Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parallel Algorithm for Single-Source Earliest-Arrival Problem in Temporal Graphs

Many real-world networks, including online social networks and communication networks, are commonly modeled as temporal graphs. Answering earliest-arrival queries in temporal graphs is one of the most fundamental studies with numerous applications, such as information diffusion and measuring temporal closeness centrality. As graph sizes are growing rapidly, speedup of query execution time becomes even more important.In this paper, we propose a novel edge-centric parallel algorithm for solving single-source earliest-arrival problem in temporal graphs based on a new data structure named Edge-Scan-Dependency Graph (ESD-Graph). We evaluate the proposed parallel algorithm by theoretical analysis as well as by empirical experiments on real-world temporal graphs and synthetic graphs. Empirical results show that the new parallel algorithm outperforms the existing serial algorithm by up to 8.2 and 9.5 times on multi-core processors for real-world data and synthetic data respectively.
The interaction of schizophrenia-related proteins DISC1 and NDEL1, in light of the newly identified domain structure of DISC1

ABSTRACT DISC1 and NDEL1 are both key proteins in cortical neurodevelopment, which are each also implicated in the pathogenesis of mental illness. That the two proteins interact with each other in a functionally important manner is well established, but two distinct binding domains for NDEL1 on DISC1 have been proposed. A partial domain structure for DISC1 has recently been described, consisting of 4 structured regions referred to as “D,” “I,” “S” and “C” respectively, with one of the NDEL1 binding sites lying in the “C” region of DISC1. In light of this domain structure, it can be deduced that this site is the likely location at which NDEL1 binds, although the other proposed site (which lies in the DISC1 “I” and “S” regions) may indirectly impact on DISC1-NDEL1 interactions through determination of the oligomeric state of DISC1.
Tolerated sting challenge in patients on Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy improves health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND Sting challenge with a live insect remains the best test for proving the efficacy of immunotherapy in Hymenoptera allergy. OBJECTIVE We studied the impact of tolerated sting challenge on quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this prospective study, data were collected via self-report questionnaires completed by consenting patients with Hymenoptera venom allergy on venom immunotherapy before and after a sting challenge. RESULTS The study population comprised 100 adult patients (82 with yellow jacket allergy and 18 with honeybee allergy) who participated between September 2009 and November 2010. After the sting challenge, the score on the Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire revealed a statistically significant improvement (mean [SD] change, 0.73 [0.98]; P < .0001; 95% CI, 0.52-0.94). This improvement was independent of the patients' gender and age and the severity of the initial anaphylactic reaction. A statistically significant improvement was documented in 2 subgroups of the Short Form 36 Health Survey (physical functioning, mean change, -5.78 [25.23]; P = .038; 95% CI, -11.22 to -0.34; vitality, mean change -4.29 [12.49]; P =.002; 95% CI, -7.02 to -1.57). CONCLUSIONS Sting challenge results in a significant improvement in disease-specific quality of life and subgroups of general quality of life in patients allergic to Hymenoptera venom receiving established venom immunotherapy.
Alternative Transrectal Prostate Imaging: A Diffuse Optical Tomography Method

This paper presents a transrectal dual-modality near-infrared (NIR) diffuse optical tomography technique coupled with ultrasonography that provides an integrated method for detecting prostate cancer (PCa). The study that provides an alternative transrectal prostate imaging system stems from the perceived inadequacy of conventional transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in PCa imaging. The transrectally applied diffuse optical tomography aims to characterize the spatially resolved optical properties of the intact prostate that are known to have intraorgan and intersubject heterogeneities. A canine model of PCa using canine transmissible venereal tumor was used to demonstrate the utility of this technology in detecting PCa. Tumors in the pelvic canal, including tumors in the prostate, were found to be detectable at 2-week postinjection based upon the NIR absorption contrast, which was detected a few weeks earlier than using NIR-reduced scattering and effective attenuation contrasts, as well as TRUS. Transrectal optical tomography detection of cancerous tissues in vivo in intact canine prostate based upon NIR contrasts may prove useful for diagnostic imaging of PCa and potentially aid in pretreatment planning for phototherapy applications.
The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia

Our homes and workspaces are filled with collections of dozens of artifacts laid out on surfaces such as shelves, counters, and mantles. The content and layout of these arrangements reflect both context, e.g. kitchen or living room, and style, e.g. neat or messy. Manually assembling such arrangements in virtual scenes is highly time consuming, especially when one needs to generate multiple diverse arrangements for numerous support surfaces and living spaces. We present a data-driven method especially designed for artifact arrangement which automatically populates empty surfaces with diverse believable arrangements of artifacts in a given style. The input to our method is an annotated photograph or a 3D model of an exemplar arrangement, that reflects the desired context and style. Our method leverages this exemplar to generate diverse arrangements reflecting the exemplar style for arbitrary furniture setups and layout dimensions. To simultaneously achieve scalability, diversity and style preservation, we define a valid solution space of arrangements that reflect the input style. We obtain solutions within this space using barrier functions and stochastic optimization.
Basis of splines associated with singularly perturbed advection -diffusion problems

Among fltted-operator methods for solving one-dimensional singular pertur- bation problems one of the most accurate is the collocation by linear combinations of f1;x;exp(§px)g, known as tension spline collocation. There exist well established results for determining the 'tension parameter' p, as well as special collocation points, that pro- vide higher order local and global convergence rates. However, if the advection{difiusion{ reaction problem is specifled in such a way that two boundary internal layers exist, the method is incapable of capturing only one boundary layer, which happens when no reac- tion term is present. For a pure advection-difiusion problem we therefore modify the basis accordingly, including only one exponential, i.e. project the solution to the space locally spanned by f1;x;x 2 ;exp(px)g where p > 0 is the tension parameter. The aim of the paper is to show that in this situation it is still possible to construct a basis of C 1 -locally sup- ported functions by a simple knot insertion technique, commonly used in computer aided geometric design. We end by showing that special collocation points can be found, which yield better local and global convergence rates, similar to the tension spline case. AMS subject classiflcations: 41A50, 65D07, 35K57, 65L60
System Design of Customer Relationship Management System of Small and Medium-Sized Wholesale and Retail Enterprises

Based on customer relationship management theory, software engineering theory, data mining technology, according to the characteristics of small and medium-sized enterprises of wholesale and retail, I designed the system structure of the small and medium-sized wholesale and retail enterprises CRM(SMS-CRM), focused on applying of data mining and establishing customer analysis system of sell business, completed in data warehouse modeling, identified the five themes on data mining: customer cluster, customer value and customer loyalty, customer satisfaction, customer structure and model building and model evaluation.
NMR functional imaging using a tailored RF gradient echo sequence: A true susceptibility measurement technique

The tailored radio frequency gradient echo (TRFGE) technique that has been used in venography (Cho et al., Magn. Reson. Med. 28, 25‐38, 1992; Ro, Cho, Magn. Reson. Mod. 28, 237, 1992) is applied to functional imaging. The TRFGE technique has the advantage that it is sensitive to the field gradient created by the susceptibility effect, thereby enhancing only the signals from the regions with local field gradient In addition, the method is insensitive to the in‐flow effect, especially from the arterial blood. The latter further simplifies the functional MRI data analysis. The TRFGE sequence is, therefore, suitable for functional MR imaging for which true susceptibility effect measurements are of prime importance. To examine the TRFGE functional imaging systematically, experiments with various imaging parameters such as flip angle a, repetition time, and echo time were performed and the results were compared with the data obtained from the conventional gradient echo functional MR imaging. The experimental results shown were all obtained from human volunteers with a 2.0T whole body MRI system.
Computer-assisted ultrasound analysis of liver echogenicity in obese and normal-weight children.

OBJECTIVE No simple computer-assisted method for assessing liver echogenicity has been developed to date. This study describes an accessible and reproducible computer-assisted method for measuring liver echogenicity in obese (body mass index [BMI] >/= 97th percentile) and normal-weight (BMI from 25th to 75th percentile) children and correlates the results with laboratory test results. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-two children (age range, 6-11 years) were assigned to one of two groups of 11 children each and paired by sex and age. All children underwent ultrasound, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests. A hepatorenal index was calculated using software to analyze the difference in echogenicity between the liver parenchyma and kidney cortex. The Student's t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS The hepatorenal index was statistically different between the obese and normal-weight children (33.9 +/- 6.6 vs 14.1 +/- 6.1, p < 0.001). The analysis of laboratory tests of obese and normal-weight children revealed statistically significant differences in the values of glucose (p = 0.034), insulin (p = 0.008), triglycerides (p = 0.036), uric acid (p < 0.001), and alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.045). CONCLUSION Computer-assisted analysis of ultrasound liver echogenicity using the software is an accessible, reproducible, and easy-to-use diagnostic tool for calculating the hepatorenal index. This tool may be used for follow-up and control in the treatment of fat infiltration in the liver of obese children.
A Fraunhofer-Based Approach for the Assessment of the Field Radiated in the Fresnel Region of an Antenna

The letter focuses on a simplified and conservative method for the assessment of the electromagnetic exposure in proximity of a radiator. The method allows the use of the Fraunhofer antenna pattern to estimate the electromagnetic field radiated in the Fresnel region of base transceiver station (BTS) antennas. The proposed approach is introduced from a theoretical point of view and validated with simulations and measurements on linear and planar array systems. For its application, a specific description of the boundaries of the Fresnel region for a generic antenna of parallelepipedal shape, which takes into account the dependency from the direction of observation, is introduced. The method provides a rapid and simple solution of assessment issues in relation to the electromagnetic fields exposure limits.
FPGA based digitalized power supplies

In power supplies the controller implements different control strategies according to the output current demand, in order to keep the efficiency as high as possible over the whole range of load values. In this context, control of power supplies has been traditionally achieved through analog means with dedicated integrated circuits (ICs). As power systems are becoming gradually more complex, the classical concept of control has increasingly evolve into the more general problem of power management, demanding functionalities that are hardly attainable in analog controllers. Using digital control in power supplies is significantly more flexible than analog control in its ability to adapt to changes and digital control inside the power supply results in advantages to the system application such as improved efficiency, external components and overall cost reduced. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) is preferred for power supply due to its merits. The feature of reprogramming capability of FPGA makes design easy and practical implementation within a short time.
How long does it take to burn down an ancient Near Eastern city? The study of experimentally heated mud-bricks

Abstract Many famous archaeological sites have been subjected to destructive fires, whether hostile or accidental, including Near Eastern cities constructed largely of mud-brick. But how long did it take to burn down a city? The mud-bricks themselves provide a valuable record. By heating experimental bricks of different sizes, shapes and compositions to high temperatures, the minimum duration of an ancient conflagration can be calculated. The resulting equations were applied to bricks from the destruction of Tel Megiddo at the end of the Iron Age I, and indicate that the burning lasted a minimum of two to three hours: a much shorter period than expected.
Simultaneous evaluation of radiation-induced apoptosis and micronuclei in five cell lines.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to clarify the relationship among the frequencies of micronuclei (MN) and apoptosis, and clonogenic cell survival after irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The frequencies of MN and apoptosis were compared in the surviving fraction in three human tumour cell lines and two rodent cell lines at various irradiation doses. RESULTS The SHIN-3, DU-145 and CHO-K1 cells showed dose-dependent increases of MN per binucleate cell and an excellent correlation between the MN frequency and surviving fraction after irradiation. The F9 and COLO 320DM cells did not show this correlation. The number of apoptotic cells increased according to the increase in radiation dose in the F9 and COLO 320DM cells, but not in the SHIN-3, DU-145 or CHO-K1 cells. CONCLUSIONS The detection of the MN frequency alone is insufficient to measure cellular intrinsic radiosensitivity. The simultaneous use of the MN assay and the detection of apoptotic cells would be more reliable as a method for predicting cell survival after radiation.
Serotype-Specific Neutralizing Antibody Epitopes of Human Adenovirus Type 3 (HAdV-3) and HAdV-7 Reside in Multiple Hexon Hypervariable Regions

ABSTRACT Human adenovirus types 3 and 7 (HAdV-3 and HAdV-7) occur epidemically and contribute greatly to respiratory diseases, but there is no currently available licensed recombinant HAdV-3/HAdV-7 bivalent vaccine. Identification of serotype-specific neutralizing antibody (NAb) epitopes for HAdV-3 and HAdV-7 will be beneficial for development of recombinant HAdV-3/HAdV-7 bivalent vaccines. In this study, four NAb epitopes within hexon hypervariable regions (HVRs) were predicted for HAdV-3 and HAdV-7, respectively, by using bioinformatics. Eight hexon chimeric adenovirus vectors with the alternation of only one predicted neutralizing epitope were constructed. Further in vitro and in vivo neutralization assays indicated that E2 (residing in HVR2) and E3 (residing in HVR5) are NAb epitopes for HAdV-7, and E3 plays a more important role in generating NAb responses. Cross-neutralization assays indicated that all four predicted epitopes, R1 to R4, are NAb epitopes for HAdV-3, and R1 (residing in HVR1) plays the most important role in generating NAb responses. Humoral immune responses elicited by the recombinant rAdH7R1 (containing the R1 epitope) were significantly and durably suppressed by HAdV-3-specific NAbs. Surprisingly, the rAdΔE3GFP-specific neutralizing epitope responses induced by rAdMHE3 (R3 replaced by E3) and rAdMHE4 (R4 replaced by E4) were weaker than those of rAdMHE1 (R1 replaced by E1) or rAdMHE2 (R2 relaced by E2) in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, rAdMHE4 replicated more slowly in HEp-2 cells, and the final yield was about 10-fold lower than that of rAdΔE3GFP. The current findings contribute not only to the development of new adenovirus vaccine candidates, but also to the construction of new gene delivery vectors.
Knowledge acquisition from user reviews for interactive question answering

Nowadays, the effective management of information is extremely important for all spheres of our lives and applications such as search engines and question answering systems help users to find the information that they need. However, even when assisted by these various applications, people sometimes struggle to find what they want. For example, when choosing a product customers can be confused by the need to consider many features before they can reach a decision. Interactive question answering (IQA) systems can help customers in this process, by answering questions about products and initiating a dialogue with the customers when their needs are not clearly defined. The focus of this thesis is how to design an interactive question answering system that will assist users in choosing a product they are looking for, in an optimal way, when a large number of similar products are available. Such an IQA system will be based on selecting a set of characteristics (also referred to as product features in this thesis), that describe the relevant product, and narrowing the search space. We believe that the order in which these characteristics are presented in terms of these IQA sessions is of high importance. Therefore, they need to be ranked in order to have a dialogue which selects the product in an efficient manner. The research question investigated in this thesis is whether product
Supply Switching With Ground Collapse for Low-Leakage Register Files in 65-nm CMOS

Power-gating has been widely used to reduce subthreshold leakage current. However, the extent of leakage saving through power-gating diminishes with technology scaling due to gate leakage of data-retention circuit elements. Furthermore, power-gating involves substantial increase of area and wirelength. A circuit technique called supply switching with ground collapse (SSGC) has recently been proposed to overcome the limitation of power-gating. The circuit technique is successfully applied to the register file of ARM9 microprocessor in a 1.2 V, 65-nm CMOS process, and the measured result is reported for the first time. The leakage current is reduced by a factor of 960 on average of 83 dies at 25°C , and by a factor of 150 at 85°C. Compared to a register file implemented in conventional power-gating, leakage current is cut by a factor of 2.2, demonstrating that SSGC can be a substitute for power-gating in nanometer CMOS.
Plasma free metanephrine measurement using automated online solid-phase extraction HPLC tandem mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND Quantification of plasma free metanephrine (MN) and normetanephrine (NMN) is considered to be the most accurate test for the clinical chemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and follow-up of pheochromocytoma patients. Current methods involve laborious, time-consuming, offline sample preparation, coupled with relatively nonspecific detection. Our aim was to develop a rapid, sensitive, and highly selective automated method for plasma free MNs in the nanomole per liter range. METHODS We used online solid-phase extraction coupled with HPLC-tandem mass spectrometric detection (XLC-MS/MS). Fifty microliters plasma equivalent was prepurified by automated online solid-phase extraction, using weak cation exchange cartridges. Chromatographic separation of the analytes and deuterated analogs was achieved by hydrophilic interaction chromatography. Mass spectrometric detection was performed in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using a quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in positive electrospray ionization mode. RESULTS Total run-time including sample cleanup was 8 min. Intra- and interassay analytical variation (CV) varied from 2.0% to 4.7% and 1.6% to 13.5%, respectively, whereas biological intra- and interday variation ranged from 9.4% to 45.0% and 8.4% to 23.2%. Linearity in the 0 to 20 nmol/L calibration range was excellent (R(2) > 0.99). For all compounds, recoveries ranged from 74.5% to 99.6%, and detection limits were <0.10 nmol/L. Reference intervals for 120 healthy adults were 0.07 to 0.33 nmol/L (MN), 0.23 to 1.07 nmol/L (NMN), and <0.17 nmol/L (3-methoxytyramine). CONCLUSIONS This automated high-throughput XLC-MS/MS method for the measurement of plasma free MNs is precise and linear, with short analysis time and low variable costs. The method is attractive for routine diagnosis of pheochromocytoma because of its high analytical sensitivity, the analytical power of MS/MS, and the high diagnostic accuracy of free MNs.
HIV-1 escape from a small molecule, CCR5-specific entry inhibitor does not involve CXCR4 use

To study HIV-1 escape from a coreceptor antagonist, the R5 primary isolate CC1/85 was passaged in peripheral blood mononuclear cells with increasing concentrations of the CCR5-specific small molecule inhibitor, AD101. By 19 passages, an escape mutant emerged with a >20,000-fold resistance to AD101. This virus was cross-resistant to a related inhibitor, SCH-C, and partially resistant to RANTES but still sensitive to CCR5-specific mAbs. The resistant phenotype was stable; the mutant virus retained AD101 resistance during nine additional passages of culture in the absence of inhibitor. Replication of the escape mutant in peripheral blood mononuclear cells completely depended on CCR5 expression and did not occur in cells from CCR5-Δ32 homozygous individuals. The escape mutant was unable to use CXCR4 or any other tested coreceptor to enter transfected cells. Acquisition of CXCR4 use is not the dominant in vitro escape pathway for a small molecule CCR5 entry inhibitor. Instead, HIV-1 acquires the ability to use CCR5 despite the inhibitor, first by requiring lower levels of CCR5 for entry and then probably by using the drug-bound form of the receptor.