Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analytical performance model of virtualized SDNs using network calculus

Software Defined Networks (SDN) are proposed as a new solution to facilitate dealing with some major network management issues. Just like other networks, SDNs are considered as a communication resource which can be shared between several tenants. However several virtualization solutions are proposed in the past to provide necessary mechanisms to slice SDN between several virtual networks, but virtualizing SDN can cause some performance degradation issues (e.g., additional packet forwarding latency). In this paper a novel network calculus based analytical model is proposed to get the upper bounds on some performance parameters of virtualized SDNs.
Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase phosphorylation in forebrain neurones contributes to osmoregulatory mechanisms

The mechanisms of osmotically induced vasopressin secretion from the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory cells, which is crucial for body fluid homeostasis, are not yet fully understood. Extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinases (ERK) are mitogen‐activated protein kinases that transduce extracellular stimuli into intracellular post‐translational and transcriptional responses and might be involved in the regulation of vasopressin release in response to changes in osmolality. We found that ERK was dose‐dependently activated (phosphorylated) in the rat osmosensitive forebrain regions, including magnocellular neurosecretory cells, by increases in osmolality induced by hypertonic solutions. Inhibition of ERK phosphorylation reduced hypertonically induced activation of osmosensitive forebrain neurones and vasopressin release. Our results identify ERK activation as a new element contributing to the osmoregulatory mechanisms of vasopressin release.
Do Mergers Increase Product Variety? Evidence from Radio Broadcasting

Mergers can reduce costs and alter incentives about how to position products, so that theory alone cannot predict whether mergers will increase product variety. We document the effect of mergers on variety by exploiting the natural experiment provided by the 1996 Telecommunications Act. We find that consolidation reduced station entry and increased the number of formats available relative to the number of stations. We find some evidence that increased concentration increases variety absolutely. Based on the programming overlap of jointly owned stations, we can infer that the effects operate through product crowding that is consistent with spatial preemption.
Trials for Reducing Aflatoxin B1 Residues in Chicken Meat and Eggs using a Newly Developed Aflatoxin B1 Vaccine

Fifty broiler chicks (seven days old) and 30 egg laying hens in the production phase (130 days old) were used in this study. Both of the broiler chicks and the egg layers were divided into test and control groups. Chickens and hens in the test groups were immunized S/C with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) vaccine adjuvanted with Isa 70 oil adjuvant. Vaccinated birds received 2 doses of the vaccine at two weeks interval. The control groups were kept non-immunized. One week following the booster dose, the birds of both vaccinated and control groups were challenged with aflatoxin contaminated diet (78μg/kg) for 17 days. Serum samples were collected at 0, 14, 28, 45 days of the experiment for measurement of aflatoxin B1-specific antibodies production using ELISA. The titers of aflatoxin B1-specific antibodies in chicken sera of immunized birds ranged from 1/1600 1/3200 when measured 1 week after the booster dose. At the end of the experiment, samples of edible chicken products from both the immunized and non-immunized control groups were collected and tested for AFB1 residues in an attempt to prove practically the ability of AFB1vaccine to reduce their level in these products. AFB1 residues were found in breast muscles of challenged non-immunized birds (34.3-49.0 pg/g) while no detectable levels were recorded in those collected from the immunized birds. Moreover, AFB1 residues were found in liver of challenged non-immunized birds (16-25 pg/g), and were not detected in vaccinated birds. AFB1 residues were also detected in eggs of challenged non-immunized birds (0.2pg/g) and were not detected in eggs from AFB1 vaccine immunized egg layers.
Predictors of Fetal Outcome in Pregnant Trauma Patients: A Five-Year Institutional Review

Injury Severity Score (ISS) and lactate are controversial in predicting fetal outcome. A retrospective review was conducted to determine whether ISS and lactate are valuable in predicting fetal survival in injured pregnant patients. Injured pregnant women were identified by ICD-9 codes from our Trauma Registry, Emergency Department Registry, and hospital medical records. Records were reviewed for demographic data, mechanism of injury, ISS, Glascow Coma Scale, lactate, vital signs, and maternal/fetal outcome. To determine statistical analysis, χ2 and t test analysis was performed. From 2001 to 2005, 294 women reported injuries. Most patients (51.7%) were discharged from the Emergency Department, yet 18 per cent were admitted to Trauma Surgery. The average maternal and gestational age was 23.4 years and 19.6 weeks, respectively. Seventy-two (33.3%) patients were in the first trimester. The majority of patients (88.1%) were involved in blunt trauma, and 10 (3.9%) had poor fetal outcome (nine fetal deaths and one hydrops fetalis). There were no maternal deaths. Maternal age, first trimester, elevated lactate, and high ISS were significant risk factors for poor fetal outcome (P = 0.044, P = 0.0173, P = 0.0001, and P = 0.0001, respectively). Specific parameters (ISS, lactate, maternal age, and gestational age) may be helpful in predicting poor fetal outcome and directing patient management.
Zinc, pancreatic islet cell function and diabetes: new insights into an old story

Zn is an essential trace element, involved in many different cellular processes. A relationship between Zn, pancreatic function and diabetes was suggested almost 70 years ago. To emphasise the importance of Zn in biology, the history of Zn research in the field of diabetes along with a general description of Zn transporter families will be reviewed. The paper will then focus on the effects of Zn on pancreatic β-cell function, including insulin synthesis and secretion, Zn signalling in the pancreatic islet, the redox functions of Zn and its target genes. The recent association of two ‘Zn genes’, i.e. metallothionein (MT) and Zn transporter 8 (SLC 30A8), with type 2 diabetes at the genetic level and with insulin secretion in clinical studies offers a potential new way to identify new drug targets to modulate Zn homeostasis directly in β-cells. The action of Zn for insulin action in its target organs, as Zn signalling in other pancreatic islet cells, will be addressed. Therapeutic Zn–insulin preparations and the influence of Zn and Zn transporters in type 1 diabetes will also be discussed. An extensive review of the literature on the clinical studies using Zn supplementation in the prevention and treatment of both types of diabetes, including complications of the disease, will evaluate the overall beneficial effects of Zn supplementation on blood glucose control, suggesting that Zn might be a candidate ion for diabetes prevention and therapy. Clearly, the story of the links between Zn, pancreatic islet cells and diabetes is only now unfolding, and we are presently only at the first chapter.
NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHATE (REDUCED FORM) OXIDASE IS IMPORTANT FOR LPS-INDUCED ENDOTHELIAL CELL ACTIVATION

Activation of the endothelium plays an important role in the innate immune response. This process is associated with an increase in the production of superoxide (O2−) by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form; NADPH) oxidase. Our objective was to determine if O2− from NADPH oxidase contributes to activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by LPS as it does for TNF-α. We used the adhesion molecule intracellular adhesion molecule 1 and cytokine IL-8 as indicators of human umbilical vein endothelial cell activation and measured O2− production with chemiluminescence. LPS increased baseline and NADPH-stimulated O2− production. The increase was reduced by tiron, a protein kinase C inhibitor (bisindolylmaleimide I hydrochloride), the flavin inhibitor (diphenylene iodonium), and by a short interfering RNA against the p22phox component of NADPH oxidase. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase with the short interfering RNA reduced the induction by LPS of intracellular adhesion molecule 1 mRNA, protein, and IL-8 release (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The production of O2− by NADPH oxidase contributes to intracellular signaling by LPS in endothelial cells as it does for TNF-α and helps turn on the innate immune response in these cells.ABBREVIATIONS Lucigenin-Bis-N-methylacridinum nitrate; DPI-diphenylene iodonium; tiron-4,5-Dihydroxy-1, 3-benzene-disulfonic acid; HUVEC-human umbilical vein endothelial cells; ICAM-1-intercellular adhesion molecule type1; O2-superoxide
TRIGEMINAL NERVE RADIOSURGICAL TREATMENT IN INTRACTABLE CHRONIC CLUSTER HEADACHE : UNEXPECTED HIGH TOXICITY

Cluster headache (CH) is one of the most debilitating headache syndromes encountered. CH is characterized by attacks of strictly unilateral, severe pain with orbital, supraorbital, or temporal location. Attacks last 15 to 180 minutes and usually occur one or several times per day, especially at night. They are accompanied by ipsilateral conjunctival injection, lacrimation, rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, and agitation (6). CH is defined as chronic (CCH) when the attacks of paroxysmal hemicrania occur for longer than 1 year without remission or with remission lasting shorter than 1 month (6). The intractable chronic form of CH is rare, but constitutes a major clinical problem. Trigeminal activation in CH justifies surgical procedures on this nerve to relieve intractable CH cases (10). In 1998, Ford et al. (5) reported positive results after radiosurgical targeting of the trigeminal nerve. To strictly evaluate the safety efficacy of trigeminal nerve radiosurgery in CCH, we organized a bicentric prospective selfcontrolled trial and we published the preliminary results of this study in 2005 (2). The aim of this article is to report the mediumand longterm results of radiosurgery, especially in CCH.
Environmental stress increases the entry of cytoplasmic organellar DNA into the nucleus in plants

Mitochondria and chloroplasts (photosynthetic members of the plastid family of cytoplasmic organelles) in eukaryotic cells originated more than a billion years ago when an ancestor of the nucleated cell engulfed two different prokaryotes in separate sequential events. Extant cytoplasmic organellar genomes contain very few genes compared with their candidate free-living ancestors, as most have functionally relocated to the nucleus. The first step in functional relocation involves the integration of inactive DNA fragments into nuclear chromosomes, and this process continues at high frequency with attendant genetic, genomic, and evolutionary consequences. Using two different transplastomic tobacco lines, we show that DNA migration from chloroplasts to the nucleus is markedly increased by mild heat stress. In addition, we show that insertion of mitochondrial DNA fragments during the repair of induced double-strand breaks is increased by heat stress. The experiments demonstrate that the nuclear influx of organellar DNA is a potentially a source of mutation for nuclear genomes that is highly susceptible to temperature fluctuations that are well within the range experienced naturally.
Maintenance of discovered informative rule sets: incremental deletion

We propose here an efficient data-mining algorithm to discover the informative rule set (IRS) when the transaction database is updated under deletion, i.e., when a small transaction data set is deleted from the original database. An IRS is defined as the smallest subset of an association rule set such that it has the same prediction sequence by confidence priority as the association rule set. A top-down level-wise approach for the discovery of IRS on static database has been proposed in reference 9. Based on the Fast UPdating technique (FUP2) for the updating of discovered association rules, we present here an algorithm to maintain the discovered IRS, under incremental deletion. Numerical comparison with the nonincremental informative rule set approach is shown to demonstrate that our proposed technique requires less computation time, in terms of number of database scanning, number of candidate rules generated and processing time, to maintain the discovered informative rule set.
INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY OF THE QUIESCENT MEDIUM OF NEARBY CLOUDS. I. ICE FORMATION AND GRAIN GROWTH IN LUPUS

Infrared photometry and spectroscopy (1–25 μm) of background stars reddened by the Lupus molecular cloud complex are used to determine the properties of grains and the composition of ices before they are incorporated into circumstellar envelopes and disks. H2O ices form at extinctions of AK = 0.25 ± 0.07 mag (AV = 2.1 ± 0.6). Such a low ice formation threshold is consistent with the absence of nearby hot stars. Overall, the Lupus clouds are in an early chemical phase. The abundance of H2O ice (2.3 ± 0.1 × 10−5 relative to NH) is typical for quiescent regions, but lower by a factor of three to four compared to dense envelopes of young stellar objects. The low solid CH3OH abundance (<3%–8% relative to H2O) indicates a low gas phase H/CO ratio, which is consistent with the observed incomplete CO freeze out. Furthermore it is found that the grains in Lupus experienced growth by coagulation. The mid-infrared (>5 μm) continuum extinction relative to AK increases as a function of AK. Most Lupus lines of sight are well fitted with empirically derived extinction curves corresponding to RV ∼ 3.5 (AK = 0.71) and RV ∼ 5.0 (AK = 1.47). For lines of sight with AK > 1.0 mag, the τ9. 7/AK ratio is a factor of two lower compared to the diffuse medium. Below 1.0 mag, values scatter between the dense and diffuse medium ratios. The absence of a gradual transition between diffuse and dense medium-type dust indicates that local conditions matter in the process that sets the τ9. 7/AK ratio. This process is likely related to grain growth by coagulation, as traced by the A7.4/AK continuum extinction ratio, but not to ice mantle formation. Conversely, grains acquire ice mantles before the process of coagulation starts.
Quantitative analysis of procalcitonin after pediatric cardiothoracic surgery

Procalcitonin appears to be an early and sensitive marker of bacterial infection in a variety of clinical settings. The use of levels of procalcitonin to predict infection in children undergoing cardiac surgery, however, may be complicated by the systemic inflammatory response that normally accompanies cardiopulmonary bypass. The aim of our study was to estimate peri-operative concentrations of procalcitonin in non-infected children undergoing cardiac surgery. Samples of serum for assay of procalcitonin were obtained in 53 patients at baseline, 24, 48, and 72 hours following cardiac surgery. Concentrations were assessed using an immunoluminetric technique. Median concentrations were lowest at baseline at less than 0.5 nanograms per millilitre, increased at 24 hours to 1.8 nanograms per millilitre, maximized at 48 hours at 2.1 nanograms per millilitre, and decreased at 72 hours to 1.3 nanograms per millilitre, but did not return to baseline levels. Ratios of concentrations between 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery as compared to baseline were 6.15, with 95 percent confidence intervals between 4.60 and 8.23, 6.49, with 95 percent confidence intervals from 4.55 to 9.27, and 4.26, with 95 percent confidence intervals between 2.78 and 6.51, respectively, with a p value less than 0.001. In 8 patients, who had no evidence of infection, concentrations during the period from 24 to 72 hours were well above the median for the group. We conclude that concentrations of procalcitonin in the serum increase significantly in children following cardiac surgery, with a peak at 48 hours, and do not return to baseline within 72 hours of surgery. A proportion of patients, in the absence of infection, had exaggerated elevations post-operatively.
Women who Kill their Children

Summary During a 6 year period (1970–75) 89 women charged with the killing or attempted murder of their children were examined in a female remand prison. Six types of maternal filicide were distinguished: battering mothers (36 cases), mentally ill mothers (24 cases), neonaticides (11 cases), retaliating mothers (9 cases), women who killed unwanted children (8 cases) and mercy killing (1 case). Types of filicide were compared on a number of social and psychiatric characteristics and on their offence patterns and court disposals. The operation of the Infanticide Act is discussed in the light of these findings.
Binding of Hoechst 33258 and its Derivatives to DNA

Abstract In the present work, we employed UV-VIS spectroscopy, fluorescence methods, and circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) to study the interaction of dye Hoechst 33258, Hoechst 33342, and their derivatives to poly[d(AT)]·poly[d(AT)], poly(dA)·poly(dT), and DNA dodecamer with the sequence 5′-CGTATATATACG-3′. We identified three types of complexes formed by Hoechst 33258, Hoechst 33342, and methylproamine with DNA, corresponding to the binding of each drug in monomer, dimer, and tetramer forms. In a dimer complex, two dye molecules are sandwiched in the same place of the minor DNA groove. Our data show that Hoechst 33258, Hoechst 33342, and methylproamine also form complexes of the third type that reflects binding of dye associates (probably tetramers) to DNA. Substitution of a hydrogen atom in the ortho position of the phenyl ring by a methyl group has a little effect on binding of monomers to DNA. However it reduces strength of binding of tetramers to DNA. In contrast, a Hoechst derivative containing the ortho-isopropyl group in the phenyl ring exhibits a low affinity to poly(dA)·poly(dT) and poly[d(AT)]·poly[d(AT)] and binds to DNA only in the monomer form. This can be attributed to a sterical hindrance caused by the ortho-isopropyl group for side-by-side accommodation of two dye molecules in the minor groove. Our experiments show that mode of binding of Hoechst 33258 derivatives and their affinity for DNA depend on substituents in the ortho position of the phenyl ring of the dye molecule. A statistical mechanical treatment of binding of Hoechst 33258 and its derivatives to a polynucleotide lattice is described and used for determination of binding parameters of Hoechst 33258 and its derivatives to poly[d(AT)]·poly[d(AT)] and poly(dA)·poly(dT).
Refugia of Potentilla matsumurae (Rosaceae) located at high mountains in the Japanese archipelago

Molecular phylogeographic studies have revealed the genetic patterns and glacial–interglacial history of many plant and animal species. To infer the Quaternary history of alpine plants in the Japanese archipelago, which is poorly known, we investigated 203 individuals of Potentilla matsumurae and its varieties from 22 populations. We found 11 haplotypes based on approximately 1400 bp of two intergenetic spacers in chloroplast DNA (trnT‐L and rpl20–rps20). The distribution of these haplotypes was geographically structured, which was supported by haplotype composition, principal component analysis, and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), and NST (0.71) was significantly greater than GST (0.68). In addition to the positive correlation between genetic and geographic distance (Mantel test, r = 0.497, P < 0.001), an abrupt genetic change was detected between mountains in central Honshu and the Tohoku region. This genetic boundary was further supported by analysis of molecular variance (amova), and high variation (54.0%) was explained by differences on either side of this boundary. Moreover, haplotypes in central Honshu were thought to have diverged, based on an outgroup comparison. These results suggest that mountains in central Honshu served as refugia during the Quaternary climatic oscillation, although the results could not reveal the history of most mountains in the Tohoku region and Hokkaido. Nevertheless, following floristic studies, our results indicate that alpine plants in Japan experienced a history different from that in Europe; i.e. they retreated into refugia during warm periods to avoid forest development, rather than glaciers.
High levels of C-reactive protein after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation predict pancreas graft-related complications and graft survival

Background. Although pancreas graft-related complications are frequent after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK), there are no parameters predicting the risk for these complications. Method. A two-center retrospective study was performed in 97 patients who underwent SPK to investigate the peak serum value of c-reactive protein (CRP) during the first 72 hr after SPK in view of graft-related complications and graft survival. Results. Mean peak CRP was 115.6±71.5 mg/L. Mean peak CRP was higher in patients needing relaparotomy (n=31) (136.4 vs. 105.8 mg/L, P =0.048), especially when postoperative bleeding was excluded (P =0.015); in patients with graft pancreatitis (P =0.03); and in patients with graft loss (n=19; P <0.001) compared with patients without these complications. With a cut-off of peak CRP at the level of mean plus 1 SD (187.05 mg/L), there was a significantly higher incidence of relaparotomies (P =0.01; bleedings excluded:P =0.003), graft pancreatitis (P =0.03), and pancreas graft loss (P <0.0001) in patients with high peak CRP compared with patients with low peak CRP. No differences were noticed with regard to rejection rate, mortality, and kidney graft loss. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that peak CRP is a helpful parameter in predicting pancreas graft-related complications and pancreas graft survival after SPK. Our results also stress the importance of early graft damage in pancreas transplantation.
Costs and benefits of genetic heterogeneity within organisms

An increasing number of studies have recently detected within‐organism genetic heterogeneity suggesting that genetically homogeneous organisms may be rare. In this review, we examine the potential costs and benefits of such intraorganismal genetic heterogeneity (IGH) on the fitness of the individual. The costs of IGH include cancerous growth, parasitism, competitive interactions and developmental instability, all of which threaten the integrity of the individual while the potential benefits are increased genetic variability, size‐specific processes, and synergistic interactions between genetic variants. The particular cost or benefit of IGH in a specific case depends on the organism type and the origin of the IGH. While mosaicism easily arise by genetic changes in an individual, and will be the more common type of IGH, chimerism originates by the fusion of genetically distinct entities, and is expected to be substantially rare in most organisms. Potential conflicts and synergistic effects between different genetic lineages within an individual provide an interesting example for theoretical and empirical studies of multilevel selection.