Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IPv6 Soft Handover Applied to Network Mobility over Heterogeneous Access Networks

Toward seamless inter-networking between cellular networks and Wireless LAN, one of the major challenges is seamless vertical handover between different access technologies. Even in heterogeneous access networks which provide combined radio coverage, users may still suffer from packet losses due to bad radio conditions during the handover. Eurecom IPv6 soft handover can reduce packet losses even in the case of vertical handover. Considering that Network Mobility (NEMO) has an advantage of hiding mobility functions from users involved, Eurecom IPv6 soft handover and NEMO are expected to provide a good combination. This paper proposes IPv6 soft handover extension for NEMO over heterogeneous access networks to achieve better performance for UDP and TCP traffic. The proposed method called NEMO-SHO uses two different interfaces simultaneously during vertical handovers, and provides good Quality of Service for the users regardless of the radio coverage quality. Using 3G and IEEE802.11b interfaces, our experiments show that NEMO- SHO can achieve better performances for UDP traffic and constant-bit-rate TCP traffic than Make-Before-Break handovers in lossy radio conditions. We find that in case of TCP traffic the performance gain of NEMO-SHO is more affected by the difference of bandwidth and transmission delay between the two links due to the larger amount of outstanding TCP segments.
Hormonal mechanisms of cooperative behaviour

Research on the diversity, evolution and stability of cooperative behaviour has generated a considerable body of work. As concepts simplify the real world, theoretical solutions are typically also simple. Real behaviour, in contrast, is often much more diverse. Such diversity, which is increasingly acknowledged to help in stabilizing cooperative outcomes, warrants detailed research about the proximate mechanisms underlying decision-making. Our aim here is to focus on the potential role of neuroendocrine mechanisms on the regulation of the expression of cooperative behaviour in vertebrates. We first provide a brief introduction into the neuroendocrine basis of social behaviour. We then evaluate how hormones may influence known cognitive modules that are involved in decision-making processes that may lead to cooperative behaviour. Based on this evaluation, we will discuss specific examples of how hormones may contribute to the variability of cooperative behaviour at three different levels: (i) within an individual; (ii) between individuals and (iii) between species. We hope that these ideas spur increased research on the behavioural endocrinology of cooperation.
Memory-based disfluency chunking

We investigate the feasibility of machine learning in automatic detection of disfluencies in a large syntactically annotated corpus of spontaneous spoken Dutch. We define disfluencies as chunks that do not fit under the syntactic tree of a sentence (including fragmented words, laughter, self-corrections, repetitions, abandoned constituents, hesitations and filled pauses). We use a memory-based learning algorithm for detecting disfluent chunks, on the basis of a relatively small set of low-level features, keeping track of the local context of the focus word and of potential overlaps between words in this context. We use attenuation to deal with sparse data and show that this leads to a slight improvement of the results and more efficient experiments. We perform a search for the optimal settings of the learning algorithm, which yields an accuracy of 97% and an F-score of 80%. This is a significant improvement of the baselines and of the results obtained with the default settings of the learner.
The metabolic syndrome and uric acid nephrolithiasis: novel features of renal manifestation of insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND Uric acid nephrolithiasis primarily results from low urinary pH, which increases the concentration of the insoluble undissociated uric acid, causing formation of both uric acid and mixed uric acid/calcium oxalate stones. These patients have recently been described as exhibiting features of insulin resistance. This study was designed to evaluate if insulin resistance is associated with excessively low urinary pH in overtly healthy volunteers (non-stone formers) and if insulin resistance may explain the excessively low urinary pH in patients with uric acid nephrolithiasis. METHODS Fifty-five healthy volunteers (non stone-formers) with a large range of body mass index and 13 patients with recurrent uric acid nephrolithiasis underwent hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, 24-hour urinary studies, and anthropometric measurements of adiposity. A subgroup of 35 non-stone formers had 2-hour timed urinary collection before and during the hyperinsulinemic phase of the clamp studies. RESULTS For the non-stone former population, low insulin sensitivity measured as glucose disposal rate significantly correlated with low 24-hour urinary pH (r= 0. 35; P= 0.01). In addition to the previously described acidic urine pH and hypouricosuria, patients with recurrent uric acid nephrolithiasis were found to be severely insulin resistant (glucose disposal rate: uric acid stone-formers vs. normals; 4.1 +/- 1.3 vs. 6.9 +/- 2.1 mg/min/kg of lean body mass, P= 0.008). Acute hyperinsulinemia was associated with higher urinary pH (6.1 +/- 0.7 at baseline to 6.8 +/- 0.7 during hyperinsulinemia; P < 0.0001), urinary ammonia excretion (2.7 +/- 1.6 mEq/2 hr at baseline and 4.0 +/- 2.6 mEq/2 hr P= 0.002) and urinary citrate excretion (48 +/- 33 mg/2 hr at baseline and 113 +/- 68 mg/2 hr P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION We conclude that one renal manifestation of insulin resistance may be low urinary ammonium and pH. This defect can result in increased risk of uric acid precipitation despite normouricosuria.
A phase I dose escalation study of S-1 with concurrent radiotherapy in elderly patients with esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP) are often associated with significant incidence of toxic effects in elderly patients with esophageal cancer. This phase I trial was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of S-1, an oral 5-FU derivative, when given with radiotherapy in elderly patients. METHODS Patients who were age of 70 years or older with histologically confirmed esophageal cancer, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of 0-2 were eligible for this study. Radiotherapy was administered in 1.8 Gy fractions 5 times weekly to a total dose of 54 Gy. S-1 was administered on days 1-14 and 29-42 at the following dosages: 60, 70, and 80 mg/m(2)/day. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT01175447 (ClinicalTrials.gov). RESULTS Twelve previously untreated patients were enrolled in this study. No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was observed in six patients treated at the 60 and 70 mg/m(2) dose levels. DLT was observed in four of six patients treated at the 80 mg/m(2) dose level. Two patients developed grade 3 esophagitis, one patient developed grade 3 esophagitis and pneumonitis, and one patient developed grade 3 thrombocytopaenia. Endoscopic complete response (CR) was observed in eight patients (66.7%). The median progression free survival (PFS) was 20 months and median overall survival was 29 months. CONCLUSIONS The MTD of S-1 was 80 mg/m(2), and the recommended dose (RD) for phase II studies was 70 mg/m(2). This regimen was well tolerated and active in elderly patients with esophageal cancer, meriting further investigation in phase II studies.
Effects of hydrocortisone and adrenaline on natural killer cell activity.

We have studied the effects of hydrocortisone and adrenaline on natural killer (NK) cell activity and on the distribution of circulating lymphocyte subpopulations in 30 patients undergoing elective partial laminectomy under general anaesthesia. The patients were allocated to receive adrenaline (group 1, n = 11), hydrocortisone and adrenaline (group 2, n = 11) or neither hydrocortisone nor adrenaline (group 3, n = 8). Group 1 and group 2 patients received local adrenaline infiltration during operation to reduce bleeding. The mean dose of adrenaline administered was 2.1 (SD 0.2) microgram kg-1. Group 2 received hydrocortisone 10 mg kg-1 i.v. after premedication. In groups 1 and 2, adrenaline produced an instantaneous increase in NK cell activity accompanied by a selective increase in circulating NK cells. The measurements returned to pre-infiltration levels within 120 min of administration of adrenaline. The effect of adrenaline in causing increased NK cell activity was not blocked by pre-administration of hydrocortisone. There was a significant decrease in the ratio of T-helper/inducer cells (CD4) to T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells (CD8) in all patients after induction of anaesthesia. In groups 1 and 3, the CD4/CD8 of anaesthesia. In groups 1 and 3, the CD4/CD8 cell ratio did not change significantly during operation. However, compared with groups 1 and 3, group 2 showed a significantly reduced CD4/CD8 cell ratio during operation. Therefore, these results suggest that even in cases of such severe stress that the immune response was depressed by increased serum cortisol concentrations, adrenaline-induced NK cell activity enhancement was preserved.
Antibacterial activity of essential oil from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) against pet turtle-borne pathogenic bacteria

Pet turtles are well-known to harbor an array of bacterial pathogens which can cause zoonotic infections in humans as well as opportunistic infections in the turtles itself. Essential oils are the natural plant extracts which have been traditionally used for disease treatment. In the present study, the essential oil of lavender (EOL) was examined for its antibacterial activity against thirty-eight strains of turtle-borne pathogenic bacteria belonging to seven species; Aeromonas hydrophila, A. caviae, A. dhakensis, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibacterial activity of EOL was tested by means of disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests. In addition, the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of 11 commonly used antimicrobials was examined and the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was calculated. The results revealed that EOL was active against all tested turtle-borne pathogenic bacteria except P. aeruginosa. The range of MIC and MBC values of EOL against isolates except P. aeruginosa were recorded as 0.5-1% (V/V) and 0.5-2% (V/V), respectively. The MBC/MIC ratio was detected as <4, revealing that the tested EOL was bactericidal. Besides, most of the isolates were resistant to different antimicrobials in antimicrobial disk diffusion test. MAR index values of the tested strains were ranging from 0.27 to 0.91. The outcomes indicate that EOL has a potential to be used as an antibacterial agent against pathogenic bacteria isolated from pet turtles.
Hemodynamics Is a Key Epigenetic Factor in Development of the Cardiac Conduction System

Abstract— The His-Purkinje system (HPS) is a network of conduction cells responsible for coordinating the contraction of the ventricles. Earlier studies using bipolar electrodes indicated that the functional maturation of the HPS in the chick embryo is marked by a topological shift in the sequence of activation of the ventricle. Namely, at around the completion of septation, an immature base-to-apex sequence of ventricular activation was reported to convert to the apex-to-base pattern characteristic of the mature heart. Previously, we have proposed that hemodynamics and/or mechanical conditioning may be key epigenetic factors in development of the HPS. We thus hypothesized that the timing of the topological shift marking maturation of the conduction system is sensitive to variation in hemodynamic load. Spatiotemporal patterns of ventricular activation (as revealed by high-speed imaging of fluorescent voltage-sensitive dye) were mapped in chick hearts over normal development, and following procedures previously characterized as causing increased (conotruncal banding, CTB) or reduced (left atrial ligation, LAL) hemodynamic loading of the embryonic heart. The results revealed that the timing of the shift to mature activation displays striking plasticity. CTB led to precocious emergence of mature HPS function relative to controls whereas LAL was associated with delayed conversion to apical initiation. The results from our study indicate a critical role for biophysical factors in differentiation of specialized cardiac tissues and provide the basis of a new model for studies of the molecular mechanisms involved in induction and patterning of the HPS in vivo.
Strong population structure despite evidence of recent migration in a selfing hermaphroditic vertebrate, the mangrove killifish (Kryptolebias marmoratus)

We employ a battery of 33 polymorphic microsatellite loci to describe geographical population structure of the mangrove killifish (Kryptolebias marmoratus), the only vertebrate species known to have a mixed‐mating system of selfing and outcrossing. Significant population genetic structure was detected at spatial scales ranging from tens to hundreds of kilometres in Florida, Belize, and the Bahamas. The wealth of genotypic information, coupled with the highly inbred nature of most killifish lineages due to predominant selfing, also permitted treatments of individual fish as units of analysis. Genetic clustering algorithms, neighbour‐joining trees, factorial correspondence, and related methods all earmarked particular killifish specimens as products of recent outcross events that could often be provisionally linked to specific migration events. Although mutation is the ultimate source of genetic diversity in K. marmoratus, our data indicate that interlocality dispersal and outcross‐mediated genetic recombination (and probably genetic drift also) play key proximate roles in the local ‘clonal’ dynamics of this species.
Poly--hydroxybutyrate degradation by Aspergillus fumigates isolated from soil samples collected from Jeddah, Saudi arabia

Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate acid (PHB) is thermoplastic biopolymers, synthesized by some bacterial genera under stress conditions. The degradation of PHB was detected in Petri dish by formation of a clear zone around the fungal colonies due to production of depolymerase enzyme which has interesting role in PHB degradation process. The most active PHB degrader fungi was selected and identified as Aspergillus fumigates using morphological characters. The highest PHB degradation in Petri dish by A. fumigates was at pH 5, 30oC and 7days. In liquid medium, degradation by A. fumigates was studied using enzyme assay method (U/ml). All the experiments were performed enzyme activities were monitored. After 3 days of incubation, maximum PHB depolymerase production was at pH 5 and 30°C. In conclusion, PHB can be degraded in solid and liquid medium using fungal depolymerase enzyme.
Mayo's Older Americans Normative Studies: Age- and IQ-Adjusted Norms for the Trail-Making Test, the Stroop Test, and MAE Controlled Oral Word Association Test

ABSTRACT Although normative data sets for standardized neuropsychometric instruments often include adjustments for subject variables, there are reasons to believe that improvements in interpretive accuracy that result from such adjustments are less than optimal. In particular, years of formal education may be less closely related to test performances than is general intellectual functioning. In this second of four reanalyses of results from the Mayo Clinic's Older Americans Normative Studies (MOANS) databases, age-adjusted scores for the Trail-Making Test, the Stroop Color-Word Test, and the MAE Controlled Oral Word Associations Test were found to be more strongly associated with Mayo age-adjusted WAIS-R Full Scale IQ scores (rs = .368 to .495) than with education (rs = .174 to .367) for healthy older examinees between 56 and 99 years of age. For the TMT and the COWAT, but not the Stroop, these associations became stronger as IQ increased (cf. Dodrill, 1997, 1999). Tables of age- and IQ-adjusted percentile equivalents of MOANS age-adjusted TMT, Stroop, and COWAT scores are presented for eleven age ranges and seven IQ ranges.
High genetic diversity and demographic history of captive Siamese and Saltwater crocodiles suggest the first step toward the establishment of a breeding and reintroduction program in Thailand

The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) and Saltwater crocodile (C. porosus) are two of the most endangered animals in Thailand. Their numbers have been reduced severely by hunting and habitat fragmentation. A reintroduction plan involving captive-bred populations that are used commercially is important and necessary as a conservation strategy to aid in the recovery of wild populations. Here, the genetic diversity and population structure of 69 individual crocodiles, mostly members of captive populations, were analyzed using both mitochondrial D-loop DNA and microsatellite markers. The overall haplotype diversity was 0.924–0.971 and the mean expected heterozygosity across 22 microsatellite loci was 0.578–0.701 for the two species. This agreed with the star-like shaped topology of the haplotype network, which suggests a high level of genetic diversity. The mean ratio of the number of alleles to the allelic range (M ratio) for the populations of both species was considerably lower than the threshold of 0.68, which was interpreted as indicative of a historical genetic bottleneck. Microsatellite markers provided evidence of introgression for three individual crocodiles, which suggest that hybridization might have occurred between C. siamensis and C. porosus. D-loop sequence analysis detected bi-directional hybridization between male and female individuals of the parent species. Therefore, identification of genetically non-hybrid and hybrid individuals is important for long-term conservation management. Relatedness values were low within the captive populations, which supported their genetic integrity and the viability of a breeding and reintroduction management plan. This work constitutes the first step in establishing an appropriate source population from a scientifically managed perspective for an in situ/ex situ conservation program and reintroduction of crocodile individuals to the wild in Thailand.
Improving circulation weather type classifications using a 3D framework : relationship with climate variability and projections for future climates

La siguiente tesis presenta dos bloques principales de estudio: (1) por un lado se han analizado detalladamente las aplicaciones de los patrones de circulacion o weather types obtenidos a partir de datos de presion en superficie. (2) Por otro se ha realizado un ensayo metodologico donde se presenta una nueva clasificacion de patrones de circulacion basada en trayectorias Lagrangianas. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron divididos en tres partes: en la primera parte, se estudian las relaciones entre las variables climaticas de superficie y los patrones de circulacion; en la segunda parte, se analizan las relaciones entre dichos patrones de circulacion y la variabilidad del clima; en la tercera parte y ultima parte, se introduce un nuevo tipo de clasificacion de patrones de circulacion basado en trayectorias Lagrangianas. El trabajo fue desarrollado para el noroeste de la Peninsula Iberica pero todos los procedimientos y metodologias se pueden aplicar facilmente a otras regiones del mundo. Una clasificacion de patrones de circulacion es en general un metodo algoritmico que distingue entre situaciones meteorologicas describiendolas a traves de parametros de circulacion (por ejemplo, zonalidad, caracter ciclonico, posicion de sistemas de altas y bajas presiones etc.) o por elementos de tiempo local como temperatura o precipitacion. Los parametros de circulacion son usados frecuentemente ya que tales parametros pueden ser usados muy facilmente para relacionar ciertas caracteristicas de la circulacion atmosferica con el tiempo local a traves de metodos estadisticos. El estudio de la circulacion local atmosferica por medio de patrones de circulacion puede dar informacion valiosa para evaluar los escenarios futuros del cambio climatico. Por otra parte, son faciles de calcular, por lo que son ventajosos frente a otros metodos (ej. metodos downscaling). La nueva clasificacion de patrones de circulacion basado en trayectorias y que fue desarrollada en esta tesis puede describir la complejidad tridimensional de la circulacion atmosferica. Por otra parte, proporciona una informacion fisica integrada del desarrollo de los sistemas (perspectiva Lagrangiana), que va mas alla de la descripcion tradicional de la situacion sinoptica instantanea (perspectiva Euleriana). Ademas, la nueva clasificacion captura aspectos de la estructura tridimensional de la atmosfera permitiendo establecer claramente situaciones sinopticas, como las DANAS, que pueden no tener una signatura clara en niveles atmosfericos mas bajos y que por lo tanto no son detectados por la clasificacion basada solamente en el campo de presion a nivel del mar. Esta nueva clasificacion, aqui desarrollada para el noroeste de la Peninsula Iberica, es facilmente aplicable a otras regiones del globo.
TinyPK: securing sensor networks with public key technology

Wireless networks of miniaturized, low-power sensor/actuator devices are poised to become widely used in commercial and military environments. The communication security problems for these networks are exacerbated by the limited power and energy of the sensor devices. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of public-key-(PK)-based protocols that allow authentication and key agreement between a sensor network and a third party as well as between two sensor networks. Our work is novel in that PK technology was commonly believed to be too inefficient for use on low-power devices. As part of our solution, we exploit the efficiency of public operations in the RSA cryptosystem and design protocols that place the computationally expensive operations on the parties external to the sensor network, when possible. Our protocols have been implemented on UC Berkeley MICA2 motes using the TinyOS development environment.
Distributed and Dynamic Storage of Working Memory Stimulus Information in Extrastriate Cortex

The predominant neurobiological model of working memory (WM) posits that stimulus information is stored via stable, elevated activity within highly selective neurons. On the basis of this model, which we refer to as the canonical model, the storage of stimulus information is largely associated with lateral PFC (lPFC). A growing number of studies describe results that cannot be fully explained by the canonical model, suggesting that it is in need of revision. In this study, we directly tested key elements of the canonical model. We analyzed fMRI data collected as participants performed a task requiring WM for faces and scenes. Multivariate decoding procedures identified patterns of activity containing information about the items maintained in WM (faces, scenes, or both). Although information about WM items was identified in extrastriate visual cortex (EC) and lPFC, only EC exhibited a pattern of results consistent with a sensory representation. Information in both regions persisted even in the absence of elevated activity, suggesting that elevated population activity may not represent the storage of information in WM. Additionally, we observed that WM information was distributed across EC neural populations that exhibited a broad range of selectivity for the WM items rather than restricted to highly selective EC populations. Finally, we determined that activity patterns coding for WM information were not stable, but instead varied over the course of a trial, indicating that the neural code for WM information is dynamic rather than static. Together, these findings challenge the canonical model of WM.