Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peto's paradox and human cancers

Peto's paradox is the lack of the expected trend in cancer incidence as a function of body size and lifespan across species. The leading hypothesis to explain this pattern is natural selection for differential cancer prevention in larger, longer lived species. We evaluate whether a similar effect exists within species, specifically humans. We begin by reanalysing a recently published dataset to separate the effects of stem cell number and replication rate, and show that each has an independent effect on cancer risk. When considering the lifetime number of stem cell divisions in an extended dataset, and removing cases associated with other diseases or carcinogens, we find that lifetime cancer risk per tissue saturates at approximately 0.3–1.3% for the types considered. We further demonstrate that grouping by anatomical site explains most of the remaining variation. Our results indicate that cancer risk depends not only on the number of stem cell divisions but varies enormously (approx. 10 000 times) depending on anatomical site. We conclude that variation in risk of human cancer types is analogous to the paradoxical lack of variation in cancer incidence among animal species and may likewise be understood as a result of evolution by natural selection.
Mercury's Exosphere: Observations During MESSENGER's First Mercury Flyby

During MESSENGER's first Mercury flyby, the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer measured Mercury's exospheric emissions, including those from the antisunward sodium tail, calcium and sodium close to the planet, and hydrogen at high altitudes on the dayside. Spatial variations indicate that multiple source and loss processes generate and maintain the exosphere. Energetic processes connected to the solar wind and magnetospheric interaction with the planet likely played an important role in determining the distributions of exospheric species during the flyby.
Box Approximations of Planar Linkage Configuration Spaces

This paper presents a numerical method able to compute all possible configurations of planar linkages. The procedure is applicable to rigid linkages (i.e., those that can only adopt a finite number of configurations) and to mobile ones (i.e., those that exhibit a continuum of possible configurations). The method is based on the fact that this problem can be reduced to finding the roots of a polynomial system of linear, quadratic, and hyperbolic equations, which is here tackled with a new strategy exploiting its structure. The method is conceptually simple and easy to implement, yet it provides solutions of the desired accuracy in short computation times. Experiments are included that show its performance on the double butterfly linkage and on larger linkages formed by the concatenation of basic patterns.
Experimental reconstruction of the Berry curvature in a Floquet Bloch band

Cold atoms do geometry Electrons in solids populate energy bands, which can be simulated in cold atom systems using optical lattices. The geometry of the corresponding wave functions determines the topological properties of the system, but getting a direct look is tricky. Fläschner et al. and Li et al. measured the detailed structure of the band wave functions in hexagonal optical lattices, one resembling a boron-nitride and the other a graphene lattice. These techniques will make it possible to explore more complex situations that include the effects of interactions. Science, this issue pp. 1091 and 1094 Berry curvature is engineered and measured in a simulated boron-nitride optical lattice filled with fermionic K atoms. Topological properties lie at the heart of many fascinating phenomena in solid-state systems such as quantum Hall systems or Chern insulators. The topology of the bands can be captured by the distribution of Berry curvature, which describes the geometry of the eigenstates across the Brillouin zone. Using fermionic ultracold atoms in a hexagonal optical lattice, we engineered the Berry curvature of the Bloch bands using resonant driving and show a full momentum-resolved measurement of the ensuing Berry curvature. Our results pave the way to explore intriguing phases of matter with interactions in topological band structures.
Stochastic Relay Routing in Peer-to-Peer Networks

Network Address Translation (NAT) commonly prevents nodes without globally valid IP addresses from establishing direct Internet paths. In peer-to-peer networks, peers may utilize intermediate nodes as relays for this NAT traversal. We develop a stochastic relay routing algorithm for selecting appropriate relay nodes. The proposed relay routing algorithm is constructed in a stochastic programming framework by leveraging the actual delay of local links and the statistical delay distributions of non-local overlay links. Single or multiple paths are established via relays between two peers for achieving packet delivery with low delay and small loss. The simulation results showed that the proposed stochastic single/multi-path routing algorithm achieved a much lower packet delay than deterministic shortest path algorithms, which utilize average link delays. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the path diversity provided by our algorithm in reducing packet loss significantly via simulations. Our algorithm is fully distributed and requires only accurate local information. The employment of our algorithm is beneficial for provisioning real-time streaming applications in peer-to-peer networks.
LES ASPECTS INTRINSÈQUES DE LA MOTIVATION ET DE LA SATISFACTION AU TRAVAIL ET LEUR LIEN SUPPOSÉ AVEC LA PERFORMANCE AU TRAVAIL

Cet article porte sur le lien direct et trop general qu'on serait tente d'envisager entre motivation au travail et performance. A titre illustratif, des evaluations multidimensionnelles de la motivation (IMTB) et de la satisfaction au travail (JDI), ont ete mises en relation avec une variable dichotomique de performance (objectifs atteints versus non atteints de 30 commerciaux d'une banque). Les differences observees concernent en fait le degre de demotivation des salaries connus pour ne pas avoir atteints leurs objectifs (alors que leur motivation est tout aussi importante). Ils se montrent par ailleurs moins satisfaits quant au systeme de promotion et plus satisfaits quant a leur relation avec leurs collegues. Les resultats sont discutes au regard de l'utilisation de des outils de recherche sur le terrain et des risques d'interpretation " psychologisante " qui pourrait etre faite des valeurs degagees de ces outils.
Campylobacter fetus diagnosis: direct immunofluorescence comparing chicken IgY and rabbit IgG conjugates.

In Argentina Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis is routinely diagnosed by direct immunofluorescence test. Generally, the hyperimmune sera used for this test are obtained from rabbits and less often from goats. In this work, a chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) extract was conjugated and its ability to detect campylobacters with the regular conjugate prepared with rabbit sera was comparatively evaluated. Both conjugates were independently evaluated by two laboratories, named "Azul" (Lab A) and "Balcarce" (Lab B). Animals were immunised with formalin inactivated Campylobacter (C.) fetus cells. Chicken IgY and rabbit IgG were conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate and used to comparatively examine strains of C. fetus subspp. , other Campylobacter spp. and different bacterial species. Both conjugates had a high percentage rate of detection for C. fetus. IgY had less background due to unspecific fluorescence than IgG. IgY is a cheap, bloodless and very productive method. IgY can replace mammal immunoglobulins for C. fetus diagnosis.
A Cyber Physical Test-Bed for Virtualization of RF Access Environment for Body Sensor Network

Performance evaluation of wireless access and localization is important for body sensor networks, as any defects in the design not only cause wastage of resources, but also threaten an individual's health and safety. The typical cyber methods, however, such as software simulation, often fail to accurately simulate the influence of hardware implementation. The traditional physical methods, however, such as field testing, are not capable of creating repeatable and controllable channel conditions. To combine cyber and physical factors as well as to address the issue, we present a cyber physical test-bed for environment virtualization to facilitate the performance evaluation of wireless access and localization in body sensor networks. This test-bed creates a virtualized environment by emulating the wireless channel in a cybernetic way using a real time channel emulator. The original devices or systems under testing can be physically connected to a channel emulator to evaluate the performance in the virtualization environment. Furthermore, the cyber physical test-bed supports various scenarios from in-body data transmission to time of arrival based indoor localization. To validate the cyber physical approach, emulated outputs are compared with the empirical data obtained from actual measurements. To overcome the bandwidth limitation of traditional digital channel emulators, we have designed an analog channel emulator for UWB technologies. The preliminary verification of this analog emulator is introduced at the end of this paper.
The peregrine high‐performance RPC system

The Peregrine RPC system provides performance very close to the optimum allowed by the hardware limits, while still supporting the complete RPC model. Implemented on an Ethernet network of Sun‐3/60 workstations, a null RPC between two user‐level threads executing on separate machines requires 573μs. This time compares well with the fastest network RPC times reported in the literature, ranging from about 1100 to 2600 μs, and is only 309 μs above the measured hardware latency for transmitting the call and result packets in our environment. For large multi‐packet RPC calls, the Peregrine user‐level data transfer rate reaches 8.9 Mbit/s, approaching the Ethernet's 10 Mbit/s network transmission rate. Between two user‐level threads on the same machine, a null RPC requires 149 μs. This paper identifies some of the key performance optimizations used in Peregrine, and quantitatively assesses their benefits.
Functional Flexibility of Intestinal IgA – Broadening the Fine Line

Intestinal bacteria outnumber our own human cells in conditions of both health and disease. It has long been recognized that secretory antibody, particularly IgA, is produced in response to these microbes and hypothesized that this must play an important role in defining the relationship between a host and its intestinal microbes. However, the exact role of IgA and the mechanisms by which IgA can act are only beginning to be understood. In this review we attempt to unravel the complex interaction between so-called “natural,” “primitive” (T-cell-independent), and “classical” IgA responses, the nature of the intestinal microbiota/intestinal pathogens and the highly flexible dynamic homeostasis of the mucosal immune system. Such an analysis reveals that low-affinity IgA is sufficient to protect the host from excess mucosal immune activation induced by harmless commensal microbes. However, affinity-maturation of “classical” IgA is essential to provide protection from more invasive commensal species such as segmented filamentous bacteria and from true pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium. Thus a correlation is revealed between “sophistication” of the IgA response and aggressiveness of the challenge. A second emerging theme is that more-invasive species take advantage of host inflammatory mechanisms to more successfully compete with the resident microbiota. In many cases, the function of IgA may be to limit such inflammatory responses, either directly by coagulating or inhibiting virulence of bacteria before they can interact with the host or by modulating immune signaling induced by host recognition. Therefore IgA appears to provide an added layer of robustness in the intestinal ecosystem, promoting “commensal-like” behavior of its residents.
Carrier-mediated transport of monocarboxylate drugs in the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva.

PURPOSE To determine whether an Na+-dependent monocarboxylate transport process exists on the mucosal side of the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva and to evaluate how it may contribute to the absorption of ophthalmic monocarboxylate drugs. METHODS L-lactate was used as a model substrate. The excised pigmented rabbit conjunctiva was mounted in a modified Ussing chamber for the measurement of short-circuit current (Isc) and 14C-L. -lactate transport. RESULTS When added to the mucosal side at 37 degrees C and at pH 7.4, applications of as much as 40 mM L- and D-lactate increased Isc in a saturable manner. By contrast, no change in Isc was observed at 4 degrees C or under the mucosal Na+-free condition. 14C-L-lactate transport in the mucosal-to-serosal (m-s) direction at 0.01 mM revealed directionality, temperature dependency, Na+ dependency, and ouabain sensitivity, but not pH dependency. L-lactate transport in the m-s direction consisted of a saturable Na+-dependent process by the transcellular pathway and a nonsaturable process by the paracellular pathway. For the saturable process, the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was 1.9 mM, the maximum flux was 8.9 nanomoles/cm2 per hour, and the apparent Na+ :L-lactate coupling ratio was 2:1. 14C-L-lactate transport in the m-s direction was significantly inhibited (46% to 83%) by the mucosal presence of various monocarboxylate compounds, but not by dicarboxylate compounds, zwitterionic compound, D-glucose, amino acids, and peptidomimetic antibiotics. Monocarboxylate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the antibacterial fluoroquinolones inhibited 14C-L-lactate transport by 40% to 85%, whereas prostaglandins and cromolyn had no effect. CONCLUSIONS An Na+-dependent monocarboxylate transport process that may be used by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs for transport appears to be present on the mucosal side of the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva. A possible physiologic role for the Na+-dependent monocarboxylate transport process may be to salvage tear lactate.
Diversity–Multiplexing Tradeoff and Outage Performance for Rician MIMO Channels

In this paper, we analyze the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT), originally introduced by Zheng and Tse, and outage performance for Rician multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channels. The DMT characteristics of Rayleigh and Rician channels are shown to be identical. In a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, the log-log plot of outage probability versus SNR curve for a Rician channel is a shifted version of that for the corresponding Rayleigh channel. The SNR gap between the outage curves of the Rayleigh and Rician channels is derived. The DMT and outage performance are also analyzed for Rician multiple-input-single-output (MISO)/single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) channels over a finite SNR regime. A closed-form expression for the outage probability is derived and the finite SNR DMT characteristic is analyzed. It is observed that the maximum diversity gain can be achieved at some finite SNR-the maximum gain tends to increase linearly with the Rician factor. The finite SNR diversity gain is shown to be a linear function of the finite SNR multiplexing gain. The consistency between the DMTs for finite and infinite SNRs is also shown.
Detecting and modelling child's play behaviour using sensor-embedded climbing playground equipment

Many injures during childhood are related to the use of playground equipment. Until recently, scientific data of how children actually use playground equipment were scarce. To design age-appropriate and safer playground equipment, it is essential that scientific data on children’s interaction with this equipment be accumulated. We developed a rock-climbing wall equipped with force sensors to record the physical behaviour of children while on the wall, thus allowing measurement of these behaviours in a more natural environment. Around 50 force sensors installed in the developed rock-climbing wall are able to collect a large amount of data while children are playing with the equipment. The behaviour data of 623 children were recorded in the present study. Herein, we report on a child behaviour prediction model created from the collected data.
EEG Analyses with SOBI

The motivating vision behind Sandia's MENTOR/PAL LDRD project has been that of systems which use real-time psychophysiological data to support and enhance human performance, both individually and of groups. Relevant and significant psychophysiological data being a necessary prerequisite to such systems, this LDRD has focused on identifying and refining such signals. The project has focused in particular on EEG (electroencephalogram) data as a promising candidate signal because it (potentially) provides a broad window on brain activity with relatively low cost and logistical constraints. We report here on two analyses performed on EEG data collected in this project using the SOBI (Second Order Blind Identification) algorithm to identify two independent sources of brain activity: one in the frontal lobe and one in the occipital. The first study looks at directional influences between the two components, while the second study looks at inferring gender based upon the frontal component.
Point-based simplification algorithm

This study presents a novel, rapid, and effective point simplification algorithm based on a point cloud without any normal and connectivity information. This study is initiated with a scattered sampled point set in three dimensions, and the final output is a triangular mesh model, which is simplified according to a restrictive criteria. The proposed method reduces the number of calculations required to establish the relation between triangulation and the connectivity. Due to the continuous development of computer graphics technology, diversified virtual reality applications are being increasingly adopted. Recently, the efficient and vivid portrayal of 3D objects in the real world in virtual scenes has become a crucial issue in computer graphics. A triangular mesh is one of the most popular data structures for representing 3D models in applications. Numerous methods currently exist for constructing objects using surface reconstruction. The data required for the sampled points are generally obtained from a laser scanner. However, the extracted sampled points are frequently affected by shape variation. The number of triangles created increases with the number of points sampled from the surface of a 3D object, which helps in the reconstruction of the correct model. Nevertheless, subsequent graphics applications, such as morphing or rendering, increase the computation costs. Appropriate relevant points should be chosen so as to retain the object features and reduce the storage space and calculation costs.
The Distribution of Estrogen Receptor-β mRNA in Forebrain Regions of the Estrogen Receptor-α Knockout Mouse.

Neurons in the hypothalamus of estrogen receptor alpha-knockout (ER alphaKO) mice have been shown to concentrate radiolabeled estrogen and estrogen treatment regulates the expression of progesterone receptor mRNA. The purpose of the present study was to utilize in situ hybridization histochemistry to determine the anatomical distribution of ER beta mRNA in ER alphaKO mouse forebrain. The results of these studies revealed an extensive distribution of ER beta mRNA in the hypothalamic regions including medial preoptic area, suprachiasmatic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus, medial tuberal nucleus, and the premammillary nuclei. Additional labeled perikarya were also detected in the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb; tenia tecta; anterior septum; bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; medial, basolateral and cortical nuclei of the amygdala; cerebral and entorhinal cortex; the septohippocampal nucleus; Ammon's horn of the hippocampus and the dorsal raphe. The results of these in situ hybridization histochemical studies have provided novel information about the distribution of ER beta mRNA in the ER alphaKO mouse forebrain. In addition, these morphological data provides evidence that estrogen may exert its actions in the ER alphaKO mouse brain via ER beta and thereby maintain organizational and activational effects.
Novel KCNQ1 and HERG missense mutations in Dutch long‐QT families

Congenital long QT syndrome (cLQTS) is electrocardiographically characterized by a prolonged QT interval and polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias (torsade de pointes). These cardiac arrhythmias may result in recurrent syncopes, seizure, or sudden death. LQTS can occur either as an autosomal dominant (Romano Ward) or as an autosomal recessive disorder (Jervell and Lange‐Nielsen syndrome). Mutations in at least five genes have been associated with the LQTS. Four genes, encoding cardiac ion channels, have been identified. The most common forms of LQTS are due to mutations in the potassium‐channel genes KCNQ1 and HERG. We have screened 24 Dutch LQTS families for mutations in KCNQ1 and HERG. Fourteen missense mutations were identified. Eight of these missense mutations were novel: three in KCNQ1 and five in HERG. Novel missense mutations in KCNQ1 were Y184S, S373P, and W392R and novel missense mutations in HERG were A558P, R582C, G604S, T613M, and F640L. The KCNQ1 mutation G189R and the HERG mutation R582C were detected in two families. The pathogenicity of the mutations was based on segregation in families, absence in control individuals, the nature of the amino acid substitution, and localization in the protein. Genotype‐phenotype studies indicated that auditory stimuli as trigger of cardiac events differentiate LQTS2 and LQTS1. In LQTS1, exercise was the predominant trigger. In addition, a number of asymptomatic gene defect carriers were identified. Asymptomatic carriers are still at risk of the development of life‐threatening arrhythmias, underlining the importance of DNA analyses for unequivocal diagnosis of patients with LQTS. Hum Mutat 13:301–310, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
AN ALGORITHM FOR BLIND RESTORATION OF BLURRED AND NOISY IMAGES

This paper presents a technique for deblurring noisy images. It includes two processing blocks, one for denoising and another for blind image restoration. The denoising step is based on the theories of singular value decomposition and compression-based filtering. The deblurring step is based on a double-regularization technique. Experimental results show that the combination of these techniques is quite effective in restoring severely blurred and noise-corrupted images, without prior knowledge of either the noise or image characteristics. i Internal Accession Date Only