Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spinal and trigeminal mechanisms of nociception.

The development of new experimental approaches has led to recent ad­ vances in our knowledge of spinal and trigeminal nociceptive mechanisms, justifying another review of the rapidly proliferating literature in this field. We examine neural circuits and sensory mechanisms activated by noxious or painful stimulation of undamaged skin and peripheral nerves. The spinal dorsal horn and its homolog in the trigeminal system consist of three major components:
Molecular, Morphological, and Experimental Evidence Support the Synonymy of Perkinsus chesapeaki and Perkinsus andrewsi

Abstract. Diverse analytical and experimental results confirm that two protistan parasites, Perkinsus chesapeaki and Perkinsus andrewsi, described separately as parasites of Mya arenaria and Macoma balthica clams sympatric in Chesapeake Bay, USA, represent a single species. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, rRNA large subunit (LSU) gene, and actin gene sequences were obtained from clonal Perkinsus spp. cultured in vitro. Although multiple polymorphic sequences were found in DNA from clonal cultures at each locus, identical ITS region and actin gene sequences were found in the P. andrewsi holotype culture and in Perkinsus sp. clonal cultures from M. arenaria and Tagelus plebius. All sequences determined from cultures of P. chesapeaki and P. andrewsi at each locus grouped together in monophyletic clades with high support values in phylogenetic analyses. In vitro isolates of Perkinsus spp. from M. arenaria and M. balthica were reciprocally infective for each other's cognate host. Lesions and histozoic parasite cell morphologies were consistent with those described for the original host/parasite interactions. In vitro isolate cell cycles and cell types of both parasites were indistinguishable. In accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature rules of priority, P. andrewsi is declared a junior synonym of P. chesapeaki.
Evaluation of 3 Approaches for Assessing Adherence to Vaginal Gel Application in Clinical Trials

Background Accurate measurement of adherence to product use is an ongoing challenge in microbicide trials. Methods We compared adherence estimates using 2 applicator tests (a dye stain assay [DSA] and an ultraviolet light assay [UVA]), the Wisebag (an applicator container that electronically tracks container openings), and self-reported adherence (ability, frequency, and percent missed doses). Healthy, HIV-negative, nonpregnant US women aged 23 to 45 years received a Wisebag and 32 applicators filled with placebo gel were instructed to insert 1 applicator daily for 30 days, returned the Wisebag and all applicators, and completed an exit interview. Emptied applicators were tested by UVA and then DSA, and scored by 2 blinded readers. Positive and negative controls were randomly included in applicator batches. Results Among 42 women enrolled, 39 completed the study. Both DSA and UVA yielded similar sensitivity (97% and 95%) and specificity (79% and 79%). Two participants had fully inoperable Wisebags, and 9 had partially inoperable Wisebags. The proportion of participants considered to have high adherence (≥80%) varied: 43% (Wisebag), 46% (UVA), 49% (DSA), and 62% to 82% (self-reports). For estimating high adherence, Wisebag had a sensitivity of 76% (95% confidence interval, 50%–93%) and a specificity of 85% (95% confidence interval, 62%–97%) compared with DSA. Although 28% of participants reported forgetting to open the Wisebag daily, 59% said that it helped them remember gel use. Conclusions Dye stain assay and UVA performed similarly. Compared with these tests, self-reports overestimated and Wisebag underestimated adherence. Although Wisebag may encourage gel use, the applicator tests currently seem more useful for measuring use in clinical trials.
Using Preferred Outcome Distributions to Estimate Value and Probability Weighting Functions in Decisions Under Risk

In this paper we propose the use of preferred outcome distributions as a new method to elicit individuals' value and probability weighting functions in decisions under risk. Extant approaches for the elicitation of these two key ingredients of individuals' risk attitude typically rely on a long, chained sequence of lottery choices. In contrast, preferred outcome distributions can be elicited through an intuitive graphical interface, and, as we show, the information contained in two preferred outcome distributions is sufficient to identify non-parametrically both the value function and the probability weighting function in rank-dependent utility models. To illustrate our method and its advantages, we run an incentive-compatible lab study in which participants use a simple graphical interface - the Distribution Builder (Goldstein et al. 2008) - to construct their preferred outcome distributions, subject to a budget constraint. Results show that estimates of the value function are in line with previous research but that probability weighting biases are diminished, thus favoring our proposed approach based on preferred outcome distributions.
Cloud-assisted collaborative execution for mobile applications with general task topology

Mobile cloud computing has been touted as an effective solution to extend the capabilities of resource-poor mobile devices for executing computation intensive applications. In this paper, we investigate cloud-assisted collaborative execution for mobile applications with general task topology to reduce the energy consumption on mobile devices. A mobile application consists of fine-grained tasks organized in general topology. Each task can be executed either on the mobile device or offloaded to the cloud for execution, which is referred to as collaborative task execution. We aim to minimize the energy consumption on the mobile device while meeting a time deadline, by strategically mapping the task execution to the mobile device or to the cloud. We formulate the collaborative task execution as a delay-constrained workflow scheduling problem. For the workflow scheduling, we first leverage partial critical path analysis (PCP) to find out the critical path formed by a set of critical parents, in which the critical parent is defined as the parent node of a task that results in the maximum value of the earliest start time of the task. Then, for each path, we find its sub-deadline and apply one-climb policy to schedule the tasks on the path, in which there exists at most one migration from the mobile device to the cloud if ever for the minimum energy consumption. Simulation results show that the proposed collaborative task execution can save energy consumption compared to the local execution and is more flexible than the remote execution.
Cellular Migration and Invasion Uncoupled: Increased Migration Is Not an Inexorable Consequence of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

ABSTRACT Metastatic dissemination requires carcinoma cells to detach from the primary tumor and invade through the basement membrane. To acquire these characteristics, epithelial tumor cells undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMT), whereby cells lose polarity and E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion. Post-EMT cells have also been shown, or assumed, to be more migratory; however, there have been contradictory reports on an immortalized human mammary epithelial cell line (HMLE) that underwent EMT. In the context of carcinoma-associated EMT, it is not yet clear whether the change in migration and invasion must be positively correlated during EMT or whether enhanced migration is a necessary consequence of having undergone EMT. Here, we report that pre-EMT rat prostate cancer (PC) and HMLE cells are more migratory than their post-EMT counterparts. To determine a mechanism for increased epithelial cell migration, gene expression analysis was performed and revealed an increase in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in pre-EMT cells. Indeed, inhibition of EGFR in PC epithelial cells slowed migration. Importantly, while post-EMT PC and HMLE cell lines are less migratory, both remain invasive in vitro and, for PC cells, in vivo. Our study demonstrates that enhanced migration is not a phenotypic requirement of EMT, and migration and invasion can be uncoupled during carcinoma-associated EMT.
Awareness of climate change: differences among Russian regions

ABSTRACT In the Russian Federation with vulnerable permafrost areas and large forested areas as elsewhere, climate change affects the lives of citizens. Action depends on levels of awareness, a latent variable, calculated by means of a multiple-indicator-multiple-causes (MIMIC) model and indicators derived from regional search entries in Yandex®. The results show that climate change awareness increases with gross regional product per capita, decreases from east to west, and declines and varies seasonally with increasing average temperature. The United Nations Climate Change Conference affected awareness positively, but the devaluation of the Russian rouble in 2014–15 had no measurable impact.
Constant-Round Restricted-Verifier Zero-Knowledge with Polynomial Precision

We provide the first proof of that for every language L isin NP there exists an O(1)-round computational zero-knowledge argument with polynomial precision for L. Our result assumes that ratio of running-time of any adversary verifier in some same verifier round of any two different executions of the argument is bounded by nalpha, where n is secure parameter and alpha is any predeterminate constant. Such verifiers are called restricted verifiers. Precise zero-knowledge was introduced by Micali and Pass in STOC'06 (They used the term "local zero-knowledge" there.) and they constructed some omega(1)-round polynomial/linear precise zero- knowledge protocols for NP and hence left an open problem how to construct O(1)-round polynomial/linear precise zero-knowledge protocols. By providing a precise simulator for Barak's O(1)-round non-black-box zero-knowledge argument, we prove that the argument is polynomial precise.
Effect of adding dopexamine to intraoperative volume expansion in patients undergoing major elective abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND The contribution of low-dose dopexamine to outcome, when given to increase cardiac output in patients already treated with fluids during major abdominal surgery, is not yet known. METHOD We carried out a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. All 100 patients studied were given fluid infusions during surgery guided by stroke volume measurements made with an oesophageal Doppler probe. Patients were randomized to receive dopexamine at the rate of 0.25 microg kg(-1) min(-1) or saline 0.9% (control) for the first 24 h after the start of surgery. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of postoperative morbidity. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the incidence of postoperative complications, the length of hospital stay, the incidence of morbidity and the use of critical care facilities. The patients randomized to receive dopexamine had significantly more pre-existing disease than the control patients. Mortality in both groups was significantly less than predicted by the POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity) risk prediction score. CONCLUSION We could not demonstrate an advantage to using low-dose dopexamine in high-risk patients during major abdominal surgery.
Comparison of the Mechanical Performance of Ossiculoplasty Using a Prosthetic Malleus-to-Stapes Head with a Tympanic Membrane-to-Stapes Head Assembly in a Human Cadaveric Middle Ear Model

Hypothesis: Ossiculoplasty using prosthetic reconstruction with a malleus assembly to the stapes head will result in better transmission of vibrations from the eardrum to the stapes footplate than reconstruction with a tympanic membrane assembly to the stapes head. Both types of reconstruction will be affected by tension of the prosthesis. Background: Theories (and some clinical studies) that the shape of the normal tympanic membrane is important suggest that prosthetic reconstruction to the malleus performs better than reconstruction to the tympanic membrane. This has not been previously tested by directly measuring vibration responses in the human ear. Our previous work suggests that tympanic membrane assembly to the stapes head type prostheses performed best under low tension. This had not been previously tested for malleus assembly to the stapes head type prostheses. Methods: Hydroxyapatite prostheses were used to reconstruct a missing incus defect in a fresh cadaveric human ear model. Two types of prostheses were used, one from the stapes head to the malleus (malleus assembly to the stapes head), the other from the stapes head to the tympanic membrane (tympanic membrane assembly to the stapes head). Stapes footplate center responses were measured using a laser Doppler vibrometer in response to calibrated acoustic frequency sweeps. Results: Tension had a very significant effect on both types of prostheses in the lower frequencies. Loose tension was best overall. The malleus assembly to the stapes head type prostheses consistently performed better than the tympanic membrane assembly to the stapes head type prostheses when stratified for tension. Conclusion: Tension has a significant effect on prosthesis function. Malleus assembly to the stapes head type prostheses generally result in better transmission of vibrations to the stapes footplate than tympanic membrane assembly to the stapes head type prostheses.
Pitfalls in salivary gland fine-needle aspiration cytology: lessons from the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Nongynecologic Cytology.

CONTEXT We use data from the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Nongynecologic Cytology to identify common diagnostic errors in salivary gland fine-needle aspiration (FNA). OBJECTIVE To identify salivary gland FNA cases with poor performance characteristics in the Nongynecologic Cytology Program surveys, so that the most common diagnostic pitfalls can be avoided. DESIGN A retrospective review of the College of American Pathologists Nongynecologic Cytology Program's cumulative data from 1999 to 2003 revealed the most common false-positive and false-negative interpretations on FNA for common salivary gland lesions. Slides that performed poorly were then reviewed to identify the cytologic characteristics that may have contributed to their poor performance. RESULTS A total of 6249 participant responses with general interpretations of benign (n = 4642) or malignant (n= 1607) were reviewed. The sensitivity and specificity of the participant responses for correctly interpreting the cases as benign or malignant were 73% and 91%, respectively. Benign cases with the highest false-positive rates were monomorphic adenoma (53% false-positive), intraparotid lymph node (36%), oncocytoma (18%), and granulomatous sialadenitis (10%). Malignant cases with the highest false-negative rates were lymphoma (57%), acinic cell carcinoma (49%), low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (43%), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (33%). Selected review of the most discordant individual cases revealed possible explanations for some of the interpretative errors. CONCLUSIONS These data confirm the difficulty associated with interpretation of salivary gland FNA specimens. Cytologists should be aware of the potential false-positive and false-negative interpretations that can occur in FNAs from this organ site in order to minimize the possibility of diagnostic errors.
Control over overall shape and size in de novo designed proteins

Significance We describe how protein size and shape can be sculpted by de novo protein design. Precise control over protein shape will be critical for completely de novo design of high-affinity binding proteins, enzymes, and protein-based nanomaterials. The systematic procedure for design of αβ-protein structures from scratch described in this paper should be broadly useful. We recently described general principles for designing ideal protein structures stabilized by completely consistent local and nonlocal interactions. The principles relate secondary structure patterns to tertiary packing motifs and enable design of different protein topologies. To achieve fine control over protein shape and size within a particular topology, we have extended the design rules by systematically analyzing the codependencies between the lengths and packing geometry of successive secondary structure elements and the backbone torsion angles of the loop linking them. We demonstrate the control afforded by the resulting extended rule set by designing a series of proteins with the same fold but considerable variation in secondary structure length, loop geometry, β-strand registry, and overall shape. Solution NMR structures of four designed proteins for two different folds show that protein shape and size can be precisely controlled within a given protein fold. These extended design principles provide the foundation for custom design of protein structures performing desired functions.
Do Qualifications Matter? New Evidence on Board Functions and Director Compensation

Prior research suggests that the effectiveness of corporate directors depends on their qualifications. We investigate whether directors’ qualifications are reflected in their pay. We find significant variation in director compensation both across and within boards, with more than a third of the variation in director pay attributable to differences among members of the same board. On average, more qualified directors receive higher pay, while CEO-appointed (“co-opted”) directors do not. However, co-opted directors receive higher pay on boards where the CEO’s influence is high. We also provide evidence that the market values qualified directors and discounts co-opted ones.
Distributive Radiation and Transfer Characterization Based on the PEEC Method

Power radiation and radiated coupling among different structures represent an important area for research study. The partial element equivalent circuit method (PEEC) is a powerful technique which bridges the gap between the electromagnetic and circuit theories. In this paper, we develop a new approach for PEEC to calculate the distributive power radiation and couplings. With this approach, formulations for both the radiated power and the transferred power can be evaluated. Further, the physical meanings of the power results are interpreted according to the conservation of energy law. We use electric dipoles, magnetic dipoles and patch antennas as well as coupled microstrip lines to benchmark the method. The approach can also be applied to EMC/EMI and other power dissipation computations.
MOSFET 1/f noise measurement under switched bias conditions

A new measurement setup is presented that allows the observation of 1/f noise spectra in MOSFET's under switched bias conditions in a wide frequency band (10 Hz-100 kHz). When switching between inversion and accumulation, MOSFET's of different manufacturers invariably show reduced 1/f noise power density for frequencies below the switching frequency. At low frequencies (10 Hz), a 5-8 dB reduction in intrinsic 1/f noise power density is found for different devices, largely independent of the switching frequency (up to 1 MHz). The switched bias measurements render detailed wideband 1/f noise spectra of switched MOSFET's, which is useful for 1/f noise model validation and analog circuit design.
HTF9C gene of 22q11.21 region associates with schizophrenia having deficit-sustained attention

Objective A region at chromosome 22q11.21 has been reported to potentially harbor a candidate gene for schizophrenia, ZDHHC8 (zinc finger, DHHC domain containing 8; also annotated as KIAA1292) in a number of studies. This finding has been replicated in Han Chinese, but not in other ethnicity-specific studies. For further support from within the Han Chinese ethnic group, we selected two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located at the distal 5′-end (rs1633445; intron 10 of HpaII tiny fragments locus 9C, HTF9C) and the intron 4 (rs175174) of ZDHHC8 gene to test if these were associated with schizophrenia in a study sample of Taiwan. Methods A total of 218 schizophrenia families with at least two affected siblings participated in this study. These two SNPs were genotyped using matrix-assisted laser desorption/localization ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Results Significant associations with schizophrenia were not shown from these two SNPs. After stratifying schizophrenia according to the deficit and the nondeficit of sustained attention assessed by the Continuous Performance Test, the rs1633445 showed significant association with schizophrenia in the presence of a deficit in sustained attention (P<0.04). Conclusion SNP rs1633445 of the HTF9C gene may be associated with a deficit in sustained attention within schizophrenia, in a Taiwanese cohort. The deficit of sustained attention may be an endophenotype of schizophrenia, and warrants further study
On Improving Defect Coverage of Stuck-at Fault Tests

Recently design for manufacturability (DFM) has been required to achieve higher process yield. Information obtained from silicon by testing and/or fault analysis is sometimes fed back for redesign of VLSI circuits. In this paper we propose a method to maximize defect coverage of a test set initially generated for stuck-at faults in a full scan sequential circuit by using feed back information from fault analysis. If a test set for more complex faults than stuck-at faults is generated, higher defect coverage would be obtained. Such a test set, however, would have a large number of test vectors, and hence the test costs would go up. The proposed method improves defect coverage of the test set by not adding new test vectors but modifying test vectors with the information obtained from fault analysis. Therefore there are no negative impacts on test data volume and test application time. The initial fault coverage for stuck-at faults of the test set is guaranteed with modified test vectors. In this paper we focus on detecting as many as possible non-feedback AND/OR-type bridging faults. Experimental results show that the proposed method significantly decreases the number of non-feedback AND/OR-type bridging faults undetected by a test set generated for stuck-at faults
Stochastic Geometry Perspective of Unlicensed Operator in a CBRS System

In this work, we model and analyze a cellular system that operates in the licensed band of the 3.5 GHz spectrum and consists of a licensed and an unlicensed operator. Using tools from stochastic geometry, we study the co-existence of these networks from the perspective of the unlicensed operator. We model the licensed base station (BS) locations as a homogeneous Poisson point process with protection zones (PZs) around each BS. Since the unlicensed BSs can not operate within PZs, their locations are modeled as a Poisson hole process. In addition, we also consider contention-based channel access mechanism for the unlicensed BSs. We provide useful lower bound for the medium access probability for a typical BS of the unlicensed operator. Further, approximate results for coverage probability are also presented, by effectively handling the correlation in the interference powers induced due to correlation in locations of the licensed and unlicensed BSs. Using the derived expressions, we study the effect of the density of licensed BSs on the average number of active unlicensed BSs per unit area and coverage probability for a typical unlicensed user. To the best of our knowledge, this work presents the first comprehensive stochastic geometry-based analysis of the CBRS system.