Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enabling Proactive Data Management in Virtualized Hadoop Clusters Based on Predicted Data Activity Patterns

Hadoop clusters are gaining more and more in popularity based on their ability to parallelize and complete large scale computational tasks on big data. Service offerings of this type have appeared in the recent years, covering a need for dynamic and on-demand creation of such data analytics frameworks. The aim of this paper is to provide a mechanism for offering such virtual clusters as a service, with built-in intelligence functionalities for efficient management. The target of these mechanisms is to predict future demand of the files in the HDFS cluster and dynamically manipulate the according replication factor for availability purposes, in order to improve performance and minimize storage overhead. To this end, real data have been utilized as a dataset input to the prediction framework, based on Fourier series analysis, due to the latter's ability to capture different periodicities that can influence service usage. Multiple time-step ahead prediction is performed in order to enable proactive management (e.g. suitable replication strategy). We describe the framework's architecture, necessary modifications to the client side of Apache Hadoop for data logging and the results of the applied method on two real world datasets.
Influenza Virus Lung Infection Protects from Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Induced Immunopathology

The effect of infection history is ignored in most animal models of infectious disease. The attachment protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) induces T helper cell type 2–driven pulmonary eosinophilia in mice similar to that seen in the failed infant vaccinations in the 1960s. We show that previous influenza virus infection of mice: (a) protects against weight loss, illness, and lung eosinophilia; (b) attenuates recruitment of inflammatory cells; and (c) reduces cytokine secretion caused by RSV attachment protein without affecting RSV clearance. This protective effect can be transferred via influenza-immune splenocytes to naive mice and is long lived. Previous immunity to lung infection clearly plays an important and underestimated role in subsequent vaccination and infection. The data have important implications for the timing of vaccinations in certain patient groups, and may contribute to variability in disease susceptibility observed in humans.
Disruption of TrkB-Mediated Phospholipase Cγ Signaling Inhibits Limbic Epileptogenesis

The BDNF receptor, TrkB, is critical to limbic epileptogenesis, but the responsible downstream signaling pathways are unknown. We hypothesized that TrkB-dependent activation of phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) signaling is the key pathway and tested this in trkBPLC/PLC mice carrying a mutation (Y816F) that uncouples TrkB from PLCγ1. Biochemical measures revealed activation of both TrkB and PLCγ1 in hippocampi in the pilocarpine and kindling models in wild-type mice. PLCγ1 activation was decreased in hippocampi isolated from trkBPLC/PLC compared with control mice. Epileptogenesis assessed by development of kindling was inhibited in trkBPLC/PLC compared with control mice. Long-term potentiation of the mossy fiber-CA3 pyramid synapse was impaired in slices of trkBPLC/PLC mice. We conclude that TrkB-dependent activation of PLCγ1 signaling is an important molecular mechanism of limbic epileptogenesis. Elucidating signaling pathways activated by a cell membrane receptor in animal models of CNS disorders promises to reveal novel targets for specific and effective therapeutic intervention.
Visual short-term memory deficits in REM sleep behaviour disorder mirror those in Parkinson’s disease

Individuals with REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) are at high risk of Parkinson’s disease. Rolinski, Zokaei et al. show that they also display the same pattern of visual short-term memory deficits as patients with Parkinson’s disease, and suggest that this ‘fingerprint’ of memory impairment could be a prodromal disease marker.
Impedance control for biped robot walking on uneven terrain

This paper proposes a method for a biped robot to walk on uneven terrains. For stable locomotion, it is necessary for the biped robot to adapt to the ground conditions with suitable foot motions and to reduce the magnitude of the ground reaction forces (GRFs) applied at the feet that are in contact with the ground. This paper suggests the impedance control scheme with a variable desired force to reduce the GRFs. The effectiveness and performance of the proposed control scheme are demonstrated in computer simulations with a 12-DOF biped robot.
A novel CMOS low-noise amplifier design for 3.1- to 10.6-GHz ultra-wide-band wireless receivers

An ultra-wideband (UWB) 3.1- to 10.6-GHz low-noise amplifier (LNA) employing a common-gate stage for wideband input matching is presented in this paper. Designed in a commercial 0.18-mum 1.8-V standard RFCMOS technology, the proposed UWB LNA achieves fully on-chip circuit implementation, contributing to the realization of a single-chip CMOS UWB receiver. The proposed UWB LNA achieves 16.7plusmn0. 8 dB power gain with a good input match (S11<-9 dB) over the 7500-MHz bandwidth (from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz), and an average noise figure of 4.0 dB, while drawing 18.4-mA dc biasing current from the 1.8-V power supply. A gain control mechanism is also introduced for the first time in the proposed design by varying the biasing current of the gain stage without influencing the other figures of merit of the circuit so as to accommodate the UWB LNA in various UWB wireless transmission systems with different link budgets
Suppression of mitochondrial oxidative stress provides long-term neuroprotection in experimental optic neuritis.

PURPOSE Axonal loss is thought to contribute to the persistence of visual loss in optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis (MS). The mechanisms of injury are poorly understood. The authors investigated the contribution of mitochondrial oxidative stress and the effects of modulating mitochondrial antioxidant gene expression in the optic nerves of mice induced with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), with a focus on long-term neuroprotection. METHODS Optic nerves from mice with EAE were probed for reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the use of dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), dihydroethidium, and cerium chloride. To modulate mitochondrial oxidative stress, recombinant AAV containing the human SOD2 gene or a ribozyme targeting murine SOD2 was injected into the vitreous. Control eyes received the recombinant virus without a therapeutic gene. Mice were sensitized for EAE and were monitored by serial contrast-enhanced MRI. The effects of SOD2 modulation on the EAE optic nerve were gauged by computerized analysis of optic nerve volume, myelin fiber area, and retinal ganglion cell loss at 1, 3, and 12 months after sensitization for EAE. RESULTS ROS were detected in the EAE optic nerve as early as 3 days after antigenic sensitization. Colocalization suggested mitochondria as the source of ROS activity in the absence of inflammation. The ribozyme suppressing SOD2 gene expression increased myelin fiber injury by 27%. Increasing SOD2 levels twofold in the optic nerve by virally mediated gene transfer ameliorated myelin fiber injury by 51% and RGC loss fourfold, limiting it to 7% in EAE at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Amelioration of mitochondrial oxidative stress by SOD2 gene delivery may be a therapeutic strategy for suppressing neurodegeneration in optic neuritis.
Intertemporal substitution and recursive smooth ambiguity preferences

In this paper, we establish an axiomatically founded generalized recursive smooth ambiguity model that allows for a separation among intertemporal substitution, risk aversion, and ambiguity aversion. We axiomatize this model using two approaches: the second-order act approach à la Klibanoff et al. (2005) and the twostage randomization approach à la Seo (2009). We characterize risk attitude and ambiguity attitude within these two approaches. We then discuss our model’s application in asset pricing. Our recursive preference model nests some popular models in the literature as special cases.
Stochastic specification of primordial germ cells from mesoderm precursors in axolotl embryos

A common feature of development in most vertebrate models is the early segregation of the germ line from the soma. For example, in Xenopus and zebrafish embryos primordial germ cells (PGCs) are specified by germ plasm that is inherited from the egg; in mice, Blimp1 expression in the epiblast mediates the commitment of cells to the germ line. How these disparate mechanisms of PGC specification evolved is unknown. Here, in order to identify the ancestral mechanism of PGC specification in vertebrates, we studied PGC specification in embryos from the axolotl (Mexican salamander), a model for the tetrapod ancestor. In the axolotl, PGCs develop within mesoderm, and classic studies have reported their induction from primitive ectoderm (animal cap). We used an axolotl animal cap system to demonstrate that signalling through FGF and BMP4 induces PGCs. The role of FGF was then confirmed in vivo. We also showed PGC induction by Brachyury, in the presence of BMP4. These conditions induced pluripotent mesodermal precursors that give rise to a variety of somatic cell types, in addition to PGCs. Irreversible restriction of the germ line did not occur until the mid-tailbud stage, days after the somatic germ layers are established. Before this, germline potential was maintained by MAP kinase signalling. We propose that this stochastic mechanism of PGC specification, from mesodermal precursors, is conserved in vertebrates.
Ferritin cage for encapsulation and delivery of bioactive nutrients: From structure, property to applications

ABSTRACT Ferritin is a class of naturally occurring iron storage proteins, which is distributed widely in animal, plant, and bacteria. It usually consists of 24 subunits that form a hollow protein shell with high symmetry. One holoferritin molecule can store up to 4500 iron atom within its inner cavity, and it becomes apoferritin upon removal of iron from the cavity. Recently, scientists have subverted these nature functions and used reversibly self-assembled property of apoferritin cage controlled by pH for the encapsulation and delivery of bioactive nutrients or anticancer drug. In all these cases, the ferritin cages shield their cargo from the influence of external conditions and provide a controlled microenvironment. More importantly, upon encapsulation, ferritin shell greatly improved the water solubility, thermal stability, photostability, and cellular uptake activity of these small bioactive compounds. This review aims to highlight recent advances in applications of ferritin cage as a novel vehicle in the field of food science and nutrition. Future outlooks are highlighted with the aim to suggest a research line to follow for further studies.
Detection and characterization of weak affinity antibody antigen recognition with biomolecular interaction analysis

In biological systems, weak‐affinity interactions (association constant, Ka, of less than approximately 104 M−1) between biomolecules are common and essential to the integrity of such units. However, studies of weak biological interactions are difficult due to the scarcity of analytical methods available for the bioscientist. In this communication, we report on the use of biosensors based on surface plasmon resonance to detect and characterize weak affinity antibody–antigen interactions. Monoclonal antibodies towards carbohydrate antigens were immobilized on sensor surfaces and were used to detect weak binding of the carbohydrate tetraglucose of dissociation constant, Kd, in the millimolar range. Sensorgrams were received in the form of square pulses where the kinetic rate constants were difficult to assess due to the rapid association and dissociation of the antigen to/from the immobilized antibody. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supplemental Information : Single-mode dispersive waves and soliton microcomb dynamics

Dissipative Kerr solitons are self-sustaining optical wavepackets in resonators. They use the Kerr nonlinearity to both compensate dispersion and to offset optical loss. Besides providing insights into nonlinear resonator physics, they can be applied in frequency metrology, precision clocks, and spectroscopy. Like other optical solitons, the dissipative Kerr soliton can radiate power in the form of a dispersive wave through a process that is the optical analogue of Cherenkov radiation. Dispersive waves typically consist of an ensemble of optical modes. A limiting case is demonstrated in which the dispersive wave is concentrated into a single cavity mode. In this limit, its interaction with the soliton is shown to induce bistable behavior in the spectral and temporal properties of the soliton. Also, an operating point of enhanced repetition-rate stability is predicted and observed. The single-mode dispersive wave can therefore provide quiet states of soliton comb operation useful in many applications.
CoSpa: A Co-training Approach for Spam Review Identification with Support Vector Machine

Spam reviews are increasingly appearing on the Internet to promote sales or defame competitors by misleading consumers with deceptive opinions. This paper proposes a co-training approach called CoSpa (Co-training for Spam review identification) to identify spam reviews by two views: one is the lexical terms derived from the textual content of the reviews and the other is the PCFG (Probabilistic Context-Free Grammars) rules derived from a deep syntax analysis of the reviews. Using SVM (Support Vector Machine) as the base classifier, we develop two strategies, CoSpa-C and CoSpa-U, embedded within the CoSpa approach. The CoSpa-C strategy selects unlabeled reviews classified with the largest confidence to augment the training dataset to retrain the classifier. The CoSpa-U strategy randomly selects unlabeled reviews with a uniform distribution of confidence. Experiments on the spam dataset and the deception dataset demonstrate that both the proposed CoSpa algorithms outperform the traditional SVM with lexical terms and PCFG rules in spam review identification. Moreover, the CoSpa-U strategy outperforms the CoSpa-C strategy when we use the absolute value of decision function of SVM as the confidence.
Non-volatile memory for fast, reliable file systems

Given the decreasing cost of non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), by the late 1990’s it will be feasible for most workstations to include a megabyte or more of NVRAM, enabling the design of higher-performance, more reliable systems. We present the trace-driven simulation and analysis of two uses of NVRAM to improve I/O performance in distributed file systems: non-volatile file caches on client workstations to reduce write traffic to file servers, and write buffers for write-optimized file systems to reduce server disk accesses. Our results show that a megabyte of NVRAM on diskless clients reduces the amount of file data written to the server by 40 to 50%. Increasing the amount of NVRAM shows rapidly diminishing returns, and the particular NVRAM block replacement policy makes little difference to write traffic. Closely integrating the NVRAM with the volatile cache provides the best total traffic reduction. At today’s prices, volatile memory provides a better performance improvement per dollar than NVRAM for client caching, but as volatile cache sizes increase and NVRAM becomes cheaper, NVRAM will become cost effective. On the server side, providing a one-half megabyte write-buffer per file system reduces disk accesses by about 20% on most of the measured logstructured file systems (LFS), and by 90% on one heavilyused file system that includes transaction-processing workloads.
Discrete element models and real life duals

Some interesting results are obtained using a class of models defined as discrete element. One of the best examples of this class is the Game of Life whose history is traced to cellular automata. Through duals, the results link these discrete element models with standard mathematical models, the specific one involved here is a logistic equation. Some implications are drawn from M.R. Lauer's (1993) blending of two discrete element models: the Game of Life and the Prisoner's Dilemma. The totally cooperative aspects of "births" and "deaths" in the standard Game of Life are contrasted with the competitive features of the algorithms of strategy in the Prisoner's Dilemma. Of particular significance are the optimal population values for varying levels of "selfish" births and the counter-intuitive answers to a number of significant questions that are raised in a series of simulation experiments.
In silico Identification of Candidate Drug and Vaccine Targets from Various Pathways in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is responsible for causing gonorrhea, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases prevailing globally. Although extensive researches are in progress in order to control the transmission of the disease and to develop drug(s) against the pathogen, till date no effective vaccine or specific drug could be developed and only antibiotic treatment is in use. Perhaps, due to excess use of antibiotics, several resistant strains have been found. In the present study, metabolic pathways-related candidate drug and vaccine targets have been identified in N. gonorrhoeae virulent strain FA 1090 using an in silico subtractive genomics approach. 106 putative drug targets out of 537 essential genes have been predicted. 67 cytoplasmic and 9 membrane enzymes, along with 10 membrane transporters are found to be the potential drug targets from the host-pathogen common metabolic pathways. Among these targets, competence lipoproteins (NGO0277) and cysW have been identified as candidate vaccine targets. 20 drug targets have been identified from pathogen specific unique metabolic pathways. Out of these, 6 enzymes are involved in dual metabolic pathways and 2 are expressed in cell wall and fimbrium. These gonococci-specific proteins are expected to be better possible drug targets. Screening of the functional inhibitors against these novel targets may result in discovery of novel therapeutic compounds that can be effective against antibiotic resistant strains.
Personalized online video recommendation by neighborhood score propagation based global ranking

With the fast rising of the video sharing website, such as Youtube etc, there is an emergent requirement to provide video recommendation service according to user's interest. However, most of the current video recommendation systems are based on text analysis and utilize local ranking algorithms. Text based approaches may fail when the textual information is incomplete. The performance of the local ranking algorithm is limited by the fact that it only considers the relation between the target item and the un-target items, and neglects the useful information among the un-target items. In this paper, we propose a novel personalized framework to achieve recommendation by re-ranking the video search result list according to user selected one by using multimodal features. For re-ranking, the neighborhood score propagation based global ranking approach is adopted. This algorithm explores the inner structures of the video data distribution and ensures that similar videos have similar recommendation scores. In our approach, firstly the video search result list is obtained according to user's specified query through video search engine. Then, multimodal features, including aural, textual and visual features, are extracted from the user clicked video and the videos in the search result list respectively. In this step, we propose to use the concept probability distribution feature to represent the video visual content. This feature reveals the concepts consisting of the video and is suitable for video high level similarity representation. After that, the multi-graph learning framework is explored to re-rank these videos. In summary, our approach could provide personalized video recommendation service according to user's demand through an interactive video re-ranking. The experimental results and evaluations show that the proposed approach is effective.
Barley β-Glucans-Containing Food Enhances Probiotic Performances of Beneficial Bacteria

Currently, the majority of prebiotics in the market are derived from non-digestible oligosaccharides. Very few studies have focused on non-digestible long chain complex polysaccharides in relation to their potential as novel prebiotics. Cereals β-glucans have been investigated for immune-modulating properties and beneficial effects on obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cholesterol levels. Moreover, β-glucans have been reported to be highly fermentable by the intestinal microbiota in the caecum and colon, and can enhance both growth rate and lactic acid production of microbes isolated from the human intestine. In this work, we report the effects of food matrices containing barley β-glucans on growth and probiotic features of four Lactobacillus strains. Such matrices were able to improve the growth rate of the tested bacteria both in unstressed conditions and, importantly, after exposure to in vitro simulation of the digestive tract. Moreover, the effect of β-glucans-containing food on bacterial adhesion to enterocyte-like cells was analyzed and a positive influence on probiotic-enterocyte interaction was observed.
GATA-2 Plays Two Functionally Distinct Roles during the Ontogeny of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

GATA-2 is an essential transcription factor in the hematopoietic system that is expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors. Complete deficiency of GATA-2 in the mouse leads to severe anemia and embryonic lethality. The role of GATA-2 and dosage effects of this transcription factor in HSC development within the embryo and adult are largely unexplored. Here we examined the effects of GATA-2 gene dosage on the generation and expansion of HSCs in several hematopoietic sites throughout mouse development. We show that a haploid dose of GATA-2 severely reduces production and expansion of HSCs specifically in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region (which autonomously generates the first HSCs), whereas quantitative reduction of HSCs is minimal or unchanged in yolk sac, fetal liver, and adult bone marrow. However, HSCs in all these ontogenically distinct anatomical sites are qualitatively defective in serial or competitive transplantation assays. Also, cytotoxic drug-induced regeneration studies show a clear GATA-2 dose–related proliferation defect in adult bone marrow. Thus, GATA-2 plays at least two functionally distinct roles during ontogeny of HSCs: the production and expansion of HSCs in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros and the proliferation of HSCs in the adult bone marrow.
Compiler support to customize the mark and sweep algorithm

Mark and sweep garbage collectors (GC) are classical but still very efficient automatic memory management systems. Although challenged by other kinds of systems, such as copying collectors, mark and sweep collectors remain among the best in terms of performance.This paper describes our implementation of an efficient mark and sweep garbage collector tailored to each program. Compiler support provides the type information required to statically and automatically generate this customized garbage collector. The segregation of objects by type allows the production of a more efficient GC code. This technique, implemented in Small Eiffel, our compiler for the object-oriented language Eiffel, is applicable to other languages and other garbage collection algorithms, be they distributed or not.We present the results obtained on programs featuring a variety of programming styles and compare our results to a well-know and high quality garbage collector.