Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal Orthogonal Tiling of 2-D Iterations

Iteration space tiling is a common strategy used by parallelizing compilers and in performance tuning of parallel codes. We address the problem of determining the tile size that minimizes the total execution time. We restrict our attention to uniform dependency computations with two-dimensional, parallelogram-shaped iteration domain which can be tiled with lines parallel to the domain boundaries. The target architecture is a linear array (or a ring). Our model is developed in two steps. We first abstract each tile by two simple parameters, namely tile periodPtand intertile latencyLt. We formulate and partially resolve the corresponding optimization problem independent of the machine and program. Next, we refine the model with realistic machine and program parameters, yielding a discrete nonlinear optimization problem. We solve this analytically, yielding a closed form solution, which can be used by a compiler before code generation.
High resolution light emitting diode array based on ordered ZnO nanowire/SiGe heterojunction

A high resolution light emitting diode (LED) array based on ordered n-type ZnO nanowire/p-type SiGe heterojunction was proposed. The pixel pitch of the LED array is about 15 μm, corresponding to a pixel density of 3175 dpi. The fabrication and characterizations of the developed LED device were studied in detail. It was shown that the electroluminescence emission of this LED device is mainly in infrared range, which is dominated by the band gap of the SiGe alloy.
Pneumonia in US hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness: BioSense, 2007–2010

SUMMARY We used data from BioSense, a national electronic surveillance system, to describe pneumonia in hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness (ILI). Ninety-five hospitals from 20 states reported ICD-9-CM-coded inpatient final diagnosis data during the study period of September 2007 to February 2010. We compared the characteristics of persons with and without pneumonia among those with ILI-related hospitalizations. BioSense captured 26 987 ILI-related inpatient hospitalizations; 8979 (33%) had a diagnosis of pneumonia. Analysis of trends showed highest counts of pneumonia during the 2007–2008 season and the second 2009 pandemic wave. Pneumonia was more common with increasing age. Microbiology and pharmacy data were available for a subset of patients; 107 (5%) with pneumonia had a bloodstream infection and 17% of patients were prescribed antiviral treatment. Our findings demonstrate the potential utility of electronic healthcare data to track trends in ILI and pneumonia, identify risk factors for disease, identify bacteraemia in patients with pneumonia, and monitor antiviral use.
An approach to deal with processing surges in cloud computing

Processing surges are fast and unexpected changes in the processing demand that commonly occur in cloud computing. The cloud elasticity enables to handle processing surges, increasing and decreasing resources as required. However, a surge can be very fast, so that the overhead to provide more resource is greater than the processing benefit. On the other hand, if the surge is slow and continuous, and the required resources are not provided, the application performance may be impaired or interrupted. This paper presents a machine learning-based approach to detect and classify processing surges, in order to improve the cloud resource management, minimizing losses for the application and cloud provider. We use a real cloud dataset to select features, to construct the classifier and to test our approach, which successfully detected and classified 99% of the processing surges.
Lexicon-Based Sentiment Analysis of Teachers' Evaluation

The end of the course evaluation has become an integral part of education management in almost every academic institution. The existing automated evaluation method primarily employs the Likert scale based quantitative scores provided by students about the delivery of the course and the knowledge of the instructor. The feedback is subsequently used to improve the quality of the teaching and often for the annual appraisal process. In addition to the Likert scale questions, the evaluation form typically contains open-ended questions where students can write general comments/feedback that might not be covered by the fixed questions. The textual feedback, however, is usually provided to teachers and administration and due to its nonquantitative nature is frequently not processed to gain more insight. This paper aims to address this aspect by applying several text analytics methods on students’ feedback. The paper not only presents a sentiment analysis based metric, which is shown to be highly correlated with the aggregated Likert scale scores, but also provides new insight into a teacher’s performance with the help of tag clouds, sentiment score, and other frequency-based filters.
Post‐operative analgesia following total knee replacement: an evaluation of the addition of an obturator nerve block to combined femoral and sciatic nerve block

Background: Femoral and sciatic nerve block may not provide complete post‐operative analgesia following total knee replacement. This study was designed to evaluate whether the addition of an obturator nerve block to combined femoral and sciatic nerve block improves the quality of post‐operative analgesia following primary total knee replacement.
BNIP 3 Expression Is Linked with Hypoxia-Regulated Protein Expression and with Poor Prognosis in Non – Small Cell Lung Cancer

BNIP3 is a proapoptotic protein regulated by hypoxiainducible factor 1. We analyzed BNIP3 expression in 105 tumor samples from early operable, non-small lung cancer and the relationship of expression to hypoxia-inducible factor 1 , other hypoxia-regulated pathways, and prognosis. There was strong cytoplasmic expression in >10% of cells in 40 of 105 cases. BNIP3 expression was associated significantly with high hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (P 0.003), carbonic anhydrase 9 (P 0.04), and was inversely associated with bcl-2 expression (P 0.009). High BNIP3 expression was a major independent factor for overall survival. Thus, high expression of a hypoxia regulated proapoptotic pathway was associated with a selection of an aggressive phenotype in vivo.
Reliable and Improved Nanoscale Stencil Lithography by Membrane Stabilization, Blurring, and Clogging Corrections

The reliable and reproducible fabrication of nanostructures by stencil lithography (SL) faces three main challenges: the stability of the thin stencil membranes with nanoapertures, the blurring of the deposited structures, and the clogging of the nanoapertures in the stencil membranes. This study reports on these three important issues and presents corresponding solutions for the patterning of nanostructures by SL. To increase the stiffness and the stability of the membranes, we have used a hexagonal array of corrugations to globally reinforce the stencil membranes. To correct the blurring, we have used a corrective etching that improves the definition of Al nanostructures. Using this corrective etching, we have fabricated poly-Si nanowires. Finally, we have used metal wet etching to remove the material accumulated on the membranes as a remedy to the clogging.
Eliciting a Counterfactual Sensitivity Parameter

Sensitivity analyses, wherein estimation is performed for each of a range of values of a sensitivity parameter, are of particular use in causal inference, where estimands often are identified because of untestable assumptions. Sensitivity parameters may have counterfactual interpretations, making their elicitation especially challenging. This article describes our experience eliciting a counterfactual sensitivity parameter to be used in the analysis of an ongoing HIV vaccine trial. We include instructions given to 10 subject-matter experts, the chosen ranges of our eight responders and some of their comments, their ranges applied to data from an earlier trial, and a brief discussion of some general issues regarding counterfactual elicitation.
Impatience Mechanism in Saddles' Crossing

Evolutionary inspired heuristics suffer from a premature convergence at local optima and, consequently, a population diversity loss. Thus, breaking out of a local optimum trap and crossing saddles between optima in multimodal and multidimensional search spaces is an important issue in an evolutionary optimization algorithm. In this paper, an impatience mechanism coupled with a phenotypic model of evolution is studied. This mechanism diversifies a population and facilitates escaping from a local optima trap. An impatient population polarizes itself and evolves as a dipole centered around an averaged individual. The operator was modified by supplying it with an extra knowledge about a currently found optimum. In the case, behavior of a population is quite different – a significant diversification is observed but the population is not polarized and evolves as a single cluster. Both mechanisms allow to cross saddle relatively fast for a wide range of parameters of a bimodal multidimensional fitness function.
On MISO Wiretap Channel With Delayed CSIT and Alternating Topology

We study the problem of secure transmission over a Gaussian (2, 1, 1)–multi-input single-output (MISO) wiretap channel under the assumption that links connecting the legitimate receiver and the eavesdropper, may have unequal strengths statistically and delayed channel state information is available at the transmitter (CSIT) from both receivers, respectively. We focus on a two state topological setting of strong v.s. weak links. For this model, we establish bounds on generalized secure degrees of freedom (SDoF). For some special cases, the upper and lower bounds coincide and SDoF is characterized. The encoding scheme sheds light on the usage of both resources, i.e., topology and delayed CSIT, in a non-trivial manner.
Three-Phase Steady-State Models for a Distributed Generator Interfaced via a Current-Controlled Voltage-Source Converter

This paper proposes three-phase steady-state models for a distributed generator (DG) interfaced to a main system via a three-wire current-controlled voltage-source converter. In order to represent the DG in a realistic manner, the three major factors that determine the steady-state phase outputs under unbalanced operating conditions are considered: 1) the power control strategy; 2) output filter; and 3) voltage and current sensor positions. Based on these factors, the DGs are classified into various types. According to the position of the voltage sensor, two equivalent circuit models including an equivalent three-phase current source (ETCS) are proposed. For each type of DG, the output current of the ETCS is formulated as a function of the voltage of the ETCS-connected node, the filter impedances, and the active and reactive power references. To verify the accuracy of the proposed models, the results of the power flow incorporating them are compared with those obtained from the PSCAD simulation using detailed dynamic models of the DG.
GaAs X-band high efficiency (>65%) Broadband (>30%) amplifier MMIC based on the Class B to Class J continuum

This paper demonstrates, for the first time, that the Class B to Class J concept can be successfully extended to X-band operation. X band power amplifiers with >30% bandwidth are required for a wide range of emerging applications where achieving optimal electrical efficiency is a key system driver. High efficiency is ordinarily achieved using circuit elements resonant at harmonic frequencies that are inherently narrowband in operation. The Class B to Class J continuum of modes, exploited here, offers Class B levels of efficiency over a continuum of impedance matching conditions, making wider bandwidth designs more feasible. This paper presents measurements of devices and MMIC designs which were undertaken to systematically use the continuum of modes for the first time at X-band. The 0.5W MMIC fabricated using a GaAs pHEMT process yields above 65% drain efficiency over >30% bandwidth.
On the impact of the pilot density in the channel estimation of MC-CDMA systems

In this paper we investigate the impact of the pilot density (and associated pilot distances for both frequency and time domains) in the performance of the channel estimation for MC-CDMA systems, when using dedicated sub-carriers to transmit pilots with 2-D rectangular patterns. The analytical formulation of the channel estimation MSE for the single-user downlink scenario with a generic channel estimation scheme for a given power efficiency is presented. The attained results go beyond the commonly accepted rule of thumb that suggests that an oversampling factor of two will result in a good trade-off between performance and pilot overhead. The analytical formulation was validated by system simulations. A scenario using the 2-D LS-DFT channel estimation scheme confirmed the analytical result. The lowest channel estimation MSE for a given value of power efficiency is achieved when the pilot density is the one that closely fulfils the 2-D sampling theorem.
Molecular cloning and expression analysis of a zebrafish novel zinc finger protein gene rnf 141

ZNF230 is a novel zinc finger gene cloned by our laboratory. In order to understand the potential functions of this gene in vertebrate development, we cloned the zebrafish orthologue of human ZNF230, named rnf141. The cDNA fragment of rnf141 was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The open reading frame (ORF) encodes a polypeptide of 222 amino acids which shares 75.65% identity with the human ZNF230. RT-PCR analysis in zebrafish embryo and adult tissues revealed that rnf141 transcripts are maternally derived and that rnf141 mRNA has a broad distribution. Zygotic rnf141 message is strongly localized in the central nervous system, as shown by whole-mount in situ hybridization. Knockdown and over expression of rnf141 can induce abnormal phenotypes, including abnormal development of brain, as well as yolk sac and axis extendsion. Marker gene analysis showed that rnf141 may play a role in normal dorsoventral patterning of zebrafish embryos, suggesting that rnf141 may have a broad function during early development of vertebrates.
Autonomic management via dynamic combinations of reusable strategies

Autonomic Management capabilities become increasingly important for attaining functional and quality goals in software systems. Nonetheless, successful Autonomic Management solutions must feature complex, adaptive behaviors, which remain difficult to conceive and control. This paper proposes a generic approach and a reusable framework for the construction of Autonomic Manager applications. The presented solution advocates creating Autonomic Management behaviors via the dynamic and opportunistic integration of individual management strategies. The provided framework proposes a general architecture and a common infrastructure for supporting the presented approach. A sample Autonomic Manager was built using the framework with several management strategies and was successfully tested in an experimental scenario.
Evidence for Specific Polypeptide Chain Folding in Myelin Basic Protein from Reactions Between Fragments of the Protein and Monoclonal Antibodies

Abstract: The specificities of two monoclonal IgM antibodies (18.25 and 21.14.2) evoked in mice with guinea pig myelin basic protein were examined and interpreted in terms of a specific folding of the protein's polypeptide chain. Studies with guinea pig and rabbit myelin basic protein fragments showed that a region encompassing the central Phe‐Phe (87–88) sequence is obligatory, but not sufficient, for reactivity with antibody 18.25. Appreciable reactivity was observed for rabbit peptides 22–95 and 45–151, and lower, but significant, reactivity was shown by peptide 32–95. Only very weak reactivity was seen with peptide 44–95. No reactivity was observed with peptide 1–95 after its lysine residues were acetylated, acetamidinated, orguanidinated. These results have been interpreted in terms of a polypeptide chain folding that creates an epitope within sequence Val‐Val‐His‐Phe‐Phe‐Lys‐Asn‐Ile‐Val (84–92). The specific conformation of this epitope, which includes probably the Lys‐89 and possibly the Asn‐90 and Val‐92 side chains, could be formed by the association of sequence 84–92 with either sequence Ile‐Leu‐Asp‐Ser‐Ile‐Gly‐Arg‐Phe‐Phe (37–45) or with sequence Val‐Leu‐Ser‐Arg‐Phe (108–112) to form p‐sheet structures essentially identical with those that appear to be present in the intact BP [Martenson R. E. J. Neurochem. 46, 1612–1622 (1986)]. The second monoclonal antibody, no. 21.14. 2, reacts only with guinea pig myelin basic protein and fragments containing the species‐restricted sequence Arg‐Ala‐Asp‐Tyr‐Lys‐Ser‐Lys (129–135). The smallest available fragment that displayed full reactivity was peptide 22–164; peptides 45–167, 89–167, and 119–167, on the other hand, were only about one‐fourth as reactive as the intact protein. These results suggest that sequence 22–44 constitutes a region in peptide 22–164 and in the intact protein which stabilizes sequence 129–135 in the appropriate antibody‐binding conformation.
Fuel selection during intense shivering in humans: EMG pattern reflects carbohydrate oxidation

The thermogenic response of humans depends critically on the coordination of muscle fibre recruitment and oxidative fuel metabolism. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether the electromyographic (EMG) pattern of muscle recruitment could provide metabolic information on oxidative fuel selection during high‐intensity shivering. EMG activity (of 8 large muscles) and fuel metabolism were monitored simultaneously in non‐acclimatized adult men during high‐intensity shivering. Even though acute cold exposure elicited similar changes in metabolic rate among subjects, lipid and carbohydrate use was very different. Depending on the subject, the cold‐induced increase in carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation ranged between 2‐ and 8‐fold, with CHO accounting for 33–78% of total heat production , and lipids for 14–60%. This high variability in fuel selection was primarily explained by differences in ‘burst shivering’ rate, indicating that the recruitment of type II fibres plays a key role in orchestrating fuel selection. This study is the first to show that the pattern of muscle recruitment can provide quantitative information on energy metabolism. Future work should focus on the study of shivering bursts that may provide essential clues on what limits human survival in the cold.
Rotavirus NSP4 Induces a Novel Vesicular Compartment Regulated by Calcium and Associated with Viroplasms

ABSTRACT Rotavirus is a major cause of infantile viral gastroenteritis. Rotavirus nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) has pleiotropic properties and functions in viral morphogenesis as well as pathogenesis. Recent reports show that the inhibition of NSP4 expression by small interfering RNAs leads to alteration of the production and distribution of other viral proteins and mRNA synthesis, suggesting that NSP4 also affects virus replication by unknown mechanisms. This report describes studies aimed at correlating the localization of intracellular NSP4 in cells with its functions. To be able to follow the localization of NSP4, we fused the C terminus of full-length NSP4 with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and expressed this fusion protein inducibly in a HEK 293-based cell line to avoid possible cytotoxicity. NSP4-EGFP was initially localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as documented by Endo H-sensitive glycosylation and colocalization with ER marker proteins. Only a small fraction of NSP4-EGFP colocalized with the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) marker ERGIC-53. NSP4-EGFP did not enter the Golgi apparatus, in agreement with the Endo H sensitivity and a previous report that secretion of an NSP4 cleavage product generated in rotavirus-infected cells is not inhibited by brefeldin A. A significant population of expressed NSP4-EGFP was distributed in novel vesicular structures throughout the cytoplasm, not colocalizing with ER, ERGIC, Golgi, endosomal, or lysosomal markers, thus diverging from known biosynthetic pathways. The appearance of vesicular NSP4-EGFP was dependent on intracellular calcium levels, and vesicular NSP4-EGFP colocalized with the autophagosomal marker LC3. In rotavirus-infected cells, NSP4 colocalized with LC3 in cap-like structures associated with viroplasms, the site of nascent viral RNA replication, suggesting a possible new mechanism for the involvement of NSP4 in virus replication.
Long-Distance Interferon Signaling within the Brain Blocks Virus Spread

ABSTRACT Serious permanent neurological or psychiatric dysfunction may result from virus infections in the central nervous system (CNS). Olfactory sensory neurons are in direct contact with the external environment, making them susceptible to infection by viruses that can enter the brain via the olfactory nerve. The rarity of full brain viral infections raises the important question of whether unique immune defense mechanisms protect the brain. Here we show that both RNA (vesicular stomatitis virus [VSV]) and DNA (cytomegalovirus [CMV]) virus inoculations of the nasal mucosa leading to olfactory bulb (OB) infection activate long-distance signaling that upregulates antiviral interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene (ISG) expression in uninfected remote regions of the brain. This signaling mechanism is dependent on IFN-α/β receptors deep within the brain, leading to the activation of a distant antiviral state that prevents infection of the caudal brain. In normal mice, VSV replication is limited to the OB, and these animals typically survive the infection. In contrast, mice lacking the IFN-α/β receptor succumbed to the infection, with VSV spreading throughout the brain. Chemical destruction of the olfactory sensory neurons blocked both virus trafficking into the OB and the IFN response in the caudal brain, indicating a direct signaling within the brain after intranasal infection. Most signaling within the brain occurs across the 20-nm synaptic cleft. The unique long-distance IFN signaling described here occurs across many millimeters within the brain and is critical for survival and normal brain function. IMPORTANCE The olfactory mucosa can serve as a conduit for a number of viruses to enter the brain. Yet infections in the CNS rarely occur. The mechanism responsible for protecting the brain from viruses that successfully invade the OB, the first site of infection subsequent to infection of the nasal mucosa, remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that the protection is mediated by a long-distance interferon signaling, particularly IFN-β released by infected neurons in the OB. Strikingly, in the absence of neurotropic virus infection, ISGs are induced in the posterior regions of the brain, activating an antiviral state and preventing further virus invasion.
Evaluating Security Risks following a Compliance Perspective

One of the great challenges of information security area concerns the development of methods for measuring the degree of risk to which information is subject, consequence of the wide gamma of vulnerabilities and potential attacks. The compliance perspective for risk evaluation methodologies can be characterized as the search for turning a information system more aligned with a given security standard, for example ISO 27002. This paper proposes a security assessment procedure for quantifying the current compliance-level of information systems (IS) according to a control-based standard. It aims at identifying the that should be fully or partially implemented to achieve the maximum return of a given investment (ROI). Basically, to assess compliance, we have investigated different analytical models associated to a set of security attributes and compounds. Lastly, we make use of hypothetic scenarios to evaluate the behaviour of the proposed models through a comparative analysis under selected requirements.