Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Component Reconfiguration in Presence of Mismatch

This paper discusses how to reconfigure systems in which components present mismatch in both their signature and behavioural interfaces. We are interested in performing component substitution without stopping the system, though we assume components are not designed with reconfiguration capabilities in mind. We also consider that components may need to be adapted before interacting with the system. In this work we identify the basic requirements for achieving runtime component substitution, and define several different interchangeability notions that are adequate to component substitution under behavioural adaptation. Our approach is illustrated with a case-study of a client/server system where the server needs to be substituted by a new one. Classic equivalence and compatibility notions fail to find a new server because the only one available implements a different interface. We show how our interchangeability notions could be used in order to let the system keep on working.
Dynamic Modeling of Robots using Recursive Newton-Euler Techniques

This paper present the use of recursive Newton-Euler to model different robotics systems. The main advantages of this technique are the facility of implementation by numerical or symbolical programming and providing models with reduced number of operations. In this paper the inverse and direct dynamic models of different robotics systems will be presented. At first we start by rigid tree structure robots, then these algorithms will be generalized for closed loop robots, parallel robots, and robots with lumped elasticity. At the end the case of robots with moving base will be treated.
Night-Time Traffic Light Detection Based On SVM with Geometric Moment Features

This paper presents an effective traffic lights detection method at the night-time. First, candidate blobs of traffic lights are extracted from RGB color image. Input image is represented on the dominant color domain by using color transform proposed by Ruta, then red and green color dominant regions are selected as candidates. After candidate blob selection, we carry out shape filter for noise reduction using information of blobs such as length, area, area of boundary box, etc. A multi-class classifier based on SVM (Support Vector Machine) applies into the candidates. Three kinds of features are used. We use basic features such as blob width, height, center coordinate, area, area of blob. Bright based stochastic features are also used. In particular, geometric based moment’s values between candidate region and adjacent region are proposed and used to improve the detection performance. The proposed system is implemented on Intel Core CPU with 2.80 GHz and 4 GB RAM and tested with the urban and rural road videos. Through the test, we show that the proposed method using PF, BMF, and GMF reaches up to 93 % of detection rate with computation time of in average 15 ms/frame. Keywords—Night-time traffic light detection, multi-class classification, driving assistance system.
Passive smoking does not increase hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in exhaled breath condensate in 9‐year‐old healthy children

Environmental tobacco smoke, also called passive smoking, was shown to have adverse effects on the health of children. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is proposed as a sensitive marker of oxidative injury and inflammatory processes in the airways, being increased in adult active cigarette smokers. We tested whether passive smoking had an influence on H2O2 exhalation in healthy children. Thirty healthy passive smoking and 24 nonexposed healthy children aged 9 years were included in the study. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was obtained by spontaneous tidal volume breathing with EcoScreen (Jaeger, Germany). All subjects underwent flow‐volume measurements immediately after EBC collection. Levels of H2O2 were measured fluorimetrically with the homovanillic acid method. Lung function did not differ between the passive smoking and nonexposed children groups. In the passive smoking group, EBC H2O2 concentration (median and range) was 0.32 (0.00–1.20) μM, and did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) from that found in the nonexposed group, i.e., 0,22 (0.00–0.68) μM. Exhaled H2O2 did not correlate with spirometric parameters (FEV1, FEV1%FVC, and MEF50%FVC) in either group. We conclude that passive smoking does not increase H2O2 exhalation in healthy children. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel hyperthermostable 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine phosphorylase from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

We report herein the first molecular characterization of 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthio‐adenosine phosphorylase II from Sulfolobus solfataricus (SsMTAPII). The isolated gene of SsMTAPII was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21. Purified recombinant SsMTAPII is a homohexamer of 180 kDa with an extremely low Km (0.7 µm) for 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine. The enzyme is highly thermophilic with an optimum temperature of 120 °C and extremely thermostable with an apparent Tm of 112 °C that increases in the presence of substrates. The enzyme is characterized by high kinetic stability and remarkable SDS resistance and is also resistant to guanidinium chloride‐induced unfolding with a transition midpoint of 3.3 m after 22‐h incubation. Limited proteolysis experiments indicated that the only one proteolytic cleavage site is localized in the C‐terminal region and that the C‐terminal peptide is necessary for the integrity of the active site. Moreover, the binding of 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine induces a conformational transition that protected the enzyme against protease inactivation. By site‐directed mutagenesis we demonstrated that Cys259, Cys261 and Cys262 play an important role in the enzyme stability since the mutants C259S/C261S and C262S show thermophilicity and thermostability features significantly lower than those of the wild‐type enzyme. In order to get insight into the physiological role of SsMTAPII a comparative kinetic analysis with the homologous 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine phosphorylase from Sulfolobus solfataricus (SsMTAP) was carried out. Finally, the alignment of the protein sequence of SsMTAPII with those of SsMTAP and human 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (hMTAP) shows several key residue changes that may account why SsMTAPII, unlike hMTAP, is able to recognize adenosine as substrate.
Fast color processor with programmable interpolation by small memory (PRISM)

We present a novel color processor with programmable interpolation by small memory (PRISM). The input/output signals to/from the devices are flexibly converted by a 3-0 look-up table (LUT) with a PRISM interpolator. The PRISM architecture provides a simple computation algorithm with sufficient accuracy. The performance of PRISM interpolation is compared with other conventional methods. In practice, PRISM is less complicated than CUBE and PYRAMID, and more accurate than PYRAMID and TETRAHEDRON. PRISM cuts the memory size of LUT drastically to an orderof iO compared with a full-size LUT method and brings with it a large-scale integration color processor operating at a higher than video rate. The PRISM structure is the most suitable for the perceptual color spaces such as YCrCb or CIELAB and very useful for device-independent color reproduction and transmission. Typical applications by a PRISM color processor are presented.
Ubiquitination, localization, and stability of an anti-apoptotic BCL2-like protein, BCL2L10/BCLb, are regulated by Ubiquilin1

We have previously shown that all six members of the anti-apoptotic BCL2 gene family can cooperate with (myelocytomatosis oncogene) MYC in a mouse model of leukemia, but three of them are significantly less potent contributors to leukemogenicity than the other three. The protein encoded by one of these less potent genes, BCL2L10/BCLb, was recently shown to vary dramatically in many primary human cancers by immunohistochemistry, and the protein levels were inversely correlated with survival in patients with several cancer types. We examined BCLb mRNA in a panel of human cancer cell lines and did not observe the extensive variation in mRNA that would be required to explain the vast differences in protein levels. We found that the levels of BCLb protein diminish quickly after inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide, so we searched for interacting proteins that might affect posttranslational stability of BCLb. Using a variety of approaches, including immunoaffinity and mass spectrometry, we identified a protein, Ubiquilin1 (Ubqln), that specifically interacts with BCLb, and not with other anti-apoptotic BCL2-like proteins. Ubqln stabilizes BCLb protein, while also promoting monoubiquitination on multiple lysine residues and relocation to the cytosol. Furthermore, primary lung adencarcinomas have more Ubqln mRNA than normal adjacent lung tissue, and higher Ubqln mRNA levels are associated with shorter survival of lung cancer patients, suggesting that potentiation of the anti-apoptotic potential of BCLb through regulation of its stability by Ubqln may be an important factor in tumor progression.
Fast, three‐dimensional free‐breathing MR imaging of myocardial infarction: A feasibility study

Imaging delayed hyperenhancement of myocardial infarction is most commonly performed using an inversion recovery (IR) prepared 2D breathhold segmented k‐space gradient echo (FGRE) sequence. Since only one slice is acquired per breathhold in this technique, 12–16 successive breathholds are required for complete anatomical coverage of the heart. This prolongs the overall scan time and may be exhausting for patients. A navigator‐echo gated, free‐breathing, 3D FGRE sequence is proposed that can be used to acquire a single slab covering the entire heart with high spatial resolution. The use of a new variable sampling in time (VAST) acquisition scheme enables the entire 3D volume to be acquired in 1.5–2 min, minimizing artifacts from bulk motion and diaphragmatic drift and contrast variations due to contrast media washout. Magn Reson Med 51:1055–1060, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intérêts des indicateurs hydropédologiques dans la gestion raisonnée des zones humides : application aux marais du cotentin

Les marais du Cotentin ont un interet environnemental d'importance internationale reconnu par son inscription au titre de la convention de Ramsar en 1991. Ces marais constitues de tourbieres basses ont fait l'objet d'amenagements hydrologiques des le 12eme siecle qui ont entraine un abaissement de la nappe perchee et une diminution de la duree d'hydromorphie. A partir d'une typologie nouvelle qui repose sur la determination de trois familles d'histosol nous avons pu observer les fonctionnements hydropedologiques associes. Cette approche globale a ete completee par une experimentation de l'allongement de la duree de submersion hivernale sur une poche de marais tourbeux : le marais des Mottes. La complementarite des etudes permet de proposer des outils de gestion raisonnee pour les zones humides du Cotentin et la transposition possible de la methodologie de travail a l'ensemble des zones humides de l'espace metropolitain.
Equalization scheme analysis for high-density spin transfer torque random access memory

As the memory density increases for the big-data processing, the sensing speed is degraded because of the increased parasitic capacitive load. Thus, the equalization (EQ) scheme that is capable of improving the sensing speed has now become essential. This paper examines the effectiveness of EQ scheme on the sensing speed of offset-canceling dual-stage sensing circuit (OCDS-SC) in terms of cells per bit line (CpBL). The simulation results show that the OCDS-SC with EQ scheme achieves 3 times faster sensing time than that without EQ scheme in case of CpBL of 128. Additionally, the EQ scheme becomes more effective for reducing the sensing time according to the increase in the number of CpBL.
Spatial Analysis of Archaeological Data at the John Martin Dam and Reservoir, Southeastern Colorado

Prehistoric spatial data recovered from the John Mar tin Dam and Reservoir, Bent County, southeastern Colorado, was obtained from sites of the Archaic, Forma tive, and Buffalo Hunter stages of High Plains ar chaeology. These data, most of which dates to the last 3000 years, were analyzed in order to address four prob lem areas: (1) site function, (2) site-to-site networking, (3) past adaptive practices, and (4) evolutionary trends in the data. These problem domains were examined using such cluster and correlation statistics as: (1) an original Nearest Neighbor (NN) routine, (2) Z-coordinate cluster mapping, and (3) two computer program packages called NTSYS and SPSS. The NN investigation into site function led to the con clusion that the scatters of lithic artifacts do contain distributional information. Some 80% of the 99 analyzed prehistoric sites were found to contain internal cluster ing. Comparison of these internal artifact clusters led to the conclusion that the largest majority are duplicates. In general, it can be said that the John Martin lithic scatter
Image analysis through local information measures

The properties of local image statistics are analyzed in a classic information theoretic setting. Local spatiochromatic image elements are projected into a space in which constituent components are independent by way of independent component analysis, allowing a fast and tractable means of considering the joint likelihood of such statistics. Observation of this likelihood allows inferences to be made regarding the informativeness of a particular set of statistics. This operation is shown to illuminate a number of perceptually important image properties, allowing figure-ground segmentation, removal of common or expected image elements, and prediction of regions of interest.
Oncogenic CARD11 Mutations in Human Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In the least curable (ABC) subtype of DLBCL, survival of the malignant cells is dependent on constitutive activation of the nuclear factor–κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In normal B cells, antigen receptor–induced NF-κB activation requires CARD11, a cytoplasmic scaffolding protein. To determine whether CARD11 contributes to tumorigenesis, we sequenced the CARD11 gene in human DLBCL tumors. We detected missense mutations in 7 of 73 ABC DLBCL biopsies (9.6%), all within exons encoding the coiled-coil domain. Experimental introduction of CARD11 coiled-coil domain mutants into lymphoma cell lines resulted in constitutive NF-κB activation and enhanced NF-κB activity upon antigen receptor stimulation. These results demonstrate that CARD11 is a bona fide oncogenein DLBCL, providing a genetic rationale for the development of pharmacological inhibitors of the CARD11 pathway for DLBCL therapy.
Active Incremental Learning of Robot Movement Primitives

Robots that can learn over time by interacting with non-technical users must be capable of acquiring new motor skills, incrementally. The problem then is deciding when to teach the robot a new skill or when to rely on the robot generalizing its actions. This decision can be made by the robot if it is provided with means to quantify the suitability of its own skill given an unseen task. To this end, we present an algorithm that allows a robot to make active requests to incremen-tally learn movement primitives. A movement primitive is learned on a trajectory output by a Gaussian Process. The latter is used as a library of demonstrations that can be extrapolated with confidence margins. This combination not only allows the robot to generalize using as few as a single demonstration but more importantly , to indicate when such generalization can be executed with confidence or not. In experiments, a real robot arm indicates to the user which demonstrations should be provided to increase its repertoire of reaching skills. Experiments will also show that the robot becomes confident in reaching objects for whose demonstrations were never provided, by incrementally learning from the neighboring demonstrations.
Chronic ethanol exposure selectively inhibits the influenza-specific CD8 T cell response during influenza a virus infection.

BACKGROUND It is well established that chronic ethanol (EtOH) consumption is associated with increased incidence and disease severity of respiratory infections. Our recent work demonstrates this increase in disease severity to influenza A virus (IAV) infections is due, in part, to a failure to mount a robust IAV-specific CD8 T cell response along with a specific impairment in the ability of these T cells to produce interferon γ (IFNγ). However, the full extent of the lesion in the effector CD8 T cell compartment during chronic EtOH consumption remains unknown. METHODS Utilizing the Meadows-Cook murine model of chronic alcohol consumption, mice received EtOH in their drinking water for 8 or 12 weeks. Mice were challenged intranasally with IAV, and the activation and effector functions of IAV-specific CD8 T cells were determined in both the lung-draining lymph nodes (dLN) and lungs. RESULTS Our results confirm the defect in IFNγ production; however, the ability of IAV-specific T cells to produce tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in EtOH-consuming mice remains unaltered. In contrast, EtOH consumption significantly reduces the ability of CD8 T cells to degranulate and kill IAV-specific targets. Finally, our findings suggest the lesion begins during the initial activation of CD8 T cells, as we observe early defects in proliferation in the dLN of IAV-infected, EtOH-consuming mice. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the previously unrecognized depth of the lesion in the IAV-specific CD8 T cell response during chronic EtOH consumption. Given the important role CD8 T cell immunity plays in control of IAV, these findings may aid in the development of vaccination and/or therapeutic strategies to reverse these defects in the CD8 T cell response and reduce serious disease outcomes associated with IAV infections in alcoholics.
General and cancer mortality in a large cohort of Italian alcoholics.

BACKGROUND The consumption of alcohol is an underappreciated risk factor for a wide range of conditions. Overall, it is associated with high mortality rates and causes approximately 4% of all deaths worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the general and cancer mortality in a cohort of subjects with alcohol addiction residing in Tuscany (Central Italy). METHODS Overall, 2,272 alcoholics (1,467 men and 805 women; mean age at first examination 43.8 years ± 13.0), treated at the Alcohol Centre of Florence in the period April 1985 to September 2001, were followed until the end of the study period (median follow-up: 9.6 years). A total of 21,855 person-years were available for analyses. Expected deaths were estimated by using age, sex, and calendar-specific regional mortality rates. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS Six hundred and thirty-six of the 2,272 patients (28.0%) died, yielding an SMR of 5.0 (95% CI: 4.6 to 5.4). The alcoholics had significantly elevated mortality risk from all malignant cancers (SMR = 3.8, 95% CI: 3.3 to 4.4) and a series of specific diseases (infections: SMR = 10.1, 95% CI: 4.8 to 21.1; diabetes: SMR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.9 to 6.7; immunological system, including AIDS: SMR = 8.1, 95% CI: 4.1 to 16.2; nervous system: SMR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.9 to 6.4; cardiovascular system: SMR = 2.4, 95% CI: 2.0 to 2.9; respiratory system: SMR = 5.8, 95% CI: 4.2 to 8.0; digestive system: SMR = 26.4, 95% CI: 22.6 to 30.8, including liver cirrhosis (SMR = 40.0, 95% CI: 33.9 to 47.1); violent causes: SMR = 6.6, 95% CI: 5.0 to 8.6). Among malignant cancers, the highest SMRs were found for cancers of the pharynx (SMR = 22.8, 95% CI: 9.5 to 54.8), oral cavity (SMR = 22.2, 95% CI: 13.2 to 37.6), liver (SMR = 13.5, 95% CI: 9.2 to 19.8), and larynx (SMR = 10.7, 95% CI: 5.8 to 19.9). Although women showed higher SMR in comparison with the general population of the area, their overall survival estimates during the follow-up were higher than those for male alcoholics. CONCLUSIONS This large series of Italian alcoholics showed a significant increase in total and cancer mortality in comparison with the general population, with female alcoholics reporting higher survival rates.
Constraints for Improving Information Integrity in Information Conversion From CAD Building Drawings to BIM Model

Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems play an important role in the production of building designs that are used to assist building constructions. Thus, CAD building drawings contain a large amount of building data important for indoor navigation and other related analysis which are often done in BIM (Building Information Modeling). Therefore, the conversion of CAD-based building data to BIM is necessary to make the data in CAD useful for these applications. However, when mapping to the BIM model, there are semantic ambiguities which will have an important impact on the subsequent analysis of the information converted from CAD. This paper addresses these ambiguity problems by first examining the building information represented in CAD drawings and the mapping relationships between the building information in CAD drawings and that in BIM. Once these relationships are established, the semantic ambiguities existed in the mapping were identified and then corresponding constraints were developed to address these ambiguities. The experiment results show that the approach described in this paper can effectively eliminate the semantic ambiguity of the mapping from CAD to BIM and the converted BIM model can effectively support subsequent analysis.
Vendor-managed inventory: a literature review on theoretical and empirical studies and future research directions

Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is a business practice in which the supplier manages the inventory at the customer's premises and makes replenishment decisions. VMI has been extensively studied over a short period of time since it was successfully implemented in the industry in the late 1980s. In this paper, we classify and review theoretical and empirical studies on VMI. In particular, we provide three classifications of theoretical papers focusing on the contractual agreement between supply chain partners, drivers of the benefits of VMI, and research approaches, while we classify empirical papers based on their research purposes and methodologies. One of our findings is that most theoretical studies examine event-based VMI contracts such as (z, Z)-type contracts, while the penalties/rewards are based on long-term performance in many VMI agreements observed in practice. We also find that most theoretical studies focus on cost reductions from VMI and their drivers, while empirical studies report various benefits of VMI such as lower inventory and fewer stockouts. We suggest several future research directions based on our literature review.