Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Simple Augmentation Method for Matchings with Applications to Streaming Algorithms

Given a graph G , it is well known that any maximal matching M in G is at least half the size of a maximum matching M ∗ . In this paper, we show that if G is bipartite, then running the Greedy matching algorithm on a sampled subgraph of G produces enough additional edges that can be used to augment M such that the resulting matching is of size at least (2 −√ 2) | M ∗ | ≈ 0 . 5857 | M ∗ | (ignoring lower order terms) with high probability. The main applications of our method lie in the area of data streaming algorithms, where an algorithm performs few passes over the edges of an n -vertex graph while maintaining a memory of size O ( n polylog n ). Our method immediately yields a very simple two-pass algorithm for Maximum Bipartite Matching ( MBM ) with approximation factor 0 . 5857, which only runs the Greedy matching algorithm in each pass. This slightly improves on the much more involved 0 . 583-approximation algorithm of Esfandiari et al. [ICDMW 2016]. To obtain our main result, we combine our method with a residual sparsity property of the random order Greedy algorithm and give a one-pass random order streaming algorithm for MBM with approximation factor 0 . 5395. This substantially improves upon the one-pass random order 0 . 505-approximation algorithm of Konrad et al. [APPROX 2012].
Spatial Indexing on Flash-Based Solid State Drives

The use of a spatial index is fundamental to process spatial queries on spatial database systems. With the growing use of ﬂash-based Solid State Drives (SSDs), designing spatial indices for these storage devices has gained increasing attention. Hence, while there are spatial indices dedicated to magnetic disks (i.e., disk-based spatial indices ), the literature has focused on to propose ﬂash-aware spatial indices that consider the intrinsic characteristics of SSDs, such as the asymmetric costs of reads and writes. However, the research to date has not been able to establish a ﬂash-aware spatial index that actually exploits all the beneﬁts of SSDs. The principal goal of this PhD work is to propose an eﬃcient ﬂash-aware spatial indexing method by taking into account the system implications introduced by SSDs. The main pre-liminary result of this PhD is eFIND, a generic framework that transforms a disk-based spatial index into an eﬃcient ﬂash-aware spatial index. Performance tests showed that, compared to the state of the art, eFIND improved the construction of spatial indices from 60% to 77%, and the spatial query processing from 22% to 23%.
Aggregation Platform for Wind-PV-Thermal Technology in Electricity Market

This paper addresses a stochastic Wind-PV-Thermal commitment to improve the bidding process of an aggregator in an electricity day-ahead market. The data for the wind and solar powers and for the market prices are given by a set of scenarios. Thermal units modeling includes start-up costs, variables costs and bounds due to constraints of technical operation, such as: ramp up/down limits and minimum up/down time limits. The modeling is carried out in order to develop a management aggregation procedure based in a stochastic programming approach formulated as a mixed integer linear mathematical programming problem. A case study is addressed with market price from the Iberian Peninsula and comparison between disaggregated and aggregated bids is discussed to address the main conclusions.
Optimizing Reciprocity-Based Backscattering with a Full-Duplex Antenna Array Reader

Backscatter communication (BSC) technology can enable ubiquitous deployment of low-cost sustainable wireless devices. In this work we investigate the efficacy of a full-duplex antenna array reader in overcoming the limited communication range bottleneck of monostatic BSCs. As performance is strongly influenced by the channel estimation (CE) quality, we first derive a novel least-squares estimator (LSE) for the forward and backward links between the reader and the tag, assuming that reciprocity holds. After defining the transceiver design at reader using this LSE, we optimize the energy allocation for the CE and information decoding phases, to maximize the average backscattered signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The unimodality of this SNR in optimization variable along with a tight approximation for the global optimal design are also presented. Lastly, numerical results validate the proposed analysis and present key insights into the optimal LSE and energy allocation.
Security Analysis of Smart Grids

The benefits of Smart Grids are beyond doubt. However, thinking of a future where Smart Meters are ubiquitous raises a lot of concerns regarding security and privacy. Some of these concerns include the disclosure of the personal information of consumers, the provision of false consumption data to the utility, or even concerns of national security such as attacks to attempt to bring down parts of the grid or even the whole grid. The goal of our investigation is to identify and develop methodological proceedings and technical tools which aid in providing guarantees of the correctness of the adopted solutions for the design and implementation of a Smart Grid, in particular in relation with the security properties which must be guaranteed by those solutions.
Adaptive Sliding Mode Control for Hydraulic Support Robot Based on Reaching Law

Based on the dynamic analysis of hydraulic support system, a sliding mode controller is designed according to the dynamic coupling and time-varying characteristics. Sliding mode control has invariable parameter property and a strong adaptive ability to match uncertain factors. The exponential reaching law ensures that the system has fast convergence and little chattering phenomenon. Simulation results show that the sliding mode controller has better tracking performance, higher response speed and stronger anti-interference ability than the PID controller, thus the sliding mode controller has better control effect and motion quality.
An Improved Artificial Immune Algorithm for Trajectory Optimization Based on Comprehensive Index

In this paper, we focus on the trajectory optimization of upper limb rehabilitation robot for stroke patients. It is essential to balance the effectiveness and the comfort in guaranteeing the rehabilitation efficacy. According to the actual condition of stroke patients, the human engineering index, smoothness index, minimum energy criterion index, pain index and rehabilitation index are considered as key issues of a multi-objective problem. Then the artificial immune genetic algorithm is used to optimize the problem. In order to ensure the population diversity, a niche evolution algorithm is applied to prevent premature convergence effectively. It is shown by simulations that a fast convergence to global optimum and a smooth trajectory could be gotten via the immune algorithm. Velocity and acceleration curves are stable and without saltation, which meets the standards of upper limb movement characteristics.
Functional Characterization of c-di-GMP Signaling-Related Genes in the Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus

The bacterial second messenger cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP) regulates a series of cellular functions, including biofilm formation, motility, virulence, and other processes. In this study, we confirmed the presence of several c-di-GMP related genes and evaluated their activities and functions in Lactobacillus species. Bioinformatic and biochemical analyses revealed that Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14 have an active c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase (PdeA) that may act in the metabolic cycle of c-di-GMP. A GGDEF protein (DgcA) induced two c-di-GMP-dependent phenotypes (low motility and high production of curli fimbriae) in Escherichia coli by heterologously expressed in vivo but showed no diguanylate cyclases activity in vitro while in the expression without the N-terminal transmembrane domain. The degenerated EAL-domain protein (PdeB), encoded by the last gene in the gts operon, serve as a c-di-GMP receptor which may be associated with exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis in L. acidophilus. Heterologously expressed GtsA and GtsB, encoded by the gts operon, stimulated EPS and biofilm formation in E. coli BL21. Constitutive expression in L. acidophilus revealed that a high concentration of intracellular DgcA levels increased EPS production in L. acidophilus and enhanced the co-aggregation ability with E. coli MG1655, which may be beneficial to the probiotic properties of Lactobacillus species. Our study imply that the c-di-GMP metabolism-related genes, in L. acidophilus, work jointly to regulate its functions in EPS formation and co-aggregation.
A Joint Motion Model for Human-Like Robot-Human Handover

In future, robots will be present in everyday life. The development of these supporting robots is a challenge. A fundamental task for assistance robots is to pick up and hand over objects to humans. By interacting with users, soft factors such as predictability, safety and reliability become important factors for development. Previous works show that collaboration with robots is more acceptable when robots behave and move human-like. In this paper, we present a motion model based on the motion profiles of individual joints. These motion profiles are based on observations and measurements of joint movements in human-human handover. We implemented this joint motion model (JMM) on a humanoid and a non-humanoidal industrial robot to show the movements to subjects. Particular attention was paid to the recognizability and human similarity of the movements. The results show that people are able to recognize human-like movements and perceive the movements of the JMM as more human-like compared to a traditional model. Furthermore, it turns out that the differences between a linear joint space trajectory and JMM are more noticeable in an industrial robot than in a humanoid robot.
Detection of Biofilm Producing Staphylococci among Different Clinical Isolates and Its Relation to Methicillin Susceptibility

AIMS: To evaluate three in vitro phenotypic methods; tissue culture plate, tube method, and Congo red agar for detection of biofilm formation in staphylococci and assess the relation of biofilm formation with methicillin resistance and anti-microbial resistance. METHODS: The study included 150 staphylococcal isolates. Biofilm detection in staphylococci was performed using tissue culture plate, tube method, and Congo red agar. RESULTS: Tissue culture plate, tube method, and Congo red agar detected 74%, 42.7%, and 1.3% biofilm producing staphylococci respectively. S. aureus isolates were more common biofilm producers (53.2%) than CONS (46.8%). Biofilm production in CONS species was highest in S. hemolyticus (57.7%). Tube method was 51.4% sensitive, 82.1% specific. As for Congo red agar, sensitivity was very low (0.9%), but specificity was 97.4%. Biofilm producers were mostly; isolated from blood specimens and detected in methicillin-resistant strains 96/111 (86.5%). They were resistant to most antibiotics except vancomycin and linezolid. CONCLUSIONS: Tissue culture plate is a more quantitative and reliable method for detection of biofilm producing staphylococci compared to tube method and Congo red agar. Hence, it can still be used as a screening method for biofilm detection. Vancomycin and Linezolid are the most sensitive antibiotics among biofilm producing staphylococci.
Genome analysis of the ubiquitous boxwood pathogen Pseudonectria foliicola

Boxwood (Buxus spp.) are broad-leaved, evergreen landscape plants valued for their longevity and ornamental qualities. Volutella leaf and stem blight, caused by the ascomycete fungi Pseudonectria foliicola and P. buxi, is one of the major diseases affecting the health and ornamental qualities of boxwood. Although this disease is less severe than boxwood blight caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata and C. henricotiae, its widespread occurrence and disfiguring symptoms have caused substantial economic losses to the ornamental industry. In this study, we sequenced the genome of P. foliicola isolate ATCC13545 using Illumina technology and compared it to other publicly available fungal pathogen genomes to better understand the biology of this organism. A de novo assembly estimated the genome size of P. foliicola at 28.7 Mb (425 contigs; N50 = 184,987 bp; avg. coverage 188×), with just 9,272 protein-coding genes. To our knowledge, P. foliicola has the smallest known genome within the Nectriaceae. Consistent with the small size of the genome, the secretome, CAzyme and secondary metabolite profiles of this fungus are reduced relative to two other surveyed Nectriaceae fungal genomes: Dactylonectria macrodidyma JAC15-245 and Fusarium graminearum Ph-1. Interestingly, a large cohort of genes associated with reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity was identified from the P. foliicola dataset. These data are consistent with the latest observations by plant pathologists that P. buxi and most likely P. foliicola, are opportunistic, latent pathogens that prey upon weak and stressed boxwood plants.
Research on Control Strategy of Fixed Wing UA V with Multiple Power Sources Based on Logic Threshold

A complete cruise mission of the UA V with multiple power sources contains five mission stage, that is engine starting, acceleration skating, acceleration climbing, gliding and landing. For the different mission requirements of typical flight courses of the UAV, the aviation engine optimization control strategy based on logic threshold and the electromotor revolving velocity control strategy based on fuzzy compensation were utilized to optimize and control the aircraft. The necessary output power of the aviation engine and electromotor can be worked out by intelligent optimization algorithm in order to accomplish the reasonable flow among fuel, battery and capacitor under certain expected power requirements by simulation.
Correction of Ionospheric Artifacts in SAR Data: Application to Fault Slip Inversion of 2009 Southern Sumatra Earthquake

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is one of the most popular geodetic techniques for studying earthquake-related crustal displacements. Satellite SAR signals interact with the ionosphere when they travel through it during the synthetic aperture time. The condition of the ionosphere and its variation can significantly affect spaceborne InSAR measurements. In this letter, we use the Advanced Land Observation Satellite Phase Array-Type L-band SAR data from the 2009 southern Sumatra earthquake to evaluate the effects of the ionospheric artifacts on the slip distribution inversion of earthquake. The split-spectrum method is used to estimate and correct the ionospheric artifacts in the InSAR results. This letter shows that the long-wavelength ionospheric artifacts in the coseismic interferograms can be effectively mitigated. The slip distribution of the earthquake derived from the interferograms corrected for the ionospheric artifacts is presented. The slip distribution pattern and the magnitude of the slip are significantly refined after correcting the ionospheric artifacts.
Association of Urinary Biomarkers of Kidney Injury with Estimated GFR Decline in HIV-Infected Individuals following Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Initiation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir) is associated with elevated concentrations of biomarkers of kidney damage and dysfunction in individuals with HIV. The relationship of these kidney biomarkers with longitudinal kidney function decline is unknown. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS We evaluated associations of 14 urinary biomarkers of kidney injury with changes in eGFR among 198 men and women with HIV who initiated tenofovir between 2009 and 2015 in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and Women's Interagency HIV Study. Urinary biomarkers included albumin-to-creatinine ratio, α-1-microglobulin, β-2-microglobulin, cystatin C, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), IL-18, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), clusterin, osteopontin, uromodulin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, EGF, trefoil factor 3, and chitinase 3-like protein 1. We used multivariable linear mixed-effect models controlling for demographics, traditional kidney disease risk factors, and HIV-related risk factors to evaluate associations of baseline biomarkers with first-year changes in eGFR, and associations of year 1 and first-year change in biomarkers with changes in eGFR from year 1 to year 3. We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method to identify a parsimonious set of biomarkers jointly associated with changes in eGFR. RESULTS Median eGFR before tenofovir initiation was 103 (interquartile range, 88-116) ml/min per 1.73 m2. During the first year of tenofovir use, eGFR decreased on average by 9.2 (95% confidence interval, 6.5 to 11.9) ml/min per 1.73 m2 and was stable afterward (decrease of 0.62; 95% confidence interval, -0.85 to 2.1 ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year). After multivariable adjustment, higher baseline β-2-microglobulin, KIM-1, and clusterin were associated with larger first-year eGFR declines, whereas higher baseline uromodulin was associated with a smaller eGFR decline. First-year increase in urinary cystatin C and higher year 1 IL-18 were associated with larger annual eGFR declines from year 1 to year 3. The parsimonious models identified higher pre-tenofovir clusterin and KIM-1, lower pre-tenofovir uromodulin, and higher year 1 IL-18 as jointly associated with larger eGFR declines. CONCLUSIONS Urinary biomarkers of kidney injury measured before and after tenofovir initiation are associated with subsequent changes in eGFR in individuals with HIV. PODCAST This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2018_08_28_CJASNPodcast_18_9_S. mp3.
Dysregulation of Astrocytic HMGB1 Signaling in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Astrocytes have emerged as critical elements for the maintenance and function of the central nervous system. The expression on their cell membrane of RAGE and TLR4 receptors makes astrocytes susceptible to High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nuclear protein typically released in the extracellular milieu by living cells experiencing physiological stress conditions or by damaged cells. Here, we show that the interaction of HMGB1 with normal spinal cord astrocytes induces the astrocytic production of neurotrophic factors, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Multiple investigations suggest a role for HMGB1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Yet, no mechanistic information on the implication of HMGB1 signaling in this disorder is currently available. We demonstrate that non-transgenic and transgenic SOD1WT spinal motor neurons exhibit only a basal nucleus-to-cytoplasm shuttling of the HMGB1 protein. Conversely, in SOD1G93A ALS mouse spinal cords, HMGB1 significantly translocates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of motor neurons, thereby suggesting that it may be eventually released in the extracellular environment during the progression of the disease. We postulate that extracellular HMGB1 can paracrinally interact with the neighboring astrocytes in an attempt to counteract the neurodegenerative process. Yet, at variance with normal cells, SOD1G93A-expressing astrocytes show impaired capacity to raise BDNF and GDNF levels upon HMGB1 stimulation. Our data suggest that HMGB1 have a potential to promote neuroprotective actions by healthy astrocytes. However, this neurotrophic response is disrupted in ALS astrocytes. This indicates that diseased astroglial cells may exacerbate motor neuron degeneration in ALS because of the loss of their neurosupportive functions.
Mutation analysis of Phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in Iranian patients with Phenylketonuria

Background: Phenylketonuria as the most common genetic metabolic disorder is the result of disruption of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene. This study was carried out to explore the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene mutation status of Iranian phenylketonuria patients. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 30 patients, and hot spot areas of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene, including exons 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12 were studied through polymerase chain reaction and sequencing techniques. Results: Eight different mutations, including 5 missense mutations, 1 splice mutation, 1 nonsense mutation, and 1 Silent/Splice mutation were detected. These mutations were R243X, R261Q, R261X, P281L, R241C, V399V, E280K, and IVS11+1G>C. V399V and R241C were reported for the first time in Iranian population. Three polymorphisms including Q232Q, V245V and L385L and 3 novel intronic variants including IVS10-15A>C, IVS6+44T>G, and IVS6+36 T>G were also detected in this study. Conclusion: The results of this study prove the heterogeneous status of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene mutations in the Iranian population, which can be useful in carrier testing and genetic counseling.
Mental health information online: what we have learned from social media metrics in BuzzFeed's Mental Health Week.

INTRODUCTION The Internet has seen rapid growth in the number of websites focusing on mental health content. Considering the increased need for access to accurate information about mental health treatment, it is important to understand the promotion of this information online. OBJECTIVE To analyze BuzzFeed's Mental Health Week (BFMHW) interactions on its own website and in related social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) using metrics of information delivery in mental health topics. METHODS We extracted social media metrics from the 20 posts with the highest number of BuzzFeed interactions on the BFMHW website and from 41 videos available on the BFMHW playlist created by the BuzzFeed Video profile on YouTube. We analyzed the format and content used in BuzzFeed's publishing methods as well as the following social media metrics: exposure (presence online, views and time online), influence (likes) and engagement (comments, shares, replies and BuzzFeed interactions). RESULTS Analysis of the variables revealed that audience engagement is associated with the number of medias in which the content is published: views on YouTube and shares on Facebook (0.71, p<0.001), total interactions on Facebook (0.66, p<0.001) and BuzzFeed number of total interactions (0.56, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that videos on YouTube may be an important information channel, including activity and engagement on other medias such as Facebook. Information may be more effective in reaching the audience if it is delivered in more than one media and includes personal experiences, some humor in content and detailed information about treatment.