Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3DinSAR: Object 3D localization for indoor RFID applications

More and more objects can be identified and sensed with RFID tags. Existing schemes for 2D indoor localization have achieved impressing accuracy. In this paper we propose an accurate 3D localization scheme for objects. Our scheme leverages spatial domain phase difference to estimate the height of objects which is inspired by the phase-based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) height determination theory. We further leverage a density-based spatial clustering method to choose the most likely position and show that it improves the accuracy. Our localization method does not need any reference tags. Only one antenna is required to move in a known way in order to construct the synthetic arrays to implement the locating system. We present experimental results from an indoor office environment with EPC C1G2 passive tags and a COTS RFID reader. Our 3D experiments demonstrate a spatial median error of 0.24 m. This novel 3D localization scheme is a simple, yet promising, solution. We believe that it is especially applicable for both portable readers and transport vehicles.
Research on Competitive Advantage of Enterprises Based on Independent Innovation and Integrative Ability

The rapid development of the knowledge economy, science and technology together with the complicated and dynamic changes of the competitive environment of enterprises have made the traditional static theory of competitive advantage unsuitable for the survival and sustainable development of a modern enterprise. Through the investigation on evolution and formation mechanism of competitive advantage in the dynamic business environment, this article analyze of the three factors: heterogeneity resources, independent innovation and integrative ability, sets up the mode of competitive advantage and has proposed the concrete suggestions and measures on the way to enhance the sustainable competitive advantage.
Ten-year course of borderline personality disorder: psychopathology and function from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders study.

CONTEXT Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is traditionally considered chronic and intractable. OBJECTIVE To compare the course of BPD's psychopathology and social function with that of other personality disorders and with major depressive disorder (MDD) over 10 years. DESIGN A collaborative study of treatment-seeking, 18- to 45-year-old patients followed up with standardized, reliable, and repeated measures of diagnostic remission and relapse and of both global social functioning and subtypes of social functioning. SETTING Nineteen clinical settings (hospital and outpatient) in 4 northeastern US cities. PARTICIPANTS Three study groups, including 175 patients with BPD, 312 with cluster C personality disorders, and 95 with MDD but no personality disorder. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders and its follow-along version (the Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders-Follow-Along Version) were used to diagnose personality disorders and assess changes in them. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation were used to diagnose MDD and assess changes in MDD and in social function. RESULTS Eighty-five percent of patients with BPD remitted. Remission of BPD was slower than for MDD (P < .001) and minimally slower than for other personality disorders (P < .03). Twelve percent of patients with BPD relapsed, a rate less frequent and slower than for patients with MDD (P < .001) and other personality disorders (P = .008). All BPD criteria declined at similar rates. Social function scores showed severe impairment with only modest albeit statistically significant improvement; patients with BPD remained persistently more dysfunctional than the other 2 groups (P < .001). Reductions in criteria predicted subsequent improvements in DSM-IV Axis V Global Assessment of Functioning scores (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The 10-year course of BPD is characterized by high rates of remission, low rates of relapse, and severe and persistent impairment in social functioning. These results inform expectations of patients, families, and clinicians and document the severe public health burden of this disorder.
Viral polymorphism in human papillomavirus types 33 and 35 and persistent and transient infection in the genital tract of women.

BACKGROUND Genetic polymorphism in human papillomavirus (HPV)-33 and -35 was investigated in 1055 sexually active women (732 human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] seropositive and 323 HIV seronegative). METHODS Consecutive genital specimens obtained at 6-month intervals were screened for HPV-33 and -35 by use of MY09-MY11. HPV-33 and -35 isolates from 95 women were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction sequencing of the long control region (LCR), E6, and E7. RESULTS For HPV-33, 101 (20%) of 506 nucleotides in the LCR were variable, compared with 10 (2.1%) of 483 nucleotides in E6 (P<.001) and 6 (1.9%) of 324 nucleotides in E7 (P<.001). For HPV-35, the proportion of variable nucleotide sites was similar between the LCR and both E6 (P=.54) and E7 (P=.33). The presence of a 78-base pair deletion in HPV-33 (relative risk [RR], 1.8 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.7]) and the presence of nonsynonymous E7 variations in HPV-35 (RR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.4-4.6]) were associated with persistence. When the data for HPV-33 and -35 were combined, infection by HPV isolates with nonsynonymous E7 variations (RR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.6-3.4]; P=.001) and ethnicity (P=.04) were associated with persistence, whereas age (P = .14) and HIV infection/CD4 cell count status (P=.12) were not significantly associated with persistence, by logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION HPV-33 and -35 polymorphism was different between types and was associated with persistence of HPV infection.
TFET Inverters With n-/p-Devices on the Same Technology Platform for Low-Voltage/Low-Power Applications

This paper investigates feasible inverter configurations based on co-optimized n- and p-type tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) integrated on the same InAs/Al0.05Ga0. 95 Sb platform. Based on 3-D full-quantum simulations, the considered devices feature steep subthreshold slopes and relatively high on- currents and are combined into two inverter designs. Benchmarking against aggressively scaled CMOS logic based on multigate architectures highlights potential of the proposed TFET implementations to perform up to 10× and 100× faster in low operating power and low standby power environments, respectively. The comparison is conducted at low supply voltages (VDD=0.25 V) and for equal levels of static power consumption. The proposed TFET-based platform is thus expected to be a good candidate for low-voltage/low-power applications in near-future technology generations.
Location-Based Data Aggregation in 6LoWPAN

Location-based information has recently been exploited to assist the aggregated process of data, thereby reducing the spatial redundancy efficiently. The constraints nature in 6LoWPAN becomes one of the major concerns in data aggregation methods. However, traditional CSMA/CA in MAC layer may cause significant transmission and control overhead as well as delay on listening and competing for channels. It is a low efficient way to transfer IPv6 packet due to the big packet header. To overcome these shortages, in this paper, we propose LDAA, a location-based novel data aggregation model that aggregates data from the network layer according to the MAC layer queuing delay. When the queuing delay becomes larger, more packets will be dynamically aggregated into one packet to increase the proportion of application data. Otherwise, the amount of packets involved in aggregation will decrease to improve channels utilization. Simulation results show that our approach could provide better real-time guarantees and reduce data spatial redundancy and energy consumption efficiently.
Prolactin stimulation test with perphenazine: an evaluation of plasma prolactin levels and pituitary secretory activity in the rat.

Many investigations of the regulation of prolactin synthesis and release are based on single plasma prolactin determinations. The purpose of the present experiment was to ascertain whether groups of rats (i.e. young or adult, male or female animals, being either intact, gonadectomized or gonadectomized and treated with oestrone), differing in age and/or endocrine status, will react to a single dose of perphenazine by an acute release of pituitary prolactin in proportion to their initial plasma prolactin levels. No consistent relation existed between the classification of the twelve groups of rats into three categories of basal plasma prolactin levels (i.e. less than 20, 25-50, greater than 125 ng/ml) and their response to perphenazine. Even though all groups showed a highly significant increase of plasma prolactin levels the magnitude of the maximum prolactin response at 30 min varied greatly within the groups of one category and thus was not related to the initial prolactin levels. The effect of 14 days of oestrone treatment in increasing plasma prolactin levels in gonadectomized animals was greatest in young and adult male rats, less in young females and not significant in adult females. The results obtained after perphenazine treatment in the latter group made it clear that the effect of oestrogen treatment on prolactin release can be completely blocked by increasing synthesis and/or release of the prolactin-release inhibiting factor (PIF). Since perphenazine induces decrease of pituitary prolactin and a concomitant increase of plasma prolactin levels through lowered PIF-action, the positive effect of oestrogens on prolactin release (as observed in gonadectomized male and young female rats) apparently is caused by a different mode of action. The implications of these findings for the regulation of prolactin release, as affected by the endocrine status of the rat, is discussed. Moreover, comparison of prolactin lost from the pituitary and gained in the circulation of the experimental animals, with amounts of prolactin that were observed to disappear from plasma during the experiment, provided suggestive evidence that the capacity to synthesize and/or eliminate prolactin, after a sudden provoked release of the hormone, differed among the groups. The rates of synthesis by the pituitary, of release from the pituitary into the circulation as well as of elimination of the hormone from the circulation (equally involved in determing actual plasma levels) are thought, therefore, to be far more important for the elucidation of prolactin regulation than single plasma prolactin determinations.
Instant Messaging on Campus: Use and Integration in University Students' Everyday Communication

This article reviews the body of research on the use and role of instant messaging (IM) in campus life, and how IM is a key part of university students' communication. IM is a synchronous form of communication, and its speed, availability information, and support for multiple conversations have made it appealing for young people. With university students, in particular, showing a heavy reliance on IM, researchers have shown great interest in how university students use IM and how it is integrated in their social and academic life. While studies are emerging in various disciplines, no attempt has been made to integrate the disparate findings and approaches. This article synthesizes key findings, provides a map of the literature, and discusses conceptual problems inherent in the study of IM and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) that will help researchers identify key areas of study and opportunities for future investigation.
Allosteric LFA-1 Inhibitors Modulate Natural Killer Cell Function

Natural killer (NK) cells are believed to play an important role in a variety of disease pathologies, including transplant rejection and autoimmunity. None of the therapeutic modalities currently available are known to potently interfere with NK cell activity. Here we demonstrate for the first time that low molecular weight inhibitors of the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) readily block NK cell adhesion, activation, and NK cell-mediated cytolysis in vitro, in contrast to other immunosuppressive agents. These effects were independent of the type of allosteric mechanism by which LFA-1 inhibition was achieved. In addition, we describe a simple, nonradioactive whole-blood assay that should be suitable to monitor NK cell activation in clinical practice. Taken together, our study underlines the importance of LFA-1 in NK cell effector functions and indicates that allosteric LFA-1 inhibitors may become important tools to further elucidate the therapeutic potential of NK cell modulation in immunological diseases.
Impact of Hydroelectric Projects on Bivalve Clams in the SharavathiEstuary of Indian West Coast

The impact of freshwater discharges from upstream hydroelectric projects on estuarine ecology, particularly on commercial bivalves was seldom ever studied, despite the fact that they contribute substantially to local livelihoods. Such projects have been executed in many rivers of Indian Western Ghats unmindful of their ecological consequences. Through a period of the past five decades, two hydroelectric projects were commissioned in the river Sharavathi of central west coast, in the district of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. Obvious consequences were on mangrove vegetation and fishery, and the livelihoods of fisher-folks were also badly affected. This study in the Sharavathi estuary is with the special objective of assessing the impact on commercial clams of incessant releases of freshwater after power production. For comparison, the study was also carried out in the undammed Gangavali River estuary in the same district. The study covers the diversity and distribution of commercial bivalves in relation to salinity, the key factor that expectedly gets altered due to freshwater releases from dams. The status of bivalves was collected through primary observations, interviews with local fisher-folks, and based on earlier studies. Whereas clam fishery involving Paphia malabarica, Meretrix meretrix, M. casta, Tegillarca granosa, Polymesoda erosa and Villorita cyprinoides goes on rather unchanged in Gangavali estuary, Sharavathi witnessed collapse of clam fishery, following salinity decline, indicative collapse of estuarine ecosystems itself. All clams gathered earlier, barring a lone species Polymesoda erosa, tolerant of low salinity remained here.
Temporal Capabilities: Access Control for Time

Embedded systems are increasingly required to handle code of various qualities that must often be isolated, yet predictably share resources. This has motivated the isolation of, for example, mission-critical code from best-effort features using isolation structures such as virtualization. Such systems usually focus on limiting interference between subsystems, which complicates the increasingly common functional dependencies between them. Though isolation must be paramount, the fundamental goal of efficiently sharing hardware motivates a principled mechanism for cooperating between subsystems. This paper introduces Temporal Capabilities (TCaps) which integrate CPU management into a capability-based access-control system and distribute authority for scheduling. In doing so, the controlled temporal coordination between subsystems becomes a first-class concern of the system. By enabling temporal delegations to accompany activations and requests for service, we apply TCaps to a virtualization environment with a shared VM for orchestrating I/O. We show that TCaps, unlike prioritizations and carefully chosen budgets, both meet deadlines for a hard real-time subsystem, and maintain high throughput for a best-effort subsystem.
Design of a middleware for QoS-aware distribution transport content delivery

Developers of distributed multimedia applications face a diversity of multimedia formats, streaming platforms and streaming protocols. Furthermore, support for end-to-end quality-of-service (QoS) is a crucial factor for the development of future distributed multimedia systems. This paper discusses the architecture, design and implementation of a QoS-aware middleware platform for content delivery. The platform supports the development of distributed multimedia applications and can deliver content with QoS guarantees. QoS support is offered by means of an agent infrastructure for QoS negotiation and enforcement. Properties of content are represented using a generic content representation model described using the OMG Meta Object Facility (MOF) model. A content delivery framework manages stream paths for content delivery despite differences in streaming protocols and content encoding. The integration of the QoS support, content representation and content delivery framework results in a QoS-aware middleware that enables representation transparent and location transparent delivery of content.
Molecular Mechanism of Anti-Prostate Cancer Activity of Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract

Abstract Scutellaria baicalensis is a widely used Chinese herbal medicine historically used in antiinflammatory and anticancer therapy. The goals of the study were to 1) determine its in vitro and in vivo anti-prostate cancer activity, 2) investigate its molecular mechanism directed at cell proliferation control including cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) and cyclins/cdks pathways, and 3) compare it with those of PC-SPES (PC stands for prostate cancer and spes is Latin for hope), a former herbal mixture for prostate cancer treatment of which S. baicalensis is a major constituent. Two human prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, androgen dependent, and PC-3, androgen independent) were assessed for growth inhibition. S. baicalensis exerted dose- and time-dependent increased growth inhibition in both cell lines. However, the PC-3 cells IC50 (50% growth inhibition concentration) were slightly more sensitive than LNCaP cells (IC 50 = 0.15 mg/ml), although the former is androgen independent. S. baicalensis was more effective in inhibition of cell growth compared with PC-SPES (IC 50 = 0.38 mg/ml for PC-3 cells). Significant reduction of PGE 2 synthesis in both cells after treatment with S. baicalensis resulted from direct inhibition of COX-2 activity rather than COX-2 protein suppression. S. baicalensis also inhibited prostate-specific antigen production in LNCaP cells. Finally, S. baicalensis suppressed expression of cyclin D1 in LNCaP cells, resulting in a G 1 phase arrest, while inhibiting cdk1 expression and kinase activity in PC-3 cells, ultimately leading to a G 2 /M cell cycle arrest. Animal studies showed a 50% reduction in tumor volume after a 7-wk treatment period. This study demonstrated that S. baicalensis may be a novel anticancer agent for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Epidemic Outbreaks in Networks with Equitable or Almost-Equitable Partitions

We study the diffusion of epidemics on networks that are partitioned into local communities. The gross structure of hierarchical networks of this kind can be described by a quotient graph. The rationale of this approach is that individuals infect those belonging to the same community with higher probability than individuals in other communities. In community models the nodal infection probability is thus expected to depend mainly on the interaction of a few, large interconnected clusters. In this work, we describe the epidemic process as a continuous-time individual-based susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) model using a first-order mean-field approximation. A key feature of our model is that the spectral radius of this smaller quotient graph (which only captures the macroscopic structure of the community network) is all we need to know in order to decide whether the overall healthy-state defines a globally asymptotically stable or an unstable equilibrium. Indeed, the spectral radius is related to the epidemic threshold of the system. Moreover we prove that, above the threshold, another steady-state exists that can be computed using a lower-dimensional dynamical system associated with the evolution of the process on the quotient graph. Our investigations are based on the graph-theoretical notion of equitable partition and of its recent and rather flexible generalization, that of almost equitable partition.
Identification of a polycystic ovary syndrome susceptibility variant in fibrillin-3 and association with a metabolic phenotype.

CONTEXT Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common reproductive endocrine disorder of premenopausal women, is also associated with metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance and an increased risk for diabetes mellitus. We previously mapped a PCOS susceptibility locus to chromosome 19p13.2 near the dinucleotide repeat marker D19S884. OBJECTIVE Our objective is to localize the chromosome 19p13.2 PCOS susceptibility locus and determine its impact on metabolic features of PCOS. DESIGN Resequencing and family-based association testing were used to examine the effect of sequence variation within 100 kb of D19S884 on the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of PCOS. SETTING The study was conducted in an academic medical center. SUBJECTS Genetic analyses were performed on DNA obtained from1723 individuals in 412 families with 412 index cases and 43 affected sisters of predominantly European origin (>94%). Genotype-phenotype associations were assessed in 601 women with PCOS and 168 brothers of affected women. RESULTS D19S884 allele 8 (A8) within intron 55 of the fibrillin-3 (FBN3) gene showed the strongest evidence for association with PCOS of 53 variants tested (P(corrected) = 0.0037). A8 was also associated with higher levels of fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance in women with PCOS and higher fasting levels of proinsulin and proinsulin/insulin ratio in brothers. CONCLUSIONS These findings strongly suggest that A8 of D19S884 is the chromosome 19p13.2 PCOS susceptibility locus. The association of D19S884 with markers of insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction suggests that the same variant contributes to the reproductive and metabolic abnormalities of PCOS in affected women and their brothers.
Antibiotic resistance in lactococci and enterococci: phenotypic and molecular-genetic aspects

Abstract Extensive use of antibiotics in medicine, veterinary practice and animal husbandry has promoted the development and dissemination of bacterial drug resistance. The number of resistant pathogens causing common infectious diseases increases rapidly and creates worldwide public health problem. Commensal bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria of genera Enterococcus and Lactococcus colonizing gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts of humans and animals may act as vehicles of antibiotic resistance genes similar to those found in pathogens. Lactococci and enterococci are widely used in manufacturing of fermented products and as probiotics, therefore monitoring and control of transmissible antibiotic resistance determinants in industrial strains of these microorganisms is necessary to approve their Qualified Presumption of Safety status. Understanding the nature and molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in enterococci and lactococci is essential, as intrinsic resistant bacteria pose no threat to environment and human health in contrast to bacteria with resistance acquired through horizontal transfer of resistance genes. The review summarizes current knowledge concerning intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance in Lactococcus and Enterococcus genera, and discusses role of enterococci and lactococci in distribution of this feature.