Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Traffic monitoring and routing in VANETs — A cluster based approach

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) involves vehicle to vehicle (V2V) and vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) communication and has received a greater attention in the recent years. Though safety is the primary motive for the development of vehicular ad-hoc network, they also facilitate applications like managing the traffic flow, monitoring the road conditions, dissemination of data and many more. Efficiency of all these applications depends on density estimation. Of the various approaches clustering is demonstrated to be an effective approach. In this paper a clustering approach for traffic monitoring and routing is proposed where the Cluster Head(CH) election is done based on distance and direction information. Since clusters are formed all along the road, CH's will take the responsibility of routing the packet to destination. The simulation results show better stability, accurate density estimation in the cluster, better End-to-End delay and good delivery ratio. The protocol used is 802.11p with Wave Short Message (WSM) which is proved to be best technology designed for VANETs environment. The performance of the algorithm is analyzed using NCTUns simulator.
IMMUNOSTIMULATING ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SWIETENIA MAHAGONI SEEDS

To investigate the immunomodulatory effect of Swietenia mahagoni seeds in rats; methanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seed was administered orally at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight to healthy rats. The assessment of immunomodulatory activity was carried out by testing the neutrophil adhesion test, phagocytic index by carbon clearance test, Hemagglutinating antibody (HA) titre and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. Oral administration of the extract significantly increased in neutrophil adhesion to nylon fibre and delayed type of hypersensitivity responses when compared to control group. On the other hand, it showed significant increased in circulating antibody titre and phagocytic index in carbon clearance assay in a concentration dependent manner. Thus Swietenia mahagoni seed significantly potentiated the cellular immunity by facilitating the foot pad thickness responses to the sheep RBCs in sensitized rats as well as humoral immunity by significantly increasing circulating antibody titre. The responses were statistically significant when they were compared with the control (*p<0.05,**p<0.01). The study stated that Swietenia mahagoni shown a significant stimulation of the cell mediated immunity and humoral immunity.
Evoked cortical responses to affective visual stimuli.

The influence of affective meaning on visual evoked responses was investigated in male college students. By utilization of conditioning procedures, previously meaningless figures (CS) acquired affective loadings, e.g., positive, negative, and neutral. The semantic differential scale and critical flicker interval (CFI) were used as indices of conditioning. Although conditioning occurred without awareness, both measures of conditioning yielded results in the same direction, and all three affective conditions differed significantly from one another. Averaged evoked responses were obtained for each affective stimulus. Amplitudes were found to differ significantly from one another in all three conditions, the unpleasant stimulus eliciting the lowest evoked response, and the neutral condition evoking the highest amplitude. Significantly shorter latencies were obtained for the unpleasant stimulus, whereas the latencies of the positive and neutral stimuli did not differ significantly from each other. The results suggest a direct influence of the emotional centers (limbic system) on the visual perception of affective stimuli. Further studies were suggested to clarify the role of awareness and the specific modalities involved in conditioning.
The impending shift to an older mix of workers : Perspectives from the management and economics literatures

This paper adds a new dimension to the debate in the management literature about the merits or otherwise of employing older workers. Given the reality that we face an older workforce in the coming decades, the paper first reviews the management literature on the implications of an older workforce. This literature points to a range of benefits, and some costs, to businesses of employing older workers. A new dimension to this debate is provided by considering the age mix of a given workforce from the perspective of neoclassical economics. This framework provides us with the notion of an optimum workforce age mix. If an optimum age mix exists, the natural question that arises is: are we likely to move closer or further away from it as the available workforce ages? The paper suggests that an optimum age mix does exist, and early signs are that Australia is moving closer to it as the workforce ages. However, more empirical evidence and analysis is required before we can be confident about this prediction. The paper suggests a way forward in that regard.
The autonomous information system design for item management using rewritable RF-ID tags in supply chain

An autonomous information system design for item management is proposed for an efficient supply chain management. By using rewritable RF-ID tags instead of popular bar codes as a job ID, which represents a manifest of an item, each processing system directly communicates with the tag information of each item, and autonomous item management can be realized. The following four basic functions are designed, to introduce new items, to link each item to processes, to update item information, and acquire process records. The prototype systems, which handles RF-ID tags as processed items, selecting correct items and processes according to a production plan, are confirmed.
Incidence of Epilepsy and Unprovoked Seizures in Rochester, Minnesota: 1935–1984

Summary: The incidence of epilepsy and of all unprovoked seizures was determined for residents of Rochester, Minnesota U.S.A. from 1935 through 1984. Ageadjusted incidence of epilepsy was 44 per 100,000 personyears. Incidence in males was significantly higher than in females and was high in the first year of life but highest in persons aged ≥75years. Sixty percent of new cases had epilepsy manifested by partial seizures, and two thirds had no clearly identified antecedent. Cerebrovascular disease was the most commonly identified antecedent, accounting for 11% of cases. Neurologic deficits from birth, mental retardation and/or cerebral palsy, observed in 8% of cases, was the next most frequently identified preexisting condition. The cumulative incidence of epilepsy through age 74 years was 3.1%. The age‐adjusted incidence of all unprovoked seizures was 61 per 100,000 person‐years. Age‐and gender‐specific incidence trends were similar to those of epilepsy, but a higher proportion of cases was of unknown etiology and was characterized by generalized onset seizures. The cumulative incidence of all unprovoked seizures was 4.1% through age 74 years. With time, the incidence of epilepsy and of unprovoked seizures decreased in children and increased in the elderly.
Artificial Modules for Enhancing Rate Constants of a Group I Intron Ribozyme without a P4-P6 Core Element*

In this paper we report newly selected artificial modules that enhance the kcat values comparable with or higher than those of the wild-type ribozyme with broad substrate specificity. The elements required for the catalysis of Group I intron ribozymes are concentrated in the P3-P7 domain of their core region, which consists of two conserved helical domains, P4-P6 and P3-P7. Previously, we reported the in vitro selection of artificial modules residing at the peripheral region of a mutant Group I ribozyme lacking P4-P6. We found that derivatives of the ribozyme containing the modules performed the reversal of the first step of the self-splicing reaction efficiently by using their affinity to the substrate RNA, although their kcat values and substrate specificity were uninfluenced and limited, respectively. The results show that it is possible to add a variety of new domains at the peripheral region that play a role comparable with that of the conserved P4-P6 domain.
The Food and Drug Administration's Post‐Licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring program: strengthening the federal vaccine safety enterprise

In 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services created the new Post‐Licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring (PRISM) program, which used data from national health insurance plans and immunization registries to monitor the safety of the H1N1 influenza vaccine. PRISM has now been integrated into the FDA's Mini‐Sentinel pilot program. It strengthens the federal vaccine safety enterprise in two important ways. First, PRISM monitors the largest US general population cohort designated for active surveillance of vaccine safety. Second, PRISM links data from health plans with data from state and city immunization registries, which were a crucial source of exposure data in the H1N1 vaccine evaluation. The Mini‐Sentinel data that support PRISM are updated quarterly, and PRISM can conduct medical record review for validation of computerized data.
Does Funding for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Matter?

Since the onset of the AIDS epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has allocated several billion dollars for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States. Using state-level data from 1981 to 1998, the authors found that greater amounts of prevention funding in a given year are associated with reductions in reported gonorrhea incidence rates in subsequent years. The authors conclude that funding for STD and HIV prevention, on the whole, appears to have a discernable impact on the incidence of STDs.
The Dilemma of ICD Implant Testing

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) has been induced at implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implant to ensure reliable sensing, detection, and defibrillation. Despite its risks, the value was self‐evident for early ICDs: failure of defibrillation was common, recipients had a high risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or VF, and the only therapy for rapid VT or VF was a shock. Today, failure of defibrillation is rare, the risk of VT/VF is lower in some recipients, antitachycardia pacing is applied for fast VT, and vulnerability testing permits assessment of defibrillation efficacy without inducing VF in most patients. This review reappraises ICD implant testing. At implant, defibrillation success is influenced by both predictable and unpredictable factors, including those related to the patient, ICD system, drugs, and complications. For left pectoral implants of high‐output ICDs, the probability of passing a 10 J safety margin is ∼95%, the probability that a maximum output shock will defibrillate is ∼99%, and the incidence of system revision based on testing is ≤ 5%. Bayes' Theorem predicts that implant testing identifies ≤ 50% of patients at high risk for unsuccessful defibrillation. Most patients who fail implant criteria have false negative tests and may undergo unnecessary revision of their ICD systems. The first‐shock success rate for spontaneous VT/VF ranges from 83% to 93%, lower than that for induced VF. Thus, shocks for spontaneous VT/VF fail for reasons that are not evaluated at implant. Whether system revision based on implant testing improves this success rate is unknown. The risks of implant testing include those related to VF and those related to shocks alone. The former may be due to circulatory arrest alone or the combination of circulatory arrest and shocks. Vulnerability testing reduces risks related to VF, but not those related to shocks. Mortality from implant testing probably is 0.1–0.2%. Overall, VF should be induced to assess sensing in ∼ 5% of ICD recipients. Defibrillation or vulnerability testing is indicated in 20–40% of recipients who can be identified as having a higher‐than‐usual probability of an inadequate defibrillation safety margin based on patient‐specific factors. However, implant testing is too risky in ∼5% of recipients and may not be worth the risks in 10–30%. In 25–50% of ICD recipients, testing cannot be identified as either critical or contraindicated.
Spreading or Concentrating Drinking Occasions – Who Is Most at Risk?

Aims: (a) To compare acute negative consequences for people who drink a given amount of alcohol on few occasions (concentrators) per week in comparison with the consequences for people who drink the same amount on more days in a week (spreaders). (b) To investigate whether these associations are cross-culturally stable. Methods: Analysis is based on general population surveys of adults conducted in 7 European countries. Results: It appeared that more drinking occasions in many countries lead to more consequences independent of the volume consumed. Risky single-occasion drinking was to be associated with higher risks for immediate health consequences and legal problems, accidents and fights. Among older respondents the same frequency pattern appeared, with the exception of immediate health consequences among women. Hence, more regular drinking seemed to have more beneficial effects on older individuals compared to younger ones, which may be related to the different drinking situation: younger people mostly drinking outside the home. Amongst the younger people, frequent drinking seemed to be associated with more acute consequences. Cultural and methodological variations must be taken into account. Conclusion: Even so, it is concluded that the credibility of these findings is strengthened by differences in the methods of the surveys.
Stimulation of murine B cells with anti‐Ig antibodies: dominance of a negative signal mediated by the Fc receptor

While soluble intact rabbit anti‐mouse x chain antibodies (RaMK) fail to stimulate [3H] thymidine incorporation in B cells of young mice, the F(ab')2 fragments thereof are stimulatory. This stimulation can be abrogated by the addition of soluble intact RaMK, pointing at the dominance of a negative signal mediated by intact antibodies, probably via their Fc portion. Blocking the interaction between intact antibody, and the Fc receptor of B cells by staphylococcal protein A renders the intact antibodies also stimulatory. Protein A itself is not mitogenic in this system nor does its addition influence B cell activation induced by rabbit F (ab')2 anti‐mouse x chain antibodies. The data indicate that the Ig receptor of murine B cells can serve as a triggering receptor provided the negative signal mediated by cross‐linkage involving the B cells' Fc receptor is avoided.
A novel Fiber Bragg Grating tension sensor for ground conductor

Ground conductor is easily broken when ice accumulates on it. Thus a novel Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor is proposed to measure the tension of the ground conductor to warning the danger. The factors affecting the sensitivity of the sensor are studied. The results of tension experiment indicate the sensitivity and resolution of the sensor are 0.2286pm/N and 2.18N respectively, and both of them can be easily altered by the equation proposed. The temperature effect on the measurement, which is caused by the crosstalk of FBG, is reduced by setting a zero-force FBG. The error of the sensor caused by temperature, evaluated by putting the sensor in an oven, is lower than 10 pm from −30 °C to 50 °C. An ice simulation platform is build in our laboratory, the results show the relative error of the simulated ice load calculated by the output of the sensor is lower than 5%.
Particle-size distribution, Part III: Determination by analytical sieving

Analytical sieving is one of the fundamental methods for the classification of powders, and it is probably the method of choice for granular or coarse powders.The method is fairly simple to perform, its validation is relatively straightforward, and the interpretation and presentation of results are fairly standard. Well-established procedures for analytical sieving are found in the United States Pharmacopeia, and appropriate apparatus for its use are relatively available.
Binary Comparative Search for SLCA problem

Nowadays, searching information exactly from XML data has become more and more important. SLCA (smallest lowest common ancestors ) is a method of getting information from XML data. The method is that we are requested to find all the nodes corresponding to the tightest subtrees in XML data, which involves the given keywords. It's a convenient method to retrieve data from XML documents for searcher,especially who is not familiar with XML knowledge. There have been many proposed algorithms solving SLCA problem through transforming XML documents into XML trees labeled with Dewey codes, such as LISA and LISA II.This paper proposes a new solution, Binary Comparative Search (BCS), targeted to XML data retrieval. Compared with LISA II, which has been proven to be better than ILE and SE. The new method dose more efficiently. In the end, LISA II and BCS are tested analytically and experimentally on data generated by XMark.
A Baseline Climatology of Sounding-Derived Supercell and Tornado Forecast Parameters

Abstract All of the 0000 UTC soundings from the United States made during the year 1992 that have nonzero convective available potential energy (CAPE) are examined. Soundings are classified as being associated with nonsupercell thunderstorms, supercells without significant tornadoes, and supercells with significant tornadoes. This classification is made by attempting to pair, based on the low-level sounding winds, an upstream sounding with each occurrence of a significant tornado, large hail, and/or 10 or more cloud-to-ground lightning flashes. Severe weather wind parameters (mean shear, 0–6-km shear, storm-relative helicity, and storm-relative anvil-level flow) and CAPE parameters (total CAPE and CAPE in the lowest 3000 m with buoyancy) are shown to discriminate weakly between the environments of the three classified types of storms. Combined parameters (energy–helicity index and vorticity generation parameter) discriminate strongly between the environments. The height of the lifting condensation level a.
Selective defect of baroreflex blood pressure buffering with intact cardioinhibition in a woman with familial aniridia

We report a symptomatic failure of the baroreceptor blood pressure (BP) buffering mechanism in a woman with familial aniridia. Her baseline BP oscillated at 0.1 Hz, the frequency of Mayer waves, with increased amplitude on standing without orthostatic hypotension. Although sudomotor function was normal, cutaneous thermoregulatory function and BP response to Valsalva's maneuver were abnormal. The defective BP buffer mechanism suggests Mayer waves could be a sympathetic mediated cardiovascular resonance. Baroreceptor cardioinhibition was intact. We presume that the lesion is in the rostral aspect of the dorsal medulla oblongata.
LXA 4 stimulates ZO-1 expression and transepithelial electrical resistance in human airway epithelial ( 16 HBE 14 o-) cells

Grumbach Y, Quynh NV, Chiron R, Urbach V. LXA4 stimulates ZO-1 expression and transepithelial electrical resistance in human airway epithelial (16HBE14o-) cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L101–L108, 2009. First published October 10, 2008; doi:10.1152/ajplung.00018. 2008. —Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a biologically active eicosanoid produced in human airways that displays anti-inflammatory properties. In cystic fibrosis and severe asthma, LXA4 production has been reported to be decreased, and, in such diseases, one of the consequences of airway inflammation is disruption of the tight junctions. In the present study, we investigated the possible role of LXA4 on tight junction formation, using transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) measurements, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. We observed that exposure to LXA4 (100 nM) for 2 days significantly increased zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1, and occludin expression at the plasma membrane of confluent human bronchial epithelial 16HBE14ocells. LXA4 (100 nM) stimulated the daily increase of the 16HBE14ocell monolayer TER, and this effect was inhibited by boc-2 (LXA4 receptor antagonist). LXA4 also had a rapid effect on ZO-1 immunofluorescence at the plasma membrane and increased TER within 10 min. In conclusion, our experiments provide evidence that LXA4 plays certainly a new role for the regulation of tight junction formation and stimulation of the localization and expression of ZO-1 at the plasma membrane through a mechanism involving the LXA4 receptor.
Regulation of plasma von Willebrand factor

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a multimeric plasma glycoprotein that plays a central role in the initiation of blood coagulation. Through interactions between its specific functional domains, the vascular wall, coagulation factor VIII, and platelet receptors, VWF maintains hemostasis by binding to platelets and delivering factor VIII to the sites of vascular injury. In the healthy human population, plasma VWF levels vary widely. The important role of VWF is illustrated by individuals at the extremes of the normal distribution of plasma VWF concentrations where individuals with low VWF levels are more likely to present with mucocutaneous bleeding. Conversely, people with high VWF levels are at higher risk for venous thromboembolic disease, stroke, and coronary artery disease. This report will summarize recent advances in our understanding of environmental influences and the genetic control of VWF plasma variation in healthy and symptomatic populations and will also highlight the unanswered questions that are currently driving this field of study.
How does Parkinson's disease affect quality of life? A comparison with quality of life in the general population

Adequate provision of appropriate healthcare resources for patients with chronic neurologic disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD) requires knowledge of the impact of the illness on their life. Quality of life (QoL) instruments measure the impact of the disease on general well‐being that cannot be fully appreciated by clinical rating scales and allow comparisons with other patient groups and the general population.
Scalar Reflectometer Based Nondestructive Technique for Measuring Complex Permittivity and Permeability

A low cost, scalar reflectometer based method, named "multithickness method" (MTM), is proposed for non-destructively and simultaneously charactering the complex permittivity and permeability of lossy materials via an open-ended coaxial probe (OECP). The spectral domain immitance (SDI) method has been used to theoretically model the OECP-based test setup, followed by the establishment of uncertainty analysis model. A discussion about how to select the multi thicknesses of test sample is also included based on the analysis and our experience. The broadband frequency-swept measurement, supported by the uncertainty analysis, has been conducted on a typical absorbing material under different thicknesses combination conditions. The experiment results agree well with the reference data, which validates the feasibility and effectiveness of this improved technique