Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Regulate Apoptosis of Neutrophils

Abstract Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are promising cell resource for the cell-based therapy for periodontitis and regeneration of bio-root. In this study, we investigated the effect of PDLSCs on neutrophil, a critical constituent of innate immunity, and the underlying mechanisms. The effect of PDLSCs on the proliferation and apoptosis of resting neutrophils and IL-8 activated neutrophils was tested under cell-cell contact culture and Transwell culture, with or without anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody. We found that PDLSCs could promote the proliferation and reduce the apoptosis of neutrophils whether under cell-cell contact or Transwell culture. Anti-IL-6 antibody reduced PDLSCs-mediated inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis. IL-6 at the concentration of 10ng/ml and 20ng/ml could inhibit neutrophil apoptosis statistically. Collectively, PDLSCs could reduce the apoptosis of neutrophils via IL-6.
Single-packet IP traceback

The design of the IP protocol makes it difficult to reliably identify the originator of an IP packet. Even in the absence of any deliberate attempt to disguise a packet's origin, widespread packet forwarding techniques such as NAT and encapsulation may obscure the packet's true source. Techniques have been developed to determine the source of large packet flows, but, to date, no system has been presented to track individual packets in an efficient, scalable fashion. We present a hash-based technique for IP traceback that generates audit trails for traffic within the network, and can trace the origin of a single IP packet delivered by the network in the recent past. We demonstrate that the system is effective, space efficient (requiring approximately 0.5% of the link capacity per unit time in storage), and implementable in current or next-generation routing hardware. We present both analytic and simulation results showing the system's effectiveness.
A genetic and insertion heuristic algorithm for solving the dynamic ridematching problem with time windows

In this paper, we address the dynamic ridematching problem with time windows in dynamic ridesharing. The dynamic ridesharing is a special type of ridesharing where the participants form ridesharing on short notice. The ridematching problem is to assign riders to drivers and to define the ordering and timing of the riders' pickup and delivery. Because not all information is known in advance, the problem is dynamic. This is an optimization problem where we optimize a multicriteria objective function. We consider minimizing the total travel distance and time of the drivers and the total travel time of the riders and maximizing the number of the transported riders. We propose a genetic and insertion heuristic algorithm for solving the addressed problem. In the first stage, the algorithm works as a genetic algorithm while in the second stage it works as an insertion heuristic that modifies the solution of the genetic algorithm to do ridematching in real-time. In addition, we provide datasets for the ridematching problem, derived from realistic data, to test the algorithm. Experimentation results indicate that the algorithm can successfully solve the problem by providing answers in real-time and it can be easily tuned between response time and solution quality.
Reliability simulation of component-based software systems

Prevalent Markovian and semi Markovian methods to predict the reliability and performance of component based heterogeneous systems suffer from several limitations: they are subject to an intractably large state space for more complex scenarios, and they cannot take into account the influence of various parameters such as reliability growth of individual components, dependencies among components, etc., in a single model. Discrete event simulation offers an alternative to analytical models as it can capture a detailed system structure, and can be used to study the influence of different factors separately as well as in a combined fashion on dependability measures. We demonstrate the flexibility offered by discrete event simulation to analyze such complex systems through two case studies, one of a terminating application, and the other of a real time application with feedback control. We simulate the failure behavior of the terminating application with instantaneous as well as explicit repair. We also study the effect of having fault tolerant configurations for some of the components on the failure behavior of the application. In the second case of the real time application, we initially simulate the failure behavior of a single version taking into account its reliability growth. We also study the failure behavior of three fault tolerant systems: DRB, NVP and NSCP which are built from the individual versions of the real time application. Results demonstrate the flexibility offered by simulation to study the influence of various factors on the failure behavior of the applications for single as well as fault tolerant configurations.
Quality degradation effects caused by limiting the bandwidth of standard surround sound channels and hierarchically encoded MSBTF channels: a comparative study

Limiting the bandwidth of multichannel audio can be used as an effective method of trading-off audio quality with broadcasting costs. In this paper, subjective effects of two controlled high frequency limitation methods on multichannel audio quality were studied with formal listening tests. The first method was based on limiting the bandwidth of standard surround sound channels (Rec. ITU-R BS. 775-1), the second involved limiting the bandwidth of the hierarchically encoded MSBTF channels. The results are compared and discussed. In this experiment, the Low Frequency Effect (LFE) channel was omitted.
Proximal Spectral Sensing to Monitor Phytoremediation of Metal-Contaminated Soils

Assessment of soil contamination and its long-term monitoring are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of phytoremediation systems. Spectral sensing-based monitoring methods promise obvious benefits compared to field-based methods: lower cost, faster data acquisition and better spatio-temporal monitoring. This paper reviews the theoretical basis whereby proximal spectral sensing of soil and vegetation could be used to monitor phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soils, and the eventual upscaling to imaging sensing. Both laboratory and field spectroscopy have been applied to sense heavy metals in soils indirectly via their intercorrelations with soil constituents, and also through metal-induced vegetation stress. In soil, most predictions are based on intercorrelations of metals with spectrally-active soil constituents viz., Fe-oxides, organic carbon, and clays. Spectral variations in metal-stressed plants is particularly associated with changes in chlorophyll, other pigments, and cell structure, all of which can be investigated by vegetation indices and red edge position shifts. Key shortcomings in obtaining satisfactory calibration for monitoring the metals in soils or metal-related plant stress include: reduced prediction accuracy compared to chemical methods, complexity of spectra, no unique spectral features associated with metal-related plant stresses, and transfer of calibrations from laboratory to field to regional scale. Nonetheless, spectral sensing promises to be a time saving, non-destructive and cost-effective option for long-term monitoring especially over large phytoremediation areas, and it is well-suited to phytoremediation networks where monitoring is an integral part.
An historical, geomechanical and probabilistic approach to rock-fall hazard assessment

Abstract. A new method (HGP for Historical, Geomechanical and Probabilistic) is proposed to estimate the failure probability of potentially unstable rock masses in a homogenous area, as a function of time. Analysis of a rock falls inventory yields the mean number of rock falls which may be expected in the area for the given time period and a given volume range. According to their geomechanical features, the potentially unstable rock masses are distributed in classes corresponding to different failure probabilities. The expected number of rock falls can be expressed as a function of these unknown probabilities. Assuming that only the ratio between these probabilities can be estimated, combining the historical and geomechanical analysis allows estimating the order of magnitude of the different failure probabilities. The method gives a quantitative significance to the evaluations which are usually attributed to potentially unstable rock masses. Rock-fall hazard can then be compared with other natural hazards, such as floods or earthquakes. The method is applied to a case study of calcareous cliffs in the area of Grenoble, France.
Measuring minimal change in argument premise revision

The field of belief revision studies how information can be given up in the face of new, conflicting information, while argumentation provides methods through which conflict can be modelled and the resultant acceptability of arguments evaluated. Prominent theories of belief revision depend on the notion of minimal change, measured in terms of epistemic entrenchment, to determine what beliefs to give up. In this paper, we take an initial look at the effects of removing an argument from a system of structured argumentation, in terms of both argument construction and acceptability, and how these can be used in the determination of minimal change.
Fragmented Networks and Entrepreneurship in Late Imperial Russia1

Emergent economies suffer from underdeveloped market infrastructures and insufficient public institutions to enforce contract commitments and property rights. Informal reputation-based arrangements may substitute for government enforcement, but they require close-knit networks that enable monitoring. Economic development also requires access to capital, information, and other resources, which is enabled by wide-reaching and diverse networks and not by closure. How is entrepreneurship possible given these conflicting demands? In this article, the authors examine how partnership networks and reputation channel the mobilization of capital for new enterprises, using quantitative information on 4,172 corporate partnerships during the industrialization of late imperial Russia (1869–1913). They find that reputation is locally effective in small and homogeneous network components. By contrast, founders in the largest components that form the network core raise more capital from investors but benefit less from reputation and more from brokerage opportunities and ties that reach diverse communities.
The Effects of Pre-Speaking Planning on Students' Performance during Speaking Tasks

The Effects of Pre-Speaking Planning on Students’ Performance During Speaking Tasks Céline Gaillard Center for Language Studies, BYU Master of Arts Research has explored the impact of various planning types (i.e. different ways to help students prepare for a language task by, for instance, giving them time and/or specific instructions) on the fluency, complexity, and accuracy of second language learners (e.g., Ellis, 2009). However, results have been mixed and studies have never investigated the impact of prespeaking activities such as those proposed by Thompson (2009), a teacher-led planning focusing on both form and content with students. Previous research suggests that this type of planning could benefit students: Foster & Skehan (1999) believe that teacher-led planning is effective in comparison to other planning types, and Sangarun (2005) demonstrated the benefits of planning involving both content and form instead of planning focusing on content or form only. Moreover, because anxiety negatively impacts the production of second language learners (Horwitz, Horwitz & Cope, 1986), this study also examines whether planning activities can reduce student anxiety during speaking tasks. To this end, the present study examines the impact of three different planning conditions, namely no planning, solitary planning and Thompson’s teacher-led planning, or Prelude to Conversation, on the fluency (measured through total duration of the speech sample, words per minute, and pauses per minute), complexity (measured through the words per utterance), accuracy (measured through the percentage of errors), and anxiety level (measured through anxiety scales) of 37 students performing short speaking tasks. Subjects were all enrolled in first semester French classes and were divided into three groups that rotated through the three planning conditions, each group starting with a different planning type in the cycle. Each week, the speaking task was common across all subjects, but depending on the group, the treatment was different. Their performance level during the speaking task and their anxiety level were compared for each treatment. Results show that planning has an impact on the fluency, complexity, and accuracy of the students but not on their anxiety level. Findings also show that pre-speaking has a more positive influence on the quality and the quantity of production of the students than solitary planning and no planning. Task and pre-task anxiety influenced the anxiety level of the students, demonstrating the role that specific tasks can have on student performance no matter how teachers try to prepare them for the tasks. Results also suggest that more personal-oriented tasks, e.g., student schedules, will elicit better responses than more outward-oriented tasks, e.g., school systems, cultural differences. This study also supports previous research that has shown the importance of creating a classroom where the anxiety is low.
CRF based method for curb detection using semantic cues and stereo depth

Curb detection is a critical component of driver assistance and autonomous driving systems. In this paper, we present a discriminative approach to the problem of curb detection under diverse road conditions. We define curbs as the intersection of drivable and non-drivable area which are classified using dense Conditional random fields(CRF). In our method, we fuse output of a neural network used for pixel-wise semantic segmentation with depth and color information from stereo cameras. CRF fuses the output of a deep model and height information available in stereo data and provides improved segmentation. Further we introduce temporal smoothness using a weighted average of Segnet output and output from a probabilistic voxel grid as our unary potential. Finally, we show improvements over the current state of the art neural networks. Our proposed method shows accurate results over large range of variations in curb curvature and appearance, without the need of retraining the model for the specific dataset.
Hyperglycaemia as a possible marker of invasive fungal infection in preterm neonates

Aim: The incidence of invasive fungal infection in preterm newborns is rising steadily. Early recognition and treatment are imperative, but diagnosis is difficult as data from microbiological investigations are often poor, and clinical and laboratory signs do not help in differentiating bacterial from fungal infections. We evaluated whether glucose intolerance could represent a possible surrogate marker predictor of invasive fungal infection in preterm neonates. Methods: We performed a case‐control study on neonates with birthweight less than 1250 g admitted to our tertiary‐level unit during the years 1998–2004 (n=383), comparing those with invasive fungal infection (n = 45, group A) to matched controls with late‐onset sepsis caused by bacterial agents (n=46, group B). We investigated in both groups the occurrence of hyperglycaemia (serum glycaemia > 215 mg/dl, i.e. 12 mmol/l) in the first month of life, and its temporal relationship with the episodes of sepsis. Results: Hyperglycaemia occurred significantly more often in group A (21/45, 46.6%) than in group B neonates (11/46, 23.9%) (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.235–4.432, p=0.008). Moreover, in 19 of 21 (90.4%) neonates with hyperglycaemia in group A, the carbohydrate intolerance episode typically occurred 72 h prior to the onset of invasive fungal infection; in contrast, no temporal relationship was found in neonates with bacterial sepsis (p=0.002). Correction of hyperglycaemia was successfully achieved in all neonates of both groups, with no significant differences in the number of days of insulin treatment needed to normalize glycaemia (p = 0.15).
How Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Trendsfrom Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Système Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre VEGETATION (SPOT VGT) Time Series Differ in Agricultural Areas: An Inner Mongolian Case Study

Detailed information from global remote sensing has greatly advanced our understanding of Earth as a system in general and of agricultural processes in particular. Vegetation monitoring with global remote sensing systems over long time periods is critical to gain a better understanding of processes related to agricultural change over long time periods. This specifically relates to sub-humid to semi-arid ecosystems, where agricultural change in grazing lands can only be detected based on long time series. By integrating data from different sensors it is theoretically possible to construct NDVI time series back to the early 1980s. However, such integration is hampered by uncertainties in the comparability between different sensor products. To be able to rely on vegetation trends derived from integrated time series it is therefore crucial to investigate whether vegetation trends derived from NDVI and phenological parameters are consistent across products. In this paper we analyzed several indicators of vegetation change for a range of agricultural systems in Inner Mongolia, China, and compared the results across different satellite archives. Specifically, we compared two of the prime NDVI archives—AVHRR
The Development of Microbiota and Metabolome in Small Intestine of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) from Birth to Weaning

The dense and diverse community of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of ruminant animals plays critical roles in the metabolism and absorption of nutrients, and gut associated immune function. Understanding microbial colonization in the small intestine of new born ruminants is a vital first step toward manipulating gut function through interventions during early life to produce long-term positive effects on host productivity and health. Yet the knowledge of microbiota colonization and its induced metabolites of small intestine during early life is still limited. In the present study, we examined the microbiota and metabolome in the jejunum and ileum of neonatal sika deer (Cervus nippon) from birth to weaning at days 1, 42, and 70. The microbial data showed that diversity and richness were increased with age, but a highly individual variation was observed at day 1. Principal coordinate analysis revealed significant differences in microbial community composition across three time points in the jejunum and ileum. The abundance of Halomonas spp. , Lactobacillus spp. , Escherichia–Shigella, and Bacteroides spp. tended to be decreased, while the proportion of Intestinibacter spp. , Cellulosilyticum spp. , Turicibacter spp. , Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Romboutsia spp. was significantly increased with age. For metabolome, metabolites separated from each other across the three time points in both jejunum and ileum. Moreover, the amounts of methionine, threonine, and putrescine were increased, while the amounts of myristic acid and pentadecanoic acid were decreased with age, respectively. The present study demonstrated that microbiota colonization and the metabolome becomes more developed in the small intestine with age. This may shed new light on the microbiota-metabolome-immune interaction during development.
Quasi-inverses of schema mappings

Schema mappings are high-level specifications that describe the relationship between two database schemas. Two operators on schema mappings, namely the composition operator and the inverse operator, are regarded as especially important. Progress on the study of the inverse operator was not made until very recently, as even finding the exact semantics of this operator turned out to be a fairly delicate task. Furthermore, this notion is rather restrictive, since it is rare that a schema mapping possesses an inverse. In this paper, we introduce and study the notion of a quasi-inverse of a schema mapping. This notion is a principled relaxation of the notion of an inverse of a schema mapping; intuitively, it is obtained from the notion of an inverse by not differentiating between instances that are equivalent for data-exchange purposes. For schema mappings specified by source-to-target tuple-generating dependencies (s-t tgds), we give a necessary and sufficient combinatorial condition for the existence of a quasi-inverse, and then use this condition to obtain both positive and negative results about the existence of quasi-inverses. In particular, we show that every LAV (local-as-view) schema mappinghas a quasi-inverse, but that there are schema mappings specified by full s-t tgds that have no quasi-inverse. After this, we study the language needed to express quasi-inverses of schema mappings specifiedby s-t tgds, and we obtain a complete characterization. We also characterize the language needed to express inverses of schema mappings, and thereby solve a problem left open in the earlier study of the inverse operator. Finally, we show that quasi-inverses can be used in many cases to recover the data that was exported by the original schemamapping when performing data exchange.
6D SLAM—3D mapping outdoor environments

6D SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) or 6D concurrent localization and mapping of mobile robots considers six dimensions for the robot pose, namely, the x, y, and z coordinates and the roll, yaw, and pitch angles. Robot motion and localization on natural surfaces, e.g., driving outdoor with a mobile robot, must regard these degrees of freedom. This paper presents a robotic mapping method based on locally consistent 3D laser range scans. Iterative Closest Point scan matching, combined with a heuristic for closed loop detection and a global relaxation method, results in a highly precise mapping system. A new strategy for fast data association, cached kd‐tree search, leads to feasible computing times. With no ground‐truth data available for outdoor environments, point relations in maps are compared to numerical relations in uncalibrated aerial images in order to assess the metric validity of the resulting 3D maps. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of Adult-Onset Deafness on the Human Central Auditory System

Degenerative change in the central auditory system was assessed in seven subjects with profound bilateral adult-onset deafness. The degree of transneuronal atrophy was determined by measuring cell size at three levels of the brain stem auditory pathway (anteroventral cochlear nucleus, medial superior olivary nucleus, and inferior colliculus). Within subjects, the relative degree of cell shrinkage was similar across all levels of the central pathway. Across subjects, the best neuronal preservation was seen in a case of viral labyrinthitis with 1 year of bilateral deafness and a near-normal population of cochlear ganglion cells. Reduction in cell size was greatest in cases of bacterial labyrinthitis or Scheibe degeneration with reduced populations of ganglion cells and longer periods of deafness. At the level of the cochlear nucleus, there was no consistent difference in cell size between the side stimulated by a functioning prosthetic device and the nonstimulated side.