Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Opportunistic Cooperation Strategies for Multiple Access Relay Channels with Compute-and-Forward

This paper studies the application of compute-and-forward to multiple access relay channels (MARC). Despite its promising advantage of improving network throughput, it is not straightforward to apply compute-and-forward to the MARC. This paper proposes two efficient cooperation strategies for the MARC with compute-and-forward. Both proposed strategies are opportunistic in the sense that the cooperation between the relay and the destination are performed only when it is needed for the sake of high transmission efficiency. In the first strategy, the relay helps the destination by sending its local optimal integer coefficient vector without taking into account that the resulting integer coefficient matrix at the destination is full rank. In contrast, in the second strategy, the relay forwards its ``best'' coefficient vector that always ensures a full rank coefficient matrix at the destination. Both of the proposed strategies achieve twice the network throughput of the existing strategies at high signal-to-noise power ratio (SNR). They also have lower outage probability, independent of relay placement. Furthermore, the first strategy nearly achieves diversity gain of order two, and the second one achieves exactly the diversity gain of order two, which cannot be achieved by the existing strategies.
Molecular Basis of Primary Aldosteronism and Adrenal Cushing Syndrome

Abstract This review reports the main molecular alterations leading to development of benign cortisol- and/or aldosterone-secreting adrenal tumors. Causes of adrenal Cushing syndrome can be divided in 2 groups: multiple bilateral tumors or adenomas secreting cortisol. Bilateral causes are mainly primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease, most of the time due to PRKAR1A germline-inactivating mutations, and primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia that can be caused in some rare syndromic cases by germline-inactivating mutations of MEN1, APC, and FH and of ARMC5 in isolated forms. PRKACA somatic-activating mutations are the main alterations in unilateral cortisol-producing adenomas. In primary hyperaldosteronism (PA), familial forms were identified in 1% to 5% of cases: familial hyperaldosteronism type I (FH-I) due to a chimeric CYP11B1/CYP11B2 hybrid gene, FH-II due to CLCN-2 germline mutations, FH-III due to KCNJ5 germline mutations, FH-IV due to CACNA1H germline mutations and PA, and seizures and neurological abnormalities syndrome due to CACNA1D germline mutations. Several somatic mutations have been found in aldosterone-producing adenomas in KCNJ5, ATP1A1, ATP2B3, CACNA1D, and CTNNB1 genes. In addition to these genetic alterations, genome-wide approaches identified several new alterations in transcriptome, methylome, and miRnome studies, highlighting new pathways involved in steroid dysregulation.
The evolution of the mitochondrial DNA control region in the Adélie penguins of Antarctica : a thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular BioSciences at Massey University

Rates of evolution have been important components of many phylogenetic and population genetic studies. In Antarctica, underlying active and abandoned Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) rookeries, are well preserved sub fossil bones. This thesis aimed to estimate a rate of mitochondrial (mt) DNA evolution by sampling sequences from serially preserved subfossil bones through time, and compare these to sequences from modem populations. During this study four field expeditions were undertaken in Antarctica during the austral summers, resulting in the collection of over 400 blood and 329 subfossil bone samples. This thesis research showed that the Adelie penguin mtDNA control region is unusually long (1768 b.p.) and contains a repeat complex at the 3'-end. A phylogeny of 17 penguin species (suborder Sphenisciformes) was constructed from rns and rnl mtDNA gene sequences. The characteristics (Le. heteroplasmy and length variation) of control region sequences from penguin species were plotted onto this phylogeny as a mechanism for investigating their evolution. DNA sequence variation from a total of 381 modern Adelie penguin samples revealed the presence of two distinct maternal lineages (7.1% net sequence difference). One lineage is present in all locations around Antarctica (A) sampled and the other was recorded only in Ross Sea populations (RS). The phylogeographic pattern of the A and RS lineages suggests Adelie penguins were restricted to distinct ice-age refugia during the last glacial cycle. Ancient DNA was extracted from 80 sub fossil bones C4C dates ranged from 310-6082 years before present) from 16 locations on the coast of the Ross Sea. The ancient DNA from these frozen subfossil Adelie penguins is extraordinarily well preserved. Using both modem and ancient DNA sequences a rate of mtDNA control region evolution was determined. This estimated rate is five times higher than previous estimates for the avian mtDNA control "region. This rate was then used to time the divergence of the two lineages A and RS, and showed they split 83 kyr BP during the last glacial cycle. Adelie penguins appear to have endured dramatic changes to their habitat during the ice-ages of the Late Pleistocene.
Clinical value and application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign breast lesions

The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in distinguishing between malignant and benign breast lesions and the diagnostic value of its clinical application. A total of 52 cases with malignant breast tumors and 73 cases with benign breast lesions were included in the study. Time-intensity curves (TICs) for contrast-enhanced ultrasound were recorded, and the perfusion parameters were obtained and analyzed. Typical features of malignant breast tumors included irregular shape and vascular morphology, uneven contrast agent distribution, filling defects and contrast agent retention, ‘fast-out’ wash-out mode, unclear boundaries and uneven internal echo. Benign lesions were characterized by ‘slow-out’ or synchronous wash-out mode. Regarding perfusion, the starting time of the perfusion of the Sone-Vue microbubble contrast (always 20-30 sec) and time to peak (TTP) were significantly earlier for the malignant lesions, while the wash-out time was later. A significantly greater peak intensity, rising slope and area under the TIC were observed for the malignant breast lesions. All of the malignant breast lesions exhibited an enlarged focus scope on ultrasound, while no obvious focus scope enhancement was observed for benign breast lesions. Furthermore, the TICs of 88.4% of malignant breast lesions were of the fast-rising and slow-declining type, while the TICs of 75.3 and 17.8% of the benign breast lesions were of the slow-rising and fast-declining, and fast-rising and fast-declining type, respectively. Receiver operating characteristics analysis indicated that the TTP, wash-out time and rising slope might contribute to the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign breast lesions. In conclusion, TIC parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound have promising clinical value in differentiating between malignant and benign breast lesions. The TTP, wash-out time and rising slope may contribute to the diagnosis of patients with breast lesions to facilitate timely treatment and prognostication of breast cancer patients.
Treating social anxiety disorder remotely with cognitive therapy

Abstract Remote delivery of evidence-based psychological therapies via video conference has become particularly relevant following the COVID-19 pandemic, and is likely to be an on-going method of treatment delivery post-COVID. Remotely delivered therapy could be of particular benefit for people with social anxiety disorder (SAD), who tend to avoid or delay seeking face-to-face therapy, often due to anxiety about travelling to appointments and meeting mental health professionals in person. Individual cognitive therapy for SAD (CT-SAD), based on the Clark and Wells (1995) model, is a highly effective treatment that is recommended as a first-line intervention in NICE guidance (NICE, 2013). All of the key features of face-to-face CT-SAD (including video feedback, attention training, behavioural experiments and memory-focused techniques) can be adapted for remote delivery. In this paper, we provide guidance for clinicians on how to deliver CT-SAD remotely, and suggest novel ways for therapists and patients to overcome the challenges of carrying out a range of behavioural experiments during remote treatment delivery. Key learning aims (1) To learn how to deliver all of the core interventions of CT-SAD remotely. (2) To learn novel ways of carrying out behavioural experiments remotely when some in-person social situations might not be possible.
The Brain–Cognitive Behavior Problem: A Retrospective

ABSTRACT Cross-reactive responses elicited by exposure to nontuberculous mycobacteria often confound the interpretation of antemortem tests for Mycobacterium bovis infection of cattle. The use of specific proteins (e.g., ESAT-6, CFP-10, and MPB83), however, generally enhances the specificity of bovine tuberculosis tests. While genes for these proteins are absent from many nontuberculous mycobacteria, they are present in M. kansasii. Instillation of M. kansasii into the tonsillar crypts of calves elicited delayed-type hypersensitivity and in vitro gamma interferon and nitrite concentration responses of leukocytes to M. avium and M. bovis purified protein derivatives (PPDs). While the responses of M. kansasii-inoculated calves to M. avium and M. bovis PPDs were approximately equivalent, the responses of M. bovis-inoculated calves to M. bovis PPD exceeded their respective responses to M. avium PPD. The gamma interferon and nitrite responses of M. kansasii-inoculated calves to recombinant ESAT-6-CFP-10 (rESAT-6-CFP-10) exceeded corresponding responses of noninoculated calves as early as 15 and 30 days after inoculation, respectively, and persisted throughout the study. The gamma interferon and nitrite responses of M. bovis-inoculated calves to rESAT-6-CFP-10 exceeded the corresponding responses of M. kansasii-inoculated calves beginning 30 days after inoculation. By using a lipoarabinomannan-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, specific serum antibodies were detected as early as 50 days after challenge with M. kansasii. By a multiantigen print immunoassay and immunoblotting, serum antibodies to MPB83, but not ESAT-6 or CFP-10, were detected in M. kansasii-inoculated calves; however, responses to MPB83 were notably weaker than those elicited by M. bovis infection. These findings indicate that M. kansasii infection of calves elicits specific responses that may confound the interpretation of bovine tuberculosis tests.
Bioinformatics analysis of aberrantly expressed exosomal lncRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (CAL-27 vs. oral epithelial) cells

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent form of malignant tumour in the oral cavity and its early detection is critical for improving the prognosis of affected patients. The present study aimed to isolate and confirm exosomes derived from the supernatant of the OSCC cell line CAL-27 and human oral epithelial cells (HOECs), analyze long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression profiles and determine the diagnostic value based on bioinformatics analyses. The results indicated that the particles isolated from the supernatant of CAL-27 and HOECs were either round or oval, had a size range of 30–150 nm and were enriched with ALG-2 interacting protein X (ALIX) and tumour susceptibility 101 proteins (TSG101). These characteristics confirmed that these particles were exosomes. Three lncRNAs (NR-026892.1, NR-126435.1 and NR-036586.1) were selected as potential diagnostic biomarkers for OSCC. The expression levels of the selected lncRNAs were significantly different in CAL-27-exo vs. HOEC-exo, as well as in whole cells (CAL-27 vs. HOECs) (P<0.001). The expression levels of the three lncRNAs confirmed by quantitative PCR were consistent with the sequencing data. In conclusion, various lncRNAs were aberrantly expressed between cancerous and non-cancerous exosomes, suggesting that they may serve as biomarkers for cancer.
SPOT GRADE II: Clinical Validation of a New Method for Reproducibly Quantifying Surgical Wound Bleeding: Prospective, Multicenter, Multispecialty, Single-Arm Study

The SPOT GRADE (SG), a Surface Bleeding Severity Scale, is a unique visual method for assessing bleeding severity based on quantitative determinations of blood flow. This study assessed the reliability of the SG scale in a clinical setting and collected initial data on the safety and efficacy of HEMOBLAST Bellows (HB), a hemostatic agent, in abdominal and orthopedic operations. Twenty-seven patients were enrolled across 3 centers and received the investigational device. Bleeding severity and hemostasis were independently assessed by 2 surgical investigators at baseline and at 3, 6, and 10 minutes after application of HB and compared for agreement. The mean paired κ statistic for assignment of SG scores was . 7754. The mean paired κ statistics for determining eligibility for participation in the trial based on bleeding severity and the mean paired κ statistics determining the presence of hemostasis were . 9301 and . 9301, respectively. The proportion of patients achieving hemostasis within 3, 6, and 10 minutes of HB application were 50.0%, 79.2%, and 91.7%, respectively. There were no unanticipated adverse device effects and one possible serious adverse device effect, as determined by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC). The reliability of the SG scale was validated in a clinical setting. Initial data on the safety and efficacy of HB in abdominal and orthopedic operations were collected, and there were no concerns raised by the investigators or the IDMC.
Effect of Cutting Stage on Forage Yield and Quality of Nilegrass and Pangolagrass

Nilegrass (Acroceras macrum) is a C3 perennial forage grass while pangolagrass (Digitaria decumbens) is a C4 species. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of different cutting stages on forage yield and quality of nilegrass and pangolagrass. Four cutting stages, i.e., 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after the previous cutting, were used in the experiment. Both fresh and dry weights of nilegrass and pangolagrass increased with later cutting stages in the first 3 years. However, the forage yields of these two species cut after 10 weeks were lower than those cut after 8 weeks in the 4(superscript th) year. Nilegrass produced significantly higher forage yield than pangolagrass did for all cutting stages except cutting after 6 weeks. The crude protein contents of both nilegrass and pangolagrass decreased with the delayed cutting stages, while those of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) increased with later cutting stages. No significant difference was observed for the contents of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) of nilegrass among cutting stages. However, WSC of pangolagrass increased with the advancement of cutting stages. Pangolagrass had higher content of WSC than nilegrass did for all the cutting stages. The pH value of the soil increased with cutting stages in forage land cultivated with either nilegrass or angolagrass. Results suggest that nilegrass harvested between 6 and 8 weeks may produce higher forage yield and quality.
Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare delivery, socio-political and economics

As I sit to write editorial for this issue of Scottish Medical Journal, the Scottish Government has allowed us to move into second phase of lockdown enforced earlier in March, 2020 due to SAR-2 Covid-19 pandemic. The virus has spread fast and caused huge socio-political changes across the globe, not even the best in business expected 6 months back. The impact of this has been huge ranging from personal to professional and in almost every sphere of life. Learning by example or from peers would continue to remain one of the major contributors to our professional developments, however the pandemic has reminded us many realities and focused our attention to many questions. Firstly, why some poor countries such as Liberia with population of 4.8 million had just 34 deaths. That has possibly delinked a myth held by a few that only rich countries can enjoy a better healthcare delivery. Similarly, New Zealand with similar size of population had 22 covid-19 related deaths. Is it strategy, timing, culture to respond to a challnege or ability and will to strictly adhere to administrative directives which counts equally or more than just our commitment to spend extra money to improve our healthcare? Secondly, the situation has shown us that there are sections of society where disease behaviour and its impact would bemore than rest such as ethnic minorities in the UK and people of AfroCaribbean origin. This has again turned our attention to racism, discrimination and social inequalities and finally, retraction of research papers from prestigiousNEJMand Lancet due to lack of authentic data has provided a reminder to editors, peer reviewers, authors and publishers to have an extra layer of scrutiny in the future. In this issue of SMJ, Atrah Hasan provides a background to cytokine storm and strategy to deal with. Krysztofiak et al. report experience of non-invasive CT scan in assessing bypass graft condition and Demir Gündo gmuş et al. describe coronary intervention in elderly population. These publications enhance our understanding of cardiovascular disease which remains one of the major killers in Scotland and world over. There is a Scottish audit on knee arthroplasty reported by Brown et al. and a high quality meta-analysis by Wang and colleagues; again, placing these together in this issue should give us some reference to reflective clinical practice and quality assessment of data in secondary research (research using reported data from clinical studies). Adverse events following intervention including surgery do not get as much attentions as drug errors, Macmillan and colleagues report a diaphragmatic hernia following cryoablation of liver lesion. This should be an interest to those who practice image guided biopsies and treatment of intra-abdominal conditions.
High Resolution 3D Imaging with Synthetic Aperture Radar Systems

High resolution imaging is critical for many applications such as autonomous driving, air traffic control, air defense systems and antimissile systems. Such imaging heavily relies on radars for object detection. However, the resolution for conventional radars are very limited. An effective approach is to use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, where a single beam-forming antenna is mounted on a moving platform, from which a target scene is repeatedly illuminated with pulses of radio waves at different wavelengths. The reflected waves are then used to detect the location of the targets. In this paper, we present a novel method of using SAR-based radars for high-resolution object detection. We use a receiving antenna with multiple observation points together with a stationary transmitting antenna. We then use computer-aided data processing to get the image of the target. The imaging system is able to detect the location of multiple targets with exceptional high resolution. The theoretical and experimental study proves that, with this technique, the detection of multiple targets in close proximity of each other can be effectively done.
De-anonymization of Social Networks: the Power of Collectiveness

The interaction among users in different social networks raises deep concern on user privacy, as it may facilitate the assailants to identify user identities by matching the anonymized networks with a correlated sanitized one. Prior arts regarding such de-anonymization problem can be primarily divided into a seeded case or a seedless one, depending on whether or not there are a subset of pre-identified nodes. The seedless case is much more complicated since the adjacency matrix representation of one-hop user relations delivers limited structural information.To address this issue, we, for the first time, integrate the multi-hop neighborhood relationships, which exhibit more structural commonness between the anonymized and the sanitized networks, into seedless de-anonymization process. Our aim is to sufficiently leverage these multi-hop neighbors of all nodes and minimize the total disagreements of these multi-hop adjacency matrices, which we call collective adjacency disagreements (CADs), between two networks of different sizes. Theoretically, we demonstrate that CAD enlarges the difference between wrongly matched node pairs and correctly matched pairs, whereby two networks can be correctly matched with high probability even when the network density is below logn. Algorithmically, we adopt the conditional gradient descending method on a collective-form objective, which can efficiently find the minimal CADs for networks with broad degree distributions. Experiments on both synthetic and realworld networks return desirable de-anonymization accuracies thanks to the rich structural information manifested by such collectiveness, since most nodes can be correctly matched with their correspondences, especially in sparse networks where merely utilizing adjacency relations might fail to work.
Managing the business processes under the influence of Industry 4.0: case study of loan application

It is intended that the digital technologies and enterprise information systems are aligned with underlying business and manufacturing processes to perform at the highest levels in companies. The focus of the paper is on operational processes running in companies from different perspectives based on state-of-the-art of Industry 4.0 concept. It discusses the potential of process mining techniques for Industry 4.0. The core of the paper demonstrates how can process mining method enhance elements of Industry 4.0 concept through case study from financial sector with the emphasis given on efficiency and monitoring of a loan process. The research shows that management of business and manufacturing processes is very important due to the properties of processes of Industry 4.0 concept like, e.g., self-organisation, autonomy, decentralisation, that is seriously challenging to manage. The introduced methodology could help companies to diagnose issues in their operational processes and thus brings a completive advantage when implemented.