Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A general approach to connected-component labeling for arbitrary image representations

An improved and general approach to connected-component labeling of images is presented. The algorithm presented in this paper processes images in predetermined order, which means that the processing order depends only on the image representation scheme and not on specific properties of the image. The algorithm handles a wide variety of image representation schemes (rasters, run lengths, quadrees, bintrees, etc.). How to adapt the standard UNION-FIND algorithm to permit reuse of temporary labels is shown. This is done using a technique called age balancing, in which, when two labels are merged, the older label becomes the father of the younger label. This technique can be made to coexist with the more conventional rule of weight balancing, in which the label with more descendants becomes the father of the label with fewer descendants. Various image scanning orders are examined and classified. It is also shown that when the algorithm is specialized to a pixel array scanned in raster order, the total processing time is linear in the number of pixels. The linear-time processing time follows from a special property of the UNION-FIND algorithm, which may be of independent interest. This property states that under certain restrictions on the input, UNION-FIND runs in time linear in the number of FIND and UNION operations. Under these restrictions, linear-time performance can be achieved without resorting to the more complicated Gabow-Tarjan algorithm for disjoint set union.
Accounting for granular material dilation during the operation of an annular shear cell

Abstract The testing of granular materials for silo design is most commonly carried out using a Jenike shear cell. The alternative instrument is an annular shear cell, which is used less widely. In this paper we draw attention to the many merits of the annular shear cell. During the operation of an annular shear cell a peak shear stress is observed on the consolidation of loosely filled samples of coarse (above 1 mm diameter) granular materials. By the use of a power balance on the vertical displacement of the shear cell lid, we show experimentally that the peak is a consequence of the extra work expended in lifting the lid when the granular material dilates to accommodate shear. If not properly accounted for, this peak shear stress could erroneously be attributed to cohesion. This observation has consequences for the Jenike flow function and effective angle of internal friction of coarse granular materials. We further demonstrate that our observations made on an annular shear cell are compatible with similar observations previously made on sand in a simple shear box, at higher stress levels.
CODA: Accurate Detection of Functional Associations between Proteins in Eukaryotic Genomes Using Domain Fusion

Background In order to understand how biological systems function it is necessary to determine the interactions and associations between proteins. Gene fusion prediction is one approach to detection of such functional relationships. Its use is however known to be problematic in higher eukaryotic genomes due to the presence of large homologous domain families. Here we introduce CODA (Co-Occurrence of Domains Analysis), a method to predict functional associations based on the gene fusion idiom. Methodology/Principal Findings We apply a novel scoring scheme which takes account of the genome-specific size of homologous domain families involved in fusion to improve accuracy in predicting functional associations. We show that CODA is able to accurately predict functional similarities in human with comparison to state-of-the-art methods and show that different methods can be complementary. CODA is used to produce evidence that a currently uncharacterised human protein may be involved in pathways related to depression and that another is involved in DNA replication. Conclusions/Significance The relative performance of different gene fusion methodologies has not previously been explored. We find that they are largely complementary, with different methods being more or less appropriate in different genomes. Our method is the only one currently available for download and can be run on an arbitrary dataset by the user. The CODA software and datasets are freely available from ftp://ftp.biochem. ucl.ac. uk/pub/gene3d_data/v6.1. 0/CODA/. Predictions are also available via web services from http://funcnet.eu/.
The Gall Midge Asphondylia Borrichiae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) : An Indigenous Example of Host-Associated Genetic Divergence in Sympatry

ABSTRACT Speciation usually is conceptualized as occurring via three biogeographic modes: allopatry, parapatry, and sympatry. Sympatric speciation has been the most controversial because of the difficulty of developing plausible theoretical models in which the homogenizing effects of gene flow are sufficiently overcome to permit genetic divergence to occur in the absence of geographic barriers restricting gene flow. Recently, a number of hypothetical models for sympatric speciation have been advanced and several candidate study systems have provided evidence of sympatric divergence, although many of the systems so identified involve introduced species, especially in the cases of host-race formation in phytophagous insects, which expand their host range and use a novel host. Although these cases demonstrate the reality of sympatric divergence, they do not address which mode of speciation predominates in indigenous communities. Asphondylia borrichiae Rossi & Strong has been proposed as a potential example of sympatric divergence in a fully indigenous system, based on the results of a host-choice experiment involving three host-plant species. In the current study, we report significant differences in the genetic composition of midge populations collected from each host in situ, supporting the hypothesis of sympatric genetic divergence among the morphologically identical host-associated populations of A. borrichiae and consistent with host fidelity in oviposition choice.
Guidelines for utilizing change impact analysis when estimating effort in agile software development

In agile development context, estimating effort of constantly evolving requirements is challenging. Moreover, expert judgment which is the most used estimation method in this context is prone to bias, utilizes limited information and affects the accuracy of estimates. In order to overcome these shortcomings, consideration of information like complexity and impact of changes (requirements) on the underlying system have been proposed in our earlier study. We introduced an improvement framework that integrates change impact analysis with effort estimation methods. In this paper, we are proposing guidelines on how to integrate and operationalize the impact analysis while estimating effort through utilizing our framework in an agile development context. Operationalization of this framework will provide practitioners with additional information about the impact and support them in making informed decisions regarding effort estimation. It will increase transparency in the whole estimation process at the same time.
Innovative Space Vector PWM control strategy for H-Bridge meeting specific electric vehicle drive constraints

This paper deals with a 3-phase H-bridge inverter feeding a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine drive. An innovative Space Vector PWM strategy gathers electric vehicle (EV) specifications and objectives like high reachable base speed, minimization of zero-sequence current ripple and switching losses. In this paper, authors present experimental results performed on inductive inverter prototype.
Long‐Length YBCO Coated Stainless Steel Tapes with High Critical Currents

Progress in manufacturing 40m long YBCO coated stainless steel tapes by ion beam assisted deposition and by high‐rate pulsed laser deposition is reported. A critical current of 84.5A (77K, self field) was observed for end‐to‐end measurements of the 40m long tape based on a 1. 05μm thick and 3.6mm wide YBCO film. This implies that a critical current of 235A per cm‐width is achieved by just a 1 μm thick YBCO layer. Analysis of the influence of local defects onto the integral U(I) curves allowed to formulate a general criterion for the homogeneity in terms of reduced number of tape parameters.A deterioration of tapes induced by mechanical torsion starts at a very high deformation degree: irreversibility threshold corresponds to 3000 angular degrees per meter for 4mm wide coated tape loaded with a 40N tensile axial force.
Survivin-TGFB3-TIMP1 Gene Therapy Via Lentivirus Vector Slows the Course of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in an In Vivo Rabbit Model

Study Design. The ability of lentivirus vector (LV) survivin-transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFB3)-tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) on slowing disc degeneration was evaluated by an animal experiment. Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of LV survivin-TGFB3-TIMP1 on slowing disc degeneration in an in vivo rabbit model. Summary of Background Data. Cell apoptosis, increase of catabolic activity, and decrease of anabolic activity were the mechanisms of disc degeneration. Meanwhile, survivin, TGFB3, and TIMP1 can influence above process, respectively. However, there were no researches conducted to evaluate the effect of an LV containing all three proteins (referred to as LV-survivin-TGFB3-TIMP1) on slowing disc degeneration in vivo. Methods. Twenty skeletally mature female New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: nonpunctured sham surgical group (group A, n = 5), punctured blank control group (group B, n = 5), punctured empty vector control group (group C, n = 5), and the treatment group (group D, n = 5). Computed tomography–guided puncture was performed at the L3–L4 and L4–L5 discs, in accordance with a previously validated rabbit annulotomy model for intervertebral disc degeneration. After 3 weeks, LV-carrying survivin, TGFB3, and TIMP1 were injected into the nucleus pulposus. Serial magnetic resonance imaging studies at 0, 3, and 12 weeks were performed. The rabbits were sacrificed at 12 weeks, and the histology, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and caspase-3 activity was used for evaluation. Results. Magnetic resonance imaging, histology, gene expression, protein content, and apoptosis analyses of group A showed no disc degeneration. Groups B and C showed disc degeneration, which increased over time, and no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). In group D, there was less disc degeneration compared to the punctured control groups and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion. The injection of LV-carrying survivin-TGFB3-TIMP1 into punctured rabbit intervertebral discs helps delay degenerative disc changes. Although data from animal models should be extrapolated to the human condition with caution, this study shows promise for gene therapy to decelerate disc degeneration. Level of Evidence: N/A
Population genetic studies of Alouatta caraya (Alouattinae, Primates): inferences on geographic distribution and ecology

Cytochrome b DNA sequence data (ca. 1,140 bp) of 44 Alouatta caraya, including 42 specimens from three localities of Brazil and two from Bolivia, were used for phylogenetic reconstructions and population studies. Seventeen haplotypes were identified, eight of which were present in more than one individual. Seven of these eight haplotypes were shared by individuals from a same locality and one by individuals from two localities. We found 26 variable sites along the entire gene, consisting of 18 transitions and eight transversions; most replacements occurring at the third codon position (65.39%) in contrast to first and second positions (26.92 and 7.69%, respectively). In the sample collected at Chapada dos Guimarães (Brazil), nucleotide and haplotype diversity estimates were π=0.002325 and h=0.8772, respectively. Maximum parsimony analysis grouped all haplotypes in two clades, separating Bolivian haplotypes from Brazilian haplotypes, the grouping of which did not show a straightforward correspondence with geographic distribution. Median‐joining and TCS network pointed to haplotypes 11 or 12 as the most likely ancestral ones. Mismatch distribution and the goodness‐of‐fit test (SSD estimate=0.0027; P=0.6999) indicated that the population from Chapada dos Guimarães experienced a demographic expansion, in agreement with the median‐joining star‐like pattern, although this finding could not be confirmed by Fu's Fs test. Am. J. Primatol. 69:1093–1104, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Target Tracking In a Sensor Network Based on Particle Filtering and Power-Aware Design

In this paper, we present a novel target tracking method applied to a distributed acoustic sensor network. The underlying tracking methodology is described as a multiple sensor tracking/fusion technique based on particle filtering (PF). As discussed in the most recent literature, particle filtering is defined as an emerging Monte-Carlo non-linear state estimation method. More specifically, in our proposed method each activated sensor transmits the received acoustic intensity and the target direction of arrival (DOA) to the sensor fusion center (a dedicated computing and storage platform, such as a micro-server). The fusion center uses each received DOA to generate individual estimates based on state partition technique as described later in the paper. In addition, a set of sensor weights are calculated based on the acoustic intensity received by sensors. Next, the weighted sum of the estimates is used as the proposal distribution in a particle filter for sensor fusion. This technique renders a more accurate proposal distribution and hence yields a more robust estimation of the target. Moreover, because of the improved proposal distribution, the new filter can achieve a given level of performance using fewer samples than the traditional bootstrap filter
Kink and power saturation of 660-nm AlGaInP laser diodes

We analyze kink and power saturation phenomena of high power 660-nm laser diodes for DVD-R/RW experimentally. Power-current (P-I) and voltage-current (V-I) characteristics of laser diodes with different cavity lengths were measured. Using these results and thermal resistances, temperature rises caused by self-heating (/spl Delta/T) and the dependence of slope efficiencies on the temperature rise (Se-/spl Delta/T) were calculated. The slope efficiencies decreased linearly with /spl Delta/T and their gradients showed the same value regardless of the cavity length, while they had no systematic dependence on the current. The kinks occurred at the same /spl Delta/T of 30/spl deg/C regardless of the cavity length, while they occurred at different currents. These results indicate that the temperature rise caused by the self-heating is a key parameter for the kink and the saturation power. A method is proposed to calculate the kink and the saturation power using the gradient (Se-/spl Delta/T) and the kink temperature.
Hawk: The Blockchain Model of Cryptography and Privacy-Preserving Smart Contracts

Emerging smart contract systems over decentralized cryptocurrencies allow mutually distrustful parties to transact safely without trusted third parties. In the event of contractual breaches or aborts, the decentralized blockchain ensures that honest parties obtain commensurate compensation. Existing systems, however, lack transactional privacy. All transactions, including flow of money between pseudonyms and amount transacted, are exposed on the blockchain. We present Hawk, a decentralized smart contract system that does not store financial transactions in the clear on the blockchain, thus retaining transactional privacy from the public's view. A Hawk programmer can write a private smart contract in an intuitive manner without having to implement cryptography, and our compiler automatically generates an efficient cryptographic protocol where contractual parties interact with the blockchain, using cryptographic primitives such as zero-knowledge proofs. To formally define and reason about the security of our protocols, we are the first to formalize the blockchain model of cryptography. The formal modeling is of independent interest. We advocate the community to adopt such a formal model when designing applications atop decentralized blockchains.
Resilient optical networks design using particle swarm optimization algorithms

Dropping of Information Communication Technology (ICT) based applications and facilities due to cable cuts failures in optical backbones leads to loss of many resources and opportunities. Therefore, resilience is an important issue toward reliable next generation networks which is a complicated designing issue and known to be an NP-hard problem. This paper presents an intelligent particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to design resilient Dense-Wavelength-Division-Multiplexing (DWDM) optical networks. The path protection architecture is employed for single link failure covering in working lightpaths and the First-Fit algorithm is used for wavelength assignment to working and spare paths. The simulation results achieved from Italian network test bench for a given demand matrix demonstrate the efficiency of proposed approach for establishing two failure-disjoint paths in resilient optical networks design. The proposed approach could be extended for other resilience architectures.
Alignment matters - Improving business functions using the Procurement Alignment Framework

The procurement business function is increasingly recognized as strategic. We propose an improvement approach of the procurement function using the Procurement Alignment Framework. The framework is based on the hypothesis that the performance of the procurement business function is positively related to (1) the single maturity of five business dimensions (strategy & policy, monitoring & control, organization & processes, people & culture, IT) with respect to procurement, and (2) the alignment of these five maturities. A survey tool (‘scan’) based on the Procurement Alignment Framework is applied to 55 Dutch organizations from various industries and size categories. As expected, we found significant correlations between maturity and alignment of the business dimensions on the one hand, and procurement performance on the other. Consequently, the tool and framework can be used to provide specific recommendations for organizations to move their procurement business function forward.
Brentuximab vedotin and AVD followed by involved-site radiotherapy in early stage, unfavorable risk Hodgkin lymphoma.

This multicenter pilot study assessed the safety and efficacy of brentuximab vedotin (BV) and AVD (adriamycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) followed by 30 Gy involved site radiation therapy (ISRT). Patients with newly diagnosed, early stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) with unfavorable-risk features were treated with 4 cycles of BV and AVD. Patients who achieved a negative positron emission tomography (PET) scan (Deauville score of 1-3) received 30 Gy ISRT. Thirty patients received treatment and were assessable for toxicity. Twenty-nine patients completed 4 cycles of BV + AVD, and 25 patients BV + AVD + 30 Gy ISRT. No clinically significant noninfectious pneumonitis was observed. Serious adverse events (≥grade 3) were reported in 4 patients, including febrile neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension. After 2 and 4 cycles of BV + AVD, 90% (26 of 29) and 93% (27 or 29) of patients achieved a negative PET scan, respectively. Two patients with biopsy-proven primary refractory HL were treated off-study. All 25 patients who completed BV + AVD + ISRT achieved a complete response. With a median follow-up of 18.8 months, by intent to treat, the 1-year progression-free survival is 93.3% (95% confidence interval, 84-102). Overall, the treatment was well-tolerated with no evidence of significant pulmonary toxicity. The majority of patients (≥90%) achieved negative interim PET scans after 2 and 4 cycles of BV + AVD. Excluding the 2 primary refractory patients, all patients are disease free, suggesting that this is a highly active treatment program even in patients with substantial disease bulk. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT01868451.
An Analysis Of Stress Intensity Factor Due To Normal Stress For A Cracked Plate Reinforced With A Sheet By Seam Welding

It is essential in damage tolerance design to determine the stress intensity factor theoretically. The stress intensity factor for a cracked plate that is reinforced with a sheet by seam welding is determined theoretically and plotted as function of the seam welding location and stiﬀness ratio. The singular integral equation is derived based on the compatibility condition between the cracked plate and the reinforcement plate, and it is solved by means of Erdogan and Gupta‘s method. The theory is veriﬁed by comparing the results of the present analysis with those of a numerical analysis. The results from the present analysis show that the reinforcement eﬀect improves as the welding line is situated closer to the crack and as the stiﬀness ratio of the cracked plate and the reinforcement plate increases.
Factors that may influence the functional outcome after primary total hip arthroplasty

Aim The present paper aims to decipher the multiple factors occurring in patients on the recovery program, in order to obtain an optimal functional outcome after the implantation of a primary total hip prosthesis. Material and Method One hundred patients operated with primary total hip prosthesis, consecutively included in this study, underwent an immediate postoperative recovery program, with an integrative aspect, over the entire duration of hospitalization. The program was individualized according to the specific features of the patients, such as gender, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), type of diagnosis that required the prosthesis implantation, type of prosthesis implanted and functional status of the opposite hip, and it was continued at home. At 3 months postoperatively, the Harris hip score (in comparison with the preoperative one) and the quality of life were calculated. Results At 3 months post-surgery and post-recovery, the average Harris hip score was more than double in comparison with the preoperative one (85.89 as compared to 40.06), and on average the patients considered the quality of life as good. The preoperative Harris hip score had no statistically significant differences in different patient groups, except for the ones aged over 75, for whom it was statistically significantly lower than the score of other age groups. Three months after surgery, the statistically significant differences between different groups of patients disappeared. At 3 months postoperatively, the average perceived quality of life was good. There were statistically significant differences only in obese patients, who considered it to be very good. Discussion Correlations are sought between different categories of patients and the obtained results, to be compared with the data in specialized literature. Conclusions The factors contributing to a good functional outcome after primary total hip arthroplasty are the following: rehabilitation program beginning immediately after surgery, its performance gradually reaching exercises against resistance and its integrative aspect being mainly oriented towards obtaining movement independence and walking recovery, careful adaptation to the specific features of the patient, related to age, weight condition, opposite hip condition and, within each group, related to the physical possibilities of the person submitted to surgery, as well as the continuation of the rehabilitation program at home. Factors such as gender, old age, the cause requiring prosthesis implantation, obesity or unoperated hip with functional impairment are not limitative and do not prevent obtaining satisfactory results.