Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radio-Resource Management and Access-Control Mechanism Based on a Novel Economic Model in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

In this paper, we first investigate the radio-resource management and network-selection schemes in heterogeneous wireless networks. Then, we propose a novel economic model to allocate radio resources for both code-division multiple-access (CDMA) networks and wireless local area networks (WLANs). Particularly, the resource-usage constraint is deduced in the CDMA uplink, where the radio resource is allocated with the aim of maximizing the total welfare of the CDMA network while satisfying the signal quality requirement of all mobile users. Moreover, we formulate and solve the optimization problem in the WLAN to maximize the network welfare when the maximum throughput in the WLAN is achieved by controlling the optimum collision probability. An approximated closed-form expression for the network welfare is also given when the assigned bandwidth for each user is close to the bandwidth request. Finally, we design the joint access-control mechanism under different load conditions in coupled heterogeneous networks. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme can achieve approximately 20% more users and 10% more network social welfare, which outperforms the utility-function-based access selection and single network access-control mechanisms in the literature for heterogeneous wireless networks.
Susceptibility to Chlorpyrifos in Pyrethroid-Resistant Populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Mexico

ABSTRACT Resistance to the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos was evaluated in females from six strains of Aedes aegypti (L.) that expressed high levels of cross-resistance to eight pyrethroid insecticides. Relative to LC50 and LC90 at 24 h of a susceptible New Orleans (NO) strain, three strains were highly resistant to chlorpyrifos (Coatzacoalcos, resistance ratio [RRLC90] = 11.97; Pozarica, RRLC90 = 12.98; and Cosoleacaque, RRLC50 = 13.94 and RRLC90 = 17.57), one strain was moderately resistant (Veracruz, RRLC90 = 5.92), and two strains were susceptible (Tantoyuca and Martinez de la Torre, RRLC50 and RRLC90 < 5) in bottle bioassays according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, high levels of &agr;- or &bgr;-esterase activity in the sample populations were correlated with resistance, suggesting that esterase activity may be a mechanism causing the development of organophosphate resistance in these populations. Overall, the populations in this study were less resistant to chlorpyrifos than to pyrethroids. Rotation of insecticides used in control activities is recommended to delay or minimize the occurrence of high levels of resistance to chlorpyrifos among local populations of Ae. aegypti. The diagnostic dose and diagnostic time for chlorpyrifos resistance monitoring was determined to be 85 µg per bottle and 30 min, respectively, using the susceptible NO strain.
Autoimmune insulitis and diabetes in the absence of antigen‐specific contact between T cells and β‐islet cells

Autoimmune diabetes develops following recognition of organ‐specific antigens by T cells. The disease begins with peri‐islet infiltration by mononuclear cells, proceeds with insulitis and becomes manifest with destruction of insulin‐producing islet β‐cells. T cells are necessary to induce insulitis and diabetes, but it is not clear by what mechanisms they can do so, i. e. whether the T cells need to make antigen‐specific contact with the β‐cell or whether other interactions are sufficient to induce β‐cell death. In the present study we have constructed chimeric mice in which the bone marrow‐derived antigen‐presenting cells, but not the islet β‐cells, are capable of presenting antigen to monospecific T cells. We show that both insulitis as well as β‐cell destruction can proceed in the absence of islet β‐cell surface antigen recognition by T cells. Our results support the notion that diabetes can be caused by distinct effector mechanisms.
A geomorphic perspective on terrain‐modulated organization of vegetation productivity: analysis in two semiarid grassland ecosystems in Southwestern United States

Spatial patterns of ecosystem productivity arise from the terrain‐modulated wetting and drying of the landscape. Using a daily relative greenness (rG) index, we explore the relations between spatial variability of plant productivity and landscape morphology, and how these relations change over time. The rG index is defined as a measure of local vegetation greenness relative to the site's mean greenness, calculated from remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index. We analyse two semiarid grasslands with pronounced topography, one located in southeastern Arizona, with a mean annual precipitation of 350 mm, and the other in central New Mexico, with a mean annual precipitation of 250 mm. Our results indicate that (1) rG is spatially more uniform after wet conditions (higher biomass) than after dry conditions (lower biomass); (2) differences in the relative frequency distribution of rG among different landscape morphologies (ridges, unchanneled valleys and channels) indicate higher productivity in channels, similar coefficient of variation in all process domains, and higher skewness in the ridges; (3) relatively high correlations between the binned average rG with respect to upstream area, curvature, and annual insolation in more than 80% of the terrain indicate a clear dependence between ecosystem productivity and topography; (4) rG is more sensitive to changes in topographic indices at the wetter Arizona study site. Such improved understanding of vegetation‐topography dependence is critical for ecosystem management, testing ecohydrologic models, and offers ideas for the downscaling of coarse‐scale satellite‐derived vegetation indices. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biomimetic synthesis of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles using in vitro-propagated plantlets of a medicinally important endangered species: Phlomis bracteosa

In vitro-derived cultures of plants offer a great potential for rapid biosynthesis of chemical-free antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by enhancing their phytochemical reducing potential. Here, we developed an efficient protocol for in vitro micropropagation of a high-value endangered medicinal plant species, Phlomis bracteosa, in order to explore its biogenic potential in biomimetic synthesis of antimicrobial AgNPs. Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L thidiazuron was found to be more efficient in inducing optimum in vitro shoot regeneration (78%±4.09%), and 2.0 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid was used for maximum root induction (86%±4.457%). Antimicrobial AgNPs were successfully synthesized by using aqueous extract (rich in total phenolics and flavonoids content) of in vitro derived plantlets of P. bracteosa. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy of synthesized AgNPs showed characteristic surface plasmon band in the range of 420–429 nm. The crystallinity, size, and shape of the AgNPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Face-centered cubic AgNPs of almost uniform spherical size (22.41 nm) were synthesized within a short time (1 hour) at room temperature. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the polyphenols were mainly responsible for reduction and capping of synthesized AgNPs. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis further endorsed the presence of elemental silver in synthesized AgNPs. These biosynthesized AgNPs displayed significantly higher bactericidal activity against multiple drug-resistant human pathogens. The present work highlighted the potent role of in vitro-derived plantlets of P. bracteosa for feasible biosynthesis of antimicrobial AgNPs, which can be used as nanomedicines in many biomedical applications.
An Empirical Study of Investigating Mobile Applications Development Challenges

Context: mobile application development is rapidly evolving with substantial economic and scientific interest. One of the primary reasons for mobile application development failure is the increasing number of mobile platforms; some organizations endorse mobile application development before understanding the associated development challenges of each target platform. Objective: the objective of this paper is to identify the challenges of native, web, and hybrid mobile applications, which can undermine the successful development of such applications. Method: we adopted a two-phase research approach: at first, the challenges were identified via a systematic literature review (SLR); and then, the identified challenges were validated through conducting interviews with practitioners. Results: through both research approaches, we identified nine challenges vital to the success of mobile application development and four additional challenges from interviews not reported in the literature. A comparison of the challenges (native, web, and hybrid) identified in SLR indicates that there are slightly more differences than similarities between the challenges. On the other hand, the challenges (native, web, and hybrid) identified in interviews indicates that there are more similarities than differences between the challenges. Our results show a weak negative correlation between the ranks obtained from the SLR and the interviews (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$[rs(9) = -. 034]$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$p = 0.932$ </tex-math></inline-formula>). The results obtained from our t-test (i.e., <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$t = 0.868, p = 0.402 > 0.05$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) depicts that there is no significant difference between the findings of SLR and interviews. Conclusions: mobile application development organizations should try to address the identified challenges when developing mobile applications (native, web, or hybrid) to increase the probability of mobile application success.
Correcting vitamin D insufficiency improves insulin sensitivity in obese adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Obese adolescents are at a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency because vitamin D is thought to be sequestered by excess adipose tissue. Poor vitamin D status has been associated with a higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, or both in adults and adolescents. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine in obese adolescents the efficacy and safety of 4000 IU vitamin D3/d and whether subsequent increased circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] are associated with improved markers of insulin sensitivity and resistance and reduced inflammation. DESIGN Obese adolescent patients [n = 35; mean ± SD age: 14.1 ± 2.8 y; BMI (in kg/m(2)): 39.8 ± 6.1; 25(OH)D: 19.6 ± 7.1 ng/mL] were recruited from the University of Missouri Adolescent Diabetes and Obesity Clinic and were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin D3 (4000 IU/d) or placebo as part of their standard care. Anthropometric measurements, inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, C-reactive protein), adipokines (leptin, adiponectin), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR values were measured at baseline and at 2 follow-up visits (3 and 6 mo). RESULTS After 6 mo, there were no significant differences in BMI, serum inflammatory markers, or plasma glucose concentrations between groups. Participants supplemented with vitamin D3 had increases in serum 25(OH)D concentrations (19.5 compared with 2.8 ng/mL for placebo; P < 0.001), fasting insulin (-6.5 compared with +1.2 μU/mL for placebo; P = 0.026), HOMA-IR (-1.363 compared with +0.27 for placebo; P = 0.033), and leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (-1.41 compared with +0.10 for placebo; P = 0.045). Inflammatory markers remained unchanged. CONCLUSION The correction of poor vitamin D status through dietary supplementation may be an effective addition to the standard treatment of obesity and its associated insulin resistance. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00994396.
Highly Heterogeneous Soil Bacterial Communities around Terra Nova Bay of Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

Given the diminished role of biotic interactions in soils of continental Antarctica, abiotic factors are believed to play a dominant role in structuring of microbial communities. However, many ice-free regions remain unexplored, and it is unclear which environmental gradients are primarily responsible for the variations among bacterial communities. In this study, we investigated the soil bacterial community around Terra Nova Bay of Victoria Land by pyrosequencing and determined which environmental variables govern the bacterial community structure at the local scale. Six bacterial phyla, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, were dominant, but their relative abundance varied greatly across locations. Bacterial community structures were affected little by spatial distance, but structured more strongly by site, which was in accordance with the soil physicochemical compositions. At both the phylum and species levels, bacterial community structure was explained primarily by pH and water content, while certain earth elements and trace metals also played important roles in shaping community variation. The higher heterogeneity of the bacterial community structure found at this site indicates how soil bacterial communities have adapted to different compositions of edaphic variables under extreme environmental conditions. Taken together, these findings greatly advance our understanding of the adaption of soil bacterial populations to this harsh environment.
On the theory relating changes in area‐average and pan evaporation

Theory relating changes in area‐average evaporation with changes in the evaporation from pans or open water is developed. Such changes can arise by Type (a) processes related to large‐scale changes in atmospheric concentrations and circulation that modify surface evaporation rates in the same direction, and Type (b) processes related to coupling between the surface and atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) at the landscape scale that usually modify area‐average evaporation and pan evaporation in different directions. The interrelationship between evaporation rates in response to Type (a) changes is derived. They have the same sign and broadly similar magnitude but the change in area‐average evaporation is modified by surface resistance. As an alternative to assuming the complementary evaporation hypothesis, the results of previous modelling studies that investigated surface–atmosphere coupling are parametrized and used to develop a theoretical description of Type (b) coupling via vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in the ABL. The interrelationship between appropriately normalized pan and area‐average evaporation rates is shown to vary with temperature and wind speed but, on average, the Type (b) changes are approximately equal and opposite. Long‐term Australian pan evaporation data are analyzed to demonstrate the simultaneous presence of Type (a) and (b) processes, and observations from three field sites in southwestern USA show support for the theory describing Type (b) coupling via VPD. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Duo-active-neutral-point-clamped multilevel converter: An exploration of the fundamental topology and experimental verification

For medium-voltage (MV) industrial applications such as the HVDC and adjustable-speed ac-motor drives, the multilevel voltage-source converters are deemed the predominant topologies. One of the promising derived-topologies from the neutral-point-clamped (NPC) configuration is the active NPC (ANPC) structure with an improved balanced lossdistribution performance. This paper introduces duo-ANPC (D-ANPC) converter topology, which is controlled with a new modulation technique. The suggested control method regulates the flying capacitor (FC) voltages naturally at their reference values and preserves the indispensable attribute of the natural balance in the FC-based ANPC inverters. The D-ANPC converter's phase leg is formed by equipping the classic ANPC converter with additional two low-frequency (LF) MV power switches, adding up to six in contrast to four LF power switches in the ANPC. The proposed D-ANPC converter has considerable advantages over the classic multilevel inverters that makes it a competitive topology for MV applications. The substantial reduction in the number of the high-frequency (HF) MV insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) by 50% in comparison with the classic ANPC converter as well as a drastic abatement in the total voltage rating and the stored energy of the FCs are the main significant advantages offered by the D-ANPC multilevel converter over the flying-capacitor-based inverters. This study explores the fundamental circuitry of the proposed D-ANPC multilevel topology and provides an exhaustive comparison with classic FC-based inverters. The experimental results are presented to validate the proposed D-ANPC topology and its modulation.
Recent tree die‐off has little effect on streamflow in contrast to expected increases from historical studies

Recent bark beetle epidemics have caused regional‐scale tree mortality in many snowmelt‐dominated headwater catchments of western North America. Initial expectations of increased streamflow have not been supported by observations, and the basin‐scale response of annual streamflow is largely unknown. Here we quantified annual streamflow responses during the decade following tree die‐off in eight infested catchments in the Colorado River headwaters and one nearby control catchment. We employed three alternative empirical methods: (i) double‐mass comparison between impacted and control catchments, (ii) runoff ratio comparison before and after die‐off, and (iii) time‐trend analysis using climate‐driven linear models. In contrast to streamflow increases predicted by historical paired catchment studies and recent modeling, we did not detect streamflow changes in most basins following die‐off, while one basin consistently showed decreased streamflow. The three analysis methods produced generally consistent results, with time‐trend analysis showing precipitation was the strongest predictor of streamflow variability (R2 = 74–96%). Time‐trend analysis revealed post‐die‐off streamflow decreased in three catchments by 11–29%, with no change in the other five catchments. Although counter to initial expectations, these results are consistent with increased transpiration by surviving vegetation and the growing body of literature documenting increased snow sublimation and evaporation from the subcanopy following die‐off in water‐limited, snow‐dominated forests. The observations presented here challenge the widespread expectation that streamflow will increase following beetle‐induced forest die‐off and highlight the need to better understand the processes driving hydrologic response to forest disturbance.
Value of botulinum toxin injections preceding a comprehensive rehabilitation period for children with spastic cerebral palsy: A cost-effectiveness study.

OBJECTIVE Despite the widespread use of botulinum toxin in ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy, its value prior to intensive physiotherapy with adjunctive casting/orthoses remains unclear. DESIGN A pragmatically designed, multi-centre trial, comparing the effectiveness of botulinum toxin + intensive physiotherapy with intensive physiotherapy alone, including economic evaluation. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS Children with spastic cerebral palsy, age range 4-12 years, cerebral palsy-severity Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-III, received either botulinum toxin type A + intensive physiotherapy or intensive physiotherapy alone and, if necessary, ankle-foot orthoses and/or casting. METHODS Primary outcomes were gross motor func-tion, physical activity levels, and health-related quality-of-life, assessed at baseline, 12 (primary end-point) and 24 weeks (follow-up). Economic outcomes included healthcare and patient costs. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed with linear mixed models. RESULTS There were 65 participants (37 males), with a mean age of 7.3 years (standard deviation 2.3 years), equally distributed across Gross Motor Function Classification System levels. Forty-one children received botulinum toxin type A plus intensive physio-therapy and 24 received intensive physiotherapy treatment only. At primary end-point, one statistically significant difference was found in favour of intensive physiotherapy alone: objectively measured percentage of sedentary behaviour (-3.42, 95% confidence interval 0.20-6.64, p=0.038). Treatment costs were significantly higher for botulinum toxin type A plus intensive physiotherapy (8,963 vs 6,182 euro, p=0.001). No statistically significant differences were found between groups at follow-up. CONCLUSION The addition of botulinum toxin type A to intensive physiotherapy did not improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation for ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy and was also not cost-effective. Thus botulinum toxin is not recommended for use in improving gross motor function, activity levels or health-related quality-of-life in this cerebral palsy age- and severity-subgroup.
Assessment of the effect of sphingosine kinase inhibitors on apoptosis,unfolded protein response and autophagy of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells; indications for novel therapeutics

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that is formed by the phosphorylation of sphingosine and catalysed by sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) or sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2). Sphingosine kinases play a fundamental role in many signaling pathways associated with cancer, suggesting that proteins belonging to this signaling network represent potential therapeutic targets. Over the last years, many improvements have been made in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL); however, novel and less toxic therapies are still needed, especially for relapsing and chemo-resistant patients. Here, we analyzed the therapeutic potential of SKi and ROMe, a sphingosine kinase 1 and 2 inhibitor and SK2-selective inhibitor, respectively. While SKi induced apoptosis, ROMe initiated an autophagic cell death in our in vitro cell models. SKi treatment induced an increase in SK1 protein levels in Molt-4 cells, whereas it activated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway in Jurkat and CEM-R cells as protective mechanisms in a sub-population of T-ALL cells. Interestingly, we observed a synergistic effect of SKi with the classical chemotherapeutic drug vincristine. In addition, we reported that SKi affected signaling cascades implicated in survival, proliferation and stress response of cells. These findings indicate that SK1 or SK2 represent potential targets for treating T-ALL.
Evaluating the potential of nanoparticles for controlling zinc stearate release from low‐density polyethylene into food simulants

The present study addressed the effect of polymer nanocomposites with different loading contents of fume silica (nanospheres) and nanoclay (nanosheet) on migration of zinc stearate from packaging materials into food simulants. Specific migration levels of zinc stearate from neat low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and LDPE/nanocomposites into two food simulants stored at 40°C for 10 days were determined by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that incorporation of nanoparticles, especially at 1 wt% loading level of nano silica, noticeably increased degree of crystallinity, which significantly reduced water vapour permeability. Nanocomposites had a lower migration of zinc stearate in comparison with neat polymer. Additionally, results of this study revealed that physical properties of the food simulant had dominant effect on migration of zinc stearate.