Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MULTI-CRITERIA ANALYSIS AND ADVANCED COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN AUTOMATIC GENERATION APPROACHES IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

New development methods have emerged in recent years. These techniques are based on models and software components, they aim to facilitate integration, automation, and generation of complex applications, as well as mapping between different platforms based on forward and reverse engineering. These approaches are based on Model Driven Engineering (MDE) which separates the business logic of an application from the technology used to achieve it. This paper aims to provide a best understanding of MDE aspects and presents a comparative study between different approaches of software development automation and code generation, in addition a big contribution of this article is to present the forces and weaknesses of each approach based on a multi-criteria analysis method, this is our first step to design and implement concrete and effective solutions for automatic generation issues, Moreover, this study will also help the professionals in decision-making by facilitating the choice of The best approach to be used according to desired criteria and their importance. Our article goes into a global objective that aims automating the generation.
OFBench: Performance Test Suite on OpenFlow Switches

Performance issues of OpenFlow switches are attracting a lot of attention owing to the potential large-scale deployment of software-defined devices. This paper presents the OFBench which is an automatic test suite for evaluating the performance of OpenFlow switches. The design, as part of the Automation Control Test System (ACTS) development, is based on a controller-agent architecture which allows the development of test cases that are written in a high-level script language. In addition to the end-to-end measurement methodology, novel methods are proposed to further profile the internal performance metrics, which are difficult to get due to the black-box nature of the device under test. The prototype of this suite currently comprises five test cases to evaluate five performance metrics, which are action time, pipeline time, buffer size, pipeline efficiency, and timeout accuracy. OpenFlow switches are evaluated and three issues are observed associated with switches during the testing. First, some switches may not be well implemented in the design of apply-action instructions. Second, some switches suffer from random crashes with a high volume of bursty packet-in traffic. Finally, the timer of idle-timeout is often not reset properly with matching flow entry.
A Mathematical Model for the Determination of Total Area Under Glucose Tolerance and Other Metabolic Curves

OBJECTIVE To develop a mathematical model for the determination of total areas under curves from various metabolic studies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In Tai's Model, the total area under a curve is computed by dividing the area under the curve between two designated values on the X-axis (abscissas) into small segments (rectangles and triangles) whose areas can be accurately calculated from their respective geometrical formulas. The total sum of these individual areas thus represents the total area under the curve. Validity of the model is established by comparing total areas obtained from this model to these same areas obtained from graphic method Gess than ±0.4%). Other formulas widely applied by researchers under- or overestimated total area under a metabolic curve by a great margin. RESULTS Tai's model proves to be able to 1) determine total area under a curve with precision; 2) calculate area with varied shapes that may or may not intercept on one or both X/Y axes; 3) estimate total area under a curve plotted against varied time intervals (abscissas), whereas other formulas only allow the same time interval; and 4) compare total areas of metabolic curves produced by different studies. CONCLUSIONS The Tai model allows flexibility in experimental conditions, which means, in the case of the glucose-response curve, samples can be taken with differing time intervals and total area under the curve can still be determined with precision.
Optimizing Answer Set Computation via Heuristic-Based Decomposition

Abstract Answer Set Programming (ASP) is a purely declarative formalism developed in the field of logic programming and non-monotonic reasoning: computational problems are encoded by logic programs whose answer sets, corresponding to solutions, are computed by an ASP system. Different, semantically equivalent, programs can be defined for the same problem; however, performance of systems evaluating them might significantly vary. We propose an approach for automatically transforming an input logic program into an equivalent one that can be evaluated more efficiently. One can make use of existing tree-decomposition techniques for rewriting selected rules into a set of multiple ones; the idea is to guide and adaptively apply them on the basis of proper new heuristics, to obtain a smart rewriting algorithm to be integrated into an ASP system. The method is rather general: it can be adapted to any system and implement different preference policies. Furthermore, we define a set of new heuristics tailored at optimizing grounding, one of the main phases of the ASP computation; we use them in order to implement the approach into the ASP system DLV, in particular into its grounding subsystem ℐ-DLV, and carry out an extensive experimental activity for assessing the impact of the proposal.
Generating traffic scene with deep convolutional generative adversarial networks

Training and testing unmanned vehicles need various real data. However, data of some special or dangerous testing environment may not be accessible, or may only be accessible at certain times. So, using generative adversarial networks to learn the real traffic scene and generate a new scene is an effective way of solving the problem. In this paper, a framework of deep convolutional generative adversarial networks (DCGAN) was used to generate new traffic scene images and videos. Firstly, 300 sets of videos and images of overtaking scenes were selected as training data. A generator with convolutional neural network was used to generate samples. Then the training data and the generated samples were trained in a two-class discriminator that provides the probabilities of the samples that come from the generated sample and the training data respectively. Then the generator was updated by back propagation algorithm. Afterward, a new sample was generated and trained in the discriminator again. Repeated several times, a serial of generated samples were generated, the probability distribution of which is basically the same as the training data. The experiments show that this method can effectively generate realistic traffic scene images and videos.
Gradual set dynamics in HfO2-based memristor driven by sub-threshold voltage pulses

The switching dynamics of filamentary Pt/HfO2/TiN memristive devices is managed through sub-threshold pulses in order to display gradual resistance decrease useful for analog logic computation based on spiking networks. Such memristive devices are known to display abrupt set transitions (resistance decrease) that require current limitation because of the triggering of a threshold switching event. In this report, we demonstrate the gradual resistance decrease driven by trains of identical sub-threshold pulses. The experimental finding is explained by a compact model considering a gradual closure of the filament interruption and a following lateral filament growth.
Monoselenophosphate: synthesis, characterization, and identity with the prokaryotic biological selenium donor, compound SePX.

A labile, selenium donor compound required for synthesis of selenium-dependent enzymes and seleno-tRNAs is formed from ATP and selenide by the SELD enzyme. This compound, tentatively identified as a selenophosphate [Veres, Z. , Tsai, L. , Scholz, T. D. , Politino, M. , Balaban, R. S. , & Stadtman, T. C. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 2975-2979], is indistinguishable from chemically prepared monoselenophosphate by 31P NMR spectroscopy and ion pairing HPLC. Furthermore, addition of chemically prepared monoselenophosphate caused a dose-dependent decrease in the amount of 75Se incorporated into tRNAs from 75SePX generated in situ by SELD enzyme. A procedure is described for the chemical synthesis of monoselenophosphate in which the readily prepared (MeO)3PSe is converted in quantitative yield to (TMSO)3PSe followed by complete cleavage of the latter to monoselenophosphate in oxygen-free aqueous buffer. The chemical properties of chemically synthesized monoselenophosphate are described.
A Cloud-based Service-oriented Architecture For Business Process Modeling And Simulation

The adoption of Modeling & Simulation (M&S) approaches is widely recognized as a valuable solution for enacting a timely analysis of business processes (BPs). Despite their relevance, the effective introduction of such approaches in the BP lifecycle is still limited, due to the know-how and skills for building and implementing a simulation model and to the cost and effort for setting up and maintaining the execution platform. In this respect, this paper proposes a cloud-based architecture that exploits the M&S as a Service (MSaaS) paradigm and containerization technology for the flexible and dynamic composition of M&S services, so to allow business analysts to carry out an effortless and effective M&Sbased BP analysis. An example case study dealing with an e-commerce scenario is also presented in order to show the actual application of the proposed approach.
Skin Prick Test Extracts for Dog Allergy Diagnosis Show Considerable Variations Regarding the Content of Major and Minor Dog Allergens

Background: Commercial skin prick test (SPT) extracts used for the diagnosis of dog allergy are prepared by extracting allergens from natural sources, e.g. dog hair and dander. Due to different starting material and extraction methods used, it is likely that extracts differ regarding their allergen contents. Methods: The total protein content and composition of dog SPT extracts from 5 European manufacturers were compared by silver-stained SDS-PAGE. Specific antibody probes were generated to detect major and minor allergens in each extract by immunoblotting. Additionally, sera of patients suffering from dog allergy were used to detect dog allergens in SPT extracts. Results: SPT extracts showed a 20-fold variation regarding the total protein content. The contents of the major dog allergen Can f 1 and of Can f 2 varied considerably between the extracts. In one of the extracts, neither Can f 1 nor Can f 2 could be detected by immunoblotting. The contents of the minor dog allergen Can f 3, albumin, also showed great variability. In one of the dog SPT extracts, the presence of human serum albumin (HSA) was detected with HSA-specific antibodies. Conclusion: The observed variability of commercial dog SPT extracts regarding their allergen contents likely has a negative influence on the accuracy of diagnosis of dog allergy.
Development and evaluation of a Bayesian pharmacokinetic estimator and optimal, sparse sampling strategies for ceftazidime

Data were gathered during an activity-controlled trial in which seriously ill, elderly patients were randomized to receive intravenous ceftazidime or ciprofloxacin and for which adaptive feedback control of drug concentrations in plasma and activity profiles was prospectively performed. The adaptive feedback control algorithm for ceftazidime used an initial population model, a maximum a posteriori (MAP)-Bayesian pharmacokinetic parameter value estimator, and an optimal, sparse sampling strategy for ceftazidime that had been derived from data in the literature obtained from volunteers. Iterative two-stage population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed to develop an unbiased MAP-Bayesian estimator and updated optimal, sparse sampling strategies. The final median values of the population parameters were follows: the volume of distribution of the central compartment was equal to 0.249 liter/kg, the volume of distribution of the peripheral compartment was equal to 0.173 liter/kg, the distributional clearance between the central and peripheral compartments was equal to 0.2251 liter/h/kg, the slope of the total clearance (CL) versus the creatinine clearance (CLCR) was equal to 0.000736 liter/h/kg of CL/1 ml/min/1.73 m2 of CLCR, and nonrenal clearance was equal to + 0.00527 liter/h/kg. Optimal sampling times were dependent on CLCR; for CLCR of > or = 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, the optimal sampling times were 0.583, 3.0, 7.0, and 16.0 h and, for CLCR of < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, optimal sampling times were 0.583, 4.15, 11.5, and 24.0 h. The study demonstrates that because pharmacokinetic information from volunteers may often not be reflective of specialty populations such as critically ill elderly individuals, iterative two-stage population pharmacokinetic analysis, MAP-Bayesian parameter estimation, and optimal, sparse sampling strategy can be important tools in characterizing their pharmacokinetics.
Prognostic genetic markers in malignant gliomas Prognostic genetic markers in malignant gliomas

Glioblastomas are the most frequent and malignant brain tumors in adults. Surgical cure is virtually impossible and despite of radiation and chemotherapy the clinical course is very poor. Epigenetic silencing of MGMT has been associated with a better response to temozolomide-chemotherapy. We previously showed that temozolomide increases the median survival time of patients with tumors harbouring deletions on 9p within the region for p15(INK4b), p16(INK4a), and 10q (MGMT). The aim of this study was to investigate the methylation status of p15, p16, 14 and MGMT in glioblastomas and to correlate the results with the clinical data. Only patients with KPS > 70, radical tumor resection, radiation and temozolomide-chemotherapy after recurrence were included. We observed promoter methylation of MGMT in 56% (15/27) and of p15 in 37% (10/27) of the tumors, whereas methylation of p16 and p14ARF were rare. Interestingly, methylation of p15 emerged as a significant predictor of shorter overall survival (16.9 vs. 23.8 months, p=0.025), whereas MGMT promoter methylation had no significant effect on median overall survival under this treatment regimen (22.5 vs. 22.1 months, p=0.49). In the presence of other clinically relevant factors, p15 methylation remains the only significant predictor (p=0.021; Cox regression). Although these results need to be confirmed in larger series and under different treatment conditions, our retrospective study shows clear evidence that p15 methylation can act as an additional prognostic factor for survival and underlines that this tumor suppressor, involved in cell cycle control, can act as an attractive candidate for therapeutic approaches in glioblastomas.
The state of nano‐sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) may affect sunscreen performance

In the past several years, there has been a trend in the sunscreen/cosmetics industry to replace micron‐sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles with nanoscale materials. The increased use of nanoscale TiO2 has resulted in questions about these and other nanoproducts. This study examines the effects of using nanoscale TiO2 on ultraviolet (UV) attenuation in simple to complex sunscreen formulations. UV light attenuation, product stability, and potential damage to the skin barrier were examined with both nanoscale and microscale TiO2 particles. Results indicate that none of the formulations decreased the barrier function of the skin and the best UV attenuation occurs when the TiO2 particles are stabilized with a coating and evenly distributed such as with non‐agglomerated coated nanoscale materials. This indicates that nanoscale TiO2 may have better efficacy while lacking toxicity.
OsC 6 , Encoding a Lipid Transfer Protein , Is Required for Postmeiotic Anther Development In Rice 1 [ W ] [ OA ]

Synthesis of lipidic components in anthers, including of the pollen exine, is essential for plant male reproductive development. Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are small, abundant lipid-binding proteins that have the ability to exchange lipids between membranes in vitro. However, their biological role in male reproductive development remains less understood. Here, we report the crucial role of OsC6 in regulating postmeiotic anther development in rice (Oryza sativa). Found in monocots, OsC6 belongs to a distinct clade from previously identified LTP1 and LTP2 family members found in both dicots and monocots. OsC6 expression is mainly detectable in tapetal cells and weakly in microspores from stage 9 to stage 11 of anther development. Immunological assays indicated that OsC6 is widely distributed in anther tissues such as the tapetal cytoplasm, the extracellular space between the tapetum and middle layer, and the anther locule and anther cuticle. Biochemical assays indicated that recombinant OsC6 has lipid binding activity. Moreover, plants in which OsC6 was silenced had defective development of orbicules (i.e. Ubisch bodies) and pollen exine and had reduced pollen fertility. Furthermore, additional evidence is provided that the expression of OsC6 is positively regulated by a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, Tapetum Degeneration Retardation (TDR). Extra granule-like structures were observed on the inner surface of the tdr tapetal layer when the expression of OsC6 was driven by the TDR promoter compared with the tdr mutant. These data suggest that OsC6 plays a crucial role in the development of lipidic orbicules and pollen exine during anther development in rice.
Mitochondrial biogenesis meets chemoresistance in BRAF-mutant melanoma

ABSTRACT The acquisition of resistance to current mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors in B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) mutant melanoma is almost inevitable. Our recent findings identify therapy-induced mitochondrial biogenesis (MitoBiogenesis) and aberrant tumor bioenergetics as therapeutic escape mechanisms and offer a rational combinatorial strategy to further improve the efficacy of MAPK inhibitors.
Effect of the Phosphor Geometry on the Luminous Flux of Phosphor-Converted Light-Emitting Diodes

The effect of the phosphor geometry on the luminous flux of phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pcLEDs) is analyzed. Five phosphor geometries are investigated based on ray-tracing simulations. Results show that the curvature of the convex surface is an important factor to influence the luminous flux, and the remote-phosphor pcLED with the phosphor layer of a hemispherically top surface can achieve an improvement of more than 12% compared with the conventional dispersed-coating pcLED.
Respiratory‐related discharge pattern of sympathetic nerve activity in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

1. Synchronization of spontaneous sympathetic discharge during the respiratory cycle was studied in the cervical and renal nerves of vagotomized, normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto rats (WKYs) and age‐matched spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Phrenic nerve discharge was used as an index of central inspiratory activity. 2. In normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto rats depression of sympathetic activity appeared at the onset of inspiration reaching a minimum at mid‐inspiration. Peak maximal sympathetic discharge corresponded to postinspiratory phase; a second increase sometimes appeared in late expiration. Variations of respiratory frequency over wide range of experimental conditions by hypoxia, hyperoxia, hyper‐ or hypocapnia and transection of carotid sinus nerves did not affect this pattern. 3. In SHRs the respiratory‐phase‐related timing of sympathetic discharge was variable. In normoxia, the maximal sympathetic activity occurred in late inspiration, preceded by short depression at early inspiration and followed by postinspiratory depression. A second increase in sympathetic activity was observed in mid‐expiration. 4. The pattern of respiratory phase modulated sympathetic activity in SHRs was altered by hypoxic stimulation of the peripheral chemoreceptors. The early inspiratory depression of sympathetic activity was substantially prolonged and the maximal sympathetic discharge was shifted from inspiration to early expiration. This effect was abolished after carotid sinus nerves had been cut. 5. Hypercapnic stimulation of central chemoreceptors in SHRs with carotid sinus nerves cut did not influence the timing of the sympathetic activity in relation to the respiratory phase, though the magnitude of rhythmical sympathetic discharges was increased. 6. We discuss the possibility that altered synchronization between central respiratory drive and sympathetic neuronal system may contribute to the neurogenic mechanisms of arterial hypertension in SHRs.
Cellular senescence or EGFR signaling induces Interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor expression controlled by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) signaling plays a role in inflammation, cancer, and senescence. Here, we identified soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) as a member of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Senescence-associated sIL-6R upregulation was mediated by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). sIL-6R was mainly generated by a disintegrin and metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10)-dependent ectodomain shedding to enable IL-6 trans-signaling. In vivo, heterozygous PTEN-knockout mice exhibited higher mTOR activity and increased sIL-6R levels. Moreover, aberrant EGF receptor (EGFR) activation triggered IL-6 synthesis. In analogy to senescence, EGFR-induced activation of mTOR also induced IL-6R expression and sIL-6R generation. Hence, mTOR activation reprograms IL-6 non-responder cells into IL-6 responder cells. Our data suggest that mTOR serves as a central molecular switch to facilitate cellular IL-6 classic and trans-signaling via IL-6R upregulation with direct implications for cellular senescence and tumor development.
Cyber-Physical Interference Modeling for Predictable Reliability of Inter-Vehicle Communications

Predictable inter-vehicle communication reliability is a basis for the paradigm shift from the traditional singlevehicle-oriented safety and efficiency control to networked vehicle control. The lack of predictable interference control in existing mechanisms of inter-vehicle communications, however, makes them incapable of ensuring predictable communication reliability. For predictable interference control, we propose the Cyber-Physical Scheduling (CPS) framework that leverages the PRK interference model and addresses the challenges of vehicle mobility to PRK-based scheduling. In particular, CPS leverage physical locations of vehicles to define the gPRK interference model, a geometric approximation of the PRK model, for effective interference relation estimation, and CPS leverages cyber-physical structures of vehicle traffic flows (particularly, spatiotemporal interference correlation as well as macro- and micro-scopic vehicle dynamics) for effective use of the gPRK model. Through experimental analysis with high-fidelity ns-3 and SUMO simulation, we observe that CPS enables predictable reliability while achieving high throughput and low delay in communication. To the best of our knowledge, CPS is the first field deployable method that ensures predictable interference control and thus reliability in inter-vehicle communications.