Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Space-Scarce Economy In Blockchain Systems

In this paper we study space-scarce economy in massively replicated open blockchain systems. In these systems, such as Bitcoin, memory to hold a current state snapshot needed to validate transactions becomes the most scarce resource eventually. The issue is even more critical for blockchain systems used to store data (votes, certificates, logs etc.). Uncontrolled state size growth could lead to security issues, such as denial-of-service attacks. Only technical solutions, not economic, have been proposed to tackle this problem to the moment. In contrast, we propose to add a new component to a transaction fee scheme based on how much additional space will be needed for new objects created in result of transaction processing and for how long they will live in the state. We provide three possible options towards implementing the new fee component, namely prepaid outputs, postpaid outputs and scheduled payments. We provide an analysis of the model with respect to all the three options. We show that the state growth could be bounded by a fee factor, miners are getting additional stable rewards and lost coins are being taken back into circulation eventually.
Mitochondrial toxicity and HIV therapy

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) remain the cornerstone of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) combination regimens. However, it has been known for some time that these agents have the potential to cause varied side effects, many of which are thought to be due to their effects on mitochondria. Mitochondria, the key energy generating organelles in the cell, are unique in having their own DNA, a double stranded circular genome of about 16 000 bases. There is a separate enzyme present inside the cell that replicates mitochondrial DNA, polymerase gamma. NRTIs can affect the function of this enzyme and this may lead to depletion of mitochondrial DNA or qualitative changes. The study of inherited mitochondrial diseases has led to further understanding of the consequences of mutations or depletion in mitochondrial DNA. Key among these is the realisation that there may be substantial heteroplasmy among mitochondria within a given cell, and among cells in a particular tissue. The unpredictable nature of mitochondrial segregation during cellular replication makes it difficult to predict the likelihood of dysfunction in a given tissue. In addition, there is a threshold effect for the expression of mitochondrial dysfunction, both at the mitochondrial and cellular level. Various clinical and in vitro studies have suggested that NRTIs are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in different tissues, although the weight of evidence is limited in many cases. The heterogeneity in the tissues affected by the different drugs raises interesting questions, and possible explanations include differential distribution or activation of these agents. This article reviews the major recognised toxicities associated with NRTI therapy and evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction in these complications. Data were identified through searching of online databases including Medline and Current Contents for relevant articles, along with abstracts and posters from recent conferences in the HIV and mitochondrial fields.
Could tyrosine and tryptophan serve multiple roles in biological redox processes?

Single-step electron tunnelling reactions can transport charges over distances of 15–20 Åin proteins. Longer-range transfer requires multi-step tunnelling processes along redox chains, often referred to as hopping. Long-range hopping via oxidized radicals of tryptophan and tyrosine, which has been identified in several natural enzymes, has been demonstrated in artificial constructs of the blue copper protein azurin. Tryptophan and tyrosine serve as hopping way stations in high-potential charge transport processes. It may be no coincidence that these two residues occur with greater-than-average frequency in O2- and H2O2-reactive enzymes. We suggest that appropriately placed tyrosine and/or tryptophan residues prevent damage from high-potential reactive intermediates by reduction followed by transfer of the oxidizing equivalent to less harmful sites or out of the protein altogether.
Vergleichende Untersuchung der Wirkung verschiedener HMG-CoA Reduktase Inhibitoren auf die Apoptose normaler und neointimaler Gefäßmuskelzellen

Sowohl fur die Inhibierung der Apoptose zur Plaquestabilisierung, wie auch fur eine selektive Induktion von Apoptose in Zellen der Neointima zur Restenose-pravention ist ein besseres Verstandnis der Apoptoseregulation in glatten Gefasmuskelzellen erforderlich. In dieser Arbeit wurden glatte Gefasmuskelzellen aus Media und Neointima der Ratte im Hinblick auf ihre Empfindlichkeit auf Statinbehandlung untersucht. Diese Zellen reprasentieren ein gut charakterisiertes und breit verwendetes Modell. Die Ergebnisse basieren auf Versuchen mit Zellkulturen und konnen als Grundlage fur Versuche mit menschlichen Zellen und/oder weitere Tierexperimente betrachtet werden. Man kann Folgendes zusammenfassen: A). Statine induzieren in vitro Apoptose sowohl in Media als auch in Neointima glatter Gefasmuskelzellen. Diesen Effekt beobachtet man nur bei den lipophilen Statinen Lovastatin, Simvastatin und Fluvastatin. Das hydrophile Pravastatin zeigt keinen Effekt. Die Apoptoseinduktion in glatten Gefasmuskelzellen aus der Media war gering bei serumfreien Bedingungen. B). Die Neointima Zellen sind im Vergleich zu den Media Zellen sowohl bei serumhaltigen, als auch unter serumfreien Bedingungen deutlich empfindlicher auf Apoptoseinduktion durch Statine. C). Eine mogliche Erklarung fur die beobachteten Unterschiede konnte in der niedrigeren Expression des antiapoptotischen Proteins cIAP-1 in Neointima Zellen liegen. Dank der Ergebnisse dieser Versuche konnten neue effektive Strategien zur Pravention der Restenose nach Ballonangioplastie entwickelt werden, z.B. durch die lokale Anwendung lipophiler Statine mittels entsprechender Stentbeschich-tung.
A expansão do ensino superior e as políticas públicas: um estudo do Prouni

Este artigo objetiva caracterizar a expansao do Ensino Superior brasileiro atraves da analise de uma politica publica educacional e seus resultados, bem como comparar dados nacionais referentes ao numero de matriculas nesse nivel de ensino com os de outros paises da America Latina, enfatizando os da Argentina. Foram utilizados a Lei no 11.096/2005, que instituiu o PROUNI e dados do Ministerio da Educacao do Brasil,e da Argentina e da CEPAL. Conclui-se que a expansao do Ensino Superior ocorrida nas ultimas decadas no Brasil trouxe implicacoes tanto para a economia material quanto para a posicional.
Sulfate transport and assimilation in plants

Sulfur is one of the six macronutrients required by plants and is found in the amino acids Cys and Met and in a variety of metabolites. When one considers that sulfur in plants is only 3% to 5% as abundant as nitrogen, it is perhaps understandable that sulfur assimilation has been less well studied
Protective effect of pitavastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, on ischemia-induced neuronal damage

Abstract We investigated the neuroprotective effects of a novel 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor (pitavastatin) on ischemic neuronal damage in gerbils using immunohistochemistry. The animals were allowed to survive for 14 days after 5 min of ischemia induced by bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries. Five days after ischemia, severe neuronal cell loss was observed in the hippocampal CA1 sector. Prophylactic treatment with pitavastatin dose-dependently prevented the hippocampal CA1 neuronal cell loss 5 days after ischemia. Immunohistochemical study did not show the change of nNOS and iNOS expression in the hippocampus except for, in a few regions, up to 1 day after ischemia. Thereafter, the expression of iNOS was observed in the hippocampal CA1 sector 5 and 14 days after ischemia. In contrast, the expression of nNOS and eNOS gradually decreased in the hippocampal CA1 sector up to 14 days after ischemia. Prophylactic treatment with pitavastatin also prevented the expression of iNOS and the decrease of eNOS expression and the number of nNOS-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 sector 5 days after ischemia. However, prophylactic treatment with pitavastatin at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 did not change the immunoreactivity of iNOS and nNOS in the hippocampus at an early phase after ischemia. In contrast, this drug prevented the reduction of eNOS immunoreactivity in the hippocampal CA1 neurons at an early phase after ischemia. These findings demonstrate that the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor pitavastatin can protect hippocampal CA1 neurons after transient forebrain ischemia through up-regulation of eNOS expression in this region. Thus pharmacological modulation of eNOS expression may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for cerebral ischemic stroke.
Multichannel Up-Conversion Based on Polarization-Modulated Optoelectronic Oscillator

Photonic microwave multichannel up-conversion based on a polarization-modulated optoelectronic oscillator is proposed and demonstrated. The scheme produces a high-quality local oscillation signal, implements photonic microwave multichannel up-conversion at arbitrary optical wavelengths, and realizes dispersion penalty compensation for multichannel radio over fiber links with different transmission distances in different channels simultaneously. An experiment is carried out. The 50-Mb/s 16 QAM signals at 3.5 and 7.5 GHz are successfully up-converted to 13.436 and 17.436 GHz, and transmitted over 20- and 15-km fibers with dispersion-induced power penalty removed in two independent channels, respectively. The phase noise curves with or without IF signals applied are superimposed, with the value being lower than -110 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset.
Social computing for internet addiction disorder analysis from a psychological perspective

This study adopts needs theory and affective ambivalence to explore how people obtain psychological satisfaction through internet usage, and to explore how such usage behaviour can lead to the development of a sense of dependence. Few previous studies have incorporated these four perspectives. Data mining techniques are used to identify association rules between needs theory, affective ambivalence, internet use behaviour and internet addiction. This study distributed paper-based and electronic questionnaires, receiving a total of 502 valid responses for a valid response rate of about 88%. From the affective ambivalence perspective, we found that emotional state varies with behaviour and age, leading to different patterns of personal expression and creativity. In addition, empirical results show our findings are consistent with Maslow's hierarchy of needs in that people only seek to address their higher-order needs once their lower-order needs are satisfied. Thus, once internet users have satisfied their needs for security, their attention then turns to demands for social interaction and self-esteem.
Nutritional regulation of the insulin-like growth factors.

Nutrition is one of the main regulators of circulating IGF-I. In humans, serum IGF-I concentrations are markedly lowered by energy and/or protein deprivation. Both energy and proteins are critical in the regulation of serum IGF-I concentrations. Indeed, after fasting, optimal intake of both energy and protein is necessary for the rapid restoration of circulating IGF-I. We believe, however, that in adult humans energy may be somewhat more important than protein in this regard. While the lowest protein intake is able to increase IGF-I in the presence of adequate energy, there is a threshold energy requirement below which optimal protein intake fails to raise IGF-I after fasting. When energy intake is severely reduced, the carbohydrate content of the diet is a major determinant of responsiveness of IGF-I to GH. The essential amino acid content of the diet is also critical for the optimal restoration of IGF-I after fasting, when protein intake is reduced. The exquisite sensitivity of circulating IGF-I to nutrients, the nycthemeral stability of its concentrations and its relative short half-life constitute the basis for its use as a marker of both nutritional status and adequacy of nutritional rehabilitation. For these indications, IGF-I measurement is more sensitive and more specific than measurement of the other nutrient-related serum proteins (albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, retinol-binding protein). Animal models have been developed to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the nutritional regulation of IGF-I. There is no doubt that many mechanisms are involved (Fig. 12). Decline of serum IGF-I in dietary restriction is independent of the diet-induced alterations in pituitary GH secretion. The role of the liver GH receptors is dependent on the severity of the nutritional insult. In severe dietary restriction (fasting), a marked decrease of the number of somatogenic receptors supports the role of a receptor defect in the decline of circulating IGF-I. In contrast, in less severe forms of dietary restriction (protein restriction), the decline of IGF-I results from a postreceptor defect in the GH action at the hepatic level. Nutritional deprivation decreases hepatic IGF-I production by diminishing IGF-I gene expression. Decline in IGF-I gene expression is mainly caused by nutrient deficiency and less importantly by the nutritionally induced hormonal changes (insulin and T3). Diet restriction also increases the clearance and degradation of serum IGF-I through changes in the levels of circulating IGFBPs. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Identification of Iowa Live Births in the Agricultural Health Study

ABSTRACT In the Agricultural Health Study, information on participant live births was largely provided by female partners of male private applicators. At the Iowa site, such information was available for 13,599 (42.9%) of 31,707 applicators. To improve identification of live births among Iowa participants, we used a probabilistic and deterministic approach to link available demographic data from 31,707 households and information on live births from 13,599 households with 1,014,916 Iowa birth certificates. Record linkage identified 16,611 (93.7%) of 17,719 reported live births and 17,883 additional live births, most (14,411 or 80.6%) not reported due to nonresponse by female partners. This record linkage produced an expanded cohort of live-born children among Iowa participants, which will facilitate improved study of the effects of agricultural exposures, including pesticides, on selected birth outcomes and childhood disease.
Interpreting the flock algorithm: a reply to Anderson & Barry (2015)

Anderson & Barry (Molecular Ecology Resources, 2015, 10, 1020–1030) compared a reprogrammed version of flock (Duchesne & Turgeon , Molecular Ecology Resources, 2009, 9, 1333–1344), flockture, to a particular model of structure (Pritchard , Genetics, 2000, 155, 945–959) that they propose is equivalent to flock, a non‐MCMC, non‐Bayesian algorithm. They conclude that structure performs better than flockture at clustering individuals from simulated populations with very low level of differentiation (FST c. 0.008) based on 15 microsatellites or 96 SNPs. We rather consider that both algorithms failed, with proportions of correct allocations lower than 50%. The authors also noted the slightly better performance of flockture with SNPs at intermediate FST values (c. 0.02–0.04) but did not comment. Finally, we disagree with the way the processing time of each program was compared. When compared on the basis of a run leading to a clustering solution, the main output of any clustering algorithm, flock, is, as users can readily experience, much faster. In all, we feel that flock performs at least as well as structure as a clustering algorithm. Moreover, flock has two major assets: high speed and clear, well validated, rules to estimate K, the number of populations. It thus provides a valuable addition to the set of tools at the disposal of the many researchers dealing with real empirical data sets.
TRADE, TECHNOLOGY AND LABOR PRODUCTIVITY EFFECTS ON THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED AND UNSKILLED WORKERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR RURAL AREAS

An I/O model of U.S. is used to examine the effects of trade and domestic consumption on the separate and interactive effects of trade, technology, and labor productivity on the demand for skilled and unskilled workers for 1972, 1987, and 1993. The results suggest that trade has not been the major contributor to changes in demand for skilled vs. unskilled labor during the period examined, counter to the continuing debate on theory and on evidence supporting the trade- widening wage gap linkage. We found the ratio of high skilled to low-skilled workers was higher for exports than imports and has risen over time, suggesting that U. S. has moved toward more skilled-labor intensive exports. The effect of trade on rural workers is to reinforce structural trends already working to the disadvantage of rural workers.
Effects of long or short duration stimulus during high-intensity interval training on physical performance, energy intake, and body composition

To compare the effects of 6 weeks of long or short high-intensity interval training (long- or short-HIIT) on body composition, hunger perception, food intake and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Twenty previously untrained women (25±5 years) were randomly assigned to do a long-HIIT (n=10) or a short-HIIT (n=10). The long-HIIT group performed fifteen 1-min bouts at 90% of maximum heart rate (HRmax), interspersed by 30-sec active recovery (60% HRmax). The short-HIIT group performed forty-five 20-sec bouts at 90% of HRmax, interspersed by 10-sec active recovery (60% HRmax). The training for both groups was conducted 3 times a week for 6 weeks. All subjects performed the Astrand cycle ergometer test to estimate maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) 1 week before and after the training period, as well as body composition, which was estimated through circumferences and skinfold thicknesses. For all training sessions, the heart rate, visual scale of hunger, internal load, and RPE were recorded. In the first and last week of training, subjects were asked to record a 24-hr food diary for 3 days. Both training induced significant pre to post decreases for fat mass, fat percentage, waist circumference, sum of seven skinfolds and RPE. As expected estimated, the VO2max increased in both groups. There were no differences for hunger perception, energy intake, and body mass. Long and short-HIIT resulted in fat loss, without altering the energy intake.
A fuzzy query language for relational databases

A fuzzy query language (FQL) for relational databases is proposed. FQL, constructed as an enhancement of the relational domain calculus, has sufficient capability to represent all four types of the fuzzy statements distinguished by the work of L.A. Zadeh (1978). The idea for constructing FQL is in the formulation of the fuzzy matching degrees that assigns the appropriate values in the interval to any combination of fuzzy queries and tuples in relational databases. FQL helps to provide a human-oriented interface to relational databases that store a vast amount of information. Furthermore, fuzzy expert systems are expected to be provided with the facility to make use of fact data in relational databases through FQL. In addition, FQL is a theoretical basis for systematically developing a higher human-oriented interface with relational databases. >
Relationship between the G894T polymorphism (Glu298Asp variant) in endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide-mediated endothelial function in human atherosclerosis.

Nitric oxide (NO), produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), plays important roles in normal vascular homeostasis, and reduced endothelial NO bioactivity is an important feature of vascular disease states. The Glu298Asp (G894T) polymorphic variant of eNOS has been associated with vascular disease, but functional data are lacking. Accordingly, we examined the relationships between NO-mediated endothelial function, the presence of the eNOS Glu298Asp variant, and clinical risk factors for atherosclerosis. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxations to different agonists were determined in human saphenous veins obtained from patients with coronary artery disease and identified risk factors (n = 104). Patients were genotyped for the eNOS G894T polymorphism. Nitric oxide-mediated endothelial vasorelaxations were highly variable between patients. Reduced vasorelaxations were associated with increased number of clinical risk factors for atherosclerosis (r = - 0.54, P < 0.001), whereas the Glu298Asp variant was not associated with any differences in contractions to phenylephrine, NO-mediated vasorelaxations to acetylcholine, bradykinin or calcium ionophore, or relaxations to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside. Increased atherosclerotic risk factors, but not the presence of the eNOS Glu298Asp variant, are associated with impaired nitric oxide-mediated endothelial vasomotor function, suggesting that this polymorphism does not have a major direct functional effect on vascular eNOS activity in human atherosclerosis.
Comparison of the ASI Ice Concentration Algorithm With Landsat-7 ETM+ and SAR Imagery

Continuous monitoring of sea ice and its changes is mainly done by passive microwave sensors on satellites. One frequently used technique of retrieving sea-ice concentrations is the Arctic Radiation and Turbulence Interaction STudy Sea Ice (ASI) algorithm, which uses the near-90-GHz channels, here those of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System to calculate sea-ice concentrations. The ASI ice concentrations are compared with ice concentrations derived from the following: 1) the multispectral imager Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus operating on Landsat and 2) from Envisat and Radarsat SAR images. In this paper, we focus on marginal ice zones, as the ice concentrations in those regions are in general observed with higher errors. First-year ice (bias: -1%-0% and rms error: 1%-4%) and young ice (bias: -4%-0% and rms error: 3%-9%) are fairly well recognized with little underestimation of ASI ice concentrations with respect to Landsat ice concentrations. New ice is identified with less accuracy by the ASI algorithm (bias: -16%-9% and rms error: 18.3%-26.2%). Averaged over all ice types, the bias ranges between -8.4% and 4.5%, and the rms error ranges between 2.0% and 17.4%. Discrepancies mainly occur in polynya areas (underestimation by ASI) and along the ice edge (overestimation by ASI). The results of the ASI-SAR comparison yield contrasting results. ASI underestimates the ice concentrations near the ice edge but overestimates them in some interior areas (bias: -2.9%-2.5% and rms error: 16.9%-20.1%). The discrepancies between both comparisons may be due to the different interaction mechanisms of the different sensor types, particularly with the newly formed ice.