Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fault Management in Distributed Systems

In the past decade, distributed systems have rapidly evolved, from simple client/server applications in local area networks, to Internet-scale peer-to-peer networks and large-scale cloud platforms deployed on tens of thousands of nodes across multiple administrative domains and geographical areas. Despite of the growing popularity and interests, designing and implementing distributed systems remains challenging, due to their everincreasing scales and the complexity and unpredictability of the system executions. Fault management strengthens the robustness and security of distributed systems, by detecting malfunctions or violations of desired properties, diagnosing the root causes and maintaining verif iable evidences to demonstrate the diagnosis results. While its importance is well recognized, fault management in distributed systems, on the other hand, is notoriously difficult. To address the problem, various mechanisms and systems have been proposed in the past few years. In this report, we present a survey of these mechanisms and systems, and taxonomize them according to the techniques adopted and their application domains. Based on four representative systems (Pip, Friday, PeerReview and TrInc), we discuss various aspects of fault management, including fault detection, fault diagnosis and evidence generation. Their strength, limitation and application domains are evaluated and compared in detail. Comments University of Pennsylvania Department of Computer and Information Science Technical Report No. MSCIS-10-03. This technical report is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/cis_reports/914 Fault Management in Distributed
Processing natural language requirements

The importance of requirements, which in practice often means natural language requirements, for a successful software project cannot be underestimated. Although requirement analysis has been traditionally reserved to the experience of professionals, there is no reason not to use various automatic techniques to the same end. In this paper we present Circe, a Web-based environment for aiding in natural language requirements gathering, elicitation, selection, and validation and the tools it integrates. These tools have been used in several experiments both in academic and in industrial environments. Among other features, Circe can extract abstractions from natural language texts, build various models of the system described by the requirements, check the validity of such models, and produce functional metric reports. The environment can be easily extended to enhance its natural language recognition power or to add new models and views on them.
Resilient source coding

This paper provides a source coding theorem for multi-dimensional information signals when, at a given instant, the distribution associated with one arbitrary component of the signal to be compressed is not known and a side information is available at the destination. This new framework appears to be both of information-theoretical and game-theoretical interest: it provides a new type of constraints to compress an information source; it is useful for designing certain types of mediators in games and characterize utility regions for games with signals. Regarding the latter aspect, we apply the derived source coding theorem to the prisoner's dilemma and the battle of the sexes.
Glytube: A Conical Tube and Parafilm M-Based Method as a Simplified Device to Artificially Blood-Feed the Dengue Vector Mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti, the main vector of dengue virus, requires a blood meal to produce eggs. Although live animals are still the main blood source for laboratory colonies, many artificial feeders are available. These feeders are also the best method for experimental oral infection of Ae. aegypti with Dengue viruses. However, most of them are expensive or laborious to construct. Based on principle of Rutledge-type feeder, a conventional conical tube, glycerol and Parafilm-M were used to develop a simple in-house feeder device. The blood feeding efficiency of this apparatus was compared to a live blood source, mice, and no significant differences (p = 0.1189) were observed between artificial-fed (51.3% of engorgement) and mice-fed groups (40.6%). Thus, an easy to assemble and cost-effective artificial feeder, designated “Glytube” was developed in this report. This simple and efficient feeding device can be built with common laboratory materials for research on Ae. aegypti.
The novel fragment of tyrosyl tRNA synthetase, mini‐ TyrRS, is secreted to induce an angiogenic response in endothelial cells

Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases—enzymes that catalyze the first step of protein synthesis—in mammalian cells are now known to have expanded functions, including activities in signal transduction pathways, such as those for angiogenesis and inflammation. The native synthetases themselves are procytokines, having no signal transduction activities. After alternative splicing or natural proteolysis, specific fragments that are potent cytokines and that interact with specific receptors on cell surfaces are released. In this manner, a natural fragment of human tyrosyl tRNA synthetase (TyrRS), mini‐TyrRS, has been shown to act as a proangiogenic cytokine. The mechanistic basis for the action of mini‐TyrRS in angiogenesis has yet to be established. Here, we show that mini‐TyrRS is exported from endothelial cells when they are treated with tumor necrosis factor‐α. Mini‐TyrRS binds to vascular endothelial cells and activates an array of angiogenic signal transduction pathways. Mini‐TyrRS‐induced angiogenesis requires the activation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 (VEGFR2/Flk‐1/KDR). Mini‐ TyrRS stimulates VEGFR2 phosphorylation in a VEGF‐ independent manner, suggesting VEGFR2 transactivation. Transactivation of VEGFR2 and downstream angiogenesis require an intact Glu‐Leu‐Arg (ELR) motif in mini‐TyrRS, which is important for its cytokine activity. These studies therefore suggest a mechanism by which mini‐TyrRS induces angiogenesis in endothelial cells and provide further insight into the role of mini‐TyrRS as a link between translation and angiogenesis. —Greenberg, Y. , King, M. , Kiosses, W. B. , Ewalt, K. , Yang, X. , Schimmel, P., Reader, J. S. , and Tzima, E. The novel fragment of tyrosyl tRNA synthetase, mini‐ TyrRS, is secreted to induce an angiogenic response in endothelial cells. FASEB J. 22, 1597–1605 (2008)
M E M O -s T E N C I L Ethical Embeddedness in Business in Networks Ethical Embeddedness in Business Networks

The conceptual paper deals with ethics and the role it plays in creating value in inter-firm cooperation taking a business network approach. Ethical issues have been mainly taken to the fore in the Stakeholder approach of the firm. We claim that it can also be used in taking a business network approach. A conceptual overview is made of value creation and ethics and a comparative analysis of differences and similarities using a stakeholder in relation to a business network perspective. With the aid of an exemplifying case from paper industry the relevance of networks and value creation through ethical embeddedness in practice is highlighted. Key concepts: business networks, stakeholder approach, business ethics, ethical embeddedness, business culture, globalisation
Health status and disability among elderly people in three UK districts.

AIM To obtain population data on health status and disability of elderly people which may help in planning and maintaining services and be used as comparators for research. METHOD Random samples of people aged 70 and over were interviewed in their own homes in West Glamorgan, Dudley and North Staffordshire. The interviews included standardized assessments of health status (SF-36), disability (Barthel index) and cognitive function (Abbreviated Mental Test). RESULTS 1608 interviews were completed. Response rates varied between 66 and 84%. Age and sex adjusted scores for five of the eight parameters of the SF-36 and the Barthel score differed significantly between districts. CONCLUSIONS Local studies are required to provide appropriate normative data for each area. In the absence of such studies, the data in this paper are the best currently available.
Reframing “Failure” in Making: The Value of Play, Social Relationships, and Ownership

Building on grit and growth mindset literature, the “maker mindset” celebrates persistence through failure as key to inspiring creativity in making education. Yet, moving beyond examinations of individual persistence and assumptions that all people have the same wealth of resources to persevere, when is it worthwhile to work through challenging projects? What supports are necessary for youth to feel safe working through challenges in science, technology, engineering, math, and computing (STEM+C) activities? Using sociocultural theory as a lens, this ethnographic study analyzed observation field notes, videos, photos, student work, and interviews from an after-school making program for high school girls during the 2014-15 school year. Through a comparison of 2 groups—one that persisted through challenging moments and one that did not—this paper reveals the centrality of playfulness, teamwork, and ownership of projects in order to persist through challenges that arise in inquiry-based projects.
Data series management: The next challenge

There is an increasingly pressing need, by several applications in diverse domains, for developing techniques able to index and mine very large collections of sequences, or data series. Examples of such applications come from biology, astronomy, entomology, the web, and other domains. It is not unusual for these applications to involve numbers of data series in the order of hundreds of millions to billions, which are often times not analyzed in their full detail due to their sheer size. In this study, we describe recent efforts in designing techniques for indexing and mining truly massive collections of data series that will enable scientists to easily analyze their data. We argue that the main bottleneck in mining such massive datasets is the time taken to build the index. Therefore, we discuss solutions to this problem, including novel techniques that adaptively create data series indexes, allowing users to correctly answer queries before the indexing task is finished. Finally, we present our vision for the future of the very promising data series management research.
Can organic matter flux profiles be diagnosed using remineralisation rates derived from observed tracers and modelled ocean transport rates

Abstract. The average depth in the ocean at which the majority of sinking organic matter particles remineralise is a fundamental parameter in the ocean's role in regulating atmospheric CO2. Observed spatial patterns in sinking fluxes and relationships between the fluxes of different particles in the modern ocean have widely been used to invoke controlling mechanisms with important implications for CO2 regulation. However, such analyses are limited by the sparse spatial sampling of the available sediment trap data. Here we explore whether model ocean circulation rates, in the form of a transport matrix, can be used to derive remineralisation rates and infer sinking particle flux curves from the much more highly resolved observations of dissolved nutrient concentrations. Initially we show an example of the method using a transport matrix from the MITgcm model and demonstrate that there are a number of potential uncertainties associated with the method. We then use the Earth system model GENIE to generate a synthetic tracer data set to explore the method and its sensitivity to key sources of uncertainty arising from errors in the tracer observations and in the model circulation. We use a 54-member ensemble of different, but plausible, estimates of the modern circulation to explore errors associated with model transport rates. We find that reconstructed re-mineralisation rates are very sensitive to both errors in observations and model circulation rates, such that a simple inversion cannot provide a robust estimate of particulate flux profiles. Estimated remineralisation rates are particularly sensitive to differences between the "observed" and modelled circulation because remineralisation rates are 3–4 magnitudes smaller than transport rates. We highlight a potential method of constraining the uncertainty associated with using modelled circulation rates, although its success is limited by the observations currently available. Finally, we show that there are additional uncertainties when inferring particle flux curves from reliable estimates of remineralisation rates due to processes that are not restricted to the vertical water column transport, such as the cycling of dissolved organic matter.
Hysteroscopic Surgery by 3 D Imaging , Modellingand

This paper reports the status and preliminary results of our research which focuses on image processing & visualization for minimally inva-sive surgery. In the hysteroscopic removal of my-omata the surgeon lacks a proper 3D overview of the working area. Presenting the surgeon both pre-and peroperatively with an up-to-date representation of objects in the pelvic region improves his perception. Dynamic programming is used to segment MR images of the abdomen. A deformable tissue model is used to visualize the peroperative situation. The model is kept up-to-date via calibration using ultrasound. First results of a deformable tissue model are presented.
BAAV Mediated GJB2 Gene Transfer Restores Gap Junction Coupling in Cochlear Organotypic Cultures from Deaf Cx26Sox10Cre Mice

The deafness locus DFNB1 contains GJB2, the gene encoding connexin26 and GJB6, encoding connexin30, which appear to be coordinately regulated in the inner ear. In this work, we investigated the expression and function of connexin26 and connexin30 from postnatal day 5 to adult age in double transgenic Cx26Sox10Cre mice, which we obtained by crossing connexin26 floxed mice with a deleter Sox10–Cre line. Cx26Sox10Cre mice presented with complete connexin26 ablation in the epithelial gap junction network of the cochlea, whereas connexin30 expression was developmentally delayed; immunolabeling patterns for both connexins were normal in the cochlear lateral wall. In vivo electrophysiological measurements in Cx26Sox10Cre mice revealed profound hearing loss accompanied by reduction of endocochlear potential, and functional experiments performed in postnatal cochlear organotypic cultures showed impaired gap junction coupling. Transduction of these cultures with a bovine adeno associated virus vector restored connexin26 protein expression and rescued gap junction coupling. These results suggest that restoration of normal connexin levels by gene delivery via recombinant adeno associated virus could be a way to rescue hearing function in DFNB1 mouse models and, in future, lead to the development of therapeutic interventions in humans.
Microarray Time Course Experiments: Finding Profiles

Time course studies with microarray techniques and experimental replicates are very useful in biomedical research. We present, in replicate experiments, an alternative approach to select and cluster genes according to a new measure for association between genes. First, the procedure normalizes and standardizes the expression profile of each gene, and then, identifies scaling parameters that will further minimize the distance between replicates of the same gene. Then, the procedure filters out genes with a flat profile, detects differences between replicates, and separates genes without significant differences from the rest. For this last group of genes, we define a mean profile for each gene and use it to compute the distance between two genes. Next, a hierarchical clustering procedure is proposed, a statistic is computed for each cluster to determine its compactness, and the total number of classes is determined. For the rest of the genes, those with significant differences between replicates, the procedure detects where the differences between replicates lie, and assigns each gene to the best fitting previously identified profile or defines a new profile. We illustrate this new procedure using simulated data and a representative data set arising from a microarray experiment with replication, and report interesting results.
Delivery of MPEG video streams with constant perceptual quality of service

Constant levels of perceptual quality of service is what ideally users of multimedia services expect. In most cases, however, they receive time-varying levels of quality of service. This paper describes a technique to deliver nearly constant perceptual quality of service when transmitting video sequences over differentiated services IP networks. MPEG video packets are transmitted either as low-loss premium packets or as regular best-effort packets depending on their individual perceptual importance. On a frame-by-frame basis, allocation to the premium class is performed depending on the perceptual importance of each macroblock, the desired level of quality of service and the instantaneous network state. The resulting perceptually-based, time-varying use of premium and best-effort network resources delivers nearly constant quality of service to end users and it yields significant higher PSNR values compared to constant allocation of premium bandwidth.
International Journal of Physical Sciences Quantum Chemical Calculations on Molecular Structures and Solvents Effect on 4-nitropicolinic and 4- Methoxypicolinic Acid

The density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP) was used to study the solvents effect on electronic properties of 4-methoxypicolinic acid (4MOPIC) and 4-nitropicolinic acid (4NPIC). The calculated vibration frequencies at DFT/6-311++G** were compared to that of un-substituted picolinic acid to know the effect of donor/acceptor substituent on the molecules. Five solvents namely acetone, ethanol, diethyl ether, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were used to study solvents effect. The methoxyl (OCH 3) group in 4MPIC pushed electrons into the picolinic acid ring thereby resulted in upfield resonance as compared to 4NPIC in which nitro (NO 2) group brought about downfield in 1 HNMR. The solvents increased the minimum energy required to remove an electron for 4MOPIC whereas it was lower in 4NPIC. The HOMO and LUMO energies calculated in the solvents revealed that both HOMOs and LUMOs experienced stabilization in 4NPIC but LUMOs were destabilized in 4MOPIC as compared to gas phase.
Pheromones and their effect on women’s mood and sexuality

Pheromones are substances which are secreted to the outside by an individual and received by a second individual of the same species. Many examples exist in animals but their role in humans remains uncertain since adults have no functioning vomeronasal organ, which processes pheromone signals in animals. Yet pheromones can be detected by the olfactory system although humans under develop and underrate their smelling sense. Pheromones may be present in all bodily secretions but most attention has been geared toward axillary sweat which contains the odorous 16-androstenes. One of these steroidal compounds, androstadienone, is present at much higher concentrations in male sweat and can be detected by women, albeit with wide variation in sensitivity. Upper-lip application of a pharmacological dose of androstadienonein women results in improved mood and heightened focus - particularly to capture emotional information. A positive mood is known to facilitate women’s sexual response, and increased focus improves sexual satisfaction. Indeed, some studies showed a beneficial effect of androstadienone on sexual desire and arousal. However, these effects were dependent on the context of the experiment, for example, on the presence of a male attendant. Pheromones may also play a role in mate selection which is “disassortative” regarding the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-genotype. Preliminary evidence suggests that exposure to androstadienone in women promotes attractiveness ratings of potential mates. In conclusion, some data indicate that 16-androstene pheromones, in particular androstadienone, play a beneficial role in women’s mood, focus and sexual response, and perhaps also in mate selection.
A comparison of chemical mechanisms using tagged ozone production potential (TOPP) analysis

Abstract. Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant produced photochemically from reactions of NO x with peroxy radicals produced during volatile organic compound (VOC) degradation. Chemical transport models use simplified representations of this complex gas-phase chemistry to predict O 3 levels and inform emission control strategies. Accurate representation of O 3 production chemistry is vital for effective prediction. In this study, VOC degradation chemistry in simplified mechanisms is compared to that in the near-explicit Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) using a box model and by "tagging" all organic degradation products over multi-day runs, thus calculating the tagged ozone production potential (TOPP) for a selection of VOCs representative of urban air masses. Simplified mechanisms that aggregate VOC degradation products instead of aggregating emitted VOCs produce comparable amounts of O 3 from VOC degradation to the MCM. First-day TOPP values are similar across mechanisms for most VOCs, with larger discrepancies arising over the course of the model run. Aromatic and unsaturated aliphatic VOCs have the largest inter-mechanism differences on the first day, while alkanes show largest differences on the second day. Simplified mechanisms break VOCs down into smaller-sized degradation products on the first day faster than the MCM, impacting the total amount of O 3 produced on subsequent days due to secondary chemistry.
Alignment Using Distributions of Local Geometric Properties

We describe a framework for aligning images without needing to establish explicit feature correspondences. We assume that the geometry between the two images can be adequately described by an affine transformation and develop a framework that uses the statistical distribution of geometric properties of image contours to estimate the relevant transformation parameters. The estimates obtained using the proposed method are robust to illumination conditions, sensor characteristics, etc., since image contours are relatively invariant to these changes. Moreover, the distributional nature of our method alleviates some of the common problems due to contour fragmentation, occlusion, clutter, etc. We provide empirical evidence of the accuracy and robustness of our algorithm. Finally, we demonstrate our method on both real and synthetic images, including multisensor image pairs.
On Mobile DNA in Artificial Regulatory Networks: Evolving Functional and Structural Dynamism

There is a growing body of work considering the use of representations based upon genetic regulatory networks. This paper uses a recently presented abstract, tunable Boolean regulatory network model to explore aspects of mobile DNA, such as transposons, within these dynamical systems. The significant role of mobile DNA in the evolution of natural systems is becoming increasingly clear. Whilst operators loosely based upon transposons have previously been used within evolutionary computation, their use within regulatory network representations enables the potential exploitation of numerous new mechanisms. This paper shows how dynamically controlling network node connectivity and function via transposon-inspired mechanisms can be selected for under non-stationary and coevolutionary scenarios, including when such changes are heritable.