Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant Beverages: Green Tea Intake and Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is recognized as an inflammatory disease. In the present study, we investigated the effect of green tea consumption on plasma inflammatory markers and the association between green tea consumption and CAD. In 22 healthy volunteers, green tea consumption (7 cups/day) significantly decreased serum malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) concentrations, whereas green tea consumption tended to decrease plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations. In 725 patients undergoing coronary angiography, the percentage of patients drinking <1 cup/day of green tea was higher in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) than in CAD patients without MI and patients without CAD (29% vs. 15% and 18%, P < 0.01). Green tea consumption was found to be inversely associated with MI in Japanese patients. The protective effect of green tea against atherosclerosis is more likely to be because of the inhibitory effect of LDL oxidation than because of anti-inflammatory effect.
Augmented mixed beta regression models for periodontal proportion data

Continuous (clustered) proportion data often arise in various domains of medicine and public health where the response variable of interest is a proportion (or percentage) quantifying disease status for the cluster units, ranging between zero and one. However, because of the presence of relatively disease‐free as well as heavily diseased subjects in any study, the proportion values can lie in the interval [0,1]. While beta regression can be adapted to assess covariate effects in these situations, its versatility is often challenged because of the presence/excess of zeros and ones because the beta support lies in the interval (0,1). To circumvent this, we augment the probabilities of zero and one with the beta density, controlling for the clustering effect. Our approach is Bayesian with the ability to borrow information across various stages of the complex model hierarchy and produces a computationally convenient framework amenable to available freeware. The marginal likelihood is tractable and can be used to develop Bayesian case‐deletion influence diagnostics based on q‐divergence measures. Both simulation studies and application to a real dataset from a clinical periodontology study quantify the gain in model fit and parameter estimation over other ad hoc alternatives and provide quantitative insight into assessing the true covariate effects on the proportion responses. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Actin Dynamics Regulate Multiple Endosomal Steps during Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Entry and Trafficking in Endothelial Cells

The role of actin dynamics in clathrin-mediated endocytosis in mammalian cells is unclear. In this study, we define the role of actin cytoskeleton in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) entry and trafficking in endothelial cells using an immunofluorescence-based assay to visualize viral capsids and the associated cellular components. In contrast to infectivity or reporter assays, this method does not rely on the expression of any viral and reporter genes, but instead directly tracks the accumulation of individual viral particles at the nuclear membrane as an indicator of successful viral entry and trafficking in cells. Inhibitors of endosomal acidification reduced both the percentage of nuclei with viral particles and the total number of viral particles docking at the perinuclear region, indicating endocytosis, rather than plasma membrane fusion, as the primary route for KSHV entry into endothelial cells. Accordingly, a viral envelope protein was only detected on internalized KSHV particles at the early but not late stage of infection. Inhibitors of clathrin- but not caveolae/lipid raft-mediated endocytosis blocked KSHV entry, indicating that clathrin-mediated endocytosis is the major route of KSHV entry into endothelial cells. KSHV particles were colocalized not only with markers of early and recycling endosomes, and lysosomes, but also with actin filaments at the early time points of infection. Consistent with these observations, transferrin, which enters cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis, was found to be associated with actin filaments together with early and recycling endosomes, and to a lesser degree, with late endosomes and lysosomes. KSHV infection induced dynamic actin cytoskeleton rearrangements. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton and inhibition of regulators of actin nucleation such as Rho GTPases and Arp2/3 complex profoundly blocked KSHV entry and trafficking. Together, these results indicate an important role for actin dynamics in the internalization and endosomal sorting/trafficking of KSHV and clathrin-mediated endocytosis in endothelial cells.
Progressive Learning Paradigms using the Parallel K-Iterations Fast Learning Artificial Neural Network

This paper illustrates how progressive network learning can be performed using concepts from the K-iterations fast learning artificial neural network (KFLANN). It is common in certain application domains to require knowledge updating of existing neural networks and many existing learning paradigms require extensive re-training. The KFLANN is an efficient clustering algorithm that provides consistent clusters within a short number of epochs and the paper explains how its capabilities in efficient and consistent clustering aid progressive learning. Progressive learning is useful in domains that handle data samples that arrive at periodic stages over stages of time. The bioinformatics industry is one such domain where data often arrives as segmented blocks during the various stages of bio-molecular experimentation. This work provides an option for progressive learning of partial data that subsequently updates as more complete information is made available. The paper discusses how FLANN, a subset of the KFLANN, can be configured as a progressive learning algorithm to merge segmented data. It further compares the results with those obtained from the typical non-segmented processing. In the process of introducing the progressive learning paradigm in using FLANN, we also present a feasible parallelization algorithm known as the parallel-KFLANN (P-KFLANN).
Trust Based Secure on Demand Routing Protocol (TSDRP) for MANETs

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are collections of mobile nodes that can communicate with one another using multihop wireless links. MANETs are often deployed in the environments, where there is no fixed infrastructure and centralized management. The nodes of mobile ad hoc networks are susceptible to compromise. In such a scenario, designing an efficient, trustworthy and secure routing protocol has been a major challenge over the last many years. In this paper, we propose a Trust Based Secure On Demand Routing Protocol called "TSDRP" for MANETs. Ad hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol has been modified to implement TSDRP for making it secure to thwart attacks like Blackhole attack and DoS attack. To evaluate the performances, we have considered Packet Delivery Fraction (PDF), Average Throughput (AT) and Normalized Routing Load (NRL).
An improved method of nonlinear distortion correction for wide-angle lens

This paper introduces an improved method of nonlinear distortion correction for wide-angle lens. The method is to cast chessboard image to the billiard table by the projector according to the given parameters, then to extract sub-pixel corners from the chessboard image collected by camera and establish fitting relations between coordinates of camera image and that of computer screen with the binary cubic polynomial. Through error compensation on the image coordinates in the nearby area based on each corner's error distribution, higher accurate mapping relation between the points on the billiard tabletop and those on the computer screen is obtained. Experiments show that the method is simple and feasible, which solves the problem of distortion correction of camera system with large field view and short focal length lens effectively and efficiently with the correction accuracy reaching the sub-pixel level, and is suitable for billiards teaching system and related fields.
Rett syndrome: Revised diagnostic criteria and nomenclature

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disease that affects approximately 1 in 10,000 live female births and is often caused by mutations in Methyl‐CpG‐binding protein 2 (MECP2). Despite distinct clinical features, the accumulation of clinical and molecular information in recent years has generated considerable confusion regarding the diagnosis of RTT. The purpose of this work was to revise and clarify 2002 consensus criteria for the diagnosis of RTT in anticipation of treatment trials.
A novel Parallel Active Filter for Current Pulsation Smoothing on single stage grid-connected AC-PV modules

The newest technology on decentralised grid-connected PV systems is the "AC-PV Module", which is characterised by a number of clear advantages over conventional large PV systems. Single stage topologies seem to be a rather attractive solution, for these applications, since in generally they are characterised by high efficiency, low cost and simple structure with high reliability due to reduced components count. On the other hand in single-phase AC-PV Module inverters, the power that is transferred to the power network has a large amount of power pulsation at twice line frequency. So a large ripple of voltage and current appears at the PV module output. Taking into account that there is a close correspondence between the power that flows from a PV module and the point of operation, this fact leads to reduced PV power generation. In order to overcome this defect, this paper presents a novel current pulsation smoothing parallel active filter (CPS-PAF) which is independent from the inverter topology and his operation mode. Purpose of the proposed CPS-PAF is the elimination of the low frequency PV current ripple. So the PV module can be operated close enough to the maximum power point and consequently the PV generated electricity power is maximised. The CPS-PAF conception, control and effectiveness are validated by PSpice simulation and experimental results accomplished on a laboratory prototype.
Placement and Timing for FPGAs Considering Variations

Process variation affecting timing and power is an important issue for modern integrated circuits in nanometer technologies. FPGAs are similar to ASICs in their susceptibility to these issues, but face unique challenges in that critical paths are unknown at test time. This paper presents the first in-depth study on applying statistical timing analysis with cross-chip and on-chip variations to speed-binning and guard-banding in FPGAs. Considering the uniqueness of reprogrammability in FPGAs, we quantify the effects of timing-model with guard-banding and speed-binning on statistical performance and timing yield. We also develop a new variation aware placement, which is the first statistical algorithm for FPGA layout and reduces yield loss by 3.4x with guard-banding and 25x with speed-binning for MCNC and QUIP designs.
Systems with finite communication bandwidth constraints. II. Stabilization with limited information feedback

For part I, see ibid., vol.42, p.1294-8, 1997. In this paper a new class of feedback control problems is introduced. Unlike classical models, the systems considered here have communication channel constraints. As a result, the issue of coding and communication protocol becomes an integral part of the analysis. Since these systems cannot be asymptotically stabilized if the underlying dynamics are unstable, a weaker stability concept called containability is introduced. A key result connects containability with an inequality equation involving the communication data rate and the rate of change of the state.
The Internationalisation Process of Danish Firms -Gradual Learning or Discrete Rational Choices?

Abstract The Uppsala Internationalisation model has greatly influenced Nordic research on the internationalisation process of firms. In this article, the Uppsala model is tested on Danish empirical material. The Danish firms largely follow a sequential development as regards the geographical dimension, where, typically, they set up in culturally close markets first and later set up in the more distant markets. On the other hand, the firms seem to follow to a less extent a pattern of sequential expansion of market commitment on the single foreign markets, just as a surprising number of establishments are set up without previous activity on the market. Crucial differences cannot be found between the establishment pattern abroad of large and small firms. The Uppsala model in itself cannot explain the internationalisation pattern of the Danish firms, which is why the article advocates that the internationali-sation process should be understood as an interaction between internal conditions in the firm (“learning” processes), external competitive conditions and more basic economic factors (assessment of market potential).
Numerical Dosimetry in A Model of The Human Body Exposed to Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field in Train

In our environment, various types (e.g. frequency, field strength) of electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) exist and their distributions are complex. Therefore, it is necessary to study the method of safety evaluation for such complex field. For safety evaluation, measurement of EMFs distribution and determine the dose of exposure in human body is one of the essential step. In this report, we focused on the estimation of dosimetry in human body that exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic field in train car. Two voxel of whole human-bodies were used for numerical analysis of induced current as “dosimetry”. In addition, compliance of the guideline of International Commission of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) was also examined under a case condition in this study.
Improvement on APIT Localization Algorithms for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) can be used in many application fields. The localization of sensor nodes, which is the foundation of the other applications, is to determine self-position using a certain localization scheme, according to the anchor nodes. In this paper, a thorough analysis for approximate point-in-triangulation test (APIT) algorithm is made, and an improvement of it is proposed. The analysis shows: compared with the original one, the improvement algorithm reduces the probabilities of In-To-Out Error and Out-To-In Error from the original one and the more perfectly theory has been appeared.
TrustZone-Assisted Facial Authentication on Smartphone

Nowadays, many applications, such as Facebook, Dropbox and mobile banking, allow users to login and use the remote services via smartphones. Because of the limitations of credential-based authentication, biometric au thentication is becoming popular. Facial authentication is one of the popular biometric authentication techniques and it consists of three phases: first, the photo is captured by hardware camera; second, the smartphone application retrieves the photo from hardware camera via OS; third, the smartphone application authenticates the user by sending the photo (or its extracted features) to remote services. To achieve the trusted facial authentication, al l three phases should be secured. In this paper, we propose TrustFA, a TrustZone-assisted solution to secure all three phases in facial authentication on smartphone. We leverage the ARM TrustZone technique to capture the photo and collect the accelerometer data in TrustZone secure world. As all of the secure world memory, peripherals and interrupts are isolated from normal world legacy OS, attackers even with root privilege in legacy OS would not be able to break the authentication. Within our knowledge, this is the first effort that all of three phases in facia l authentication are secured. Compared to prior works, the threat model regarding smartphone facial authentication assumed in this paper is the most strongest. Since the prototyping is still in progress, we envision the implementation of TrustFA on Freescale i.MX53 Quick Start Board (QSB).
SPONTANEOUS MUTATIONS FOR LIFE‐HISTORY CHARACTERS IN AN OBLIGATE PARTHENOGEN

By allowing mutations to accumulate spontaneously in different lines derived from a single female of an obligately parthenogenetic Daphnia, it has become possible to estimate the rate at which new genetic variance for life‐history characters arises as well as to identify the average pleiotropic effects of mutant polygenes. The estimated polygenic mutation rates are quite compatible with those available for sexual organisms. The results are therefore in conflict with the hypothesis that parthenogens compensate for the loss of recombination by elevating the mutation rate. Based on these results, it is argued that the rate of phenotypic evolution may be enhanced as much as five‐fold by sexuality. However, if dominance or epistatic gene interactions are of major importance, or if the sensitivity to environmental effects is reduced or the rate of polygenic mutation enhanced under asexuality, the full advantage of sex will not be attained and may even be reversed. Regardless of these conditions, it is clear that the mutational rate of production of polygenic variation is sufficient to allow significant rates of phenotypic evolution in purely asexual organisms.
Collagen Fibrils within the Renal Glomerulus

The fine structure of the frog glomerulus has been described in detail by Pak Poy (2); the present observations confirm his findings as far as its principal structure is concerned. He pointed out that the main morphological difference between the frog glomerulus and those of mammals is in the basement membrane, that is, the structure between endothelial and epithelial (podo-cyte) cells. Beneath the epithelial lining, a homogeneous , vaguely defined, dense membrane about 200 m# thick can be seen which seems to be homologous in structure with the lamina densa of the basement membrane in the mouse glomeru-lus (3). It is noteworthy that in the frog glomeru-lus, no special differentiation of the ground substance is evident along the endothelial cell lining. The space between the lamina densa and the endothelial cells is occupied by a fine reticular or fibrillar ground substance which shows variable width in section. It is in this space that a cell (called the pericapillary cell by Pak Poy) and the profiles of its processes are encountered. For the purposes of this study, the kidney of the frog, Rana pipiens Schreber, was fixed with os-mium-sucrose mixture reported by Caulfield (6) and embedded in methacrylate. The sections were stained with 2 per cent uranyl acetate solution according to the method described by Watson (1), and subsequently blanketed between formvar and carbon films. Even under low magnification (Fig. 1), one can recognize the presence of dense fibers running apparently at random in the ground substance between the lamina densa and the endothelial * Investigation supported in part by a grant (No. cell. In higher magnification, these fibers are about 55 m# in diameter and show the characteristic fine cross-striation of collagen fibrils, namely, 640 A period and six intraperiod bands (Fig. 2 and insert). It is to be noted that the relationship between these fibrils and the surface of the peri-capillary cell is often quite intimate. These fibrils are recognized in the axial portion of the capillary loop as well as the peripheral, although their relative localization to the vascular pole of the glomer-ulus is not clear. Collagen fibrils have not heretofore been observed by electron microscopy within the glomer-ulus, although it is generally assumed that the basement membrane is part of the connective tissue in nature, and the presence of reticular or argyrophilic fibers has been reported from light microscope studies (4, 5). It is, however, clear that …
Solving Difficult Problems by Viewing them as Structured Dense Graphs

We are addressing the solving process over difficult AI problems such as planning and Boolean formula satisfaction in this paper. We propose a method for disentangling the structure of the problem hidden in its formulation. Namely we are viewing the problem as a graph with vertices end edges that we decompose into several complete sub graphs. The clique decomposition of the graph provides us with information about the structure of the problem which is then used for further reasoning. This reasoning is primarily targeted on early determining that a certain decision made during the search is unpromising. We implemented our new method and performed an experimental evaluation in planning with planning graphs and in Boolean formula satisfaction. The per-formed experiments showed order-of-magnitude improvements in comparison with other state-of-the-art approaches.
Contingent Power in Contingent Work: Must the Show Go On?

How does a union manage to operate with any bargaining strength when its members‟ work is individualised, infrequent, short-term and unpredictable? Where there is permanent labour oversupply, the closed shop is unlawful, and most members want to work at this specific occupation so much that they will often effectively pay to work? How does an apparently toxic combination of structural and ideological obstacles permit for the exercise of basic union functions of representation and mobilisation?
Secondary Education and Health Outcomes in Young People from the Cape Area Panel Study (CAPS)

Aim Education is one of the strongest social determinants of health, yet previous literature has focused on primary education. We examined whether there are additional benefits to completing upper secondary compared to lower secondary education in a middle-income country. Methods We performed a longitudinal analysis of the Cape Area Panel Study, a survey of adolescents living in South Africa. We undertook causal modeling using structural marginal models to examine the association between level of education and various health outcomes, using inverse probability weighting to control for sex, age, ethnicity, home language, income, whether employed in past year, region of birth, maternal educational status, marital status, whether currently pregnant and cognitive ability. Educational attainment was defined as primary (grades 1–7), lower secondary (grades 8–9) or upper secondary (grades 10–12). Results Of 3,432 participants, 165 (4.8%) had completed primary education, 646 (18.8%) lower secondary and 2,621 (76.3%) upper secondary. Compared to those completing lower secondary, males completing upper secondary education were less likely to have a health problem (OR 0.49; 95%CI 0.27–0.88; p = 0.02); describe their health as poor (0.52; 0.29–0.95; p = 0.03) or report that health interferes with daily life (0.54; 0.29–0.99; p = 0.047). Females were less likely to have been pregnant (0.45; 0.33–0.61; p<0.001) or pregnant under 18 (0.32; 0.22–0.46; p<0.001); and having had sex under 16 was also less likely (males 0.63; 0.44–0.91; p = 0.01; females 0.39; 0.26–0.58; p<0.001). Cigarette smoking was less likely (males 0.52; 0.38–0.70; p = <0.001; females 0.56; 0.41–0.76; p<0.001), as was taking illicit drugs in males (0.6; 0.38–0.96; p = 0.03). No associations were found between education and alcohol use, psychological distress, obesity, increased waist circumference or hypertension. Conclusion Completing upper secondary education was associated with improved health outcomes compared with lower secondary education. Expanding upper secondary education offers middle-income countries an effective way of improving adolescent health.