Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An efficient certificateless remote anonymous authentication scheme for wireless body area networks

Wireless body area network (WBAN) is one of the most promising wireless sensor technologies, significantly enhancing the quality of service of healthcare. But the potential users' worries about privacy leakage impede its wider application. To alleviate such worries, we present a remote anonymous authentication protocol to enable client terminals/application to securely access WBAN services. In particular, our protocol is rooted in a novel certificateless cryptosystem, which has negligible computational cost and a number of security properties that are especially desirable in WBANs. Our protocol ensures that even the application providers (APs) cannot recover the user's real identity given all the session information. Also, the network manager (NM), who plays the role of private key generator (PKG), can be prevented from impersonating any legitimate users. We theoretically validate that our protocol can achieve a better tradeoff than most of existing schemes in terms of essential security properties and computational overhead.
A CMOS dual channel, 100 MHz-1.1 GHz transmitter for cable applications

A dual channel wideband transmitter for cable applications with more than a decade frequency coverage consists of two parallel transmitters that are both fully operational from 100 MHz up to 1.1 GHz, Using a single-ended current-mode output topology, the RF output signals are losslessly combined. The on-chip integrated oscillators have measured 55 MHz-1200 MHz tuning range. The 3/sup rd/-order harmonic of the oscillator signal is filtered by a wideband active buffered polyphase filter. Using this filter, a linear mixer topology and a linear output driver, all distortion components are below -40 dBc. Intermodulation products of the two channels are all below -48 dBc. This guarantees that the parallel channels do not disturb the other channels in the frequency band even without any channel-specific filtering. Each channel delivers the required -16 dBm RF output signal in a 75 /spl Omega/ double terminated load. The measured noise floor is situated at -139.8 dBc/Hz. The chip is in standard 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS.
Liver mitochondrial function in ZDF rats during the early stages of diabetes disease

The aim of this study was to characterize the early alterations of the liver mitochondrial function in ZDF (fa/fa) rats that develop diabetes compared to that of their lean counterparts ZDF (fa/+). Liver mitochondrial function was examined in 11‐ and 14‐week‐old ZDF (fa/fa) and ZDF lean (fa/+) rats. Oxygen consumption, H2O2 release, calcium retention capacity (CRC), membrane potential, membrane fluidity, and fatty acid composition were analyzed. State 3 oxygen consumption with palmitoyl‐carnitine increases between 11 and 14 weeks of age in lean but not in diabetic animals. This response was not seen with other substrates, suggesting that the use of fatty acids is impaired in diabetic rats. H2O2 release was lower in 14‐week‐old ZDF (fa/fa) rats as compared to ZDF lean (fa/+). These changes were not associated with differences in enzymatic activities of the respiratory complexes, suggesting regulatory mechanisms independent of their expression levels. Membrane fluidity and composition analyses show only slight effects linked to diabetes progression. The most salient feature was a reduction in CRC in the presence of CsA, an effect reflecting PTP dysregulation. Our data suggest few changes of mitochondrial function in ZDF fa/fa rats. At the age of 11 weeks, liver mitochondria have mainly a reduced effect of CsA on CRC.
Effect of Estimation on the Performance of an Integrated Missile Guidance and Control System

Motivated by spectral separation, guidance and control systems of interceptors are traditionally designed separately. However, interception of highly maneuverable targets and increased interception accuracy requirements lead to intense maneuvering during the last phase of the engagement, thus violating the spectral separation assumption of the conventional two-loop design. This has boosted the interest in integrated guidance-control designs that demonstrate superior interception accuracies by accounting for the coupling between the kinematics and dynamics of the problem. One of the approaches used for the integrated design is the sliding mode control (SMC) methodology. The results presented so far assumed full state information. We examine the effect of estimation on the performance of the integrated sliding mode controller design. In particular, a sliding mode observer/differentiator (SMOD) is used to estimate the target states. Through an intensive numerical study it is shown that the integrated guidance-control approach has a clear advantage over a conventional separated two-loop design. This advantage is attributed to the robustness of the integrated sliding mode controller design that better deals with the estimation errors and measurements noises.
Macrophage phagocytosis of virulent but not attenuated strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is mediated by mannose receptors in addition to complement receptors.

We have examined macrophage receptors that mediate phagocytosis of virulent strains (Erdman and H37Rv) and an attenuated strain (H37Ra) of the intracellular pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Adherence of the three strains to monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) is markedly enhanced (>threefold) in the presence of low levels of fresh serum and requires heat-labile serum components because heat inactivation of serum reduces adherence by 65 +/- 5 to 71 +/- 2%. In the presence and absence of serum, adherence of the three strains to MDM is comparable. By electron microscopy, all bacteria are ingested and reside in phagosomes. C receptors (CR) play an important role in adherence of the three strains to MDM in the presence and absence of serum. mAb against CR1, CR3, and CR4 inhibit adherence of Erdman M. tuberculosis in fresh serum by 75 +/- 3% and inhibit the low level of adherence of Erdman (71 +/- 13%), H37Rv (72 +/- 1%), and H37Ra (64 +/- 14%) M. tuberculosis in the absence of serum. Mannose receptors (MR) play an important role in mediating macrophage adherence of the virulent strains but not the attenuated strain of M. tuberculosis. Preincubation of MDM with soluble mannan or mannose-BSA consistently and significantly inhibits adherence of Erdman and H37Rv (up to 60 +/- 7%) but not H37Ra (0 +/- 1 to 5 +/- 5% enhancement of adherence) in the absence of serum. Down-modulation of macrophage MR on mannan substrates inhibits adherence of Erdman (52 +/- 8%) and H37Rv (55 +/- 6%) but not H37Ra (2 +/- 2% enhancement of adherence). Preincubation of MDM with soluble N-acetylglucosamine-BSA also significantly inhibits adherence of the virulent strains (42 +/- 3%). Preincubation of MDM with glucose-BSA minimally inhibits adherence of the three strains (2 +/- 4 to 12 +/- 5%). Anti-MR antibody inhibits adherence of Erdman (57 +/- 2%) and H37Rv (44 +/- 4%) but not H37Ra (4 +/- 5% enhancement of adherence). Inhibition of adherence of zymosan was comparable with that seen with virulent strains of M. tuberculosis in these studies. Down-modulation of macrophage MR also inhibits adherence of Erdman (48 +/- 9%) and H37Rv (20 +/- 2%) in the presence of serum. Simultaneous blockade of MR and CR does not further inhibit adherence of the virulent M. tuberculosis strains over that seen with blocking CR alone. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Inflation and Economic Growth: An Estimate of the Threshold Level of Inflation in Nigeria

This study investigated the relationship between inflation and economic growth in Nigeria, from 1970 to 2009. It adapted the Khan and Sendhadji’s (2001) threshold regression technique to examine the existence of optimal inflation. The Granger causality test was utilised to test the causal relationship between inflation and growth. The results revealed a unidirectional causality, moving from inflation to real GDP, with no response from output growth to inflation. The findings from the threshold model showed a negative relationship between inflation and growth. The estimated threshold regression model indicated eight per cent as the optimal level of inflation consistent with sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. The study corroborated the idea of a single digit inflation being pursued by the monetary authorities in Nigeria. Keywords: Inflation, Economic growth, Threshold regression, Nigeria. JEL Classification : C50, E31, O40
Aid, Institutions and Economic Growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Heterogeneous Donors and Heterogeneous Responses

This study contributes to the aidâ€ effectiveness debate using panel data from 43 subâ€ Saharan African countries over the period 1980â€“2013. Its novelty lies in assessing the intermediary role of institutions and the importance of recipient and donor heterogeneity. The longâ€ run growth effect of (aggregate) aid from â€œtraditionalâ€ donors is robustly nonâ€ positive, and the indirect effect is negative. Disaggregation reveals donor heterogeneity. Chinese aid outperforms aggregate aid from traditional donors with respect to growth; however, it has a negative institutional effect. Recipient heterogeneity is largely a shortâ€ run phenomenon, with only a few countries showing some deviations from shared longâ€ run parameter sets. Comparing donor behavior suggests that the future of aid would benefit more from focusing on quality â€“ particularly, specialization and donor alignment.
Microbial communities and bacterial diversity of spruce, hemlock and grassland soils of Tatachia Forest, Taiwan

To evaluate the bacterial diversity of Tatachia Forest soils, 16S rDNA clone libraries of the spruce, hemlock and grassland soils were constructed. Further, the influence of physicochemical and biological properties of soil on microbial ecology, pH, moisture content, microbial population and biomass were also analyzed. The soil pH increased with the increasing of soil depth; whereas the microbial population, biomass, moisture content, total organic carbon and total nitrogen were reverse. Microbial populations were the highest in the summer season which also correlated with the highest moisture content. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that the clones from nine 16S rDNA clone libraries represented Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, candidate division TG1 and candidate division TM7. Members of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria constituted 42.2, 35.1 and 7.8 % of the clone libraries, respectively; whereas the remaining bacterial divisions each comprised <3 %. The spruce site had the highest bacterial diversity among the tested sites, followed by the hemlock sites and the grassland sites with the least. The bacterial community is the more diverse in the organic layer than that in deeper horizons. Further, bacterial diversity through the gradient horizons was different, indicating that the bacterial diversity in the deeper horizons is not simply the diluted analogs of the surface soils and some microbes dominate only in the deeper horizons.
Tetra-μ-benzoato-κ4 O:O′;κ3 O:O,O′;κ3 O,O′:O′-bis[(benzoato-κ2 O,O′)(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)neodymium(III)]

The complete molecule of the title compound, [Nd2(C7H5O2)6(C12H8N2)2], is generated by a crystallographic inversion center. The two NdIII ions are linked by four bridging benzoate ions, with an Nd⋯Nd separation of 4.0360 (2) Å. As well as the bridging ligands, each NdIII ion is coordinated by one N,N′-bidentate phenanthroline ligand and an O,O′-bidentate benzoate ion. The resulting irregular nine-coordinated geometry of the NdIII ion is completed by seven O and two N atoms. The molecular structure is stabilized by intramolecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked into infinite chains along the c axis by intermolecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure is consolidated by weak intermolecular C—H⋯π interactions.
Cyrillic manual alphabet recognition in RGB and RGB-D data for sign language interpreting robotic system (SLIRS)

Deaf-mute communities around the world experience a need in effective human-robot interaction system that would act as an interpreter in public places such as banks, hospitals, or police stations. The focus of this work is to address the challenges presented to hearing-impaired people by developing an interpreting robotic system required for effective communication in public places. To this end, we utilize a previously developed neural network-based learning architecture to recognize Cyrillic manual alphabet, which is used for fingerspelling in Kazakhstan. In order to train and test the performance of the recognition system, we collected four datasets comprising of static and motion RGB and RGB-D data of 33 manual gestures. After applying them to standard machine learning algorithms as well as to our previously developed learning-based method, we achieved an average accuracy of 93% for a complete alphabet recognition by modeling motion depth data.
Application of entropy classification method to the detection of subsurface linnear targets in polarimetric GPR data

Although fully polarimetric analysis techniques have been applied to remote sensing radar for charactering different surface scattering properties using, these techniques have not yet been widely adopted for Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) applications. In 2015 we applied the “H-alpha decomposition” technique to polarimetric GPR data for classifying buried metallic targets such as wire branches, a sphere, a plate, and a dihedral. The H-alpha decomposition can separate scatters into four different types according to different depolarization effects: linear polarization, random depolarization (branches, roots, random media), no depolarization (sphere, plates, and horizontal layers), and 90 degrees depolarization (corner reflectors). In this paper, we explore the utilization of H-alpha decomposition method in clutter reduction and linear target detection during the preprocessing stage so that automatic linear target detection can be achieved in poor signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments.
Nucleic acid aptamers in therapeutic anticoagulation

Summary The evolution of anticoagulant therapy for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic disorders has progressed at a relatively modest pace considering the scope of the problem and our current understanding of platelet biology, coagulation proteases, and vascular science as they apply to protective haemostasis and pathologic thrombosis. Recent observations, dedicated to cellular-based models of coagulation, provide fundamental constructs, mechanistic clarity, and potentially unparalleled opportunity for accelerating the development and wide-scale clinical use of safe, effective, regulatable and patient-specific therapies. The following review introduces a novel domain of anticoagulant therapy referred to as aptamers (derived from the Latin aptus – to fit), considering their history, development, and potential application in patient care arenas.
A Functional Genomics Approach Reveals CHE as a Component of the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock

Transcriptional feedback loops constitute the molecular circuitry of the plant circadian clock. In Arabidopsis, a core loop is established between CCA1 and TOC1. Although CCA1 directly represses TOC1, the TOC1 protein has no DNA binding domains, which suggests that it cannot directly regulate CCA1. We established a functional genomic strategy that led to the identification of CHE, a TCP transcription factor that binds specifically to the CCA1 promoter. CHE is a clock component partially redundant with LHY in the repression of CCA1. The expression of CHE is regulated by CCA1, thus adding a CCA1/CHE feedback loop to the Arabidopsis circadian network. Because CHE and TOC1 interact, and CHE binds to the CCA1 promoter, a molecular linkage between TOC1 and CCA1 gene regulation is established.
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) but Not PPARα Serves as a Plasma Free Fatty Acid Sensor in Liver

ABSTRACT Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is an important transcription factor in liver that can be activated physiologically by fasting or pharmacologically by using high-affinity synthetic agonists. Here we initially set out to elucidate the similarities in gene induction between Wy14643 and fasting. Numerous genes were commonly regulated in liver between the two treatments, including many classical PPARα target genes, such as Aldh3a2 and Cpt2. Remarkably, several genes induced by Wy14643 were upregulated by fasting independently of PPARα, including Lpin2 and St3gal5, suggesting involvement of another transcription factor. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, Lpin2 and St3gal5 were shown to be direct targets of PPARβ/δ during fasting, whereas Aldh3a2 and Cpt2 were exclusive targets of PPARα. Binding of PPARβ/δ to the Lpin2 and St3gal5 genes followed the plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration, consistent with activation of PPARβ/δ by plasma FFAs. Subsequent experiments using transgenic and knockout mice for Angptl4, a potent stimulant of adipose tissue lipolysis, confirmed the stimulatory effect of plasma FFAs on Lpin2 and St3gal5 expression levels via PPARβ/δ. In contrast, the data did not support activation of PPARα by plasma FFAs. The results identify Lpin2 and St3gal5 as novel PPARβ/δ target genes and show that upregulation of gene expression by PPARβ/δ is sensitive to plasma FFA levels. In contrast, this is not the case for PPARα, revealing a novel mechanism for functional differentiation between PPARs.
Does Self-compassion Benefit Couples Coping With Vulvodynia? Associations With Psychological, Sexual, and Relationship Adjustment

Objectives: Vulvodynia, a chronic vulvovaginal pain condition, has deleterious consequences for the psychological, relational, and sexual well-being of affected women and their partners. Protective factors, which can reduce these negative effects, are increasingly studied in the field of chronic pain. One of these, self-compassion, entails qualities such as kindness toward oneself, and has been associated with better adjustment in individuals with chronic pain. Because many women with vulvodynia have a negative image of themselves in the context of sexuality, self-compassion may be especially relevant for this population. This study aimed to investigate self-compassion among couples coping with vulvodynia and its associations with psychological, sexual, and relationship adjustment, as well as pain during sexual intercourse. Materials and Methods: Data were gathered from 48 women diagnosed with provoked vestibulodynia—a subtype of vulvodynia—and their partners, using self-report questionnaires pertaining to anxiety, depression, sexual distress, relationship satisfaction, and pain intensity during sexual intercourse. Results: For both women and their partners, higher levels of self-compassion were associated with their own lower anxiety and depression. When partners reported higher levels of self-compassion, they were more satisfied with their relationship, and both partners and women reported lower sexual distress. No significant association was found for pain during intercourse. Discussion: Findings suggest that self-compassion is a promising protective factor in the experience of vulvodynia and associated distress. Interventions aimed at increasing self-compassion could enhance the efficacy of psychological treatments for these women and their partners. Further studies are needed to better understand the correlates of self-compassion among this population.
The effect of ice slushy ingestion and mouthwash on thermoregulation and endurance performance in the heat.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to establish whether sensory factors associated with cold-beverage ingestion exert an ergogenic effect on endurance performance independent of thermoregulatory or cardiovascular factors. METHODS Ten males performed three trials involving 90 min of steady state cycling (SS; 62% VO2max) in the heat (32.1 ± 0.9 °C, 40 ± 2.4% relative humidity) followed by a 4 kJ/kg body mass time trial (TT). During SS, participants consumed an identical volume (260 ± 38 g) of sports beverage (7.4% carbohydrate) every 15 min as either ice slushy (-1 °C; ICE), thermoneutral liquid (37 °C; CON), or thermoneutral liquid consumption with expectorated ice slushy mouthwash (WASH). RESULTS Rectal temperature, hydration status, heart rate, and skin blood flow were not different between trials. Gastrointestinal (pill) temperature was lower in ICE (35.6 ± 2.7 °C) versus CON (37.4 ± 0.7 °C, p = .05). Heat storage tended to be lower with ICE during SS (14.7 ± 8.4 W.m(-2), p = . 08) and higher during TT (68.9 ± 38.6 W.m(-2), p = . 03) compared with CON (22.1 ± 6.6 and 31.4 ± 27.6 W.m(-2)). ICE tended to lower the rating of perceived exertion (RPE, 12.9 ± 0.6, p = .05) and improve thermal comfort (TC, 4.5 ± 0.2; p = .01) vs. CON (13.8 ± 1.0 and 5.2 ± 0.2 respectively). WASH RPE (13.0 ± 0.8) and TC (4.8 ± 0.2) tended to be lower versus CON (p = .07 and p = .09 respectively). ICE improved performance (18:28 ± 1:03) compared with CON (20:24 ± 1:46) but not WASH (19:45 ± 1:43). CONCLUSION Improved performance with ICE ingestion likely resulted from the creation of a gastrointestinal heat sink, reducing SS heat storage. Although the benefits of cold-beverage consumption are more potent when there is ingestion, improved RPE, TC, and meaningful performance improvement with WASH supports an independent sensory effect of presenting a cold stimulus to the mouth.
Molecular cloning of two new heat shock genes related to the hsp70 genes in Staphylococcus aureus

We have identified two new heat shock protein genes, orf37 and orf35, in Staphylococcus aureus, located upstream and downstream of grpE(hsp20), dnaK(hsp70), and dnaJ(hsp40) homologous genes in the order orf37-hsp20-hsp70-hsp40-orf35. The transcripts of both orf37 and orf35 were increased by thermal upshift of the culture from 37 to 46 degrees C. The heat shock promoters were located upstream of orf37 and upstream of hsp40. The deduced peptide of orf37 showed similarity with those of orfA in Clostridium acetobutylicum and orf39 in Bacillus subtilis. orf35 was unique in S. aureus and has not yet been described in other bacteria.
Strategies adopted by K-rep bank limited to gain competitive advantage

viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.1 Concept of Strategy . 2 1.1.2 Competitive Advantage . 3 1.1.3 Banking Industry in Kenya . 5 1.1.4 K-Rep Bank Ltd . 7 1.2 Research Problem . 9 1.3 Research Objective . 11 1.4 Value of the Study . 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 12 2.
Revisiting Some Productivity Debates

Researchers interested in estimating productivity can choose from an array of methodologies, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Methods differ by the assumptions they rely on and imply very different calculations. I compare five widely used techniques: (a) index numbers, (b) data envelopment analysis, and three parametric methods, (c) instrumental variables estimation, (d) stochastic frontiers, and (e) semi-parametric estimation. I compare the estimates directly and evaluate three productivity debates using a panel of manufacturing plants in Colombia. The different methods generate surprisingly similar results. Correlations between alternative productivity estimates are invariably high. All methods confirm that exporters are more productive on average and that only a small portion of the productivity advantage is due to scale economies. Productivity growth is correlated more strongly with export status, frequent investments in capital equipment, and employment of managers than with the use of imported inputs or foreign ownership. On the debate whether aggregate productivity growth is driven by plant-level changes or output share relocation, all methods point to the the importance of plant-level changes, in contrast to results from the U.S.