Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model Checking Goal-Oriented Requirements for Self-Adaptive Systems

To deal with the increasing complexity and uncertainty of software systems, novel software engineering models and tools are required to make such systems self-adaptive. As part of ongoing research, we investigate various models, schemes and mechanisms to model and engineer self-adaptation in complex software systems. To this end, we have defined SOTA (State of the Affairs) as a general goal-oriented modeling framework for the analysis and design of self-adaptive systems. In this paper, by transforming the conceptual SOTA model into an operational one, we show how SOTA can be an effective tool to perform an early, goal-level, model checking analysis for adaptive systems. This allows the developers of complex self-adaptive systems to validate the actual correctness of the self-adaptive requirements at an early stage in the software life-cycle. The approach is explored and validated using a case study in the area of e-mobility.
Hybrid digital-analog technique for UWB direction finding

In this letter, we propose an alternative approach for UWB direction finding using hybrid digital-analog technique. The proposed system uses an array of leading-edge pulse detection scheme in analog domain. The detection scheme is realized using tunnel diode with envelope detector and comparator latch, whose output is digital binary signal. The outputs or all array branches are then summed up to form a staircase-shaped waveform, whereby the slope of the waveform indicates the direction of impinging UWB signal. In order to detect the slope and produce the estimation of the direction, an analog differentiator joint with a peak detector is utilized. The proposed system is relatively simple and does not require high sampling rate or high speed DAC
Distinct activities of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins and involvement of the SOCS box in controlling G‐CSF signaling

Granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) induces proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells and controls their differentiation into mature neutrophils. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins STAT3 and STAT5 are activated by G‐CSF and play distinct roles in neutrophil development. Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are induced by STATs and inhibit signaling through various negative‐feedback mechanisms. SOCS proteins can compete with docking of signaling substrates to receptors, interfere with Janus tyrosine kinase activity, and target proteins for proteasomal degradation. The latter process is mediated through the conserved C‐terminal SOCS box. We determined the role of various SOCS proteins in controlling G‐CSF responses and investigated the involvement of the SOCS box therein. We show that SOCS1 and SOCS3, but not CIS and SOCS2, inhibited G‐CSF‐induced STAT activation in human embryo kidney 293 cells. In myeloid 32D cells, SOCS1 and SOCS3 are induced by G‐CSF. However, relative to interleukin‐3‐containing cultures, during G‐CSF‐induced neutrophilic differentiation, SOCS3 expression was further elevated, while SOCS1 levels remained constant. SOCS box deletion mutants of SOCS1 and SOCS3 were severely hampered in their abilities to inhibit STAT activation and to efficiently suppress colony formation by primary myeloid progenitors in response to G‐CSF. These data demonstrate the importance of the SOCS box for the inhibitory effects of SOCS proteins on G‐CSF signaling and show that among the different SOCS family members, SOCS3 is the major negative regulator of G‐CSF responses during neutrophilic differentiation.
Single-Cell Measurements of IgE-Mediated FcεRI Signaling Using an Integrated Microfluidic Platform

Heterogeneity in responses of cells to a stimulus, such as a pathogen or allergen, can potentially play an important role in deciding the fate of the responding cell population and the overall systemic response. Measuring heterogeneous responses requires tools capable of interrogating individual cells. Cell signaling studies commonly do not have single-cell resolution because of the limitations of techniques used such as Westerns, ELISAs, mass spectrometry, and DNA microarrays. Microfluidics devices are increasingly being used to overcome these limitations. Here, we report on a microfluidic platform for cell signaling analysis that combines two orthogonal single-cell measurement technologies: on-chip flow cytometry and optical imaging. The device seamlessly integrates cell culture, stimulation, and preparation with downstream measurements permitting hands-free, automated analysis to minimize experimental variability. The platform was used to interrogate IgE receptor (FcεRI) signaling, which is responsible for triggering allergic reactions, in RBL-2H3 cells. Following on-chip crosslinking of IgE-FcεRI complexes by multivalent antigen, we monitored signaling events including protein phosphorylation, calcium mobilization and the release of inflammatory mediators. The results demonstrate the ability of our platform to produce quantitative measurements on a cell-by-cell basis from just a few hundred cells. Model-based analysis of the Syk phosphorylation data suggests that heterogeneity in Syk phosphorylation can be attributed to protein copy number variations, with the level of Syk phosphorylation being particularly sensitive to the copy number of Lyn.
Cooperative Amplify-and-Forward relaying in cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we consider an underlay cognitive radio network consisting of a primary transmitter (PT), a primary receiver (PR), a secondary transmitter (ST) and a secondary receiver (SR). We propose a two time slot spectrum sharing scheme based on cooperative relay transmission in addition to a practical design of the antenna weights at the ST to achieve high performance at the primary and the secondary networks. To analyze the performance of our proposed scheme, we first derive a closed form expression for the diversity order achieved at the PR and the SR. We then show through simulations that our proposed scheme, compared to conventional systems where no cooperation occurs, results in an improved quality of service at both the primary and the secondary networks, namely, the error rate and the ergodic capacity.
Extraction of regions of interest from face images using cellular analysis

A novel algorithm for extracting the regions of interest (ROI) from face images is presented in this paper. The novelty of the algorithm comes from its multi-resolution cellular analysis coupled with an adaptive thresholding technique incorporating a unique idea of exponential averaging. The complexity of the cellular ROIs reported by the algorithm from the frontal face view as input, is further controllable by the chosen cell size, which is its added advantage. Apart from the actual ROIs representing the eye pair, nostrils, and the mouth area, some regions of non-interest may also creep in while extracting the set of cellular regions from the face image, which are discarded by a simple geometric analysis using a containment tree. The containment tree, which is newly introduced in this paper, captures the underlying relationship of the cellular regions, which, when analyzed, returns the face ROIs in an elegant representation. Since the entire algorithm works purely in the integer domain with primitive operations (comparison, right shift, and addition) only, it runs very fast for both gray-scale and color images. Some experimental results on different facial images demonstrate its speed, robustness, and efficiency.
Assessing Students' Responses toward Computer-Aided Design of Apparel

This study examined the relation of responses from two student groups toward computer-aided design (CAD) for apparel to their computer use, computer experience, or enrollment in an elective CAD course. In the non-CAD group of 46, computer anxiety was significantly correlated with computer use and computer experience as well as future enrollment in the CAD course. In the CAD group of 17, students in the CAD course were significantly less fearful of job elimination and more interested in technical aspects of computers at the end of the course than at the beginning. Data have been applied to the continued course development of computer-aided design especially for apparel-related academic programs. As one outcome, length of instruction has been recommended over a continuous 16-wk. period. Using specific instructional methods to reinforce components from both the affective and cognitive domains of learning has helped to sustain positive responses throughout similar subsequent offerings. Finally, preparation for employment was enhanced as a consequence of acquiring specific technological skills included in the CAD course.
Overexpression of protein kinase C in HT29 colon cancer cells causes growth inhibition and tumor suppression

By using a retrovirus-derived vector system, we generated derivatives of the human colon cancer cell line HT29 that stably overexpress a full-length cDNA encoding the beta 1 isoform of rat protein kinase C (PKC). Two of these cell lines, PKC6 and PKC7, displayed an 11- to 15-fold increase in PKC activity when compared with the C1 control cell line that carries the vector lacking the PKC cDNA insert. Both of the overexpresser cell lines exhibited striking alterations in morphology when exposed to the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Following exposure to TPA, PKC6 and PKC7 cells displayed increased doubling time, decreased saturation density, and loss of anchorage-independent growth in soft agar; but these effects were not seen with the C1 cells. Also, in contrast to the control cells, the PKC-overproducing cells failed to display evidence of differentiation, as measured by alkaline phosphatase activity, when exposed to sodium butyrate. In addition, the PKC-overexpresser cells displayed decreased tumorigenicity in nude mice, even in the absence of treatment with TPA. These results provide the first direct evidence that PKC can inhibit tumor cell growth. Thus, in some tumors, PKC might act as a growth-suppressor gene.
Temporal Analog Retrieval using Transformation over Dual Hierarchical Structures

In recent years, we have witnessed a rapid increase of text con- tent stored in digital archives such as newspaper archives or web archives. Many old documents have been converted to digital form and made accessible online. Due to the passage of time, it is however difficult to effectively perform search within such collections. Users, especially younger ones, may have problems in finding appropriate keywords to perform effective search due to the terminology gap arising between their knowledge and the unfamiliar domain of archival collections. In this paper, we provide a general framework to bridge different domains across-time and, by this, to facilitate search and comparison as if carried in user's familiar domain (i.e., the present). In particular, we propose to find analogical terms across temporal text collections by applying a series of transformation procedures. We develop a cluster-biased transformation technique which makes use of hierarchical cluster structures built on the temporally distributed document collections. Our methods do not need any specially prepared training data and can be applied to diverse collections and time periods. We test the performance of the proposed approaches on the collections separated by both short (e.g., 20 years) and long time gaps (70 years), and we report improvements in range of 18%-27% over short and 56%-92% over long periods when compared to state-of-the-art baselines.
Measured Environmental Influences on Early Reading: Evidence From an Adoption Study

Many studies have examined the relationship between environmental processes and literacy outcomes. However, nearly all of this research has examined biologically related family members living together, thus confounding genetic and environmental influences. The purpose of this study was to address this issue using a sample of 262 adopted children and their families. Children were assessed in their homes on a 90-min battery of reading-related outcome measures. Parents reported on their educational attitudes, book reading practices, levels of involvement in homework, and their children's interest in reading-related activities. Multilevel modeling results suggest that aspects of the family environment were associated with child reading-related outcomes, a finding that cannot be attributed to shared genes between parents and their children.
Sex, gender and money in African teenage conceptions of love in HIV contexts

In much of Africa, teenage sexualities are often understood through the optic of danger, violence and disease without much attention to love within relationship dynamics. There is a strong case to be made for the continued focus on African teenage sexualities within unequal relations of power. However, whilst focusing on the structural factors that expand sexually aggressive masculinities and limit teenage women's sexual agency, the expression of teenage love in the daily battle for power remains neglected. Drawing on an interview study of teenage Africans, aged 16–17 years, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, the paper focuses on the micro-dynamics of love, sex and gender. Teenagers account of love highlights changing discourses and include relationships based on care, negotiation and agency showing potential for equality. Such constructions however sit in tension with teenage women's vulnerability in relation to the sexual economy and money, masculine power and gender hierarchies. Intervention programmes that address teenage sexuality must pay careful attention to how love matters in their conceptualisation of relationships and requires consideration of the social and economic context within which they are located. The challenge is to build on equality, address gender hierarchies and ideologies within relationships which create vulnerability.
A novel adaptive bilateral control scheme using similar closed-loop dynamic characteristics of master/slave manipulators

This article presents a novel adaptive bilateral control scheme for obtaining ideal responses for teleoperation systems with uncertainties. A condition that is equivalent to getting an ideal response in teleoperation has been found to be making the closed-loop dynamics of master and slave manipulators a similar form. An adaptive approach is applied to achieve similarity for the uncertain master and slave manipulators. Using the similar closed-loop dynamic characteristics of master/slave teleoperation systems, excellent position and force tracking performance has been obtained without estimating the impedance of human and environment. The validity of the theoretical results is verified by experiments. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Real time remaining useful life prediction of the electrolytic capacitor

Electrolytic capacitors are the essential electronic component of the power converters. Few methods are implemented for fault diagnosis or prognosis of the electrolytic capacitors. Most of these methods are based on the parameter like equivalent series resistance (ESR), capacitance (C), operating temperature (Tc), DC operating voltage (Vo), output ripple voltage (Vr) or ripple current (Ir). This paper presents a easy, comprehensive method for the remaining useful life (RUL) prediction of the electrolytic capacitor. The proposed method of online RUL prediction of electrolytic capacitor is based on a lifetime model which is implemented using parameters Tc, Vo and Ir of the electrolytic capacitor. This method is simulated using MATLAB-Simulink and also implemented on hardware using dsPIC33FJ64GS406. The experimental setup is composed of switched mode DC-DC buck converter and a data acquisition system (DAS). Simulation results and experimental results are compared to validate the proposed method. The proposed method implies industrial applications due to its simplicity, less hardware requirements and result orientation.
Agile Preference Models Based on Soft Constraints

An accurate model of the user’s preferences is a crucial element of most decision support systems. It is often assumed that users have a well-defined and stable set of preferences that can be elicited through a set of questions. However, recent research has shown that people very often construct their preferences on the fly depending on the available decision options. Thus, their answers to a series of questions before seeing decision options are likely to be inconsistent and often lead to erroneous models. To accurately capture preference expressions as people make them, it is necessary for the preference model to be agile: it should allow decision making with an incomplete preference model, and it should let users add, retract or revise individual preferences easily. We show how constraint satisfaction and in particular soft constraints provide the right formalism to do this, and give examples of its implementation in a travel planning tool.
Software design patterns for enabling auto dynamic difficulty in video games

Auto dynamic difficulty is the technique of automatically changing the level of difficulty of a video game in real time to match player expertise. In this paper, we describe a collection of software design patterns for enabling auto dynamic difficulty in video games. The benefits of a design pattern approach include more reusability and lower risk compared to traditional ad hoc approaches. We implemented these design patterns as a proof-of-concept prototype system using Pac-Man as a test-bed.
Sperm Motility Algorithm for Solving Fractional Programming Problems under Uncertainty

This paper investigated solving Fractional Programming Problems under Uncertainty (FPPU) using Sperm Motility Algorithm. Sperm Motility Algorithm (SMA) is a novel metaheuristic algorithm inspired by fertilization process in human, was proposed for solving optimization problems by Osama and Hezam [1]. The uncertainty in the Fractional Programming Problem (FPP) could be found in the objective function coefficients and/or the coefficients of the constraints. The uncertainty in the coefficients can be characterised by two methods. The first method is fuzzy logic-based alpha-cut analysis in which uncertain parameters are treated as fuzzy numbers leading to Fuzzy Fractional Programming Problems (FFPP). The second is Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) in which parameters are treated as random variables bound to a given probability distribution leading to Probabilistic Fractional Programming Problems (PFPP). The two different methods are used to revise the trustiness in the transformation to the deterministic domain. A comparative study of the obtained result using SMA with genetic algorithm and the two SI algorithms on a selected benchmark examples is carried out. A detailed comparison is induced giving a ranked recommendation for algorithms and methods proper for solving FPPU.
A Brief Measure for the Assessment of Anger and Aggression

A brief, six-item measure was developed for the rapid screening and identification of anger and aggression levels in violence-prone men. Four studies were conducted to examine the reliability and validity of the measure using a clinical data base of 401 men. Analyses indicated a satisfactory degree of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and a significant relationship between the brief measure and Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory total scores. Significantly higher scores were observed for three types of assault samples, including a group of domestic batterers, a group of generally assaultive men, and a mixed assault group, when compared to nonviolent controls. A cutting score for violent versus nonviolent group classification was determined via discriminant analysis. Significant differences observed at post-test between an anger management treatment group and waiting-list control subjects further illustrated the measure's sensitivity to changes in psychological status and provided additional support for its clinical validity and utility.
RETROVIRAL GENE EXPRESSION Overview of the Retroviral Life Cycle

The nuclear export of intron-containing HIV-1 RNA is critically dependent on the activity of Rev, a virally encoded sequence-specific RNA-binding protein. Rev shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and harbors both a nuclear localization signal and a nuclear export signal. These essential peptide motifs have now been shown to function by accessing cellular signal-mediated pathways for nuclear import and nuclear export. HIV-1 Rev therefore represents an excellent system with which to study aspects of transport across the nuclear envelope.
Action Points: A Representation for Low-latency Online Human Action Recognition

Applications of human action recognition in interactive systems such as games require the robust real-time recognition of human actions at low latencies from a stream of observations. The current paradigms of action recognition either treat the pre-segmented sequence as a whole unit to be classified, or classify a range of frames as action, evaluating the performance using a frame-by-frame measure. We argue that both paradigms are limited when addressing latency requirements. Instead, we propose the notion of “action points” to serve as natural temporal anchors of simple human actions. Action points enable latency-aware training and evaluation of online recognition systems. To demonstrate the usefulness of action points we show how two different systems, a Hidden Markov Model and a direct classification approach can be used with action point annotations. We evaluate our approach on two data sets with different input modalities and show that our abstraction of action points is useful in settings where human action recognition has to be performed online and at low latencies.
A Corpus-Based Grammar Tutor for Education in Language and Speech Technology

We describe work in progress on a corpus-based tutoring system for education in traditional and formal grammar. It is mainly intended for language and speech technology students and gives them the opportunity to learn grammar and grammatical analysis from authentic language material. The exercises offered by the system are based on pedagogically adapted versions of formalisms and tools that are likely to be of relevance to the students also later in their professional life. The system will be continuously evaluated in university-level courses, both in order to assess its effectiveness as a learning aid and to provide guidance in its further development.
Periocular Biometrics for Iris Recognition: A Review

: Periocular refers to the facial region in the vicinity of the eye, including eyelids, lashes and eyebrows. While face and irises have been extensively studied, the periocular region has emerged as a promising trait for unconstrained biometrics, following demands for increased robustness of face or iris systems. With surprisingly high discrimination ability, this region can be easily obtained with existing setups for face and iris, and the requirement of user cooperation can be relaxed, thus facilitating the interaction with biometric systems. It is also available over a wide range of distances even when the iris texture cannot be reliably obtained (low resolution) or under partial face occlusion (close distances). Here, we review the state of the art in periocular biometrics research. A number of aspects are described, including: i) existing databases, ii) algorithms for periocular detection and/or segmentation, iii) features employed for recognition, iv) identification of the most discriminative regions of the periocular area, v) comparison with iris and face modalities, and vi) soft-biometrics (gender/ethnicity classification),. This work is expected to provide an insight of the most relevant issues in periocular biometrics, giving a comprehensive coverage of the existing literature and current state of the art. Moreover, we will use different feature extraction techniques such as LBP, PCA, and ICA for pre-processing of periocular biometrics. Comparative Analysis with other competent technologies is also the essential part of this research work.