Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of removing a network communication edge: Group network codes

The edge removal problem quantifies the loss in rate when removing an edge from a given network. In this work, we study the edge removal problem on network coding instances that are solvable using group network codes. We show that removing any edge of capacity Re from a given network reduces the rate vector achievable by abelian group network codes by at most an additive Re. Our work extends previous results of similar nature on linear network codes which are a special case of group network codes. The extent to which the achievable rate is affected by removing an Re capacity edge, in the presence of general network coding functions, is yet to be quantified.
Early Lunar Magnetism

It is uncertain whether the Moon ever formed a metallic core or generated a core dynamo. The lunar crust and returned samples are magnetized, but the source of this magnetization could be meteoroid impacts rather than a dynamo. Here, we report magnetic measurements and 40Ar/39Ar thermochronological calculations for the oldest known unshocked lunar rock, troctolite 76535. These data imply that there was a long-lived field on the Moon of at least 1 microtesla ∼4.2 billion years ago. The early age, substantial intensity, and long lifetime of this field support the hypothesis of an ancient lunar core dynamo.
Validation of the 30-day version of the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire for use in longitudinal studies.

OBJECTIVE The Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (B-YAACQ) was developed using item response modeling to provide a brief and readily interpretable measure of negative alcohol consequences over the past year among college students. The purpose of the present study was to extend evaluation of the B-YAACQ by examining its psychometric properties when administered to college students cited for a university alcohol violation using a past 30-day time frame of assessment. METHOD The B-YAACQ was administered at baseline and at a 6-week follow-up to 291 students cited for a university alcohol violation. Reliability and validity analyses, in addition to Rasch model analyses, were conducted using these data. RESULTS Results demonstrated that the B-YAACQ was internally consistent, showed strong unidimensionality and additive properties, displayed minimal item redundancy and minimal floor or ceiling effects, was reliable over a 6-week period, and was sensitive to change in drinking following an alcohol intervention. In addition, the relative severity of items was preserved over time and generally consistent with results from an earlier study. CONCLUSIONS The 30-day B-YAACQ seems valid for use with college students who have received an alcohol violation and for use in evaluating changes in alcohol consequences.
Doxapram improves pulmonary function after upper abdominal surgery

The effects of doxapram on postoperative pulmonary function were studied in 40 ASA I and II patients randomly allocated to receive either doxapram 1.8 mg· kg‐1. h‐1 or placebo for 2 h immediately after elective cholecystectomy. The two groups displayed similar reductions of carbon dioxide production at 2 h and 6 h postoperatively, whereas oxygen consumption remained at preoperative levels for 24 h. Minute ventilation was similarly reduced in the two groups at 2 h and 6 h postoperatively, with corresponding increases in Paco2. Pao2 was similarly and significantly decreased in both groups postoperatively, whereas P(A‐a)o2 remained unchanged at 2 h and 6 h in doxapram‐treated patients. FRC was reduced postoperatively in both groups, significantly more so in the control group at 6 h. Various indices of intrapulmonary gas distribution, including the functional (nitrogen) dead space, underwent similar changes in the two groups. By contrast, the physiological dead space was reduced in doxapram‐treated patients at 2 h, 6 h and 24 h postoperatively, whereas no significant changes were seen in the control group. The ventilatory equivalent for CO2 was significantly lower in the doxapram‐treated group, implying higher ventilatory efficiency. Our findings indicate that infusion of doxapram postoperatively attenuates the impairment of pulmonary function postoperatively, chiefly via effects on V'A/Q' ratios. No side effects of doxapram were observed.
The First Finding of Echinococcus multilocularis in Dogs in Slovakia: An Emerging Risk for Spreading of Infection

Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the metacestode Echinococcus multilocularis, is a zoonosis of public health significance. Apart from red foxes, other carnivore species can also serve as definitive hosts of this parasite. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of E. multilocularis in dogs in the Slovak Republic and identify risk factors for acquiring the infection. Out of 289 dogs examined, E. multilocularis was detected in eight samples (2.8%). Positive results were observed in shepherd dogs (12.5%), guard dogs (7.1%), hunting dogs (2.4%) and in one dog with unknown usage (2.5%). Catching rodents and feeding with raw viscera were confirmed to be the most important risk factors for E. multilocularis infection. On the contrary, the way of dog use, frequency of going to the rural areas, the age and gender of animals seem not to be risk factors for infection. No significant association was observed between the positivity of dogs coming from high endemic or non‐endemic regions. This is the first report of E. multilocularis in dogs in the Slovak Republic that confirms substantial contribution of dogs to the transmission of the tapeworm in this territory and urges the necessity of prophylactic measures for dog owners.
Serum vitamin D and colonic vitamin D receptor in inflammatory bowel disease.

AIM To determine serum vitamin D levels and colonic vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and non-IBD patients and correlate these with histopathology. METHODS Puerto Rican IBD (n = 10) and non-IBD (n = 10) patients ≥ 21 years old scheduled for colonoscopy were recruited. Each patient completed a questionnaire and provided a serum sample and a colonic biopsy of normal-appearing mucosa. For IBD patients, an additional biopsy was collected from visually diseased mucosa. Serum vitamin D levels were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Hematoxylin and eosin stained tissue sections from colonic biopsies were classified histologically as normal or colitis (active/inactive), and scored for the degree of inflammation present (0-3, inactive/absent to severe). Tissue sections from colonic biopsies were also stained by immunohistochemistry for VDR, for which representative diagnostic areas were photographed and scored for staining intensity using a 4-point scale. RESULTS The IBD cohort was significantly younger (40.40 ± 5.27, P < 0.05) than the non-IBD cohort (56.70 ± 1.64) with a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (40% vs 20%, respectively) and insufficiency (70% vs 50%, respectively). Histologic inflammation was significantly higher in visually diseased mucosa from IBD patients (1.95 ± 0.25) than in normal-appearing mucosa from control patients (0.25 ± 0.08, P < 0.01) and from IBD patients (0.65 ± 0.36, P < 0.05) and correlated inversely with VDR expression in visually diseased colonic tissue from IBD patients (r = -0.44, P < 0.05) and from IBD patients with Crohn's disease (r = -0.69, P < 0.05), but not in normal-appearing colonic tissue from control patients or IBD patients. Control and IBD patient serum vitamin D levels correlated positively with VDR expression in normal colon from control and IBD patients (r = 0.38, P < 0.05) and with patient age (r = 0.54, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Levels of serum vitamin D correlate positively with colonic VDR expression in visually normal mucosa whereas inflammation correlates negatively with colonic VDR expression in visually diseased mucosa in Puerto Rican patients.
The Impact of Different Copro-preservation Conditions on Molecular Detection of Cryptosporidium Species

Background: We aimed to evaluate different copro-preservation conditions along the duration of one month for a better outcome of molecular diagnosis of Cryptosporidium species. Methods: Ten samples out of 380 fresh stool samples collected from patients with diarrhea proved positive after direct examination, concentration, staining and confirmed by immunochromatographic test. The study was conducted at the Diagnostic and Research Unit of Parasitic diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University at the time interval from July 2014 to December 2015. Each stool sample was preserved in five different conditions; freezing at −20 °C, 70% ethyl alcohol, 10% formalin, 2.5% potassium dichromate (K dichromate) at 4 °C and 2.5% K dichromate at room temperature (RT). Then DNA extraction and nested PCR, with Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene were done from each sample at zero time (fresh specimens) as a standard for comparison with the preservation conditions at 10, 20 and 30 d. Results: Sensitivity of studied preservative conditions along the whole study duration showed best outcome from freezing at −20 °C (80%) then K dichromate (4 °C) (73.3%) followed by K dichromate (RT) (66.7%), then alcohol (33.3%), while formalin was the worst (0%) with a highly significant comparative outcome between the different conditions. Along the three extraction intervals, K dichromate (RT), unlike all the rest of conditions lacks the consistent preservative action. Conclusion: Our study highlights freezing at −20 °C to be the most suitable condition for preservation followed by K dichromate at 4 °C, K dichromate at RT, then 70% ethyl alcohol. Formalin (10%) is better to be avoided.
Early Risk Factors for Adolescent Antisocial Behaviour: An Australian Longitudinal Study

Objective: This investigation utilizes data from an Australian longitudinal study to identify early risk factors for adolescent antisocial behaviour. Method: Analyses are based on data from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy, an ongoing longitudinal investigation of women's and children's health and development involving over 8000 participants. Five types of risk factors (child characteristics, perinatal factors, maternal/familial characteristics, maternal pre- and post-natal substance use and parenting practices) were included in analyses and were based on maternal reports, child assessments and medical records. Adolescent antisocial behaviour was measured when children were 14 years old, using the delinquency subscale of the Child Behaviour Checklist. Results: Based on a series of logistic regression models, significant risk factors for adolescent antisocial behaviour included children's prior problem behaviour (i.e. aggression and attention/restlessness problems at age 5 years) and marital instability, which doubled or tripled the odds of antisocial behaviour. Perinatal factors, maternal substance use, and parenting practices were relatively poor predictors of antisocial behaviour. Conclusions: Few studies have assessed early predictors of antisocial behaviour in Australia and the current results can be used to inform prevention programs that target risk factors likely to lead to problem outcomes for Australian youth.
Clinical significance of variations in the interconnections between flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus in the region of the knot of Henry

Tendon transfer of the flexor digitorum longus tendon (FDLT) or the flexor hallucis longus tendon (FHLT) into the tibialis posterior tendon is carried out in patients with tibialis posterior dysfunction. FDLT and FHLT are connected in the region of the knot of Henry. The present study has investigated the anatomical variations of this tendinous interconnection. The results could be used to determine which of the two tendons should be transected proximal to the region of the knot of Henry in the surgical treatment of tibialis posterior dysfunction. In over two‐thirds of cadaver specimens investigated, tension applied solely to FHLT resulted in flexion of all digits and the hallux. On the basis of these results, we propose that identification of the tendon to be transected should be decided at the time of surgery depending on the anatomical pattern. Based on the evidence provided by 16 cadaveric dissections, transection of FDLT proximal to the region of the knot of Henry for the repair of tibialis posterior dysfunction would result in retention of function of the hallux and lesser digits in the majority of cases. Clin. Anat. 18:121–125, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence and characteristics of impacted maxillary canines in Southern Chinese children and adolescents.

AIM The incidence of impacted maxillary canines in Caucasians reportedly ranges from 1% to 3%. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and determine the characteristics of impacted maxillary canines in southern Chinese children and adolescents. METHODS This retrospective audit involved 533 subjects with impacted maxillary canines that had been treated between February 1982 and February 2009. A customized data entry form was prepared to record and evaluate the status of impacted canines. RESULTS The 533 subjects (327 females and 206 males) with impacted maxillary canines, who were identified from the population of 26 039 subjects, represented a prevalence of 2.1%. Four hundred and forty-two (82.9%) of these subjects had unilaterally impacted canines, while 91 (17.1%) of them had bilateral impactions. In 442 subjects with unilateral canine impactions, 220 (49.8%) were buccally placed, 194 (43.9%) were palatally placed, and 28 (6.3%) of the canines were found to lie within the arch. CONCLUSIONS The overall prevalence of impacted maxillary canines in this study of 2.1% was similar to the figures quoted for Caucasian populations. In subjects with unilateral impactions, buccally impacted canines demonstrated a slightly higher incidence (49.8%) compared to palatally impacted canines (43.9%).
Comparison of single and combined treatment with exenatide and metformin on menstrual cyclicity in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

CONTEXT Insulin resistance and obesity are common features of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Weight loss and use of insulin-lowering drugs have been shown to improve both reproductive and metabolic aspects of PCOS. OBJECTIVE We evaluated exenatide (EX) and metformin (MET), alone and in combination (COM), on menstrual cyclicity, hormonal parameters, metabolic profiles, and inflammatory markers in overweight, insulin-resistant women with PCOS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Sixty overweight oligoovulatory women with PCOS (body mass index > 27; 18-40 yr) were randomized to one of three treatment groups: MET [1000 mg twice daily (BID)], EX (10 microg BID), or COM (MET 1000 mg BID, EX 10 microg BID) for 24 wk. The primary outcome was menstrual frequency; secondary outcome measures included changes in ovulation rate, insulin action, anthropometric measures, androgen levels, and inflammatory markers. RESULTS Forty-two (70%) patients completed the study. COM therapy was superior to EX or MET monotherapy in improving menstrual cyclicity, ovulation rate, free androgen index, and insulin sensitivity measures and reducing weight and abdominal fat. Both EX arms were more effective in promoting weight loss than MET (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS COM appears better than either EX or MET alone on menstrual cycle frequency and hormonal and metabolic derangements. A marked decrease in central adiposity could partly explain the improvements in reproductive function, insulin-glucose parameters, and adiponectin observed in these overweight women with PCOS treated with COM therapy. Larger trials of longer duration are warranted to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of combined EX-MET therapy in overweight women with PCOS.
Price discovery and dynamics of Indian equity exchange traded funds

The present study investigates the role of equity exchange traded funds (ETFs) in price discovery by studying a sample of nine equity ETFs following CNX Nifty and S&P BSE Sensex. The study reports an analysis based on the daily closing prices of ETFs and indices from the inception date of each ETF till December 2014. To examine the price discovery process, Johansen's cointegration test, vector error correction model (VECM), impulse response function and variance decomposition test are employed. The results depicts that both the ETF price series and index price series are non-stationary at levels but are stationary at first difference. Johansen cointegration test results reveal the existence of long term relationship for all ETFs except Most Shares M50. There is ample evidence to suggest that unidirectional causality between ETF prices and index prices. The results of VECM depicts that index prices lead the ETF prices and the presence of error-correction term restores the equilibrium in the long-run. The impulse response function results indicate that ETFs responds to index price variation and shock decay period ranges between two to three periods. The results underscores the role of ETFs in price discovery process and in India ETFs still behave as passive instruments for hedging purpose.
The continuous expansion of citizen participation: a new taxonomy ‡

The repertoire of political participation in democratic societies is expanding rapidly and covers such different activities as voting, demonstrating, volunteering, boycotting, blogging, and flash mobs. Relying on a new method for conceptualizing forms and modes of participation we show that a large variety of creative, expressive, individualized, and digitally enabled forms of participation can be classified as parts of the repertoire of political participation. Results from an innovative survey with a representative sample of the German population demonstrate that old and new forms are systematically integrated into a multi-dimensional taxonomy covering (1) voting, (2) digitally networked participation, (3) institutionalized participation, (4) protest, (5) civic participation, and (6) consumerist participation. Furthermore, the antecedents of consumerist, civic, and digitally networked participation, are very similar to those of older modes of participation such as protest and institutionalized participation. Whereas creative, expressive, and individualized modes appear to be expansions of protest activities, digitally networked forms clearly establish a new and distinct mode of political participation that fits in the general repertoire of political participation.
Clustering of Saccharomyces boulardii strains within the species S. cerevisiae using molecular typing techniques

Aims: This study was undertaken to characterize and differentiate therapeutically relevant Saccharomyces yeasts. Among the isolates were so‐called Saccharomyces boulardii strains, which are considered as probiotic agents, but whose taxonomic assignment is controversial. Moreover, the discriminative power of the applied molecular typing techniques should be evaluated. Methods and Results: Genotyping was performed using species‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA‐PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of rDNA spacer regions and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. Species‐specific PCR assigned all of the product isolates to the species S. cerevisiae. By combining the other techniques, all isolates could be discriminated. Moreover, it could be demonstrated that probiotic S. boulardii strains form a separate cluster located within the species. Conclusions: With the exception of species‐specific PCR, all of the applied methodologies were suitable for subspecies typing and indicated a close relationship between the probiotic strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: The methods applied in this study are considered powerful tools for quality control of therapeutically relevant yeasts. It is of crucial importance, especially regarding S. boulardii yeasts, to verify the identity of the correct strain, since the beneficial properties are considered to be strain‐specific.
Long‐term survival in patients with clear cell adenocarcinoma of ovary treated with irinotecan hydrochloride plus cisplatin therapy as first‐line chemotherapy

Aim: Several previous reports showed that irinotecan hydrochloride plus cisplatin (CPT‐P) was a candidate first‐line chemotherapy regimen for clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary (CCC). However, long‐term survival in CCC patients treated with CPT‐P as first‐line chemotherapy remains to be determined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long‐term results of CPT‐P as first‐line chemotherapy for CCC.
Reinforcement for errors in a signal-detection procedure.

Six pigeons were trained on a signal-detection procedure. They were required to peck the left key when a 5-second white light had been presented, and the right key when a 10-second light had been presented. These two correct responses were followed by food reinforcement with a probability of . 7. Errors, left responses after the 10-second stimulus or right responses after the 5-second stimulus, were initially followed by a 3-second blackout of the chamber. In nine subsequent experimental conditions, errors were followed by food reinforcement with increasing probability while the probability of reinforcement for correct responses was kept constant. The percentage of correct responses decreased as error reinforcement probability increased. A matching model of detection performance, in which discrimination is a joint function of stimulus discriminability and stimulus-reinforcement association, provided a convincing fit to the data and to two sets of published data. The model also fitted published data on multiple and multiple-concurrent free-operant performance. This description of detection performance in terms of matching offers both accurate prediction of complex behavior and measures of discriminability with wide generality.
FPGA-based control system reconfiguration using open source software

The paper proposes a new approach for FPGA reconfiguration based on usage of the open-source synthesis and place-and-route tools. The well-known partial reconfiguration technologies assume pre-compilation of all required FPGA configurations by the designer. In autonomous intelligent control systems it can become quite a strong limitation, due to control law couldn't be changed on-board without using external FPGA development tool. The paper proposes automatic Verilog code generation and synthesis directly on embedded controller, followed by full FPGA reconfiguration. The experimental results shows, that the resource usage of the FPGA configurations built by open-source tools are comparable to the ones built by well-known commercial toolchain)
Outcome after ischaemic stroke in childhood

A parental questionnaire was used to investigate the outcome for children who had had ischaemic stroke, who were seen at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London between 1990 and 1996. The results of functional assessments carried out by a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist, and of quantitative evaluations carried out by a neuropsychologist were used for validation where possible. The relationship between clinical and radiological factors and outcome were examined. The children were aged between 3 months and 15 years at the time of stroke (median age 5 years) and the period of follow‐up ranged from 3 months to 13 years (median duration 3 years). Of the 90 children for whom data were obtained, 13 (14%) had no residual impairments. Outcome was good in 37 children (40%) and poor in 53 (60%) (defined according to whether impairments interfered with daily life). Agreement, as measured by Cohen's kappa, was good or very good between the parents’responses and the qualitative measures provided by the medical professionals and the therapists, but only fair to moderate for the quantitative measures provided by the neuropsychologists. This may reflect different parental perceptions of the physical and cognitive aspects of outcome. Younger age at time of the stroke was the only significant predictor of adverse outcome.