Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Packet multiplexers with adversarial regulated traffic

We consider a finite-buffer packet multiplexer to which traffic arrives from several independent sources. The traffic from each of the sources is regulated, i.e., the amount of traffic that can enter the multiplexer is constrained by known regulator constraints. The regulator constraints depend on, the source and are more general than those resulting from cascaded leaky buckets. We assume that the traffic is adversarial to the extent permitted by the regulators. For lossless multiplexing, we show that if the original multiplexer is lossless it is possible to allocate bandwidth and buffer to the sources so that the resulting segregated systems are lossless. For lossy multiplexing, we use our results for lossless multiplexing to estimate the loss probability of the multiplexer. Our estimate involves transforming the original system into two independent resource systems, and using adversarial sources for the two independent resources to obtain a bound on the loss probabilities for the transformed system. We show that the adversarial sources are not extremal on-off sources, even when the regulator consists of a peak rate controller in series with a leaky bucket. We explicitly characterize the form of the adversarial source for the transformed problem. We also provide numerical results for the case of the simple regulator.
Thyroid Hormone Function in the Rat Testis

Thyroid hormones are emerging regulators of testicular function since Sertoli, germ, and Leydig cells are found to express thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). These testicular cells also express deiodinases, which are capable of converting the pro-hormone T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3, or inactivating T3 or T4 to a non-biologically active form. Furthermore, thyroid hormone transporters are also found in the testis. Thus, the testis is equipped with the transporters and the enzymes necessary to maintain the optimal level of thyroid hormone in the seminiferous epithelium, as well as the specific TRs to execute thyroid hormone action in response to different stages of the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis. Studies using genetic models and/or goitrogens (e.g., propylthiouracil) have illustrated a tight physiological relationship between thyroid hormone and testicular function, in particular, Sertoli cell differentiation status, mitotic activity, gap junction function, and blood–testis barrier assembly. These findings are briefly summarized and discussed herein.
Connecting two arrays: the emerging role of actin-microtubule cross-linking motor proteins

The cytoskeleton of plant cells, consisting of actin filaments (AFs) and microtubules (MTs), is a central structure for various intracellular processes, such as cell division, isotropic and polar growth, vesicle transport, cell shape, and morphogenesis. Pharmaceutical and genetic studies have provided indications for interdependent cross-talk between the cytoskeletal components. Recent live-cell imaging studies have cemented this notion, in particular when the cytoskeleton rearranges. However, the proteins that directly mediate this cross-talk have remained largely elusive. Recent data indicate that certain proteins can interact with both cytoskeletal arrays at the same time, and hence connecting them. In this review, we summarize the recent literature of the AF- and MT-interactors, mainly focusing on a plant-specific mediator of cytoskeletal cross-talk: the calponin homology (CH) domain-containing kinesin-14 motor proteins (KCHs).
A High-Performance Neural Prosthesis Incorporating Discrete State Selection With Hidden Markov Models

Communication neural prostheses aim to restore efficient communication to people with motor neurological injury or disease by decoding neural activity into control signals. These control signals are both analog (e.g., the velocity of a computer mouse) and discrete (e.g., clicking an icon with a computer mouse) in nature. Effective, high-performing, and intuitive-to-use communication prostheses should be capable of decoding both analog and discrete state variables seamlessly. However, to date, the highest-performing autonomous communication prostheses rely on precise analog decoding and typically do not incorporate high-performance discrete decoding. In this report, we incorporated a hidden Markov model (HMM) into an intracortical communication prosthesis to enable accurate and fast discrete state decoding in parallel with analog decoding. In closed-loop experiments with nonhuman primates implanted with multielectrode arrays, we demonstrate that incorporating an HMM into a neural prosthesis can increase state-of-the-art achieved bitrate by <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$13.9\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4.2\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> in two monkeys (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$p < 0.01$</tex-math></inline-formula>). We found that the transition model of the HMM is critical to achieving this performance increase. Further, we found that using an HMM resulted in the highest achieved peak performance we have ever observed for these monkeys, achieving peak bitrates of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$6.5$</tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$5.7$</tex-math></inline-formula>, and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4.7$</tex-math></inline-formula> bps in Monkeys J, R, and L, respectively. Finally, we found that this neural prosthesis was robustly controllable for the duration of entire experimental sessions. These results demonstrate that high-performance discrete decoding can be beneficially combined with analog decoding to achieve new state-of-the-art levels of performance.
Importance of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice for many hematologic diseases, such as multiple myeloma, bone marrow aplasia and leukemia. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility is an important tool to prevent post-transplant complications such as graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease, but the high rates of relapse limit the survival of transplant patients. Natural Killer cells, a type of lymphocyte that is a key element in the defense against tumor cells, cells infected with viruses and intracellular microbes, have different receptors on their surfaces that regulate their cytotoxicity. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors are the most important, interacting consistently with human leukocyte antigen class I molecules present in other cells and thus controlling the activation of natural killer cells. Several studies have shown that certain combinations of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and human leukocyte antigens (in both donors and recipients) can affect the chances of survival of transplant patients, particularly in relation to the graft-versusleukemia effect, which may be associated to decreased relapse rates in certain groups. This review aims to shed light on the mechanisms and effects of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors - human leukocyte antigen associations and their implications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and to critically analyze the results obtained by the studies presented herein.
Electrocardiographic Strain Pattern and Prediction of Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Hypertensive Patients

The ECG strain pattern of lateral ST depression and T-wave inversion is a marker for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and adverse prognosis in population studies. However, whether ECG strain is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in the setting of aggressive antihypertensive therapy is unclear. ECGs were examined at study baseline in 8854 hypertensive patients with ECG LVH who were treated in a blinded manner with atenolol- or losartan-based regimens. Strain was defined by the presence of a downsloping convex ST segment with an inverted asymmetrical T wave opposite to the QRS axis in leads V5 and/or V6 and was present in 971 patients (11.0%). The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study composite end point of CV death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke occurred in 1035 patients (11.7%). In Cox analyses adjusting only for treatment effect, ECG strain was a significant predictor of CV death (hazard ratio [HR] 2.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78 to 2.86), fatal/nonfatal myocardial infarction (HR 2.16, 95% CI 1.67 to 2.80), fatal/nonfatal stroke (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.21), and the composite CV end point (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.33). After further adjusting for standard CV risk factors, baseline blood pressure, and severity of ECG LVH, ECG strain remained a significant predictor of CV mortality (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.00), myocardial infarction (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.06), and the composite CV end point (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.59). Thus, ECG strain is a marker of increased CV risk in hypertensive patients in the setting of aggressive blood pressure lowering, independent of baseline severity of ECG LVH.
Goal Representation in Human Anterior Intraparietal Sulcus

When a child reaches toward a cookie, the watching parent knows immediately what the child wants. The neural basis of this ability to interpret other people’s actions in terms of their goals has been the subject of much speculation. Research with infants has shown that 6 month olds respond when they see an adult reach to a novel goal but habituate when an adult reaches to the same goal repeatedly. We used a similar approach in an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment. Adult participants observed a series of movies depicting goal-directed actions, with the sequence controlled so that some goals were novel and others repeated relative to the previous movie. Repeated presentation of the same goal caused a suppression of the blood oxygen level-dependent response in two regions of the left intraparietal sulcus. These regions were not sensitive to the trajectory taken by the actor’s hand. This result demonstrates that the anterior intraparietal sulcus represents the goal of an observed action.
Pollen Characterization of Woody Species of the Cross River National Park, Nigeria

Pollen description for fifty two woody species obtained from the Cross River National Park was made. Standard methods of pollen collection (conducted in 12 months), storage, preparation (Erdmann's method) and quality assurance protocols were employed. The study revealed 51% of species with tricolporate pollen, 13% with tricolpate pollen, 11% with triporate, 7% with monocolpate pollen, about 6% with inaperturate, 2% species each with zonocolpate, 4-colporate pollen and pantoporate pollen respectively. Reticulate, perforate and granulate ornamentations accounted for almost two-thirds of exine wall patters with baculate, straite, tectate, granulate scabrate and echinate made up the remainder. The shapes ranged from subprolate, prolate to prolate spheroidal, suboblate, oblate to oblate spheroidal and to peroblate to circular. All grain arrangements were monad. While forty-six of the species could easily be separated on the basis of pollen class, exine sculpturing and pollen shape, seven others could only be delimited based on slight differences on Original Research Article polar to equatorial ratio (P/E). All members with psilate sculpture were observed as species with abiotic agents (water and wind) of dispersal. These findings would undoubtedly enhance taxonomic practice in the Park.
BIOPHYSICAL MODELING OF TONIC CORTICAL ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Psychophysiological theories characterize Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in terms of cortical hypoarousal and a lack of inhibition of irrelevant sensory input, drawing on evidence of abnormal electroencephalographic (EEG) delta–theta activity. To investigate the mechanisms underlying this disorder a biophysical model of the cortex was used to fit and replicate the EEGs from 54 ADHD adolescents and their control subjects. The EEG abnormalities in ADHD were accounted for by the model's neurophysiological parameters as follows: (i) dendritic response times were increased, (ii) intrathalamic activity involving the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) was increased, consistent with enhanced delta–theta activity, and (iii) intracortical activity was increased, consistent with slow wave (<1 Hz) abnormalities. The longer dendritic response time is consistent with the increase in the activity of inhibitory cells types, particularly in the TRN, and therefore reduced arousal. The increase in intracortical activity may also reflect an increase in background activity or cortical noise within neocortical circuits. In terms of neurochemistry, these findings may be accounted for by disturbances in the cholinergic and/or noradrenergic systems. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study to use a detailed biophysical model of the brain to elucidate the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying tonic abnormalities in ADHD.
Reassessment of Cranial Plasticity in Man: A Modern Critique of Changes in Bodily Form of Descendants of Immigrants

I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Corey Shepard Sparks entitled “Reassessment of Cranial Plasticity in Man: A Modern Critique of Changes in Bodily Form of Descendants of Immigrants. ” I have examined the final copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts, with a major in Anthropology.
Intraspinally mediated state‐dependent enhancement of motoneurone excitability during fictive scratch in the adult decerebrate cat

This is the first study to report on the increase in motoneurone excitability during fictive scratch in adult decerebrate cats. Intracellular recordings from antidromically identified motoneurones revealed a decrease in the voltage threshold for spike initiation (Vth), a suppression of motoneurone afterhyperpolarization and activation of voltage‐dependent excitation at the onset of scratch. These state‐dependent changes recovered within 10–20 s after scratch and could be evoked after acute transection of the spinal cord at C1. Thus, there is a powerful intraspinal system that can quickly and reversibly re‐configure neuronal excitability during spinal network activation. Fictive scratch was evoked in spinal intact and transected decerebrate preparations by stroking the pinnae following topical curare application to the dorsal cervical spinal cord and neuromuscular block. Hyperpolarization of Vth occurred (mean −5.8 mV) in about 80% of ipsilateral flexor, extensor or bifunctional motoneurones during fictive scratch. The decrease in Vth began before any scratch‐evoked motoneurone activity as well as during the initial phase in which extensors are tonically hyperpolarized. The Vth of contralateral extensors depolarized by a mean of +3.7 mV during the tonic contralateral extensor activity accompanying ipsilateral scratch. There was a consistent and substantial reduction of afterhyperpolarization amplitude without large increases in motoneurone conductance in both spinal intact and transected preparations. Depolarizing current injection increased, and hyperpolarization decreased the amplitude of rhythmic scratch drive potentials in acute spinal preparations indicating that the spinal scratch‐generating network can activate voltage‐dependent conductances in motoneurones. The enhanced excitability in spinal preparations associated with fictive scratch indicates the existence of previously unrecognized, intraspinal mechanisms increasing motoneurone excitability.
Fourteen-year study of hospital admissions for diverticular disease in Ontario.

BACKGROUND Diverticular disease is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions affecting the Canadian population, yet very little is known about its epidemiology. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to measure the rate of hospital admission for diverticular disease by age and sex over a 14-year period in the population of Ontario. PATIENTS AND METHODS The present study was a retrospective, population-based cohort study of all hospital admissions for diverticular disease from 1988 to 2002. RESULTS There were 133,875 hospital admissions during the period. Admission rates increased with age, and women were admitted at higher rates than men across all age groups. CONCLUSION Diverticular disease is an important cause of gastrointestinal morbidity. As the population ages, a rise in the incidence of diverticular disease can be anticipated. Future studies to explain sex difference in admissions are required.
Mechanisms of Maintenance of Species Diversity

▪ Abstract The focus of most ideas on diversity maintenance is species coexistence, which may be stable or unstable. Stable coexistence can be quantified by the long-term rates at which community members recover from low density. Quantification shows that coexistence mechanisms function in two major ways: They may be (a) equalizing because they tend to minimize average fitness differences between species, or (b) stabilizing because they tend to increase negative intraspecific interactions relative to negative interspecific interactions. Stabilizing mechanisms are essential for species coexistence and include traditional mechanisms such as resource partitioning and frequency-dependent predation, as well as mechanisms that depend on fluctuations in population densities and environmental factors in space and time. Equalizing mechanisms contribute to stable coexistence because they reduce large average fitness inequalities which might negate the effects of stabilizing mechanisms. Models of unstable coexitence.
Reduced bone stress as predicted by composite beam theory correlates with cortical bone loss following cemented total hip arthroplasty

Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that periprosthetic bone loss following total hip arthroplasty is caused in part by stress‐shielding. Changes in bone stress in the proximal femur following implantation can be estimated with use of composite beam theory. We hypothesized that the degree of stress‐shielding predicted by beam theory correlates with the magnitude of bone loss following cemented total hip arthroplasty. We analyzed cross sections from the proximal femur of 13 patients who had undergone unilateral cemented total hip arthroplasty. A matching implant was inserted contralaterally, and the cross‐sectional properties of the implant and bone and the bone density were determined. Bone loss was calculated on the basis of differences between contralateral (control) and ipsilateral (remodeled) sections and correlated to several beam‐theory parameters calculated from the control sections: implant rigidity, bone rigidity, ratio of implant to bone rigidity, and predicted decrease in bone stress. All parameters except implant rigidity were significantly correlated with bone loss (p < 0.05). Parameters that included implant and bone properties were more strongly correlated with bone loss than were those based on bone properties alone. The predicted decrease in bone stress explained 50‐60% of the variance in bone loss. The data also indicated that patients were not likely to lose substantial amounts of bone unless the reduction in bone stress exceeded a threshold value. Although limited by a small and heterogeneous sample, these results indicate that beam‐theory predictions correlate with the degree of femoral resorption and should be investigated further as a means to identify patients at high risk for bone loss.
Manual dexterity and related functional limitations in Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy. An explorative study

Purpose. To explore impairments in manual dexterity and perceived limitations in upper extremity-related activities in subjects with Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy (HMSN). Method. Cross-sectional study of 20 HMSN subjects. Manual dexterity was assessed using the Jebsen test of hand function. Perceived limitations were assessed using the Rehabilitation Activities Profile (RAP) and the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH). Results. Impaired manual dexterity was found in four out of seven Jebsen sub-tests. Turning over cards, lifting large light and large heavy objects were most impaired, as reflected by median z scores of 5.7, 12.0 and 16.9, respectively. Perceived limitations, as reflected by median and percentile (P25; P75) sum-scores, were 7.5 (3; 11.7) for the RAP domains of personal care (scale 0 – 69) and 6.0 (1.25; 15.5) for the domains of occupation (scale 0 – 42). The median (P25; P75) DASH score (scale 0 – 100) was 13.3 (2.7; 48.1). Jebsen test scores were significantly associated with RAP and DASH scores. Conclusions. Manual dexterity of HMSN subjects, especially requiring the manipulation of flat and of large objects, was impaired and associated with the amount of perceived limitations in upper extremity function. Major limitations were perceived in activities related to upper extremity function by 25% of HMSN subjects. Measurement of manual dexterity and perceived limitations should be incorporated into the evaluation and treatment of HMSN subjects.
Osteopontin in macrophage function

The secreted phosphorylated protein osteopontin (OPN) is expressed in a variety of tissues and bodily fluids, and is associated with pathologies including tissue injury, infection, autoimmune disease and cancer. Macrophages are ubiquitous, heterogeneous cells that mediate aspects of cell and tissue damage in all these pathologies. Here, the role of OPN in macrophage function is reviewed. OPN is expressed in macrophage cells in multiple pathologies, and the regulation of its expression in these cells has been described in vitro. The protein has been implicated in multiple functions of macrophages, including cytokine expression, expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, phagocytosis and migration. Indeed, the role of OPN in cells of the macrophage lineage might underlie its physiological role in many pathologies. However, there are numerous instances where the published literature is inconsistent, especially in terms of OPN function in vitro. Although the heterogeneity of OPN and its receptors, or of macrophages themselves, might underlie some of these inconsistencies, it is important to understand the role of OPN in macrophage biology in order to exploit its function therapeutically.
Noise processes in nanomechanical resonators

Nanomechanical resonators can be fabricated to achieve high natural resonance frequencies, approaching 1 GHz, with quality factors in excess of 10^(4). These resonators are candidates for use as highly selective rf filters and as precision on-chip clocks. Some fundamental and some nonfundamental noise processes will present limits to the performance of such resonators. These include thermomechanical noise, Nyquist-Johnson noise, and adsorption-desorption noise; other important noise sources include those due to thermal fluctuations and defect motion-induced noise. In this article, we develop a self-contained formalism for treating these noise sources, and use it to estimate the impact that these noise processes will have on the noise of a model nanoscale resonator, consisting of a doubly clamped beam of single-crystal Si with a natural resonance frequency of 1 GHz.