Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multipath Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks: Survey and Research Challenges

A wireless sensor network is a large collection of sensor nodes with limited power supply and constrained computational capability. Due to the restricted communication range and high density of sensor nodes, packet forwarding in sensor networks is usually performed through multi-hop data transmission. Therefore, routing in wireless sensor networks has been considered an important field of research over the past decade. Nowadays, multipath routing approach is widely used in wireless sensor networks to improve network performance through efficient utilization of available network resources. Accordingly, the main aim of this survey is to present the concept of the multipath routing approach and its fundamental challenges, as well as the basic motivations for utilizing this technique in wireless sensor networks. In addition, we present a comprehensive taxonomy on the existing multipath routing protocols, which are especially designed for wireless sensor networks. We highlight the primary motivation behind the development of each protocol category and explain the operation of different protocols in detail, with emphasis on their advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, this paper compares and summarizes the state-of-the-art multipath routing techniques from the network application point of view. Finally, we identify open issues for further research in the development of multipath routing protocols for wireless sensor networks.
Predicting Nursing Human Resources

The nurse-to-population ratio (NPOP) is a standard indicator used to indicate a country’s health care human resources capacity for responding to its disease burden. This study sought to explore if socioeconomic development indicators could predict the NPOP in a country. Mexico served as the case example for this exploratory study, with the final five variables selected based on findings from a qualitative study analyzing the development of nursing human resources in the country. Multiple linear regression showed that two variables proved significant predictors of the NPOP and the model itself explained 70% of the variance (r 2 = .7; p = .0000). The findings have multiple implications for nursing human resources policy in Mexico and at a global level as governments attempt to build human capital to respond to population health needs.
On the Joint Impact of Hardware Impairments and Imperfect CSI on Successive Decoding

In this paper, a spatial multiplexing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system when hardware along with radio-frequency imperfections occur during the communication setup is analytically investigated. More specifically, the scenario of hardware impairments at the transceiver and imperfect channel state information (CSI) at the receiver is considered when successive interference cancelation (SIC) is implemented. Two popular linear detection schemes are analyzed, namely, zero-forcing SIC (ZF-SIC) and minimum mean-square-error SIC (MMSE-SIC). New analytical expressions for the outage probability of each SIC stage are provided when independent and identically distributed Rayleigh fading channels are considered. In addition, the well-known error propagation effect between consecutive SIC stages is analyzed, while closed-form expressions are derived for some special cases of interest. Finally, useful engineering insights are manifested, such as the achievable diversity order, the performance difference between ZF- and MMSE-SIC, and the impact of imperfect CSI and/or the presence of hardware impairments to the overall system performance.
Retinal and post-retinal contributions to the quantum efficiency of the human eye revealed by electrical neuroimaging

The retina is one of the best known quantum detectors with rods able to reliably respond to single photons. However, estimates on the number of photons eliciting conscious perception, based on signal detection theory, are systematically above these values after discounting by retinal losses. One possibility is that there is a trade-off between the limited motor resources available to living systems and the excellent reliability of the visual photoreceptors. On this view, the limits to sensory thresholds are not set by the individual reliability of the receptors within each sensory modality (as often assumed) but rather by the limited central processing and motor resources available to process the constant inflow of sensory information. To investigate this issue, we reproduced the classical experiment from Hetch aimed to determine the sensory threshold in human vision. We combined a careful physical control of the stimulus parameters with high temporal/spatial resolution recordings of EEG signals and behavioral variables over a relatively large sample of subjects (12). Contrarily to the idea that the limits to visual sensitivity are fully set by the statistical fluctuations in photon absorption on retinal photoreceptors we observed that the state of ongoing neural oscillations before any photon impinges the retina helps to determine if the responses of photoreceptors have access to central conscious processing. Our results suggest that motivational and attentional off-retinal mechanisms play a major role in reducing the QE efficiency of the human visual system when compared to the efficiency of isolated retinal photoreceptors. Yet, this mechanism might subserve adaptive behavior by enhancing the overall multisensory efficiency of the whole system composed by diverse reliable sensory modalities.
An objective structured clinical examination for evaluating psychiatric clinical clerks

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility, reliability, and validity of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for psychiatric clinical clerks. METHOD: In 1995 two parallel forms of a ten-station OSCE (eight clinical stations, two writing stations) were developed at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Each 12-minute performance-based clinical station was assessed by a faculty psychiatrist using both a checklist for each student's performance content and a global-rating scale of the performance process. The students' clinical-station scores were calculated as the average of their content and process scores (expressed as percentages). Examiners also recorded an overall judgment of each students' performance (pass, borderline, or fail) and wrote [in collaboration with the standardized patient (SP) at that station] comments on each student's performance. There were two criteria for a passing grade: a total mark of 60% or higher across all ten stations and a “pass” or “borderline” mark in at least five of the eight clinical stations. Each OSCE form was administered three times. RESULTS: The first form was used to examine 94 clerks, the second form to examine 98 clerks. The students' mean scores for the two forms were 70.47% (SD, 6.33%) and 67.66% (SD, 7.05%), respectively. In addition to the standard evaluation information collected on the students, several critical incidents occurred (e.g., a student's loss of control of emotions) that may identify potential problems in professional conduct. The direct cost for one administration of the examination was approximately Can$3,300: the largest portion of this was for the SPs' time spent in training and performing their roles. CONCLUSION: Preliminary evidence suggests that a psychiatry OSCE is feasible for assessing complex psychiatric skills. However, careful attention must be paid to SP training, examination monitoring, detection of critical incidents, and provision of feedback to students, faculty, and SPs. The university's previous system of oral examinations required approximately 600 faculty hours per year. The OSCE requires approximately 450 faculty hours, and the 150 hours saved almost cover the Can$20,000 that the examination costs each year. In all, the OSCE is an evaluation system that has demonstrable reliability and is more enjoyable for both the faculty and the students.
Effects of cotransfection of antisense‐EGFR and wild‐type PTEN cDNA on human glioblastoma cells

The main molecular genetic changes identified in glioblastomas are overexpression/amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene and mutation/deletion of the tumor suppressor PTEN gene. These two genetic changes both play important roles in glial tumorigenesis and progression. In this study, we demonstrated that wild‐type PTEN transfection inhibited the growth and transforming ability of U87MG cells by 69.3% and 73.5%, respectively. On the other hand, antisense‐EGFR transfection inhibited the growth and transforming phenotype of these cells by 50.3% and 46.8%, respectively. However, cotransfection of U87MG cells with wild‐type PTEN and antisense EGFR constructs could inhibit the cellular growth by 91.7%. The transforming phenotype of these cells was completely inhibited. In addition, these cotransfected cells showed a differentiated form and expressed much lower telomerase activity than cells transfected with wild‐type PTEN or antisense‐EGFR alone. In summary, these results suggest that cotransfection is a better approach to suppress glioma cell growth than wild‐type PTEN transfer or antisense‐EGFR transfection alone. This approach may prove useful as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of glioblastomas.
Endocytosis of tight junction proteins and the regulation of degradation and recycling

Internalization of tight junction (TJ) proteins from the plasma membrane is a pivotal mechanism regulating TJ plasticity and function in both epithelial and endothelial barrier tissues. Once internalized, the TJ proteins enter complex vesicular machinery, where further trafficking is directly dependent on the initiating stimulus and downstream signaling pathways that regulate the sorting and destiny of TJ proteins, as well as on cell and barrier responses. The destiny of internalized TJ proteins is recycling to the plasma membrane or sorting to late endosomes and degradation. This review highlights recent advances in our knowledge of endocytosis and vesicular trafficking of TJ proteins in both epithelial and endothelial cells. A greater understanding of these processes may allow for the development of methods to modulate barrier permeability for drug delivery or prevent barrier dysfunction in disease states.
Duality of log-polar image representations in the space and spatial-frequency domains

In this paper, we study the result of applying a lowpass variant filtering using scaling-rotating kernels to both the spatial and spatial-frequency representations of a two-dimensional (2-D) signal (image). It is shown that if we apply this transformation to a Fourier pair, the two resulting signals can also form a Fourier pair when the filters used in each domain maintain a dual relationship. For a large class of "self-dual" filters, a perfect symmetry exists, so that the lowpass scaling-rotating variant filtering (SRVF) is the same in both domains, thus commuting with the Fourier transform operator. The lowpass SRVF of an image is often referred to as a "foveated" image, whereas its Fourier pair (the lowpass SRVF of its spectrum) can be realized as a local spectrum estimation around the point of attention. This lowpass SRVF is equivalent to a log-polar warping of the image representation followed by a lowpass invariant filtering and the corresponding inverse warping. The use of the log-polar warped representation allows us to extend the one-dimensional (1-D) scale transform to higher dimensions, in particular to images, for which we have defined a scale-rotation invariant representation. We also present an efficient implementation using steerable filters to compute both the foveated image and the local spectrum.
Landmarks of the sacral hiatus for caudal epidural block: an anatomical study.

BACKGROUND This study determined the landmarks for caudal epidural block (CEB) after morphometric measurements of the sacral hiatus on dry sacral bones. Anatomical features of the sacral hiatus of clinical importance during CEB, along with distances and angles of use in detecting the apex, were measured. This provides detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the sacral hiatus and practical landmarks. METHODS Ninety-six dry sacral bones were used. Anatomical measurements were made with a Vernier caliper accurate to 0.1 mm. RESULTS Two sacral bones were excluded since they had total posterior closure defect. Agenesis of the sacral hiatus was detected in six sacral bones. As the posterior superior iliac spines impose on the superolateral sacral crests of the sacrum, the latter were accepted as forming the base of a triangle. The distance between the two superolateral sacral crests and the distances between the sacral apex and the right and left superolateral sacral crest were 66.5 (SD 53.5), 67.1 (10.0) and 67.5 (9.5) mm respectively, on average. CONCLUSION The triangle formed between the apex of the sacral hiatus and the superolateral sacral crests was found to have the features of an equilateral triangle. The sacrum and sacral hiatus are variable anatomical structures. However, the equilateral triangle located between the apex of the sacral hiatus and superolateral sacral crests will certainly be of use in determining the location of the sacral hiatus during CEB.
Different Roles for Orbitofrontal Cortex and Basolateral Amygdala in a Reinforcer Devaluation Task

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) are critical for using learned representations of outcomes to guide behavior. Neurophysiological findings suggest complementary roles in which the BLA acquires associations between cues and outcomes and the OFC subsequently uses them to guide behavior. Here, we have used a reinforcer devaluation paradigm to test this hypothesis. In this paradigm, rats are first trained to associate a light conditioned stimulus (CS) with a food outcome, and then the food is devalued by pairing it with illness. After this devaluation procedure, responding to the CS is assessed in a single probe session. Previously, we have shown that BLA and OFC lesions made before training do not affect the acquisition of conditioned responding but do impair the sensitivity of that responding to reinforcer devaluation. Rats with such lesions fail to exhibit the spontaneous decrease in conditioned responding to the light cue observed in controls in the probe test. Here, we have extended those findings by showing that performance in the probe test is impaired by OFC lesions made after light-food conditioning but not by BLA lesions made after that training. These findings indicate that the OFC and BLA play different roles in mediating normal goal-directed performance in this, and likely other, settings. The BLA seems critical to forming representations linking cues to the incentive properties of outcomes but not for maintaining these representations in memory, updating them with new information, or for expressing them in behavior. In contrast, the OFC seems essential for one or more of these latter processes.
Bladder augmentation: Review of the literature and recent advances

Bladder augmentation is an important tool in the management of children requiring reconstructions for urinary incontinence or preserving of the upper urinary tract in congenital malformations. We reviewed the literature and evaluated the long-term results of enterocystoplasty in the pediatric age group and summarized techniques, experimental options and future perspectives for the treatment of these patients. For this purpose, a directed Medline literature review for the assessment of enterocystoplasty was performed. Information gained from these data was reviewed and new perspectives were summarized. The ideal gastrointestinal (GI) segment for enterocystoplasty remains controversial. The use of GI segments for enterocystoplasty is associated with different short and long-term complications. The results of different centers reported in the literature concerning urological complications after enterocystoplasty are difficult to compare because of the non-comparable aspects and different items included by different authors. On the other hand, there are more and more case reports about cancer arising from bowel segments used for bladder augmentation in recent publications. Although bladder reconstruction with GI segments can be associated with multiple complications, such as metabolic disorders, calculus formation, mucus production, enteric fistulas and potential for malignancy, enterocystoplasty is unfortunately still the gold standard. However, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative tissues for bladder augmentation.
Architecture of rod and cone circuits to the on-beta ganglion cell

Photoreceptors connect to the on-beta ganglion cell through parallel circuits involving rod bipolar (RB) and cone bipolar (CB) neurons. We estimated for a small patch in the area centralis of one retina the 3- dimensional architecture of both circuits. This was accomplished by reconstructing neurons and synapses from electron micrographs of 189 serial sections. There were (per mm2) 27,000 cones, 450,000 rods, 6500 CBb1, 30,300 RB, 4100 All amacrines, and 2000 on-beta ganglion cells. The tangential spread of processes was determined for each cell type, and, with the densities, this allowed us to calculate the potential convergence and divergence of each array upon the next. The actual numbers of cells converging and diverging were estimated from serial sections, as were the approximate numbers of chemical synapses involved. The cone bipolar circuit showed narrow convergence and divergence: 16 cones----4 CBb1----1 on-beta 1 cone----1 CBb1----1.2 on- beta This circuit is thought to contribute significantly to the on-beta cell's photopic receptive field because the CBb1 has a center-surround receptive field whose center diameter is greater than the spacing between adjacent CBb1s. Consequently, the receptive fields of the CBb1s converging on a beta cell are probably largely concentric and thus mutually reinforcing in their contributions to the on-beta. The rod bipolar circuit showed a wider convergence and divergence: 1500 rods---- 100 RB----5 AII----4 CBb1----1 on-beta 1 rod----2 RB----5 AII----8 CBb1- ---2----2 on-beta The 1500 rods converging via this circuit account for the spatial extent of the beta cell's dark-adapted receptive field. This convergence also accounts for the ganglion cell's maintained discharge, which is thought to arise from about 6 quantal “dark events” per second. This many dark events would appear in the ganglion cell if each rod in the circuit contributed 0.004 dark events per second, and this is close to what has been measured in monkey rods (Baylor et al., 1984). Divergence in this circuit serves to expand the number of copies of the quantal signal (1 rod----8 CBb1) and so to engage large numbers of chemical synapses that provide amplification. Reconvergence at the last stage (8 CBb1----2 on-beta) may reduce (by signal averaging) the synaptic noise that would otherwise accumulate along the pathway.
Daily patterns of secretion of neurohypophysial hormones in man: effect of age

The neurohypophysial hormone vasopressin contributes to control of urine output and, while urine flow shows a clear daily rhythm, there has been debate as to whether this is true of neurohypophysial hormones. A study was performed on fifteen adult males, with a mean age of 25 years, over a 24 h period, nine blood samples being taken at regular intervals for the determination of neurohypophysial hormones and indices of fluid balance. Samples were taken via an indwelling cannula so that sleep was undisturbed. A daily variation in the plasma concentrations of oxytocin and vasopressin was demonstrated with concentrations reaching a nadir in the late afternoon. Concentrations of both hormones peaked at 02.00 h. Vasopressin concentrations were inversely correlated with packed cell volume, indicating that the altered hormone release was affecting fluid retention. Consistent with this was the observation that the relationship of plasma osmolality to vasopressin depended on the time of day. To determine the effect of ageing, a similar study was performed on nine healthy elderly subjects with a mean age of 70 years. The nocturnal peak of vasopressin was markedly attenuated, while oxytocin release was similar to that in the younger group. These observations confirm the existence of a daily rhythm in the plasma concentrations of neurohypophysial hormones and indicate that the amplitude of the vasopressin change decreases with age.
Exercise‐Induced growth hormone during acute sleep deprivation

The effect of acute (24‐h) sleep deprivation on exercise‐induced growth hormone (GH) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) was examined. Ten men (20.6 ± 1.4 years) completed two randomized 24‐h sessions including a brief, high‐intensity exercise bout following either a night of sleep (SLEEP) or (24‐h) sleep deprivation (SLD). Anaerobic performance (mean power [MP], peak power [PP], minimum power [MinP], time to peak power [TTPP], fatigue index, [FI]) and total work per sprint [TWPS]) was determined from four maximal 30‐sec Wingate sprints on a cycle ergometer. Self‐reported sleep 7 days prior to each session was similar between SLEEP and SLD sessions (7.92 ± 0.33 vs. 7.98 ± 0.39 h, P = 0.656, respectively) and during the actual SLEEP session in the lab, the total amount of sleep was similar to the 7 days leading up to the lab session (7.72 ± 0.14 h vs. 7.92 ± 0.33 h, respectively) (P = 0.166). No differences existed in MP, PP, MinP, TTPP, FI, TWPS, resting GH concentrations, time to reach exercise‐induced peak GH concentration (TTP), or free IGF‐1 between sessions. GH area under the curve (AUC) (825.0 ± 199.8 vs. 2212.9 ± 441.9 μg/L*min, P < 0.01), exercise‐induced peak GH concentration (17.8 ± 3.7 vs. 39.6 ± 7.1 μg/L, P < 0.01) and ΔGH (peak GH – resting GH) (17.2 ± 3.7 vs. 38.2 ± 7.3 μg/L, P < 0.01) were significantly lower during the SLEEP versus SLD session. Our results indicate that the exercise‐induced GH response was significantly augmented in sleep‐deprived individuals.
Measuring Outcomes in Adult Weight Loss Studies That Include Diet and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

Background. Measuring success of obesity interventions is critical. Several methods measure weight loss outcomes but there is no consensus on best practices. This systematic review evaluates relevant outcomes (weight loss, BMI, % body fat, and fat mass) to determine which might be the best indicator(s) of success. Methods. Eligible articles described adult weight loss interventions that included diet and physical activity and a measure of weight or BMI change and body composition change. Results. 28 full-text articles met inclusion criteria. Subjects, settings, intervention lengths, and intensities varied. All studies measured body weight (−2.9 to −17.3 kg), 9 studies measured BMI (−1.1 to −5.1 kg/m2), 20 studies measured % body fat (−0.7 to −10.2%), and 22 studies measured fat mass (−0.9 to −14.9 kg). All studies found agreement between weight or BMI and body fat mass or body fat % decreases, though there were discrepancies in degree of significance between measures. Conclusions. Nearly all weight or BMI and body composition measures agreed. Since body fat is the most metabolically harmful tissue type, it may be a more meaningful measure of health change. Future studies should consider primarily measuring % body fat, rather than or in addition to weight or BMI.