Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Prescribed the Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonist Exenatide Twice Daily or Other Glucose-Lowering Therapies

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that exenatide twice daily reduces the relative incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among patients with type 2 diabetes compared with other glucose-lowering agent(s). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective database analysis was performed of the LifeLink database of medical and pharmaceutical insurance claims for June 2005 through March 2009. Patients with no history in the preceding 9 months of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or coronary revascularization procedure were assigned to the exenatide-initiated or non–exenatide-initiated cohorts based on the first new prescription filled and reassigned if exenatide was prescribed or discontinued. Incident CVD events (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or coronary revascularization procedure) were identified by ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes. Patient outcomes were adjusted for differences in clinical and demographic characteristics and compared using propensity score–weighted discrete time survival analysis with time-varying exposure to exenatide. RESULTS A total of 39,275 patients with type 2 diabetes were treated with exenatide twice daily, and 381,218 patients were treated with other glucose-lowering therapies. Patients who initiated exenatide were more likely to have prior ischemic heart disease, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and/or other comorbidities at baseline. Exenatide-treated patients were less likely to have a CVD event than non–exenatide-treated patients (hazard ratio 0.81; 95% CI 0.68–0.95; P = 0.01) and lower rates of CVD-related hospitalization (0.88; 0.79–0.98; P = 0.02) and all-cause hospitalization (0.94; 0.91–0.97; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Exenatide twice-daily treatment was associated with a lower risk of CVD events and hospitalizations than treatment with other glucose-lowering therapies.
An implementation study of the AODV routing protocol

The Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol is designed for use in ad hoc mobile networks. Because of the difficulty of testing an ad hoc routing protocol in a real-world environment, a simulation was first created so that the protocol design could be tested in a variety of scenarios. Once simulation of the protocol was nearly complete, the simulation was used as the basis for an implementation in the Linux operating system. In the course of converting the simulation into an implementation, certain modifications were needed in AODV and the Linux kernel due to both simplifications made in the simulation of AODV and to incompatibilities of the Linux kernel and the IP-layer to routing in a mobile environment. This paper details many of the changes that were necessary during the development of the implementation.
Canoe functions at the CNS midline glia in a complex with Shotgun and Wrapper-Nrx-IV during neuron-glia interactions

Vertebrates and insects alike use glial cells as intermediate targets to guide growing axons. Similar to vertebrate oligodendrocytes, Drosophila midline glia ensheath and separate axonal commissures. Neuron-glia interactions are crucial during these events, although the proteins involved remain largely unknown. Here, we show that Canoe (Cno), the Drosophila ortholog of AF-6, and the DE-cadherin Shotgun (Shg) are highly restricted to the interface between midline glia and commissural axons. cno mutant analysis, genetic interactions and co-immunoprecipitation assays unveil Cno function as a novel regulator of neuron-glia interactions, forming a complex with Shg, Wrapper and Neurexin IV, the homolog of vertebrate Caspr/paranodin. Our results also support additional functions of Cno, independent of adherens junctions, as a regulator of adhesion and signaling events in non-epithelial tissues.
Coordinate expression of parietal endodermal functions in hybrids of embryonal carcinoma and endodermal cells

A derivative, FOT5, of the F9 murine embryonal carcinoma cell line which is resistant to ouabain and thioguanine was fused with a near diploid parietal endodermal cell line, PFHR9, Hybrid clones (ENEC1 to ENEC5) were isolated in HAT Medium containing ouabain at a frequency of approximately 2 x 10(-4). The DNA contents and chromosome number of the ENEC hybrids were approximately the sum of those of the parents. Five hybrid cell lines examined in detail expressed the following parietal endodermal functions: plasminogen activator activity, basement membrane proteins, and endodermal cytoskeletal proteins. Embryonal carcinoma characteristic functions (tumorigenicity, a stage specific embryonic antigen, and high alkaline phosphatase activity) were extinguished in the hybrids. No hybrid clones with embryonal carcinoma morphology were observed among 1,358 hybrid clones examined. Hybrids, propagated for over 100 generations, continued to express endodermal functions and not embryonal carcinoma functions. The coordinate expression of endodermal functions and the extinction of embryonal carcinoma functions in the ENEC hybrids suggest that the parietal endodermal cells contain diffusible activities which extinguish embryonal carcinoma functions and possibly cause the embryonal carcinoma genome to express parietal endodermal characteristics.
Distributed covering by ant-robots using evaporating traces

We investigate the ability of a group of robots, that communicate by leaving traces, to perform the task of cleaning the floor of an un-mapped building, or any task that requires the traversal of an unknown region. More specifically, we consider robots which leave chemical odour traces that evaporate with time, and are able to evaluate the strength of smell at every point they reach, with some measurement error. Our abstract model is a decentralized multi-agent adaptive system with a shared memory, moving on a graph whose vertices are the floor-tiles. We describe three methods of covering a graph in a distributed fashion, using smell traces that gradually vanish with time, and show that they all result in eventual task completion, two of them in a time polynomial in the number of tiles. Our algorithms can complete the traversal of the graph even if some of the agents die or the graph changes during the execution, as long as the graph stays connected. Another advantage of our agent interaction processes is the ability of agents to use noisy information at the cost of longer cover time.
A linear chip-level model for multi-antenna space-time coded wideband CDMA reconfigurable receivers

Transmitter side reconfigurability is currently mostly implemented via adaptive modulation and coding. In the scenario of multiple antenna transmission which is foreseeable for fourth generation wireless mobile communications, a new level of reconfigurability might employ transmission scheme adaptation, i.e. dynamically switching between spatial-multiplex and space-time coded transmission. This paper presents a generalized linear model for the received signal in a multi-antenna CDMA signaling scheme on frequency-selective fading MIMO channels. The proposed model is unprecedented in that it supports general complex space-time codes as well as spatial-multiplex multi-antenna transmission and it may be implemented with minor modifications to the front-end of a matched filter receiver.
Linear decision fusion based cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we consider the problem of cooperative spectrum sensing in a centralized cognitive radio network and propose a method to linearly combine the local decisions of secondary nodes, known as cognitive users, when the sensing and reporting channels are both experience fading. To be more specific, the problem of decision fusion is considered by the assumption that the primary signal is unknown deterministic signal with known power, sensing channel is assumed to be subjected to correlated lognormal shadow-fading and reporting channel is modeled as a binary symmetric channel with known error probability. Simulation results confirmed the effectiveness of the low complexity proposed algorithm.
Investment, Tobin&Apos;S Q, and Interest Rates

We study the impact of stochastic interest rates and capital illiquidity on investment and firm value by incorporating a widely used arbitrage-free term structure model of interest rates into a standard q theoretic framework. Our generalized q model informs us to use corporate credit-risk information to predict investments when empirical measurement issues of Tobin’s average q are significant (e.g., equity is much more likely to be mis-priced than debt), as in Philippon (2009). We find, consistent with our theory, that credit spreads and bond q have significant predictive powers on micro-level and aggregate investments corroborating the recent empirical work of Gilchrist and Zakrajšek (2012). We also show that the quantitative effects of the stochastic interest rates and capital illiquidity on investment, Tobin’s average q, the duration and user cost of capital, and the value of growth opportunities are substantial. These findings are particularly important in today’s low interest rate environment.
Alternating minimization for hybrid precoding in multiuser OFDM mmWave systems

Hybrid precoding is a cost-effective approach to support directional transmissions for millimeter wave (mmWave) communications. While existing works on hybrid precoding mainly focus on single-user single-carrier transmission, in practice multicarrier transmission is needed to combat the much increased bandwidth, and multiuser MIMO can provide additional spatial multiplexing gains. In this paper, we propose a new hybrid precoding structure for multiuser OFDM mmWave systems, which greatly simplifies the hybrid precoder design and is able to approach the performance of the fully digital precoder. In particular, two groups of phase shifters are combined to map the signals from radio frequency (RF) chains to antennas. Then an effective hybrid precoding algorithm based on alternating minimization (AltMin) is proposed, which will alternately optimize the digital and analog precoders. A major algorithmic innovation is a LASSO formulation for the analog precoder, which yields computationally efficient algorithms. Simulation results will show the performance gain of the proposed algorithm. Moreover, it will reveal that canceling the interuser interference is critical in multiuser OFDM hybrid precoding systems.
Parallel algorithms for motion panorama construction

A motion panorama is an efficient and compact representation of the underlying video. However, the motion panorama construction process is computationally intensive and hence extremely time consuming. Addressing this issue is crucial when one considers using motion panoramas in a real-time environment such as live video transmission. We present two parallel algorithms for motion panorama construction, namely, the shared memory parallel algorithm (SMPA) that uses POSIX threads and the distributed memory parallel algorithm (DMPA) that uses MPI. The parallel algorithms are tested on real videos. Experimental results show that the SMPA achieves linear speedup in most cases whereas the DMPA suffers from reduced efficiency when the number of processors exceeds 8
Chromosomal abnormalities of young multiple myeloma patients (<45 yr) are not different from those of other age groups and are independent of stage according to the International Staging System

Little is known about tumor‐related prognostic factors, in particular specific chromosomal abnormalities, in young patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We therefore investigated the chromosomal pattern by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (chromosomes 13q14, 14q32‐translocations, chromosomes associated with hyperdiploidy) in 38 young patients with MM (age <45 yr) and compared the results with those observed in 69 patients with intermediate age (45–70 yr) and 64 elderly patients (age >70 yr). All chromosomal patterns were not significantly different between the three age cohorts. Similarly, standard MM parameters were equally distributed between these MM patient populations. However, survival by the International Staging System (ISS) for MM revealed marked differences between stage I/II (median survival not yet reached) and stage III (23.4 months; P < 0.0003) among young MM patients. A significant survival difference between ISS‐stage I/II and ISS‐stage III patients was also noted in the intermediate age group (median 65.4 months vs. 24.6 months; P = 0.0009). However, this difference disappeared among elderly MM patients (39.6 months in ISS‐stage I/II vs. 32 months in ISS‐stage III patients; P = 0.94), but it was unrelated to the cytogenetic pattern. Our results indicate that MM in young patients does not represent a distinct biologic entity, and that short survival of younger MM patients at ISS‐stage III is independent of the molecular cytogenetic pattern.
Wireless sensors networks MAC protocols analysis

Wireless sensors networks performance are strictly related to the medium access mechanism. An effective one, require non-conventional paradigms for protocol design due to several constraints. An adequate equilibrium between communication improvement and data processing capabilities must be accomplished. To achieve low power operation, several MAC protocols already proposed for WSN. The aim of this paper is to survey and to analyze the most energy efficient MAC protocol in order to categorize them and to compare their performances. Furthermore we have implemented some of WSN MAC protocol under OMNET++ with the purpose to evaluate their performances.
Floristic plant geography: the classification of floristic areas and floristic elements

Floristic plant geography is concerned with narrow timescales, narrow to broad spatial scales and entire floras. A major objective is the identification and classification of floristic areas and floristic elements. The spatial scale of plant geography can be divided into three segments: microregional, mesoregional and macroregional. Microregional areas are those included within the boundaries of a single traditionally defined floristic province; mesoregional areas include entire floristic provinces or span the boundaries of two adjacent floristic provinces; and macroregional areas include several floristic provinces. At the microregional scale, species distributions appear as a continuum. The pattern of floristic areas and floristic elements is an emergent one found at macroregional scales. Methods for developing floristic classifications include qualitative modifica tions of previous classifications, visually inspecting and sorting range maps of taxa, and the use of complex numerical techniques requiring computer analyses. These numerical analyses require a database consisting of thorough, accurate lists of all (or selected) species present within various OGUs - subdivisions of or samples (local floras) from the region of interest. A matrix of association among OGUs - similarity, dissimilarity or distance - can be analysed by one or more techniques for clustering and ordination. Historical biogeographies, including vicariance biogeography and panbiogeography, are based on the assumption that most species are relatively old. It is likely, however, that major extinctions and speciation events have reshaped the world's flora every 20 000 to 100 000 years in response to cyclic variation in the earth's orbit. Floristic plant geography, with its detailed evaluation of modem patterns and whole floras, has thus much to contribute to a general understanding of biogeographic processes.
Ultraconvergence of an interpolated finite element method for some fourth-order elliptic problems

We introduce nonstandard interpolated finite elements providing better accuracy for a fourth-order elliptic boundary value problems, as well as to the biharmonic eigenvalue problems. The term ”ultraconvergence” indicates that the convergence rate is at least two orders higher than the optimal global rate. This method is a variant of a postprocessing procedure when the known finite element solution is used. Moreover, a posteriori error estimates of global ultraconvergent type are derived. The presented approach is applicable for the general rectangular finite element meshes. Some numerical results illustrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
Are Emotions Detected Differently within First-Person Narratives ?

Emotion classification within text has been attempted many times through lexical and implicit features. It remains to be seen if the extracted features from personal narratives can provide a base model for emotion classification. This paper explores the ability of traditional lexical and syntactic features used in previous emotion classification work toward personal narratives. The results are compared to a model developed from NonNarratives and the results of Balahur et al. (2002), finding that Non-Narrative models produce the best results when tested within the Non-Narrative domain, but Narrative models produce the best generalized results.
Social asymmetries in online personal ads in Japanese: Discursive construction of desirable personae, bodies, and practices

The Internet is increasingly becoming a key medium through which people establish social contacts and form interpersonal relationships. In particular, online dating websites are gaining popularity and rapidly expanding around the world. This study explores the discourse that constitutes the practices of the deai-kee-saito ‘encounter-oriented sites’ in Japanese, as observed in three major personal ad websites, namely 1) Ekisaito furenzu ‘Excite Friends’, 2) Match.com, and 3) Yahoo! Japan paasonaruzu ‘Yahoo! Japan Personals’. It focuses on the ways that self-advertisers express their socio-sexual desires and describe their ideal partners and relationships, and analyzes them with respect to the reproduction of social asymmetries. More specifically, it examines the discursive construction of the kinds of personae (personality characteristics) and bodies (physical features) that advertisers aged 20-29 wish in their future partners, as well as the kinds of practices (activities and actions) they wish to engage in with their partners, what they wish to do for their partners, and/or wish the partners to do for them in their envisioned interactions. Out of the 1200 ads collected from these websites, a total of 463 ads are identified as target-gender-explicit and analyzed at lexical, morphosyntactic, phrasal, clausal, sentential and discourse levels. It pays close attention to the linguistic resources utilized in the articulation of socio-sexual desires and desirability, and the textual formation of the addresser(advertiser)addressee(ad reader) relationships, including adjectives, nouns, verbal phrases, person references, desideratives, conditionals, and the formula yoroshiku/o-negai shimasu ‘Thank you in advance’. It also analyzes para-linguistic resources, such as emoticons,
Distribution of shufflon among IncI plasmids

A shufflon or clustered inversion is a novel type of DNA rearrangement originally discovered in the IncI1 plasmid R64 (T. Komano, A. Kubo, and T. Nisioka, Nucleic Acids Res. 15:1165-1172, 1987). In a 1.95-kilobase region of R64 DNA, four DNA segments inverted independently or in groups, resulting in a complex DNA rearrangement. We found similar types of shufflon in other IncI1 plasmids, including delta, pIP111, pIP565, pIP112, pIP186, R144, R163, R483, and R621a. A variant type of shufflon occurs in the IncI1 plasmid ColIb.
Functional evidence for physiological mechanisms to circumvent neurotoxicity of cardenolides in an adapted and a non-adapted hawk-moth species

Because cardenolides specifically inhibit the Na+K+-ATPase, insects feeding on cardenolide-containing plants need to circumvent this toxic effect. Some insects such as the monarch butterfly rely on target site insensitivity, yet other cardenolide-adapted lepidopterans such as the oleander hawk-moth, Daphnis nerii, possess highly sensitive Na+K+-ATPases. Nevertheless, larvae of this species and the related Manduca sexta are insensitive to injected cardenolides. By radioactive-binding assays with nerve cords of both species, we demonstrate that the perineurium surrounding the nervous tissue functions as a diffusion barrier for a polar cardenolide (ouabain). By contrast, for non-polar cardenolides such as digoxin an active efflux carrier limits the access to the nerve cord. This barrier can be abolished by metabolic inhibitors and by verapamil, a specific inhibitor of P-glycoproteins (PGPs). This supports that a PGP-like transporter is involved in the active cardenolide-barrier of the perineurium. Tissue specific RT-PCR demonstrated expression of three PGP-like genes in hornworm nerve cords, and immunohistochemistry further corroborated PGP expression in the perineurium. Our results thus suggest that the lepidopteran perineurium serves as a diffusion barrier for polar cardenolides and provides an active barrier for non-polar cardenolides. This may explain the high in vivo resistance to cardenolides observed in some lepidopteran larvae, despite their highly sensitive Na+K+-ATPases.
Evoked pain analgesia in chronic pelvic pain patients using respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation.

OBJECTIVE Previous vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) studies have demonstrated antinociceptive effects, and recent noninvasive approaches, termed transcutaneous-vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS), have utilized stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in the ear. The dorsal medullary vagal system operates in tune with respiration, and we propose that supplying vagal afferent stimulation gated to the exhalation phase of respiration can optimize t-VNS. DESIGN Counterbalanced, crossover study. PATIENTS Patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) due to endometriosis in a specialty pain clinic. INTERVENTIONS/OUTCOMES: We evaluated evoked pain analgesia for respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation (RAVANS) compared with nonvagal auricular stimulation (NVAS). RAVANS and NVAS were evaluated in separate sessions spaced at least 1 week apart. Outcome measures included deep-tissue pain intensity, temporal summation of pain, and anxiety ratings, which were assessed at baseline, during active stimulation, immediately following stimulation, and 15 minutes after stimulus cessation. RESULTS RAVANS demonstrated a trend for reduced evoked pain intensity and temporal summation of mechanical pain, and significantly reduced anxiety in N = 15 CPP patients, compared with NVAS, with moderate to large effect sizes (η(2) > 0.2). CONCLUSION Chronic pain disorders such as CPP are in great need of effective, nonpharmacological options for treatment. RAVANS produced promising antinociceptive effects for quantitative sensory testing (QST) outcomes reflective of the noted hyperalgesia and central sensitization in this patient population. Future studies should evaluate longer-term application of RAVANS to examine its effects on both QST outcomes and clinical pain.