Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ant agents for hybrid multipath routing in mobile ad hoc networks

In this paper we describe AntHocNet, an algorithm for routing in mobile ad hoc networks based on ideas from the nature-inspired ant colony optimization framework. The algorithm consists of both reactive and proactive components. In a reactive path setup phase, multiple paths are built between the source and destination of a data session. Data are stochastically spread over the different paths, according to their estimated quality. During the course of the session, paths are continuously monitored and improved in a proactive way. Link failures are dealt with locally. The algorithm makes extensive use of ant-like mobile agents which sample full paths between source and destination nodes in a Monte Carlo fashion. We report results of simulation experiments in which we have studied the behavior of AntHocNet and AODV as a function of node mobility, terrain size and number of nodes. According to the observed results, AntHocNet outperforms AODV both in terms of end-to-end delay and delivery ratio.
CoNA: Dynamic application mapping for congestion reduction in many-core systems

Increasing the number of processors in a single chip toward network-based many-core systems requires a run-time task allocation algorithm. We propose an efficient mapping algorithm that assigns communicating tasks of incoming applications onto resources of a many-core system utilizing Network-on-Chip paradigm. In our contiguous neighborhood allocation (CoNA) algorithm, we target at the reduction of both internal and external congestion due to detrimental impact of congestion on the network performance. We approach the goal by keeping the mapped region contiguous and placing the communicating tasks in a close neighborhood. A completely synthesizable simulation environment where none of the system objects are assumed to be ideal is provided. Experiments show at least 40% gain in different mapping cost functions, as well as 16% reduction in average network latency compared to existing algorithms.
Implementation and performance aspects of Kahn process networks: an investigation of problem modeling, implementation techniques, and scheduling strategies

The appearance of commodity multi-core processors has spawned a wide interest in parallel programming, which is widely-regarded as more challenging than sequential programming. Existing distributed processing frameworks like MapReduce and Dryad are intentionally meant for large batch workloads and fail to efficiently support cyclic workloads with deadlines. In this respect, a Kahn Process Networks (KPN) is a model of concurrency that relies exclusively on message passing, and that has some advantages over parallel programming tools in wide use today: simplicity, graphical representation, and determinism.
Nitric Oxide Fully Protects against UVA-induced Apoptosis in Tight Correlation with Bcl-2 Up-regulation*

A variety of toxic and modulating events induced by UVA exposure are described to cause cell death via apoptosis. Recently, we found that UV irradiation of human skin leads to inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in keratinocytes and endothelial cells (ECs). We have now searched for the role of iNOS expression and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in UVA-induced apoptosis as detected by DNA-specific fluorochrome labeling and in DNA fragmentation visualized by in situ nick translation in ECs. Activation with proinflammatory cytokines 24 h before UVA exposure leading to iNOS expression and endogenous NO synthesis fully protects ECs from the onset of apoptosis. This protection was completely abolished in the presence of the iNOS inhibitorl-N 5-(1-iminoethyl)-ornithine (0.25 mm). Additionally, preincubation of cells with the NO donor (Z)-1-[N(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate at concentrations from 10 to 1000 μm as an exogenous NO-generating source before UVA irradiation led to a dose-dependent inhibition of both DNA strand breaks and apoptosis. In search of the molecular mechanism responsible for the protective effect, we find that protection from UVA-induced apoptosis is tightly correlated with NO-mediated increases in Bcl-2 expression and a concomitant inhibition of UVA-induced overexpression of Bax protein. In conclusion, we present evidence for a protective role of iNOS-derived NO in skin biology, because NO either endogenously produced or exogenously applied fully protects against UVA-induced cell damage and death. We also show that the NO-mediated expression modulation of proteins of the Bcl-2 family, an event upstream of caspase activation, appears to be the molecular mechanism underlying this protection.
Age‐Related Changes in MicroRNA Expression and Pharmacogenes in Human Liver

Developmental changes in the liver can significantly impact drug disposition. Due to the emergence of microRNAs (miRNAs) as important regulators of drug disposition gene expression, we studied age‐dependent changes in miRNA expression. Expression of 533 miRNAs was measured in 90 human liver tissues (fetal, pediatric [1–17 years], and adult [28–80 years]; n = 30 each). In all, 114 miRNAs were upregulated and 72 were downregulated from fetal to pediatric, and 2 and 3, respectively, from pediatric to adult. Among the developmentally changing miRNAs, 99 miRNA‐mRNA interactions were predicted or experimentally validated (e.g., hsa‐miR‐125b‐5p‐CYP1A1; hsa‐miR‐34a‐5p‐HNF4A). In human liver samples (n = 10 each), analyzed by RNA‐sequencing, significant negative correlations were observed between the expression of >1,000 miRNAs and mRNAs of drug disposition and regulatory genes. Our data suggest a mechanism for the marked changes in hepatic gene expression between the fetal and pediatric developmental periods, and support a role for these age‐dependent miRNAs in regulating drug disposition.
The Effects of Components of Fine Particulate Air Pollution on Mortality in California: Results from CALFINE

OBJECTIVE Several epidemiologic studies provide evidence of an association between daily mortality and particulate matter < 2.5 pm in diameter (PM2.5). Little is known, however, about the relative effects of PM2.5 constituents. We examined associations between 19 PM2.5 components and daily mortality in six California counties. DESIGN We obtained daily data from 2000 to 2003 on mortality and PM2.5 mass and components, including elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC), nitrates, sulfates, and various metals. We examined associations of PM2.5 and its constituents with daily counts of several mortality categories: all-cause, cardiovascular, respiratory, and mortality age > 65 years. Poisson regressions incorporating natural splines were used to control for time-varying covariates. Effect estimates were determined for each component in each county and then combined using a random-effects model. RESULTS PM2.5 mass and several constituents were associated with multiple mortality categories, especially cardiovascular deaths. For example, for a 3-day lag, the latter increased by 1.6, 2.1, 1.6, and 1.5% for PM2.5, EC, OC, and nitrates based on interquartile ranges of 14.6, 0.8, 4.6, and 5.5 pg/m(3), respectively. Stronger associations were observed between mortality and additional pollutants, including sulfates and several metals, during the cool season. CONCLUSION This multicounty analysis adds to the growing body of evidence linking PM2.5 with mortality and indicates that excess risks may vary among specific PM2.5 components. Therefore, the use of regression coefficients based on PM2.5 mass may underestimate associations with some PM2.5 components. Also, our findings support the hypothesis that combustion-associated pollutants are particularly important in California.
A meta-analysis and theoretical critique of oxytocin and psychosis: prospects for attachment and compassion in promoting recovery.

OBJECTIVES There is now considerable evidence that affiliative processes are linked to oxytocin (OXT), which is linked to a range of social-cognition competences underpinning interpersonal functioning. There is evidence that OXT circuitry is involved in psychosis and emerging evidence for OXT in treatment. Therefore, this study explored studies investigating OXT and improvements in symptoms and social cognition among individuals diagnosed with psychosis. METHOD We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigating OXT and psychosis. Specifically we asked, (1) what is the evidence that OXT is associated with improved overall, positive, negative and general symptoms and (2) what is the evidence that OXT is associated with improved social cognition? RESULTS There were seven randomized controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria for this review. We conducted an exploratory meta-analysis of data from four of these studies on a total sample size of n = 105. For overall symptoms, using a random-effects model OXT versus placebo was associated with an effect size of d = 0.52 (95% CI = 0.34-0.70; z = 5.66; p < .01). There was evidence of significant heterogeneity (Q = 96.4, p < .001; I(2) = 96.5%). Similar patterns of findings were observed for positive, negative, and general symptoms. We found significant evidence of high risk of bias across all studies. We also identified that one particular study had an undue effect on overall effect size estimates. Finally, evidence regarding OXT was linked to improved social cognition was inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS There are significant problems in interpreting the current evidence base for OXT in psychosis. However, OXT may provide a useful biomarker for exploring mechanisms of change occurring in psychological therapies including compassion-focused therapy (CFT), which through its engagement of the attachment system may directly influence OXT.
Dissatisfaction with oral health status in an older adult population.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess dissatisfaction with oral health in an older adult population and to identify factors associated with dissatisfaction. METHODS Data were obtained from 907 community-dwelling older adults aged 50 years and older using personal interviews and clinical examinations. Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined the relationships among dissatisfaction with oral health and a variety of sociodemographic variables, clinical oral health measures, and measures of the functional and psychosocial impact of oral disorders. RESULTS Overall, 14.3 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with their ability to chew, 21.6 percent with their dental appearance, and 5.6 percent with their ability to speak clearly. Almost one-third (30.8%) were dissatisfied with at least one of these dimensions of oral health. Edentulous subjects were more likely to be dissatisfied than dentate subjects. The multivariate regression model for dentate subjects contained seven variables that explained 31 percent of the variance in dissatisfaction scores. For the edentulous, the model contained three variables that accounted for 53 percent of the variance. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that demographic, clinical, and psychosocial impact variables are associated with dissatisfaction with oral health. However, psychosocial impact variables had by far the strongest independent effect.
Ectopic Reelin Induces Neuronal Aggregation with a Normal Birthdate-Dependent “Inside-Out” Alignment in the Developing Neocortex

Neurons in the developing mammalian neocortex form the cortical plate (CP) in an “inside-out” manner; that is, earlier-born neurons form the deeper layers, whereas later-born neurons migrate past the existing layers and form the more superficial layers. Reelin, a glycoprotein secreted by Cajal–Retzius neurons in the marginal zone (MZ), is crucial for this “inside-out” layering, because the layers are inverted in the Reelin-deficient mouse, reeler (Relnrl ). Even though more than a decade has passed since the discovery of reelin, the biological effect of Reelin on individual migrating neurons remains unclear. In addition, although the MZ is missing in the reeler cortex, it is unknown whether Reelin directly regulates the development of the cell-body-sparse MZ. To address these issues, we expressed Reelin ectopically in the developing mouse cortex, and the results showed that Reelin caused the leading processes of migrating neurons to assemble in the Reelin-rich region, which in turn induced their cell bodies to form cellular aggregates around Reelin. Interestingly, the ectopic Reelin-rich region became cell-body-sparse and dendrite-rich, resembling the MZ, and the late-born neurons migrated past their predecessors toward the central Reelin-rich region within the aggregates, resulting in a birthdate-dependent “inside-out” alignment even ectopically. Reelin receptors and intracellular adaptor protein Dab1 were found to be necessary for formation of the aggregates. The above findings indicate that Reelin signaling is capable of inducing the formation of the dendrite-rich, cell-body-sparse MZ and a birthdate-dependent “inside-out” alignment of neurons independently of other factors/structures near the MZ.
Fiber Types in Rat Laryngeal Muscles and Their Transformations After Denervation and Reinnervation

The intrinsic laryngeal muscles cricothyroid (CT) and thyroarythenoid (TA) differ in myosin expression. CT expresses limb myosin heavy chains (MyHCs) and TA expresses an MyHC found in extraocular (EO) muscles, in addition to limb isoforms. We used immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses with highly specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against various MyHCs to study muscle fiber types in rat CT and TA and to investigate whether nerves to laryngeal muscles control MyHC expression. CT was found to have the full complement of limb fiber types. TA had three major fiber types: 2b/eo, co-expressing 2B and EO MyHCs, 2x/2b, co-expressing 2X and 2B MyHCs, and 2x, expressing 2X MyHC. Type 2a and slow fibers were absent. TA consisted of two divisions: the external division (TA-X), which is homogeneously 2b/eo, and the vocalis division (TA-V), composed principally of 2x and 2b/eo fibers with a minority of 2x/2b fibers. TA-V had two compartments that differ in fiber type composition. At 4 weeks after cutting and re-uniting the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), many 2b/eo fibers in the TA-X began to express 2X MyHC, while EO and 2B MyHC expression in these fibers progressively declined. By 12 weeks, up to 16.5% of fibers in the TA-X were of type 2x. These findings suggest that nerve fibers originally innervating 2x fibers in TA-V and other muscles have randomly cross-innervated 2b/eo fibers in the TA-X and converted them into 2x fibers. We conclude that CT and TA are distinct muscle allo-types and that laryngeal muscle fibers are subject to neural regulation.
Solving the Search for Source Code

Programmers frequently search for source code to reuse using keyword searches. The search effectiveness in facilitating reuse, however, depends on the programmer's ability to specify a query that captures how the desired code may have been implemented. Further, the results often include many irrelevant matches that must be filtered manually. More semantic search approaches could address these limitations, yet existing approaches are either not flexible enough to find approximate matches or require the programmer to define complex specifications as queries. We propose a novel approach to semantic code search that addresses several of these limitations and is designed for queries that can be described using a concrete input/output example. In this approach, programmers write lightweight specifications as inputs and expected output examples. Unlike existing approaches to semantic search, we use an SMT solver to identify programs or program fragments in a repository, which have been automatically transformed into constraints using symbolic analysis, that match the programmer-provided specification. We instantiated and evaluated this approach in subsets of three languages, the Java String library, Yahoo! Pipes mashup language, and SQL select statements, exploring its generality, utility, and trade-offs. The results indicate that this approach is effective at finding relevant code, can be used on its own or to filter results from keyword searches to increase search precision, and is adaptable to find approximate matches and then guide modifications to match the user specifications when exact matches do not already exist. These gains in precision and flexibility come at the cost of performance, for which underlying factors and mitigation strategies are identified.
Effects of aging on functions of the prefrontal cortex

Primary Aging is a term used to describe the effects of the passage of time on the human body, particularly after 50 years of age. The effects may be contained or reversed. Secondary Aging describes the effects of a pathological process, commonly associated with the passage of time. The effects are difficult to contain, cannot be reversed, and progress to death. The thesis addresses two issues, namely can the two conditions be accurately differentiated by neuropsychological tests, and are the effects of Primary Aging first observed in functions commonly associated with the prefrontal cortex. The research technique is that of Real World Research (Robson, 1993), using mostly clients of the author’s private practice, with volunteers whose ages were greater than 59 years. After discussing the various theoretical positions concerning prefrontal functions and the dysexecutive syndrome, the thesis addresses the evidence that supports or queries the influence of primary aging on prefrontal functions. The general consensus of authors is that the prefrontal cortex supports a wide range of brain systems by reciprocal connections. It is emphasised that dysfunction in one part of a system remote from the prefrontal cortex is capable of producing behaviour which suggests a disorder of the prefrontal cortex. It is also emphasised that the prefrontal cortex is a system of connections, and three of these critical circuits are described. Because one of the functions of the PFC is to activate alternate circuits, the PFC system may be able to compensate for damage in one part of the circuit, thus masking the effects of damage. It is proposed that white matter demyelination may play a significant role in the process of disconnection between systems. Measures employed in the research are detailed, and their use justified by systematic analyses of the relevant scores, using the records of past clients of the practice. The research database comprised 184 new clients and volunteers. Four main factors were extracted from the database of 14 test scores, namely Verbal Working Memory, Non-verbal Working Memory, Inhibitory Process and Sensori-motor Speed. The results of the primary aging group suggested a selective decrement in skills. On the other hand, results of the secondary aging group clearly demonstrated global deficits, even when a client showed no obvious symptoms of mild dementia. This distinction was clarified by showing that primary aging effects were more similar to the effects of selective brain damage, as in mild traumatic head injury, and that secondary aging effects were more similar to the effects of a global pattern, as seen in clients with long-standing intellectual deficits. A battery of twelve tests employed demonstrated 100 percent discrimination between the clients assigned to the primary aging group and those assigned to the secondary aging group. Aging and Prefrontal Functions ix
Second Life Prototyping of Augmented Automobile Navigation Assistance

The automobile industry has produced many cars with new features over the past decade. However, the interaction between the driver and the car has not changed significantly. The information being delivered - both in quantity and method - from the car to the driver has not seen the same improvements as there have been "under the hood. " This paper proposes immersing the driver inside an additional layer of traffic and navigation data, and presenting that data to the driver by embedding display systems into the automobile windows and mirrors. Furthermore, we present a new technique for testing prototypes of such systems; an alternative to custom simulators or cars retrofitted with elaborate testing components. Our method of using the online virtual world Second Life to conduct driving simulations has the advantages of faster development time, lower costs, and simpler setups than many of the alternatives.
The rising song of African American women

The Rising Song of African American WomenBarbara Omolade New York and London: Routledge, 1994.Reviewed by Linda Carty Sociology Department University of Michigan Flint, MichiganBarbara Omolade presents a well researched and very detailed analysis of the imperatives that shape the lives of African American women. She explores the historical, political, social and cultural significance of Black feminism, from the everyday experiences of working - class Black women to the ontological nuances of a Black feminist pedagogy. By weaving an intellectual tapestry of the past and the present, she offers her readers some insight into the origins of many of the dilemmas that African American women must routinely overcome.Omolade begins her book with a discussion of slavery, dissecting the rape of the Black woman and the commodification of every part of her body by the slave master for capital accumulation:To him she was a fragmented commodity.her head and her heart were separated from her back and her hands and divided from her womb and vagina. Her back and muscle were pressed into field labor where she was forced to work with men and like men. Her hands were demanded to nurse and nurture the white man and his family as domestic servant whether she was technically enslaved or legally free. Her vagina, used for his sexual pleasure, was the gateway to the womb, which was his place of capital investment - the capital investment being the sex act and the resulting child the accumulated surplus, worth money on the slave market (p.7). Like Jacqueline Jones, Gerda Lerner, Angela Davis, and Paula Giddings before her, Barbara Omolade historicizes the sexual abuse of Black women in slavery and documents its implications for relations between Black and white women in the twentieth - century United States. Omolade's work, however, departs from the aforementioned authors in that she extends her analysis to the issues of African American communities that are legacies of slavery: single motherhood, racism, color prejudice and poverty. She asserts rightly that, "[t]o be Black and poor (today) is the current version of being Black and a slave" (p.38). She delineates more than merely a relationship between past and present; indeed she opens a door on to the present through which she takes her reader from the past continually explicating how the one has been defined by the other. Omolade not only challenges white society's construction of the African American world, she also challenges the patriarchal structures, traditions, anti - intellectualism and homophobia of the African American community. In this realm, she tackles the recent controversial Central Park Jogger and Tawana Brawley cases as well as contemporary youth culture, particularly the significance of so - called gangster rap music and the Black community's responsibility and accountability. …