Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Buffer Sizing for Rate-Optimal Single-Rate Data-Flow Scheduling Revisited

Single-Rate Data-Flow (SRDF) graphs, also known as Homogeneous Synchronous Data-Flow (HSDF) graphs or Marked Graphs, are often used to model the implementation and do temporal analysis of concurrent DSP and multimedia applications. An important problem in implementing applications expressed as SRDF graphs is the computation of the minimal amount of buffering needed to implement a static periodic schedule (SPS) that is optimal in terms of execution rate, or throughput. Ning and Gao [1] propose a linear-programming-based polynomial algorithm to compute this minimal storage amount, claiming optimality. We show via a counterexample that the proposed algorithm is not optimal. We prove that the problem is, in fact, NP-complete. We give an exact solution, and experimentally evaluate the degree of inaccuracy of the algorithm of Ning and Gao.
Description of Toluene Inhibition of Methyl Bromide Biodegradation in Seawater and Isolation of a Marine Toluene Oxidizer That Degrades Methyl Bromide

ABSTRACT Methyl bromide (CH3Br) and methyl chloride (CH3Cl) are important precursors for destruction of stratospheric ozone, and oceanic uptake is an important component of the biogeochemical cycle of these methyl halides. In an effort to identify and characterize the organisms mediating halocarbon biodegradation, we surveyed the effect of potential cometabolic substrates on CH3Br biodegradation using a 13CH3Br incubation technique. Toluene (160 to 200 nM) clearly inhibited CH3Br and CH3Cl degradation in seawater samples from the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Furthermore, a marine bacterium able to co-oxidize CH3Br while growing on toluene was isolated from subtropical Western Atlantic seawater. The bacterium, Oxy6, was also able to oxidize o-xylene and the xylene monooxygenase (XMO) pathway intermediate 3-methylcatechol. Patterns of substrate oxidation, lack of acetylene inhibition, and the inability of the toluene 4-monooxygenase (T4MO)-containing bacterium Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 to degrade CH3Br ruled out participation of the T4MO pathway in Oxy6. Oxy6 also oxidized a variety of toluene (TOL) pathway intermediates such as benzyl alcohol, benzylaldehyde, benzoate, and catechol, but the inability of Pseudomonas putida mt-2 to degrade CH3Br suggested that the TOL pathway might not be responsible for CH3Br biodegradation. Molecular phylogenetic analysis identified Oxy6 to be a member of the family Sphingomonadaceae related to species within the Porphyrobacter genus. Although some Sphingomonadaceae can degrade a variety of xenobiotic compounds, this appears to be the first report of CH3Br degradation for this class of organism. The widespread inhibitory effect of toluene on natural seawater samples and the metabolic capabilities of Oxy6 indicate a possible link between aromatic hydrocarbon utilization and the biogeochemical cycle of methyl halides.
Ghrelin Protects against Dexamethasone-Induced INS-1 Cell Apoptosis via ERK and p38MAPK Signaling

Glucocorticoid excess induces apoptosis of islet cells, which may result in diabetes. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of ghrelin on dexamethasone-induced INS-1 cell apoptosis. Our data showed that ghrelin (0.1 μM) inhibited dexamethasone-induced (0.1 μM) apoptosis of INS-1 cells and facilitated cell proliferation. Moreover, ghrelin upregulated Bcl-2 expression, downregulated Bax expression, and decreased caspase-3 activity. The protective effect of ghrelin against dexamethasone-induced INS-1 cell apoptosis was mediated via growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a. Further studies revealed that ghrelin increased ERK activation and decreased p38MAPK expression after dexamethasone treatment. Ghrelin-mediated protection of dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of INS-1 cells was attenuated using the ERK inhibitor U0126 (10 μM), and cell viability increased using the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (10 μM). In conclusion, ghrelin could protect against dexamethasone-induced INS-1 cell apoptosis, at least partially via GHS-R1a and the signaling pathway of ERK and p38MAPK.
Rapamycin‐mediated suppression of renal cyst expansion in del34 Pkd1−/− mutant mouse embryos: An investigation of the feasibility of renal cyst prevention in the foetus

Aim: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in humans involves kidney cyst expansion beginning in utero. Recessive PKD can result in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) within the first decade, whereas autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD), caused by mutations in the PKD1 or PKD2 gene, typically leads to ESRD by the fifth decade of life. Inhibition of mTOR signalling was recently found to halt cyst formation in adult ADPKD mice. In contrast, no studies have investigated potential treatments to prevent cyst formation in utero in recessive PKD. Given that homozygous Pkd1 mutant mice exhibit cyst formation in utero, we decided to investigate whether mTOR inhibition in utero ameliorates kidney cyst formation in foetal Pkd1 homozygous mutant mice.
Coaching Abuse Experiences in Young Elite Female Artistic Gymnasts: An Ethical Appraisal

Artistic gymnastics coaches continue to face criticism stemming from the training requirements they place on their young gymnasts. The purpose of this study is to discover and examine coaching abuse experiences of young elite female artistic gymnasts, and provide an ethical appraisal of such abuse using two distinct moral frameworks. Six semistructured interviews were conducted with former elite artistic gymnasts. Data analysis was guided by phenomenological methods and a textural description of the phenomenon was created. Findings revealed that gymnasts’ experienced forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse from their coaches, and attributed these experiences in part to a lack of coaching education. Furthermore, the shared experiences of the gymnasts were not consistent when two moral frameworks were applied to the data. Based on the ethical implications of coaching abuse in elite female gymnastics, recommendations for mitigating coaching abuse toward young female gymnasts and future research were also discussed.
Reactivation in Ventral Striatum during Hippocampal Ripples: Evidence for the Binding of Reward and Spatial Memories?

Over 50 years ago, [Scoville and Milner (1957)][1] reported the case of H. M. , an epileptic patient who underwent bilateral removal of his medial temporal lobe, a region of the brain that encompasses the hippocampus. After the surgery, H. M. was unable to form new memories, highlighting the
Modafinil improves alertness, vigilance, and executive function during simulated night shifts.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of 200 mg of modafinil compared to placebo on alertness, neurobehavioral performance, and executive function during 4 consecutive simulated night shifts. DESIGN Double-blind, randomized, parallel groups. SETTING Sleep research facility. PARTICIPANTS 32 male and female volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 years. INTERVENTIONS 200 mg of modafinil or placebo given nightly on the 4 consecutive simulated night shifts. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 treatment conditions, following medical, psychiatric, and polysomnographic screening. On 4 consecutive nights, subjects took study drug at 2200, and then from about 2300 to 0730 participated in a simulated night shift that included the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test, Psychomotor Vigilance Test, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, measures of subjective alertness, and multiple executive-function measures. At 0800, daytime sleep periods were recorded polysomnographically for 6 to 8 hours. Alertness--as measured by the MWT, vigilance and reaction time as indexed by Psychomotor Vigilance Test lapses, and slowest 10% of reaction times--and 3 executive-function tasks showed significant enhancement with modafinil versus placebo. Subjective sleepiness at night and some performance measures did not show consistent treatment differences. Daytime sleep showed minimal differences between conditions. CONCLUSIONS The physiologic sleepiness and neurobehavioral deficits that occurred during the hours of a typical night shift were clearly attenuated by modafinil. Modafinil also had beneficial effects on some measures of executive function.
Analysis of Traffic Access Control Strategies in Integrated Service Networks

A common digital transmission facility provides service to a community of heterogeneous users generating traffic with differing intensity, message length, and bit rate. In order for this type of integrated communication system to handle its traffic demands with high efficiency and flexibility, close control of access and switching at the input node is required. We propose, analyze, and compare two different strategies for managing the access of two types of traffic, a blockable wide-band (WB) type of traffic and a queueable narrow-band (NB) type of traffic, sharing the transmission resource dynamically. The first strategy assigns preemptive priority to the WB traffic over the NB traffic, whereas the second strategy employs a wide-band to narrow-band bit rate compression mechanism. Exact analytic models are developed, and solution methods are presented and implemented. It is shown that the best combined performance is obtained when the two strategies are adaptively combined according to the offered load.
Cutting-Plane Separation Strategies for Semidefinite Programming Models to Solve Single-Row Facility Layout Problems

The single-row facility layout problem (SRFLP) is concerned with finding the optimal linear placement of n departments with different lengths in a straight line. It is typically achieved by minimizing the cost associated with the interactions between the departments. The semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation model that incorporates cutting planes proposed recently by Anjos, Kennings, and Vannelli was considered a breakthrough in the field. This poster will present a new SDP relaxation model, and compare the two SDP relaxations. In combination with the two SDP relaxations, we also explore different strategies to separate the cutting planes, compare their practical performance, and propose an overall best methodology for the SRFLP. This research brings the SDP relaxation model with cutting planes to a higher level by enabling the solution of larger instances.
Transcriptome-Based Identification of ABC Transporters in the Western Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus hesperus

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a large superfamily of proteins that mediate diverse physiological functions by coupling ATP hydrolysis with substrate transport across lipid membranes. In insects, these proteins play roles in metabolism, development, eye pigmentation, and xenobiotic clearance. While ABC transporters have been extensively studied in vertebrates, less is known concerning this superfamily in insects, particularly hemipteran pests. We used RNA-Seq transcriptome sequencing to identify 65 putative ABC transporter sequences (including 36 full-length sequences) from the eight ABC subfamilies in the western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus), a polyphagous agricultural pest. Phylogenetic analyses revealed clear orthologous relationships with ABC transporters linked to insecticide/xenobiotic clearance and indicated lineage specific expansion of the L. hesperus ABCG and ABCH subfamilies. The transcriptional profile of 13 LhABCs representative of the ABCA, ABCB, ABCC, ABCG, and ABCH subfamilies was examined across L. hesperus development and within sex-specific adult tissues. All of the transcripts were amplified from both reproductively immature and mature adults and all but LhABCA8 were expressed to some degree in eggs. Expression of LhABCA8 was spatially localized to the testis and temporally timed with male reproductive development, suggesting a potential role in sexual maturation and/or spermatozoa protection. Elevated expression of LhABCC5 in Malpighian tubules suggests a possible role in xenobiotic clearance. Our results provide the first transcriptome-wide analysis of ABC transporters in an agriculturally important hemipteran pest and, because ABC transporters are known to be important mediators of insecticidal resistance, will provide the basis for future biochemical and toxicological studies on the role of this protein family in insecticide resistance in Lygus species.
Minimum-Variance Kernels, Economic Risk Premia, and Tests of Multi-Beta Models

This paper uses minimum-variance (MV) admissible kernels to estimate risk premia associated with economic risk variables and to test multi-beta models. Estimating risk premia using MV kernels is appealing because it avoids the need to 1) identify all relevant sources of risk and 2) assume a linear factor model for asset returns. Testing multi-beta models in terms of restricted MV kernels has the advantage that 1) the candidate kernel has the smallest volatility and 2) test statistics are easy to interpret in terms of Sharpe ratios. The authors find that several economic variables command significant risk premia and that the signs of the premia mostly correspond to the effect that these variables have on the risk-return trade-off, consistent with the implications of the intertemporal capital asset pricing model (I-CAPM). They also find that the MV kernel implied by the I-CAPM, while formally rejected by the data, consistently outperforms a pricing kernel based on the size and book-to-market factors of Fama and French (1993).
HIGH STRENGTH STEEL FOR IMPROVEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY

The selection of building materials may significantly influence the sustainability criteria. Life cycle costs, resource efficiency, recyclability and environmental impact are of particular relevance. Until now, the potential of steel with its wide range of strength classes, mechanical and technological properties has been utilized in civil engineering only insufficiently. In the building sector large amounts of material are used. Therefore, increased application of high strength steel does not only improve life cycle assessment and economy, but also the competitiveness of steel structures and the technological advantage of the companies involved in the value added process.
Promoting Financial Literacy and Latino Males’ Success at Community Colleges

ABSTRACT Latino males across the country enroll in community colleges with the purpose of obtaining an educational degree, which could lead to accomplishing professional and personal aspirations. Even if Latino male students enroll in post-secondary education, they continue to be disenfranchised, vanished, and often rejected through the higher education pipeline. Research regarding access to education shows that money matters to the success of Latino students. Through a metasynthesis, this practice briefly identifies that there is little to no empirical research conducted that explores how Latino male community college students elicit, engage, and explore financial literacy programs. This paper makes recommendations for post-secondary institutions, practitioners, and policymakers to promote Latino males’ success at community colleges.
Embeddings of Surfaces into 3-Space and Quadruple Points of Regular Homotopies

Let F be a closed orientable surface. We give an explicit formula for the number mod 2 of quadruple points occurring in any generic regular homotopy between any two regularly homotopic embeddings e,e':F -> R^3. The formula is in terms of homological data extracted from the two embeddings.
The Critical Importance of Retrieval—and Spacing—for Learning

We examined the impact of repeated testing and repeated studying on long-term learning. In Experiment 1, we replicated Karpicke and Roediger’s (2008) influential results showing that once information can be recalled, repeated testing on that information enhances learning, whereas restudying that information does not. We then examined whether the apparent ineffectiveness of restudying might be attributable to the spacing differences between items that were inherent in the between-subjects design employed by Karpicke and Roediger. When we controlled for these spacing differences by manipulating the various learning conditions within subjects in Experiment 2, we found that both repeated testing and restudying improved learning, and that learners’ awareness of the relative mnemonic benefits of these strategies was enhanced. These findings contribute to understanding how two important factors in learning—test-induced retrieval processes and spacing—can interact, and they illustrate that such interactions can play out differently in between-subjects and within-subjects experimental designs.
Natural Oligomers of the Alzheimer Amyloid-β Protein Induce Reversible Synapse Loss by Modulating an NMDA-Type Glutamate Receptor-Dependent Signaling Pathway

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by decreased synapse density in hippocampus and neocortex, and synapse loss is the strongest anatomical correlate of the degree of clinical impairment. Although considerable evidence supports a causal role for the amyloid-β protein (Aβ) in AD, a direct link between a specific form of Aβ and synapse loss has not been established. We demonstrate that physiological concentrations of naturally secreted Aβ dimers and trimers, but not monomers, induce progressive loss of hippocampal synapses. Pyramidal neurons in rat organotypic slices had markedly decreased density of dendritic spines and numbers of electrophysiologically active synapses after exposure to picomolar levels of soluble oligomers. Spine loss was reversible and was prevented by Aβ-specific antibodies or a small-molecule modulator of Aβ aggregation. Mechanistically, Aβ-mediated spine loss required activity of NMDA-type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) and occurred through a pathway involving cofilin and calcineurin. Furthermore, NMDAR-mediated calcium influx into active spines was reduced by Aβ oligomers. Partial blockade of NMDARs by pharmacological antagonists was sufficient to trigger spine loss. We conclude that soluble, low-n oligomers of human Aβ trigger synapse loss that can be reversed by therapeutic agents. Our approach provides a quantitative cellular model for elucidating the molecular basis of Aβ-induced neuronal dysfunction.
Intracultural Variation in the Knowledge of Medicinal Plants in an Urban-Rural Community in the Atlantic Forest from Northeastern Brazil

This study assessed the intracultural knowledge of the use of medicinal plants in an urban-rural community in an Atlantic forest fragment in northeastern Brazil. We examined the importance of native and exotic species and the effects of gender and age on that knowledge. We also compared data obtained from different groups of informants (local experts and general community). We conducted 194 interviews between June 2007 and January 2008, using the freelist technique and semistructured forms to collect ethnobotanical data. Information obtained from the community was compared with that from six local experts who participated in a survey in 2003. From a total of 209 ethnospecies, exotic and herbaceous plants presented higher richness. With respect to the number of citations, women and older informants were shown to know a higher number of medicinal plants. Comparing knowledge of local experts with that of the general community, we noted that experts know a similar wealth of plant families and therapeutic indications, but the community knows a greater species richness. These results indicate that local experts may provide useful information for studies that search for a quick diagnosis of the knowledge of a given community.
Schisandra chinensis protects against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

BACKGROUND Adriamycin (ADR) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent against cancers but its clinical use is limited due to its cardiotoxicity. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis involves inhibition of nucleic acid and protein synthesis, free radical formation and lipid peroxidation. Schisandra (SC) has strong antioxidant activity. We investigate the protective effects of SC on adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity. METHODS Wistar rats were divided into four groups: CONT (control), ADR, SC and SC + ADR. After treatment, the hearts of the rats were surgically removed and studied for synthesis rates of nucleic acid and protein, myocardial antioxidants and lipid peroxidation. RESULTS Cardiotoxicity was characterized by ascites, congested liver and depressed cardiac function. Nucleic acid and protein synthesis were inhibited, malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased, while myocardial glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were decreased by ADR. In contrast, administration of SC before and concurrent with ADR significantly reduced mortality and the amount of ascites. Indexes in myocardial GSHPx, macromolecular biosynthesis and SOD activities increased with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSION These results suggest that ADR cardiotoxicity is associated with antioxidant deficit and SC treatment changes the antioxidant status of the heart and improves cardiac function.
Iron chelation therapy with deferasirox in patients with aplastic anemia: a subgroup analysis of 116 patients from the EPIC trial.

The prospective 1-year Evaluation of Patients' Iron Chelation with Exjade (EPIC) study enrolled a large cohort of 116 patients with aplastic anemia; the present analyses evaluated the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in this patient population. After 1 year, median serum ferritin decreased significantly from 3254 ng/mL at baseline to 1854 ng/mL (P < .001). Decreases occurred in chelation-naive (3229-1520 ng/mL; P < .001, last-observation-carried-forward analysis), and previously chelated (3263-2585 ng/mL; P = .21, last-observation-carried-forward analysis) patients and were reflective of dose adjustments and ongoing iron intake. Baseline labile plasma iron levels were within normal range despite high serum ferritin levels. The most common drug-related adverse events were nausea (22%) and diarrhea (16%). Serum creatinine increases more than 33% above baseline and the upper limit of normal occurred in 29 patients (25%), but there were no progressive increases; concomitant use of cyclosporine had a significant impact on serum creatinine levels. The decrease in mean alanine aminotransferase levels at 1 year correlated significantly with reduction in serum ferritin (r = 0.40, P < .001). Mean absolute neutrophil and platelet counts remained stable during treatment, and there were no drug-related cytopenias. This prospective dataset confirms the efficacy and well characterizes the tolerability profile of deferasirox in a large population of patients with aplastic anemia. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT00171821.