Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Method for Robust Multiple Peer-To-Peer Relay Beamforming

This paper focuses on how to design the robust beamforming vectors of multiple peer-to-peer relay networks. In the context of imperfect channel state information at the relays, our goal is to minimize the transmit power at relay nodes subject to the quality of service at each receiver. A method based on real value Lorentz-positive maps and linear matrix inequalities is proposed, which converts the transmit power minimization problem at relay nodes into a convex optimization problem. The proposed method overcomes the disadvantages of traditional methods based on semi-definite programming relaxation, which sometimes result in solutions with rank greater than one. Simulation results show that the solution of the proposed method is consistent with those of conventional method based on semi-definite programming relaxation.
Strigolactones Stimulate Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi by Activating Mitochondria

The association of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi with plant roots is the oldest and ecologically most important symbiotic relationship between higher plants and microorganisms, yet the mechanism by which these fungi detect the presence of a plant host is poorly understood. Previous studies have shown that roots secrete a branching factor (BF) that strongly stimulates branching of hyphae during germination of the spores of AM fungi. In the BF of Lotus, a strigolactone was found to be the active molecule. Strigolactones are known as germination stimulants of the parasitic plants Striga and Orobanche. In this paper, we show that the BF of a monocotyledonous plant, Sorghum, also contains a strigolactone. Strigolactones strongly and rapidly stimulated cell proliferation of the AM fungus Gigaspora rosea at concentrations as low as 10 −13 M. This effect was not found with other sesquiterperne lactones known as germination stimulants of parasitic weeds. Within 1 h of treatment, the density of mitochondria in the fungal cells increased, and their shape and movement changed dramatically. Strigolactones stimulated spore germination of two other phylogenetically distant AM fungi, Glomus intraradices and Gl. claroideum. This was also associated with a rapid increase of mitochondrial density and respiration as shown with Gl. intraradices. We conclude that strigolactones are important rhizospheric plant signals involved in stimulating both the pre-symbiotic growth of AM fungi and the germination of parasitic plants.
Life and destruction: ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in aging and longevity

The ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS) regulates the turnover of improperly folded and damaged proteins to maintain protein homeostasis (proteostasis), cellular function, and viability. It is commonly thought that an age-related impairment of the UPS affects general proteostasis networks, which causes enhanced protein aggregation and contributes to normal aging. Recent studies identified the existence of ubiquitin-dependent degradation pathways that specifically control lifespan regulators, suggesting additional roles for ubiquitylation in aging and longevity.
Sub-Pixel Classification of MODIS EVI for Annual Mappings of Impervious Surface Areas

Regular monitoring of expanding impervious surfaces areas (ISAs) in urban areas is highly desirable. MODIS data can meet this demand in terms of frequent observations but are lacking in spatial detail, leading to the mixed land cover problem when per-pixel classifications are applied. To overcome this issue, this research develops and applies a spatio-temporal sub-pixel model to estimate ISAs on an annual basis during 2001–2013 in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area, Indonesia. A Random Forest (RF) regression inferred the ISA proportion from annual 23 values of MODIS MOD13Q1 EVI and reference data in which such proportion was visually allocated from very high-resolution images in Google Earth over time at randomly selected locations. Annual maps of ISA proportion were generated and showed an average increase of 30.65 km2/year over 13 years. For comparison, a series of RF per-pixel classifications were also developed from the same reference data using a Boolean class constructed from different thresholds of ISA proportion. Results from per-pixel models varied when such thresholds change, suggesting difficulty of estimation of actual ISAs. This research demonstrated the advantages of spatio-temporal sub-pixel analysis for annual ISAs mapping and addresses the problem associated with definitions of thresholds in per-pixel approaches.
Effects of Smoked Marijuana in Healthy and HIV+ Marijuana Smokers

This article presents data from two avenues of marijuana research. First, the author shows that daily marijuana smoking in healthy individuals produces dependence, as demonstrated by withdrawal symptoms such as increased irritability and depression and decreased food intake. In addition, two antidepressant medications were evaluated to assess their potential effectiveness in the treatment of marijuana withdrawal symptoms: (1) sustained‐release bupropion (0, 300 mg/day) and (2) nefazodone (0, 450 mg/day). Research participants were regular marijuana smokers who lived in a residential laboratory in groups of two to four. While inpatients, participants smoked active marijuana (2.8%‐3.1% THC) repeatedly for 4 days, followed by 8 to 12 days of placebo marijuana (0.0% THC). Results show that during marijuana abstinence, (1) bupropion increased ratings of irritability, depression, and stomach pain and decreased food intake and sleep quality compared to placebo maintenance, and (2) nefazodone decreased anxiety during marijuana withdrawal but did not alter ratings of irritability and misery. Thus, neither medication showed promise as potential treatments for symptoms of marijuana withdrawal. The second avenue of research focused on the effect of cannabinoids in individuals with muscle mass loss, an indicator of wasting in HIV illness. Given that there are little scientific data contributing to the debates concerning medical marijuana, this study directly compared the effects of oral Δ9‐THC (0, 10, 20, 30 mg PO) to smoked marijuana (0.0%, 1.8%, 2.8%, 3.9% THC) in HIV+ marijuana smokers with muscle mass loss (< 90% body cell mass/height). Multiple dimensions of human behavior were measured, including food intake, mood, and cognitive performance. Drugs were administered using a within‐subject, double‐blind, staggered, double‐dummy design. Participants were free to self‐select from a variety of foods throughout most of the session. Preliminary data (n = 9) suggest that oral THC was more effective at increasing food intake, but the volunteers “liked” the effects of smoked marijuana more than the effects of oral THC.
Foci of Endemic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Wild-Living Eastern Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)

ABSTRACT Simian immunodeficiency virus of chimpanzees (SIVcpz) is the immediate precursor to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), yet remarkably, the distribution and prevalence of SIVcpz in wild ape populations are unknown. Studies of SIVcpz infection rates in wild chimpanzees are complicated by the species' endangered status and by its geographic location in remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa. We have developed sensitive and specific urine and fecal tests for SIVcpz antibody and virion RNA (vRNA) detection and describe herein the first comprehensive prevalence study of SIVcpz infection in five wild Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii communities in east Africa. In Kibale National Park in Uganda, 31 (of 52) members of the Kanyawara community and 39 (of ∼145) members of the Ngogo community were studied; none were found to be positive for SIVcpz infection. In Gombe National Park in Tanzania, 15 (of 20) members of the Mitumba community, 51 (of 55) members of the Kasekela community, and at least 10 (of ∼20) members of the Kalande community were studied. Seven individuals were SIVcpz antibody and/or vRNA positive, and two others had indeterminate antibody results. Based on assay sensitivities and the numbers and types of specimens analyzed, we estimated the prevalence of SIVcpz infection to be 17% in Mitumba (95% confidence interval, 10 to 40%), 5% in Kasekela (95% confidence interval, 4 to 7%), and 30% in Kalande (95% confidence interval, 15 to 60%). For Gombe as a whole, the SIVcpz prevalence was estimated to be 13% (95% confidence interval, 7 to 25%). SIVcpz infection was confirmed in five chimpanzees by PCR amplification of partial pol and gp41/nef sequences which revealed a diverse group of viruses that formed a monophyletic lineage within the SIVcpzPts radiation. Although none of the 70 Kibale chimpanzees tested SIVcpz positive, we estimated the likelihood that a 10% or higher prevalence existed but went undetected because of sampling and assay limitations; this possibility was ruled out with 95% certainty. These results indicate that SIVcpz is unevenly distributed among P. t. schweinfurthii in east Africa, with foci or “hot spots” of SIVcpz endemicity in some communities and rare or absent infection in others. This situation contrasts with that for smaller monkey species, in which infection rates by related SIVs are generally much higher and more uniform among different groups and populations. The basis for the wide variability in SIVcpz infection rates in east African apes and the important question of SIVcpz prevalence in west central African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) remain to be elucidated.
Nonholonomic dynamic rolling control of reconfigurable 5R closed kinematic chain robot with passive joints

We have developed a self-reconfigurable robot which can form a 5R closed kinematic chain, only two of whose joints are actuated. This paper discusses its dynamic rolling. When it rolls, it has one DOF of its absolute orientation besides two DOFs of its shape. We show that the absolute orientation is subject to an acceleration constraint, not a velocity constraint. Therefore, the dynamics of the rolling motion needs to be formulated to control it. This paper proposes a controller which can reduce its negative acceleration caused by gravity. The shape and orientation of the robot cannot be controlled simultaneously. This paper proposes a control strategy switching shape and orientation controllers. We verify the effectiveness of the control strategy by simulations and experiments.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors in a Defined Population: Weighted Logistic Regression Approach for Rare Events

Purpose This study aimed to determine out risk factors for female breast cancer in a low socioeconomic population in Iran. Methods Between 2007 and 2009, a total of 25,592 women who were ensured by the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation participated in this screening program. The characteristics of patients diagnosed with breast cancer (n=111) were compared with those of control cases (n=25,481). In this study, we used relogit analysis (rare event logistic regression) with a weighting method using program Zelig. Results Of 25,592 women, 3.9/1,000 had breast cancer, from which 38 were diagnosed during screening and 73 had already been diagnosed. The mean and standard deviation of age in breast cancer patients and in healthy controls were 49.18±8.86 years and 46.65±9.40 years, respectively. The findings based on the multivariate model revealed that the past history of ovarian cancer, hormone therapy, and first relatives with breast cancer were associated with increased risk for breast cancer. However, the use of oral contraceptive pills was found to be associated with reduced risk for breast cancer. Conclusion Due to the rarity of the event in the population, relogit with a weighting method was used to investigate the major risk factors for breast cancer. These factors include oral contraceptive pill use, a history of ovarian cancer of the person under study, first relatives with breast cancer and hormone therapy.
Surgical waiting times for ocular and periocular cancer patients in Toronto.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate surgical waiting times experienced by intraocular and periocular cancer patients in Toronto and to assess the period of greatest delay between certain stages of ocular cancer care. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed on cases of adult patients who underwent surgery between January 2002 and December 2004 for malignant or premalignant tumours of the eye and ocular adnexa. Waiting time intervals were calculated between 5 time points: initial presentation to referring physician or optometrist, date of referral to oculoplastics or ocular oncology, initial assessment, consent date, and surgery date. Total surgical waiting time was the period between the initial presentation and surgery date. RESULTS The mean total surgical waiting time was 85.93 (standard error [SE] 212.70) days. The 5% trimmed mean total waiting time was 51.07 days. The longest mean total waiting time averaged 94.16 (SE 18.69) days for patients with orbital or lacrimal tumours. For all patients, the interval of greatest delay was between initial assessment and consent (according to means) or between referral and initial assessment (according to 5% trimmed means). For patients with lid, brow, or conjunctival tumours the interval of greatest delay was between referral and initial assessment, and for those with orbital, lacrimal, or intraocular tumours it was between initial assessment and consent. INTERPRETATION By measuring the period between consent and surgery, the Ontario government is not measuring the interval of greatest delay in ocular cancer care. The wait-time registry may benefit from including data from patients with periocular tumours.
Randomized trial of TAS-102 for refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND Early clinical trials conducted primarily in Japan have shown that TAS-102, an oral agent that combines trifluridine and tipiracil hydrochloride, was effective in the treatment of refractory colorectal cancer. We conducted a phase 3 trial to further assess the efficacy and safety of TAS-102 in a global population of such patients. METHODS In this double-blind study, we randomly assigned 800 patients, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive TAS-102 or placebo. The primary end point was overall survival. RESULTS The median overall survival improved from 5.3 months with placebo to 7.1 months with TAS-102, and the hazard ratio for death in the TAS-102 group versus the placebo group was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58 to 0.81; P<0.001). The most frequently observed clinically significant adverse events associated with TAS-102 were neutropenia, which occurred in 38% of those treated, and leukopenia, which occurred in 21%; 4% of the patients who received TAS-102 had febrile neutropenia, and one death related to TAS-102 was reported. The median time to worsening performance status (a change in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status [on a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 indicating no symptoms and higher numbers indicating increasing degrees of disability] from 0 or 1 to 2 or more) was 5.7 months with TAS-102 versus 4.0 months with placebo (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.78; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS In patients with refractory colorectal cancer, TAS-102, as compared with placebo, was associated with a significant improvement in overall survival. (Funded by Taiho Oncology-Taiho Pharmaceutical; RECOURSE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01607957.).
Selective Depletion of Liver and Splenic Macrophages Using Liposomes Encapsulating the Drug Dichloromethylene Diphosphonate: Effects on Antimicrobial Resistance

The current results provide direct evidence for a role of tissue macrophages (Mφ) in natural immunity and support the use of immunomodulators to enhance antiviral resistance in immunocompromised individuals. In this study, macrophages (Mφ) in the spleen and liver were eliminated by intravenous (i.v.) injection of the drug dichloromethylene diphosphonate (DMDP) encapsulated in liposomes. The effect of this depletion system on peritoneal Mφ, peripheral blood leukocytes, splenic natural killer (NK) activity, and natural and immunomodulator‐induced host resistance was then assessed. Barrier‐maintained CD‐1 female mice were inoculated i.v. either with DMDP liposomes, free liposomes (containing no DMDP), or saline on day ‐2 or on days ‐3 and ‐1 before cell population analysis or infection. Single or double treatment with DMDP liposomes had no effect on peritoneal Mφ as indicated by no changes in total number, differential counts, or ectoenzyme patterns. Double treatment with DMDP liposomes caused a marked leukocytosis in blood, primarily of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), and a transient depression of spontaneous and interferon‐inducible splenic NK activity. The effects on host resistance to i.v. infection with Listeria monocytogenes or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) indicated that i.v. treatment with DMDP liposomes significantly reduced natural resistance to these microorganisms as evidenced by increased mortality and decreased median survival time. When DMDP liposomes‐treated mice were given the immunomodulator maleic anhydride divinyl ether copolymer (MVE‐2) intraperitoneally the day before infection with HSV‐2, the immunosuppressive effect of DMDP liposome treatment was significantly reversed.
Immunostimulatory Activity of Intracellular Lectin Extract from Actinomycete Micromonospora aurantiaca

Objective: Many immunomodulators have also been discovered among the primary metabolites of microorganisms, such as cell wall components. In the present study, the immunomodulatory effect of intracellular lectin extract from Micromonospora aurantica GF44c strain was evaluated in vivo. Methods: The immunomodulatory potential of intracellular lectin on the phagocytic activity was measured by the carbon clearance rate test, at different doses (30, 50, and100 mg/kg) respectively. Results: Micromonospora aurantica lectin extract increased significatively the phagocytic activity in when compared with the control and thus the clearance rate of carbon was faster after the administration of the actinomycete extract P<0.05. Conclusion: From the above findings, it is concluded that intracellular lectin extract possesses potential for augmenting activity of reticuloendothelial system more at high dose (500 mg/kg). keywords: Immunostimulation, Actinomycete, Micromonospora aurantica, lectin, Phagocytic activity , Carbon
Inframarginal Analysis and Dynamical Bargaining Based Resource Allocation Method

In order to consider about the global utility of distributed computing environment, a resource allocation method based on inframarginal analysis and bargaining dynamically is presented, which achieves maximum system efficiency by making global equilibrium. The contribution is solving allocation problem with corner analysis, different from inner analysis used before. It distributes tasks to proper node by exogenous comparative advantage, and make allocation policies through bargaining mechanism so that the entire algorithm possess is dynamic. Simulation compares with Game model proves the method is effective and available in the distributed environment.
Timing of Human Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐1 Gene Transfer in Reinnervating Laryngeal Muscle

Objectives/Hypothesis The authors have designed a rat laryngeal paralysis model to study gene transfer strategies using a muscle‐specific expression system to enhance local delivery of human insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (hIGF‐1). In preliminary studies, a nonviral vector containing the α‐actin promoter and human hIGF‐1 sequence produced both neurotrophic and myotrophic effects 1 month after single injection of plasmid formulation into paralyzed rat thyroarytenoid muscle in vivo. Based on these findings, it is hypothesized that the effects of hIGF‐1 will enhance the results of laryngeal muscle innervation procedures. The timing of gene delivery relative to nerve repair is likely to be important, to optimize the results.
A comparison of distraction strategies for venipuncture distress in children.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of two pediatric venipuncture distress-management distraction strategies that differed in the degree to which they required children's interaction. METHODS Eighty-eight 1- to 7-year-old children receiving venipuncture were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: interactive toy distraction, passive movie distraction, or standard care. Distress was examined via parent, nurse, self-report (children over 4 years), and observational coding. Engagement in distraction was assessed via observational coding. RESULTS Children in the passive condition were more distracted and less distressed than children in the interactive condition. Although children in the interactive condition were more distracted than standard care children, there were no differences in distress between these groups. CONCLUSIONS Despite literature that suggests that interactive distraction should lower distress more than passive distraction, results indicate that a passive strategy might be most effective for children's venipuncture. It is possible that children's distress interfered with their ability to interact with the distractor.
Feasibility study for simulating community based content caching on CCN network using ndnSIM simulator

In this paper we have done a feasibility study to develop a simulation model for Content Centric Network. Our goal is to form communities based on popular clustering algorithm on the simulated CCN network. Furthermore we aim to do a guided content delivery on CCN based on the community preferences. Though community formation and a guided delivery of content is not a new field. However an experimental simulation of these concepts on CCN network is novel. Basically we want to utilize CCN network and its advantages to implement a next generation CDN.
Pregnancy-Specific Glycoprotein (PSG) in Baboon (Papio hamadryas): Family Size, Domain Structure, and Prediction of a Functional Region in Primate PSGs1

Abstract Pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) constitutes a major component of serum of pregnant women and appears to be essential for a successful pregnancy. Its function is, however, still unknown. Because of the evolutionary divergence between human and rodent PSG, functional studies may require a primate animal model. We have characterized PSG transcripts in a baboon placenta cDNA library and analyzed baboon genomic DNA. The main PSG isoform had the domain structure N-A1-B2-C similar to the human type IIa isoform. The type I isoform (N-A1-A2-B2-C) was also expressed. Fifteen similar PSG genes were identified of which at least nine were simultaneously expressed in third trimester baboon placenta. Thus, the baboon PSG family was as complex as that of humans. Recombinant baboon PSG (isoform IIa) had a molecular weight of 38 kDa and reacted with antibodies against human PSG. Comparative analysis of 43 N-domain amino acid sequences of PSG from four species and nine primate carcinoembryonic antigen subgroup N domain sequences identified a number of residues in the GFCC′C′′ β-sheet and FG loop that are probable candidates for PSG binding to its putative ligand.