Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Migration-aware virtual machine placement for cloud data centers

In this paper, we consider virtual machine (VM) placement problem for cloud data centers. Different from previous works, the VMs considered need to be conducted within a finite duration. However, due to the limited resource at physical machines (PMs), the VM may be unable to place on a single PM within duration. To make sure the successful placement, the VM may undergo several PMs for service, e.g., it is run on one PM at this time, while migrated to another PM next time. Migrating the VM from one PM to another incurs extra cost, e.g., the bandwidth. In this paper, we formulate a joint optimization problem, which maximizes the revenue of successfully placing the VMs, and minimizes the total number of migrations for the VMs. We prove it is NP-hard, and show that the minimum number of migrations for each VM under the resource constraint of PMs is equivalent to finding a shortest path problem. We then design a heuristic algorithm, which considers both the revenue and the minimum number of migrations required for the VM. We also design a 1 over 2-approximation algorithm for a special case of the problem. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme through simulations.
Modified Dynamic Time Warping for Stroke-Based On-line Signature Verification

In the stroke-based signature verification system, it is important to find correct points of a testing signature to be spilt according to its template signature. In this paper, we propose a modified dynamic time warping algorithm (DTW) for the problem. Proposed method has two differences to the conventional approaches. First, the stroke information of both template and testing signature is considered precious to prevent wrong splitting. Second, the number of stroke difference in genuine signature is not limited because the proposed method does not require much additional computational time. Through the experiment, proposed method is verified with 1359 signatures written by 17 Japanese writers. The test data were all the semi-skilled forgeries, and the results of proposed methods showed 3.85% in the equal error rate (the error rate when the false acceptance rate and false rejection rate is the same; EER) while the EER of the compared method was 7.8%.
Customary Norms, Inheritance, and Human Capital: Evidence from a Reform of the Matrilineal System in Ghana

The authors study the role of traditional norms in land allocation and human capital investment. The authors exploit a policy experiment in Ghana that increased the land that children from matrilineal groups can inherit from their fathers. Boys exposed to the reform received 0.9 less years of education - an effect driven by landed households, for whom the reform was binding. The authors find no effect for girls, whose inheritance was de facto unaffected. These patterns suggest that before the reform matrilineal groups invested more in education than they will if unconstrained, to substitute for land inheritance, underscoring the importance of cultural norms.
Biosynthesis and Turnover of Cell Wall Glycoproteins during the Vegetative Cell Cycle of Chlamydomonas reinhardii

Abstract Biosynthesis and turnover of the different cell wall components have been studied during the vegetative cell cycle of Chlamydomonas reinhardii by pulse-labelling with [3H]proline and [35S]methionine and by pulse-chase experiments. Two phases of biosynthesis of insoluble cell wall material could be distinguished: 1. de novo synthesis of the daughter cell walls during cytokinesis and 2. cell wall enlargement during cell growth. During the cell enlargement period, a turnover of the insoluble wall component was observed. The released fragments were found to be accumulated in the culture medium. The LiCl-soluble cell wall glycoproteins were found to be precursors of the insoluble cell wall layer. Biosynthesis of the LiCl-soluble cell wall glycoproteins was observed mainly during the time period between cytokinesis and the end of the following cell enlargement period. Labelling of all the cell wall components was found to be strongly reduced during the time period between the end of the growth phase and cytokinesis. During cytokinesis, labelling of the insoluble cell wall material preceded the incorporation of radioactive precursors into the LiCl-soluble wall fraction.
SEXUAL POLARITY IN STREPTOMYCES COELICOLOR.

SUMMARY: A group of intersterile strains (R-) have been identified in Streptomyces coelicolor Strain a3 (2). They give fertile crosses with other strains (R+) which in turn are fertile among themselves. In R- x R+ crosses the contribution of R+ markers to the recombinant progeny is usually small. The fertility factor(s), which cannot be eliminated by acridine dyes, may be transferred at high frequency in R+ x R- crosses, but the fertilized strains display a low fertility.
Function and Biosynthesis of Cell Wall α-1,3-Glucan in Fungi

Although α-1,3-glucan is a major cell wall polysaccharide in filamentous fungi, its biological functions remain unclear, except that it acts as a virulence factor in animal and plant pathogenic fungi: it conceals cell wall β-glucan on the fungal cell surface to circumvent recognition by hosts. However, cell wall α-1,3-glucan is also present in many of non-pathogenic fungi. Recently, the universal function of α-1,3-glucan as an aggregation factor has been demonstrated. Applications of fungi with modified cell wall α-1,3-glucan in the fermentation industry and of in vitro enzymatically-synthesized α-1,3-glucan in bio-plastics have been developed. This review focuses on the recent progress in our understanding of the biological functions and biosynthetic mechanism of cell wall α-1,3-glucan in fungi. We briefly consider the history of studies on α-1,3-glucan, overview its biological functions and biosynthesis, and finally consider the industrial applications of fungi deficient in α-1,3-glucan.
A Zone Classification Approach for Arabic Documents using Hybrid Features

Zone segmentation and classification is an important step in document layout analysis. It decomposes a given scanned document into zones. Zones need to be classified into text and non-text, so that only text zones are provided to a recognition engine. This eliminates garbage output resulting from sending non-text zones to the engine. This paper proposes a framework for zone segmentation and classification. Zones are segmented using morphological operation and connected component analysis. Features are then extracted from each zone for the purpose of classification into text and non-text. Features are hybrid between texture-based and connected component based features. Effective features are selected using genetic algorithm. Selected features are fed into a linear SVM classifier for zone classification. System evaluation shows that the proposed zone classification works well on multi-font and multi-size documents with a variety of layouts even on historical documents.
Incorporating measured valve properties into a numerical model of a lymphatic vessel

An existing lumped-parameter model of multiple lymphangions (lymphatic vascular segments) in series is adapted for the incorporation of recent physiological measurements of lymphatic vascular properties. The new data show very marked nonlinearity of the passive pressure–diameter relation during distension, relative to comparable blood vessels, and complex valve behaviour. Since lymph is transported as a result of either the active contraction or the passive squeezing of vascular segments situated between two one-way valves, the performance of these valves is of primary importance. The valves display hysteresis (the opening and closing pressure drop thresholds differ), a bias to staying open (both state changes occur when the trans-valve pressure drop is adverse) and pressure-drop threshold dependence on transmural pressure. These properties, in combination with the strong nonlinearity that valve operation represents, have in turn caused intriguing numerical problems in the model, and we describe numerical stratagems by which we have overcome the problems. The principal problem is also generalised into a relatively simple mathematical example, for which solution detail is provided using two different solvers.
Rapid assessment of historic, current and future habitat quality for biodiversity around UK Natura 2000 sites

SUMMARY Changes in landscape composition and structure may impact the conservation and management of protected areas. Species that depend on specific habitats are at risk of extinction when these habitats are degraded or lost. Designing robust methods to evaluate landscape composition will assist decision- and policy-making in emerging landscapes. This paper describes a rapid assessment methodology aimed at evaluating land-cover quality for birds, plants, butterflies and bees around seven UK Natura 2000 sites. An expert panel assigned quality values to standard Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) land-cover classes for each taxonomic group. Quality was assessed based on historical (1950, 1990), current (2000) and future (2030) land-cover data, the last projected using three alternative scenarios: a growth-applied strategy (GRAS), a business-as-might-be-usual (BAMBU) scenario, and sustainable European development goal (SEDG) scenario. A quantitative quality index weighted the area of each land-cover parcel with a taxa-specific quality measure. Land parcels with high quality for all taxonomic groups were evaluated for temporal changes in area, size and adjacency. For all sites and taxonomic groups, the rate of deterioration of land-cover quality was greater between 1950 and 1990 than current rates or as modelled using the alternative future scenarios (2000–2030). Model predictions indicated land-cover quality stabilized over time under the GRAS scenario, and was close to stable for the BAMBU scenario. The SEDG scenario suggested an ongoing loss of quality, though this was lower than the historical rate of c. 1% loss per decade. None of the future scenarios showed accelerated fragmentation, but rather increases in the area, adjacency and diversity of high quality land parcels in the landscape.
Molecular characterization of local Bacillus thuringiensis strains recovered from Northern Jordan

A total of 80 isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis were recovered from different habitats of Northern Jordan. These isolates were grouped into three classes based on crystal morphology (spherical, bipyramidal, and both bipyramidal and cuboidal). The isolates that produced spherical crystals were the most common and the most toxic to diptera. SDS‐PAGE analysis of the isolates and some reference strains with similar crystal morphology showed similar protein profiles with heterogeneous multiple protein components. The plasmid DNA content of the isolates in comparison with B. thuringiensis serovar israelensis gave a similar single intense DNA band.
KRIT1 Protein Depletion Modifies Endothelial Cell Behavior via Increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Signaling*

Background: Loss of Krev-interaction trapped 1 (KRIT1) drives the activation of endothelial cells. Results: Blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling reverses the endothelial cell changes after KRIT1 depletion and permeability in KRIT1-deficient mice. Conclusion: Increased VEGF signaling downstream of KRIT1 loss alters endothelial cell behavior and is responsible for permeability in vivo. Significance: These studies describe a novel regulation of endothelial barrier function by KRIT1. Disruption of endothelial cell-cell contact is a key event in many cardiovascular diseases and a characteristic of pathologically activated vascular endothelium. The CCM (cerebral cavernous malformation) family of proteins (KRIT1 (Krev-interaction trapped 1), PDCD10, and CCM2) are critical regulators of endothelial cell-cell contact and vascular homeostasis. Here we show novel regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in KRIT1-depleted endothelial cells. Loss of KRIT1 and PDCD10, but not CCM2, increases nuclear β-catenin signaling and up-regulates VEGF-A protein expression. In KRIT1-depleted cells, increased VEGF-A levels led to increased VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) activation and subsequent alteration of cytoskeletal organization, migration, and barrier function and to in vivo endothelial permeability in KRIT1-deficient animals. VEGFR2 activation also increases β-catenin phosphorylation but is only partially responsible for KRIT1 depletion-dependent disruption of cell-cell contacts. Thus, VEGF signaling contributes to modifying endothelial function in KRIT1-deficient cells and microvessel permeability in Krit1+/− mice; however, VEGF signaling is likely not the only contributor to disrupted endothelial cell-cell contacts in the absence of KRIT1.
Optimizing collection of adverse event data in cancer clinical trials supporting supplemental indications.

PURPOSE Although much is known about the safety of an anticancer agent at the time of initial marketing approval, sponsors customarily collect comprehensive safety data for studies that support supplemental indications. This adds significant cost and complexity to the study but may not provide useful new information. The main purpose of this analysis was to assess the amount of safety and concomitant medication data collected to determine a more optimal approach in the collection of these data when used in support of supplemental applications. METHODS Following a prospectively developed statistical analysis plan, we reanalyzed safety data from eight previously completed prospective randomized trials. RESULTS A total of 107,884 adverse events and 136,608 concomitant medication records were reviewed for the analysis. Of these, four grade 1 to 2 and nine grade 3 and higher events were identified as drug effects that were not included in the previously established safety profiles and could potentially have been missed using subsampling. These events were frequently detected in subsamples of 400 patients or larger. Furthermore, none of the concomitant medication records contributed to labeling changes for the supplemental indications. CONCLUSION Our study found that applying the optimized methodologic approach, described herein, has a high probability of detecting new drug safety signals. Focusing data collection on signals that cause physicians to modify or discontinue treatment ensures that safety issues of the highest concern for patients and regulators are captured and has significant potential to relieve strain on the clinical trials system.
Microwave filter based on crystal-like reactive elements

The models of reactive elements, called δ-models, that unlike conventional models without frequency limitations are proposed. On the basis of δ-models of low-pass filters microstrip filters based on 3D electromagnetic-crystal inhomogeneities, which combine inductive and capacitive elements is proposed. Calculated and experimental characteristics of the filter illustrating characteristic improvement and reduction in size compared with conventional solution are presented.
Benchmarking a Soil Moisture Data Assimilation System for Agricultural Drought Monitoring

AbstractDespite considerable interest in the application of land surface data assimilation systems (LDASs) for agricultural drought applications, relatively little is known about the large-scale performance of such systems and, thus, the optimal methodological approach for implementing them. To address this need, this paper evaluates an LDAS for agricultural drought monitoring by benchmarking individual components of the system (i.e., a satellite soil moisture retrieval algorithm, a soil water balance model, and a sequential data assimilation filter) against a series of linear models that perform the same function (i.e., have the same basic input/output structure) as the full system component. Benchmarking is based on the calculation of the lagged rank cross correlation between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and soil moisture estimates acquired for various components of the system. Lagged soil moisture/NDVI correlations obtained using individual LDAS components versus their linear analo.
In Vivo Activation of Azipropofol Prolongs Anesthesia and Reveals Synaptic Targets*

Background: Azipropofol is a photoactive analog of the general anesthetic propofol. Results: In vivo photolabeling of tadpoles results in covalent ligand binding to neuronal proteins and prolongation of anesthesia. Conclusion: Reconciling time-resolved gel proteomics with behavioral state allows identification of potential anesthetic targets. Significance: In vivo activation of efficacious photolabels provides a novel approach to investigate mechanisms of general anesthesia. General anesthetic photolabels have been instrumental in discovering and confirming protein binding partners and binding sites of these promiscuous ligands. We report the in vivo photoactivation of meta-azipropofol, a potent analog of propofol, in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Covalent adduction of meta-azipropofol in vivo prolongs the primary pharmacologic effect of general anesthetics in a behavioral phenotype we termed “optoanesthesia. ” Coupling this behavior with a tritiated probe, we performed unbiased, time-resolved gel proteomics to identify neuronal targets of meta-azipropofol in vivo. We have identified synaptic binding partners, such as synaptosomal-associated protein 25, as well as voltage-dependent anion channels as potential facilitators of the general anesthetic state. Pairing behavioral phenotypes elicited by the activation of efficacious photolabels in vivo with time-resolved proteomics provides a novel approach to investigate molecular mechanisms of general anesthetics.
Location-Aided mMIMO Channel Tracking and Hybrid Beamforming for High-Speed Railway Communications: An Angle-Domain Approach

Wireless communication for high-speed railways (HSRs) has received considerable attention in recent years. The fast time-varying and doubly selective fading properties of channels pose a substantial threat to the link performance. Meanwhile, the nonnegligible Doppler frequency offset (DFO) resulting from the high-speed motion induces intercarrier interference. In this paper, we propose an angle-domain channel tracking and hybrid beamforming scheme for HSR by investigating the time and spatial properties of channels. A large-scale uniform linear antenna array is applied at the base station to provide high spatial resolution. The DFO is compensated through beam alignment and capturing the precise angular information from signals. Then, the spatial beam gain is tracked during the angle-of-arrival time, which can be used to reconstruct the full-dimensional channel state information. Finally, the hybrid beamforming is used to realize data transmission. The key idea of tracking is, applying a linear Kalman filter to modify the time-varying beam gain, while the main idea of hybrid beamforming is utilizing nonorthogonal beams to compress the channel dimension and decrease the computational complexity. The superiority of the proposed scheme is evaluated through simulations.
Circulating adiponectin is inversely associated with risk of thyroid cancer: in vivo and in vitro studies.

CONTEXT Circulating adiponectin has been inversely associated with risk for several malignancies. Its association with thyroid cancer has not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVE/METHODS We measured circulating adiponectin levels in 175 thyroid carcinoma patients and 107 controls. We also examined the expression of adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) using immunohistochemistry in 82 thyroid carcinoma tissues and using RT-qPCR in 40 human thyroid carcinoma tissues (32 papillary, six follicular/Hurthle, one anaplastic, one medullary), four normal human thyroid tissue specimens, and the BHP7 and SW579 thyroid cancer cell lines. We then utilized these thyroid cancer cell lines to investigate whether adiponectin could directly regulate cell cycle or apoptosis. RESULTS Thyroid cancer patients had lower circulating adiponectin levels than controls (17.00 ± 6.32 vs. 19.26 ± 6.28 μg/ml; P < 0.001). Subjects in the highest tertile of circulating adiponectin concentrations had significantly lower odds of developing any type of thyroid carcinoma (odds ratio = 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.55), or papillary thyroid carcinoma (odds ratio = 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.55), before and after adjustment for potential confounders. Both thyroid carcinoma cell lines and tissues expressed AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. Recombinant adiponectin did not exert a clinically significant direct effect on cell cycle, proliferation, or apoptosis in thyroid cancer cell lines in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Circulating adiponectin is independently and inversely associated with the risk of thyroid cancer. Human thyroid carcinomas and cell lines express adiponectin receptors. However, in the absence of a major direct effect of adiponectin on thyroid cancer cell lines in vitro, the negative association observed herein may be attributed to the metabolic effects of adiponectin.
Synthesis and evaluation of nicotine alpha4beta2 receptor radioligand, 5-(3'-18F-fluoropropyl)-3-(2-(S)-pyrrolidinylmethoxy)pyridine, in rodents and PET in nonhuman primate.

UNLABELLED Nicotine alpha(4)beta(2) receptor subtypes are implicated in the study of Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, substance abuse, lung cancer, and other disorders. We report the development and evaluation of a putative antagonist, 5-(3'-fluoropropyl)-3-(2-(S)-pyrrolidinylmethoxy)pyridine (nifrolidine) as a PET agent for nicotine alpha(4)beta(2) receptors. METHODS In vitro binding affinity of nifrolidine was measured in rat brain slices labeled with (125)I-iodoepibatidine or (125)I-bungaratoxin. Selectivity of binding was measured in the presence of cytisine. (18)F radiolabeling was performed by reacting the tosylate precursor with (18)F-fluoride followed by deprotection. In vitro autoradiographic studies in rat brain slices with 5-(3'-(18)F-fluoropropyl)-3-(2-(S)-pyrrolidinylmethoxy)pyridine ((18)F-nifrolidine) were read on a phosphor imager. Rats were injected with (18)F-nifrolidine (3.7 MBq each), and brain regions were counted at various times (2-120 min). Blocking studies were performed by subcutaneous injection of nicotine (10 mg/kg). A PET study of (18)F-nifrolidine (approximately 148 MBq) was performed on an anesthetized rhesus monkey using a high-resolution scanner. RESULTS In vitro binding affinity of nifrolidine exhibited an inhibition constant of 2.89 nmol/L for the alpha(4)beta(2) sites. Radiosynthesis and high-performance liquid chromatography purifications yielded the product in approximately 20%-40% decay-corrected radiochemical yield to provide (18)F-nifrolidine specific activities of approximately 111-185 GBq/mumol. In vitro autoradiography in rat brain slices revealed selective binding of (18)F-nifrolidine to the anteroventral thalamic nucleus, ventral posteriomedial thalamus, dorsolateral geniculate, and, to a lesser extent, cortex and striata, which are known to contain alpha(4)beta(2) sites. This specific binding was completely abolished by 300 mumol/L nicotine. Ex vivo rat brain distribution studies indicated selective binding in the thalamus with a maximal thalamus-to-cerebellum ratio of approximately 3. The PET study revealed selective maximal uptake (0.01% injected dose/mL) in regions of the thalamus (anteroventral and anteromedial thalamus, ventrolateral thalamus) and extrathalamic regions such as cingulate gyrus, lateral geniculate, temporal cortex, and frontal cortex. CONCLUSION Binding of (18)F-nifrolidine to alpha(4)beta(2) receptor-rich regions in rats and monkeys indicates promise as a PET agent. Additionally, the thalamus-to-cerebellum ratio approached a plateau of 1.7 in 120 min, indicating relatively faster kinetics compared with previously reported imaging agents.