Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Flattening

A multi-layer graph consists of multiple layers of weighted graphs, where the multiple layers represent the different aspects of relationships. Considering multiple aspects (i.e., layers) together is essential to achieve a comprehensive and consolidated view. In this article, we propose a novel framework of differential flattening, which facilitates the analysis of multi-layer graphs, and apply this framework to community detection. Differential flattening merges multiple graphs into a single graph such that the graph structure with the maximum clustering coefficient is obtained from the single graph. It has two distinct features compared with existing approaches. First, dealing with multiple layers is done independently of a specific community detection algorithm, whereas previous approaches rely on a specific algorithm. Thus, any algorithm for a single graph becomes applicable to multi-layer graphs. Second, the contribution of each layer to the single graph is determined automatically for the maximum clustering coefficient. Since differential flattening is formulated by an optimization problem, the optimal solution is easily obtained by well-known algorithms such as interior point methods. Extensive experiments were conducted using the Lancichinetti-Fortunato-Radicchi (LFR) benchmark networks as well as the DBLP, 20 Newsgroups, and MIT Reality Mining networks. The results show that our approach of differential flattening leads to discovery of higher-quality communities than baseline approaches and the state-of-the-art algorithms.
Visuomotor Transformation in the Fly Gaze Stabilization System

For sensory signals to control an animal's behavior, they must first be transformed into a format appropriate for use by its motor systems. This fundamental problem is faced by all animals, including humans. Beyond simple reflexes, little is known about how such sensorimotor transformations take place. Here we describe how the outputs of a well-characterized population of fly visual interneurons, lobula plate tangential cells (LPTCs), are used by the animal's gaze-stabilizing neck motor system. The LPTCs respond to visual input arising from both self-rotations and translations of the fly. The neck motor system however is involved in gaze stabilization and thus mainly controls compensatory head rotations. We investigated how the neck motor system is able to selectively extract rotation information from the mixed responses of the LPTCs. We recorded extracellularly from fly neck motor neurons (NMNs) and mapped the directional preferences across their extended visual receptive fields. Our results suggest that—like the tangential cells—NMNs are tuned to panoramic retinal image shifts, or optic flow fields, which occur when the fly rotates about particular body axes. In many cases, tangential cells and motor neurons appear to be tuned to similar axes of rotation, resulting in a correlation between the coordinate systems the two neural populations employ. However, in contrast to the primarily monocular receptive fields of the tangential cells, most NMNs are sensitive to visual motion presented to either eye. This results in the NMNs being more selective for rotation than the LPTCs. Thus, the neck motor system increases its rotation selectivity by a comparatively simple mechanism: the integration of binocular visual motion information.
ACM bundles on cubic surfaces

In this paper we prove that, for every r = 2, the moduli space MsX (r; c1,c2) of rank r stable vector bundles with Chern classes c1 = rH and c2 = 1/2 (3r2 - r) on a nonsingular cubic surface X ? P3 contains a nonempty smooth open subset formed by ACM bundles, i.e. vector bundles with no intermediate cohomology. The bundles we consider for this study are extremal for the number of generators of the corresponding module (these are known as Ulrich bundles), so we also prove the existence of indecomposable Ulrich bundles of arbitrarily high rank on X.
A Kiefer-Wolfowitz theorem for convex densities

Kiefer and Wolfowitz (14) showed that if F is a strictly curved concave distribution function (corresponding to a strictly monotone density f ), then the Maximum Likelihood Estimator � Fn, which is, in fact, the least concave majorant of the empirical distribution function Fn ,d if fers from the empirical distribution function in the uniform norm by no more than a con- stant times (n−1 logn)2/3 almost surely. We review their result and give an updated version of their proof. We prove a comparable theorem for the class of distribution functions F with convex decreasing densities f , but with the max- imum likelihood estimator � Fn of F replaced by the least squares estimator � Fn: if X1,. ,Xn are sampled from a distribution function F with strictly convex density f , then the least squares estimator � Fn of F and the empirical distribu- tion function Fn differ in the uniform norm by no more than a constant times (n−1 logn) 3/5 almost surely. The proofs rely on bounds on the interpolation error for complete spline interpolation due to Hall (12), Hall and Meyer (13), building on earlier work by Birkhoff and de Boor (4). These results, which are crucial for the developments here, are all nicely summarized and exposited in de Boor (5).
Single Amino Acid Polymorphisms of Pertussis Toxin Subunit S2 (PtxB) Affect Protein Function

Whooping cough due to Bordetella pertussis is increasing in incidence, in part due to accumulation of mutations which increase bacterial fitness in highly vaccinated populations. Polymorphisms in the pertussis toxin, ptxA and ptxB genes, and the pertactin, prn genes of clinical isolates of Bordetella pertussis collected in Cincinnati from 1989 through 2005 were examined. While the ptxA and prn genotypes were variable, all 48 strains had the ptxB2 genotype; ptxB1 encodes glycine at amino acid 18 of the S2 subunit of pertussis toxin, while ptxB2 encodes serine. We investigated antigenic and functional differences of PtxB1 and PtxB2. The S2 protein was not very immunogenic. Only a few vaccinated or individuals infected with B. pertussis developed antibody responses to the S2 subunit, and these sera recognized both polymorphic forms equally well. Amino acid 18 of S2 is in a glycan binding domain, and the PtxB forms displayed differences in receptor recognition and toxicity. PtxB1 bound better to the glycoprotein, fetuin, and Jurkat T cells in vitro, but the two forms were equally effective at promoting CHO cell clustering. To investigate in vivo activity of Ptx, one μg of Ptx was administered to DDY mice and blood was collected on 4 days after injection. PtxB2 was more effective at promoting lymphocytosis in mice.
Development, Extension, and Application: A Review of the Technology Acceptance Model

With the continued implementation of a wide range of technologies both by individuals and within organizations, user acceptance remains a significant area of study. The question of why people decide to accept or reject a particular technology continues to be an important issue. Numerous models have been developed and applied to a broad scope of technologies. One of the most influential and often used models for examining user acceptance is the Technology Acceptance Model or TAM. Although seminal articles were written almost two decades ago, this model continues to be used extensively. This paper examines the development, extension, and application of TAM and identifies three specific areas for future research. It contributes to information systems educators by providing faculty with a foundation from which to guide students in the area of technology acceptance research as well as a starting point from which to evaluate emerging technologies for potential classroom use. In general, this paper provides a relatively brief, but informative, overview of TAM for those interested in user acceptance of technology.
Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites for Strengthening RC Beams

This paper presents the findings of an experimental study to investigate the structural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams externally strengthened with various types of kenaf fiber reinforced polymer composite laminates with 50% fiber volume content. The experimental parameters including flexural strength, stress-strain relationship, deflection, tensile stress and young modulus of beams strengthened by different kenaf fiber reinforced polymer composites are dis- cussed. In order to test the flexural strength of the RC beams, a total of eight beams divided into two series were used. In each series, every two of the beams were strengthened with kenaf/epoxy, kenaf/polyester, and kenaf/vinyl ester com- posite laminates respectively. The remaining two were kept as control specimens. The experimental moment capacity of each beam was calculated using tensile strength and young modulus of the composites. Comparisons were made on the load-deflection, strain behavior and failure mode. Moreover, theoretical moment capacity of each beam was calculated using conventional formulation to verify experimental results. The research findings indicated that all strengthened beams improved structural performance where the maximum flexural strength increase by 40% and maximum deflec- tion reduced by 24%.
Oxidative stress factors and C-reactive protein in patients with oral lichen planus before and 2 weeks after treatment.

OBJECTIVES Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an inflammatory disease with an unknown origin. Oxidative stress is suspected to play a role in its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of oxidative stress factors and C-reactive protein in patients with OLP. MATERIALS & METHODS In this case-control study, 25 patients with OLP and 23 control subjects were enrolled. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were investigated in both groups. In case group, all these factors were re-evaluated after 14 days of treatment. The characteristics of the lesions were also recorded at each visit. RESULTS Serum levels of MDA were significantly higher (P = 0.009), and TAC was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in patients with OLP. There were no significant differences between serum levels of TAC, CRP, and MDA in patients with OLP before and after treatment (P = 0.174, P = 0.556, P = 0.194, respectively). However, the difference in serum levels of TAC between erosive and atrophic patients with keratotic OLP was significant (P = 0.024). CONCLUSION We concluded patients with OLP have increased of serum MDA and the decrease of serum TAC compared with the healthy subjects, and 14-day treatment of OLP did not have any effect on serum levels of oxidative stress factors.
Ethylmalonyl Coenzyme A Mutase Operates as a Metabolic Control Point in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1

ABSTRACT The metabolism of one- and two-carbon compounds by the methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 involves high carbon flux through the ethylmalonyl coenzyme A (ethylmalonyl-CoA) pathway (EMC pathway). During growth on ethylamine, the EMC pathway operates as a linear pathway carrying the full assimilatory flux to produce glyoxylate, malate, and succinate. Assimilatory carbon enters the ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway directly as acetyl-CoA, bypassing pathways for formaldehyde oxidation/assimilation and the regulatory mechanisms controlling them, making ethylamine growth a useful condition to study the regulation of the EMC pathway. Wild-type M. extorquens cells were grown at steady state on a limiting concentration of succinate, and the growth substrate was then switched to ethylamine, a condition where the cell must make a sudden switch from utilizing the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to using the ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway for assimilation, which has been an effective strategy for identifying metabolic control points. A 9-h lag in growth was observed, during which butyryl-CoA, a degradation product of ethylmalonyl-CoA, accumulated, suggesting a metabolic imbalance. Ethylmalonyl-CoA mutase activity increased to a level sufficient for the observed growth rate at 9 h, which correlated with an upregulation of RNA transcripts for ecm and a decrease in the levels of ethylmalonyl-CoA. When the wild-type strain overexpressing ecm was tested with the same substrate switchover experiment, ethylmalonyl-CoA did not accumulate, growth resumed earlier, and, after a transient period of slow growth, the culture grew at a higher rate than that of the control. These findings demonstrate that ethylmalonyl-CoA mutase is a metabolic control point in the EMC pathway, expanding our understanding of its regulation.
Nonadiabatic transitions for a decaying two-level system: geometrical and dynamical contributions

We study the Landau–Zener problem for a decaying two-level system described by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, depending analytically on time. Use of a super-adiabatic basis allows us to calculate the survival probability P in the slow-sweep limit, without specifying the Hamiltonian explicitly. It is found that P consists of a 'dynamical' and a 'geometrical' factor. The former is determined by the complex adiabatic eigenvalues E±(t), only, whereas the latter solely requires the knowledge of α±(t), the ratio of the components of each of the adiabatic eigenstates. Both factors can be split into a universal one, depending only on the complex level crossing points, and a nonuniversal one, involving the full time dependence of E±(t) and α±(t). This general result is applied to the Akulin–Schleich model where the initial upper level is damped with damping constant γ. For analytic power-law sweeps we find that Stuckelberg oscillations of P exist for γ smaller than a critical value γc and disappear for γ > γc. A physical interpretation of this behaviour will be presented by use of a damped harmonic oscillator.
Effective Dose of Ramosetron for Prophylaxis of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in High-Risk Patients

Background. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common adverse events with an incidence of up to 80% in high-risk patients. Ramosetron, a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, is widely used to prevent PONV. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effective dose of ramosetron for the prevention of PONV in high-risk patients. Methods. Fifty-one patients were randomly allocated to 3 groups and were administered ramosetron 0.3 mg (group A), 0.45 mg (group B), or 0.6 mg (group C), at the end of their surgery. The episodes of PONV were assessed 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours after the injection and all the adverse events were observed. Results. The complete response rate in the postoperative period 6–24 hours after the anesthesia was higher in group C than in group A: 93% versus 44%. Group C's experience score of Rhodes index was lower than group A's: 0.81 ± 2.56 versus 3.94 ± 5.25. No adverse drug reaction could be observed in all groups. Conclusions. The effective dose of ramosetron to be injected for the near-complete prophylaxis of PONV 6 to 24 hours after surgery in high-risk patients is a 0.6 mg bolus injection at the end of the surgery.
A Generic Framework for Reasoning about Dynamic Networks of Infinite-State Processes

We propose a framework for reasoning about unbounded dynamic networks of infinite-state processes. We propose Constrained Petri Nets (CPN) as generic models for these networks. They can be seen as Petri nets where tokens (representing occurrences of processes) are colored by values over some potentially infinite data domain such as integers, reals, etc. Furthermore, we define a logic, called CML (colored markings logic), for the description of CPN configurations. CML is a first-order logic over tokens allowing to reason about their locations and their colors. Both CPNs and CML are parametrized by a color logic allowing to express constraints on the colors (data) associated with tokens. We investigate the decidability of the satisfiability problem of CML and its applications in the verification of CPNs. We identify a fragment of CML for which the satisfiability problem is decidable (whenever it is the case for the underlying color logic), and which is closed under the computations of post and pre images for CPNs. These results can be used for several kinds of analysis such as invariance checking, pre-post condition reasoning, and bounded reachability analysis.
The Young Everest Study: preliminary report of changes in sleep and cerebral blood flow velocity during slow ascent to altitude in unacclimatised children

Background Cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and sleep physiology in healthy children exposed to hypoxia and hypocarbia are under-researched. Aim To investigate associations between sleep variables, daytime end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) and CBFV in children during high-altitude ascent. Methods Vital signs, overnight cardiorespiratory sleep studies and transcranial Doppler were undertaken in nine children (aged 6–13 years) at low altitude (130 m), and then at moderate (1300 m) and high (3500 m) altitude during a 5-day ascent. Results Daytime (130 m: 98%; 3500 m: 90%, p=0.004) and mean (130 m: 97%, 1300 m: 94%, 3500: 87%, p=0.0005) and minimum (130 m: 92%, 1300 m: 84%, 3500 m: 79%, p=0.0005) overnight pulse oximetry oxyhaemoglobin saturation decreased, and the number of central apnoeas increased at altitude (130 m: 0.2/h, 1300 m: 1.2/h, 3500 m: 3.5/h, p=0.2), correlating inversely with EtCO2 (R2 130 m: 0.78; 3500 m: 0.45). Periodic breathing occurred for median (IQR) 0.0 (0; 0.3)% (130 m) and 0.2 (0; 1.2)% (3500 m) of total sleep time. At 3500 m compared with 130 m, there were increases in middle (MCA) (mean (SD) left 29.2 (42.3)%, p=0.053; right 9.9 (12)%, p=0.037) and anterior cerebral (ACA) (left 65.2 (69)%, p=0.024; right 109 (179)%; p=0.025) but not posterior or basilar CBFV. The right MCA CBFV increase at 3500 m was predicted by baseline CBFV and change in daytime SpO2 and EtCO2 at 3500 m (R2 0.92); these associations were not seen on the left. Conclusions This preliminary report suggests that sleep physiology is disturbed in children even with slow ascent to altitude. The regional variations in CBFV and their association with hypoxia and hypocapnia require further investigation.
Self-stabilizing Byzantine Pulse and Clock Synchronization

This thesis presents a scheme that achieves self-stabilizing Byzantine digital clock synchronization assuming a “synchronous” system. This synchronous system is established by the assumption of a common external “beat” delivered with a regularity in the order of the network message delay, thus enabling the nodes to execute in lock-step. The system can be subjected to severe transient failures with a permanent presence of Byzantine nodes. The presented algorithms guarantee eventually synchronized digital clock counters, i.e. common increasing integer counters associated with each beat. Two algorithms for achieving this synchronization are given. The first one, produces digital clock synchronization directly. The second one, produces an underlaying pulse which can be used to create clock synchronization, or can be used for other synchronization goals. Using the digital clock synchronization, one can go on to achieve regular clock synchronization, progressing at real-time rate and with high granularity. In addition, a general Byzantine stabilizer is shown, based on the pulse synchronization algorithm. This thesis shows the first algorithms to achieve deterministic linear convergence time, supporting f < n 3 Byzantine nodes. In addition, it does not require the use of local physical timers. Moreover, it is the first to show a self-stabilizing protocol that overcomes Byzantine faults and operates in a network that is not fully connected.
Endurance training and testing with the ball in young elite soccer players

Background: The aerobic capacity of soccer players substantially influences their technical performance and tactical choices. Thus, the assessment of soccer players’ aerobic performance should be of interest for soccer coaches in order to evaluate and improve their endurance training sessions. In this study, we present a new test to assess aerobic performance in soccer by means of a specific dribbling track: the Hoff test. We further determined whether improvement in maximal oxygen uptake was reflected in increased distance covered in the Hoff test. Methods: We tested 18 male soccer players (14 years old) both in the laboratory and using the Hoff test before and after 8 weeks of soccer training. Results: The distance covered in the Hoff test correlated significantly with maximum oxygen uptake, and improved by 9.6% during the 8 week training period, while maximum oxygen uptake and running economy improved by 12 and 10%, respectively. Backward multiple regression showed maximum oxygen uptake to be the main explanatory variable for the distance covered in the Hoff test. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated a significant correlation between laboratory testing of VO2max and performance in the Hoff test. Furthermore, training induced improvements in VO2max were reflected in improved performance in the Hoff test. We suggest that it should be a goal for active U-15 soccer players to cover more than 2100 metres in the Hoff test, as this requires a VO2max of above 200 ml/kg0.75/min, which should serve as a minimum in modern soccer.
Tocopherols and Tocotrienols in Common and Emerging Dietary Sources: Occurrence, Applications, and Health Benefits

Edible oils are the major natural dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols, collectively known as tocols. Plant foods with low lipid content usually have negligible quantities of tocols. However, seeds and other plant food processing by-products may serve as alternative sources of edible oils with considerable contents of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Tocopherols are among the most important lipid-soluble antioxidants in food as well as in human and animal tissues. Tocopherols are found in lipid-rich regions of cells (e.g., mitochondrial membranes), fat depots, and lipoproteins such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Their health benefits may also be explained by regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, and modulation of cell functions. Potential health benefits of tocols include prevention of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic ailments. Although deficiencies of tocopherol are uncommon, a continuous intake from common and novel dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols is advantageous. Thus, this contribution will focus on the relevant literature on common and emerging edible oils as a source of tocols. Potential application and health effects as well as the impact of new cultivars as sources of edible oils and their processing discards are presented. Future trends and drawbacks are also briefly covered.