Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Content Poisoning in Named Data Networking: Comprehensive characterization of real deployment

Information Centric Networking (ICN) is seen as a promising solution to re-conciliate the Internet usage with its core architecture. However, to be considered as a realistic alternative to IP, ICN must evolve from a pure academic proposition deployed in test environments to an operational solution in which security is assessed from the protocol design to its running implementation. Among ICN solutions, Named Data Networking (NDN), together with its reference implementation NDN Forwarding Daemon (NFD), acts as the most mature proposal but its vulnerability against the Content Poisoning Attack (CPA) is considered as a critical threat that can jeopardize this architecture. So far, existing works in that area have fallen into the pit of coupling a biased and partial phenomenon analysis with a proposed solution, hence lacking a comprehensive understanding of the attack's feasibility and impact in a real network. In this paper, we demonstrate through an experimental measurement campaign that CPA can easily and widely affect NDN. Our contribution is threefold: (1) we propose three realistic attack scenarios relying on both protocol design and implementation weaknesses; (2) we present their implementation and evaluation in a testbed based on the latest NFD version; and (3) we analyze their impact on the different ICN nodes (clients, access and core routers, content provider) composing a realistic topology.
Birds achieve high robustness in uneven terrain through active control of landing conditions

SUMMARY We understand little about how animals adjust locomotor behaviour to negotiate uneven terrain. The mechanical demands and constraints of such behaviours likely differ from uniform terrain locomotion. Here we investigated how common pheasants negotiate visible obstacles with heights from 10 to 50% of leg length. Our goal was to determine the neuro-mechanical strategies used to achieve robust stability, and address whether strategies vary with obstacle height. We found that control of landing conditions was crucial for minimising fluctuations in stance leg loading and work in uneven terrain. Variation in touchdown leg angle (θTD) was correlated with the orientation of ground force during stance, and the angle between the leg and body velocity vector at touchdown (βTD) was correlated with net limb work. Pheasants actively targeted obstacles to control body velocity and leg posture at touchdown to achieve nearly steady dynamics on the obstacle step. In the approach step to an obstacle, the birds produced net positive limb work to launch themselves upward. On the obstacle, body dynamics were similar to uniform terrain. Pheasants also increased swing leg retraction velocity during obstacle negotiation, which we suggest is an active strategy to minimise fluctuations in peak force and leg posture in uneven terrain. Thus, pheasants appear to achieve robustly stable locomotion through a combination of path planning using visual feedback and active adjustment of leg swing dynamics to control landing conditions. We suggest that strategies for robust stability are context specific, depending on the quality of sensory feedback available, especially visual input.
Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Administration Causes Hypertrophy of Immobilized and Nonimmobilized Skeletal Muscle in a Sedentary Rabbit Model

Although the use of anabolic agents in athletics has generated extensive publicity and controversy, the potential therapeutic benefits of these drugs have not been fully investigated. This randomized, blinded experimental study investigated whether short-term administration of an anabolic-androgenic steroid can limit immobilization-induced muscle atrophy in a rabbit model. We casted one hindlimb each in 48 New Zealand White rabbits and randomly assigned the rabbits to two groups. The treated group received weekly intramuscular injections of the anabolic-androgenic steroid, nandrolone decanoate (15 mg/kg). Immobilization significantly decreased muscle weights in both the treated rabbits and controls. Compared with controls, the body weights of the treated rabbits increased significantly at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. At 4 and 8 weeks, wet weights, dry weights, and contractile forces were significantly greater in both the casted and noncasted tibialis anterior muscle-tendon units of the treated group. Dry weights and casted contractile forces of the extensor digitorum longus muscle unit at 4 weeks and all measures at 8 weeks were greater in the treated rabbits than in controls. These results are contrary to previously accepted views that anabolic-androgenic steroid use leads to muscle hypertrophy only in conjunction with strength training. This study adds to the growing evidence that anabolic-androgenic steroids can produce significant skeletal muscle hypertrophy in sedentary populations.
Ischaemia–reperfusion modulates inflammation and fibrosis of skeletal muscle after contusion injury

Regeneration of skeletal muscle following injury is dependent on numerous factors including age, the inflammatory response, revascularization, gene expression of myogenic and growth factors and the activation and proliferation of endogenous progenitor cells. It is our hypothesis that oxidative stress preceding a contusion injury to muscle modulates the inflammatory response to inhibit muscle regeneration and enhance fibrotic scar formation. Male F344/BN rats were assigned to one of four groups. Group 1: uinjured control; Group 2: ischaemic occlusion of femoral vessels for 2 h followed by reperfusion (I‐R); Group 3: contusion injury of the tibialis anterior (TA); Group 4: I‐R, then contusion injury. The acute inflammatory response (8 h, 3 days) was determined by expression of the chemokine CINC‐1, TGF‐β1, IFN‐γ and markers of neutrophil (myeloperoxidase) and macrophage (CD68) activity and recruitment. Acute oxidative stress caused by I‐R and/or contusion, was determined by measuring GP91phox and lipid peroxidation. Muscle recovery (21 days) was assessed by examining the fibrosis after I‐R and contusion injuries to the TA with Sirius Red staining and quantification of collagen I expression. Consistent with our hypothesis, I‐R preceding contusion increased all markers of the acute inflammatory response and oxidative stress after injury and elevated the expression of collagen. We conclude that ischaemia‐induced oxidative stress exacerbated the inflammatory response and enhanced fibrotic scar tissue formation after injury. This response may be attributable to increased levels of TGF‐β1 and diminished expression of IFN‐γ in the ischaemic contused muscle.
Multiple myeloma with deletion of chromosome 13q is characterized by increased bone marrow neovascularization

Anti‐angiogenesis therapy with thalidomide has been reported to have marked activity in multiple myeloma (MM). As cytogenetics is an independent prognostic factor in MM, we analysed bone marrow (BM) angiogenesis and cytogenetic abnormalities in 34 patients with active MM. BM microvessel density (MVD), as determined by staining with anti‐CD34, was significantly higher in MM (MVD: 221 ± 94 per mm2) than in controls (80 ± 36; P < 0·0001). In patients with the presence of at least one unfavourable cytogenetic abnormality (deletion of 13q14, deletion of 17p13, aberrations of 11q), a significantly increased BM MVD was observed (254 ± 93 vs. 160 ± 60 in patients with absence of these abnormalities; P = 0·0035). Further analyses indicated that increased BM MVD was significantly correlated with deletion of 13q14 (259 ± 96 vs. 188 ± 80; P = 0·026), but not with other cytogenetic, clinical and laboratory MM parameters. We conclude that BM neovascularization is particularly high in MM with deletion of 13q14, which provides a rationale for use of anti‐angiogenic strategies in the treatment of MM with high‐risk cytogenetics.
Mortality in Diabetic Patients Participating in an Ophthalmological Control and Screening Programme

The aim of this follow‐up study has been to assess retinopathy and change of treatment to insulin therapy as risk factors for mortality in diabetic patients participating in a control and screening programme for retinopathy. A total of 3220 diabetic patients, 483 with an age at diagnosis <30 years, and 2737 with an age at diagnosis >30 years, were included. Retinopathy was graded on fundus photographs using the Wisconsin Scale, and the visual acuity was assessed. The average HbA1c value was calculated for each patient for the previous 8 years to estimate long‐term glycaemic control. Mortality data were obtained from death certificates. Two hundred and sixty‐three diabetic patients (8.2 %) died during the mean follow‐up time of 3.4 years, 13 (2.7 %) of those with younger‐onset (<30 years) and 250 (9.1 %) of those with older‐onset (>30 years) diabetes. Of them, 148 (56.3 %) died from cardiovascular and 23 (8.7 %) from cerebrovascular disorders. After adjusting for differences in age and sex, more severe retinopathy and the use of antihypertensive drugs were associated with a decreased overall survival rate as well as an increased mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. A statistically significant association between HbA1c values in the highest quartile, i.e. >8.4 %, and cardiovascular and all cause mortality did not remain when retinopathy was entered into the multivariate analyses. Duration of diabetes, but not change of treatment to insulin therapy, was associated with higher cardiovascular mortality in patients whose diabetes was diagnosed after the age of 30 years. We conclude that severe retinopathy, use of antihypertensive drugs, and poor glycaemic control predicted death from cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients participating in an ophthalmological screening programme. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fetal programming of blood pressure in a transgenic mouse model of altered intrauterine environment

Nitric oxide is essential in the vascular adaptation to pregnancy, as knockout mice lacking nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) have abnormal utero‐placental perfusion, hypertension and growth restriction. We previously showed with ex vivo studies on transgenic animals lacking NOS3 that adverse intrauterine environment alters fetal programming of vascular reactivity in adult offspring. The current research shows that altered vascular reactivity correlates with higher blood pressure in vivo. Our data suggest that higher blood pressure depends on both genetic background (NOS3 deficiency) and uterine environment, becomes more evident with age (> 7 postnatal weeks), activity and stress, is gender specific (preponderant among males), and can be affected by the sleep–awake cycle. In utero or early postnatal life (< 7 weeks), before onset of hypertension, may represent a potential window for intervention to prevent future cardiovascular disorders.
Satellite Altimetry and GrAcE Gravimetry for Studies of Annual Water Storage Variations in Bangladesh

Four different data sources have been compared with respect to observations of the annual water storage variations in the region of Bangladesh. Data from satellite altimeters and river gauges estimates the variation in surface water storage in the major rivers of Bangladesh. The GRACE satellites measure the integrated mass change and hence the terrestrial soil moisture variations, which can also be estimated by a hydrological model (GLDAS). These types of observations enable the derivation of the integrated water storage in the entire region of Bangladesh. For all data types, the annual signal has been estimated from a common dataset spanning the period 2003 and 2004. All four different data observe that water storage in Bangladesh is largely dominated by an annual signal with a phase peaking in early September. The annual variations in river level peaks roughly two weeks earlier than terrestrial soil moisture observations by GRACE observations and GLDAS model output.
Tree response to bark harvest: the case of a medicinal species, Garcinia lucida , as source of raw materials for plant-based drug development

Objectives: There is a huge demand for medicinal bark in developing countries and this demand is growing fast due to it high market values. To assess the effects of bark functions and tree capacities to recover from various debarking practices, a two-year experiment was conducted and several local harvest practices were tested on Garcinia lucida . Methodology and Results: For each practice, 20 healthy trees were selected and harvested. Tree health was monitored every month and the total bark regrowth was calculated using planimetric techniques. In response to bark removal, G. lucida trees produced stilt-roots, sprouts and bark. Re-growth of bark was the most common strategy developed, with mean values ranging from 80 to 100% of trees. All stumps have developed sprouts, with an average number of 6 shoots per stump. The percentage of bark regrowth varies from 45 to 62% of the initial surface debarked for small trees and from 24 to 37% for large trees. A high rate of bark regeneration was found if narrow strips of bark remained on trees, from which bark was hardly removed from wood during harvest, probably characterized physiologically by a downward sap flow due to poor water supply in trees. Conclusions and application of findings: The study has discussed main findings on the experimental debarking of G. lucida and management implications, which would also apply to other species with the same response to bark stripping as source of raw materials for plant-based drug prospects in developing countries. Bark strip harvesting requires species-specific parameters to make it sustainable, taking into account : (i) the bark regeneration capacity (edge growth), which may allow repeated harvest on the same tree; and (ii) the physiological status (downward sap flow) of the tree at the time of harvest, as decisive factor triggering bark regrowth. Partial bark strip harvesting show good prospects for the implementation of long-term sustainable strip harvesting prescriptions, while sustainable stripping through ring-barking practice is unsuitable. Shoot growth and stilt-root development in G. lucida species allows for other management options than strip harvesting, including coppice management and domestication. However, there are major limitations in using regenerated bark, as the time required to re-attain preharvest bark thickness, as well as the chemical composition due to stress releasing mechanisms remain unknown. Keywords: medicinal bark regrowth, harvest practices, plant-based drug prospects, species recovering capacity, sprouting capacity
Residential Segregation, Housing Status, and Prostate Cancer in African American and White Men

Abstract : Racial-residential segregation which reduces the quality of housing has been proposed as a fundamental social cause of race disparities in health. This study, which included 378 African American and 496 white prostate cancer cases and controls, assessed housing status in relation to prostate cancer risk and aggressiveness and in relation to DNA damage in tumor and adjacent normal tissue. Housing built before 1950, a measure known to be associated with lead exposure in children, was the housing status measure most often associated with prostate cancer outcomes, in particular higher Gleason grade and stage of disease. When PAH adduct levels, a measure of DNA damage, was assessed, lower census tract home ownership was associated with lower PAH adduct levels in tumor adjacent normal tissue of African American men. Our findings suggest that housing may be a risk factor for prostate cancer aggressiveness and prostate cancer disparities and that lead exposure and PAH adducts may be two routes through which housing influences prostate cancer outcomes.
Inflammatory cell mapping of the respiratory tract in fatal asthma

Background The site and distribution of inflammation in the airways of asthmatic patients has been largely investigated. Inflammatory cells are distributed in both large and small airways in asthma. It has been demonstrated that distal lung inflammation in asthma may significantly contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. The upper airways have also been implicated in the overall asthmatic inflammation. Although it is now accepted that lung inflammation is not restricted to the intrapulmonary airways in asthma, little is known about cell distribution in the other lung compartments and their relation to the intrapulmonary airways.
Comparison of laparoendoscopic single site (LESS) and conventional laparoscopic donor nephrectomy at a single institution

Most transplant centres harvest living donor kidneys via a conventional laparoscopic surgical approach. Laparoendoscopic single‐site donor nephrectomy (LESS‐DN) is a relatively novel minimally invasive approach that allows the surgery to be performed via a single incision. This technique may be advantageous in decreasing surgical morbidity and improving cosmetic outcomes, thus plausibly reducing the barriers to kidney donation. The study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of LESS‐DN in a large consecutive series of kidney donors. Comparative analysis between LDN and LESS‐DN showed that there was a significant decrease in intra‐operative blood loss and allograft warm ischaemia time in the LESS‐DN group, but also a significant increase in operating time. Other peri‐operative outcomes were similar between the two approaches. Evaluation of the LESS‐DN cases alone revealed that, the operating times did not significantly change through the course of the series. Using this outcome as a surrogate for technical difficulty suggests a relatively shallow learning curve for LESS‐DN.
A validation of electrohysterography for uterine activity monitoring during labour

Objectives. Validation of electrohysterography (EHG) as a method for uterine activity monitoring during labour by comparing with intra-uterine pressure catheter (IUPC) recordings. Design. Prospective observational study. Setting. Labour ward in a tertiary centre in the Netherlands. Population. Thirty-two women in labour. Methods. Simultaneous recording of uterine activity with EHG and IUPC for at least 30 min. Main outcome measures. Number of uterine contractions detected by both EHG and IUPC (sensitivity). Number of contractions detected by EHG only [positive predictive value (PPV)]. Correlation between contraction amplitude and duration measured by EHG and IUPC. Results. EHG detects uterine contractions accurately: sensitivity = 94.5% (95%CI: 87.5–100), PPV = 88.3% (95%CI: 76.2–100). The correlation of contractions' duration and amplitude between both methods is r = 0.31 (95%CI: 0.23–0.39) and r = 0.45 (95%CI: 0.38–0.52), respectively. Conclusions. EHG detects uterine contractions accurately during labour but the contraction's characteristics it measures are not directly comparable with that of IUPC.
Determination of antigen binding specificities of Cryptococcus neoformans factor sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

The competitive binding specificities of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and its derivatives to factor sera of Cryptococcus neoformans were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An effort was made to determine the epitope specificity of each factor serum. Despite the presence of antigenic factor 1 on all serotypes of C. neoformans, variations in inhibition ability were observed with different GXMs. The panspecific component of factor serum 1 (antibody 1) appeared to be due to the presence of more than one antibody component. The activity was dependent on the 6-O-acetyl substituent. GXMs of serotypes A and D inhibited factor serum 2 equally well, indicating a low titer for the antibody 7 component. Serotype B GXM was a poor inhibitor, and serotype C GXM did not inhibit factor serum 2. The activity of factor serum 2 was 6-O-acetyl dependent. GXMs from typical serotype A and serotype D isolates were excellent inhibitors of factor serum 3. GXMs from serotype B were poorly inhibitory and serotype C did not inhibit factor serum 3. The activity of factor serum 3 was 6-O-acetyl dependent. The activity of factor serum 4 was due predominantly to antibody component 6. The activity of factor 4 was directed mainly against serotype C, and it was independent of 6-O-acetyl substitution Factor serum 5 was specific for serotype B GXMs. The inhibitory effect was independent of 6-O-acetyl substitution, but the effect was diminished by reduction of the glucuronic acid. The GXMs with a typical serotype C structure inhibited antibody 6. O deacetylation of the GXMs did not affect their inhibitory activity. However, reduction of glucuronic acid reduced factor serum 6 binding. Factor serum 8 was specific to serotype D; native GXMs of serotype A were slightly inhibitory. O deacetylation of the serotype D GXMs abrogated the inhibitory effect. O deacetylation alone abrogates the activity of antibody components 1, 2, 3, and 8. Reduction of glucuronic acid reduces the inhibitory activity of the GXM to antibody components 4, 5, and 6. Partial GXM structures and methyl glycosides did not effectively inhibit the activity of any of the factor sera.
Buckwheat Starch : Structure and Characteristics – A Review

Buckwheat, which contains high nutritional values of protein, dietary fiber, phenolic compounds and minerals, is a major pseudo-cereal for processing functional foods, especially the Japanese buckwheat noodles (soba noodles). In buckwheat flour, starch is a main component which plays an important role in the functional properties of end-use food products. Buckwheat starch granules were spherical, oval and polygonal in shape and granule size distribution ranged from 2 to 6 μm. The apparent amylose content of buckwheat starches varied from 21.1 to 27.4%, while the actual amylose content ranged from 16 to 18%. X-ray diffraction pattern of buckwheat starches was the typical A-type crystal with 38–51% crystallinity. The gelatinization temperatures of buckwheat starch were 57.8–64.3°C for onset (To), 63.7–70.8°C for peak (Tp) and 70.8–85.8°C for complete (Tc) temperatures, and H values ranged from 2.14 to 15.0 J/g. Buckwheat amylopectin showed longer average chain length and larger amount of long chain than did the cereal amylopectins, while buckwheat amyloses were slightly larger than maize and rice amyloses, but similar to wheat and barley amyloses. The -amylolysis limits of buckwheat amylopectins and amyloses were similar to those of the other cereals. The pasting characteristic studies showed that buckwheat starches had similar peak viscosity, higher hot and cool paste viscosities and higher resistance to shear thinning than did wheat starch. These characteristics of buckwheat starches are considered to contribute significantly to the texture and quality of buckwheatbased food products. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________