Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bunch: a clustering tool for the recovery and maintenance of software system structures

Software systems are typically modified in order to extend or change their functionality, improve their performance, port them to different platforms, and so on. For developers, it is crucial to understand the structure of a system before attempting to modify it. The structure of a system, however, may not be apparent to new developers, because the design documentation is non-existent or, worse, inconsistent with the implementation. This problem could be alleviated if developers were somehow able to produce high-level system decomposition descriptions from the low-level structures present in the source code. We have developed a clustering tool called Bunch that creates a system decomposition automatically by treating clustering as an optimization problem. The paper describes the extensions made to Bunch in response to feedback we received from users. The most important extension, in terms of the quality of results and execution efficiency, is a feature that enables the integration of designer knowledge about the system structure into an otherwise fully automatic clustering process. We use a case study to show how our new features simplified the task of extracting the subsystem structure of a medium size program, while exposing an interesting design flaw in the process.
Metabolomics as a diagnostic tool for idiopathic non‐cirrhotic portal hypertension

Idiopathic non‐cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) is a rare life‐threatening liver disease that lacks a specific diagnostic test being frequently misdiagnosed as cryptogenic cirrhosis. Preliminary data from our group identified a plasma metabolomic profile able to differentiate INCPH from patients with cirrhosis (CH) and healthy volunteers (HV). However, the untargeted methodology applied was unable to identify all the specific metabolites, hampering the possibility of building‐up diagnostic models. This study applies a wide‐coverage of previously identified metabolites through a high‐throughput metabolomics technology, evaluating if there is a metabolomic profile that allows a non‐invasive diagnosis of INCPH.
Crime in Urban Areas:: A Data Mining Perspective

Urban safety and security play a crucial role in improving life quality of citizen and the sustainable development of urban. Traditional urban crime research focused on leveraging demographic data, which is insufficient to capture the complexity and dynamics of urban crimes. In the era of big data, we have witnessed advanced ways to collect and integrate fine-grained urban, mobile, and public service data that contains various crime-related sources as well as rich environmental and social information. The availability of big urban data provides unprecedented opportunities, which enable us to conduct advanced urban crime research. Meanwhile, environmental and social crime theories from criminology provide better understandings about the behaviors of offenders and complex patterns of crime in urban. They can not only help bridge the gap from what we have (big urban data) to what we want to understand about urban crime (urban crime analysis); but also guide us to build computational models for crime. In this article, we give an overview to key theories from criminology, summarize crime analysis on urban data, review state-of-the-art algorithms for various types of computational crime tasks and discuss some appealing research directions that can bring the urban crime research into a new frontier.
Evaluation of implants coated with rhBMP-2 using two different coating strategies: a critical-size supraalveolar peri-implant defect study in dogs.

BACKGROUND Implants coated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) induce relevant bone formation but also resident bone remodelling. OBJECTIVES To compare the effect of implants fully or partially coated with rhBMP-2 on new bone formation and resident bone remodelling. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve, male, adult, Hound Labrador mongrel dogs were used. Critical-size, supraalveolar, peri-implant defects received titanium porous oxide surface implants coated in their most coronal aspect with rhBMP-2 (coronal-load/six animals) or by immersion of the entire implant in an rhBMP-2 solution (soak-load/six animals) for a total of 30 mug rhBMP-2/implant. All implants were air-dried. The animals were euthanized at 8 weeks for histometric evaluation. RESULTS Clinical healing was uneventful. Supraalveolar bone formation was not significantly affected by the rhBMP-2 application protocol. New bone height and area averaged (+/- SE) 3.4 +/- 0.2 versus 3.5 +/- 0.4 mm and 2.6 +/- 0.4 versus 2.5 +/- 0.7 mm(2) for coronal-load and soak-load implants, respectively (p>0.05). The corresponding bone density and bone-implant contact (BIC) recordings averaged 38.0 +/- 3.8%versus 34.4 +/- 5.6% and 25.0 +/- 3.8%versus 31.2 +/- 3.3% (p>0.05). In contrast, resident bone remodelling was significantly influenced by the rhBMP-2 application protocol. Bone density outside the implants threads averaged 74.7 +/- 3.8% and 50.8 +/- 4.1% for coronal-load and soak-load implants, respectively (p<0.05); bone density within the thread area averaged 51.8 +/- 1.2% and 37.8 +/- 2.9%, and BIC 70.1 +/- 6.7% and 43.3 +/- 3.9% (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Local application of rhBMP-2 appears to be a viable technology to support local bone formation and osseointegration. Coronal-load implants obviate resident bone remodelling without compromising new bone formation.
Intravenous pamidronate for refractory rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be resistant to conventional treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). On the other hand, biologic therapy is costly and may be inconvenient for many patients. Pamidronate is a potent bisphosphonate with the capacity of modifying the biological activity of the immune system cells. It may thus be used as an anti-inflammatory agent in patients with inflammatory joint diseases. Materials and Methods: To assess the effectiveness of pamidronate in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, we selected 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis to enroll in a pilot study to receive pamidronate and conventional treatment with prednisolone and DMARDs in combination. These patients received 60 mg of pamidronate for 3 consecutive months and were followed for 6 months since the first infusion. Results: The mean visual analogue score (VAS) and disease activity score (DAS28) fell steadily until one month after the third infusion. However, no improvements were observed during the 3 months after the last infusion of the drug. All patients, except one, reported decreased pain in response to 3 consecutive pulses of pamidronate and most had improvements in the assessed laboratory and clinical indices. The drug was tolerated well in our patients. Conclusion: Pamidronate infusions had beneficial effects on various clinical and laboratory parameters of patients, but alleviation of symptoms were temporary and did not last for more than 6 months. This treatment option can be a choice for difficult cases of rheumatoid arthritis with severe pain and osteoporosis.
Recent Developments in Yeast Aging

In the last decade, research into the molecular determinants of aging has progressed rapidly and much of this progress can be attributed to studies in invertebrate eukaryotic model organisms. Of these, single-celled yeast is the least complicated and most amenable to genetic and molecular manipulations. Supporting the use of this organism for aging research, increasing evidence has accumulated that a subset of pathways influencing longevity in yeast are conserved in other eukaryotes, including mammals. Here we briefly outline aging in yeast and describe recent findings that continue to keep this “simple” eukaryote at the forefront of aging research.
Efficient exploitation of similar subexpressions for query processing

Complex queries often contain common or similar subexpressions, either within a single query or among multiple queries submitted as a batch. If so, query execution time can be improved by evaluating a common subexpression once and reusing the result in multiple places. However, current query optimizers do not recognize and exploit similar subexpressions, even within the same query. We present an efficient, scalable, and principled solution to this long-standing optimization problem. We introduce a light-weight and effective mechanism to detect potential sharing opportunities among expressions. Candidate covering subexpressions are constructed and optimization is resumed to determine which, if any, such subexpressions to include in the final query plan. The chosen subexpression(s) are computed only once and the results are reused to answer other parts of queries. Our solution automatically applies to optimization of query batches, nested queries, and maintenance of multiple materialized views. It is the first comprehensive solution covering all aspects of the problem: detection, construction, and cost-based optimization. Experiments on Microsoft SQL Server show significant performance improvements with minimal overhead.
Response driven efficient task load assignment in mobile crowdsourcing

Mobile crowdsourcing paradigm is considered as one of the emerging techniques due to immense demand of location based services and various novel applications in recent years. The evolution of smart mobile users (SMUs), specifically due to high end mobile devices in terms of resources and capabilities has contributed towards the concept of collaborative task completion and a notion of crowdsourcing. Under general scenario of mobile crowdsourcing, an application based platform (task requester) tries to motivate a number of available participating users for completing a specific task by introducing certain incentive mechanism. However, the challenge remains in improving users' participation for a better result as not all users have similar attitude for a task due to resource constraints(energy profile), time, mobility, privacy issues and so on. Therefore, to address this situation, in this paper we propose users' response profile based incentive mechanism for improving participation that incorporates users' behavior and inconvenience metrics upon joining crowdsourcing. Secondly, we formulate utility based optimal task load allocation considering energy constraints of SMUs. Simulation results show response driven incentive mechanism supports platform owner to design an appropriate task load allocation scheme without overwhelming SMU's energy constraint and eventually loosing participation.
Efficient CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells Employing Nanostructured p‐Type NiO Electrode Formed by a Pulsed Laser Deposition

Highly transparent and nanostructured nickel oxide (NiO) films through pulsed laser deposition are introduced for efficient CH3 NH3 PbI3 perovskite solar cells. The (111)-oriented nanostructured NiO film plays a key role in extracting holes and preventing electron leakage as hole transporting material. The champion device exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 17.3% with a very high fill factor of 0.813.
Optimized generation of data-path from C codes for FPGAs

FPGAs, as computing devices, offer significant speedup over microprocessors. Furthermore, their configurability offers an advantage over traditional ASICs. However, they do not yet enjoy high-level language programmability, as microprocessors do. This has become the main obstacle for their wider acceptance by application designers. ROCCC is a compiler designed to generate circuits from C source code to execute on FPGAs, more specifically on CSoCs. It generates RTL level HDLs from frequently executing kernels in an application. In this paper, we describe the ROCCC's system overview and focus on its data path generation. We compare the performance of ROCCC-generated VHDL code with that of Xilinx IPs. The synthesis result shows that the ROCCC-generated circuit takes around 2/spl times//spl sim/3/spl times/ the area and runs at a comparable clock rate.
A software engineering framework for context-aware pervasive computing

There is growing interest in the use of context-awareness as a technique for developing pervasive computing applications that are flexible, adaptable, and capable of acting autonomously on behalf of users. However, context-awareness introduces various software engineering challenges, as well as privacy and usability concerns. In this paper, we present a conceptual framework and software infrastructure that together address known software engineering challenges, and enable further practical exploration of social and usability issues by facilitating the prototyping and fine-tuning of context-aware applications.
Efficient Specific-to-General Rule Induction

RISE (Domingos 1995; in press) is a rule induction algorithm that proceeds by gradually generalizing rules, starting with one rule per example. This has several advantages compared to the more common strategy of gradually specializing initially null rules, and has been shown to lead to significant accuracy gains over algorithms like C4.5 RULES and CN2 in a large number of application domains. However, RISE'S running time (like that of other rule induction algorithms) is quadratic in the number of examples, making it unsuitable for processing very large databases. This paper introduces a method for reducing RISE's running time based on partitioning the training set, evaluating rules from one partition on examples from another, and combining the final results at classification time. Partitioning guarantees a learning time that is linear in the number of examples, even in the presence of numeric attributes and high noise. Windowing, a well-known speedup method, is also studied as applied to RISE. In low-noise conditions, both methods are successful in reducing running time whilst maintaining accuracy (partitioning sometimes improves it significantly). In noisy conditions, the performance of windowing deteriorates, while that of partitioning remains stable.
CCD fingerprint method-identification of a video camera from videotaped images

We propose a new "CCD Fingerprint" method to identify a camcorder from videotaped images. This method enables individual camera identification, which does not mean camera-model identification. The clue to the individual camera identification is obtained from nonuniformity of dark currents on CCD chips, which causes a fixed pattern noise. The pattern is quite unique and intrinsic to an individual camera. Moreover, such a pattern might be recorded on tapes. Using these features, it is expected that the nonuniformity of dark current makes it possible to specify only one camera among same model cameras. In order to observe the characteristic noise patterns, we performed experiments with 9 camcorders in 4 types by recording a blank image on videotapes. The results showed that the fixed patterns were observed in most cases by accumulating 100 frames. Furthermore, it was confirmed that each camera had its own unique pattern.
Innovative usage of information technology in Singapore organizations: do CIO characteristics make a difference?

Based on the upper echelon theory, this paper studies the relationship between the individual characteristics of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and organizational innovative usage of information technology (IT) by examining both the CIO's demographic characteristics and personality traits. Survey results from 89 CIOs strongly support our proposition. A CIO's personality traits of openness and extraversion and CIO's demographic characteristics of educational level have strong impact on the organizational innovative usage of IT even after controlling for organizational variables such as the organization's business strategy, outsourcing of IT operations, IT department age, and IT budget relative to revenue. This paper contributes to the age-old debate on whether managers matter in deciding an organization's strategy.
Grape seed extract targets mitochondrial electron transport chain complex III and induces oxidative and metabolic stress leading to cytoprotective autophagy and apoptotic death in human head and neck cancer cells

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a major killer worldwide and innovative measures are urgently warranted to lower the morbidity and mortality caused by this malignancy. Aberrant redox and metabolic status in HNSCC cells offer a unique opportunity to specifically target cancer cells. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of grape seed extract (GSE) to target the redox and bioenergetic alterations in HNSCC cells. GSE treatment decreased the mitochondrial electron transport chain complex III activity, increased the mitochondrial superoxide levels and depleted the levels of cellular antioxidant (glutathione), thus resulting in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in human HNSCC Detroit 562 and FaDu cells. Polyethylene glycol‐SOD addition reversed the GSE‐mediated apoptosis without restoring complex III activity. Along with redox changes, GSE inhibited the extracellular acidification rate (representing glycolysis) and oxygen consumption rate (indicating oxidative phosphorylation) leading to metabolic stress in HNSCC cells. Molecular studies revealed that GSE activated AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), and suppressed Akt/mTOR/4E‐BP1/S6K signaling in both Detroit 562 and FaDu cells. Interestingly, GSE increased the autophagic load specifically in FaDu cells, and autophagy inhibition significantly augmented the apoptosis in these cells. Consistent with in vitro results, in vivo analyses also showed that GSE feeding in nude mice activated AMPK and induced‐autophagy in FaDu xenograft tumor tissues. Overall, these findings are innovative as we for the first time showed that GSE targets ETC complex III and induces oxidative and metabolic stress, thereby, causing autophagy and apoptotic death in HNSCC cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tacrolimus Modulates TGF-β Signaling to Induce Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Human Renal Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process which describes the trans-differentiation of epithelial cells into motile mesenchymal cells, is pivotal in stem cell behavior, development and wound healing, as well as contributing to disease processes including fibrosis and cancer progression. Maintenance immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) has become routine management for renal transplant patient, but unfortunately the nephrotoxicity of these drugs has been well documented. HK-2 cells were exposed to Tacrolimus (FK506) and EMT markers were assessed by RT PCR and western blot. FK506 effects on TGF-β mRNA were assessed by RT PCR and TGF-β secretion was measured by ELISA. The impact of increased TGF-β secretion on Smad signaling pathways was investigated. The impact of inhibition of TGF-β signaling on EMT processes was assessed by scratch-wound assay. The results presented in this study suggest that FK506 initiates EMT processes in the HK-2 cell line, with altered expression of epithelial and myofibroblast markers evident. Additionally, the study demonstrates that FK506 activation of the TGF-β/ SMAD pathways is an essential step in the EMT process. Overall the results demonstrate that EMT is heavily involved in renal fibrosis associated with CNI nephrotoxicity.
Evolving Musical Sequences with N-Gram Based Trainable Fitness Functions

Conventionally, automatic music composition is done by evolving music sequences whose fitness is evaluated by a human listener. This interactive approach has led to interesting results but is very time consuming. Here we propose a system that is capable of automatically generating music using an evolutionary algorithm (EA), replacing the human evaluation process with a trainable music evaluation algorithm. This algorithm can be trained on existing music samples, such as Mozart compositions for example. This kind of system could provide a fast and cheap music composition tool. The current evaluation system is implemented with an N-Gram language model. This paper discusses the system in two parts. Firstly, it describes the performance of the proposed music evaluation algorithm. Secondly, it discusses the impacts of different sequence-oriented genetic operators in the evolutionary algorithm. Part one of the experimental results show that the N-Gram model is able to distinguish the composer of piano compositions by Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin with up to 81.9% accuracy. Part two of the results show that some of the sequence-oriented operators increased the fitness of the generated melodies, but some operators did not. The impacts of these operators are discussed in the experimental results section. Significantly, the results also show that better classification accuracy does not necessarily lead to better evolved music, suggesting that perceptual relevance is also an important factor.
Electrically conductive adhesive tape

可提供一种制作工序简单、便于在工作现场切断使用、具有导电性并能遮断电子波的导电胶带。 该导电胶带是在树脂薄膜的金属蒸镀层上形成导电胶合剂而制成的厚度极薄的胶带，该金属蒸镀层是在树脂薄膜的一面上以真空蒸镀法蒸镀导电金属物质或是在树脂薄膜的一面上蒸镀网状金属蒸镀层而形成的。
Predicting fatigue crack growth life in integral metallic skin-stringer panels

During the past few years, in comparison to traditional riveted structures, integral metallic skin stringer structures have played more and more important roles in aircraft design due to the fact they are economical and also have the ability to reduce weight. Their wide application in aircraft, especially large integral structures is limited because of the fact that they have shortcomings in damage tolerance performance. Hence, calculating the crack growth lives and improving the damage tolerance performance of integral structures by selecting appropriate materials or choosing rational structures is a critical work. Therefore the purpose of this thesis is to find effective analysis methods of integral metallic skin-stringer panels for the use in engineering. Cont/d.
A proposal for the establishment of two new Haemophilus species.

Summary There is good evidence for the existence of two groups of bacteria that differ from Haemophilus suis and H. gallinarum only in not requiring the supply of X factor for growth. It is proposed that these groups should be established as new species named, respectively, Haemophilus parasuis and H. paragallinarum.
The impact of olfactory dysfunction on interoceptive awareness

This study aimed to investigate how the impairment of the olfactory system influences interoception. Interoception is known as the awareness of one’s body or the sense of the condition of the body; more precisely, this construct is defined as the processing, representation, and perception of the internal physical state. Interoceptive sensitivity and chemosensory performance were assessed in 77 subjects, including 43 functional anosmics, 18 hyposmics, and 16 healthy controls. Interoceptive awareness was predicted by odor detection threshold, as well as the duration of olfactory loss in patients who suffered from reduced olfactory function—the longer the olfactory impairment, the worse the perception of bodily signals. The results of this study will significantly contribute to the basic understanding of the multifaceted effects of olfactory alterations.