Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Convergence enhancement within operator backbones for real-time applications

Mpls/vpn backbones are widely used today by various operators in the world, the time it takes to recover after a failure inside an operator backbone is becoming a selective criterion for customers, especially for enterprises using time sensitive applications, for example: traditional telephony is widely migrating today to voip and a loss of more than 2 seconds during a conversation will affect signaling traffic and may cause the call to be dropped. In this paper we describe and analyze various factors that influence the convergence time, we try to characterize the convergence process by using a lab setup as representative as possible to an operator mpls/vpn backbone. We then generate various templates of traffic while making cuts and failures, and we measure their impact. This way we study, in depth, features that help to minimize interruption durations. As the global convergence time is an assembly of several factors including: link failure detection, IGP failure detection, LSP Generation, SPT Computation, RIB update, BGP updates, etc., our aim is to find the best combination of enhancements at each level to reach the result.
Chicken Cells Sense Influenza A Virus Infection through MDA5 and CARDIF Signaling Involving LGP2

ABSTRACT Avian influenza viruses (AIV) raise worldwide veterinary and public health concerns due to their potential for zoonotic transmission. While infection with highly pathogenic AIV results in high mortality in chickens, this is not necessarily the case in wild birds and ducks. It is known that innate immune factors can contribute to the outcome of infection. In this context, retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is the main cytosolic pattern recognition receptor known for detecting influenza A virus infection in mammalian cells. Chickens, unlike ducks, lack RIG-I, yet chicken cells do produce type I interferon (IFN) in response to AIV infection. Consequently, we sought to identify the cytosolic recognition elements in chicken cells. Chicken mRNA encoding the putative chicken analogs of CARDIF and LGP2 (chCARDIF and chLGP2, respectively) were identified. HT7-tagged chCARDIF was observed to associate with mitochondria in chicken DF-1 fibroblasts. The exogenous expression of chCARDIF, as well as of the caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARDs) of the chicken melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (chMDA5), strongly activated the chicken IFN-β (chIFN-β) promoter. The silencing of chMDA5, chCARDIF, and chIRF3 reduced chIFN-β levels induced by AIV, indicating their involvement in AIV sensing. As with mammalian cells, chLGP2 had opposing effects. While overexpression decreased the activation of the chIFN-β promoter, the silencing of endogenous chLGP2 reduced chIFN-β induced by AIV. We finally demonstrate that the chMDA5 signaling pathway is inhibited by the viral nonstructural protein 1. In conclusion, chicken cells, including DF-1 fibroblasts and HD-11 macrophage-like cells, employ chMDA5 for sensing AIV.
Identifying Expressions of Opinion in Context

While traditional information extraction systems have been built to answer questions about facts, subjective information extraction systems will answer questions about feelings and opinions. A crucial step towards this goal is identifying the words and phrases that express opinions in text. Indeed, although much previous work has relied on the identification of opinion expressions for a variety of sentiment-based NLP tasks, none has focused directly on this important supporting task. Moreover, none of the proposed methods for identification of opinion expressions has been evaluated at the task that they were designed to perform. We present an approach for identifying opinion expressions that uses conditional random fields and we evaluate the approach at the expression-level using a standard sentiment corpus. Our approach achieves expression-level performance within 5% of the human interannotator agreement.
Gingival Enlargement in Children Treated With Antiepileptics

This study was conducted to determine the occurrence, severity, and risk factors of gingival enlargement in children treated with valproate and other nonvalproate antiepileptic drugs. A cross-sectional study was carried out in which data obtained from 68 epileptic children under treatment were compared with those from 50 controls. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on patients' demographics, dental and oral hygiene practices, and medication history. Gingival enlargement, gingival index, plaque index, and probing depth were measured to assess periodontal health. The chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used in statistical analysis. In case of significance, a detailed chi-square analysis was carried out to determine the origin of the difference. Patients in both the valproate and nonvalproate groups showed significantly higher gingival enlargement, gingival index, plaque scores, and pocketing (P < .001 and P < .01, respectively) than the control group. In the valproate group, the duration of the treatment had a significant effect on gingival enlargement (P < .001) but not on gingival index, plaque index, and probing depth values (P > .05). Toothbrushing was most frequent in the control group ( P = .000) and more frequent in the valproate group than the nonvalproate group (P = .024). Our study showed significant differences regarding gingival enlargement in children treated with valproate. These findings illustrate that epileptic children on valproate are at risk of periodontal problems. (J Child Neurol 2004; 19:958-963).
Strain dependence of band gaps and exciton energies in pure and mixed transition-metal dichalcogenides

Rodrick Kuate Defo,1 Shiang Fang,1 Sharmila N. Shirodkar,2 Georgios A. Tritsaris,2 Athanasios Dimoulas,3 and Efthimios Kaxiras1,2 1Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA 2John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA 3Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, 15310, Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece (Received 6 June 2016; revised manuscript received 30 August 2016; published 27 October 2016)
Oscillatory Increases in Alkalinity Anticipate Growth and May Regulate Actin Dynamics in Pollen Tubes of Lily[W][OA]

Lily (Lilium formosanum or Lilium longiflorum) pollen tubes, microinjected with a low concentration of the pH-sensitive dye bis-carboxyethyl carboxyfluorescein dextran, show oscillating pH changes in their apical domain relative to growth. An increase in pH in the apex precedes the fastest growth velocities, whereas a decline follows growth, suggesting a possible relationship between alkalinity and cell extension. A target for pH may be the actin cytoskeleton, because the apical cortical actin fringe resides in the same region as the alkaline band in lily pollen tubes and elongation requires actin polymerization. A pH-sensitive actin binding protein, actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF), together with actin-interacting protein (AIP) localize to the cortical actin fringe region. Modifying intracellular pH leads to reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, especially in the apical domain. Acidification causes actin filament destabilization and inhibits growth by 80%. Upon complete growth inhibition, the actin fringe is the first actin cytoskeleton component to disappear. We propose that during normal growth, the pH increase in the alkaline band stimulates the fragmenting activity of ADF/AIP, which in turn generates more sites for actin polymerization. Increased actin polymerization supports faster growth rates and a proton influx, which inactivates ADF/AIP, decreases actin polymerization, and retards growth. As pH stabilizes and increases, the activity of ADF/AIP again increases, repeating the cycle of events.
Constitutive Activation of STAT5A Promotes Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Erythroid Differentiation

Activation of the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 is involved in various aspects of hematopoiesis, affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell survival. Constitutive activation of STAT5 has also been associated with leukemic transformation. We overexpressed the constitutively active mutant STAT5A(1*6) in human cord blood CD34+ cells and evaluated the effects on the hematopoietic potential of stem cells in a variety of in vitro and in vivo systems. The observed phenotypic changes were correlated with differential gene expression patterns induced by STAT5A(1*6). Our data indicate that a persistent activation of STAT5A in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells results in their enhanced self-renewal and diverts differentiation to the erythroid lineage.
Socially translucent systems: social proxies, persistent conversation, and the design of “babble”

We take as our premise that it is possible and desirable todesign systems that support social processes. We describe Loops, aproject which takes this approach to supporting computer-mediatedcommunication (CMC) through structural and intemctive propertiessuch as persistence and a minimalist graphical representation ofusers and their activities that we call a social proxy. We discussa prototype called Babble that has been used by our group for overa year, and has been deployed to six other groups at the Watsonlabs for about two months. We describe usage experiences, lessonslearned, and next steps.
Operationalizing resilience for adaptive coral reef management under global environmental change

Cumulative pressures from global climate and ocean change combined with multiple regional and local‐scale stressors pose fundamental challenges to coral reef managers worldwide. Understanding how cumulative stressors affect coral reef vulnerability is critical for successful reef conservation now and in the future. In this review, we present the case that strategically managing for increased ecological resilience (capacity for stress resistance and recovery) can reduce coral reef vulnerability (risk of net decline) up to a point. Specifically, we propose an operational framework for identifying effective management levers to enhance resilience and support management decisions that reduce reef vulnerability. Building on a system understanding of biological and ecological processes that drive resilience of coral reefs in different environmental and socio‐economic settings, we present an Adaptive Resilience‐Based management (ARBM) framework and suggest a set of guidelines for how and where resilience can be enhanced via management interventions. We argue that press‐type stressors (pollution, sedimentation, overfishing, ocean warming and acidification) are key threats to coral reef resilience by affecting processes underpinning resistance and recovery, while pulse‐type (acute) stressors (e.g. storms, bleaching events, crown‐of‐thorns starfish outbreaks) increase the demand for resilience. We apply the framework to a set of example problems for Caribbean and Indo‐Pacific reefs. A combined strategy of active risk reduction and resilience support is needed, informed by key management objectives, knowledge of reef ecosystem processes and consideration of environmental and social drivers. As climate change and ocean acidification erode the resilience and increase the vulnerability of coral reefs globally, successful adaptive management of coral reefs will become increasingly difficult. Given limited resources, on‐the‐ground solutions are likely to focus increasingly on actions that support resilience at finer spatial scales, and that are tightly linked to ecosystem goods and services.
Tear Film Surface Quality With Rigid and Soft Contact Lenses

Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure tear film surface quality (TFSQ) using dynamic high-speed videokeratoscopy during short-term (8 hrs) use of rigid and soft contact lenses. Methods: A group of 14 subjects wore 3 different types of contact lenses on 3 different nonconsecutive days (order randomized) in 1 eye only. The subjects were screened to exclude those with dry eye. The lenses included a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) hard, a rigid gas permeable (RGP; Boston XO), and a soft silicone hydrogel lens. Three 30-second long high-speed videokeratoscopy recordings were taken with contact lenses in situ, in the morning and again after 8 hrs of contact lens wear, both in normal and suppressed blinking conditions. Recordings were also made on a baseline day with no contact lens wear. Results: The presence of a contact lens in the eye had a significant effect on the mean TFSQ in both natural and suppressed blinking conditions (P=0.001 and P=0.01, respectively, repeated-measures analysis of variance). The TFSQ was worse with all the lenses compared with no lens in the eye in the afternoon during both normal and suppressed blinking conditions (all P<0.05). In natural blinking conditions, the mean TFSQ for the PMMA and RGP lenses was significantly worse than the baseline day (no lens) for both morning and afternoon measures (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study shows that both rigid and soft contact lenses adversely affect the TFSQ in both natural and suppressed blinking conditions. No significant differences were found between the lens types and materials.
Antithrombin III Concentrates-Are they Clinically Useful?

Summary Treatment with AT III concentrates is a good example for the discrepancy between the optimistic expectations based on theoretical considerations or animal experiments and the result of clinical studies. 15 years after the introduction into clinical practice, a benefit for patients treated with AT III concentrates has not been proven. In hereditary antithrombin III deficiency, randomized clinical trials are completely lacking and only few and small sized randomized studies were performed in patients with acquired AT III deficiency. In none of these trials, a significant clinical benefit with regard to reduction of morbidity or mortality was detectable. Based on the published data, one can state that AT III concentrates may be beneficial in some special clinical situations in patients with hereditary antithrombin III deficiency (such as delivery, acute serious thromboembolic complications and postoperative thromboprophylaxis). In acquired AT III deficiency, there is no proven indication for the use of AT III concentrates.
Spectral Analysis of Phase Noise in Bipolar LC-Oscillators—Theory, Verification, and Design

Interpretation of phase-noise generating mechanism in oscillators relies on approximate and numerical calculations for analysis, and simulation tools for synthesis. In this paper, a comprehensive, yet intuitive, phase-noise model is derived as a function of oscillator circuit parameters, suiting both analysis and synthesis of oscillators. Contributions of all noise sources to the phase noise of bipolar inductance-capacitance (LC) voltage-controlled oscillators have been determined using spectral noise analysis. For the verification of the phase-noise model, a bipolar LC-oscillator has been designed that realizes a phase noise of -106 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from a 5.7 GHz-band carrier while drawing 4.8 mA from a 2.2 V supply. The results obtained from the phase-noise model agree well with simulation and measurement results of the LC-oscillator designed.
High power ultra-short pulse quantum-dot lasers

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Genome-Wide Association Studies of Quantitatively Measured Skin, Hair, and Eye Pigmentation in Four European Populations

Pigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes varies both within and between human populations. Identifying the genes and alleles underlying this variation has been the goal of many candidate gene and several genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Most GWAS for pigmentary traits to date have been based on subjective phenotypes using categorical scales. But skin, hair, and eye pigmentation vary continuously. Here, we seek to characterize quantitative variation in these traits objectively and accurately and to determine their genetic basis. Objective and quantitative measures of skin, hair, and eye color were made using reflectance or digital spectroscopy in Europeans from Ireland, Poland, Italy, and Portugal. A GWAS was conducted for the three quantitative pigmentation phenotypes in 176 women across 313,763 SNP loci, and replication of the most significant associations was attempted in a sample of 294 European men and women from the same countries. We find that the pigmentation phenotypes are highly stratified along axes of European genetic differentiation. The country of sampling explains approximately 35% of the variation in skin pigmentation, 31% of the variation in hair pigmentation, and 40% of the variation in eye pigmentation. All three quantitative phenotypes are correlated with each other. In our two-stage association study, we reproduce the association of rs1667394 at the OCA2/HERC2 locus with eye color but we do not identify new genetic determinants of skin and hair pigmentation supporting the lack of major genes affecting skin and hair color variation within Europe and suggesting that not only careful phenotyping but also larger cohorts are required to understand the genetic architecture of these complex quantitative traits. Interestingly, we also see that in each of these four populations, men are more lightly pigmented in the unexposed skin of the inner arm than women, a fact that is underappreciated and may vary across the world.
Two Sources of Control Over the Generation of Software Instructions

This paper presents an analysis conducted on a corpus of software instructions in French in order to establish whether task structure elements (the procedural representation of the users' tasks) are alone sufficient to control the grammatical resources of a text generator. We show that the construct of genre provides a useful additional source of control enabling us to resolve undetermined cases.
Forward and backward waves propagation in an array of split-ring resonators

Simulation studies of resonator split-ring resonators inserted in a rectangular waveguide WR-90 are conducted to determine the nature of wave propagation linked to the electric and magnetic responses of a metamaterial array inserted in a WR-90 waveguide. As expected, magnetic transmission band (around 3.6 GHz) is of backward-wave character. However, to the right of the isolated magnetic-resonance mini-band, there appears a wider transmission band (4–8 GHz) with multiple ripples which are identified as being of forward and backward types alternately. Unlike previous works on SRR-loaded waveguides, in which all the transmission resonances in the second band have been classified as of the forward-type, the occurrence of backward-wave transmission peaks in the second transmission band, as it is demonstrated here, has never been reported.
Associations of Infant Nutrition with Insulin Resistance Measures in Early Adulthood: Evidence from the Barry-Caerphilly Growth (BCG) Study

Background Previous studies suggest that over-nutrition in early infancy may programme long-term susceptibility to insulin resistance. Objective To assess the association of breast milk and quantity of infant formula and cows' milk intake during infancy with insulin resistance measures in early adulthood. Design Long-term follow-up of the Barry Caerphilly Growth cohort, into which mothers and their offspring had originally been randomly assigned, between 1972–1974, to receive milk supplementation or not. Participants were the offspring, aged 23–27 years at follow-up (n = 679). Breastfeeding and formula/cows' milk intake was recorded prospectively by nurses. The main outcomes were insulin sensitivity (ISI0) and insulin secretion (CIR30). Results 573 (84%) individuals had valid glucose and insulin results and complete covariate information. There was little evidence of associations of breastfeeding versus any formula/cows' milk feeding or of increasing quartiles of formula/cows' milk consumption during infancy (<3 months) with any outcome measure in young adulthood. In fully adjusted models, the differences in outcomes between breastfeeding versus formula/cows' milk feeding at 3 months were: fasting glucose (−0.07 mmol/l; 95% CI: −0.19, 0.05); fasting insulin (8.0%; −8.7, 27.6); ISI0 (−6.1%; −11.3, 12.1) and CIR30 (3.8%; −19.0, 32.8). There was also little evidence that increasing intakes of formula/cows' milk at 3 months were associated with fasting glucose (increase per quartile of formula/cows' milk intake = 0.00 mmol/l; −0.03, 0.03); fasting insulin (0.8%; −3.2, 5.1); ISI 0 (−0.9%; −5.1, 3.5) and CIR30 (−2.6%; −8.4, 3.6). Conclusions We found no evidence that increasing consumption of formula/cows' milk in early infancy was associated with insulin resistance in young adulthood.
Micro air bubble formation and its control during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microreactors

Air bubble formation during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) thermocycling in microreactors has been reported as one of the major causes for PCR failure. In this paper we investigate the locations, mechanisms and other characteristics of the micro bubble formation inside a PCR microreactor array chip made by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bonded with glass. The bubble formation is found to be strongly related to the micro features inside the microreactors and inside the chip bonding interface, especially near the inner corners of the microreactors, which are dependent on the micro-fabrication methods used. Gas permeability of PDMS and the wetting property of PCR sample also have influence on the air bubble formation. After investigation of various methods to control the bubble formation, we present the two most viable ones through micro bubble absorption and chip bonding interface modification. Finally, a bubble-free PCR in PDMS microreactors is demonstrated, in which the micro bubbles are suppressed with a bonding interface cladding technique.