Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Profile your chains, not functions: Automated network service profiling in DevOps environments

Benchmarking and profiling virtual network functions (VNFs) generates input knowledge for resource management decisions taken by management and orchestration systems. Such VNFs are usually not executed in isolation but are often deployed as part of a service function chain (SFC) that connects single functions into complex structures. To manage such chains, isolated performance profiles of single functions have to be combined to get insights into the overall behavior of an SFC. This becomes particularly challenging in highly agile DevOps environments in which profiling processes need to be fully automated and detailed insights about a chain's internal structures are not always available. In this paper, we introduce a fully automatable, flexible, and platform-agnostic profiling system that allows to profile entire SFCs at once. This obviates manual modeling procedures to combine profiling results from single VNFs to reflect SFC performance. We use a case study with different SFC configurations to show that it is hard to model the resulting SFC performance based on single-VNF measurements and that performance interactions between real, non-trivial functions that are deployed in a chain exist.
Distinct higher-order α-synuclein oligomers induce intracellular aggregation.

Misfolding and aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) into Lewy bodies is associated with a range of neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The cell-to-cell transmission of α-syn pathology has been linked to soluble amyloid oligomer populations that precede Lewy body formation. Oligomers produced in vitro under certain conditions have been demonstrated to induce intracellular aggregation in cell culture models. In the present study, we characterize, by ESI-ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)-MS, a specific population of α-syn oligomers. These MS-compatible oligomers were compared with oligomers with known seeding and pore-forming capabilities and were shown to have the ability to induce intracellular aggregation. Each oligomer type was shown to have distinct epitope profiles that correlated with their toxic gain-of-function. Structurally, the MS compatible oligomers populated a range of species from dimers through to hexamers. Lower-order oligomers were structurally diverse and consistent with unstructured assemblies. Higher-order oligomers were shown to be compact with ring-like structures. The observation of this compact state may explain how this natively disordered protein is able to transfer pathology from cell to cell and avoid degradation by cellular proteases.
The Effect of Web-Based Question Prompts on Scaffolding Knowledge Integration and Ill-Structured Problem Solving

Abstract This study examined the effects of question prompts, knowledge integration prompts, and problem solving prompts, embedded in a Web-based learning environment in scaffolding preservice teachers’ conceptual understanding and problem solving in an ill-structured domain. A mixed-method study was employed to investigate the outcomes of students’ conceptual knowledge and ill-structured problem solving. The quantitative results indicated that students who received knowledge integration prompts had significantly higher scores in overall problem solving performance, but the same was not true for prompts focused on conceptual knowledge. Further, the qualitative findings revealed the positive effects of knowledge integration prompts in facilitating students to make intentional efforts to identify and explain major concepts and their relationships that are necessary for solving the ill-structured problem. This study has implications for designing curricula in ill-defined domains that seek to integrate and promote the application of educational principles to real-world problems.
On the Optimal Design of Bidirectional Composites.

Abstract : The intention of this report is to develop a feeling for the directional properties of laminated composites. Easy to understand and to use rules for the versatile application of anisotropic, though orthotropic bidirectional laminates are presented. Simple examples and charts demonstrate the possible weight advantages over quasi-isotropic configurations. Explicit use is made of the Mohr's circle representation. Multiple loading is considered and a graphic solution is indicated. (Author)
Isolation and characterization of lipoteichoic acid, a cell envelope component involved in preventing phage adsorption, from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris SK110

The cell envelope of the phage-resistant Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris SK110 differed from its phage-sensitive variant by the presence of a galactosyl-containing component. This component was present in material obtained from SK110 by a mild alkali treatment. In a similar fraction extracted from SK112, no galactosyl-containing components were detected. With respect to gel permeation chromatography and electrophoretic mobility, identical characteristics of the alkali-extracted material and purified lipoteichoic acid (LTA) were measured. Chemical analysis of the latter component showed the absence of galactose in LTA isolated from SK112, whereas it was present in LTA obtained from SK110. In this paper, we propose that galactosyl-containing LTA is involved in preventing phage adsorption to L. lactis subsp. cremoris SK110.
Wave Digital Simulation of a Vacuum-Tube Amplifier

Virtual analog modeling is needed when simulating classic analog circuitry by DSP, for example when emulating analog sound synthesis and sound reproduction systems. In this paper we show how wave digital filters (WDFs) can be applied to efficient real-time simulation of vacuum-tube amplifier stages, typical in professional guitar amplifiers, which pose nonlinear behavior for desired distortion effects
A new type of impulsive observer for hyperchaotic system

This paper proposes a new observer scheme for chaotic and hyperchaotic systems. Firstly, a classical impulsive observer is investigated for Lorenz chaotic system. This approach is based on sufficient conditions for stability of impulsive dynamical systems. After, an hybrid observer is proposed for hypoerchaotic systems. Simulation results highlight the well founded of such observer design and show that the discrete measurement may be eventually sparse.
Electronic transport properties of DNA sensing nanopores : insight from quantum mechanical simulations

The translocation of DNA through nanopores is an intensively studied field as it can lead to a new perspective in DNA sequencing [1]. During this process the DNA is electrophoretically driven through a nanoscale hole in a membrane, and use different sensing schemes to read out the sequence. Within the scope of nanopore sequencing two important sensing schemes relevant to this thesis are: 1. Tunneling sequencers based on solid state nanopores embedded with gold electrodes 2. 2D materials beyond graphene For scheme 1, an obvious improvement is to coat the gold electrode with molecules that have high conductance and can form instantaneous hydrogen bond bridges with the translocating polynucleotide thereby improving the transverse current signal [2]. The molecule that we propose is the so called diamondoid which are diamond caged molecules with hydrogen termination. Before applying such a molecule to a nanopore electrode set up, one would like to understand their interaction with DNA and its nucleobases. For this purpose, hydrogen bonded complexes formed between nitrogen doped derivatives of smallest diamondoids (i.e. adamantane derivatives) and nucleobases were investigated using dispersion corrected density functional theory (DFT) [3]. Mutated and methylated nucleobases are also taken into consideration in these investigations. DFT calculations revealed that hydrogen bonds are of moderate strength. In addition, starting from the DFT predicted hydrogen bonding configuration for each complex, rotations, and translations along a reference axis was performed to capture variations in the interaction energies along the donor-acceptor groups of the hydrogen bonds. The electronic density of states analysis for the hydrogen bonded complexes revealed distinguishable signatures for each nucleobase, thereby showing the suitability for application in electrodes functionalised with such probe molecules. In the next step, an adamantane derivative is placed on one of the electrode and nucleotides are introduced in such a way
Molecular cloning of a family of xenobiotic-inducible drosophilid cytochrome p450s: evidence for involvement in host-plant allelochemical resistance.

Cytochrome P450s constitute a superfamily of genes encoding mostly microsomal hemoproteins that play a dominant role in the metabolism of a wide variety of both endogenous and foreign compounds. In insects, xenobiotic metabolism (i.e., metabolism of insecticides and toxic natural plant compounds) is known to involve members of the CYP6 family of cytochrome P450s. Use of a 3' RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) strategy with a degenerate primer based on the conserved cytochrome P450 heme-binding decapeptide loop resulted in the amplification of four cDNA sequences representing another family of cytochrome P450 genes (CYP28) from two species of isoquinoline alkaloid-resistant Drosophila and the cosmopolitan species Drosophila hydei. The CYP28 family forms a monophyletic clade with strong regional homologies to the vertebrate CYP3 family and the insect CYP6 family (both of which are involved in xenobiotic metabolism) and to the insect CYP9 family (of unknown function). Induction of mRNA levels for three of the CYP28 cytochrome P450s by toxic host-plant allelochemicals (up to 11.5-fold) and phenobarbital (up to 49-fold) corroborates previous in vitro metabolism studies and suggests a potentially important role for the CYP28 family in determining patterns of insect-host-plant relationships through xenobiotic detoxification.
Failure of the Symbiot PTFE-covered stent to reduce distal embolization during percutaneous coronary intervention in saphenous vein grafts.

OBJECTIVES To examine the effect of the Symbiot PTFE-covered stent on distal embolization during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in saphenous vein grafts (SVGs). BACKGROUND Covered stents are intended to trap friable debris and reduce distal embolization during vein graft PCI, but have consistently failed to improve clinical outcomes in randomized trials. The reasons for this lack of benefit are unclear. METHODS Thirty patients undergoing SVG PCI, and eligible for a FilterWire distal protection device, were randomized to Symbiot or to a conventional bare-metal stent. Postprocedure, the FilterWire was removed, fixed in formalin, and photographed under high magnification. The primary end-point was embolic debris area, measured by semi-automated edge-detection analysis of digital images. Secondary end points were no-reflow, "Filter no-reflow", and distal embolization. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the Symbiot and conventional stent groups in embolic debris area (10.5 +/- 7.2 versus 6.6 +/- 7.8 mm2; p = 0.18). No-reflow occurred in 3/14 Symbiot versus 0/16 conventional (p = 0.09), and final TIMI flow was lower in the Symbiot group (2.7 +/- 0.5 versus 3.0 +/- 0.5; p = 0.01). However, there was no difference in the incidence of Filter no-reflow (7/14 versus 7/16; p = NS) or distal embolization (9/14 versus 8/16; p = NS). Distal embolization in the Symbiot group occurred predominantly after postdilatation (7/9; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The Symbiot PTFE-covered self-expanding stent does not reduce distal embolization compared to a conventional bare metal stent. Distal embolization with the Symbiot occurs almost exclusively after mandatory postdilatation. These findings may explain the failure of the Symbiot, and of covered stents in general, to improve clinical outcomes during vein graft PCI.
Inter-stream synchronization between haptic media and voice in collaborative virtual environments

This paper addresses an inter-stream synchronization issue between haptic media and voice in networked virtual environments. The paper proposes a media synchronization algorithm for the two types of media stream by enhancing the virtual-time rendering (VTR) algorithm, which the authors previously proposed. The new algorithm employs two types of error range in order to keep high quality of intra-stream synchronization at the expense of slight deterioration in the inter-stream synchronization quality. One is the imperceptible range of inter-stream synchronization error, and the other is the allowable range of the error. If the error is beyond the allowable range, the algorithm tries to reduce the error gradually until the error becomes within the imperceptible range. Otherwise, it accepts the error. By carrying out an experiment in which two users do collaborative work with haptic media and voice in a virtual space, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm quantitatively.
INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF SYMBIOTIC STARS. IX. D-TYPE SYMBIOTIC NOVAE

Time-series spectra of the near-infrared 1.6 μm region have been obtained for five of the six known D-type symbiotic novae. The spectra map the pulsation kinematics of the Mira component in the Mira–white dwarf binary system and provide the center-of-mass velocity for the Mira. No orbital motion is detected in agreement with previous estimates of orbital periods ≳100 yr and semimajor axes ∼50 AU. The 1–5 μm spectra of the Miras show line weakening during dust obscuration events. This results from scattering and continuum emission by 1000 K dust. In the heavily obscured HM Sge system the 4.6 μm CO spectrum formed in 1000 K gas is seen in emission against an optically thick dust continuum. Spectral features that are typically produced in either the cool molecular region or the expanding circumstellar region of late-type stars cannot be detected in the D-symbiotic novae. This is in accord with the colliding wind model for interaction between the white dwarf and Mira. Arguments are presented that the 1000 K gas and dust are not Mira circumstellar material but are in the wind interaction region of the colliding winds. CO is the first molecule detected in this region. We suggest that dust condensing in the intershock region is the origin of the dust obscuration. This model explains variations in the obscuration. Toward the highly obscured Mira in HM Sge the dust zone is estimated to be ∼0.1 AU thick. The intershock wind interaction zone appears thinnest in the most active systems. Drawing on multiple arguments masses are estimated for the system components. The Miras in most D-symbiotic novae have descended from intermediate mass progenitors. The large amount of mass lost from the Mira combined with the massive white dwarf companion suggests that these systems are supernova candidates. However, timescales and the number of objects make these rare events.
Can Smartwatches Replace Smartphones for Posture Tracking?

This paper introduces a human posture tracking platform to identify the human postures of sitting, standing or lying down, based on a smartwatch. This work develops such a system as a proof-of-concept study to investigate a smartwatch’s ability to be used in future remote health monitoring systems and applications. This work validates the smartwatches’ ability to track the posture of users accurately in a laboratory setting while reducing the sampling rate to potentially improve battery life, the first steps in verifying that such a system would work in future clinical settings. The algorithm developed classifies the transitions between three posture states of sitting, standing and lying down, by identifying these transition movements, as well as other movements that might be mistaken for these transitions. The system is trained and developed on a Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch, and the algorithm was validated through a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation of 20 subjects. The system can identify the appropriate transitions at only 10 Hz with an F-score of 0.930, indicating its ability to effectively replace smart phones, if needed.
Enabling multi-tenancy: An industrial experience report

Multi-tenancy is a relatively new software architecture principle in the realm of the Software as a Service (SaaS) business model. It allows to make full use of the economy of scale, as multiple customers - “tenants” - share the same application and database instance. All the while, the tenants enjoy a highly configurable application, making it appear that the application is deployed on a dedicated server. The major benefits of multi-tenancy are increased utilization of hardware resources and improved ease of maintenance, resulting in lower overall application costs, making the technology attractive for service providers targeting small and medium enterprises (SME). Therefore, migrating existing single-tenant to multi-tenant applications can be interesting for SaaS software companies. In this paper we report on our experiences with reengineering an existing industrial, single-tenant software system into a multitenant one using a lightweight reengineering approach.
Collective fabrication of 20 MHz resonators by deep Reactive Ion Etching on 3'' quartz wafers

High quality resonators for spatial and military applications are only made by unitary way and high speed directional etching of piezoelectric material is yet insufficiently developed to produce high aspect ratio microstructures. So, in this paper, we report on the theoretical definition and on the realization of BAW resonators, working at 20 and 40 MHz. Part of mechanical process is made by deep Reactive Ion Etching of AT- and SC-cut quartz crystal wafers. To avoid edge effects such as mechanical stresses induced by mounting structure or leakage of the vibration mode, we have to realize a good energy trapping of the selected resonant frequency. Several trapping methods can be used depending on the frequency, thereby changing the resonator design, such as mass loading by electrodes themselves, mesa forms (i.e. 1 to 3 µm circular or elliptical steps), or radius of curvature on one face of the resonator at least. Here, for question of manufacturing, we choose to trap the energy by a mesa form. Fabrication of complete mesa architecture with bridges aperture (like in a bva structure) requires combining high depth (about 140 µm for a 40 MHz 3rd overtone resonator), high aspect ratios, good uniformity over the entire wafer (for about 40 resonators), vertical wall profiles and reasonable etching selectivity. After describing different RIE processes, we analyze the quality of the realization through the surface roughness, the geometry, the homogeneity of the mesa-step, the wall profile.
Solar wind periodicity in energetic electrons at Saturn

Fluxes of energetic electrons (110–365 keV) have been subjected to a long‐term Lomb periodogram analysis from the middle of 2004 to the middle of 2009. Fluxes within 20 RS and outside the magnetopause were excluded, so only fluxes within the magnetosphere were included in the analysis. The periodicity “box” was expanded from 5 hours to 50 days. In addition to the familiar rotational period near 10.8 hours, the electron fluxes exhibited a strong periodicity near 26 days (the solar wind period) and also a weaker periodicity near 13 days (half the solar wind period). A simulated periodogram using a “rotating anomaly” as it would be seen from the Cassini orbit does not display 26‐day and 13‐day periods, so the solar wind periodicity cannot result from a possible orbital resonance. The long‐term electron periodogram does not show any periods associated with the periods of Saturn's moons.
Taking folate in pregnancy and risk of maternal breast cancer

Editor—On 10 December 2004 a banner headline on the front page of a popular tabloid newspaper read: “Cancer danger of folic acid” on the basis of a paper by Charles et al on taking folate in pregnancy and risk of maternal breast cancer.1,2 Although coverage in the broadsheets was more balanced, the overall message would inevitably cause concern to women taking folate to reduce the risk of fetal neural tube defect in a desired pregnancy. ​pregnancy. Figure 1 Credit: CORDELIA MOLLOY/SPL Despite the likelihood that the most likely explanation for the reported association is chance, as reported in the commentary to the paper,2 numerous susceptible women will probably not take folate, and some of these may conceive fetuses with neural tube defects. In addition, what company or government will take responsibility for fortification of wheat and corn flour with folate, now that this question has been raised? The authors themselves point out that the numbers are small and the confidence intervals large. The risk was also associated with a much larger dose of folate than is routinely used to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Those who write such papers and those who publish them cannot disclaim ethical responsibility for how the data are interpreted and must consider more carefully their ethical responsibilities in such situations.
Multicast routing with end-to-end delay and delay variation constraints

We study the problem of constructing multicast trees to meet the quality of service requirements of real-time, interactive applications operating in high-speed packet-switched environments. In particular, we assume that multicast communication depends on (a) bounded delay along the paths from the source do each destination, and (b) bounded variation among the delays along these paths. We first establish that the problem of determining such a constrained tree is NP-complete. We then derive heuristics that demonstrate good average case behavior in terms of the maximum inter-destination delay variation of the final tree. We also show how to dynamically reorganize the initial tree in response to changes in the destination set, in a way that is minimally disruptive to the multicast session.
Optimization approach for multi-domain optical network provisioning

Multi-domain optical network provisioning is a key focus area as users continue to demand scalable bandwidth services across wider network regions. To date, a range of distributed schemes have been proposed to achieve lightpath routing across domain boundaries. In general, these solutions rely upon hierarchical routing and provisioning strategies and are mostly heuristics based. As such, it is difficult to gauge their true load-carrying capacity and effectiveness. Hence in order to address this concern, this effort proposes a formal optimization-based model for multi-domain lightpath setup pursuant to several key objectives, i.e., including throughput maximization, resource minimization, and load balancing. This model is then solved for some sample network topologies, and the results are compared versus existing heuristic strategies.
Biomarkers of Chondrocyte Apoptosis and Autophagy in Osteoarthritis

Cell death with morphological and molecular features of apoptosis has been detected in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage, which suggests a key role for chondrocyte death/survival in the pathogenesis of OA. Identification of biomarkers of chondrocyte apoptosis may facilitate the development of novel therapies that may eliminate the cause or, at least, slow down the degenerative processes in OA. The aim of this review was to explore the molecular markers and signals that induce chondrocyte apoptosis in OA. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar using the keywords chondrocyte death, apoptosis, osteoarthritis, autophagy and biomarker. Several molecules considered to be markers of chondrocyte apoptosis will be discussed in this brief review. Molecular markers and signalling pathways associated with chondroycte apoptosis may turn out to be therapeutic targets in OA and approaches aimed at neutralizing apoptosis-inducing molecules may at least delay the progression of cartilage degeneration in OA.