Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LBT-Based Adaptive Channel Access for LTE-U Systems

Driven by the demand for more radio spectrum resources, mobile operators are looking to exploit the unlicensed spectrum as a complement to the licensed spectrum. LTE-unlicensed (LTE-U), also referred to as licensed-assisted access by the third generation partnership project, is an extension of the LTE standard operating on the unlicensed spectrum. To realize LTE-U, its coexistence with Wi-Fi systems is the main challenge and must be addressed. In this paper, a listen-before-talk access mechanism featuring an adaptive distributed control function protocol is adopted for the small base stations (SBSs), whereby the backoff window size is adaptively adjusted according to the available licensed spectrum bandwidth and the Wi-Fi traffic load to satisfy the quality-of-service requirements of small cell users and minimize the collision probability of Wi-Fi users. Meanwhile, both licensed and unlicensed spectrum bands are jointly allocated to optimize spectrum efficiency. An admission control mechanism is further developed for the SBS to limit collision with Wi-Fi traffic. Extensive simulation results show that the proposed schemes achieve fair and harmonious coexistence between LTE-U small cells and the surrounding Wi-Fi service sets and substantially outperform baseline non-adaptive channel access mechanisms in the unlicensed spectrum.
It's Good to Feel Better But It's Better To Feel Good and Even Better to Feel Good as Soon as Possible for as Long as Possible. Response Criteria and the Importance of Change at OMERACT 10

The OMERACT patient reported outcomes (PRO) working group evaluated the methodologies for measuring responsiveness to change at the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 10 meeting. The outcome measures used in PRO studies are often expressed as continuous data at the group level (e.g., mean change in pain on a 0–100 visual analog scale). This is difficult to interpret and cannot easily be translated to the individual level of response. When interpreting scores at the individual level, it is important to take into account the following 4 main concepts: (1) improvement; (2) status of well-being; (3) onset of action; and (4) sustainability. Information from clinical trials on how many patients showed a response, what the level of response was, and how many patients are doing well, would be extremely useful for physicians. The objective of this article is to outline how continuous data may be reported in a clinically relevant manner. We will describe 5 techniques of reporting continuous variables in clinical studies and discuss the relevance of each.
Chromosome Numbers in Nodules and Roots of Red Clover, Common Vetch and Garden Pea.

an amphoteric phenomenon is responsible for the reversal, either through its effect on auxin or through more direct effect on the underlying rhizoid forming processes. Auxin may be unmoved by the centrifuge and amphoteric substances (e.g., protein) concentrated at the centrifugal end may affect either the activity or transport of auxin in a manner which would reverse on either side of the isoelectric point of the amphoteric substances. Both internal pH and electrical gradients might be expected to reverse when the isoelectric point is crossed if amphoteric substances are concentrated at one end of the cell. Experiments are in progress which it is hoped may throw further light on these questions. 1 This work has been supported in part by funds granted by the Rockefeller Foundation. The author is indebted to Dr. E. W. Lowrance for assistance in carrying out the experiments. '2Whitaker, D. M. , Biol. Bull., 73, 249 (1937). 3 Beams, H. W. , Jour. Marine Biol. Assn., 21, 571 (1937). ' Whitaker, D. M. , Jour. Gen. Physiol. , 20, 491 (1937). ' As shown earlier in Cystosira with low centrifugal force by Knapp, E. , Planta, 14, 731 (1931). ' Whitaker, D. M. , and E. W. Lowrance, Jour. Gen. Physiol. , 21, 57 (1937). du Buy, H. G. , and R. A. Olson, Am. Jour. Bot. , 24,609 (1937). Olson, R. A. , and H. G. du Buy, Ibid., 24, 611 (1937).
B epitopes and selection pressures in feline immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins

In order to map linear B epitopes in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) envelope glycoproteins (Env), a random library of FIV Env polypeptides fused to beta-galactosidase and expressed in Escherichia coli was screened by using sera from experimentally FIV-infected cats. We mapped five antibody-binding domains in the surface envelope glycoprotein (SU1 to SU5) and four in the transmembrane envelope glycoprotein (TM1 to TM4). Immunological analysis with 48 serum samples from naturally or experimentally infected cats of diverse origins revealed a broad group reactivity for epitopes SU2, TM2, and TM3, whereas SU3 appeared as strictly type specific. To study selection pressures acting on the identified immunogenic domains, we analyzed structural constraints and distribution of synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations (amino acids unchanged or changed). Two linear B epitopes (SU3 and TM4) appeared to be submitted to positive selection for change, a pattern of evolution predicting their possible involvement in antiviral protection. These experiments provide a pertinent choice of oligopeptides for further analysis of the protective response against FIV envelope glycoproteins, as a model to understand the role of antibody escape in lentiviral persistence and to design feline AIDS vaccines.
The Human Microbiome during Bacterial Vaginosis

SUMMARY Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most commonly reported microbiological syndrome among women of childbearing age. BV is characterized by a shift in the vaginal flora from the dominant Lactobacillus to a polymicrobial flora. BV has been associated with a wide array of health issues, including preterm births, pelvic inflammatory disease, increased susceptibility to HIV infection, and other chronic health problems. A number of potential microbial pathogens, singly and in combinations, have been implicated in the disease process. The list of possible agents continues to expand and includes members of a number of genera, including Gardnerella, Atopobium, Prevotella, Peptostreptococcus, Mobiluncus, Sneathia, Leptotrichia, Mycoplasma, and BV-associated bacterium 1 (BVAB1) to BVAB3. Efforts to characterize BV using epidemiological, microscopic, microbiological culture, and sequenced-based methods have all failed to reveal an etiology that can be consistently documented in all women with BV. A careful analysis of the available data suggests that what we term BV is, in fact, a set of common clinical signs and symptoms that can be provoked by a plethora of bacterial species with proinflammatory characteristics, coupled to an immune response driven by variability in host immune function.
Toward More Inclusive College Savings Plans: Sample State Legislation

Participation in state college savings (529) plans1 has increased rapidly. Despite this rapid growth, lowand moderate-income families are much less likely to own 529 plan accounts than high-income families.2 Savings play a key role in college financing in most families. To make higher education more accessible for all children in America, it is important to offer a savings plan that benefits families at all income levels.
The role of the urologist in the management of female sexual dysfunctions

Purpose of review The present minireview is aimed at investigating the association between female sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence or lower urinary tract symptoms, two of the most frequently encountered urological disorders. Recent findings Sexual dysfunction in women is a multifactorial and multidimensional condition combining several biological, psychological, medical, interpersonal and social components. According to the National Health and Social Life Survey, approximately 43% of American women suffer from sexual disorders. There have been few investigations about the prevalence and predictors of female sexual function or sexual dysfunction across Europe. Based on everyday clinical practice and according to the most recent peer-reviewed publications, there is a critical correlation between urogynaecological conditions and women's sexual disorders. Interestingly, an increasing number of papers have raised the issue of women's sexual function in patients who have undergone urogynaecological radical pelvic surgery for urological malignancies. The role of the urologist in treating the couple covers the third part of this paper, and attempts to show the significant correlation between the presence of any female sexual dysfunction and so-called patient-partner satisfaction. Summary This minireview underlines the significant role of the urologist in the management of female sexual dysfunctions, mainly in women with urogynaecological disorders. Evaluation by the patient's partner and its impact on urological patients has also been stressed.
108 Gbit/s Plasmonic Mach–Zehnder Modulator with > 70-GHz Electrical Bandwidth

We report on high-extinction-ratio, ultrafast plasmonic Mach-Zehnder modulators. We demonstrate data modulation at line rates up to 72 Gbit/s (BPSK) and 108 Gbit/s (4-ASK). The driving voltages are Ud = 4 and 2.5 Vp for 12.5 and 25 μm short devices, respectively. The frequency response shows no bandwidth limitations up to 70 GHz. Static characterizations indicate extinction ratios > 25 dB.
Meditation and coronary heart disease: a review of the current clinical evidence.

BACKGROUND Chest pain from coronary heart disease (CHD) accounts for more than 8 million emergency department visits every year in the United States, emphasizing the need for cardiovascular (CV) interventions to help reduce this high number. Meditation--a state of contemplation, concentration, and reflection--has the potential to help decrease CV disease. METHODS This article reviews the available data regarding the effects of meditation on various aspects of CV health. RESULTS During the past few decades, multiple studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of meditation on various CV risk factors. In addition to decreasing CV mortality, meditation has also been shown to improve conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and high cortisol levels. Still unclear is how current medical therapies impact overall CHD in comparison to meditation techniques. CONCLUSION Prospective trials are needed to study the effects of meditation on CV risk factors, to provide guidelines for daily meditation practice, and to determine the efficacy of meditation compared to current pharmacologic therapies.
Soluble factors mediate competitive and cooperative interactions between cells expressing different levels of Drosophila Myc

When neighboring cells in the developing Drosophila wing express different levels of the transcription factor, dMyc, competitive interactions can occur. Cells with more dMyc proliferate and ultimately overpopulate the wing, whereas cells with less dMyc die, thereby preventing wing overgrowth. How cells sense dMyc activity differences between themselves and the nature of the process leading to changes in growth and survival during competition remain unknown. We have developed a cell culture-based assay by using Drosophila S2 cells to investigate the mechanism of cell competition. We find that in vitro coculture of S2 cells that express different levels of dMyc leads to cellular interactions that recapitulate many aspects of cell competition in the developing wing. Our data indicate that both cell populations in the cocultures participate in and are required for the competitive process by releasing soluble factors into the medium. We demonstrate that the response of naive cells to medium conditioned with competitive cocultures depends on their potential to express dMyc: Cells that can express high levels of dMyc gain a survival advantage and proliferate faster, whereas cells with lower dMyc levels are instructed to die. We suggest that the ability of cells to perceive and respond to local differences in Myc activity is a cooperative mechanism that could contribute to growth regulation and developmental plasticity in organs and tissues during normal development and regeneration.
Situational Crime Prevention

Situational prevention seeks to reduce opportunities for specific categories of crime by increasing the associated risks and difficulties and reducing the rewards. It is composed of three main elements: an articulated theoretical framework, a standard methodology for tackling specific crime problems, and a set of opportunity-reducing techniques. The theoretical framework is informed by a variety of "opportunity" theories, including the routine activity and rational choice perspectives. The standard methodology is a version of the action research paradigm in which researchers work with practitioners to analyze and define the problem, to identify and try out possible solutions, and to evaluate and disseminate the results. The opportunity-reducing techniques range from simple target hardening to more sophisticated methods of deflecting offenders and reducing inducements. Displacement of crime has not proved to be the serious problem once thought, and there is now increasing recognition that situational measures may result in some "diffusion of benefits" to crimes not directly targeted.
Increased Frequencies of Allergen‐Induced Interleukin‐13‐Producing Cells in Atopic Individuals During the Pollen Season

We have reported previously that allergen‐specific serum IgE levels were correlated with allergen‐induced interleukin (IL)‐4 in type I allergic individuals. Here, we wanted to investigate whether IL‐13, another switch factor for IgE, was induced by allergen in vitro and if so, whether this was correlated with the elevated serum IgE‐levels seen in atopic individuals, and whether the cytokine profile changed during pollen season. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 14 atopic and 14 healthy individuals collected out of the pollen season were incubated in vitro with allergens (birch or timothy) and the number of IL‐4, IL‐13, IL‐10 and IFN‐γ producing cells was determined by ELISPOT. In response to the specific allergen, IL‐13‐producing cells were seen in allergic but not in healthy individuals. The number of IL‐13‐producing cells was significantly correlated with the allergen‐specific serum IgE levels. When the allergic individuals were tested during the pollen season, the number of allergen‐specific IL‐4‐ and IL‐13‐producing cells, as well as serum levels of specific IgE, increased. The IL‐13 increase seen in ELISPOT was confirmed by a RT–PCR assay. No seasonal changes were seen in response to purified protein derivative (PPD) or the mitogen PHA. During the pollen season, the IL‐4 and IL‐13 responses were highly correlated. Taken together, our results support the roles of both IL‐13 and IL‐4 in the regulation of allergen‐specific IgE levels in atopic individuals.
Ecological and Economic Services Provided by Birds on Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Farms

Abstract: Coffee farms can support significant biodiversity, yet intensification of farming practices is degrading agricultural habitats and compromising ecosystem services such as biological pest control. The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the world's primary coffee pest. Researchers have demonstrated that birds reduce insect abundance on coffee farms but have not documented avian control of the berry borer or quantified avian benefits to crop yield or farm income. We conducted a bird‐exclosure experiment on coffee farms in the Blue Mountains, Jamaica, to measure avian pest control of berry borers, identify potential predator species, associate predator abundance and borer reductions with vegetation complexity, and quantify resulting increases in coffee yield. Coffee plants excluded from foraging birds had significantly higher borer infestation, more borer broods, and greater berry damage than control plants. We identified 17 potential predator species (73% were wintering Neotropical migrants), and 3 primary species composed 67% of migrant detections. Average relative bird abundance and diversity and relative resident predator abundance increased with greater shade‐tree cover. Although migrant predators overall did not respond to vegetation complexity variables, the 3 primary species increased with proximity to noncoffee habitat patches. Lower infestation on control plants was correlated with higher total bird abundance, but not with predator abundance or vegetation complexity. Infestation of fruit was 1–14% lower on control plants, resulting in a greater quantity of saleable fruits that had a market value of US$44–$105/ha in 2005/2006. Landscape heterogeneity in this region may allow mobile predators to provide pest control broadly, despite localized farming intensities. These results provide the first evidence that birds control coffee berry borers and thus increase coffee yield and farm income, a potentially important conservation incentive for producers.
On the modeling of wave propagation in cancellous bone

The paper present theoretical and experimental issues related to application of Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) for assessment of cancellous bone quality and prediction of bone fractures. Commonly used for modeling of ultrasonic wave propagation in cancellous bone, the macroscopic Biot's theory is discussed in context of its potential applicability for theoretical prediction of wave parameters: phase velocity and attenuation coefficient as functions of frequency and porosity. The analysis of the model is focused on the absorption and scattering mechanisms responsible for wave attenuation dispersion in cancellous bone, which based on the ultrasonic experiments presumably play a predominant role in the total attenuation. The suitability of the model is discussed and verified by comparison of results of sensitivity analysis of the model with ex vivo experimental ultrasonic data for cancellous bones filled with different fluids obtained at 0.5, 1 and 2 MHz.
Analysis of Dichlorodihydrofluorescein and Dihydrocalcein as Probes for the Detection of Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species

Dihydrocalcein (H2-calcein) is recommended as a superior probe for intracellular radical (ROS) detection as different to dichlorodihydrofluorescein (H2-DCF), its oxidation product calcein is thought not to leak out of cells. We determined whether H2-calcein is a useful tool to measure ROS in vascular smooth muscle cells. In vitro, both compounds were oxidized by peroxynitrite, hydroxyl radicals and peroxidase, but not hydrogen peroxide or nitric oxide. The intracellular half-life of calcein was several hours whereas that of DCF was approximately 5 min. Intracellular ROS, as generated by the angiotensin II (Ang II)-activated NADPH oxidase, did not increase the oxidation of H2-calcein but increased the oxidation of H2-DCF by approximately 50%. Similar changes were detected using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Inhibition of the NADPH oxidase using gp91ds-tat prevented the Ang II-induced increase in DCF fluorescence, without affecting cells loaded with H2-calcein. Diphenylene iodonium (DPI), which inhibits all flavin-dependent enzymes, including those in the respiratory chain, had little effect on the basal but prevented the Ang II-induced oxidation of H2-DCF. In contrast, DPI inhibited H2-calcein oxidation in non-stimulated cells by almost 50%. Blockade of respiratory chain complex I inhibited H2-calcein oxidation, whereas inhibitors of complex III were without effect. Calcein accumulated in the mitochondria, whereas DCF was localized in the cytoplasm. In submitochondrial particles, H2-calcein, but not H2-DCF inhibited complex I activity. These observations indicate that H2-DCF is an indicator for intracellular ROS, whereas the oxidation of H2-calcein most likely occurs as a consequence of direct electron transfer to mitochondrial complex I.
Cytotoxicity and Phototoxicity of Red Fluorescent Nontargeted Quantum Dots

Medicinal applications of luminescent quantum dots (QDs) are of growing interest. In spite of the fact that their fabrication and imaging functions have been extensively investigated during the last decade, very little is known on curative potential of the QDs. In this study, we focus on cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of red-absorbing ( <;630 nm) nontargeted CdSe/ZnS QDs with fluorescence peak at 655 nm. The studied QDs in the range of concentrations studied (0-100 nM) showed no prominent cytotoxicity toward prostate carcinoma Du145 cells, while retardation of the cell growth at higher concentrations (200-400 nM) was most likely caused by borate buffer used to suspend the QDs. Under exposure to blue or red light of the cells pretreated with the QDs, there was a tendency of photodynamic action of the QDs. However, the effect was not significant, and photosensitizing potential of QDs has yet to be demonstrated in the future by using QD immunoconjugates to target more vital cellular sites.
The C-terminal Pentapeptide of Nanog Tryptophan Repeat Domain Interacts with Nac1 and Regulates Stem Cell Proliferation but Not Pluripotency*

Overexpression of Nanog in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells has been shown to abrogate the requirement of leukemia inhibitory factor for self-renewal in culture. Little is known about the molecular mechanism of Nanog function. Here we describe the role of the tryptophan repeat (WR) domain, one of the two transactivators at its C terminus, in regulating stem cell proliferation as well as pluripotency. We first created a supertransactivator, W2W3×10, by duplicating repeats W2W3 10 times and discovered that it can functionally substitute for wild type WR at sustaining pluripotency, albeit with a significantly slower cell cycle, phenocopying Nanog(9W) with the C-terminal pentapeptide (WNAAP) of WR deleted. ES cells carrying both W2W3×10 and Nanog(9W) have a longer G1 phase, a shorter S phase in cell cycle distribution and progression analysis, and a lower level of pAkt(Ser473) compared with wild type Nanog, suggesting that both mutants impact the cell cycle machinery via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Both mutants remain competent in dimerizing with Nanog but cannot form a complex with Nac1 efficiently, suggesting that WNAAP may be involved in Nac1 binding. By tagging Gal4DBD with WNAAP, we demonstrated that this pentapeptide is sufficient to confer Nac1 binding. Furthermore, we can rescue W2W3×10 by placing WNAAP at the corresponding locations. Finally, we found that Nanog and Nac1 synergistically up-regulate ERas expression and promote the proliferation of ES cells. These results suggest that Nanog interacts with Nac1 through WNAAP to regulate the cell cycle of ES cells via the ERas/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, but not pluripotency, thus decoupling cell cycle control from pluripotency.