Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Evaluation Studies of Mobile Systems

Established approaches to design and evaluate usable systems are challenged by systems for wearable, handheld, or mobile devices. There are extensive methods and guidelines that describe how the usability of stationary computer systems should be evaluated [4,6]. This is complemented with experimental evaluations of the relative strengths and weaknesses of different techniques [1,3]. However, in relation to design and evaluation of mobile systems, such methods and guidelines are yet to be produced. Mobile systems are typically used in highly dynamic contexts and their use often involves several people distributed in the user’s physical surroundings. Therefore, field-based testing seems like an appealing or even indispensable approach for evaluating mobile systems. Yet usability testing in the field is challenging. Firstly, it can be complicated to establish realistic studies that capture the richness of the use-context. Secondly, it is far from trivial to apply established techniques such as observation and think-aloud in the field. Thirdly, field-testing complicate data collection and limits control since users are moving physically in an environment with a number of unknown variables. When usability tests are conducted in a laboratory setting, control and collection of high quality data is not a problem, but one of the drawbacks is the lack of realism. Existing approaches to laboratory-based usability testing of stationary computer systems try to solve this problem by recreating or imitating the real use context, e.g. by office furnishing [6]. However, when mobile systems are tested in a laboratory setting, activities in the user’s physical surroundings can be difficult to recreate realistically [5]. We explore laboratory and field-based approaches to usability evaluation of mobile systems through a number of comparative usability studies involving different experimental design. Two of these studies are illustrated below.
Paired Comparison of PD-L1 Expression on Cytologic and Histologic Specimens From Malignancies in the Lung Assessed With PD-L1 IHC 28-8pharmDx and PD-L1 IHC 22C3pharmDx

Background: Programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression is a predictive biomarker for anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in non–small cell lung cancer. Different immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays have been developed on histologic material with different cutoffs for positivity. More than one third of the patients are diagnosed on cytology alone. We hypothesized that cytologic cell block material is suitable for PD-L1 analysis. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six paired samples of malignancies from the lung where cytologic cell block and histologic material were available from the same lesion were stained with PD-L1 IHC 28-8pharmDx and PD-L1 IHC 22C3pharmDx. Scorings of like material (cytology or histology) stained with different assays were analyzed in order to evaluate the analytical agreement between assays. Scoring of different materials stained with like assays were analyzed in order to evaluate the agreement between cytology and histology. Results: A high degree of agreement was found between 28-8pharmDx and 22C3pharmDx, whether applied to histologic or cytologic cell blocks, with Pearson R2 of 0.95. The Pearson R2 between 2 rounds of assessment of the same assay on the same type of material was also 0.95. The agreement between histologic and cytologic specimens was high with Pearson R2 0.87 to 0.89 and overall agreement between 85% and 95%. There was no bias toward lower prevalence of positivity with cytology than with histology. Disagreement was related to heterogeneity of the histologic tumor sample. Conclusion: PD-L1 assessment is feasible on cytologic material with the tested assays using cutoffs for positivity similar to those used on histologic material.
Structural determinants for membrane insertion, pore formation and translocation of Clostridium difficile toxin B

Clostridium difficile toxins A and B bind to eukaryotic target cells, are endocytosed and then deliver their N‐terminal glucosyltransferase domain after processing into the cytosol. Whereas glucosyltransferase, autoprocessing and cell‐binding domains are well defined, structural features involved in toxin delivery are unknown. Here, we studied structural determinants that define membrane insertion, pore formation and translocation of toxin B. Deletion analyses revealed that a large region, covering amino acids 1501–1753 of toxin B, is dispensable for cytotoxicity in Vero cells. Accordingly, a chimeric toxin, consisting of amino acids 1–1550 and the receptor‐binding domain of diphtheria toxin, caused cytotoxic effects. A large N‐terminal part of toxin B (amino acids 1–829) was not essential for pore formation (measured by 86Rb+ release in mammalian cells). Studies using C‐terminal truncation fragments of toxin B showed that amino acid residues 1–990 were still capable of inducing fluorescence dye release from large lipid vesicles and led to increased electrical conductance in black lipid membranes. Thereby, we define the minimal pore‐forming region of toxin B within amino acid residues 830 and 990. Moreover, we identify within this region a crucial role of the amino acid pair glutamate‐970 and glutamate‐976 in pore formation of toxin B.
Duality Formulas for Robust Pricing and Hedging in Discrete Time

In this paper we derive robust super- and subhedging dualities for contingent claims that can depend on several underlying assets. In addition to strict super- and subhedging, we also consider relaxed versions which, instead of eliminating the shortfall risk completely, aim to reduce it to an acceptable level. This yields robust price bounds with tighter spreads. As examples we study strict super- and subhedging with general convex transaction costs and trading constraints as well as risk-based hedging with respect to robust versions of the average value at risk and entropic risk measure. Our approach is based on representation results for increasing convex functionals and allows for general financial market structures. As a side result it yields a robust version of the fundamental theorem of asset pricing.
COLORISE: Shape- and Color-Changing Pixels with Inflatable Elastomers and Interactions

We propose a new method for shape- and color-changing display called COLORISE. Our 'COLORISE' system has inflatable shape changing pixels that can change their colors without using any light-emitting type devices. The array of the modules enables various color patterns, making full use of the characteristics of the material. Each pixel also has a touch sensing function that enables users to interact with it intuitively. This paper describes the design and mechanism of our system, explores interactions with users, and presents technical evaluations of the proposed pixel modules.
Pioglitazone Can Downregulate Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Expression Induced by High Glucose in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) plays a key role in both vascular development and pathophysiological processes. However, the effect of high glucose on BMP-2 expression remains unclear. Here we show in human umbilical vein endothelial cells that high glucose increased BMP-2 expression, associated with NF-ĸB activation, whereas pioglitazone suppressed BMP-2 expression and NF-ĸB65 activation induced by high glucose. Furthermore, the increase in MDA levels and decrease in activities of total superoxide dismutase of cell culture stimulated by high glucose were reversed by pioglitazone treatment. Our findings indicate that BMP-2 expression induced by high glucose might be closely related to NF-ĸB activation, and both effects can be suppressed by pioglitazone.
Interfacial Stresses in a Tri-Material Assembly Subjected to Differential Temperatures in the Layers in Electronic Packaging

Schmidt's trimaterial model for shearing stress for uniform temperature is upgraded to account for differential temperatures in the layers. Subsequently a model for peeling stress is proposed from the consideration of moment equilibrium combined with the above mentioned upgraded shear stress model. The results are presented in terms of two parameters m1 and m2, relating the two temperature ratios at die-die attach interface and at die attach-substrate interface respectively. The results are also presented in terms of another two parameters n1 and n2, representing coefficient of thermal expansion ratios between die and die attach materials and die attach and substrate materials respectively. The obtained results can be useful resources in future analysis of trimaterial assemblies for proper design and material selection.
MODIS instrument operation and calibration improvements

Terra and Aqua MODIS have successfully operated for over 14 and 12 years since their respective launches in 1999 and 2002. The MODIS on-orbit calibration is performed using a set of on-board calibrators, which include a solar diffuser for calibrating the reflective solar bands (RSB) and a blackbody for the thermal emissive bands (TEB). On-orbit changes in the sensor responses as well as key performance parameters are monitored using the measurements of these on-board calibrators. This paper provides an overview of MODIS on-orbit operation and calibration activities, and instrument long-term performance. It presents a brief summary of the calibration enhancements made in the latest MODIS data collection 6 (C6). Future improvements in the MODIS calibration and their potential applications to the S-NPP VIIRS are also discussed.
Lipid Peroxidation and Depressed Mood in Community-Dwelling Older Men and Women

It has been hypothesized that cellular damage caused by oxidative stress is associated with late-life depression but epidemiological evidence is limited. In the present study we evaluated the association between urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, and depressed mood in a large sample of community-dwelling older adults. Participants were selected from the Health, Aging and Body Composition study, a community-based longitudinal study of older persons (aged 70–79 years). The present analyses was based on a subsample of 1027 men and 948 women free of mobility disability. Urinary concentration of 8-iso-PGF2α was measured by radioimmunoassay methods and adjusted for urinary creatinine. Depressed mood was defined as a score greater than 5 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and/or use of antidepressant medications. Depressed mood was present in 3.0% of men and 5.5% of women. Depressed men presented higher urinary concentrations of 8-iso-PGF2α than non-depressed men even after adjustment for multiple sociodemographic, lifestyle and health factors (p = 0.03, Cohen’s d = 0.30). This association was not present in women (depressed status-by-sex interaction p = 0.04). Our study showed that oxidative damage may be linked to depression in older men from a large sample of the general population. Further studies are needed to explore whether the modulation of oxidative stress may break down the link between late-life depression and its deleterious health consequences.
DNA intercalation without flipping in the specific ThaI–DNA complex

The PD-(D/E)XK type II restriction endonuclease ThaI cuts the target sequence CG/CG with blunt ends. Here, we report the 1.3 Å resolution structure of the enzyme in complex with substrate DNA and a sodium or calcium ion taking the place of a catalytic magnesium ion. The structure identifies Glu54, Asp82 and Lys93 as the active site residues. This agrees with earlier bioinformatic predictions and implies that the PD and (D/E)XK motifs in the sequence are incidental. DNA recognition is very unusual: the two Met47 residues of the ThaI dimer intercalate symmetrically into the CG steps of the target sequence. They approach the DNA from the minor groove side and penetrate the base stack entirely. The DNA accommodates the intercalating residues without nucleotide flipping by a doubling of the CG step rise to twice its usual value, which is accompanied by drastic unwinding. Displacement of the Met47 side chains from the base pair midlines toward the downstream CG steps leads to large and compensating tilts of the first and second CG steps. DNA intercalation by ThaI is unlike intercalation by HincII, HinP1I or proteins that bend or repair DNA.
Picosecond lasers with the dynamical operation control

Numerical model for simulation of generation process in advanced pulse-periodic high-peak-power picosecond diode-pumped Nd:YAG and Nd:YLF lasers has been developed. The model adequately describes picosecond pulse formation governed by active and passive mode-locking, negative feedback and adjustable loss level in the oscillator cavity. Optical jitter of output pulses attributed to laser generation development from spontaneous noise level was evaluated using statistical analysis of calculation results. In the presented laser scheme, minimal jitter value on the level ~40 ps was estimated.
Understanding and Combating Memory Bloat in Managed Data-Intensive Systems

The past decade has witnessed increasing demands on data-driven business intelligence that led to the proliferation of data-intensive applications. A managed object-oriented programming language such as Java is often the developer’s choice for implementing such applications, due to its quick development cycle and rich suite of libraries and frameworks. While the use of such languages makes programming easier, their automated memory management comes at a cost. When the managed runtime meets large volumes of input data, memory bloat is significantly magnified and becomes a scalability-prohibiting bottleneck. This article first studies, analytically and empirically, the impact of bloat on the performance and scalability of large-scale, real-world data-intensive systems. To combat bloat, we design a novel compiler framework, called Facade, that can generate highly efficient data manipulation code by automatically transforming the data path of an existing data-intensive application. The key treatment is that in the generated code, the number of runtime heap objects created for data classes in each thread is (almost) statically bounded, leading to significantly reduced memory management cost and improved scalability. We have implemented Facade and used it to transform seven common applications on three real-world, already well-optimized data processing frameworks: GraphChi, Hyracks, and GPS. Our experimental results are very positive: the generated programs have (1) achieved a 3% to 48% execution time reduction and an up to 88× GC time reduction, (2) consumed up to 50% less memory, and (3) scaled to much larger datasets.
Evaluation of complications and short-term outcome after unilateral or single-session bilateral tibial tuberosity advancement for cranial cruciate rupture in dogs

Summary Objective: To compare the resulting complications, short-term results, and client satisfaction for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture using either unilateral or bilateral single-session tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) in dogs. Methods: Medical records of 68 dogs (101 stifles) undergoing unilateral or bilateral single-session TTA were evaluated. Data gathered included signalment, history, physical examination findings, anaesthesia and surgical time, type of cranial cruciate ligament rupture and meniscal injury, implants, and intra-operative and postoperative complications. A mixed effect logistic regression analysis was performed to determine if complications were grouped by surgical procedure. Linear regression was performed to determine the influence of the variables on the occurrence of complications. Values of p <0.05 were considered significant. Results: No major intra-operative complications occurred. Twenty stifles (20%) developed a complication after surgery (11 minor, 9 major). There was no significant difference in occurrence of complications between dogs undergoing unilateral (n = 8) or bilateral single-session (n = 12) TTA (p = 0.69). The only risk factor found to be associated with complication occurrence was age. Clinical significance: This is the first report evaluating the use of bilateral simultaneous TTA. There was no significant difference in complication rates between unilateral and bilateral single-session TTA. Additional evaluation is needed to fully determine the extent of complications and long-term outcome of bilateral single-session TTA.
Th1/Th2 immune responses and oxidative stress in caprine flea allergy dermatitis

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the common, often neglected skin disease of goats caused mainly by Ctenocephalides felis. This study aimed to evaluate the immuno‐oxidative pathobiology of FAD in goats. Twelve goats from the same herd were divided into two groups of six animals each. The group I (FAD) included animals with natural flea infestation and severe dermatitis lesions. The group II (Healthy control) animals were free from any parasitic infestation. To assess the pathological changes, the markers of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and total antioxidant capacity), and immune status (Tumour necrosis factor alpha, Interleukin 10, Transforming growth factor beta 1 and Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio) were evaluated from the blood and the serum samples. Remarkable oxidative stress and severe inflammatory response with Th2 cytokine dominance were observed in flea infested animals. Highly antigenic agents of fleas, either secretory or excretory or structural, induced severe inflammatory responses and significant oxidative stress in caprine FAD. Massive release of cytokines may be responsible for severe skin inflammation and lesions in FAD in contrast to other Th2 dominant ectoparasitic skin conditions of goats’.
Effect of Test Circumstances on Compressive Strength of Porous Calcium Phosphate Ceramics for Establishment of Standard Measurement Condition

In order to establish a reasonable biomimetic condition for compressive strength of bioactive ceramics, the compressive strengths of several commercial bioactive ceramics were measured under various conditions. All specimens except for one of Japanese ceramics, specimen A, showed no significant differences among the conditions, but showed a tendency of decreasing the compressive strength more than 10% in comparison to the dry condition that was conventionally described in product brochures. Further, the specimen A indicated a significant decrease of the compressive strength in 24 h soaking conditions. Accordingly, a recommended biomimetic condition would be that specimen would be soaked in PBS after deaeration at 25 Â°C for 24 h and measured in air after brief wiping surface liquid.
Facial biometrie presentation attack detection using temporal texture co-occurrence

Biometrie person recognition systems based on facial images are increasingly used in a wide range of applications. However, the potential for face spoofing attacks remains a significant challenge to the security of such systems and finding better means of detecting such presentation attacks has become a necessity. In this paper, we propose a new spoofing detection method, which is based on temporal changes in texture information. A novel temporal texture descriptor is proposed to characterise the pattern of change in a short video sequence named Temporal Co-occurrence Adjacent Local Binary Pattern (TCoALBP). Experimental results using the CASIA-FA, Replay Attack and MSU-MFSD datasets; the proposed method shows the effectiveness of the proposed technique on these challenging datasets.
Influence of Nanoscale Surface Modifications on the Fatigue Resistance of Medically Relevant Metals

With an increasingly aging population, a significant challenge in implantology is the creation of biomaterials that actively promote and accelerate tissue integration while offering excellent mechanical properties. Engineered surfaces with superimposed micro and nanoscale topographies showed great potential to control and direct biomaterial-host tissue interactions. However, these modified surfaces require a careful assessment to prevent potential adverse effects on the fatigue resistance, a factor which may ultimately cause premature failure of biomedical implants. In this context, the surfaces of two widely used biocompatible metals, namely CP Ti and Ti-6Al-4V, were engineered through simple yet efficient chemical treatments which demonstrated the ability to confer exciting new bioactive capacities. The qualitative and quantitative assessments of the fatigue resistance of polished and treated metals were carried out. Results from this study highlight the importance of mechanical considerations in the development and evaluation of nanoscale surface treatments for metallic biomedical implants.
Application of Filippov method for the analysis of subharmonic instability in dc–dc converters

We propose a method of estimating the fast‐scale stability margin of dc–dc converters based on Filippov's theory—originally developed for mechanical systems with impacts and stick‐slip motion. In this method one calculates the state transition matrix over a complete clock cycle, and the eigenvalues of this matrix indicate the stability margin. Important components of this matrix are the state transition matrices across the switching events, called saltation matrices. We applied this method to estimate the stability margins of a few commonly used converter and control schemes. Finally, we show that the form of the saltation matrix suggests new control strategies to increase the stability margin, which we experimentally demonstrate using a voltage‐mode‐controlled buck converter. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Salivary Glucose Oxidase from Caterpillars Mediates the Induction of Rapid and Delayed-Induced Defenses in the Tomato Plant

Caterpillars produce oral secretions that may serve as cues to elicit plant defenses, but in other cases these secretions have been shown to suppress plant defenses. Ongoing work in our laboratory has focused on the salivary secretions of the tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpa zea. In previous studies we have shown that saliva and its principal component glucose oxidase acts as an effector by suppressing defenses in tobacco. In this current study, we report that saliva elicits a burst of jasmonic acid (JA) and the induction of late responding defense genes such as proteinase inhibitor 2 (Pin2). Transcripts encoding early response genes associated with the JA pathway were not affected by saliva. We also observed a delayed response to saliva with increased densities of Type VI glandular trichomes in newly emerged leaves. Proteomic analysis of saliva revealed glucose oxidase (GOX) was the most abundant protein identified and we confirmed that it plays a primary role in the induction of defenses in tomato. These results suggest that the recognition of GOX in tomato may represent a case for effector-triggered immunity. Examination of saliva from other caterpillar species indicates that saliva from the noctuids Spodoptera exigua and Heliothis virescens also induced Pin2 transcripts.