Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Binding of Subdomains 1/2 of PfEMP1-DBL1α to Heparan Sulfate or Heparin Mediates Plasmodium falciparum Rosetting

The capacity of Plasmodium falciparum parasitized erythrocytes (pRBC) to adhere to the endothelial lining in the microvasculature and to red blood cells (RBC) is associated with the virulence of the parasite, the pathogenesis and development of severe malaria. Rosetting, the binding of uninfected RBC to pRBC, is frequently observed in individuals with severe malaria and is mediated by the N-terminal NTS-DBL1α domain of the adhesin Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) expressed at the surface of the pRBC. Heparan sulfate has been suggested to be an important receptor for the NTS-DBL1α variant IT4var60 expressed by the parasite FCR3S1.2. Here, we have determined the binding site of NTS-DBL1α (IT4var60) to the RBC and heparin using a set of recombinant, mutated proteins expressed in and purified from E. coli. All the variants were studied for their ability to bind to RBC, their capacities to disrupt FCR3S1.2 rosettes, their affinities for heparin and their binding to rosette-disruptive mAbs. Our results suggest that NTS-DBL1α mediates binding to RBC through a limited number of basic amino acid residues localized on the surface of subdomains 1 (SD1) and 2 (SD2). The SD2-binding site is localized in close proximity to one of two previously identified binding sites in the rosetting PfEMP1 of the parasite PaloAlto-varO. The binding site in SD2 of NTS-DBL1α could represent a template for the development of anti-rosetting drugs.
Differential alterations in cardiac adrenergic signaling in chronic hypoxia or norepinephrine infusion.

Norepinephrine (NE)-induced desensitization of the adrenergic receptor pathway may mimic the effects of hypoxia on cardiac adrenoceptors. The mechanisms involved in this desensitization were evaluated in male Wistar rats kept in a hypobaric chamber (380 Torr) and in rats infused with NE (0.3 mg. kg(-1). h(-1)) for 21 days. Because NE treatment resulted in left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, whereas hypoxia resulted in right (RV) hypertrophy, the selective hypertrophic response of hypoxia and NE was also evaluated. In hypoxia, alpha(1)-adrenergic receptors (AR) density increased by 35%, only in the LV. In NE, alpha(1)-AR density decreased by 43% in the RV. Both hypoxia and NE decreased beta-AR density. No difference was found in receptor apparent affinity. Stimulated maximal activity of adenylate cyclase decreased in both ventricles with hypoxia (LV, 41%; RV, 36%) but only in LV with NE infusion (42%). The functional activities of G(i) and G(s) proteins in cardiac membranes were assessed by incubation with pertussis toxin (PT) and cholera toxin (CT). PT had an important effect in abolishing the decrease in isoproterenol-induced stimulation of adenylate cyclase in hypoxia; however, pretreatment of the NE ventricle cells with PT failed to restore this stimulation. Although CT attenuates the basal activity of adenylate cyclase in the RV and the isoproterenol-stimulated activity in the LV, pretreatment of NE or hypoxic cardiac membranes with CT has a less clear effect on the adenylate cyclase pathway. The present study has demonstrated that 1) NE does not mimic the effects of hypoxia at the cellular level, i.e., hypoxia has specific effects on cardiac adrenergic signaling, and 2) changes in alpha- and beta-adrenergic pathways are chamber specific and may depend on the type of stimulation (hypoxia or adrenergic).
The influence of coach turnover on student-athletes' affective states and team dynamics: An exploratory study in collegiate sports

Coach turnover is frequent, especially in collegiate sports in the United States. To date, however, there is limited research on how coach turnover might affect student-athletes. Accordingly, we aimed to qualitatively explore how coach turnover might influence student-athletes’ psychosocial states and team dynamics in collegiate sports. Eleven athletic teams at a Midwestern Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association institution having undergone coach turnover during the past four years participated in the study. Four coaches and 21 student-athletes representing both individual and team sports, as well as two administrative staff members, participated in semi-structured interviews (coaches and administrators) and focus groups (student-athletes). Inductive data analysis revealed four first level themes: coach style and background, athlete affective states, team dynamics, and program culture. Our analysis suggested that, depending on their gender and coaching style, coaches might have a positive or negative impact on athletes’ affective states (e.g. positive and negative affect), team dynamics (e.g. cohesion; athlete leadership), and the program culture. Thus, practitioners might facilitate the positive impact of coaching turnover by assessing whether the new coach is a ‘good fit’ at the individual (micro), team (meso), and environmental (macro) level of analysis.
LOCUS a network transparent, high reliability distributed system

LOCUS is a distributed operating system that provides a very high degree of network transparency while at the same time supporting high performance and automatic replication of storage. By network transparency we mean that at the system call interface there is no need to mention anything network related. Knowledge of the network and code to interact with foreign sites is below this interface and is thus hidden from both users and programs under normal conditions. LOCUS is application code compatible with Unix2, and performance compares favorably with standard, single system Unix. LOCUS runs on a high bandwidth, low delay local network. It is designed to permit both a significant degree of local autonomy for each site in the network while still providing a network-wide, location independent name structure. Atomic file operations and extensive synchronization are supported. Small, slow sites without local mass store can coexist in the same network with much larger and more powerful machines without larger machines being slowed down through forced interaction with slower ones. Graceful operation during network topology changes is supported.
SETH-based Lower Bounds for Subset Sum and Bicriteria Path

Subset Sumand k-SAT are two of the most extensively studied problems in computer science, and conjectures about their hardness are among the cornerstones of fine-grained complexity. An important open problem in this area is to base the hardness of one of these problems on the other. Our main result is a tight reduction from k-SAT to Subset Sum on dense instances, proving that Bellman’s 1962 pseudo-polynomial O*(T)-time algorithm for Subset Sum on n numbers and target T cannot be improved to time T1-ε · 2o(n) for any ε > 0, unless the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis (SETH) fails. As a corollary, we prove a “Direct-OR” theorem for Subset Sum under SETH, offering a new tool for proving conditional lower bounds: It is now possible to assume that deciding whether one out of N given instances of Subset Sum is a YES instance requires time (N T)1-o(1). As an application of this corollary, we prove a tight SETH-based lower bound for the classical Bicriteria s,t-Path problem, which is extensively studied in Operations Research. We separate its complexity from that of Subset Sum: On graphs with m edges and edge lengths bounded by L, we show that the O(Lm) pseudo-polynomial time algorithm by Joksch from 1966 cannot be improved to Õ(L + m), in contrast to a recent improvement for Subset Sum (Bringmann, SODA 2017).
Energy neutral 32-channels embedded readout system for IoT-ready fitness equipments

We present a low-cost, IoT ready, embedded system with energy neutral capability for fitness applications, where performance and flexibility are required but often not affordable. The proposed system was designed to enable precise monitoring of people progresses while working out in gymnasium. The prototype system consists of a sensing board developed on thin-film substrate that hosts a matrix of 32 force sensors and a 32-channel acquisition board powered by a microcontroller board with an embedded Wi-Fi interface on the same SoC. It allows to realize haptic interfaces that can be shaped and adapted to fitness equipments and stream workout statistics over secure Wi-Fi connections. The low-power oriented design allows to completely sustaine its operation by harvesting energy from the very same machinery.
MATH 168 : FINAL PROJECT

Both systems are public key systems, meaning that there is a secret key used for decryption and a publicly available key used for encrypting. In theory everyone can send you an encrypted message by using the public key (if they know where to obtain it), but you’re the only one who can decrypt the message. Of course these systems rely on the difficulties in obtaining the private key, when knowing the public key and some mathematical properties of the used cryptosystem.
From a Virtualized Computing Nucleus to a Cloud Computing Universe : A Case for Dynamic Clouds

The current model of the cloud consists of a static set of data centers (or cloud cores) which drive the computation and storage needs of large numbers of applications. We envision a new paradigm where the cloud will be comprised of a large dynamic collection of cloud cores along with a static set of cores, the nucleus, to create a cloud computing universe with a capacity much larger than the nucleus and a cost much smaller than owning the entire infrastructure. This model is rooted by the observation that a tremendous amount of computation exists outside the core that can potentially augment the nucleus’ capacity. An example of this surplus capacity are enterprizes with diurnal trends in usage behavior that join the cloud during predicted periods of usage troughs. We propose to leverage this elastic and dynamic infrastructure to create a unified cloud service. A number of challenges, at all levels of the software stack, need to be addressed for these futuristic architectures to become a reality. We focus on the challenge of an elastic and agile data management infrastructure to deal with the dynamics associated with this novel paradigm.
Situation based task selection mechanism for interactive robot system

This paper presents a situation-based task selection mechanism which enables a life supporting robot system to perform tasks-based on the user's situation. Stimulated by interactions between robot and user, this mechanism constructs and updates the association between the user's situation and tasks so that the robot could adapt to user's behaviors related to the robot's tasks effectively. For the user adaptation, radial basis function networks (RBFN) and associative learning algorithms are used. The proposed mechanism is applied to CRF3 (character robot face 3) system to prove its feasibility and effectiveness.
A Robust Digital Watermarking System Adopting 2D Barcode against Digital Piracy on P2P Network

Summary Due to the proliferation of the P2P network, digital content can be easily shared without any restriction, and P2P network permits a great amount of digital piracy. Though a lot of DRM architectures have been announced, those can not show any effective method against digital piracy on P2P community. To resolve the point issues, a novel robust digital audio watermarking scheme is presented to support insertion of dynamically generated user data into the digital content on the side of digital content provider. Embedding of watermarks is performed using 2D barcode in wavelet domain. The 2D barcode is insensitive to noise and has embedded error correction facility. In the proposed system, digital content consumer's information is signed and encrypted whenever the consumers initiate download of audio data. This information is dynamically encoded into 2D barcode as a watermark to the audio data. From the experimental result, the proposed system shows better inaudibility and robustness comparing with the conventional methods.
Autocomplete 3D sculpting

Digital sculpting is a popular means to create 3D models but remains a challenging task. We propose a 3D sculpting system that assists users, especially novices, in freely creating models with reduced input labor and enhanced output quality. With an interactive sculpting interface, our system silently records and analyzes users' workflows including brush strokes and camera movements, and predicts what they might do in the future. Users can accept, partially accept, or ignore the suggestions and thus retain full control and individual style. They can also explicitly select and clone past workflows over output model regions. Our key idea is to consider how a model is authored via dynamic workflows in addition to what is shaped in static geometry. This allows our method for more accurate analysis of user intentions and more general synthesis of shape structures than prior workflow or geometry methods, such as large overlapping deformations. We evaluate our method via user feedbacks and authored models.
Flexray Communication Controller for Intra-Vehicular Communication and Its Realization in FPGA

Intra-vehicular communication describes an exchange of data within the ECUs (Electronic Control Units) of the vehicle which are involved in vehicular applications. The Flex Ray protocol is a unique time-triggered protocol that provides options for deterministic data that arrives in an expectable time frame. In case of CAN (Controller Area Network) it provides a dynamic event-driven data to handle a large variety of frames. The Flex Ray communication cycle is the fundamental element of the media-access scheme within Flex Ray. The main advantage of flex Ray communication protocol is its constant latency. It also have dual channel for redundancy or faster transfer. This paper describes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based communication controller (CC). This features configurable extensions to provide functionality that is unavailable with standard implementations or off-the-shelf devices. VHDL simulation & FPGA synthesis results of communication controller of flexray controller are tested on Quartus II version 12.1 are presented.
Stabilizing Marker-Based Visual Tracking Using Markers with Scattering Materials and Multiple Cameras

The marker-based method in visual tracking is generally convenient, while the stability of the position and orientation estimation of the camera depends on the illumination conditions because it is processed on the basis of the camera images. However, illumination conditions are often difficult to control in practical environments. Although some solutions have been proposed for illumination changes, the methods based on image processing have unstable estimation due to specular reflection on markers. Thus, effects on illumination were avoided by using markers with scattering materials. In addition, multiple cameras were also used for stabilizing the orientation estimation when the optical axis of the camera is almost perpendicular to the marker surface.
Adaptive additive synthesis using spline based parameter trajectory models

We present the results of an analytical study concerned with the frequency resolution of our adaptive additive synthesis model. First, we derive the relation between the characteristics of the piece wise polynomial parameter trajectories of the model and the frequency resolution that can be obtained by means of adapting the model using a minimum error objective. Second, we present an analytical investigation of the problem to model signal resonances beyond the frequency resolution of the model. Based on the analytical description of the situation a new solution is proposed that leads to high quality additive models of non stationary sounds with dense resonances, i.e. choir or drum sounds, and provides increased robustness with respect to sound transformations.
The cellular growth rate controls overall mRNA turnover, and modulates either transcription or degradation rates of particular gene regulons

We analyzed 80 different genomic experiments, and found a positive correlation between both RNA polymerase II transcription and mRNA degradation with growth rates in yeast. Thus, in spite of the marked variation in mRNA turnover, the total mRNA concentration remained approximately constant. Some genes, however, regulated their mRNA concentration by uncoupling mRNA stability from the transcription rate. Ribosome-related genes modulated their transcription rates to increase mRNA levels under fast growth. In contrast, mitochondria-related and stress-induced genes lowered mRNA levels by reducing mRNA stability or the transcription rate, respectively. We also detected these regulations within the heterogeneity of a wild-type cell population growing in optimal conditions. The transcriptomic analysis of sorted microcolonies confirmed that the growth rate dictates alternative expression programs by modulating transcription and mRNA decay. The regulation of overall mRNA turnover keeps a constant ratio between mRNA decay and the dilution of [mRNA] caused by cellular growth. This regulation minimizes the indiscriminate transmission of mRNAs from mother to daughter cells, and favors the response capacity of the latter to physiological signals and environmental changes. We also conclude that, by uncoupling mRNA synthesis from decay, cells control the mRNA abundance of those gene regulons that characterize fast and slow growth.
Red star-forming and blue passive galaxies in clusters

ABSTRACT We explore the relation between colour (measured from photometry) and speciﬁc star for-mation rate (derived from optical spectra obtained by SDSS DR4) of over 6000 galaxies(M r 6−20.5) in and around (< 3r 200 ) low redshift (z < 0.12) Abell clusters. Even though,as expected, most red sequence galaxies have little or no ongoing star formation, and mostblue galaxies are currently forming stars, there are signiﬁ cant populations of red star-formingand blue passive galaxies. This paper examines various properties of galaxies belonging tothe latter two categories, to understand why they deviate from the norm. These propertiesinclude morphological parameters, internal extinction, spectral features such as EW(H δ ) andthe 4000 A break, and metallicity. Our analysis shows that the blue pa˚ ssive galaxies haveproperties very similar to their star-forming counterparts, except that their large range in H δ equivalent width indicates recent truncation of star formation. The red star-forming galaxiesfall into two broad categories, one of them being massive galaxies in cluster cores dominatedby an old stellar population, but with evidence of current star formation in the core (possiblylinked with AGN). For the remaining red star-forming galaxies it is evident from spectral in-dices, stellar and gas-phase metallicities and mean stellar ages that their colours result fromthe predominanceof a metal-rich stellar population.Only half of the red star-forming galaxieshave extinction values consistent with a signiﬁcant presen ce of dust. The implication of theproperties of these star-forming galaxies on environmental studies, like that of the Butcher-Oemler effect, is discussed.Key words: Galaxies: clusters: general; galaxies: evolution; galaxies: fundamental parame-ters; galaxies: starburst; galaxies: stellar content.
A programming system for future proofing performance critical libraries

We present Tangram, a programming system for writing performance-portable programs. The language enables programmers to write computation and composition codelets, supported by tuning knobs and primitives for expressing data parallelism and work decomposition. The compiler and runtime use a set of techniques such as hierarchical composition, coarsening, data placement, tuning, and runtime selection based on input characteristics and micro-profiling. The resulting performance is competitive with optimized vendor libraries.
Radiation-magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the photoionization of magnetized globules

We present the first three-dimensional radiation-magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the photoionization of a dense, magnetized molecular globule by an external source of ultraviolet radiation. We find that, for the case of a strong ionizing field, significant deviations from the non-magnetic evolution are seen when the initial magnetic field threading the globule has an associated magnetic pressure that is greater than 100 times the gas pressure. In such a strong-field case, the photoevaporating globule will adopt a flattened or `curled up' shape, depending on the initial field orientation, and magnetic confinement of the ionized photoevaporation flow can lead to recombination and subsequent fragmentation during advanced stages of the globule evolution. We find suggestive evidence that such magnetic effects may be important in the formation of bright, bar-like emission features in HII regions. We include simple but realistic fits to heating and cooling rates in the neutral and molecular gas in the vicinity of a high-mass star cluster, and show that the frequently used isothermal approximation can lead to an overestimate of the importance of gravitational instability in the radiatively imploded globule. For globules within 2 pc of a high-mass star cluster, we find that heating by stellar X-rays prevents the molecular gas from cooling below 50 K. Based in part on numerical simulations carried out using the Kan Balam supercomputer, operated by the Departamento de Supercomputo, Direccion General de Servicios de Computo Academico, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. E-mail: w.henney@astrosmo.unam. mx
The palaeoecology of a high status Icelandic farm

Abstract Written sources indicate that the farm of Reykholt in Borgarfjörður, Iceland was built on the land of the original settlement farm, and that it had acquired the primary status in the valley by the early 12th century. Archaeological evidence suggests that the farm together with a church may have been established as early as ca. 1000 AD, which is when Christianity was adopted in Iceland. The site became one of the country's major ecclesiastical centres, growing in wealth and stature, not least during the occupancy of the writer and chieftain Snorri Sturluson in the first half of the 13th century. Long-term excavations included a palaeoenvironmental sampling programme aimed at the investigation of the economy and environment of the farm. This paper focuses upon the results of the palaeoecological analysis and places them into the historical context of the farm.