences in surveillance practices. The Birth Defects Prevention Act prompted new initiatives to develop birth defect surveillance systems, but there are no nationally agreed upon standards in existence to guide the process. This study was performed in support of developing standards that will influence new and existing state surveillance systems.
Exploring the design space in technology-augmented dance

In this paper we describe the process and technology behind a dance performance, "Bodies/Antibodies," that will be presented at CHI 2010. This performance is part of an ongoing Dance.Draw project at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which investigates lightweight methods for integrating dance motion with interactive visualizations and enhancing audience interaction with dance.
Temperature dependent dielectric spectroscopy in frequency domain of high-voltage transformer oils compared to physicochemical results

The temperature dependent dielectric spectroscopy in frequency domain is compared to physicochemical and electrical tests that are periodically applied on highly insulating transformer oils. Complex permittivity and tan/spl delta/ data are obtained as a function of frequency and operation temperatures, to demonstrate the polarization phenomena and the induced loss intensification by the thermally stimulated currents. The acquired dielectric data of oil samples collected from 201 operating HV power transformers, were correlated to their corresponding physicochemical ones in order to demonstrate the future potential employment of the proposed measuring technique in the field of high voltage engineering towards reliability monitoring of oil filled electrical equipment (OFEE).
Adapting the Knaff and Zehr wind-pressure relationship for operational use in Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres

A methodology to implement a new operational mean sea-level pressure versus maximum mean near-surface wind relationship (hereafter wind-pressure relationship) based on a modified version of the approach recently developed by Knaff and Zehr is presented. This method incorporates latitude, size, storm motion and environmental pressure. In this formulation tropical cyclone size is expressed in terms of the radius of gales, environmental pressure is expressed in terms of the pressure of the outer closed isobar – parameters that are already routinely available in the operational setting. The resulting wind speed is also converted from a one-minute mean to a ten-minute mean. In addition, a correction is introduced for a weakness in the original Knaff and Zehr formula for storms located at low latitudes. The resulting algorithm is able to be integrated into the operational software to assist in the efficient calculation of the central pressure. Other Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres are encouraged to use this derivation. The new approach also presents the potential to reanalyse past tropical cyclone events to create a more homogeneous data-set. Some historical variations in intensity derivation in the Australian region are also presented. Differences between Atlantic basin best-track reconnaissance data and Dvorak-based data relied upon in other tropical cyclone basins result in some biases associated with the determination of the maximum wind. Dvorak-derived maximum wind corresponds well with the reconnaissance-derived maximum wind for non-weakening systems with intensities associated with Dvorak current intensity (CI) numbers of 3.5 and higher (i.e. greater than ~50 knots). At weaker intensities the Dvorak intensity underestimates the maximum wind. As a result the calculated pressure via a wind-pressure relationship, which is strongly influenced by reconnaissance-based intensity estimates, may result in higher pressures than is actually the case.
Physical Exercise Prevents Cellular Senescence in Circulating Leukocytes and in the Vessel Wall

Background— The underlying molecular mechanisms of the vasculoprotective effects of physical exercise are incompletely understood. Telomere erosion is a central component of aging, and telomere-associated proteins regulate cellular senescence and survival. This study examines the effects of exercising on vascular telomere biology and endothelial apoptosis in mice and the effects of long-term endurance training on telomere biology in humans. Methods and Results— C57/Bl6 mice were randomized to voluntary running or no running wheel conditions for 3 weeks. Exercise upregulated telomerase activity in the thoracic aorta and in circulating mononuclear cells compared with sedentary controls, increased vascular expression of telomere repeat-binding factor 2 and Ku70, and reduced the expression of vascular apoptosis regulators such as cell-cycle–checkpoint kinase 2, p16, and p53. Mice preconditioned by voluntary running exhibited a marked reduction in lipopolysaccharide-induced aortic endothelial apoptosis. Transgenic mouse studies showed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase and telomerase reverse transcriptase synergize to confer endothelial stress resistance after physical activity. To test the significance of these data in humans, telomere biology in circulating leukocytes of young and middle-aged track and field athletes was analyzed. Peripheral blood leukocytes isolated from endurance athletes showed increased telomerase activity, expression of telomere-stabilizing proteins, and downregulation of cell-cycle inhibitors compared with untrained individuals. Long-term endurance training was associated with reduced leukocyte telomere erosion compared with untrained controls. Conclusions— Physical activity regulates telomere-stabilizing proteins in mice and in humans and thereby protects from stress-induced vascular apoptosis.
Higgs boson from an extended symmetry

The variety of ideas put forward in the context of a composite picture for the Higgs boson calls for a simple and effective description of the related phenomenology. Such a description is given here by means of a minimal model and is explicitly applied to the example of a Higgs-top sector from an $SO(5)$ symmetry. We discuss the spectrum, the electroweak precision tests, B-physics, and naturalness. We show the difficulty in complying with the different constraints. The extended gauge sector relative to the standard $SU(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}U(1)$, if there is any, has little or no impact on these considerations. We also discuss the relation of the minimal model with its ``little Higgs'' or holographic extensions based on the same symmetry.
Learning in Alzheimer's disease is facilitated by social interaction

Seminal work in Gary Van Hoesen's laboratory at Iowa in the early 1980s established that the hallmark neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD; neurofibrillary tangles) had its first foothold in specific parts of the hippocampal formation and entorhinal cortex, effectively isolating the hippocampus from much of its input and output and causing the distinctive impairment of new learning that is the leading early characteristic of the disease (Hyman et al., 1984). The boundaries and conditions of the anterograde memory defect in patients with AD have been a topic of intense research interest ever since (e.g., Graham and Hodges, 1977; Nestor et al., 2006). For example, it has been shown that patients with AD may acquire some new semantic information through methods such as errorless learning, but learning under these conditions is typically slow and inefficient. Drawing on a learning paradigm (a collaborative referencing task) that was previously shown to induce robust and enduring learning in patients with hippocampal amnesia, we investigated whether this task would be effective in promoting new learning in patients with AD. We studied five women with early‐stage AD and 10 demographically matched healthy comparison participants, each interacting with a familiar communication partner. AD pairs displayed significant and enduring learning across trials, with increased accuracy and decreased time to complete trials, in a manner indistinguishable from healthy comparison pairs, resulting in efficient and economical communication. The observed learning here most likely draws on neural resources outside the medial temporal lobes. These interactive communication sessions provide a potent learning environment with significant implications for memory intervention. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:4356–4369, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PLK1 regulates spindle formation kinetics and APC/C activation in mouse zygote

Summary Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is involved in essential events of cell cycle including mitosis in which it participates in centrosomal microtubule nucleation, spindle bipolarity establishment and cytokinesis. Although PLK1 function has been studied in cycling cancer cells, only limited data are known about its role in the first mitosis of mammalian zygotes. During the 1-cell stage of mouse embryo development, the acentriolar spindle is formed and the shift from acentriolar to centrosomal spindle formation progresses gradually throughout the preimplantation stage, thus providing a unique possibility to study acentriolar spindle formation. We have shown previously that PLK1 activity is not essential for entry into first mitosis, but is required for correct spindle formation and anaphase onset in 1-cell mouse embryos. In the present study, we extend this knowledge by employing quantitative confocal live cell imaging to determine spindle formation kinetics in the absence of PLK1 activity and answer the question whether metaphase arrest at PLK1-inhibited embryos is associated with low anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) activity and consequently high securin level. We have shown that inhibition of PLK1 activity induces a delay in onset of acentriolar spindle formation during first mitosis. Although these PLK1-inhibited 1-cell embryos were finally able to form a bipolar spindle, not all chromosomes were aligned at the metaphase equator. PLK1-inhibited embryos were arrested in metaphase without any sign of APC/C activation with high securin levels. Our results document that PLK1 controls the onset of spindle assembly and spindle formation, and is essential for APC/C activation before anaphase onset in mouse zygotes.
Comparison of the effect of hand instruments, an ultrasonic scaler, and an erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser on root surface roughness of teeth with periodontitis: a profilometer study

Purpose The present study aimed to measure root surface roughness in teeth with periodontitis by a profilometer following root planning with ultrasonic and hand instruments with and without erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiation. Methods Sixty single-rooted maxillary and mandibular teeth, extracted because of periodontal disease, were collected. The crowns and apices of the roots were cut off using a diamond bur and water coolant. The specimens were mounted in an acrylic resin block such that a plain root surface was accessible. After primary evaluation and setting a baseline, the samples were divided into 4 groups. In group 1, the samples were root planned using a manual curette. The group 2 samples were prepared with an ultrasonic scaler. In group 3, after scaling with hand instrumentation, the roots were treated with a Smart 1240D plus Er:YAG laser and in group 4, the roots were prepared with ultrasonic scaler and subsequently treated with an Er:YAG laser. Root surface roughness was then measured by a profilometer (MahrSurf M300+RD18C system) under controlled laboratory conditions at a temperature of 25℃ and 41% humidity. The data were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance and a t-test (P<0.05). Results Significant differences were detected in terms of surface roughness and surface distortion before and after treatment. The average reduction of the surface roughness after treatment in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 1.89, 1.88, 1.40, and 1.52, respectively. These findings revealed no significant differences among the four groups. Conclusions An Er:YAG laser as an adjunct to traditional scaling and root planning reduces root surface roughness. However, the surface ultrastructure is more irregular than when using conventional methods.
Internet Versus Mailed Questionnaires: A Randomized Comparison (2)

Background Low response rates among surgeons can threaten the validity of surveys. Internet technologies may reduce the time, effort, and financial resources needed to conduct surveys. Objective We investigated whether using Web-based technology could increase the response rates to an international survey. Methods We solicited opinions from the 442 surgeon–members of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association regarding the treatment of femoral neck fractures. We developed a self-administered questionnaire after conducting a literature review, focus groups, and key informant interviews, for which we used sampling to redundancy techniques. We administered an Internet version of the questionnaire on a Web site, as well as a paper version, which looked similar to the Internet version and which had identical content. Only those in our sample could access the Web site. We alternately assigned the participants to receive the survey by mail (n=221) or an email invitation to participate on the Internet (n=221). Non-respondents in the mail arm received up to three additional copies of the survey, while non-respondents in the Internet arm received up to three additional requests, including a final mailed copy. All participants in the Internet arm had an opportunity to request an emailed Portable Document Format (PDF) version. Results The Internet arm demonstrated a lower response rate (99/221, 45%) than the mail questionnaire arm (129/221, 58%) (absolute difference 13%, 95% confidence interval 4%-22%, P<0.01). Conclusions Our Internet-based survey to surgeons resulted in a significantly lower response rate than a traditional mailed survey. Researchers should not assume that the widespread availability and potential ease of Internet-based surveys will translate into higher response rates.