Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Client-Server Paradise

This paper describes the design and implementation of Paradise, a database system designed for handling GIS type of applications. The current version of Paradise, uses a client-server architecture and provides an extended-relational data model for modeling GIS applications. Paradise supports~an extended version of SQL and provides a graphical user interface for querying and browsing the database. We also describe the results of benchmarking Paradise using the Sequoia 2000 storage benchmark.
Nonlinear dynamical factor analysis for state change detection

Changes in a dynamical process are often detected by monitoring selected indicators directly obtained from the process observations, such as the mean values or variances. Standard change detection algorithms such as the Shewhart control charts or the cumulative sum (CUSUM) algorithm are often based on such first- and second-order statistics. Much better results can be obtained if the dynamical process is properly modeled, for example by a nonlinear state-space model, and then the accuracy of the model is monitored over time. The success of the latter approach depends largely on the quality of the model. In practical applications like industrial processes, the state variables, dynamics, and observation mapping are rarely known accurately. Learning from data must be used; however, methods for the simultaneous estimation of the state and the unknown nonlinear mappings are very limited. We use a novel method of learning a nonlinear state-space model, the nonlinear dynamical factor analysis (NDFA) algorithm. It takes a set of multivariate observations over time and fits blindly a generative dynamical latent variable model, resembling nonlinear independent component analysis. We compare the performance of the model in process change detection to various traditional methods. It is shown that NDFA outperforms the classical methods by a wide margin in a variety of cases where the underlying process dynamics changes.
Possible contribution to hepatocarcinogenesis of X transcript of hepatitis B virus in japanese patients with hepatitis C virus

Serological research suggests that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is unclear how genes of hepatitis viruses participate in hepatocarcinogenesis in patients infected with HCV. We investigated the expression of hepatitis virus–related RNAs in resected liver from 51 patients with HCV antibodies (Ab) and without hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). mRNA transcripts of the genes HBx, HBc, HBs, nonstructural (NS) region 3 of HCV, the 5′‐untranslated region (UTR) of HCV, and the 5′‐UTR of hepatitis G virus (HGV) were amplified by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) with specific primers for each gene. The HBx transcript was detected in 19 (37%) tumors and in 8 (16%) specimens of noncancerous tissues (P = .014). The NS3 gene of HCV was detected in 35 (69%) tumors and 41 (80%) noncancerous tissues. HGV RNA was detected in 3 tumors (6%). Patients with HBx transcripts were younger than patients without HBx transcripts (P = .012). HBx transcripts were detected in 3 (33%) of 9 well‐differentiated HCCs, in 8 (31%) of 26 moderately differentiated HCCs, and in 8 (50%) of 16 poorly differentiated HCCs. Codon 130 (AAG) and codon 131 (GTC) of HBx were changed to ATG and ATC, respectively, in all HCCs with HBx transcripts. In conclusion, we found that the HBx gene was expressed in many HCCs; the gene might promote hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with HCVAb and without HBsAg, but HGV is not closely related to hepatocarcinogenesis in such patients
HIV/Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) Accessory Virulence Factor Vpx Loads the Host Cell Restriction Factor SAMHD1 onto the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex CRL4DCAF1*

Background: Human SAMHD1 protein restricts HIV/SIV infection of myeloid cells and is targeted for proteasomal degradation by HIV-2 Vpx protein. Results: Vpx binds the divergent C terminus of human SAMHD1 and loads it onto DCAF1 substrate receptor of CRL4 E3 ubiquitin ligase. Conclusion: Vpx programs SAMHD1 degradation by loading it onto CRL4DCAF1. Significance: Learning how viruses overcome innate anti-viral mechanisms is critical for the conception of new antiviral therapeutics. The sterile alpha motif and HD domain-containing protein-1 (SAMHD1) inhibits infection of myeloid cells by human and related primate immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV). This potent inhibition is counteracted by the Vpx accessory virulence factor of HIV-2/SIVsm viruses, which targets SAMHD1 for proteasome-dependent degradation, by reprogramming cellular CRL4DCAF1 E3 ubiquitin ligase. However, the precise mechanism of Vpx-dependent recruitment of human SAMHD1 onto the ligase, and the molecular interfaces on the respective molecules have not been defined. Here, we show that human SAMHD1 is recruited to the CRL4DCAF1-Vpx E3 ubiquitin ligase complex by interacting with the DCAF1 substrate receptor subunit in a Vpx-dependent manner. No stable association is detectable with DCAF1 alone. The SAMHD1 determinant for the interaction is a short peptide located distal to the SAMHD1 catalytic domain and requires the presence of Vpx for stable engagement. This peptide is sufficient to confer Vpx-dependent recruitment to CRL4DCAF1 and ubiquitination when fused to heterologous proteins. The precise amino acid sequence of the peptide diverges among SAMHD1 proteins from different vertebrate species, explaining selective down-regulation of human SAMHD1 levels by Vpx. Critical amino acid residues of SAMHD1 and Vpx involved in the DCAF1-Vpx-SAMDH1 interaction were identified by mutagenesis. Our findings show that the N terminus of Vpx, bound to DCAF1, recruits SAMHD1 via its C terminus to CRL4, in a species-specific manner for proteasomal degradation.
An Indexing Framework for Efficient Retrieval on the Cloud

The emergence of the Cloud system has simplified the deployment of large-scale distributed systems for software vendors. The Cloud system provides a simple and unified interface between vendor and user, allowing vendors to focus more on the software itself rather than the underlying framework. Existing Cloud systems seek to improve performance by increasing parallelism. In this paper, we explore an alternative solution, proposing an indexing framework for the Cloud system based on the structured overlay. Our indexing framework reduces the amount of data transferred inside the Cloud and facilitates the deployment of database back-end applications.
Can all tags be used for search?

Collaborative tagging has become an increasingly popular means for sharing and organizing Web resources, leading to a huge amount of user generated metadata. These tags represent quite a few different aspects of the resources they describe and it is not obvious whether and how these tags or subsets of them can be used for search. This paper is the first to present an in-depth study of tagging behavior for very different kinds of resources and systems - Web pages (Del.icio.us), music (Last.fm), and images (Flickr) - and compares the results with anchor text characteristics. We analyze and classify sample tags from these systems, to get an insight into what kinds of tags are used for different resources, and provide statistics on tag distributions in all three tagging environments. Since even relevant tags may not add new information to the search procedure, we also check overlap of tags with content, with metadata assigned by experts and from other sources. We discuss the potential of different kinds of tags for improving search, comparing them with user queries posted to search engines as well as through a user survey. The results are promising and provide more insight into both the use of different kinds of tags for improving search and possible extensions of tagging systems to support the creation of potentially search-relevant tags.
Characterizing Realizability in Abstract Argumentation

Realizability for knowledge representation formalisms studies the following question: given a semantics and a set of interpretations, is there a knowledge base whose semantics coincides exactly with the given interpretation set? We introduce a general framework for analyzing realizability in abstract dialectical frameworks (ADFs) and various of its subclasses. In particular, the framework applies to Dung argumentation frameworks, SETAFs by Nielsen and Parsons, and bipolar ADFs. We present a uniform characterization method for the admissible, complete, preferred and model/stable semantics. We employ this method to devise an algorithm that decides realizability for the mentioned formalisms and semantics; moreover the algorithm allows for constructing a desired knowledge base whenever one exists. The algorithm is built in a modular way and thus easily extensible to new formalisms and semantics. We have also implemented our approach in answer set programming, and used the implementation to obtain several novel results on the relative expressiveness of the abovementioned formalisms.
Time course study of delayed wound healing in a biofilm‐challenged diabetic mouse model

Bacterial biofilm has been shown to play a role in delaying wound healing of chronic wounds, a major medical problem that results in significant health care burden. A reproducible animal model could be very valuable for studying the mechanism and management of chronic wounds. Our previous work showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1) biofilm challenge on wounds in diabetic (db/db) mice significantly delayed wound healing. In this wound time course study, we further characterize the bacterial burden, delayed wound healing, and certain aspects of the host inflammatory response in the PAO1 biofilm‐challenged db/db mouse model. PAO1 biofilms were transferred onto 2‐day‐old wounds created on the dorsal surface of db/db mice. Control wounds without biofilm challenge healed by 4 weeks, consistent with previous studies; none of the biofilm‐challenged wounds healed by 4 weeks. Of the biofilm‐challenged wounds, 64% healed by 6 weeks, and all of the biofilm‐challenged wounds healed by 8 weeks. During the wound‐healing process, P. aeruginosa was gradually cleared from the wounds while the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (part of the normal mouse skin flora) increased. Scabs from all unhealed wounds contained 107 P. aeruginosa, which was 100‐fold higher than the counts isolated from wound beds (i.e., 99% of the P. aeruginosa was in the scab). Histology and genetic analysis showed proliferative epidermis, deficient vascularization, and increased inflammatory cytokines. Hypoxia inducible factor expression increased threefold in 4‐week wounds. In summary, our study shows that biofilm‐challenged wounds typically heal in approximately 6 weeks, at least 2 weeks longer than nonbiofilm‐challenged normal wounds. These data suggest that this delayed wound healing model enables the in vivo study of bacterial biofilm responses to host defenses and the effects of biofilms on host wound healing pathways. It may also be used to test antibiofilm strategies for treating chronic wounds.
Smart Grids Cyber Security Issues and Challenges

The energy need is growing rapidly due to the population growth and the large new usage of power. Several works put considerable efforts to make the electricity grid more intelligent to reduce essentially energy consumption and provide efficiency and reliability of power systems. The Smart Grid is a complex architecture that covers critical devices and systems vulnerable to significant attacks. Hence, security is a crucial factor for the success and the wide deployment of Smart Grids. In this paper, we present security issues of the Smart Grid architecture and we highlight open issues that will make the Smart Grid security a challenging research area in the future. Keywords—Smart grids, smart meters, home area network, neighbor area network.
Saturation influence on the performances of series active power filter

This paper presents a study on the injection transformer, showing the influence of its saturation on the performances of the series active power filter to compensate the voltage perturbation. The determination of voltage references for series active power filter is based on a robust three-phase digital phase locked loop (PLL). A control strategy related to fuzzy hysteresis band voltage method, where the band is modulated with the system parameters to maintain the modulation frequency nearly constant is developed in [1]. Simulation results based on MATLAB/SIMULINK are presented to verify the impact of transformer on the output voltage of series active power filter.
Solution of constrained optimal control problems using multiple shooting and ESDIRK methods

In this paper, we describe a novel numerical algorithm for solution of constrained optimal control problems of the Bolza type for stiff and/or unstable systems. The numerical algorithm combines explicit singly diagonally implicit Runge-Kutta (ESDIRK) integration methods with a multiple shooting algorithm. As we consider stiff systems, implicit solvers with sensitivity computation capabilities for initial value problems must be used in the multiple shooting algorithm. Traditionally, multi-step methods based on the BDF algorithm have been used for such problems. The main novel contribution of this paper is the use of ESDIRK integration methods for solution of the initial value problems and the corresponding sensitivity equations arising in the multiple shooting algorithm. Compared to BDF-methods, ESDIRK-methods are advantageous in multiple shooting algorithms in which restarts and frequent discontinuities on each shooting interval are present. The ESDIRK methods are implemented using an inexact Newton method that reuses the factorization of the iteration matrix for the integration as well as the sensitivity computation. Numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the algorithm.
A Case Against Kruppa's Equations for Camera Self-Calibration

We consider the self-calibration problem for perspective cameras and especially the classical Kruppa equation approach. It is known that for several common types of camera motion, self-calibration is degenerate, which manifests itself through the existence of ambiguous solutions. The author previously (1997, 1999) studied these critical motion sequences and showed their importance for practical applications. Here, we reveal a type of camera motion that is not critical for the generic self-calibration problem, but for which the Kruppa equation approach fails. This is the case if the optical centers of all cameras lie on a sphere and if the optical axes pass through the sphere's center, a very natural situation for 3D object modeling from images. Results of simulated experiments demonstrate the instability of numerical self-calibration algorithms in near-degenerate configurations.
Comparative systems pharmacology of HIF stabilization in the prevention of retinopathy of prematurity

Significance In all premature births, oxygen supplementation is a necessary life-sustaining measure, but unfortunately for these high-risk babies, oxygen toxicity may adversely and permanently affect the retina. Pharmacological activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway can prevent experimental oxygen-induced retinopathy and thus has the potential to prevent blindness in 100,000 children annually. Comprehensive analysis of liver and retinal transcriptomes after HIF stabilization demonstrates that select small molecules, given systemically, protect the retina by two pathways: stimulating the liver to secrete angiogenic hepatokines or locally stimulating retinal protection. These findings support a low dose, intermittent, systemic approach for preventing oxygen induced injury to premature infants. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) causes 100,000 new cases of childhood blindness each year. ROP is initiated by oxygen supplementation necessary to prevent neonatal death. We used organ systems pharmacology to define the transcriptomes of mice that were cured of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR, ROP model) by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilization via HIF prolyl hydroxylase inhibition using the isoquinolone Roxadustat or the 2-oxoglutarate analog dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG). Although both molecules conferred a protective phenotype, gene expression analysis by RNA sequencing found that Roxadustat can prevent OIR by two pathways: direct retinal HIF stabilization and induction of aerobic glycolysis or indirect hepatic HIF-1 stabilization and increased serum angiokines. As predicted by pathway analysis, Roxadustat rescued the hepatic HIF-1 knockout mouse from retinal oxygen toxicity, whereas DMOG could not. The simplicity of systemic treatment that targets both the liver and the eye provides a rationale for protecting the severely premature infant from oxygen toxicity.
The relationship between ownership structure and earnings quality in the French context

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between ownership structure and earnings quality, proxied by earnings management and informativeness. This study focuses on a sample of 117 French companies belonging to the SBF 250 index during the period 2003-2011. For our analysis, we use the panel data econometrics and, more specifically, the method of Panel Corrected Standard Errors. The results of linear regressions show that managerial ownership has a positive impact on the earnings management and reveal that ownership concentration and institutional ownership have a positive impact on the earnings informativeness. In addition, the results of this study show the existence of non-linear relationship only for ownership concentration and institutional ownership. Keywords : Ownership Structure, Earnings Quality, Earnings Management, Earnings Informativeness.
A Polynomial-time Form of Robust Regression

Despite the variety of robust regression methods that have been developed, current regression formulations are either NP-hard, or allow unbounded response to even a single leverage point. We present a general formulation for robust regression—Variational M-estimation—that unifies a number of robust regression methods while allowing a tractable approximation strategy. We develop an estimator that requires only polynomial-time, while achieving certain robustness and consistency guarantees. An experimental evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of the new estimation approach compared to standard methods.
Laterally Spaced Linear Nanoparticle Arrays Templated by Laminated β‐Sheet Fibrils

The ability to precisely arrange molecules or particles on the nanometer scale is an opportunity approached from many experimental perspectives. Molecular self-assembly is particularly promising for “bottom-up” nanofabrication because of its versatility and potential ease to pattern features on the nano-meter size scale unavailable with conventional “top-down” (e.g., lithography) methods. Facile control of the size, shape, and spatial distribution of nanoparticles, proteins, and biomol-ecules creates opportunities with applications in fields ranging from nanoelectronics to biosensing. In a recent review, Kotov et al. described particular interest in one-dimensional nano-structures constructed by the linear assembly of inorganic nanoparticles because of the interparticle electronic, photonic, and energy transfer properties which give rise to potential device applications as well as provide model systems for the fundamental understanding of interparticle nanometer-scale phenomena. [1] Currently, there are a variety of solution-based assembly strategies being explored for the fabrication of linear inorganic nanoparticle assemblies. Most of these solution assembly strategies involve the use of a linear template such as polymers [2] or carbon nanotubes. [3] Biological molecules offer great potential for use in such applications because of the complexity of nanostructures they can inherently form and the ability to design multiple types and numbers of interactions within the same molecule. [4,5] DNA is a widely used template and has been shown by Seeman [6–8] and others [9–13] to be useful as a programmable two-dimensional template for the organization of inorganic nanoparticle arrays. Protein-based materials such as collagen, [14] microtubules, [15] amyloid fibrils
Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis of Latex Standardized Beads

Abstract The most popular technique for particle size characterization is the dynamic light scattering (DLS). In recent years new advanced method based on counting each single particle movement was introduced giving perspective for measurement of each component of mixture. This study presents some advantages of nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) method in comparison to DLS. For tests standard polystyrene beds were chosen vary diameter of 22, 61 and 150 nm and its mixtures. Experiments showed that the particles size resolution allows to distinguish each population in two population suspension opposed to DLS. The NTA method permits to eliminate the negative effects i.e. dust or aggregates in sample during post processing, that permits to use it in a variety of studies.
Behaviour with an Implicit Teacher in Connectionist Networks Behaviour with an Implicit Teacher in Connectionist Networks

Current connectionist learning paradigms encounter some diiculty in explaining the development of complex behaviours by autonomous agents. Supervised procedures (including teacher based and reinforcement algorithms) require information which in its current form is unlikely to be available to an autonomous system. Unsupervised systems do not require the oracular information necessary for the supervised paradigms, but have mainly been applied to the extraction of features from the input ensemble, and rarely to the generation of behaviours. This paper outlines an unsupervised paradigm by which an autonomous agent can learn to generate behaviour using information about the actions of other autonomous agents that is implicit in the environment. By closing the action/perception loop 1 , the algorithm acquires an intentionality based on prediction error in situations when it is in the presence of other agents and when it is alone. A simple two-armed robot is used to demonstrate the technique. 1 The action/perception loop is the cycle whereby perceptions lead to the actions of an autonomous agent and these actions aaect the environment which generates the perceptual input.
Effect of Dispersion of Carbon Black on Electrical and Thermal Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)/Carbon Black Composites

A type of grafted carbon black (GCB), prepared with a low molecular weight antioxidant compound by in-situ reaction, was dispersed in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) by a melt-blending process. Dispersion of fillers, volume resistivity, and thermal properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, a high-resistance meter, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The results show that, compared with carbon black (CB) particles, GCB particles dispersed better in the PET matrix, whereas the conductivity percolation threshold of PET/GCB was higher than that of PET/CB. The addition of GCB or CB elevated the cold crystallization temperature of PET, reflecting the effectiveness of carbon fillers as nucleating agents. But carbon fillers decreased the crystallization enthalpy of PET during both heating and cooling process. Both CB and GCB elevated the starting temperature of thermal degradation of PET and increased the amount of residues for the composites over that of neat PET.