Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance evaluation of Dynamic-Power AODV, AOMDV, AODV and DSR protocols in MANETs

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET) are networks formed by mobile radio nodes without supporting infrastructure. The mobility of the radios means that the topology of the network is constantly changing. If there is a high density of radios, then the throughput of the network will be reduced because of mutual interference. In order to solve this problem, the Dynamic Power Ad-hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (DP-AODV) was developed. It attempts to adjust transmission power, based on the node density, to keep a constant number of radios within range of each other. Our protocol determines the power required to preserve connectivity through the nodes, in order to decrease interference and power consumption, as well as to improve the network throughput. In this paper, we present some results on the performance of DP-AODV, on the basis of comparisons with the standard protocols Ad-Hoc On-Demand Multipath Distance Vector (AOMDV), Ad-Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) and Dynamic Source Routing (DSR). Simulation results show that DP-AODV gives better performance than AODV and DSR in all situations, but AOMDV gives better in delay than the others.
Results from a Phase I Clinical Study of the Novel Ii-Key/HER-2/neu(776–790) Hybrid Peptide Vaccine in Patients with Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Active immunotherapy is emerging as a potential therapeutic approach for prostate cancer. We conducted the first phase I trial of an Ii-Key/HER-2/neu(776–790) hybrid peptide vaccine (AE37) with recombinant granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor as adjuvant in patients with HER-2/neu+ prostate cancer. The primary end points of the study were to evaluate toxicity and monitor patients' immune responses to the vaccine. Experimental Design: Thirty-two HER-2/neu+, castrate-sensitive, and castrate-resistant prostate cancer patients were enrolled. Of these, 29 patients completed all six vaccination cycles with AE37. Immunologic responses in the total patient population were monitored by delayed-type hypersensitivity and IFN-γ ELISPOT and intracellular staining. Regulatory T-cell (Treg) frequency and plasma HER-2/neu and transforming growth factor-β levels were also determined. Immunologic responses were also analyzed among groups of patients with different clinical characteristics. Local/systemic toxicities were monitored throughout the study. Results: Toxicities beyond grade 2 were not observed. Seventy-five percent of patients developed augmented immunity to the AE37 vaccine and 65% to the unmodified AE36 peptide as detected in the IFN-γ–based ELISPOT assay. Intracellular IFN-γ analyses revealed that AE37 elicited both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses. Eighty percent of the patients developed a positive delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to AE36. Additionally, significant decreases could be detected in circulating Treg frequencies, plasma HER-2/neu, and serum transforming growth factor-β levels. Patients with less extensive disease developed better immunologic responses on vaccination. Conclusion: AE37 vaccine is safe and can induce HER-2/neu–specific cellular immune responses in patients with castrate-sensitive and castrate-resistant prostate cancer, thus emphasizing the potential of AE37 to target HER-2/neu for the immunotherapy of prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 16(13); 3495–506. ©2010 AACR.
Five Instructional Design Principles Worth Revisiting

The work of instructional designers has changed considerably in the past decade. Gone are the days when our biggest challenges were getting enough time from subject matter experts for task analysis or building interactivity into computer-based training materials. We still have those challenges of course, but in addition we have to contend with • increasingly complex and distributed development processes and access/delivery environments, • designing modular learning assets that can be used and reused in different ways by different audiences, • designing non-traditional learning spaces and systems that facilitate knowledge sharing and collaborative learning, • designing learning and performance support materials that are embedded in work tasks and situations. When approaching any of these design challenges it is sometimes easy to lose sight of fundamental principles that apply to all learning and all external conditions that support learning and performance. This article revisits some of those principles: • Learning is not performance • The medium is not the method • Match external and internal conditions • Authentic practice makes perfect • One size does not fit all By keeping these principles in mind, regardless of the context or final product, designers can be more confident that their designs are based on sound theory and research, and will maximize learning and performance.
The association between orthostatic hypotension and cognitive state among adults 65 years and older who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment

AbstractThe prevalence of cognitive impairment and orthostatic hypotension (OH) increases with age, but the results of studies that assessed possible associations between them are inconsistent.The aim of this study is to assess possible associations between cognitive impairment and OH in patients ≥65 years of age who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment.A retrospective analysis was conducted of the computerized medical records of the study population from 2005 to 2013. Data collected included blood pressure measurements that enabled the calculation of OH, results of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), results of the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) test, and cognitive diagnoses that were determined over the course of the assessment.The rate of OH in the study population of 571 adults was 32.1%. The mean MMSE score was 22.5 ± 5.2 among participants with OH and 21.6 ± 5.8 among those without OH (P = 0.09). The absence of a significant association between OH and MMSE remained after adjusting the MMSE score for age and education level. The mean MoCA score was 16.4 ± 5.0 among participants with OH and 16.4 ± 4.8 among those without (P = 0.33). The prevalence of OH was 39% among participants without cognitive impairment, 28.9% among those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 30.6% among those with dementia (P = 0.13). There was no association between OH and cognitive impairment in adults who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Lisboa Q-learning with linear function approximation 1

In this paper, we analyze the convergence of Q-learning with linear function approximation. We identify a set of conditions that implies the convergence of this method with probability 1, when a fixed learning policy is used. We discuss the differences and similarities between our results and those obtained in several related works. We also discuss the applicability of this method when a changing policy is used. Finally, we describe the applicability of this approximate method in partially observable scenarios.
Integrative genomic and functional analyses reveal neuronal subtype differentiation bias in human embryonic stem cell lines

The self-renewal and differentiation potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) suggests that hESCs could be used for regenerative medicine, especially for restoring neuronal functions in brain diseases. However, the functional properties of neurons derived from hESC are largely unknown. Moreover, because hESCs were derived under diverse conditions, the possibility arises that neurons derived from different hESC lines exhibit distinct properties, but this possibility remains unexplored. To address these issues, we developed a protocol that allows stepwise generation from hESCs of cultures composed of ≈70–80% human neurons that exhibit spontaneous synaptic network activity. Comparison of neurons derived from the well characterized HSF1 and HSF6 hESC lines revealed that HSF1- but not HSF6-derived neurons exhibit forebrain properties. Accordingly, HSF1-derived neurons initially form primarily GABAergic synaptic networks, whereas HSF6-derived neurons initially form glutamatergic networks. microRNA profiling revealed significant expression differences between the two hESC lines, suggesting that microRNAs may influence their distinct differentiation properties. These observations indicate that although both HSF1 and HSF6 hESCs differentiate into functional neurons, the two hESC lines exhibit distinct differentiation potentials, suggesting that they are preprogrammed. Information on hESC line-specific differentiation biases is crucial for neural stem cell therapy and establishment of novel disease models using hESCs.
On the string averaging method for sparse common fixed-point problems

We study the common fixed point problem for the class of directed operators. This class is important because many commonly used nonlinear operators in convex optimization belong to it. We propose a definition of sparseness of a family of operators and investigate a string-averaging algorithmic scheme that favorably handles the common fixed points problem when the family of operators is sparse. The convex feasibility problem is treated as a special case and a new subgradient projections algorithmic scheme is obtained.
Bayesian inference for a covariance matrix

Covariance matrix estimation arises in multivariate problems including multivariate normal sampling models and regression models where random effects are jointly modeled, e.g. random-intercept, random-slope models. A Bayesian analysis of these problems requires a prior on the covariance matrix. Here we assess, through a simulation study and a real data set, the impact this prior choice has on posterior inference of the covariance matrix. Inverse Wishart distribution is the natural choice for a covariance matrix prior because its conjugacy on normal model and simplicity, is usually available in Bayesian statistical software. However inverse Wishart distribution presents some undesirable properties from a modeling point of view. It can be too restrictive because assume the same amount of prior information about every variance parameters and, more important, it shows a prior relationship between the variances and correlations. Some alternatives distributions has been proposed. The scaled inverse Wishart distribution, which give more flexibility on the variance priors conserving the conjugacy property but does not eliminate the prior relationship between variances and correlations. Secondly, it is possible to fit separate priors for individual correlations and standard deviations. This strategy eliminates any prior relationship within the covariance matrix parameters, but it is not conjugate and therefore computationally slow.
Efficiency and evaluation analysis of a network of technology transfer brokers

Technology transfer (TT) brokers are a type of innovation intermediary that is regarded as a facilitator of the interaction between donor and recipient within an innovation process. Yet, little is known about how to analyse their performance and efficiency. This paper aims at modelling a proper production function for the TT brokers, providing insights on how to compare their performance and investigating the influence of external factors on their efficiency, in order to draw useful managerial and policy implications. Data drawn from a survey conducted among the nodes belonging to the technology transfer network IRC (Innovation Relay Centre) have been utilised to investigate how endogenous and exogenous factors may affect brokers’ efficiency. Results showed how brokers can pursue more productive and targeted strategy in order to increase their impact and improve their performance (inter alia, by taking into account a ‘pull’ approach to technology and the need of a long-lasting relationship with the clients – small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular). At the policy level, interesting insights are drawn on how to tune existing innovation support initiatives and design new ones from scratch.
Arabidopsis histone demethylases LDL1 and LDL2 control primary seed dormancy by regulating DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 and ABA signaling-related genes

Seed dormancy controls germination and plays a critical role in regulating the beginning of the life cycle of plants. Seed dormancy is established and maintained during seed maturation and is gradually broken during dry storage (after-ripening). The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) and DELAY OF GERMINATION1 (DOG1) protein are essential regulators of seed dormancy. Recent studies revealed that chromatin modifications are also involved in the transcription regulation of seed dormancy. Here, we showed that two Arabidopsis histone demethylases, LYSINESPECIFIC DEMETHYLASE LIKE 1 and 2 (LDL1 and LDL2) act redundantly in repressing of seed dormancy. LDL1 and LDL2 are highly expressed in the early silique developing stage. The ldl1 ldl2 double mutant displays increased seed dormancy, whereas overexpression of LDL1 or LDL2 in Arabidopsis causes reduced dormancy. Furthermore, we showed that LDL1 and LDL2 repress the expression of seed dormancy-related genes, including DOG1, ABA2 and ABI3 during seed dormancy establishment. Furthermore, genetic analysis revealed that the repression of seed dormancy by LDL1 and LDL2 requires DOG1, ABA2, and ABI3. Taken together, our findings revealed that LDL1 and LDL2 play an essential role in seed dormancy.
A Spontaneous Low-Pathogenic Variant of Theiler’s Virus Contains an Amino Acid Substitution within the Predominant VP1233–250 T-Cell Epitope

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) induces immune-mediated demyelination after intracerebral inoculation of the virus into susceptible mouse strains. We isolated from a TMEV BeAn 8386 viral stock, a low-pathogenic variant which requires greater than a 10,000-fold increase in viral inoculation for the manifestation of detectable clinical signs. Intracerebral inoculation of this variant virus induced a strong, long-lasting, protective immunity from the demyelinating disease caused by pathogenic TMEV. The levels of antibodies to the whole virus as well as to the major linear epitopes were similar in mice infected with either the variant or wild-type virus. However, persistence of the variant virus in the central nervous system (CNS) of mice was significantly lower than that of the pathogenic virus. In addition, the T-cell response to the predominant VP1 (VP1(233-250)) epitope in mice infected with the variant virus was significantly weaker than that in mice infected with the parent virus, while similar T-cell responses were induced against another predominant epitope (VP2(74-86)). Further analyses indicated that a change of lysine to arginine at position 244 of VP1, which is the only amino acid difference in the P1 region, is responsible for such differential T-cell recognition. Thus, the difference in the T-cell reactivity to this VP1 region as well as the low level of viral persistence in the CNS may account for the low pathogenicity of this spontaneous variant virus.
Multi-Objective Test Case Selection: A study of the influence of the Catfish effect on PSO based strategies

During the software testing process many test suites can be generated in order to evaluate and assure the quality of the products. In some cases, the execution of all suites can not fit the available resources (time, people, etc). Hence, automatic Test Case (TC) selection could be used to reduce the suites based on some selection criterion. This process can be treated as an optimization problem, aiming to find a subset of TCs which optimizes one or more objective functions (i.e., selection criteria). In this light, we developed mechanisms for TC selection in context of structural and functional testing. The proposed algorithms consider two objectives simultaneously: maximize branch coverage (or functional requirements coverage) while minimizing execution cost (time). These mechanisms were implemented by deploying multi-objective techniques based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Additionally, we added the so-called catfish effect into the multi-objective selection algorithms in order to improve their results. The performed experiments revealed the feasibility of the proposed strategies.
Positional Role Differences in the Aerobic and Anaerobic Power of Elite Basketball Players

Abstract The aim of the present study was to compare the aerobic and anaerobic power and capacity of elite male basketball players who played multiple positions. Fifty-five healthy players were divided into the following three different subsamples according to their positional role: guards (n = 22), forwards (n = 19) and centers (n = 14). The following three tests were applied to estimate their aerobic and anaerobic power and capacities: the countermovement jump (CMJ), a multistage shuttle run test and the Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST). The obtained data were used to calculate the players’ aerobic and anaerobic power and capacities. To determine the possible differences between the subjects considering their different positions on the court, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Bonferroni post-hoc test for multiple comparisons was used. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the different groups of players in eleven out of sixteen measured variables. Guards and forwards exhibited greater aerobic and relative values of anaerobic power, allowing shorter recovery times and the ability to repeat high intensity, basketball-specific activities. Centers presented greater values of absolute anaerobic power and capacities, permitting greater force production during discrete tasks. Coaches can use these data to create more individualized strength and conditioning programs for different positional roles.
Speech and Other Auditory Modules

The several auditory modules fall into two classes, open and closed, according to the kind of perceptual representations they produce (for example, pitch and loudness versus localized sound-sources and speech) and in the way they adapt to environmental influences. Given the nature of these classes, they can hardly have equal access to the flow of stimulus information, as they would if they were in parallel. A more suitable architecture would allow the closed modules to preempt just the information that is of interest to them, and so prevent it from reaching the open modules at all. In the case of speech, there is evidence that such preemption does occur.
Peak-to-average power ratio reduction in OFDM with blind selected pilot tone modulation

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a spectrally efficient multicarrier modulation technique for high speed data transmission over multipath fading channels. However, the price paid for the high spectral efficiency is low power efficiency. OFDM signals suffer from high peak-to-average power ratios (PARs) which lead to power inefficiency in the RF portion of the transmitter. Selected mapping (SLM) is a promising technique to reduce the PAR of an OFDM signal and is distortionless. In this paper, we propose a novel technique which links the index of the phase rotation sequence in SLM to the location of the pilot tones that are used to estimate the channel. Each pilot tone location - phase sequence selection can lead to a different PAR value for the time-domain OFDM signal, and the signal with the lowest PAR value is transmitted. Our proposed method is "blind" in the sense that the optimum pilot tone location - phase sequence index is not transmitted as side information. We describe a novel technique to blindly detect the optimum index at the receiver. PAR reduction performance as well as BER performance of the proposed method in frequency selective fading channels are investigated
Galectin-3 Functions as an Alarmin: Pathogenic Role for Sepsis Development in Murine Respiratory Tularemia

Sepsis is a complex immune disorder with a mortality rate of 20–50% and currently has no therapeutic interventions. It is thus critical to identify and characterize molecules/factors responsible for its development. We have recently shown that pulmonary infection with Francisella results in sepsis development. As extensive cell death is a prominent feature of sepsis, we hypothesized that host endogenous molecules called alarmins released from dead or dying host cells cause a hyperinflammatory response culminating in sepsis development. In the current study we investigated the role of galectin-3, a mammalian β-galactoside binding lectin, as an alarmin in sepsis development during F. novicida infection. We observed an upregulated expression and extracellular release of galectin-3 in the lungs of mice undergoing lethal pulmonary infection with virulent strain of F. novicida but not in those infected with a non-lethal, attenuated strain of the bacteria. In comparison with their wild-type C57Bl/6 counterparts, F. novicida infected galectin-3 deficient (galectin-3−/−) mice demonstrated significantly reduced leukocyte infiltration, particularly neutrophils in their lungs. They also exhibited a marked decrease in inflammatory cytokines, vascular injury markers, and neutrophil-associated inflammatory mediators. Concomitantly, in-vitro pre-treatment of primary neutrophils and macrophages with recombinant galectin-3 augmented F. novicida-induced activation of these cells. Correlating with the reduced inflammatory response, F. novicida infected galectin-3−/− mice exhibited improved lung architecture with reduced cell death and improved survival over wild-type mice, despite similar bacterial burden. Collectively, these findings suggest that galectin-3 functions as an alarmin by augmenting the inflammatory response in sepsis development during pulmonary F. novicida infection.
A Low-Noise Four-Stage Voltage-Controlled Ring Oscillator in Deep-Submicrometer CMOS Technology

This brief presents a low-voltage and low-noise ring voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) where the phase noise performance is improved by reducing the total channel thermal noise injected into the output node of the VCO during the transition period of the output voltage swing. Implemented in a 65-nm CMOS technology, the proposed ring VCO operates from 485.7 to 1011.6 MHz. At 645 MHz, the measured phase noise is <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$-$ </tex></formula>110.8 dBc/Hz at an offset of 1 MHz while dissipating 10 mW from a 1-V supply.
Top-down modulation of the perception of other people in schizophrenia and autism

Accurately and efficiently perceiving social cues such as body movements and facial expressions is important in social interaction. Accurate social perception of this kind does not solely rely on “bottom-up” visual processing but is also subject to modulation by “top-down” signals. For example, if instructed to look for signs of happiness rather than fear, participants are more likely to categorize facial expressions as happy—this prior expectation biases subsequent perception. Top-down modulation is also important in our reactions to others. For example, top-down control over imitation plays an important role in the development of smooth and harmonious social interactions. This paper highlights the importance of top-down modulation in our perception of, and reactions to, others. We discuss evidence that top-down modulation of social perception and imitation is atypical in Autism Spectrum Conditions and in schizophrenia, and we consider the effect this may have on the development of social interactions for individuals with these developmental disorders.