Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy-efficient virtual grid aided routing for MANETs

Purpose – In a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), design of energy‐efficient routing schemes is essential for prolonging the network lifetime. The purpose of this paper is to show that one way to achieve energy efficiency in routing is to utilize location information, which becomes practical due to the recent increasing availability of low‐cost and reliable positioning devices.Design/methodology/approach – This paper proposes an eight‐direction forwarding virtual grid aided (VGA) routing scheme that uses location information to save energy. As a grid‐based scheme, VGA divides the whole network area into virtual grids.Findings – By using eight‐direction forwarding, the proposed VGA scheme outperforms the previous four‐direction forwarding geographical adaptive fidelity (GAF) protocol. The proposed VGA scheme is motivated by the fact that, in the GAF protocol, forwarding to the four diagonal neighboring grids cannot be done in one single hop, although most nodes in these grids can hear the signal.Originality/va.
Comparison between different colon cleansing products for screening colonoscopy. A noninferiority trial in population-based screening programs in Italy

Background and study aims: The high volume and poor palatability of 4 L of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based bowel cleansing preparation required before a colonoscopy represent a major obstacle for patients. The aim of this study was to compare two low volume PEG-based preparations with standard 4 L PEG in individuals with a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) within organized screening programs in Italy. Patients and methods: A total of 3660 patients with a positive FIT result were randomized to receive, in a split-dose regimen, 4 L PEG or 2 L PEG plus ascorbate (PEG-A) or 2 L PEG with citrate and simethicone plus bisacodyl (PEG-CS). The noninferiority of the low volume preparations vs. 4 L PEG was tested through the difference in proportions of adequate cleansing. Results: A total of 2802 patients were included in the study. Adequate bowel cleansing was achieved in 868 of 926 cases (93.7 %) in the 4 L PEG group, in 872 out of 911 cases in the PEG-A group (95.7 %, difference in proportions + 1.9 %, 95 % confidence interval [CI] – 0.1 to 3.9), and in 862 out of 921 cases in the PEG-CS group (93.6 %, difference in proportions – 0.2 %, 95 %CI – 2.4 to 2.0). Bowel cleansing was adequate in 95.5 % of cases when the preparation-to-colonoscopy interval was between 120 and 239 minutes, whereas it dropped to 83.3 % with longer intervals. Better cleansing was observed in patients with regular bowel movements (95.6 %) compared with those with diarrhea (92.4 %) or constipation (90.8 %). Conclusion: Low volume PEG-based preparations administered in a split-dose regimen guarantee noninferior bowel cleansing compared with 4 L PEG. Constipated patients require a personalized preparation. Trial registration: EudraCT 2012 – 003958 – 82.
A New Parameter Predicting Chronic Total Occlusion of Coronary Arteries

Platelet distribution width (PDW) measures the variability in platelet size and is a marker of platelet activation. We investigated whether PDW is associated with the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary total occlusions (CTOs). We studied 162 patients: 108 had a coronary lesion with a diameter stenosis of ≥50%, the CAD(+) group, and 54 patients had normal coronary anatomy, the CAD(−) group. The CAD(+) group was subdivided into CAD(+) CTO(+) and CAD(+) CTO(−) groups. Among patients with CAD, the CTO(+) group had a significantly greater PDW (%) than the CTO(−) group (16.9 ± 2.8, 15.4 ± 3.0, and 15.4 ± 1.9, respectively; P = .008). In a receiver–operating characteristic analysis, a PDW cut point of 15.7% was identified in patients with CTO(+) (area under curve = 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.54-0.75). A PDW value of more than 15.7% demonstrated a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 66%. The PDW is a simple platelet index that may predict the presence of CTO.
Mutations of key hydrophobic surface residues of 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 increase solubility and monodispersity in a bacterial expression system

11β‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β‐HSD1) is a key enzyme in the conversion of cortisone to the functional glucocorticoid hormone cortisol. This activation has been implicated in several human disorders, notably the metabolic syndrome where 11β‐HSD1 has been identified as a novel target for potential therapeutic drugs. Recent crystal structures have revealed the presence of a pronounced hydrophobic surface patch lying on two helices at the C‐terminus. The physiological significance of this region has been attributed to facilitating substrate access by allowing interactions with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Here, we report that single mutations that alter the hydrophobicity of this patch (I275E, L266E, F278E, and L279E in the human enzyme and I275E, Y266E, F278E, and L279E in the guinea pig enzyme) result in greatly increased yields of soluble protein on expression in E. coli. Kinetic analyses of both reductase and dehydrogenase reactions indicate that the F278E mutant has unaltered Km values for steroids and an unaltered or increased kcat. Analytical ultracentrifugation shows that this mutation also decreases aggregation of both the human and guinea pig enzymes, resulting in greater monodispersity. One of the mutants (guinea pig F278E) has proven easy to crystallize and has been shown to have a virtually identical structure to that previously reported for the wild‐type enzyme. The human F278E enzyme is shown to be a suitable background for analyzing the effects of naturally occurring mutations (R137C, K187N) on enzyme activity and stability. Hence, the F278E mutants should be useful for many future biochemical and biophysical studies of the enzyme.
Inflammatory Contribution of Platelets Revisited: New Players in the Arena of Inflammation

Abstract Platelet-derived mediators, either in an autocrine or paracrine mode of action, regulate systemic and vascular inflammation as well as contribute to innate immune defense and also to regenerative mechanisms. This review reevaluates the impact of inflammatory mediators such as CXC-chemokine-Ligands, their receptors in modulating platelet functions and platelet survival, thereby influencing inflammatory or regenerative processes. We further explore the contribution of cyclophilin A and C-reactive protein in regulating thrombotic and hemostatic attributes of platelets. Moreover, we emphasize on the role of platelets as active components bridging the innate and adaptive immune responses, toll-like receptors on platelets, platelet interactions with the complement system, and platelet-derived thrombocidins exhibiting direct antimicrobial properties. As highlighted in this review, the multifaceted aspects of platelets and platelet-derived factors encourage further investigations in this intriguing and expansive but largely uncharted area of research in platelet biology.
GAIN OF FUNCTION ANKH VARIANTS CAUSE BOTH FAMILIAL AND SPORADIC CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE CHONDROCALCINOSIS

Y. Zhang1,2, K. Johnson3, G.G. Russell2, B.P. Wordsworth2 , A.J. Carr2, R.A. Terkeltaub3, M.A. Brown1,2. 1Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Spondyloarthritis and Bone Disease Research Group, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; 2Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences, the Botnar Centre, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; 3VA Medical Center, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, San Diego, United States
Relative stabilities of IgG1 and IgG4 Fab domains: Influence of the light–heavy interchain disulfide bond architecture

The stability of therapeutic antibodies is a prime pharmaceutical concern. In this work we examined thermal stability differences between human IgG1 and IgG4 Fab domains containing the same variable regions using the thermofluor assay. It was found that the IgG1 Fab domain is up to 11°C more stable than the IgG4 Fab domain containing the same variable region. We investigated the cause of this difference with the aim of developing a molecule with the enhanced stability of the IgG1 Fab and the biological properties of an IgG4 Fc. We found that replacing the seven residues, which differ between IgG1 CH1 and IgG4 CH1 domains, while retaining the native IgG1 light‐heavy interchain disulfide (L–H) bond, did not affect thermal stability. Introducing the IgG1 type L–H interchain disulfide bond (DSB) into the IgG4 Fab resulted in an increase in thermal stability to levels observed in the IgG1 Fab with the same variable region. Conversely, replacement of the IgG1 L–H interchain DSB with the IgG4 type L–H interchain DSB reduced the thermal stability. We utilized the increased stability of the IgG1 Fab and designed a hybrid antibody with an IgG1 CH1 linked to an IgG4 Fc via an IgG1 hinge. This construct has the expected biophysical properties of both the IgG4 Fc and IgG1 Fab domains and may therefore be a pharmaceutically relevant format.
Accurate Low-Cost Methods for Performance Evaluation of Cache Memory Systems

Trace-driven simulation is a simple way of evaluating cache memory systems with varying hardware parameters. But to evaluate realistic workloads, simulating even a few million addresses is not adequate and such large scale simulation is impractical from the consideration of space and time requirements. New methods of simulation based on statistical techniques are proposed for decreasing the need for large trace measurements and for predicting true program behavior. In the method, sampling techniques are applied while collecting the address trace from a workload. This drastically reduces the space and time needed to collect the trace. New simulation techniques are developed to use the sample data not only to predict the mean miss rate of the cache, but also to provide an empirical estimate of its actual distribution. Finally, a new concept of primed cache is introduced to simulate large caches by the sampling-based method. >
Predictability of C‐peptide for autoimmune diabetes in young adult diabetic patients

C-peptide is measured to evaluate the endogenous insulin production. Since the secretion of both insulin and C-peptide are stimulated by food intake, the sampling procedure is standardized to fasting conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in C-peptide levels in fasting and non-fasting states in diabetic patients and also to investigate the use of fasting and non-fasting C-peptide as instruments to discriminate between diabetes with autoimmune markers (islet cell antibodies, glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies or antibodies against tyrosine phosphatase) and without autoimmune markers at diagnosis. In patients with autoimmune markers, the median level of C-peptide was slightly lower in the fasting state (n=283; 0.27; 0.16–0.36 nmol/L) compared to C-peptide levels in the non-fasting state (n=138; 0.30; 0.20–0.52 nmol/L; p=0.0066). In patients without autoimmune markers, C-peptide levels were lower in fasting patients (n=105; 0.51; 0.28–0.76 nmol/L) compared to non-fasting patients (n=38; 0.74; 0.39–1.1 nmol/L; p=0.011). The highest positive predictive value (94%) for autoimmune diabetes was observed for a C-peptide below 0.30 nmol/L in the non-fasting condition. We conclude that C-peptide can be taken either fasting or randomly in patients with type 1 diabetes since the beta cell function was stimulated only to a limited extent by food intake. At the time of diagnosis, C-peptide can prefarably be taken randomly during the day since this improves the discrimination between patients with and without autoimmune markers. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling the membrane environment has implications for membrane protein structure and function: Influenza A M2 protein

The M2 protein, a proton channel, from Influenza A has been structurally characterized by X‐ray diffraction and by solution and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy in a variety of membrane mimetic environments. These structures show substantial backbone differences even though they all present a left‐handed tetrameric helical bundle for the transmembrane domain. Variations in the helix tilt influence drug binding and the chemistry of the histidine tetrad responsible for acid activation, proton selectivity and transport. Some of the major structural differences do not arise from the lack of precision, but instead can be traced to the influences of the membrane mimetic environments. The structure in lipid bilayers displays unique chemistry for the histidine tetrad, which binds two protons cooperatively to form a pair of imidazole‐imidazolium dimers. The resulting interhistidine hydrogen bonds contribute to a three orders of magnitude enhancement in tetramer stability. Integration with computation has provided detailed understanding of the functional mechanism for proton selectivity, conductance and gating of this important drug target.
Endothelial Cell Inflammation and Antioxidant Capacity are Associated With Exercise Performance and Microcirculation in Patients With Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease

We determined whether exercise performance and lower extremity microcirculation were associated with endothelial cell inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis and with circulating biomarkers of inflammation and antioxidant capacity in 160 patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD). In a multivariate regression model for peak walking time, significant independent variables included ankle–brachial index (P < .001), age (P = .017), hydroxyl radical antioxidant capacity (P = .008), and endothelial cell nuclear factor K-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activity (P = .015). In multivariate analyses for time to minimum exercise calf muscle hemoglobin oxygen saturation (StO2), significant independent variables included endothelial cell NF-κB activity (P = .043) and calf muscle StO2 at rest (P = .007). Endothelial cell inflammation and circulating biomarkers of inflammation and antioxidant capacity were associated with exercise performance and microcirculation of the ischemic calf musculature during exercise. The clinical implication is that interventions designed to alleviate endothelial cell inflammation and circulating inflammatory biomarkers, such as antioxidant therapy, may improve exercise performance of symptomatic patients with PAD.
A family ecological analysis of child care use in Hong Kong

This study examines the views on and use of day care for young children among white-collar working women from a family ecological perspective. Discrepancies between perceived ideal and actual choice of child care were observed. Care provided by family kin was an ideal used with reservation, the employment of foreign domestic helpers was a reluctant choice, while the use of formal care was largely unexplored. The findings of this study demonstrate how individual families' child-rearing goals are supported and constrained by contextual factors within the ecology. Implications for policies on child care in Hong Kong are discussed.
Developing Speed Strength: In‐Season Training Program for the Collegiate Thrower

summary Specificity is a vital concept in track and field training for the throwing events (6). Specific physiological/ performance characteristics can be developed by emphasizing specific training variables. Exercises must be specifically designed for the demands of the event. Effective program design must address energetics, mechanics, and coordination characteristics specific to throwing. The goal of final preparation in the competition phase is to develop speed strength and to maximize fitness, to fine-tune skills but minimize fatigue on the day of the competition.
Screening for Peripheral Arterial Disease Using the Ankle-Brachial Index in Diabetic and Other High-Risk Patients

In this issue of Angiology, Li et al assessed the association between a high (>1.3) ankle-brachial index (ABI) with peripheral arterial disease (PAD)/cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). An ABI >1.45 was associated with an almost 7-fold increased risk of PAD (odds ratio [OR] 6.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.06-11.98; P < .001), while an ABI >1.43 was associated with a >2-fold higher CVD risk (OR 2.25; 95% CI 1.43-3.54; P < .001). Similar to previous reports, this study concluded that the ABI can be used for PAD screening as well as to monitor the treatment of PAD. This editorial considers the pros and cons of screening for PAD.
Structural dynamics of a colloidal protein-mineral complex bestowing on calcium phosphate a high solubility in biological fluids

The concentration of mineral solutes in mammalian blood is considerably higher than that predicted by their solubility product. The plasma protein fetuin-A inhibits calcium phosphate deposition by forming colloidal calciprotein particles (CPPs). In this article the authors present a detailed small angle neutron scattering study including contrast variation analysis providing detailed quantitative information on the three-dimensional topology of the CPPs and on their morphogenesis. In detail the authors found the following: (i) A two stage growth process showing spontaneously formed primary particles with a size of about 500 Å diameter that subsequently transformed to 1000 Å sized particles which were stable for at least 24 h. (ii) A particular shielding topology was observed for the second CPP state, namely, that a densely packed fetuin-A monolayer covers a mineral core and thereby prevents further crystal growth. (iii) Transmission electron microscopy analysis of in vitro synthesized second state CPPs revealed striking similarities to material retrieved from a human peritonitis patient. This latter finding underscores the importance of short- and long-term stabilizations of CPPs by fetuin-A to enable clearing of mineral debris in the body.
Catecholamine and cortisol reaction to childbirth

One way to study the stressfulness of childbirth is to examine the output of stress hormones. In this study, urinary catecholamines and salivary cortisol from 50 primiparous women were collected for 1 day during gestational weeks 37 to 39, hourly during labor and delivery, and 2 hr and 2 days postpartum. All three stress hormones increased statistically significantly from pregnancy to labor. The increase in adrenaline and cortisol was more than 500%, and the increase in noradrenaline was about 50%. After labor, the output decreased but not statistically significantly below the levels during late pregnancy. Hormone levels during late pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and during the period postpartum mostly did not correlate systematically. However, noradrenaline and adrenaline, as well as adrenaline and cortisol, were positively correlated during labor. After administration of epidural analgesia, there was a moderate but significant decrease in noradrenaline and adrenaline, whereas cortisol did not change. In conclusion, the results of this study support the assumption that childbirth is a very stressful event and that the stress responses vary considerably among women. The substantial increase of adrenaline and cortisol compared with noradrenaline indicates that mental stress is more dominant than physical stress during labor.
Long-Term Outcomes and Causes of Death in Patients With Renovascular Disease Undergoing Renal Artery Stenting

Renovascular disease (RVD) can lead to hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with advanced peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have a 5-year mortality of ∼30%. Rate and causes of death in patients with significant RVD, who share similar risk factors with patients having PAD, are not well defined. We assessed consecutive patients with RVD who underwent renal artery stenting at our institution over 6 years. Specific causes of death were ascertained, and the probability of survival was estimated. Cox models were fit to identify predictors of outcomes. We identified 281 patients with RVD who underwent renal stenting. Follow-up was available for all patients (median 5.1 years). All-cause mortality was 24.2% at 5 years and 33.7% at 7 years (compounded annualized death rate: 5.5%). Of the 68 deaths, 36 (52.9%) were cardiovascular (13.2% acute myocardial infarction, 13.2% stroke, 11.8% sudden death, and 10.3% congestive heart failure) and 32 (47.1%) deaths had noncardiovascular causes. In patients with RVD undergoing stenting, cardiovascular events are the most common causes of death. Compared to patients with advanced PAD, RVD may have a lower 5-year mortality.
YouTube science channel video presenters and comments: female friendly or vestiges of sexism?

Purpose This paper analyses popular YouTube science video channels for evidence of attractiveness to a female audience. Design/methodology/approach The influence of presenter gender and commenter sentiment towards males and females is investigated for 50 YouTube science channels with a combined view-count approaching ten billion. This is cross-referenced with commenter gender as a proxy for audience gender. Findings The ratio of male to female commenters varies between 1 and 39 to 1, but the low proportions of females seem to be due to the topic or presentation style rather than the gender of the presenter or the attitudes of the commenters. Although male commenters were more hostile to other males than to females, a few posted inappropriate sexual references that may alienate females. Research limitations/implications Comments reflect a tiny and biased sample of YouTube science channel viewers and so their analysis provides weak evidence. Practical implications Sexist behaviour in YouTube commenting need.
Aslib Journal of Information Management Sentiment search : an emerging trend on social media monitoring systems

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss sentiment search, which not only retrieves data related to submitted keywords but also identifies sentiment opinion implied in the retrieved data and the subject targeted by this opinion. Design/methodology/approach – The authors propose a retrieval framework known as Cross-Domain Sentiment Search (CSS), which combines the usage of domain ontologies with specific linguistic rules to handle sentiment terms in textual data. The CSS framework also supports incrementally enriching domain ontologies when applied in new domains. Findings – The authors found that domain ontologies are extremely helpful when CSS is applied in specific domains. In the meantime, the embedded linguistic rules make CSS achieve better performance as compared to data mining techniques. Research limitations/implications – The approach has been initially applied in a real social monitoring system of a professional IT company. Thus, it is proved to be able to handle real data acquired from social media channels such as electronic newspapers or social networks. Originality/value – The authors have placed aspect-based sentiment analysis in the context of semantic search and introduced the CSS framework for the whole sentiment search process. The formal definitions of Sentiment Ontology and aspect-based sentiment analysis are also presented. This distinguishes the work from other related works.