Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reaching Agreement in the Presence of Faults

The problem addressed here concerns a set of isolated processors, some unknown subset of which may be faulty, that communicate only by means of two-party messages. Each nonfaulty processor has a private value of information that must be communicated to each other nonfaulty processor. Nonfaulty processors always communicate honestly, whereas faulty processors may lie. The problem is to devise an algorithm in which processors communicate their own values and relay values received from others that allows each nonfaulty processor to infer a value for each other processor. The value inferred for a nonfaulty processor must be that processor's private value, and the value inferred for a faulty one must be consistent with the corresponding value inferred by each other nonfaulty processor. It is shown that the problem is solvable for, and only for, n ≥ 3m + 1, where m is the number of faulty processors and n is the total number. It is also shown that if faulty processors can refuse to pass on information but cannot falsely relay information, the problem is solvable for arbitrary n ≥ m ≥ 0. This weaker assumption can be approximated in practice using cryptographic methods.
The lane recognition and vehicle detection at night for a camera-assisted car on highway

This paper presents a computer vision system for detecting lanes and vehicles on highway at night. This system recognizes the rear-lights of vehicles from the night scene image on highway, as viewed by a camera-assisted car behind. The detection of rear-lights is usually complicated by the existence of reflector plates on ground, multiple cars, and the environment lightening. The variation of the shape/size and height of rear-lights, and the wide range of possible distance from the observing vehicle also add extra complexity to the recognition. In this research, we take the approach of first detecting the reflector plates among the bright spots in the highway night scene, which indicate the lane borders. Through the brightness and area filtering, the reflector plates can be extracted. Removing the reflector spots from the bright-spot image and using the information of detected lanes, the pairing of rear-lights to find vehicles can be simplified. Experiment shows the success of this approach in detecting multiple vehicles on highway.
Using source code metrics to predict change-prone Java interfaces

Recent empirical studies have investigated the use of source code metrics to predict the change- and defect-proneness of source code files and classes. While results showed strong correlations and good predictive power of these metrics, they do not distinguish between interface, abstract or concrete classes. In particular, interfaces declare contracts that are meant to remain stable during the evolution of a software system while the implementation in concrete classes is more likely to change. This paper aims at investigating to which extent the existing source code metrics can be used for predicting change-prone Java interfaces. We empirically investigate the correlation between metrics and the number of fine-grained source code changes in interfaces of ten Java open-source systems. Then, we evaluate the metrics to calculate models for predicting change-prone Java interfaces. Our results show that the external interface cohesion metric exhibits the strongest correlation with the number of source code changes. This metric also improves the performance of prediction models to classify Java interfaces into change-prone and not change-prone.
Suppression of tumor invasion and metastasis by concurrent inhibition of c-Met and VEGF signaling in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

UNLABELLED Invasion and metastasis increase after the inhibition of VEGF signaling in some preclinical tumor models. In the present study we asked whether selective VEGF inhibition is sufficient to increase invasion and metastasis and whether selective c-Met inhibition is sufficient to block this effect. Treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in RIP-Tag2 mice with a neutralizing anti-VEGF antibody reduced tumor burden but increased tumor hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and c-Met activation and also increased invasion and metastasis. However, invasion and metastasis were reduced by concurrent inhibition of c-Met by PF-04217903 or PF-02341066 (crizotinib). A similar benefit was found in orthotopic Panc-1 pancreatic carcinomas treated with sunitinib plus PF-04217903 and in RIP-Tag2 tumors treated with XL184 (cabozantinib), which simultaneously blocks VEGF and c-Met signaling. These findings document that invasion and metastasis are promoted by selective inhibition of VEGF signaling and can be reduced by the concurrent inhibition of c-Met. SIGNIFICANCE This report examines the mechanism of increased tumor aggressiveness after anti-VEGF therapy and presents evidence for roles of vascular pruning, hypoxia, and c-Met activation. The results show that simultaneous inhibition of c-Met and VEGF signaling not only slows tumor growth but also reduces invasion and metastasis.
A state-based approach to traceability maintenance

Traceability of software artefacts has been recognized as an important factor for supporting various software development activities. However, establishing traceability requires a substantial investment in effort. Even when an initial set of traceability links has been established, this set is subject to gradual degradation as the associated artefacts are modified, e.g., due to the evolutionary nature of software development. To avoid this, traceability must be constantly maintained and evolved. The manual maintenance of traceability can be time consuming and error-prone. This paper focuses on reducing the manual effort incurred in performing traceability maintenance tasks. This is achieved by introducing a dedicated mechanism in the Traceability Metamodelling Language, which is used for detecting and evolving problematic trace links. A concrete example is used to demonstrate the practicality and usefulness of our approach.
Near Neutrality

The nearly neutral theory represents a development of Kimura's neutral theory of molecular evolution that makes testable predictions that go beyond a mere null model. Recent evidence has strongly supported several of these predictions, including the prediction that slightly deleterious variants will accumulate in a species that has undergone a severe bottleneck or in cases where recombination is reduced or absent. Because bottlenecks often occur in speciation and slightly deleterious mutations in coding regions will usually be nonsynonymous, we should expect that the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous fixed differences between species should often exceed the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous polymorphisms within species. Many data support this prediction, although they have often been wrongly interpreted as evidence for positive Darwinian selection. The use of conceptually flawed tests for positive selection has become widespread in recent years, seriously harming the quest for an understanding of genome evolution. When properly analyzed, many (probably most) claimed cases of positive selection will turn out to involve the fixation of slightly deleterious mutations by genetic drift in bottlenecked populations. Slightly deleterious variants are a transient feature of evolution in the long term, but they have substantially affected contemporary species, including our own.
Methylphosphonate mapping of phosphate contacts critical for RNA recognition by the human immunodeficiency virus tat and rev proteins

The HIV-1 regulatory proteins tat and rev are both RNA binding proteins which recognize sequences in duplex RNA which are close to structural distortions. Here we identify phosphate contacts which are critical for each binding reaction by use of a new method. Model RNA binding sites are constructed carrying substitutions of individual phosphodiesters by uncharged methylphosphonate derivatives isolated separately as Rp and Sp diastereoisomers and tested for protein binding by competition assays. In the binding of tat to the trans-activation response region (TAR), three phosphates, P21 and P22 which are adjacent to the U-rich bulge and P40 on the opposite strand, are essential and in each case both isomers inhibit binding. Similarly, in the interaction between the HIV-1 rev protein and the rev-responsive element (RRE) both methylphosphonate isomers at P103, P104, P124 and P125 interfere with rev binding. At P106, only the Rp methylphosphonate isomer is impaired in rev binding ability and it is proposed that the Rp oxygen is hydrogen-bonded to an uncharged amino acid or to a main chain hydrogen atom. Synthetic chemistry techniques also provide evidence for the conformations of non-Watson-Crick G106:G129 and G105:A131 base-pairs in the RRE 'bubble' structure upon rev binding. Almost all functional groups on the 5 bulged residues in the bubble have been ruled out as sites of contact with rev but, by contrast, the N7-positions of each G residue in the flanking base-pairs are identified as sites of likely hydrogen-bonding to rev. The results show that both tat and rev recognize the major groove of distorted RNA helixes and that both proteins make specific contacts with phosphates which are displaced from the sites of base-pair contact.
Inferring a semantically Annotated Generative French Lexicon from an Italian Lexical Resource

The paper reports on the development and experimental implementation of a combined methodology of knowledge transfer from an existing lexical resource with a view to semiautomatically inducing a new lexicon, in a cross-language environment. The source resource, a multi-layered Italian lexicon whose theoretical approach to the content and representation of semantic information follows the general principles of Generative Lexicon, is first sketched out. The two strategies used for generating French semantic entries, namely the cognate and sense indicator-based approaches, are then presented. The good results obtained from their implementation allow concluding on the viability of the proposed methodology.
The effects of caudal or intravenous clonidine on postoperative analgesia produced by caudal levobupivacaine in children

Background: Clonidine is used increasingly in pediatric anesthesia practice to prolong the duration of action of caudal block with a local anesthetic agent. Which route of administration of clonidine is the most beneficial remains unknown. We compared the effects of caudal and intravenous clonidine on postoperative analgesia produced by caudal levobupivacaine.
Kinematics of retreating subduction along the Carpathian arc, Romania

Kinematic axes and resultant vectors of displacement along the Carpathian arc and the Apuseni Mountains aid in the reconstruction of retreating subduction along the Carpathians. The recent vertical position of the subducted slab below the Vrancea area of the eastern Carpathians represents the final rollback stage of a small fragment of oceanic lithosphere, formerly situated between the Moesian and East European plates. The ages and locations of the eruption centers of the andesitic volcanic chain along the Carpathian arc in the overriding plate as well as the thrust directions are used as markers to reconstruct the rollback area of the subducted slab between the Moesian and East European plates.
Effect of Plyometric vs. Dynamic Weight Training on the Energy Cost of Running

Berryman, N, Maurel, D, and Bosquet, L. Effect of plyometric vs. dynamic weight training on the energy cost of running. J Strength Cond Res 24(7): 1818-1825, 2010-The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of 2 strength training methods on the energy cost of running (Cr). Thirty-five moderately to well-trained male endurance runners were randomly assigned to either a control group (C) or 2 intervention groups. All groups performed the same endurance-training program during an 8-week period. Intervention groups added a weekly strength training session designed to improve neuromuscular qualities. Sessions were matched for volume and intensity using either plyometric training (PT) or purely concentric contractions with added weight (dynamic weight training [DWT]). We found an interaction between time and group (p < 0.05) and an effect of time (p < 0.01) for Cr. Plyometric training induced a larger decrease of Cr (218 ± 16 to 203 ± 13 ml·kg−1·km−1) than DWT (207 ± 15 to 199 ± 12 ml·kg−1·km−1), whereas it remained unchanged in C. Pre-post changes in Cr were correlated with initial Cr (r = −0.57, p < 0.05). Peak vertical jump height (VJHpeak) increased significantly (p < 0.01) for both experimental groups (DWT = 33.4 ± 6.2 to 34.9 ± 6.1 cm, PT = 33.3 ± 4.0 to 35.3 ± 3.6 cm) but not for C. All groups showed improvements (p < 0.05) in Perf3000 (C = 711 ± 107 to 690 ± 109 seconds, DWT = 755 ± 87 to 724 ± 77 seconds, PT = 748 ± 81 to 712 ± 76 seconds). Plyometric training were more effective than DWT in improving Cr in moderately to well-trained male endurance runners showing that athletes and coaches should include explosive strength training in their practices with a particular attention on plyometric exercises. Future research is needed to establish the origin of this adaptation.
Compressed sensing for face recognition

In this paper, we present a new approach to build a more robust and efficient face recognition system. The idea is to fit the face recognition task into the new mathematical theory and algorithm of compressed sensing framework. With its beautiful theoretical results from compressed sensing, the new face recognition framework stably gives a better performance with some advantages compared to traditional approaches. Experimental results show the promising aspects of new approach when comparing with the most popular subspace analysis approaches in face recognition such as Eigenfaces, Fisherfaces, and Laplacianfaces in terms of recognition accuracy, efficiency, and numerical stability.
Average coherence image derived observations over an urban area: the case of Athens city

In the present study coherence observations, in relation to the land-cover type, obtained using 20 C-band ERS SAR Single Look Complex (SLC) VV-polarization images acquired in descending mode over the metropolitan area of Athens covering the period 1992-1999 are presented. A straightforward approach using a single master SAR image on which the other images are mapped was adopted ensuring perfect registration of the interferometric results. After generating single coherence images, with temporal separation varying between 138 and 1335 days, an averaging procedure followed leading to the average coherence image. In order to identify and statistically interpret the properties of selected land cover types in terms of average degree of coherence, very high resolution QuickBird imagery was downloaded from Google Earth environment. The final geocoding of the average coherence image has been improved using common features in the coherence image and the very high-resolution QuickBird image. Overlay of coherence product on the QuickBird image allows correlating the level of coherence with characteristics and properties of the urban shell. As urban areas are considered of high coherence, observations of this type permit to investigate and evaluate their phase stability in details.
Moving Objects Segmentation from compressed surveillance video based on Motion Estimation

Pixel-domain analysis, the mainstream approach to analyze surveillance video, has always been a hot issue in academy and industry. However, with the increasing volume and resolution of surveillance video, the flexibility and efficiency of fast processing is garnering more significance. Under this circumstance, surveillance video analysis in the compressed domain is indeed of strategic importance from the angle of balancing visual perception and processing speed, especially in modeling background and segmenting moving objects. Therefore, a compressed domain based scheme is proposed to model background and segment moving objects based on Motion Estimation (ME) in this paper. The main work and achievements are as follows: 1) a background modeling method with Motion Vector (MV) based on ME is applied to the compressed domain; 2) a method of region modification for Moving Objects Segmentation based on ME is proposed. Experimental results show that our approach can realize moving objects extraction in a fast and effective way.
Myosin Va facilitates the distribution of secretory granules in the F-actin rich cortex of PC12 cells

Neuroendocrine secretory granules, the storage organelles for neuropeptides and hormones, are formed at the trans-Golgi network, stored inside the cell and exocytosed upon stimulation. Previously, we have reported that newly formed secretory granules of PC12 cells are transported in a microtubule-dependent manner from the trans-Golgi network to the F-actin-rich cell cortex, where they undergo short directed movements and exhibit a homogeneous distribution. Here we provide morphological and biochemical evidence that myosin Va is associated with secretory granules. Expression of a dominant-negative tail domain of myosin Va in PC12 cells led to an extensive clustering of secretory granules close to the cell periphery, a loss of their cortical restriction and a strong reduction in their motility in the actin cortex. Based on this data we propose a model that implies a dual transport system for secretory granules: after microtubule-dependent delivery to the cell periphery, secretory granules exhibit a myosin Va-dependent transport leading to their restriction and even dispersal in the F-actin-rich cortex of PC12 cells.
The Neurodevelopmental Basis of Math Anxiety

Math anxiety is a negative emotional reaction to situations involving mathematical problem solving. Math anxiety has a detrimental impact on an individual’s long-term professional success, but its neurodevelopmental origins are unknown. In a functional MRI study on 7- to 9-year-old children, we showed that math anxiety was associated with hyperactivity in right amygdala regions that are important for processing negative emotions. In addition, we found that math anxiety was associated with reduced activity in posterior parietal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regions involved in mathematical reasoning. Multivariate classification analysis revealed distinct multivoxel activity patterns, which were independent of overall activation levels in the right amygdala. Furthermore, effective connectivity between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex regions that regulate negative emotions was elevated in children with math anxiety. These effects were specific to math anxiety and unrelated to general anxiety, intelligence, working memory, or reading ability. Our study identified the neural correlates of math anxiety for the first time, and our findings have significant implications for its early identification and treatment.
A Multi-dimensional Annotation Scheme for Opinion Mining from Unstructured Data

We present a comprehensive annotation scheme for opinion mining of product review data. We motivate our multi-dimensional annotation scheme both from a linguistic perspective and a task based perspective, and contrast it with other existing annotation schemes for opinion mining. A coding manual and annotated corpus of product review data, both of which were prepared using a stringent methodology, have been made publicly available. Finally, we present results of supervised machine learning experiments on our annotation scheme, using a linguistically motivated feature space design that achieves statistically significant improvement over a bag-ofwords baseline.
Fuzzy corrections in a GPS/INS hybrid navigation system

A new concept regarding GPS/INS integration, based on artificial intelligence, i.e. adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is presented. The GPS is used as reference during the time it is available. The data from GPS and inertial navigation system (INS) are used to build a structured knowledge base consisting of behavior of the INS in some special scenarios of vehicle motion. With the same data, the proposed fuzzy system is trained to obtain the corrected navigation data. In the absence of the GPS information, the system will perform its task only with the data from INS and with the fuzzy correction algorithm. This paper shows, using Matlab simulations, that as long as the GPS unavailability time is no longer than the previous training time and for the scenarios a priori defined, the accuracy of trained ANFIS, in absence of data from a reference navigation system, is better than the accuracy of stand-alone INS. The flexibility of model is also analyzed.
Orbital Angular Momentum-Based Communications With Partial Arc Sampling Receiving

A generalized signal model for multiple orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode-based radio communication combined with a novel partial arc sampling receiving (PASR) scheme for compactly receiving is proposed and mathematically analyzed. Furthermore, a near-field line-of-sight PASR radio data link using four OAM modes is experimentally demonstrated to quadruple the spectral efficiency without adding signal processing complexity at the receiving end. Experiment results show that all the four OAM channels are recovered with bit-error rates below 3.8 × 10-3, indicating the robustness of the four-OAM-mode-PASR data link.
Comparison of Diagnostic Laboratory Methods for Identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei

ABSTRACT Limited experience and a lack of validated diagnostic reagents make Burkholderia pseudomallei, the cause of melioidosis, difficult to recognize in the diagnostic microbiology laboratory. We compared three methods of confirming the identity of presumptive B. pseudomallei strains using a collection of Burkholderia species drawn from diverse geographic, clinical, and environmental sources. The 95 isolates studied included 71 B. pseudomallei and 3 B. thailandensis isolates. The API 20NE method identified only 37% of the B. pseudomallei isolates. The agglutinating antibody test identified 82% at first the attempt and 90% including results of a repeat test with previously negative isolates. Gas-liquid chromatography analysis of bacterial fatty acid methyl esters (GLC-FAME) identified 98% of the B. pseudomallei isolates. The agglutination test produced four false positive results, one B. cepacia, one B. multivorans, and two B. thailandensis. API produced three false positive results, one positive B. cepacia and two positive B. thailandensis. GLC-FAME analysis was positive for one B. cepacia isolate. On the basis of these results, the most robust B. pseudomallei discovery pathway combines the previously recommended isolate screening tests (Gram stain, oxidase test, gentamicin and polymyxin susceptibility) with monoclonal antibody agglutination on primary culture, followed by a repeat after 24 h incubation on agglutination-negative isolates and GLC-FAME analysis. Incorporation of PCR-based identification within this schema may improve percentages of recognition further but requires more detailed evaluation.