Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Schedule and Self-Distributive MAC Scheduling Algorithms for Next-Generation Sensor Networks

The distributive nature of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) poses great challenges for the design of distributive scheduling to maximize network life and spatial reuse of time slot with minimum frame length. Most of the existing scheduling techniques are either centralized or contentional. The existing techniques cannot efficiently adapt to the dynamic wireless environment. In this paper, self-scheduled and distributed MAC (SSD-MAC) and self-distributive MAC (SD-MAC) medium access control algorithms are proposed to reduce the complexity and variety of scheduling problems. The proposed algorithms do not require any synchronization and can effectively adapt to dynamic topology changes without incurring global communication overhead. According to the proposed algorithms, each node maps a conflict-free time slot for itself up to 2-hop neighboring nodes. Consequently, each node successfully schedules a unique time slot for itself in a heuristic manner based on its local information. Moreover, the proposed algorithms also guarantee conflict-free edge coloring because all the incident edges to a single node are assigned to colors in such a way that none of the edges should have the same color. It has been demonstrated that, with regard to communication overhead, energy consumption and execution time through simulation proposed that algorithms outperform existing distributed randomized scheduling algorithm (DRAND).
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY, HEART RATES, AND HEART WEIGHTS OF FREE-LIVING BIRDS

Abstract To examine the waveforms of electrocardiograms, cardiac rhythm, heart rates at rest and during excitement, and the rate of increase of heart rate, electrocardiograms were recorded with standard bipolar limb leads from 79 free-living birds, including 19 species. The heart weights and heart-to-body weight ratios were obtained from an additional 96 free-living birds, including 20 species. In the majority of the electrocardiograms, lead I was of low amplitudes for all waves except the P wave, and leads II and III were very similar to each other with a predominant S wave and a very short or elevated ST segment. The P wave was often superimposed on the T wave when the heart rate increased to 330 beats/min. Four types of arrhythmia were observed in 50 of the 79 birds (63.3%): 48 sinus arrhythmias, four sinus arrests, two atrial premature contractions, and one ventricular premature contraction. The resting heart rate was negatively associated with the rate of increase, suggesting that a bird with a low resting rate might be able to maintain a greater capacity to increase its heart rate than one with a high resting rate. A negative correlation on a bilogarithmic scale was obtained between the heart weight and the resting heart rate, indicating that a bird with a high heart weight had lower resting heart rate than a bird with a low heart weight. When the heart-to-body weight ratios of free-living birds were compared according to their motility, the ratios of more active birds were greater than those of less active ones.
Three dimensional lobule-mimetic regeneration in vitro by PEGDA-based cell sheets

We propose a forming method of hydrogel-based cell sheets for regenerating three dimensional lobule-mimetic constructions. Accumulating the cells are conventional methods of three dimensional designs. In this study, we have designed a cell sheet chip to form a poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-based cell sheet by two methods. First method is to pattern cells by DEP force for mimicking the pattern of the hepatocyte in vivo. Second method is to embed cells by UV light for photopolymerizing the PEGDA-based cell sheet. Stacking chip was used to form multilayer PEGDA-based cell sheets. The three dimensional lobule-mimetic regeneration will have widespread the applications in tissue engineering and detoxication experiments.
Phosphorylation-dependent epitopes of neurofilament antibodies on tau protein and relationship with Alzheimer tau.

We have studied the phosphorylation of tau protein from Alzheimer paired helical filaments, of tau from normal human brain, and of recombinant tau isoforms. As a tool we used monoclonal antibodies against neurofilament protein [Sternberger, N. , Sternberger, L. & Ulrich, J. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 4274-4276] that crossreact with tau in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. This allowed us to deduce the state of phosphorylation in normal and pathological tau, as well as antibody epitopes. The epitope of antibody SMI33 is at the first Lys-Ser-Pro sequence motif (residues 234-236) and requires an unphosphorylated Ser-235. Antibody SMI31 binds between Ser-396 (in the second Lys-Ser-Pro motif) and Ser-404, both of which must be phosphorylated. SMI34 has a conformational epitope that depends on the interaction between regions on either side of the microtubule-binding region; it also requires phosphorylation. The phosphorylatable serines detected by the SMI antibodies are part of Ser-Pro motifs and can be phosphorylated by a protein kinase activity that can be used to induce a paired helical filament-like state in human brain tau in vitro. The phosphates are incorporated in several stages that can be identified by antibody reactivity and gel shift. This suggests a role for the phosphorylation sites in Alzheimer disease, as well as the involvement of a Ser-Pro-directed protein kinase.
Learning to Learn without Gradient Descent by Gradient Descent

We learn recurrent neural network optimizers trained on simple synthetic functions by gradient descent. We show that these learned optimizers exhibit a remarkable degree of transfer in that they can be used to efficiently optimize a broad range of derivative-free black-box functions, including Gaussian process bandits, simple control objectives, global optimization benchmarks and hyper-parameter tuning tasks. Up to the training horizon, the learned optimizers learn to trade-off exploration and exploitation, and compare favourably with heavily engineered Bayesian optimization packages for hyper-parameter tuning.
Don’t live in a town where there are no doctors: toxic epidermal necrolysis initially misdiagnosed as oral thrush

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare but life threatening skin disease that is most commonly drug induced. The exact pathogenesis of TEN is still unknown and many drugs, including prednisolone, cyclosporin and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), have been used in an attempt to halt the disease process. The use of IVIG in particular is controversial. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made a labelling change to the drug information for carbamazepine. Owing to recent data implicating the HLA allele B*1502 as a marker for carbamazepine induced Stevens–Johnson syndrome and TEN in Han Chinese, the FDA recommends genotyping all Asians for the allele. We present an interesting case of carbamazepine induced TEN which was confused with oral thrush, had no skin lesions on presentation, and had an excellent response to a 5 day course of methylprednisolone and high dose IVIG in combination.
Crohn disease: A current perspective on genetics, autophagy and immunity

Crohn disease (CD) is a chronic and debilitating inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract.1 Prevalence in western populations is 100–150/100,000 and somewhat higher in Ashkenazi Jews. Peak incidence is in early adult life, although any age can be affected and a majority of affected individuals progress to relapsing and chronic disease. Medical treatments rely significantly on empirical corticosteroid therapy and immunosuppression, and intestinal resectional surgery is frequently required. Thus, 80% of patients with CD come to surgery for refractory disease or complications. It is hoped that an improved understanding of pathogenic mechanisms, for example by studying the genetic basis of CD and other forms of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), will lead to improved therapies and possibly preventative strategies in individuals identified as being at risk.
Difference in the level of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin accumulation between the crabs Telmessus acutidens and Charybdis japonica collected in Onahama, Fukushima Prefecture

The difference in paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin accumulation in the crabs Telmessus acutidens and Charybdis japonica was investigated at Onahama, Fukushima Prefecture, from 2002 to 2005. The level of toxin accumulation in the hepatopancreas of T. acutidens corresponded to that of mussels when examined on a yearly basis. In 2003, some crabs had a high toxicity of approximately 1000 MU, which compares to one-third of the human minimum lethal dose. Therefore T. acutidens should be monitored as a vector species of PSP toxin. The toxin profile of T. acutidens was also investigated. Because an increase in highly toxic species of PSP toxins with a decrease in low toxic species, such as N-sulfocarbamoyl-11-hydroxysulfate toxins, was not clearly observed between consecutive samples, toxin transformation in T. acutidens was considered to have a minimal impact on toxicity. PSP toxins were also detected in several specimens of C. japonica, but the highest toxicity was only 7.4 MU/g in the hepatopancreas. Because C. japonica is widely distributed in the coastal waters of Japan, investigation of toxin accumulation in the crab should be continued, including its investigation in different areas of water from Onahama, where the causative dinoflagellates of PSP occur in different conditions.
Prediction of protein-protein interactions using distant conservation of sequence patterns and structure relationships

MOTIVATION Given that association and dissociation of protein molecules is crucial in most biological processes several in silico methods have been recently developed to predict protein-protein interactions. Structural evidence has shown that usually interacting pairs of close homologs (interologs) physically interact in the same way. Moreover, conservation of an interaction depends on the conservation of the interface between interacting partners. In this article we make use of both, structural similarities among domains of known interacting proteins found in the Database of Interacting Proteins (DIP) and conservation of pairs of sequence patches involved in protein-protein interfaces to predict putative protein interaction pairs. RESULTS We have obtained a large amount of putative protein-protein interaction (approximately 130,000). The list is independent from other techniques both experimental and theoretical. We separated the list of predictions into three sets according to their relationship with known interacting proteins found in DIP. For each set, only a small fraction of the predicted protein pairs could be independently validated by cross checking with the Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD). The fraction of validated protein pairs was always larger than that expected by using random protein pairs. Furthermore, a correlation map of interacting protein pairs was calculated with respect to molecular function, as defined in the Gene Ontology database. It shows good consistency of the predicted interactions with data in the HPRD database. The intersection between the lists of interactions of other methods and ours produces a network of potentially high-confidence interactions.
Haemostatic Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Differential Effects of Red Wine and Diet on Healthy Young

Two groups (21 healthy young male each) received either Mediterranean-type diet (MD) or high-fat diet(HFD) during 90 days. Between days 30-60, both diets were supplemented with 240 ml/day of red wine. MD alone was associated with: lower plasma fibrinogen (p=0.03), factor VIIc (p=0.034) and factor VIIIc (p=0.0057); higher levels of protein S (p=0.013); longer BT (p=0.017); and marginal increases in platelet serotonin aggregation and secretion after stimulation with epinephrine. Red wine supplementation in both diets, resulted in lower plasma fibrinogen (p=0.001) and factor VIIc (p=0.05), and in increased t-PA (p=0.01) and PAI-1 (p=0.0003). The effects of wine on antithrombin III (p=0.01) were divergent, with a decrease in the HFD group and an increase in the MD group. No effects of diet or wine were detected in plasma proteins C and S, BT or VWF:Ag. Wine supplementation also resulted in a significant increase in ex vivo platelet aggregation and secretion after stimulation with collagen (1 and 2 g/ml, p<=0.01). MD and moderate consumption of red wine have complementary,mostly beneficial effects on haemostatic CV risk factors. The longer BT in individuals on MD, independently of red wine, would denote less interaction of platelets with the vascular wall, which would be beneficial from the point of view of CV risk. However,the increased platelet aggregation/secretion after wine intake, possibly a "rebound" phenomenon, would be a risk factor for thrombosis.
What determines food security in China: a review of literature ∗

This paper reviews studies concerning food security in China. Before the 1980s, China suffered from chronic food shortages. Since 1980, food supply has gradually improved. Today, food in China is plentiful and varieties are diverse. Reviewing what the literature has to say about what has been most fundamental in affecting China’s level of food security can help channel future food security efforts in the right direction. Existing studies suggest that institutions were chiefly responsible for China’s food shortage or abundance. Reforms to China’s economic institutions since the 1980s were fundamental to improving its food supply. To further improve China’s overall food security, several major challenges – widespread food safety and quality concerns, large and widening income inequalities, and the degrading environment and resources that affect sustainable food production – have to be overcome. All such challenges are also closely linked to the country’s widespread corruption. To curtail the corruption and conquer remaining and emerging food security challenges, more innovative reforms to the country’s institutions would be needed.
New Theories of the Multinational Enterprise

1. Internalization and Non-Equity forms of International Involvement Alan M Rugman. 2. Transaction Costs and the Theory of the Multinational Enterprise Mark C Casson. 3. Mergers and the Theory of Foreign Direct Investment A Louis Calvet. 4. Conventional Theory and Unconventional Multinationals: Do New Forms of Multinational Enterprise Require New Theories? Ian H Giddy and Stephen Young. 5. The Eclectic Theory of the Multinational Enterprise and the International Hotel Industry John H Dunning and Matthew McQueen. 6. Regional Offices in Multinational Firms Robert E Grosse. 7. Industrial Co-operation, Joint Ventures and the MNE in Yugoslavia Peter F Cory. 8. Macroeconomic Theories of Foreign Direct Investment: An Assessment H Peter Gray. 9. Foreign Bank Entry into Japan and California Adrian E Tschoegl. 10. Multinational Food and Fish Corporations David P Rutenberg. 11. Inter-Industry Determinants of Foreign Direct Investments: A Canadian Perspective Robert F Owen. 12. Multinational Enterprises and Technology Transfer Richard E Caves. Bibliography. Notes on Contributors. Index of Names. Index of Subjects.
Effects of triclosan on marine benthic and epibenthic organisms

Triclosan is an antimicrobial compound that has been widely used in consumer products such as toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo. Because of its widespread use, triclosan has been detected in various environmental media, including wastewater, sewage sludge, surface waters, and sediments. Triclosan is acutely toxic to numerous aquatic organisms, but very few studies have been performed on estuarine and marine benthic organisms. For whole sediment toxicity tests, the sediment‐dwelling estuarine amphipod, Ampelisca abdita, and the epibenthic mysid shrimp, Americamysis bahia, are commonly used organisms. In the present study, median lethal concentration values (LC50) were obtained for both of these organisms using water‐only and whole sediment exposures. Acute 96‐h water‐only toxicity tests resulted in LC50 values of 73.4 and 74.3 µg/L for the amphipod and mysid, respectively. For the 7‐d whole sediment toxicity test, LC50 values were 303 and 257 mg/kg (dry wt) for the amphipod and mysid, respectively. Using equilibrium partitioning theory, these whole sediment values are equivalent to interstitial water LC50 values of 230 and 190 µg/L for the amphipod and mysid, respectively, which are within a threefold difference of the observed 96‐h LC50 water‐only values. Triclosan was found to accumulate in polychaete tissue in a 28‐d bioaccumulation study with a biota‐sediment accumulation factor of 0.23 kg organic carbon/kg lipid. These data provide some of the first toxicity data for triclosan with marine benthic and epibenthic species while also indicating a need to better understand the effects of other forms of sediment carbon, triclosan ionization, and organism metabolism of triclosan on the chemical's behavior and toxicity in the aquatic environment. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1861–1866. © 2012 SETAC
AggLb Is the Largest Cell-Aggregation Factor from Lactobacillus paracasei Subsp. paracasei BGNJ1-64, Functions in Collagen Adhesion, and Pathogen Exclusion In Vitro

Eleven Lactobacillus strains with strong aggregation abilities were selected from a laboratory collection. In two of the strains, genes associated with aggregation capability were plasmid located and found to strongly correlate with collagen binding. The gene encoding the auto-aggregation-promoting protein (AggLb) of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BGNJ1-64 was cloned using a novel, wide-range-host shuttle cloning vector, pAZILSJ. The clone pALb35, containing a 11377-bp DNA fragment, was selected from the SacI plasmid library for its ability to provide carriers with the aggregation phenotype. The complete fragment was sequenced and four potential ORFs were detected, including the aggLb gene and three surrounding transposase genes. AggLb is the largest known cell-surface protein in lactobacilli, consisting of 2998 aa (318,611 Da). AggLb belongs to the collagen-binding superfamily and its C-terminal region contains 20 successive repeats that are identical even at the nucleotide level. Deletion of aggLb causes a loss of the capacity to form cell aggregates, whereas overexpression increases cellular aggregation, hydrophobicity and collagen-binding potential. PCR screening performed with three sets of primers based on the aggLb gene of BGNJ1-64 enabled detection of the same type of aggLb gene in five of eleven selected aggregation-positive Lactobacillus strains. Heterologous expression of aggLb confirmed the crucial role of the AggLb protein in cell aggregation and specific collagen binding, indicating that AggLb has a useful probiotic function in effective colonization of host tissue and prevention of pathogen colonization.
Differential Expression of Human Beta Defensin 2 and 3 in Gastric Mucosa of Helicobacter pylori‐Infected Individuals

Antimicrobial peptides are key players of initial innate immune responses to human pathogens. Two major representatives, the human beta defensin 2 and 3 (hBD2 and hBD3), are both known to be regulated by, and to affect viability of, Helicobacter pylori. Previously, it was demonstrated in vitro that H. pylori actively abrogates hBD3 expression during prolonged infections. Here, we comprehensively assessed hBD2 and hBD3 expression ex vivo in the gastric mucosa of healthy individuals.
The Government Spending Multiplier in a Deep Recession

The usual mechanism through which government spending can be effective in increasing GDP in a liquidity trap emphasizes the role of aggregate demand. Higher government spending generates a lower expected real interest rate through a higher real wage, which translates into higher inflation. This lower real rate increases aggregate demand. I present new evidence that casts doubt on the empirical relevance of this mechanism. In particular,liquidity traps occur exclusively in recessions, which appear to be situations where higher government spending generates less inflation than in expansion times. To rationalize this, I build a New Keynesian model with search and matching frictions in the labor market and a downward rigid nominal wage. When solved using global methods, this model generates asymmetric fluctuations of recruiting costs along the business cycle. This permits the model to generate (i) a higher government spending multiplier in recessions versus expansions and (ii) a significantly higher multiplier at the zero lower bound without relying on a counterfactually large reaction of wages and inflation, both of which are in line with empirical evidence. Decomposing the contributions of recession versus liquidity trap dynamics, I find that the latter accounts for less than half of the additional multiplier effect at the Zero Lower Bound.
Hepatitis E Virus Infection

SUMMARY Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a worldwide disease. An improved understanding of the natural history of HEV infection has been achieved within the last decade. Several reservoirs and transmission modes have been identified. Hepatitis E is an underdiagnosed disease, in part due to the use of serological assays with low sensitivity. However, diagnostic tools, including nucleic acid-based tests, have been improved. The epidemiology and clinical features of hepatitis E differ between developing and developed countries. HEV infection is usually an acute self-limiting disease, but in developed countries it causes chronic infection with rapidly progressive cirrhosis in organ transplant recipients, patients with hematological malignancy requiring chemotherapy, and individuals with HIV. HEV also causes extrahepatic manifestations, including a number of neurological syndromes and renal injury. Acute infection usually requires no treatment, but chronic infection should be treated by reducing immunosuppression in transplant patients and/or the use of antiviral therapy. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the current knowledge about the virus itself, as well as the epidemiology, diagnostics, natural history, and management of HEV infection in developing and developed countries.