Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On integrating assessment and measurement: towards continuous assessment of software engineering processes

Goal-driven measurement and software process assessment are established technologies and are used extensively in the software industry to facilitate process improvement. Usually, these are activities performed by separate measurement and assessment experts with little mutual co-operation. In the PROFES research project, measurement and assessment have been successfully integrated to save costs and seek synergies. In this paper, we describe these integration possibilities and identify their limitations, with a focus on continuous assessment using ISO 15504 as a background reference model for software processes. As a practical example, we present Tokheim's experience of establishing and using the continuous assessment approach in extending their measurement programme on the system testing process of the Omega system.
Effect of service modeling on medium access control performance

Due to the tractability in analytical methods exponential burst distributions are more common in service modeling literature. However, previous traffic measurements findings argue heavy tailed distributions such as Pareto represents burst sizes in WWW browsing and Cauchy distributed burst sizes in e-mail sessions. The effect of long range dependence (LRD) introduced by these heavy tailed distributions results in self similarity in the aggregate traffic. The impact of self similarity is significant in the area of queue delay performance characteristics. This work addresses the issues of service modeling in medium access control (MAC) performance compared to traditional exponential session distributions against the above mentioned distributions in WWW browsing and e-mail sessions applied to an example GPRS MAC system. The results conclude high delay in Cauchy e-mail connection sizes and Pareto WWW burst sessions compared to exponential connections/bursts. Also, once looking in to the matter it can be seen that this delay is mainly due to the congestion caused by different types of bursts/connection distributions. Therefore the bursty traffic such as WWW browsing which demonstrates self similarity at the aggregate level influence the MAC protocol performance greater than in traditional traffic models.
Unmanned Quadcopter Control Using a Motion Capture System

Commercial and research use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been drawing greater attention in the last years mainly due to its low cost implementation. Applications range from transportation and construction to rescue and military missions. In such context, this work presents an unmanned air vehicle control algorithm based on visual servoing using a motion capture system, including the main routines used to implement it. Using an AR.Drone quadrotor and a Vicon motion capture system, an algorithm that integrates both platforms to generate control actions for solving problems in robotics and visual servoing control is developed. Relying on a target tracking problem, on which the goal is to make the vehicle follow a moving target, a discrete time Proportional-Derivative control (PD) algorithm is proposed in which the error signal is the difference between target and vehicle positions obtained by the Vicon system. Experimental results which validate the proposal are shown and illustrate the performance of the control system. Some implementation details are also discussed.
Dispersal, Gene Flow, and Population Structure

The accuracy of gene flow estimates is unknown in most natural populations because direct estimates of dispersal are often not possible. These estimates can be highly imprecise or even biased because population genetic structure reflects more than a simple balance between genetic drift and gene flow. Most of the models used to estimate gene flow also assume very simple patterns of movement. As a result, multiple interpretations of population structure involving contemporary gene flow, departures from equilibrium, and other factors are almost always possible. One way to isolate the relative contribution of gene flow to population genetic differentiation is to utilize comparative methods. Population genetic statistics such as FST, heterozygosity and Nei's D can be compared between species with differing dispersal abilities if these species are otherwise phylogenetically, geographically and demographically comparable. Accordingly, the available literature was searched for all groups that meet these criteria to determine whether broad conclusions regarding the relationships between dispersal, population genetic structure, and gene flow estimates are possible. Allozyme and mtDNA data were summarized for 27 animal groups in which dispersal differences can be characterized. In total, genetic data were obtained for 333 species of vertebrates and invertebrates from terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats. Across these groups, dispersal ability was consistently related to population structure, with a mean rank correlation of -0.72 between ranked dispersal ability and FST. Gene flow estimates derived from private alleles were also correlated with dispersal ability, but were less widely available. Direct-count heterozygosity and average values of Nei's D showed moderate degrees of correlation with dispersal ability. Thus, despite regional, taxonomic and methodological differences among the groups of species surveyed, available data demonstrate that dispersal makes a measurable contribution to population genetic differentiation in the majority of animal species in nature, and that gene flow estimates are rarely so overwhelmed by population history, departures from equilibrium, or other microevolutionary forces as to be uninformative.
Pressure-amorphized SiO2 alpha -quartz: An anisotropic amorphous solid.

Recent experiments (Kruger and Jeanloz, Science 249, 647 (1990)) have shown that the pressure-induced amorphous form of AlPO{sub 4} reverts to its original single-crystal'' form on release of pressure. Here we present the results of a Brillouin scattering study of the sister compound {alpha}-quartz, SiO{sub 2} (which can also be pressure amorphized but retains its amorphous structure on release of pressure), which shows that the recovered material is not elastically isotropic but retains a memory'' of its original crystallographic orientation.
Massive gravitational waves from the Cosmic Defect theory

The Cosmic Defect theory (CD), which is presented elsewhere in this conference, introduces in the standard Einstein‐Hilbert Lagrangian an elastic term accounting for the strain of space‐time viewed as a four‐dimensional physical continuum. In this framework the Ricci scalar acts as the kinetical term of the strain field whose potential is represented by the additional terms. Here we are presenting the linearised version of the theory in order to analyze its implications in the weak field limit. First we discuss the recovery of the Newtonian limit. We find that the typical static weak field limit imposes a constraint on the values of the two parameters (Lame coefficients) of the theory. Once the constraint has been implemented, the typical gravitational potential turns out to be Yukawa‐like. The value for the Yukawa parameter is consistent with the constraints coming from the experimental data at the Solar system and galactic scales. We then come to the propagating solutions of the linearised Einstein equa.
Efficient sensitivity analysis of lossy discontinuities using time-domain TLM

For the first time, the adjoint variable method (AVM) is applied to the efficient sensitivity analysis of lossy discontinuities with the time-domain transmission line modeling (TLM) method. Using only two simulations, of the original and adjoint systems, the sensitivities of the objective function with respect to all design parameters are estimated. The adjoint system is running backward in time, with its excitation extracted from the original simulation. The algorithm is illustrated through the wideband S-parameter sensitivity analysis of a dielectric resonator waveguide filter.
Behavior and endocrine concentrations do not distinguish sex in monomorphic juvenile howlers (Alouatta palliata)

Behavioral observations on juvenile mantled howlers are limited by visually undifferentiated genitalia; however, animals can be sexed when they are very young or if they are captured. Behavioral data and fecal samples from juveniles during month‐long field studies from 1993 to 1995 were analyzed to determine whether there are developmental differences in behavior or hormone concentrations that can be used to differentiate males from females. The subjects were juveniles of known sex and age from five different social groups on Hacienda La Pacifica, Costa Rica. Based on 749.8 hr of focal‐animal sampling, there were no sex differences in daily activity patterns. There were no sex differences in proximity to mothers and other group members, and age differences reflected howler life‐history patterns. There were no differences in estradiol or testosterone concentration by age or sex. Juvenile monomorphy thus extends beyond morphology to behavioral and hormonal similarity as well. Most juveniles are forced out of their natal groups and remain solitary until they join new groups by supplanting all same‐sex adult group members. Monomorphy may allow them to spend more time in natal groups, and thus both reduce the solitary period and allow the juveniles to improve social skills needed for later immigration. While this strategy may benefit juvenile howlers, it remains a problem for those who wish to study juvenile sex differences from a distance. Am. J. Primatol. 69:1–8, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of crude glycerol from South African biodiesel production on growth, carcass characteristics and pork quality of pigs

A study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of crude glycerol as a partial replacement of maize at 50 g/kg and 100 g/kg in pig grower diets. Three experimental diets were formulated, a control (CN) and two diets containing 50 g/kg (low glycerol (LG)) and 100 g/kg (high glycerol (HG)) glycerol. The experimental diets were fed in a growth and carcass evaluation study to 60 Large White crossbred pigs (30 males and 30 females) weighing 21 ± 1.6 kg. There were no differences between the glycerol inclusion levels in daily gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio and carcass traits of the pigs. Gilts had a higher dressing percentage and lower backfat thickness than boars. They also had shorter carcasses and a lower drip loss percentage than boars. There were no differences in thawing, drip, evaporation and total cooking losses of pork loin chops between treatments. It was concluded that crude glycerol can be included up to 100 g/kg in grower pig diets without any negative effects on pig performance. Keywords: Energy, digestibility, fatty acids, biofuel, cooking characteristics
In vitro protein binding of cefonicid and cefuroxime in adult and neonatal sera

The levels of in vitro protein binding of cefonicid and cefuroxime in human adult and neonatal sera were compared. Binding parameters for each drug were determined within the concentration range of 25 to 3,000 micrograms/ml. Cefonicid exhibited concentration-dependent protein binding in both types of sera, with more extensive binding in adult serum at all concentrations. Two classes of binding sites were found: a high-affinity, saturable site and a low-affinity, nonspecific site. Cefuroxime also showed two-class, concentration-dependent protein binding in adult serum, but binding in neonatal serum was to a single class and was independent of drug concentration. Parameters for class 1 binding sites for cefonicid indicated one binding site per albumin molecule in both adult and neonatal sera, with association constants of 7.0 x 10(4) and 1.3 x 10(4) M-1, respectively. These parameters were also derived for cefuroxime in adult serum and were 0.15 and 7.1 x 10(4) M-1, respectively. In neonatal serum, the combined value (number of binding sites per molecule x equilibrium association constant) was similar to combined values calculated for class 2 binding sites for cefuroxime in adult serum and for cefonicid in neonatal serum (287 versus 195 and 261 M-1, respectively). Cephalosporins have been shown to compete with bilirubin for albumin binding sites. Lower levels of protein binding of cefuroxime in the therapeutic range may mean a lower potential for drug displacement of bilirubin in neonates, on the basis of these results. It may be prudent to select less highly protein-bound agents when treating neonatal infections.
Impact of clutters on quality of service in mobile communication using Walfisch-Ikegami propagation model

The management of quality of service in communication network systems, particularly to support multimedia applications, includes service requirements, hardware implementation, propagation path loss and system requirements. The signal attenuation between multiple mobile stations and base stations affected by various free space path loss, zones of poor coverage, dropouts, effects of multi-path reception, fading due to parameters like vegetation, rain, and snowfall deteriorates the strength of signals. An attempt has been made to modify the Walfisch-Ikegami model of propagation path loss model by adding the effect of vegetation, sea, rain and snowfall. A simulation has been carried out. The impact of these parameters on the quality of service is presented.
No Evidence of HIV-1 Infection in Seronegative Hemophiliacs and in Seronegative Partners of Seropositive Hemophiliacs through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Anti-NEF Serology

Summary We prospectively studied a well-characterized cohort including 60 seronegative hemophiliacs or von Willebrand’s disease patients, 6 seronegative female sexual partners of seropositive hemophiliacs, 59 seropositive hemophiliacs or von Willebrand’s disease patients and 2 seropositive partners of seropositive hemophiliacs (used as positive controls), and 117 seronegative low risk individuals (used as negative controls). PCR assay, performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using three primer pairs in the gag, pol, LTR regions, showed no positive results in the 60 seronegative patients, in the 6 seronegative partners of seropositive patients and in the 117 seronegative low risk individuals, while PCR was positive with at least one primer pair in 53 (87%) of 61 seropositive patients. Anti-nef serology (Westem-blot) was negative in seronegative patients, in seronegative partners of seropositive patients and positive in 58% out of the seropositive individuals. These results strongly suggest an absence of HIV-1 infection in individuals with a lastingly negative HIV serology.
Circulating Biomarkers of Iron Storage and Clearance of Incident Human Papillomavirus Infection

Background: Iron is an essential mineral for both cellular and pathogen survival and is essential for viral replication. In turn, iron metabolism has been shown to be altered by several viral infections. However, little is known about the association between iron status and human papillomavirus (HPV) natural history. We hypothesize iron to be an HPV cofactor that is associated with longer duration of infection. Methods: Ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured in baseline serum samples from 327 women enrolled in the Ludwig–McGill cohort. Incident HPV clearance rates (any-type, oncogenic HPV, nononcogenic HPV, and HPV-16) over a 3 year time period were estimated from Cox proportional hazard models accounting for correlations between multiple infections. Results: Women with ferritin levels above the median were less likely to clear incident oncogenic HPV [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.55–0.96] and HPV-16 infections (AHR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11–0.73). Using physiologic cutoff points, women with enriched iron stores (>120 μg/L) were less likely to clear incident oncogenic HPV infections than those with low levels of iron (<20 μg/L; AHR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15–0.81). Conclusion: This study observed that women with the highest ferritin levels were less likely to clear incident oncogenic and HPV-16 infections than women with low ferritin. Rising iron stores may decrease probability of clearing new HPV infection, possibly by promoting viral activity and contributing to oxidative DNA damage. Impact: This novel study suggests that elevated iron stores may put women at risk for persistent HPV infection, an early event in cervical carcinogenesis. Further examination of the association between iron status and HPV natural history is warranted. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 859–65. ©2012 AACR.
The origin of reference intervals.

CONTEXT Standards have been developed for establishing reference intervals, but little is known about how intervals are determined in practice, interlaboratory variation in intervals, or errors that occur while setting reference intervals. OBJECTIVES To determine (1) methods used by clinical laboratories to establish reference intervals for 7 common analytes, (2) variation in intervals, and (3) factors that contribute to establishment of "outlier" intervals. DESIGN One hundred sixty-three clinical laboratories provided information about their reference intervals for potassium, calcium, magnesium, thyroid-stimulating hormone, hemoglobin, platelet count, and activated partial thromboplastin time. RESULTS Approximately half the laboratories reported conducting an internal study of healthy individuals to validate reference intervals for adults. Most laboratories relied on external sources to establish reference intervals for pediatric patients. There was slight variation in intervals used by the central 80% of study laboratories, but some laboratories outside the central 80% had surprisingly low and high limits for their reference intervals. In some cases the intervals used by 2 laboratories had no overlap. For example, one laboratory considered a hemoglobin of 13.8 g/dL in a woman to be "low" while another considered the same value to be "high. " Three percent of reference intervals contained a limit that qualified as an "outlier" using standard statistical tests; we could not identify any practice associated with adoption of outlier intervals. CONCLUSIONS Many laboratories adopt reference intervals from manufacturers without on-site testing of healthy individuals. Reference intervals used by facilities that forgo on-site testing are not statistically different from intervals validated with on-site studies.
Hybrid re-engineering strategies for process improvement

Describes a set of re‐engineering strategies that critically examine current business policies, practices and procedures (3Ps), rethink these 3Ps and then redesign some mission‐critical “products, processes, and services. ” The term process improvement implies that the change or effort is directed towards an array of re‐engineering strategies. Process improvement efforts are categorized into four primary re‐engineering strategies: a set of continuous process improvement (CPI) tactics, a set of restructuring tactics, a set of organizational traits, and a set of renovation tactics. Discusses how these four re‐engineering strategies can be logically combined in a concurrent fashion to achieve significant process improvements. Introduces two new hybrid re‐engineering strategies for process improvements that have been found quite useful at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Accounts.
Theoretical study of interaction of winter flounder antifreeze protein with ice

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are synthesized by various organisms to enable their cells to survive subzero environment. These proteins bind to small ice crystals and inhibit their growth, which if left uncontrolled would be fatal to cells. The crystal structures of a number of AFPs have been determined; however, crystallographic analysis of AFP–ice complex is nearly impossible. Molecular modeling studies of AFPs' interaction with ice surface is therefore invaluable. Early models of AFP–ice interaction suggested H‐bond as the primary driving force behind such interaction. Recent experimental evidence, however, suggested that hydrophobic interactions could be the main contributor to AFP–ice association. All computational studies published to date were carried out to verify the H‐bond model, and no works attempting to verify the hydrophobic interaction model have been published. In this work, we Monte Carlo–minimized complexes of several AFPs with ice taking into account nonbonded interactions, H‐bonds, and the hydration potential for proteins. Parameters of the hydration potential for ice were developed with the assumption that the free energy of the water–ice association should be close to zero at equilibrium melting temperature. Our calculations demonstrate that desolvation of hydrophobic groups in the AFPs upon their binding to the grooves at the ice surface is indeed the major stabilizing contributor to the free energy of AFP–ice binding. This study is consistent with available structural and mutation data on AFPs. In particular, it explains the paradoxical finding that substitution of Thr residues with Val does not affect the potency of winter flounder AFP whereas substitution with Ser abolished its antifreeze activity.
Detecting Panic potential in Social Media Tweets

A high degree of real-time interconnectedness can aid information transmission, particularly in disaster situations. However, it can have substantial negative consequences when information is emotionally laden and transmits these emotions, particularly the emotion of panic, to the individual across social media in an already grave situation. Prior research has shown that information laden with emotion spreads through social network faster than otherwise. Hence, we highlight the need to understand and curtail potentially panic-causing information, without compromising on good quality information from being available for effective crisis communication and management. With this research, we present the necessity of detecting the panic potential of social media messages, and aim to address two research questions: What are the features, and metrics necessary, to compute and evaluate the panic potential of a social media message (respectively)? Our planned analysis takes the case of the Munich shooting incident, 2016, based on user tweets immediately after the incident. Different features and evaluation metrics are proposed and discussed. The work aims to detect panic potential of messages in social media networks during disasters.
Sybil node detection in peer-to-peer networks using indirect validation

Peer- to- peer networks are used extensively today. Due to this wide use P2P networks is a target of malicious attacks. The most mentionable of them is the Sybil attack. Existing approaches for detection and mitigation of Sybil nodes are either computationally costly or are dependent on belief models found in social networks. It has been found that these belief models are themselves vulnerable to other attacks. In this paper, we propose a new type of indirect validation where we have a two stage validation in place to check that if a suspected node is Sybil or not. We crosscheck belief data from local monitor nodes and community detection data from randomly selected global monitor nodes, and then validate a suspected node. The proposed approach is found to be with less computation overheads and less vulnerable to malicious attacks.