Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Software-Defined Networking Could Shake Up More than Packets

Anew approach to network traffic control - born out of university researchers' desire to conduct experiments on production scale infrastructure and based on a slim, six page white paper - is taking the networking industry by storm. The new technology, dubbed OpenFlow, is being promoted by a new consortium called the Open Networking Foundation (ONF; www.open networkingfoundation.org) and is on the cusp of commercial deployment. The foundation's members include some of the world's largest software providers, content delivery networks, and net working equipment vendors. OpenFlow might - just might - allow unprecedented granular control of data traffic up and down the appli cation stack. And the structure of the promot ing foundation could capitalize on a focused approach to setting standards that will give the technology a quick-mover advantage.
Nutrient intakes during pregnancy: the influence of smoking status and age

STUDY OBJECTIVE To examine the relation of antioxidant and other nutrient intakes in pregnancy to smoking and sociodemographic variables. DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING St Mary's Maternity Hospital, Portsmouth. PARTICIPANTS Pregnant nulliparous women, with no existing complications of pregnancy, were recruited from antenatal booking clinics. A total of 774 women completed seven day food diaries, and supplied detailed data on their use of nutrient supplements. MAIN RESULTS Smokers had lower intakes of most micronutrients. After adjustment for the confounding effects of maternal age, height, and education, only vitamin C and carotenoid intakes remained significantly depressed. Age was strongly and significantly associated with the intake of most nutrients, including antioxidants, and this association was independent of other maternal factors. Antioxidant intake was therefore lowest in young women who smoked: for example smokers under 24 years had a mean vitamin C intake of 57 mg (SD 35) compared with 106 mg (SD 52) for non-smokers aged 28 and over (difference 49 mg, 95% CI 39, 59). The corresponding intakes of carotenoid equivalents were 1335 μg (SD 982) and 2093 μg (SD 1283) (difference 758 μg, 95% CI 496, 1020). CONCLUSIONS The study has identified, for the first time, young pregnant women as a group at particular risk of low micronutrient intake. The health implications of poor nutrition now need to be evaluated, particularly for those women who smoke.
Robust identification of heartbeats with blood pressure signals and noise detection

Accuracy in detection of electrocardiographic (ECG) heart beats can be vastly improved with the aid of blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Cross validation between ECG and BP signals is used to identify the part of signals not contaminated by large, high frequency noises, where we can extract accurately the delay between the QRS peaks and BP peaks (defined in the “Methods” section). The delay is used to identify the QRS peaks even when the signal is very noisy. We also present a simple noise detection algorithm for the ECG signals. This complementary algorithm leads to high success rate in identifying aberrant ECG beats including the supraventricular premature beats (SVPB), premature ventricular contraction (PVC) and other unclassifiable beats.
A practical approach to prediction of internal multiples and ghosts

Existing methods of internal multiple prediction are either computationally expensive or not automated. Here, based on stationary phase arguments, we introduce a method for predicting internal multiples that is not only fully automated but also computationally inexpensive. The procedure is completely data driven and requires no velocity information or reflector identification. An additional advantage of the proposed method is that it can also be used to predict sourceand receiver-ghosts. The method, however, is limited to gently-dipping reflectors. Through synthetic examples and field data, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our methodology.
Climate Change, Human Impacts, and the Resilience of Coral Reefs

The diversity, frequency, and scale of human impacts on coral reefs are increasing to the extent that reefs are threatened globally. Projected increases in carbon dioxide and temperature over the next 50 years exceed the conditions under which coral reefs have flourished over the past half-million years. However, reefs will change rather than disappear entirely, with some species already showing far greater tolerance to climate change and coral bleaching than others. International integration of management strategies that support reef resilience need to be vigorously implemented, and complemented by strong policy decisions to reduce the rate of global warming.
Selection of Binary Variables and Classification by Boosting

We adopt boosting for classification and selection of high-dimensional binary variables for which classical methods based on normality and non singular sample dispersion are inapplicable. Boosting seems particularly well suited for binary variables. We present three methods of which two combine boosting with the relatively classical variable selection methods developed in Wilbur et al. (2002). Our primary interest is variable selection in classification with small misclassification error being used as validation of proposed method for variable selection. Two of the new methods perform uniformly better than Wilbur et al. (2002) in one set of simulated and three real life examples.
Feeling the pain of others is associated with self-other confusion and prior pain experience

Some chronic pain patients and healthy individuals experience pain when observing injury or others in pain. To further understand shared pain, we investigated perspective taking, bodily ownership and tooth pain sensitivity. First, participants who reported shared pain (responders) and those who did not (non-responders) viewed an avatar on a screen. Intermittently, 0–3 circles appeared. Sometimes the participant's and avatar's perspective were consistent, both directly viewed the same circles, and sometimes inconsistent, both directly viewed different circles. Responders were faster than non-responders to identify the number of circles when adopting a consistent perspective. Second, participants sat with their left hand hidden while viewing a rubber hand. All participants reported an illusory sensation of feeling stroking in the rubber hand and a sense of ownership of the rubber hand during synchronous stroking of the rubber and hidden hand. The responders also reported feeling the stroking and a sense of ownership of the rubber hand during asynchronous stroking. For experiment three, participants with either low, moderate, or high tooth sensitivity observed a series of images depicting someone eating an ice-popsicle. Low sensitivity participants never reported pain. In contrast, moderate and high sensitivity participants reported pain in response to an image depicting someone eating an ice popsicle (4 and 19% of the time, respectively) and depicting someone eating an ice-popsicle and expressing pain (23 and 40%, respectively). In summary, responders have reduced ability to distinguish their own and others' visual perspective and enhanced ability to integrate a foreign arm into their bodily representation. The tendency to share pain is also enhanced when an observed pain is commonly experienced by the observer. Shared pain may therefore involve reactivation of pain memories or pain schema that are readily integrated into a self perspective and bodily representation.
The future of forensic DNA analysis

The author's thoughts and opinions on where the field of forensic DNA testing is headed for the next decade are provided in the context of where the field has come over the past 30 years. Similar to the Olympic motto of ‘faster, higher, stronger’, forensic DNA protocols can be expected to become more rapid and sensitive and provide stronger investigative potential. New short tandem repeat (STR) loci have expanded the core set of genetic markers used for human identification in Europe and the USA. Rapid DNA testing is on the verge of enabling new applications. Next-generation sequencing has the potential to provide greater depth of coverage for information on STR alleles. Familial DNA searching has expanded capabilities of DNA databases in parts of the world where it is allowed. Challenges and opportunities that will impact the future of forensic DNA are explored including the need for education and training to improve interpretation of complex DNA profiles.
Expressing attribute uncertainty in spatial data using blinking regions

This paper defines a new method of attribute uncertainty representation, the blinking region. It specifically communicates uncertainty in values associated with choropleth map regions. In this way, error and attribute (census) data can be made to alternate in the user’s view, communicating both datasets. The blinking region uncertainty visualization was tested via a web-based survey. Results show that it outperforms most current visualisation of attribute uncertainty techniques (e.g. image sharpness) in terms of visual appeal, speed of comprehension and overall effectiveness. Theoretically, regions that have the most attribute error could flicker at the fastest rate, with speed of blinking being proportional to the error.
Effect of epitope flanking residues on the presentation of N‐terminal cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes

We here demonstrate that placing two distinct influenza virus nucleoprotein epitopes at the N terminus of a cytosolic protein selectively blocks their presentation to specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The block is a cytosolic phenomenon, which can be overcome by distancing the epitope from the protein N terminus by two or more amino acids. Shortening the protein's C terminus fails to relieve the antigen presentation block. These results demonstrate that events at the N terminus of the target protein, rather than at its C terminus, are responsible for the lack of presentation of N‐terminal epitopes. We also show that lack of presentation of N terminal epitopes is associated with a modification of the target protein which affects its electrophoretic mobility and isoelectric focusing point. This modification can be prevented by mutating the epitope's N‐terminal flanking sequence, which results in an efficient presentation of the N‐terminal epitope. Lack of presentation of the N‐terminal epitopes results in a reduced ability of influenza‐primed mice to clear acute infection with vaccinia virus encoding an N‐terminal nucleoprotein epitope. Our results demonstrate that presentation of epitopes localized at the N terminus of cytosolic proteins can be modulated by events occurring at early stages of antigen processing.
Possibilities for utilization of tobacco stems for production of energetic briquettes

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) belongs to the group of plants that produce agricultural raw material. Besides leaves, which are used to satisfy the passion for smoking, tobacco can be used for producing oil and biodiesel, because it contains 30-40% of vegetable oil. Because of its content of citric acid, tobacco can be used for production of dyes and varnishes. Seed cake contains high percentage of proteins (35-44%) and can be used as livestock feed. Because of the high contents of lignin (40-45%) and cellulose (28-40%), tobacco stems can be used for production of energy briquettes, which makes tobacco obtain a new usability value. The aim of the experimental researches presented in this paper is to define the possibilities for production of briquettes from tobacco stems and wood raw material and to evaluate the impact of this kind of raw material on briquettes properties. For this purpose five models were made: O-control model: 100% wood raw material (BW); model T-I - 25% tobacco stems (TS) : 75% BW; model T-II - 50% TS : 50% BW; model T-III - 75% TS : 25% BW and model T-IV - 100% TS. The results of the research show that density of the briquettes is within the limits of 526.61 kg/m3 for model T-IV, to 782.73 kg/m3 for control model-O. The ash content is a little lower than the standard values and it ranges from 0.32% for O-control model, to 2.17% for model T-IV. The sulphur content is much below permissible content (0.08%), and it ranges from 0.003 to 0.008%. These briquettes, according to the low calorific value are classified in II and I class. In the smoke of the burned briquettes, minimal quantity (0.005%) of nicotine is identified.
Identification of a Novel N-Carbamoyl Glucuronide: In Vitro, In Vivo, and Mechanistic Studies

1-[4-Aminomethyl-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-cyclohexyl]-tetrahydro-pyrimidin- 2-one, 1, was developed as an inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 enzyme. Biotransformation studies with 1 revealed the presence of an N-carbamoyl glucuronide metabolite (M1) in rat bile and urine. N-Carbamoyl glucuronides are rarely observed, and little is understood regarding the mechanism of N-carbamoyl glucuronidation. The objectives of the current investigation were to elucidate the structure of the novel N-carbamoyl glucuronide, to investigate the mechanism of N-carbamoyl glucuronide formation in vitro using stable labeled CO2, UDP glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) reaction phenotyping, and to assess whether M1 was formed to the same extent in vitro across species—mouse, rat, hamster, dog, monkey, and human. Structure elucidation was performed on a mass spectrometer with accurate mass measurement and MSn capabilities. 13C-labeled carbon dioxide was used for identification of the mechanism of N-carbamoyl glucuronidation. Mechanistic studies with 13C-labeled CO2 in rat liver microsomes revealed that CO2 from the bicarbonate buffer (in equilibrium with exogenous CO2) may be responsible for the formation of M1. M1 was formed in vitro in liver microsomes from multiple species, mainly rat and hamster, followed by similar formation in dog, monkey, mouse, and human. M1 could be detected in UGT1A1, UGT1A3, and UGT2B7 Supersomes in a CO2-rich environment. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that formation of M1 was observed in microsomal incubations across various species and strongly suggests incorporation of CO2 from the bicarbonate buffer, in equilibrium with exogenous CO2, into the carbamoyl moiety of the formed N-carbamoyl glucuronide.
Stress, Social Support, and Sense of Coherence

In the Salutogenic Model, Aaron Antonovsky suggested that a sense of coherence (SOC) is the key determinant in the maintenance of health. He theorized that individuals with a strong SOC have the ability to (a) define life events as less stressful (comprehensibility), (b) mobilize resources to deal with encountered stressors (manageability), and (c) possess the motivation, desire, and commitment to cope (meaningfulness). To determine the effects of SOC on health outcomes, a greater understanding of the development and maintenance of SOC is necessary. Data from the 1994 Canadian National Population Health Survey were analyzed to investigate the effects of stress, social support, and recent traumatic life events on SOC. As predicted, stress and recent traumatic events were found to be inversely related to SOC, and social support was positively related. Traumatic events encountered in childhood were stronger predictors of SOC than traumatic life events experienced in adulthood.
METHOD FOR THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF ASPHALT PAVEMENTS

In the outlined design procedure the flexible pavement structure is consided as a linearly elastic multi layer system in which the road building materials are characterized by Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio. By aid of the computer programs BISTRO and BISAR, developed by Shell, the maximum stresses at the interfaces of the layers were determined. The primary criteria for the behaviour of the asphalt layer has been found to be the main shear stress at the bottom of this layer. The stressing of the unbound base courses and of the subgrade can be evaluated by the compressive stress. The Young's modulus has been determined in shear tests in subjection to temperature and loading time, whereas the parameters--gain shape, binder hardness, binder content and void content--have been varied. With the same test equipment also the fatigue under shear stressing has been investigated; the paper presents the influence of the different parameters. In this paper an example of designing a new pavement construction with an insulation layer out of hard foam is given. It is expected that this design method can be improved by the results of the test track "Hilpoltstein"; in a theoretical study statements have been given on the service life of this temporary by-pass which shall be compared with the real behaviour. /Author/
Human papillomavirus is a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer worldwide

A recent report that 93 per cent of invasive cervical cancers worldwide contain human papillomavirus (HPV) may be an underestimate, due to sample inadequacy or integration events affecting the HPV L1 gene, which is the target of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based test which was used. The formerly HPV‐negative cases from this study have therefore been reanalysed for HPV serum antibodies and HPV DNA. Serology for HPV 16 VLPs, E6, and E7 antibodies was performed on 49 of the 66 cases which were HPV‐negative and a sample of 48 of the 866 cases which were HPV‐positive in the original study. Moreover, 55 of the 66 formerly HPV‐negative biopsies were also reanalysed by a sandwich procedure in which the outer sections in a series of sections are used for histological review, while the inner sections are assayed by three different HPV PCR assays targeting different open reading frames (ORFs). No significant difference was found in serology for HPV 16 proteins between the cases that were originally HPV PCR‐negative and ‐positive. Type‐specific E7 PCR for 14 high‐risk HPV types detected HPV DNA in 38 (69 per cent) of the 55 originally HPV‐negative and amplifiable specimens. The HPV types detected were 16, 18, 31, 33, 39, 45, 52, and 58. Two (4 per cent) additional cases were only HPV DNA‐positive by E1 and/or L1 consensus PCR. Histological analysis of the 55 specimens revealed that 21 were qualitatively inadequate. Only two of the 34 adequate samples were HPV‐negative on all PCR tests, as against 13 of the 21 that were inadequate ( p< 0·001). Combining the data from this and the previous study and excluding inadequate specimens, the worldwide HPV prevalence in cervical carcinomas is 99·7 per cent. The presence of HPV in virtually all cervical cancers implies the highest worldwide attributable fraction so far reported for a specific cause of any major human cancer. The extreme rarity of HPV‐negative cancers reinforces the rationale for HPV testing in addition to, or even instead of, cervical cytology in routine cervical screening. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photochemistry and photobiology of actinic erythema: defensive and reparative cutaneous mechanisms.

Sunlight is part of our everyday life and most people accept it as beneficial to our health. With the advance of our knowledge in cutaneous photochemistry, photobiology and photomedicine over the past four decades, the terrestrial solar radiation has become a concern of dermatologists and is considered to be a major damaging environmental factor for our skin. Most photobiological effects (e.g., sunburn, suntanning, local and systemic immunosuppression, photoaging or dermatoheliosis, skin cancer and precancer, etc.) are attributed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and more particularly to UVB radiation (290-320 nm). UVA radiation (320-400 nm) also plays an important role in the induction of erythema by the photosensitized generation of reactive oxygen species (singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxide (O2.-) and hydroxyl radicals (.OH)) that damage DNA and cellular membranes, and promote carcinogenesis and the changes associated with photoaging. Therefore, research efforts have been directed at a better photochemical and photobiological understanding of the so-called sunburn reaction, actinic or solar erythema. To survive the insults of actinic damage, the skin appears to have different intrinsic defensive mechanisms, among which antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems) play a pivotal role. In this paper, we will review the basic aspects of the action of UVR on the skin: a) photochemical reactions resulting from photon absorption by endogenous chromophores; b) the lipid peroxidation phenomenon, and c) intrinsic defensive cutaneous mechanisms (antioxidant systems). The last section will cover the inflammatory response including mediator release after cutaneous UVR exposure and adhesion molecule expression.
Latent-class statistical relational learning with uncertain formal ontologies

This thesis focuses on the statistical analysis of known and deducible facts in formal knowledge representations and the induction of uncertain knowledge from both. Hereby, the uncertainty of induced knowledge originates not only from a lack of information but also from potentially untrustworthy sources providing the facts. The main contribution is a machine learning algorithm that enforces hard constraints during the learning phase. This is achieved by checking description logic satisfiability of statements which are inductively inferred by an infinite latent-class multi-relational Bayesian learning method based on Dirichlet process mixture models. This guarantees the compliance of induced facts with deductive arguments and can lead to an improved cluster analysis and predictive performance. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach we provide experiments using ontologies of real world social networks and online auctions.
Cylindrospermopsin: occurrence, methods of detection and toxicology

Cyanobacteria are aquatic micro‐organisms that pose a great threat to aquatic ecosystems by the production of dense blooms, but most importantly by the production of secondary metabolites, namely the cyanotoxins. One of these is cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a hepatotoxic polyketide‐derived alkaloid with well‐known associated cases of animal mortalities and human morbidity. First described as being associated with liver damage, this toxin is now considered a cytotoxic and a genotoxic toxin, due to its effects in other organs and in DNA. Its occurrence has been reported so far in eight different cyanobacteria species and in several water samples from four of the five continents. With a guideline value of 1 μg l−1, CYN is now considered the second most studied cyanotoxin worldwide. It is important to review the information regarding the findings made until now about this cyanotoxin 30 years since its first report.
Erythrocyte vesiculation in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Red blood cells from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) were found to be liable to vesiculate, as demonstrated by both DMPC liposome- and CaCl2-induced vesiculation and measured in terms of acetylcholinesterase activity and 3H-inositol radioactivity in the supernatant. Membrane proteins released from the cells during vesiculation included several constituents with molecular weights identical to those of some complement regulating factors (e.g. DAF) which play an essential role in complement-mediated hemolysis. Red blood cells from both normal and PNH patients showed decreased deformability after vesiculation. Liability to vesiculate and the consequential loss of certain essential membrane proteins and decreased deformability might be a factor contributing to the mechanism of hemolysis in PNH.