Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Merging Intra-Planetary Index Structures: Decentralized Bootstrapping of Overlays

Peer-to-peer index structures distributed and managed over the planet, commonly known as structured overlays (e.g., distributed hash tables), are posed to play the role of a fundamental building block for internet-scale distributed applications and information systems. One of the biggest impediment in realizing index distributed at intra-planetary scales is to be able to merge distinct indices that might have been constructed independently and separately, or have resulted from network partitions. By facilitating merger of such isolated index-structures, decentralized bootstrapping of structured overlays is made possible. We argue that such a self-organizational attribute of decentralized bootstrapping is of paramount importance for large scale systems. In this paper we provide algorithms and simulation based evaluation of merger of two tree-structured overlay networks. The experiments validate some intuitions, particularly we see how the merger operation can be carried out transparently from the end users in the sense that all keys that are accessible to any peer prior to the merger process continue to be accessible during and after the merger. Surprising at a first glance, we also observe that the overhead of data movement during merger of two overlays which originally partition the key-spaces arbitrarily is higher if there is more common content stored in the two networks. This counterintuitive behavior is on account of the fact that the assignment of partitions to peers change during the merger process, which in turn leads to movement of data. Since peers act based on local knowledge, the data already present in the other network is still unnecessarily moved, adding to the data transfer overhead.
Similar non–random processes maintain diversity in two tropical rainforests

Quadrat–based analysis of two rainforest plots of area 50 ha, one in Panama (Barro Colorado Island, BCI) and the other in Malaysia (Pasoh), shows that in both plots recruitment is in general negatively correlated with both numbers and biomass of adult trees of the same species in the same quadrat. At BCI, this effect is not significantly influenced by treefall gaps. In both plots, recruitment of individual species is negatively correlated with the numbers of trees of all species in the quadrats, but not with overall biomass. These observations suggest, but do not prove, widespread frequency–dependent effects produced by pathogens and seed–predators that act most effectively in quadrats crowded with trees. Within–species correlations of mortality with numbers or biomass are not found in either plot, indicating that most frequency–dependent mortality takes place before the trees reach 1 cm in diameter. Stochastic effects caused by BCI's more rapid tree turnover may contribute to a larger variance in diversity from quadrat to quadrat at BCI, although they are not sufficient to explain why BCI has fewer than half as many tree species as Pasoh. Finally, in both plots quadrats with low diversity show a significant increase in diversity over time, and this increase is stronger at BCI. This process, like the frequency–dependence, will tend to maintain diversity over time. In general, these non–random forces that should lead to the maintenance of diversity are slightly stronger at BCI, even though the BCI plot is less diverse than the Pasoh plot.
Assessment of Knee Joint Proprioception in Weight Bearing and in Non-Weight Bearing Positions in Normal Subjects

Background: Assessment of proprioception is valuable for identifying proprioceptive deficits. There are several methods to assess the proprioception. Joint position sense can be assessed in weight bearing (WB) and non weight bearing (NWB) position of the limb whose joint is to be tested. Aim and Objectives: To find out the difference in joint position sense in NWB and in WB positions in normal subjects. Material and Methods: 40 normal healthy subjects between the age group of 20 to 25 years were selected. Subjects with recent lower limb trauma, pain and musculoskeletal deformity involving knee and ankle were excluded. Right knee joint proprioception at 300 knee flexion was measured using non weight bearing and weight bearing methods by active test with epsilateral active limb matching response. The knee joint position sense was measured by universal Goniometer. Average of 3 response angle was taken as the final reading. Two assessment procedures were compared with Mann-Whitney Test. Position sense accuracy was measured as a relative error. The relative error was calculated as an arithmetic difference between test and response positions. A measure of variability of individual observation was calculated by SD and coefficient of variation Results: Present study shows that there is a significant difference in two assessment procedures while testing joint proprioception (P <0.005). The mean of WB method [31.97] is relatively higher when compared with NWB procedure [30.42] but less inter-observation variability in terms of coefficient of variation is seen in WB position. In the present study relative error in WB position (-1.865) is more as compared to NWB position (-0.263), and the difference is statistically significant (p<0.005). Conclusion: There is statistically significant difference between the two assessment procedures. Average relative error of WB position is more as compared to NWB position. WB procedure produced more negative relative error i.e. Response was underestimated during WB testing of proprioception.
Expression of DNA methylation marker of paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 and growth receptors in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

BACKGROUND Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) is another new marker in breast carcinoma since hypermethylation at P2 promoter of this gene was noted to be associated with poor prognosis. We investigated the expression of PITX2 protein using immunohistochemistry in invasive ductal carcinoma and its association with the established growth receptors such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2). METHODS We conducted a cross sectional study using 100 samples of archived formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of invasive ductal carcinoma and stained them with immunohistochemistry for PITX2, ER, PR and HER2. All HER2 with scoring of 2+ were confirmed with chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH). RESULTS PITX2 protein was expressed in 53% of invasive ductal carcinoma and lack of PITX2 expression in 47%. Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between PITX2 expression with PR (p=0.001), ER (p=0.006), gland formation (p=0.044) and marginal association with molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma (p=0.051). Combined ER and PR expression with PITX2 was also significantly associated (p=0.003) especially in double positive cases. Multivariate analysis showed the most significant association between PITX2 and PR (RR 4.105, 95% CI 1.765-9.547, p=0.001). CONCLUSION PITX2 is another potential prognostic marker in breast carcinoma adding significant information to established prognostic factors of ER and PR. The expression of PITX2 together with PR may carry a very good prognosis.
Amplified-Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis: the State of an Art

In the past decade, various methods have been developed for the identification and typing of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms at the DNA level. These methods differ in their taxonomic range, discriminatory power, reproducibility, and ease of interpretation and standardization ([62][1], [67][2
Staphylococcus aureus α-Toxin-Dependent Induction of Host Cell Death by Membrane-Derived Vesicles

Staphylococcus aureus causes a wide spectrum of infections in humans, ranging from superficial cutaneous infections, infections in the circum-oral region, to life-threatening bacteremia. It was recently demonstrated that Gram-positive organisms such as S. aureus liberate membrane-derived vesicles (MVs), which analogously to outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of Gram-negative bacteria can play a role in delivering virulence factors to host cells. In the present study we have shown that cholesterol-dependent fusion of S. aureus MVs with the plasma membrane represents a route for delivery of a key virulence factor, α-toxin (α-hemolysin; Hla) to human cells. Most S. aureus strains produce this 33-kDa pore-forming protein, which can lyse a wide range of human cells, and induce apoptosis in T-lymphocytes. Our results revealed a tight association of biologically active α-toxin with membrane-derived vesicles isolated from S. aureus strain 8325-4. Concomitantly, α-toxin contributed to HeLa cell cytotoxicity of MVs, and was the main vesicle-associated protein responsible for erythrocyte lysis. In contrast, MVs obtained from an isogenic hla mutant were significantly attenuated with regards to both causing lysis of erythrocytes and death of HeLa cells. This is to our knowledge the first recognition of an S. aureus MV-associated factor contributing to host cell cytotoxicity.
Thematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research

The growth in qualitative research is a well-noted and welcomed fact within the social sciences; however, there is a regrettable lack of tools available for the analysis of qualitative material. There is a need for greater disclosure in qualitative analysis, and for more sophisticated tools to facilitate such analyses. This article details a technique for conducting thematic analysis of qualitative material, presenting a step-by-step guide of the analytic process, with the aid of an empirical example. The analytic method presented employs established, well-known techniques; the article proposes that thematic analyses can be usefully aided by and presented as thematic networks. Thematic networks are web-like illustrations that summarize the main themes constituting a piece of text. The thematic networks technique is a robust and highly sensitive tool for the systematization and presentation of qualitative analyses.
A Limit on the Cosmological Mass Density and Power Spectrum from the Rotation Curves of Low Surface Brightness Galaxies

The concentrations of the cuspy dark matter halos predicted by simulations of cold dark matter are related to the cosmology in which the halos form. Observational constraints on halo concentration therefore map into constraints on cosmological parameters. In order to explain the observed concentrations of dark matter-dominated low surface brightness galaxies, we require a cosmology with rather little power on galaxy scales. Formally, we require σ8Γ0. 6 < 0.23, where Γ0. 6 is a modified shape parameter appropriate to this problem. Practically, this means that either Ωm < 0.2 or σ8 < 0.8. These limits apply as long as we insist that the cuspy halos found in simulations must describe the halos of low surface brightness galaxies. A low-density cosmology helps with the low observed concentrations, but it offers no explanation of the many cases where the shape of the density profile deviates from the predicted cuspy form. These cases must have suffered very extensive mass redistribution if the current halo formation picture is not to fail outright. It is far from clear whether any of the mass redistribution mechanisms that have been suggested (e.g., feedback) are viable.
Is adiponectin and its genetic regulators useful or not for prediction of carotid intima-media thickness and coronary heart disease?

The abdominal adipose tissue is now generally regarded as an important endocrine organ, secreting a wide range of adipokines and other regulatory peptides or hormones. One of these adipokines that has attracted a great deal of interest is adiponectin, which can be detected in various molecular forms.1 Its synthesis is regulated by the ADIPOQ gene promoter. Adiponectin has been implicated to be a marker of insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, as well as being involved in inflammatory processes.1,2 Previous studies have shown an inverse correlation between circulating adiponectin levels and measures of insulin resistance, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. It is still an open question whether or not adiponectin plays a causal and independent role in the development of arterial lesions due to atherosclerosis, resulting in increased risk of cardiovascular events. As atherosclerotic lesions are influenced by the interplay between metabolic abnormalities, haemodynamic factors, and local (peri-)vascular inflammation, it is assumed that adiponectin may play a role in this process because of cross-sectional associations with many of the risk factors involved.3 A few studies have investigated adiponectin levels in relation to intima-media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery, this being an early marker of atherosclerosis and the consequence of elevated levels of cardiovascular risk factors. In previous screening studies it was reported that adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with carotid IMT, both in 140 obese young subjects compared with a group of matched controls4 and in 1515 healthy middle-aged subjects of both genders.5 More recently, common carotid IMT was shown to be associated with adiponectin levels in a USA-based middle-aged … Corresponding author. Tel: +46 40 33 24 15, Fax: +46 40 92 32 72, Email: Peter.Nilsson{at}med.lu. se
Potential reciprocal relationship between motivation and achievement: A longitudinal study

Among the non-cognitive factors that influence academic achievement, intrinsic motivation has been found to be a potential reciprocal factor. The present study aims to determine the causal relationship between other types of motivation and academic achievement. For this purpose, a large-scale data survey, the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS88), was used. The results revealed that test-taking motivation and achievement were bi-directional influences in that grade 10 mathematics scores greatly predicted grade 12 test-taking motivation and that test-taking motivation predicted subsequent mathematics scores with a smaller effect. Moreover, although intrinsic motivation was found to predict subsequent mathematics scores, no bi-directional influence was captured. The results indicate that intrinsic motivation greatly promotes academic achievement and that there is a potential reciprocal relationship between the extrinsic motivations and academic performance of students.
Expression of Trefoil Factor Family Members Correlates with Patient Prognosis and Neoangiogenesis

Purpose: Trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides are thought to contribute to epithelial protection and restitution by virtue of their protease-resistant nature and their strong affinity for mucins. However, they are often overexpressed in tumors, where they seem to be negative prognostic factors, possibly contributing to tumor spread, although the precise mechanisms have not been defined. Experimental Design: Tissue sections from 111 patients with curatively resected advanced gastric carcinoma were immunohistochemically stained for TFF2, ITF (TFF3), and CD34. Microvessel density was expressed as number and area of microvessels. Results were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival. Results: Forty-nine (44.1%) and 41 (36.9%) tumors were immunohistochemically positive for TFF3 and TFF2, respectively. Among the various clinicopathologic variables, overexpression of TFF3 had a significant correlation with patient age only. In addition, a significantly higher prevalence of positive TFF2 staining was detected in large, diffuse tumors and in tumors with lymph node metastasis. The number of microvessels had a significant correlation with both TFF3 and TFF2 staining, whereas the area of microvessels had a significant correlation only with TFF3 staining. Both TFF3 and TFF2 were independent predictors of a worse disease-free survival. TFF3 had a gender-specific negative survival advantage, with a 91.3% disease-free survival in female patients with TFF3-negative advanced gastric carcinoma. Conclusions: Induction of increased tumor vascularity might be one of the mechanisms by which TFFs confer metastatic phenotype and frequent disease recurrence in gastric carcinomas. Female patients with TFF3-negative advanced gastric carcinoma have comparable survival as that reported for patients with early gastric carcinoma.
Common cancers in centenarians

Background A Centenarian is a person who attains and lives beyond the age of 100. Four percent of centenarians die from cancer. It is therefore important to understand which cancers affect them in order to devise better methods to prevent and treat them. The aim of this study was to investigate the top cancers that affect centenarians. Material/Method We identified 1385 cases with the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database. Our study included centenarians age 100–115 years diagnosed with the 5 most common cancers between 1973 and 2007 in the United States. Observed survival (OS) was calculated for each cancer type. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) method was used to calculate OS at 1-month intervals for the first 40 months after diagnosis using SEER*Stat version 7.04. A log rank test was performed on KM survival output and a Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate hazard ratios. All statistical analyses were performed with 95% confidence intervals with significance determined at P<0.05. Cox proportional hazard analysis was done using GraphPad Prism version 5.04. Results There were 879 (63.47%) females and 506 (36.53%) males. There were 1118 (80.72%) whites, 159 (11.48%) blacks, and 108 (7.80%) other. The top cancers were 405 (29.24%) breast, 267 (19.28%) colorectal, 254 (18.34%) prostate, 247 (17.83%) lung and bronchus, and 212 (15.31%) urinary and kidney cancer cases. Conclusions As the prevalence of centenarians increases, it is becoming increasingly important to become aware of the cancers that affect them in order to better manage them.
Metabolic effects of testosterone replacement therapy on hypogonadal men with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

This systematic review was aimed at assessing the metabolic effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on hypogonadal men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A literature search was performed using the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and PubMed. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the meta-analysis. Two reviewers retrieved articles and evaluated the study quality using an appropriate scoring method. Outcomes including glucose metabolism, lipid parameters, body fat and blood pressure were pooled using a random effects model and tested for heterogeneity. We used the Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager 5.2 software for statistical analysis. Five RCTs including 351 participants with a mean follow-up time of 6.5-months were identified that strictly met our eligibility criteria. A meta-analysis of the extractable data showed that testosterone reduced fasting plasma glucose levels (mean difference (MD): −1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) (−1.88, −0.31)), fasting serum insulin levels (MD: −2.73; 95% CI (−3.62, −1.84)), HbA1c % (MD: −0.87; 95% CI (−1.32, −0.42)) and triglyceride levels (MD: −0.35; 95% CI (−0.62, −0.07)). The testosterone and control groups demonstrated no significant difference for other outcomes. In conclusion, we found that TRT can improve glycemic control and decrease triglyceride levels of hypogonadal men with T2DM. Considering the limited number of participants and the confounding factors in our systematic review; additional large, well-designed RCTs are needed to address the metabolic effects of TRT and its long-term influence on hypogonadal men with T2DM.
On the Capacity of FSO Links over Gamma-Gamma Atmospheric Turbulence Channels Using OOK Signaling

AbstractgA new upper bound on the capacity of power- and bandwidth-constrained optical wireless links over gamma-gamma atmospheric turbulence channels with intensity modulation and direct detection is derived when on-off keying (OOK) formats are used. In this free-space optical (FSO) scenario, unlike previous capacity bounds derived from the classic capacity of the well-known additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel with uniform input distribution, a new closed-form upper bound on the capacity is found by bounding the mutual information subject to an average optical power constraint and not only to an average electrical power constraint, showing the fact that the input distribution that maximizes the mutual information varies with the turbulence strength and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Additionally, it is shown that an increase of the peak-to-average optical power ratio (PAOPR) provides higher capacity values. Simulation results for the mutual information are further demonstrated to confirm the analytical results under several turbulence conditions.
Self-Similarity and Points of Interest

In this work, we present a new approach to interest point detection. Different types of features in images are detected by using a common computational concept. The proposed approach considers the total variability of local regions. The total sum of squares computed on the intensity values of a local circular region is divided into three components: between-circumferences sum of squares, between-radii sum of squares, and the remainder. These three components normalized by the total sum of squares represent three new saliency measures, namely, radial, tangential, and residual. The saliency measures are computed for regions with different radii and scale spaces are built in this way. Local extrema in scale space of each of the saliency measures are located. They represent features with complementary image properties: blob-like features, corner-like features, and highly textured points. Results obtained on image sets of different object classes and image sets under different types of photometric and geometric transformations show high robustness of the method to intraclass variations as well as to different photometric transformations and moderate geometric transformations and compare favorably with the results obtained by the leading interest point detectors from the literature. The proposed approach gives a rich set of highly distinctive local regions that can be used for object recognition and image matching.
Rule-Based Expression Mechanisms for Procedural Languages

We report on experiences on adding a rule based expression mechanism to an existing procedural programming language (C++) and on designing and implementing a self-contained language { and its integrated programming environment { supporting similar but more general capabilities. Both languages, XC and XE, are based on abstract data types and XE is a close relative of CLU. Its programming environment { implemented on a LISP workstation { contains facilities for editing and composing programs, browsing a program data base, debugging, version management, and cross-compilation to microprocessors, including the Intel 8086.
A Survey of Gender-Related Motivation Studies: Subordinate Status, Roles, and Stereotyping

Since the days when women first began entering the work force scholars have studied perceived gender differences related to motivation in organizational settings. This paper first presents a brief overview of motivation theory and then examines the literature tracing gender related motivation-to-manage as it evolves through the 1950s and 1960s to the present. Studies have produced conflicting results with some finding that men have more motivation-to-manage then women and other studies finding the opposite. Such differences appear to be small and closely related to subordinate status and role stereotyping.