Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protected bicriteria paths in transport networks

Resilient routing in transport networks requires the calculation of active paths (APs) and backup paths (BPs) to be used in the event of failures in the corresponding APs. Often it is not possible to ensure full end-to-end protection. Hence an AP is only an admissible solution if a BP can be calculated such that it shares a minimal number of common nodes with the AP. In the absence of node disjoint path pairs, the existence of parallel edges has to be taken into consideration, because parallel edges could ensure link protection between two adjacent nodes. The potential advantages of using multicriteria models in various routing contexts has been pointed out by several authors. In this paper we present a bicriteria optimization model for calculating APs with maximally disjoint BPs. A network performance study using a real transport network, enabling a comparison of the model results with those of the associated single criterion models, is carried out. The two considered metrics are hop count and load cost. Having calculated an AP, the best BP was subsequently obtained (using the same metric). The network was represented using a directed multi-graph, because the existence of parallel arcs between end nodes had to be explicitly addressed and connection requests for services with asymmetrical bandwidth requirements were also considered. A major objective of this work was the improvement of protected path selection, from a network management point of view, where an answer to clients requests for new connections, in transport networks, has to be answered in less than a second.
Prostaglandin E2 downregulates TNF‐α‐induced production of matrix metalloproteinase‐1 in HCS‐2/8 chondrocytes by inhibiting Raf‐1/MEK/ERK cascade through EP4 prostanoid receptor activation

Matrix metalloproteinase‐1 (MMP‐1, collagenase‐1) plays a pivotal role in the process of joint destruction in degenerative joint diseases. We have examined the regulation of MMP‐1 production in human chondrocytic HCS‐2/8 cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). In response to TNF‐α, MMP‐1 is induced and actively released from HCS‐2/8 cells. The induction of MMP‐1 expression correlates with activation of ERK1/2, MEK, and Raf‐1, and is potently prevented by U0126, a selective inhibitor of MEK1/2 activation. In contrast, SB203580, a selective p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) inhibitor, had no effects on TNF‐α‐induced MMP‐1 release. A serine/threonine kinase, Akt was not activated in TNF‐α‐stimulated HCS‐2/8 cells. TNF‐α stimulated the production of PGE2 in addition to MMP‐1 in HCS‐2/8 cells. Exogenously added PGE2 potently inhibited TNF‐α‐induced both MMP‐1 production and activation of ERK1/2. The effects of PGE2 were mimicked by ONO‐AE1‐329, a selective EP4 receptor agonist but not by butaprost, a selective EP2 agonist. In contrast, blockade of endogenously produced PGE2 signaling by ONO‐AE3‐208, a selective EP4 receptor antagonist, enhanced TNF‐α‐induced MMP‐1 production. Furthermore, the suppression of MMP‐1 production by exogenously added PGE2 was reversed by ONO‐AE3‐208. Activation of EP4 receptor resulted in cAMP‐mediated phosphorylation of Raf‐1 on Ser259, a negative regulatory site, and blocked activation of Raf‐1/MEK/ERK cascade. Taken together, these findings indicate that Raf‐1/MEK/ERK signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the production of MMP‐1 in HCS‐2/8 cells in response to TNF‐α, and that the produced PGE2 downregulates the expression of MMP‐1 by blockage of TNF‐α‐induced Raf‐1 activation through EP4‐PGE2 receptor activation. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 783–793, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recurrent plot and quantification of leakage current for monitoring the insulator surface state under non-uniform desertic pollution

This work is devoted to study the influence of the increasing of the width of the polluted band on insulators used in desert regions, by measuring the leakage current through the insulators surface. The Recurrent Plot technique (RP) is used to analyze the leakage current (LC) signal for monitoring the insulators surface state. This technique is applied directly on the leakage current waveforms, and the high frequency components are extracted from the leakage current signal using the wavelet transform technique. We also used the Recurrent Quantification Analysis (RQA) technique to quantify the RP characteristics of the LC signal and high frequency components, by computing the Recurrence Rate (RR), the Determinism (DET) and the Laminarity (LAM).
Double voltage step-up photovoltaic microinverter

In conventional photovoltaic microinverters configuration, a single PV module is connected to the grid through two converter stages: a step-up dc-dc stage and a step-down dc-ac stage. In the first stage, a high frequency transformer is generally used to achieve the high step-up voltage ratio conversion to a voltage above the grid peak value, reducing the converter efficiency while increasing its size. More recently single-stage step-up dc-ac configurations have been proposed to overcome these problems. However, they increase control complexity, and efficiency remains an issue due to the high step-up ratio required and being a single stage. Therefore, a two-stage configuration consisting of two consecutive step-up converters is proposed in this paper. With this scheme, it is possible to distribute the elevation effort to improve the global efficiency of the PV microinverter. The proposed topology merges a traditional boost dc-dc converter for the first stage, like in the conventional configuration, but operating with a below-grid-peak-voltage dc-link voltage. A step-up inverter is used for the second stage; it is composed of two boost converters connected in differential mode (dual boost inverter). Simulation results are provided to validate the proposed configuration.
In vivo 1H‐MRS hepatic lipid profiling in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An animal study at 9.4 T

The applicability of the in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy hepatic lipid profiling (MR‐HLP) technique in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was investigated. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the relative fractions of diunsaturated (fdi), monounsaturated (fmono), and saturated (fsat) fatty acids as well as total hepatic lipid content were estimated in the livers of 8 control and 23 CCl4‐treated rats at 9.4 T. The mean steatosis, necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis scores of the treated group were all significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01). There was a strong correlation between the histopathologic parameters and the MR‐HLP parameters (r = 0.775, P < 0.01) where both steatosis and fibrosis are positively correlated with fmono and negatively correlated with fdi. Both necrosis and inflammation, however, were not correlated with any of the MR‐HLP parameters. Hepatic lipid composition appears to be changed in association with the severity of steatosis and fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and these changes can be depicted in vivo by using the MR‐HLP method at 9.4 T. Thus, while it may not likely be that MR‐HLP helps differentiate between steatohepatitis in its early stages and simple steatosis, these findings altogether are in support of potential applicability of in vivo MR‐HLP at high field in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Magn Reson Med 70:620–629, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enantiomeric differentiation of oxygenated p‐menthane derivatives by 13C NMR using Yb(hfc)3

The 13C NMR behaviour of 21 p‐menthanic terpene bearing an oxygenated function (alcohol, ketone, acetate) was examined in the presence of a chiral lanthanide shift reagent (Yb(hfc)3). For each monocyclic compound, we measured the lanthanide‐induced shift (LIS) on the signals of the carbons and the splitting of signals allowing the enantiomeric differentiation. Some general features were found about their LIS behaviour: experimental data establishing distinct patterns for carvomenthone‐like compounds and menthone‐like compounds. The enantiomeric splitting was observed for the majority of signals in the spectrum of each compound. In the case of alcohols and acetates, the influence of the relative stereochemistry (cis vs trans) of isopropyl(ene) and the binding function was discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two populations of glutamatergic axons in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus defined by the vesicular glutamate transporters 1 and 2

Most glutamatergic neurons in the brain express one of two vesicular glutamate transporters, vGlut1 or vGlut2. Cortical glutamatergic neurons highly express vGlut1, whereas vGlut2 predominates in subcortical areas. In this study immunohistochemical detection of vGlut1 or vGlut2 was used in combination with tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) to characterize glutamatergic innervation of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of the rat. Immunofluorescence labeling of both vGlut1 and vGlut2 was punctate and homogenously distributed throughout the DRN. Puncta labeled for vGlut2 appeared more numerous then those labeled for vGlut1. Ultrastructural analysis revealed axon terminals containing vGlut1 and vGlut2 formed asymmetric‐type synapses 80% and 95% of the time, respectively. Postsynaptic targets of vGlut1‐ and vGlut2‐containing axons differed in morphology. vGlut1‐labeled axon terminals synapsed predominantly on small‐caliber (distal) dendrites (42%, 46/110) or dendritic spines (46%, 50/110). In contrast, vGlut2‐containing axons synapsed on larger caliber (proximal) dendritic shafts (> 0.5 µm diameter; 48%, 78/161). A fraction of both vGlut1‐ or vGlut2‐labeled axons synapsed onto TPH‐containing dendrites (14% and 34%, respectively). These observations reveal that different populations of glutamate‐containing axons innervate selective dendritic domains of serotonergic and non‐serotonergic neurons, suggesting they play different functional roles in modulating excitation within the DRN.
The Meaning of Tacit Knowledge

Tacit knowledge definitions tend to be extremely varied. Some argue that tacit knowledge is precisely that. Others feel that only time and effort prevent all tacit knowledge from eventually becoming articulated. For the purposes of our research “tacit knowledge”, in practice at least, encompasses a medium ground, being comprised of articulable and inarticulable subsets. Along the lines of Weber (1997), we have formalised a meaning for this “tacit knowledge” and for comparison have completed a content analysis of the literature to determine what other researchers understand “tacit knowledge” to mean.
The effect of date fibre supplemented with an exogenous enzyme on the performance and meat quality of broiler chickens

1. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of date fibre as a partial replacement of maize as a source of energy for growing broiler chicken. In experiment 1, date fibre was given alone to determine apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids and crude fibre. 2. Date fibre had lower AME content (8·7 vs 13·6 MJ/kg) and apparent ileal digestibility coefficients for dry matter (0·35 vs 0·83), crude fibre (0·20 vs 0·54) and amino acids. 3. Based on the results of experiment 1, a growth study was conducted to test the effect of exogenous enzymes on the nutritive value of date fibre (experiment 2). 4. Three date fibre contents (5, 10 and 15%) with and without enzyme supplementation were evaluated. Daily feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured. At the end of experiment 2, 160 birds were randomly selected and slaughtered to evaluate carcase and meat quality traits as well as measuring ileal viscosity. 5. Substitution of maize by 10 and 15% date fibre significantly depressed AME. Enzyme supplementation did not improve crude fibre digestibility. The inclusion of date fibre in the diets except at 5% decreased average daily gains, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. 6. Addition of date fibre caused a significant increase in the weights of total digestive tract, pancreas and caecum. Addition of date fibre or the exogenous enzyme had no significant effect on carcase or meat quality characteristics. 7. Date fibre increased ileal digesta viscosity compared to the control. Addition of the exogenous enzyme decreased the viscosity of the basal diets but had no effect on the date fibre diets. 8. This study indicated that date fibre can be included at levels of 5% in broiler diets without affecting performance.
Oxygen detoxification in the strict anaerobic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus: superoxide scavenging by Neelaredoxin

Archaeoglobus fulgidus is a hyperthermophilic sulphate‐reducing archaeon. It has an optimum growth temperature of 83°C and is described as a strict anaerobe. Its genome lacks any homologue of canonical superoxide (O2·−) dismutases. In this work, we show that neelaredoxin (Nlr) is the main O2·− scavenger in A. fulgidus, by studying both the wild‐type and recombinant proteins. Nlr is a 125‐amino‐acid blue‐coloured protein containing a single iron atom/molecule, which in the oxidized state is high spin ferric. This iron centre has a reduction potential of +230 mV at pH 7.0. Nitroblue tetrazolium‐stained gel assays of cell‐soluble extracts show that Nlr is the main protein from A. fulgidus which is reactive towards O2·−. Furthermore, it is shown that Nlr is able to both reduce and dismutate O2·−, thus having a bifunctional reactivity towards O2·−. Kinetic and spectroscopic studies indicate that Nlr's superoxide reductase activity may allow the cell to eliminate O2·− quickly in a NAD(P)H‐dependent pathway. On the other hand, Nlr's superoxide dismutation activity will allow the cell to detoxify O2·− independently of the cell redox status. Its superoxide dismutase activity was estimated to be 59 U mg−1 by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay at 25°C. Pulse radiolysis studies with the isolated and reduced Nlr proved unambiguously that it has superoxide dismutase activity; at pH 7.1 and 83°C, the rate constant is 5 × 106 M−1 s−1. Besides the superoxide dismutase activity, soluble cell extracts of A. fulgidus also exhibit catalase and NAD(P)H/oxygen oxidoreductase activities. By putting these findings together with the entire genomic data available, a possible oxygen detoxification mechanism in A. fulgidus is discussed.
An Introduction to Large Deviations for Communication Networks

This paper is an introduction to some large deviations techniques that have been used for analyzing models of communication networks. Starting from the beginning (sequences of i.i.d. random variables), it progresses to some Markov processes in discrete or continuous time. It illustrates the meaning of most theorems by applying them to a common example. Then the AMS model of buffering in ATM is analyzed in a variety of ways. Finally, a few other common models are discussed. >
Mechanistic Considerations For Formaldehyde-Induced Bronchoconstriction Involving S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase

Inhalation of formaldehyde vapor has long been suspected of producing airway pathophysiology such as asthma and hyperresponsivity, presumably via irritant mechanisms. Recent studies on asthma and airway biology implicate changes in nitric oxide (NO) disposition in the adverse effects of formaldehyde, principally because enzymatic reduction of the endogenous bronchodilator S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is dependent upon GSNO reductase (formally designated as alcohol dehydrogenase-3, ADH3), which also serves as the primary enzyme for cellular detoxification of formaldehyde. Considering recent evidence that regulation of bronchodilators like GSNO might play a more important role in asthma than inflammation per se, formaldehyde also needs to be considered as influencing ADH3-mediated GSNO catabolism. This is due to changes in ADH3 cofactors and thiol redox state among several potential mechanisms. Data suggest that deregulation of GSNO turnover provides a plausible, enzymatically based mechanism by which formaldehyde might exacerbate asthma and induce bronchoconstriction.
Dynamic Macro-Based Heuristic Planning through Action Relationship Analysis

The success of heuristic search in AI planning largely depends on the design of the heuristic. On the other hand, previous experience contains potential domain information that can assist the planning process. In this context, we have studied dynamic macro-based heuristic planning through action relationship analysis. We present an approach for analyzing the action relationship and design an algorithm that learns macros in solved cases. We then propose a dynamic macro-based heuristic that appropriately reuses the macros rather than immediately assigning them to domains. The above ideas are incorporated into a working planning system called Dynamic Macro-based Fast Forward planner. Finally, we evaluate our method in a series of experiments. Our method effectively optimizes planning since it reduces the result length by an average of 10% relative to the FF, in a time-economic manner. The efficiency is especially improved when invoking an action consumes time. key words: AI planning, heuristic planning, macro, action relationship, dynamic heuristic
Computational geometry for the determination of biomolecular structures

Structural biology has allowed us expand our knowledge of living organisms. It is defined as the investigation of the structure and function of biological systems at the molecular level. Studying a biomolecule's structure offers insight into its geometry, as angles and distances between the biomolecule's atoms are measured in order to determine the biomolecular structure. The values of these geometrical parameters may be obtained from biophysical techniques, such as X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. One of the most used methods to calculate protein structures from geometric restraints is simulated annealing. This method does not guarantee an exhaustive sampling of protein conformational space, which is a shortcoming as one protein may adopt multiple functional conformations, and it is important to determine them exhaustively. In this PhD project, the efficiency of a new method - derived from operations research and computational geometry - is studied in order to answer this question: How does this method explore the conformational spaces of small proteins? This method - implemented within the iBPprot software framework - treats protein structure determination as a distance geometry problem, which the interval branch-and-prune algorithm tries to solve by the full exploration of its solutions space. The results obtained by iBPprot on a set of test proteins, with sizes ranging from 24 to 120 residues and with known structures, are analyzed here. Using short-range exact distance restraints, it was possible to rebuild the structure of all protein targets, and for many of them it was possible to exhaustively explore their conformational spaces. In practice, it is not always possible to obtain exact distance restraints from experiments. Therefore, this method was then tested with interval data restraints. In these cases, iBPprot permitted the sampling of the positions of more than 70% of the atoms constituting the protein backbone for most of the targets. Furthermore, conformations whose r.m.s. deviations closer than 6 Angstrom to the target ones were obtained during the conformational space exploration. The quality of the generated structures was satisfactory with respect to Ramachandran plots, but needs improvement because of the presence of steric clashes in some conformers. The runtime for most performed calculations was competitive with existing structure determination method.
Critical Role of T Cell-Dependent Serum Antibody, but Not the Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue, for Surviving Acute Mucosal Infection with Citrobacter rodentium, an Attaching and Effacing Pathogen 1

Citrobacter rodentium uses virulence factors similar to the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to produce attaching and effacing lesions in the distal colon of mice. We used this infection model to determine components of adaptive immunity needed to survive infection. During acute infection, wild-type mice develop breaks across infected epithelial surfaces but resolve infection. Surprisingly, mice markedly deficient in mucosal lymphocyte populations from β7 integrin deficiency resolve infection, as do CD8α−/− or TCR-δ−/− mice. In contrast, CD4−/− or TCR-β−/− mice develop polymicrobial sepsis and end-organ damage, and succumb during acute infection, despite epithelial damage similar to wild-type mice. B cell-deficient (MuMT−/−) or B and T cell-deficient (recombinase-activating gene 2−/−) mice develop severe pathology in colon and internal organs, and deteriorate rapidly during acute infection. Surviving mice develop robust Citrobacter-specific serum IgM responses during acute infection, whereas mice that succumb do not. However, CD4−/− mice receiving serum Igs from infected wild-type mice survive and clear the infection. Our data show that survival of apparently self-limited and luminal mucosal infections requires a systemic T cell-dependent Ab response against bacteria that enter through damaged mucosa. These findings have implications for understanding host defense against mucosal infections, including the pathogenesis of these diseases in immunocompromised populations.
Metabolic effects of discontinuing growth hormone treatment

AIMS To evaluate the effects of discontinuing growth hormone (GH) treatment on energy expenditure and body composition, which might help predict those most likely to benefit from early reintroduction of GH treatment in young adult life. METHODS Body composition was calculated from skinfold thicknesses and dual energyx ray absorptometry (DXA). Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and whole body bone mineral content (BMC) were also measured. Measurements were made before stopping treatment, at discontinuation of GH treatment, and two weeks, six months, and one year later in 11 adolescents with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and five adolescents without GHD who were treated with GH. Measurements were compared with 10 healthy controls, in whom measurements were repeated one year later. RESULTS During the nine months before discontinuation of GH there were no changes in body composition, RMR, or BMC of patients with GHD, nor differences when compared with controls. RMR was reduced by 11.3 kJ/kg fat free mass two weeks after stopping GH in GHD patients and remained suppressed thereafter compared with controls. Percentage body fat increased by 4.3%/year in patients with GHD after discontinuing GH, whereas no changes were noted in control or non-GHD patients at one year. The patients experiencing the greatest reductions in RMR/kg fat free mass at six months showed the largest increases in body fat at one year. No change in BMC was noted in patients one year after stopping treatment. CONCLUSION Important metabolic changes occur early after discontinuing GH treatment. In patients whose growth is complete, these changes might be used to predict those most likely to benefit from continuation of GH treatment into adult life.
Efficient comparison of multipath routing protocols in WSN

Recent development in wireless sensor application such as surveillance, traffic monitoring and storage of potential relevant from network cameras are designed to intimate the real world. For these applications strict requirements of fast, reliable protocol to meet the constraints such as End-to-End delay, maximum packet delivery ratio, goodput. These needs accelerated the emerging of new routing protocols for WSN. Routing protocols are responsible for maintain route, route discovery in the network. And also has responsibility of reliable communication between the multi-hop sensor nodes that may have limited transmission range. In this paper we have surveyed the routing protocols of WSN by splitting the criteria as Multi-path routing, multiple disjoint path routing and single path routing compare the strength and limitations.