Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DIFFERENTIATED SERVICE MODEL FOR BEST EFFORT PACKET DELIVERY IN ADVANCED WIRELESS NETWORKS

In wireless network, real time flows are prioritized over non-real time flows. Because of this prioritization, non-real time flows endures starvation. Furthermore, real time flows are handled quite generally as no specification is given to emergency flows. Also, the existing approaches did not provide any guarantee for the starvation reduction of non real time flows and efficient management of emergency calls. To avoid this challenging situation and to differentiate RT and NRT flows into more specific services, a service differentiated mechanism for best effort packet delivery in advanced wireless networks is proposed. The packet marking procedure using Differentiated Service (DiffServ) model is also proposed.
Intracellular Deposition, Microtubule Destabilization, and Transport Failure: An “Early” Pathogenic Cascade Leading to Synaptic Decline

Protein deposition is a common event in age-related neurological diseases that are characterized by neuronal dysfunction and eventual cell death. Here, cultured hippocampal slices were infused with the lysosomal disrupter chloroquine to examine the link between abnormal protein processing/deposition and early synaptopathogenesis. Tau species of 55 to 69 kDa increased over several days of treatment with chloroquine, while the protein and message levels of synaptic markers were selectively reduced. Neurons of subfields CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus accumulated protein deposits recognized by antibodies against paired helical filaments and ubiquitin, and this was accompanied by tubulin fragmentation and deacetylation. The deposition filled the basal pole of pyramidal neurons, encompassing the area of the axon hillock and initial dendritic branching but without causing overt neuronal atrophy. Neurons containing the polar aggregates exhibited severely impaired transport along basal dendrites. Transport capability was also lost along apical dendrites, the opposite direction of deposited material in the basal pole; thus, perpetuating the problem beyond physical blockage must be the associated loss of microtubule integrity. These data indicate that transport failure forms a link between tau deposition and synaptic decline, thus shedding light on how protein aggregation events disrupt synaptic and cognitive functions before the ensuing cellular destruction.
Leap Motion supporting medical education

The paper presents an application that enables medical students, health professionals, and individuals passionate about medicine to control human skeleton bones through gesture interaction using Leap Motion sensor. The application contains a main application and three applications derived from the main application with 3D bone images. The Leap Motion sensor is based on hands gesture recognition previously defined for a good control on the bones of the human skeleton. Tests made on items of the application show that it is easy to use and control.
Language Facilities for Programming User-Computer Dialogues

Extensions to PASCAL that provide for programming man-computer dialogues are proposed. An interactive application program is viewed as a sequence of frames, representing stages of dialogue activity, and separate computational steps. First, extensions are presented to allow the description of the items of information contained in each frame. Second, PASCAL is extended to allow the inclusion of behavior rules for a frame to specify the interactive dialogue. The behavior rules are specified nonprocedurally. Previously, programming such dialogues has required the specification of all possible interactions and their effects in a procedural fashion.
Conservation and animal welfare issues arising from forestry practices

Forestry practices may directly kill animals as well as destroy and fragment their habitat. Even without habitat destruction, logging and its associated forest management practices (which include road building, re-forestation, and often increased recreational use) create noise, frighten animals, and may lead to changes in species composition as well as evolutionary responses to the myriad of anthropogenic impacts. Thus, forestry practices may create conservation problems. Forestry practices may also create welfare problems that may act on different temporal and spatial scales than the conservation problems. The individuals affected by forestry may have heightened glucocorticoid levels that may lead to a predictable set of deleterious consequences. Individuals may no longer be able to communicate, or they may no longer be attractive to potential mates. Such welfare problems may generate conservation problems if fitness is reduced. Identifying the set of possible impacts is the first step towards improving welfare and aiding wildlife conservation in managed forests.
Soft Robotics: A Perspective—Current Trends and Prospects for the Future

Abstract Soft robots are primarily composed of easily deformable matter such as fluids, gels, and elastomers that match the elastic and rheological properties of biological tissue and organs. Like an octopus squeezing through a narrow opening or a caterpillar rolling through uneven terrain, a soft robot must adapt its shape and locomotion strategy for a broad range of tasks, obstacles, and environmental conditions. This emerging class of elastically soft, versatile, and biologically inspired machines represents an exciting and highly interdisciplinary paradigm in engineering that could revolutionize the role of robotics in healthcare, field exploration, and cooperative human assistance.
Risk factors for death from stroke in middle-aged Lithuanian men: results from a 20-year prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although in eastern Europe, mortality from stroke at present is the highest in the world, no previous prospective study of the risk factors for stroke has been reported from this part of the world. The aim of our study, therefore, was to evaluate the relations between blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, glucose intolerance, body mass index, and cigarette smoking and the risk of death from stroke in middle-aged men in Kaunas, Lithuania. METHODS We conducted a prospective study with an average follow-up of 17.5 years of 2295 men who had participated in risk factor surveys within the framework of the world Health Organization Kaunas-Rotterdam Intervention Study from 1972 to 1974. Risk factors included in the current analyses were smoking, blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, glucose intolerance, diabetes, and body mass index. Age-and risk factor adjusted relative risks (RR) for death of stroke were determined by use of the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS The strongest risk factors for death from stroke in middle-age men were systolic blood pressure (RR=1.02; P=.0001), diabetes (RR=4.17; P=.02), and smoking (RR=2.01; P=.004). Serum cholesterol, impaired glucose tolerance, and body mass index were not related to the risk of death from stroke. Twenty-five percent and 19% of stroke deaths were attributed to hypertension and smoking, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Prevention and effective control of hypertension, smoking, and diabetes are the key elements in primary prevention of stroke in eastern Europe, where stroke mortality remains high.
The Pinch-Off Circuit: Reducing Noise and Component Stresses by Eliminating Body Diode Conduction in Synchronous Rectifiers

This paper introduces an original circuit that virtually eliminates body diode conduction in switching power electronics circuits. A brief discussion of the harmful effects of body diode conduction and recovery is presented. A new pinch-off circuit is proposed which consists of an additional switch and a delay function. Experimental data show improved performance with lower output noise and lower component stresses.
Attitudes and Beliefs Toward Mammography Among Women Using an Urban Public Hospital

Although overall use of mammography is steadily increasing, low-income and minority women consistently have relatively lower screening rates than white, middle-class women. To assess the mammography-seeking behavior of low-income women using an urban public hospital, this study sought to understand why women in this population decide whether or not to obtain a screening mammogram. Two qualitative techniques, elicitation interviews and focus groups, were used to develop an understanding of attitudes, concerns, and barriers of this group relative to mammography. Fear, embarrassment, susceptibility to breast cancer, inconvenience, cost, concerns about efficacy of mammography, fear of acquiring cancer, and scheduling difficulties were identified as important concerns. "People in the news" were the most influential social referents for mammography decision making, followed by physicians, family members, and friends. The insights gained from these women will assist in developing interventions that encourage mammography-seeking behavior by low-income women.
Endothelial progenitor cells, defined by the simultaneous surface expression of VEGFR2 and CD133, are not detectable in healthy peripheral and cord blood

Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and their progenitors (EPC) are restricted subpopulations of peripheral blood (PB), cord blood (CB), and bone marrow (BM) cells, involved in the endothelial homeostasis maintenance. Both CEC and EPC are thought to represent potential biomarkers in several clinical conditions involving endothelial turnover/remodeling. Although different flow cytometry methods for CEC and EPC characterization have been published so far, none of them have reached consistent conclusions, therefore consensus guidelines with respect to CEC and EPC identification and quantification need to be established. Here, we have carried out an in depth investigation of CEC and EPC phenotypes in healthy PB, CB and BM samples, by optimizing a reliable polychromatic flow cytometry (PFC) panel. Results showed that the brightness of CD34 expression on healthy PB and CB circulating cells represents a key benchmark for the identification of CEC (CD45neg/CD34bright/CD146pos) respect to the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment (CD45dim/CD34pos/CD146neg). This approach, combined with a dual‐platform counting technique, allowed a sharp CEC enumeration in healthy PB (n = 38), and resulting in consistent CEC counts with previously reported data (median = 11.7 cells/ml). In parallel, by using rigorous PFC conditions, CD34pos/CD45dim/CD133pos/VEGFR2pos EPC were not found in any healthy PB or CB sample, since VEGFR2 expression was never detectable on the surface of CD34pos/CD45dim/CD133pos cells. Notably, the putative EPC phenotype was observed in all analyzed BM samples (n = 12), and the expression of CD146 and VEGFR2, on BM cells, was not restricted to the CD34bright compartment, but also appeared on the HSC surface. Altogether, our findings suggest that the previously reported EPC antigen profile, defined by the simultaneous expression of VEGFR2 and CD133 on the surface of CD45dim/CD34pos cells, should be carefully re‐evaluated and further studies should be conducted to redefine EPC features in order to translate CEC and EPC characterization into clinical practice. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Genomic instability in sporadic colorectal cancer quantitated by inter‐simple sequence repeat PCR analysis

Genomic instability plays a major role in cancer by facilitating tumor progression and tumor heterogeneity. Inter‐simple sequence repeat (inter‐SSR) PCR has been developed to provide a rapid and reproducible technique for quantitation of the major type of genomic instability observed in sporadic tumors, namely, that manifesting itself as amplifications, deletions, translocations, and insertions. Evaluation of 59 sporadic colorectal cancers by inter‐SSR PCR has demonstrated a wide range of instability, independent of tumor stage at diagnosis. Comparison of these data and the results of microsatellite PCR analysis reveals an association of high genomic instability with loss of heterozygosity but no association with the replication error phenomenon arising from defects in mismatch repair. Genes Chromosom. Cancer 18:19–29, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patellofemoral instability after total knee arthroplasty.

UNLABELLED Despite advances in surgical technique and implant design, complications involving the extensor mechanism and patellofemoral joint after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continue to be the most common cause of pain and the most commonly cited reason for revision TKA surgery. A thorough understanding of the etiologies of patellofemoral instability, careful preoperative planning, and meticulous surgical techniques will optimize clinical outcome. Evaluation of patellofemoral stability should begin in the operating room. Postoperatively, thorough history, physical examination, and dedicated radiographic studies should be obtained. Computed tomography scan is the most accurate and reliable way to assess component positioning. Treatment of patellofemoral instability is directed by its etiology. Revision of one or both components is indicated if malpositioning is present. If the components are determined to be in satisfactory positions, soft tissue procedures can be pursued. Future advancements in prosthetic design and the routine use of computer-assisted navigation systems will minimize patellofemoral instability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, Level V (expert opinion). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Acute childhood asthma in Finland:A retrospective review of hospital admissions from 1976 to 1995

The prevalence of childhood asthma has increased markedly in many Western societies during recent decades. We wanted to study whether the incidence and severity of childhood asthma in Finland had changed during the time‐period 1976–95. Hospital admission rates from 1976 to 1995 were obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Register and the individual intensive care unit (ICU) registers of the five university hospitals in Finland. The number and length of treatment periods for childhood asthma in all Finnish hospitals and at the ICUs of the five university hospitals were analyzed. The number of children receiving special reimbursement for asthma medication costs was obtained from the central register of the Social Insurance Institution. The data showed that during the time‐period investigated, hospital admissions as a result of asthma had increased by 2.8‐fold, but the mean length of hospital stay had more than halved (from 7.3 to 2.6 days). The increase in hospital admissions showed greatest significance in the 0–4‐year age‐group among both sexes (p < 0.001). In contrast, a significant reduction in hospital admissions was found among the 10–14‐year age‐group (p < 0.001). No discernible change in admission to ICUs was seen. During the same time‐period, the number of children receiving special reimbursement for asthma medication costs increased 7.5‐fold. Hence, a major increase has occured in the number of children diagnosed with asthma that has not been paralleled by a proportionate increase in the number of hospital admissions. While the prevalence of mild and moderate asthma has increased, the occurrence of severe asthma has remained essentially unchanged.
Access-Region Defect Spectroscopy of DC-Stressed N-Polar GaN MIS-HEMTs

Distinct trap levels in the drain access regions of an N-polar GaN MIS-HEMT are investigated before and after semi-on dc stressing by thermal and optical trap spectroscopies. The most prominent dc stress effect was an increase in concentration of a pre-existing electron trap with an activation energy of 0.54 eV, accompanied by a decrease in concentration of an electron trap with a 0.65-eV activation energy. These distinct states had similar concentrations before stressing, with the 0.54-eV trap concentration dominating (by 6×) after stress. Deeper states revealed via optical measurements showed a mild ~20% increase in total concentration after stressing.
Photovoltaic battery charger based on the Zeta converter: Analysis, design and experimental results

In this paper, a complete analysis of the Zeta converter applied as a photovoltaic battery charger is carried out. The design methodology of the solar battery charger system, including the power circuit main devices and system controllers are presented in details. The solar battery charger includes an alternative Constant Current/Constant Voltage (CC/CV) charging method with inherent Perturb and Observe (P&O) maximum power point tracking algorithm. This way, the battery pack is properly charged as well as the maximum power is harvest from the solar module. In addition, continuous and overcurrent protection for the batteries features are implemented. Experimental results prove the reliability and the advantages of this proposal.
Once daily administration of terbinafine to guinea‐pigs with experimental dermatophytosis

Superficial infections of the skin caused by dermatophytes and yeasts are common clinical problems. Most infections of this type can be satisfactorily and safely treated by topical antimycotic therapy. Terbinafine is a new antifungal allylamine derivative with a broad antifungal spectrum synthesized and developed by Sandoz AG. '"'̂ Preliminary in vivo studies carried out by Petranyi and colleagues '̂̂ have demonstrated that both oral and topical treatments with terbinafine are effective in animal models of dermatophytosis and cutaneous candidiasis. This paper describes the results of our in vivo studies that were performed to estimate the therapeutic efficacy of once daily administration of a dermal formulation of terbinafine to guinea-pigs with experimental dermatophytosis.
A Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Deleted for Glycoprotein D Enables Dendritic Cells to Activate CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is highly prevalent in the human population producing significant morbidity, mainly because of the generation of genital ulcers and neonatal encephalitis. Additionally, HSV-2 infection significantly increases the susceptibility of the host to acquire HIV and promotes the shedding of the latter in the coinfected. Despite numerous efforts to create a vaccine against HSV-2, no licensed vaccines are currently available. A long-standing strategy, based on few viral glycoproteins combined with adjuvants, recently displayed poor results in a Phase III clinical study fueling exploration on the development of mutant HSV viruses that are attenuated in vivo and elicit protective adaptive immune components, such as antiviral antibodies and T cells. Importantly, such specialized antiviral immune components are likely induced and modulated by dendritic cells, professional antigen presenting cells that process viral antigens and present them to T cells. However, HSV interferes with several functions of DCs and ultimately induces their death. Here, we propose that for an attenuated mutant virus to confer protective immunity against HSV in vivo based on adaptive immune components, such virus should also be attenuated in dendritic cells to promote a robust and effective antiviral response. We provide a background framework for this idea, considerations, as well as the means to assess this hypothesis. Addressing this hypothesis may provide valuable insights for the development of novel, safe, and effective vaccines against herpes simplex viruses.
Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management with Nonlinear Ecological Functions and Values

A common assumption is that ecosystem services respond linearly to changes in habitat size. This assumption leads frequently to an “all or none” choice of either preserving coastal habitats or converting them to human use. However, our survey of wave attenuation data from field studies of mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass beds, nearshore coral reefs, and sand dunes reveals that these relationships are rarely linear. By incorporating nonlinear wave attenuation in estimating coastal protection values of mangroves in Thailand, we show that the optimal land use option may instead be the integration of development and conservation consistent with ecosystem-based management goals. This result suggests that reconciling competing demands on coastal habitats should not always result in stark preservation-versus-conversion choices.
Relationship Between P 300 Findings and Neurological Soft Signs in Patients with First Episode Schizophrenia

Relationship between P300 findings and neurological soft signs in patients with first episode schizophrenia Objective: In this study, the relationship between neurological soft signs and P300 components was explored in patients with schizophrenia. Method: 22 first-episode schizophrenia patients who were evaluated according to DSM-IV criteria and whose disease lasted at least six months, and a group of 22 healthy controls were included in this study. In both groups, neurophysiological measurements were performed to investigate the P300 potentials and Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES) was applied to detect neurological soft signs. Scale for the Assessment of the Negative Symptoms (SANS) and Scale for the Assessment of the Positive Symptoms (SAPS) were applied only to the schizophrenia group. Results: Results revealed that first episode schizophrenia group had higher NES total and subscale scores, lower P300 amplitude and longer P300 latency compared to healthy controls. NES scores with the highest significant difference from healthy controls were Total NES and NES motor sequencing subscale. When the first-episode schizophrenia group is compared with the control group by the P300 components, difference of P300 amplitude was more significant than difference of P300 latency. It was also found that NES scores and P300 values were not correlated with clinical variables in the patient group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that pathology of these biological markers was found at the beginning of the disease and was not effected by clinical variables. This result can be interpreted as the pathologies exhibited with NES and P300 measurements could not be state but trait characteristics. Within soft neurological signs the most pathological results were obtained from motor sequencing subscale and its relationship with P300 amplitude was statistically significant. These findings indicate that the high scores of motor sequencing subscale which is thought to be sign of prefrontal pathology can be better explained with problems about attention.
Polynomial optimization for the solution of fuel-optimal impulsive rendezvous using primer vector theory

In this paper, the optimal fuel impulsive time-fixed rendezvous problem is considered. Under some simplifying assumptions, this problem may be recast as a non convex polynomial optimization problem. A numerical solving algorithm using a convex relaxation based on sum-of-squares representation of positive polynomials is proposed. Numerical results are evaluated on the PRISMA technology in-orbit formation flying testbed mission.