Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upregulated expression of cardiac ankyrin repeat protein in human failing hearts due to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Expression of cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP) is augmented in heart failure due to dilated or ischaemic cardiomyopathy. It is unclear whether CARP is upregulated in heart failure due to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). In the present study, we investigated the expression pattern of CARP and the correlation between CARP and the well‐known heart failure marker pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide (proANP) in ARVC failing hearts.
Layered Source-Channel Coding over Two-Way Relay Networks

In this paper, we study the performances of various layered source-channel coding schemes over two-way relay networks, where the sources are coded into different layers and transmitted by progressive coding or superposition coding. The two-way relay network employs multiple-access-broadcast or time- division-broadcast protocol, and the relay uses decode-and-forward (DF) protocol. We first derive the optimal distortion exponents of different schemes at high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Fast resource allocation algorithms are then developed to optimize the expected distortion of the source at finite SNRs. Simulation results show that layered coding achieves better performance than single rate coding, and the proposed fast resource allocation scheme is near-optimal.
The role of network trace anonymization under attack

In recent years, academic literature has analyzed many attacks on network trace anonymization techniques. These attacks usually correlate external information with anonymized data and successfully de-anonymize objects with distinctive signatures. However, analyses of these attacks still underestimate the real risk of publishing anonymized data, as the most powerful attack against anonymization is traffic injection. We demonstrate that performing live traffic injection attacks against anonymization on a backbone network is not difficult, and that potential countermeasures against these attacks, such as traffic aggregation, randomization or field generalization, are not particularly effective. We then discuss tradeoffs of the attacker and defender in the so-called injection attack space. An asymmetry in the attack space significantly increases the chance of a successful de-anonymization through lengthening the injected traffic pattern. This leads us to re-examine the role of network data anonymization. We recommend a unified approach to data sharing, which uses anonymization as a part of a technical, legal, and social approach to data protection in the research and operations communities.
Cognitive MIMO Radio: Incorporating Dynamic Spectrum Access in Multiuser MIMO Network

In this paper, we develop a general mathematical framework to incorporate dynamic spectrum access in a multiuser MIMO network. This framework is particularly helpful in computing the maximum achievable system capacity of a resulting multiple-band multiuser MIMO network. The mathematical formulation to maximize the system capacity is shown to be quite similar to that of a well studied single-band multiuser MIMO network. It is further shown that the capacity maximization problem is equivalent to finding the optimal eigenvalues of the input symbol covariance matrices of the users in each frequency band. Due to the dependence of the eigenvalues on the physical characteristics of the system, such as orientation of the antennas and the channel conditions, it is difficult to achieve their optimal values in general. Because of this difficulty in achieving the optimal capacity, we also consider the suboptimal MIMO techniques (specifically beamforming) and study their capacity performance in a multiple-band multiuser MIMO system.
Forestry best management practices for erosion control in haul road ditches near stream crossings

Poorly designed and maintained forest road stream crossings can directly link erosion sources to streams. Forestry best management practices (BMPs) provide techniques that are useful for preventing sedimentation associated with ditch erosion. However, few studies have quantified ditch BMP sediment reductions. Thus, our primary objective was to evaluate erosion control effectiveness due to ditch BMPs and secondarily to quantify ditch BMP implementation costs. Sixty ditch segments near stream crossings were reconstructed, and five ditch BMP treatments were applied using a completely randomized design resulting in 11 to 13 replications per treatment. Ditch BMP treatments were (1) bare ditch (Bare), (2) grass seed with lime fertilizer (Seed), (3) grass seed with lime fertilizer and erosion control mat (Mat), (4) rock check dams (Dam), and (5) completely rocked (Rock). Silt fence sediment traps and sediment pins were measured over one year to determine treatment effectiveness. Trapped sediment deposits indicated that median erosion rates were greatest for Dam (6.14 Mg ha−1 y−1 [2.74 tn ac−1 yr−1]), followed by Bare (4.92 Mg ha−1 y−1 [2.19 tn ac−1 yr−1]), Rock (1.73 Mg ha−1 y−1 [0.77 tn ac−1 yr−1]), Seed (1.04 Mg ha−1 y−1 [0.46 tn ac−1 y−1]), and Mat (0.82 Mg ha−1 y−1 [0.37 tn ac−1 yr−1]). Results suggested that Mat treatments had significantly lower erosion rates than Bare and Dam, while Rock and Seed provided intermediate levels. Costs of BMP treatments were least expensive for Seed (US$6.10 approach−1), followed by Mat (US$21.33 approach−1), Dam (US$71.43 approach−1), and Rock (US$141.08 approach−1). Results suggest that erosion began to accelerate disproportionately when bare soil levels were between 30% and 50%; therefore, minimum soil cover of 50% is recommended for ditches.
Optimizing Re-Chlorination Injection Points for Water Supply Networks Using Harmony Search Algorithm

In order to achieve the required residual chlorine concentration at the end of a water network, the installation of a re-chlorination facility for a high-quality water supply system is necessary. In this study, the optimal re-chlorination facility locations and doses were determined for real water supply systems, which require maintenance in ord3r to ensure proper residual chlorine concentrations at the pipeline under the present and future conditions. The harmony search algorithm (HSA), which is a meta-heuristic optimization technique, was used for the optimization model. This method was applied to two water supply systems in South Korea and was verified through case studies using different numbers of re-chlorination points. The results show that the proposed model can be used as an efficient water quality analysis and decision making tool, which showed the optimal re-chlorination dose and little deviation in the spatial distribution. In addition, the HSA results are superior to those of the genetic algorithm (GA) in terms of the total injection mass with the same number of evaluations.
Genetic Background and Allorecognition Phenotype in Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus

The Hydractinia allorecognition complex (ARC) was initially identified as a single chromosomal interval using inbred and congenic lines. The production of defined lines necessarily homogenizes genetic background and thus may be expected to obscure the effects of unlinked allorecognition loci should they exist. Here, we report the results of crosses in which inbred lines were out-crossed to wild-type animals in an attempt to identify dominant, codominant, or incompletely dominant modifiers of allorecognition. A claim for the existence of modifiers unlinked to ARC was rejected for three different genetic backgrounds. Estimates of the genetic map distance of ARC in two wild-type haplotypes differed markedly from one another and from that measured in congenic lines. These results suggest that additional allodeterminants exist in the Hydractinia ARC.
Enhanced homosynaptic LTD in cerebellar Purkinje cells of the dystrophic MDX mouse

The purpose was to study homosynaptic long‐term depression (LTD) at the parallel fiber‐Purkinje cell synapse in the mdx mouse, a murine model of the human dystrophinopathy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), in order to examine whether the absence of dystrophin affects the induction and extent of this form of synaptic plasticity. Sharp intracellular electrodes were used to record electrically evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) from identified Purkinje cells in cerebellar slices. The early phase of homosynaptic LTD, 7–16 min postinduction, was the same in mdx and wildtype Purkinje cells; however, the late phase of LTD, 35–44 min, was significantly enhanced in mdx Purkinje cells. We hypothesize that this enhancement of the late phase of homosynaptic LTD may be due to a disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis associated with the absence of the protein dystrophin. These findings may explain some of the central nervous system deficiencies reported in DMD boys. Muscle Nerve, 2009
Assessing Efficiency of Prompts Based on Learner Characteristics

Personalized prompting research has shown the significant learning benefit of prompting. The current paper outlines and examines a personalized prompting approach aimed at eliminating performance differences on the basis of a number of learner characteristics (capturing learning strategies and traits). The learner characteristics of interest were the need for cognition, work effort, computer self-efficacy, the use of surface learning, and the learner’s confidence in their learning. The approach was tested in two e-modules, using similar assessment forms (experimental n = 413; control group n = 243). Several prompts which corresponded to the learner characteristics were implemented, including an explanation prompt, a motivation prompt, a strategy prompt, and an assessment prompt. All learning characteristics were significant correlates of at least one of the outcome measures (test performance, errors, and omissions). However, only the assessment prompt increased test performance. On this basis, and drawing upon the testing effect, this prompt may be a particularly promising option to increase performance in e-learning and similar personalized systems.
Prolonged Intermittent Drooling and Oromotor Dyspraxia in Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes

Summary: Prolonged isolated sialorrhea of epileptic origin was described by Penfield and Jasper (1954) in a patient with a lesional epilepsy. A child with prolonged but intermittent drooling, lingual dyspraxia, and other clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) features compatible with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BCECS) is described. The fluctuant course of the symptomatology and correlation with the intensity of the paroxysmal discharges on EEG are consistent with an epileptic dysfunction located in the lower rolandic fissure. No lesion was demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our case bears analogies with the recently reported status epilepticus of BCECS and the “acquired aphasia‐epilepsy syndrome. ”
Dielectric Spectrum Feature Vector Extraction Algorithm of Ground Penetrating Radar Signal in Frequency Bands

This letter presents a new feature extraction algorithm for ground penetrating radar (GPR) data. Our new algorithm can fully utilize the dielectric spectrum of the GPR data in different frequency bands. First, according to power spectral distribution of impulse source signal, we select the frequency band of GPR data's main energy spectrum. Second, we divide the frequency band into different subbands by bandpass filters groups. The features of “slow-decay point” and “fast-decay point” are separately extracted from each subband, and encoded to build the feature vector. The experimental results show that the classification results used in the proposed feature vector agree well with the parameter values set during experiments. The proposed algorithm can be applied on the targets classification of the GPR signals. In addition, it has advantages of low time complexity and strong antinoise ability.
Ieee Transactions on Computer-aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems 1 Minimal Energy Fixed-priority Scheduling for Variable Voltage Processors

— To fully exploit the benefit of variable voltage processors, voltage schedules must be designed in the context of work load requirement. In this paper, we present an approach to finding the least-energy voltage schedule for executing real-time jobs on such a processor according to a fixed priority, preemptive policy. The significance of our approach is that the theoretical limit in terms of energy saving for such systems is established, which can thus serve as the standard to evaluate the performance of various heuristic approaches. Two algorithms for deriving the optimal voltage schedule are provided. The first one explores fundamental properties of voltage schedules while the second one builds on the first one to further reduce the computational cost. Experimental results are shown to compare the results of this paper with previous ones.
Psycho-acoustic model-based message authentication coding for audio data

Existing security algorithms for data authentication like cryptographic hash functions for example, are very sensitive to changes in the protected data by design. If these mechanisms are applied on multimedia data, they fail to distinguish imperceptible signal transformation from malicious tampering that perceivably changes the content. Furthermore, they usually provide no localization or an assessment of the relevance of such manipulations with respect to human perception or even semantics which is not desirable in a number of applications. We present an algorithm for a robust message authentication code (MAC) for digital audio data in the context of authentication watermarking. An existing audio fingerprinting approaches is improved with respect to key-based security. Psychoacoustic modelling is incorporated by us to separate inaudible changes from perceivably relevant modifications of the audio content. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm provides both a high level of distinction between perceptually different audio data and a high robustness against signal transformations that do not change the perceived information.
Changes in Cortical Activation Patterns in Language Areas following an Aerobic Exercise Intervention in Older Adults

Previous work has shown that older adults who evidence increased right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) activity during language tasks show decreased sematic verbal fluency performance. The current study sought to evaluate if an aerobic exercise intervention can alter patterns of brain activity during a semantic verbal fluency task assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thirty-two community-dwelling, sedentary older adults were enrolled to a 12-week aerobic “Spin” exercise group or a 12-week nonaerobic exercise control condition (Balance). Thirty participants completed their assigned intervention (16 Spin; 14 Balance) with pre- and postintervention assessments of a semantic verbal fluency task during fMRI and estimated VO2max testing. There was a significant increase in the change scores for estimated VO2max of the Spin group when compared to the Balance group. Semantic verbal fluency output within the scanner was also improved in the Spin group as compared to controls at postassessment. Group fMRI comparisons of IFG activity showed lower activity in the right IFG following the intervention in the aerobic Spin group when compared to the Balance group. Regression analysis of imaging data with change in both estimated VO2max and semantic verbal fluency was negatively correlated with activity in right IFG. The current work is registered as clinical trial with NCT01787292 and NCT02787655.
Gender‐specific effects of comorbid depression and anxiety on the propensity to drink in negative emotional states

Abstract Background and Aims Depression and anxiety are often comorbid with alcoholism and contribute to craving and relapse. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of life‐time diagnoses of major depressive disorder (MDD), substance‐induced depression (SID), anxiety disorder (AnxD) and substance‐induced anxiety (SIA), the effects of these comorbidities on the propensity to drink in negative emotional states (negative craving), and test whether these effects differ by sex. Design Secondary analyses of baseline data collected in a single‐arm study of pharmacogenetic predictors of acamprosate response. Setting Academic medical center and affiliated community‐based treatment programs in the American upper mid‐west. Participants A total of 287 males and 156 females aged 18–80 years, meeting DSM‐IV criteria for alcohol dependence. Measurements The primary outcome measure was ‘propensity to drink in negative emotional situations’ (determined by the Inventory of Drug Taking Situations) and the key predictors/covariates were sex and psychiatric comorbidities, including MDD, SID, AnxD and SIA (determined by Psychiatric Research Interview of Substance and Mood Disorders). Findings The prevalence of the MDD, SID and AnxD was higher in females compared with males (33.1 versus 18.4%, 44.8 versus 26.4% and 42.2 versus 27.4%, respectively; P < 0.01, each), while SIA was rare (3.3%) and did not differ by sex. Increased propensity to drink in negative emotional situations was associated with comorbid MDD (β = 6.6, P = 0.013) and AnxD (β = 4.8, P = 0.042) as well as a SID × sex interaction effect (P = 0.003), indicating that the association of SID with propensity to drink in negative emotional situations differs by sex and is stronger in males (β = 7.9, P = 0.009) compared with females (β = −6.6, P = 0.091). Conclusions There appears to be a higher prevalence of comorbid depression and anxiety disorders as well as propensity to drink in negative emotional situations in female compared with male alcoholics. Substance‐induced depression appears to have a sex‐specific effect on the increased risk for drinking in negative emotional situations in males.
The channel domain of colicin A is inhibited by its immunity protein through direct interaction in the Escherichia coli inner membrane.

A bacterial signal sequence was fused to the colicin A pore‐forming domain: the exported pore‐forming domain was highly cytotoxic. We thus introduced a cysteine‐residue pair in the fusion protein which has been shown to form a disulfide bond in the natural colicin A pore‐forming domain between alpha‐helices 5 and 6. Formation of the disulfide bond prevented the cytotoxic activity of the fusion protein, presumably by preventing the membrane insertion of helices 5 and 6. However, the cytotoxicity of the disulfide‐linked pore‐forming domain was reactivated by adding dithiothreitol into the culture medium. We were then able to co‐produce the immunity protein with the disulfide linked pore‐forming domain, by using a co‐immunoprecipitation procedure, in order to show that they interact. We showed both proteins to be co‐localized in the Escherichia coli inner membrane and subsequently co‐immunoprecipitated them. The interaction required a functional immunity protein. The immunity protein also interacted with a mutant form of the pore‐forming domain carrying a mutation located in the voltage‐gated region: this mutant was devoid of pore‐forming activity but still inserted into the membrane. Our results indicate that the immunity protein interacts with the membrane‐anchored channel domain; the interaction requires a functional membrane‐inserted immunity protein but does not require the channel to be in the open state.
Mitochondria-Localized Glutamic Acid-Rich Protein (MGARP) Gene Transcription Is Regulated by Sp1

Background Mitochondria-localized glutamic acid-rich protein (MGARP) is a novel mitochondrial transmembrane protein expressed mainly in steroidogenic tissues and in the visual system. Previous studies showed that MGARP functions in hormone biosynthesis and its expression is modulated by the HPG axis. Methodology/Principal Findings By bioinformatics, we identified two characteristic GC-rich motifs that are located proximal to the transcription start site (TSS) of MGARP, and each contains two Specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding elements. We then determined that the −3 kb proximal MGARP promoter is activated in a Sp1-dependent manner using reporter assays and knockdown of Sp1 led to decreased expression of endogenous MGARP messages. We also demonstrated that one of the two GC-rich motifs, GC-Box1, harbors prominent promoter activity mediated by Sp1, and that it requires both GC boxes for full transcriptional activation. These findings suggest a dominant role for these GC boxes and Sp1 in activating the MGARP promoter through a synergistic mechanism. Consistently, the results of an Electrophoretic Mobility Gel Shift Assay (EMSA) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) confirmed that Sp1 specifically interacts with the GC-rich region. We further found that estrogen receptor α (ERα), a known Sp1 co-activator, could potentiate GC-boxes containing MGARP promoter activity and this effect is mediated by Sp1. Knockdown of Sp1 significantly diminished the MGARP promoter transactivation and the expression of endogenous MGARP mediated by both Sp1 and ERα. Conclusions/Significance The present study identified a proximal core sequence in the MGARP promoter that is composed of two enriched Sp1 binding motifs and established Sp1 as one major MGARP transactivator whose functions are synergistic with ERα, providing a novel understanding of the mechanisms of MGARP gene transcriptional regulation.
Isolation of a bacterium, producing propionic acid, from the rumen of sheep.

SUMMARY: A strictly anaerobic microcoecus which produces acetic acid, propionie acid, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen by fermentation of lactate was isolated from the rumen of sheep. It failed to ferment sugars and was identified as Veillonella gazogenes. Its significance in ruminant digestion is uncertain, but a characteristic reaction of this organism, the decarboxylation of succinie acid to yield propionic acid and carbon dioxide, appears to be important in the rumen. This reaction was studied by the Warburg technique with washed suspensions of rumen bacteria.
Postglacial vegetation and fire history, eastern Klamath Mountains, California, USA

Pollen and high-resolution charcoal data from Bluff Lake and Crater Lake, California, indicate simi lar changes in climate, vegetation and fire history during the last 15 500 years. Pollen data at Bluff Lake suggest that the vegetation betweenc. 15 500 and 13 100 cal. BP consisted of subalpine parkland with scattered Pinus andAbies. After 13 100 cal. BP a relatively closed forest ofP. monticola,P. contorta andAbies developed, and fire-event frequency was low. The inferred climate then was cooler and wetter than present. Pinus andQuercus vaccinifolia dominated at both sites during the early Holocene, when conditions were warm and dry. As climate became wetter and cooler in the late Holocene,Abies spp. at both sites andTsuga mertensi ana at Crater Lake increased in importance, displacingPinus andQuercus. The two lake records have similar trends in fire history, with high event frequencies atc. 8400, 4000 and 1000 cal. BP and low values atc. 4800 cal. BP. The fire and vegetation history at both sites suggests a similar response to large-scale changes in climate during the Holocene.
The approach to normality of the solutions of random boundary and eigenvalue problems with weakly correlated coefficients

A general class of linear self-adjoint random boundary value problems with weakly correlated coefficients is considered. The earlier result that the distribution function of the solution approaches the normal as the correlation length e tends to zero is generalized somewhat. Correction terms are derived that yield estimates for the distribution function when e is small but nonzero. The results are also applied to the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a corresponding class of random eigenvalue problems. The discussion is given in terms of second-order equations, but extensions to higher-order problems are readily apparent.