Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The pig as a mixing vessel for influenza viruses: Human and veterinary implications

Influenza A viruses are highly infectious respiratory pathogens that can infect many species. Birds are the reservoir for all known influenza A subtypes; and novel influenza viruses can emerge from birds and infect mammalian species including humans. Because swine are susceptible to infection with both avian and human influenza viruses, novel reassortant influenza viruses can be generated in this mammalian species by reassortment of influenza viral segments leading to the “mixing vessel” theory. There is no direct evidence that the reassortment events culminating in the 1918, 1957 or 1968 pandemic influenza viruses originated from pigs. Genetic reassortment among avian, human and/or swine influenza virus gene segments has occurred in pigs and some novel reassortant swine viruses have been transmitted to humans. Notably, novel reassortant H2N3 influenza viruses isolated from the US pigs, most likely infected with avian influenza viruses through surface water collected in ponds for cleaning barns and watering animals, had a similar genetic make-up to early isolates (1957) of the H2N2 human pandemic. These novel H2N3 swine viruses were able to cause disease in swine and mice and were infectious and highly transmissible in swine and ferrets without prior adaptation. The preceding example shows that pigs could transmit novel viruses from an avian reservoir to other mammalian species. Importantly, H2 viruses pose a substantial risk to humans because they have been absent from mammalian species since 1968 and people born after 1968 have little preexisting immunity to the H2 subtype. It is difficult to predict which virus will cause the next human pandemic and when that pandemic might begin. Importantly, the establishment and spread of a reassorted mammalian-adapted virus from pigs to humans could happen anywhere in the world. Therefore, both human and veterinary research needs to give more attention to potential cross-species transmission capacity of influenza A viruses.
Disagreement Dissected : Vagueness as a Source of Ambiguity in Nominal ( Co-) Reference

Since the early investigations by Hirschman et al. (1997) and the critique of the MUC-7 annotation scheme put forward by van Deemter and Kibble (2000), several large corpora have been annotated with coreference relations, with refinements in terms of annotation schemes (Poesio, 2004), as well as in terms of support by the annotation tools. After van Deemter and Kibble and their critique of coreference in the case of bound anaphora, critique of the concept of coreference itself came only from Poesio and Reyle (2001), who argue that in the case of mereologically structured entities (both physical objects and abstract objects like plans), it is possible that underspecified references occur without any loss of understandability on the part of the reader/listener, and propose an underspecified DRT representation to cope with these cases. Poesio and Artstein (2005) argue that coreference annotation can (and possibly should) use underspecified representations to cope with these ambiguous cases. In a study with 18 subjects in an annotation setting, they found that, in the text used, 42.6% of the markables were at least implicitly ambiguous (in the sense that at least two antecedents were chosen by more than two coders each), of which a little more than one third were marked explicitly by annotators when they had been told to do so. These results are also highly relevant for large-scale annotation efforts like ACE 1, the dutch KNACK-2002 corpus (Hoste and Daelemans, 2004), or the ongoing effort to add coreference annotation to the text of the German T üBa-D/Z treebank (Hinrichs et al., 2005), since these ambiguities may well occur not only in spoken dialogues but also in edited newspaper texts. In the remaining part of this paper, we will provide a qualitative analysis of disagreements in the TüBa-D/Z corpus, to show that a certain class of cases, namely those involving vague objects, are prone to genuine ambiguities and lead to a decrease in annotator agreement where
A pr 2 01 7 Strain-controlled Insulator-Metal Transition in YTiO 3 / SrTiO 3 Superlattices : A First-Principles Study

The structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of (STO)4/(YTO)2 superlattice consisting of Mott insulator YTiO3 (YTO) and band insulator SrTiO3 (STO) under strain are investigated by the density-functional-theory plus U method. It is found that an insulator-metal transition occurs when a compressive strain of 0.2% is applied. The structural analyses reveal that the presence of metallic state in such superlattices accompanies structural phase transition with restoring of inversion symmetry. Further study shows that this strain-induced structural transition makes the d energy level of the interfacial Ti atoms of the YTO layer move upward due to the decreasing of the TiO6 octahedral volume and induces the electron reconstruction in the whole superlattice systems. In addition, when the on-site interaction U is changed from 5 to 4 eV, a similar insulator-metal transition also occurs in such superlattices due to the weakened electron correlation. These findings can improve our understanding of the insulator-metal transitions in such oxide superlattices.
Isotopically enhanced triple-quantum-dot qubit

Three coupled quantum dots in isotopically purified silicon enable all-electrical qubit control with long coherence time. Like modern microprocessors today, future processors of quantum information may be implemented using all-electrical control of silicon-based devices. A semiconductor spin qubit may be controlled without the use of magnetic fields by using three electrons in three tunnel-coupled quantum dots. Triple dots have previously been implemented in GaAs, but this material suffers from intrinsic nuclear magnetic noise. Reduction of this noise is possible by fabricating devices using isotopically purified silicon. We demonstrate universal coherent control of a triple-quantum-dot qubit implemented in an isotopically enhanced Si/SiGe heterostructure. Composite pulses are used to implement spin-echo type sequences, and differential charge sensing enables single-shot state readout. These experiments demonstrate sufficient control with sufficiently low noise to enable the long pulse sequences required for exchange-only two-qubit logic and randomized benchmarking.
Significance of the Weibull Distribution and its Sub-models in Natural Image Statistics

The contrast statistics of natural images can be adequately characterized by a two-parameter Weibull distribution. Here we show how distinct regimes of this Weibull distribution lead to various classes of visual content. These regimes can be determined using model selection techniques from information theory. We experimentally explore the occurrence of the content classes, as related to the global statistics, local statistics, and to human attended regions. As such, we explicitly link local image statistics and visual content.
A computational study of the aerodynamics and forewing-hindwing interaction of a model dragonfly in forward flight

SUMMARY The aerodynamics and forewing-hindwing interaction of a model dragonfly in forward flight are studied, using the method of numerically solving the Navier-Stokes equations. Available morphological and stroke-kinematic parameters of dragonfly (Aeshna juncea) are used for the model dragonfly. Six advance ratios (J; ranging from 0 to 0.75) and, at each J, four forewing-hindwing phase angle differences (γd; 180°, 90°, 60° and 0°) are considered. The mean vertical force and thrust are made to balance the weight and body-drag, respectively, by adjusting the angles of attack of the wings, so that the flight could better approximate the real flight. At hovering and low J (J=0, 0.15), the model dragonfly uses separated flows or leading-edge vortices (LEV) on both the fore- and hindwing downstrokes; at medium J (J=0.30, 0.45), it uses the LEV on the forewing downstroke and attached flow on the hindwing downstroke; at high J (J=0.6, 0.75), it uses attached flows on both fore- and hindwing downstrokes. (The upstrokes are very lightly loaded and, in general, the flows are attached.) At a given J, at γd=180°, there are two vertical force peaks in a cycle, one in the first half of the cycle, produced mainly by the hindwing downstroke, and the other in the second half of the cycle, produced mainly by the forewing downstroke; atγ d=90°, 60° and 0°, the two force peaks merge into one peak. The vertical force is close to the resultant aerodynamic force [because the thrust (or body-drag) is much smaller than vertical force (or the weight)]. 55-65% of the vertical force is contributed by the drag of the wings. The forewing-hindwing interaction is detrimental to the vertical force (and resultant force) generation. At hovering, the interaction reduces the mean vertical force (and resultant force) by 8-15%, compared with that without interaction; as J increases, the reduction generally decreases (e.g. at J=0.6 and γd=90°, it becomes 1.6%). A possible reason for the detrimental interaction is as follows: each of the wings produces a mean vertical force coefficient close to half that needed for weight support, and a downward flow is generated in producing the vertical force; thus, in general, a wing moves in the downwash-velocity field induced by the other wing, reducing its aerodynamic forces.
Safety of Combined Abdominal Sacral Colpopexy and Sigmoid Resection With Suture Rectopexy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives This study aimed to determine if abdominal sacral colpopexy (ASC) using mesh can be safely combined with sigmoid resection and anastomosis. Methods This is a single institution, retrospective chart review of patients who underwent combined ASC and suture rectopexy with sigmoid resection between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011. Charts were screened for outcome data and complications related to the placement of synthetic mesh at the time of bowel resection to include readmission and reoperation rates, infection, bowel obstruction, fistula, and mesh erosion. Outcome data for patients receiving combined procedures were compared to 2 separate cohorts of patients as follows: a group that underwent only ASC with polypropylene mesh and a group that underwent only sigmoid resection plus or minus suture rectopexy. The DINDO surgical classification system was used for each cohort to further analyze complications. Results There were 133 patients in the ASC only group (ASC only), 34 in the combined ASC and sigmoid resection group (Combined), and 27 in the sigmoidectomy plus rectopexy group (Colorectal only). The Colorectal only cohort had a higher rate of postoperative ileus; ASC only 3.8%, Combined 5.9%, Colorectal 22.2% (P = 0.004). There were otherwise no differences in intraoperative and postoperative complications or in the DINDO classification scores. Conclusions Abdominal sacral colpopexy with placement of synthetic mesh at the time of sigmoid resection and anastomosis does not seem to increase the rate of intraoperative or postoperative complications.
The Effect of Urbanization and Farmland Transfer on the Spatial Patterns of Non-Grain Farmland in China

Rapid urbanization has accelerated farmland transfer in China, which in turn has increased the cultivation intensity of non-grain farmland (NGF). The aim of this paper was to analyze the spatial patterns of non-grain farmland (NGF) at municipal-level cities in China from 2000 to 2014, and explore the influence of urbanization and farmland transfer on the spatial patterns of non-grain farmland (NGF). The study found that both NGF area and share have a consistent variation trend which increased first, then decreased, and increased again. There were great differences between NGF area and share, which had various spatial patterns. Global Moran’s I of NGF area and share had strong positive spatial autocorrelations in 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2014, and revealed remarkable clustered spatial patterns. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis found that the spatial agglomeration pattern of the NGF area and the share changed significantly from 2000 to 2014. The spatial patterns of NGF were significantly influenced by regional differences in urbanization and farmland transfer. These results provide critical insights for formulating differential farmland transfer policies and policies for sustainable development of agriculture and rural economy in China.
Generating String Inputs using Constrained Symbolic Execution

The most commonly reported security vulnerabilities are related to cross-site scripting and SQL command injection. Both types of attack affect web applications that produce structured output such as SQL, XML, and HTML. Attacks that exploit these vulnerabilities are popular because web applications are ubiquitous, contain potentially valuable information, and are easily accessed remotely. We present an efficient static analysis that detects SQL injection vulnerabilities and the execution paths that lead to them. Our algorithm is based on recent work that models sets of string values using context-free grammars. We extend this analysis so that its output—a set of structured bug reports—can be used to generate symbolic constraints over string variables. Our algorithm then solves these constraints, yielding a full set of attack inputs for each vulnerability that is detected. The output of our algorithm is significantly easier to verify than the bug reports of the original analysis; we support this claim with anecdotal evidence. We also allow the developer to place restrictions on the path generation algorithm. This feature, in the spirit of bounded software model checking, allows our algorithm to automatically rule out certain classes of false positives. We empirically evaluate the scalability of our implementation by applying it to a previouslypublished set of error reports. Our prototype successfully finds violating inputs for 17 out of the 22 bug reports that we were able to reproduce.
Client-Driven Selective Streaming of Multiview Video for Interactive 3DTV

We present a novel client-driven multiview video streaming system that allows a user to watch 3D video interactively with significantly reduced bandwidth requirements by transmitting a small number of views selected according to his/her head position. The user's head position is tracked and predicted into the future to select the views that best match the user's current viewing angle dynamically. Prediction of future head positions is needed so that views matching the predicted head positions can be prefetched in order to account for delays due to network transport and stream switching. The system allocates more bandwidth to the selected views in order to render the current viewing angle. Highly compressed, lower quality versions of some other views are also prefetched for concealment if the current user viewpoint differs from the predicted viewpoint. An objective measure based on the abruptness of the head movements and delays in the system is introduced to determine the number of additional lower quality views to be prefetched. The proposed system makes use of multiview coding (MVC) and scalable video coding (SVC) concepts together to obtain improved compression efficiency while providing flexibility in bandwidth allocation to the selected views. Rate-distortion performance of the proposed system is demonstrated under different experimental conditions.
A Study on Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Locus of Control in LGBT

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community constitutes the stigmatized and marginalized section of the „heterosexist‟ society. It attempts to probe into their Cognitive emotion regulation and Locus of control. Using Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, homosexuals and bisexuals, were selected to constitute Other sexual orientation group, on basis of sexual orientation and heterosexuals were selected to constitute Heterosexual orientation group, after screening them with General Health Questionnaire – 28. Following this, Transgenders were screened using The Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults. The Other sexual orientation group was then renamed as LGBT group. They were assessed using Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and Rotter's Internal – External Locus of Control Scale. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed significant differences between Heterosexual orientation and Other sexual orientation group whereby the latter tend to cope with stressors with more Negative Cognitive Emotion Regulation strategies and have internal locus of control. Significant differences were found in LGBT group whereby Transgenders use significantly higher Negative Cognitive Emotion Regulation strategies, followed by Bisexuals, Gays and Lesbians. Lesbians use significantly higher Positive Cognitive Emotion Regulation strategies, followed by Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders. Lesbians have significantly higher external locus of control followed by Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders. Although having certain limitations, the study highlights the need for extending psychotherapeutic intervention in the LGBT community.
Document-centric XML workflows with fragment digital signatures

The use of digital document management and processing is increasing. Traditional workflows of paper forms are being replaced by electronic workflows of digital documents. These workflows often require multiple signatures to be added to the documents for authorization and-or integrity. We describe examples of digital workflows that illustrate problems with digital signatures: i.e. the use of digital signatures across entire documents results in signatures that can be unnecessarily invalidated by subsequent modification of the document. We propose the use of fragment signatures, which reduce unnecessary invalidation of signatures and enable greater concurrency in workflows. Our approach is document-centric and does not use a centralized database. We report on an implementation that allows fragment signatures over document fragments as well as the attachment (or embedding) of other documents. This allows collaborative or cooperative editing to occur on parts of a document without disturbing unrelated signatures. We describe the lessons learned from our deployments and offer further ways to embed such signatures into other document types. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Component-based restoration of speckled images

Many coherent imaging modalities are often characterized by a multiplicative noise, known as speckle which often makes the interpretation of data difficult. In this paper, we present a speckle reduction algorithm based on separating the structure and texture components of SAR images. An iterative algorithm based on surrogate function-als is presented that solves the component optimization formulation. Experiments indicate this proposed method performs favorably compared to state-of-the-art speckle reduction methods.
Quantitative proteomics analysis reveals the tolerance of wheat to salt stress in response to Enterobacter cloacae SBP-8

Salinity stress adversely affects the plant growth and is a major constraint to agriculture. In the present study, we studied the role of plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) Enterobacter cloacae SBP-8 possessing ACC deaminase activity on proteome profile of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under high salinity (200 mM NaCl) stress. The aim of study was to investigate the differential expressed protein in selected three (T-1, T-2, T-3) treatments and absolute quantification (MS/MS analysis) was used to detect statistically significant expressed proteins. In this study, we investigated the adaptation mechanisms of wheat seedlings exposed to high concentration of NaCl treatment (200 mM) for 15 days in response to bacterial inoculation based on proteomic data. The identified proteins were distributed in different cellular, biological and molecular functions. Under salt stress, proteins related to ion-transport, metabolic pathway, protein synthesis and defense responsive were increased to a certain extent. A broader comparison of the proteome of wheat plant under different treatments revealed that changes in some of the metabolic pathway may be involved in stress adaption in response to PGPR inoculation. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified the various up-regulated/down-regulated proteins into tested three treatments. Our results suggest that bacterial inoculation enhanced the ability of wheat plant to combat salt stress via regulation of transcription factors, promoting antioxidative activity, induction of defense enzymes, lignin biosynthesis, and acceleration of protein synthesis.
A Study on Various Data De-duplication Systems

Data is the heart of any organization; hence it is necessary to protect it. For doing so, it is the needed to implement a good backup and recovery plan. But the redundant nature of the backup data makes the storage a concern; hence it is necessary to avoid the redundant data present in the backup. Data deduplication is one such solution that discovers and removes the redundancies among the data blocks. This paper focuses on giving a wide study on the technology, process and types of the various data de-duplication system. This paper is helpful to the readers in giving a detailed analysis and study on the various data de-duplication systems that has been proposed by many researchers.
Ligation of CD27 on Murine B Cells Responding to T-Dependent and T-Independent Stimuli Inhibits the Generation of Plasma Cells1

B cells can be stimulated either allogenically with the Th cell clone D10G4.1 and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells or polyclonally with LPS to proliferate and undergo terminal differentiation to Ig-secreting plasma cells in vitro. The addition of anti-CD27 to such cultures inhibits Ig secretion, and inhibition is more marked in T-dependent cultures than in T-independent cultures. Both IgM and secondary isotypes are affected, and addition of anti-CD27 even 4 days after culture initiation inhibits Ig secretion. Anti-CD27 does not affect B cell proliferation or the acquisition of activation markers by B cells, and no marked loss of B cell viability is detected in cells cultured in the presence of anti-CD27, suggesting that the inhibition of Ig secretion is not due to inhibition of early activation events or to death of activated cells in vitro. However, the presence of anti-CD27 significantly inhibits the induction of Blimp-1 and J chain transcripts, which are turned on in cells committed to plasma cell differentiation. Furthermore, mice immunized under cover of anti-CD27 make less Ag-specific IgM and IgG, but have equivalent T cell responses when compared with control mice. These data suggest that ligation of CD27, a member of the TNFR family, on the B cell surface may prevent terminal differentiation of activated B cells into Ig-secreting plasma cells.