Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic channel assignment and routing for cognitive sensor networks

With the increase of the number of wireless sensing or metering devices, the collection of sensing data using wireless communication becomes an important part of many applications. Cognitive radio technology can be used to facilitate the deployment of a bandwidth efficient sensor system. In this paper, we propose a data collection and dissemination framework for cognitive radio sensor systems to fully utilize wireless resources while maintaining a reliably connected and efficient topology for each channel. In the proposed framework, each sensor node selects a channel considering primary user channel utilization and network connectivity. In this way, the data collection and dissemination can be performed with a high reliability and short delay while avoiding a harmful effect on primary users. We use computer simulations to evaluate the proposed framework.
Internet VLBI System Based on the PC-VSSP (IP-VLBI) Board

A new real-time VLBI system using Internet protocol (IP) technology has been developed to reduce network-cost and to expand connection sites of VLBI network. We call this system “IP-VLBI” or “Internet VLBI”. We are developing the system consisting of a personal computer (PC)-based sampler equipped with a PCI-bus Versatile Scientific Sampling Processor (VSSP) board and FreeBSD (and/or Linux) software to carry out real-time data transmission, reception and correlation. The IP-VLBI system developed at CRL is dedicated to taking over current geodetic VLBI system. A geodetic VLBI system usually receives 14 to 16 frequency channels at S and X bands. A VSSP board on a PC can sample 4 channel data, hence 4 PCs can cover the current geodetic VLBI system. Each PC (4-channel) data are transmitted to a PC for correlation processing independently through the Internet. Thus by only establishing the system for a PC sampler, we can easily expand it to the multi-PC sampler system, i.e., geodetic VLBI system. In parallel with the development of the real-time system, we are also developing a quasireal time (QRT) VLBI system. In the QRT system data are stored in a hard disk at first, then transmitted to a correlation site with a possible transmission speed of network. Of course off-line operation is also possible. In this case, data are transmitted after observations are made using an FTP or equivalent file transmission protocol.
Neuregulin1 fine‐tunes pre‐, post‐, and perisynaptic neuromuscular junction development

Background: Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) development is a multistep process mediated by coordinated interactions between the nerve terminal, target muscle, and perisynaptic Schwann cell that require constant back‐and‐forth communication. Retrograde and anterograde growth and differentiation factors have been postulated to participate in this communication. While neuregulin1 (NRG1) has been shown to be potent anterograde signal that activates acetylcholine receptor (AChR) transcription and clustering in vitro, its roles in NMJ development in vivo remain elusive. Results: Using the model of chicken embryo, we measured the effects of NRG1 signaling during NMJ development in ovo using quantitative, sequential measures of AChR cluster size and density, pre‐ and postsynaptic apposition, and the alignment of perisynaptic Schwann cells. Using in ovo electroporation at early stages and a targeted soluble neuregulin antagonist through all developmental stages, we found soluble NRG1 regulates AChR cluster density and size at the earliest stage prior to nerve‐AChR cluster contact. Once the nerve contacts with muscle AChRs, NRG1 has pronounced effects on presynaptic specialization and on the alignment of perisynaptic Schwann cells at endplates. Conclusion: These findings suggest that, while NRG1 may not be critical for overall development, it appears to be important in fine‐tuning pre‐, post‐, and perisynaptic development of the NMJ. Developmental Dynamics 246:368–380, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of carotid tortuosity on internal carotid artery access time in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke

Purpose Carotid artery anatomy is thought to influence internal carotid artery access time (ICA-AT) in patients requiring mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. This study investigates the association between ICA-AT and carotid anatomy. Material and methods Computed tomography angiography (CTA) data of 76 consecutive patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke requiring mechanical thrombectomy for middle cerebral artery or carotid T occlusion were evaluated. The supraaortic extracranial vasculature was analyzed regarding take-off angles and curvature of the affected side. Digital subtraction angiography data were primarily analyzed regarding ICA-AT and secondarily regarding recanalization time and radiographic result. Results ICA-AT was significantly influenced by vessel tortuosity. Take-off angle of the left common carotid artery (p = 0.001) and the brachiocephalic trunk (p = 0.002) as well as the tortuosity of the common carotid artery (p = 0.002) had highest impact on ICA-AT. For recanalization time, however, we found only the take-off angle of the left common carotid artery to be of significance (p = 0.020). There was a tendency for ICA-AT to correlate with successful (mTICI ≥ 2 b) revascularization (average time of successful results was 24.3 minutes, of unsuccessful was 35.6 minutes; p = 0.065). Every evaluated segment with less carotid tortuosity showed a carotid AT below 25 minutes. Conclusion Supraaortic vessel tortuosity significantly influences ICA-AT in mechanical thrombectomy for an acute large vessel. There furthermore was a trend for lower successful recanalization rates with increasing ICA-AT.
Anticancer Activity of Stilbene‐Based Derivatives

Stilbene is an abundant structural scaffold in nature, and stilbene‐based compounds have been widely reported for their biological activity. Notably, (E)‐resveratrol and its natural stilbene‐containing derivatives have been extensively investigated as cardioprotective, potent antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anticancer agents. Starting from its potent chemotherapeutic activity against a wide variety of cancers, the stilbene scaffold has been subject to synthetic manipulations with the aim of obtaining new analogues with improved anticancer activity and better bioavailability. Within the last decade, the majority of new synthetic stilbene derivatives have demonstrated significant anticancer activity against a large number of cancer cell lines, depending on the type and position of substituents on the stilbene skeleton. This review focuses on the structure–activity relationship of the key compounds containing a stilbene scaffold and describes how the structural modifications affect their anticancer activity.
Coherent light absorbing by concrete during its hardening

In this work changes of concrete reflection coefficient during its hydration were investigated theoretically and experimentally. Diffuse approximation method for concrete light-scattering description during hydration was used and its results were compared with received experimental data. Calculation of scattered and absorption sections for set of particles is described in details. Introduced optical diagnostics method allows performing earlier hydration stages diagnostics of concrete hardening process in comparison with other methods and predicting mechanical properties of produced concrete.
High Dimensional Semiparametric Gaussian Copula Graphical Models

We propose a semiparametric approach, named nonparanormal skeptic, for estimating high dimensional undirected graphical models. In terms of modeling, we consider the nonparanormal family proposed by Liu et al (2009). In terms of estimation, we exploit nonparametric rank-based correlation coefficient estimators including the Spearman's rho and Kendall's tau. In high dimensional settings, we prove that the nonparanormal skeptic achieves the optimal parametric rate of convergence in both graph and parameter estimation. This result suggests that the nonparanormal graphical models are a safe replacement of the Gaussian graphical models, even when the data are Gaussian.
Preparation and Characterization of Janus Particles

Research on Janus particles unplugged a new chapter in the field of Colloidal research. They possess dual particle properties like different charges, wettabilities etc. which make them useful in number of applications like targeted drug delivery and emulsion stabilization. They also undergo self assembly into novel structures. They are different from surfactants as small molecules can diffuse through their dense film at air-water interface unlike impermeable nature of surfactant film. Initially, monolayer methods were developed on lab scale and later on in 2006, Granick et al. developed bulk methods to produce Janus particles on commercial scale. This review is highlighting the various methods of synthesis and characterization of Janus nano particles, their behaviour at oil-water interfaces and roadblocks in the preparation methods.
Randomness Extraction in AC0 and with Small Locality

Randomness extractors, which extract high quality (almost-uniform) random bits from biased random sources, are important objects both in theory and in practice. While there have been significant progress in obtaining near optimal constructions of randomness extractors in various settings, the computational complexity of randomness extractors is still much less studied. In particular, it is not clear whether randomness extractors with good parameters can be computed in several interesting complexity classes that are much weaker than P. In this paper we study randomness extractors in the following two models of computation: (1) constant-depth circuits (AC0), and (2) the local computation model. Previous work in these models, such as [Vio05a], [GVW15] and [BG13], only achieve constructions with weak parameters. In this work we give explicit constructions of randomness extractors with much better parameters. As an application, we use our AC0 extractors to study pseudorandom generators in AC0, and show that we can construct both cryptographic pseudorandom generators (under reasonable computational assumptions) and unconditional pseudorandom generators for space bounded computation with very good parameters. Our constructions combine several previous techniques in randomness extractors, as well as introduce new techniques to reduce or preserve the complexity of extractors, which may be of independent interest. These include (1) a general way to reduce the error of strong seeded extractors while preserving the AC0 property and small locality, and (2) a seeded randomness condenser with small locality.
Feature Extraction for the Prognosis of Electromechanical Faults in Electrical Machines through the DWT

Recognition of characteristic patterns is proposed in this paper in order to diagnose the presence of electromechanical faults in induction electrical machines. Two common faults are considered; broken rotor bars and mixed eccentricities. The presence of these faults leads to the appearance of frequency components following a very characteristic evolution during the startup transient. The identification and extraction of these characteristic patterns through the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) have been proven to be a reliable methodology for diagnosing the presence of these faults, showing certain advantages in comparison with the classical FFT analysis of the steady-state current. In the paper, a compilation of healthy and faulty cases are presented; they confirm the validity of the approach for the correct diagnosis of a wide range of electromechanical faults.
Spontaneous curvature of polydimethylsiloxane thin films : Mechanisms and applications : A new route for the low cost fabrication of new functionalities for microfluidics

The guideline of this work is the spontaneous rolling of oxidized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) thin films in organic solvant vapors. Briefly, thin films of PDMS are produced by spin coating. Those films are then exposed to oxygen plasma which oxidizes and hardens their surfaces. When those systems are immersed in appropriate solvent vapors, non oxidized PDMS selectively swells. This leads to the spontaneous rolling of the films and thus to the formation of capillaries. This mechanism is of great interest for the fabrication of microfluidic channels because what is to become the inner surface of those channels can be characterized and functionalized prior to rolling.In a first chapter, different aspects of spontaneous rolling are reviewed theoretically and numerically.A second chapter is dedicated to the investigation of the oxide layer by AFM nanoindentation. The mechanical properties of the composite system (hard layer on a soft substrate) are measured and interpreted with a new model in order to extract in particular the thickness of the oxide layer.A third chapter dwells on engineering of the rolled-up tubes. The inner diameter of the capillaries as a function of experimental parameters is measured and confronted to theory. We present tubes with various inner surface functionalizations as a proof of concept of the method.Finally, in order to solve the issue of the integration of the system in a wider structure, an innovative method is proposed in a final fourth chapter. Based on the fabrication of a sacrificial mold by inkjet printing, the method is first established and implemented. Several proof-of-concept systems are then displayed in order to demonstrate the great potential of that idea.
A three-dimensional conducting network of rGO-in-graphite-felt as electrode for vanadium redox flow batteries

Abstract Graphite felt (GF) with numerous merits has been widely used as electrode in all-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), but its further application is still hindered by its intrinsically poor electrocatalytic activity. Herein, we propose a three-dimensional (3D) conducting network constructed with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in the GF electrode via a two-step method. The 3D conducting network with abundant oxygen-containing functional groups in the GF is conducive to the transport of electrons between GF fibers and the electrochemical charge transfer to vanadium ions in the composite electrode; it can enhance the electrocatalytic activity and conductivity of GF. The VRFB using 3D rGO modified GF (mGF) electrode exhibited outstanding energy efficiency of 73.4% at a current density of 100 mA·cm−2, which is much higher than that with pristine GF (pGF) (65.4%); and better rate capability. These first results reveal that GF with 3D conducting network shows promising opportunities for the VRFB and other electrochemical flow systems
Widespread JNK-dependent alternative splicing induces a positive feedback loop through CELF2-mediated regulation of MKK7 during T-cell activation

In this study, Martinez et al. find a positive feedback loop in the JNK signaling pathway through the alternative splicing of MKK7, identify the RNA-binding protein CELF2 as a major regulator of MKK7 splicing, and show that ∼25% of T-cell receptor-mediated alternative splicing events are dependent on JNK signaling. This study provides insight into a novel paradigm for the reciprocal interplay of signaling and splicing.
Short-Term Group Therapy for Complicated Grief: The Relationship Between Patients’ In-Session Reflection and Outcome

Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine the nature of patients’ work in two types of short-term group psychotherapy. The study sought to investigate the relationship between patients’ psychodynamic work versus supportive work in group psychotherapy and treatment outcome at termination and at 6-month follow-up. Psychodynamic work refers to reflection regarding intrapsychic motivations, defenses, and relational patterns, and supportive work refers to practical problem solving. Method: Participants were 110 patients who completed two forms of group therapy for complicated grief: interpretive therapy and supportive therapy. Two types of patients’ in-session activity—psychodynamic work and supportive work—were rated by group therapists in both treatments. Pre-post and follow-up outcome domains included general symptoms, grief symptoms, and life dissatisfaction/severity of target objectives. Results: There was no significant difference in the nature of patients’ therapeutic work between interpretive and supportive groups. Psychodynamic work was associated with pre-post improvement in grief symptoms. Psychodynamic work was also associated with further improvement in grief symptoms at 6-month follow-up, along with improvement in broader symptom domains. Supportive work was not associated with any pre-post or follow-up benefit. Conclusion: The findings provide evidence that psychodynamic work—focused on the development of insight and self-reflection—in group psychotherapy can contribute to further benefit after the completion of treatment. This finding cut across two approaches to short-term group therapy for complicated grief, suggesting that it may reflect a general curative mechanism of group treatments.
Role of paraxial mesoderm in limb/flank regionalization of the trunk lateral plate

To understand the developmental mechanism that determines limb size and the consequent limb‐to‐trunk proportions in the tetrapod body, we investigated the role of the paraxial mesoderm in the specification of the limb and flank fields in the chick embryo. We found that the paraxial mesoderm subjacent to the limb field can affect the size of the limb bud along the anterior–posterior and proximal–distal axes. We also found that the paraxial mesoderm subjacent to the flank plays roles in suppressing the emergence and growth of the limb bud and in promoting flank‐specific apoptosis in the lateral plate mesoderm. Our results suggest that signals from the paraxial mesoderm specify the limb and flank fields in the competent lateral plate mesoderm. Developmental Dynamics 240:1639–1649, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rape Aggression Defense: Unique Self-Efficacy Benefits for Survivors of Sexual Trauma

Self-defense training is consistently linked to psychological benefits for survivors of sexual trauma, yet little is known about how training may uniquely benefit survivors compared with their nonsurvivor peers enrolled in the same course. Path analysis was used to examine how history of sexual trauma impacts pre- and post-training scores on three domains of self-efficacy using a national sample of Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) participants. All participants reported significant increases in self-efficacy domains, and sexual trauma history significantly predicted pre-training interpersonal self-efficacy and post-training self-defense self-efficacy, suggesting that self-defense training confers benefits for survivors above and beyond benefits for other participants.
The flavonoid cyanidin blocks binding of the cytokine interleukin-17A to the IL-17RA subunit to alleviate inflammation in vivo

A molecule from red berries blocks the activity of a proinflammatory cytokine and alleviates inflammation in mice. How red berries reduce inflammation Members of the interleukin-17 (IL-17) family of proinflammatory cytokines are important in the immune response to infections; however, excessive IL-17 signaling is associated with autoimmune inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Through a screen of small molecules, Liu et al. found that cyanidin, a flavonoid found in red berries and other fruits, bound to the IL-17 receptor (IL-17RA) in a manner that blocked the binding of IL-17A. In several mouse models of inflammatory disease, cyanidin alleviated inflammation induced by T cells that produce IL-17A. Together, these data suggest that cyanidin should be further developed as a small-molecule inhibitor of IL-17A–dependent inflammatory diseases. Cyanidin, a key flavonoid that is present in red berries and other fruits, attenuates the development of several diseases, including asthma, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cancer, through its anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the molecular basis of cyanidin action. Through a structure-based search for small molecules that inhibit signaling by the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A), we found that cyanidin specifically recognizes an IL-17A binding site in the IL-17A receptor subunit (IL-17RA) and inhibits the IL-17A/IL-17RA interaction. Experiments with mice demonstrated that cyanidin inhibited IL-17A–induced skin hyperplasia, attenuated inflammation induced by IL-17–producing T helper 17 (TH17) cells (but not that induced by TH1 or TH2 cells), and alleviated airway hyperreactivity in models of steroid-resistant and severe asthma. Our findings uncover a previously uncharacterized molecular mechanism of action of cyanidin, which may inform its further development into an effective small-molecule drug for the treatment of IL-17A–dependent inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Clinical Characteristics of Localized Aggressive Periodontitis in Primary Dentition.

OBJECTIVES Due to the low prevalence of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP), clinical characteristics of LAP in primary dentition are derived from a few case reports/series in the literature. The goal of this study was to determine common clinical characteristics such as bone and root resorption patterns, in a series of cases with LAP in primary dentition. We hypothesize these cases present aggressive periodontal bone destruction starting mostly around first primary molars and atypical root resorption patterns. STUDY DESIGN We have evaluated 33 LAP cases in primary dentition for pattern of bone destruction, root resorption and early exfoliation. RESULTS Cases evaluated were aged 5-12 (mean=8.7 years). Thirty cases presented more severe bone loss on first than second molars, with relatively fast progression to second molars, altered pattern of root resorption, mostly external (n=16) and early exfoliation of primary teeth due to periodontal bone loss, rather than physiologic root resorption (n=11). CONCLUSIONS This study showed common clinical characteristics found in LAP in primary molars, including possible initiation on first primary molars and abnormal root resorption patterns. These characteristics are important to be early identified and treated in order to prevent possible progression into the permanent dentition.
Europa: Efficient User Mode Packet Forwarding in Network Virtualization

Network virtualization provides the ability to run concurrent virtual networks over a shared substrate. However, it is challenging to design such a platform to host multiple heterogeneous and often highly customized virtual networks. Not only minimal interference among different virtual networks is desired, high-speed packet forwarding is also required. This paper presents Europa, a virtual network platform uses Efficient UseR mOde Packet forwArding, which supports high-speed and highly customizable virtual networks. Our platform adopts lightweight OS-level virtualization to slice a physical server into virtual machines. The data plane of a virtual router runs in an isolated virtual machine so as to safe for customization. We design a new user mode packet processing scheme for virtual routers hosted in Europa to achieve high speed forwarding. Experiments show that an Europa virtual router can be four times faster than conventional user mode software router.