Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic parallel tree contraction (extended abstract)

Parallel tree contraction has been found to be a useful and quite powerful tool for the design of a wide class of efficient graph algorithms. We propose a corresponding technique for the parallel solution of incremental problems. As our computational model, we assume a variant of the CRCW PRAM where we can dynamically activate processors by a forking operation. We consider a dynamic binary tree <italic>T</italic> of ≤ <italic>n</italic> nodes and unbounded depth. We describe a procedure, which we call the <italic>dynamic parallel tree contraction algorithm</italic>, which incrementally processes various parallel modification requests and queries: <list><item>(1)parallel requests to add or delete leaves of <italic>T</italic>, or modify labels of internal nodes or leaves of <italic>T</italic>, and also </item><item>(2) parallel tree contraction queries which require recomputingvalues at specified nodes. Each modification or query is with respect to a set of nodes <italic>U</italic> in <italic>T</italic>. </item></list>Our dynamic parallel tree contraction algorithm is a randomized algorithm that takes O(log(|U|log <italic>n</italic>)) expected parallel time using O(|U|log <italic>n</italic>/log(|U|log <italic>n</italic>) processors. We give a large number of applications (with the same bounds), including: <list><item>(a) maintaining the usual tree properties (such as number of ancestors, preorder, etc.), </item><item>(b) Eulerian tour, </item><item>(c) expression evaluation, </item> <item>(d) least common ancestor, and </item><item>(e) canonical forms of trees. </item></list> Previously, there where no known parallel algorithms for incrementally maintaining and solving such problems in parallel time less than &THgr;(log <italic>n</italic>). In deriving our incremental algorithms, we solve a key subproblem, namely a <italic>processor activation problem</italic>, within the same asymptotic bounds, which may be useful in the design of other parallel incremental algorithms. This algorithm uses an interesting persistent parallel data structures involving a non-trivial construction. In a subsequent paper, we apply our dynamic parallel tree contraction technique to various incremental graph problems: maintaining various properties, (such as coloring, minimum covering set, maximum matching, etc.). of parallel series graphs, outerplanar graphs, Helin networks, bandwidth-limited networks, and various other graphs with constant separator size.
Efficient Bonded Channel Assignment in IEEE 802.11 WLAN with Heterogeneous Clients

Channel bonding allows IEEE 802.11n clients to operate at a maximum rate of 300 Mbps which can significantly improve the network throughput. But at the same time it increases the co-channel interference to the nearby APs leading to a degradation of network throughput. The issue becomes more serious when the network consists of heterogeneous clients. An inappropriate assignment of bonded channels to the APs may penalize the legacy clients served by other APs. Furthermore, activating the APs with non-bonded channels only may also penalize the n clients. In both cases the network throughput may be compromised. In this paper we propose an efficient bonded channel assignment algorithm addressing how efficiently a bonded channel can be used together with non-bonded channels to maximize the network throughput. Through extensive simulation we have shown that the proposed approach is efficient enough in terms of both network throughput and client fairness.
The Algorithm of Nonlinear Feature Extraction for Large scale Data set

In order to deal with the storage and computation problem for large-scale data set, an efficient iterative method is proposed. Some mathematical tricks are firstly used to transform the kernel matrix and the sample vector can be gotten in feature space. Then, the sample vector is used for iterative algorithm to extract nonlinear discriminant vectors. The space complexity of proposed method reduces from 2 ( ) m  to ( ) m  . The experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Open Source Software : Management , Diffusion and Competition

The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the Open Source Software (OSS) research by a comprehending study of the factors that determine OSS diffusion, as well as the economic and social impact of this diffusion. The research focuses on the process of diffusion over time and assesses cause and effect relationships of the phenomenon. Firstly, it identifies and assesses the factors determining the diffusion and sustainability of OSS (cause). Secondly, it examines the effects of this diffusion at an economic and socio-political level (effect). At the economic level, the changes in markets structure and dynamics as a result of the OSS diffusion are analyzed. At the socio-political level, the study focuses on the effects in eGovernment and education. The study grounds its results on a number of conceptual models that are based on a theoretical background with elements from the theories of technology acceptance and diffusion of innovations (DOI), as well as from social and economic theories. The models’ evaluation is performed with the aid of rigorous methodological frameworks of mathematics and econometrics. Results can be a valuable input for both research and practice. For research, they provide with more accurate, a-priori estimations of the diffusion rate and the market competition. They also provide with the assessment of technological, social, economic and institutional factors that determine the OSS technology diffusion. As a result, they can become useful tools for strategic planning and policy making, in a continuously evolving and competitive environment such as the ICT market.
Two-tiered Approach Identifies a Network of Cancer and Liver Disease-related Genes Regulated by miR-122*

MicroRNAs function as important regulators of gene expression and are commonly linked to development, differentiation, and diseases such as cancer. To better understand their roles in various biological processes, identification of genes targeted by microRNAs is necessary. Although prediction tools have significantly helped with this task, experimental approaches are ultimately required for extensive target search and validation. We employed two independent yet complementary high throughput approaches to map a large set of mRNAs regulated by miR-122, a liver-specific microRNA implicated in regulation of fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism, hepatitis C infection, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The combination of luciferase reporter-based screening and shotgun proteomics resulted in the identification of 260 proteins significantly down-regulated in response to miR-122 in at least one method, 113 of which contain predicted miR-122 target sites. These proteins are enriched for functions associated with the cell cycle, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Among these miR-122-sensitive proteins, we identified a large group with strong connections to liver metabolism, diseases, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Additional analyses, including examination of consensus binding motifs for both miR-122 and target sequences, provide further insight into miR-122 function.
Improving the management of cost and scope in software projects using agile practices

While organizations want to develop software products with reduced cost and flexible scope, stories about the applicability of agile practices to improve project development and performance in the software industry are scarce and focused on specific methodologies such as Scrum and XP. Given these facts, this paper aims to investigate, through practitioners' perceptions of value, which agile practices are being used to improve two performance criteria for software projects-cost and scope. Using a multivariate statistical technique known as Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), the results suggest that the use of agile practices can be represented in factors which describe different applications in software development process to improve cost and scope. Also, we conclude that some agile practices should be used together in order to get better efficiency on cost and scope in four development aspects: improving (a) team abilities, (b)management of requirements, (c) quality of the code developed, and (d) delivery of software on-budget and on-time.
Experimental Simulations of PRAM on Complete Networks

Consider the routing problem of p processors sending packets to each other at random, under the OCPC restriction, where a sending fails if another processor tries to send to the same target. Finding eecient and implementable solutions to this problem would be very desirable for the implementation of PRAM (parallel random access machine). There are two principal means to speed up routing: to improve the algorithm, or to improve the architecture. We consider both. As some of the algorithms are very hard to analyse, we have implemented a routing simulator to get approximate idea of the goodness of the algorithms and architectures. We observe that with proper improvements in the architecture, routing costs close to the optimal 1 step per packet can be achieved.
Vibrotactile Stimulation to Increase and Decrease Texture Roughness

We have developed a texture display system that modifies the perceived roughness of textured surfaces via a voice coil actuator worn on the finger. To increase the roughness sensations, the vibrotactile stimuli from the actuator simulate the skin deformations that are activated when a wavy surface is scanned. Conversely, to decrease the roughness sensations of the textured surface, a high-frequency vibrotactile stimulus offsets the activity levels of tactile mechanoreceptors. This offset suppresses the perceived roughness of the surfaces being touched, with increase in the offset correlating with increase in the feeling of smoothness of the surfaces. We conducted an experiment in which we tested the effects of these two types of vibrotactile stimulation on grating roughness specimens, with subjective responses acquired from eight participants via the magnitude estimation method. The results obtained indicate that our method selectively increases and decreases the roughness felt. The intention is for the technique to be used to develop an augmented reality device for textures.
Alternative Splicing and Highly Variable Cadherin Transcripts Associated with Field-Evolved Resistance of Pink Bollworm to Bt Cotton in India

Evolution of resistance by insect pests can reduce the benefits of insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that are used extensively in sprays and transgenic crops. Despite considerable knowledge of the genes conferring insect resistance to Bt toxins in laboratory-selected strains and in field populations exposed to Bt sprays, understanding of the genetic basis of field-evolved resistance to Bt crops remains limited. In particular, previous work has not identified the genes conferring resistance in any cases where field-evolved resistance has reduced the efficacy of a Bt crop. Here we report that mutations in a gene encoding a cadherin protein that binds Bt toxin Cry1Ac are associated with field-evolved resistance of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) in India to Cry1Ac produced by transgenic cotton. We conducted laboratory bioassays that confirmed previously reported resistance to Cry1Ac in pink bollworm from the state of Gujarat, where Bt cotton producing Cry1Ac has been grown extensively. Analysis of DNA from 436 pink bollworm from seven populations in India detected none of the four cadherin resistance alleles previously reported to be linked with resistance to Cry1Ac in laboratory-selected strains of pink bollworm from Arizona. However, DNA sequencing of pink bollworm derived from resistant and susceptible field populations in India revealed eight novel, severely disrupted cadherin alleles associated with resistance to Cry1Ac. For these eight alleles, analysis of complementary DNA (cDNA) revealed a total of 19 transcript isoforms, each containing a premature stop codon, a deletion of at least 99 base pairs, or both. Seven of the eight disrupted alleles each produced two or more different transcript isoforms, which implicates alternative splicing of messenger RNA (mRNA). This represents the first example of alternative splicing associated with field-evolved resistance that reduced the efficacy of a Bt crop.
Straggler Detection in Parallel Computing Systems through Dynamic Threshold Calculation

Cloud computing systems face the substantial challenge of the Long Tail problem: a small subset of straggling tasks significantly impede parallel jobs completion. This behavior results in longer service response times and degraded system utilization. Speculative execution, which create task replicas at runtime, is a typical method deployed in large-scale distributed systems to tolerate stragglers. This approach defines stragglers by specifying a static threshold value, which calculates the temporal difference between an individual task and the average task progression for a job. However, specifying static threshold debilitates speculation effectiveness as it fails to consider the intrinsic diversity of job timing constraints within modern day Cloud computing systems. Capturing such heterogeneity enables the ability to impose different levels of strictness for replica creation while achieving specified levels of QoS for different application types. Furthermore, a static threshold also fails to consider system environmental constraints in terms of replication overheads and optimal system resource usage. In this paper we present an algorithm for dynamically calculating a threshold value to identify task stragglers, considering key parameters including job QoS timing constraints, task execution characteristics, and optimal system resource utilization. We study and demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm through simulating a number of different operational scenarios based on real production cluster data against state-of-the-art solutions. Results demonstrate that our approach is capable of creating 58.62% less replicas under high resource utilization while reducing response time up to 17.86% for idle periods compared to a static threshold.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration TIROS Satellites and Satellite Meteorology

Importance of Sustained, Long-Term Monitoring of Earth’s Climate Emphasized in Declaration of the 2003 Earth Observation Summit . 1 Extended Summary . l.Background,Goal,and Scope . 19 3 2 . Overarching Principles . 24 3 . Required Absolute Accuracies and Long Term Stabilities for Climate Variables . 34 Solar Irradiance, Earth Radiation Budget And Clouds . 35 3.2 Atmospheric Variables . 44 3.1 3.3 Surface Variables . 49 Accuracies and Stabilities . 53 4.1 Solar Irradiance, Earth Radiation Budget, and Clouds . 53 4.2 Atmospheric Variables . 57 4.3 Surface Variables . 61 5 . Ability of Current Observing Systems to Meet Requirements . 64 5.1 Solar Irradiance, Earth Radiation Budget, And Clouds . 64 5.2 Atmospheric Variables . 69 5.3 Surface variables . 73 Inter-Calibration to Meet Requirements . 74 6.1 Solar Irradiance, Earth Radiation Budget, And Clouds . 74 6.2 Atmospheric Variables . 80 6.3 Surface Variables . 86 7 . Concluding Rcmarks . 88 8.Acknowledgmetits . 89 9 . References . 90 Appendix A . Workshop Agcnda . 95 Appendix B . Workshop Participants . 97 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations . 99 4 . Translation of Climate Dataset Accuracies and Stabilities to Satellite Instrument 6 . Roadinap for Future Improvements in Satellite Instrument Calibration and
Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Intervention for Health-Related Quality of Life in Drug-Dependent Males

Background: Nowadays drug dependence has become one of the main concerns worldwide. Indeed, drug dependence and abuse have become personal, social and, health problems that intensively threat human resources. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in drug-dependent males. Patients and Methods: An experimental research with pretest/posttest design and a control group was conducted on 49 drug-dependent males. The selected individuals were randomly allocated to the study groups (24 to the experimental and 25 to the control groups). Afterwards, the Short Form Health Survey for HRQOL (SF-36) questionnaire was completed by participants. Subsequently, the experiment group experienced eight 90-minute sessions of training in MBSR. At the end of the training, the subjects were evaluated once again by SF-36. The independent-samples t test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to analyses data. Results: The results suggested that the mean differences between groups regarding scales of role emotional, vitality, mental health, social functioning, and bodily pain were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Using MBSR is recommended for improving HRQOL in drug-dependent males who are undergoing treatment for their drug dependence in addiction treatment center; however, more studies concerning different drugs as well as drug dependence in women must be performed.
Treatment of echinococcosis: albendazole and mebendazole – what else?

The search for novel therapeutic options to cure alveolar echinococcosis (AE), due to the metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis, is ongoing, and these developments could also have a profound impact on the treatment of cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the closely related Echinococcus granulosus s.l. Several options are being explored. A viable strategy for the identification of novel chemotherapeutically valuable compounds includes whole-organism drug screening, employing large-scale in vitro metacestode cultures and, upon identification of promising compounds, verification of drug efficacy in small laboratory animals. Clearly, the current focus is targeted towards broad-spectrum anti-parasitic or anti-cancer drugs and compound classes that are already marketed, or that are in development for other applications. The availability of comprehensive Echinococcus genome information and gene expression data, as well as significant progress on the molecular level, has now opened the door for a more targeted drug discovery approach, which allows exploitation of defined pathways and enzymes that are essential for the parasite. In addition, current in vitro and in vivo models that are used to assess drug efficacy should be optimized and complemented by methods that give more detailed information on the host-parasite interactions that occur during drug treatments. The key to success is to identify, target and exploit those parasite molecules that orchestrate activities essential to parasite survival.
A resilient platform for safe execution of software inside a dynamic environment

Days have come when there is a greater need for enhancing the Application-level security for providing the safe execution of code within the environment. From the past we have learnt about the hazardous situation that have aroused from the software failure inside the environment causing the loss of important data and environmental damage to a very large extent, sometimes even an operating environment may also crash. Largely known factors of this type are virus, worms, backdoors etc. in the operating systems. Similar examples include the software damage causing the buffer overflow code injections, null pointer access, memory leaks, arithmetic or other exceptions like algorithmic invariants among which some of the assignments causing severe damage to the operating environment like Operating System. Some researchers try to provide a solution but only after the software has been installed and usually focused on static boundaries that are not likely to change over time but as we move on installing, memory is consumed and so the efficiency of the operating system decreases eg. Internet Explorer hanging the whole system. The proposed work aims at providing a secure platform like a trusted computing base for the application execution so that it does no damage to the environment.
An Improvement over direct coding technique to compress repeated & non-repeated nucleotide data

The compression is required to reduce the size of data to store in computer storage as well as to transmit data over the internet with limited bandwidth. The genomic sequences DNA or RNA contain billions of nucleotide bases (A, G, T, C) resulting large sized file to store in computer. In the previous compression algorithms the authors use direct coding technique where two bits are used to code a nucleotide base resulting compression ratio of 2 bits per byte (bpb). Some authors achieve a compression ratio less than 2 bpb after coding repeated bases differently. In this paper we proposed an improvement over direct coding technique that will compress both repeated and non-repeated sequences. The proposed algorithm provides better result as compared to existing algorithms. The existing direct coding algorithm compresses the non-repeated base (B) by prefixing a 0 followed by 2 bits code assigned for that base (i.e. 0B) whereas the repeated bases are compressed by prefixing 1 followed by 2 bits code assigned for that base (B) followed by 3 bits code to represent the number of repetitions (N) (i.e. 1BN). The non-repeated bases are coded by 3 bits and repeated bases by 6 bits but the existing algorithm is limited to compress the repeated sequence till 9 because of 3 bits coding. If the repeated sequence is greater than 9 then it requires a number of bits in multiple of 6 (i.e. 6, 12, and 18, so on). The propped algorithm compress the repeated base by making an improvement over existing one that will code a repeated sequence greater than 9 but less than 15 by prefixing 1 followed by base (B) followed by 111 followed by N (i.e. 1B111N) in 9 bits in place of 12 bits in existing algorithm hence the proposed algorithm provide better compression ratio.
Calcium Release from Intra-Axonal Endoplasmic Reticulum Leads to Axon Degeneration through Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Axonal degeneration represents an early pathological event in neurodegeneration, constituting an important target for neuroprotection. Regardless of the initial injury, which could be toxic, mechanical, metabolic, or genetic, degeneration of axons shares a common mechanism involving mitochondrial dysfunction and production of reactive oxygen species. Critical steps in this degenerative process are still unknown. Here we show that calcium release from the axonal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through ryanodine and IP3 channels activates the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and contributes to axonal degeneration triggered by both mechanical and toxic insults in ex vivo and in vitro mouse and rat model systems. These data reveal a critical and early ER-dependent step during axonal degeneration, providing novel targets for axonal protection in neurodegenerative conditions.