Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Generating Graphs with Prescribed Vertex Degrees for Complex Network Modeling 1

Graph models for real-world complex networks such as the Internet, the WWW and biological networks are necessary for simulation-based studies of a variety of problems. Currently, there is a fair amount of available data for such networks, and yet, the primitives of how these networks grow and evolve are not well understood. On the positive side, the available data suggest robust and persistent heavy tailed statistics, most notably on the degrees of the network topologies. Consequently, a practical way to generate network topologies that meet the observed data is the following degree-driven approach: First predict the degrees of the graph by extrapolation from the available data, and then construct a graph meeting the degree sequence and, possibly, additional constraints such as connectivity, randomness, low cost, to name a few. In particular, within the networking community, this is currently accepted as the most successful approach for modeling the topology of the Internet. Constructing a simple graph that meets a given degree sequence is a classical problem in graph theory and theoretical computer science. This problem is intimately related to the theory of matchings, and hence, many generalizations of the problem can be also addressed in a strict theoretical framework. In this paper we review a range of theoretical primitives that are relevant to the degree-driven network generation approach. Some of these primitives can be readily adapted in practice, and enrich the output of existing network topology generators. More importantly, we formalize several theoretical problems for which efficient algorithms can greatly impact the application context. Since the practical applications involve tens of thousands of nodes, approximation algorithms become particularly important. We thus hope that this paper will bring to the attention of the network modeling community some relevant classical graph theory, as well as bring to the attention of mathematicians and theoretical computer scientists a variety of new problems whose resolution may have direct practical impact. Research supported by NSF-ITR-0220343, and by a Georgia Tech Edenfield Faculty Fellowship.
Fingerprint Reorganization Using Minutiae Based Matching for Identification and Verification

Fingerprints play distinguishing role in biometrics. Fingerprints are the most widely used parameter for personal identification amongst all biometric based personal authentication systems. They give unique identification to the individual. They are permanent and non changing character pattern. As most automatic fingerprint recognition systems are based on local features of ridge known as minutiae, marking minutiae accurately and rejecting false ones is critically important. This paper is a study and implementation of a fingerprint recognition system based on Minutiae based matching which is quite frequently used in various fingerprint algorithms and techniques. This approach mainly involves extraction of minutiae points from the sample fingerprint images and then performing fingerprint matching based on the score of minutiae pairings among two fingerprints. Our implementation mainly assimilates image enhancement, image segmentation, feature extraction and minutiae matching. It finally generates a result which tells whether two fingerprints match or not.
Application of metalation reactions for synthesis of sulfur/selenium-containing heterocyclic compounds

This thesis deals mainly with the synthesis of various sulfur/selenium-containing heterocyclic compounds, many of which include structural features present in several biologically active molecules, with particular emphasis on compounds of synthetic importance, such as indoles, as well as other heteroaromatic species. In the first part, an efficient procedure toward synthesis of new 3(arylthio)indoles based on reactions of aryl Grignard reagents or lithiated heteroaromatics with protected 3,3′-dithiobisindoles is described. In addition, the heterocyclic core of the marine alkaloid echinosulfone A, namely 3,3′-bis(indolyl) sulfone, was obtained by treatment of a 3-lithioindole derivative with bis(phenylsulfonyl) sulfide. These methodologies offer convenient synthetic routes toward a wide range of 3-(arylthio)indoles in good yields. In an extension, the sulfonation of 1-(phenylsulfonyl)indoles and pyrroles using chlorosulfonic acid in acetonitrile has been studied, leading to development of a simple and clean protocol for synthesis of the corresponding 1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-indole-3-sulfonyl chlorides and 1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-pyrrole-3-sulfonyl chlorides. In the second part, a new practical approach is described toward the synthesis of several biologically active indolothiopyrans and related selenopyrans, as analogues of indolocarbazoles. The target compounds were accessed via treatment of C-2 metalated indoles with bis(phenylsulfonyl) sulfide or selenide, followed by cyclization of the intermediate 2,2′-di(indolyl) sulfide/selenides, involving for example triethyl orthoformate under acidic conditions. The final section of this thesis describes a new method for synthesis of dibenzo[b,f]thiepins and related fused systems via ortho-metalation of aromatic acetals, followed by treatment with bis(phenylsulfonyl) sulfide, initially giving symmetrical diaryl-sulfides, which were subjected to deacetalization, and finally McMurry coupling. The method could also be extended to preparation of thiepin analogues such as 1-sila-, 1-germaand 1-selenacyclohepta-2,4,6-trienes containing two fused aromatic or heterocyclic units.
Effect of scour on the behavior of a combined loaded monopile in sand

Pile foundations used for offshore wind structures are subjected to large lateral loading from wind and waves while in service as well as significant vertical loading from the top structure. Erosion of soil from around these structures, termed scour, poses a significant problem for the structural stability. In order to better understand the performance of piles facing scour problems, the effect of local scour on the behavior of mono-piles installed in sand under combined lateral and vertical loading has been investigated using the Finite Element Method (FEM) using PLAXIS in this paper. The simulation results showed that vertical loading can decrease pile lateral displacement and improve the lateral capacity of piles in the absence of scour and under scour. The increase of scour depth will largely reduce lateral capacity of piles.
Trehalose Ingestion Modifies Mucosal Immune Responses of the Small Intestine in Mice

Trehalose has been utilized as a supplement to various products such as food and cosmetics, and has recently been reported to have multiple biological functions in vitro and in vivo. We have previously found that trehalose administered orally inhibits mouse osteoclastogenesis induced by estrogen-deficiency or by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we examined whether oral administration of trehalose to mice produced changes in the Peyer's patches (PP) of the small intestine, that are essential for mucosal immune responses, to clarify the inhibitory mechanism of trehalose on osteoclastogenesis. Male C3H/HeN mice were orally administered trehalose 1 g/kg for 5 consecutive days. Interestingly, trehalose administration caused a significant decrease in the total number of PP lymphocytes (PPL) and in the spontaneous release of interleukin (IL)-6 by PPL compared with those of controls, without inducing apparent pathological damage. Moreover, proliferation and interferon (IFN)-γ production by PPL in response to LPS tended to increase compared with those of the control group. Considering that IL-6 and IFN-γ are factors associated with bone metabolism, our results suggest the possibility that trehalose ingestion may modify the intestinal immune environment, resulting in altered systemic immunity and bone metabolism.
Analytical Study of Biometrics Normalization and Fusion Techniques For Designing a Multimodal System

Unimodal biometric systems are reliable; still the popularity of these systems is degrading due to the problems such as noisy sensor data, non-universality and spoof attacks. These limitations can be overcome if more than one trait is fused to make a system called multibiometric system. In this paper, i am presenting different techniques for the fusion of different traits to make a multimodal system after normalization of all features in one domain. Also, a comparative study of different normalization methods has been done. Performance is analyzed on basis of two parameters: Genuine acceptance rate (GAR) and false acceptance rate (FAR). These results obtained through MATLAB programs yields curves for GAR and FAR.
CLASSIFICATION OF PATIENTS WITH FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT USING PELVIS AND HIP ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT DURING GAIT

1,2 Gustavo Leporace, 2 Luiz Alberto Batista, 3 Liszt P. Oliveira 4 Leonardo Metsavaht, 1 Flavio F. Nobre and 1 Jurandir Nadal 1 Programa de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; e-mail: gustavo@brasilsaude.org; jurandir.nadal@gmail.com, web: www.peb. ufrj.br 2 Laboratório de Biomecânica e Comportamento Motor, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 3 Laboratório de Artroscopia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 4 Instituto Brasil de Tecnologias da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Heat Shock Protein 60: Identification of an Undetected Allergen from Dermatophagoides farinae

Background Recently, the incidence of allergic diseases has been on the rise; Dust mite is the major indoor allergen which needs a special consideration. Objectives This study was carried out to identify and investigate the molecular properties of a new allergen named Hsp60 and to afford a foundation for future research of the allergic diseases caused by Dermatophagoides farinae. Materials and Methods Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with degenerate primer, the cDNA of Dermatophagoides farinae Hsp60 was amplified and sequenced. Next, the cDNA fragment was cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a for the expression of the Hsp60. Then, it was further characterized by Elisa and Western Blot analysis. Results The partial cDNA sequence of the Dermatophagoides farinae Hsp60 was determined, and the recombinant Hsp60 was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. ELISA and Western blot analysis showed that the recombinant protein could be specifically recognized by SIgE from sera of the Dermatophagoides farina-allergic patients. Conclusions Our group has, for the first time, demonstrated the fact that there is an Hsp60 family of Dermatophagoides farinae and analyzed the allergenicity of the Hsp60 with immunological method. These results provide a foundation for further allergological research of the Dermatophagoides farinae Hsp60.
Impacts of Coal Mine Water and Damodar River Water Irrigation on Soil and Maize (Zea mays L.) in a Coalfield Area of Damodar Valley, India

The coal mine water (CMW) can vary greatly in the concentration of contaminants present and some CMW discharges can be a potential water resource, where the local water demands for industrial, irrigation, and even drinking and domestic uses can be fulfilled by effective utilization (Cidu et al., 2007; Singh, 1994). Mining’s impacts on the natural water environment may be observed throughout the life cycle of a mine and even long after mine closure (Younger et al., 2002). The potential impacts of mining on the water environment are: (1) disruption of hydrological pathways; (2) seepage of contaminated leachates into aquifers; (3) disposal of CMW, and; (4) depression of the water table around the dewatered zone. Disposal of CMW is a worldwide problem, at both underground and opencast workings (Pulles et al., 1995). The quality of the CMW depends on a series of geological, hydrological and mining conditions, which vary significantly from mine to mine (Younger et al., 2002). The discharged CMW varies greatly in the concentration of contaminants and in some cases it may even meet the drinking water specifications (Singh et al., 2010). Many times, the discharged CMW as such is not usable and may contain unacceptable levels of heavy metals, toxic anions, organic and biological contaminants (Khan et al., 2005; Gupta, 1999). The CMW resource may act as a potential water source in the water scare mining areas and by adopting a suitable water management strategy and treatment process, the CMW generated during mining operations may be harnessed and utilized to meet the regional water demand for domestic, industrial and irrigation uses (Singh, 1994; Tiwary and Dhar, 1994). The CMW may contain large amounts of suspended and dissolved solids, dirty materials and impurities associated with raw coal and they create serious problems of deterioration of water quality of the river or water bodies into which they are discharged (Ghose, 1999). The Damodar River in Durgapur-Asansol region receives waste waters from steel plant, coke oven and coal based chemical industries besides distilleries and paper mills (Chakraborti, 1994). Regulations of Government of India severely restrict the methods of disposal of the effluent loaded with fine material, usually produced in the form of slurry (Bandopadhyay, 1995). India supports more than 16% of the world's population with only 4% of the world's fresh water resources (Singh, 2003). Although agriculture sector in this country has been major ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Variation in social behavior within a spider mite genus, Stigmaeopsis (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The spider mites belonging to the genus Stigmaeopsis construct extremely dense oval woven roofs (web-nests) over depressions on the lower surface of host leaves and are known to have a kind of sociality. The four species that occur on bamboo plants in Japan show different nest areas. The nest area of Stigmaeopsis longus is the largest, followed by that of S. celarius, S. takahashii, and S. saharai in decreasing order. Smaller nests effectively prevent adults of several predator mite species from intruding. We hypothesized that variation in nest size reflects different anti-intruder adaptations of this mite group in relation to their sociality. The larger nest makers may adopt an alternative anti-intruder strategy, namely, counterattack by a large group, so as to compensate for the disadvantage of large nests. S. longus and S. celarius adults effectively defended their large nests against potential predators, and the effects of nest defense increased with the number of individuals in a nest. S. takahashii and S. saharai revealed no counterattack effect. Counterattack abilities that increase with the adult density, and thus, sociality may compensate for the vulnerability of larger nests. Copyright 2005.
Evaluation of age determination techniques for gray wolves

We evaluated tooth wear, cranial suture fusion, closure of the canine pulp cavity, and cementum annuli as methods of age determination for known- and unknown-age gray wolves (Canis lupus) from Alaska, Minnesota, Ontario, and Isle Royale, Michigan. We developed age classes for cranial suture closure and tooth wear. We used measurement data obtained from known-age captive and wild wolves to generate a regression equation to predict age based on the degree of closure of the canine pulp cavity. Cementum annuli were studied in known- and unknown-age animals, and calcified, unstained thin sections were found to provide clear annulus patterns under polarized transmitted light. Annuli counts varied among observers, partly because of variation in the pattern of annuli in different regions of the cementum. This variation emphasizes the need for standardized models of cementum analysis. Cranial suture fusion is of limited utility in age determination, while tooth wear can be used to estimate age of adult wolves within 4 years. Wolves <7 years old could be aged to within 1-3 years with the regression equation for closure of the canine pulp cavity. Although inaccuracy remains a problem, cementum-annulus counts were the most promising means of estimating age for gray wolves.
Frost heaving of Picea abies seedlings as influenced by soil preparation, planting technique, and location along gap-shelterwood gradients.

The effects of soil preparation, planting technique and location along gap-shelterwood gradients (position and orientation) on frost heaving damage to seedlings were studied in Vindeln Experimental Forests, northern Sweden. The forest was harvested in a grid pattern in winter 2004–2005, forming gaps and shelterwood areas of 30 × 40 m each. Gap-shelterwood gradients were delimited in four orientations and subdivided into five positions: 7 m and 15 m into the gap and shelterwood, and at the gap edge. At each position, three replicates of three soil preparations were made: exposed E and B horizons and HuMinMix (milled vegetation and humus layers mixed with surface mineral soil). In early October 2005, one-year-old containerized Picea abies (L.) Karst. seedlings were planted using four techniques: normal and deep planting, and mobile and fixed experimental containers. After one winter, frost heaving damage was highest for seedlings on B horizon combined with the mobile container (51 ± 6%) and normal planting (43 ± 6%). Normalor deep-planted seedlings in HuMinMix had the least damage (5–6.6 ± 2.5%). Compared to normal planting, deep planting reduced frost heaving damage only on B horizon. When considering the orientation, seedlings in the experimental containers had more or similar frost heaving damage than normalor deepplanted seedlings. Along the eastern gradient, seedlings incurred more frost heaving damage in the center of the gap than under the canopy.
Study of phytochemical, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activity of Berberis Aristata.

The present study was undertaken to find the phytochemical presence, antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity, and anticancer activity of methanol extract of Berberis aristita. Plant extract showed the presence of antioxidants like alkaloid, saponin, terpenoids, coumarin, flavonoids, tannin, glycoside and steroid. Further, antioxidant assay like DPPH (Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay, hydrogen peroxide assay and reducing power assay was done. DPPH free radical Scavenging Activity was expressed in % inhibition with L Ascorbic acid as standard showing IC50 9. 6μg/ml and that of extract was 33. 31μg/ml. Hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity was comparable to standard, IC50 for L Ascorbic acid is 54. 23μg/ml and that of B. Aristita is 60. 6μg/ml. Similarly, reducing power of plant extract at different concentration was comparable with L-Ascorbic Acid. Antimicrobial screening showed good positive result with Candida albicans, Salmonella typhii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Cell viability assay; MTT; showed a significant cytotoxicity to MDA-MB-231 and U-87 MG human cancer cell line compared to NIH/3T3 standard embryonic fibroblast cell lines of mouse.
Moving from toolkits to relationships: Family engagement for systems change

This article presents the development and challenges involved in one school-university partnership over a four-year period, to learn what is needed to support teachers, future teachers and schools to be able to gather, understand, and use family knowledge in long term, mutually meaningful, and co-designed family engagement efforts. Here we explore impact on teacher-candidate, teacher, administrator, and university faculty understanding in one high poverty, majority Latino, rural elementary school in the northwestern USA. The processes and structures involved in family-school co-construction of informal and formal family engagement experiences are detailed in this case study. The account details the inclusion of knowledge and applied strategies from Early Childhood home visiting (Roggman, Boyce, & Innocenti, 2008), a Human Services emphasis on navigating systems and interprofessional collaboration (Mellin, Belknap, Brodie, & Sholes, 2015), and prioritizing the immersion of teacher-candidates in diverse, low income, communities of color (Murrell, 2001). This account reinforces the importance of sustaining long term engagement in meaningful inquiry-based field experiences grounded in community collaboration in the pre-service preparation of a family and community-engaged teacher. The development of trusting relationships with family as a goal in itself, is discussed as foundational to cultivation of partnership thinking in the education of primary school students .
Comorbidity and physician use in fibromyalgia

Objective: To describe comorbidity in women with FM, and to examine the effects of different types of comorbidity on physician use. Methods: Women (n = 180) with primary FM were evaluated at baseline and 6 months later for self-reported health resource use and covariates. Reported comorbidity was classified into 4 categories: medical, psychiatric, “functional”, and unknown. The category for “functional” conditions included disorders that have been classified by previous authors as medically unexplained symptoms such as the irritable bowel and chronic fatigue syndromes. Logistic regression models were developed to examine associations between types of comorbidity and physician use. Results: Comorbid conditions were reported by over 90% of the sample. Total number of comorbid complaints was associated with high number of physician visits. In logistic regression models (controlling for age, ethnicity, education, disability, pain, and psychological vulnerability) medical comorbidity was a much stronger determinant of high number of physician visits than was “functional” comorbidity. Conclusions: Comorbidity with other disorders, both functional and medical, was high in this sample. Medical and psychiatric comorbidity were stronger determinants of high physician use than “functional” comorbidity.
Modeling "Presentness" of Electronic Health Record Data to Improve Patient State Estimation

Medical data are not missing at random. The problem is more acute when the observations are over an extended period of time; any particular variable is observed at relatively few time points. We take missing values to be the norm, and treat “presentness” (the times of observations) as additional features to augment the values observed. A joint model over both avoids the missing-at-random (MAR) assumption. We use piecewise-constant conditional intensity models (PCIMs) to build a generative model of observation times and values. We demonstrate its effectiveness in reconstruction of monitor readings of patient vitals from sparse EHR data.
Effects of mRNA, Protein Expression and Activity for Myocardial SOD2 by a Single Bout of or Long-Term Strenuous Endurance Exercise in Rats

Objective: To explore the effects of myocardial SOD2 by strenuous endurance exercise. Methods: 27 grown male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (C), a single bout of strenuous endurance exercise group (E1) and seventh-week strenuous endurance exercise group (E2). Real-time PCR was used to observe the changes of mRNA expression for myocardial SOD2. Western bolt was used to observe the changes of SOD2 protein expression. In addition, SOD2, T-SOD and SOD1 activity changes were observed. Results: Myocardial SOD2 expression level at mRNA and protein of Group E1, E2 was significantly higher than that in group C, and SOD2 and T-SOD activity in group E2 were significantly higher than those in group C. Those changes were more obvious in group E2. Conclusions: Strenuous endurance exercise can improve level of myocardial SOD2 expression at mRNA and protein, and enhance the activity for SOD2, thus increasing the activity for T-SOD. Effect of long-term strenuous endurance exercise was better than a single bout of one.