Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neutrophilic Cell-Free Exudate Induces Antinociception Mediate by the Protein S100A9

Calcium-binding protein S100A9 (MRP-14) induces antinociceptive effect in an experimental model of painful sensibility and participates of antinociception observed during neutrophilic peritonitis induced by glycogen or carrageenan in mice. In this study, the direct antinociceptive role of the protein S100A9 in neutrophilic cell-free exudates obtained of mice injected with glycogen was investigated. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with a glycogen solution, and after 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours, either the pattern of cell migration of the peritoneal exudate or the nociceptive response of animals was evaluated. The glycogen-induced neutrophilic peritonitis evoked antinociception 4 and 8 hours after inoculation of the irritant. Peritoneal cell-free exudates, collected in different times after the irritant injection, were transferred to naive animals which were submitted to the nociceptive test. The transference of exudates also induced antinociceptive effect, and neutralization of S100A9 activity by anti-S100A9 monoclonal antibody totally reverted this response. This effect was not observed when experiments were made 24 or 48 hours after glycogen injection. These results clearly indicate that S100A9 is secreted during glycogen-induced neutrophilic peritonitis, and that this protein is responsible by antinociception observed in the initial phase of inflammatory reaction. Thus, these data reinforce the hypothesis that the calcium-binding protein S100A9 participates of the endogenous control of inflammatory pain.
A Low Area Pipelined FFT Processor for OFDM-Based Systems

In this paper, a memory-based architecture of FFT processor customized for OFDM-based communication systems is presented. For the finite word length effects consideration of the Decimation In Time (DIT) and Decimation In Frequency (DIF) algorithms, DIF algorithm is selected in our design. Complex multiplication is the main design key in the FFT butterfly transform, a simplification of the complex multiplication is performed by an improved algorithm, and then a pipelined butterfly processing element (BPE) is described accordingly. We also adopt an efficient memory access scheme to achieve considerable power consumption and cost reduction. Finally, a VLSI implementation of radix-2 DIF FFT processor is carried out in a 0.13 µm CMOS technology. The estimated area and power consumption of the proposed FFT processor are 2.96 mm2 and 268 mW respectively. The proposed low area pipelined FFT processor is multimode/multistandard and can be suitably applied in WALN, DVB-T, ADSL and the other OFDM-based multicarrier systems.
Restoring Image Burnout in 3 D-Stereoscopic Media using Temporally Consistent Disparity Maps

This paper addresses extreme cases of colour imbalance in stereoscopic media where the intensity range of one view exceeds the valid range causing image burnout in the degraded view. In previous work we proposed to use colour and texture information from the other well-exposed view to interpolate the degraded view. The texture interpolation is done in the gradient domain by solving the Poisson equation and uses the disparity map to guide the interpolation. The disparity map must be temporally consistent along motion trajectories to avoid flickering artefacts in the restored view. In this paper, we enforce the temporal stability of the restoration by applying a motion compensated temporal median filter to the disparity estimates. Our results show that applying the median filter eliminates most of the perceived inconsistencies in the restored
Empirical Studies of Performance Bugs and Performance Analysis Approaches for Software Systems

Developing high quality software is of eminent importance to keep the existing customers satisfied and to remain competitive. One of the most important software quality characteristics is performance, which defines how fast and/or efficiently a software can perform its operation. While several studies have shown that field problems are often due to performance issues instead of feature bugs, prior research typically treats all bugs as similar when studying various aspects of software quality (e.g., predicting the time to fix a bug) or focused on other types of bug (e.g., security bugs). There is little work that studies performance bugs. In this thesis, we perform an empirical study to quantitatively and qualitatively examine performance bugs in the Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome web browser projects in order to find out if performance bugs are really different from other bugs in practice and to understand the rationale behind those differences. In our quantitative study, we find that performance bugs of the Firefox project take longer time to fix, are fixed by more experienced developers, and require changes to more lines of code. We also study performance bugs relative to security bugs, since security bugs have been extensively studied separately in the past. We find that security bugs are re-opened and tossed more often, are fixed and triaged faster,
Comparing Aurora A and Aurora B as molecular targets for growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells

To address the increased need to understand the similarities and differences in targeting Aurora A or Aurora B for the treatment of cancer, we systematically evaluated the relative importance of Aurora A and/or Aurora B as molecular targets using antisense oligonucleotides. It was found that perturbations in Aurora A and Aurora B signaling result in growth arrest and apoptosis preferentially in cancer cells. The biological fingerprints of Aurora A and Aurora B inhibition were compared and contrasted in efforts to identify the superior therapeutic target. Due to the different biological responses, we conclude that each Aurora kinase should be treated as autonomous drug targets, which can be targeted independently or in combination. We observed no advantages to targeting both kinases simultaneously and feel that an Aurora A–targeted therapy may have some beneficial consequences over an Aurora B–targeted therapy, such as mitotic arrest and the rapid induction of apoptosis. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(10):2450–8]
Analytical Modeling of Multilayered Coplanar Waveguides Including Ferromagnetic Thin Films on Semiconductor Substrates

A review of analytical modeling for conventional coplanar waveguides (CPWs) is carried out. Thus, a refined model based on an electrical equivalent circuit with distributed elements is proposed to properly describe the frequency behavior of a multilayered CPW on a semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, inductors based on such CPWs using a ferromagnetic thin film are studied. Realizations are shown based on CMOS technology and RF measurements are presented. The analytical results are in agreement with the experimental data. Discussions include specific losses originating from the use of a high-resistivity silicon substrate and from the gyromagnetic resonance due to ferromagnetic thin films. These two contributions are accurately evaluated.
Argument-Driven Validation of Computer Simulations - A Necessity, Rather than an Option

Research based on computer simulations, especially that conducted through agent-based experimentation, is often criticised for not being a reliable source of information - the simulation software can hide errors or flawed designs that inherently bias results. Consequently, the academic community shows both enthusiasm and lack of trust for such approaches. In order to gain confidence is using engineered systems, domains such as Safety Critical Systems employ structured argumentation techniques as means of explicitly relating claims to evidence - in other words, requirements to deliverables. We argue here that structured argumentation should be used in the development and validation process of simulation-driven research. Making use of the Goal Structuring Notation, we provide insights into how more trustworthy outcomes can be obtained through argumentation-driven validation.
B Lymphocyte Chemotaxis Regulated in Association with Microanatomic Localization, Differentiation State, and B Cell Receptor Engagement

Migration of mature B lymphocytes within secondary lymphoid organs and recirculation between these sites are thought to allow B cells to obtain T cell help, to undergo somatic hypermutation, to differentiate into effector cells, and to home to sites of antibody production. The mechanisms that direct migration of B lymphocytes are unknown, but there is evidence that G protein–coupled receptors, and possibly chemokine receptors, may be involved. Stromal cell– derived factor (SDF)-1α is a CXC chemokine previously characterized as an efficacious chemoattractant for T lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood. Here we show with purified tonsillar B cells that SDF-1α also attracts naive and memory, but not germinal center (GC) B lymphocytes. Furthermore, GC B cells could be converted to respond to SDF-1α by in vitro differentiation into memory B lymphocytes. Conversely, the migratory response in naive and memory B cells was significantly reduced after B cell receptor engagement and CD40 signaling. The receptor for SDF-1, CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), was found to be expressed on responsive as well as unresponsive B cell subsets, but was more rapidly downregulated on responsive cells by ligand. Finally, messenger RNA for SDF-1 was detected by in situ hybridization in a layer of cells surrounding the GC. These findings show that responsiveness to the chemoattractant SDF-1α is regulated during B lymphocyte activation, and correlates with positioning of B lymphocytes within a secondary lymphoid organ.
Activation of Hydrogen Peroxide to Peroxytetradecanoic Acid Is Responsible for Potent Inhibition of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase CD45

Hydrogen peroxide induces oxidation and consequently inactivation of many protein tyrosine phosphatases. It was found that hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of carboxylic acids, was efficiently activated to form even more potent oxidant - peroxy acid. We have found that peroxytetradecanoic acid decreases the enzymatic activity of CD45 phosphatase significantly more than hydrogen peroxide. Our molecular docking computational analysis suggests that peroxytetradecanoic acid has a higher binding affinity to the catalytic center of CD45 than hydrogen peroxide.
Production, oxygen respiration rates, and sinking velocity of copepod fecal pellets: Direct measurements of ballasting by opal and calcite

Production, oxygen uptake, and sinking velocity of copepod fecal pellets egested by Temora longicornis were measured using a nanoflagellate (Rhodomonas sp.), a diatom (Thalassiosira weissflogii), or a coccolithophorid (Emiliania huxleyi) as food sources. Fecal pellet production varied between 0.8 pellets ind−1 h−1 and 3.8 pellets ind−1 h−1 and was significantly higher with T. weissflogii than with the other food sources. Average pellet size varied between 2.2 ×105 µm3 and 10.0 ×105 µm3. Using an oxygen microsensor, small‐scale oxygen fluxes and microbial respiration rates were measured directly with a spatial resolution of 2 mm at the interface of copepod fecal pellets and the surrounding water. Averaged volume‐specific respiration rates were 4.12 fmol O2 µm−3 d−1, 2.86 fmol O2 µm−3 d−1, and 0.73 fmol O2 µm−3 d−1 in pellets produced on Rhodomonas sp. , T. weissflogii, and E. huxleyi, respectively. The average carbon‐specific respiration rate was 0.15 d−1 independent on diet (range: 0.08‐0.21 d−1). Because of ballasting of opal and calcite, sinking velocities were significantly higher for pellets produced on T. weissflogii (322 ± 169 m d−1) and E. huxleyi (200 ± 93 m d−1) than on Rhodomonas sp. (35 ± 29 m d−1). Preservation of carbon was estimated to be approximately 10‐fold higher in fecal pellets produced when T. longicornis was fed E. huxleyi or T. weissflogii rather than Rhodomonas sp. Our study directly demonstrates that ballast increases the sinking rate of freshly‐produced copepod fecal pellets but does not protect them from decomposition.
Optimisation of a Stirred Bioreactor through the Use of a Novel Holographic Correlation Velocimetry Flow Measurement Technique

We describe a method for measuring three dimensional (3D) velocity fields of a fluid at high speed, by combining a correlation-based approach with in-line holography. While this method utilizes tracer particles contained within the flow, our method does not require the holographic reconstruction of 3D images. The direct flow reconstruction approach developed here allows for measurements at seeding densities in excess of the allowable levels for techniques based on image or particle reconstruction, thus making it suited for biological flow measurement, such as the flow in bioreactor. We outline the theory behind our method, which we term Holographic Correlation Velocimetry (HCV), and subsequently apply it to both synthetic and laboratory data. Moreover, because the system is based on in-line holography, it is very efficient with regard to the use of light, as it does not rely on side scattering. This efficiency could be utilized to create a very high quality system at a modest cost. Alternatively, this efficiency makes the system appropriate for high-speed flows and low exposure times, which is essential for imaging dynamic systems.
An Minimum-Energy-Based High-Degree Polynomial Trajectory Planning and Tracking Control for an LCD Glass-handling Robot

A new method of minimum-energy point-to-point (PTP) trajectory planning is proposed for an LCD glass-handing robot, which is driven by a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). The variable structure controller (VSC) is designed to track the trajectories and compensate LuGre model of frictional torque effects. The robot system is described by a mechanical equation and an electrical equation. To generate the minimum-energy trajectory, we employ a high-degree polynomial with suitable end-point conditions. The real-coded genetic algorithm (RGA) is used to search for the coefficients of the polynomial with the fitness function of minimum-energy input. Finally, numerical simulations of the minimum-energy inputs are compared for various degrees of polynomials. It is concluded that the proposed methodology can effectively design the minimum-energy trajectory, and the nonlinear VSC can track the designed trajectories for the robot system driven by a PMSM.
A zinc–lanthanum carboxylate complex, [LaZn 2 L 6 (NO 3 )(bipy) 2 ] (L = α-methylacrylate and bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine)

The crystal structure of the title novel heteronuclear coordination compound, tris(μ-α-methyl­acryl­ato-1:2κ2O:O′)­tris(μ-α-methyl­acryl­ato-2:3κ2O:O′)(2,2′-bipyridine-1κ2N,N′)(2,2′-bipyridine-3κ2N,N′)(nitro-3κ2O,O′)­dizinc(II)­lanthanum(III), [LaZn2(C4H5O2)6(NO3)(C10H8N2)2], is built up of discrete mol­ecules of the trinuclear Zn–La–Zn complex, with the central La atom bridged by three bidentate α-methyl­acryl­ate groups to each of the two Zn atoms. The La atom has a distorted square-antiprismatic coordination, formed by the six O atoms of the bridging methyl­acryl­ate groups and two O atoms of the bidentate chelating nitro group. Each of the two Zn atoms has a trigonal bipyramidal coordination, formed by three O atoms of the bridging methyl­acryl­ates and two N atoms of the chelating 2,2′-bi­pyridine ligands.
Authorship attribution of ancient texts written by ten arabic travelers using a SMO-SVM classifier

In this paper the authors investigate the task of authorship attribution on very old Arabic texts that were written by ten ancient Arabic travelers. Several features such as characters n-grams and word n-grams are used as input of a SMO-SVM (i.e. Sequential Minimal Optimization based Support Vector Machine). Experiments of authorship attribution, on this text database, show interesting results with a classification precision of 80%. This research work, which represents a rare text-mining work on the Arabic language, has revealed several interesting points.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WORKING PAPER SERIES INFLUENCE OF FIRM PERFORMANCE AND GENDER ON CEO COMPENSATION

In this paper we continue the examination of top executive pay by comparing performance, total pay, and the influence of CEO gender. We analyze compensation differences between male and female CEOs using nonparametric analysis. We calculate the potential compensation for each executive using two benchmarks. First, each executive’s performance and compensation are evaluated relative to members of the same gender to produce a same-gender measure of under-compensation. Each executive’s compensation is also benchmarked against the other gender’s potential compensation, producing an other-gender measure of under-compensation. Together, both measures allow an analysis of the gender-specific potential salaries of each executive while controlling for performance. The approach is applied to a sample of male and female executives. The results indicate that women are under-compensated.
Turbo equalization techniques toward robust PDM 16-QAM optical fiber transmission

In this paper, we show numerically and experimentally that turbo equalization (TE) is an efficient technique to mitigate performance degradations stemming from optical fiber propagation effects in both optical fiber dispersion managed and unmanaged coherent detection links. The effectiveness of the proposed solution can be appreciated in both linear and nonlinear regimes for either scenario. We report on a system employing a polarization division multiplexing (PDM) 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format for which we accomplish an increment in tolerance to link input power of up to 3 dB that represents a substantial improvement margin. The best bit error rate (BER) performances will therefore be guaranteed in a larger window, 6 dB, of link input power thanks to the implemented TE scheme. Moreover, our proposed approach is also proven to effectively mitigate interchannel impairments from surrounding amplitude shift-keying interfering channels in a dispersion managed link achieving also in this case an increment in power tolerance of 3 dB. Furthermore, in terms of BER performances, our proposed TE approach guarantees a gain of about a half order of magnitude at the best operational point. As TE can be included in the current coherent detection transceiver technologies and complement other equalization techniques, it has prospects for application in next-generation high-capacity and long-reach optical transmission links.
Renal cell carcinoma: attenuation values on unenhanced CT.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to analyze the attenuation values of pathologically proven renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) on unenhanced CT and to determine the range of values wherein malignancy should be considered. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review was performed of 189 consecutive patients with 193 pathologically proven RCCs 1 cm or larger on unenhanced CT. For each RCC, attenuation values were assessed throughout the tumor by continuous sampling with a 25-100-mm(2) region of interest (ROI), avoiding foci of calcification and peritumoral volume averaging. The lowest and highest ROI attenuation values per lesion were recorded. Each tumor was categorized as either homogeneous or heterogeneous on the basis of visual inspection with soft-tissue window settings. RESULTS The 193 malignant tumors ranged in size from 1.1 to 20.1 cm (mean [± SD], 5.1 ± 3.4 cm). Eighteen RCCs (9.3%) were homogeneous in appearance on unenhanced CT. The minimum and maximum ROI attenuation values obtained by sampling throughout each tumor were 27.5 ± 10.4 HU (range, 4-67 HU) and 39.7 ± 10.6 HU (range, 21-80 HU), respectively. Regional areas of minimum attenuation less than 20 HU and maximum attenuation greater than 70 HU were seen in 24.9% (48/193) and 2.1% (4/193) of RCCs, respectively. However, all 193 RCCs (100%) were predominantly composed of noncalcific regions within 20-70 HU; 72.5% (140/193) fell entirely within this 20-70 HU "danger zone," including all 18 homogeneous lesions. CONCLUSION All proven RCCs in this series contained substantial noncalcified regions that measured 20-70 HU in ROI attenuation on unenhanced CT. Indeterminate renal lesions on unenhanced CT measuring within this 20-70-HU danger zone warrant further workup, whereas lesions that fall entirely outside this range may be considered benign.
Equations of the form $t(x+a)=t(x)$ and $t(x+a)=1-t(x)$ for Thue-Morse sequence

For every $a\geq1$ we give a recursion algorithm of building of set of solutions of equations of the form $t(x+a)=t(x)$ and $t(x+a)=1-t(x),$ where $\{t(n)\}$ is Thue-Morse sequence. We pose an open problem and two conjectures.
Face Super Resolution in Reduced Spaces by Using Shape and Texture

The problem of inferring a missing face image which is at much higher resolution from lower observations is called as Face Super Resolution or Hallucination problem. Mostly the problem is approached in spatial domain by using the aligned textural information of the observation. However the ignorance of the shape information limits the performance of these approaches. In Resolution Aware Fitting (RAF) algorithm it was successfully shown that superior results could be obtained by utilizing both shape and texture components together. Though the RAF algorithm provides more satisfactory results, warping and deformation operations on high resolution image during the optimization could undermine its effectiveness in real world applications. As a remedy in this work we propose a faster alternative by effectively transforming the problem into reduced dimensions and making image warping only at low resolution. Experimentally it was shown that better reconstructions could be obtained faster than the RAF algorithm.
Computing Persistent Homology via Discrete Morse Theory

This report provides theoretical justification for the use of discrete Morse theory for the computation of homology and persistent homology, an overview of the state of the art for the computation of discrete Morse matchings and motivation for an interest in these computations, particularly from the point of view of topological data analysis. Additionally, a new simulated annealing based method for computing discrete Morse matchings is presented. For several problem instances this outperforms the best known heuristics for the task. The computation of homology and persistent homology has become an important task in computational topology, with applications in fields such as topological data analysis, computer vision and materials science. Unfortunately computing homology is currently infeasible for large input complexes. Discrete Morse theory enables the preprocessing of homology computation by reducing the size of the input complexes. This is advantageous from a memory and performance point of view. The key to making efficient use of discrete Morse theory is the quick computation of optimal, or good, discrete Morse matchings.