Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Connectivity-Driven Routing for Cognitive Radio Ad-Hoc Networks

We design a routing scheme based on an extension of the algebraic connectivity for cognitive radio ad hoc networks. We observe that a cognitive radio network topology and its connectivity are highly influenced by the behavior of primary users. Even if the physical proximity of nodes would give rise to a connected topology, the primary user behavior could impact the network connectivity. In graph theory the second smallest Laplacian eigenvalue, i.e., the algebraic connectivity, has numerous relationships with the graph characteristics, including connectivity, diameter, mean distance of vertexes. We then propose to compute the algebraic connectivity in a cognitive scenario by deriving the average Laplacian matrix of the network, averaged over the random activity of the primary users, and compute the algebraic connectivity. On the basis of this mathematical model we build up an utility function which is shown to be effective for capturing some key characteristics of networks paths and can be used to compare them for routing purposes. We then design a routing scheme which, by modeling a path with a graph and its Laplacian, captures the connectivity characteristics of the path itself and suitably selects the best route in a uncertain and high variable connectivity scenarios.
Sensitivity and Specificity of MMPI-2 Neurologic Correction Factors

A number of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) items have been hypothesized to reflect neurologic symptomatology, rather than psychopathology, among closed-head-injury (CHI) patients. Some investigators have proposed a correction factor interpretive approach, which involves the deletion of such items from the MMPI-2 profile, as a method of reducing the probability of artificial clinical scale elevations due to the symptoms of CHI. The present study employed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of three correction factors. All three factors demonstrated strong sensitivity when discriminating CHI patients from normal individuals but demonstrated poor specificity when discriminating CHI patients from psychiatric patients. These findings suggest that caution should be applied in using MMPI-2 neurologic correction factors, particularly with patients who might have comorbid psychiatric conditions.
Distal CpG islands can serve as alternative promoters to transcribe genes with silenced proximal promoters

DNA methylation at the promoter of a gene is presumed to render it silent, yet a sizable fraction of genes with methylated proximal promoters exhibit elevated expression. Here, we show, through extensive analysis of the methylome and transcriptome in 34 tissues, that in many such cases, transcription is initiated by a distal upstream CpG island (CGI) located several kilobases away that functions as an alternative promoter. Specifically, such genes are expressed precisely when the neighboring CGI is unmethylated but remain silenced otherwise. Based on CAGE and Pol II localization data, we found strong evidence of transcription initiation at the upstream CGI and a lack thereof at the methylated proximal promoter itself. Consistent with their alternative promoter activity, CGI-initiated transcripts are associated with signals of stable elongation and splicing that extend into the gene body, as evidenced by tissue-specific RNA-seq and other DNA-encoded splice signals. Furthermore, based on both inter- and intra-species analyses, such CGIs were found to be under greater purifying selection relative to CGIs upstream of silenced genes. Overall, our study describes a hitherto unreported conserved mechanism of transcription of genes with methylated proximal promoters in a tissue-specific fashion. Importantly, this phenomenon explains the aberrant expression patterns of some cancer driver genes, potentially due to aberrant hypomethylation of distal CGIs, despite methylation at proximal promoters.
Persistence of fertility despite semen alterations in a pinealectomised patient treated with melatonin.

OBJECTIVES Little is known about the effect of chronic melatonin treatment on human reproductive function. We report here on the effect of 10 months treatment with a controlled-release melatonin preparation (Circadin®, 2 mg) on spermatogenesis and gonadotropic hormone status in a pinealectomised patient whose melatonin secretion was abolished. METHODS Semen analysis, hormone (Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), inhibin B, prolactin, testosterone and estradiol) and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHB G) concentrations were determined before and at the end of 4 and 10 months of, treatment. RESULTS At the end of treatment, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, prolactin and inhibin B levels did not display significant variation with time, whereas FSH and LH levels showed a tendency to a decrease, but remained in the normal range. Sperm concentration and total spermatozoa count dropped below the lower limit of the reference range during melatonin treatment, whereas motility and normal form percentages remained in the normal range. Fertility was preserved, since the patient's wife became pregnant during month 10 of melatonin treatment and gave birth to a healthy female baby. CONCLUSIONS this isolated clinical observation shows that more investigations in large patient series are needed to document possible side-effects of melatonin administration on male reproductive function. One should therefore be cautious about melatonin prescription for circadian rhythm sleep disorders in young males.
Illumination levels in nursing home patients: effects on sleep and activity rhythms

Studies examining levels of illumination in adult populations have demonstrated that the level and amount of light exposure are lower in the elderly compared with younger adults, particularly in institutionalized patients with dementia. Although insufficient light exposure has been implied as a cause of sleep fragmentation, evidence for such a relationship is scant. Sixty‐six institutionalized elderly had their activity and light exposure monitored for a 3‐day period. Mean and median light levels, minutes spent over 1000 and over 2000 lux, percent sleep and wake, and number of naps were computed for daytime intervals, defined as 07.00–18.59. Percentages of sleep and wake, number of awakenings and mean duration of wake periods were computed for night‐time intervals, defined as 22.00–05.59. Mesor, amplitude and acrophase of activity and of light were determined by cosinor analysis. A mixed linear model was used to assess the effects of daytime Actillume measures on subsequent night‐time measures, and vice versa. Spearman correlations were computed, and multiple regression analyses were carried out with light variables and dementia level as predictors and sleep–wake and activity measures as dependent variables. The median light level was 54 lux and a median of only 10.5 min were spent over 1000 lux. Higher light levels predicted fewer night‐time awakenings, and severe dementia predicted more daytime sleep and lower mean activity. Increased bright light exposure predicted later activity acrophase. There was an association between the acrophases of light and of activity, with maximum illumination preceding peak activity. These results suggest that daytime light exposure has an impact on both night‐time sleep consolidation and timing of peak activity level.
National Legislative Systems and Foreign Standards and Regulations: The Case of International Financialreporting Standards` Adoption

Abstract This study is focused on the linkages between the legislative families as descriptors of national legislative systems and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). We consider such analysis as a case study for the more general issue of explaining the preferences of national regulators in the adoption of foreign norms, rules, standards and practices. By using a dataset of 162 jurisdictions and dummy variables designed to capture the current stage of IFRSs adoption and, respectively, the taxonomy of their legislative systems, we find that a full IFRSs adoption is more likely to occur in countries which have principles-based on legislative mono-systems. In addition, we observe that a strong rule of law, with an effective mechanism of property rights reinforcement, as well as the pre-adoption existence of a pro-growth set of public policies can contribute to the encouragement of IFRSs adoption.
Stance Detection in Facebook Posts of a German Right-wing Party

We argue that in order to detect stance, not only the explicit attitudes of the stance holder towards the targets are crucial. It is the whole narrative the writer drafts that counts, including the way he hypostasizes the discourse referents: as benefactors or villains, as victims or beneficiaries. We exemplify the ability of our system to identify targets and detect the writer’s stance towards them on the basis of about 100 000 Facebook posts of a German right-wing party. A reader and writer model on top of our verb-based attitude extraction directly reveal stance conflicts.
Stem cracks of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) provenances in Western Latvia

Abstract Stem cracks are damaging for timber quality and can reduce the monetary value of a tree both directly and indirectly: serving as gateway for fungal infections. Aim of the study was to assess the influence of tree dimensions and seed origin on the frequency of stem crack for Norway spruce. The study was carried out in two contiguous provenance trials (material from 12 countries), established in 1972 and 1975 in Western Latvia. Stem cracking was assessed using five-score scale. Most of the affected trees (90%) had very light or light damage. There was no relation of diameter at breast height to incidence of stem cracks. Analysis revealed a significant provenance effect on occurrence of stem cracks. Russian provenances tended to have lower risk of stem cracking and relatively narrow variation within the region, while Baltic and Ukrainian origins had wide range of stem cracking, having best as well as worst provenances in terms of cracking. Overall it is possible to select fast growing provenances with relatively low incidence of stem cracks.
THE BASIS FOR THE PRESENT CLASSIFICATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCI AND MICROCOCCI

The generally accepted minimum description of a staphylococcus is that it is a facultative anaerobic, gram-positive, and catalase-positive coccus dividing in more than one plane to form irregular cell clusters. This description dates back almost seventy years, to the early part of this century. Actually speaking, it is only within the last few years that sufficient data have become available to give an accurate description of a staphylococcus. The purpose of my paper will be to review the data on which the scope and content of the genus Staphylococcus is presently based, and to comment on the outstanding problems that exist in the classification and identification of members of this important genus. Of prime importance in a diagnostic laboratory is an accurate and simple means of recognizing a staphylococcus. In practice, after a microscopic examination and a catalase test, this usually means deciding if an isolate is a member of the genus Staphylococcus or the genus Micrococcus. The main characters on which the separation of these genera is currently based are shown in TABLE 1. The first of the distinguishing characters shown in the Table is the oldest and most controversial. I refer, of course, to anaerobic growth and fermentation of glucose. The usefulness of anaerobic growth and fermentation of glucose as a means of recognizing staphylococci was observed by Evans and proposed by Evans and colleagues’ as a means of distinguishing members of the genus Staphylococcus from those of the genus Micrococcus. Although the glucose method is used as the basis of presently accepted identification schemes for these o r g a n i ~ m s , ~ ~ 21 it is obvious to persons who have followed the literature on identification and classification of staphylococci and micrococci that the separation of these organisms on this characteristic has a number of problems. The most important of these is that a group of organisms identified as staphylococci on the basis of other characters are classified as micrococci by this test.3. This misclassification stems from the fact that some staphylococci grow poorly or not at all under anaerobic conditions. These are principally members of Baird-Parker’s 5 , (i Micrococcus subgroups 1-4, that is, members of the species Sraphylococcus saprophyricus. These would be missed by almost all tests used to detect glucose fermentation, including the standard test for this purpose proposed by the ICSB subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Staphylococci and Micrococci. ’ The subcommittee recognized that these weakly anaerobically growing staphylococci would be classified as micrococci by this standard test. The subcommittee nevertheless decided that there was little point in transferring them to the genus Staphylococcus until a simple and reliable test was available to identify them as staphylococci. Such a possible test was described by Evans and KIoos. ~ This is based on the ability of staphylococci, including the weakly anaerobically growing strains, to grow anaerobically in a slight modification of Brewer’s semisolid thioglycollate medium. With the exception
Folic acid supplements in pregnancy and early childhood respiratory health

Background: Folate supplementation is recommended for pregnant women to reduce the risk of congenital malformations. Maternal intake of folate supplements during pregnancy might also influence childhood immune phenotypes via epigenetic mechanisms. Objective: To investigate the relationship between folate supplements in pregnancy and risk of lower respiratory tract infections and wheeze in children up to 18 months of age. Methods: In the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, questionnaire data collected at several time points during pregnancy and after birth on 32 077 children born between 2000 and 2005 were used to assess the effects of folate supplements during pregnancy on respiratory outcomes up to 18 months of age, while accounting for other supplements in pregnancy and supplementation in infancy. Results: Folate supplements in the first trimester were associated with increased risk of wheeze and respiratory tract infections up to 18 months of age. Adjusting for exposure later in pregnancy and in infancy, the relative risk for wheeze for children exposed to folic acid supplements in the first trimester was 1.06 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.10), the relative risk for lower respiratory tract infections was 1.09 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.15) and the relative risk for hospitalisations for lower respiratory tract infections was 1.24 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.41). Conclusions: Folic acid supplements in pregnancy were associated with a slightly increased risk of wheeze and lower respiratory tract infections up to 18 months of age. The results suggest that methyl donors in the maternal diet during pregnancy may influence respiratory health in children consistent with epigenetic mechanisms.
Association Between TNF-α -308G/A Polymorphism and Risk of Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE Previous studies have investigated the association between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) -308G/A polymorphism and risk of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but the reported results have been inconsistent. Thus, a systematic meta-analysis was performed to resolve this discrepancy. METHODS Electronic databases and the cited references of the obtained published articles were manually searched. Quality assessment of each study was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). All case-control studies were used to assess the strength of the association. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata version 12.0. RESULTS Eight high-quality studies, including 947 patients and 1911 controls, were selected for the final meta-analysis. There was no significant association between TNF-α -308G/A polymorphism and ITP in overall and Asian populations. However, a significant positive association was observed between them in the dominant genetic model (AA+AG versus GG) in the Caucasian population (OR = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.71, PH = 0.173). CONCLUSIONS Our finding suggested that TNF-α -308G/A might be involved in development of ITP in the Caucasian population, but not in the Asian population. Among Caucasians the A allele (AA+AG) was associated with ITP. However, larger-scale studies are required to confirm our findings.
Talin at myotendinous junctions

Junctions formed by skeletal muscles where they adhere to tendons, called myotendinous junctions, are sites of tight adhesion and where forces generated by the cell are placed on the substratum. In this regard, myotendinous junctions and focal contacts of fibroblasts in vitro are analogues. Talin is a protein located at focal contacts that may be involved in force transmission from actin filaments to the plasma membrane. This study investigates whether talin is also found at myotendinous junctions. Protein separations on SDS polyacrylamide gels and immunolabeling procedures show that talin is present in skeletal muscle. Immunofluorescence microscopy using anti-talin indicates that talin is found concentrated at myotendinous junctions and in lesser amounts in periodic bands over nonjunctional regions. Electron microscopic immunolabeling shows talin is a component of the digitlike processes of muscle cells that extend into tendons at myotendinous junctions. These findings indicate that there may be similarities in the molecular composition of focal contacts and myotendinous junctions in addition to functional analogies.
Role of Bradykinin, Nitric Oxide, and Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor in Imidapril-Induced Angiogenesis

The angiotensin II (Ang II)-Ang II type 1 receptor pathway is proangiogenic, whereas studies showed that some angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors also stimulate angiogenesis in the setting of tissue ischemia, leaving a controversy of Ang II-mediated angiogenesis. We investigated whether an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor imidapril-induced angiogenesis might be mediated via the tissue bradykinin pathway. To rule out the conventional effects of Ang II on angiogenesis, we used Ang II type 1a receptor knockout (AT1aKO) mice. We examined the effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor imidapril on angiogenesis in a hindlimb ischemia model using AT1aKO mice. After induction of hindlimb ischemia, AT1aKO mice were treated with or without imidapril (1.0 or 0.1 mg/kg per day for 21 days). Angiogenesis was quantified by laser Doppler blood flowmetry and capillary density. Angiogenesis was reduced in AT1aKO mice compared with wild-type mice. Imidapril with either low or high doses enhanced angiogenesis in AT1aKO mice (P<0.01). Ang II type 2 receptor antagonist (PD123319; 30 mg/kg per day) and B1 receptor antagonist (DesArg9-[Leu8]-bradykinin; 50 nmol/kg per day) suppressed the imidapril-induced angiogenesis in AT1aKO mice to an extent even lower than that of nontreated AT1aKO mice. B2 receptor antagonist (Hoechst 140; 100 &mgr;g/kg/d) and NO synthase inhibitor (NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester; 20 mg/kg per day) moderately attenuated the imidapril-mediated angiogenesis. RT-PCR revealed that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 mRNA was reduced with PD123319, DesArg9-[Leu8]-bradykinin, or Hoechst 140, and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA abundance was suppressed with PD123319 or DesArg9-[Leu8]-bradykinin. In conclusion, imidapril elicited angiogenesis in the setting of tissue ischemia in AT1aKO mice. This angiogenic effect might involve the Ang II-Ang II type 2 receptor pathway in addition to the bradykinin-B1 and bradykinin-B2 receptor/NO-dependent pathways.
Note paleontologique sur le Permien de Lodeve et de Bourbon-l'Archambault

An impression of Odontopteris subcrenulata was found during excavations in the Autunian at Bourbon-l9Archambault, and animal and plant remains were found in Permian (Autunian and Saxonian) deposits near Lodeve. The Autunian plants are classic types, but the one found in Saxonian deposits near Lodeve is rare, in that it has never previously been described from the region and is unknown elsewhere in France. It belongs to Callipteris uralensis (or a very similar species), known from the Kuznetsk basin (USSR). Among the vertebrate remains, Acanthodes and Palaeoniscides species are already known from the lower Autunian, but those reported here are from the middle or upper Autunian. Also found in the Saxonian deposits are footprints of small tetrapods (amphibians or reptiles), mollusks, ripple marks, mud cracks, raindrop impressions, and the like, all indicating a climate which was drier than is generally reported.
A three-minute method for high-throughput quantitative metabolomics and quantitative tracing experiments of central carbon and nitrogen pathways.

RATIONALE The implementation of mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics is advancing many areas of biomedical research. The time associated with traditional chromatographic methods for resolving metabolites prior to mass analysis has limited the potential to perform large-scale, highly powered metabolomics studies and clinical applications. METHODS Here we describe a three-minute method for the rapid profiling of central metabolic pathways through UHPLC/MS, tracing experiments in vitro and in vivo, and targeted quantification of compounds of interest using spiked in heavy labeled standards. RESULTS This method has shown to be linear, reproducible, selective, sensitive, and robust for the semi-targeted analysis of central carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Isotopically labeled internal standards are used for absolute quantitation of steady-state metabolite levels and de novo synthesized metabolites in tracing studies. We further propose exploratory applications to biofluids, cell and tissue extracts derived from relevant biomedical/clinical samples. CONCLUSIONS While limited to the analysis of central carbon and nitrogen metabolism, this method enables the analysis of hundreds of samples per day derived from diverse biological matrices. This approach makes it possible to analyze samples from large patient populations for translational research, personalized medicine, and clinical metabolomics applications. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.