Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beyond the Vizing's Bound for at Most Seven Colors

Let $G=(V,E)$ be a simple graph of maximum degree $\Delta$. The edges of $G$ can be colored with at most $\Delta +1$ colors by Vizing's theorem. We study lower bounds on the size of subgraphs of $G$ that can be colored with $\Delta$ colors. Vizing's Theorem gives a bound of $\frac{\Delta}{\Delta+1}|E|$. This is known to be tight for cliques $K_{\Delta+1}$ when $\Delta$ is even. However, for $\Delta=3$ it was improved to $26/31|E|$ by Albertson and Haas [Parsimonious edge colorings, Disc. Math. 148, 1996] and later to $6/7|E|$ by Rizzi [Approximating the maximum 3-edge-colorable subgraph problem, Disc. Math. 309, 2009]. It is tight for $B_3$, the graph isomorphic to a $K_4$ with one edge subdivided. We improve previously known bounds for $\Delta\in{3,. ,7}$, under the assumption that for $\Delta=3,4,6$ graph $G$ is not isomorphic to $B_3$, $K_5$ and $K_7$, respectively. For $\Delta \geq 4$ these are the first results which improve over the Vizing's bound. We also show a new bound for subcubic multigraphs not isomorphic to $K_3$ with one edge doubled. In the second part, we give approximation algorithms for the Maximum k-Edge-Colorable Subgraph problem, where given a graph G (without any bound on its maximum degree or other restrictions) one has to find a k-edge-colorable subgraph with maximum number of edges. In particular, when G is simple for k=3,4,5,6,7 we obtain approximation ratios of 13/15, 9/11, 19/22, 23/27 and 22/25, respectively. We also present a 7/9-approximation for k=3 when G is a multigraph. The approximation algorithms follow from a new general framework that can be used for any value of k.
Lattice-Based Proxy Signature

Those existing proxy signature schemes are mainly based on the assumed hardness of Big Integer Factoring problem and Discrete Logarithm problem. So they can’t resist quantum attacks. This proxy signature scheme is based on the assumed hardness of some lattice problem, which can resist quantum attack. The key pair of proxy signer was generated using basis delegation technology. Combined with GPV basic signature scheme, the proxy signature scheme was constructed. This scheme is satisfied with all the security property of proxy signature schemes. Based on this scheme, variant lattice-based proxy signature schemes will be designed, such as blind proxy signature, multi-grade proxy signature, and identity-based proxy signature etc.
Associations between physical activity and overweight among U.S. youth by immigrant generation: results from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health.

BACKGROUND This study examines relations between parent and youth physical activity (PA; days per week), sports participation, and overweight (BMI≥85th percentile) among U.S. youth, and whether this relationship varies by immigrant generation and sex. METHODS Participants included 28,691 youth ages 10-17 years from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health. Youth were grouped into first, second, and third or higher generation. Primary analyses include Chi-square and post hoc tests to assess mean differences, and adjusted logistic regressions to test associations between weight status and independent variables. RESULTS Each additional day youth participated in PA decreased their odds of overweight (OW) by 10% [OR: 0.90 (0.87-0.94)]; participation in sports significantly reduced their odds of OW by 17% [OR: 0.83 (0.71-0.98)]. First generation boys who participated in sports had 70% lower odds of OW [OR: 0.30 (0.11-0.83)] compared with first generation boys who did not participate in sports. For third generation girls, participation in sports reduced the odds of OW by 23% [OR: 0.77 (0.62-0.96)] compared with those who did not participate in sports. CONCLUSION The protective influence of PA on youth's risk of OW varies by immigrant generation and sex. Parent PA was not related to youth's risk of OW.
Maleimide and isomaleimide pyrrolidine-nitroxide spin labels.

2,2,5,5-Tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl-3-maleimide and the corresponding isomaleimide have been synthesized and characterised. The electron-spin-resonance spectra exhibited by these labels when bound to poly-L-lysine and bovine-plasma albumin are discussed in terms of their structures and their relative degrees of binding to thiol and amino groups. Contamination of male-imide spin labels with isomaleimide is shown to be a real possibility. Emphasis is thus laid on the need for careful characterisation of spin labels prior to their use.
Advances in contraception: new options for postpartum women

ABSTRACT Introduction: short interval repeat pregnancy increases maternal and neonatal morbidity, and provision of postpartum contraception provides primary protection against these adverse outcomes. Confusion regarding effects on breast feeding and thrombosis risk delaying initiation of contraception in the immediate post-partum interval. Delaying contraception provision until the 6-week postpartum visit misses many women who either do not attend or have resumed ovulation and/or intercourse prior to this visit. Because of this, recent studies have looked into initiation of highly effective contraceptive methods at earlier intervals including immediately postpartum. These data provide strong evidence for immediate post-partum initiation of the most effective long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods, intrauterine devices and implants. Areas covered: We review the data for safety and efficacy, timing of initiation, and continuation rates of various contraceptive methods in the postpartum period. We also evaluate effects on initiation and continuation of breastfeeding for each contraceptive method discussed. Expert opinion: It is important to counsel patients antenatally regarding the full spectrum of contraceptive options available with a focus on long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods. When a woman chooses a LARC method, her provider should consider placement in the immediate postpartum period.
European Social Survey as a source of new cultural dimensions estimates for regions

This article draws attention to the European Social Survey (ESS) database that widens the horizon of cross-cultural studies. The ESS has the potential to overcome several weaknesses of earlier data sets used for cross-cultural analysis – it provides unique opportunities for the analysis of differences between regions within nation states, and the data are representative of entire populations. We aim to develop a measurement tool of cultural dimensions based on the ESS that enables a deeper comparison of European regions besides country-level analysis. For creating ESS-based indicators, the initial indicators were selected based on Hofstede (2001), using the double classification method. Latent variables of cultural dimensions were computed using confirmative factor analysis. The results enable us to evaluate cross-cultural differences between regions inside the nation state as well as to figure out culturally close regions across nation state borders. The results of our analysis confirm that countries may be much more heterogeneous in terms of cultural variation than several cultural studies presume. Cultural heterogeneity varies across countries, and there are some quite homogeneous countries in the meaning of cultural dimensions, but most countries face cultural differences between its regions that have to be taken into account. It is also very important that the deeper the subdivision, the larger the differences. In some cases, border regions are remarkably less similar to the rest of the regions of the country than to the neighbouring regions of another country with a common border. In the case of countries with high cultural homogeneity, the use of nation-level cultural indicators may be justified, but in the case of highly heterogeneous countries a regional approach could be suggested instead.
Effect of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with Hodgkin's disease: a phase I/II study.

PURPOSE As bone marrow toxicity is the major limitation of the optimal administration of chemotherapy, we investigated whether recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) could prevent myelotoxicity or accelerate hematopoietic recovery after mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-four previously untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease were included in a phase I/II study in which standard MOPP chemotherapy was followed by 5 days of GM-CSF at every other cycle. Patients were entered sequentially to receive one of four dosc levels (2, 4, 8, and 16 micrograms/kg of glycoprotein; 1.4, 2.8, 5.5, and 11.0 micrograms/kg of protein) and were randomly allocated to either 24-hour continuous intravenous (IV) infusion or twice daily subcutaneous (SC) injection of rhGM-CSF. RESULTS WBC counts (mainly neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes) were significantly higher in cycles with rhGM-CSF than in cycles with MOPP alone. The total number of days of leukopenia (WBC count less than or equal to 2.0 x 10(9)/L) and neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] less than or equal to 1.0 x 10(9)/L) was reduced in cycles with rhGM-CSF from 6.3 to 0.8 days and from 5.4 to 1.0 days, respectively. All dose levels of rhGM-CSF were effective in increasing the ANC, but only at the dose levels of 8 and 16 micrograms/kg did this significantly affect the scheduling of chemotherapy. Mild and reversible adverse reactions included low-grade fever, chest/bone pain, myalgias, erythemia, headache, fatigue, and periorbital edema. CONCLUSIONS rhGM-CSF can be administered safely to patients with Hodgkin's disease and results in improved hematologic recovery after MOPP. Full-dose chemotherapy can be administered on time, resulting in an increase in the overall tolerated dose of myelosuppressive drugs when compared with historical controls. SC administration proved to be at least as effective as continuous IV infusion and should be preferred.
The impact of sense of coherence and high-demand/low-control job environment on self-reported health, burnout and psychophysiological stress indicators

Sense of Coherence (SOC) is a new concept belonging to a salutogenic paradigm, proposing to explain health as contrasted to disease, a pathogenic paradigm. The Job Demand-Control (JDC) model of job stress suggests that the combination of high job demands and low job control, defined as job strain, is strongly associated with adverse health consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between SOC and the JDC model in assessment of negative job effects within three pathogenically defined contexts: self-reported health, burnout and psychophysiological stress indicators, assessing the explanatory value of SOC for such variables. The study was conducted with 103 employees of social-welfare and social-insurance agencies in Sweden. A questionnaire related to job conditions, health and burnout was administered, and blood samples were collected and analysed for serum concentrations of cortisol, prolactin and immunoglobulin G. Multiple-regression models were calculated including variables from all three contexts. In the analyses, a distinction was made between emotional job strain and quantitative job strain. The SOC interacted with emotional job strain, but the interaction also increased the independent effect of emotional job strain. The independent effect of SOC disappeared in most models when interaction was included. It is concluded that studies of job strain-effects according to the JDC model should include the SOC as an interaction factor.
Adding value to students in higher education: a 5-year analysis of student attainment of National Governing Body Awards in a UK Outdoor Education Degree Programme

Recent interest in ways of assessing the performance and ‘value-added’ aspects of higher education and how universities can enhance graduate employability skills has prompted this study into the acquisition of National Governing Body Award (NGBA) qualifications by students on a UK outdoor education degree programme. Students' age, gender, academic and NGBA qualifications, short-term and long-term goals on entry and after each year of study were compiled for students on the BSc (Hons) Outdoor and Environmental Education course at Liverpool John Moores University (n = 151 students from five cohorts, 1998–2002). Some 78% of entrants held at least one NGBA with 36%, 9% and 2% holding ≥5, ≥10 and ≥15 NGBAs, respectively, and 100% of graduates held at least one NGBA with 57%, 35% and 8% holding ≥5, ≥10 and ≥15 NGBAs, respectively. Students with non-A-level entry held more NGBAs than students who entered with A-levels but A-level entry students gained NGBAs at a faster rate than those without A-levels. There was no clear relationship between students' age and either the number of NGBAs held on entry, or the number gained during the programme. There was a weak inverse relationship between the number of NGBAs that students held on entry and the number gained while on the programme. The data offer virtually no evidence that the pursuit and acquisition of NGBAs' impacts on students' academic achievement as measured by the class of degree that they are awarded. Comparisons of A-level entry points with final degree class showed surprisingly similar distributions in all classes except for first class awards, where students with A-level entry performed twice as well. Males held a significantly greater number of NGBAs on entry than females (mean of 4.8 compared to 2.9) but once on the programme, the achievements of males and females are equal. Analysis of 57 students' short-term and long-term goals showed that 74% and 72% of students specifically stated their intention to achieve NGBAs in their short-term and long-term goals, respectively, with 50% fully achieving their short-term goals by the end of the programme. Students who are good at setting achievable goals and have well-developed time management and study skills are more likely to be successful in courses such as this, which are demanding, require a lot of hours outside the formal class contact time, and require high level decision-making skills to be able to manage successfully conflicts in time and resources.
Regulation of Candida albicans Morphogenesis by Fatty Acid Metabolites

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an opportunistic dimorphic fungus that inhabits various host mucosal sites. Conversion from the yeast to the hyphal form has been associated with increased virulence and mucosal invasiveness. C. albicans morphogenesis is regulated by multiple signals and signaling pathways. However, signals that control morphogenesis in vivo are unknown. We investigated the effects of host long chain fatty acids, eicosanoids, and bacterial short chain fatty acids on control of germination. None of the C18 or C20 fatty acids tested had an effect on enhancing germ tube formation (arachidonic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, or γ-linolenic acid). Among the different eicosanoids, both prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 significantly enhanced serum-induced germination by C. albicans. Addition of antiprostaglandin or antithromboxane antibodies to serum alone inhibited germ tube formation by almost 30%, while control antibody had no effect, indicating that these eicosanoids are major morphogenic factors in the serum. Since these molecules also bind to albumin, this may also explain the hyphal transforming activity in serum that associates with albumin. Interestingly, short chain fatty acids (butyric acid), the product of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), inhibited germination. In addition, LAB culture supernatants as well as live LAB also inhibited C. albicans morphogenesis. Overall, these results indicate that fatty acid metabolites and fatty acid pathways can up-regulate and down-regulate germination in C. albicans.
Time-domain temperature sensor using two stage vernier type time to digital converter for mobile application

This paper presents a time-domain temperature sensor using two stage vernier type time to digital converter for mobile application. A time-domain temperature sensor of moderate performance, low power, and low area is designed for mobile application. The temperature sensor is composed of pulse generator and time to digital converter. The temperature sensor generates a pulse with proportional to the temperature by using temperature dependent delay line and temperature insensitive delay line. Then, time-to-digital(TDC) converter is used to convert the pulse width to a corresponding digital code. To enhance the resolution for temperature sensor two stage vernier type TDC is proposed. The time-domain temperature sensor is designed using a 0.18 μm CMOS process. The temperature range is 0 to 100°C and resolution is better than 0.086°C.
Can skull morphology be used to predict ecological relationships between bat species? A test using two cryptic species of pipistrelle

Can ecological relationships between bat species be predicted largely on the basis of morphology? This question was addressed by investigating skull morphology of two cryptic species of the pipistrelle bat. Since 45 P. pipistrellus apparently eats larger prey than 55 P. pipistrellus, we predicted that it would have a larger overall skull size, a larger dentary apparatus, and a larger gape. To test these predictions, variables were measured from skulls of the two cryptic species, and comparisons made between them. In accordance with our predictions, overall skull size was larger in 45 P. pipistrellus than in 55 P. pipistrellus, and 45 P. pipistrellus had a longer lower jaw and the distance between the jaws at maximum gape was larger. In addition, 45 P. pipistrellus had longer upper canines, which may allow it to pierce harder prey items than 55 P. pipistrellus. Only some aspects of dietary differences between the two cryptic species could be explained by differences in skull morphology, and we suggest that empirical data, at least on diet and habitat use, are also required to explain mechanisms of resource partitioning among species in bat communities.
Learning global properties of scene images based on their correlational structures

Scene images share underlying regularities on the global scale. In order to develop a representation that encodes the global properties of scene images and reflects their inherent regularities, we train a probabilistic hierarchical model to infer correlational information from scene images. The model parameters fitted to the characteristic statistics of scene images reveal an efficient representation of global information that encodes salient visual structures with low dimensional latent variables. Through a perceptual experiment which assesses scene image similarities in terms of spatial layout, we demonstrate that our model representation is more consistent with perceptual similarities of scene images than the state-of-the-art visual features.
An investigation into the prevalence of cyberbullying among students aged 16–19 in post-compulsory education

Young people in society are able to use information and communication technology with ease and exploit the opportunities and benefits of social interaction that has become ingrained in their daily routines. However, as the use of technology has risen, so too has its misuse to harm others. The phenomena of bullying and, more recently, cyberbullying, continue to be of interest to scholars, practitioners and policy makers. To date, the vast majority of research into bullying and cyberbullying has been contained to compulsory education contexts, leaving a dearth of literature in post-compulsory education. The present study explores cyberbullying in the context of post-16 education in England and reports prevalence levels of perpetration and victimisation. The data presented are part of a larger research project that considers other aspects of cyberbullying such as reasons for cyberbullying, groups disproportionately involved in cyberbullying and the impact that cyberbullying has on feelings, learning and social integration. The results of some of these areas are outlined briefly and do not feature as the focus of this article due to word limits. Previous research on cyberbullying is considered, including a brief outline of key concepts such as the definition and criteria of bullying and cyberbullying. An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 5690 students from 41 colleges. The results show that 7.9% of those aged 16–19 who study in colleges in England reported being victims of cyberbullying and 1.9% admitted cyberbullying others.
A simple enzymatic method for parietal yolk sac removal in early postimplantation mouse embryos

Crucial aspects of axial development in mice occur at early postimplantation stages from the time of implantation to the appearance of the primitive streak. However, this period of development is notoriously refractory to experimental approaches due to the small size of the conceptus and to the presence of the parietal yolk sac, a protective tripartite membrane that surrounds the developing egg cylinder. Here, we describe a method that combines enzymatic digestion and mechanical manipulation to remove the parietal yolk sac of conceptuses at stages between 5.5 and 6.5 days post coitum. This method, which is compatible with whole‐mount in situ hybridization and immunostaining techniques, offers a significant improvement over conventional dissection techniques, and it will greatly facilitate research in early mammalian development. Developmental Dynamics 236:489–493, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biological Circuits: Analysis of a Biological Oscillator

The simple circadian oscillator found in cyanobacteria can be reconstituted in vitro using three proteins-KaiA, KaiB and KaiC. The total phosphorylation level of KaiC oscillates with a circadian period. Recent experiments elucidated the structure and function of the cyanobacterial circadian oscillator, which is driven by sunlight intensity variation and therefore by Earth's rotation. In this paper, we derive the oscillator's equation of motion directly from experimental data, couple it with Earth's rotation and compute its natural periods and resonance curve. Finally, we propose the use of a quantum circuit that is capable of describing the function of the oscillator.
Adding Semantics to Genome Databases: Towards an Ontology for Molecular Biology

Molecular biology has a communication problem. There are many databases using their own labels and categories for storing data objects and some using identical labels and categories but with a different meaning. Conversely, one concept is often found under different names. Prominent examples are the concepts "gene" and "protein sequence" which are used with different semantics by major international genomic and protein databases thereby making database integration difficult and strenuous. This situation can only be improved by either defining individual semantic interfaces between each pair of databases (complexity of order n2) or by implementing one agreeable, transparent and computationally tractable semantic repository and linking each database to it (complexity of order n). Ontologies are one means to provide such semantic repository by explicitly specifying the meaning of and relation between the fundamental concepts in an application domain. Here, heuristics for building an ontology and the upper level and a database branch of a prospective Ontology for Molecular Biology are presented and compared to other ontologies with respect to suitability for molecular biology (http:/(/)igd.rz-berlin.mpg. de/www/oe/mbo.html).