Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient rate distortion optimized media streaming

This thesis considers the problem of finding optimal transmission strategies in ratedistortion optimized media streaming over a packet erasure channel with random delay. A compressed media stream, such as an audio or video stream, that is split into a set of usually interdependent data units, is to be sent to a receiver for instant playback. The data unit dependencies are modeled as a directed acyclic graph. The goal is to find transmission strategies that minimize the expected playback distortion for a given transmission rate and the loss and delay characteristics of the channel. We show that the problem can be solved in two steps. The first step is to find all optimal transmission policies for a single data unit, the second step is to combine these optimal transmission policies into optimal transmission strategies for a group of interdependent data units. We develop algorithms for both steps. For the first step, we propose branch and bound algorithms that are exact and faster than all previously proposed methods. We also propose branch and bound algorithms for the second step. They are much slower than previously proposed methods, but they are the only algorithms that are exact for any data unit dependency structure. For the special case where the dependencies between data units can be represented as a tree, we propose more efficient dynamic programming algorithms that are exact as well. We develop two heuristics to make these dynamic programming algorithms suitable for application in a practical streaming system. One heuristic reduces the computational complexity of the algorithms, the other one constructs trees for arbitrary dependency structures. Although exactness is lost by the use of these heuristics, experimental results show that the solutions found are better than the solutions found by previously proposed heuristic methods. In addition to channel simulations, the methods presented in this thesis are also evaluated in a practical streaming system on an Internet connection.
Subversion 1.5: A case study in open source release mismanagement

In June 2008, the Subversion development team released Subversion 1.5. 0. This release contained a number of new features, but arrived only after a long and difficult development, test and release cycle. This protracted process confused and frustrated both users and developers. In this paper, we discuss the events which led to this breakdown, how the release process is being improved, and what lessons other open source projects can learn from the Subversion community's mistakes.
Safety and Efficacy of a Premixed, Rice-Based Oral Rehydration Solution

The authors compared the safety and efficacy of a ready-to-use, premixed, rice-based oral rehydration solution (R-ORS) with a glucose-based oral rehydration solution (G-ORS), each containing 75 mmol/L sodium, in Mexican children with acute diarrhea for less than 5 days. Methods One hundred eighty-nine boys 3 to 24 months old admitted to the hospital with acute diarrhea and signs of dehydration were randomly assigned to receive either G-ORS or R-ORS. Intake and output were measured every 3 hours. Results In the group treated with R-ORS, significantly fewer patients required supplemental intravenous fluids during the rehydration phase compared to the G-ORS group (1%v 8.7%; P < 0.01). Mean stool output, percent weight gain, ORS intake, urine output, and number of patients who vomited during rehydration were similar in the two groups. The mean total stool output after the first 24 hours of maintenance phase was significantly lower in the R-ORS group than in the G-ORS group. Conclusions The authors found rice-based ORS to be safe, and its use reduced the rate of intravenous fluid therapy in comparison with the use of a glucose-based ORS.
Transfection of alpha(1,3)fucosyltransferase antisense sequences impairs the proliferative and tumorigenic ability of human colon carcinoma cells.

Sialyl Lewis x and sialyl Lewis a are oncodevelopmental antigens involved in the pathogenesis of colon adenocarcinoma. Biosynthesis of these glycans is controlled by alpha(1,3/1,4)fucosyltransferases. We report the disruption of sialyl Lewis x/a biosynthesis and inhibition of colon carcinoma cell proliferation by stable transfection of antisense sequences directed at the human Lewis alpha(1,3/1,4)fucosyltransferase gene, FUT3, and the plasma alpha(1,3)fucosyltransferase gene, FUT6. COLO-205 cells expressed high levels of sialyl Lewis x/a, alpha(1,3)fucosyltransferase activity, and FUT3/6 transcripts, but COLO</205-derived antisense transfectant cell lines AS5C and AS7A did not. Sense transfectant S6G expressed higher levels of fucosyltransferase than parental COLO-205. Cellular proliferation assays showed marked correlative decreases in the growth of antisense lines and, conversely, increased growth of sense transfectants. Subcutaneous tumors created by injection of nude mice with antisense transfectant cell lines grew more slowly than those arising from control COLO-205 and sense transfectants. These results provide target validation for inhibition of carcinoma proliferation with antisense sequences directed at human fucosyltransferases.
Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility testing of Trichosporon asahii isolated of Intensive Care Units patients

Trichosporon asahii is an opportunistic pathogen, associated with a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. In this study, ten isolates, recovered from oral cavity and urine of patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) over six months, were identified by classical and molecular methods, typed by RAPD and tested in vitro for susceptibility to fluconazole, itraconazole, 5-flucytosine and amphotericin B. A total agreement between the identification of Trichosporon sp by PCR based on sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer Regions (ITS) and on the sequences of small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was found. Randomly amplified of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), with primers P6 and M13, was used to determine the genomic profiles. The dendogram analysis indicated that almost all strains showed similarity >0.9 among them and all strains were multidrug-resistant. This study brings new results on the identification and genotyping of T. asahii isolated from Brazilian ICU patients and information about their antifungal drugs susceptibility.
Solvency Constraint, Underdiversification, and Idiosyncratic Risks

Abstract Contrary to the prediction of the standard portfolio diversification theory, many investors place a large fraction of their stock investment in a small number of stocks. I show that underdiversification may be caused by solvency requirements. My model predicts that for quite general preferences and return distributions: (1) underdiversification decreases in discretionary wealth; and (2) expected return and covariance determine which stocks to invest in, but variance, higher moments, and Sharpe ratio do not matter for this choice. In addition, a less-diversified stock portfolio has a higher expected return, a higher volatility, and a higher skewness, and idiosyncratic risks are priced.
A case for NUMA-aware contention management on multicore systems

On multicore systems contention for shared resources occurs when memory-intensive threads are co-scheduled on cores that share parts of the memory hierarchy, such as lastlevel caches and memory controllers. Previous work investigated how contention could be addressed via scheduling. A contention-aware scheduler separates competing threads onto separate memory hierarchy domains to eliminate resource sharing and, as a consequence, mitigate contention. However, all previous work on contention-aware scheduling assumed that the underlying system is UMA (uniform memory access latencies, single memory controller). Modern multicore systems, however, are NUMA, which means that they feature non-uniform memory access latencies and multiple memory controllers. We discovered that contention management is a lot more difficult on NUMA systems, because the scheduler must not only consider the placement of threads, but also the placement of their memory. This is mostly required to eliminate contention for memory controllers contrary to the popular belief that remote access latency is the dominant concern. In this work we quantify the effects on performance imposed by resource contention and remote access latency. This analysis inspires the design of a contention-aware scheduling algorithm for NUMA systems. This algorithm significantly outperforms a NUMA-unaware algorithm proposed before as well as the default Linux scheduler. We also investigate memory migration strategies, which are the necessary part of the NUMA contention-aware scheduling algorithm. Finally, we propose and evaluate a new contention management algorithm that is priority-aware.
Clinical Mycological and Immunological Study of Tinea Capitis.

Clinically diagnosed and mycologically proved 54 cases of tinea capitis detected at skin out -patient Department of University Ropital, Banaras Hindu University. Varanasi, during May, 1979 to April 1980 were studied. Tinea capitis was an affliction of prepubertal male children of villages. 'Black dot' type was the commonest variety followed by 'kerion' type which was exclusively seen among rural children. Scaly gray patch type was confined to city children. No definite source of infection for 'black dot' type was detected. The source of infection in all the inflammatory type of tinea capitis was traceable. The lesions were always multiple. T. violaceum was the commonest etilogical fungus. It mostly caused 'black dot' type but inflammatory lesions were also due to them. T. mentagraphyte caused 'kerion' type only. T. tonsurans and T. verrucosum also contributed to inflammatory tinea capitis. T. rubrum caused only non- inflammatory type of lesions. M. nanum was isolated in 2 cases of non-infl.qmmatory tinea capitis. No defect in ceu-mediate,d immunity was detected in'black dot' lesions as well as in scaly type of tinea capitis by phytohaemoagglutinin intra-dermal tests.
On the depletion and accretion time-scales of cold gas in local early-type galaxies

We consider what can be learnt about the processes of gas accretion and depletion from the kinematic misalignment between the cold/warm gas and stars in local early-type galaxies. Using simple analytic arguments and a toy model of the processes involved, we show that the lack of objects with counter-rotating gas reservoirs strongly constrains the relaxation, depletion and accretion timescales of gas in early-type galaxies. Standard values of the accretion rate, star formation efficiency and relaxation rate are not simultaneously consistent with the observeddistributionof kinematic misalignments.To reproducethat distribution,both fast gas depletion (tdep . 10 8 yr; e.g. more efficient star formation) and fast gas destruction (e.g. by active galactic nucleus feedback) can be invoked, but both also require a high rate of gas-rich mergers (> 1 Gyr 1 ). Alternatively, the relaxation of misaligned material could happen over very long timescales (≃ 100 dynamical times or ≈ 1-5 Gyr). We explore the various physical processes that could lead to fast gas depletion and/or slow gas relaxation, and discuss the prospects of using kinematic misalignments to probe gas-rich accretion processes in the era of large integral-field spectroscopic surveys.
Binary Optics Technology: The Theory and Design of Multi-Level Diffractive Optical Elements

Abstract : Multi-level diffractive phase have the potential to significantly improved the performance of many conventional lens systems. The theory, design and fabrication of these diffractive profiles are described in detail. Basic examples illustrate the potential usefulness, as well as the limitations, of these elements. Keywords: Binary optics; Diffractive optical elements.
Short-tandem repeat analysis in seven Chinese regional populations

In the present study, we investigated the application of 13 short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D13S317, D7S820, TH01, D16S539, CSFIPO, VWA, D8S1179, TPOX, FGA, D3S1358, D21S11, D18S51 and D5S818) routinely used in forensic analysis, for delineating population relationships among seven human populations representing the two major geographic groups, namely the southern and northern Chinese. The resulting single topology revealed pronounced geographic and population partitioning, consistent with the differences in geographic location, languages and eating habits. These findings suggest that forensic STR loci might be particularly powerful tools in providing the necessary fine resolution for reconstructing recent human evolutionary history.
The Effect of Enriched Environment on the Outcome of Traumatic Brain Injury; A Behavioral, Proteomics, and Histological Study

De novo hippocampal neurogenesis contributes to functional recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Enriched environment (EEN) can improve the outcome of TBI by positively affecting neurogenesis. Blast induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) characterized by memory impairment and increased anxiety levels, is a leading cause of chronic disability among soldiers. Using a rodent model of bTBI we asked: (a) whether long-term exposure to EEN after injury can ameliorate behavioral abnormalities and (b) what the effects of EEN are at the molecular and cellular levels and on de novo neurogenesis. We found that housing injured animals in EEN resulted in significantly improved spatial memory while animals in normal housing (NH) showed persistent memory impairment. VEGF and Tau protein but not Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were normalized in the dorsal hippocampus (DHC) of EEN rats while all three markers remained elevated in NH rats. Interestingly, after peaking at 6 weeks post-injury, anxiety returned to normal levels at 2 months independent of housing conditions. Housing animals in EEN had no significant effect on VEGF and Tau protein levels in the ventral hippocampus (VHC) and the amygdala (AD). We also found that EEN reduced IL-6 and IFNγ levels in the VHC; these markers remained elevated following NH. We observed an increase in GFAP and DCX immunoreactivities in the VHC of NH animals at 2 months post-injury. Conversely, injured animals housed in EEN showed no increase in GFAP or DCX immunoreactivity in their VHC. In summary, long-term exposure of injured animals to EEN appears to play a positive role in the restoration of memory functions but not on anxiety, which returned to normal levels after a significant period of time. Cellular and molecular changes in response to EEN appear to be a part of neurogenesis-independent as well as dependent recovery processes triggered by bTBI.
Supplementary Material for the Paper : Environment-Driven Lexicon Induction for High-Level Instructions

As described in the main paper, we collected a dataset D = (x(n), e(n), a(n), π(n))500 n=1. Environment Complexity. Our environments are 3D scenarios consisting of complex objects such as fridge, microwave and television with many states. These objects can be in different spatial relations with respect to other objects. For example, “bag of chips” can be found behind the television. Figure 1 shows some sample environments from our dataset. For example, an object of category television consists of 6 channels, volume level and power status. An object can have different values of states in different environment and different environment consists of different set of objects and their placement. For example, television might be powered on in one environment and closed in another, microwave might have an object inside it or not in different environment, etc. Moreover, there are often more than one object of the same category. For example, our environment typically have two books, five couches, four pillows etc. Objects of the same category can have different appearance. For example, a book can have the cover of a math book or a Guinness book of world record; resulting in complex object descriptions such as in “throw the sticky stuff in the bowl”. They can also have the same appearance making people use spatial relations or other means while describing them such as in “get me the cup next to the microwave”. This dataset is significantly more challenging compared to the 2D navigation dataset or GUI actions in windows dataset considered earlier.
A comparative analysis of international frameworks for 21st century competences: Implications for national curriculum policies

National curricula need to change drastically to comply with the competences needed for the 21st century. In this paper eight frameworks describing 21st century competences were analysed. A comprehensive search for information about 21st century competences was conducted across the official websites of the selected frameworks, resulting in 32 documents that were analysed in detail. Travers and Westbury’s framework of curriculum representations was used to determine horizontal and vertical consistency between the frameworks. The frameworks were compared on their underlying rationales and goals, their definition of 21st century competences, and the recommended strategies for the implementation and assessment of these skills in educational practice. In addition three international studies were examined to analyse how various countries (EU member states, OECD countries) and schools (SITES studies) deal (or not) with 21st century competences. The findings indicate a large extent of alignment between the frameworks about what 21st century competences are and why they are important (horizontal consistency), but intentions and practice seemed still far apart, indicating lack of vertical consistency. The implications of the implementation of 21st century competences in national curriculum policies are discussed and recommendations are provided.
The Use of X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy for the Study of Oral Streptococcal Cell Surfaces

Physicochemical and structural properties of microbial cell surfaces play an important role in their adhesion to surfaces and are determined by the chemical composition of the outermost cell surface. Many traditional methods used to determine microbial cell wall composition require fractionation of the organisms and consequently do not yield information about the composition of the outermost cell surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measures the elemental composition of the outermost cell surfaces of micro-organisms. The technique requires freeze-drying of the organisms, but, nevertheless, elemental surface concentration ratios of oral streptococcal cell surfaces with peritrichously arranged surface structures showed good relationships with physicochemical properties measured under physiological conditions, such as zeta potentials. Isoelectric points ap-peared to be governed by the relative abundance of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups on the cell surfaces. Also, the intrinsic microbial cell-surface hydrophobicity by water contact angles related to the cell-surface composition as by XPS and was highest for strains with an elevated isoelectric point. Inclusion of elemental surface compositions for tufted streptococcal strains caused deterioration of the relationships found. Interestingly, hierarchical cluster analysis on the basis of the elemental surface compositions revealed that, of 36 different streptococcal strains, only four S. rattus as well as nine S. mitis strains were located in distinct groups, well separated from the other streptococcal strains, which were all more or less mixed in one group.
The absence of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa OprF protein leads to increased biofilm formation through variation in c-di-GMP level

OprF is the major outer membrane porin in bacteria belonging to the Pseudomonas genus. In previous studies, we have shown that OprF is required for full virulence expression of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here, we describe molecular insights on the nature of this relationship and report that the absence of OprF leads to increased biofilm formation and production of the Pel exopolysaccharide. Accordingly, the level of c-di-GMP, a key second messenger in biofilm control, is elevated in an oprF mutant. By decreasing c-di-GMP levels in this mutant, both biofilm formation and pel gene expression phenotypes were restored to wild-type levels. We further investigated the impact on two small RNAs, which are associated with the biofilm lifestyle, and found that expression of rsmZ but not of rsmY was increased in the oprF mutant and this occurs in a c-di-GMP-dependent manner. Finally, the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors AlgU and SigX displayed higher activity levels in the oprF mutant. Two genes of the SigX regulon involved in c-di-GMP metabolism, PA1181 and adcA (PA4843), were up-regulated in the oprF mutant, partly explaining the increased c-di-GMP level. We hypothesized that the absence of OprF leads to a cell envelope stress that activates SigX and results in a c-di-GMP elevated level due to higher expression of adcA and PA1181. The c-di-GMP level can in turn stimulate Pel synthesis via increased rsmZ sRNA levels and pel mRNA, thus affecting Pel-dependent phenotypes such as cell aggregation and biofilm formation. This work highlights the connection between OprF and c-di-GMP regulatory networks, likely via SigX (ECF), on the regulation of biofilm phenotypes.
Area Optimization for Leakage Reduction and Thermal Stability in Nanometer-Scale Technologies

Traditionally, the minimum possible area of a very large scale integration (VLSI) layout is considered to be the best for delay and power minimization due to decreased interconnect capacitance. This paper, however, shows that the use of minimum area does not result in minimum power and/or delay in nanometer-scale technologies due to thermal effects and, in some cases, may cause thermal runaway. A methodology using area as a design parameter to reduce the leakage power and prevent thermal runaway is presented. A 16-bit adder example in 70-nm technology shows total power savings of 17% with 15% increase in area and no increase in delay. The power savings using this technique are expected to increase in future technologies.
Comparison of the two-dimensional and multiplanar methods and establishment of a new constant for the measurement of fetal lung volume

Objectives. To compare the two-dimensional (2D) and multiplanar methods in the measurement of lung volume in normal fetuses, to obtain a new constant to be incorporated into the 2D equation, and to apply the new equation in fetuses with pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) confirmed postnatally. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed on 51 pregnant women at between 20 and 35 weeks of gestation. The ellipsoid formula (x × y × z × 0.52) was used to calculate lung volume by the 2D method. A sequence of multiple planes with 2.0-mm intervals was used with the multiplanar method. In order to compare the techniques, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Student's t-test (p) were used. First-order linear regressions were used to establish a new constant, with three-dimensional (3D) lung volume as dependent variable and gestational age and 2D volume as independent variables. In order to validate it, the new equation was applied to 11 fetuses with confirmed lethal PH. Results. The mean volumes obtained by the 2D method were overestimated when compared to the multiplanar method (right lung: 23.87 vs. 18.26 mL, respectively, p < 0.001 and left lung: 16.18 vs. 14.33 mL, respectively, p = 0.008). Using a first-order polynomial regression, new constants were obtained for the right lung (0.152) and for the left lung (0.167). When compared to the traditional formula, the new equation presented higher sensitivity (18.1%) in predicting lethal PH. Conclusion. The recalculated 2D equation can be a promising alternative to 3D ultrasonography in the prediction of PH.