Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF CONTAGION ON CRBT ADOPTION

Cohesion and structural equivalence are two competing social network models to explain diffusion of innovation. While considerable work has been done on these models, the question of which network model explains diffusion has not been resolved. This paper examines diffusion of Caller Ring Back Tones in a cellular telephone network. Since these societal scale networks are very large (e.g., our call detail record data set has more than one million customers and one billion calls over a three months period from a large cellular service provider in India), the study of diffusion in these settings require the development of methods to extract connected subpopulations from the network. We develop a novel technique to detect densely connected and self-contained components of the network and demonstrate through random restarts that the technique can enumerate distinct connected components in the network. Using a standard network auto-correlation model, we study the competing effects of cohesion and role equivalence on each of the distinct connected components detected using our sampling technique. The comparison of the results from the two models shows cohesion is more statistically significant than role equivalence. The results have consistent pattern across different sizes of subpopulation. We also conducted meta-analysis to summarize the size for both network effects. We find a significant summarized effect and its size changes as E/I index changes.
Integrated molecular genetic profiling of pediatric high-grade gliomas reveals key differences with the adult disease.

PURPOSE To define copy number alterations and gene expression signatures underlying pediatric high-grade glioma (HGG). PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a high-resolution analysis of genomic imbalances in 78 de novo pediatric HGGs, including seven diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, and 10 HGGs arising in children who received cranial irradiation for a previous cancer using single nucleotide polymorphism microarray analysis. Gene expression was analyzed with gene expression microarrays for 53 tumors. Results were compared with publicly available data from adult tumors. RESULTS Significant differences in copy number alterations distinguish childhood and adult glioblastoma. PDGFRA was the predominant target of focal amplification in childhood HGG, including diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, and gene expression analyses supported an important role for deregulated PDGFRalpha signaling in pediatric HGG. No IDH1 hotspot mutations were found in pediatric tumors, highlighting molecular differences with adult secondary glioblastoma. Pediatric and adult glioblastomas were clearly distinguished by frequent gain of chromosome 1q (30% v 9%, respectively) and lower frequency of chromosome 7 gain (13% v 74%, respectively) and 10q loss (35% v 80%, respectively). PDGFRA amplification and 1q gain occurred at significantly higher frequency in irradiation-induced tumors, suggesting that these are initiating events in childhood gliomagenesis. A subset of pediatric HGGs showed minimal copy number changes. CONCLUSION Integrated molecular profiling showed substantial differences in the molecular features underlying pediatric and adult HGG, indicating that findings in adult tumors cannot be simply extrapolated to younger patients. PDGFRalpha may be a useful target for pediatric HGG, including diffuse pontine gliomas.
Environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism: the Geoparkinson study

Objective: To investigate the associations between Parkinson’s disease and other degenerative parkinsonian syndromes and environmental factors in five European countries. Methods: A case–control study of 959 prevalent cases of parkinsonism (767 with Parkinson’s disease) and 1989 controls in Scotland, Italy, Sweden, Romania and Malta was carried out. Cases were defined using the United Kingdom Parkinson’s Disease Society Brain Bank criteria, and those with drug-induced or vascular parkinsonism or dementia were excluded. Subjects completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire about lifetime occupational and hobby exposure to solvents, pesticides, iron, copper and manganese. Lifetime and average annual exposures were estimated blind to disease status using a job-exposure matrix modified by subjective exposure modelling. Results were analysed using multiple logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, country, tobacco use, ever knocked unconscious and family history of Parkinson’s disease. Results: Adjusted logistic regression analyses showed significantly increased odds ratios for Parkinson’s disease/parkinsonism with an exposure–response relationship for pesticides (low vs no exposure, odds ratio (OR) = 1.13, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.57, high vs no exposure, OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.88) and ever knocked unconscious (once vs never, OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.68, more than once vs never, OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.78 to 3.59). Hypnotic, anxiolytic or antidepressant drug use for more than 1 year and a family history of Parkinson’s disease showed significantly increased odds ratios. Tobacco use was protective (OR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.60). Analyses confined to subjects with Parkinson’s disease gave similar results. Conclusions: The association of pesticide exposure with Parkinson’s disease suggests a causative role. Repeated traumatic loss of consciousness is associated with increased risk.
Applicative parallelism on a shared-memory multiprocessor

An applicative language, SISAL (streams and iteration in a single-assignment language), is used to examine how effective the applicative approach can be in programming parallel computers. SISAL is a research language for investigating issues in parallel processing, especially for numerical computing. A prototype implementation of SISAL is described, focusing on loops and streams and on microtasking software. Performance results are reported for Livermore kernel 1, the Sieve prime finder, insertion sort, Batcher sort, the Simple hydrodynamics code, and the PSPhot photon-transport code. <<ETX>>
Contention Window Adjustment for IEEE 802.11 WLANs: A Control-Theoretic Approach

IEEE 802.11 is currently the most popular standard for Wireless LANs. The Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) defines the primary medium access control of 802.11, which uses the CSMA/CA mechanism and Binary Exponential Backoff (BEB) for Contention Window (CW) adjustment when collisions occur. In this paper, we propose a new CW adjustment scheme, CW Idle-Slots-based Control (WISC), using a control-theoretic approach. Specifically, we design and implement a PD (Proportional and Derivative) controller at each contending station, that dynamically adjusts CW based on a locally available channel state, i.e., the average number of consecutive idle slots between two transmissions, such that the channel state converges to the optimal value. Simulation results demonstrate that the new scheme outperforms the standard BEB in terms of both throughput and fairness, especially at high contention levels.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Molecular and functional characterisation of mild MCAD deficiency

We report a novel mild variant of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) diagnosed in four infants who, in neonatal screening, showed abnormal acylcarnitine profiles indicative of MCADD. Three patients showed completely normal urinary organic acids and phenylpropionic acid loading tests were normal in all four patients. Enzyme studies showed residual MCAD activities between “classical” MCADD and heterozygotes. ACADM gene analysis revealed compound heterozygosity for the common mutation K329E and a novel mutation, Y67H, in two cases, and homozygosity for mutation G267R and the novel mutation S245L, respectively, in two children of consanguineous parents. As in other metabolic disorders, the distinction between “normal” and “disease” in MCAD deficiency is blurring into a spectrum of enzyme deficiency states caused by different mutations in the ACADM gene potentially influenced by factors affecting intracellular protein processing.
End-user class definition in CAD systems

The object-oriented paradigm is very used in CAD systems. It permits users to create objects and to interrogate their attributes to use them in other processes. While some CAD or drawing systems support end-user programming in order to abstract building functions, none of them permit creating classes where several functions (constructor and selectors) share the same data. A data model that permits to abstract a class from one of its instances built by the end-user is described in this paper. The proposed technique permits the user not only to describe interactively the class constructor, but also to build the class selectors without any programming knowledge. The created class can be used directly thanks to a specific interpretation mechanism, or the corresponding code can be generated and compiled to have persistent classes. This technique has been used in a CAD system that permitting end-user specialization.
Stream line and path line oriented topology for 2D time-dependent vector fields

Topological methods aim at the segmentation of a vector field into areas of different flow behavior. For 2D time-dependent vector fields, two such segmentations are possible: either concerning the behavior of stream lines, or of path lines. While stream line oriented topology is well established, we introduce path line oriented topology as a new visualization approach in this paper. As a contribution to stream line oriented topology we introduce new methods to detect global bifurcations like saddle connections and cyclic fold bifurcations. To get the path line oriented topology we segment the vector field into areas of attracting, repelling and saddle-like behavior of the path lines. We compare both kinds of topologies and apply them to a number of data sets.
Semantic Assembly and Annotation of Draft RNAseq Transcripts without a Reference Genome

Transcriptomes are one of the first sources of high-throughput genomic data that have benefitted from the introduction of Next-Gen Sequencing. As sequencing technology becomes more accessible, transcriptome sequencing is applicable to multiple organisms for which genome sequences are unavailable. Currently all methods for de novo assembly are based on the concept of matching the nucleotide context overlapping between short fragments-reads. However, even short reads may still contain biologically relevant information which can be used as hints in guiding the assembly process. We propose a computational workflow for the reconstruction and functional annotation of expressed gene transcripts that does not require a reference genome sequence and can be tolerant to low coverage, high error rates and other issues that often lead to poor results of de novo assembly in studies of non-model organisms. We start with either raw sequences or the output of a context-based de novo transcriptome assembly. Instead of mapping reads to a reference genome or creating a completely unsupervised clustering of reads, we assemble the unknown transcriptome using nearest homologs from a public database as seeds. We consider even distant relations, indirectly linking protein-coding fragments to entire gene families in multiple distantly related genomes. The intended application of the proposed method is an additional step of semantic (based on relations between protein-coding fragments) scaffolding following traditional (i.e. based on sequence overlap) de novo assembly. The method we developed was effective in analysis of the jellyfish Cyanea capillata transcriptome and may be applicable in other studies of gene expression in species lacking a high quality reference genome sequence. Our algorithms are implemented in C and designed for parallel computation using a high-performance computer. The software is available free of charge via an open source license.
Non-Uniform Dose Measurement Based on Two-Stage Bleaching Integrated with Thermo-Luminescence and Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter

Thermo luminescence dosimeter and optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter are the most popular dosimeters for personal and environmental radiation monitoring. Basically, these dosimeters are both accumulated dosimeters so that they cannot precisely measure dynamic doses, i.e. there is no any information of time resolving. We developed an algorithm to solve the problem that can depress the uncertain measurement by using partially bleaching techniques; the two-stage bleaching method under the fixed bleaching intensity condition. To analyze and compare the difference of ionizing radiation dose between two dosimeters can partially recall the non-uniformly distributed radiation doses. The Gaussian distribution of dose is considered for the simulation and the results indicated that error of the dose rate could be depressed to 15% compared to the traditional method.
Moderators and mediators of the relationship between stress and insomnia: stressor chronicity, cognitive intrusion, and coping.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess moderators, such as stressor chronicity, and mediators, including stress response in the form of cognitive intrusion and coping behavior, of the prospective association between naturalistic stress and incident insomnia. DESIGN Longitudinal. SETTING Epidemiological. PARTICIPANTS A community-based sample of good sleepers (n = 2,892) with no lifetime history of insomnia. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Participants reported the number of stressful events they had encountered at baseline, as well as the perceived severity and chronicity of each event. Similarly, volitional stress responses such as coping, as well as more involuntary responses such as cognitive intrusion were assayed for each stressor. Follow-up assessment 1 y hence revealed an insomnia incidence rate of 9.1%. Stress exposure was a significant predictor of insomnia onset, such that the odds of developing insomnia increased by 19% for every additional stressor. Chronicity significantly moderated this relationship, such that the likelihood of developing insomnia as a result of stress exposure increased as a function of chronicity. Cognitive intrusion significantly mediated the association between stress exposure and insomnia. Finally, three specific coping behaviors also acted as mediators: behavioral disengagement, distraction, and substance use. CONCLUSIONS Most studies characterize the relationship between stress exposure and insomnia as a simple dose-response phenomenon. However, our data suggest that certain stressor characteristics significantly moderate this association. Stress response in the form of cognitive intrusion and specific maladaptive coping behaviors mediate the effects of stress exposure. These findings highlight the need for a multidimensional approach to stress assessment in future research and clinical practice. CITATION Pillai V, Roth T, Mullins HM, Drake CL. Moderators and mediators of the relationship between stress and insomnia: stressor chronicity, cognitive intrusion, and coping.
RPK2 is an essential receptor-like kinase that transmits the CLV3 signal in Arabidopsis

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is the fundamental structure that is located at the growing tip and gives rise to all aerial parts of plant tissues and organs, such as leaves, stems and flowers. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the CLAVATA3 (CLV3) pathway regulates the stem cell pool in the SAM, in which a small peptide ligand derived from CLV3 is perceived by two major receptor complexes, CLV1 and CLV2-CORYNE (CRN)/SUPPRESSOR OF LLP1 2 (SOL2), to restrict WUSCHEL (WUS) expression. In this study, we used the functional, synthetic CLV3 peptide (MCLV3) to isolate CLV3-insensitive mutants and revealed that a receptor-like kinase, RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEIN KINASE 2 (RPK2), also known as TOADSTOOL 2 (TOAD2), is another key regulator of meristem maintenance. Mutations in the RPK2 gene result in stem cell expansion and increased number of floral organs, as seen in the other clv mutants. These phenotypes are additive with both clv1 and clv2 mutations. Moreover, our biochemical analyses using Nicotiana benthamiana revealed that RPK2 forms homo-oligomers but does not associate with CLV1 or CLV2. These genetic and biochemical findings suggest that three major receptor complexes, RPK2 homomers, CLV1 homomers and CLV2-CRN/SOL2 heteromers, are likely to mediate three signalling pathways, mainly in parallel but with potential crosstalk, to regulate the SAM homeostasis.
A floating point format for signal processing

Until recently, most real time signal processing has been done in fixed point, due to size, cost, and speed limitations of available hardware. However, the increased dynamic range, consistent precision, and automatic normalization of floating point make it a desirable goal. The same increase in performance that was attained a few years ago when general purpose computing accepted floating point should now be attainable in hardware-based signal processing. For general purpose computation, 32 bit floating point has become the single precision standard. However, the 24 bit significand of this format provides more precision than is needed or justified for most signal processing, requires a large amount of hardware, and cannot yet be realized at 10MHz in a single integrated circuit. Therefore, a compromise format of 22 bits, using a 16 bit significand and a 6 bit exponent, has been developed. This format is compatible with 16 bit fixed point. To support this format, TRW is developing a single chip 10MHz adder/subtractor and a single chip 10MHz multiplier.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 and Inflammation in CKD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and inflammatory markers are commonly elevated in CKD, and each is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. This study tested the hypothesis that FGF23 is independently associated with inflammation in CKD. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS The association between levels of FGF23 and the inflammatory markers IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-α, and fibrinogen was assessed in a cross-sectional analysis of 3879 participants enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study between June 2003 and September 2008. RESULTS FGF23 correlated directly with IL-6 (r=0.4), CRP (r=0.2), TNF-α (r=0.4), and fibrinogen (r=0.3; P<0.001 for each). In univariate and multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses, natural log (ln) transformed FGF23 was significantly associated with lnIL-6, lnCRP, lnTNF-α, and fibrinogen (P<0.001 for each). Each unit higher lnFGF23 was associated with severe inflammation, defined as levels of all inflammatory markers in the highest 25th percentile, in univariate (odds ratio [OR], 2.4 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.0-2.9]) and multivariable-adjusted (OR, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.6-2.5]) logistic regression analyses. Ascending FGF23 quartiles were independently associated with severe inflammation (OR, 5.6 for the highest versus lowest FGF23 quartile [95% CI, 2.3-13.9]; P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Higher FGF23 levels are independently associated with higher levels of inflammatory markers in patients with CKD and with significantly greater odds of severe inflammation. Future studies should evaluate whether inflammation modifies the association between FGF23 and adverse outcomes in CKD.
Auto-oxidation of apomorphine.

The auto-oxidation product of apomorphine has been isolated. On the basis of elemental analysis, spectral evidence, as well as solubility and chromatographic behavior, it appears to be devoid of nitrogen, possibly an 8-substituted phenanthrene-3,4-dione. A scheme is suggested for the degradative process. The decomposition product has no emetic property.
Fast Computation of Sliding Discrete Tchebichef Moments and Its Application in Duplicated Regions Detection

Computational load remains a major concern when processing signals by means of sliding transforms. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm for the fast computation of one-dimensional and two-dimensional sliding discrete Tchebichef moments. To do so, we first establish the relationships that exist between the Tchebichef moments of two neighboring windows taking advantage of Tchebichef polynomials' properties. We then propose an original way to fast compute the moments of one window by utilizing the moment values of its previous window. We further theoretically establish the complexity of our fast algorithm and illustrate its interest within the framework of digital forensics and more precisely the detection of duplicated regions in an audio signal or an image. Our algorithm is used to extract local features of such a signal tampering. Experimental results show that its complexity is independent of the window size, validating the theory. They also exhibit that our algorithm is suitable to digital forensics and beyond to any applications based on sliding Tchebichef moments.
Qualitative Differences in the Behavior of Pneumococcal Deoxyribonucleic Acids Transforming to the Same Capsular Type

A method is described for estimating quantitatively the frequency of transformation of pneumococci to new capsular types. It is found that, when S-III cells are exposed to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from wild-type I strains, transformation to SI occurs at a frequency 20 to 60 times that of transformation to the binary type SI-III. SI markers on DNA isolated from binary strains behave qualitatively and quantitatively in a different manner from the same markers on DNA from wild-type I strains and will transform S-III cells only to SI-III. Strains are described which produce only one capsular polysaccharide, but which are genetically binary and carry a second capsular genome with a mutated gene so that the second polysaccharide is not produced. Stability and other characteristics of binary strains are discussed, and one hypothesis for the genetic organization of binary strains is presented.
Partial Order MCMC for Structure Discovery in Bayesian Networks

We present a new Markov chain Monte Carlo method for estimating posterior probabilities of structural features in Bayesian networks. The method draws samples from the posterior distribution of partial orders on the nodes; for each sampled partial order, the conditional probabilities of interest are computed exactly. We give both analytical and empirical results that suggest the superiority of the new method compared to previous methods, which sample either directed acyclic graphs or linear orders on the nodes.