Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-Channel Cluster Tree for 802.15.4 Wireless Sensor Networks

We propose MCCT (Multi-Channel Cluster Tree), a cluster-tree construction protocol for nodes in IEEE 802.15. 4 beacon-enabled mode. By multiplexing transmissions across orthogonal channels, we reduce collisions between control and data frames, which leads to better packet delivery rate and fairness. We propose a method for constructing a cluster-tree suitable for minimizing beacon collisions. The protocol builds on a neighbor discovery procedure that uses a dedicated control channel while still sticking to the superframe structure of IEEE 802.15. 4. We also specify a channel assignment and superframe scheduling method that takes into account channel diversity. We evaluate the proposed protocol through simulation and compare with other proposals: standard 802.15. 4 and a representative of distributed solutions to the superframe scheduling problem - MeshMAC. The simulation results show that MCCT significantly improves packet delivery ratio, delay, and fairness. It also results in very good packet delivery ratio for increased network density.
Relative adrenal insufficiency as a predictor of disease severity, mortality, and beneficial effects of corticosteroid treatment in septic shock

Objective:To evaluate the concept of relative adrenal insufficiency necessitating corticosteroid therapy in septic shock. Design:Retrospective study. Setting:Medical-surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients:We studied 218 consecutive patients with septic shock in a 3-yr period who underwent a short 250-&mgr;g adrenocorticotropic hormone test because of >6 hrs of hypotension requiring repeated fluid challenges and/or vasopressor/inotropic treatment. Interventions:The test was performed by intravenously injecting 250 &mgr;g of synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone and measuring cortisol immediately before and 30 and 60 mins postinjection. Measurements and Main Results:Intensive care unit mortality until day 28 was 22%. Nonsurvivors had greater disease severity, as exemplified by higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, on the day of adrenocorticotropic hormone testing. Cortisol levels directly correlated with albumin levels. Simplified Acute Physiology Score II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score increased with higher strata of baseline cortisol/albumin or lower cortisol increases/albumin ratios as measures of free cortisol. Baseline cortisol, cortisol increases, and albumin levels did not independently contribute to mortality prediction by disease severity and absence of corticosteroid (hydrocortisone) treatment in a Cox proportional hazard model, although adrenocorticotropic hormone-induced cortisol increase <100 nmol/L (n = 53) predicted mortality (p = .007). Posttest treatment by corticosteroids (n = 161, 74%) was associated with higher survival in patients with cortisol increase <100 nmol/L (p = .0296). Conclusions:In intensive care unit patients with septic shock, the cortisol response to adrenocorticotropic hormone inversely relates to disease severity, independent of blood cortisol binding. An adrenocorticotropic hormone-induced cortisol increase <100 nmol/L predicts mortality and beneficial effects of corticosteroid treatment. The data favor relative adrenal insufficiency.
Evaluation of patients with cardiac amyloidosis using echocardiography, ECG and right heart catheterization

Abstract Aims: To characterize patients with cardiac amyloidosis using echocardiography, electrocardiogram (ECG) and right heart catheterization (RHC). Methods and results: Fourteen patients with biopsy verified light chain or transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis were included. All patients had heart failure with markedly elevated NT-proBNP. Echocardiography demonstrated biventricular hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement and normal to slightly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Tissue Doppler septal e´ was low and median E/e´ was high. Within 6 months RHC was performed in eight of the patients. The restrictive filling pattern demonstrated by echocardiography corresponded well to median pulmonary wedge pressure (21 mmHg). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) was increased, whereas cardiac output and stroke volume were seen to be decreased with both methods. ECG demonstrated: low voltage (36%), abnormal R-progression (65%), ST-T abnormalities (71%) and high incidence of fibrillation (36%). In addition, a case report following the treatment of melphalan and dexamethasone is presented with improvement of hypertrophy, SPAP, left ventricular mass and e´. Conclusion: These findings should lead to a suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis and suggest further investigation.
Synthetic Peptides Identify Promiscuous Human Th1 Cell Epitopes of the Secreted Mycobacterial Antigen MPB70

ABSTRACT MPB70 is a secreted protein of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis which stimulates both cellular and humoral immune responses during infection with bovine and human tubercle bacilli. In addition, vaccination with MPB70 has been shown to induce Th1 cell responses and protection in animal models of tuberculosis. The present study was carried out to map the dominant human Th1 cell epitopes of MPB70 in relation to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II restriction in healthy subjects showing strong T-cell responses to complex mycobacterial antigens. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HLA-DR-typed donors were tested with complex mycobacterial antigens (whole-cell M. tuberculosis and M. tuberculosis culture filtrates), with MPB70 purified from the culture filtrate of M. bovis BCG Tokyo, and with 13 synthetic peptides (25-mers overlapping by 10 residues) covering the sequence of MPB70. The donors that responded to the complex antigens and MPB70 also responded to the cocktail of synthetic MPB70 peptides. Testing of PBMC with individual peptides showed that peptides p5 (amino acids [aa] 61 to 85), p6 (aa 76 to 100), p8 (aa 106 to 130), p12 (aa 166 to 190), and p13 (aa 181 to 193) were most frequently recognized in proliferation and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) assays. Testing of antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell lines with the individual peptides of MPB70 confirmed that peptides p8, p12, and p13 contain immunodominant Th1 cell epitopes of MPB70. MHC restriction analysis with HLA-typed donors showed that MPB70 and its immunodominant peptides were presented to T cells promiscuously. The T-cell lines responding to MPB70 and peptides p8, p12, and p13 in IFN-γ assays mediated antigen-peptide-specific cytotoxic activity against monocytes/macrophages pulsed with the whole-protein antigen or the peptides. In conclusion, the promiscuous recognition of MPB70 and its immunodominant peptide defined epitopes (aa 106 to 130 and 166 to 193) by IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells supports possible application of this secreted antigen to subunit vaccine design.
PERFORMANCE OF CASTOR (Ricinus communis L.) BASED INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS IN NORTH EASTERN DRY ZONE OF KARNATAKA

PERFORMANCE OF CASTOR (Ricinus communis L.) BASED INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS IN NORTH EASTERN DRY ZONE OF KARNATAKA Mahantesh Chougule 2014 B. M. Chittapur Major advisor ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted to investigate the ‘Performance of castor (Ricinus communis L.) based intercropping systems in North Eastern dry Zone of Karnataka’ during 2013 at the Agricultural College Farm, Raichur using Randomized Complete Block Design with 11 treatments replicated thrice. Treatments consisted of a sole crop and castor + intercrops [(two oilseeds viz., groundnut and sesame; two minor millets-pearlmillet and foxtailmillet and a grain legumeclusterbean at two row proportions (1:1 and 1:2)]. Castor + groundnut (1:1) intercropping system produced significantly higher castor seed yield (1100 kg ha -1 ) which was closely followed by castor + groundnut (1:2) and sole castor compared to other intercropping systems where in castor seed was significantly reduced. Further, castor + groundnut (1:2) also recorded significantly higher castor equivalent yield (1964 kg ha -1 ) and production efficiency (16.36 kg ha -1 day -1 ) besides higher protein (517 kg ha -1 ) and fat (915 kg ha -1 ) in seed followed by castor + groundnut (1:1). While, the maximum carbohydrate yield (943 kg ha -1 ) was observed with castor + pearlmillet (1:2) followed by castor + pearlmillet (1:1). Total output energy (96,300 MJ ha -1 ) and net energy (82,370 MJ ha -1 ) were maximum with castor + groundnut intercropping system in 1:2 row proportion followed by castor + groundnut (1:1) intercropping system while, output : input (7.86) and energy use efficiency (159.85 kg 1000 MJ -1 ) were maximum with castor + groundnut (1:1) closely followed by castor + groundnut (1:2). Better utilization of light, soil moisture and rain water use efficiency (3.79 kg m) were recorded castor + groundnut (1:2) followed by castor + groundnut (1:1). Significantly higher gross returns (` 81,050 ha), net returns (` 42,081 ha), B:C (1.08) and economic efficiency (` 350 ha day) were obtained with castor + groundnut (1:2); castor + groundnut (1:1) was distant second yet superior to sole castor.
Decursin Exerts Anti‐cancer Activity in MDA‐MB‐231 Breast Cancer Cells Via Inhibition of the Pin1 Activity and Enhancement of the Pin1/p53 Association

The peptidyl‐prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 is overexpressed in a wide variety of cancer cells and thus considered as an important target molecule for cancer therapy. This study demonstrates that decursin, a bioactive compound from Angelica gigas, exert the anti‐cancer effect against breast cancer cells via regulation of Pin1 and its related signaling molecules. We observed that decursin induced G1 arrest with decrease in cyclin D1 level in Pin1‐expressing breast cancer cells MDA‐MB‐231, but not Pin1‐non‐expressing breast cancer cells MDA‐MB‐157. In addition, decursin significantly reduced protein expression and enzymatic activity of Pin1 in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Further, we found that decursin treatment enhanced the p53 expression level and failed to down‐regulate Pin1 in the cells transfected with p53 siRNA, indicating the importance of p53 in the decursin‐mediated Pin1 inhibition in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Decursin stimulated association between Pin1 to p53. Moreover, decursin facilitated p53 transcription in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Overall, our current study suggests the potential of decursin as an attractive cancer therapeutic agent for breast cancer by targeting Pin1 protein. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence-based review of surgical practices in endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy for primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction and other new indications

Purpose of review To review the current surgical practices in endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) from the studies of last 12 months. Recent findings Success rates in EN-DCR now rival those of the conventional external approach. Indications are expanding beyond primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction to include DCR revisions, acute lacrimal sac abscesses, nasolacrimal duct obstructions in patients who have received chemotherapy or radiation, and common canalicular obstructions. There is limited evidence that intubation with silicone stents improves the outcomes. Mitomycin C appears to improve the success rates of EN-DCR, especially revision surgery. Concomitant procedures, such as septoplasty and anterior middle turbinectomy, are sometimes required in primary as well as revision EN-DCR to achieve high success rates. There is increasing evidence that silicone stents are of limited benefit, whereas mucosal flap formation has been of benefit in case series. Summary With innovations and improvements in the endonasal approach, EN-DCR has become a viable alternative to external DCR for primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. EN-DCR has the distinct advantages of no surface scar and a lack of damage to the pump mechanism that often occur with external DCR. Recent evidence indicates a comparable success rate to external DCR.
Clinical impact of arrhythmias on gated SPECT cardiac myocardial perfusion and function assessment

BackgroundWe reported previously that mean quantified cardiac functional parameters computed by one gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) technique were not significantly altered by common gating errors. However, it is not known to what extent other gated SPECT approaches that are based on different ventricular modeling assumptions are influenced by arrhythmias, nor are the effects of gating errors on visual analyses and their subsequent clinical implications known.MethodsProjection data for 50 patients (aged 64 ± 12 years; 68% men; 76% with myocardial perfusion defects) undergoing technetium-99m sestamibi gated SPECT who were in sinus rhythm during data acquisition were altered to simulate common arrhythmias. To determine quantitative effects, we performed calculations for original control and altered images by Gaussian myocardial detection (Quantitative Gated SPECT [QGS] program) and by wall thickening derived from gated perfusion polar maps (Emory Cardiac Toolbox program). To evaluate visual assessment in control and simulated-arrhythmia tomograms, 2 experienced blinded observers independently interpreted perfusion from polar maps and wall motion and thickening from tomographic cines, using a 4-point scale.ResultsAlthough mean functional parameters were scarcely altered, paired / tests showed ejection fraction fluctuations to be significantly different from control values, causing patients to change between abnormal and normal ejection fraction categories (2% of patients by QGS and 14% by Emory Cardiac Toolbox). Visual examination of QGS polar perfusion and function maps showed changes for 72% of cases, although in only 4% were these considered to have potential clinical consequences. The k statistic for visual analysis of concordance between control and arrhythmia readings showed that agreement was “excellent” for perfusion, “good” for motion, and “marginal” for thickening.ConclusionsAs with quantitative measurements, thickening is the parameter most prone to error in the presence of arrhythmias. It is important to test data for gating errors to avoid potentially erroneous measurements and visual readings.
Manipulation in Prediction Markets - Chasing the Fraudsters

Prediction markets are a common instrument in forecasting and corporate knowledge management. Based on the “wisdom of the crowd” its forecasts regularly outperform polls as well as statistical models. In addition, it offers a convenient way to collect dispersed information in organizations and incite employees to reveal private information as well as to stay informed. Although such markets are well established, there still remain open questions regarding their operation and maintenance. Especially the issue of manipulation and fraud, which are reported in many cases, is only rarely addressed; if so, only very theoretical or with complex algorithms, hard to implement for practitioners. Yet, a rigid framework, uncovering weaknesses of prediction markets and offering applicable prevention and detection strategies is missing. We propose the Fraud Cube, a concise framework unveiling fraudster’s thought process and thus potential attack vectors. Additionally, we present an easy to implement detection algorithm based on state of the art detection heuristics. Finally, we show not less than comparable detection rates to established detection algorithms whilst providing superior applicability.
Discrete Memoryless Interference Channels with Fee back

We consider the discrete memoryIess two-sender-two-receiver interference channel in the setting where received signals are sent hack to their respective senders. The feedback signals enable each sender to crossly observe certain information transmitted by the other, and thus facilitate the senders to cooperate in resolving the remaining uncertainty in the previous transmission block. We develop a block Markov coding scheme for this channel, and obtain a corresponding achievable rate region. Furthermore, we also derive both implicit and explicit descriptions for the obtained achievable rate region.
Systolic Formulation for Low-Complexity Serial-Parallel Implementation of Unified Finite Field Multiplication over GF(2m)

It presents a high-throughput hardware-efficient semi-systolic linear array for a serial-parallel implementation of finite field multiplier over GF(2m) using bidirectional modulo reduction technique. Necessary recurrence relations are formulated and a pair of dependence graphs (DG) are designed for least significant bit (LSB) and most significant bit (MSB) elimination algorithms for modular reduction. Both the DGs are merged together and mapped into a fully-pipelined linear array architecture consisting of to number of processing elements (PEs), which performs one field multiplication in every (m/2) cycles. The structure of each PE is optimized further to be implemented by a pair of AND gates, three XOR gates and a pair of latches. The duration of a cycle amounts to T = TA + Tx3 + TL, where TA,Tx3 and TL, are respectively the delays of a 2-input AND gate, a three-input XOR gate and a latch. The proposed design is found to have significantly low area-time complexity compared with the existing serial-parallel structures for finite filed multiplications. It is shown that the proposed multiplier can also be used for the Montgomery multiplication in binary field.
Differential regulation of Hes/Hey genes during inner ear development

Notch signaling plays a crucial role during inner ear development and regeneration. Hes/Hey genes encode for bHLH transcription factors identified as Notch targets. We have studied the expression and regulation of Hes/Hey genes during inner ear development in the chicken embryo. Among several Hes/Hey genes examined, only Hey1 and Hes5 map to the sensory regions, although with salient differences. Hey1 expression follows Jag1 expression except at early prosensory stages while Hes5 expression corresponds well to Dl1 expression throughout otic development. Although Hey1 and Hes5 are direct Notch downstream targets, they differ in the level of Notch required for activation. Moreover, they also differ in mRNA stability, showing different temporal decays after Notch blockade. In addition, Bmp, Wnt and Fgf pathways also modify Hey1 and Hes5 expression in the inner ear. Particularly, the Wnt pathway modulates Hey1 and Jag1 expression. Finally, gain of function experiments show that Hey1 and Hes5 cross‐regulate each other in a complex manner. Both Hey1 and Hes5 repress Dl1 and Hes5 expression, suggesting that they prevent the transition to differentiation stages, probably by preventing Atoh1 expression. In spite of its association with Jag1, Hey1 does not seem to be instrumental for lateral induction as it does not promote Jag1 expression. We suggest that, besides being both targets of Notch, Hey1 and Hes5 are subject to a rather complex regulation that includes the stability of their transcripts, cross regulation and other signaling pathways. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 703–720, 2015
Thresholds for Phosphatidylserine Externalization in Chinese Hamster Ovarian Cells following Exposure to Nanosecond Pulsed Electrical Fields (nsPEF)

High-amplitude, MV/m, nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) have been hypothesized to cause nanoporation of the plasma membrane. Phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization has been observed on the outer leaflet of the membrane shortly after nsPEF exposure, suggesting local structural changes in the membrane. In this study, we utilized fluorescently-tagged Annexin V to observe the externalization of PS on the plasma membrane of isolated Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells following exposure to nsPEF. A series of experiments were performed to determine the dosimetric trends of PS expression caused by nsPEF as a function of pulse duration, τ, delivered field strength, ED, and pulse number, n. To accurately estimate dose thresholds for cellular response, data were reduced to a set of binary responses and ED50s were estimated using Probit analysis. Probit analysis results revealed that PS externalization followed the non-linear trend of (τ*ED 2)−1 for high amplitudes, but failed to predict low amplitude responses. A second set of experiments was performed to determine the nsPEF parameters necessary to cause observable calcium uptake, using cells preloaded with calcium green (CaGr), and membrane permeability, using FM1-43 dye. Calcium influx and FM1-43 uptake were found to always be observed at lower nsPEF exposure parameters compared to PS externalization. These findings suggest that multiple, higher amplitude and longer pulse exposures may generate pores of larger diameter enabling lateral diffusion of PS; whereas, smaller pores induced by fewer, lower amplitude and short pulse width exposures may only allow extracellular calcium and FM1-43 uptake.
Spectral conditions for positive realness of single-input-single-output systems

In this note, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for a single-input-single-output system to be (strictly) positive real. These conditions take the form of a spectral condition on a matrix product constructed from the state space representation of the linear time-invariant system {A,b,c,d}. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the usefulness of our conditions.
Chronic administration of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor restores functional and morphological changes of the basilar artery during chronic hypertension

Objective Activation of tyrosine kinase appears to play an important role in pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease during chronic hypertension. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that long-term treatment with an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase would have beneficial effects on hypertension-induced morphological and functional changes of the cerebral artery. Methods Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR; 4 months old) were fed normal rat chow, or that containing an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, genistein (1 mg/kg chow). Normotensive Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats were also fed either of the chows. After feeding the rats for 2 months, we measured wall thickness, diameter of the basilar artery and its dilator responses to acetylcholine (ACh); Y-26763, an opener of ATP-sensitive potassium channels; and Y-27632, an inhibitor of Rho-associated kinase. Results Treatment with genistein did not cause significant changes in physiological variables, including mean arterial pressure in either strain. In control SHR, the wall thickness of the basilar artery was greater than that of WKY rats. Genistein treatment reduced the wall thickness significantly in SHR. Vasodilator responses induced by ACh and Y-26763 were markedly attenuated in SHR compared to WKY rats, and treatment of SHR with genistein significantly improved the vasodilatation. Dilatation of the artery in response to Y-27632 was enhanced in SHR compared to WKY rats and treatment of SHR with genistein did not affect the enhanced vasodilator responses to Y-27632. Conclusions Chronic treatment with genistein may be a novel approach to prevent cerebrovascular disorders.