Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Poster Abstract : AMSecure — Secure Link-Layer Communication in TinyOS for IEEE 802 . 15 . 4-based Wireless Sensor Networks

Many wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for medical, military, and control applications require strong security protection of messages. Yet, the algorithms and protocols used must be efficient in space and time due to the constrained resources of sensor devices. Existing link-layer security solutions for WSNs, such as SPINS [3] and TinySec [2]), rely on software-level encryption and authentication routines. Due to memory and computation limitations, these have used algorithms that are considered less secure than the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Also, they do not provide explicit support for concurrent use of multiple keys and security modes. We briefly present AMSecure, a new link-layer security component we developed for MICAz and Telos motes, which both use the Chipcon CC2420 radio transceiver. AMSecure uses its built-in support for inline AES cryptographic operations specified in the IEEE 802.15. 4 standard [1]. Message confidentiality, authentication, integrity, replay protection, and semantic security are provided. AMSecure uses hardware-accelerated cryptography in a backward-compatible manner with insecure Active Messages (the messaging layer in TinyOS). It supports multiple keys per source, allowing operation with the many key management schemes found in the literature. It also allows TinyOS components to specify, on a per-message basis, the security mode to use: none, authentication-only, encryption-only, or authentication and encryption. AMSecure is therefore efficient, composable, and more flexible than previous solutions. We fully implemented AMSecure on MicaZ motes, and evaluated it by collecting real performance measurements.
Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, Causal Agent of Tan Spot: A Review of Intraspecific Genetic Diversity

M. V. Moreno1,2,3, S. A. Stenglein1,2,3 and A. E. Perello1,4 1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET) 2Laboratorio de Biologia Funcional y Biotecnologia (BIOLAB)-CEBB-CONICET, Facultad de Agronomia de Azul Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA) 3Microbiologia Agricola, Facultad de Agronomia, UNCPBA 4Centro de Investigaciones de Fitopatologia (CIDEFI) Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata Argentina
Biomass Carbon Storage of Three Forests at Different Altitudes in Baotianman Mountain, Central China

Basing on field data of Quercus glandulifera var. brevipetiolata and Quercus variabilis mixed forest (MF), Quercus aliena var. acutiserrata forest (QF1) and Quercus aliena var. acutiserrata forest (QF2) at different altitudes of Baotianman Mountain, we revealed biomass C storage of tree organs for each forest, and the distribution patterns of biomass C in different forests were also indicated. We found that total biomass C of forests decrease as altitude increase. The species mixed forest store more biomass C than others. However, biomass C storages at the scale 5m×5m vary dramatically for most of the plots. Biomass C storage in organs follows the law trunk>branch>root>leaf for all the three types of forests. It is interesting that biomass C of both above̶ and belowground are MF>QF1>QF2, whereas the ratios of aboveground/belowground biomass C are QF2 > QF1 > MF. Our results indicate that both altitude and forest type are key influence factors of forest biomass C in Baotianman Mountains.
Luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin: distinguishing unique physiologic roles

Abstract Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are integral components of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, which controls sexual maturation and functionality. In the absence of signaling through their shared receptor, fetal sexual differentiation and post-natal development cannot proceed normally. Although they share a high degree of homology, the physiologic roles of these hormones are unique, governed by differences in expression pattern, biopotency and regulation. Whereas LH is a key regulator of gonadal steroidogenesis and ovulation, hCG is predominantly active in pregnancy and fetal development. Emerging evidence has revealed endogenous functions not previously ascribed to hCG, including participation in ovulation and fertilization, implantation, placentation and other activities in support of successful pregnancy. Spontaneous and induced mutations in LH, hCG and their mutual receptor have contributed substantially to our understanding of reproductive development and function. The lack of naturally occurring, functionally significant mutations in the β-subunit of hCG reinforce its putative role in establishment of pregnancy. Rescue of reproductive abnormalities resulting from aberrant gonadotropin signaling is possible in certain clinical contexts, depending on the nature of the underlying defect. By understanding the physiologic roles of LH and hCG in normal and pathologic states, we may better harness their diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential. Chinese abstract 促黄体激素（LH）和人绒毛膜促性腺素(hCG)是下丘脑－垂体－性腺轴整体的组分，控制性成熟和性功能。 它们共享受体信号的缺乏，胎儿性分化和出生后发育不能正常进行。 尽管它们共享高度的同源性，但这些激素的生理作用是独特的，表达方式、生物效能和调节是不同的，然而，LH 是性腺甾体合成和排卵的关键调节剂，hCG的主要作用是妊娠及孕胎儿发育。 新的证据显示以前没有归于HCG的内源性的功能，包括参与排卵和受精，种植，胎盘形成和其他支持妊娠成功的活动。 LH，hCG和它们共同的受体自发和诱发突变提供了我们对生殖发展与功能的理解。 hCG β-亚单位天然缺乏，功能上明显突变加强了它确定妊娠的公认作用。 依据潜在缺陷的本性，因异常促性腺激素信号导致的生殖异常的复苏在某些临床环境下是可能的。 通过对LH和hCG 正常和病理状态生理作用的理解，我们可以较好地利用它们的诊断，预测和治疗潜能。
Studies on relaxation and thermal expansion behavior of polysiloxane-modified epoxy resin

Abstract Epoxy network systems based on DGEBA (bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether) with two kinds of polysiloxane with low molecular weight, ATPS (aminopropyldimethyl-terminated polysiloxane) and PTPS (phenyl-terminated polysiloxane), were prepared and annealed at 175°C. Their physical aging data were curve fitted with the Kohlrausch-William-Watts (KWW) equation and thermal expansion behaviors of both quenched and strained samples were investigated. Results show that curve-fitted ΔH e reflects the relative amount of the “frozen-in” excess free volume in the epoxy network, related to the deviation from equilibrium state. With increase of the ATPS content, both Δl, which was defined as linear dimension drop per millimeter height of sample, and ΔH e decrease; that is, they change in the same direction.
The Importance of Data Collection for Modelling Contact Networks

The recently developed small wireless devices ranging from sensor boards to mobile phones provide a timely opportunity to gather unique data sets on complex human interactions, which in turn will support rich and meaningful modelling of the underlying networks. We are convinced that this approach will be fruitful and effective for tackling various issues such as infectious disease spread and beyond.Human social dynamics are far more complex than the currentsimplified models in network theory, and the data drivenmodelling with large-scale experimental results is essential for understanding and building systems that exploit real networks. An important issue to be addressed for taking empirical and heuristic approach is understanding the characteristics of data such as data collection methods, limitations, scale of noise, and so forth. This aspect has been many times neglected duringinference of data. We express the importance of data drivenapproach in this paper.
A hybrid shape-adaptive orthogonal transform for coding of image segments

Improvements in the compression performance can be achieved if the image transform is able to adapt to the shape of the objects present. We propose a new hybrid shape-adaptive orthogonal transform which is based on M-channel subband decomposition and shape-adaptive DCT techniques. The signal extension method for the region-based dyadic wavelet transform is applied to region-based image coding using M-channel filter banks. Simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms shape-adaptive DCT coding.
Factors affecting the efficiency and reversibility of roscovitine (ROS) block on the meiotic resumption of goat oocytes

Goat oocytes from 2 to 4 and 0.8 to 1.2‐mm follicles were freed (DOs) or not (COCs) of cumulus cells and cultured for different times in an inhibition medium supplemented with different concentrations of roscovitine (ROS). At the end of culture, oocytes were either cultured in a maturation medium for 24 hr and activated chemically for embryo development, or examined for GV chromatin configurations. Nuclear status was checked at different time points during maturation culture. Although both 200 and 250 µM ROS maintained 78–85% of oocytes at the GV stage for 24 hr, only oocytes blocked with 200 µM ROS developed to MII stage at a high rate after maturation culture. While few oocytes blocked with 200 µM ROS for 24 hr developed into morulae and none into blastocysts after activation, percentages of oocytes developing into morulae and blastocysts increased to the level of the control oocytes when the block time was reduced to 8 hr. While the GV and pMI stages were shortened with MI, and A/TI unaffected after oocytes were blocked for 8 hr, all the stages but A/TI were shortened after 24 hr of block. The sizes of nucleoli diminished with time and the GV chromatin configuration changed during ROS block. Significantly more DOs than COCs were blocked with 200 µM ROS, but none of the blocked DOs matured after drug withdrawal. However, maturation of the DOs improved significantly when ROS concentration was reduced to 150 µM or DOs were co‐inhibited with COCs. The GV intact percentages of DOs did not differ after ROS inhibition with or without eCG, but those of COCs decreased significantly after ROS inhibited in the presence of eCG. When MII‐incompetent oocytes from 0.8 to 1.2‐mm follicles were inhibited with ROS for 8 and 24 hr prior to maturation culture, nuclear maturation improved significantly, activation rates were as high as that of the control oocytes, and some of the activated developed to 4‐ or 8‐cell stages. It is concluded that (i) the efficiency and reversibility of ROS block was both drug concentration and exposure‐time dependent; (ii) cumulus cells alleviated the toxicity of ROS on goat oocytes; (iii) eCG released goat oocytes from ROS block through the mediation of cumulus cells; (iv) ROS block quickened the nuclear maturation of goat oocytes and improved the developmental competence of meiosis‐incompetent oocytes, possibly due to a sustained nuclear activity during inhibition culture; (v) oocyte nuclear maturation and activation did not depend upon cumulus expansion, but the embryo development occurred in association with cumulus expansion. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Predicting defect numbers based on defect state transition models

During software maintenance, a large number of defects could be discovered and reported. A defect can enter many states during its lifecycle, such as NEW, ASSIGNED, and RESOLVED. The ability to predict the number of defects at each state can help project teams better evaluate and plan maintenance activities. In this paper, we present BugStates, a method for predicting defect numbers at each state based on defect state transition models. In our method, we first construct defect state transition models using historical data. We then derive a stability metric from the transition models to measure a project's defect-fixing performance. For projects with stable defect-fixing performance, we show that we can apply Markovian method to predict the number of defects at each state in future based on the state transition model. We evaluate the effectiveness of BugStates using six open source projects and the results are promising. For example, when predicting defect numbers at each state in December 2010 using data from July 2009 to June 2010, the absolute errors for all projects are less than 28. In general, BugStates also outperforms other related methods.
Sociocultural Influences on the Determinants of Breast-feeding by Latina Mothers in the Cincinnati Area

While breast-feeding initiation and duration among US Latina women appear to decrease with acculturation, health care providers in the Greater Cincinnati area have noted lower rates of breast-feeding among even first-generation Latina immigrants. This study's purpose was to identify determinants of breast-feeding for Latina mothers in Cincinnati through qualitative interviews and Spanish Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale ratings. Our findings suggest that, along with similar levels of breast-feeding self-confidence, foreign-born Latina women in the Greater Cincinnati area share similar breast-feeding determinants with the general population. However, characteristics of these determinants and their impact vary because of unique pressures experienced by this community.
Noninvasive detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on saliva proteins using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Abstract. The present study evaluated the capability of saliva analysis combining membrane protein purification with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for noninvasive detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A rapid and convenient protein purification method based on cellulose acetate membrane was developed. A total of 659 high-quality SERS spectra were acquired from purified proteins extracted from the saliva samples of 170 patients with pathologically confirmed NPC and 71 healthy volunteers. Spectral analysis of those saliva protein SERS spectra revealed specific changes in some biochemical compositions, which were possibly associated with NPC transformation. Furthermore, principal component analysis combined with linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) was utilized to analyze and classify the saliva protein SERS spectra from NPC and healthy subjects. Diagnostic sensitivity of 70.7%, specificity of 70.3%, and diagnostic accuracy of 70.5% could be achieved by PCA-LDA for NPC identification. These results show that this assay based on saliva protein SERS analysis holds promising potential for developing a rapid, noninvasive, and convenient clinical tool for NPC screening.
Study of Organic Matter and Aluminum Removal in Aqueous Using Chitosan-Inorganic Coagulant

Chitosan can be a potential substitute for aluminum salts and synthetic polyelectrolytes in water treatment because it can: (1) avoid the health effects from residual aluminum (III) and synthetic polymers; (2) produce biodegradable sludge; and (3) reuse the crab shell. In this study, the chitosan flocculation characteristics in water were studied firstly, and then the combined flocculation of chitosan and inorganic flocculant is tested. The results show that the chitosan has favourable coagulation behavior. But the optimum dosage of chitosan removing turbidity and organic matter is different by using chitosan alone. However, the combined flocculation can obviously promote their each coagulant behavior and remarkably enhance the effect of organic matter removal. More importance, the optimal effect of turbidity and organic matter removal can be achieved at the same time. Comparing the effect of three inorganic coagulants combined with chitosan, the effect of chitosan combined with polymeric aluminium-ferric is best, under optimum conditions, the rate of removing turbidity, CODMn and UV254 achieved 97&#65285;, 44&#65285; and 55&#65285; respectively. And whether chitosan combining with inorganic flocculation or not, on the best conditions, the residual aluminum concentration is less than the examination methods limit in effluent water.
Growth E ff ects of Exchange-Rate Regimes and Capital-Account Liberalization ∗

It has been a remarkably difficult empirical task to identify clear-cut real effects of exchange-rate regimes on the open economy. Similarly, no definitive view emerges as to the aggregate effects of capital account liberalizations. The main hypothesis of the paper is that a direct and an indirect effect of balance-of-payments policies, geared toward exchange rate regimes and capital account openness, exert a confounding overall influence on output growth, in the presence of sudden-stop crises. A direct channel works through the trade and financial sectors, akin to the optimal currency area arguments. An indirect channel works through the probability of a sudden-stop crisis. The empirical analysis disentagles these conflicting effects and demonstrates that: (i) the balance-of-payments policies significantly affect the probability of crises, and the crisis probability, in turn, negatively affects output growth; (ii) controlling for the crisis probability in the growth equation, the direct effect of balanceof-payments policies is large. Domestic price crises (high inflation above a 20 percent threshold) affect growth only indirectly; through their positive effect on the probability of sudden-stop crises. ∗We acknowledge comments from Alex Cukierman, Allan Drazen and Alejandro Izquierdo, and helpful advice from Ady Pauzner. We are in debt to Gian Maria Milesi Ferretti for providing us data. †Mario Henrique Simonsen Professor of Public Economics, Tel-Aviv University and Friedman Professor of International Economics, Cornell University, CEPR Research Fellow and NBER Research Associate. E-mail address: razin@post.tau. ac.il. ‡Tel-Aviv University and CEPR. E-mail: yonar@post.tau. ac.il
The relationship between polymorphisms of BDNFOS and BDNF genes and heroin addiction in the Han Chinese population

The number of heroin addicts is increasing in the world. Both environmental and genetic factors both play critical roles in the process of heroin addiction. We aimed to investigate the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LIN7C, BDNFOS and BDNF genes and drug addiction in the Han Chinese population.
tRNA-linked molecular beacons for imaging mRNAs in the cytoplasm of living cells

When oligonucleotide probes are microinjected into cells to image the distribution of RNAs, they are rapidly sequestered into the nucleus. As a result, it is difficult to detect mRNAs in the cytoplasm of living cells. We were able to overcome this process by attaching tRNA transcripts to the probes. We show that when fluorescently labeled tRNAs, tRNAs with extensions at their 5′ end, or chimeric molecules in which a molecular beacon possessing a 2′-O-methylribonucleotide backbone is linked to a tRNA, are injected into the nucleus of HeLa cells, they are exported into the cytoplasm. When these constructs are introduced into the cytoplasm, they remain cytoplasmic. These constructs allow the distribution of both the general mRNA population and specific mRNAs to be imaged in living cells. This strategy should also be useful for enhancing the efficacy of antisense oligonucleotides by keeping them in the cytoplasm. Our observations show that the fidelity of the tRNA export system is relaxed for unnatural tRNA variants when they are introduced into the nucleus in large amounts.
Recent studies on the biological actions of vitamin D on intestinal transport and the electrophysiology of peripheral nerve and cardiac muscle.

Vitamin D, with parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, is an essential factor in the homeostatic regulation of systemic calcium in most vertebrate species. Targets for this aspect of vitamin D action, through its biologically active metabolites, are primarily the intestine, kidney and bone. Each of these tissues or organs are stimulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 to increase the transport calcium into the extracellular fluid compartment when plasma calcium levels are below normal and/or when there is a greater need for calcium to meet the requirements of physiological processes, such as growth, gestation and lactation. During such periods, the efficiency of the absorption of calcium from the intestine increases, the resorption of calcium salts from bone is stimulated, and the efficiency of the reabsorption of filtered calcium by the renal tubule is increased. In addition to the homeostatic function of vitamin D, there is an increasing amount of evidence that vitamin D has important effects on tissues and organs other than those concerned with calcium homeostasis. With regard to the intestinal epithelial system, the genomic effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 was shown several years ago when the de novo synthesis of a specific vitamin D-induced calcium-binding protein (CaBP, calbindin-D) was demonstrated. In our view, this appears to be an essential factor in the well-documented enhancement of calcium absorption by vitamin D. The function of calbindin-D, a high affinity calcium-binding protein, in the absorptive process is not precisely known but currently considered to act as an intracellular facilitator of the diffusion of calcium from the microvillar pole of the enterocyte to the basal-lateral membrane. There is evidence that vitamin D influences another step in the absorptive process. This step appears to be associated with the entrance of luminal calcium into the enterocyte, the first step in the transepithelial transport process. This response appears to occur relatively early (1 h or less) after 1,25(OH)2D3 is given to vitamin D-deficient animals, whereas the de novo synthesis of transport proteins has a much longer lag time (about 4 h). The in vitro absorption studies of Nemere et al (1984) and the in vivo experiments of our group (Wasserman et al, 1982) accentuate this point. However, the more rapid reaction, i.e., the possible modification of the permeability properties of the brush border membrane, does not result in a substantive increase in overall calcium absorption unless the enterocyte had been "primed" by previous exposure to vitamin D. The "priming" reaction might represent the synthesis of CaBP or some other intracellular component. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
P40 and P90 from Mpn142 are Targets of Multiple Processing Events on the Surface of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant cause of community acquired pneumonia globally. Despite having a genome less than 1 Mb in size, M. pneumoniae presents a structurally sophisticated attachment organelle that (i) provides cell polarity, (ii) directs adherence to receptors presented on respiratory epithelium, and (iii) plays a major role in cell motility. The major adhesins, P1 (Mpn141) and P30 (Mpn453), are localised to the tip of the attachment organelle by the surface accessible cleavage fragments P90 and P40 derived from Mpn142. Two events play a defining role in the formation of P90 and P40; removal of a leader peptide at position 26 (23SLA↓NTY28) during secretion to the cell surface and cleavage at amino acid 455 (452GPL↓RAG457) generating P40 and P90. Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of tryptic peptides generated by digesting size-fractionated cell lysates of M. pneumoniae identified 15 cleavage fragments of Mpn142 ranging in mass from 9–84 kDa. Further evidence for the existence of cleavage fragments of Mpn142 was generated by mapping tryptic peptides to proteins recovered from size fractionated eluents from affinity columns loaded with heparin, fibronectin, fetuin, actin, plasminogen and A549 surface proteins as bait. To define the sites of cleavage in Mpn142, neo-N-termini in cell lysates of M. pneumoniae were dimethyl-labelled and characterised by LC-MS/MS. Our data suggests that Mpn142 is cleaved to generate adhesins that are auxiliary to P1 and P30.