Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Practical Automata-Based Technique for Reasoning in Expressive Description Logics

In this work we describe the theoretical foundations and the implementation of a new automata-based technique for reasoning over expressive Description Logics that is worst-case optimal and lends itself to an efficient implementation. In order to show the feasibility of the approach, we have realized a working prototype of a reasoner based upon these techniques. An experimental evaluation of this prototype shows encouraging results.
Precursor influence on structure of metal-ceramic composites designed for aviation machine parts

The paper presents the influence of the spatial structure of a glassy carbon precursor on the structure and properties of sliding composites. Comparative studies carried out and the results obtained have been described for composites containing conventional carbon foam as well as those containing glassy carbon foams, from various types of glassy carbon precursors, functioning as reinforcement and a solid lubricant. The application of two different reinforcing phases based on the different types of precursors used, results in producing composites of varied structures and properties. Such a procedure also requires a pressure change in precursor infiltration. The material used for production of the carbon precursor as well as the process parameters of its pyrolysis allow significant modification of the structure and properties of the manufactured composite.
Invariance of complexity measures for networks with unreliable gates

A new probabilistic failure model for networks of gates is formulated. Although this model has not been used previously, it supports the proofs of both the positive and negative results appearing in the literature. Furthermore, with respect to this new model, the complexity measures of both size and depth are affected by at most constant multiplicative factors when the set of functions that can be computed by gates is changed from one finite and complete basis to another, or when the bound on the failure probability of the gates is changed (within the limits allowed by the basis), or when the bound on the error probability of the network is changed (within the limits allowed by the basis and the failure probability of the gates).
Towards a Shared Action Code for Human-Robot Interaction

Recent experiments show that the observation of robots controlling arm and hand movements in order to reach and manipulate objects activates the human mirror system. This suggests the possibility of developing a basic action code which is shared between humans and robots. What are the central features of this code, and its functional roles in the complex processes of action generation and understanding? A computational framework for addressing these issues is presented and critically compared to extant computational models of mirror neurons.
Fine-Scale Phylogeographic Structure of Borrelia lusitaniae Revealed by Multilocus Sequence Typing

Borrelia lusitaniae is an Old World species of the Lyme borreliosis (LB) group of tick-borne spirochetes and prevails mainly in countries around the Mediterranean Basin. Lizards of the family Lacertidae have been identified as reservoir hosts of B. lusitaniae. These reptiles are highly structured geographically, indicating limited migration. In order to examine whether host geographic structure shapes the evolution and epidemiology of B. lusitaniae, we analyzed the phylogeographic population structure of this tick-borne bacterium using a recently developed multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme based on chromosomal housekeeping genes. A total of 2,099 questing nymphal and adult Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected in two climatically different regions of Portugal, being ∼130 km apart. All ticks were screened for spirochetes by direct PCR. Attempts to isolate strains yielded 16 cultures of B. lusitaniae in total. Uncontaminated cultures as well as infected ticks were included in this study. The results using MLST show that the regional B. lusitaniae populations constitute genetically distinct populations. In contrast, no clear phylogeographic signals were detected in sequences of the commonly used molecular markers ospA and ospC. The pronounced population structure of B. lusitaniae over a short geographic distance as captured by MLST of the housekeeping genes suggests that the migration rates of B. lusitaniae are rather low, most likely because the distribution of mediterranean lizard populations is highly parapatric. The study underlines the importance of vertebrate hosts in the geographic spread of tick-borne microparasites.
Effect of diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blend on combustion, performance, and emissions characteristics on a direct injection diesel engine

The paper presents results of co-combustion of diesel-biodiesel-ethanol fuel blend in direct injection Diesel engine. Test was performed at constant rotational speed at three commonly used loads of this engine: 100%, 85%, and 70% of load. During the test hydrated ethanol was used at a concentration of 89% of alcohol. In this study, the ethanol fuel was added to diesel-biodiesel fuel blend with concentrations up to 50% with the increment of 5%. The biodiesel was used as an additive to prevent the stratification of ethanol and diesel blends. Thermodynamic parameters of engine were analyzed, and combustion process and exhaust emission were characterized. It turned out that with the increase in engine load is possible to utilize larger ethanol fraction in blend. With the increase of ethanol fuel in blend the increase in ignition delay (38.5% for full load) was observed, but burning duration decreased (49% for full load). The ethanol fuel share in blend generally causes the increase in NOx emission (42% for full load) due to higher oxygen content and higher in-cylinder temperatures. It turned out that, at full load the unrepeatability of indicated mean effective pressure was near the same up to 50% of ethanol fuel in blend (about 2%). In case of partial load at higher ethanol fuel fraction the increase in indicated mean effective pressure un-repeatability was observed.
Labor Supply: Are the Income and Substitution Effects Both Large or Both Small?

Labor supply is unresponsive to permanent changes in wage rates. Thus, income and substitution effects cancel, but are they both close to zero or both large? This paper develops a theory of labor supply where income and substitution effects cancel, taking into account optimization over time, fixed costs of going to work, and interactions of labor supply decisions within the household. The paper then applies this theory to survey evidence on the response of labor supply to a large wealth shock. The evidence implies that the constant marginal utility of wealth (Frisch) elasticity of labor supply is about one.
Jones optimality, binding-time improvements, and the strength of program specializers

Jones optimality tells us that a program specializer is strong enough to remove an entire level of self-interpretation. We show that Jones optimality, which was originally aimed at the Futamura projections, plays an important role in binding-time improvements. The main results show that, regardless of the binding-time improvements which we apply to a source program, no matter how extensively, a specializer that is not Jones-optimal is strictly weaker than a specializer which is Jones optimal. By viewing a binding-time improver as a generating extension of a self-interpreter, we can connect our results with previous work on the interpretive approach.
Regulatory T Cells Suppress Inflammation and Blistering in Pemphigoid Diseases

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are well known for their modulatory functions in adaptive immunity. Through regulation of T cell functions, Tregs have also been demonstrated to indirectly curb myeloid cell-driven inflammation. However, direct effects of Tregs on myeloid cell functions are insufficiently characterized, especially in the context of myeloid cell-mediated diseases, such as pemphigoid diseases (PDs). PDs are caused by autoantibodies targeting structural proteins of the skin. Autoantibody binding triggers myeloid cell activation through specific activation of Fc gamma receptors, leading to skin inflammation and subepidermal blistering. Here, we used mouse models to address the potential contribution of Tregs to PD pathogenesis in vivo. Depletion of Tregs induced excessive inflammation and blistering both clinically and histologically in two different PD mouse models. Of note, in the skin of Treg-depleted mice with PD, we detected increased expression of different cytokines, including Th2-specific IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 as well as pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokine IFN-γ and the T cell chemoattractant CXCL-9. We next aimed to determine whether Tregs alter the migratory behavior of myeloid cells, dampen immune complex (IC)-induced myeloid cell activation, or both. In vitro experiments demonstrated that co-incubation of IC-activated myeloid cells with Tregs had no impact on the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but downregulated β2 integrin expression. Hence, Tregs mitigate PD by altering the migratory capabilities of myeloid cells rather than their release of ROS. Modulating cytokine expression by administering an excess of IL-10 or blocking IFN-γ may be used in clinical translation of these findings.
Classification supplemented by boosting A Hybrid Random Forest based Support Vector Machine

This paper presents an approach to classify remote sensed data using a hybrid classifier. Random forest, Support Vector machines and boosting methods are used to build the said hybrid classifier. The central idea is to subdivide the input data set into smaller subsets and classify individual subsets. The individual subset classification is done using support vector machines classifier. Boosting is used at each subset to evaluate the learning by using a weight factor for every data item in the data set. The weight factor is updated based on classification accuracy. Later the final outcome for the complete data set is computed by implementing a majority voting mechanism to the individual subset classification outcomes.
Mechanical Properties and Fracture Characterization of Cross-Linked PVC Foams

The tensile stress-strain response and fracture behavior of cross-linked PVC foams have been characterized over a range of foam densities from 36 to 400 kg/m3. The foams were found to be nearly isotropic. Young’s modulus, yield strength and fracture toughness data were compared to micro-structural relations derived for open and closed-cell foams. The failure process and stress strain response were indicative of brittle material behavior. Short gage length tension specimens bonded to aluminum loading blocks showed a tensile strength that increased with decreasing gage length as a result of improved support of the cell-walls of the foam under constrained lateral deformation. The plastic zone size for each of the fracture specimens, estimated from the von Mises yield criterion, was small indicating quasi-brittle failure. Testing of scaled single edged notch bend (SENB) fracture specimens revealed a toughness that decreases with decreasing specimen size.
A Tale of Two Trajectories: How Spatial Data Infrastructures Travel in Time and Space

The notion of a spatial data infrastructure (SDI) was conceived in Canada and the United States in the early 1990s, and has since then traveled to Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In this article, the concept of SDI is understood as a myth, a mobilizing and at the same time seductive tale that inspires actors to enact reality. This article first shows what myths underlie the notion of SDI in the American discourse, and then examines how the notion of SDI was reinterpreted and domesticated in the African SDI discourse. Thereafter it reflects on domestication of SDI in Africa using Rottenburg's theory of iterating processes of consensus and knowledge differentiation.
Bacterial Toxins for Cancer Therapy

Several pathogenic bacteria secrete toxins to inhibit the immune system of the infected organism. Frequently, they catalyze a covalent modification of specific proteins. Thereby, they block production and/or secretion of antibodies or cytokines. Moreover, they disable migration of macrophages and disturb the barrier function of epithelia. In most cases, these toxins are extremely effective enzymes with high specificity towards their cellular substrates, which are often central signaling molecules. Moreover, they encompass the capacity to enter mammalian cells and to modify their substrates in the cytosol. A few molecules, at least of some toxins, are sufficient to change the cellular morphology and function of a cell or even kill a cell. Since many of those toxins are well studied concerning molecular mechanisms, cellular receptors, uptake routes, and structures, they are now widely used to analyze or to influence specific signaling pathways of mammalian cells. Here, we review the development of immunotoxins and targeted toxins for the treatment of a disease that is still hard to treat: cancer.
Regenerative Approach to Bilateral Rostral Mandibular Reconstruction in a Case Series of Dogs

Extensive rostral mandibulectomy in dogs typically results in instability of the mandibles that may lead to malocclusion, difficulty in prehension, mastication, and pain of the temporomandibular joint. Large rostral mandibular defects are challenging to reconstruct due to the complex geometry of this region. In order to restore mandibular continuity and stability following extensive rostral mandibulectomy, we developed a surgical technique using a combination of intraoral and extraoral approaches, a locking titanium plate, and a compression resistant matrix (CRM) infused with rhBMP-2. Furthermore, surgical planning that consisted of computed tomographic (CT) scanning and 3D model printing was utilized. We describe a regenerative surgical technique for immediate or delayed reconstruction of critical-size rostral mandibular defects in five dogs. Three dogs had healed with intact gingival covering over the mandibular defect and had immediate return to normal function and occlusion. Two dogs had the complication of focal plate exposure and dehiscence, which was corrected with mucosal flaps and suturing; these dogs have since healed with intact gingival covering over the mandibular defect. Mineralized tissue formation was palpated clinically within 2 weeks and solid bone formation within 3 months. CT findings at 6 months postoperatively demonstrated that the newly regenerated mandibular bone had increased in mineral volume with evidence of integration between the native bone, new bone, and CRM compared to the immediate postoperative CT. We conclude that rostral mandibular reconstruction using a regenerative approach provides an excellent solution for restoring mandibular continuity and preventing mandibular instability in dogs.
DNA methylation and environmental exposures in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Hypermethylation of a CpG-rich promoter (CpG island) blocks expression of the corresponding gene. The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), defined as a variable pattern of hypermethylation of CpG islands in tumor suppressor genes, may be associated with carcinogenesis. To determine whether CIMP is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and with exposure to environmental agents, we examined the methylation status of CpG islands in HCCs from countries with various HCC risks. METHODS We examined the methylation status of 12 CpG islands (eight for known genes) in 85 HCC tumors from various geographic locations by use of bisulfite-polymerase chain reaction methylation assays and analyzed results with univariate and multivariable methods. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Eight CpG islands were hypermethylated. The frequency of hypermethylation in the 85 tumors was 62% for the estrogen receptor (ER), 42% for p16, 18% for cyclooxygenase-2, 21% for the T-type calcium channel gene, 38% for MINT31, 28% for MINT1, 15% for MINT27, and 11% for MINT2 (the latter four CpG islands are not yet associated with genes). Methylation levels of the eight frequently methylated CpG islands were positively correlated (from R =.2 [P =.05] to R =.6 [P<.001]), supporting the presence of CIMP. p16 methylation had statistically significant geographic variation (34.4% in tumors from China and Egypt versus 12.2% in tumors from the United States and Europe, difference = 22.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.2% to 33.2%; P<.001). Similar geographic variations were observed for ER methylation and CIMP. This observation was partly related to higher methylation in tumors from patients with cirrhosis (33.6% for patients with cirrhosis versus 11.7% for those without it; difference = 21.9%; 95% CI = 10.9% to 32.8%; P<.001) or hepatitis (34.2% for patients with hepatitis versus 6.2% for those without it; difference = 28%; 95% CI = 18.3% to 37.6%; P<.001). CONCLUSION Geographic variations in the methylation status of various CpG islands indicate that environmental factors may influence the frequent and concordant degree of hypermethylation in multiple genes in HCC tumors.
Predicting initialization effectiveness for trajectory optimization

Trajectory optimization is a method for solving motion planning problems by formulating them as non-convex constrained optimization problems. The optimization process, however, can get stuck in local optima that are in collision. As a consequence, these methods typically require multiple initializations. This poses the problem of deciding which initializations to use when given a limited computational budget. In this paper we propose a machine learning approach to predict whether a collision-free solution will be found from a given initialization. We present a set of trajectory features that encode the obstacle distribution locally around a robot. These features are designed for generalization across different tasks. Our experiments on various planning benchmarks demonstrate the performance of our approach.
The Genetics of FANCC and FANCG in Familial Pancreatic Cancer

Patients with Fanconi anemia (FA) display a wide variety of defects including bone marrow failure and a high risk of developing cancer. Multiple Fanconi genes exist whose proteins form a complex that along with BRCA1 is important for the translocalization of FANCD2 to nuclear foci 1. With BRCA2 and RAD51, this complex is thought to have a role in the repair of DNA double strand breaks. The genetic basis of another form of Fanconi anemia- FANCD1, was recently identified as the result of biallelic inactivating mutations of the BRCA2 gene 2. Since carriers of germline BRCA2 gene mutations have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, the FA pathway has been investigated as a tumor suppressor pathway in pancreatic cancer. Recently van der Heijden et al. identified FANCC and FANCG gene mutations in patients with young-onset pancreatic cancer 3. Here, we determined the role of germline FA gene mutations in kindred in which several family members had pancreatic cancer. Sequence analysis of 38 individuals with familial pancreatic cancer enrolled in the National Familial Pancreatic Tumor Registry (NFPTR) revealed previously identified polymorphisms within two exons and one intron of FANCC, and in three introns of FANCG. In addition, an unaffected relative from one family contained an exonic polymorphism within the FANCC gene. These and published data suggest the possibility that although germline and somatic mutations in FANCC and FANCG may contribute to the occurrence of pancreatic cancers, the pancreatic cancers that arise do so in an apparent sporadic fashion rather than with a phenotype of familial pancreatic cancer. FANCC and FANCG mutations may have low penetrance for the pancreatic cancer phenotype. Summary: Sequencing of the FANCC and FANCG genes from 38 familial pancreatic cancer patients revealed polymorphisms within the introns and exons of these genes. These sequence variations do not appear to contribute to familial pancreatic cancer.
Quantitative proteomic strategies for the identification of microRNA targets

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs, approximately 22 nucleotides in length, found in diverse organisms. They have emerged in recent years as key regulators of a broad spectrum of cellular functions. miRNAs regulate biological processes by inducing translational inhibition and degradation of their target mRNAs through base pairing to partially or fully complementary sites. In the field of miRNA research, the identification of the targets of individual miRNAs is of utmost importance. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which individual miRNAs modulate cellular functions will remain incomplete until a full set of miRNA targets is identified and validated. Since a miRNA may regulate many of its targets at the translational level without affecting mRNA abundance, proteomic methods are best suited for revealing the full spectrum of miRNA targets. Quantitative proteomics is emerging as a powerful toolbox for identifying miRNA targets and for quantifying the contribution of translational repression by miRNAs. In this review, the authors summarize the quantitative proteomic approaches that have been employed for identification of miRNA targets and discuss current challenges as well as possible ways of overcoming them.
Genesis of tectonic inversion structures: seismic evidence for the development of key structures along the Purbeck–Isle of Wight Disturbance

The interpretation of a densely spaced and well-calibrated seismic grid sheds new light on the development and evolution of key regional and local structures in the Wessex Basin. The results help to resolve long-standing controversies concerning the tectonic significance of apparently anomalous outcrop patterns and the role of important, local ancillary structures with respect to the major monoclinal folds with which they are associated. Although the structures are entirely consistent with the effects of contractional reactivation (tectonic inversion) of normal faults, the subsurface data demonstrate the role that original extensional fault segmentation and associated relay ramps had on original depositional patterns, subsequent inversion geometries and resultant outcrop patterns. As well as illustrating regional controls on the formation of structures, the new seismic-based interpretations enable a reassessment of the Lulworth Crumple and the Ballard Down Fault. The Lulworth Crumple is interpreted as a parasitic fold complex generated by internal folding of the inverted, incompetent syn-rift fill in the immediate hanging wall to the Purbeck Fault, a reactivated major normal fault. The Ballard Down Fault’s origin is interpreted to result from the formation of a local, late-stage ‘out of the syncline’ reverse fault which propagated southwards and upwards through a Chalk succession. As the Chalk had already been rotated to form the northward-dipping steep limb of the Purbeck Monocline at Ballard Down, the structure cuts down stratigraphically. The results stress the importance of understanding the nature of original extensional fault geometries and the competence of the sedimentary units incorporated in folds in gaining a full understanding of the genesis and evolution of structural styles in inverted basins.