Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nu@ge: Towards a solidary and responsible cloud computing service

The adoption of cloud computing is still limited by several legal concerns from companies. One of those reasons is the data sovereignty, as data can be physically host in sensible locations, resulting in a lack of control for companies. , In this paper, we present the Nu@ge project aimed at building a federation of container-sized datacenter on the French territory. Nu@ge provides a software stack that enables companies to put independent datacenters in cooperation in a national mesh. Additionally, a prototype of a container-sized datacenter has been validated and patented.
Designs with a Variance Reduction Property for Ordinary Least Squares by Augmenting Data in Heteroscedastic Models

Consider uncorrelated random variables with non-increasing variances. Experiments of this type occur when over time we are improving our skills or enhancing equipment and hence are able to reduce errors of the experiment. Such a need also occurs when it is necessary to include additional data coming from another lab with a higher quality equipment. If the random variables have a common expected value then the variance of a sample mean is decreasing with the number of observations. Unfortunately, due to leveraging, this natural and desirable variance reduction by augmenting data is not inherited by Linear Models with general design matrices. One can easily generate examples of regression models where by adding an experiment with an error smaller than in all preceding cases, we unexpectedly increase variances of the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimators. The simplest regression model of a straight line with intercept and slope parameters is no exception. Methodology on how to avoid the increase of variances of the OLS in heteroscedastic models with decreasing variances eluded so far attention of researchers. Yet, it is possible in the latter case to derive tractable conditions equivalent to the Variance Reducing Property (VRP) by augmenting the data. These criteria can be used to find numerically subsequent values of the explanatory variable avoiding increase of variances of the OLS estimators. By applying these criteria we have been also able to show that arbitrary non-negative increasing designs have the VRP. Included examples show that this feature can by destroyed by non-zero Andrzej S. Kozek is Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Macquarie University E4A, North Ryde NSW 2109, Australia (Email: akozek@science.mq.edu.au). Preprint submitted to Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference March 26, 2010 correlations and that it need not be valid for non-increasing designs. However, we show that alternating two point regression models of a straight line regression, which are optimal in the case of homogenous models, retain the variance reduction property for non-increasing variances.
A greedy approach for minimizing SDN control overhead

In the SDN approach, the control and data planes are separated to enable programmability and interoperability, the control plane being logically centralized. Scalability and reliability are key properties for the SDN control plane. In WAN deployments, it is already envisioned as physically distributed to span across the networks and avoid single point of failure. In this paper, we tackle the problem of minimizing the overhead generated by distributed SDN controllers. We first model this problem as a Mixed Integer Program (MIP) and then propose a greedy algorithm. The results on the GEANT topology and on random graphs with up to 100 nodes show that our heuristic approaches to less than 3% the optimal in a manageable time.
Ozone as a Safety Post-Harvest Treatment for Chlorpyrifos Removal from Vegetables and its Effects on Vegetable Quality

The removal of chlorpyrifos pesticide residues from vegetables was achieved by using low level of ozonated water (OZW) for 15 60 min as contact times at 25 and 35oC. Recovered amount of chlorpyrifos was extracted using solid phase extraction (SPE) and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The initial levels of residual chlorpyrifos varied with the kind of vegetables, where arugula had the highest level followed by parsley, leek, tomato, carrot, cucumber, cabbage, and then bell pepper. When vegetables washed in OZW was at 25 oC, the percentages of chlorpyrifos removal were time-dependent and ranged from 30 83, 91 97, 80 92, 92 95, 87 97, 95 97, 64 100 and 90 97% for bell pepper, tomato, cucumber, carrot, arugula, parsley, cabbage and leek, respectively. In case of vegetables washed with OZW at 35oC, increasing of the contact time was not significantly effect on the removal percentages of chlorpyrifos except with arugula and cabbage. Likewise, the increasing of OZW temperature caused a negative consequence on the removal percentages of pesticide. The effect of these wash treatments on vegetable quality parameters indicated that the removing of chlorpyrifos by using OZW did not produce any significant undesirable effects on antioxidant capacity, total phenolic contents and vitamin C of the tested vegetables. Due to the large amount of vegetables consumed in fresh form, a higher risk of exposure to chlorpyrifos may occur and the search for a safety method to remove this pesticide with negligible residual deposits has always been preferred. Therefore, the present study validated that ozone technology as wash treatment is safe and promising processes for the removal of chlorpyrifos from the vegetable’s surface under domestic conditions to reduce the impact over consumer’s health. *Corresponding author: Khaled, A. O, Department of Pesticide Chemistry & Technology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Tel. : +2035901900; Fax: +2035922780; E-mail: kamosman@yahoo.com Received Date: January 23, 2017 Accepted Date: February 27, 2017 Published Date: April 04, 2017
Compact Design of Planar Continuously Tunable Crossover With Two-Section Coupled Lines

This paper presents, for the first time, the design and implementation of a planar tunable crossover. This crossover is derived from the conventional two-section branch-line crossover by substituting its three vertical transmission lines with the two fixed capacitors and one tunable capacitor to realize the tunable passband. By designing its horizontal transmission lines as coupled lines and replacing its vertical transmission lines by three capacitors, the circuit size is greatly reduced. Closed-form equations for design parameters are derived to simplify design procedure of the proposed crossover. For verification, a crossover with tunable frequency of 1.2-2.4 GHz is designed based on the given design closed-form equations. Finally, a microstrip tunable crossover with one varactor diode 1sv277 is fabricated and measured. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated ones. The results show that the passband can be tuned in a frequency range from 1.29 to 2.06 GHz, yielding 46% tuning range with better than 20-dB return loss and isolation, while the insertion loss varies from 0.59 to 1.22 dB. The crossover occupies a small size of 0.25 λ g ×0.04 λ g, which is only 8% of the area of conventional two-section branch-line crossover.
Service Data Analyze for the Available Parking Spaces in Different Car parks and Their Forecast Problem

In order to save people's travel time in searching parking spaces, this paper firstly analyzes the changes data of available parking spaces in five parking lots with different capacities, which are located in Xi'an, China. Then this paper uses two methods to predict the data of available parking spaces. The results show that: (1) Available parking spaces in the urban parking lots are fluctuating according the survey data, parking spaces with large capacity of the parking lot will have a larger data fluctuation range, and parking saturation of parking lot will also be affected by the parking lot size and location. (2) Back propagation (BP) neural network model can be used to predict the available parking space of parking lots, no matter the capacity and different geographical location of those carparks is different. Moreover, a model of combination of genetic algorithm (GA) and BP neural network is more reliable than a simple BP neural network model according the results of data contrast are used.
The Emotional and Attentional Impact of Exposure to One's Own Body in Bulimia Nervosa: A Physiological View

Background Body dissatisfaction is the most relevant body image disturbance in bulimia nervosa (BN). Research has shown that viewing one's own body evokes negative thoughts and emotions in individuals with BN. However, the psychophysiological mechanisms involved in this negative reaction have not yet been clearly established. Our aim was to examine the emotional and attentional processes that are activated when patients with BN view their own bodies. Method We examined the effects of viewing a video of one's own body on the physiological (eye-blink startle, cardiac defense, and skin conductance) and subjective (pleasure, arousal, and control ratings) responses elicited by a burst of 110 dB white noise of 500 ms duration. The participants were 30 women with BN and 30 healthy control women. The experimental task consisted of two consecutive and counterbalanced presentations of the auditory stimulus preceded, alternatively, by a video of the participant's own body versus no such video. Results The results showed that, when viewing their own bodies, women with BN experienced (a) greater inhibition of the startle reflex, (b) greater cardiac acceleration in the first component of the defense reaction, (c) greater skin conductance response, and (d) less subjective pleasure and control combined with greater arousal, compared with the control participants. Conclusion Our findings suggest that, for women with BN, peripheral-physiological responses to self-images are dominated by attentional processes, which provoke an immobility reaction caused by a dysfunctional negative response to their own body.
Antibody-Radionuclide Conjugates for Cancer Therapy: Historical Considerations and New Trends

When delivered at a sufficient dose and dose rate to a neoplastic mass, radiation can kill tumor cells. Because cancer frequently presents as a disseminated disease, it is imperative to deliver cytotoxic radiation not only to the primary tumor but also to distant metastases, while reducing exposure of healthy organs as much as possible. Monoclonal antibodies and their fragments, labeled with therapeutic radionuclides, have been used for many years in the development of anticancer strategies, with the aim of concentrating radioactivity at the tumor site and sparing normal tissues. This review surveys important milestones in the development and clinical implementation of radioimmunotherapy and critically examines new trends for the antibody-mediated targeted delivery of radionuclides to sites of cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 17(20); 6406–16. ©2011 AACR.
An Efficient Denoising Architecture for Removal of Impulse Noise in Images

Images are often corrupted by impulse noise in the procedures of image acquisition and transmission. In this paper, we propose an efficient denoising scheme and its VLSI architecture for the removal of random-valued impulse noise. To achieve the goal of low cost, a low-complexity VLSI architecture is proposed. We employ a decision-tree-based impulse noise detector to detect the noisy pixels, and an edge-preserving filter to reconstruct the intensity values of noisy pixels. Furthermore, an adaptive technology is used to enhance the effects of removal of impulse noise. Our extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed technique can obtain better performances in terms of both quantitative evaluation and visual quality than the previous lower complexity methods. Moreover, the performance can be comparable to the higher,- complexity methods. The VLSI architecture of our design yields a processing rate of about 200 MHz by using TSMC 0.18 μm technology. Compared with the state-of-the-art techniques, this work can reduce memory storage by more than 99 percent. The design requires only low computational complexity and two line memory buffers. Its hardware cost is low and suitable to be applied to many real-time applications.
One loop renormalizability of spontaneously broken gauge theory with a product of gauge groups on noncommutative spacetime: the U(1) × U(1) case

A generalization of the standard electroweak model to noncommutative spacetime would involve a product gauge group which is spontaneously broken. Gauge interactions in terms of physical gauge bosons are canonical with respect to massless gauge bosons as required by the exact gauge symmetry, but not so with respect to massive ones; and furthermore they are generally asymmetric in the two sets of gauge bosons. On noncommutative spacetime this already occurs for the simplest model of U(1) ? U(1). We examine whether the above feature in gauge interactions can be perturbatively maintained in this model. We show by a complete one loop analysis that all ultraviolet divergences are removable with a few renormalization constants in a way consistent with the above structure.
A Nodes' Evolution Diversity Inspired Method to Detect Anomalies in Dynamic Social Networks

Recently dynamic social networks witnessed a massive surge in popularity, especially in the area of anomaly detection. Although the text-based methods have achieved impressive detection performances, their applications are limited to the social text provided by users. This research focuses on graph-based methods and proposes a universal method for generalized social networks. Different from the existing graph-based methods that summarize a number of structural features, the proposed nodes' evolution diversity inspired method (NEDM) detects anomalies in dynamic social networks from the perspective of diverse evolution mechanisms. More specifically, NEDM applies link prediction algorithms at the micro-level to fit evolution mechanisms followed by the behaviors of nodes, and designs indices to evaluate their fitting degrees in edge removal and generation processes. In addition, the behavior of a node is represented as a quantum superposition state where such behavior follows different evolution mechanisms with uncertain probabilities. We propose a quantum mechanism based particle swarm optimization algorithm (QMPSO) in NEDM. QMPSO determines the optimal observation states of the behaviors of different nodes, and maximally reflects the evolutional fluctuations in the evolution processes of social networks. As a result, NEDM can quantify the evolutional fluctuations in different periods, and detect anomalies in dynamic social networks. Comparing with art-of-the-state methods and real social data in extensive experiments on disparate real-world social networks, we verify the outstanding performance of NEDM in terms of both accuracy and universality.
A Session Engine Approach for Synchronous Collaborative Environments

This paper presents a session engine for synchronous collaborative environments and settings. Communication is a key aspect in both traditional and computer supported group meetings. Our layered engine approach provides the flexibility needed to provide user-friendly connection procedures, session establishment tasks, user access control to sessions and message distribution mechanisms in sessions. We applied the engine in a real-world scenario and testing indicates this approach can find broader applications in other domains.
Agent Architectures for Intelligent Virtual Environments

This paper presents a new approach to integrate artificial intelligence in virtual environments. The system presented deals in a separated way the visualization and intelligence modules, applying in this last case a distributed approach (multi-agent systems) so that scalable applications may be built. Therefore, it is necessary to define agent architectures that allow agents to be integrated in the VW. Thus, a designer is abstracted from the peculiarities of interacting with a virtual environment. There is a first prototype of the framework using JADE as the supporting multi-agent systems platform.
Varietal Tracing of Virgin Olive Oils Based on Plastid DNA Variation Profiling

Olive oil traceability remains a challenge nowadays. DNA analysis is the preferred approach to an effective varietal identification, without any environmental influence. Specifically, olive organelle genomics is the most promising approach for setting up a suitable set of markers as they would not interfere with the pollinator variety DNA traces. Unfortunately, plastid DNA (cpDNA) variation of the cultivated olive has been reported to be low. This feature could be a limitation for the use of cpDNA polymorphisms in forensic analyses or oil traceability, but rare cpDNA haplotypes may be useful as they can help to efficiently discriminate some varieties. Recently, the sequencing of olive plastid genomes has allowed the generation of novel markers. In this study, the performance of cpDNA markers on olive oil matrices, and their applicability on commercial Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) oils were assessed. By using a combination of nine plastid loci (including multi-state microsatellites and short indels), it is possible to fingerprint six haplotypes (in 17 Spanish olive varieties), which can discriminate high-value commercialized cultivars with PDO. In particular, a rare haplotype was detected in genotypes used to produce a regional high-value commercial oil. We conclude that plastid haplotypes can help oil traceability in commercial PDO oils and set up an experimental methodology suitable for organelle polymorphism detection in the complex olive oil matrices.
Cognitive control among immersed bilinguals: Considering differences in linguistic and non-linguistic processing

While several studies have shown a bilingual advantage in cognitive control, others have refuted such findings, leading to debates regarding the existence of bilingual benefits. The current study conducts two experiments to investigate this issue, focusing on the effect of the age of second language immersion in young adult non-immigrant bilinguals. We use a colour-word Stroop task to assess linguistic cognitive control, and an Attention Network Test to examine non-linguistic cognitive control. Results show significant differences between Simultaneous and Early Sequential bilinguals (typically grouped together as ‘early’) in the Stroop task, but these only become apparent when both languages are mixed. Simultaneous bilinguals also show improved Executive Control efficiency, particularly in the presence of alerting and orienting cues, suggesting enhanced attentional skills for this group. We discuss these findings with respect to participant grouping and task effects, noting the importance of the language environment.
Label-Free and Sensitive Fluorescent Detection of Sequence-Specific Single-Strand DNA Based on S1 Nuclease Cleavage Effects

The ability to detect sequence-specific single-strand DNA (ssDNA) in complex, contaminant-ridden samples, using a fluorescent method directly without a DNA extraction and PCR step could simplify the detection of pathogens in the field and in the clinic. Here, we have demonstrated a simple label-free sensing strategy to detect ssDNA by employing its complementary ssDNA, S1 nuclease and nucleic acid fluorescent dyes. Upon clearing away redundant complementary ssDNA and possibly mismatched double strand DNA by using S1 nuclease, the fluorescent signal-to-noise ratio could be increased dramatically. It enabled the method to be adaptable to three different types of DNA fluorescent dyes and the ability to detect target ssDNA in complex, multicomponent samples, like tissue homogenate. The method can distinguish a two-base mismatch from avian influenza A (H1N1) virus. Also, it can detect the appearance of 50 pM target ssDNA in 0.5 µg·mL−1 Lambda DNA, and 50 nM target ssDNA in 5 µg·mL−1 Lambda DNA or in tissue homogenate. It is facile and cost-effective, and could be easily extended to detect other ssDNA with many common nucleic acid fluorescent dyes.
Remote sensing of surface energy fluxes at 101‐m pixel resolutions

Many applications exist within the fields of agriculture, forestry, land management, and hydrologic assessment for routine estimation of surface energy fluxes, particularly evapotranspiration (ET), at spatial resolutions of the order of 101 m. A new two‐step approach (called the disaggregated atmosphere land exchange inverse model, or DisALEXI) has been developed to combine low‐ and high‐resolution remote sensing data to estimate ET on the 101–102 m scale without requiring any local observations. The first step uses surface brightness‐temperature‐change measurements made over a 4‐hour morning interval from the GOES satellite to estimate average surface fluxes on the scale of about 5 km with an algorithm known as ALEXI. The second step disaggregates the GOES 5‐km surface flux estimates by using high‐spatial‐resolution images of vegetation index and surface temperature, such as from ASTER, Landsat, MODIS, or aircraft, to produce high‐spatial‐resolution maps of surface fluxes. Using data from the Southern Great Plains field experiment of 1997, the root‐mean‐square difference between remote estimates of surface fluxes and ground‐based measurements is about 40 W m−2, comparable to uncertainties associated with micrometeorological surface flux measurement techniques. The DisALEXI approach was useful for estimating field‐scale, surface energy fluxes in a heterogeneous area of central Oklahoma without using any local observations, thus providing a means for scaling kilometer‐scale flux estimates down to a surface flux‐tower footprint. Although the DisALEXI approach is promising for general applicability, further tests with varying surface conditions are necessary to establish greater confidence.
Differential Transport of a Secretin Analog across the Blood-Brain and Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barriers of the Mouse

Secretin is a gastrointestinal peptide belonging to the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)/glucagon/pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) family recently suggested to have therapeutic effects in autism. A direct effect on brain would require secretin to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), an ability other members of the VIP/PACAP family have. Herein, we examined whether a secretin analog (SA) radioactively labeled with 131I (I-SA) could cross the BBB of 4-week-old mice. We found I-SA was rapidly cleared from serum with fragments not precipitating with acid appearing in brain and serum. Levels of radioactivity were corrected to reflect only intact I-SA as estimated by acid precipitation. After i.v. injection, I-SA was taken up by brain at a modest rate of 0.9 to 1.5 μl/g-mm. Capillary depletion, brain perfusion, and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to confirm the passage of intact I-SA across the BBB. I-SA entered every brain region, with the highest uptake into the hypothalamus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Unlabeled SA (10 μg/mouse) did not inhibit uptake by brain but did inhibit clearance from blood and uptake by the CSF, colon, kidney, and liver. The decreased clearance of I-SA from blood increased the percentage of the i.v. injected dose taken up per brain (%Inj/g) from about 0.118 to 0.295%Inj/g. In conclusion, SA crosses the vascular barrier by a nonsaturable process and the choroid plexus by a saturable process in amounts that for other members of its family produce central nervous system (CNS) effects. This passage provides a pathway through which peripherally administered SA could affect the CNS.