Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Formylpeptide Receptors Mediate Rapid Neutrophil Mobilization to Accelerate Wound Healing

Wound healing is a multi-phased pathophysiological process requiring chemoattractant receptor-dependent accumulation of myeloid cells in the lesion. Two G protein-coupled formylpeptide receptors Fpr1 and Fpr2 mediate rapid neutrophil infiltration in the liver of Listeria-infected mice by sensing pathogen-derived chemotactic ligands. These receptors also recognize host-derived chemotactic peptides in inflammation and injury. Here we report the capacity of Fprs to promote the healing of sterile skin wound in mice by initiating neutrophil infiltration. We found that in normal miceneutrophils rapidly infiltrated the dermis in the wound before the production of neutrophil-specific chemokines by the injured tissue. In contrast, rapid neutrophil infiltration was markedly reduced with delayed wound closure in mice deficient in both Fprs. In addition, we detected Fpr ligand activity that chemoattracted neutrophils into the wound tissue. Our study thus demonstrates that Fprs are critical for normal healing of the sterile skin wound by mediating the first wave of neutrophil infiltration.
Dense, Fe-rich Ejecta in Supernova Remnants DEM L238 and DEM L249: A New Class of Type Ia Supernova?

We present observations of two LMC supernova remnants (SNRs), DEM L238 and DEM L249, with the Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray satellites. Bright central emission, surrounded by a faint shell, is present in both remnants. The central emission has an entirely thermal spectrum dominated by strong Fe L-shell lines, with the deduced Fe abundance in excess of solar and not consistent with the LMC abundance. This Fe overabundance leads to the conclusion that DEM L238 and DEM L249 are remnants of thermonuclear (Type Ia) explosions. The shell emission originates in gas swept up and heated by the blast wave. A standard Sedov analysis implies about 50 M☉ in both swept-up shells, SNR ages between 10,000 and 15,000 yr, low (≲0.05 cm-3) preshock densities, and subluminous explosions with energies of 3 × 1050 ergs. The central Fe-rich supernova ejecta are close to collisional ionization equilibrium. Their presence is unexpected, because standard Type Ia SNR models predict faint ejecta emission with short ionization ages. Both SNRs belong to a previously unrecognized class of Type Ia SNRs characterized by bright interior emission. Denser than expected ejecta and/or a dense circumstellar medium around the progenitors are required to explain the presence of Fe-rich ejecta in these SNRs. Substantial amounts of circumstellar gas are more likely to be present in explosions of more massive Type Ia progenitors. DEM L238, DEM L249, and similar SNRs could be remnants of "prompt" Type Ia explosions with young (~100 Myr old) progenitors.
A Distributed Framework for Network Coding Based on a Novel State Space Approach

In this paper we present a new framework, for solving a network coding problem, based on control theory. In particular, we show that the proposed framework allows to solve a network coding problem in a distributed and deterministic manner for both cyclic and acyclic graphs when multiple sources and sinks are considered. As the main result we prove that, under proper topological conditions, given a network composed by n nodes, using the proposed approach, a node is able to obtain the messages of all the others nodes without any routing information by exchanging 2 n + 1 messages with its neighbors.
Testing the modified Press-Schechter model against N-body simulations

A modified version of the extended Press–Schechter model for the growth of dark-matter haloes was introduced in two previous papers, with the aim of explaining the mass–density relation shown by haloes in high-resolution cosmological simulations. In this model, major mergers are well separated from accretion, thereby allowing a natural definition of halo formation and destruction. This makes it possible to derive analytic expressions for halo formation and destruction rates, the mass accretion rate and the probability distribution functions of halo formation times and progenitor masses. The stochastic merger histories of haloes can be readily derived and easily incorporated into semi-analytical models of galaxy formation, thus avoiding the usual problems encountered in the construction of Monte Carlo merger trees from the original extended Press–Schechter formalism. Here we show that the predictions of the modified Press–Schechter model are in good agreement with the results of N-body simulations for several scale-free cosmologies.
Perceptions of the Influence of Teacher of the Year Awards upon Teachers' Personal, School, and Professional Morale

The purpose of this study was to investigate k-12 teachers’ perceptions of the influence of Teacher of the Year (TOTY) awards upon teachers’ personal, school, and professional morale, as defined by Mackenzie (2007a). The sample was comprised of the 198 respondents to the researcher’s online Teacher Recognition Schemes survey during July-August 2011. The study utilized a mixed methods approach that included collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative research data. Statistical significance was noted in the following areas: TOTY recipients perceived significantly greater influences of the award upon both personal and professional morale than did their non-recipient colleagues. Further, TOTY and non-TOTY survey respondents alike who had pursued other career paths perceived significantly less influence of the award upon personal morale. Otherwise, the various collected demographic information, including the grade level at which a respondent taught and number of years as a teacher, did not appear to have had a significant impact on perceptions, regardless of TOTY award status. This study provided information and an inventory of suggestions that could be beneficial to administrators in charge of Teacher of the Year programs in k-12 settings. Implications for future research, practices and strategies are also discussed. INDEX WORDS: Teacher of the year, Teacher morale, Workplace recognition
Deployment of Services Applications in Services Execution Environments

Service-oriented computing defines a services application as an assembly of loosely coupled software elements: services. Today, SOC is very technology-driven. Engineers have to deal with numerous technologies for describing, publishing services and creating and manipulating services applications. In particular, deploying services applications is a complex task, reserved for experts. By deploying, we mean installing, activating, deactivating, maintaining and deinstalling services applications. This paper presents an approach for the context-aware deployment of services applications in constrained services execution environments. This approach is based on a meta-model which has been designed for describing services applications from a deployment point of view. This approach has been implemented in a tool (called Deployment Manager for Services Applications: DMSA). Using this approach and service substitutability enable proper deployment of services applications and re-use of service implementations already deployed (as wished in our context). This work has been validated on an industrial use case.
Software Modems for Underwater Sensor Networks

The prohibitive monetary cost and high power consumption of existing acoustic hardware represent an obstacle for underwater sensor network deployment efforts. To address this issue, we propose underwater networks that rely on widely available speakers and microphones in electronic devices, coupled with software modems, to establish acoustic communication links. In this paper, we analytically and empirically explore the potential of this acoustic communication system for the underwater environment with a generic PC microphone as a receiver and with the Tmote Invent sensor module speaker as a transmitter. After waterproofing the components with elastic membranes that provide suitable coupling with the water, our experiments profile the hardware communication capability in a controlled aquatic environment. The medium profiling results expose the favorable frequencies of operation for the hardware, enabling us to design a software FSK modem. The experiments to evaluate the data transfer capability of our 8-frequency FSK software modem in the underwater channel yield an error-free channel capacity of 24 bps, and they also demonstrate that the system supports data rates up to at least 48 bps within a transmission range of 17 m.
Evaluating FPTASes for the Multi-Objective Shortest Path Problem

We discuss three FPTASes for the Multi-Objective Shortest Path problem. Two of which are known in the literature, the third is a newly proposed FPTAS, aimed at exploiting small Pareto curves. The FPTASes are analyzed, empirically, based on worst case complexity, average case complexity and smoothed complexity. We also analyze the size of the Pareto curve under different conditions.
A clustering-based approach to detect cyber attacks in process control systems

Modern Process Control Systems (PCS) exhibit an increasing trend towards the pervasive adoption of commodity, off-the-shelf Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This has brought significant economical and operational benefits, but it also shifted the architecture of PCS from a completely isolated environment to an open, “system of systems” integration with traditional ICT systems, susceptible to traditional computer attacks. In this paper we present a novel approach to detect cyber attacks targeting measurements sent to control hardware, i.e., typically to Programmable Logical Controllers (PLC). The approach builds on the Gaussian mixture model to cluster sensor measurement values and a cluster assessment technique known as silhouette. We experimentally demonstrate that in this particular problem the Gaussian mixture clustering outperforms the k-means clustering algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is tested in a scenario involving the simulated Tennessee-Eastman chemical process and three different cyber attacks.
Regularization of textured image decomposition via a geometric constraint

This paper describes a practical implementation of the decomposition of an image f into a sum of a cartoon component and an oscillating component consisting of texture and/or noise. Vese and Osher's decomposition is implemented in their paper with a semi-implicit fixed-point iterative finite difference scheme, and not a straight-forward non-iterative vectorisable scheme due to lack of stability of the latter. In this paper, we propose the addition of another term to their energy functional, which roughly speaking, penalizes cartoon boundaries which are situated within any given texture. Experiments with this new term indicate increased stability over Vese and Osher's model, as well as a modest increase in speed
The Evalita 2011 Parsing Task: the Dependency Track

The aim of Evalita Parsing Task is at defining and extending Italian state of the art parsing by encouraging the application of existing models and approaches. As in the Evalita’07 and ’09, the Task is organized around two tracks, i.e. Dependency Parsing and Constituency Parsing. In this paper, we describe only the Dependency Parsing track by presenting the data sets for development and testing, and reporting the test results.
Investigation into the Effects of Spatial Correlation on MIMO Channel Estimation and Capacity

This paper reports on investigations into the effects of spatial correlation on channel estimation and capacity of a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system. Minimum mean square error (MMSE) method is applied for channel estimation under a correlated channel scenario. Simulation results for a 4 times 4 MIMO system with the Jakes model describing a channel between a base station and a mobile station demonstrate a trade-off between the effects of spatial correlation, channel estimation and capacity. For low values of signal to noise ratio (SNR), spatial correlation decreases channel estimation errors and improves capacity. For high values of SNR, spatial correlation has a less pronounced effect on improving channel estimation and thus the MIMO capacity is adversely affected by the decreased channel matrix rank.
Using qualitative research to facilitate the interpretation of quantitative results from a discrete choice experiment: insights from a survey in elderly ophthalmologic patients

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in industrialized countries. Currently, mainly three treatment options are available, which are all intravitreal injections, but differ with regard to the frequency of injections needed, their approval status, and cost. This study aims to estimate patients’ preferences for characteristics of treatment options for neovascular AMD. Methods An interviewer-assisted discrete choice experiment was conducted among patients suffering from AMD treated with intravitreal injections. A Bayesian efficient design was used for the development of 12 choice tasks. In each task patients indicated their preference for one out of two treatment scenarios described by the attributes: side effects, approval status, effect on visual function, injection and monitoring frequency. While answering the choice tasks, patients were asked to think aloud and explain the reasons for choosing or rejecting specific characteristics. Quantitative data were analyzed with a mixed multinomial logit model. Results Eighty-six patients completed the questionnaire. Patients significantly preferred treatments that improve visual function, are approved, are administered in a pro re nata regimen (as needed), and are accompanied by bimonthly monitoring. Patients significantly disliked less frequent monitoring visits (every 4 months) and explained this was due to fear of deterioration being left unnoticed, and in turn experiencing disease deterioration. Significant preference heterogeneity was found for all levels except for bimonthly monitoring visits and severe, rare eye-related side effects. Patients gave clear explanations of their individual preferences during the interviews. Conclusion Significant preference trends were discernible for the overall sample, despite the preference heterogeneity for most treatment characteristics. Patients like to be monitored and treated regularly, but not too frequently or infrequently. The results of our qualitative research facilitated the interpretation of the quantitative data collected in this study.
Inferring E region electron density profiles at Jicamarca from Faraday rotation of coherent scatter

A new technique for measuring E region plasma density profiles in the equatorial electrojet using a bistatic coherent scatter radar is described. The technique utilizes the Faraday rotation of the obliquely and coherently scattered signal. Plasma density versus altitude is inferred from the rate of Faraday rotation as a function of range and elevation angle. A narrow beam width is required to minimize returns from unwanted azimuths, but this can be achieved in a bistatic experiment using relatively small antenna arrays with widely spaced elements. We give a sample time sequence of daytime electron density profiles that were measured with the new technique at altitudes between 95 and 110 km. Scatter from pure two-stream waves makes it possible to measure both the bottomside and topside density profiles during the day. The importance of this new technique becomes evident when one realizes that only a few rocket flights have provided density profiles through these altitudes at the magnetic equator; the region has been inaccessible to any remote sensing technique until now.
The Computation of Social Behavior

Social Sciences Reviewed The social sciences focus on multibody problems within changing environments, where the intentions and actions of both actor and acted-upon vary over time. In such situations, it can be challenging, to say the least, to identify unambiguously and persuasively which behaviors are causes, which are effects, and which are epiphenomena. Behrens et al. (p. 1160) review the recent application of formal behavioral models in the area of social cognitive neuroscience. Neuroscientists are beginning to advance explanations of social behavior in terms of underlying brain mechanisms. Two distinct networks of brain regions have come to the fore. The first involves brain regions that are concerned with learning about reward and reinforcement. These same reward-related brain areas also mediate preferences that are social in nature even when no direct reward is expected. The second network focuses on regions active when a person must make estimates of another person’s intentions. However, it has been difficult to determine the precise roles of individual brain regions within these networks or how activities in the two networks relate to one another. Some recent studies of reward-guided behavior have described brain activity in terms of formal mathematical models; these models can be extended to describe mechanisms that underlie complex social exchange. Such a mathematical formalism defines explicit mechanistic hypotheses about internal computations underlying regional brain activity, provides a framework in which to relate different types of activity and understand their contributions to behavior, and prescribes strategies for performing experiments under strong control.
SC37 In situ simulation training for management of emergency situations and deteriorating patients in GP surgeries

Background GPs encounter deteriorating patients and medical emergencies on a regular but infrequent basis in the Primary Care setting. Current mandatory training in General Practice is Basic Life Support; delivery by e-learning alone is now acceptable. This focuses on cardiac arrest management which is rare in GP practices (figure 1). Early identification and management of time critical, life threatening situations impacts on morbidity and survival. GP teams are not equipped with emergency assessment and management skills and may fail to recognise or act in emergency situations due to lack of training and confidence.1 Targets for deteriorating patients have been set in secondary care following admission but may be missing earlier management opportunities in Primary Care. Summary We are implementing and studying In Situ Simulation (ISS) training in GP settings to increase confidence and competence of the whole primary care team, thus improving identification and management of the acutely unwell patient. ISS has a good evidence base in secondary care training for emergency situations.2 Primary care is ideally suited to ISS because: There is a stable well defined, non–hierarchical team that can be trained together. Training occurs in the clinical setting, at the point of care, optimising fidelity. Our training program consists of blended learning: Preload with e–learning Pre–brief: Setting the scene In Situ Simulation training using emergency scenarios and algorithms relevant to primary care Debrief Feedback Results Latent safety threats and human factor issues are apparent when practices are trained by our teams. Training increases confidence and reduces the risk of unintentional but preventable errors occurring. Discussion A range of human factor issues including lack of confidence in dealing with emergencies is impacting on patient outcome. ISS training in General Practice reduces the chance of error and maintains expertise in high risk, low frequency situations. Mandatory training must incorporate management of emergencies. Conclusion Mandatory training in life support is not pertinent to what is seen in General Practice. In Situ Simulation is relevant, valuable and beneficial in increasing safety for deteriorating patients. Recommendations Mandatory GP life support training should be directed towards acutely unwell patients rather than focusing on basic life support. Training should be delivered as In Situ Simulation by appropriately trained providers.Abstract SC37 Figure 1 References Forde E, Bromilow J, Wedderburn C. Practical management of emergencies in primary care: Taking simulation out of the classroom and into real-life environments. BMJ Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning 2018;4:43–44. doi:10.1136/bmjstel-2016-000166 Wheeler DS, Geis G, Mack EH, et al. High-reliability emergency response teams in the hospital: Improving quality and safety using in situ simulation training. BMJ Qual Saf2013;22:507–514. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2012-000931
An application constrained front end for speaker verification

Even if the speaker recognition field is very dynamic, few studies concern the constraints linked to the use of a speaker recognition system inside a professional telecommunication network. This paper deals with this problem and proposes some adaptation of such system in the focus of a real world network monitoring application. This work is specifically dedicated to the front-end. Both real-time constraints and distributed architectures are investigated. The signal acquisition takes place on a mobile terminal, while the speaker verification process is performed on a remote server. We propose a frame-by-frame on-line processing for feature extraction, frame selection and normalization. The links between the network speech coder and the speaker recognition system are also investigated, for both the ETSI TETRA speech codec (at 4600 bit/sec) and the NATO STANAG 4591 (at 2400 bit/sec). The proposed solutions are compared with a classical unconstrained front-end (off-line processing).
The Relationship between Students' Personality Types and Their Success

Teachers often classify students using simple stereotypes such as,” low”, “average”, and “high” achieving students, and prepare their courses based on this classification. Because students have different personality types and differences in their acquisition of skills, they require differentiated attention from their teachers. This paper tries to determine the relationships between personality type and the student’s ability to solve a problem. We reached a number of conclusions and recommendations that basically highlighted the importance of learning more about students’ personality types in order to understand their strengths and weaknesses, improve their interpersonal relationships, and gain a better self-knowledge that will help them define and achieve goals.
Auditing with incomplete logs

The protection of sensitive information is of utmost importance for organizations. The complexity and dynamism of modern businesses are forcing a re-think of traditional protection mechanisms. In particular, a priori policy en-forcement mechanisms are often complemented with auditing mechanisms that rely on an a posteriori analysis of logs recording users’ activities to prove confor-mity to policies and detect policy violations when a valid explanation of confor-mity does not exist. However, existing auditing solutions require that the infor-mation necessary to assess policy compliance is available for the analysis. This assumption is not realistic. Indeed, a good deal of users’ activities may not be under the control of the IT system and thus they cannot be logged. In this paper we tackle the problem of accessing policy compliance in presence of incomplete logs. In particular, we present an auditing framework to assist analysts in find-ing a valid explanation for the events recorded in the logs and to pinpoint policy violations if such an explanation does not exist, when logs are incomplete. We also introduce two strategies for the refinement of plausible explanations of con-formity to drive analysts along the auditing process. Our framework has been implemented on top of CIFF, an abductive proof procedure, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the refinement strategies evaluated.