Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrating LP-WAN Communications within the Vehicular Ecosystem

Vehicular communications are attracting the attention of both the academy and industry since some time ago. Most of the developed services rely on short-range communication technologies or on non-vehicular oriented cellular solutions such as 4G. In turn, during the last times a long-range transmission technology known as Low Power – Wide Area Network (LP-WAN) has gained great momentum. LP-WAN solutions such as LoRa (Long Range) promise long coverage ranges of about 10 km with very low power consumption. Since these features can improve the performance of many vehicular services, in this work the application of LoRa to the case of vehicular communications is explored. The two typical vehicular network architectures, namely, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure and Vehicle-to-Vehicle, are considered. The results, extracted from an experimental test-bench, show long coverage ranges never seen previously in vehicular environments. This opens the opportunity for developing novel services and applications in this growing ecosystem.
G1 to S phase cell cycle transition in somatic and embryonic stem cells

It is well known that G1 to S phase transition is tightly regulated by the expression and phosphorylation of a number of well‐characterized cyclins, cyclin‐dependent kinases and members of the retinoblastoma gene family. In this review we discuss the role of these components in regulation of G1 to S phase transition in somatic cells and human embryonic stem cells. Most importantly, we discuss some new tenable links between maintenance of pluripotency and cell cycle regulation in embryonic stem cells by describing the role that master transcription factors play in this process. Finally, the differences in cell cycle regulation between murine and human embryonic stem cells are highlighted, raising interesting questions regarding their biology and stages of embryonic development from which they have been derived.
Associations Between Antiretroviral Treatment and Avascular Bone Necrosis: The Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Abstract Background HIV-infected individuals have an increased risk of avascular bone necrosis (AVN). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) and particularly protease inhibitors (PI) have been implicated as a risk factor. We aimed to study the associations of ART with the occurrence of AVN among Swiss HIV Cohort Study participants (SHCS). Methods We used incidence density sampling to perform a case control study within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) comparing prospectively collected AVN cases and controls by conditional logistic regression analysis. To evaluate the effect of ART, multivariable models were adjusted for HIV transmission risk group, age, alcohol consumption, use of corticosteroids, CD4 nadir, maximum viral load, and pancreatitis. Results We compared 74 AVN cases and 145 controls. Associations with AVN were shown for heterosexual HIV acquisition (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–10), alcohol consumption (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.3–5.7), and hyperlipidemia (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.4–9.6). After adding ART substances to the multivariable base model, there was evidence of an association for treatment with tenofovir (TDF) >1 year (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.4–14) with AVN. Neither exposure to specific frequently prescribed ART combinations or ART drug classes nor cumulative ART exposure showed any associations with AVN. Conclusions In the HIV-infected population, a combination of risk factors such as heterosexual HIV acquisition, moderate to severe alcohol intake, and hyperlipidemia seem to contribute to AVN. ART does not seem to be a relevant risk factor for AVN. The association of prolonged TDF exposure with AVN needs to be confirmed.
Bias in observational study designs: case-control studies

Researchers investigated the association between sun exposure and risk of multiple sclerosis. A population based case-control study was performed. The participants were recruited from residents of Tasmania, Australia, who were aged under 60 years and had at least one grandparent born in Tasmania. Cases were people with multiple sclerosis who volunteered after information evenings at local multiple sclerosis societies, or after having been invited by a healthcare professional. In total, 136 people with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, as defined by clinical and magnetic resonance imaging criteria, were included as cases. For each case, two controls matched for sex and year of birth were randomly selected from the community. In total, 359 eligible controls were approached and the response rate was 76%. 1 A validated questionnaire was used to record the amount of time participants would normally have spent in the sun during weekends and holidays in winter and summer before the age of 16 years. Actin damage was used as a marker of cumulative lifetime sun exposure. Silicone casts of the skin surface of the hand were obtained and graded by the researchers from 1 (undamaged skin) to 6 (severe deterioration). The researchers reported that greater sun exposure when aged 6-15 years (average two to three hours or more a day in summer during weekends and holidays) was associated with a reduced risk of multiple sclerosis (adjusted odds ratio 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.16 to 0.59). Greater actinic damage (disease grades 4-6) was also independently associated with a reduced risk of multiple sclerosis (0.32, 0.11 to 0.88). It was concluded that higher sun exposure during childhood and early adolescence was associated with a reduced risk of multiple sclerosis. Insufficient ultraviolet radiation may therefore influence the development of multiple sclerosis. Which of the following, if any, might the above case-control …
Widmanstaetten Patterns in Josephinite, a Metal-Bearing Terrestrial Rock

Widmanstaetten patterns have been found in several specimens of josephinite, a complex, metamorphosed, metal-bearing rock from placers on serpentinized peridotite in southwest Oregon. The patterns, in interior less-altered regions of the specimens, are typical of exsolution textures produced during slow cooling of a homogeneous metal. The bulk composition of the metal phases indicates that the homogeneous metal must have existed at temperatures above 500�C. Josephinite Widmanstaetten patterns are the first known in terrestrial rock. We interpret them as further evidence that josephinite was derived from the mantle.
Periodically loaded waveguide analysis by propagating and evanescent mode superposition

A method to retrieve the eigenvalues of periodically loaded waveguides is presented, where the cumbersome eigenvalue problem is converted into a driven problem type by introducing the wave transfer matrix of a periodic unit cell section. The procedure has already been used before, but we extend the formulation to problems, where only evanescent modes can exist in the homogeneous waveguide. Thus, in order to represent left-handed modes on the loaded waveguide, the superimposed evanescent modes of the homogenous waveguide must transport real power, as known from the tunnelling effect. In conclusion, the periodically loaded waveguide modes are constructed by a series expansion of waveguide modes of the homogeneous waveguide resulting in an eigenvalue problem with very few unknowns. Dispersion results for a corrugated rectangular hollow waveguide are shown and compared to reference results from literature.
Changes in eating disorder symptoms with pediatric obesity treatment.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of behavioral, family-based treatment on disordered eating and child behavior problems for obese 8- to 12-year-old children. STUDY DESIGN We examined disordered eating in children and parents using the Kids' Eating Disorder Survey (KEDS) and the Binge Eating Scale, respectively; and psychologic problems in children and their parents using the Child Behavior Checklist and Symptom Checklist-90, respectively, in 47 families who participated in a family-based obesity treatment program. RESULTS Obese children showed significant decreases (-12.5 +/- 13.5) in percent overweight, internalizing problems (-7.0 +/- 7.3), and total behavior problems (-4.8 +/- 6.6) and increases in behavioral competence (3.7 +/- 5.0) over 2 years of measurement; and their parents showed significant decreases in weight (-5.0 +/- 8.3 kg) and reductions in parental distress (-2.3 +/- 7.6) and in disturbed eating and weight-related cognition (-3.2 +/- 5.3). No significant changes were observed in total KEDS (-0.2 +/- 1.9), weight dissatisfaction (-0.3 +/- 1.7), or purging/restricting (0.2 +/- 0.6) scores. Decreases in total KEDS were related to decreases in total behavior problems and externalizing behavior problems. CONCLUSIONS These results document improvements in child behavior problems and competence and no change in symptoms of disordered eating in a standardized behavioral weight control program.
DNA profiling of primary serous ovarian and Fallopian tube carcinomas with array comparative genomic hybridization and multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification

Primary serous ovarian carcinoma (OVCA) and serous Fallopian tube carcinoma (FTC), both belonging to the BRCA‐linked tumour spectrum, share many properties and are treated similarly. However, a detailed molecular comparison has been lacking. We hypothesized that comparative genomic studies of serous OVCAs and FTCs should point to gene regions critically involved in their tumorigenesis. Array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) analysis indicated that serous OVCAs and serous FTCs displayed common but also more distinctive patterns of recurrent changes. Targeted gene identification using a dedicated multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) probe set directly identified EIF2C2 on 8q as a potentially important driver gene. Other previously unappreciated gained/amplified genes included PSMB4 on 1q, MTSS1 on 8q, TEAD4 and TSPAN9 on 12p, and BCAS4 on 20q. SPINT2 and ACTN4 on 19q were predominantly found in FTCs. Gains/amplifications of CCNE1 and MYC, often in conjunction with changes in genes of the AKT pathway, EVI1 and PTK2, seemed to be involved at earlier stages, whereas changes of ERBB2 were associated with advanced stages. The only BRCA1‐mutated FTC shared common denominators with the sporadic tumours. In conclusion, the data suggest that serous OVCAs and FTCs, although related, exhibit differences in genomic profiles. In addition to known pathways, new genes/pathways are likely to be involved, with changes in an miRNA‐associated gene, EIF2C2, as one important new feature. Dedicated MLPA sets constitute potentially important tools for differential diagnosis and may provide footholds for tailored therapy. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Successful management of information technology: a strategic alignment perspective

Although the information systems (IS) literature often suggests that there is a need to align IS strategy with business strategy, the benefits of IS strategic alignment are difficult to determine. This paper describes a configurational model of IS strategic alignment that evaluates not only the internal consistency between IS strategy and business strategy but also contingency approaches to managing different types of IS strategic alignment. The four alignment types are termed business strategy-led, conservative, organization-led and technology-led. Quantitative assessments on survey data indicate the similarities and differences of IS success factors which can be used to diagnose the strength and limitations of IS success among the four alignment types. Qualitative analyses from the multiple case study evaluations have identified good practices and pitfalls in IS management. Hence, this paper contributes to both theory and practice by extending the body of knowledge in relation to strategic alignment of IS and providing guidelines to managers to manage IS more successfully.
Increase and Plateau of CD4 T‐Cell Counts in the 3½ Years After Initiation of Potent Antiretroviral Therapy

We evaluated CD4 cell counts over a 3½ year period following the initiation of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. The study population included 314 HIV‐infected gay men who provided CD4 cell counts for at least 2 years after the initiation of potent ART. Trends in CD4 cell counts and plasma HIV‐RNA were analyzed by regression methods that incorporated the statistical dependencies of outcomes measured over time within individuals. Regardless of CD4 cell count at initiation of potent ART, CD4 cell counts increased significantly (p < .05) in the first 2 years after initiation. However, between 2 and 3½ years after initiation, these counts neither increased nor decreased. The pattern of the proportion with plasma HIV‐RNA <400 copies/ml was similar to CD4 cell count (i.e., increased significantly after initiation and plateau in the subsequent 1½ years). The single most important predictor of the steady state CD4 cell count that was maintained between 2 and 3½ years after initiation was the change in plasma HIV‐RNA in the first year after initiation of potent ART.
Resilience principles for engineered systems

This paper examines a set of abstract, top‐level principles and subprinciples collected from the literature to determine their usefulness in enabling the avoidance, survival, and recovery from disruptions caused by threats of various sources. The principles are compared to concrete solutions recommended by domain experts in various case studies and to the actual events in those case studies. Also examined are the limitations, conflicts, and vulnerabilities that may be apparent when concrete solutions are created from these principles. The systems considered are physical, organizational, and procedural systems. Examples include cases from fire protection, aviation, railways, and power distribution domains. Threats examined include terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and human and design error. Each principle is found to apply to different phases of the disruption cycle surrounding an encounter with a threat. It is found that principles, in general, cannot be applied singly to a system but must be combined with other principles to enable resilience. System developers in various domains can use the principles to create concrete solutions to characterize a particular system, model that solution, and determine the degree of recovery of the system from a specified threat. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 16
Stress, hippocampal plasticity, and spatial learning

During the last two decades numerous studies have been conducted in an attempt to correlate the mechanisms of long‐term potentiation (LTP) of hippocampal synaptic transmission with those required for spatial memory formation in the hippocampus. Because stressful events block the induction of hippocampal LTP, it has been suggested that deficits in spatial learning following stress may be related to suppression of LTP‐like phenomena in the hippocampus. Here I review these studies and discuss them in light of the emerging view that stress may induce changes in thresholds for synaptic plasticity necessary for both LTP induction and spatial memory formation. This phenomenon, known as metaplasticity, may involve a glucocorticoid modulation of calcium homeostasis. Synapse 40:180–183, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrical and mechanical activity recorded from rabbit urinary bladder in response to nerve stimulation.

Responses of the smooth muscle membrane of the rabbit bladder to intramuscular nerve stimulation were investigated by the micro‐electrode and double sucrose‐gap methods. The cell generated regular spontaneous action potentials. Acetylcholine produced a maintained increase in the frequency and ATP a transient increase. Noradrenaline only increased the frequency at very high concentrations. Application of short current pulses (50 microseconds) produced an initial excitatory junction potential (e.j.p.) with a superimposed spike, followed by a late depolarization. On some occasions, hyperpolarization of the membrane appeared between initial e.j.p. and the late depolarization. All these responses were abolished by tetrodotoxin. The late depolarization was enhanced by pre‐treatment with neostigmine and abolished by atropine. This means that the delayed depolarization is due to activation of the muscarinic receptor. When the late depolarization was abolished, the amplitude of hyperpolarization was enhanced. The e.j.p. and contraction were unaffected by guanethidine, phentolamine, methysergide, mepyramine, quinidine or theophylline. This means that the e.j.p. is not mediated by activation of adrenergic, tryptaminergic, histaminergic or purinergic receptors. ATP reduced the amplitude of the e.j.p. due to depolarization of the membrane and reduction in the membrane resistance. The amplitude of the e.j.p. was gradually reduced by repetitive stimulation (0.5‐2.0 Hz). However, the rate of depression was unchanged in the presence of ATP. Dipyridamole did not change the electrical and mechanical responses to field stimulation. These results do not support the proposal that ATP is the non‐cholinergic excitatory transmitter. Apamine and tetraethylammonium (TEA) suppressed the hyperpolarization produced by field stimulation but guanethidine did not inhibit the hyperpolarization. Therefore, the hyperpolarization is due to increased K conductance of the membrane but it is not possible to conclude whether this component is due to the inhibitory action of a neurotransmitter or solely to after hyperpolarization of the spike. It was concluded that the rabbit bladder receives both cholinergic and noncholinergic excitatory neurones.
Stress caused by on‐line collaboration in e‐learning: a developing model

On‐line collaboration is becoming increasingly common in education and in organisations. It was believed that this could in itself cause stress for collaborators. An analysis of on‐line learning diaries, phone interviews and questionnaires indicated that on‐line collaboration could cause stress, and this stress was linked to the dependency of the collaborators on each other, and the level of their mutual trust. Stress could be designed out of on‐line collaborative exercises through management of the on‐line working processes. The trend in both education and management towards increased on‐line working and collaboration indicates that further research needs to be carried out into finding how to reduce stress from this cause.
Relevance of cyclin D1 and other molecular markers to cancer chemoprevention

Until recently studies on mutations in cellular genes implicated in multistage carcinogenesis have concentrated mainly on dominant acting mutations in cellular proto‐oncogenes, genes that normally mediate agonist‐induced signal transduction pathways, and recessive mutations in cellular tumor suppressor genes, whose normal products appear to inhibit cell growth and/or control differentiation and cell‐cell interactions. It seems likely, however, that a third category of cellular genes, the cyclins and cyclin‐related genes, may also be critical targets during multistage carcinogenesis because of the central role that they play in controlling cell cycle progression. These proteins could, therefore, provide biomarkers for identifying individuals at high risk of developing cancer and also serve as novel targets for chemopreventive agents. This paper reviews evidence that the gene cyclin D1 is amplified and/or overexpressed in a major fraction of human tumors, and that this can occur relatively early in the carcinogenic process. Mechanistic studies indicates that this overexpression plays a critical role in tumor progression as well as the maintenance of the tumorigenic phenotype. Thus, increased cyclin D1 expression can enhance gene amplification and cell transformation and antisense to cyclin D1 can revert malignant cells. The latter findings provide direct evidence that cyclin D and related proteins might be useful markers and also targets for cancer chemoprevention. J. Cell. Biochem. 25S:23–28. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ultrastructure of neurofibrillary tangles in Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome.

The fine structure of neurofibrillary tangles found in the subthalamic bodies and substantia nigra of postmortem brain in one case of Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome was studied with the electron microscope. Most neurons had globose tangles, but flame-shaped tangles and strongly argentophilic fibrillary inclusions resembling Pick bodies were also present. Straight filaments of an average diameter of 150 Angstroms formed the neurofibrillary tangles in neuronal perykaria. These filaments were very stable to postmortem changes and to formaldehyde fixation. There was a difference in caliber and electron density when compared with axonal neurofilaments in the same material. The implications and possible significance of this finding are discussed.
Metabolic Interactions in Rats Treated with Acetylsalicylic Acid and Trichloroethylene

The influence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on the elimination of trichloroacetic acid and trichloroethanol in the urine, liver and kidney of cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase systems in rats exposed to trichloroethylene (TRI) vapours were examined. The obtained results show that acetylsalicylic acid decreased the elimination of both trichloroethylene metabolites and induced cytochrome P-450 concentration in the liver, whereas slightly inhibited cytochrome b5 and activites of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADHcytochrome b5 reductase. After mixed exposures, acetylsalicylic acid elevated cytochrome P-450 concentration and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity to values observed in the control group. The concentration of cytochrome b5 was much lower than after ASA or trichloroethylene alone. The activity of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase was strongly inhibited by TRI, whereas in ASA the presence was elevated, but was still lower than in control. Acetylsalicylic acid stimulates cytochrome P-450; however, other compounds of the MFO system do not react positively on this ester.
Variations of clinical biochemical parameters of laying hens and broiler chickens fed aflatoxin-containing feed.

Two groups of 32 laying hens (Hyssex Brown) and two groups of 32 23-day-old (Hybro) broiler chickens were fed 2.5 and 5 parts/10(6) of aflatoxin in their diet for 4, 8, 16 and 32 days; 16 hens and 32 chicks were maintained as control groups (0 parts/10(6)). After the intoxication period, a clearance period was established of 1, 2, 4 and 8 days. Relative weights of liver and kidneys significantly increased in intoxicated hens, but not in broiler chickens. Histological lesions in both types of bird consisted of hepatic cell vacuolation with fatty infiltration. There was a significant decrease (P< 0.001) in egg production in the 5 parts/10(6) group, which started to recover during the clearance period. No morbidity or mortality due to the aflatoxicosis were observed in either type of bird. In intoxicated laying hens, cholesterol levels were not significantly (P> 0.05) different from control values, but triglyceride levels decreased (P< 0.001) in both intoxicated groups. The effect of aflatoxin on calcium and phosphorus levels was important, because on the 4th day their values decreased significantly. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum levels remained normal, whereas alanino aminotransferase (ALT) activity decreased in both intoxicated groups. The activity of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and gammaglutamil transferase (GGT) increased significantly. In intoxicated broiler chickens, aflatoxins did not alter (P> 0.05) the biochemical parameters studied, except that the serum calcium concentration was lower in the 5 parts/10(6) group. These data indicated that in intoxicated laying hens, a severe clinical biochemical alteration was produced, and that this together with the hepatic lesions observed in hens and broilers may aid disease diagnosis.