Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tenascin‐R and C in multiple sclerosis lesions: relevance to extracellular matrix remodelling

In the present study the distribution of the inhibitory extracellular molecules tenascin‐R (TN‐R) and tenascin‐ C (TN‐C) was examined by immunocytochemistry during evolution of the multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion, in which astrogliosis is a prominent feature. Sections were cut from five control cases and from 22 blocks containing lesions representing different pathological stages in 18 cases of secondary progressive MS. Widespread expression of TN‐R was found in the normal human central nervous system (CNS), while that of TN‐C was in general restricted to white matter. In acute MS plaques however, there was a similar striking loss of both TN‐R and TN‐C up to the edge of the lesion, where the macrophage density is greatest, extending into the apparently normal white matter. In subacute lesions a TN‐C and/or TN‐R‐immunopositive reactive astrocyte subpopulation was prominent, reflecting synthesis of extracellular matrix molecules. Both tenascins were expressed throughout chronic MS plaques at levels similar to those seen in adjacent white matter. The loss of TN‐R and TN‐C in acute plaques is indicative of enzyme‐mediated breakdown of the matrix which may be a marker of blood–brain barrier breakdown and leucocyte extravasation. Subsequent production of tenascins by reactive astrocytes may result in glial scar formation impeding remyelination and axonal repair in MS lesions.
Personality Disorder Prevalence and Treatment Outcomes: A Literature Review

Personality disorder is argued to be the most prevalent psychiatric disorder and is considered to be a significant public health burden, yet there is little evidence that the disorder occupies a commensurate place in public health service planning, appropriate to such a burden. This paper reviews the prevalence and treatment outcome studies of individuals with personality disorder. The literature search highlighted prevalence studies and evidence based pharmacological, psychosocial, and alliance based interventions within this area. From this review, the place of mental health nurses within health service models is discussed.
Effects of progestagen exposure duration on estrus synchronization and conception rates of crossbreed ewes undergoing fixed time artificial insemination

Synchronization of estrus and ovulation are of paramount importance in modern livestock improvement programs. These methods are critical for assisted reproduction technologies, including artificial insemination and embryo transfer, that can increase productivity. In the current study, subcutaneous implants containing norgestomet were placed for long (14 days), medium (9 days), and short (5 days) periods of time in 70 crossbred ewes undergoing fixed-time artificial insemination. The resulting effects on estrus synchronization and conception rates were subsequently evaluated. Among the synchronized ewes, 85.7% (60/70) underwent estrus over a period of 72 h after progestagen treatment ceased. The shortest mean interval between withdrawal of the device and onset of estrus (34.2 ± 8.9 h) was observed in the G14 days of P4 group (p < 0.05). The conception rate of the G14 days of P4 group was statistically higher than that of the other groups (83.3% vs. 60.9% vs. 47.8%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, 14 days of norgestomet treatment produced higher conception rates and a greater number of pregnancies at the beginning of the breeding season.
A Comparison of Reactive, Grid and Hierarchical Location-Based Services for VANETs

VANETs (Vehicular Ad-hoc NETworks) are a special case of MANETs (Mobile Ad-hoc NETworks). Their main feature is the high mobility range of nodes, which causes topology changes and frequent disconnections. Topology-based routing protocols have weak performances in such networks. This is why a new set of routing protocols, designated as geographic routing protocols, were designed to enhance performances and ensure a better scalability. These geographic protocols assume on one hand that all nodes must be aware about their position (by using a positioning system like GPS). On the other hand they also assume a certain knowledge about the position of the destination node and the position of their neighbors thanks to Location-based Services. In this paper, we compare three location-based services: Reactive Location Service (RLS), Grid Location Service (GLS) and Hierarchical Location Service (HLS) while coupled to the well known geographic routing protocol Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing (GPSR). As far as we know, our work is the first that targets the performance evaluation of location-based services while coupled with a routing protocol. The simulations were performed using the NS-2 simulator on a realistic map about the city of Reims (France). Besides, a scalability study of GLS and HLS is presented. This study is based on three qualitative metrics (the location maintenance cost, the location query cost and the storage cost).
Ef fi cient and secure chaotic S-Box for wireless sensor network

Information security using chaotic dynamics is a novel topic in the wireless sensor network (WSN) research field. After surveying analog and digital chaotic security systems, we give a state of the art of chaotic S-Box design. The substitution tables are nonlinear maps that strengthen and enhance block crypto-systems. This paper deals with the design of new dynamic chaotic S-Boxes suitable for implementation on wireless sensor nodes. Our proposed schemes are classified into two categories: S-Box based on discrete chaotic map with floating point arithmetic (cascading piecewise linear chaotic map and a three-dimensional map) and S-Box based on discrete chaotic map with fixed-point arithmetic (using discretized Lorenz map and logistic–tent map). The security analysis and implementation process onWSN are discussed. The proposed methods satisfy Good S-Box design criteria and exceed the performance of Advanced Encryption Standard static S-Box in some cases. The energy consumption of different proposals and existing chaotic S-Box designs are investigated via a platform simulator and a real WSN testbed equipped with TI MSP430f1611 micro-controller. The simulations and the experimental results show that our proposed S-Box design with fixed-point arithmetic Lorenzmap has the lowest energy-consuming profile comparedwith the other studied and proposed S-Box design. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of Highlighting Validity on Dynamic Text Comprehension Performance

—The advanced display technology offers a variety selection of color and highlighting methods which have improved the presentation of textual information. However, it leads to the questions of what is the best way to highlight the information and which information should be highlighted in order to maximize the comprehensibility of the messages. This study investigated the effect of the highlighting and its validity on comprehension performance on LED display for Chinese reading. Four levels of validity (0%, 33%, 67% and 100%) and a control condition with no highlighting were tested. Each subject was required to perform the five experimental conditions in which different passages were read and comprehended. The results showed that the condition with 100% validity of highlighting was found to have better comprehension performance than other validity levels and conditions with no highlighting. The comprehension score of the condition with no highlighting effect was comparatively lower than those highlighting conditions with distracters, though not significant.
A Survey of Heterogeneous Information Network Analysis

Most real systems consist of a large number of interacting, multi-typed components, while most contemporary researches model them as homogeneous information networks, without distinguishing different types of objects and links in the networks. Recently, more and more researchers begin to consider these interconnected, multi-typed data as heterogeneous information networks, and develop structural analysis approaches by leveraging the rich semantic meaning of structural types of objects and links in the networks. Compared to widely studied homogeneous information network, the heterogeneous information network contains richer structure and semantic information, which provides plenty of opportunities as well as a lot of challenges for data mining. In this paper, we provide a survey of heterogeneous information network analysis. We will introduce basic concepts of heterogeneous information network analysis, examine its developments on different data mining tasks, discuss some advanced topics, and point out some future research directions.
Analysis and Apportionment of Organic Carbon and Fine Particulate Matter Sources at Multiple Sites in the Midwestern United States

Abstract Speciated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) data collected as part of the Speciation Trends Network at four sites in the Midwest (Detroit, MI; Cincinnati, OH; Indianapolis, IN; and Northbrook, IL) and as part of the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments program at the rural Bondville, IL, site were analyzed to understand sources contributing to organic carbon (OC) and PM2.5 mass. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to available data collected from January 2002 through March 2005, and seven to nine factors were identified at each site. Common factors at all of the sites included mobile (gasoline)/secondary organic aerosols with high OC, diesel with a high elemental carbon/OC ratio (only at the urban sites), secondary sulfate, secondary nitrate, soil, and biomass burning. Identified industrial factors included copper smelting (North–brook, Indianapolis, and Bondville), steel/manufacturing with iron (Northbrook), industrial zinc (North–brook, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Detroit), metal plating with chromium and nickel (Detroit, Indianapolis, and Bondville), mixed industrial with copper and iron (Cincinnati), and limestone with calcium and iron (Bondville). PMF results, on average, accounted for 96% of the measured PM2.5 mass at each site; residuals were consistently within tolerance (±3), and goodness–of–fit (Q) was acceptable. Potential source contribution function analysis helped identify regional and local impacts of the identified source types. Secondary sulfate and soil factors showed regional characteristics at each site, whereas industrial sources typically appeared to be locally influenced. These regional factors contributed approximately one third of the total PM2.5 mass, on average, whereas local mobile and industrial sources contributed to the remaining mass. Mobile sources were a major contributor (55–76% at the urban sites) to OC mass, generally with at least twice as much mass from nondiesel sources as from diesel. Regional OC associated with secondary sulfate and soil was generally low.
Joint optimization of energy efficiency and spectrum efficiency in 5G ultra-dense networks

The heterogeneous deployment of ultra dense small cells such as femtocells in the coverage area of the traditional macrocells is seen as a cost-efficient solution to provide network capacity, indoor coverage and green communications towards sustainable environments in the fifth generation wireless network. However, the unplanned and ultra-dense deployment of femtocells will lead to increase in total energy consumption, cross-tier interference (interference between macrocells and femtocells), co-tier interference (interference between neighbouring femtocells) and inadequate QoS provisioning. Therefore, there is a need to develop a radio resource allocation algorithm that will jointly maximize the energy efficiency (EE) and spectrum efficiency (SE) of the overall networks. Unfortunately, maximizing the EE results in low performance of the SE and vice versa. This paper investigates how to balance the trade-off that arises when maximizing both the EE and the SE simultaneously. The joint EE and SE maximization problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem, which is later converted into a single-objective optimization problem using the weighted sum method. An iterative algorithm based on the Lagrangian dual decomposition method is proposed. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm achieves an optimal trade-off between the EE and the SE with fast convergence.
Metadiscourse and ESP reading comprehension: An exploratory study

Recent trends in the study of written texts reflect a growing interest in interaction between readers and writers. Several studies have focused on metadiscourse as an important interactive feature that is believed to facilitate the reading process. While several authors have studied metadiscourse from the descriptive and contrastive perspectives, there is a lack of experimental work on this topic. This paper describes exploratory classroom research with a group of Italian university students to gain further insight into the effect of metadiscourse on ESP reading comprehension. Two groups of students read selected extracts from two versions of the same text differing according to quantity and type of metadiscourse. Each group then took a reading comprehension test and their mean scores were compared. The findings suggest that a more pronounced use of metadiscourse may be associated with improved comprehension in some cases. A post-reading questionnaire showed that students had substantially no awareness of metadiscourse. The results provide useful indications for further research and also highlight the need for targeted instruction on metadiscourse in ESP reading courses.
Forming Neural Networks Through Efficient and Adaptive Coevolution

This article demonstrates the advantages of a cooperative, coevolutionary search in difficult control problems. The symbiotic adaptive neuroevolution (SANE) system coevolves a population of neurons that cooperate to form a functioning neural network. In this process, neurons assume different but overlapping roles, resulting in a robust encoding of control behavior. SANE is shown to be more efficient and more adaptive and to maintain higher levels of diversity than the more common network-based population approaches. Further empirical studies illustrate the emergent neuron specializations and the different roles the neurons assume in the population.
Role of nebulized glycopyrrolate in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In the upcoming years, the proportion of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will increase, according to the progressively aging population and the increased efficacy of the pharmacological treatments, especially considering the management of chronic comorbidities. The issue to prescribe an appropriate inhalation therapy to COPD patients with significant handling or coordination difficulties represents a common clinical experience; in the latter case, the choice of an inadequate inhalation device may jeopardize the adherence to the treatment and eventually lead to its ineffectiveness. Treatment options that do not require particular timing for coordination between activation and/or inhalation or require high flow thresholds to be activated should represent the best treatment option for these patients. Nebulized bronchodilators, usually used only in acute conditions such as COPD exacerbations, could fulfill this gap, enabling an adequate drug administration during tidal breathing and without the need for patients’ cooperation. However, so far, only short-acting muscarinic antagonists have been available for nebulization. Recently, a nebulized formulation of the inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist glycopyrrolate, delivered by means of a novel proprietary vibrating mesh nebulizer closed system (SUN-101/eFlow®), has progressed to Phase III trials and is currently in late-stage development as an option for maintenance treatment in COPD. The present critical review describes the current knowledge about the novel nebulizer technology, the efficacy, safety, and critical role of nebulized glycopyrrolate in patients with COPD. To this end, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, and Cochrane Library have been searched for relevant papers. According to the available results, the efficacy and tolerability profile of nebulized glycopyrrolate may represent a valuable and dynamic treatment option for the chronic pharmacological management of patients with COPD.
Induction of Duplex to G-quadruplex Transition in the c-myc Promoter Region by a Small Molecule*

A major control element of the human c-myc oncogene is the nuclease-hypersensitive purine/pyrimidine-rich sequence. This double-stranded DNA fragment, corresponding to the 27-base pair segment in the nuclease-hypersensitive element of the c-myc promoter region, forms a stable Watson-Crick double helix under physiological conditions. However, this duplex DNA can be effectively converted to G-quadruplex DNA by a small molecular weight ligand. Both intermolecular and intramolecular G-quadruplex forms can be induced by this ligand. Similar transitional changes are also observed with the duplex telomeric sequence from the Oxytricha species. These results provide additional support to the idea that G-quadruplex structures may play structural roles in vivo and also provide insight into novel methodologies for rational drug design. These structurally altered DNA elements might serve as regulatory signals in gene expression or in telomere dynamics and hence are promising targets for drug action.
An analytical model for beaconing in VANETs

IEEE 802.11 CSMA/CA is generally considered to be well-understood, and many detailed models are available. However, most models focus on Unicast in small-scale W-LAN scenarios. When modelling beaconing in VANETs, the Broadcast nature and the (potentially) large number of nodes cause phenomena specific to large-scale broadcast scenarios not captured in present models of the 802.11 DCF. In a VANET scenario, transmissions from coordinated nodes are performed in so-called Streaks, without intermediate backoff counter decrement. We adapt the model by Engelstad and Østerbø and provide several improvements specific to VANET beaconing. The resulting analytical model is shown to have good fit with simulation results.
Changing Sex Role Attitudes with Education: Can It Be Done?.

ABSTRACT The goal of this study was to examine the sex role attitudes of typical college students before and after a 15-week sex roles class. A questionnaire consisting of the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), a modified form of the Attitudes Toward Women Scale, and 34 questions concerning sex-role attitudes and beliefs was administered to students in psychology of sex roles classes and to controls in non-sex role psychology classes. The questionnaire was given to different classes both before and after each semester over a 7-year period between 1982 and 1989. Findings from approximately 430 subjects showed no significant differences between controls and experimental subjects before the course began. Pretest scores revealed gender differences in that men showed more maleness on the BSRI than did won and men were more conservative or traditional and women were more liberal . on the Attitudes Toward Women Scale. For experimental subjects, female students' attitudes on the Attitudes Toward Women Scale changed toward more liberal sex-role attitudes after taking the sex roles class. Male students' attitudes did not change significantly after taking the course. All analyses for control subjects showed no significant differences between preand post-test scores. (NB)
Human α-thrombin detection platform using aptamers on a silicon nanowire field-effect transistor

We present a silicon nanowire-based field-effect transistor biosensor with Schottky barriers for highly specific and sensitive human α-thrombin detection. The active sensor area is decorated with thrombin-binding aptamers as receptor molecules. Each sensor chip is integrated into a microfluidic device for flow-through measurements. Instantaneous detection is provided by real-time monitoring of FET transfer curves. With this approach, thrombin concentrations between 200 pM and 200 nM are detected in a label-free, real-time manner, covering a wide dynamic range and enabling to distinguish between healthy and pathological levels. The development of simple, miniaturized devices for blood protein detection is highly interesting for medical diagnostics.
Age at Cancer Diagnosis Among Persons With AIDS in the United States

BACKGROUND Studies have reported young ages at cancer diagnosis in HIV-infected persons and have suggested that HIV accelerates carcinogenesis. However, these comparisons did not account for differences in population age structures. OBJECTIVE To compare ages at diagnosis for non-AIDS-defining types of cancer that occur in both the AIDS and general populations, after adjustment for differences in age and other demographic characteristics between these populations. DESIGN Registry linkage study. SETTING 15 HIV/AIDS and cancer registry databases in the United States. PARTICIPANTS 212 055 persons with AIDS enrolled in the U.S. HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study from 1996 to 2007. MEASUREMENTS Comparison of age-at-diagnosis distributions for various types of cancer in both the AIDS and general populations, after adjustment for age and other demographic characteristics. RESULTS The proportion of person-time contributed by older persons (age ≥65 years) was far smaller in the AIDS population (1.5%) than in the general population (12.5%). Reflecting this difference, the ages at diagnosis for most types of cancer were approximately 20 years younger among persons with AIDS. However, after adjustment for differences in the populations at risk, the median ages at diagnosis in the AIDS and general populations did not differ for most types of cancer (for example, colon, prostate, or breast cancer; all P > 0.100). In contrast, ages at diagnosis of lung (median, 50 vs. 54 years) and anal cancer (median, 42 vs. 45 years) were significantly younger in persons with AIDS than expected in the general population (P < 0.001), and the age at diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma was significantly older (median, 42 vs. 40 years; P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS Information on other cancer risk factors, including cigarette smoking, was not available. Analysis was restricted to non-Hispanic white and black persons who had AIDS, which could limit the generalizability of the findings to other racial and ethnic groups or to persons with HIV but not AIDS. CONCLUSION For most types of cancer, the age at diagnosis is similar in the AIDS and general populations, after adjustment for the ages of the populations at risk. Modest age differences remained for a few types of cancer, which may indicate either acceleration of carcinogenesis by HIV or earlier exposure to cancer risk factors. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Cancer Institute.