Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Adjusting Congestion Avoidance Routing Protocol for Ad Hoc Networks

In an ad hoc network, the wireless media is shared by multiple nodes. The contention among neighbors for the access to the shared media is the major cause fornelwork congestion. As wireless links usually have low capacity, congestion in ad hoc networks is a morc severe problem than in wired networks. The main thrust of our work is to avoid congestion at IP layer by minimizing conlemions for channel access. The intermediate delay, which characterizes ! he impacis of channel contention, lraffic load, and lhe length of a route, is developed as a new routing melric. Two approaches are proposed to locally estimate delay using statistic and probability methods respectively. An ad hoc routing protocollhat uses intermediate delay as melric is developed, namely self-adjusting congestion avoidance (SACA) protocol. The perfonnance of SACA is compared against that of AODV and DSR using three types of traffic. SACA is able to deliver more than 80% data packets even under heavy uaffic load. It is 50% 60% more efficient than DSR in terms of delivery ratio. It introduces 50% less protocol overhead than DSR does. SACA delivers 40% 400% more packets than AODV depending on the type of traffic.
Network analysis of plasma and tissue amino acids and the generation of an amino index for potential diagnostic use.

BACKGROUND Few studies exist on the use of metabolic profiling of amino acids to examine underlying physiologic and disease states. OBJECTIVE We aimed to introduce a new method for studying relations among amino acids and to generate a diagnostic index, or amino index, based on amino acid concentrations. DESIGN For network analysis, 35 Fischer-344 rats were randomly divided into 7 groups and fed diets containing 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 50%, or 70% protein. Amino acid concentrations in plasma and various organs were used to derive correlation coefficients that were then used to construct correlation networks. To build a diagnostic index for diabetic rats, the plasma amino acid concentrations of diabetic and normal rats were analyzed by using a novel algorithm developed to generate amino acid-based indexes. Plasma amino acid concentrations from human growth hormone transgenic rats and insulin-treated diabetic rats were used to evaluate the index obtained for diabetes. Dimethylnitrosamine-treated Sprague-Dawley rats were used to generate an index for hepatic fibrosis. RESULTS The scatter plots of plasma amino acid concentrations showed distinct patterns in different organs that were due to the different protein contents of the diets. Network analysis showed that data-driven networks for blood and tissue could be obtained. We derived a diagnostic index for the discrimination of diabetic rats with both sensitivity and specificity >97% and another surrogate index for liver hydroxyproline with a correlation of r2= 0.85. CONCLUSIONS Correlation-based network analysis may help to uncover specific physiologic conditions or states. A novel approach using amino acid molar ratios was shown to generate indexes that can be used to separate animal disease models and monitor the progression of a disease parameter. Some of the methods described here may be applicable to the clinical setting.
Meiotic recombination cold spots in chromosomal cohesion sites

Meiotic chromosome architecture called ‘axis–loop structures’ and histone modifications have been shown to regulate the Spo11‐dependent formation of DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) that trigger meiotic recombination. Using genome‐wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses followed by deep sequencing, we compared the genome‐wide distribution of the axis protein Rec8 (the kleisin subunit of meiotic cohesin) with that of oligomeric DNA covalently bound to Spo11, indicative of DSB sites. The frequency of DSB sites is overall constant between Rec8 binding sites. However, DSB cold spots are observed in regions spanning ±0.8 kb around Rec8 binding sites. The axis‐associated cold spots are not due to the exclusion of Spo11 localization from the axis, because ChIP experiments showed that substantial Spo11 persists at Rec8 binding sites during DSB formation. Spo11 fused with Gal4 DNA binding domain (Gal4BD‐Spo11) tethered in close proximity (≤0.8 kb) to Rec8 binding sites hardly forms meiotic DSBs, in contrast with other regions. In addition, H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) remarkably decreases at Rec8 binding sites. These results suggest that reduced histone H3K4me3 in combination with inactivation of Spo11 activity on the axis discourages DSB hot spot formation.
Differential catecholamine responses to protein intake in healthy and hypertensive subjects.

Protein intake-induced natriuresis previously related to increased urinary dopamine excretion was reexamined in an extensive controlled study comparing healthy and hypertensive subjects. In healthy subjects, ingestion of 1 g/kg wt tuna induced natriuresis that was associated, between postprandial hours 1 and 2, with increased plasma tyrosine [191 ± 13% (mean ± SE); P < 0.01], 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (104 ± 12%, P < 0.05 in plasma; 162 ± 20%, P < 0.05 in urine), plasma free dopamine (156 ± 32%; P < 0.05), and dopamine sulfate (191 ± 11%, P < 0.001 in plasma; 199 ± 15%, P < 0.01 in urine) but affected urinary free dopamine excretion only at limits of significance. Hypertensive subjects had less ( P < 0.02) natriuresis and, despite comparable plasma tyrosine and dopamine sulfate increases, no increase in plasma and urinary 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and plasma free dopamine. Their plasma and urinary free epinephrine responses were less ( P < 0.05) than the borderline increases in control subjects. Compared with control subjects, they significantly increased plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine sulfate ( P < 0.05), epinephrine sulfate ( P < 0.05), and the dopamine sulfate-to-free dopamine ratio ( P < 0.02). Postprotein natriuresis is thus associated with nutritional priming-induced plasma but not urinary free dopamine increase. Hypertensive subjects have attenuated natriuretic and plasma free dopamine responses and less free epinephrine increase. This may partly result from higher circulating 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, dopamine, and epinephrine sulfoconjugates leaving fewer free amines for biological actions.
The role of anaerobic bacteria in the cystic fibrosis airway

Purpose of review Anaerobic bacteria are not only normal commensals, but are also considered opportunistic pathogens and have been identified as persistent members of the lower airway community in people with cystic fibrosis of all ages and stages of disease. Currently, the role of anaerobic bacteria in cystic fibrosis lower airway disease is not well understood. Therefore, this review describes the recent studies relating to the potential pathophysiological role(s) of anaerobes within the cystic fibrosis lungs. Recent findings The most frequently identified anaerobic bacteria in the lower airways are common to both cystic fibrosis and healthy lungs. Studies have shown that in cystic fibrosis, the relative abundance of anaerobes fluctuates in the lower airways with reduced lung function and increased inflammation associated with a decreased anaerobic load. However, anaerobes found within the lower airways also produce virulence factors, may cause a host inflammatory response and interact synergistically with recognized pathogens. Summary Anaerobic bacteria are potentially members of the airway microbiota in health but could also contribute to the pathogenesis of lower airway disease in cystic fibrosis via both direct and indirect mechanisms. A personalized treatment strategy that maintains a normal microbial community may be possible in the future.
Circulating Tumor Cells: Moving Biological Insights into Detection

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have shown promising potential as liquid biopsies that facilitate early detection, prognosis, therapeutic target selection and monitoring treatment response. CTCs in most cancer patients are low in abundance and heterogeneous in morphological and phenotypic profiles, which complicate their enrichment and subsequent characterization. Several methodologies for CTC enrichment and characterization have been developed over the past few years. However, integrating recent advances in CTC biology into these methodologies and the selection of appropriate enrichment and characterization methods for specific applications are needed to improve the reliability of CTC biopsies. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the studies of CTC biology, including the mechanisms of their generation and their potential forms of existence in blood, as well as the current CTC enrichment technologies. We then critically examine the selection of methods for appropriately enriching CTCs for further investigation of their clinical applications.
Aging, body composition, and lifestyle: the Fels Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND Changes in body composition in men and women occur with age, but these changes are affected by numerous covariate factors. OBJECTIVE The study examined patterns of change in body composition and determined the effects of long-term patterns of change in physical activity in older men and women and in menopausal status and estrogen use in women. DESIGN Serial measures of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), total body fat (BF), percentage BF, and fat-free mass (FFM) from underwater weighing of 102 men and 108 women enrolled in the Fels Longitudinal Study were analyzed. Physical activity levels and menopausal status were included as covariates. RESULTS There were significant age-related decreases in FFM and height and increases in total BF, percentage BF, weight, and BMI. Physical activity was associated with decreases in total BF, percentage BF, weight, and BMI in men and were associated with increases in FFM and decreases in total BF and percentage BF in women. Postmenopausal women had significantly higher total BF and percentage BF than did pre- and perimenopausal women. The longer the time since menopause the greater were the increases in weight, BMI, total BF, and percentage BF; however, estrogen use attenuated these increases. CONCLUSIONS Low FFM can be improved by increased physical activity. The effects of an intervention program on body composition can be masked if only body weight or BMI is measured. The effects of physical activity were more profound in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women, and estrogen use had beneficial effects on body composition.
Dietary fish as a major component of a weight-loss diet: effect on serum lipids, glucose, and insulin metabolism in overweight hypertensive subjects.

BACKGROUND Obesity in hypertensive patients is associated with dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, both of which are improved by weight control. n-3 Fatty acids have diverse effects on mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis, including a decrease in serum triacylglycerols and an increase in HDL(2) cholesterol. OBJECTIVE The objective was to examine whether dietary fish enhances the effects of weight loss on serum lipids, glucose, and insulin in 69 overweight, treated hypertensive patients. DESIGN Overweight patients being treated for hypertension were randomly assigned to either a daily fish meal (3.65 g n-3 fatty acids), a weight-loss regimen, the 2 regimens combined, or a control group for 16 wk. RESULTS Sixty-three subjects completed the study. Weight decreased by a mean (+/-SEM) of 5.6 +/- 0.8 kg with energy restriction. Weight loss decreased fasting insulin (P = 0.003) and the area under the curve for insulin (P = 0.003) and glucose (P = 0.047) during an oral-glucose-tolerance test. The greatest decrease occurred in the fish + weight-loss group. There was no independent effect of fish on glucose or insulin. Fish increased HDL(2) cholesterol (P = 0.004) and decreased HDL(3) cholesterol (P = 0.026) without altering total, LDL, or HDL cholesterol. Weight loss had no effect on these variables. Fasting triacylglycerols fell significantly with fish consumption (29%) and weight loss (26%). The fish + weight-loss group showed the greatest improvement in lipids: triacylglycerols decreased by 38% (P < 0.001) and HDL(2) cholesterol increased by 24% (P = 0.04) compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS Incorporating a daily fish meal into a weight-loss regimen was more effective than either measure alone at improving glucose-insulin metabolism and dyslipidemia. Cardiovascular risk is likely to be substantially reduced in overweight hypertensive patients with a weight-loss program incorporating fish meals rich in n-3 fatty acids.
Functional and molecular characterization of the human neutral solute channel aquaporin-9.

In metabolically active cells, the coordinated transport of water and solutes is important for maintaining osmotic homeostasis. We recently identified a broad selective-neutral solute channel, AQP9, from rat liver that allows the passage of a wide variety of water and neutral solutes (H. Tsukaguchi, C. Shayakul, U. V. Berger, B. Mackenzie, S. Devidas, W. B. Guggino, A. N. van Hoek, and M. A. Hediger. J. Biol. Chem. 273: 24737-24743, 1998). A human homolog (hAQP9) with 76% amino acid sequence identity to rat AQP9 (rAQP9) was described, but its permeability was found to be restricted to water and urea (K. Ishibashi, M. Kuwahara, Y. Gu, Y. Tanaka, F. Marumo, and S. Sasaki. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 244: 268-274, 1998). Here we report a reevaluation of the functional characteristics of hAQP9, its tissue distribution, the structure of its gene, and its chromosomal localization. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, hAQP9 allowed passage of a wide variety of noncharged solutes, including carbamides, polyols, purines, and pyrimidines in a phloretin- and mercurial-sensitive manner. These functional characteristics are similar to those of rAQP9. Based on Northern blot analysis, both rat and human AQP9 are abundantly expressed in liver, whereas, in contrast to rAQP9, hAQP9 is also expressed in peripheral leukocytes and in tissues that accumulate leukocytes, such as lung, spleen, and bone marrow. The human AQP9 gene is composed of 6 exons and 5 introns distributed over approximately ∼25 kb. The gene organization is strikingly similar to that reported for human AQP3 and AQP7, suggesting their evolution from a common ancestral gene. The promoter region contains putative tonicity and glucocorticoid-responsive elements, suggesting that AQP9 may be regulated by osmolality and catabolism. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assigned its locus to chromosome 15 q22.1-22.2. Our data show that hAQP9 serves as a promiscuous solute channel expressed in both liver and peripheral leukocytes, where it is ideally suited to transport of metabolites and/or nutrients into and out of these cells.
A randomized safety and pharmacokinetic trial of daily tenofovir 1% gel in term and near-term pregnancy

Vaginal tenofovir (TFV) 1% gel may reduce incident HIV‐1 and herpes simplex virus 2 infection. Pregnancy may increase risk of HIV acquisition, and incident HIV in pregnancy potentiates perinatal HIV transmission. Our objective was to investigate the safety and pharmacokinetics of seven days of TFV 1% vaginal gel in term and near‐term pregnancy.
AN EFFICIENT CLASSIFICATION OF GENOMES BASED ON CLASSES AND SUBCLASSES

-The grass family has been the subject of intense research over the past. Reliable and fast classification / sub-classification of large sequences which are rapidly gaining importance due to genome sequencing projects all over the world is contributing large amount of genome sequences to public gene bank . Hence sequence classification has gained importance for predicting the genome function, structure, evolutionary relationships and also gives the insight into the features associated with the biological role of the class. Thus, classification of functional genome is an important and challenging task to both computer scientists and biologists. The presence of motifs in grass genome chains predicts the functional behavior of the grass genome. The correlation between grass genome properties and their motifs is not always obvious since more than one motif may exist within a genome chain. Due to the complexity of this association most of the data mining algorithms are either non efficient or time consuming. Hence, in this paper we proposed an efficient method for main classes based on classes to reduce the time complexity for the classification of large sequences of grass genomes dataset. The proposed approaches classify the given dataset into classes with conserved threshold and again reclassify the class relaxed threshold into major classes. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method reduces the time complexity keeping classification accuracy level as that compared with general NNC algorithm.
RELIGHTING, RETINEX THEORY, AND PERCEIVED GRADIENTS

Thispaper provides aMathematical model of relighting and adaptation of human Vision based on the approach of von Kries. It extends Retinex theory into a new image processing formalism using the mathematical concepts of Bundles and Connections, that is well suited for scene relighting applications. Our model generates considerably improved results in the case of scratch/wire/wrinkle removal and has been implemented in Photoshop. The result is valid in arbitrary color space, and invariant under simultaneous lighting and adaptation transforms type von Kries. This mathematical model also provides an exact solution to the problem of High Dynamic Range compression, and can be applied to a wide range of image processing algorithms.
The Side Effects of the Most Commonly Used Group of Antibiotics in Periodontal Treatments

Antibiotic combinations are preferred for the treatment of periodontal diseases, with the aim of hitting the bacterial flora, according to its characteristics—aerobic, anaerobic, gram-negative, and gram-positive—with certain antibiotics that act on certain bacteria. The aim of this study is to analyze the side effects of the antibiotics used. Data on the side effects (preferably expressed in percentages) of some antibiotics, the favorites in periodontal recipes, are gathered from the literature. These data are listed according to the antibiotic used. In the case of providing a periodontal prescription, the patient is at risk of allergy (5%), nephritis (3%), hematological problems (2–2.5%), gastrointestinal problems (5.5%), disturbance in the nervous system (2%), allergic signs on the skin (5.5%), and problems with electrolytes displayed in lower percentages. Interaction with different medications is present in almost all cases. The influence on the body systems is 4% in total, the maximum value of which is expressed on the skin, and the minimum value is expressed in the nervous system. Cross allergies are at a high value because of the expressed structural similarity of antibiotics. Given a recipe, we have a balance of the percentage of side effects, the percentage of bacterial resistance, and the percentage of the success of the recommended dose of antibiotics.
Fatal Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Due to Influenza A (H1N1) Infection in Patients After Kidney Transplantation: A Report of Five Cases

Background In the general population, swine influenza is a self-limited infection. Patients after kidney transplantation, however, are at increased risk for complications and mortality from influenza A (H1N1). Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complicates up to 55% of influenza-related pneumonia in hospitalized patients and carries a mortality of 40–46%. We describe our experience in intensive care of kidney transplant patients with ARDS complicating influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia during a flu outbreak. Case Report Five adult post kidney transplantation patients with progressive respiratory failure admitted to the ICU between February 2016 and April 2016 were included in this retrospectively analysis. All patients had influenza A (H1N1) viral pneumonia (confirmed with RT-PCR) complicated by ARDS and septic shock with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. None of the patients received seasonal influenza vaccines. All patients had negative rapid influenza bedside tests, which resulted in delay of administration of antiviral therapy prior to admission to the ICU. All patients were managed with a lung protective ventilation strategy (average days of mechanical ventilation, 17.6±15.3). Three patients required additional therapies for refractory hypoxemia, including high positive end-expiratory pressure and prone positioning. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was not implemented. Treatment with oseltamivir was added to a broad-spectrum antibiotic on the first to the fifth day of intensive care. Despite these measures, all patients eventually died. Conclusions Despite great progress in the management of ARDS, based mostly on advanced mechanical ventilation, early antiviral treatment of pneumonia caused by influenza A (H1N1) and annual vaccinations seem essential in prevention and management of influenza A (H1N1) infection among kidney transplant recipients.
Carbapenem Resistance: A Review

Carbapenem resistance is a major and an on-going public health problem globally. It occurs mainly among Gram-negative pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, and may be intrinsic or mediated by transferable carbapenemase-encoding genes. This type of resistance genes are already widespread in certain parts of the world, particularly Europe, Asia and South America, while the situation in other places such as sub-Saharan Africa is not well documented. In this paper, we provide an in-depth review of carbapenem resistance providing up-to-date information on the subject.
Clonidine Effect on Pain After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Different Routes of Administration

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal clonidine prolongs spinal anesthesia. We evaluated the effects of the addition of intrathecal or intravenous clonidine (75 µg) to standard cesarean delivery spinal anesthesia on postoperative pain and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, 64 women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated and compared among 3 groups: intrathecal clonidine 75 µg, intravenous clonidine 75 µg, and placebo. The primary outcome was acute postoperative pain. A sample size of 26 individuals per group (N = 78) was planned. RESULTS: From April 2015 to April 2016, 64 women were analyzed (14 excluded). No differences in postoperative pain scores were found (Numerical Verbal Scale for pain at movement at 24 hours of postcesarean delivery: 4.53 ± 3.0 vs 4.45 ± 2.73 vs 3.93 ± 3.07 for control, intrathecal, and intravenous, respectively, P = .771). Intrathecal and intravenous clonidine led to more sedation, in comparison to the control group, during the intraoperative period (Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale: −0.3 ± 0.47 vs −1 ± 0.53 vs −0.73 ± 0.45 for control, intrathecal, and intravenous, respectively, overall P < .001; Dunn correction: P < .001 for intrathecal versus control; P = .021 for intravenous versus control; and P = .208 for intrathecal versus intravenous). CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal or intravenous clonidine had no effect on postoperative pain after cesarean delivery. Both intrathecal and intravenous clonidine caused more sedation.
Hypoxic contraction of small pulmonary arteries from normal and endotoxemic rats : fundamental role of NO

SYLVAIN TERRAZ,1 FRANÇOIS BAECHTOLD,1 DELPHINE RENARD,1 ATTILA BARSI,1 ANNE ROSSELET,1 ALEX GNAEGI,1 LUCAS LIAUDET,1 ROMAIN LAZOR,1 JACQUES-A. HAEFLIGER,2 NICOLAS SCHAAD,5 CLAUDE PERRET,1 PAUL KUCERA,4 MICHÈLE MARKERT,3 AND FRANCOIS FEIHL1 1Division of Clinical Pathophysiology and 2Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Internal Medicine, and 3Central Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne; 4Institute of Physiology, Lausanne University Medical School, 1005 Lausanne; and 5Pharmacie Interhospitalière de La Côte, 1110 Morges, Switzerland