Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local type inference

We study two partial type inference methods for a language combining subtyping and impredicative polymorphism. Both methods are local in the sense that missing annotations are recovered using only information from adjacent nodes in the syntax tree, without long-distance constraints such as unification variables. One method infers type arguments in polymorphic applications using a local constraint solver. The other infers annotations on bound variables in function. abstractions by propagating type constraints downward from enclosing application nodes. We motivate our design choices by a statistical analysis of the uses of type inference in a sizable body of existing ML code.
A State-Space-Based Prognostic Model for Hidden and Age-Dependent Nonlinear Degradation Process

Hidden or partially observable degradation state of the equipment is frequently encountered in many engineering practices. This may encourage the state space modeling technique as a feasible way to estimate equipment's remaining useful life (RUL). However, most of the existing state space models falling into this category are based on the assumptions that the degradation process is linear or can be linearized. Therefore, modeling the hidden degradation process under a general nonlinear function and deriving the corresponding analytical form of the RUL distribution are still challenging and have not been well solved in literature. In this paper, we present a state-space-based prognostic model to address the above issues, in which the nonlinearity is characterized by an age-dependent general nonlinear function. Specifically, we model the degradation process as the unobservable nonlinear drift-based Brownian motion (BM) and apply extended Kalman filter (EKF) and expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm to estimate and update the degradation state and the unknown parameters of the established model jointly. Furthermore, we derive the analytical form of the RUL distribution approximately which incorporates the uncertainty of the estimation for hidden state and can be real-time updated based on the available observations. For verifying our approach, a numerical example and a case study for a NASA battery are provided, and the results show that both the parameters and the RUL are estimated accurately. We also consider several different nonlinear functions and compare them with the linear model. The comparative results demonstrate our approach is better than the results in the linear case.
Auditory Brainstem Implantation: The University of Verona Experience

OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the advantages of the retrosigmoid-transmeatal (RS-TM) approach in the application of auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) in adults with monolateral and bilateral vestibular schwannoma (VS) and in children with cochlear nerve aplasia. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective case review. SETTING: The study was conducted at the ENT Department of the University of Verona, Italy. PATIENTS: Six adult patients (5 men and 1 woman) with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) were operated on for VS removal with ABI. An additional patient had a unilateral VS in the only hearing ear. Tumor size ranged from 12 to 40 mm. In addition, 2 children received ABIs for bilateral cochlear nerve aplasia. INTERVENTION: An RS-TM approach was used in all VS patients, and an RS approach was used in the subjects with cochlear nerve aplasia. After tumor excision, landmarks (VII, VIII and IX cranial nerves, choroid plexus) for the foramen of Luschka were carefully identified. The choroid plexus was then partially removed and the tela choroidea divided and bent back; the floor of the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle and the convolution of the dorsal cochlear nucleus became visible. In the 2 subjects with no cochlear nerve, the choroid plexus and VII and IX cranial nerves were used as landmarks. The electrode array was then inserted into the lateral recess and the correct position was monitored with the aid of electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (EABR) and neural response telemetry (NRT). RESULTS: Correct implantation was possible in all patients. Auditory sensations were induced in all patients with various numbers of electrodes. Different pitch sensations could be identified with different electrode stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the RS approach is the route of choice for patients who are candidates for ABI due to the easy and clear access to the cochlear nucleus area. This route avoids some of the drawbacks of the translabyrinthine approach, such as mastoidectomy, labyrinthectomy, sealing of the cavity and posterior fossa with abdominal fat, and contamination from the middle ear. For this reason, it is the route of choice in children with cochlear nerve aplasia or severe cochlear malformation and in adults with complete ossification of the cochlea or cochlear nerve disruption due to cranial trauma.
Software cost estimation with fuzzy models

Estimation of effort/cost required for development of software products is inherently associated with uncertainty. In this paper, we are concerned with a fuzzy set-based generalization of the COCOMO model (f-COCOMO). The inputs of the standard COCOMO model include an estimation of project size and an evaluation of other parameters. Rather than using a single number, the software size can be regarded as a fuzzy set (fuzzy number) yielding the cost estimate also in form of a fuzzy set. The paper includes detailed results with this regard by relating fuzzy sets of project size with the fuzzy set of effort. The analysis is carried out for several commonly encountered classes of membership functions (such as triangular and parabolic fuzzy sets). The issue of designer-friendliness of the f-COCOMO model is discussed in detail. Here we emphasize a way of propagation of uncertainty and ensuing visualization of the resulting effort (cost). Furthermore we augment the model by admitting software systems to belong partially to the three main categories (namely embedded, semidetached and organic) and discuss key implications of this generalization and highlight its links with a generalized sensitivity analysis. The experimental part of the study illustrates the approach and contrasts it with the standard numeric version of the COCOMO model.
Paraoxonase ( PON 1 ) 55 Polymorphism and Association with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is a serum HDL-bound enzyme that hydrolyzes a number of aromatic carboxylic acid esters including lipid peroxides, preventing LDL oxidation. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are at greater risk of oxidative stress, which is associated with abnormal plasma lipid metabolism. In this study, association of PON-55 polymorphism with serum arylesterase (ARE) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), neopterin, lipids and lipoproteins levels in SLE patients and the development of hypertension was investigated. The present case–control study consisted of 109 SLE patients with and without high blood pressure (BP) and 103 healthy controls from the population in the west of Iran. PON-55 Met<Leu polymorphism was detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), serum ARE activity, MDA, neoptrin, lipid and apolipoprotein levels were determined by spectrophotometery and HPLC and enzyme assay, respectively. The presence of PON-55 M/M genotype was found to be associated with SLE and the development of high BP. The SLE patients with PON-M (M/L+M/M) allele had significantly lower serum ARE activity, but higher neoptrin and LDL-C than the carriers of corresponding genotypes in control group. The ARE activity was positively correlated with HDL-C and negatively correlated with LDL-C and MDA levels in SLE patients. Whereas, in SLE patients with high BP, ARE activity was only found to be negatively correlated with MDA concentration. These data suggest that PON-55 M/M genotype is a risk factor for SLE. The carriers of this allele have high levels of MDA, neopterin and LDL-C, thus, they are more likely to develop hypertension.
Combination Effect of Epigenetic Regulation and Ionizing Radiation in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Exposure of cells to ionizing radiation (IR) induces, not only, activation of multiple signaling pathways that play critical roles in cell fate determination, but also alteration of molecular pathways involved in cell death or survival. Recently, DNA methylation has been established as a critical epigenetic process involved in the regulation of gene expression in cancer cells, suggesting that DNA methylation inhibition may be an effective cancer treatment strategy. Because alterations of gene expression by DNA methylation have been considered to influence radioresponsiveness, we investigated the effect of a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), on radiosensitivity. In addition, we investigated the underlying cellular mechanisms of combination treatments of ionizing irradiation (IR) and 5-aza-dC in human colon cancer cells. Colon cancer cell lines were initially tested for radiation sensitivity by IR in vitro and were treated with two different doses of 5-aza-dC. Survival of these cell lines was measured using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and clonogenic assays. The effects of 5-aza-dC along with irradiation on cell growth, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and apoptosis-related gene expression were examined. Combination irradiation treatment with 5-aza-dC significantly decreased growth activity compared with irradiation treatment alone or with 5-aza-dC treatment alone. The percentage of HCT116 cells in the sub-G1 phase and their apoptotic rate was increased when cells were treated with irradiation in combination with 5-aza-dC compared with either treatment alone. These observations were strongly supported by increased caspase activity, increased comet tails using comet assays, and increased protein levels of apoptosis-associated molecules (caspase 3/9, cleaved PARP). Our data demonstrated that 5-aza-dC enhanced radiosensitivity in colon cancer cells, and the combination effects of 5-aza-dC with radiation showed greater cellular effects than that of single treatment, suggesting that the combination of 5-aza-dC and radiation has the potential to become a clinical strategy for the treatment of cancer.
Intracellular Production of Brucella L Forms I. Recovery of L Forms from Tissue Culture Cells Infected with Brucella abortus

Hatten, Betty A. (The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas), and S. Edward Sulkin. Intracellular production of Brucella L forms. I. Recovery of L forms from tissue culture cells infected with Brucella abortus. J. Bacteriol. 91:285–296. 1966. —Infectivity of virulent Brucella abortus strain 3183 was less for hamster macrophages after a 2-hr adsorption period than for an attenuated strain (S19) and its tissue culture variant (30). Both strains S19 and 30 were very toxic for the cells, but 3183 was not toxic. Two types of L forms were recovered from a large percentage of hamster kidney cell cultures when disintegration of infected cells was accelerated by tissue culture medium of high pH. One type grew in finely granular microcolonies, was isolated from cells infected for short periods of time, and often reverted to the bacterial form. The other type occurred in small irregularly shaped forms which later developed into round bodies. Both stained specifically with fluorescein-conjugated B. abortus antiserum. Semisolid media containing 0.7% agar provided optimal subsurface L-form growth. L forms also grew well in Thioglycollate Medium but grew poorly in other liquid media. Surface L-form growth was supported by several agar media, but CO2 was required for optimal growth. Monolayers infected with strain 3183 and examined immediately after adsorption contained occasional small, round bodies. Bizarre forms increased in number with time and, after 24 to 72 hr, large pink-staining inclusions were often present which persisted for several days. Also appearing at about the same time were smaller, dark-staining forms which were first seen in clusters but later dispersed and finally occurred in chainlike configurations. Direct fluorescent-antibody stains of infected cells established that the intracellular forms were related to the infecting strain of B. abortus.
Microstructural characterisation of stir zone containing residual ferrite in friction stir welded 304 austenitic stainless steel

Abstract Friction stir welding was applied to a 2 mm thick 304 austenitic stainless steel plate. The microstructural evolution and hardness distribution in the weld were investigated. The stir zone (SZ) and thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) showed dynamically recrystallised and recovered microstructures, respectively, which are typically observed in friction stir welds in aluminium alloys. The hardness of the SZ was higher than that of the base material and the maximum hardness was observed at the TMAZ. The higher hardness at the TMAZ was attributed to high densities of dislocations and subboundaries. Microstructural observations revealed that the ferrite was formed along grain boundaries of the austenite matrix in the advancing side of the SZ. It is suggested that the frictional heat due to stirring resulted in the phase transformation of austenite to ferrite and that upon rapid cooling the ferrite was retained in the SZ.
Moving target refocusing algorithm for synthetic aperture radar images

In the area of SAR imaging, it is of interest to be able to focus moving targets. In this paper, an algorithm for moving target focusing is presented. The algorithm is able to refocus a smeared moving target in a SAR image processed at one relative speed to the correct one% The algorithm works in the frequency domain and is based on the Range Migration algorithm. The refocusing can be made on the whole SAR image or small sub images corresponding to physical areas of interest for the end user. By applying the algorithm to a small image, the computational cost is greatly reduced compared with using the full SAR image. The performance is illustrated by applying the algorithm to simulated SAR data according to the parameters for the LORA system.
Picropodophyllin and sorafenib synergistically suppress the proliferation and motility of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Resistance is one limitation of sorafenib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is involved in cancer cell proliferation. To assess the potential synergistic antitumor effects of picropodophyllin (PPP), an IGF-1R inhibitor, HLF and PLC/PRL/5, HCC cells were treated with PPP alone or PPP in combination with sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor. Normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also used to analyze the antiangiogenic effects of the drugs. HCC cells and HUVECs were cultured on 96-well plates, and then treated with PPP, with and without the addition of sorafenib. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium inner salt assay and hematoxylin and eosin staining were then performed 48 h later. The HCC cells were also analyzed using scratch assays and hematoxylin and eosin staining after 48 h. The proliferation of HLF, PLC/PRF/5 and HUVEC cells was suppressed by the combination of 0.2 μM PPP and 3 μM sorafenib more effectively than by 10 μM sorafenib alone. The motility of HLF and PLC/PRF/5 cells was also suppressed to a greater extent with the combination of PPP at 0.2 μM and sorafenib at 3 μM than with sorafenib at 10 μM alone. The cells that had been treated with 0.2 μM PPP and 3 μM sorafenib also exhibited pyknotic nuclei, which is characteristic of apoptosis. In conclusion, PPP enhanced sorafenib-mediated suppression of proliferation and motility in HCC cells. Therefore, the combination of PPP and sorafenib may exert antitumor and antiangiogenic effects.
Effect of Acetazolamide on Cerebral Blood Flow in Subacute and Chronic Cerebrovascular Disease

Acetazolamide increases cerebral blood flow. The generalized and regional changes in blood flow after administration of acetazolamide were evaluated by the xenon-133 inhalation technique in a series of patients with subacute or chronic focal cerebral ischemia. Acetazolamide augmented interhemispheric asymmetry of cerebral blood flow in patients with unilateral occlusion of major cerebral arteries, whereas no significant side-to-side asymmetry was evident in patients with minor arterial lesions. Low flow areas in relation to computed tomography-verified infarcts tended to be larger after administration of acetazolamide. Hyperfrontality was present at rest and during stimulation with acetazolamide. A decline of cerebral blood flow with advancing age was greater in patients than in normal controls. The vasodilator response to acetazolamide did not change with age. {Stroke 1987;18:887-891)
Establishing an Organization's Master Data Management Function: A Stepwise Approach

Master data management (MDM) provides an access to the consistent views of an organization's master data. Yet the establishment of MDM function, i.e. a department that attempts to ensure master data consistency is not an easy task as several stakeholders have different interests and expectations, among many other reasons. This paper is based on a year-long MDM project, from which we identify the process for establishing MDM functions in an organization, and what are the different steps and interdependencies that should be taken into account. These steps and their dependencies, and other incidental issues help organizations when establishing MDM function, and complement the scarce MDM literature.
A comparison between simple shear, elongation, and equal biaxial extension deformations

The rheology of a high molecular weight polyisobutylene “Vistanex” L-80 is measured at 20°C under constant stress creep loading in simple shear and simple elongation and compared with published data for biaxial extension. These data can be reduced to a single curve by the application of simple geometric parameters and instability during extensional flows may be interpreted on the basis of the Considere construction. The results are further extended by dynamic measurements to estimate the viscoelastic response of this material over a time scale of nine orders of magnitude. The rheological response shows an approximately linear relationship with stress up to elongation strains of 1.0, and, because of this, the results do not illuminate the present controversy over the selection of different equations of state to represent non-linear polymer melt flow. However, this body of data, which the authors believe to be the most comprehensive presently available in terms of strain level and deformation geometry, does demonstrate that a viscoelastic polymer can respond to different deformation geometries in a simple manner.
Growth and characterization of Cu-catalyzed ZnO nanowires

Cu-catalyzed ZnO nanowires have been synthesized by thermal evaporation of Cu- Zn powder alloys in a water vapor atmosphere. The diameters of the nanowires can be controlled by the amount of water vapor introduced into in the reaction tube. Raman spectroscopic characterization reveals two additional modes at 621 and 671cm−1 which are indicative of the existence of host-lattice defects caused by Cu doping or other intrinsic lattice defects that formed during the nanowire growth. Field emission and photoluminescence (PL) properties of Cu-catalyzed ZnO nanowires have also been investigated using nanowires with a diameter of 20 nm and 200 nm. The field emission results show that the thinner nanowires have a lower turn-on electrical field than the thicker ones, whilst both nanowires exhibit a similar field emission enhancement factor in the high electric field region. In the PL spectra, we have observed a blue-shift of the UV emission peak and a red-shift of the green emission peak when the nanowire diameters decreased from 200 nm to 20 nm.
Positron emission tomography detection of human endothelial cell and fibroblast monolayers : effect of pretreament and cell density on 18 FDG uptake

Background: The non-destructive assessment and characterization of tridimensional (3D) cell and tissue constructs in bioreactors represents a challenge in tissue engineering. Medical imaging modalities, which can provide information on the structure and function of internal organs and tissues in living organisms, have the potential of allowing repetitive monitoring of these 3D cultures in vitro. Positron emission tomography (PET) is the most sensitive non-invasive imaging modality, capable of measuring picomolar amounts of radiolabeled molecules. However, since PET imaging protocols have been designed almost exclusively for in vivo investigations, suitable methods must be devised to enable imaging of cells or tissue substitutes. As a prior step to imaging 3D cultures, cell radiotracer uptake conditions must first be optimized. Methods: In this study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human fibroblasts were cultured at different densities and PET was used to non-destructively monitor their glycolytic activity by measuring Ffluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake. Various cell preconditioning protocols were investigated by adjusting the following parameters to optimize FDG uptake: glucose starvation, insulin stimulation, glucose concentration, FDG incubation time, cell density and radiotracer efflux prevention. Results: The conditions yielding optimal FDG uptake, and hence best detection sensitivity by PET, were as follows: 2-hour cell preconditioning by glucose deprivation with 1-hour insulin stimulation, followed by 1-hour FDG incubation and 15-minute stabilization in standard culture medium, prior to rinsing and PET scanning. Conclusions: A step-wise dependence of FDG uptake on glucose concentration was found, but a linear correlation between PET signal and cell density was observed. Detection thresholds of 36 ± 7 and 21 ± 4 cells were estimated for endothelial cells and fibroblasts, respectively.
Real-time discrimination of ventricular tachyarrhythmia with Fourier-transform neural network

The authors have developed a method to discriminate life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias by observing the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in each heartbeat. Changes in QRS complexes due to rhythm origination and conduction path were observed with the Fourier transform, and three kinds of rhythms were discriminated by a neural network. In this paper, the potential of the authors' method for clinical uses and real-time detection was examined using human surface ECGs and intracardiac electrograms (EGMs). The method achieved high sensitivity and specificity (>0.98) in discrimination of supraventricular rhythms from ventricular ones. The authors also present a hardware implementation of the algorithm on a commercial single-chip CPU.