Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geometry-Based Localization for GPS Outage in Vehicular Cyber Physical Systems

Vehicular localization has witnessed significant attention due to the growing number of location-based services in vehicular cyber physical systems (VCPS). In vehicular localization, GPS outage is a challenging issue considering the growing urbanization including high rise buildings, multilevel flyovers and bridges. GPS-free and GPS-assisted cooperative localization techniques have been suggested in the literature for GPS outage. Due to the cost of infrastructure in GPS-free techniques, and the absence of location aware neighbors in cooperative techniques, efficient and scalable localization is a challenging task in VCPS. In this context, this paper proposes a geometry-based localization for GPS outage in VCPS (GeoLV). It is a GPS-assisted localization which reduces location-aware neighbor constraint of cooperative localization. GeoLV utilizes mathematical geometry to estimate vehicle location focusing on vehicular dynamics and road trajectory. The static and dynamic relocations are performed to reduce the impact of GPS outage on location-based services. A case study based comparative performance evaluation has been carried out to assess the efficiency and scalability of GeoLV. It is evident from the results that GeoLV handles both shorter and longer GPS outage problem better than the state-of-the-art techniques in VCPS.
Trachoma: Protective and Pathogenic Ocular Immune Responses to Chlamydia trachomatis

Trachoma, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), is the leading infectious blinding disease worldwide. Chronic conjunctival inflammation develops in childhood and leads to eyelid scarring and blindness in adulthood. The immune response to Ct provides only partial protection against re-infection, which can be frequent. Moreover, the immune response is central to the development of scarring pathology, leading to loss of vision. Here we review the current literature on both protective and pathological immune responses in trachoma. The resolution of Ct infection in animal models is IFNγ-dependent, involving Th1 cells, but whether this is the case in human ocular infection still needs to be confirmed. An increasing number of studies indicate that innate immune responses arising from the epithelium and other innate immune cells, along with changes in matrix metalloproteinase activity, are important in the development of tissue damage and scarring. Current trachoma control measures, which are centred on repeated mass antibiotic treatment of populations, are logistically challenging and have the potential to drive antimicrobial resistance. A trachoma vaccine would offer significant advantages. However, limited understanding of the mechanisms of both protective immunity and immunopathology to Ct remain barriers to vaccine development.
Spectral Compensation for Linear-Logarithmic Flow Cytometry Acquisitions

Compensating for fluorescence overlap in multiparameter flow cytometry datasets, of which one parameter is linear distributed and at least one parameter is logarithmic distributed, leads usually to extreme high compensation values. We investigated this phenomenon with an adapted flow cytometry model, of which the two parameters can easily be converted from linear to logarithmic and vice versa. With the adapted model, spectral compensation was performed both for linear-logarithmic and linear-linear parameter distribution. The results of the flow cytometry model were validated with a real world example which was also compensated twice. The results of the two experiments show that the compensation values equal to the theoretically expected value when both parameters are linear distributed. However, the compensation value exceeds 100% when one of the two parameters is logarithmic distributed. In addition, we found that spectral compensation of differently distributed parameters leads to deformation of the compensated events. With the adapted flow cytometry model presented in this paper it is shown how to correctly compensate flow cytometry acquisitions with different distributed parameters.
Avoiding Data Inconsistency in Energy Harvesting Powered Embedded Systems

Energy harvesting is becoming a favorable alternative to power future generation embedded systems, as it is more environmentally and user friendly. However, energy harvesting powered embedded systems suffer from frequent execution interruption due to unstable energy supply. To tackle this problem, nonvolatile memory has been deployed to save the whole volatile state for computation. When power resumes, the processor can restore the state back to volatile memories and continue execution. However, without careful consideration, the process of checkpointing and resuming could cause inconsistency between volatile and nonvolatile memories, which leads to irreversible errors. In this article, we propose a consistency-aware adaptive checkpointing scheme that ensures correctness for all checkpoints. The proposed technique efficiently identifies all possible inconsistency positions in programs and inserts auxiliary code to ensure correctness by offline analysis. In addition, adaptive checkpointing assisted register file profiling and online tracking techniques further reduce the overhead of each checkpoint. Evaluation results show that the proposed checkpointing strategy can successfully eliminate inconsistency errors and greatly reduce the checkpointing overhead.
Optimized production and quality control of 68Ga-DOTATATE

Introduction: Optimized production and quality control of 68Ga-DOTATATE as an efficient and preferable PET radiotracer for somatostatin receptor imaging in neuroendocrine tumors is of great interest. In this study effort has been made to present a fast, efficient, cost-effective and facile protocol for 68Ga-DOTATATE productions for clinical trials. Methods:68Ga-DOTATATEwas prepared using generator-based [68Ga]GaCl3 and DOTATATE at optimized conditions for time, temperature, ligand amount, gallium content and column cartridge purification followed by proper formulation. The biodistribution of the tracer in rats was studied using tissue counting and PET/CT imaging up to 120 min. Results:68Ga-DOTATATE was prepared at optimized conditions in 7-10 min at 95°C followed by SPE using C18 cartridge (radiochemical purity»99±0.88% ITLC, >99% HPLC, specific activity: 1200-1850 MBq/nM). The biodistribution of the tracer demonstrated high kidney uptake of the tracer in 10-20 min consistent with reported somatostatin receptor mappings. Conclusion: The entire production and quality control of 68Ga-DOTATATE is presented including labeling, purification, HPLC analysis, sterilization and LAL test) took 18-20 min with significant specific activity for administration to limited number of patients in a PET center.
Expected Utility Theory with Probability Grids and Preferential

We reformulate expected utility theory by separating the measurement of utility from pure alternatives and its extension to lotteries involving risks. At the same time, we introduce cognitive bounds on the depths of permissible probability values; for example, probabilities have only decimal (or binary) fractions of finite depths that are not greater than a given bound. We allow the preference relation in question to be incomplete. When no depth restrictions are given, the axioms determine uniquely a complete preference relation, which can be considered classical expected utility theory. When a finite cognitive bound is given, the axioms allow multiple preference relations including incomparabilities on some lotteries. We give a complete characterization of preferential incomparabilties, and a representation theorem in terms of a 2-dimensional vector-valued utility function. We exemplify the Allais paradox within our theory, and argue that the prediction of our theory is well compatible with the experimental results reported by Kahneman-Tversky when we adopt a very shallow cognitive bound. JEL Classification Numbers: C72, C79, C91
Deconstructing the Mythology of Free Trade: Critical Reflections on Comparative Advantage

The theory of comparative advantage serves as the theoretical justification for the neoliberal economic reforms promoted by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and multilateral and regional free trade agreements. This article employs insights from both neoclassical and heterodox economics in order to critique the theory of comparative advantage as applied to the agricultural sector. In particular, the article takes aim at the illusory notion that eliminating distortions in international agricultural trade caused by the lavish agricultural subsidies of wealthy nations will be sufficient to “level the playing field” and promote prosperity in both developed and developing countries. The article argues that trade liberalization in wealthy countries is necessary in order to address inequities in the global trading system that maintain the subordinate status of the global South. However, only an asymmetrical set of rules requiring market openness in wealthy nations and permitting protectionism in poor nations can truly enable developing countries to diversify and industrialize their economies. The article concludes with several recommendations designed to advance the interests of the global South in the Doha Round of WTO negotiations. In addition, the article discusses the unique, multifunctional role of agricultural production in meeting basic human rights (including the fundamental right to food) and in protecting biodiversity, and argues that these concerns must be central rather than peripheral considerations in the Doha Round of WTO negotiations.
The main factors influencing the destination choice, satisfaction and the loyalty of ski resorts customers in the context of different research approaches.

The paper summarizes scientific approaches to researches in the field of destination choice, satisfaction and the loyalty of ski resorts customers. Information about existing models and trends from scientific journals are analysed. Multiattribute models are widely used in researches dealing with satisfaction and loyalty. It can be presumed that tourist overall satisfaction is determined by destination image and attribute satisfaction. Tourist attribute satisfaction is also directly influenced by destination image, and destination loyalty is in turn influenced by overall satisfaction. The results will be useful for researchers and practitioners who deal with tourist satisfaction and loyalty in particular for ski resorts operators. This paper represents the initial phase of the project aimed at researching the topical factors with their relationships and links influencing satisfaction and loyalty of ski resort customers in selected countries.
Dependence calibration and portfolio fit with factor-based subordinators

The paper explores the properties of a class of multivariate Lévy processes used for asset returns. We focus on describing both linear and non-linear dependence in an economic sensible and empirically appropriate way. The processes are subordinated Brownian motions. The subordinator has a common and an idiosyncratic component, to reflect the properties of trade, which it represents. A calibration to a portfolio of 10 US stock indices returns over the period 2009–2013 shows that the hyperbolic specification has a very good fit to marginal distributions, to the overall correlation matrix and to the return distribution of both long-only and long-short random portfolios, which also incorporate non-linear dependence. Their tail behaviour is also well captured by the variance gamma specification. The main message is not only the goodness of fit, but also the flexibility in capturing dependence and the ease of calibration on large sets of returns.
Skills in demand for ICT and statistical occupations: Evidence from web‐based job vacancies

Online job portals collecting web vacancies have become important media for job demand and supply matching. They also represent a growing research area for the application of analytical methods to study the labour market using innovative data sources. This paper analyses Italian web job vacancies scraped from several types of Italian web job portals between June and September 2015. After describing how the occupations associated with each web vacancy (classification up to level 4) were identified and the related skills retrieved in texts using mixed supervised and unsupervised text mining approaches, we focused on job vacancies related to ICT and statistical positions.
Common Coding Variants in SCN10A Are Associated With the Nav1.8 Late Current and Cardiac Conduction

Background: Genetic variants at the SCN5A/SCN10A locus are strongly associated with electrocardiographic PR and QRS intervals. While SCN5A is the canonical cardiac sodium channel gene, the role of SCN10A in cardiac conduction is less well characterized. Methods: We sequenced the SCN10A locus in 3699 European-ancestry individuals to identify variants associated with cardiac conduction, and replicated our findings in 21,000 individuals of European ancestry. We examined association with expression in human atrial tissue. We explored the biophysical effect of variation on channel function using cellular electrophysiology. Results: We identified 2 intronic single nucleotide polymorphisms in high linkage disequilibrium (r 2=0.86) with each other to be the strongest signals for PR (rs10428132, &bgr;=−4.74, P=1.52×10−14) and QRS intervals (rs6599251, QRS &bgr;=−0.73; P=1.2×10−4), respectively. Although these variants were not associated with SCN5A or SCN10A expression in human atrial tissue (n=490), they were in high linkage disequilibrium (r 2≥0.72) with a common SCN10A missense variant, rs6795970 (V1073A). In total, we identified 7 missense variants, 4 of which (I962V, P1045T, V1073A, and L1092P) were associated with cardiac conduction. These 4 missense variants cluster in the cytoplasmic linker of the second and third domains of the SCN10A protein and together form 6 common haplotypes. Using cellular electrophysiology, we found that haplotypes associated with shorter PR intervals had a significantly larger percentage of late current compared with wild-type (I962V+V1073A+L1092P, 20.2±3.3%, P=0.03, and I962V+V1073A, 22.4±0.8%, P=0.0004 versus wild-type 11.7±1.6%), and the haplotype associated with the longest PR interval had a significantly smaller late current percentage (P1045T, 6.4±1.2%, P=0.03). Conclusions: Our findings suggest an association between genetic variation in SCN10A, the late sodium current, and alterations in cardiac conduction.
Mobility Robustness Optimization for Handover Failure Reduction in LTE Small-Cell Networks

In this paper, we propose a distributed mobility robustness optimization algorithm to minimize handover failures due to radio link failures by adjusting time-to-trigger and offset parameters. According to the reason for failure, the algorithm classifies handover failure into three categories (too late, too early, and wrong cell), and simultaneously optimizes three handover parameters according to the dominant failure. Moreover, the algorithm considers handover failures to each neighboring cell and adjusts handover parameters individually. Via simulation, we show how the proposed algorithm adaptively optimizes the parameters and outperforms previous algorithms in various mobile environments.
The antioxidant properties of Ce-containing bioactive glass nanoparticles explained by Molecular Dynamics simulations

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations of two glass nanoparticles with composition 25Na2O·25CaO 50SiO2 mol% (Ce-K NP) and 46.1SiO2·24.4Na2O·26.9CaO· 2.6P2O5 mol. % (Ce-BG NP) doped with 3.6 mol% of CeO2 have been carried out in order to explain the enhanced antioxidant properties of the former glass with respect to the latter. The present models show that the different catalase mimetic activity of the two NPs is related to the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio exposed at their surface. In fact, this ratio is about 3.5 and 13 in the bulk and at the surface of the Ce-BG NP, and 1.0 and 2.1 in the bulk and at the surface of the Ce-K NPs, respectively. Since both oxidation states are necessary for the catalysis of the dismutation reaction of hydrogen peroxides, NPs with a very high Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio possess poorer antioxidant properties. Moreover, our simulations reveal that the already low silicate connectivity found in the bulk glasses examined here is further reduced on the nanoparticle surface, whereas the Na+/Ca2+ ratio rapidly increases. Sodium, calcium and cerium sites in proximity of the surface are found to be under-coordinated, prone to quickly react with water present in physiological environments, thus accelerating the glass biodegradation
Well-Being Indices Comparative Analysis: Russia and Foreign Countries

Using the OECD’s data, we study well-being indices comparison main areas for Russia and economically developed countries. The tendency of unleading countries to find mechanisms of economic growth by the welfare various aspects impact is noted. We used the method of complex efficiency estimation to solve the problem of economic well-being analysis. We assessed the effectiveness and optimality of economic well-being of the population. The effectiveness assessment of economic well-being in Russia revealed a significant gap from foreign countries by most indices. The optimality assessment of economic well-being did not reveal any major differences in values between men and women both in Russia and in foreign countries, but allowed to establish a greater gap between the values of indicators of leading and lagging groups in Russia than in other countries. Indicators ratio of lagging groups in Russia with foreign countries was worse than the ratio of indicators at the entire population level. The results of the economic well-being analysis are advisable to consider in the process of state regulation in Russia. State support of social services should be a priority of social and economic policy on the federal and regional authorities. Our analysis justifies the recommendation to reduce the gap between rich and poor groups of Russia's population by using various regulatory tools, including a progressive scale for a number of taxes. © 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.uk
Practical guidance for the management of iron deficiency in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are some of the most common systemic complications of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Symptoms such as fatigue, reduced ability to concentrate and reduced exercise tolerance can mimic common symptoms of IBD and can therefore easily be overseen. Furthermore, clinicians tend to see mild to moderate anemia as an inevitable accompaniment of IBD that is sufficiently explained by the underlying disease and does not require further workup. But in contrast to these clinical routines, current guidelines recommend that any degree of anemia in patients with IBD should be further evaluated and treated. Multiple studies have shown that anemia is a main factor for decreased quality of life (QoL) in patients with IBD. Correction of anemia, however, can significantly improve the QoL of patients with IBD. It is therefore recommended that every patient with IBD is regularly screened for iron deficiency and anemia. If detected, appropriate workup and treatment should be initiated. Over the last years, a number of new diagnostic tools and treatment options have been developed. Multiple studies have demonstrated the safety of newer formulations of intravenous iron in patients with IBD and have compared oral and intravenous iron in various situations. Treatment recommendations have changed and new evidence-based guidelines were developed. However, to date these guidelines are still not widely implemented in clinical practice. The aim of this review is to draw attention to the need for treatment for every level of anemia in patients with IBD and to provide some practical guidance for screening, diagnostics, treatment and follow up of IDA in patients with IBD following current international guidelines.
Polyphenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts from Uncaria tomentosa Bark and Leaves

Uncaria tomentosa constitutes an important source of secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities mainly attributed until recently to alkaloids and triterpenes. We have previously reported for the first-time the polyphenolic profile of extracts from U. tomentosa, using a multi-step process involving organic solvents, as well as their antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity on aerial bacteria, and cytotoxicity on cancer cell lines. These promising results prompted the present study using food grade solvents suitable for the elaboration of commercial extracts. We report a detailed study on the polyphenolic composition of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of U. tomentosa bark and leaves (n = 16), using High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-DAD/TQ-ESI-MS). A total of 32 compounds were identified, including hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols monomers, procyanidin dimers and trimers, flavalignans–cinchonains and propelargonidin dimers. Our findings showed that the leaves were the richest source of total phenolics and proanthocyanidins, in particular propelargonidin dimers. Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated that the contents of procyanidin and propelargonidin dimers were significantly different (p < 0.05) in function of the plant part, and leaves extracts showed higher contents. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH) values indicated higher antioxidant capacity for the leaves (p < 0.05). Further, correlation between both methods and procyanidin dimers was found, particularly between ORAC and propelargonidin dimers. Finally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) analysis results clearly indicated that the leaves are the richest plant part in proanthocyanidins and a very homogenous material, regardless of their origin. Therefore, our findings revealed that both ethanol and water extraction processes are adequate for the elaboration of potential commercial extracts from U. tomentosa leaves rich in proanthocyanidins and exhibiting high antioxidant activity.
Targeting the Polyadenylation Signal of Pre-mRNA: A New Gene Silencing Approach for Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by the contraction of the D4Z4 array located in the sub-telomeric region of the chromosome 4, leading to the aberrant expression of the DUX4 transcription factor and the mis-regulation of hundreds of genes. Several therapeutic strategies have been proposed among which the possibility to target the polyadenylation signal to silence the causative gene of the disease. Indeed, defects in mRNA polyadenylation leads to an alteration of the transcription termination, a disruption of mRNA transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm decreasing the mRNA stability and translation efficiency. This review discusses the polyadenylation mechanisms, why alternative polyadenylation impacts gene expression, and how targeting polyadenylation signal may be a potential therapeutic approach for FSHD.