Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Flow-Induced Diffusive Mobile Molecular Communication: First Hitting Time and Performance Analysis

This paper investigates the problem of flow-induced diffusive molecular communication under various mobility conditions, such as: 1) both transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) nanomachines are mobile; 2) TX is mobile and RX is fixed; and 3) TX is fixed and RX is mobile. In particular, a 1-D environment with a point TX and a fully absorbing point RX is considered. Closed-form expressions for the probability density function (PDF) of the first hitting time under the aforementioned mobile scenarios are derived, by characterizing the movement of the nanomachines and information molecules using Brownian motion with positive drift. The derived PDF expressions are validated through particle-based simulations. Based on these results, the performance of molecular communication with on-off keying (OOK) modulation in flow-induced diffusive channels is investigated. In particular, closed-form expressions for the probabilities of detection and false alarm with likelihood ratio test (LRT)-based decision rule, probability of error, and the achievable rate in the presence of inter-symbol interference, counting errors, and noise from the other sources are derived. Simulation results are presented to verify the theoretical results and to yield insights into the system performance for different mobility conditions.
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Contribute to Susceptibility to Trypanosoma congolense Infection by Suppressing CD4+ T Cell Proliferation and IFN-γ Production

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of bone marrow–derived myeloid cells that have immune-suppressive activities. These cells have been reported to suppress T cell immunity against tumors as well as in some parasitic and bacterial infections. However, their role during Trypanosoma congolense infection has not been studied. Given that immunosuppression is a hallmark of African trypanosomiasis, we investigated the role of MDSCs in immunity to T. congolense infection. We found increased numbers of MDSCs in the spleen and liver of infected mice, which correlated with increased parasitemia. Depletion of MDSCs significantly increased the percentage of proliferating and IFN-γ–producing CD4+ T cells from the spleen of T. congolense–infected mice. Furthermore, MDSCs from T. congolense–infected mice directly suppressed CD4+ T cell proliferation in a coculture setting. This suppressive effect was abolished by the arginase-1 inhibitor, Nω-hydroxy-nor-l-arginine (nor-NOHA), indicating that MDSCs suppress CD4+ T cell proliferation and function in an arginase-1–dependent manner. Indeed, depletion of MDSCs during infection led to control of the first wave of parasitemia and prolonged survival of infected mice. This was also associated with increased CD4+ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. Taken together, our findings identify an important role of MDSCs in the pathogenesis of experimental T. congolense infection via suppression of T cell proliferative and effector cytokine responses in an arginase-1–dependent manner.
Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet Supplemented with Extra‐Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts

Background Observational cohort studies and a secondary prevention trial have shown inverse associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular risk. Methods In a multicenter trial in Spain, we assigned 7447 participants (55 to 80 years of age, 57% women) who were at high cardiovascular risk, but with no cardiovascular disease at enrollment, to one of three diets: a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra‐virgin olive oil, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts, or a control diet (advice to reduce dietary fat). Participants received quarterly educational sessions and, depending on group assignment, free provision of extra‐virgin olive oil, mixed nuts, or small nonfood gifts. The primary end point was a major cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes). After a median follow‐up of 4.8 years, the trial was stopped on the basis of a prespecified interim analysis. In 2013, we reported the results for the primary end point in the Journal. We subsequently identified protocol deviations, including enrollment of household members without randomization, assignment to a study group without randomization of some participants at 1 of 11 study sites, and apparent inconsistent use of randomization tables at another site. We have withdrawn our previously published report and now report revised effect estimates based on analyses that do not rely exclusively on the assumption that all the participants were randomly assigned. Results A primary end‐point event occurred in 288 participants; there were 96 events in the group assigned to a Mediterranean diet with extra‐virgin olive oil (3.8%), 83 in the group assigned to a Mediterranean diet with nuts (3.4%), and 109 in the control group (4.4%). In the intention‐to‐treat analysis including all the participants and adjusting for baseline characteristics and propensity scores, the hazard ratio was 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53 to 0.91) for a Mediterranean diet with extra‐virgin olive oil and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.95) for a Mediterranean diet with nuts, as compared with the control diet. Results were similar after the omission of 1588 participants whose study‐group assignments were known or suspected to have departed from the protocol. Conclusions In this study involving persons at high cardiovascular risk, the incidence of major cardiovascular events was lower among those assigned to a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra‐virgin olive oil or nuts than among those assigned to a reduced‐fat diet. (Funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health, and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN35739639.)
Convergent evolution of gene expression in two high-toothed stickleback populations

Changes in developmental gene regulatory networks enable evolved changes in morphology. These changes can be in cis regulatory elements that act in an allele-specific manner, or changes to the overall trans regulatory environment that interacts with cis regulatory sequences. Here we address several questions about the evolution of gene expression accompanying a convergently evolved constructive morphological trait, increases in tooth number in two independently derived freshwater populations of threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Are convergently evolved cis and/or trans changes in gene expression associated with convergently evolved morphological evolution? Do cis or trans regulatory changes contribute more to the evolutionary gain of a morphological trait? Transcriptome data from dental tissue of ancestral low-toothed and two independently derived high-toothed stickleback populations revealed significantly shared gene expression changes that have convergently evolved in the two high-toothed populations. Comparing cis and trans regulatory changes using phased gene expression data from F1 hybrids, we found that trans regulatory changes were predominant and more likely to be shared among both high-toothed populations. In contrast, while cis regulatory changes have evolved in both high-toothed populations, overall these changes were distinct and not shared among high-toothed populations. Together these data suggest that a convergently evolved trait can occur through genetically distinct regulatory changes that converge on similar trans regulatory environments. Author Summary Convergent evolution, where a similar trait evolves in different lineages, provides an opportunity to study the repeatability of evolution. Convergent morphological evolution has been well studied at multiple evolutionary time scales ranging from ancient, to recent, such as the gain in tooth number in freshwater stickleback fish. However, much less is known about the accompanying evolved changes in gene regulation during convergent evolution. Here we compared evolved changes in gene expression in dental tissue of ancestral low-toothed marine fish to fish from two independently derived high-toothed freshwater populations. We also partitioned gene expression changes into those affecting a gene’s regulatory elements (cis), and those affecting the overall regulatory environment (trans). Both freshwater populations have evolved similar gene expression changes, including a gain of expression of putative dental genes. These similar gene expression changes are due mainly to shared changes to the trans regulatory environment, while the cis changes are largely population specific. Thus, during convergent evolution, overall similar and perhaps predictable transcriptome changes can evolve despite largely different underlying genetic bases.
Neurofilament Subunit L Levels in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Background: There are no reliable biomarkers that could evaluate the disease burden in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Objectives: The aim of our study is to evaluate the changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum neurofilament subunit L (NF-L) in patients with ALS and to analyze the correlations between the levels of NF-L and clinical parameters. Method: CSF and serum samples were obtained from 80 ALS patients and 40 controls. The levels of NF-L in CSF and serum were assessed, and disease progression parameters including duration, revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-r) score, disease progression rate (DPR), upper motor neuron (UMN) score, and survival were analyzed by registered neurologists. All samples were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed using Prism software. Results: Compared to the controls, the ALS patients displayed significantly increased levels of NF-L; these values were negatively correlated with the ALSFRS-r score and positively correlated with the decrease in ALSFRS-r score, DPR, and UMN score. There was no correlation between levels of NF-L and duration. In addition, the cumulative survival rate in ALS patients with a low level of NF-L was higher than in patients with a high level of NF-L. Conclusions: NF-L levels increased in CSF and serum of patients with ALS. NF-L may thus be a neurodegenerative biomarker for predicting ALS severity and progression, and the survival of patients with this disease.
Evaluation of Sexual Dysfunction in Females With Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Objectives This study aims to evaluate sexual function in females with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), compare them with healthy controls, and demonstrate the effects of AS on female sexual functions. Patients and methods Fifty-four AS patients (mean age 39.33±8.57 years; range 20 to 55 years) and 56 similar aged healthy controls were included in the study. Depression levels and sexual functions of all participants were evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), respectively. Other assessment methods included the visual analog scale for pain, fatigue, and importance of sexual life; Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index for disease activity, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index for functionality, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index for spinal mobility, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) for quality of life. Results Total FSFI and all FSFI subscale scores and number of weekly sexual intercourse were significantly lower while Beck Depression Inventory score was significantly higher in females with AS when compared to controls. In AS patients with depression, total FSFI score and FSFI subscales scores of desire and arousal were significantly lower than those without depression. In females with AS, there were negative correlations between total FSFI score and duration of complaint, Beck Depression Inventory score, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index score, visual analog scale score, age, and duration of marriage while positive correlations existed between total FSFI score and visual analog scale importance of sexual life score and number of weekly sexual intercourse, SF-36 fatigue, SF-36 social function, SF-36 pain, and SF-36 mental component scores. Conclusion Sexual dysfunction was more common in female AS patients without marked impairment in body image and hip involvement when compared to normal population. Sexual problems which are generally neglected should be handled regardless of disease activity when evaluating patients with AS and establishing a treatment plan.
Interaction of power quality disturbances within 2–150 kHz (supraharmonics): Analytical framework

Disturbances interaction at supraharmonic range (2 150 kHz) between two lighting devices and a power source is described in this article by means of an Electrical Power method. Currents and voltages were measured from a LED lamp, a CFL device and an AC Power Source under normal operation in order to describe how conducted disturbances interact within the 2 150 kHz frequency range. From an Electrical Power point of view, the devices used are described as Power-sharing agents and therefore the disturbances observed from their operation can be exchanged not only with their electric neighbourhood, but also throughout the Frequency Domain. This method can be used for the Interaction Description in Frequency Domain of steady-state disturbances between devices without directly considering the impedance behaviour of such devices.
Experiential contributions to social dominance in a rat model of fragile-X syndrome

Social withdrawal is one phenotypic feature of the monogenic neurodevelopmental disorder fragile-X. Using a ‘knockout' rat model of fragile-X, we examined whether deletion of the Fmr1 gene that causes this condition would affect the ability to form and express a social hierarchy as measured in a tube test. Male fragile-X ‘knockout' rats living together could successfully form a social dominance hierarchy, but were significantly subordinate to wild-type animals in mixed group cages. Over 10 days of repeated testing, the fragile-X mutant rats gradually showed greater variance and instability of rank during their tube-test encounters. This affected the outcome of future encounters with stranger animals from other cages, with the initial phenotype of wild-type dominance lost to a more complex picture that reflected, regardless of genotype, the prior experience of winning or losing. Our findings offer a novel insight into the complex dynamics of social interactions between laboratory living groups of fragile-X and wild-type rats. Even though this is a monogenic condition, experience has an impact upon future interactions with other animals. Gene/environment interactions should therefore be considered in the development of therapeutics.
High-Frequency Measurement of Ultrasound Using Flexural Ultrasonic Transducers

Flexural ultrasonic transducers are a widely available type of ultrasonic sensor used for flow measurement, proximity, and industrial metrology applications. The flexural ultrasonic transducer is commonly operated in one of the axisymmetric modes of vibration in the low-kilohertz range, under 50 kHz, but there is an increasing demand for higher frequency operation, towards 300 kHz. At present, there are no reports of the measurement of high-frequency vibrations using flexural ultrasonic transducers. This research reports on the measurement of high-frequency vibration in flexural ultrasonic transducers, utilizing electrical impedance and phase measurement, laser Doppler vibrometry, and response spectrum analysis through the adoption of two flexural ultrasonic transducers in a transmit–receive configuration. The outcomes of this research demonstrate the ability of flexural ultrasonic transducers to measure high-frequency ultrasound in air, vital for industrial metrology.
Graph-Based Decoding for Event Sequencing and Coreference Resolution

Events in text documents are interrelated in complex ways. In this paper, we study two types of relation: Event Coreference and Event Sequencing. We show that the popular tree-like decoding structure for automated Event Coreference is not suitable for Event Sequencing. To this end, we propose a graph-based decoding algorithm that is applicable to both tasks. The new decoding algorithm supports flexible feature sets for both tasks. Empirically, our event coreference system has achieved state-of-the-art performance on the TAC-KBP 2015 event coreference task and our event sequencing system beats a strong temporal-based, oracle-informed baseline. We discuss the challenges of studying these event relations.
CDMP1 overexpression mediates inflammatory cytokine-induced apoptosis via inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway in rat dorsal root ganglia neurons

Cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein-1 (CDMP1) is a polypeptide growth factor with specific cartilage inducibility, which is predominantly expressed in the developmental long bone cartilage core and in the pre-cartilage matrix in the embryonic stage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the roles and the mechanisms of CDMP1 overexpression on the apoptosis of rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons that were induced by inflammatory cytokines. Cell counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay were performed to examine cell viability and apoptosis. ELISA, hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry assays were performed to examine the levels of several factors in DRG tissues. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. The results demonstrated that CDMP1 expression was downregulated, while inflammatory cytokine expression was upregulated in DRG tissues derived from lumbar disc herniation (LDH) model rats. In addition, DRG cells from LDH rats exhibited increased apoptosis compared with control rats. CDMP1 overexpression enhanced the cell viability of inflammatory cytokine-induced DRG cells, and suppressed the apoptosis of inflammatory cytokine-induced DRG cells via regulating the expression levels of Caspase-3/8/9, BCL2 apoptosis regulator, and BCL2 associated X. Furthermore, CDMP1 overexpression was demonstrated to affect the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway in the inflammatory cytokine-induced DRG cells. In conclusion, the present findings suggested that CDMP1 overexpression mediated inflammatory cytokine-induced apoptosis via Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in rat DRG cells.
Antischistosomal Properties of Hederacolchiside A1 Isolated from Pulsatilla chinensis

Background: Schistosomiasis is a major neglected disease for which the current control strategy involves mass treatment with praziquantel, the only available drug. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new antischistosomal compounds. Methods: The antischistosomal activity of hederacolchiside A1 (HSA) were determined by total or female worm burden reductions in mice harboring Schistosoma japonicum or S. mansoni. Pathology parameters were detected on HSA against 1-day-old S. japonicum-harboring mice. Moreover, we confirmed the antischistosomal effect of HSA on newly transformed schistosomula (NTS) of S. japonicum in vitro. Results: HSA, a natural product isolated from Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, was initially corroborated to possess promising antischistosomal properties. We demonstrated that HSA had high activity against S. japonicum and S. mansoni less in 11 days old parasites harbored in mice. The antischistosomal effect was even more than the currently used drugs, praziquantel, and artesunate. Furthermore, HSA could ameliorate the pathology parameters in mice harboring 1-day-old juvenile S. japonicum. We also confirmed that HSA-mediated antischistosomal activity is partly due to the morphological changes in the tegument system when NTS are exposed to HSA. Conclusions: HSA may have great potential to be an antischistosomal agent for further research.
Association of Patient Perceptions of Cardiovascular Risk and Beliefs on Statin Drugs With Racial Differences in Statin Use: Insights From the Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management Registry

Importance African American individuals face higher atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk than white individuals; reasons for these differences, including potential differences in patient beliefs regarding preventive care, remain unknown. Objective To evaluate differences in statin use between white and African American patients and identify the potential causes for any observed differences. Design, Setting, and Participants Using the 2015 Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management (PALM) Registry data, we compared statin use and dosing between African American and white outpatient adults who were potentially eligible for primary or secondary prevention statins. A total of 138 US community health care practices contributed to the data. Data analysis was conducted from March 2017 to May 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes were use and dosing of statin therapy according to the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline by African American or white race. Secondary outcomes included lipid levels and patient-reported beliefs. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between race and statin undertreatment, a category combining people who were not taking a statin or those taking a dose intensity lower than recommended. Results A total of 5689 patients (806 [14.2%] African American) in the PALM registry were eligible for statin therapy. African American individuals were less likely than white individuals to be treated with a statin (570/807 [70.6%] vs 3654/4883 [74.8%]; P = .02). Among those treated, African American patients were less likely than white patients to receive a statin at guideline-recommended intensity (269 [33.3%] vs 2145 [43.9%], respectively; P < .001; relative risk, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.00-1.15]; P = .05, after adjustment for demographic and clinical factors). The median (interquartile range) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of patients receiving treatment were higher among African American than white individuals (97.0 [76.0-121.0] mg/dL vs 85.0 [68.0-105.0] mg/dL; P < .001). African American individuals were less likely than white individuals to believe statins were safe (292 [36.2%] vs 2800 [57.3%]; P < .001) or effective (564 [70.0%] vs 3635 [74.4%]; P = .008) and were less likely to trust their clinician (663 [82.3%] vs 4579 [93.8%]; P < .001). Group differences in statin undertreatment were not significant after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and clinician factors, socioeconomic status, and patient beliefs (final adjusted relative risk, 1.03 [95% CI 0.96–1.11]; P = .35). Conclusions and Relevance African American individuals were less likely to receive guideline-recommended statin therapy. Demographic, clinical, socioeconomic, belief-related, and clinician differences contributed to observed differences and represent potential targets for intervention.
Value prediction for security (VPsec): Countering fault attacks in modern microprocessors

This work proposes VPsec, a novel hardware-only scheme that leverages value prediction in an embodiment and system design to mitigate fault attacks in general purpose microprocessors. The design of VPsec augments value prediction schemes in modern microprocessors with fault detection logic and reaction logic, to mitigate fault attacks to both the datapath and the value predictor itself. VPsec requires minimal hardware changes (negligible area impact) with respect to a baseline processor supporting value prediction, it has no software overheads {no increase in memory footprint), and, under common attack scenarios, it retains most of the performance benefits of value prediction. Our evaluation of VPsec demonstrates its efficacy in countering fault attacks and retaining performance in modern microprocessors.