Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Pso-Based Maintenance Strategy in Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper presents a new wireless sensor networks maintenance strategy using particle swarm optimization. This strategy considers three factors: Coverage rate, node energy consumption and node residual energy. The advantage of this method is to prolong the maintenance period and reduce the computational complexity. We first construct the networks health indicator to determine the locations of redeployed nodes. Therefore, the maintenance problem is formulated into cost optimization problem, and the linearly decreasing weight particle swarm optimization is employed to reduce the computational complexity. Simulation results show that the proposed particle swarm optimization based maintenance strategy (PSOMS) outperforms the random and uniform redeploy strategy with longer repair period.
Predictive modelling of cellular load

This work examines the temporal dynamics of cellular load in four Irish regions. Large scale underutilisation of network resources is identified both at the regional level and at the level of individual cells. Cellular load is modeled and prediction intervals are generated. These prediction intervals are used to put an upper bound on usage in a particular cell at a particular time. Opportunities for improvements in network utilization by incorporating these upper bounds on usage are identified and discussed in the areas of spectrum sharing and green networks.
Methylation of macromolecules during development in Myxococcus xanthus

Covalent modification of macromolecules can serve to alter their biological activities and is therefore frequently involved in regulation. I examined methylation of proteins and carbohydrates during development and vegetative growth in the procaryote Myxococcus xanthus. Striking differences in the patterns of protein methylation occurred when cell development was induced by nutrient deprivation on solid media and when cells were starved in liquid. In addition, a methylated, protease-resistant macromolecule which contained carbohydrate and which may have been an unusual type of lipopolysaccharide was observed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. A comparison of methylation patterns in various media and an analysis of the time course of methylation indicated that changes in methylation were part of the developmental pathway which includes aggregation. Induction of development in liquid by glycerol produced no changes in methylation.
New Records and Human Parasitism by Ornithodoros mimon (Acari: Argasidae) in Brazil

ABSTRACT The bat tick Ornithodoros mimon Kohls, Clifford & Jones is currently known by only few reports in Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina, and the state of São Paulo in southeastern Brazil. Here, we expand the distribution of O. mimon in Brazil to the states of Minas Gerais (southeastern region), Goiás (central-western), Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte (northeastern). Ticks were collected on human dwellings, where there had been repeated complains of tick bites on persons during the night. Tick bites were generally followed by intense inflammatory reactions that lasted for several weeks at the bite site. Bats and opossums were reported to inhabit the attic of the infested houses. In addition, a free-ranging opossum (Didelphis albiventris Lund) trapped in Rio Grande do Norte was found infested by argasid larvae. Based on morphological and/ or molecular analysis, all ticks were identified as O. mimon. From one of the sites (Tiradentes, state of Minas Gerais), 20 field-collected nymphs were tested by a battery of polymerase chain reaction protocols targeting tick-borne microorganisms of the genera Babesia, Hepatozoon, Rickettsia, Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Coxiella; no tick specimen was found infected by any of these microorganism genera. The current study expands northwards the distribution of O. mimon, which has been shown to be very harmful to humans because of the intense inflammatory response that usually occurs after tick bites.
Measurements of MIMO capacity at 1800 MHZ with in- and outdoor transmitter locations

A measurement campaign was carried out to analyse several possible transmitter locations for a 4×4 MIMO system. The receiver modules were moved along indoor routes, and both indoor and outdoor locations were considered for the transmitters. The spatial correlation, path loss and capacity were analysed. Also several options regarding signal combination at system level were studied, assuming two base stations with 2 antennas each. As a result, it is shown that the 2×4 configuration with base station selection and waterfilling scheme provides almost as good performance as a 4×4 full waterfilling scheme when the 2 base stations are spatially separated. This solution may be very interesting to reduce system complexity without significant loss of performance.
Classification of epileptic and non-epileptic events using tensor decomposition

Misdiagnosis of epilepsy, even by experienced clinicians, can cause exposure of patients to medical procedures and treatments with potential complications. Moreover, diagnostic delays (for 7 to 10 years on average) impose economic burden at individual and population levels. In this paper, a seizure classification framework of epileptic and non-epileptic events from multi-channel EEG data is proposed. In contrast to relevant studies found in the literature, in this study, the non-epileptic class consists of two types of paroxysmal episodes of loss of consciousness, namely the psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES) and the vasovagal syncope (VVS). EEG signals are represented in the spectral-spatial-temporal domain. A tensor-based approach is employed to extract signature features to feed the classification models. TUCKER decomposition is applied to learn the essence of original, high-dimensional domain of feature space and extract a multilinear discriminative subspace. The classification models were evaluated on EEG epochs from 11 subjects in an inter-subject cross-validation setting and achieved an accuracy of 96%.
Influence of Time Delay on the Estimated Lung Shunt Fraction on 99mTc-Labeled MAA Scintigraphy for 90Y Microsphere Treatment Planning

Abstract 90Y-microspheres therapy is used to treat selected patients with primary or metastatic liver tumors in a safe and effective way. As a preparation for 90Y-microspheres treatment, a 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (99mTc-MAA) simulation procedure is essential to evaluate particle shunting to the lung or gastrointestinal tract. We investigated the effect of interval between injection of 99mTc-MAA and time of scanning on the lung shunt fraction (LSF). In 4 patients with secondary hepatic malignancies who underwent repeated whole-body scintigraphy up to 5 hours after injection of 99mTc-MAA, a marked change in LSF was observed. It appears that tracer degradation leads to an important overestimation of LSF at later time points. An overestimation of LSF can lead to dose reduction or canceling of the planned 90Y-microspheres treatment. It is concluded that the interval between injection and scanning should be kept as short as possible.
Early Apoptotic Reorganization of Spliceosomal Proteins Involves Caspases, CAD and Rearrangement of NuMA

The reorganization of nuclear structures is an important early feature of apoptosis and involves the activity of specific proteases and nucleases. Well‐known is the condensation and fragmentation of chromatin; however, much less is understood about the mechanisms involved in the reorganization of structures from the interchromatin space, such as interchromatin granule clusters (IGCs). In this study, we show that the initial enlargement and rounding‐up of IGCs correlate with a decrease in mRNA transcription and are caspase‐independent, but involve protein phosphatases PP1/PP2A. Subsequently, multiple enlarged IGCs dissociate from chromatin and fuse into a single structure. The dissociation requires caspase activity and involves caspase‐activated DNase (CAD). Apoptotic IMR‐5 cells, lacking a proper processing of CAD, show multiple enlarged IGCs that remain linked with chromatin. Overexpression of CAD in IMR‐5 cells results in the dissociation of IGCs from chromatin, but the fusion into a single structure remains disturbed. Nuclear matrix protein NuMA is reorganized in a caspase‐dependent way around fused IGCs. In conclusion, we show here that the apoptotic rearrangement of IGCs, the nuclear matrix and chromatin are closely associated, occur in defined stages and depend on the activity of protein phosphatases, caspases and CAD.
Growth modeling of the green microalga Chlorella vulgaris in an air-lift photobioreactor

Abstract Considering the increasing impact of the environmental concerns in the current worldwide policy, the application of biological processes, namely the bio-fixation of CO 2 by microalgae, represents a promising solution and an increasingly attractive strategy. Indeed, these photosynthetic microorganisms have the great capacity to fix and tolerate high CO 2 concentrations converting it to biomass and highly valuable molecules. Thus, modeling of microalgae growth represents an essential tool for the optimization of the carbon dioxide consumption in engineered systems such as photobioreactors. In this context, the main goal of this work is the identification of the growth model parameters of Chlorella vulgaris , the model organism used in this study. The growth model developed in this study takes into account the combined influence of light intensity and the total inorganic carbon available per cell. First, an experimental campaign of batch culture was carried out in a well-stirred lab-scale photobioreactor under optimal conditions. Finally, model results of biomass dynamics and total inorganic carbon evolution over time are compared with data of batch and continuous cultures, confirming the accuracy of the identified model parameters.
The Evolving Role of Clinical Registries: Existing Practices and Opportunities for Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Orthopaedic surgery has historically been a leader in using clinical data registries (CDRs) to improve the effectiveness of care, primarily relating to arthroplasty. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has dramatically altered the quality-reporting landscape in the U.S., and registries are now at the center of several intersecting national health policy initiatives. Moreover, other surgical specialties have established registries with proven success in improving care quality, and lessons can be learned from these efforts. In order to effectively utilize registries for innovation, quality assessment, and demonstration of value, orthopaedic surgeons need a clear understanding of how registries and mandated quality reporting are increasingly linked. CDRs prospectively track outcomes among patients with a unifying disease or treatment. Over the past decade, CDRs have been expanded to include overlapping roles in health services research, quality improvement, and now pay-for-performance initiatives. The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun attaching financial incentives to CDR reporting to increase physician participation in national quality-improvement efforts1. An up-to-date knowledge of developments in CDR creation and utilization is vitally important for orthopaedic surgeons. CDR participation can meaningfully contribute to increasing value in musculoskeletal care through quality improvement and cost-effectiveness research, in addition to complying with payer mandates. The evolution of CDRs has been shaped by several landmark health-policy changes during the past decade. The Institute of Medicine’s reports on patient safety and health-care disparities in the early 2000s forced stakeholders to examine the quality and variability of care delivered to patients2,3, while the PPACA brought the issues of cost containment and value to the forefront4. Accordingly, the structure and goals of registries have been expanded to meet these objectives. Within orthopaedic surgery, CDRs have historically been used …
Predicting Tags for Stack Overﬂow Questions

Stack Overflow (https://stackoverflow.com/) is one of the major communitydriven Question and Answer (Q&A) websites, focusing on topics related to computer programming. It has nearly 7 million users, who ask more than 6700 questions every day. Each question can be associated with up to five different tags, which serve as metadata to facilitate information retrieval. In this paper, we consider the problem of supporting this process through automatic tagging. From a machine learning point of view, we are facing a problem of Extreme Multi-Label Classification (XMLC), as Stack Overflow allows for choosing from several thousands of tags. Besides, instead of learning in a standard batch mode, it is desirable to learn incrementally on the continuous stream of questions entering the system, with the capability to capture changes and drifts in the data; for example, many tags (such as ‘facebook’) have a lifetime, first gaining popularity, then reaching a peak and eventually diminishing. Thus, we end up with an extremely challenging problem of XMLC for data streams with a non-stationary set of labels. To tackle this problem, we build on an XMLC method based on probabilistic label trees (PLT), which has recently been proposed in [1]. We extend this approach in two directions. First, instead of specifying the entire PLT beforehand, we develop an adaptive version that starts with only a single node and expands the tree whenever a new label is observed in a training example. As a second contribution, we further improve adaptive PLTs through stream-based boosting [2]. More specifically, we apply the online boosting method by Oza and Russell, which we tailor for minimizing the F-measure as a performance metric (instead of 0/1 loss, which is not appropriate in the context of XMLC). In addition to the methodological contributions, we present empirical results based on extensive experiments with real data from Stack Overflow. Our experimental setting is focused on evaluating the usefulness of the extensions we proposed for PLTs, i.e., the adaptive handling of labels and online boosting.
STA 11 , a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Locus Required for Normal Starch Granule Biogenesis , Encodes Disproportionating Enzyme . Further Evidence for a Function of-1 , 4 Glucanotransferases during Starch Granule Biosynthesis in Green Algae 1

Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Unité Mixte de Recherche Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université des Sciences et Technologies Lille 8576, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, 59655 Villeneuve D’Ascq cedex, France (F.W., J.-P.R., D.D., S.B., C.D.H.); Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (A.M., M.J.); and Institut für Botanik, Technische Universität, D–64287 Darmstadt, Germany (R.S., C.G.)
Streptococcus pneumoniae cocultured with fibroblasts enhances both interferon production and cytotoxic activity by lymphocytes

Cell-mediated cytotoxicity against normal human fibroblasts was dependent on treatment of the fibroblasts with Streptococcus pneumoniae. Both spontaneous and interferon (IFN)-enhanced lymphocytes killed human foreskin (HFS) or skin muscle cells cocultured with S. pneumoniae five- to eightfold more than control nontreated cells. Based on Percoll gradient centrifugation, the cytotoxic effector cell migrated like a large granular lymphocyte. The human IFN produced from mixtures of HFS cells, lymphocytes, and S. pneumoniae was observed to be both a mixture of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma and in an amount 500 times greater than that observed with lymphocytes on HFS cells alone, and it was in an amount 12 times greater than when lymphocytes and bacteria were cultured together. A mixture of antibodies to IFN-alpha and -gamma added to cocultures of fibroblasts and bacteria blocked the killing of fibroblast targets by lymphocytes (47 versus 13%). Thus, endogenously produced IFN was essential for the effective killing of the fibroblasts. Treatment of HFS cells with IFN before bacterial treatment protected the HFS cells from lysis by lymphocytes. The observation that normal diploid cells exposed to bacteria can be killed by lymphocytes suggests that natural cytotoxic cells are active at the site of bacterial infection and conceivably play roles in defense or pathogenesis.
Epidural analgesia enhances functional exercise capacity and health-related quality of life after colonic surgery: results of a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Multimodal analgesia programs have been shown to decrease hospital stay, but it not clear which functions are restored after surgery. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of epidural anesthesia and analgesia on functional exercise capacity and health-related quality of life. METHODS Sixty-four patients undergoing elective colonic resection were randomized to either patient-controlled analgesia with morphine or thoracic epidural analgesia with bupivacaine and fentanyl (epidural group). All patients in both groups received similar perioperative care and were offered the same amount of postoperative oral nutrition and assistance with mobilization. Primary outcome was functional exercise capacity as measured by the 6-min walking test, and secondary outcome was health-related quality of life, as measured by the SF-36 health survey. These were assessed before surgery and at 3 and 6 weeks after hospital discharge. Other variables measured in hospital included pain and fatigue visual analogue scale, bowel function, time out of bed, nutritional intake, complication rate, readiness for discharge, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS Although the 6-min walking test and the SF-36 physical health component decreased in both groups at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery, the patient-controlled analgesia group experienced a significantly greater decrease at both times (P < 0.01). Patients in the epidural group had lower postoperative pain and fatigue scores, which allowed them to mobilize to a greater extent (P < 0.05) and eat more (P < 0.05). Length of hospital stay and incidence of complications were similar in both groups, although patients in the epidural group were ready to be discharged earlier. CONCLUSIONS The superior quality of pain relief provided by epidural analgesia had a positive impact on out-of-bed mobilization, bowel function, and intake of food, with long-lasting effects on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life.
A Technique for Detecting Materials Characteristics using Mechanical Impacts and a Multilayer Neural Network

In this paper, we propose a method for detecting the characteristics of different materials that have similar properties, by classifying their responses when impacted with small hard spheres. First, a signal conditioning and data compression stage are described. Then a multilayer neural network is used to detect the individual patterns of the samples, and classify the signal. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to identify different materials propertied when the signals are correctly acquired and preprocessed, and the network is adequately trained.
Historical and Current Perspectives on the Systematics of the ‘Enigmatic’ Diatom Genus Rhoicosphenia (Bacillariophyta), with Single and Multi-Molecular Marker and Morphological Analyses and Discussion on the Monophyly of ‘Monoraphid’ Diatoms

This study seeks to determine the phylogenetic position of the diatom genus Rhoicosphenia. Currently, four hypotheses based on the morphology of the siliceous valve and its various ultrastructural components, sexual reproduction, and chloroplasts have been proposed. Two previous morphological studies have tentatively placed Rhoicosphenia near members of the Achnanthidiaceae and Gomphonemataceae, and no molecular studies have been completed. The position of Rhoicosphenia as sister to ‘monoraphid’ diatoms is problematic due to the apparent non-monophyly of that group, so hypotheses of ‘monoraphid’ monophyly are also tested. Using an analysis of morphological and cytological features, as well as sequences from three genes, SSU, LSU, and rbcL, recovered from several freshwater Rhoicosphenia populations that have similar morphology to Rhoicosphenia abbreviata (Agardh) Lange-Bertalot, we have analyzed the phylogenetic position of Rhoicosphenia in the context of raphid diatoms. Further, we have used topology testing to determine the statistical likelihoods of these relationships. The hypothesis that Rhoicosphenia is a member of the Achnanthidiaceae cannot be rejected, while the hypothesis that it is a member of the Gomphonemataceae can be rejected. In our analyses, members of the Achnanthidiaceae are basal to Rhoicosphenia, and Rhoicosphenia is basal to the Cymbellales, or a basal member of the Cymbellales, which includes the Gomphonemataceae. Hypothesis testing rejects the monophyly of ‘monoraphid’ diatoms.
Stimulation‐induced potentiation of T‐type Ca2+ channel currents in myocytes from guinea‐pig coronary artery.

1. Whole‐cell Ca2+ channel currents were studied in myocytes isolated from guinea‐pig circumflex coronary artery at 36 degrees C and with 10 mM‐Ba2+ (or Ca2+) as charge carrier. With 180 ms clamp steps from the holding potential of ‐100 mV, currents at ‐30 mV were carried mostly through the T‐type calcium channels while at positive potentials currents were mostly of the L‐type. 2. The increase in frequency of pulsing from 0.1 to 2.5 Hz resulted in a reduction of peak inward current ('negative staircase') with the 180 ms pulses to + 10 mV, but in a 2‐fold potentiation ('positive staircase') with pulses to ‐30 mV. T‐type currents and their frequency‐mediated potentiation did not change significantly when Ba2+ was substituted by Ca2+ or Sr2+. 3. Potentiation of T‐type currents was further analysed with a paired‐pulse protocol: at a basal frequency of 0.1 Hz, a pre‐pulse (inducing current I1) was followed by a 200 ms repolarization to ‐100 mV and a test pulse (inducing current I2). The potentiation could only be recorded using test pulses depolarizing the membrane to potentials between ‐40 and ‐10 mV; at more positive test potentials it was masked by the depressant effect of pre‐pulses on the L‐type current. 4. Potentiation of I2 by 200 ms pre‐pulses started at pre‐pulse potentials more positive than ‐60 mV and saturated at ‐20 mV (I2 potentiated by a factor 2.4). Between ‐20 and +130 mV the potentiation was not dependent on the pre‐pulse potential suggesting that the influx of Ba2+ or Ca2+ is not required for this effect. Potentiation of I2 by a 10 s pre‐pulse followed the voltage dependence of the steady‐state inactivation curve of the T‐type Ca2+ channel; potentiation became visible at potentials more positive than ‐80 mV and saturated at about ‐50 mV. 5. When changing the interval between two identical 200 ms pulses, the T‐type current was found to recover completely from inactivation within 40 ms at ‐100 mV; at intervals of 160‐320 ms maximal potentiation of I2 occurred. 6. With pre‐pulses shorter than 200 ms, potentiation became attenuated when inactivation became less complete. When the potential during the interval between the pulses was ‐80 instead of ‐100 mV, maximal potentiation was reduced (I2 potentiated by a factor of 1.3 instead of 2.2) and occurred later (1.28 s). 7. Potentiated T‐type currents inactivated faster. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)