Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contraction Band Necrosis in Two Ecstasy Abusers: A Latent Lethal Lesion Associated With Ecstasy

Cardiotoxicity associated with ecstasy has been reported in recent years but is very rare. We described 2 lethal cases associated with Ecstasy use. One whole tablet of ecstasy in one case and a half-tablet ecstasy in another case led to lethal effect, but death was not simply attributed to a lethal intoxication. Severe myocardial contraction band necrosis was observed in these 2 cases as revealed by the histopathologic examination. Focal interstitial infiltration of lymphocyte and monocyte around myocardial lesions in case one was also found. The results suggest that contraction band necrosis could be induced by ecstasy and is a potential lethal lesion in some cases.
ATX-2, the C. elegans ortholog of ataxin 2, functions in translational regulation in the germline

Human ataxin 2 is a protein of unknown function that is implicated in the neurodegenerative disorder spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. We found that the C. elegans ortholog of ataxin 2, ATX-2, forms a complex with PAB-1, a cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding protein, and that ATX-2 is required for development of the germline. In the absence of ATX-2, proliferation of stem cells is reduced, and the germline is abnormally masculinized. These defects appear to result from inappropriate translational regulation that normally is mediated by the conserved KH-domain protein GLD-1. We find that MEX-3, a second KH-domain protein, exhibits a novel, ATX-2-dependent role in preventing inappropriate translation in the germline stem cells. Together, our results suggest that ATX-2 functions in translational regulation that is mediated by GLD-1 and MEX-3 proteins.
Resource allocation in fading multiple access wiretap channel via game theoretic learning

In this paper we consider a K-user fading multiple access wiretap channel, where each user wants to transmit a message confidentially. There is a passive eavesdropper (Eve) at the receiving end. We are interested in allocating rates and powers to the users fairly and reliably without the eavesdropper being able to decode the message. Initially we assume that each user knows only its own channel gain to the receiver and to the eavesdropper. When any user transmits a message, the receiver send an ACK if the message is decoded correctly and confidentially, else it sends a NACK. We use Multiplicative Weight no-regret algorithm to obtain a coarse correlated equilibrium. Next we maximize the weighted sum of utility of all the users and obtain Pareto optimal points. Since not all Pareto points are fair, we also obtain Nash Bargaining (NB) solutions which ensure certain fairness to all the users. In the next part of the paper we make more realistic assumption that each user knows only its own channel gain, and is ignorant of the channel gain to Eve (only its distribution is known). We use secrecy outage as the metric at the receiver to decide weather the message is correctly decoded or not. We obtain a coarse correlated equilibrium, a Pareto point and a Nash bargaining solution.
Can a DDoS Attack Meltdown My Data Center? A Simulation Study and Defense Strategies

The goal of this letter is to explore the extent to which the vulnerabilities plaguing the Internet, particularly susceptibility to distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, impact the Cloud. DDoS has been known to disrupt Cloud services, but could it do worse by permanently damaging server and switch hardware? Services are hosted in data centers with thousands of servers generating large amounts of heat. Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems prevent server downtime due to overheating. These are remotely managed using network management protocols that are susceptible to network attacks. Recently, Cloud providers have experienced outages due to HVAC malfunctions. Our contributions include a network simulation to study the feasibility of such an attack motivated by our experiences of such a security incident in a real data center. It demonstrates how a network simulator can study the interplay of the communication and thermal properties of a network and help prevent the Cloud provider's worst nightmare: meltdown of the data center as a result of a DDoS attack.
The design of an integrated diplexer-power divider based on dual-band impedance transformers and a five-port power-divider

In this paper, a novel method to design diplexers with integrated power division capabilities is presented. The diplexer is developed from a five-port power divider that is capable of providing power division ratios of 1:1:0:0 and 0:0:1:1 between its outputs. The development does not involve filter design, and is implemented using dual-band quarter-wavelength lines, dual-band dual-susceptance stubs, and dual-band impedance buffers. The proposed method is applied to design a microstrip diplexer that operates at 1 and 2.5 GHz. Simulation results are presented to verify the validity of the proposed design method.
Analysis of mutations in trfA, the replication initiation gene of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2

Plasmids with mutations in trfA, the gene encoding the replication initiation protein of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2, were isolated and characterized. Mutants identified from a nitrosoguanidine bank were defective in supporting the replication of a wild-type RK2 origin in Escherichia coli. Most of the mutations were clustered in a region of trfA corresponding to the carboxy-terminal quarter of the TrfA protein. 5' and 3' deletion mutants of trfA were also constructed. A C-terminal deletion of three amino acids of the Tr A protein was completely nonfunctional for RK2 replication. However, a deletion of 25 amino acids from the start of the 33-kDa TrfA protein was still competent for replication. Further characterization of the point and deletion trfA mutants in vivo revealed that a subset was capable of supporting RK2 replication in other gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas putida, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Azotobacter vinelandii. Selected mutant TrfA proteins were partially purified and characterized in vitro. Velocity sedimentation analysis of these partially purified TrfA proteins indicated that the wild-type protein and all mutant TrfA proteins examined exist as dimers in solution. Results from in vitro replication assays corroborated the experimental findings in vivo. Gel retardation results clearly indicated that the point mutant TrfA-33:151S, which was completely defective in replication of an RK2 origin in all of the bacterial hosts tested in vivo, and a carboxy-terminal deletion mutant, TrfA-33:C delta 305, were not able to bind iterons in vitro. In addition to the partially defective or could not be distinguished from the wild-type protein in binding to the origin region. The mutant proteins with apparently normal DNA-binding activity in vitro either were inactive in all four gram-negative bacteria tested or exhibited differences in functionality depending on the host organism. These mutant TrfA proteins may be altered in the ability to interact with the replication proteins of the specific host bacterium.
Imaging of Stem Cell Recruitment to Ischemic Infarcts in a Murine Model

Background and Purpose— Neural progenitor cells (NPC) have been reported to aid in the functional recovery from stroke and hold promise as a novel treatment for a variety of neurological diseases. There is a need for imaging tools to study the in vivo migratory behavior of these cells. Methods— C17.2 NPC, stably transfected with firefly luciferase, were serially imaged through intact skull and skin by bioluminescence imaging over 2 to 3 weeks in nu/nu mice with closed-vessel middle cerebral artery infarcts, followed by contralateral intraparenchymal or intraventricular injections of NPC. Results— NPC migrated to the site of infarct from the contraleral parenchyma, crossing the midline at 7 days. In control animals without infarcts, NPC remained at the site of administration. Intraventricular cell administration resulted in a wide distribution of cells, including the site of infarct. Within the infarct area, NPC colabeled with the neuronal marker NeuN and with astroglial marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. The time course and magnitude of NPC recruitment were longitudinally compared between the treatment groups. Conclusions— NPC recruitment to infarct can be assessed noninvasively by serial in vivo imaging. Images correlate well with histological cell distributions. NPC are recruited to infarcts with both parenchymal and cerebrospinal fluid administration, but higher initial photon counts suggest that cerebrospinal fluid administration is more efficient at early infarct seeding.
Network Anomaly Detection using Fuzzy Gaussian Mixture Models

Fuzzy Gaussian mixture modeling method is proposed in this paper for network anomaly detection. A mixture of Gaussian distributions was used to represent the network data in multi-dimensional feature space. Gaussian parameters were estimated using fuzzy c-means estimation. The method was tested with the KDD Cup data set. Experimental results have shown that the proposed method is more effective than the vector quantization method.
RGD peptide-assisted vitrectomy to facilitate induction of a posterior vitreous detachment: A new principle in pharmacological vitreolysis

Purpose. To evaluate a new concept in pharmacological vitreolysis by studying the efficacy of intravitreal RGD peptideassisted vitrectomy in facilitating the separation of the posterior cortical vitreous from the retinal surface in an animal model. Methods. Eight rabbits (16 eyes) received an intravitreal injection of 1 or 5 mg of RGD peptide in one eye and either RGE peptide (inactive control) or phosphate buffered saline in the fellow eye. After 24 hours, a pars plana vitrectomy with low aspiration (=30mmHg) was performed in an attempt to create a detachment of the posterior cortical vitreous. A masked observer performed pre- and postoperative indirect ophthalmoscopy and B-scan ultrasonography. Postoperative scanning electron microscopy evaluated the vitreoretinal surface in selected eyes. Two additional rabbits received intravitreal injections of RGD peptide in one eye (1mg and 5mg) and 1 mg of RGE peptide in the fellow eye to examine apoptosis of the retinal cells by TUNEL assay. Results. Based on postoperative ultrasound findings, six of the eight rabbits had a greater degree of posterior vitreous detachment in the RGD eye compared to the fellow eye (p = 0.03). The total number and the average number of detached quadrants in the group of RGD peptide eyes was twenty-three and 2.85 respectively compared to seven and 0.85 for the control fellow eyes (p = 0.02). Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of postoperative posterior vitreous detachment. There was no evidence of retinal cell apoptosis in RGD injected eyes. Conclusion. RGD peptide-assisted vitrectomy facilitated posterior vitreous detachment in rabbit eyes, suggesting that RGD-containing peptides may prove to be effective adjuncts in producing posterior vitreous separation during vitreous surgery.
Sources of distortion in functional MRI data

Functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) experiments rely on the ability to detect subtle signal changes in magnetic resonance image time series. Any areas of signal change that correlate with the neurological stimulus can then be identified and compared with a corresponding high‐resolution anatomical scan. This report reviews some of the several artefacts that are frequently present in fMRI data, degrading their quality and hence their interpretation. In particular, the effects of magnetic field inhomogeneities are described, both on echo planar imaging (EPI) data and on spiral imaging data. The modulation of these distortions as the subject moves in the magnet is described. The effects of gradient coil nonlinearities and EPI ghost correction schemes are also discussed. Hum. Brain Mapping 8:80–85, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Even the Smallest Non-Crop Habitat Islands Could Be Beneficial: Distribution of Carabid Beetles and Spiders in Agricultural Landscape

Carabid beetles and ground-dwelling spiders inhabiting agroecosystems are beneficial organisms with a potential to control pest species. Intensification of agricultural management and reduction of areas covered by non-crop vegetation during recent decades in some areas has led to many potentially serious environmental problems including a decline in the diversity and abundance of beneficial arthropods in agricultural landscapes. This study investigated carabid beetle and spider assemblages in non-crop habitat islands of various sizes (50 to 18,000 square metres) within one large field, as well as the arable land within the field, using pitfall traps in two consecutive sampling periods (spring to early summer and peak summer). The non-crop habitat islands situated inside arable land hosted many unique ground-dwelling arthropod species that were not present within the surrounding arable land. Even the smallest non-crop habitat islands with areas of tens of square metres were inhabited by assemblages substantially different from these inhabiting arable land and thus enhanced the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes. The non-crop habitat area substantially affected the activity density, recorded species richness and recorded species composition of carabid and ground-dwelling spider assemblages; however, the effects were weakened when species specialised to non-crop habitats species were analysed separately. Interestingly, recorded species richness of spiders increased with non-crop habitat area, whereas recorded species richness of carabid beetles exhibited an opposite trend. There was substantial temporal variation in the spatial distribution of ground-dwelling arthropods, and contrasting patterns were observed for particular taxa (carabid beetles and spiders). In general, local environmental conditions (i.e., non-crop habitat island tree cover, shrub cover, grass cover and litter depth) were better determinants of arthropod assemblages than non-crop habitat island size, indicating that the creation of quite small but diversified (e.g., differing in vegetation cover) non-crop habitat islands could be the most efficient tool for the maintenance and enhancement of diversity of ground-dwelling carabids and spiders in agricultural landscapes.
Overexpression of BMI-1 Promotes Cell Growth and Resistance to Cisplatin Treatment in Osteosarcoma

Background BMI-1 is a member of the polycomb group of genes (PcGs), and it has been implicated in the development and progression of several malignancies, but its role in osteosarcoma remains to be elucidated. Methodology/Principal Findings In the present study, we found that BMI-1 was overexpressed in different types of osteosarcomas. Downregulation of BMI-1 by lentivirus mediated RNA interference (RNAi) significantly impaired cell viability and colony formation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo of osteosarcoma cells. BMI-1 knockdown sensitized cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, BMI-1-depletion-induced phenotype could be rescued by forced expression of BMI-1 wobble mutant which is resistant to inhibition by the small interfering RNA (siRNA). Conclusions/Significance These findings suggest a crucial role for BMI-1 in osteosarcoma pathogenesis.
Spectral estimation for smart antenna system

Smart Antenna is among the fastest emerging technologies employed in wireless communication. An antenna array and a Digital Signal Processor using an Adaptive Algorithm, make a Smart Antenna which can precisely locate user position in diverse environments. In this paper spectral estimation algorithms have been analyzed such as MUSIC, Root-MUSIC and ESPRIT. A systematic overview and simulation based performance comparison of each Spectral estimation algorithm has also been presented in this paper. Results reveal that the MUSIC AOA estimate has the finest resolution in estimating approximate DOA but requires intensive mathematical calculations.
Brane-world creation and black holes

An inflating brane world can be created from ``nothing'' together with its anti\char21{}de Sitter (AdS) bulk. The resulting space-time has compact spatial sections bounded by the brane. During inflation, the continuum of KK modes is separated from the massless zero mode by the gap $m=(3/2)H$, where H is the Hubble rate. We consider the analogue of the Nariai solution and argue that it describes the pair production of ``black cigars'' attached to the inflating brane. In the case when the size of the instantons is much larger than the AdS radius, the 5-dimensional action agrees with the 4-dimensional one. Hence, the 5D and 4D gravitational entropies are the same in this limit. We also consider thermal instantons with an AdS black hole in the bulk. These may be interpreted as describing the creation of a hot universe from nothing or the production of AdS black holes in the vicinity of a pre-existing inflating brane world. The Lorentzian evolution of the brane world after creation is briefly discussed. An additional ``integration constant'' in the Friedmann equation\char22{}accompanying a term which dilutes like radiation\char22{}describes the tidal force in the fifth direction and arises from the mass of a spherical object inside the bulk. In general, this could be a 5-dimensional black hole or a ``parallel'' brane world of negative tension concentrical with our brane-world. In the case of thermal solutions, and in the spirit of the AdS/CFT correspondence, one may attribute the additional term to thermal radiation in the boundary theory. Then, for temperatures well below the AdS scale, the entropy of this radiation agrees with the entropy of the black hole in the AdS bulk.
Adaptive visual servoing in the presence of intrinsic calibration uncertainty

In this paper, we design an adaptive kinematic controller that asymptotically regulates a robot end-effector to a desired position and orientation under visual feedback (of points located on a fixed reference frame) from a camera mounted on the end-effector. This task is accomplished despite lack of depth measurements as well as uncertainty in the camera intrinsic parameter matrix.
Stimuli generator for testing processes in VHDL

Verification is the most crucial part of the chip design process. Test benches, which are used to test VHDL code, need perform efficiently and effectively. Each process in VHDL is executed in parallel. This concept introduces problems of how to test and verify complex systems. We present the new framework TestBenchMulti that is able to generate test stimuli for parallel VHDL designs. The experiments were carried out on synthesizable VHDL circuits at the behavioral level. The obtained code coverage results were confirmed in the real implementation using Xilinx FPGA hardware.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Human Interaction with Artificial Advice Givers

Many interactive systems in today’s world can be viewed as providing advice to their users. Commercial examples include recommender systems, satellite navigation systems, intelligent personal assistants on smartphones, and automated checkout systems in supermarkets. We will call these systems that support people in making choices and decisions artificial advice givers (AAGs): They propose and evaluate options while involving their human users in the decision-making process. This special issue addresses the challenge of improving the interaction between artificial and human agents. It answers the question of how an agent of each type (human and artificial) can influence and understand the reasoning, working models, and conclusions of the other agent by means of novel forms of interaction. To address this challenge, the articles in the special issue are organized around three themes: (a) human factors to consider when designing interactions with AAGs (e.g., over- and under-reliance, overestimation of the system’s capabilities), (b) methods for supporting interaction with AAGs (e.g., natural language, visualization, and argumentation), and (c) considerations for evaluating AAGs (both criteria and methodology for applying them).
E - a brainiac theorem prover

We describe the superposition-based theorem prover E. E is a sound and complete prover for clausal first order logic with equality. Important properties of the prover include strong redundancy elimination criteria, the DISCOUNT loop proof procedure, a very flexible interface for specifying search control heuristics, and an efficient inference engine. We also discuss strength and weaknesses of the system.
A component based integrated system for signal processing of swimming performance

Research presented in this paper details the development of an integrated system, which allowed presentation of meaningful data to coaches and their swimmers in a training environment. The integrated system comprised of a wireless sensor node, vision components, a wireless audio communication module and force measurement technologies. A trigger function was implemented onto the sensor node which synchronized all of the components and that allowed relative processing of the data. Filtering approaches and signal processing algorithms were used to allow real-time data analysis on the sensor node.
Heavy convective rain events over Québec: a forecasting tool

Heavy convective rainfall events, generally leading to flash floods, account for almost half of summer severe convective reports over Québec. Depending on soil moisture content and terrain, it has been observed over the province that as little as 25mm in one hour could cause local flash floods. Although reports of more than 100mm are not uncommon over the province, MCSs and Maddox type synoptic patterns barely take place over the area. In order to provide a forecasting tool making up for the lack of literature on the types of events occurring over the province, heavy convective rainfall events over Québec from 2002 and 2003 have been studied and then compared to a number of events prior to 2002. Results from this study intend to serve as a guide for forecasting such events. This forecasting tool lists particular operational ingredients (e.g. low-level jet, precipitable water, convergence line, etc), their favourable threshold values and positions next to each other as indicated by the operational version of the GEM model, as well as preferred sounding profiles and threshold values for related ingredients. Precipitation amount and areal extent categories have been set accordingly. Events have been split into diurnal types or nocturnal types, each having common features and threshold values leading to three forecast categories.