Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Realtime Caustics using Distributed Photon Mapping

With the advancements in realtime ray tracing and new global illumination algorithms we are now able to render the most important illumination effects at interactive rates. One of the major remaining issues is the fast and efficient simulation of caustic illumination, such as e.g. the illumination from a car headlight. The photon mapping algorithm is a simple and robust approach that generates high-quality results and is the preferred algorithm for computing caustic illumination. However, photon mapping has a number of properties that make it rather slow on today's processors. Photon mapping has also been notoriously difficult to parallelize efficiently. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the performance issues of photon mapping together with significant performance improvements for all aspects of the photon mapping technique. The solution forms a complete framework for realtime photon mapping that efficiently combines realtime ray tracing, optimized and improved photon mapping algorithms, and efficient parallelization across commodity PCs. The presented system achieves realtime photon mapping performance of up to 22 frames per second on non-trivial scenes, while still allowing for interactively updating all aspects of the scene, including lighting, material properties, and geometry.
Transcriptional profiling of maturing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) microspores reveals the involvement of heat shock proteins, ROS scavengers, hormones, and sugars in the heat stress response

Above-optimal temperatures reduce yield in tomato largely because of the high heat stress (HS) sensitivity of the developing pollen grains. The high temperature response, especially at this most HS-sensitive stage of the plant, is poorly understood. To obtain an overview of molecular mechanisms underlying the HS response (HSR) of microspores, a detailed transcriptomic analysis of heat-stressed maturing tomato microspores was carried out using a combination of Affymetrix Tomato Genome Array and cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) techniques. The results were corroborated by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and immunoblot analyses. The data obtained reveal the involvement of specific members of the small heat shock protein (HSP) gene family, HSP70 and HSP90, in addition to the HS transcription factors A2 (HSFA2) and HSFA3, as well as factors other than the classical HS-responsive genes. The results also indicate HS regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, sugars, plant hormones, and regulatory genes that were previously implicated in other types of stress. The use of cDNA-AFLP enabled the detection of genes representing pollen-specific functions that are missing from the tomato Affymetrix chip, such as those involved in vesicle-mediated transport and a pollen-specific, calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK2). For several genes, including LeHSFA2, LeHSP17.4-CII, as well as homologues of LeHSP90 and AtVAMP725, higher basal expression levels were detected in microspores of cv. Hazera 3042 (a heat-tolerant cultivar) compared with microspores of cv. Hazera 3017 (a heat-sensitive cultivar), marking these genes as candidates for taking part in microspore thermotolerance. This work provides a comprehensive analysis of the molecular events underlying the HSR of maturing microspores of a crop plant, tomato.
Carrier phase estimation in dispersion-unmanaged optical transmission systems

The study on carrier phase estimation (CPE) approaches, involving a one-tap normalized least-mean-square (NLMS) algorithm, a block-wise average algorithm, and a Viterbi-Viterbi algorithm has been carried out in the long-haul high-capacity dispersion-unmanaged coherent optical systems. The close-form expressions and analytical predictions for bit-error-rate behaviors in these CPE methods have been analyzed by considering both the laser phase noise and the equalization enhanced phase noise. It is found that the Viterbi-Viterbi algorithm outperforms the one-tap NLMS and the block-wise average algorithms for a small phase noise variance (or effective phase noise variance), while the three CPE methods converge to a similar performance for a large phase noise variance (or effective phase noise variance). In addition, the differences between the three CPE approaches become smaller for higher-level modulation formats.
TPML : Parallel Meta Language for Scientific and Engineering Computations using Transputers

The experience with the transputer implementation of parallel processing algorithms, in the field of real-time process control, has led to the development of a parallel meta language (TPML) which offers a generic tool for programming transputer platforms. The meta language complies with the Bulk Synchronous Parallel (BSP) processing model proposed by Valiant [1], and it is seen as a prototype for implementations on other distributed hardware architectures. This paper argues that the TPML offers a simple, yet general, solution to the problems associated with programming parallel hardware architectures.
A Fuzzy Trust Management Based on Outlier Identification for P2P

In an open P2P network environment, it’s full of various malicious actions ,dishonesty, deceit, selfish and so on. So it’s necessary to build a robust trust manage system to keep the community run healthily. There are mainly two kinds of trust system, one is based on Global Trust. the system maintains a Global Trust value for every peer. The other one is based on peer itself, it rates the object peer trust according to historical transactions between them or recommendation from the other peers. Because the second trust manage system mainly bases on Fuzzy algorithm, we call it Fuzzy Trust system. The paper will focus on Fuzzy Trust system, we will introduce the related algorithms and involve Outlier Identification algorithm to alleviate the risk from malicious action.
Review of terahertz and subterahertz wireless communications

According to Edholm’s law, the demand for point-to-point bandwidth in wireless short-range communications has doubled every 18 months over the last 25 years. It can be predicted that data rates of around 5–10 Gb/s will be required in ten years. In order to achieve 10 Gb/s data rates, the carrier frequencies need to be increased beyond 100 GHz. Over the past ten years, several groups have considered the prospects of using sub-terahertz (THz) and THz waves (100–2000 GHz) as a means to transmit data wirelessly. Some of the reported advantages of THz communications links are inherently higher bandwidth compared to millimeter wave links, less susceptibility to scintillation effects than infrared wireless links, and the ability to use THz links for secure communications. Our goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of wireless sub-THz and THz communications.
Optimized effective potentials for semiconductors.

We calculate atomic and crystal total energies, the equilibrium lattice constant, bulk modulus, and energy gaps for Si using the optimized effective potential for a Hamiltonian containing the Fock operator and a local-density approximation (LDA) correlation functional. These results are compared with those obtained from ordinary LDA and Hartree-Fock\char21{}core LDA\char21{}valence calculations and experiment. The results are consistent with those we previously obtained for Ge. We note a difficulty in applying pseudopotentials to the optimized effective potential and describe how to overcome it.
Cardiovascular risk factors, carotid artery intima media thickness, and HSCRP levels in patients with impaired glucose metabolism.

AIM The aim of this paper was to compare serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) levels and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) of patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) with that in control subjects. METHODS Ninety-six subjects with prediabetes, 48 with IFG, of mean age 50.7±11.3 years, and 48 with IGT, of mean age 50.9±12.3 years, were enrolled, along with 44 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched controls with normal glucose tolerance. Serum HsCRP, lipid profile, insulin levels and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was evaluated. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was performed. RESULTS Serum HsCRP levels were significantly elevated in pre-diabetic patients when compared with that of control subjects. Median HsCRP values were 3.1 mg/L in IFG group, 3.47 mg/L in IGT group, and 1.5 mg/L in the controls (P<0.001). CIMT was significantly higher in pre-diabetic groups than that in the control group (IFG: 0.612±0.09; IGT: 0.625±0.1; control: 0.517±0.09, P<0.001). CIMT and HsCRP levels were similar in pre-diabetic groups. CIMT values were positively correlated with HsCRP (r=0.793, P=0.000), age (r=0.435, P=0.000), waist-hip ratio (r=0.170, P=0.044), fasting plasma glucose (r=0.302, P=0.000), HOMA-IR (r=0.173, P=0.041), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=0.168, P=0.047) levels. CONCLUSION Both IFG and IGT were associated with increased cardiovascular risk as assessed by serum hsCRP levels and CIMT. In contrast to previous studies, risk appears to be the same in the two categories of prediabetes.
Preventing timing errors on register writes: mechanisms of detections and recoveries

To deal with the increasing varitations of the intra-chip transisters, one promising approach is to dynamically detect and recover the timing-errors with microarchitecutre. This will induce dependability and efficiency into microprocessors because it allows VLSI to operate at the optimum frequency and voltage while ensuring accuracy. A few approaches for dynamically detecting timing-errors have been proposed, but none of them have focused on register writes. In this paper, we propose a technique for detecting and recovering from timing errors during register writes. We introduce a verifying technique that uses additional buffer (called the write assurance buffer (WAB)) which is provided with a sufficient timing margin. The evaluation results reveal a performance degradation of 4.5% using an 8-entry WAB; this value becomes negligible when a 16-entry WAB is used.
STATL: An Attack Language for State-Based Intrusion Detection

STATL is an extensible state/transition-based attack description language designed to support intrusion detection. The language allows one to describe computer penetrations as sequences of actions that an attacker performs to compromise a computer system. A STATL description of an attack scenario can be used by an intrusion detection system to analyze a stream of events and detect possible ongoing intrusions. Since intrusion detection is performed in different domains (i.e., the network or the hosts) and in different operating environments (e.g., Linux, Solaris, or Windows NT), it is useful to have an extensible language that can be easily tailored to different target environments. STATL defines domain-independent features of attack scenarios and provides constructs for extending the language to describe attacks in particular domains and environments. The STATL language has been successfully used in describing both network-based and host-based attacks, and it has been tailored to very different environments, e.g., Sun Microsystems' Solaris and Microsoft's Windows NT. An implementation of the runtime support for the STATL language has been developed and a toolset of intrusion detection systems based on STATL has been implemented. The toolset was used in a recent intrusion detection evaluation effort, delivering very favorable results. This paper presents the details of the STATL syntax and its semantics. Real examples from both the host and network-based extensions of the language are also presented.
Pattern-Based Exploration of Design Alternatives for the Evolution of Software Architectures

We propose a pattern-based software development method comprising analysis (using problem frames) and design (using architectural and design patterns), from which especially evolving systems benefit. Evolution operators guide a pattern-based transformation procedure, including re-engineering tasks for adjusting a given software architecture to meet new system demands. Through application of these operators, relations between analysis and design documents are explored systematically for accomplishing desired software modifications. This allows for reusing development documents to a large extent, even when the application environment and the requirements change.
Cerebral Microbleeds and Cognition in Patients With Symptomatic Small Vessel Disease

Background and Purpose— Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are common in cerebral small vessel disease. They may cause cognitive impairment, possibly via white matter tract disruption but previous studies have produced inconsistent results. We determined whether CMB number and location are associated with impaired cognition in symptomatic small vessel disease and whether any association was independent of other magnetic resonance imaging markers of small vessel disease. Methods— One hundred sixteen patients with lacunar stroke and radiological leukoaraiosis were studied. Neuropsychological assessment was performed. CMBs on gradient echo images were assessed using the Brain Observer Microbleed Rating Scale criteria. Magnetic resonance imaging measures, including diffusion tensor imaging, were also analyzed. Associations between cognitive function and the presence, number, and location of CMBs were determined. Results— CMBs were present in 46 (39.7%) patients. CMB number correlated weakly with executive function (r=0.22; P=0.022) but not with other cognitive indices. CMBs count in the top decile (≥9 CMB, N=12) was more strongly associated with poor executive function; this association remained significant after controlling for T2-lesion load, brain volume, lacune count, and mean diffusivity (b=−0.51; P=0.043). Conclusions— In symptomatic small vessel disease, CMB number was weakly associated with executive dysfunction. There seemed to be a threshold effect with the association being largely accounted for by an association of impaired executive function with high CMB count. No association of CMBs with other cognitive domains, including processing speed, was found.
Posttranslational modifications of alpha tubulin: detyrosination and acetylation differentiate populations of interphase microtubules in cultured cells

Subsets of microtubules enriched in posttranslationally detyrosinated (Gundersen, G. G., M. H. Kalnoski, and J. C. Bulinski. 1984. Cell. 38:779) or acetylated (Piperno, G., M. Le Dizet, and X. Chang. 1987. J. Cell Biol. 104:298), alpha tubulin have previously been described in interphase cultured cells. In this study an immunofluorescence comparison of these minor populations of microtubules revealed that, in African green monkey kidney epithelial cells (TC-7 line), the population of microtubules enriched in detyrosinated tubulin was virtually coincident with the population enriched in acetylated alpha tubulin. In some cell types, however, such as human HeLa or marsupial PtK-2 cells, only one posttranslationally modified form of tubulin, i.e., acetylated or detyrosinated, respectively, was detectable in microtubules. In TC-7 cells, although both modifications were present, dissimilar patterns and kinetics of reappearance of microtubules enriched in detyrosinated and acetylated tubulin were observed after recovery of cells from microtubule-depolymerizing treatments or from mitosis. Thus, a minor population of microtubules exists in cultured cells that contains an elevated level of tubulin modified in either one or two ways. While these two modifications occur primarily on the same subset of microtubules, they differ in their patterns of formation in vivo.
Treatment advances in posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease

Purpose of reviewEpstein–Barr virus-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a life-threatening complication of organ transplantation. As we continue to observe improved outcomes of patients living after solid or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, we can expect to see a parallel increase in the incidence of PTLD. Several innovative therapeutic approaches are currently under development to add to our arsenal of treatment strategies in this devastating disease. Recent findingsThe past decade has witnessed significant progress in the understanding and treatment of PTLD. The tolerability and effectiveness of standard treatment regimens, such as a reduction in immunosuppression, rituximab, and chemotherapy, have been confirmed and improved upon. Newer options for treatment demonstrating significant promise include antiviral therapy with arginine butyrate, as well as Epstein–Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T-cell therapy. SummaryBoth the heterogeneous PTLD population and the lack of standardized and evidence-based treatment approaches make treatment a difficult decision for the clinician. This article reviews and updates the evidence behind accepted strategies such as reduction in immunosuppression, rituximab, and chemotherapy, as well as explores novel and effective therapeutic modalities including antiviral therapy with arginine butyrate and adoptive allogeneic T-cell therapy.
An algorithm for reduction of extracted power from photovoltaic strings in grid-tied photovoltaic power plants during voltage sags

Due to the high penetration of the installed distributed generation units in the power system, the injection of reactive power is required for the medium-scale and large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power plants (PVPPs). Because of the current limitation of the grid-connected inverter, the injected active power should be reduced during voltage sags. In order to obtain a constant dc-link voltage in a multi-string PVPP, the extracted power from PV strings should be equal to the injected power to the grid in all operating conditions (excluding power losses). Therefore, the extracted power of PV strings should be reduced during voltage sags. In this paper, an algorithm is proposed for determining the reference voltage of the PV string which results in a reduction of the output power to a certain amount. The proposed algorithm calculates the reference voltage for the dc/dc converter controller, based on the characteristics of the power-voltage curve of the PV string and therefore, no modification is required in the the controller of the dc/dc converter. Simulation results on a 50-kW PV string verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in reducing the power from PV strings under different irradiation and reference power values.
Efficient Semantic Indexing for Image Retrieval

Semantic analysis of a document collection can be viewed as an unsupervised clustering of the constituent words and documents around hidden or latent concepts. This has shown to improve the performance of visual bag of words in image retrieval. However, the enhancement in performance depends heavily on the right choice of number of semantic concepts. Most of the semantic indexing schemes are also computationally costly. In this paper, we employ a bipartite graph model (BGM) for image retrieval. BGM is a scalable data structure that aids semantic indexing in an efficient manner. It can also be incrementally updated. BGM uses \textbf{tf-idf} values for building a semantic bipartite graph. We also introduce a graph partitioning algorithm that works on the BGM to retrieve semantically relevant images from a database. We demonstrate the properties as well as performance of our semantic indexing scheme through a series of experiments. We also compare our methods with incremental pLSA.
Conservation of Functional and Pharmacological Properties in the Distantly Related Temperature Sensors TRPV1 and TRPM8

Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of ion channels have now been defined as molecular transducers capable of reproducing the spectrum of temperature sensation exhibited by mammals. Because of their pivotal role in sensory transduction, many of these channels represent good targets for drug discovery. With a view to gaining further insight into the functional and pharmacological properties of these channels, we have used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to study the human cold-sensitive menthol receptor transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) and compared its behavior with that of its distant relative, the heat-sensitive capsaicin-gated transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). It is remarkable to find that TRPM8, in addition to its behavior as an outwardly rectifying, nonselective cation channel, shares many functional and pharmacological properties with TRPV1. TRPM8 exhibits prominent time- and voltage-dependent behavior, a property that may underlie the conserved rectification or gating mechanisms exhibited by these channels. We also show that TRPM8 is modulated by ethanol but unlike TRPV1 is insensitive to extracellular acidification. There is also significant overlap in the antagonist pharmacology of these channels with many TRPV1 antagonists such as capsazepine, N-(4-tertiarybutylphenyl)-4-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl) tetrahydropyrazine-1(2H)-carboxamide (BCTC), (2R)-4-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-2-methyl-N-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-piperazinecarboxamide (CTPC), and N-(2-bromophenyl)-N′-{2-[ethyl(3-methylphenyl)amino]ethyl}-urea (SB-452533) exhibiting similar activity at TRPM8. Overall, the degree of pharmacological overlap between TRPV1 and TRPM8 has implications for the interpretation of studies conducted with these ligands to date and highlights a clear challenge for the design of selective TRP channel antagonists. Our finding that N-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-chlorocinnamide (SB-366791), at least, represents an apparently selective antagonist for TRPV1 suggests that this goal is attainable.
Protecting an invaluable and ever-widening infrastructure

Infrastructure” is defined as “the basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions. ” Societies invest in infrastructure to meet their current and future needs and thus infrastructure reflects the evolution of technology from simpler to more complex, and, in many parts of the world, increases efficiency for its operators, allows greater safety for society as a whole, and offers greater consumer choice. Diminishing infrastructure moves the society it supports toward less comfort and safety, from plenty to scarcity, from richness to want. Societies recognize their critical dependence on these “commons” and adopt policies and processes to distribute infrastructure and services and to protect them from damage and misuse. Conversely, attacking a society implies threatening its people and infrastructure systems. Denial of access to such basics as water, energy, and transit is a form of international conflict that threatens a nation’s security and often leads to war. The industrial revolution greatly increased the extent and the complexity of the world’s infrastructure, its connectivity, and its technical and economic interdependencies. Developed nations have, over the past generation, entered a second, equally significant, period—that of the information revolution. Information technology (IT) penetrates into many aspects of life for an increasing number of people throughout the world, enriching us but also producing systems of such complexity that they create new dependencies and risks to society.