Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Living Models - Ten Principles for Change-Driven Software Engineering

The new generation of collaborative IT systems poses great challenges to software engineering due to their evolving nature and their high quality requirements. In particular, the management of collaborative systems requires the integration of perspectives from IT management, software engineering and systems operation and a systematic way to handle changes. In this paper we will present the core ideas of Living Models – a novel paradigm of model–based development, management and operation of evolving service oriented systems. A core concern of Living Models is to support the cooperation of stakeholders from IT management, software engineering and systems operation by providing appropriate model-based abstractions and a focus on interdependencies. Based on this idea the running services together with their modelling environments constitute the basic unit of quality management and evolution. Living Models provides a coherent view of the quality status of the system (integrating the perspectives of all stakeholders) which evolves together with the running systems. This comes along with a software engineering process in which change is a ﬁrst– class citizen. In this paper we will present ten core principles of Living Models together with three application scenarios.
Role of ABC Transporters in the BeWo Trophoblast Cell Line

ABSTRACT The transport of doxorubicin and rhodamine 123, substrates of ABC transporters, was evaluated in the BeWo stabilized trophoblast cell line. Both compounds were taken up by BeWo cells, but their intracellular concentrations were highly dependent on temperature, and significantly reduced at 4°C. The P-glycoprotein inhibitors verapamil and PSC833 did not modify the intracellular concentrations of the two substrates, suggesting therefore that, in these cells, the activity of P-glycoprotein is not important. MK571, which inhibits MRPs, was on the contrary effective in increasing rhodamine 123 intracellular concentrations. The efflux of both fluorescent substrates was extremely slow, and slightly reduced by MK571. Finally, a polarized transport of doxorubicin from basal to apical side was evident, although only during the first 60 min of incubation, and was reduced by P-glycoprotein, MRP, and BCRP inhibitors. No MDR1 expression was revealed at the mRNA and protein levels; on the contrary, MRP1 and BCRP were expressed in these cells. In BeWo cells the activity of ABC transporters, and in particular of P-glycoprotein, seems to be extremely limited.
Attachment patterns and separation anxiety symptom

Literature suggests that child attachment and anxiety symptoms are related. One purpose of the present study was to assess whether attachment patterns related differently to separation anxiety symptoms (fear of being alone, and fear of abandonment). Three attachment patterns assessed were secure, avoidant and ambivalent attachment. Findings indicated that ambivalent attachment was most consistently related with higher separation anxiety symptom. And also, different associations were found between the three patterns of attachment and separation anxiety symptoms. In conclusion, those mothers who were consistently responsive and supportive are more responsible for the child’s health.
Development of muscarinic cholinergic inhibition of adenylate cyclase in embryonic chick heart. Its relationship to changes in the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein.

Parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation of the embryonic chick heart proceed non-coordinately. beta-Adrenergic agonists mediate an increase in beating rate in embryonic chick heart prior to ingrowth of the vagus nerve (Culver, N. G., and Fishman, D. A. (1977) Am. J. Physiol. 232, R116-R123) while muscarinic agonists exert relatively little effect on beating rate in hearts 2-4 days in ovo (Papanno, A. J. (1979) Pharmacol. Rev. 29, 3-33). Studies of developmental changes in the ability of muscarinic agonists to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity and their relationship to the development of a physiologic response of the embryonic chick heart to muscarinic stimulation have been inconclusive. In the current studies the ability of isoproterenol to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity did not change during development. Maximum stimulation above basal was 760 pmol of cAMP/10 min/mg of proterin with an IC50 of 1.5 X 10(-6) M for isoproterenol in homogenates of hearts 2 1/2, 3 1/2, and 10 days in ovo and 3 days posthatching. However, inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by carbamylcholine increased from 7.6% with a IC50 for carbamylcholine of 16 +/- 5.0 microM at day 2 1/2 in ovo to 29% with an IC50 of 0.4 +/- 0.1 microM at day 10 in ovo and to 43% with a IC50 of 0.6 +/- 0.1 microM at 3 days posthatching. Since previous data had demonstrated the presence of muscarinic receptors as early as 2 1/2 days in ovo (Galper, J. B., Klein, W., and Catterall, W. A. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 8692-8699), studies of developmental changes in guanine nucleotide-coupling proteins were carried out to determine whether early in development muscarinic receptors were uncoupled from a physiologic response. Studies of pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of homogenates of embryonic chick heart with [32P]NAD demonstrated the presence of two ADP-ribosylated proteins at 39,000 and 41,000 kDa, respectively. Both ADP-ribosylation and immunoblotting of homogenates with an antibody to the 39-kDa guanine nucleotide-binding protein in bovine brain demonstrated that the 39-kDa alpha protein increased 1.8-fold between days 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 in ovo and another 1.8-fold from day 3 1/2 to 10 in ovo in parallel with the increase in the extent of muscarinic inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Rapid and Sensitive Enumeration of Viable Diluted Cells of Members of the Family Enterobacteriaceae in Freshwater and Drinking Water

ABSTRACT Water quality assessment involves the specific, sensitive, and rapid detection of bacterial indicators and pathogens in water samples, including viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. This work evaluates the specificity and sensitivity of a new method which combines a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) approach with a physiological assay (direct viable count [DVC]) for the direct enumeration, at the single-cell level, of highly diluted viable cells of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae in freshwater and drinking water after membrane filtration. The approach (DVC-FISH) uses a new direct detection device, the laser scanning cytometer (Scan RDI). Combining the DVC-FISH method on a membrane with Scan RDI detection makes it possible to detect as few as one targeted cell in approximately 108 nontargeted cells spread over the membrane. The ability of this new approach to detect and enumerate VBNC enterobacterial cells in freshwater and drinking water distribution systems was investigated and is discussed.
Signal Detection in Distributed Cooperative Cellular Systems without Perfect Synchronisation

In this paper, an asynchronous cooperative cellular system is investigated on the uplink. We propose a signal detector which involves successive interference cancellation (SIC) and parallel interference cancellation (PIC) to suppress the impact of interference caused by co-channel users and imperfect synchronisation. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme provides significant performance improvement with low computational complexity.
Write Latency Reduction Techniques of State-of-the-Art Phase Change Memory

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) has been prevalent over the past few decades as main memory component. The demand of higher memory capacity is increasing continuously, while scaling of DRAM is reaching its boundaries. As we scale DRAM to smaller feature size, difficulties in fabrication, leakage power, and energy consumption become significant. Therefore, memory technologies, which have better scalability feature, will be the future of memory systems. To overcome these limitations, search for a new memory technology is necessary and Phase Change Memory (PCM) is the most promising. PCM is non-volatile memory with better scalability and less leakage power than DRAM. It is a resistance-based memory, which doesn't need to be refreshed. PCM suffers more write latency and less write endurance. The write latency of PCM is higher than its read latency by almost 8 times. A large number of researches have been done on reducing write latency of PCM. This research will focus on studying different approaches and techniques in order to reduce write latency on various aspects. Then, techniques employed to reduce write latency of PCM such as PreSET, Partial-SET, Flip-N-Write, two-stage-write, and two-stage-write-inv are introduced. Conclusively, a performance comparison of each technique is discussed.
Edinburgh Research Explorer Development and validation of a multiplex conventional PCR assay for simultaneous detection and grouping of porcine bocaviruses

Porcine bocavirus (PBoV), a newly described porcine parvovirus, has received attention because it can be commonly identified in clinically affected pigs including pigs with post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PWMS) and pigs with diarrhea. In recent years, novel PBoVs have been identified and were classified into three genogroups, but the ability to detect and classify these novel PBoVs is not comprehensive to date. In this study, a multiplex conventional PCR assay for
Identification and properties of distinct sucrose and glucose phosphotransferase enzyme II activities in Streptococcus mutans 6715g

We investigated phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system enzyme II activities for sucrose and glucose in Streptococcus mutans 6715g. Two integral membrane proteins, enzyme IIscr and enzyme IIglc, each specific for its sugar substrate, sucrose or glucose, were identified by their abilities to catalyze specific sugar:sugar-phosphate exchange reactions. Some of the properties of these two transport proteins are also presented.
Untersuchungen zur Konditionsbeurteilung mittels ultrasonografischer Messung der Rückenfettdicke als Grundlage zur Anwendung in der Bestandsbetreuung von Milchviehherden

Titelblatt, Inhaltsverzeichnis, Abkurzungen, Danksagung, Lebenslauf, Eidesstattliche Erklarung Einleitung und Literaturuebersicht Material und Methoden Ergebnisse Einzelmessungen 1 Ergebnisse Einzelmessungen 2 Ergebnisse Wiederholungsmessungen Diskussion Zusammenfassung und Summary Anhang Literaturverzeichnis
Cooperative Spectrum Sensing for Wideband Cognitive OFDM Radio Networks

One of the fundamental requirements of cognitive radio networks is to reliably detect the presence of licensed primary users. Therefore, spectrum sensing should be performed prior to allowing unlicensed users to access the vacant licensed bands. Multiple secondary users can cooperate to increase the reliability of spectrum sensing. Previous work on wideband spectrum sensing showed that multiband joint detection, which jointly detects the signal energy over multiple frequency bands, is efficient in improving the dynamic spectrum utilization and reducing interference to the primary users. In this paper, we investigate the integration of basic wideband spectrum sensing with both data (soft) and decision (hard) fusion techniques to improve the performance in the presence of multiple secondary users. We formulate the optimization problem for the multiband joint detection when cooperation is used for both hard and soft decision approaches. Numerical results show the significant improvement in the performance, in terms of the aggregate opportunistic throughput and false alarm probability, achieved by using cooperative sensing. Also, better performance was achieved when the data fusion approach was used.
In vitro bone strain distributions in a sample of primate pelves

The pelvis is a critical link in the hindlimb locomotor system and has a central role in resisting loads associated with locomotion, but our understanding of its structural biomechanics is quite limited. Empirical data on how the pelvis responds to the loads it encounters are important for understanding pelvic adaptation to locomotion, and for testing hypotheses regarding how the pelvis is adapted to its mechanical demands. This paper presents in vitro strain gauge data on a sample of monkey and ape cadaveric specimens (Macaca, Papio, Ateles, Hylobates), and assesses strain magnitudes and distributions through the bones of the pelvis: the ilium, ischium and pubis. Pelves were individually mounted in a materials testing system, loads were applied across three hindlimb angular positions, and strains were recorded from 18 locations on the pelvic girdle. Peak principal strains range from 2000 to 3000 με, similar to peak strains recorded from other mammals in vivo. Although previous work has suggested that the bones of the pelvis may act as bent beams, this study suggests that there are likely additional loading regimes superimposed on bending. Specifically, these data suggest that the ilium is loaded in axial compression and torsion, the ischium in torsion, the pubic rami in mediolateral bending, and the pubic symphysis is loaded in a combination of compression and torsion. Compressive strains dominate the pelves of all species representatives. Shear strains change with limb position; hip flexion at 45 ° induces smaller shear strains than mid‐stance (90 °) or hip extension (105 °). The pelvic girdle is a complex structure that does not lend itself easily to modeling, but finite element analyses may prove useful to generate and refine hypotheses of pelvic biomechanics.
Artificial pancreas (AP) clinical trial participants' acceptance of future AP technology.

BACKGROUND Artificial pancreas (AP) systems are currently an active field of diabetes research. This pilot study examined the attitudes of AP clinical trial participants toward future acceptance of the technology, having gained firsthand experience. SUBJECTS AND METHODS After possible influencers of AP technology adoption were considered, a 34-question questionnaire was developed. The survey assessed current treatment satisfaction, dimensions of clinical trial participant motivation, and variables of the technology acceptance model (TAM). Forty-seven subjects were contacted to complete the survey. The reliability of the survey scales was tested using Cronbach's α. The relationship of the factors to the likelihood of AP technology adoption was explored using regression analysis. RESULTS Thirty-six subjects (76.6%) completed the survey. Of the respondents, 86.1% were either highly likely or likely to adopt the technology once available. Reliability analysis of the survey dimensions revealed good internal consistency, with scores of >0.7 for current treatment satisfaction, convenience (motivation), personal health benefit (motivation), perceived ease of use (TAM), and perceived usefulness (TAM). Linear modeling showed that future acceptance of the AP was significantly associated with TAM and the motivation variables of convenience plus the individual item benefit to others (R(2)=0.26, P=0.05). When insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor use were added, the model significance improved (R(2)=0.37, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS This pilot study demonstrated that individuals with direct AP technology experience expressed high likelihood of future acceptance. Results support the factors of personal benefit, convenience, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use as reliable scales that suggest system adoption in this highly motivated patient population.
Older people’s perceptions and experiences of a digital learning game

The paper describes the evaluation studies of a learning game for older adults using a multicultural European sample. The goal of the evaluation was to explore the acquisition of knowledge as a result of game play, the acceptance of two different game interaction systems by the seniors, their experiences while playing the game, and the accessibility of the game’s user interface. Several qualitative and quantitative research methods were combined among older adults in the Netherlands, Spain and Greece. The tests revealed that (i) the accessibility of the game menus and interaction devices was high, (ii) the player experience in digital game play with a TV remote control and 3D sensor were mostly positive, and (iii) the older adults reported that they experienced learning. Overall, it can be concluded that the goals were met, offering a similar accessibility and player experience between the three different countries, and to provide a learning experience for older Europeans.
Content-aware interface selection method for multi-path video streaming in best-effort networks

Today's mobile devices are equipped with multiple interfaces to make the connection possible to different type of networks. In order to efficiently utilize the interface capabilities, multi-path streaming can be used. Resource intensive applications can deliver high bitrate streams over multiple paths by cumulating the available bandwidth of the different subpaths. In this paper we propose a multi-path streaming method that chooses a set of paths maximizing the overall quality at the client. While the available paths have different bandwidth, delay and loss probability constrains, the packet distributor must take the video packet importance and the dependencies between packets into account. Transmitting the reference video frames on the most reliable links will decrease the loss probability of important data packets and increase the measured video quality. Both analytical and simulation analysis were performed to examine the behavior of the presented content-aware interface selection model. The results show that the proposed solution provides higher video quality than common scheduling algorithms.
Ohio Hopewell Depictions of Composite Creatures: Part II–Archaeological Context and a Journey to an Afterlife

Abstract Archaeological contextual analyses of four artifacts that depicted composite creatures and that were recovered from the Turner earthwork in southwestern Ohio are integrated here with a biological identification of the creatures' component animals and a survey of historic Woodland–Plains Indian knowledge about their roles in Woodland–Plains life (previously reported in this journal). Together, the three studies reveal that the creatures were likely employed in a ritual drama concerned with the welfare of recently deceased persons on their journey to an afterlife through underwater–underground realm(s), where they encountered the creatures. The location of the journey to an afterlife through Below realm(s) differs from that of nearly all historic Woodland–Plains Indians, who knew the journey to take place on the earth-disk or to occur by ascension. Implications of the ritual drama at Turner for some recent interpretive trends in Woodland archaeology are explored, including an overemphasis on “world renewal” as the primary motivation behind Ohio Hopewell ceremonialism, the scarce attention given to eschatological matters, and the misleading notion that all agentive behaviors, including mortuary rites, are political.
Is inflation natural?

We show that under very general conditions any inhomogeneous cosmological model with a positive cosmological constant that can be described in a synchronous reference system will tend asymptotically in time towards the de Sitter solution, so making the problem of initial conditions less severe. The implications for inflationary scenarios are examined, and it is found that after inflation the Universe stays isotropic and homogeneous for a very long time.
Genetic and biochemical characterization of arginine biosynthesis in Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021.

L-Ornithine production in the alfalfa microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti occurs as an intermediate step in arginine biosynthesis. Ornithine is required for effective symbiosis but its synthesis in S. meliloti has been little studied. Unlike most bacteria, S. meliloti 1021 is annotated as encoding two enzymes producing ornithine: N-acetylornithine (NAO) deacetylase (ArgE) hydrolyses NAO to acetate and ornithine, and glutamate N-acetyltransferase (ArgJ) transacetylates l-glutamate with the acetyl group from NAO, forming ornithine and N-acetylglutamate (NAG). NAG is the substrate for the second step of arginine biosynthesis catalysed by NAG kinase (ArgB). Inactivation of argB in strain 1021 resulted in arginine auxotrophy. The activity of purified ArgB was significantly inhibited by arginine but not by ornithine. The purified ArgJ was highly active in NAO deacetylation/glutamate transacetylation and was significantly inhibited by ornithine but not by arginine. The purified ArgE protein (with a 6His-Sumo affinity tag) was also active in deacetylating NAO. argE and argJ single mutants, and an argEJ double mutant, are arginine prototrophs. Extracts of the double mutant contained aminoacylase (Ama) activity that deacetylated NAO to form ornithine. The purified products of three candidate ama genes (smc00682 (hipO1), smc02256 (hipO2) and smb21279) all possessed NAO deacetylase activity. hipO1 and hipO2, but not smb21279, expressed in trans functionally complemented an Escherichia coli ΔargE : : Km mutant. We conclude that Ama activity accounts for the arginine prototrophy of the argEJ mutant. Transcriptional assays of argB, argE and argJ, fused to a promoterless gusA gene, showed that their expression was not significantly affected by exogenous arginine or ornithine.
Motion planning of bimanual robot for assembly

This paper presents motion planning method for bimanual robot for bimanual assembly task. Bimanual robotic assembly is modeled at the task-level using contact states of workpieces and their transitions. The lower-level velocity commands of workpieces are automatically derived by solving optimization problem formulated with assembly constraints, position of the workpieces, and kinematics of manipulators. The motion requirements of workpieces are transformed to the motion command of the bimanual robot. A hierarchical coordination scheme for bimanual robot is also proposed to perform cooperative assembly motions. The proposed approach is evaluated with experiments on peg-in-hole assembly with an L-shaped peg.
Fully Relativistic Temperature-Dependent Electronic Transport Properties of Magnetic Alloys From the First Principles

Ab initio calculations based on the fully relativistic Dirac approach and incorporating chemical disorder and temperature-induced atomic displacements (phonons) are presented. The tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method is used, and the multicomponent coherent potential approximation deals with the chemical disorder and phonons on the same level. Electrical resistivities calculated without and with spin–orbit interaction are compared, and the anomalous Hall effect for magnetic alloys is investigated. The developed technique is tested on pure nickel and on random binary Cu–Ni alloys. The calculated results are found to be in good agreement with experimental and other theoretical data. The combined effect of phonons and spin disorder, simulated within the disordered local moment state, has also been studied. The results confirm the validity of Matthiessen’s rule in a wide range of temperatures for the electrical resistivity of pure nickel.