Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy Efficient Downlink Transmission in Wireless LANs by Using Low-Power Wake-Up Radio

In the downlink of a wireless LAN, power-save mode is a typical method to reduce power consumption. However, it usually causes large delay. Recently, remote wake-up control via a low-power wake-up radio (WuR) has been introduced to activate a node to instantly receive packets from an access point (AP). But link quality is not taken into account and protocol overhead of wake-up per node is relatively large. To solve these problems, in this paper, a broadcast-based wake-up control framework is proposed, and a low-power WuR is used to receive traffic indication map from an AP, monitor link quality, and perform carrier sense. Among the nodes which have packets buffered at the AP, only those whose SNR is above a threshold will be activated, contending via a proper contention window to receive packets from the AP. Optimal SNR threshold, deduced by theoretical analysis, helps to reduce transmission collisions and false wake-ups (caused by wake-up latency) and improve transmission rate. Extensive simulations confirm that the proposed method (i) effectively reduces power consumption of nodes compared with other methods, (ii) has less delay than power-save mode in times of light traffic, and (iii) achieves higher throughput than other methods in the saturation state.
Characterization of damage mechanisms in glass fibre reinforced polymers using X-ray computed tomography

A laboratory X-ray computed tomography (CT) device with cone beam geometry and an in-situ tensile test stage was used for the quantitative 3D characterization of damage mechanisms in short glass fibre reinforced polymers. Test specimen geometry was developed that allows for high resolution and tensile testing within the CT device. Interrupted in-situ tensile tests on specimens with perpendicular main fibre orientations were performed. Fibre orientation and damage mechanisms were analysed on single fibre basis using CT data analysis tools. Damage mechanisms that were identified are fibre pull-out, fibre fracture, detachment and matrix cracks. Depending on the main fibre orientation pull-out or detachment is predominant. The determined fibre orientations for different regions showed a correlation to the region of final fracture.
Importance of Toxicokinetics to Assess the Utility of Zebrafish Larvae as Model for Psychoactive Drug Screening Using Meta-Chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) as Example

The number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) increases rapidly, harming society and fuelling the need for alternative testing strategies. These should allow the ever-increasing number of drugs to be tested more effectively for their toxicity and psychoactive effects. One proposed strategy is to complement rodent models with zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. Yet, our understanding of the toxicokinetics in this model, owing to the waterborne drug exposure and the distinct physiology of the fish, is incomplete. We here explore the toxicokinetics and behavioral effects of an NPS, meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), in zebrafish larvae. Uptake kinetics of mCPP, supported by toxicokinetic modeling, strongly suggested the existence of active transport processes. Internal distribution showed a dominant accumulation in the eye, implying that in zebrafish, like in mammals, melanin could serve as a binding site for basic drugs. We confirmed this by demonstrating significantly lower drug accumulation in two types of hypo-pigmented fish. Comparison of the elimination kinetics between mCPP and previously characterized cocaine demonstrated that drug affinities to melanin in zebrafish vary depending on the structure of the test compound. As expected from mCPP-elicited responses in rodents and humans, zebrafish larvae displayed hypoactive behavior. However, significant differences were seen between zebrafish and rodents with regard to the concentration-dependency of the behavioral response and the comparability of tissue levels, corroborating the need to consider the organism-internal distribution of the chemical to allow appropriate dose modeling while evaluating effects and concordance between zebrafish and mammals. Our results highlight commonalities and differences of mammalian versus the fish model in need of further exploration.
Statistical Model of Dynamic Markers of the Alzheimer’s Pathological Cascade

Objectives Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease reflected in markers across assessment modalities, including neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and evaluation of adaptive function. Identifying a single continuum of decline across assessment modalities in a single sample is statistically challenging because of the multivariate nature of the data. To address this challenge, we implemented advanced statistical analyses designed specifically to model complex data across a single continuum. Method We analyzed data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI; N = 1,056), focusing on indicators from the assessments of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volume, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) metabolic activity, cognitive performance, and adaptive function. Item response theory was used to identify the continuum of decline. Then, through a process of statistical scaling, indicators across all modalities were linked to that continuum and analyzed. Results Findings revealed that measures of MRI volume, FDG-PET metabolic activity, and adaptive function added measurement precision beyond that provided by cognitive measures, particularly in the relatively mild range of disease severity. More specifically, MRI volume, and FDG-PET metabolic activity become compromised in the very mild range of severity, followed by cognitive performance and finally adaptive function. Conclusion Our statistically derived models of the AD pathological cascade are consistent with existing theoretical models.
White Students in Urban Schools: The Unheard Voice in the Achievement Gap

3 Dedication.5 Acknowledgements . 6 List of Tables . 12 List of Figures . 14 Chapter One: Introduction . 15 Background of the Study . 15 Matthews Middle School . 17 Achievement Gaps . 19 Social Reproduction . 20 History of Standardized Assessments and Concerns about Equity in Outcomes . 23 White Poverty-White Achievement Gap . 26 Social Stressors-Key Factors . 27 Statement of the Problem . 30 Research Question . 30 Significance of the Study . 31 Delimitations and Limitations of the Study.31 Delimitations of the Study . 32 Limitations of the Study . 32 Definition of Terms.33 Summary . 34 9 Chapter Two: Review of Relevant Literature . 36 Introduction . 36 Achievement Gaps . 36 The Black-White Gap . 39 The Racial Achievement Gap in Ohio . 40 The Poverty Gap among White Students . 41 Key Factors . 42 Poverty and the Development of Academic Skills . 45 Culture.48 Parental Status and Attitudes . 50 Teacher Perceptions.53 Summary . 61 Chapter Three: Methodology . 63 Introduction . 63 Identification of Population . 66 Dataset . 67 Research Design . 67 Regression Model.68 Variables . 68 Dependent Variables . 70 Reliability and Validity . 71 Data Analysis . 74 Summary . 76 10 Chapter Four: Introduction . 78 Analysis of Data . 78 Descriptive Analyses . 78 Dependent Variables. 79 Independent Variables . 80 Descriptive Analyses of Student-Level Achievement Gaps . 82 Distributional Assumptions of School-Level Variables . 89 Hierarchichal Linear Modeling . 90 Preliminary Models . 94 Reading Results . 97 Math Results . 99 Summary . 103 Chapter Five: Summary of Findings, Discussions, and Recommendations . 105 Introduction . 105 Major Findings . 105 Ethnicity . 107 Poverty . 108 Interpretation and Discussion . 110 Achievement Gaps . 110 Study Limitations . 112 Implications for Practice . 112 Early Intervention.113 Teacher Efficacy.113
The effects of movement stimulation on activities of daily living performance and quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia: a randomized controlled trial

Background Nursing home (NH) residents with dementia experience a reduced quality of life (QoL), in part, due to a dependence in performing activities of daily living (ADL). Stimulating movement is associated with improvements in ADL performance. Therefore, movement stimulating interventions, such as ADL training and exercise, focus on optimizing ADL performance to improve QoL. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three movement stimulating interventions on QoL and ADL performance in NH residents with dementia. Methods In this 6-month double parallel randomized controlled trial, the effects of ADL training, a multicomponent aerobic and strength exercise training, and a combined ADL and exercise training were analyzed in 87 NH residents with dementia. The Global Deterioration Scale was used to classify the severity of dementia. Participants were screened at baseline using the 6 minute walk test and Mini-Mental State Examination. The Qualidem, and the Care Dependency Scale and Erlangen ADL test were evaluated at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months to measure QoL and ADL, respectively. Multilevel analyses were adjusted for baseline performance, age, and gender. Results A 6-month ADL training positively affected overall QoL (p = 0.004) and multiple aspects of QoL, including care relationship (p = 0.004), positive self-image (p = 0.002), and feeling at home (p = 0.001), compared to care-as-usual. No benefits were observed of exercise on QoL. No benefits were observed of a combined ADL and exercise intervention on QoL. No effects were found of the three movement interventions on ADL performance. Conclusion The results indicate that ADL training can improve QoL. The results contribute to the limited knowledge regarding the effect of movement stimulation on resident outcomes. Further large-scale studies are recommended.
Effective silencing of ENaC by siRNA delivered with epithelial-targeted nanocomplexes in human cystic fibrosis cells and in mouse lung

Introduction Loss of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in cystic fibrosis (CF) leads to hyperabsorption of sodium and fluid from the airway due to upregulation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Thickened mucus and depleted airway surface liquid (ASL) then lead to impaired mucociliary clearance. ENaC regulation is thus a promising target for CF therapy. Our aim was to develop siRNA nanocomplexes that mediate effective silencing of airway epithelial ENaC in vitro and in vivo with functional correction of epithelial ion and fluid transport. Methods We investigated translocation of nanocomplexes through mucus and their transfection efficiency in primary CF epithelial cells grown at air–liquid interface (ALI). Short interfering RNA (SiRNA)-mediated silencing was examined by quantitative RT-PCR and western analysis of ENaC. Transepithelial potential (Vt), short circuit current (Isc), ASL depth and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) were measured for functional analysis. Inflammation was analysed by histological analysis of normal mouse lung tissue sections. Results Nanocomplexes translocated more rapidly than siRNA alone through mucus. Transfections of primary CF epithelial cells with nanocomplexes targeting αENaC siRNA, reduced αENaC and βENaC mRNA by 30%. Transfections reduced Vt, the amiloride-sensitive Isc and mucus protein concentration while increasing ASL depth and CBF to normal levels. A single dose of siRNA in mouse lung silenced ENaC by approximately 30%, which persisted for at least 7 days. Three doses of siRNA increased silencing to approximately 50%. Conclusion Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of ENaCsiRNA to ALI cultures corrected aspects of the mucociliary defect in human CF cells and offers effective delivery and silencing in vivo.
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY STUDIES OF THE TURKISH VERSION OF THE E-BULLYING SCALE ( EBS ) AND E-VICTIMIZATION SCALE ( EVS )

The aim of the current study was to discover the usability of the EBullying Scale (E-BS) and EVictimization Scale (E-VS) among Turkish adolescents. For this purpose, two separate studies were conducted and supportive results for reliability and validity were gathered. In study I, the factorial structure of E-BS was investigated. Participants were 163 adolescents with ages ranged between 14 and 19. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed an excellent model. A hundred and eighty eight (n=188) adolescents, with ages ranged from 14 to 19, took part in study 2. The factorial structure of E-VS demonstrated a single factor model that appeared a sufficient fit with data in confirmatory factor analysis. As for the reliability and convergent validity results, it can be stated that both of two instruments showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In addition, the correlations of cyber bullying/victimization and ebullying/victimization declared the assessment of bullying and victimization behaviors in cyberspace. In total, psychometric properties have shown that both of two instruments are valid and reliable.
a small molecule induces oligodendrogenesis leading to myelin sheath repair

There is an unmet need for remyelinating therapies to treat demyelinating disorders. NDC-1308 is a small molecule that rapidly crosses the blood brain barrier to drive oligodendrogenesis, a process by which mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes repair damaged myelin sheaths in the central nervous system. NDC-1308 was previously shown to stimulate differentiation of mouse Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells (OPCs) in culture by causing a dramatic up-regulation of genes in the pathway for OPC differentiation and myelin synthesis. The present study demonstrates that damaged myelin sheaths found in mice demyelinated with cuprizone can be repaired by treatment with NDC-1308. A chronic NDC-1308 treatment resulted in a 44% and 18% increase in hippocampal and cortical myelination, respectively. In addition, an 18% increase in myelination was measured in the pons. Following NDC-1308 treatment, the OPC pool remained intact, demonstrating that it can serve as a renewable source for sustaining oligodendrogenesis and repair. While NDC-1308 is structurally related to estrogen and it functions through the estrogen receptors, it appears safe for either acute or chronic administration because it is not estrogenic, mutagenic or genotoxic. NDC-1308 is a potential first-in-class remyelinating therapy for repairing the myelin sheath in patients suffering from demyelinating disorders.
Nutrient limitation of primary productivity in the Southeast Pacific (BIOSOPE cruise)

Abstract. Iron is an essential nutrient involved in a variety of biological processes in the ocean, including photosynthesis, respiration and dinitrogen fixation. Atmospheric deposition of aerosols is recognized as the main source of iron for the surface ocean. In high nutrient, low chlorophyll areas, it is now clearly established that iron limits phytoplankton productivity but its biogeochemical role in low nutrient, low chlorophyll environments has been poorly studied. We investigated this question in the unexplored southeast Pacific, arguably the most oligotrophic area of the global ocean. Situated far from any continental aerosol source, the atmospheric iron flux to this province is amongst the lowest of the world ocean. Here we report that, despite low dissolved iron concentrations (~0.1 nmol l−1) across the whole gyre (3 stations located in the center and at the western and the eastern edges), primary productivity are only limited by iron availability at the border of the gyre, but not in the center. The seasonal stability of the gyre has apparently allowed for the development of populations acclimated to these extreme oligotrophic conditions. Moreover, despite clear evidence of nitrogen limitation in the central gyre, we were unable to measure dinitrogen fixation in our experiments, even after iron and/or phosphate additions, and cyanobacterial nif H gene abundances were extremely low compared to the North Pacific Gyre. The South Pacific gyre is therefore unique with respect to the physiological status of its phytoplankton populations.
Objectively Measured Physical Activity Varies by Task and Accelerometer Location in Younger and Older Adults

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with parents of children aged 4-10 yrs who lived in the Boston area. Parents reported the amount of time their child spent in 20 activities over the past 7 days. Parental importance was assessed with “how important is it to you that your child gets 60 min or more of PA every day? ” Parental support was assessed with 5 items about the typical frequency of support (e.g., “how often did you encourage your child to do PA”). Parental SE was assessed by asking parents their confidence in helping their child get 60 min/d in 4 different situations (e.g., “when your child is tired”). Parents’ PA was assessed with 2 questions about how often they did leisure time PA, and moderately active housework or gardening in past 7 days. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine parent variables associated with children meeting PA guidelines, controlling for children’s age and gender. RESULTS: The sample (n=180) was 51% white, not married, and had an income <40K; 57% had <college degree. Most children (77%) met PA guidelines. Parental importance (odds ratio (OR) = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.59) and support (OR =1.25; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.42) were positively associated with children meeting PA guidelines. Children of black parents were 70% less likely to meet guidelines than children of white parents (OR= 0.30; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.89). CONCLUSION: Parents’ perceived importance of PA and support appear to play an important role in young children’s PA. Given the racial differences in children’s PA, examination of differences in parental influences on PA by race may be warranted.
Efficient Utility-Driven Self-Healing Employing Adaptation Rules for Large Dynamic Architectures

Self-adaptation can be realized in various ways. Rule-based approaches prescribe the adaptation to be executed if the system or environment satisfy certain conditions and result in scalable solutions, however, with often only satisfying adaptation decisions. In contrast, utility-driven approaches determine optimal adaptation decisions by using an often costly optimization step, which typically does not scale well for larger problems. We propose a rule-based and utility-driven approach that achieves the beneficial properties of each of these directions such that the adaptation decisions are optimal while the computation remains scalable since an expensive optimization step can be avoided. The approach can be used for the architecture-based self-healing of large software systems. We define the utility for large dynamic architectures of such systems based on patterns capturing issues the self-healing must address and we use patternbased adaptation rules to resolve the issues. Defining the utility as well as the adaptation rules pattern-based allows us to compute the impact of each rule application on the overall utility and to realize an incremental and efficient utility-driven self-healing. We demonstrate the efficiency and optimality of our scheme in comparative experiments with a static rule-based scheme as a baseline and a utility-driven approach using a constraint solver.
Lightweight Security for Network Coding

Under the emerging network coding paradigm, intermediate nodes in the network are allowed not only to store and forward packets but also to process and mix different data flows. We propose a low-complexity cryptographic scheme that exploits the inherent security provided by random linear network coding and offers the advantage of reduced overhead in comparison to traditional end-to-end encryption of the entire data. Confidentiality is achieved by protecting (or "locking") the source coefficients required to decode the encoded data, without preventing intermediate nodes from running their standard network coding operations. Our scheme can be easily combined with existing techniques that counter active attacks.
Investigating the Feasibility of Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing to Guide the Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a deadly disease in which precision medicine needs to be incorporated. We aimed to implement next-generation sequencing (NGS) in determining actionable targets to guide appropriate molecular targeted therapy in HNSCC patients. Materials and Methods Ninety-three tumors and matched blood samples underwent targeted sequencing of 244 genes using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform with an average depth of coverage of greater than 1,000×. Clinicopathological data from patients were obtained from 17 centers in Korea, and were analyzed in correlation with NGS data. Results Ninety-two of the 93 tumors were amenable to data analysis. TP53 was the most common mutation, occurring in 47 (51%) patients, followed by CDKN2A (n=23, 25%), CCND1 (n=22, 24%), and PIK3CA (n=19, 21%). The total mutational burden was similar between human papillomavirus (HPV)–negative vs. positive tumors, although TP53, CDKN2A and CCND1 gene alterations occurred more frequently in HPV-negative tumors. HPV-positive tumors were significantly associated with immune signature-related genes compared to HPV-negative tumors. Mutations of NOTCH1 (p=0.027), CDKN2A (p < 0.001), and TP53 (p=0.038) were significantly associated with poorer overall survival. FAT1 mutations were highly enriched in cisplatin responders, and potentially targetable alterations such as PIK3CA E545K and CDKN2A R58X were noted in 14 patients (15%). Conclusion We found several targetable genetic alterations, and our findings suggest that implementation of precision medicine in HNSCC is feasible. The predictive value of each targetable alteration should be assessed in a future umbrella trial using matched molecular targeted agents.
GWAS by GBLUP: Single and Multimarker EMMAX and Bayes Factors, with an Example in Detection of a Major Gene for Horse Gait

Bayesian models for genomic prediction and association mapping are being increasingly used in genetics analysis of quantitative traits. Given a point estimate of variance components, the popular methods SNP-BLUP and GBLUP result in joint estimates of the effect of all markers on the analyzed trait; single and multiple marker frequentist tests (EMMAX) can be constructed from these estimates. Indeed, BLUP methods can be seen simultaneously as Bayesian or frequentist methods. So far there is no formal method to produce Bayesian statistics from GBLUP. Here we show that the Bayes Factor, a commonly admitted statistical procedure, can be computed as the ratio of two normal densities: the first, of the estimate of the marker effect over its posterior standard deviation; the second of the null hypothesis (a value of 0 over the prior standard deviation). We extend the BF to pool evidence from several markers and of several traits. A real data set that we analyze, with ours and existing methods, analyzes 630 horses genotyped for 41711 polymorphic SNPs for the trait “outcome of the qualification test” (which addresses gait, or ambling, of horses) for which a known major gene exists. In the horse data, single marker EMMAX shows a significant effect at the right place at Bonferroni level. The BF points to the same location although with low numerical values. The strength of evidence combining information from several consecutive markers increases using the BF and decreases using EMMAX, which comes from a fundamental difference in the Bayesian and frequentist schools of hypothesis testing. We conclude that our BF method complements frequentist EMMAX analyses because it provides a better pooling of evidence across markers, although its use for primary detection is unclear due to the lack of defined rejection thresholds.