Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Flexible Multi-Source Web Service's QoS Acquisition Framework and Implementation

Web Services’ QoS (Quality of Service) has been given popular attention these days and has been an important evidence to evaluate the trustworthiness of Web Services. Recent research mainly focused on QoS-aware applications, such as QoS-based dynamic composition and selection. Most of this research is based on lots of reliable QoS Data. However, there exist limitations in current QoS collection methods, such as the QoS data is not comprehensive and adequate enough to support QoS-aware applications. In the article, we present a flexible Multi-Source Web Service’s QoS acquisition framework that can collect, aggregate, store and measure Web Service’s QoS. In order to assure flexibility of the framework, we put forward a method of constructing a scalable QoS model to support it. In addition, the paper has proposed a method and implementation of QoS data collection from multiple sources. Experiments and evaluations are presented to prove the effectiveness of the framework.
Advanced Control of Frictional Properties on Paper Clutch Materials by a Combination of Friction Modifiers

This study proposes a novel approach for controlling frictional performances at paper clutch systems by a combination of organic friction modifiers (OFMs). The OFMs are commonly used for modifying the frictional properties at the paper clutch. Although the effect of the OFMs tends to be dependent on temperature due to their working mechanism based on the surface adsorption, the frictional properties are preferable to be stable in all the operating temperature for the consistent and precise clutch control. Aiming to modify the temperature dependence of the OFM effect, an OFM with an Advanced Concept (FMAC) was newly developed, and the impact on the clutch frictional performance was investigated using Low Velocity Friction Apparatus (LVFA). Only with the conventional OFM, the friction values experienced excessive reduction at 80 or 120°C, while an optimal property was achieved at 40°C. In the presence of the FMAC, it was possible to inhibit the conventional OFM selectively at the high temperature conditions preventing the friction reduction, leading to the ideal frictional property in all the temperature conditions. The surface analysis revealed that the FMACs were capable of adsorbing on the substrate more intensively at high temperature, which should be the reason of the temperature dependent competitive effect of the FMACs.
Multiwavelength observations of nova SMCN 2016-10a – one of the brightest novae ever observed

We report on multiwavelength observations of nova SMCN 2016-10a. The present observational set is one of the most comprehensive for any nova in the Small Magellanic Cloud, including: low, medium, and high resolution optical spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry from SALT, FLOYDS, and SOAR; long-term OGLE $V$- and $I$- bands photometry dating back to six years before eruption; SMARTS optical and near-IR photometry from $\sim$ 11 days until over 280 days post-eruption; $Swift$ satellite X-ray and ultraviolet observations from $\sim$ 6 days until 319 days post-eruption. The progenitor system contains a bright disk and a main sequence or a sub-giant secondary. The nova is very fast with $t_2 \simeq$ 4.0 $\pm$ 1.0 d and $t_3 \simeq$ 7.8 $\pm$ 2.0 d in the $V$-band. If the nova is in the SMC, at a distance of $\sim$ 61 $\pm$ 10 kpc, we derive $M_{V,\mathrm{max}} \simeq - 10.5$ $\pm$ 0.5, making it the brightest nova ever discovered in the SMC and one of the brightest on record. At day 5 post-eruption the spectral lines show a He/N spectroscopic class and a FWHM of $\sim$ 3500 kms$^{-1}$ indicating moderately high ejection velocities. The nova entered the nebular phase $\sim$ 20 days post-eruption, predicting the imminent super-soft source turn-on in the X-rays, which started $\sim$ 28 days post-eruption. The super-soft source properties indicate a white dwarf mass between 1.2 M$_{\odot}$ and 1.3 M$_{\odot}$ in good agreement with the optical conclusions.
Abelian Hypergroups and Quantum Computation

Motivated by a connection, described here for the rst time, between the hidden normal subgroup problem (HNSP) and abelian hypergroups (algebraic objects that model collisions of physical particles), we develop a stabilizer formalism using abelian hypergroups and an associated classical simulation theorem (a la Gottesman-Knill). Using these tools, we develop the rst provably ecient quantum algorithm for nding hidden subhypergroups of nilpotent abelian hypergroups and, via the aforementioned connection, a new, hypergroup-based algorithm for the HNSP on nilpotent groups. We also give ecient methods for manipulating non-unitary, non-monomial stabilizers and an adaptive Fourier sampling technique of general interest.
Heraklion MESH: an experimental metropolitan multi-radio mesh network

We present the design and initial experience from an experimental metropolitan multi-radio mesh network that covers an area of approximately 60 Km2 in the city of Heraklion, Crete. The network consists of 14 nodes, among which six are core nodes with up to four 802.11a wireless interfaces each, and one wireless interface for management and monitoring. The distance between core nodes varies from 1 to 5 Km. Finally, the wireless mesh network contains two gateways that connect it to a fixed network.
Assessment of skewed exposure in case‐control studies with pooling

Pooling‐based strategies that combine samples from multiple participants for laboratory assays have been proposed for epidemiologic investigations of biomarkers to address issues including cost, efficiency, detection, and when minimal sample volume is available. A modification of the standard logistic regression model has been previously described to allow use with pooled data; however, this model makes assumptions regarding exposure distribution and logit‐linearity of risk (i.e., constant odds ratio) that can be violated in practice. We were motivated by a nested case‐control study of miscarriage and inflammatory factors with highly skewed distributions to develop a more flexible model for analysis of pooled data. Using characteristics of the gamma distribution and the relation between models of binary outcome conditional on exposure and of exposure conditional on outcome, we use a modified logistic regression to accommodate nonlinearity because of unequal shape parameters in gamma distributed exposure for cases and controls. Using simulations, we compare our approach with existing methods for logistic regression for pooled data considering: (1) constant and dose‐dependent effects; (2) gamma and log‐normal distributed exposure; (3) effect size; and (4) the proportions of biospecimens pooled. We show that our approach allows estimation of odds ratios that vary with exposure level, yet has minimal loss of efficiency compared with existing approaches when exposure effects are dose‐invariant. Our model performed similarly to a maximum likelihood estimation approach in terms of bias and efficiency, and provides an easily implemented approach for estimation with pooled biomarker data when effects may not be constant across exposure. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interaction of huntingtin fragments with brain membranes – clues to early dysfunction in Huntington's disease

Huntingtin is a large, multi‐domain protein of unknown function in the brain. An abnormally elongated polyglutamine stretch in its N‐terminus causes Huntington's disease (HD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Huntingtin has been proposed to play a functional role in membrane trafficking via proteins involved in endo‐ and exocytosis. Here, we supply evidence for a direct association between huntingtin and membranes. In the brains of R6/2 mice with HD pathology, a 64 kDa N‐terminal huntingtin fragment accumulated in postsynaptic membranes during the pre‐symptomatic period of 4–8 weeks of age. In addition, an oligomeric fragment of approximately 200 kDa was detected at 8 weeks of age. Simultaneous progressive changes in distribution of amphiphysin, synaptojanin, and subunits of NMDA‐ and AMPA‐receptors provide a strong indication of dysfunctional synaptic trafficking. Composition of the major phospholipids in the synaptic membranes was unaffected. In vitro, large unilamellar vesicles of brain lipids readily associated with soluble N‐terminal huntingtin exon 1 fragments and stimulated fibrillogenesis of mutant huntingtin aggregates. Moreover, interaction of both mutant and wild‐type huntingtin exon 1 fragments with brain lipids caused bilayer perturbation, mediated through a proline‐rich region adjacent to the polyglutamines. This suggests that lipid interactions in vivo could influence misfolding of huntingtin and may play an early role in HD pathogenesis.
On the l2-induced control for eventually periodic systems

Absfruct-This paper is focused on the ! ,-induced control of eventually periodic linear discrete-time systems. We prove for such systems that a synthesis exists if and only if an eventually periodic synthesis exists. We also consider specific cases, where we show that the synthesis if existent can always he chosen to be of the same eventually periodic class as the plant. All the conditions derived are provided in terms of semidefinite programming problems. The motivation for this work is controlling nonlinear systems along prespecified trajectories, notably those which eventually settle down into periodic orbits and those with uncertain initial states.
Intrinsic Risk Factors for the Development of Achilles Tendon Overuse Injury

Background Although Achilles tendon overuse injuries occur commonly, our understanding of the pathologic changes and the factors that predispose athletes to them is limited. Purpose To identify measurable intrinsic risk factors for Achilles tendon overuse injuries. Study Design Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods Sixty-nine male officer cadets followed the same 6-week basic military training. Before this training, each subject was evaluated for anthropometrical characteristics, isokinetic ankle muscle strength, ankle joint range of motion, Achilles tendon stiffness, explosive strength, and leisure and sports activity. During military training, Achilles tendon overuse injuries were registered and diagnosed by the same medical doctor. To identify the intrinsic risk factors, a multivariate analysis with the use of stepwise logistic regression was performed. The sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff values of the risk factors were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results Ten of the 69 male recruits (14.5%) sustained an Achilles tendon overuse injury diagnosed on the basis of medical history and clinical examination. Analysis revealed that male recruits with lower plantar flexor strength and increased dorsiflexion excursion were at a greater risk of Achilles tendon overuse injury. The cutoff value of the plantar flexor strength at 85% sensitivity was 50.0 N·m, with a 4.5% specificity; the cutoff value of the dorsiflexion range of motion at 85% sensitivity was 9.0°, with 24.2% specificity. Conclusions The strength of the plantar flexors and amount of dorsiflexion excursion were identified as significant predictors of an Achilles tendon overuse injury. A plantar flexor strength lower than 50.0 N·m and dorsiflexion range of motion higher than 9.0° were possible thresholds for developing an Achilles tendon overuse injury.
Climate legacies drive global soil carbon stocks in terrestrial ecosystems

Our findings indicate the importance of paleoclimatic information to improve quantitative predictions of global soil C stocks. Climatic conditions shift gradually over millennia, altering the rates at which carbon (C) is fixed from the atmosphere and stored in the soil. However, legacy impacts of past climates on current soil C stocks are poorly understood. We used data from more than 5000 terrestrial sites from three global and regional data sets to identify the relative importance of current and past (Last Glacial Maximum and mid-Holocene) climatic conditions in regulating soil C stocks in natural and agricultural areas. Paleoclimate always explained a greater amount of the variance in soil C stocks than current climate at regional and global scales. Our results indicate that climatic legacies help determine global soil C stocks in terrestrial ecosystems where agriculture is highly dependent on current climatic conditions. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering how climate legacies influence soil C content, allowing us to improve quantitative predictions of global C stocks under different climatic scenarios.
Induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes as models for cardiac arrhythmias

Cardiac arrhythmias are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In younger patients, the majority of sudden cardiac deaths have an underlying Mendelian genetic cause. Over the last 15 years, enormous progress has been made in identifying the distinct clinical phenotypes and in studying the basic cellular and genetic mechanisms associated with the primary Mendelian (monogenic) arrhythmia syndromes. Investigation of the electrophysiological consequences of an ion channel mutation is ideally done in the native cardiomyocyte (CM) environment. However, the majority of such studies so far have relied on heterologous expression systems in which single ion channel genes are expressed in non-cardiac cells. In some cases, transgenic mouse models have been generated, but these also have significant shortcomings, primarily related to species differences. The discovery that somatic cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotency as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has generated much interest since it presents an opportunity to generate patient- and disease-specific cell lines from which normal and diseased human CMs can be obtained These genetically diverse human model systems can be studied in vitro and used to decipher mechanisms of disease and identify strategies and reagents for new therapies. Here, we review the present state of the art with respect to cardiac disease models already generated using IPSC technology and which have been (partially) characterized. Human iPSC (hiPSC) models have been described for the cardiac arrhythmia syndromes, including LQT1, LQT2, LQT3-Brugada Syndrome, LQT8/Timothy syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). In most cases, the hiPSC-derived cardiomyoctes recapitulate the disease phenotype and have already provided opportunities for novel insight into cardiac pathophysiology. It is expected that the lines will be useful in the development of pharmacological agents for the management of these disorders.
Essential competencies in prescribing: A first european cross‐sectional study among 895 final‐year medical students

European medical students should have acquired adequate prescribing competencies before graduation, but it is not known whether this is the case. In this international multicenter study, we evaluated the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (CPT) of final‐year medical students across Europe. In a cross‐sectional design, 26 medical schools from 17 European countries were asked to administer a standardized assessment and questionnaire to 50 final‐year students. Although there were differences between schools, our results show an overall lack of essential prescribing competencies among final‐year students in Europe. Students had a poor knowledge of drug interactions and contraindications, and chose inappropriate therapies for common diseases or made prescribing errors. Our results suggest that undergraduate teaching in CPT is inadequate in many European schools, leading to incompetent prescribers and potentially unsafe patient care. A European core curriculum with clear learning outcomes and assessments should be urgently developed.
The prevalence and severity of early childhood caries in preschool children in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess caries prevalence and severity in preschool children in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, the relationship between the frequency and clinical types of early childhood caries and behavioral factors, oral hygiene and eating habits were assessed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS An oral health survey was performed in line with the World Health Organization methodology and criteria. The research consisted of clinical examinations of children to determine dentition status, oral hygiene and severity of caries distribution according to Wyne's classification. Information about behavioral factors was collected by means of a questionnaire administered to parents/guardians. RESULTS The sample consisted of a total of 165 preschool children aged 3-5 years. Mean dmft (decay, missing, filled teeth index for primary dentition) was 6.79. The percentage of caries-free children was 17.0%. The results showed a statistically significant correlation between oral hygiene and eating habits, and also the frequency and types of early childhood caries. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrates high caries prevalence in preschool children in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Community based preventive programs should be developed and urgently implemented, in order to achieve the WHO goals, improve oral and general health, thus improving the quality of life of these populations.
Preliminary quantification of the in situ performance of a novel hydrogen peroxide based explosive

This paper reports the results of a preliminary monitoring program designed to quantify the in situ performance of newly developed hydrogen peroxide based explosives. Their advantage is that they do not produce NOx fumes upon detonation. Direct measurements of velocity of detonation, pressure, temperature and displacement were obtained. Detonation velocities ranged from 2607 to 5100 m s−1 with differences mainly attributed to density variations. The data showed consistent relative differences in pressure and temperature with measurements in the range of 0.6–2.6 GPa and 2036–3551 °C respectively. Multiple hole tests showed that there was no adverse impact on product behaviour such as dead pressing or desensitisation. Video analysis confirmed that displacement was prominent in single hole crater tests but limited in multiple hole tests. Observations confirmed that new fracturing and dilation of discontinuities was evident; with relative differences in fragmentation associated with changes in rock mass conditions.
Subcortical auditory structures in the mongolian gerbil: I. Golgi architecture

By means of the Golgi–Cox and Nissl methods we investigated the cyto‐ and fiberarchitecture as well as the morphology of neurons in the subcortical auditory structures of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), a frequently used animal model in auditory neuroscience. We describe the divisions and subdivisions of the auditory thalamus including the medial geniculate body, suprageniculate nucleus, and reticular thalamic nucleus, as well as of the inferior colliculi, nuclei of the lateral lemniscus, superior olivary complex, and cochlear nuclear complex. In this study, we 1) confirm previous results about the organization of the gerbil's subcortical auditory pathway using other anatomical staining methods (e.g., Budinger et al. [2000] Eur J Neurosci 12:2452–2474); 2) add substantially to the knowledge about the laminar and cellular organization of the gerbil's subcortical auditory structures, in particular about the orientation of their fibrodendritic laminae and about the morphology of their most distinctive neuron types; and 3) demonstrate that the cellular organization of these structures, as seen by the Golgi technique, corresponds generally to that of other mammalian species, in particular to that of rodents. J. Comp. Neurol. , 521:1289–1321, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessment of right ventricular size and function: echo versus magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE The assessment of right ventricular (RV) size and function is important in the management of many patients with heart disease. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard for quantitation of ventricular volumes and systolic function, subjective assessment ("eyeball") by echocardiography is the modality most often used for the RV. The echocardiographic "eyeball" method of assessing RV size and systolic function was compared with quantitative MRI. DESIGN Patients with right-sided congenital heart disease who underwent an echocardiogram within 6 months of MRI formed the study group. Four echocardiographers blinded to the MRI results reviewed the echocardiograms to subjectively assess RV size and systolic function. The reliability of an echocardiographer in accurately identifying a severely dilated RV and moderately to severely diminished RV systolic function was measured using the Kappa coefficient. Inter-rater agreement was also assessed using Kappa. RESULTS The study group consisted of 22 patients aged 16.6 +/- 7.1 years, with interval between MRI and echocardiogram of 49 +/- 54 days. Using echocardiography, reliability for accurately identifying a severely dilated RV was "slight" with a prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted Kappa (PABAK) of 0.25; and for identifying moderately to severely diminished RV systolic function was fair with a PABAK of 0.43. Inter-rater agreement analysis was poor for both with Kappas of 0.07 (P = .22) and 0.12 (P = .09), respectively. CONCLUSION The usefulness of the echocardiographic "eyeball" method to estimate RV size and systolic function in patients with right heart disease has limitations when compared with MRI, specifically in regard to the variability between echocardiographers.
Fat, Fiber, Meat and the Risk of Colorectal Adenomas

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between fat, fiber, and meat intake, and risk of colorectal adenoma recurrence.METHODS:We determined adenoma recurrence and dietary intake for 1,520 participants in two randomized trials: The Antioxidant Polyp Prevention Study and Calcium Polyp Prevention Study. Subjects underwent baseline colonoscopy with removal of all adenomas, and dietary intake was estimated with a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Follow-up colonoscopy was performed 1 and 4 yr later. Pooled risk ratios for adenoma recurrence were obtained by generalized linear regression, with adjustment for age, sex, clinical center, treatment category, study, and duration of observation.RESULTS:In the total colorectum, fiber intake was weakly and nonsignificantly associated with a risk for all adenomas (RR quartile 4 vs quartile 1 = 0.85, 95% CI 0.69–1.05) and advanced adenomas (RR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.54–1.44). Associations were stronger for adenomas in the proximal colon (RR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.97) and some fiber subtypes (fruit and vegetable, grain). There was no association between fat or total red meat intake and risk of adenoma or advanced adenoma recurrence. However, when considering other meats, risk (quartile 4 vs quartile 1) for advanced adenoma was increased for processed meat (RR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.02–2.99) and decreased for chicken (RR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.38–0.98). CONCLUSION:The inverse associations between fiber intake and risk of adenoma recurrence we observed are weak, and not statistically significant. Our data indicate that intake of specific meats may have different effects on risk.