Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cooperative Content Delivery in Multicast Multihop Device-to-Device Networks

The increasing demand of mobile devices (MDs) for data services brings tremendous pressure to cellular networks. It has become a great challenge for traditional offloading techniques to balance the energy efficiency and quality of service. The concept of device-to-device (D2D) communication shows a huge potential in cellular offloading. In this paper, we investigate the scenario where MDs have the same demand for a common content and they cooperate to download the content by multihop relaying. We aim to minimize the total power consumption by grouping MDs in multihop D2D networks, while satisfying the minimum rate required by each MD. As the problem is NP-complete and the optimal solution cannot be found in polynomial time, we propose three greedy algorithms with different grouping strategies to trade off the performance and complexity. Simulation results demonstrate that the total power consumption can be saved significantly in the content delivery situation using cooperative D2D communication, and the proposed algorithms are suitable for static and dynamic networks with different advantages.
A Bayesian approach for evaluating the impact of historical events on rates of diversification

Evolutionary biologists often wish to explore the impact of a particular historical event (e.g., the origin of a novel morphological trait, an episode of biogeographic dispersal, or the onset of an ecological association) on rates of diversification (speciation minus extinction). We describe a Bayesian approach for evaluating the correlation between such events and differential rates of diversification that relies on cross-validation predictive densities. This approach exploits estimates of the marginal posterior probability for the rate of diversification (in the unaffected part of the tree) and the marginal probability for the timing of the event to generate a predictive distribution of species diversity that would be expected had the event not occurred. The realized species diversity can then be compared to this predictive diversity distribution to assess whether rates of diversification associated with the event are significantly higher or lower than expected. Although simple, this Bayesian approach provides a robust inference framework that accommodates various sources of uncertainty, including error associated with estimates of divergence times, diversification-rate parameters, and event history. Furthermore, the proposed approach is relatively flexible, allowing exploration of various types of events (including changes in discrete morphological traits, episodes of biogeographic movement, etc.) under both hypothesis-testing and data-exploration inference scenarios. Importantly, the cross-validation predictive densities approach facilitates evaluation of both replicated and unique historical events. We demonstrate this approach with empirical examples concerning the impact of morphological and biogeographic events on rates of diversification in Adoxaceae and Lupinus, respectively.
Introducing multi-criteria decision analysis for wind farm repowering: A case study on Gotland

The aging of wind turbines worldwide, combined with substantial technological developments, implies an increasing number of upcoming end-of-service life decisions. Wind farm repowering may be financially viable as some of the decommissioning and installation expenses can be shared and due to the lower project risk given the well-known wind resource. However, the decision to repower a site is influenced by a list of factors and key stakeholders. Given the complexity of the decision-making process, the use of multi-criteria decision analysis provides a valuable tool for decision-makers, facilitating a structured framework to identify the best possible option for all stakeholders. In this study, PROMETHEE II method is applied to the case of Bockstigen offshore wind farm. Four scenarios were designed, varying the total capacity and the number of turbines, and evaluated against fourteen criteria and seven relevant stakeholders, including their preferences for all of the criteria. Application of the PROMETHEE II provided a ranking of repowering scenarios, offering several key conclusions, such as the link between wind park capacity and stakeholder preference. Moreover, the consensus likelihood analysis between stakeholders suggests one scenario with low possibility of consensus, two with medium, and one with high, making it the most likely to succeed.
X inactivation in the mouse embryo deficient for Dnmt1: distinct effect of hypomethylation on imprinted and random X inactivation.

It has been suggested that DNA methylation plays a crucial role in genomic imprinting and X inactivation. Using DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1)-deficient mouse embryos carrying X-linked lacZ transgenes, we studied the effects of genomic demethylation on X inactivation. Based on the expression pattern of lacZ, the imprinted X inactivation in the visceral endoderm, a derivative of the extraembryonic lineage, was unaffected in Dnmt1 mutant embryos at the time other imprinted genes showed aberrant expression. Random X inactivation in the embryonic lineage of Dnmt1 mutant embryos, however, was unstable as a result of hypomethylation, causing reactivation of, at least, one lacZ transgene that had initially been repressed. Our results suggest that maintenance of imprinted X inactivation in the extraembryonic lineage can tolerate extensive demethylation while normal levels of methylation are required for stable maintenance of X inactivation in the embryonic lineage.
Thiol-specific biotinylation of the insulin receptor in permeabilized cells enhances receptor function.

We examined the reactivity of insulin receptor sulfhydryls to biotinylation in Chinese hamster ovary cells that express high levels of human insulin receptors (CHO/HIRc cells). Following the biotinylation reaction, the insulin receptor was purified by immunoprecipitation, and resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis before electrotransfer to membranes. The use of enzyme-linked streptavidin in conjunction with a chemiluminescent technique allowed the detection of thiol-biotinylated receptor beta-subunit, with no modification of the alpha-subunit. In cells expressing large numbers of IGF-1 receptors, the same technique enabled the detection of thiol-biotinylated IGF-1 receptors as well. Thiol-alkylation of intact CHO/HIRc cells with an impermeant reagent did not impair the ability of maleimidodibutyrylbiocytin (MBB) to biotinylate sulfhydryls on the receptor beta-subunit after cell permeabilization with digitonin. In contrast, thiol-alkylation of digitonin-permeabilized cells prevented MBB-induced receptor biotinylation. The basal and insulin-activated insulin receptors exhibited a comparable reactivity to MBB. Furthermore, the use of affinity purification on monomeric avidin-agarose enabled us to learn that the biotinylation reaction was near-quantitative. MBB had no effect on insulin binding nor on receptor autophosphorylation and insulin-dependent receptor kinase activity. However, basal levels of receptor kinase activity were significantly elevated by thiol-biotinylation. Further, in the presence of vanadate, MBB retained the ability to enhance receptor kinase activity in permeabilized cells, consistent with the notion that this increased exogenous substrate phosphorylation was not accounted for by inactivation of protein tyrosine phosphatases. The dephosphorylation of thiol-biotinylated, 32P-labeled insulin receptors by particulate protein tyrosine phosphatases was not affected. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Research and Development of a Small Wheel-Pedrail Patrol Robot in Forest

A small robot of combining wheel with pedrail forth rugged forest terrain is researched and developed in this paper. The robot consists of a walking mechanism, an elevating mechanism, a navigation positioning module, a wireless communication module, and some peripheral sensors. The principles of the light weight and the modularity are adopted to realize the high traffic ability and quick assembly. The test shows that the robot has high traffic ability and it can crossover the vertical obstacle of 100 mm height or the horizontal ditch of 300 mm width, and the maximum running speed is 1m/s. Furthermore, the environmental information including the temperature, the humidity, the wind speed, the surroundings, and the real position can be transmitted to an upper computer by the wireless communication for operator to judge and make decision, which can highly improve the efficiency of the forest fire prevention and the forestry resource protection.
Trade policy and regionalisms in global clothing production networks

Throughout the 20th century, the global clothing industry experienced major geographical shifts, new forms of governance, changing producer and buyer relations and unevenly distributed outcomes for countries, firms and workers. This paper contextualises these global dynamics in regard to the ways in which trade policy and rules create strong regional patterns in global clothing production networks. The focus is on trade policy as both context for, and driver of, the spatial divisions of manufacture and work. It further provides an empirical overview of the ways in which trade regimes, preferential market access, regional trade agreements and rules of origin structure the division of labour and developmental opportunities and constraints in various clothing producing regions.
Compartment-Specific Modulation of GABAergic Synaptic Transmission by μ-Opioid Receptor in the Mouse Striatum with Green Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Dopamine Islands

The striatum is a heterogeneous mosaic of two neurochemically, developmentally, and functionally distinct compartments: the μ-opioid receptor (MOR)-enriched striosomes and the matrix. Preferential activation of the striosomes and persistent suppression of the matrix have recently been suggested to represent neural correlates of motor stereotypy. However, little is known concerning the physiological properties of the striosomes. We made patch-clamp recordings from medium spiny neurons in identified MOR-immunoreactive “dopamine islands” as striosomes in a slice preparation taken from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA-containing neurons. Striosomal neurons differed electrophysiologically from cells in the matrix in having significantly less hyperpolarized resting membrane potentials and larger input resistances, suggesting developmental differences between the two types of cells. Moreover, corticostriatal EPSCs were inhibited by MOR activation to similar extents in the two compartments, although inhibition of IPSCs was observed only in the striosomes. This MOR-induced inhibition of IPSCs was presynaptically mediated, because MOR agonist invariably decreased IPSC amplitudes when postsynaptic G-protein was inactivated, significantly increased the paired-pulse ratio of the IPSCs, and decreased the frequency but not the amplitude of miniature IPSCs. These effects of MOR were mediated principally by 4-aminopyridine-sensitive K+ conductance via a cAMP-dependent pathway, which was further augmented by previous blockade of the protein kinase C cascade. These findings suggest that MOR activation by endogenous and/or exogenous MOR-selective opioid substances differentially regulates the activities of the striosome and matrix compartments and thus plays an important role in motivated behavior and learning.
EU ring-fencing and the defence of too-big-to-fail banks

Abstract Bank ring-fencing is an important post-crisis regulatory response to the moral hazard dilemma surrounding too-big-to-fail banks. Since national governments bore the worst of the costs of rescuing the largest banks, it is reasonable to expect that the authorities would have the greatest incentive to promote tough ring-fence reform. However, in confrontation with the EU’s Liikanen Group and the EU Commission, France and Germany established a weaker set of national reforms. This article asks why these national governments pursued legislation that was more accommodating to their largest banks than the EU proposals. It argues that France and Germany were defending market-based banking in their largest universal banks. They were defending the ability of their largest banks to hold large volumes of trading assets which, in the view of the EU Commission and others, was a major cause of the financial crisis. The conclusions suggest that the direction of change will continue to be towards further market-based banking, despite the associated costs revealed by the crisis.
Option-implied Betas, Moment Risk Premia and Stock Returns

This thesis examines how stock returns are determined by different ex ante risk factors implied from options; these ex ante risk factors include option-implied betas, the variance, skew and kurtosis risk premia. I first compare different option-implied beta measures in future stock return prediction on the basis of Buss and Vilkov (2012). The option-implied beta proposed by Buss and Vilkov (2012) (BV) is found to outperform other beta approaches included in the research. I also propose the implied downside betas and find that the BV implied downside beta performs best and offers an improvement over the BV implied beta. However, the relationship between option-implied or implied downside betas and stock returns is not robust to firm-level variables such as firm size, book-to-market ratio or option-implied moments. These variables are correlated with option-implied betas and implied downside betas, which may obscure the beta-return relationship. Next, I investigate comprehensively whether the moment risk premia are able to predict the cross-section of stock returns. Cross-sectionally, I find that the variance, skew and kurtosis risk premia are determined differently by firm-level and risk factors. I also find that the moment risk premia have different effects on stock returns. For ex post realised stock returns, there is a negative relationship with both the variance and skew risk premia. However, the kurtosis risk premium has a noisy and insignificant relationship with realised stock returns. The price target expected return (PTER) and the implied cost of capital (ICC) are adopted as proxies for ex ante expected stock returns. I demonstrate that there is a significantly negative relationship between the variance and skew risk premia and expected stock returns, while there is a significantly positive relationship between the kurtosis risk premium and expected stock returns. The results are robust to firm-level and risk factors, sub-periods and different maturities.
A Scalable Parameterized NoC Emulator Built Upon Xilinx Virtex-7 FPGA

A number of critical design decisions, such as network topology, buffer sizes, flow control mechanism and so on so forth, have to be evaluated in any NoC the design. Designs and verifications of NoCs are based on either software simulations, which are extremely slow and inaccurate for complex models, or hardware emulations using low/mid-class FPGAs, where the scalability of the NoC system is intensively restricted by the limited on-chip resources. In this paper, we implement a parameterized NoC emulation system, capable of verifying complete functionality of routers and monitoring network performance and buffer usages in real time, on a hardware platform featuring a super large FPGA chip, Xilinx Virtex-7. This FPGA-based emulator also shall be configured to support multiple routing algorithms and packet transferring mechanisms. Compared to the existing emulators, it requires less user effort to measure the performance under various application scenarios, and it scales well to emulate large NoC designs. Currently, this emulator has been used to study NoCs with sizes of 4x4 and 8x8. For the case of 4x4 (8X8) NoC emulator, data transfers between routers can run at over 50MHz, and only occupies about 6% (25%) of the FPGA logic block resources.
Chromogranin A: any relevance in neuroendocrine tumors?

Purpose of reviewThe review summarizes the utility and limitations of chromogranin A (CgA) as a circulating biomarker for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Recent findingsBlood CgA measurement has numerous clinical limitations including poor assay reproducibility, low sensitivity (meta-analysis: 73%, 95% confidence interval: 0.71–0.76), and a paucity of prospective validation studies. A recent study noted elevation in 27% of NETs with a predictive value of 50% for metastases. These findings are consistent with its efficacy primarily as a monoanalyte secretory rather than multidimensional neoplastic marker. An automated CgA assay (KRYPTOR) exhibits similar metrics to the DAKO assay but is only useful in serum and routine storage diminishes its accuracy. Current studies indicate that CgA is more effective as a biomarker for cardiac disease. Given the diverse limitations of CgA, NET biomarker focus has evolved toward measurement of multiple analytes, for example, transcripts. Multianalyte algorithmic analyses perform significantly better as diagnostic (>95%) and prognostic markers (>90%) than CgA (30–74 and ∼50%, respectively) since they delineate different aspects of the biological behavior of NETs, (e.g., proliferome and metabolome). SummaryCgA is neither a reliable nor robust NET biomarker. As a monoanalyte, it is restricted by poor metrics and has limited predictive value. Its current clinical utility appears optimal in cardiovascular disease. The significance of CgA in NET disease is diminishing as other analytical approaches, particularly transcript multianalyte assays or other strategies, evolve to supersede it.
Property Economics versus New Institutional Economics: Alternative Foundations of How to Trigger Economic Development

'What are the core economic principles to be implemented for protected transactions in developing and transitional countries to trigger economic development? In recent decades, two approaches have been developed which claim to answer this question: (i) the theory of property rights, or new institutional economics, originating from Armen Alchian (1977) and Harold Demsetz (1967; see also Alchian and Demsetz 1973) and developed by Nobel laureate Douglass C. North (1973, with Robert P. Thomas; see also North 1981 and 1990)1 and (ii) the property-based theory of the economy, or property
Thick film resistors on alumina substrate as sensing elements

In this paper, thick film resistors (TFRs) on alumina substrate for strain sensor applications have been developed and evaluated. Thick film technology based ceramic pressure sensors (CPS) are fabricated by screen printing and firing four TFRs on a machined circular diaphragm and then the TFRs are connected in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. Finite element method (FEM) is used to optimize structural design and predict the optimal position where the piezoresistive TFRs are placed on the ceramic diaphragm. Preliminary tests show that the sensors exhibit a linearity of 0.4% full-scale (FS), the hysteresis and repeatability are 0.5% FS. Moreover, the thermal zero drifts and thermal sensitivity drifts of the sensors in the whole temperature range (-40 °C to 125 °C) are less than 3% FS. These results indicate that the sensor is a cost-effective choice for many application fields especially in automotive field.
Prevalence and manifestations of hepatitis C seropositivity in children in an endemic area.

BACKGROUND According to our previous studies, Paisha Township in Penghu Islets is an endemic area for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and for hepatocellular carcinoma. We conducted this study to understand the prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity among children in this area and to observe clinical manifestations of anti-HCV-positive children. METHODS In March, 1994, 1164 (93.6%) of 1243 students from all 6 kindergartens, 9 primary schools and 3 middle schools in Paisha Township participated in the screening for anti-HCV by enzyme immunoassay with second generation commercial kits (Abbott EIA 2.0). Anti-HCV tests were duplicated for the positive sera in 2 laboratories. All anti-HCV-positive children were followed annually for 2 years. RESULTS The prevalences of children from kindergartens (ages 3 to 6 years), primary schools (ages 7 to 12 years) and middle schools (ages 13 to 15 years) were 0% (0 of 229), 0.8% (5 of 617) and 1.9% (6 of 318), respectively. Initially the optic density (OD) values of anti-HCV were > 2.0 in 4 cases (36%), between 1.0 and 2.0 in 2 cases, and < 1.0 in the other 5 cases. None had sonographic parenchymal changes in the liver. In the 2-year follow-up of the anti-HCV-positive subjects, type 2a HCV-RNA persisted in 3 of 4 children with an OD of anti-HCV more than 2.0; 2 of them had 2 elevations of alanine transaminase values. Four of 7 children with an OD of 2.0 or less had a decrease in OD values in the follow-up examinations, and 2 of them became anti-HCV-negative. CONCLUSION Only 36% (4 of 11) of anti-HCV-positive children had an OD of > 2.0. Subjects with sequentially low OD might recover from chronic HCV infection without detectable HCV RNA and with normal alanine aminotransferase values.
High Performance Cu Containing Ru or RuNx for Barrierless Metallization

This article reports novel copper seed layers containing dilute Ru or RuNx for the barrierless metallization. Based on XRD, FIB, TEM, resistivity and leakage current measurement results, we conclude that copper does not react with Si up to 680°C for 1 hour when the Ru-or RuNx-bearing seed layer is directly in contact with the barrier-free Si. Our results shed lights on the possibility of using these layers in the barrierless metallization process.
Tai Chi Exercise for Patients With Cardiovascular Conditions and Risk Factors: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

PURPOSE To conduct a systematic review of the literature evaluating tai chi exercise as an intervention for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or with CVD risk factors (CVDRF). METHODS We searched (1) MEDLINE, CAB Alt HealthWatch, BIOSIS previews, Science Citation Index, EMBASE, and Social Science Citation Index from inception through October 2007; (2) Chinese Medical Database, China Hospital Knowledge, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and China Traditional Chinese Medicine Database from inception through June 2005; and (3) the medical libraries of Beijing and Nanjing Universities. Clinical studies published in English and Chinese including participants with established CVD or CVDRF were included. Data were extracted in a standardized manner; 2 independent investigators assessed methodological quality, including the Jadad score for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RESULTS Twenty-nine studies met inclusion criteria: 9 RCTs, 14 nonrandomized studies, and 6 observational trials. Three studies examined subjects with coronary heart disease, 5 in subjects with heart failure, and 10 in heterogeneous populations that included those with CVD. Eleven studies examined subjects with CVDRF (hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose metabolism). Study duration ranged from 8 weeks to 3 years. Most studies included fewer than 100 subjects (range, 5–207). Six of 9 RCTs were of adequate quality (Jadad ≥ 3). Most studies reported improvements with tai chi, including blood pressure reductions and increases in exercise capacity. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSION Preliminary evidence suggests that tai chi exercise may be a beneficial adjunctive therapy for some patients with CVD and CVDRF. Further research is needed.