Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Network Sharing of Mixed Network Coding and Routing Data Flows in Congestion Networks

In this paper, we study the congestion game for a network where mutliple network coding (NC) and routing users sharing a single common congestion link to transmit their information. The data flows using NC and routing will compete network resources, and we need to determine the optimal allocation of network resources between NC and routing data flows to maximize the network payoff. To facilitate the design, we formulate this process using a cost-sharing game model. A novel average-cost-sharing (ACS) pricing mechanism is developed to maximize the overall network payoff. We analyze the performance of ACS in terms of price of anarchy (PoA). We formulate an analytical expression to compute PoA under the ACS mechanism. In contrast to the previous affine marginal cost (AMC) mechanism, where the overall network payoff decreases when NC is applied, the proposed ACS mechanism can considerably improve the overall network payoff by optimizing the number and the spectral resource allocation of NC and routing data flows sharing the network link.
Mice Lacking Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 Display Profound Defects in Host Resistance and Immune Responses to Mycobacterium avium Infection Not Exhibited by Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2)- and TLR4-Deficient Animals

To assess the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in host resistance to Mycobacterium avium infection, mice deficient in the TLR adaptor molecule myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), as well as TLR2−/− and TLR4−/− animals, were infected with a virulent strain of M. avium, and bacterial burdens and immune responses were compared with those in wild-type (WT) animals. MyD88−/− mice failed to control acute and chronic M. avium growth and succumbed 9–14 wk postinfection. Infected TLR2−/− mice also showed increased susceptibility, but displayed longer survival and lower bacterial burdens than MyD88−/− animals, while TLR4−/− mice were indistinguishable from their WT counterparts. Histopathological examination of MyD88−/− mice revealed massive destruction of lung tissue not present in WT, TLR2−/−, or TLR4−/− mice. In addition, MyD88−/− and TLR2−/−, but not TLR4−/−, mice displayed marked reductions in hepatic neutrophil infiltration during the first 2 h of infection. Although both MyD88−/− and TLR2−/− macrophages showed profound defects in IL-6, TNF, and IL-12p40 responses to M. avium stimulation in vitro, in vivo TNF and IL-12p40 mRNA induction was impaired only in infected MyD88−/− mice. Similarly, MyD88−/− mice displayed a profound defect in IFN-γ response that was not evident in TLR2−/− or TLR4−/− mice or in animals deficient in IL-18. These findings indicate that resistance to mycobacterial infection is regulated by multiple MyD88-dependent signals in addition to those previously attributed to TLR2 or TLR4, and that these undefined elements play a major role in determining bacterial induced proinflammatory as well as IFN-γ responses.
The Enactment of Academic Language Policy in the International University: A Mixed-Methods Investigation

The existing literature on international education in relation to language policy has suggested that internationalizing higher education (HE) does not ensure interculturality (Bash, 2009; Durant & Shepherd, 2009; Jenkins, 2014; Seidlhofer, 2011); the potential relationship between the internationalization of HE and language remains unclear (Jenkins, 2014; Meyer, Gekeler, Manger, & Urank, 2012; Saarinen, 2012). This study responds to the timely question regarding what kind of language policy can meet the needs of international students in an increasingly globalized academic culture (Jenkins, 2014) by adding a Canadian voice to the debate and featuring the changing sociolinguistic realities in internationalized Canadian HE. This study aims to investigate the language policy for non-native English speaking (NNES) international students, as enacted at three interrelated but not necessarily congruent levels: language management, language beliefs, and language practices, with a particular focus on English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs as an integral part of the ‘international’ university. Employing a mixed-methods approach, I collected data from document analysis, questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observations in three EAP programs in Canada. I draw on the theoretical framework of language policy (Spolsky, 2004, 2009, 2012/2018), and complementary concepts of mechanism (Shohamy, 2006) and plurilingual and pluricultural competence (Coste, Moore, & Zarate, 2009) to interpret and analyze the data. Findings of this study shed light on the two-fold characteristics of the tripartite language policy in the EAP domain. While there is increasing awareness of the homogenizing
Household Time Use Among Older Couples: Evidence and Implications for Labor Supply Parameters

Using the Consumption Activities Mail Survey (CAMS) module in the HRS we document how time allocations change for individuals within a household when one or more members transitions from full time work to not working. Our basic finding is that the ratio of home production to leisure time is approximately constant for both family members. We then build a model of household labor supply to understand the implications of this finding for preferences and the home production function. We conclude that this fact suggests a relatively large elasticity of substitution between the leisure of the two members. For commonly used preference specifications, this also implies a large (i.e., greater than one) intertemporal elasticity of substitution for leisure.
Dephosphorylation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factor is regulated by an RNA-protein scaffold complex

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) proteins are Ca2+-regulated transcription factors that control gene expression in many cell types. NFAT proteins are heavily phosphorylated and reside in the cytoplasm of resting cells; when cells are stimulated by a rise in intracellular Ca2+, NFAT proteins are dephosphorylated by the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin and translocate to the nucleus to activate target gene expression. Here we show that phosphorylated NFAT1 is present in a large cytoplasmic RNA-protein scaffold complex that contains a long intergenic noncoding RNA (lincRNA), NRON [noncoding (RNA) repressor of NFAT]; a scaffold protein, IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein (IQGAP); and three NFAT kinases, casein kinase 1, glycogen synthase kinase 3, and dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase. Combined knockdown of NRON and IQGAP1 increased NFAT dephosphorylation and nuclear import exclusively after stimulation, without affecting the rate of NFAT rephosphorylation and nuclear export; and both NRON-depleted T cells and T cells from IQGAP1-deficient mice showed increased production of NFAT-dependent cytokines. Our results provide evidence that a complex of lincRNA and protein forms a scaffold for a latent transcription factor and its regulatory kinases, and support an emerging consensus that lincRNAs that bind transcriptional regulators have a similar scaffold function.
Study of efficient simulation of axis-symmetric antennas

An efficient method for the simulation of axis-symmetric antennas is proposed. The method considerably reduces the computer computational running time for such antennas. The method considers the symmetry of the structure in the azimuthal direction, and takes a very small sector (e.g., 50) of the structure. The proposed method is quite useful when optimization methods, along with full-wave software packages, are used to solve an antenna problem. Of the various packages available, the method is most suited to the Finite-Element package HFSS. To prove the effectiveness and efficiency of this method, application to two designed antennas are presented. The results of simulation and measurement are presented and discussed.
Cancer Screening Practices and Attitudes: Comparison of Low-income Women in Three Ethnic Groups

Objective. Based on the Health Belief Model, this study investigates differences among ethnically diverse, low-income women in the USA to inform better outreach strategies to encourage participation in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)- sponsored breast and cervical cancer early detection program. Design. Program-eligible, low-income, Hispanic, Vietnamese and Cambodian American women who were over the age of 40 volunteered to be interviewed in their first language for the study. A total of 78 women completed the interviews. Results. All three samples of women were more likely to perceive barriers to having a mammogram performed compared to the non-minority normative group. Hispanic and Vietnamese women were more similar in their health beliefs and behaviors than Vietnamese and Cambodian women. Conclusion. This study supports other research on the barriers and health belief differences found among ethnic minority women in the USA. Further, these findings suggest that it is not advisable to collapse ethnic groups into general categories such as 'Asian' when planning cancer control strategies, as differences were found by country of origin.
Efficacy and safety of vernakalant in patients with atrial flutter: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

AIMS Vernakalant is a novel, relatively atrial-selective antiarrhythmic agent for conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm. This study examined the safety and efficacy of vernakalant in converting atrial flutter (AFL) to sinus rhythm. METHODS AND RESULTS This was a phase 2/3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Adults with AFL received either a 10 min infusion of 3.0 mg/kg vernakalant (n = 39) or placebo (n = 15). If AFL or AF persisted at the end of a 15 min observation period, a second 10 min infusion of 2.0 mg/kg vernakalant or placebo was administered. The primary efficacy outcome was the proportion of patients who had treatment-induced conversion of AFL to sinus rhythm for a minimum duration of 1 min within 90 min after the start of the first infusion. No patient in the placebo group met the primary outcome. Only one patient receiving vernakalant (1 of 39, 3%) converted to sinus rhythm. A reduced mean absolute ventricular response rate occurred within 50 min in patients receiving vernakalant (mean change from baseline -8.2 b.p.m.) vs. patients receiving placebo (-0.2 b.p.m.) (P = 0.037). A post-hoc analysis revealed that vernakalant increased AFL cycle length by an average of 55 ms, whereas the AFL cycle length was unchanged in the placebo group (P < 0.001). There was no occurrence of 1 : 1 atrio-ventricular conduction. Dysgeusia and sneezing were the most common treatment-related adverse events, consistent with previous reports. CONCLUSION Vernakalant did not restore sinus rhythm in patients with AFL. Vernakalant modestly slowed AFL and ventricular response rates, and was well tolerated.
Counselor Educators' Experiences with Emotionally Charged Exchanges While Teaching Multicultural Counseling.

Counselor Educators’ Experiences with Emotionally Charged Exchanges While Teaching Multicultural Counseling by Marsha Milan-Nichols MA, Oakland University, 2000 BGS, Oakland University, 1998 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision Program Walden University February 2018
An Unsupervised Hair Segmentation and Counting System in Microscopy Images

This paper focuses on the development of medical software for clinical applications using advanced image processing algorithms. Three critical issues of hair segmentation and counting are addressed in this paper. First, the removal of any bright spots due to oil or moisture, which generate circular patterns in the middle of the hair and significantly affect the accuracy of determining the line. Second, two contacting or overlapping hairs are recognized and counted as a single hair. To solve this problem, we proposed a hair-bundling algorithm to calculate any concealed hairs. Finally, hairs may be wavy or curly, making the conventional Hough-based line detection algorithm unsuitable, since it suffers from parameter selections, such as the minimum length of line segment, and distance between line segments. Our proposed hair counting algorithm is substantially more accurate than the Hough-based one, and robust to curls, oily scalp, noise-corruption, and overlapping hairs, under various white balance.
Analysis of flux leakage in novel permanent magnet type eddy current retarder for vehicle applications

As vehicle speed increases, a more powerful brake system is required to ensure vehicle safety and its reliability. Much attention is presently focused upon the permanent magnet type eddy current retarder. In order to reduction of flux leakage for performance improvement of permanent magnet type eddy current retarder during the brake off. Firstly, flux leakage coefficient is obtained for the conventional permanent magnet type eddy current retarder. Then, a novel permanent magnet type eddy current retarder is introduced. Finally, its flux leakage is analyzed by experiments, including the influence of different air gap, the height and the surface area of permanent magnet respectively on magnetic field, which could help optimum design of retarder in future applications.
Inflammatory myxohyaline tumor of distal extremities with virocyte or Reed-Sternberg-like cells: a distinctive lesion with features simulating inflammatory conditions, Hodgkin's disease, and various sarcomas.

We report 51 cases of a previously undescribed tumor of the distal extremities that is often mistaken for an inflammatory or infectious process, Hodgkin's disease, or various sarcomas. These lesions developed in patients of all ages (range, 4-81 yr; median, 40 yr) and affected the sexes nearly equally (27 men, 24 women). They presented as a painless mass of the fingers (14 cases), hand (11 cases), wrist or arm (10 cases), toe or foot (8 cases), or lower leg (5 cases), usually within the subcutaneous tissues. Grossly, they were infiltrative, multinodular masses characterized by a dense chronic inflammatory infiltrate that merged with a stroma, which varied from densely hyaline to focally myxoid and contained sheets of short spindled to rounded epithelioid cells. Focally, the epithelioid cells were extremely large with bizarre, vesicular nuclei and macronucleoli resembling Reed-Sternberg cells or virocytes. Despite the level of atypia, mitotic activity was low. The tumor cells consistently expressed vimentin but lacked a variety of other mesenchymal, epithelial markers, e.g., S100 protein, desmin, actin, neuron-specific endolase, epithelial membrane antigen, HMB-45, CD34) and leukocyte markers (CD15, CD30, CD45). Keratin was noted focally and weakly in four cases and CD68 focally in six cases, the latter suggesting that the cells had acquired phagocytic properties. Immunostains for cytomegalovirus were negative. Polymerase chain reaction for Epstein-Barr virus showed amplification levels consistent with latent infection in 4 of 10 cases, but no cases showed levels consistent with active infection. All of the bacterial and viral cultures were negative. Follow-up information was available in 27 cases. Recurrences developed in six patients (interval, 15 mo-10 yr), but there were no metastases or tumor-related deaths. In one patient, progressive proximal extension up the arm was noted. Although the most common submitting diagnosis was that of an inflammatory or infectious process, the negative studies for infectious agents, clinical behavior with local recurrences, immunophenotypic profile, and cytologic atypia support the idea that these are unusual mesenchymal neoplasms with at least the potential for local recurrence. It remains to be investigated whether with time these lesions will prove to have metastatic potential.
Predicting outcome in traumatic brain injury: development of a novel computerized tomography classification system (Helsinki computerized tomography score).

BACKGROUND Early computerized tomography (CT) abnormalities are important predictors of outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). OBJECTIVE To develop a novel CT scoring system (Helsinki CT score) and to compare it with the Marshall CT classification and the Rotterdam CT score in predicting long-term outcome of patients with TBI. METHODS Eight hundred sixty-nine consecutive TBI patients were included in this open-cohort, retrospective, single-center study. Logistic regression was used to develop the Helsinki CT score. The scores from the Marshall, Rotterdam, and Helsinki CT scoring methods were added to a clinical model based on age, motor score, and pupils to evaluate their value in predicting outcome. Internal validity was assessed by a bootstrap technique and expressed as area under the curve (AUC). Outcome was 6-month unfavorable neurological outcome and mortality. RESULTS Variables included in the Helsinki CT score were bleeding type and size, intraventricular hemorrhage, and suprasellar cisterns. In the present data set, the performance of the Helsinki CT score was superior to that of the Marshall CT and Rotterdam CT scores (AUC, 0.74-0.75 vs 0.63-0.70; P < .001). Addition of the Helsinki CT score modestly increased prognostic performance of the clinical model (AUC neurological outcome +0.02 [P = .002]; AUC mortality, +0.01 [P = .21]). In contrast, the Marshall and Rotterdam CT scores were of no additional predictive value to the clinical model (P > .05). CONCLUSION Use of the novel Helsinki CT score improved outcome prediction accuracy, and the Helsinki CT score is a feasible alternative to the Rotterdam and Marshall CT systems. External validation of the Helsinki CT score is advocated to show generalizability.
Eight-Port Orthogonally Dual-Polarized Antenna Array for 5G Smartphone Applications

A dual-polarized hybrid eight-antenna array operating in the 2.6-GHz band (2550-2650 MHz) for 5G communication multi-input multi-output (MIMO) operation in the smartphone is presented. The proposed hybrid antenna array elements are symmetrically placed along the long edges of the smartphone, and they are composed of two different four-antenna array types (C-shaped coupled-fed and L-shaped monopole slot) that exhibit orthogonal polarization. Therefore, coupling between the two antenna array types can be reduced, and the MIMO system performances are enhanced. A prototype of the proposed eight-antenna array is manufactured and measured. A good impedance matching (10 dB return loss or better), desirable cross-polarization discrimination (better than 15 dB), and an acceptable isolation (better than 12.5 dB) are obtained. Envelope correlation coefficient and channel capacity are also calculated to evaluate the MIMO performances of the proposed antenna array.
E‐cadherin regulates cell movements and tissue formation in early zebrafish embryos

E‐cadherin is maternally expressed in most vertebrate species, but its function during early development of the vertebrate embryo proper is unknown. To directly examine E‐cadherin gene (cdh1) function in zebrafish, morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) that inhibit E‐cadherin protein (Cdh1) expression were injected into embryos. Cdh1 knockdown reduced embryo survival. In early cdh1 MO‐injected embryos, the cleavage plane orientation between blastomeres was irregular and adhesion defects prevented normal compaction. Cdh1 knockdown inhibited epiboly cell movements. Epiboly delay caused yolk cell lysis and produced embryos with a bifurcated embryonic axis. Cdh1 knockdown inhibited gastrulation cell movements, causing defects in convergence and extension. Additionally, prechordal plate derivatives were absent in Cdh1 knockdown embryos even though presumptive prechordal plate markers were induced normally. E‐cadherin mRNA coinjection demonstrated the specificity of cdh1 MO‐induced defects. Our experiments illustrate the importance of cdh1 in regulating morphogenetic cell movements and tissue formation in the early embryo. Developmental Dynamics 230:263–277, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estimating a treatment effect in survival studies in which patients switch treatment

For disease indications such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and various cancers, randomization to a pure control treatment may be scientifically desirable but not ethically acceptable. Clinicians may insist that the experimental treatment be made available, at least as a rescue medication, for all patients in the control arm. A method for estimating a treatment effect in survival data from randomized clinical trials of this type is developed under an accelerated failure time model. This approach retains all patients in the groups to which they were randomized and is not based on an ad hoc subgroup analysis. By conditioning on having observed patient switch times, this method avoids the need to model patient switching patterns in the analysis. This new approach is evaluated using simulation studies, and is illustrated through analysing data from a Medical Research Council lung cancer trial. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transit time during the interparticle percolation process.

A numerical investigation of jamming effect during the spontaneous interparticle percolation process of small beads through an unconsolidated porous media has been performed. The size ratio between the moving beads and the ones building up the porous medium was chosen larger than the geometrical trapping threshold: ξ(c)=(2/√3]-1)(-1)=6.464. In this paper, we used the discrete element method algorithm to study the rebounds of particles on the top of the porous medium and the transit times of an assembly of particles through it. Several parameters such as the number of injected particles, the size ratio between beads, and the energy restitution coefficient are investigated. This study leads to give some important results of the evolution of the transit time versus the contiguous volume occupied by the percolating particles.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha negatively regulates hepatitis B virus gene expression in transgenic mice

It is well known that several inflammatory cytokines can modulate hepatocellular gene expression in a complex physiological process known as the hepatic acute-phase response. Since hepatitis B virus (HBV) characteristically induces a vigorous lymphomononuclear inflammatory response in the liver during acute and chronic hepatitis, it is possible that hepatocellular HBV gene expression may also be modulated by one or more of the cytokines produced by these cells. Using bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a surrogate inducer of inflammatory cytokines in vivo, we have tested this hypothesis in a transgenic mouse model system. In experiments with two independent transgenic mouse lineages that express the HBV envelope region under the control of either HBV or cellular promoters, we observed a 50 to 80% reduction in the hepatic steady-state content of a 2.1-kb HBV mRNA following administration of a single intraperitoneal dose of LPS. The regulatory influence of several inflammatory cytokines known to be induced by LPS was also examined in this system. The negative regulatory effect of LPS was consistently reproduced by the administration of a single nontoxic dose of tumor necrosis factor alpha, and it was occasionally observed following the administration of high doses of alpha interferon and interleukin-6, while no effect was detectable in response to high-dose interleukin-1 alpha or to gamma interferon. These observations suggest that tumor necrosis factor alpha and perhaps other cytokines may activate a heretofore unsuspected intracellular pathway that negatively regulates HBV gene expression. The intracellular mechanism(s) responsible for this effect and its pathophysiologic relevance remain to be elucidated.