Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
InterestCast: adaptive event dissemination for interactive real-time applications

Many networked applications use push-based many-to-many communication. Especially real-time applications, such as online games and other virtual reality applications, need to synchronize state between many participants under strict latency requirements. Those applications typically exchange frequent state updates and therefore require an appropriate dissemination mechanism. Centralized and server-based solutions do not minimize latency, since they always need an extra round-trip to the server. In addition, a server infrastructure constitutes a potential performance bottleneck and thus a scalability limitation. Direct communication between event source and destination is often latency-minimal but quickly exceeds the capacities especially of poorly connected participants because each one needs to communicate individually with many others. Our proposed solution, InterestCast, provides a decentralized event dissemination mechanism that uses peer-to-peer event forwarding, allowing powerful participants to help weak participants with the event multiplication and dissemination. To obtain forwarding configurations that best fit the current situation and application needs, InterestCast adapts them dynamically and continuously during runtime. The application’s needs are passed as utility functions, which determine the utility of events with a given latency for a given interest level. Interest levels serve as an abstraction for the importance of events from a specific source, allowing a more fine-grained prioritization than an all-or-nothing subscription model. This is particularly useful if the importance of updates depends on virtual reality distance or another application-specific metric. InterestCast runs an incremental local optimization algorithm that repeatedly evaluates all possible rerouting operations from the point of view of the respective local node. In each iteration, the best operation is chosen based on the application’s utility functions and a system model that predicts the effects of a given operation. As this optimization process is run on each node independently, it scales well with the number of participants. The prediction only uses local knowledge as well as information from the local neighborhood in up to two hops, which is provided by a neighborhood information exchange protocol. Our evaluation shows that the results of InterestCast’s distributed optimization are close to the global optima computed by a integer program solver. Computing the optimum for a given situation globally at runtime, however, is infeasible due to its computational complexity, even with a highly simplified network model. In detailed network simulations, we further demonstrate the superiority of InterestCast over a purely direct event dissemination in online gaming scenarios. In comparison with the direct dissemination, InterestCast significantly reduces the traffic of weak nodes and almost quadruples the possible number of participants for the same average delivery latency of high-interest events.
A longitudinal study of Escherichia coli O157 in fourteen cattle herds

Escherichia coli O157 shedding in 14 cattle herds was determined by faecal culture at intervals of approximately 1 month for up to 13 months. The overall prevalence was 1·0% (113/10832 faecal samples) and 9 of the 14 herds were detected as positive. Herds positive 2 years previously (n=5) had a higher prevalence of positive cattle (median=1·9%) than herds which had been negative on a previous sampling (n=8, median=0·2%). Weaned heifers had a higher prevalence (1·8%) than did unweaned calves (0·9%) or adults (0·4%). For all herds the highest prevalence occurred in the summer months, which resulted in most of the positive faecal samples being collected on a minority of sampling visits.
cytotoxicity in human lung epithelial cells pyocyanin Pseudomonas Subcellular localization of

[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , July , 2004; 287 (1): L94-L103. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol Britigan Yunxia Q. O'Malley, Krzysztof J. Reszka, Douglas R. Spitz, Gerene M. Denning and Bradley E. airway epithelial cells pyocyanin directly oxidizes glutathione and decreases its levels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , June 1, 2005; 171 (11): 1209-1223. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. Ruxana T. Sadikot, Timothy S. Blackwell, John W. Christman and Alice S. Prince Pneumonia Pseudomonas aeruginosa Host Interactions in − Pathogen [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , January 1, 2008; 177 (1): 35-43. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. Moira K. B. Whyte Graham W. Taylor, Paul G. Hellewell, Ian Sabroe, David H. Dockrell, Peter W. Henson and Stephen M. Bianchi, Lynne R. Prince, Kathleen McPhillips, Lucy Allen, Helen M. Marriott, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Impairment of Apoptotic Cell Engulfment by Pyocyanin, a Toxic Metabolite of [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , April 25, 2011; . Hum. Mol. Genet. Conti, Mario Ollero, Franck Brouillard and Aleksander Edelman Baudouin-Legros, Sandra Moriceau, Ludovic Jeanson, Fatima Djouadi, Corine Matar, Marc Mairead Kelly-Aubert, Stéphanie Trudel, Janine Fritsch, Thao Nguyen-Khoa, Maryvonne GSH monoethyl ester rescues mitochondrial defects in cystic fibrosis models [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , July 15, 2011; 20 (14): 2745-2759. Hum. Mol. Genet. Conti, Mario Ollero, Franck Brouillard and Aleksander Edelman Baudouin-Legros, Sandra Moriceau, Ludovic Jeanson, Fatima Djouadi, Corine Matar, Marc Mairead Kelly-Aubert, Stéphanie Trudel, Janine Fritsch, Thao Nguyen-Khoa, Maryvonne GSH monoethyl ester rescues mitochondrial defects in cystic fibrosis models
Correlation of NADH and Ca2+ signals in mouse pancreatic acinar cells

Relationships between calcium signals and NADH responses were investigated in pancreatic acinar cells stimulated with calcium‐releasing secretagogues. Cytosolic calcium signals were studied using Fura Red or calcium‐sensitive Cl− current. Mitochondrial calcium was measured using Rhod‐2. The highest levels of NADH autofluorescence were found around the secretory granule region. Stimulation of cells with physiological doses of cholecystokinin (CCK) triggered slow oscillations of NADH autofluorescence. NADH oscillations were clearly resolved in the mitochondrial clusters around secretory granules. Very fast apical calcium signals induced by acetylcholine (ACh) produced no detectable changes in NADH; slightly more extended apical (or preferentially apical) calcium transients triggered clear NADH responses. Triple combined recordings of cytosolic calcium, mitochondrial calcium and NADH revealed the sequence of development of individual signals: an increase in cytosolic calcium was accompanied by a slower mitochondrial calcium response followed by a delayed increase in NADH fluorescence. Recovery of cytosolic calcium was faster than recovery of mitochondrial calcium. NADH recovery occurred at elevated mitochondrial calcium levels. During the transient cytosolic calcium oscillations induced by intermediate doses of ACh, there was an initial increase in NADH fluorescence following the first calcium transient; each of the subsequent calcium responses produced biphasic NADH changes comprising an initial small decline followed by restoration to an elevated calcium level. During the higher‐frequency sinusoidal calcium oscillations induced by higher doses of ACh, NADH responses fused into a smooth rise followed by a slow decline. Supramaximal doses of ACh and CCK produced single large NADH transients.
Animal Models of Chronic Allograft Injury: Contributions and Limitations to Understanding the Mechanism of Long-Term Graft Dysfunction

Advances in immunosuppression have reduced the incidence of acute graft loss after transplantation, but long-term allograft survival is still hindered by the development of chronic allograft injury, a multifactorial process that involves both immunologic and nonimmunologic components. Because these components become defined in the clinical setting, development of animal models enables exploration into underlying mechanisms leading to long-term graft dysfunction. This review presents animal models that have enabled investigation into chronic allograft injury and discusses pivotal models currently being used. The mechanisms uncovered by these models will ultimately lead to development of new therapeutic options to prevent long-term graft dysfunction.
Identification and Ranking of the Factors Affecting Audit Quality Based on the Views of Independent Auditors and Users of Audit Services

Abstract. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of audit quality among different beneficiary groups. It seems that each beneficiary group has a different perception of the factors affecting audit quality depending on the type and amount of its direct involvement in the audit process and the impact it would take from the results. Therefore, to identify the factors affecting audit quality based on the views of independent auditors and users of audit services, a 23-item questionnaire was distributed among a sample of 94 subjects (47 members of the auditors’ representatives and 47 members of the employers’ representatives). The items were classified into the two main dimensions of the auditing firm features and the employer’s characteristics. The results showed both groups consider both major dimensions to influence on audit quality. Then, applying Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, it was attempted to calculate the weights of indices from the perspective of both groups. The results showed each of the two groups of auditors and employers perceive the other group’s features to be more important based on audit quality. The auditors’ group attributed more weight to the employers’ features, while the employers knew audit quality to be more dependent on the auditors’ characteristics rather than on their own.
Measles in Vietnamese refugee children in Hong Kong

From September 1991–January 1992, there was a measles epidemic in an established refugee camp for 7000 Vietnamese ‘Boat People’ living in Hong Kong. This 16 week outbreak occurred against a backdrop of poor uptake of measles vaccination and overcrowded living conditions. Two hundred and sixty-two children were affected (155 boys, 107 girls); 235 children (89·7%) were <2 years old, age range 5–39 months. Children age 6–11 months had the highest crude attack rate (AR) of 54·3%. The highest age specific crude AR was 83·8% in children aged 14 months. Measles complications affected 234 (89·3%) children. Sixty-six children (25·2%) were admitted to hospital. There were two deaths from pneumonia, giving a case fatality rate of 0·76%. Measles control in refugee camps continues to be a public health challenge.
A study of polymorphism in the circumsporozoite protein of human malaria parasites.

We have characterized the circumsporozoite (CS) gene sequences of Plasmodium malariae China-1 CDC, isolated recently from a person who was infected 50 years ago in China, and P. vivax Chesson, isolated 48 years ago from a patient who had returned from New Guinea. These protein sequences were compared with the CS protein sequences of recently isolated P. vivax and P. malariae parasites. In a similar manner, we compared the previously characterized CS protein gene of P. falciparum clone 7G8, derived from a Brazilian isolate collected in 1980, with the CS protein genes of recent P. falciparum field isolates. In the case of the P. malariae CS protein gene, with the exception of an additional copy of major (NAAG) and minor (NDAG) repeat sequences and the presence of one copy of NDEG sequence, the China-1 CDC P. malariae parasite is similar to the Uganda-1 CDC isolate of 1982. In the nonrepeat region, changes were noted in two amino acid residues, one of which is also seen in a closely related monkey malaria parasite, P. brasilianum. In the case of P. vivax CS proteins, the nonrepeat region of the protein in Chesson strain shares identity with nearly 71% of the CS clones characterized from field isolates. In the P. falciparum CS proteins, the 7G8 CS protein sequence is identical to 75% of the genes of recent field isolates in the Th1R-N1 region. In the Th2R and Th3R regions, 34% and 55% of the CS clones analyzed, respectively, had changes at two amino acid residues. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Applying the paradigm of Open Innovation to enhance early Collaborative Product Potential Analysis

Open Innovation is one of the most recognized business innovations in the last decade. But while the original idea of this paradigm has been to involve external actors throughout the innovation process, industrial practice often interprets Open Innovation as the mere integration of the final customer during the idea generation. This paper introduces Collaborative Product Potential Analysis (cPPA) as a method for innovation management in industrial networks. It implements the ideas of Open Innovation by systematically integrating knowledge of suppliers, customers and service providers in the process of idea evaluation and selection. cPPA gives comprehensive insight into an innovation idea even in the fuzziness of the front end of innovation. An example from the collaborative research project AVALON illustrates how the cPPA method can help to highlight strengths and weaknesses of a product idea early in the innovation process.
Core-Gene-Encoded Peptide Regulating Virulence-Associated Traits in Streptococcus mutans

ABSTRACT Recently, high-coverage genome sequence of 57 isolates of Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of human dental caries, was completed. The SMU.1147 gene, encoding a 61-amino-acid (61-aa) peptide, was present in all sequenced strains of S. mutans but absent in all bacteria in current databases. Reverse transcription-PCR revealed that SMU.1147 is cotranscribed with scnK and scnR, which encode the histidine kinase and response regulator, respectively, of a two-component system (TCS). The C terminus of the SMU.1147 gene product was tagged with a FLAG epitope and shown to be expressed in S. mutans by Western blotting with an anti-FLAG antibody. A nonpolar mutant of SMU.1147 formed less biofilm in glucose-containing medium and grew slower than did the wild-type strain under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, at low pH, or in the presence of H2O2. Mutation of SMU.1147 dramatically reduced genetic competence and expression of comX and comY, compared to S. mutans UA159. The competence defect of the SMU.1147 mutant could not be overcome by addition of sigX-inducing peptide (XIP) in defined medium or by competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) in complex medium. Complementation with SMU.1147 on a plasmid restored all phenotypes. Interestingly, mutants lacking either one of the TCS components and a mutant lacking all three genes behaved like the wild-type strain for all phenotypes mentioned above, but all mutant strains grew slower than UA159 in medium supplemented with 0.3 M NaCl. Thus, the SMU.1147-encoded peptide affects virulence-related traits and dominantly controls quorum-sensing pathways for development of genetic competence in S. mutans.
The school subject information technology: a South African perspective

In this paper our presupposition is that the content knowledge of the school subject Information Technology (IT) is beyond the expected depth of Grade 12 learners. We demonstrate our presupposition by indicating different concerns from principals, teachers and learners. We show that learners have not achieved the stated outcomes as specified in the National Curriculum Statement and Learning Programme Guidelines. In addition, we compare the United Kingdom's leading award body for A-Level qualifications for Computing with the IT content framework of South Africa. We recommend a revision of the content framework to accommodate all learners and equip them with a more balanced knowledge base of the subject field.
Open Innovation and Intellectual Property - The Double-Edged Sword

Open innovation concept changes the course of many strategic functions in the business world. At least, due to openness of innovation, intellectual property (IP) management is witnessing a new and unique type of experience, which requires different strategies for firms to take. Many leading companies are earning a fair amount of their revenues from IP out-licensing. Others are heavily involved with IP in-licensing to reduce their internal R&D costs or IP cross-licensing for mutual benefits. Some are winning and other are losing in this newly developed IPs regime. Thus, IP is a glowingly pivotal player in the open innovation phenomenon. The study aims to explore this relatively new phenomenon - how IP plays roles in open innovation paradigm - which has so far been studied very sparsely. The paper concludes with a suggested research agenda and provides some managerial implications to find insight on the role of intellectual property in open innovation paradigm.
Projeto Um computador por aluno no Brasil

To facilitate access to information and digital inclusion in schools, many countries have distributed educational laptops to their students. In Brazil, the Program One Computer per Student (ProUCA) completes six years in 2012. During this period, the needs, possibilities and challenges have emerged, and with them, new spaces for research and contributions to encourage and promote the use of this feature as a support of digital and social inclusion in the educational process. Thus, this study aims to present a brief history of the implementation of the Program and gather the Brazilian research resulting from this program between 2007 and 2012. It was found that the introduction of educational laptops in schools brought some educational advantages, but there are still many problems that need to be overcome.
A Communication Strategy to Address Health Inequities in Municipal Settings

This study assessed knowledge of health inequities, importance and benefits/barriers of addressing inequities, and ways of communicating information about inequities among municipal officials. Five focus groups (N=47) were conducted with officials from economic development, land use and housing, public safety, education, and environment departments. Discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed for key themes. Findings show that participants had an uneven understanding of the symptoms and causes of health inequities and identified limitations to participating in health equity initiatives and collaborating with local health departments. Recommendations are that a communication strategy to reduce health inequities should aim to increase awareness of the links between local government policies and the health status of vulnerable populations. For collaborative efforts to work, local health departments need to make functions of public health more explicit, provide evidence of health inequities and their causes, and demonstrate that they have the commitment and capacity to lead.
Long-range and high-precision correlation optical time-domain reflectometry utilizing an all-fiber chaotic source.

We propose a long range, high precision optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) based on an all-fiber supercontinuum source. The source simply consists of a CW pump laser with moderate power and a section of fiber, which has a zero dispersion wavelength near the laser's central wavelength. Spectrum and time domain properties of the source are investigated, showing that the source has great capability in nonlinear optics, such as correlation OTDR due to its ultra-wide-band chaotic behavior, and mm-scale spatial resolution is demonstrated. Then we analyze the key factors limiting the operational range of such an OTDR, e. g. , integral Rayleigh backscattering and the fiber loss, which degrades the optical signal to noise ratio at the receiver side, and then the guideline for counter-act such signal fading is discussed. Finally, we experimentally demonstrate a correlation OTDR with 100km sensing range and 8.2cm spatial resolution (1.2 million resolved points), as a verification of theoretical analysis.
Cardiac MRI and 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography in pediatric and young adult patients with Turner syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIM This study aimed to describe the spectrum and frequency of cardiovascular abnormalities in pediatric and young adult patients with Turner syndrome (TS) using cardiac MRI and MR angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study consisted of 47 female patients of pediatric age and young adults with a karyotypically confirmed diagnosis of TS. All patients underwent cardiac MRI and contrast-enhanced MR angiography. A second examination after 9-26 months was performed for 28 of these patients. RESULTS Elongation of the transverse aortic arch (ETA) was the most frequent abnormality with a rate of 37%. The rate of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) was 21.7%, bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) was 19.6%, coarctation was 6.5%, ascending aorta dilatation was 28.3%, and descending aorta dilatation was 15.2%. The diameters of the aorta and the rate of aortic dilatation per unit of time was greater in the patients with BAV (P < 0.05). ETA was less observed in the patients who were receiving growth hormone therapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The most common cardiovascular abnormalities in TS patients are aortic arch anomalies such as ETA and coarctation, aortic dilatation, PAPVCs, and BAV. The presence of BAV is an important risk factor for the aortic dilatation.
Developing relationships in business networks

This edited collection applies the network approach to the analysis of business relationships in a global context. Drawing on a number of international case studies, a "network approach" is developed, giving rise to theoretical and practical managerial insights and a different way of conceptualizing companies within markets. New angles emerge on traditional problems of business management, with some novel implications which should challenge established ways to analyze business markets. Previous publications by these authors include, "Corporate Technological Behaviour", "Professional Purchasing" and "Managing Innovation Within Networks".
Foreign Firms and Technology Transfer Knowledge Spillovers to Indian Manufacturing Firms

The present paper uses techniques from stochastic production frontier and panel data literature to test for the spillover hypothesis that 'presence of foreign firms and disembodied technology import in a sector leads to higher productivity growth for domestic firms'. The study uses panel data for 368 medium and large-sized Indian manufacturing firms for the period 1975-76 to 1988-89. The results indicate that the domestic firms tend to benefit from foreign-owned firms irrespective of the technological and production requirement of the sectors. However, once the initial level of productivity gap is considered, it is firms belonging to the 'scientific' subgroup that experience knowledge spillovers from the presence of foreign-owned firms. The other source of knowledge spillover i.e., disembodied technology import in the sector does not attain significance in either variant of the model. Furthermore, the result of previous studies that find knowledge spillovers in low-tech sectors where technology-gap is smaller between foreign-owned firms and local firms is also not validated in the present study.