Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transactions papers evaluation and design of irregular LDPC codes using ACE spectrum

The construction of finite-length irregular LDPC codes with low error floors is currently an attractive research problem. In particular, for the binary erasure channel (BEC), the problem is to find the elements of selected irregular LDPC code ensembles with the size of their minimum stopping set being maximized. Due to the lack of analytical solutions to this problem, a simple but powerful heuristic design algorithm, the approximate cycle extrinsic message degree (ACE) constrained design algorithm, has recently been proposed. Building upon the ACE metric associated with a cycle in a code graph, we introduce the ACE spectrum of LDPC codes as a useful tool for evaluation of codes from selected irregular LDPC code ensembles. Using the ACE spectrum, we generalize the ACE constrained design algorithm, making it more flexible and efficient. We justify the ACE spectrum approach through examples and simulation results.
Effects of Fluvoxamine on Cognitive Function in Outpatients with Depression inRemission: Results of an Open-Label Pilot Study

A prospective, non-comparative, single-centre, single-group study was conducted in 50 adult patients with currently remitted recurrent depressive disorder according to the criteria of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision in order to assess changes in cognitive function during preventive therapy with fluvoxamine. Responses to therapy were evaluated using the Stroop Color and Word Test as the primary efficacy outcome. The revised Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination, Frontal Assessment Battery, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale were used as secondary indices. Fluvoxamine was administered at doses of 50–150 mg/day for 24 weeks. Fluvoxamine therapy was associated with a range of ‘pro-cognitive’ responses that resulted in improvement in executive functions, including improved voluntary regulation of inhibitory control and restoration of verbal fluency. No dose relation was apparent for these effects. The incidence of treatmentrelated adverse events was low and no serious or severe events were recorded. These findings indicate that further studies of fluvoxamine are warranted and feasible to characterize possible beneficial effects on cognitive processes in patients with depression
A Hybrid Technique to Identify Peer-to-Peer Internet Traffic

the past few years, Peer-to-Peer traffic has been consuming a lot of Internet traffic bandwidth and is still rising which brings great difficulties to network management. Traditional classification techniques such as port based and payload based have significant limitations. Hence, newer statistical approaches are adopted for P2P identification. P2P traffic uses both TCP and UDP protocols for communication. This paper provides a technique to identify P2P traffic, which focuses on significant TCP and UDP features and utilizes C4.5 decision tree algorithm. Keywordstraffic identification, TCP traffic, UDP traffic, C4.5 decision tree
Context and meter enhance long-range planning in music performance

Neural responses demonstrate evidence of resonance, or oscillation, during the production of periodic auditory events. Music contains periodic auditory events that give rise to a sense of beat, which in turn generates a sense of meter on the basis of multiple periodicities. Metrical hierarchies may aid memory for music by facilitating similarity-based associations among sequence events at different periodic distances that unfold in longer contexts. A fundamental question is how metrical associations arising from a musical context influence memory during music performance. Longer contexts may facilitate metrical associations at higher hierarchical levels more than shorter contexts, a prediction of the range model, a formal model of planning processes in music performance (Palmer and Pfordresher, 2003; Pfordresher et al., 2007). Serial ordering errors, in which intended sequence events are produced in incorrect sequence positions, were measured as skilled pianists performed musical pieces that contained excerpts embedded in long or short musical contexts. Pitch errors arose from metrically similar positions and further sequential distances more often when the excerpt was embedded in long contexts compared to short contexts. Musicians’ keystroke intensities and error rates also revealed influences of metrical hierarchies, which differed for performances in long and short contexts. The range model accounted for contextual effects and provided better fits to empirical findings when metrical associations between sequence events were included. Longer sequence contexts may facilitate planning during sequence production by increasing conceptual similarity between hierarchically associated events. These findings are consistent with the notion that neural oscillations at multiple periodicities may strengthen metrical associations across sequence events during planning.
A molecular dynamics study of the inhibition of chicken dihydrofolate reductase by a phenyl triazine

Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to investigate the ternary complex formed between chicken liver dihydrofolate reductase, a phenyl triazine inhibitor, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). The solvent was represented by a sphere of water molecules encompassing the system. We report the results of quantum mechanical calculations of the rotational barrier in the pyrophosphate link and the barrier to inversion of the triazine ring. AMBER parameters for NADPH and the triazine are provided. Over the course of a 300‐ps molecular dynamics simulation of the ternary complex in water, the triazine inhibitor maintains the same hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with the enzyme that are observed in the X‐ray crystal structure. Despite the low calculated barrier to inversion of the triazine ring, a single puckered conformation is observed throughout the simulation. It is proposed that this is primarily due to interactions with Phe34, which maintains an approximately parallel orientation to the triazine ring. The nicotinamide portion of NADPH maintains the interactions observed in the crystal structure, but more conformational change is observed at the adenine end together with associated changes in the protein. Two conformations for the sidechain of Tyr31 are present in the X‐ray structure. The main simulation reported here corresponds to the conformation characterized by (χ1 = − 161°, χ2 = − 103°). A separate simulation was also performed in which the sidechain of Tyr31 was initially set to the other conformation present in the crystal structure (χ1 = 139°, χ2 = −99°). During this simulation, χ1 of this sidechain gradually changed until it occupied the region characterized by χ1 = −160°, thereby suggesting that this is the preferred conformation for this residue. The simulation required 200 ps to reach structural equilibrium (as measured by the root mean square, rms, deviation from the initial crystal structure), thus reinforcing the view that simulations of at least several hundreds of picoseconds are desirable when studying such systems. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Robust Real-Time Tracking of Multiple Objects by Volumetric Mass Densities

Combining foreground images from multiple views by projecting them onto a common ground-plane has been recently applied within many multi-object tracking approaches. These planar projections introduce severe artifacts and constrain most approaches to objects moving on a common 2D ground-plane. To overcome these limitations, we introduce the concept of an occupancy volume - exploiting the full geometry and the objects' center of mass - and develop an efficient algorithm for 3D object tracking. Individual objects are tracked using the local mass density scores within a particle filter based approach, constrained by a Voronoi partitioning between nearby trackers. Our method benefits from the geometric knowledge given by the occupancy volume to robustly extract features and train classifiers on-demand, when volumetric information becomes unreliable. We evaluate our approach on several challenging real-world scenarios including the public APIDIS dataset. Experimental evaluations demonstrate significant improvements compared to state-of-the-art methods, while achieving real-time performance.
MSpec: A Design Pattern for Concurrent Data Structures

Speculation is a well-known means of increasing parallelism among concurrent methods that are usually but not always independent. Traditional nonblocking data structures employ a particularly restrictive form of speculation. Software transactional memory (STM) systems employ a much more general—though typically blocking—form, and there is a wealth of options in between. We explore data-structure-specific speculation as a design pattern for concurrent data structures. Using several different structures as examples, we consider issues of safety (sandboxing), validation mechanism, and granularity of locking. We note that it can sometimes be useful to perform validation and locking at different granularities. Through experiments on UltraSPARC and x86 platforms, we demonstrate that MSpec can lead to highly efficient algorithms, particularly in methods with a significant search component.
Hemodynamic Response to Vascular Expansion Following Immunosympathectomy in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

SUMMARY Spontaneously hypertensive male rats (SHR) or normotenslve Kyoto-Wlstar (WKY) male rats underwent either sham or nerve growth factor antiserum (NGFAS) treatment during the first week of life. The NGFAS treatment prevented the development of hypertension in SHR bat did not prevent the development of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. At 48 weeks of age, various parameters of LV function were measured In the four treatment groups in vivo under general anesthesia. After the recording of resting parameters, homologous whole blood was transfused until the rise in cardiac output reached a plateau. At rest, LV systolic pressure of the NGFAS-treated SHR was significantly lower than that of the sham-treated SHR and not statistically different from that of the WKY rat. The LV end dlastolic pressures did not differ among the four groups. Both SHR groups had significantly lower cardiac, stroke, and contractility indices than did the WKY groups. Following vascular expansion, LV filling pressure, stroke index, and stroke work index rose in all groups. The response in the SHR was greater than that In WKY groups. Interestingly, the systolic pressure of the NGFAS- treated SHR rose to the same level as in the sham-treated SHR. Heart rate and calculated systemic vascular resistance fell following transfusion. The SHR appears to exhibit an altered response to increased filling pressure and increased afterload. Our findings are consistent with the concept of an alteration in the compliance of the LV in the SHR.
Role of the human heat shock protein hsp70 in protection against stress-induced apoptosis

Resistance to stress-induced apoptosis was examined in cells in which the expression of hsp70 was either constitutively elevated or inducible by a tetracycline-regulated transactivator. Heat-induced apoptosis was blocked in hsp70-expressing cells, and this was associated with reduced cleavage of the common death substrate protein poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Heat-induced cell death was correlated with the activation of the stress-activated protein kinase SAPK/JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). Activation of SAPK/JNK was strongly inhibited in cells in which hsp70 was induced to a high level, indicating that hsp70 is able to block apoptosis by inhibiting signaling events upstream of SAPK/JNK activation. In contrast, SAPK/JNK activation was not inhibited by heat shock in cells with constitutively elevated levels of hsp70. Cells that constitutively overexpress hsp70 resist apoptosis induced by ceramide, a lipid signaling molecule that is generated by apoptosis-inducing treatments and is linked to SAPK/JNK activation. Similar to heat stress, resistance to ceramide-induced apoptosis occurs in spite of strong SAPK/JNK activation. Therefore, hsp70 is also able to inhibit apoptosis at some point downstream of SAPK/JNK activation. Since PARP cleavage is prevented in both cell lines, these results suggest that hsp70 is able to prevent the effector steps of apoptotic cell death. Processing of the CED-3-related protease caspase-3 (CPP32/Yama/apopain) is inhibited in hsp70-expressing cells; however, the activity of the mature enzyme is not affected by hsp70 in vitro. Caspase processing may represent a critical heat-sensitive target leading to cell death that is inhibited by the chaperoning function of hsp70. The inhibition of SAPK/JNK signaling and apoptotic protease effector steps by hsp70 likely contributes to the resistance to stress-induced apoptosis seen in transiently induced thermotolerance.
S100A11 plays a role in homologous recombination and genome maintenance by influencing the persistence of RAD51 in DNA repair foci

ABSTRACT The repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination (HR) is an essential process in maintenance of chromosomal stability. A key player of HR is the strand exchange factor RAD51 whose assembly at sites of DNA damage is tightly regulated. We detected an endogenous complex of RAD51 with the calcium-binding protein S100A11, which is localized at sites of DNA repair in HaCaT cells as well as in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) synchronized in S phase. In biochemical assays, we revealed that S100A11 enhanced the RAD51 strand exchange activity. When cells expressing a S100A11 mutant lacking the ability to bind Ca2+, a prolonged persistence of RAD51 in repair sites and nuclear γH2AX foci was observed suggesting an incomplete DNA repair. The same phenotype became apparent when S100A11 was depleted by RNA interference. Furthermore, down-regulation of S100A11 resulted in both reduced sister chromatid exchange confirming the restriction of the recombination capacity of the cells, and in an increase of chromosomal aberrations reflecting the functional requirement of S100A11 for the maintenance of genomic stability. Our data indicate that S100A11 is involved in homologous recombination by regulating the appearance of RAD51 in DSB repair sites. This function requires the calcium-binding activity of S100A11.
Partition of occupational science and occupational therapy: sorting out some issues.

The paper "Partition of Occupational Sl~~ence and Occupational Therapy suggested that a complete separation of the discipline of occup,uional science and the profession of occupational therapv would be of considerable benefit to both groups (Mosey, 1992b). Reasons wi1\' partition woulcl he beneficial and suggestions for bringing about and mainraining COI11plete partition were offered. Clark et al (1993), responding to these suggestions in "Dange['s Inherent [n the Partition of Occupational Therapv and Occupational Science," raised a number of issues relatc:e1 to partition. However, Contr,ln' to the promise of the title, [10 specific inherent dangers were descrilicd. Rega[-ding tile well-being of occupational therapy, one dange[' of panition was mentioned the possibilitv of an inaelequate theoretical bJSC fo[' practice. I {owever, there was no expL1Il3t1on of how such a situation might come about, or any :lrgul11ent presented to support the probalile occmrence of such an evelltuality. This issue will be discussed further helow. A<, to the "eli-being of occupation;]1 science, no anticip,lted cLlilgers relatecl to panition were ielemified. It is appJrent. however, that CiJrk et al helieve occupational the[·ap,'. , [·esources shou/cl continue to he used to suPPOrt occupational science. Reasons cited are precedents ;Jill] anric[pated coJ1tribution to tbe bod)' of theoretical infml1latiol1 that suppons the pr;Jctice of occupational thCi"apv. Nevenheless, nothing was s;Jid Jbout ;J1l\' possible h:lI"m to occupational science ;JS the result of ranitlon. Thus, it appe;Jrs that Clark et al. see no [·eal dangers in the p,mitjeJil of occupational science ami OCcup;Jtional therapv, no threat to the welfare of c'lther group. AJthough other vOices need to be beard, the[·e seem to be fewer imAnne Cronin Mosey
Fault detection filter design for a class of Lipschitz systems

The paper relates the design principle for fault detection filters devoted to a class of continuous-time Lipschitz systems. The reference model principle within incremental quadratic constraints is proposed to formulate a criterion for fault detection filters design. The design conditions are outhned in terms of linear matrix inequalities to posses a stable design framework.
The Effect of Childhood Education on Old Age Cognitive Abilities: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design

We exploit the change to the minimum school-leaving age in the United Kingdom from 14 to 15 using a regression discontinuity design to evaluate the causal effect of one more year of education on cognitive abilities at older ages. We find a large and significant effect of this reform on males’ memory and executive functioning measured using simple cognitive tests from the English Longitudinal Survey on Ageing (ELSA). This result is particularly remarkable since the 1947 reform had a powerful and immediate effect on about half the population of 14-year-olds. We investigate and discuss the potential channels by which this reform may have had its effects, as well as carrying out a full set of sensitivity analyses and robustness checks.
Adaptive Sensing Scheduling and Spectrum Selection in Cognitive Wireless Mesh Networks

Cognitive Radio (CR) technology constitutes a promising approach to increase the capacity of Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs). Using this technology, Mesh Routers (MRs) and the attached Mesh Clients (MCs) are allowed to opportunis- tically transmit on the licensed band, but under the constraint not to interfere with the Primary Users (PUs) of the spectrum. Thus, the effective deployment of CR- WMNs require that each MR must be able to: sense the current spectrum, select an available PU-free channel and perform the spectrum handoff to a new channel in case of PU arrival on the current one. How to coordinate these actions in the optimal way which maximizes the performance of the CR-WMNs while minimizing the interference to the PUs constitutes an open research issue in CR systems. In this paper, we propose an adaptive spectrum scheduling and allocation scheme which allows a MR to identify the best schedule of (i) when to sense the current channel, (ii) when to transmit, (iii) when to perform a spectrum handoff. Due the large number of parameters involved, we propose Reinforcement Learning (RL) techniques to allow a MR to learn by itself the optimal balance between spectrum sensing-exploitation- exploration actions based on network feedbacks coming from the MCs. We perform extensive simulations which confirm the adaptivity and efficiency of our approach in terms of increased throughput when compared with non-learning based schemes for CR-WMNs.
Low-cost creation of a 3D interactive museum exhibition

We present a demonstration of a multi-sensory virtual experience that accurately reflects the experience of a real visit to a museum. We have developed a 3D interactive digital museum exhibition corresponding to a photo-realistic 3D reconstruction of the Iconic Treasures exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland's archaeology building. Users can explore the 3D virtual environment and interact with the displays by accessing high resolution photographs and historical descriptions of the artefacts. This demo will showcase the experience on a 3D laptop with the use of active shutter LCD glasses to create an immersive experience. A key aspect of the demonstration is that it was developed using low-cost or freely available OTS tools wherever possible putting the creation of such digital exhibitions within reach of even modest budgets.
THE FINE STRUCTURAL LOCALIZATION OF ENDOGENOUS AND EXOGENOUS PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN KUPFFER CELLS OF RAT LIVER

Endogenous peroxidase activity has been demonstrated in sections of rat liver fixed briefly by glutaraldehyde perfusion and incubated in Graham and Karnovsky's medium for cytochemical demonstration of peroxidase activity (29). In 25–40% of sinusoidal cells, an electron-opaque reaction product is localized in segments of the endoplasmic reticulum, including the perinuclear cisternae, a few Golgi vesicles and saccules and in some large membrane-bounded granules. This staining is abolished after prolonged fixation or boiling of tissue sections in glutaraldehyde, and in the absence of H2O2 or DAB from the incubation medium. Furthermore, the reaction is inhibited completely by sodium azide and high concentrations of H2O2, and partially by KCN and aminotriazole. Among the different cells in hepatic sinusoids, the nonphagocytic "fat-storing" cells (39) are always peroxidase negative, whereas the lining cells in process of erythrophagocytosis are consistently peroxidase positive. The possible biological significance of endogenous peroxidase in Kupffer cells is discussed. In addition, the uptake of exogenous horseradish peroxidase by Kupffer cells has been investigated. The exogenous tracer protein, which in contrast to endogenous peroxidase of Kupffer cells is not inhibited by prolonged aldehyde fixation, is taken up by micropinocytosis and remains confined to the lysosomal system of Kupffer cells. The significance of these observations in respect to some recent studies suggesting localization of exogenous peroxidases in the endoplasmic reticulum of Kupffer cells and peritoneal macrophages (22, 23) is briefly discussed.
Quantitative imaging of cartilage and bone for functional assessment of gene therapy approaches in experimental arthritis

Anti‐inflammatory gene therapy can inhibit inflammation driven by TNFα in experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis. However, assessment of the therapeutic effect on cartilage and bone quality is either missing or unsatisfactory. A multimodal imaging approach, using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and micro‐computed tomography (µCT), was used for gathering 3D quantitative image data on diseased and treated murine joints. As proof of concept, the efficacy of anti‐TNF‐based gene therapy was assessed, comparing imaging techniques with classical investigations. SCID mice knees were injected with human synoviocytes overexpressing TNFα. Two days later, electric pulse‐mediated DNA transfer was performed after injection of the pGTRTT‐plasmid containing a dimeric soluble‐TNF receptor (dsTNFR) under the control of a doxycycline‐inducible promoter. After 21 days the mice were sacrificed, TNFα levels were measured and the joints assessed for cartilage and bone degradation, using CLSM, µCT and histology. TNFα levels were decreased in the joints of mice treated with the plasmid in the presence of doxycycline. Concomitantly, histological analysis showed an increase in cartilage thickness and a decrease in specific synovial hyperplasia and cartilage erosion. Bone morphometry revealed that groups with the plasmid in the presence of doxycycline displayed a higher cortical thickness and decreased porosity. Using an anti‐TNF gene therapy approach, known to reduce inflammation, as proof of concept, 3D imaging allowed quantitative evaluation of its benefits to joint architecture. It showed that local delivery of a regulated anti‐TNF vector allowed decreasing arthritis severity through TNFα inhibition. These tools are valuable for understanding the efficacy of gene therapy on whole‐joint morphometry. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.