Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rate Distortion for Lossy In-Network Linear Function Computation and Consensus: Distortion Accumulation and Sequential Reverse Water-Filling

We consider the problem of distributed lossy linear function computation in a tree network. We examine two cases: 1) data aggregation (only one sink node computes) and 2) consensus (all nodes compute the same function). By quantifying the accumulation of information loss in distributed computing, we obtain fundamental limits on network computation rate as a function of incremental distortions (and hence incremental loss of information) along the edges of the network. The above characterization, based on quantifying distortion accumulation, offers an improvement over classical cut-set type techniques, which are based on overall distortions instead of incremental distortions. This quantification of information loss qualitatively resembles information dissipation in cascaded channels [2]. Surprisingly, this accumulation effect of distortion happens even at infinite blocklength. Combining this observation with an inequality on the dominance of mean-square quantities over relative-entropy quantities, we obtain outer bounds on the rate distortion function that are tighter than classical cut-set bounds by a difference, which can be arbitrarily large in both data aggregation and consensus. We also obtain inner bounds on the optimal rate using random Gaussian coding, which differ from the outer bounds by $\mathcal {O}(\sqrt {D})$ , where $D$ is the overall distortion. The obtained inner and outer bounds can provide insights on rate (bit) allocations for both the data aggregation problem and the consensus problem. We show that for tree networks, the rate allocation results have a mathematical structure similar to classical reverse water-filling for parallel Gaussian sources. Apart from data aggregation and distributed consensus, the distortion accumulation analysis framework is also applicable in large-scale data summarization through histograms and linear sketching, e.g., word counting tasks for document summarization.
Economic Instability, Food Insecurity, and Child Health in the Wake of the Great Recession

Although there is a wealth of research on the relationship between income level and employment status and child well-being, the relationship between economic instability and health during early childhood is understudied. We examine the associations between the incidence, accumulation, and timing of intrayear employment and income instability with household and child food insecurity and child health using a nationally representative sample of households. The sample includes children age 3–5 from households in the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation (N=5,056). We find that young children’s households experience high levels of both income and employment instability. Both the incidence and the accumulation of instability predict poorer child outcomes, more recent instability is more strongly associated with child outcomes, and these relations are stronger for children with less educated parents. Employment and income changes have separate, unique associations with each outcome and operate in somewhat different ways.
Relationships between physiological indicators in blood, and their yield, as well as chemical composition of milk obtained from organic dairy cows.

BACKGROUND The occurrence of metabolic overload in cows maintained in organic herds is very likely, because organic production promotes feeding with high roughage diets and discourages supplementation with concentrates supplementation. It has the potential to negatively affect milk quality. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of physiological indicators in blood, reflecting the energy metabolism and liver status of dairy cows kept in organic herds, on the content of bioactive components in milk and the influence of lactation stage and feeding season on changes in milk components. RESULTS A significant positive correlation was found between β-hydroxybutyric acid and the daily milk yield of lactating cows. β-Hydroxybutyric acid was negatively correlated with lactation phase and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as saturated fatty acids content in milk. A significant negative correlation was observed between average daily milk yield and alanine aminotransferase concentration in blood. A low level of production in organic farms had a positive impact on the content of conjugated linoleic acid (20% increase), vitamin A (21% increase) and vitamin E (11% increase). CONCLUSION The study has shown significant correlations between metabolic profiles and milk yields, as well as milk composition. In addition, there is evidence that the intensity of the production system significantly influences the metabolic profile and chemical composition of cow's milk. It could even be concluded that the ecological system affects not only the quality of milk, but also the health of cows.
Evidence for phosphorylation‐dependent internalization of recombinant human ρ1 GABAC receptors

1 Recombinant wild‐type or mutant human ρ1 GABA receptors were expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 or monkey COS‐7 cells and studied using the patch clamp technique. 2 Standard whole‐cell recordings with 4 mM Mg‐ATP in the patch pipette induced a time‐dependent decrease in the GABA‐activated current (IGABA) amplitude that was not the result of a decrease in GABA sensitivity. In contrast, IGABA remained stable when recordings were obtained using the perforated patch configuration or with standard whole‐cell recording and no Mg‐ATP in the patch pipette. 3 The inhibitors of serine/threonine protein kinases KN‐62 (20 μM) or staurosporine (20 nM) prevented the time‐dependent decrease in the amplitude of IGABA seen in the presence of ATP. Alkaline phosphatase (220 U ml−1), when added to the patch pipette in the absence of ATP, induced a transient potentiation of IGABA. Although the protein kinase C (PKC) activator 4β‐phorbol 12‐myristate, 13‐acetate (PMA) did not reduce the amplitude of IGABA, inclusion of the catalytic domain of PKC in the recording pipette accelerated the time‐dependent decrease in current amplitude. These data suggest that phosphorylation is involved in the regulation of the amplitude of IGABA. 4 Mutation of the three PKC consensus sequences of the ρ1 receptor had no significant effect on the decline in IGABA, indicating that direct phosphorylation of these putative sites on the ρ1 receptor does not underlie the time‐dependent decrease in amplitude. 5 In COS‐7 cells transfected with wild‐type ρ1 receptors, the amplitude of IGABA had completely recovered to the original value when the same cells were repatched after 30‐40 min, indicating that the decline in IGABA was a reversible process. 6 The inhibitor of actin filament formation cytochalasin B, when added to the patch pipette in the absence of ATP, induced a time‐dependent inactivation suggesting that the actin cytoskeleton may play a role in the regulation of the amplitude. 7 Coincident with the decrease in the amplitude of IGABA, the cell capacitance significantly decreased in the presence of ATP in the patch pipette. This decrease in capacitance was not observed in the absence of Mg‐ATP. The decrease in the membrane surface area suggests that receptor internalization could be a potential mechanism for the observed inactivation. 8 At 32 °C, compared with 22 °C, the rate and magnitude of the decline was increased dramatically. In contrast, at 16 °C, no significant change in IGABA was observed over the 20 min recording time. This marked temperature sensitivity is consistent with receptor internalization as a mechanism for the time‐dependent decline in IGABA. 9 The specificity of the decrease in IGABA was assessed by coexpressing the voltage‐dependent potassium channel Kv1.4 along with the ρ1 receptor in HEK293 cells. The amplitude of the potassium current (IKv1.4) exhibited very little decrement in comparison to IGABA suggesting that the putative GABA receptor internalization was not the consequence of a non‐specific membrane retrieval.
IgA Nephropathy Associated with Thin Basement Membrane with or without Inflammatory Disease: Getting a Different Prognosis?

Background. Thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) patients with additional inflammatory diseases and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) have not been reported before. It was unclear that if the prognosis of these patients is better or worse than patients with IgAN and TBMN, or IgAN patients with normal glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Methods. We first reported five TBMN patients with additional inflammatory diseases and IgAN: three were with rheumatoid arthritis, and two had Crohn's disease. Clinical and laboratory features were analyzed between this group (group 3), IgAN patients with normal GBM (group 1), and patients with TBMN and IgAN (group 2). Results. Significant differences were observed in serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM between groups 1 and 3, p < 0.001, and between groups 2 and 3, p < 0.001. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in group 3 was significantly lower than that of groups 1 and 2, p < 0.01, respectively. Conclusion. The prognosis of these patients is worse than patients with IgAN and TBMN or IgAN patients with normal GBM. Serum immunoglobulin levels and GFR in these patients were different from patients with IgAN and TBMN, or IgAN patients with normal GBM.
ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF COMMUNITY BASED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN PROMOTING LITERACY IN UBE SCHOOLS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the contributions of Community Based Management Organizations in promoting Literacy in UBE schools in Kaduna State. The study was carried out with the objectives to assess the contributions of community based management organizations in promoting literacy in UBE schools in Kaduna State, and to find out the relevance of literacy towards community development. The study adopted survey research design with the target population of 4225 headmasters, 411 principals and 5301 teachers in UBE schools in Kaduna State. A sample size of 497 respondents was sampled from the entire population using random sampling technique which consisted of 211 headmasters, 21 principals and 265 teachers. A close ended questionnaire tagged “Contributions of Community Organizations in Promoting Literacy Questionnaire” was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts of the rank of senior lecturer in Measurement and Evaluation, English language and Curriculum. The reliability level of 0.85 was obtained using Cronbach alpha technique. The researcher with the help of three research assistants administered the questionnaire to the respondents. In answering the research questions, frequency counts, mean and standard deviation were used, while Kruskal-Wallis was used to test the formulated hypotheses at 0.5 level of significance. Finding revealed that community based management organizations contributed in promoting literacy in UBE schools in Kaduna State, and that literacy is relevant and play crucial role in community development. The study concluded that community based management organizations contributed in areas such as advocacy on enrolment, provision of textbooks, notebooks, biros, charts, maps, pictures, flashcards and so on, in promoting literacy in UBE schools in Kaduna State. Recommendations were put forward among others that community based management organizations should contribute more to the production and distribution of literacy and other instructional materials for UBE schools in Kaduna State. This will help equip pupils with functional literacy skills. Article visualizations:
Association between Normal Tissue Complications after Radiotherapy and Polymorphic Variations in TGFB1 and XRCC1 Genes

Abstract Genetic predictive biomarkers of radiosensitivity are being sought to individualize radiation treatment of cancer patients. In this pilot case-control study, we tested the association between TGFB1 T869C codon 10 Leu/Pro (rs1982073), XRCC1 G28152A codon 399 Arg/Gln (rs25487), and XRCC3 C18067T codon 241 Thr/Met (rs861539) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and late reaction to radiotherapy in 60 nasopharyngeal cancer patients. Subcutaneous and deep tissue fibrosis was scored using the RTOG/EORTC grading system. Patients with moderate to severe fibrosis (radiosensitive cases, G2–3, n = 30) were matched and compared to those with little or no reaction (controls, G0–1, n = 30). The three nonsynonymous SNPs were genotyped by direct DNA sequencing. Significant association was observed for TGFB1 T869C and XRCC1 G28152A genotypes (P ≤ 0.05). Both variant alleles, TGFB1 869C and XRCC1 28152A, were associated with a lower grade of fibrosis (odds ratios were 0.41, 95% CI: 0.20–0.86, P = 0.02 and 0.30, 95% CI: 0.10–0.89, P = 0.02, respectively), and therefore the wild-types were the risk alleles. Interestingly, there was a significant difference in the median number of risk alleles between the radiosensitive and the control groups (P = 0.006). We conclude that radiotherapy complications are associated with genetic variations in our nasopharynx cancer patients. Our findings support the assumption of the combined effects of multiple SNPs. Large-scale studies are required to confirm these findings before polymorphisms can be used as predictive markers to individualize radiation therapy on genetic bases.
Human resource management in Chinese multinationals in the United Kingdom: The interplay of institutions, culture, and strategic choice

This is a study of the challenges faced by Chinese expatriate managers and their strategic responses in securing a workable degree of alignment in UK subsidiaries, against a backdrop of competing home and host country pressures. Although much of the literature on home and host country effects tends to either adopt a culture or an institutional approach this study highlights the intermeshed nature of the two. In locating cultural dynamics within an institutional firmament, this study juxtaposes the effects of each, and draws conclusions as to their intersection. It is founded on in-depth interviews with home and host country managers. The findings suggest, on the one hand, Chinese expatriate managers tended to see local regulations as an obstacle to efficiency, rather than as a means to access context specific complementarities. On the other hand, these managers recognized the need to fit in with established locally specific ways of doing things and in securing sufficient staff buy in to sustain operations, and played a key intermediary role between HQ and subsidiary.
Propranolol Induced Changes in Plasma Catecholamine, Corticosterone, T4, T3 and Prolactin Levels in the Pigeon

Concentrations of plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline, corticosterone, thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and prolactin were measured in pigeons at 22 degrees C after intravenous injection of propranolol (1 mg/kg). An increase in catecholamines occurred in 5 or 15 min. T4, T3 and prolactin increased within 30 and 60 min after injection, however, after correction for the differences in plasma protein content, only the concentration of prolactin was significantly above the control values. It is concluded that the impairment of heat production produced by propranolol in birds is not primarily induced by inhibition of the secretion or release of these hormones.
Effects of Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection on Survival in Veterans With HIV Treated With Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Background:With highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) available for patients with HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has emerged as a potentially important cause of mortality in coinfected patients. Several studies have investigated the effect of coinfection on mortality, with conflicting results. Methods:The study cohort consisted of HIV-infected veterans on HAART receiving care at US Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. Inclusion was based on first HAART prescription between January 1997 and February 2003, HCV antibody test result, and baseline CD4 and HIV viral load results within 1 year of starting HAART. We fitted Cox proportional hazards models to study the effect of HCV serostatus on survival time from HAART initiation, controlling for patient demographic and clinical characteristics, facility characteristics, HAART exposure, HAART response, and HCV treatment. Results:Of 12,216 patients in the study cohort, 38% were HCV-seropositive. During an observation time averaging 3.5 years, 2087 patients died. The adjusted hazard ratio for HCV-seropositive patients was 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-1.70; P < 0.0001) without a HAART exposure measure and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.26-1.51; P < 0.0001) with the measure. We obtained similar results in analyses also controlling for HAART response. Conclusions:HCV seropositivity was independently associated with increased risk of death in a large cohort of HAART-treated HIV-infected veterans. Given the success of HAART in extending the lives of HIV patients, HCV has become an important predictor of their mortality.
Systematic Review/Meta-analysis Association of HO-1 (GT) n Promoter Polymorphism and Cardiovascular Disease: A Reanalysis of the Literature

Background: Heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1), an inducible heme-degrading enzyme, has antiatherogenic effects through its enzymatic end products. HO-1 gene expression is modulated by a guanidine thymidine dinucleotide ([GT]n) repeat polymorphism in the promoter region. Shorter repeats with (GT)n < 25 are associated with higher inducibility and activity of HO-1. Methods: We performed a systematic review of all literature from 1997 to 2013 on the association of the HO-1 (GT)n and cardiovascular disease (CVD). On the basis of predefined criteria (patient characteristics, genotype data format, allelic distribution, repeat length cutoff) 41 articles were selected. Patients were redistributed into 4 homogeneous subpopulations: patients with CVD (CVD group), patients without CVD (nonCVD), ‘controls’ with unknown cardiovascular status (unspecified) and children younger than 20 years of age (unselected). Genotype distributions (homozygous short [SS] or long [LL], and heterozygous) of the 4 patient categories were compared and odds ratios (ORs) for CVD were calculated using logistic regression analysis. RESUME
Influence of capital structure on firm´s financial performance : an inter-industry investigation of German listed firms

This paper investigates the influence of capital structure on the firm performance of German public listed firms. A fixed effect regression model has been used on unbalanced panel data of all non-financial and non-governmental companies over the period 2012-2017. Capital structure was measured by the book values of short-term debt, long-term debt, and total debt. ROE, ROA and Tobin`s Q have been used as measures of firm performance. The findings show that on a country level, capital structure has a linear and positive influence on firm performance for the accounting-based measures ROE and ROA. The market, however, seems not to recognize this relationship. Furthermore, the study investigated the influence capital structure has on firm performance across the different industries and the results show strong evidence that this influence differs across the industries analyzed. This means that a general conclusion on a country level, without controlling for the different industries might be misleading and should therefore be avoided
Purification and Characterization of Extracellular Pectinolytic Enzymes Produced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

An exopolygalacturonase (exoPG) and an exopolymethylgalacturonase (exoPMG) produced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum have been purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatography. The exoPG and the exoPMG were purified 66- and 50-fold, respectively, by using a series of separation procedures that included ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel chromatography. Molecular masses of the native proteins were 68 kDa for exoPG and 140 kDa for exoPMG. The pH optima of the enzymes were about pH 5, and their optimum temperature was 45°C. Activities of both enzymes were inhibited by Hg2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and p-chloromercuribenzoate. ExoPMG activity, in contrast to exoPG activity, was stimulated by Mn2+ and Co2+. ExoPMG hydrolyzed only citrus pectin, while exoPG degraded sodium polygalacturonate and, to a lesser extent, citrus pectin. The exo mode of action of the enzymes was revealed by thin-layer chromatography of substrate hydrolysates. Antibodies raised against each purified protein exhibited no cross-reaction, thus confirming the biochemical specificities of the enzymes.
Acute and chronic toxicity of five selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in Ceriodaphnia dubia

Contamination of surface waters by pharmaceutical chemicals has raised concern among environmental scientists because of the potential for negative effects on aquatic organisms. Of particular importance are pharmaceutical compounds that affect the nervous or endocrine systems because effects on aquatic organisms are possible at low environmental concentrations. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are drugs used to treat clinical depression in humans, and have been detected in low concentrations in surface waters. In this investigation, the acute and chronic toxicity of five SSRIs (fluoxetine, Prozac®; fluvoxamine, Luvox®; paroxetine, Paxil®; citalopram, Celexa®; and sertraline, Zoloft®) were evaluated in the daphnid Ceriodaphnia dubia. For each SSRI, the 48‐h median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined in three static tests with neonate C. dubia, and chronic (8‐d) tests were conducted to determine no‐observable‐effect concentrations (NOEC) and lowest‐observable‐effect concentrations (LOEC) for reproduction endpoints. The 48‐h LC50 for the SSRIs ranged from 0.12 to 3.90 mg/L and the order of toxicity of the compounds was (lowest to highest): Citalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline. Mortality data for the 8‐d chronic tests were similar to the 48‐h acute data. The SSRIs negatively affected C. dubia reproduction by reducing the number of neonates per female, and for some SSRIs, by reducing the number of broods per female. For sertraline, the most toxic SSRI, the LOEC for the number of neonates per female was 0.045 mg/L and the NOEC was 0.009 mg/L. Results indicate that SSRIs can impact survival and reproduction of C. dubia; however, only at concentrations that are considerably higher than those expected in the environment.
Conjugal Alzheimer disease: risk in children when both parents have Alzheimer disease.

BACKGROUND There is limited information regarding children's risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) if both parents are affected. OBJECTIVE To determine the risk of AD in families in which both parents have AD. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING University research center. PARTICIPANTS A total of 111 families in which both parents had a clinical diagnosis of AD. Main Outcome Measure Frequency of AD in the children of spouses with AD. RESULTS The 111 couples with AD had 297 children surviving to adulthood; 22.6% of these adult children have developed AD. The risk of AD in these children increases with age, being 31.0% (58 of 187) in those older than 60 years and 41.8% (41 of 98) in those older than 70 years. Many children (79.0%) at risk in these families are still younger than 70 years, meaning that the occurrence of AD will increase in the coming years. A family history of AD beyond the parents did not change the risk of AD in the children but did reduce the median age at onset in affected children. The apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele played an important part in this phenomenon but did not explain all cases of AD in the children. CONCLUSIONS When both parents have AD, there is an increased risk of AD in their children beyond that of the general population. The role of family history and the specific genes involved in this phenomenon require a better definition.