Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Algorithmic challenges in wireless networks: interference, energy and incentives

Over the past few decades wireless networks have permeated our lives. We use mobile phones, we operate a WLAN at home, our laptops connect to our printers using the Bluetooth protocol, to name but a few examples. This thesis investigates some of the theoretical possibilities and limitations of wireless networks. The characteristics of wireless communication pose some challenges not present in wired networks. E.g., mutual interference impairs the quality of the signals received and might even prevent the correct reception of messages. Efficient power control and scheduling algorithms that coordinate the transmissions are therefore essential for the operation of wireless networks. Moreover, due to the shared nature of the communication medium, harmful adversarial attacks are easier to implement, e.g., by jamming a frequency band. Thus, algorithms that guarantee communication despite such disruptions are necessary. This thesis addresses these exigent problems and provides lower bounds and algorithms to meet these challenges. Another difficulty is caused by the fact that wireless devices are typically equipped with a battery as a source of energy. Recharging this battery may be tedious or even impossible. In order to prolong the lifetime of a network, energy-efficient algorithms for wireless networks are needed. We offer answers to the question of how messages can be aggregated with the twofold objective of minimizing delay and energy consumption simultaneously. Usually, wireless devices of a network are assumed to collaborate on a common application such as environmental monitoring. However, similar to agents in socio-economic systems, the participants of a large network may operate on a decentralized control regime just as often, and represent various stake-holders with conflicting objectives. In many distributed systems, the rules of interaction cannot be changed. However, a system designer may be able to influence the agents’ behavior by offering payments for certain outcomes. Thus, a designer faces the following optimization problem: How can a desired outcome be implemented at minimal cost? And to what extent can the social welfare be influenced within the bounds of economic rationality, that is, by taking the implementation cost into account? In this thesis, we aim to lay the computational and algorithmic foundations of a solution to this problem. Besides considering classic, benevolent mechanism designers, this thesis analyzes how malicious mechanism designers can deteriorate the participants’ situation to a larger extent than the amount of money invested.
Moonlight pollination in the gymnosperm Ephedra (Gnetales)

Most gymnosperms are wind-pollinated, but some are insect-pollinated, and in Ephedra (Gnetales), both wind pollination and insect pollination occur. Little is, however, known about mechanisms and evolution of pollination syndromes in gymnosperms. Based on four seasons of field studies, we show an unexpected correlation between pollination and the phases of the moon in one of our studied species, Ephedra foeminea. It is pollinated by dipterans and lepidopterans, most of them nocturnal, and its pollination coincides with the full moon of July. This may be adaptive in two ways. Many nocturnal insects navigate using the moon. Further, the spectacular reflection of the full-moonlight in the pollination drops is the only apparent means of nocturnal attraction of insects in these plants. In the sympatric but wind-pollinated Ephedra distachya, pollination is not correlated to the full moon but occurs at approximately the same dates every year. The lunar correlation has probably been lost in most species of Ephedra subsequent an evolutionary shift to wind pollination in the clade. When the services of insects are no longer needed for successful pollination, the adaptive value of correlating pollination with the full moon is lost, and conceivably also the trait.
Distant lymph nodes serve as pools of Th1 cells induced by neonatal BCG vaccination for the prevention of asthma in mice

Neonatal Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination induces vigorous T‐helper type 1 (Th1) responses and inhibits allergy‐related airway dysfunction, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. The objective of this study was to address where the Th1 cells induced by neonatal BCG vaccination are generated and stored, and how they are recruited into the inflamed airway for the prevention of allergen‐induced airway inflammation.
Comparing UCT versus CFR in Simultaneous Games

Simultaneous move games where all the player have to take their actions simultaneously are a class of games in general game playing. In this paper we analyze how UCT performs in this class of games. We argue that UCT does not converge to a Nash equilibrium in general and the situation that it converges to can be exploited. We also analyze CFR (CounterFactual Regret) and show how it can be used to exploit UCT.
The effect of calpain-10 gene polymorphism on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Turkish population.

INTRODUCTION The variations in the Calpain-10 gene have been suggested to be related to susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in different populations. In this study, we investigated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-19, -44 and -63 in the Calpain-10 gene and the development of T2DM in a Turkish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 211 subjects were recruited: 118 patients with a diagnosis of T2DM and 93 unrelated healthy subjects. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele distribution of SNPs studied between the patients with T2DM and controls (p > 0.05), whereas the frequencies of 121 haplotype and 122/121 haplotype combination were found to be higher in patients with T2DM than in controls (p < 0.05). No association was observed between the variations in the Calpain-10 gene and glycaemic control and lipid parameters (p > 0.05). The SNP-19 insertion/insertion was significantly related to increased body mass index (BMI) in male diabetic patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The present study indicates that 121 haplotype and 122/121 haplotype combination of SNP-19, -44 and -63 in the Calpain-10 gene are associated with the development of T2DM in Turkish patients.
Passive scalar mixing in jets in crossflow

Direct numerical simulations are used to study passive scalar transport and mixing in a round turbulent jet in a laminar crossflow. The velocity ratio of the jet to that of the crossflow is 5.7, the Schmidt number of the scalar is 1.49, and the jet–exit Reynolds number is 5000. The scalar field is used to compute entrainment of the crossflow fluid by the jet. It is shown that a bulk of this entrainment occurs on the downstream side of the jet. Also, the jet entrains a lot more than a simple jet even when the CVP is not yet formed and the jet has not yet bent into the crossflow. The reasons for a transverse jet’s enhanced entrainment can be explained in terms of the pressure field around the jet. While the pressure gradient on the upstream side of the jet acts to bend it in the direction of the crossflow, the deformation of the jet’s downstream side sets up a strong pressure gradient, that drives crossflow fluid toward the jet, resulting in increased entrainment.
Quasi-Neutral Theory of Epidemic Outbreaks

Some epidemics have been empirically observed to exhibit outbreaks of all possible sizes, i.e., to be scale-free or scale-invariant. Different explanations for this finding have been put forward; among them there is a model for “accidental pathogens” which leads to power-law distributed outbreaks without apparent need of parameter fine tuning. This model has been claimed to be related to self-organized criticality, and its critical properties have been conjectured to be related to directed percolation. Instead, we show that this is a (quasi) neutral model, analogous to those used in Population Genetics and Ecology, with the same critical behavior as the voter-model, i.e. the theory of accidental pathogens is a (quasi)-neutral theory. This analogy allows us to explain all the system phenomenology, including generic scale invariance and the associated scaling exponents, in a parsimonious and simple way.
Abnormal platelet reactivity in men with premature coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND Continuous platelet aggregation does not occur in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). However, there may be a latent potential for increased aggregation given appropriate stimuli, since increased in-vitro platelet aggregation appears to be predictive of cardiac events. This study evaluates the relationship between in-vitro platelet aggregation and coronary artery disease (CAD) as defined by angiography. METHODS In-vitro platelet aggregation was assessed in a case-control study of 53 men with CHD younger than 50 years, and in 48 control subjects without CHD who were matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. All major risk factors were evaluated. Semi-quantitative composite scores of the extent of arterial wall involvement and composite scores for the severity of discrete lesions were documented from standard coronary angiography. Measures of platelet aggregation in response to adrenaline, adenosine diphoshate (ADP), and collagen included: (1) the maximum slope of the aggregation curve (rate); (2) lag time to 50% maximum aggregation (LT50%); and (3) the threshold concentration of each agonist to cause maximal aggregation. RESULTS The CHD patients had larger platelets than patients in the control group (mean platelet volume 9.40 +/- 0.73 versus 8.88 +/- 0.87; P < 0.01). The aggregation rate was significantly faster with adrenaline in the group with CHD than patients in the control group (rate of aggregation 13.9 +/- 8.8 versus 8.6 +/- 4.0 cm/s respectively, mean +/- SD; LT50% for adrenaline 130 +/- 70 versus 230 +/- 10 s respectively, mean +/- SD). Fewer CHD patients had no aggregation response to adrenaline than in the control group (8 versus 31%, P < 0.05). Adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation, as measured by LT50% for adrenaline, weakly but significantly correlated with the number and severity of discrete obstructive coronary lesions (r = -0.28, P < 0.05). This association remained significant after multivariate regression analysis. No association was found between any measure of platelet reactivity and the extent of disease as measured by a semi-quantitative composite score; this measured the extent of disease of the coronary artery walls visible by angiography. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that platelets from men with premature CHD are larger and aggregate more rapidly in response to platelet agonists, particularly adrenaline. An increased rate of aggregability with adrenaline predicted the severity of CAD lesion but not the extent of the disease, and this suggests that platelets play a role in the formation of localized obstructive lesions in coronary arteries, and therefore acute coronary events.
Binary-Partition-Assisted MAC-Layer Broadcast for Emergency Message Dissemination in VANETs

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) have recently been considered as an attractive network architecture to provide various services ranging from road safety to entertainment applications. In this paper, we propose an IEEE-802.11-based multihop broadcast protocol to address the issue of emergency message dissemination in VANETs. The protocol adopts a binary-partition-based approach to repetitively divide the area inside the transmission range to obtain the furthest possible segment. The forwarding duty is then delegated to a vehicle chosen in that segment. Aside from accomplishing directional broadcast for highway scenario, the protocol also exhibits good adaptation to complex road structures. The main focus of the paper lies in reducing broadcast delay, which is an important factor for time-critical safety applications. Most importantly, the contention delay remains almost constant, irrespective of vehicle density. Mathematical analysis is performed to assess the effectiveness of the protocol. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed protocol imparts greater performance in terms of latency and message progress when compared with contemporary multihop broadcast protocols for VANETs.
The Arabidopsis P4-ATPase ALA3 Localizes to the Golgi and Requires a β-Subunit to Function in Lipid Translocation and Secretory Vesicle Formation[W]

Vesicle budding in eukaryotes depends on the activity of lipid translocases (P4-ATPases) that have been implicated in generating lipid asymmetry between the two leaflets of the membrane and in inducing membrane curvature. We show that Aminophospholipid ATPase3 (ALA3), a member of the P4-ATPase subfamily in Arabidopsis thaliana, localizes to the Golgi apparatus and that mutations of ALA3 result in impaired growth of roots and shoots. The growth defect is accompanied by failure of the root cap to release border cells involved in the secretion of molecules required for efficient root interaction with the environment, and ala3 mutants are devoid of the characteristic trans-Golgi proliferation of slime vesicles containing polysaccharides and enzymes for secretion. In yeast complementation experiments, ALA3 function requires interaction with members of a novel family of plant membrane-bound proteins, ALIS1 to ALIS5 (for ALA-Interacting Subunit), and in this host ALA3 and ALIS1 show strong affinity for each other. In planta, ALIS1, like ALA3, localizes to Golgi-like structures and is expressed in root peripheral columella cells. We propose that the ALIS1 protein is a β-subunit of ALA3 and that this protein complex forms an important part of the Golgi machinery required for secretory processes during plant development.
Autonomy and autonomy disturbances in self-development and psychopathology: Research on motivation, attachment, and clinical process

Self-determination theory (SDT) maintains that the adequate support and satisfaction of individuals' psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness promotes the gradual unfolding of individuals' integrative tendencies, as manifested through intrinsic motivation, internalization, identity development, and integrative emotion regulation. At the same time, the thwarting of these same psychological needs and the resultant need frustration is presumed to evoke or amplify a variety of psychopathologies, many of which involve autonomy disturbances. We begin by defining what autonomy involves and how socializing agents, particularly parents, can provide a nurturing (i.e., need-supportive) environment, and we review research within the SDT literature that has shed light on various integrative tendencies and how caregivers facilitate them. In the second part of this chapter, we detail how many forms of psychopathology involve autonomy disturbances and are associated with a history of psychological need thwarting. We especially focus on internally controlling regulation in internalizing disorders; impairments of internalization in conduct disorders and antisocial behavior; and fragmented self-functioning in borderline and dissociative disorders. The role of autonomy support as an ameliorative factor in treatment settings is then discussed among other translational issues. Finally we highlight some implications of recognizing the important role of basic psychological needs for both growth-related and pathology-related processes. Keywords: autonomy; attachment; internalization; parenting; psychological needs; self-determination theory
NADPH oxidase in stroke and cerebrovascular disease

Abstract Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) was originally identified in immune cells as playing an important microbicidal role. In stroke and cerebrovascular disease, inflammation is increasingly being recognized as contributing negatively to neurological outcome, with NOX as an important source of superoxide. Several labs have now shown that blocking or deleting NOX in the experimental stroke models protects from brain ischemia. Recent work has implicated glucose as an important NOX substrate leading to reperfusion injury, and that NOX inhibition can improve the detrimental effects of hyperglycemia on stroke. NOX inhibition also appears to ameliorate complications of thrombolytic therapy by reducing blood–brain barrier disruption, edema formation, and hemorrhage. Further, NOX from circulating inflammatory cells seems to contribute more to ischemic injury more than NOX generated from endogenous brain residential cells. Several pharmacological inhibitors of NOX are now available. Thus, blocking NOX activation may prove to be a promising treatment for stroke as well as an adjunctive agent to prevent its secondary complications.
Porous tantalum uncemented acetabular components in revision total hip arthroplasty: a minimum ten-year clinical, radiological and quality of life outcome study.

AIMS Reconstruction of the acetabulum after failed total hip arthroplasty (THA) can be a surgical challenge in the presence of severe bone loss. We report the long-term survival of a porous tantalum revision acetabular component, its radiological appearance and quality of life outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the results of 46 patients who had undergone revision of a failed acetabular component with a Paprosky II or III bone defect and reconstruction with a hemispherical, tantalum acetabular component, supplementary screws and a cemented polyethylene liner. RESULTS After a minimum follow-up of ten years (ten to 12), the survivorship of the porous tantalum acetabular component was 96%, with further revision of the acetabular component as the end point. The ten-year survivorship, with hip revision for any reason as the end point, was 92%. We noted excellent pain relief (mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score pain 92.6, (40 to 100)) and good functional outcomes (mean WOMAC function 90.3 (30.9 to 100), mean University of California Los Angeles activity scale 5 (2 to 10)) and generic quality of life measures (mean Short Form-12 (SF-12) physical component 48.3 (18.1 to 56.8), mean SF-12 mental component 56.7 (32.9 to 70.3)). Patient satisfaction with pain relief, function and return to recreational activities were excellent. TAKE HOME MESSAGE Uncemented acetabular reconstruction using a tantalum acetabular component gives excellent clinical and quality of life outcomes at a minimum follow-up of ten years. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:767-71.
The OmniTread serpentine robot with pneumatic joint actuation

This paper describes the design of a pneumatic joint actuation system for the OmniTread serpentine robot, developed at the University of Michigan. Serpentine robots are mobile robots with one unique characteristic: they have a very large ratio of length to diameter. To implement this unique shape, they usually have multiple segments connected by joints. Some serpentine robots provide legged, wheeled, or tracked propulsion, and, in addition, actuation for the joints. In this paper we present a detailed analysis of pneumatic integrated joint actuators (IJA) invented and built especially for serpentine robots. The IJA combines advantages of pneumatic bellows-like actuators with our proportional position and stiffness (PPS) control algorithm. Controllable stiffness is of crucial importance in serpentine robots, which require stiff joints to cross gaps and compliant joints to conform to rough terrain for effective propulsion. The paper also includes results of tests performed at the Southwest Research Institute.
Involvement of NMDA receptors within the amygdala in short- versus long-term memory for fear conditioning as assessed with fear-potentiated startle.

Pretraining intra-amygdala infusions of the NMDA receptor antagonist. D,L-AP5, block fear-potentiated startle in rats tested 24+ hr after training. This may reflect a failure of either acquisition or retention. To evaluate these alternatives, rats were tested for fear-potentiated startle during fear conditioning (30 light-shock pairings [0.6 mA shock]), as well as 1-30 min and 48 hr after fear conditioning. Amygdala lesions abolished fear-potentiated startle at all train-test intervals. Intra-amygdala AP5 infusions (25 nmol/side) abolished fear-potentiated startle during the long-term test and had partial effects at shorter train-test intervals. When the level of fear-potentiated startle during the short-term test was lowered to that of the 48-hr test (i.e., by training rats with a lower, 0.3 mA footshock), AP5 abolished fear-potentiated startle at each timepoint. Thus, amygdala NMDA receptors appear to participate in the initial acquisition of fear memories.
Scalable Computing: Practice and Experience

Resource management is a critical concern in high-performance computing software. While management of processing resources to increase performance is the most critical, efficient management of memory resources plays an important role in solving large problems. This paper presents a dynamic memory management scheme for a declarative high-performance dataparallel programming system—the Loci framework. In such systems, some sort of automatic resource management is a requirement. We present an automatic memory management scheme that provides good compromise between memory utilization and speed. In addition to basic memory management, we also develop methods that take advantages of the cache memory subsystem and explore balances between memory utilization and parallel communication costs.
Spatio-Temporal Modeling of campus WLAN traffic demand

Campus wireless LANs (WLANs) are complex systems with hundreds of access points (APs) and thousands of users. Researchers in wireless networking are faced with th e challenge of constructing simulations and testbed experiments that reproduce the characteristics of these networks, and t aking them into account in their theoretical work. However, there is only a limited set of modeling results in this area derived from real measurement data, and they do not provide a complete and consistent view of entire WLAN systems. In this work we propose a first system-wide, multi-level model for campus WLAN. Our emphasis is on parametric modeling, which provides a parsimonious characterization and the most flexible found ation for simulation studies. Our results are derived from large traces collected at the University of North Carolina.
Behavioral training and predisposed coping strategies interact to influence resilience in male Long-Evans rats: Implications for depression

Effective coping strategies and adaptive behavioral training build resilience against stress-induced pathology. Both predisposed and acquired coping strategies were investigated in rats to determine their impact on stress responsiveness and emotional resilience. Male Long-Evans rats were assigned to one of the three coping groups: passive, active, or variable copers. Rats were then randomly assigned to either an effort-based reward (EBR) contingent training group or a non-contingent training group. Following EBR training, rats were tested in appetitive and stressful challenge tasks. Physiological responses included changes in fecal corticosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) metabolites as well as neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactivity in the hippocampus and amygdala. Regardless of a rat's predisposed coping strategy, EBR rats persisted longer than non-contingent rats in the appetitive problem-solving task. Furthermore, training and coping styles interacted to yield the seemingly most adaptive DHEA/corticosterone ratios in the EBR-trained variable copers. Regardless of training group, variable copers exhibited increased NPY-immunoreactivity in the CA1 region.