Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resolving state inconsistency in distributed fault-tolerant real-time dynamic TDMA architectures

State consistency in safety-critical distributed systems is mandatory for synchronizing distributed decisions as found in dynamic time division multiple access (TDMA) schedules in the presence of faults. A TDMA schedule that supports networked systems making decisions at run time is sensitive to transient faults, because stations can make incorrect local decisions at run time and cause state inconsistency and collisions. We refer to this type of TDMA schedule as a dynamic TDMA schedule. Faulty decisions are especially undesirable for safety-critical systems with hard real-time constraints. Hence, real-time communication schedules must have the capability of detecting state inconsistency within a fixed amount of time. In this paper, we show through experimentation that state inconsistency is a real problem, and we propose a solution for resolving state inconsistency in TDMA schedules.
Factors Predisposing to Active Tuberculosis in Dialysis Patients

Background. The aim of our study was to identify risk factors for developing active tuberculosis in regular haemodialysis patients (Dps). Methods. A 36-month follow-up of 272 Dps, in S/W Greece, where all new cases of active TB were detected. Eligible Dps were tested with tuberculin (Mantoux skin test), in a 2-step manner. Specific Relative Risks (RR) for TB was calculated considering subjects from the general population as a reference group at the end of the studied period. The independent effect of age, BMI, diabetes, tuberculin reactivity, healed tuberculosis evidences on chest X-ray and dialysis stage was determined using Cox’s proportional hazard model. Results. Dps presented a multi-fold higher RR for TB [74.5(95% [CI] 58.65-113.6, P <0.001)] as compared to the aged matched background population. Elderly Dps (Adjusted/RR 25.3, P<0.02), diabetics (Adj/RR 25.3, P<0.03), underweighted (Adj/RR 72.3, P<0.001), tuberculin responders (Adj/RR 41.4, P<0.03), Dps with fibrotic residuals on chest x-ray (Adj./RR 82.3, P<0.03) and those treated for <12 months (Adj/RR 110.0, P<0.001), presented significantly higher specific RRs for TB even after allowing for the effect of the other studied risk factors. Conclusion. TST positivity, the existence of predisposing risk factors and/or chest X-ray findings, will guide the diagnosis of latent TB infection and the selection of those DPs who warrant preventive chemoprophylaxis. To optimize the benefit the later would be commenced upon entering a chronic dialysis program.
The restricted influence of sparseness of coding on the capacity of familiarity discrimination networks

Much evidence indicates that the perirhinal cortex is involved in the familiarity discrimination aspect of recognition memory. It has been previously shown under selective conditions that neural networks performing familiarity discrimination can achieve very high storage capacity, being able to deal with many times more stimuli than associative memory networks can in associative recall. The capacity of associative memories for recall has been shown to be highly dependent on the sparseness of coding. However, previous work on the networks of Bogacz et al, Norman and O'Reilly and Sohal and Hasselmo that model familiarity discrimination in the perirhinal cortex has not investigated the effects of the sparseness of encoding on capacity. This paper explores how sparseness of coding influences the capacity of each of these published models and establishes that sparse coding influences the capacity of the different models in different ways. The capacity of the Bogacz et al model can be made independent of the sparseness of coding. Capacity increases as coding becomes sparser for a simplified version of the neocortical part of the Norman and O'Reilly model, whereas capacity decreases as coding becomes sparser for a simplified version of the Sohal and Hasselmo model. Thus in general, and in contrast to associative memory networks, sparse encoding results in little or no advantage for the capacity of familiarity discrimination networks. Hence it may be less important for coding to be sparse in the perirhinal cortex than it is in the hippocampus. Additionally, it is established that the capacities of the networks are strongly dependent on the precise form of the learning rules (synaptic plasticity) used in the network. This finding indicates that the precise characteristics of synaptic plastic changes in the real brain are likely to have major influences on storage capacity.
ON FOLD SURFACE REORDERING AND ISOTHERMAL LAMELLAR THICKENING DURING THE CRYSTALLIZATION OF LINEAR LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENES FROM THE MELT*

Observations of the growth of row structures of linear low-density polyethylenes grown on fibers as linear nuclei were made looking down the growth direction, allowing the progression of lamellar growth to be studied from its start. Qualitatively, the same features were found as for the linear polymer, but with significant differences. Typically, banded growth begins with thin, narrow, close-packed lamellae growing epitaxially on, and perpendicular to, the fiber nucleus, implying poor fold surface ordering. With increasing radial distance, dominant lamellae separate as some fail to propagate, to separations approaching molecular lengths and allowing faster growth. In so doing, they widen, thicken, and develop S-profiles isothermally as fold surface ordering improves. It is suggested that, in the absence of contacting lamellae, it is this spatial increase of lamellar thickness that may well be responsible for the lamellar thickening measured by X-ray scattering. In comparison to the linear polymer, both thickening and nonplanarity are reduced, suggesting that the two processes are not independent, but are mutually interactive. When growth is slow enough to allow fold packing to be ordered in a layer before the next is added, lamellae are inclined to the fiber axis from the outset. For branched polymer, this change occurs at a lower temperature, but at a comparable radial growth rate, than the linear polymer, consistent with the time to order folds remaining constant and on the order of 0.5 s. *Dedicated to Prof. Francisco J. Baltá Calleja on the occasion of his 65th birthday. †On leave from the Physical Science Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mansoura, Mansoura, Egypt.
Output Characterization of Random Fiber Laser Formed by Dispersion Compensated Fiber

Random lasing (RL) characteristics of second-order random fiber laser formed solo by dispersion compensated fiber are studied. It is found that the threshold of first-order RL is only 0.45 W. In addition, a special route to stable second-order lasing is revealed, i.e., a special arc-shape output spectrum of second-order RL and three chaotic regimes during evolution from the first RL to the second-order one with increased pump power.
Comparison of centre of gravity and centre of pressure patterns in the golf swing

Abstract Analysing the centre of pressure (COP) and centre of gravity (COG) could reveal stabilising strategies used by golfers throughout the golf swing. This study identified and compared golfers’ COP and COG patterns throughout the golf swing in medial–lateral (ML) and anterior–posterior (AP) directions using principal component analysis (PCA) and examined their relationship to clubhead velocity. Three-dimensional marker trajectories were collected using Vicon motion analysis and force plate data from two Kistler force plates for 22 low-handicap golfers during drives. Golfers’ COG and COP were expressed as a percentage distance between their feet. PCA was performed on COG and COP in ML and AP directions. Relationships between principal component (PC) scores were examined using Pearson correlation and regression analysis used to examine the relationship with clubhead velocity. ML COP movements varied in magnitude (PC1), rate of change and timing (PC2 and PC3). The COP and COG PC1 scores were strongly correlated in both directions (ML: r = 0.90, P < .05; AP: r = 0.81, P < .05). Clubhead velocity, explained by three PCs (74%), related to timing and rate of change in COPML near downswing (PC2 and PC3) and timing of COGML late backswing (PC2). The relationship between COPML and COGML PC1 scores identified extremes of COP and COG patterns in golfers and could indicate a golfer’s dynamic balance. Golfers with earlier movement of COP to the front foot (PC2) and rate of change (PC3) patterns in ML COP, prior to the downswing, may be more likely to generate higher clubhead velocity.
Quantization Bounds on Grassmann Manifolds and Applications to MIMO Systems

This paper considers the quantization problem on the Grassmann manifold with dimension n and p. The unique contribution is the derivation of a closed-form formula for the volume of a metric ball in the Grassmann manifold when the radius is sufficiently small. This volume formula holds for Grassmann manifolds with arbitrary dimension n and p, while previous results are only valid for either p = 1 or a fixed p with asymptotically large n. Based on the volume formula, the Gilbert-Varshamov and Hamming bounds for sphere packings are obtained. Assuming a uniformly distributed source and a distortion metric based on the squared chordal distance, tight lower and upper bounds are established for the distortion rate tradeoff. Simulation results match the derived results. As an application of the derived quantization bounds, the information rate of a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system with finite-rate channel-state feedback is accurately quantified for arbitrary finite number of antennas, while previous results are only valid for either Multiple-Input Single-Output (MISO) systems or those with asymptotically large number of transmit antennas but fixed number of receive antennas.
Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequences of oriT-traM-traJ-traY-traA-traL Regions and Mobilization of Virulence Plasmids of Salmonella enterica Serovars Enteritidis, Gallinarum-Pullorum, and Typhimurium

ABSTRACT The virulence plasmid of Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum-Pullorum (pSPV) but not those of Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis (pSEV) and Typhimurium (pSTV) can be readily mobilized by an F or F-like conjugative plasmid. To investigate the reason for the difference, the oriT-traM-traJ-traY-traA-traL regions of the three salmonella virulence plasmids (pSVs) were cloned and their nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were examined. The cloned fragments were generally mobilized more readily than the corresponding full-length pSVs, but the recombinant plasmid containing the oriT of pSPV was, as expected, more readily mobilized, with up to 100-fold higher frequency than the recombinant plasmids containing the oriT of the other two pSVs. The nucleotide sequences of the oriT-traM-traJ-traY-traA-traL region of pSEV and pSTV were almost identical (only 4 bp differences), but differed from that of pSPV. Major nucleotide sequence variations were found in traJ, traY, and the Tra protein binding sites sby and sbm. sby of pSPV showed higher similarity than that of pSEV or pSTV to that of the F plasmid. The reverse was true for sbm: similarity was higher with pSEV and pSTV than with pSPV. In the deduced amino acid sequences of the five Tra proteins, major differences were found in TraY: pSEV's TraY was 75 amino acids, pSTV's was 106 amino acids, and pSPV's was 133 amino acids; and there were duplicate consensus βαα fragments in the TraY of pSPV and F plasmid, whereas there was only a single βαα fragment in that of pSEV and pSTV.
TRPA1 and Cold Transduction: An Unresolved Issue?

TRPA1 was originally characterized as a cold-activated ion channel; however, since the initial description there has been some disagreement about its role in cold sensation. Here, we review the literature on the function of TRPA1 as a cold sensor. Many studies have demonstrated that TRPA1 can be activated by cold when expressed in heterologous systems, but its role as a cold sensor in native peripheral sensory neurons remains uncertain. We argue that TRPA1 is activated indirectly by cold via a background Ca2+ influx seen in cells during cooling. This background cold response is present in most heterologous cell types, but not in sensory neurons. Thus, we propose that cold sensitivity of TRPA1 is indirect and is dependent on cellular context.
Theoretical and experimental deflections of glued laminated timber beams made from a tropical hardwood

Abstract Nondestructive testing (NDT) can play an important role in improving the quality and reliability of tropical hardwood as an engineering material. By means of these methods, the stiffness of the material can be determined and the information used to improve its structural performance. Although, it is a usual approach for qualifying the material used to manufacture engineered wood products made mainly from softwoods, it is not so common for tropical hardwoods. Additionally, the lack of information regarding properties of glulam beam made from these kinds of wood is evident. In this context, the paper aimed at evaluating the theoretical and experimental deflection of glulam beams made from the Brazilian hardwood louro-vermelho (Sextonia rubra). Initially, the stiffness of each lamina was determined nondestructively using transverse vibration method (E dtv), which has been demonstrated to be the most suitable method for this wood species. Then, ten 5-lamina glulam beams were assembled according to descending lamina E dtv values. The experimental evaluation was performed using a four-point bending schedule. In general, the theoretical values of deflection were 2% higher than the experimental ones. The transverse vibration showed to be a suitable method to both measure lamina stiffness and predict glulam beam deflection.
Some Peculiarities of Pulmonary Clearance Mechanisms in Rats after Intratracheal Instillation of Magnetite (Fe3O4) Suspensions with Different Particle Sizes in the Nanometer and Micrometer Ranges: Are We Defenseless against Nanoparticles?

Abstract We studied differences between phagocytic responses to nanoparticles (NPs) versus microparticles in the pulmonary region by synthesizing magnetite of different sizes and instilling suspensions of these particles intratracheally into rats' lungs. Ten and 50 nm particles caused a greater increase in cell counts of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) than the instillation of microparticles. The response to 10 nm particles was weaker than to 50 nm ones, and the smaller NPs were more cytotoxic; both were more cytotoxic than the microparticles. Phagocytic activity was also studied using optical and atomic force microscopy. Phagocytes were more “loaded” in the lungs instilled with 10 nm particles as compared with those instilled with 50 nm particles; NPs of both sizes were engulfed more avidly than microparticles. We found in a separate comparative experiment that magnetite NPs were more cytotoxic than titanium dioxide and quartz suspensions having particle size distribution typical of industrial dusts.
The Market Process and The Firm: Toward a Dynamic Property Rights Perspective

We discuss the relations between alternative conceptualizations of the market process - neoclassical, Austrian and radical subjectivist/evolutionary - and alternative approaches to economic organization, for example, nexus of contract theory, Williamsonian transaction cost economics and the dynamic transaction cost approach of Langlois and Robertson. We argue that there is a distinct need for more firmly grounding theories of economic organization in theories of the market process, and that key ideas of the more dynamic conceptualizations of the market are likely to substantially enrichen the theory of economic organization.
TorchCraft: a Library for Machine Learning Research on Real-Time Strategy Games

We present TorchCraft, a library that enables deep learning research on Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games such as StarCraft: Brood War, by making it easier to control these games from a machine learning framework, here Torch [9]. This white paper argues for using RTS games as a benchmark for AI research, and describes the design and components of TorchCraft.
Autophagy Is Dispensable for Macrophage-Mediated Lipid Homeostasis in Adipose Tissue

Adipose tissue (AT) macrophages (ATMs) contribute to obesity-induced inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, but also play critical roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis. ATMs catabolize lipid in a lysosomal-dependent manner required for the maintenance of AT; deficiency in lysosomal acid lipase (Lipa), the enzyme required for lysosome lipid catabolism, leads to AT atrophy and severe hepatic steatosis, phenotypes rescued by macrophage-specific expression of Lipa. Autophagy delivers cellular products, including lipid droplets, to lysosomes. Given that obesity increases autophagy in AT and contributes to lipid catabolism in other cells, it was proposed that autophagy delivers lipid to lysosomes in ATMs and is required for AT homeostasis. We found that obesity does increase autophagy in ATMs. However, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of autophagy does not alter the lipid balance of ATMs in vitro or in vivo. In contrast to the deficiency of lysosomal lipid hydrolysis, the ablation of autophagy in macrophages does not lead to AT atrophy or alter metabolic phenotypes in lean or obese animals. Although the lysosomal catabolism of lipid is necessary for normal ATM function and AT homeostasis, delivery of lipid to lysosomes is not autophagy dependent and strongly suggests the existence of another lipid delivery pathway critical to lysosome triglyceride hydrolysis in ATMs.
Premature Ventricular Complexes in the Absence of Identifiable Heart Disease

To define the prevalence, frequency and characteristics of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) in adults free of recognizable heart disease, we performed 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography on 101 subjects (51 men and 50 women, mean age 48.8 years) in whom physical examination, chest x-ray, ECG, echocardiogram, maximal exercise stress test, right- and left-heart catheterization and coronary arteriography were normal. Thirty-nine subjects had at least 1 PVC/24 hours, but only four had more than 100 PVCs/24 hours and fewer than five had more than five PVCs in any given hour. The probability of having at least 1 PVC/24 hours increased with age (chi square = 11.789, p = 0.019). The number of PVCs/24 hours was also positively associated with age (r − 0.33, p = 0.001). There was no consistent relationship between the presence or number of PVCs/24 hours and sex, blood pressure, weight, height, body mass index, serum potassium or calcium, cholesterol and triglyceride, hemoglobin, the ingestion of coffee, tea or alcohol, and cigarette smoking. Four subjects had multiform PVCs, two of whom had early PVCs.
Raman spectral signatures of cervical exfoliated cells from liquid-based cytology samples

Abstract. It is widely accepted that cervical screening has significantly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer worldwide. The primary screening test for cervical cancer is the Papanicolaou (Pap) test, which has extremely variable specificity and sensitivity. There is an unmet clinical need for methods to aid clinicians in the early detection of cervical precancer. Raman spectroscopy is a label-free objective method that can provide a biochemical fingerprint of a given sample. Compared with studies on infrared spectroscopy, relatively few Raman spectroscopy studies have been carried out to date on cervical cytology. The aim of this study was to define the Raman spectral signatures of cervical exfoliated cells present in liquid-based cytology Pap test specimens and to compare the signature of high-grade dysplastic cells to each of the normal cell types. Raman spectra were recorded from single exfoliated cells and subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. The study demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy can identify biochemical signatures associated with the most common cell types seen in liquid-based cytology samples; superficial, intermediate, and parabasal cells. In addition, biochemical changes associated with high-grade dysplasia could be identified suggesting that Raman spectroscopy could be used to aid current cervical screening tests.
Comparison Between Civilian Burns and Combat Burns From Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom

Objective:To assess outcome differences between locally burned civilians and military personnel burned in a distant combat zone treated in the same facility. Summary Background Data:The United States Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) Burn Center serves as a referral center for civilians and is the sole center for significant burns in military personnel. We made the hypothesis that outcomes for military personnel burned in the current conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan would be poorer because of delays to definitive treatment, other associated injury, and distance of evacuation. Methods:We reviewed the civilian and military records of patients treated at the USAISR from the outset of hostilities in Iraq in April 2003 to May 2005. Demographics, injury data, mortality, and clinical outcomes were compared. Results:We cared for 751 patients during this time period, 273 of whom were military (36%). Military injuries occurred in a younger population (41 ± 19 vs. 26 ± 7 years for civilian and military respectively, P < 0.0001) with a longer time from injury to burn center arrival (1 ± 5 days vs. 6 ± 5, P < 0.0001), a higher Injury Severity Score (ISS 5 ± 8 vs. 9 ± 11, P < 0.0001), and a higher incidence of inhalation injury (8% vs. 13%, P = 0.024). Total burn size did not differ. Mortality was 7.1% in the civilian and 3.8% in the military group (P = 0.076). When civilians outside the age range of the military cohort were excluded, civilian mortality was 5.0%, which did not differ from the military group (P = 0.57). Total body surface area (TBSA) burned, age ≥40 years, presence of inhalation injury, and ventilator days were found to be important predictors of mortality by stepwise regression, and were used in a final predictive model with the area under receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.97 for both populations considered together. No significant effect of either group was identified during development. Conclusions:Mortality does not differ between civilians evacuated locally and military personnel injured in distant austere environments treated at the same center.
The significant prognostic value of circulating tumor cells in triple-negative breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Background The clinical validity of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is still controversial in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify relevant articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Embase databases through September 2015. The outcomes of interest were disease progression and overall survival. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were considered the effect indicators and were pooled in meta-analyses under a fixed- or random-effect model according to heterogeneity. Results Ten of the eligible studies were included for a total of 642 enrolled TNBC patients. Overall analyses revealed that the presence of CTCs predicted aggressive disease progression (HR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.59-2.99, Pheterogeneity = 0.010, I2 = 52.2%) and reduced overall survival (HR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.59-2.57, Pheterogeneity = 0.169, I2 = 26.6%). Further subgroup analyses demonstrated that CTC-positive patients also had poor disease progression and overall survival in different subsets, including cancer stage. Conclusion Our meta-analysis provides strong evidence that detection of CTC in the peripheral blood is an independent prognosticator of poor survival outcomes for TNBC patients.