Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Secret key agreement by public discussion from common information

The problem of generating a shared secret key S by two parties knowing dependent random variables X and Y, respectively, but not sharing a secret key initially, is considered. An enemy who knows the random variable Z, jointly distributed with X and Y according to some probability distribution P/sub XYZ/, can also receive all messages exchanged by the two parties over a public channel. The goal of a protocol is that the enemy obtains at most a negligible amount of information about S. Upper bounds on H(S) as a function of P/sub XYZ/ are presented. Lower bounds on the rate H(S)/N (as N to infinity ) are derived for the case in which X=(X/sub 1/, . . ., X/sub N/), Y=(Y/sub 1/, . . ., Y/sub N/) and Z=(Z/sub 1/, . . ., Z/sub N/) result from N independent executions of a random experiment generating X/sub i/, Y/sub i/ and Z/sub i/ for i=1, . , N. It is shown that such a secret key agreement is possible for a scenario in which all three parties receive the output of a binary symmetric source over independent binary symmetric channels, even when the enemy's channel is superior to the other two channels. >
Chick Embryo Partial Ischemia Model: A New Approach to Study Ischemia Ex Vivo

Background Ischemia is a pathophysiological condition due to blockade in blood supply to a specific tissue thus damaging the physiological activity of the tissue. Different in vivo models are presently available to study ischemia in heart and other tissues. However, no ex vivo ischemia model has been available to date for routine ischemia research and for faster screening of anti-ischemia drugs. In the present study, we took the opportunity to develop an ex vivo model of partial ischemia using the vascular bed of 4th day incubated chick embryo. Methodology/Principal Findings Ischemia was created in chick embryo by ligating the right vitelline artery using sterile surgical suture. Hypoxia inducible factor- 1 alpha (HIF-1α), creatine phospho kinase-MB and reactive oxygen species in animal tissues and cells were measured to confirm ischemia in chick embryo. Additionally, ranolazine, N-acetyl cysteine and trimetazidine were administered as an anti-ischemic drug to validate the present model. Results from the present study depicted that blocking blood flow elevates HIF-1α, lipid peroxidation, peroxynitrite level in ischemic vessels while ranolazine administration partially attenuates ischemia driven HIF-1α expression. Endothelial cell incubated on ischemic blood vessels elucidated a higher level of HIF-1α expression with time while ranolazine treatment reduced HIF-1α in ischemic cells. Incubation of caprine heart strip on chick embryo ischemia model depicted an elevated creatine phospho kinase-MB activity under ischemic condition while histology of the treated heart sections evoked edema and disruption of myofibril structures. Conclusions/Significance The present study concluded that chick embryo partial ischemia model can be used as a novel ex vivo model of ischemia. Therefore, the present model can be used parallel with the known in vivo ischemia models in understanding the mechanistic insight of ischemia development and in evaluating the activity of anti-ischemic drug.
Biosynthesis of the Food and Cosmetic Plant Pigment Bixin (Annatto)

Bixin, also known as annatto, is a seed-specific pigment widely used in foods and cosmetics since pre-Columbian times. We show that three genes from Bixa orellana, native to tropical America, govern bixin biosynthesis. These genes code for lycopene cleavage dioxygenase, bixin aldehyde dehydrogenase, and norbixin carboxyl methyltransferase, which catalyze the sequential conversion of lycopene into bixin. Introduction of these three genes in Escherichia coli engineered to produce lycopene induced bixin synthesis, thus expanding the supply of this economically important plant product.
Socioeconomic Status and Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factor Trends The Minnesota Heart Survey

BackgroundSocioeconomic status (SES) indicators including education, income, and occupation are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, morbidity, and mortality. In most industrialized nations, individuals with less education, lower income, and blue collar occupations have the highest CHD rates. It is suggested by some that these differences by SES are increasing even as age-adjusted CHD mortality declines. Methods and ResultsThe Minnesota Heart Survey includes measurement of CHD risk factors and behaviors in population-based samples of Minneapolis-St. Paul adults aged 25 to 74 years in 1980 to 1982 (N=3243) and 1985 to 1987 (N=4538). Education was significantly and inversely related to blood pressure, cigarette smoking, body mass index, and a summary risk score for both men and women. Serum cholesterol was inversely related to education in women but not in men. Education was positively associated with leisure physical activity and health knowledge. Associations with household income were less consistent in magnitude and direction. Risk characteristics improved significantly between the 1980 to 1982 and 1985 to 1987 surveys. These changes were similar across education and household income levels. ConclusionsImprovement in CHD risk factors over time unrelated to education or income suggests that population-wide factors such as improved health knowledge, availability of healthy food items, hypertension treatment, and restrictions on cigarette smoking are operating beneficially in all SES groups. Although the SES gradient in risk factors is not increasing, it remains substantial and indicates directions for future prevention efforts.
Officiating Role Influences the Physical Match Activity Profiles of Rugby League Touch Judges and Referees

Abstract This study investigated the effect of the officiating role on physical activity profiles of rugby league match officials during match-play. Physical performance indicators were collated from 23 match officials, resulting in 78 observations. Match officials were categorised into two groups: referees and touch judges. Microtechnology facilitated the quantification of total distance (m), relative distance (m⋅min-1), maximum velocity (m⋅s-1), the percentage of high intensity running distance (% total > 3.01 m⋅s-1), walking distance (<1 m⋅s-1), jogging distance (1.01 – 3 m⋅s-1), fast jogging distance (3.01 - 5 m⋅s-1), and sprinting distance (>5 m⋅s-1). Multivariate analysis modelled the main effect of the officiating role with follow up univariate analyses identifying significant differences. A significant effect was noted (V = 750; F(8, 66) = 24.71; p < 0.05) with referees covering a greater total distance (7767 ± 585 vs. 7022 ± 759 m), relative distance (90 ± 6 vs. 82 ± 8 m⋅min-1), jogging distance (3772 ± 752 vs. 3110 ± 553 m), and fast jogging distance (2565 ± 631 vs. 1816 ± 440 m) compared to touch judges. Touch judges covered greater distances while sprinting (1012 ± 385 vs. 654 ± 241 m). Results provide important guidance in the development of training programs for match officials.
Dynamic control of head mesoderm patterning

The embryonic head mesoderm gives rise to cranial muscle and contributes to the skull and heart. Prior to differentiation, the tissue is regionalised by the means of molecular markers. We show that this pattern is established in three discrete phases, all depending on extrinsic cues. Assaying for direct and first-wave indirect responses, we found that the process is controlled by dynamic combinatorial as well as antagonistic action of retinoic acid (RA), Bmp and Fgf signalling. In phase 1, the initial anteroposterior (a-p) subdivision of the head mesoderm is laid down in response to falling RA levels and activation of Fgf signalling. In phase 2, Bmp and Fgf signalling reinforce the a-p boundary and refine anterior marker gene expression. In phase 3, spreading Fgf signalling drives the a-p expansion of MyoR and Tbx1 expression along the pharynx, with RA limiting the expansion of MyoR. This establishes the mature head mesoderm pattern with markers distinguishing between the prospective extra-ocular and jaw skeletal muscles, the branchiomeric muscles and the cells for the outflow tract of the heart.
Commodity Price Changes and Consumer Welfare in Tanzania in the 1990 s and 2000 s

This paper analyses the effect of commodity price changes on household consumption (welfare) in Tanzania during the 1990s and 2000s, and from this simulates the welfare effect attributable to trade reforms (tariff reductions). The objective is to measure the total household welfare effect, distinguishing both static (first order) and dynamic (second order) effects of commodity price changes. First we use the three rounds of the Tanzania Household Budget Survey (1991/92, 2000/01 and 2007) to estimate consumers’ responses using Deaton’s method, based on median unit values (price) and household budget shares. These are then utilized to evaluate the distributional impacts of the relative commodity price changes on consumer welfare in terms of compensating variation. The results indicate that, in real terms, price increases have worsened the welfare of most consumers during the1990s and 2000s; the poor, and in particular the poor in rural, bore much of the brunt compared to the non-poor (in particular the urban non poor). The welfare losses in the 2000s were greater than those in the 1990s. Although we cannot establish explicit links between trade reforms and domestic commodity price changes, to assess the extent to which welfare changes can be explained by trade reforms we simulate the effects of tariff reduction on domestic price changes (using Customs data on import values and tariff revenue at a product level). The simulation shows that tariff reforms tended to offset the welfare losses for all household groups, as expected as tariffs were reduced for most products. The non-poor, especially rural non poor, and the urban poor benefit more in relative terms from tariff reductions. Outline
Serum Polyfluoroalkyl Concentrations, Asthma Outcomes, and Immunological Markers in a Case–Control Study of Taiwanese Children

Background: Perﬂuorinated compounds (PFCs) are ubiquitous pollutants. Experimental data suggest that they may be associated with adverse health outcomes, including asthma. However, there is little supporting epidemiological evidence. Methods: A total of 231 asthmatic children and 225 nonasthmatic controls, all from northern Taiwan, were recruited in the Genetic and Biomarkers study for Childhood Asthma. Structure questionnaires were administered by face-to-face interview. Serum concentrations of 11 PFCs and levels of immunological markers were also measured. Associations of PFC quartiles with concentrations of immunological markers and asthma outcomes were estimated using multivariable regression models. Results: Nine PFCs were detectable in most children (≥ 84.4%), of which perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the most abundant (median serum concentrations of 33.9 ng/mL in asthmatics and 28.9 ng/mL in controls). Adjusted odds ratios for asthma among those with the highest versus lowest quartile of PFC exposure ranged from 1.81 (95% CI: 1.02, 3.23) for the perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) to 4.05 (95% CI: 2.21, 7.42) for perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA). PFOS, PFOA, and subsets of the other PFCs were positively associated with serum IgE concentrations, absolute eosinophil counts (AEC), eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) concentrations, and asthma severity scores among asthmatics. Conclusions: This study suggests an association between PFC exposure and juvenile asthma. Because of widespread exposure to these chemicals, these findings may be of potential public health concern.
Studying the Effects of Motivation on the Emergence of Untrained Verbal Operants

In Skinner’s (1957) analysis of verbal behavior, the tact and mand are suggested to be functionally independent verbal operants. Many studies evaluating the verbal operants have provided results consistent with Skinner’s notion of functional independence. For example, previous studies have yielded results showing that responses taught as tacts failed to emerge as mands unless they were directly trained as such. However, in many of the studies evaluating the functional independence of the verbal operants it is unclear whether the mand conditions were designed to actually evaluate that response function. The current study replicated and extended the findings of Wallace, Iwata, and Hanley (2006), who empirically demonstrated conditions that facilitated the transfer from tact to mand relations. Students in the current study were taught to tact both high preference and low preference items and were subsequently assessed on their ability to mand for those items. Responses taught as tacts transferred to mand responses without direct training for the high preference items only. These results suggest that the conditions under which training of one operant facilitates the emergence of an untrained verbal operant may be related to motivating operations.
Caveolin Is Palmitoylated on Multiple Cysteine Residues

Caveolae are subdomains of the plasma membrane which concentrate cholesterol, glycosphingolipids, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked proteins. It has recently been demonstrated that specific members of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases require palmitoylation of NH2-terminal cysteine residues to localize in caveolae. Here we report that caveolin, an integral membrane protein which forms part of the coat of caveolae, also incorporates palmitate through linkage to cysteine residues. Caveolin contains only three cysteine residues which are all located on the COOH-terminal side of the hydrophobic transmembrane region. Immunofluorescent staining of cells transfected with caveolin indicated that, like the NH2 terminus, this COOH-terminal region is located on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane. Studies of cysteine substitution mutants showed that all three cysteines are capable of incorporating palmitate and that the juxtamembrane Cys residue is the predominant site of palmitoylation. Simultaneous mutation of all three cysteine residues in caveolin resulted in the loss of ability to incorporate palmitate; however, this did not affect localization of the protein. Thus, palmitoylation of cysteine residues in nonmembrane spanning Src family protein tyrosine kinases has different consequences than in the transmembrane protein caveolin.
Evaluating a social problem solving intervention for juvenile detainees: Depressive outcomes and moderators of effectiveness

Abstract This study reports findings from the administration of a social problem-solving training (SPST) intervention to juvenile detainees in the Connecticut Youth Detainee Program. SPST is a cognitive behavioral intervention that teaches children and youth how to more effectively cope with interpersonal stress and conflict. In the current study, we tested whether SPST could decrease depressive symptoms in a sample of detained adolescent offenders. The study used a randomized-control design with detention staff administering the intervention. The results showed that SPST, as a main effect, was not more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than treatment as usual. However, the effectiveness of SPST was moderated by fluid intelligence. Juvenile detainees with high intelligence scores were most likely to benefit from SPST compared to treatment as usual. It was surprising that, for those with lower intelligence scores, SPST increased depressive symptoms relative to treatment as usual. These results help fill a critical need for intervention effectiveness data on juvenile detainees and indicate that SPST may not be useful for reducing outcomes such as depression.
An Exposition of Götze's Estimation of the Rate of Convergence in the Multivariate Central Limit Theorem

We provide an explanation of the main ideas underlying G\"otze's main result in using Stein's method. We also provide detailed derivations of various intermediate estimates. Curiously, we are led to a different dimensional dependence of the constant than that given G\"otze's paper. We would like to dedicate this to Charles Stein on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
Neurturin-deficient mice develop dry eye and keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

PURPOSE Neurturin has been identified as a neurotrophic factor for parasympathetic neurons. Neurturin-deficient (NRTN(-/-)) mice have defective parasympathetic innervation of their lacrimal glands. This study was conducted to evaluate tear function and ocular surface phenotype in NRTN(-/-) mice. METHODS Determined by tail genomic DNA PCR, 25 NRTN(-/-) mice and 17 neurturin-normal (NRTN(+/+)) mice aged 6 weeks to 4 months were evaluated. Aqueous tear production, tear fluorescein clearance and corneal sensation were serially measured. Corneal permeability to AlexaFluor dextran (AFD; Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) was measured by a fluorometric assay at 485 nm excitation and 530 nm emission. Histology was evaluated in PAS-stained sections. Mucin and HLA class II (IA) antigen were assessed by immunofluorescent staining. Tear IL-1beta was measured by ELISA, and tear matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 by zymography. Gene expression in the corneal epithelia was analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS In comparison to that in age-matched NRTN(+/+) mice, aqueous tear production, tear fluorescein clearance, and corneal sensation were significantly reduced in NRTN(-/-) mice, whereas corneal permeability to AFD was significantly increased. Immunoreactive MUC-4 and -5AC mucin and goblet cell density (P < 0.001) in the conjunctiva of NRTN(-/-) mice were lower than in NRTN(+/+) mice. The expression of MUC-1 and -4 mRNA by the corneal epithelium was reduced in NRTN(-/-) mice. There were a significantly greater number of IA antigen-positive conjunctival epithelial cells in NRTN(-/-) mice than NRTN(+/+) mice. Tear fluid IL-1beta and MMP-9 concentrations and the expression of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (KC), and MMP-9 mRNA by the corneal epithelia were significantly increased in NRTN(-/-) mice, compared with NRTN(+/+) mice. CONCLUSIONS Neurturin-deficient mice show phenotypic changes and ocular surface inflammation that mimic human keratoconjunctivitis sicca. This model supports the importance of a functional ocular surface-central nervous system-lacrimal gland sensory-autonomic neural network in maintaining ocular surface health and homeostasis.
The investigation of systolic and diastolic leaflet kinematics of bioprostheses with a new in-vitro test method

Abstract Objectives: We aimed to investigate leaflet kinematics of bioprostheses with a novel high-speed imaging method. Material and methods: High-speed-imaging (1000Hz) was used to evaluate leaflet kinematics of the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna (PM) and Magna Ease (PME) aortic bioprostheses. Both prostheses (diameter 23 mm) were placed inside a model aorta under pulsatile flow conditions. Frequencies (F) and different stroke volumes (S) were simulated. Maximum aortic valve area (AVA), total ejection time (TET), rapid valve opening time (RVOT) and rapid valve closing time (RVCT) as well as opening (OS) and closing (CS) speeds were evaluated. Results: Both bioprostheses showed different results dependent on flow conditions. The test setup was capable of identifying small AVA-differences between both valves (235 vs 202 mm², F60/S60; 272 vs 207 mm²; F70/S80), as well as differences in OS and CS (2.36 vs 1.62 mm²/ms; 2.97 vs 2.44 mm²/ms, F80/S60). TET was comparable (638 vs 645 ms F60/S60; 341 vs 343 ms, F90/S60), while results for RVOT and RVCT were equal, and dependent on frequency and stroke volume. Conclusions: The novel evaluation method is sensitive to detect differences between valves, although differences were found to be small. PM has a larger visible AVA associated with higher opening and closing speeds in contrast to PME.
Resistance of dogs to Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Haemaphysalis leachi leachi

It has been sho wn experimentally from three repeated infestations that dogs were unable to develop effective resistance against dog ticks: rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille, 1806 and haemaphysalis leachi leachi Audouin, 1826. The number of successive engorged females recovered from dogs at the second and third infestations in both species were not significantly less (P>0.05) than the number recovered at the first infestation. There was also no significant difference in body weight, body dimensions (lengths and breadths) ofengorged females, feeding periods, pre-oviposition periods or egg weight. In-depth studies of host-tick vector interaction and examination of immunobiological parameters involved in order to develop strategies for better, cheaper and safer tick control in dogs as an alternative to the use of acaricides is suggested.
Attenuation of the retinal nerve fibre layer and reduced retinal function assessed by optical coherence tomography and full‐field electroretinography in patients exposed to vigabatrin medication

Purpose: To investigate the clinical value of assessment of peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness with OCT in addition to the evaluation of retinal function measured by full‐field electroretinography (ff‐ERG) in patients with suspected vigabatrin (VGB)‐attributed visual field defects.
A method of moments model for VHF propagation

Site specific VHF propagation models remain a subject of continuing interest. A number of approximate methods exist and have been applied successfully in specific cases, but the limitations of the approximations of these models remain unclear. A numerically exact model based on the banded matrix iterative approach (BMIA) to the method of moments is presented which enables the solution of practical propagation problems. Although this model remains computationally complex, use of the iterative method along with parallel computing techniques enables large scale propagation problems to be solved within reasonable amounts of computational time. A typical VHF propagation problem involves predicting the power measured by a receiver as a function of altitude at a given distance away from a like polarised transmitter and above an inhomogeneous terrain profile.
Randomised controlled trials: subgroup analyses

The effectiveness of wound edge protection devices in reducing surgical site infection after abdominal surgery was investigated. A randomised controlled trial was undertaken. The intervention was standard intraoperative care plus use of a wound edge protection device during the intra-abdominal part of the operation. The control was standard intraoperative care alone. The sample size for the trial was based on having 80% power to detect a 50% reduction in the infection rate, assuming a rate of 12% under standard care. A total sample size of 710 participants (355 in each arm) was needed. It was necessary to recruit 750 patients to the trial to allow for an estimated 5% dropout rate. In total, 760 patients undergoing laparotomy were recruited; 382 patients were allocated to the intervention group and 378 to the control group.1 The primary outcome was surgical site infection within 30 days of surgery, as assessed by clinicians who were blind to the patients’ device group allocation. Secondary outcomes included quality of life and duration of hospital stay. Subgroup analyses that compared surgical site infection within 30 days of surgery between the device groups were performed, with the aim of establishing whether the intervention was beneficial in particular groups of patients. The analyses incorporated 15 characteristics of the patients and the operations. Six patients in the intervention group and five in the control group did not undergo laparotomy. Furthermore, seven patients in each group were lost to follow-up. Although the proportion of patients with surgical site infection was lower in the intervention group, the difference was not significant (24.7% (n=91) v 25.4% (n=93); odds ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.69 to 1.36; P=0.85). No significant difference was seen between the groups in the secondary outcomes (quality of life and duration of hospital stay). The subgroup analysis did not …