Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliability and Efficiency Analysis of Distributed Source Coding in Wireless Sensor Networks

We propose a comprehensive theoretical framework to evaluate reliability and energy consumption of distributed source coding (DSC) in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) applications. Energy efficiency and the amount of measurements that can be successfully decoded in tree-based WSNs employing DSC in the presence of different coding topologies and packet aggregation schemes (PA) are accurately characterized. The system model includes a realistic network architecture with multi-hop communication, automatic repeat request protocol (ARQ), packet losses due to channel impairments and collisions, and correlation properties of the sensed phenomena. Four DSC topologies and three alternatives of PA are considered. The analysis is carried out by evaluating the expressions of reliability of DSC in terms of probability of measurements that cannot be decoded (loss factor), and the efficiency in terms of average energy consumption of the network. Numerical results show that the best choice of DSC topology and packet aggregation depends highly on the network parameters and source characteristics. Therefore, the analysis developed in this paper can be used as an effective mean to optimize network operations.
AdS4/CFT3 at one loop

I consider semi-classical type IIA strings rotating in the AdS4 part of AdS4 × 3. The one loop sigma model corrections to this classical solution are used to compute the energy shift, and the result is found to be E−S = f(λ)ln S with f(λ) = (2λ)1/2−(5ln 2/2π)+(1/λ)1/2). Even though the functional forms match, the actual numerical value of this one loop string result differs from the result obtained on the integrable = 6 Chern-Simons (ABJM) theory side.
Frictional properties of natural fault gouge from a low‐angle normal fault, Panamint Valley, California

We investigate the relationship between frictional strength and clay mineralogy of natural fault gouge from a low‐angle normal fault in Panamint Valley, California. Gouge samples were collected from the fault zone at five locations along a north–south transect of the range‐bounding fault system, spanning a variety of bedrock lithologies. Samples were powdered and sheared in the double‐direct shear configuration at room temperature and humidity. The coefficient of friction, μ, was measured at a range of normal stresses from 5 to 150 MPa for all samples. Our results reinforce the intuitive understanding that natural fault gouge zones are inherently heterogeneous. Samples from a single location exhibit dramatic differences in behavior, yet all three were collected within a meter of the fault core. For most of the samples, friction varies from μ = 0.6 to μ = 0.7, consistent with Byerlee's law. However, samples with greater than 50 wt % total clay content were much weaker (μ = 0.2–0.4). Expandable clay content of the samples ranged from 10 to 40 wt %. Frictional weakness did not correlate with expandable clays. Our results indicate that friction decreases with increasing total clay content, rather than with the abundance of expandable clays. The combination of field relations, analytical results, and friction measurements indicates a positive correlation between clay content, fabric intensity, and localization of strain in the fault core. A mechanism based upon foliations enveloping angular elements to reduce friction is suggested for weakening of fault gouge composed of mixed clay and granular material. We provide broad constraints of 1–5 km on the depth of gouge generation and the depth at which fault weakness initiates. We show that slip on the Panamint Valley fault and similar low‐angle normal faults is mechanically feasible in the mid‐upper crust if the strength of the fault is limited by weak, clay‐rich fault gouge.
A scalable and unifying architecture for deploying advanced protocols in the Internet

Since its inception in the '70s, the Internet has sustained a tremendous growth. The architectural choices made at the birth of the Internet cannot withstand the ever-growing need for worldwide communication. Although many changes have been made in the network layer, it seems clear now that only a radical change of this layer will help the Internet overwhelm the enormous pressure put on by emerging technologies such as group communication, mobility and security. A unifying architecture designed to solve the four major problems of the current architecture of the Internet is proposed: scalability, mobility, multicast and security. It is called DHARMA that stands for Dynamic Hierarchical Addressing, Routing and naMing Architecture.
Evidence of Allopolyploidy in Urochloa humidicola Based on Cytological Analysis and Genetic Linkage Mapping

The African species Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga (syn. Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick. ) is an important perennial forage grass found throughout the tropics. This species is polyploid, ranging from tetra to nonaploid, and apomictic, which makes genetic studies challenging; therefore, the number of currently available genetic resources is limited. The genomic architecture and evolution of U. humidicola and the molecular markers linked to apomixis were investigated in a full-sib F1 population obtained by crossing the sexual accession H031 and the apomictic cultivar U. humidicola cv. BRS Tupi, both of which are hexaploid. A simple sequence repeat (SSR)-based linkage map was constructed for the species from 102 polymorphic and specific SSR markers based on simplex and double-simplex markers. The map consisted of 49 linkage groups (LGs) and had a total length of 1702.82 cM, with 89 microsatellite loci and an average map density of 10.6 cM. Eight homology groups (HGs) were formed, comprising 22 LGs, and the other LGs remained ungrouped. The locus that controls apospory (apo-locus) was mapped in LG02 and was located 19.4 cM from the locus Bh027.c. D2. In the cytological analyses of some hybrids, bi- to hexavalents at diakinesis were observed, as well as two nucleoli in some meiocytes, smaller chromosomes with preferential allocation within the first metaphase plate and asynchronous chromosome migration to the poles during anaphase. The linkage map and the meiocyte analyses confirm previous reports of hybridization and suggest an allopolyploid origin of the hexaploid U. humidicola. This is the first linkage map of an Urochloa species, and it will be useful for future quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis after saturation of the map and for genome assembly and evolutionary studies in Urochloa spp. Moreover, the results of the apomixis mapping are consistent with previous reports and confirm the need for additional studies to search for a co-segregating marker.
Sensemaking and Design Practices in Large-scale Group-to-Group Distance Collaboration

A new paradigm in collaborative interaction is arising. Large-scale collaborations across distance are becoming more common enabled by technological development such as the Access Grid and the need to bring together not just individuals, but entire groups of experts to solve complex problems. Despite this growing trend, this form of collaboration have not received much attention. In this paper we describe how this new kind of interaction order affects collaboration in the domain of space mission design.
New Riemannian metrics for speeding-up the convergence of over- and underdetermined ICA

In this paper some alternative Riemannian metrics are defined on the parameter space of non-square matrices, corresponding to various translations defined therein. Such metrics allow the authors to derive novel learning rules for two ICA based algorithms for over-determined blind source separation (BSS), which tries to separate less sources from more sensors. Computer simulations show a significant improvement of the convergence speed when second-order translations are employed in contrast to their first-order counterparts, extending known results for complete BSS
Top-Down Beta Enhances Bottom-Up Gamma

Several recent studies have demonstrated that the bottom-up signaling of a visual stimulus is subserved by interareal gamma-band synchronization, whereas top-down influences are mediated by alpha-beta band synchronization. These processes may implement top-down control of stimulus processing if top-down and bottom-up mediating rhythms are coupled via cross-frequency interaction. To test this possibility, we investigated Granger-causal influences among awake macaque primary visual area V1, higher visual area V4, and parietal control area 7a during attentional task performance. Top-down 7a-to-V1 beta-band influences enhanced visually driven V1-to-V4 gamma-band influences. This enhancement was spatially specific and largest when beta-band activity preceded gamma-band activity by ∼0.1 s, suggesting a causal effect of top-down processes on bottom-up processes. We propose that this cross-frequency interaction mechanistically subserves the attentional control of stimulus selection. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Contemporary research indicates that the alpha-beta frequency band underlies top-down control, whereas the gamma-band mediates bottom-up stimulus processing. This arrangement inspires an attractive hypothesis, which posits that top-down beta-band influences directly modulate bottom-up gamma band influences via cross-frequency interaction. We evaluate this hypothesis determining that beta-band top-down influences from parietal area 7a to visual area V1 are correlated with bottom-up gamma frequency influences from V1 to area V4, in a spatially specific manner, and that this correlation is maximal when top-down activity precedes bottom-up activity. These results show that for top-down processes such as spatial attention, elevated top-down beta-band influences directly enhance feedforward stimulus-induced gamma-band processing, leading to enhancement of the selected stimulus.
Optimal Transport on Weighted Networks for Different Node Delivery Capability Schemes

Many real networks can be best described by weighted networks with a diversity of interactions between nodes measured by the weights of the edges. It is of great importance to improve the overall capacity of these real-world networks. In this paper, the traffic capacity of weighted network is investigated based on three different node delivery capability schemes: the delivery capacity of each node is constant in the first scheme while in the second and third schemes it is proportional to its node degree and node strength. It is shown by simulations that the network transfer capacity depends strongly on the tunable parameter. And different tunable parameter is suitable for different node delivery capability.
The Study of DNA Methyltransferase-3B Promoter Variant Genotype among Iranian Sporadic Breast Cancer Patients

Background: DNA methyltransferase-3B (DNMT3B) is an important enzyme responsible for maintaining the DNA methylation pattern in eukaryotic cells. In this study we have investigated the correlation between the 46359C→T polymorphism in the DNMT3B gene and the risk of breast cancer incidence among sporadic breast cancer patients in Fars Province, Southern Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, 100 breast cancer patients and 138 healthy control subjects were genotyped for the DNMT3B gene by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The genotype frequency in the case (CC 27%, CT 47%, TT 26%) group significantly (P=0.008) differed from the control (CC 19.56%, CT 67.3%, TT 13%) group. We observed a decreased association between the CT genotype and lymph node involvement in breast cancer patients. Our results have shown that in comparison to the homozygous CC genotype carriers the DNMT3B-CT genotype has a significantly lower risk for breast cancer (OR=0.515, 95% CI=0.267-0.994, P=0.048). Conclusion: Our case-control study showed that the CT genotype was significantly associated with decreased breast cancer risk. Consistent with these results, a significant decrease of CT genotype among lymph node positive breast cancer patients was observed. However, a larger study population with more clinical data is needed to confirm these results.
String-embedded language support in integrated development environment

Most general-purpose programming languages allow to use string literals as source code in other languages (they are named string-embedded languages). Such strings can be executed or interpreted by dedicated runtime component. This way host program can communicate with DBMS or web browser. The most common example of string-embedded language is Dynamic SQL or SQL embedded into C#, C++, Java or other general-purpose programming languages. Standard Integrated Development Environment functionality such as syntax highlighting or static error checking in embedded languages can help developers who use such technique, but it is necessary to process string literals as a code to provide these features. We present a platform allowing to create tools for string-embedded languages processing easily, and compare it with other similar tools like IntelliLang. We also demonstrate a plug-in for ReSharper created by using the platform. The plug-in provides code highlighting and static error checking for string-embedded T-SQL in C#.
On efficient posting list intersection with multicore processors

The size of indexable Web and the number of search queries submitted by users have been growing consistently throughout the past decade. With such a growth, efficient and scalable methods to implement information retrieval (IR) systems become critical for user satisfaction. Thus far the performance of IR with respect to query throughput and query latency has been improved by designing new list intersection algorithms [2] and by developing novel caching strategies [1]. In contrast to these techniques, we explore a new research direction to improve IR efficiency: designing algorithms that leverage modern computer architectures such as multicore systems. Multicores, primarily motivated by energy and power constraints, pack two or more cores on a single die. They typically share on-chip L2 cache as well as the front-side bus to main memory. As these systems become more popular, the general trend has been from single-core to many-core: from dual-, quad-, eight-core chips to the ones with tens of cores. So far, however, very little has been done to exploit the full potential of these chips in the context of IR. Strohman and Croft used 64-bit machines and four-core chips to show modest improvements in throughput [6]. Their techniques suffer from bandwidth issues, and as a result, provide only limited scalability. Bonacic et al. used synchronous strategies to group the queries into batches, and thereafter to process them sequentially [3]. Ding et al. parallelized the posting list intersections using graphics processors (GPUs) [4]. These techniques, however, fail to give good performance as the number of cores increases. In this article, we present and discuss two different parallel query processing models for multicore systems – inter-query parallelism and intra-query parallelism. While the former explores the parallelism between the queries, the latter exploits
Super-combinators a new implementation method for applicative languages

There is a growing interest nowadays in functional programming languages and systems, and in special hardware for executing them. Many of these implementations are based on a system called graph reduction (GR), in which a program is represented as a graph which is transformed, or reduced, by the machine until it represents the desired answer. The various graph reduction implementations differ in the structure of the “machine code” (the program graph) and the compilation algorithms necessary to produce it from a source language. This paper describes a new implementation method using super-combinators which is apparently more efficient than its predecessors. Consideration of the new method also helps clarify the relationships between several other graph-reduction schemes. This paper is necessarily brief, but a fuller account can be found in [Hughes]. The simplest machine language we shall consider consists of constants combined by function application. This is the language of constant applicative forms (cafs). Some of the constants are basic functions.
Contribution of OqxAB efflux pumps to quinolone resistance in extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to analyse the presence of oqxA and oqxB genes in a collection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, to determine their chromosomal and/or plasmidic locations and to analyse expression levels in relation to susceptibility or resistance to quinolones. METHODS A collection of 114 non-repetitive isolates of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae was used. K. pneumoniae ATCC 27799 and K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 were also included. Detection of oqxA and oqxB genes was performed by PCR. Testing for chromosomal and/or plasmidic location was carried out using plasmid DNA and subsequent hybridization. oqxA gene expression was analysed using real-time RT-PCR. Transfer of the plasmid-encoded OqxAB was evaluated. RESULTS The prevalence of both oqxA and oqxB detected in K. pneumoniae was high: 76% and 75%, respectively. Hybridization assays showed that oqxA (16%) and oqxB (13%) were simultaneously present in locations on the chromosome and on large plasmids. The plasmids were transferable by transformation into K. pneumoniae. RT-PCR assays showed higher expression (4-fold) in strains with reduced susceptibility to quinolones than in susceptible strains. Interestingly, K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 showed an 18-fold higher expression than K. pneumoniae ATCC 27799. These differences were in accordance with quinolone susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of the OqxAB efflux pump (both chromosomal and plasmid encoded) in ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is high in Spain and represents a potential reservoir for the spread of these genes. High expression of this pump contributes to reduced susceptibility to quinolones in clinical isolates of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae.
The heart in transfusion dependent homozygous thalassaemia today – prediction, prevention and management

Cardiac disease remains the major cause of death in thalassaemia major. This review deals with the mechanisms involved in heart failure development, the peculiar clinical presentation of congestive heart failure and provides guidelines for diagnosis and management of the acute phase of cardiac failure. It emphasizes the need for intensive medical – cardiac care and aggressive iron chelating management as, with such approaches, today, the patients outcomes can be favourable in the long term. It covers advances in the assessment of cardiac iron overload with the use of magnetic resonance imaging and makes recommendations for preventing the onset of cardiac problems by tailoring iron chelation therapy appropriate to the degree of cardiac iron loading found.
Wolfing down the Twilight series: Metaphors for reading in online reviews

The development of social media platforms devoted to the discussion of books provides a source of insights into how readers interact with texts in their daily lives and, as such, offers a growing source of data for stylistics. Popular fiction such as Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series (2005-2008) attracts thousands (in some cases millions) of ratings and reviews by readers, which are often highly polarised. Recent work in stylistics has used such data as a source of insights into felt, experiential aspects of reading, applying the same stylistic frameworks to the reviews as those applied to the texts themselves (e.g. Harrison, 2017; Nuttall, 2017). In this chapter, we analyse the range of metaphors used by readers to describe contrasting experiences of Twilight (Book One), and the embodied experiences which contribute to both its popularity and rejection among readers. Drawing on Cognitive Metaphor Theory (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980, 1999), previous research has identified three main conceptual metaphors as reflecting readers’ engagement with texts: READING IS TRANSPORTATION, READING IS CONTROL and READING IS INVESTMENT (Stockwell, 2009). Here, we test and develop these observations by examining a sample of 200 reader reviews collected from the online forum, Goodreads. Comprising 100 of the most positive (5-star) and most negative (1-star) reviews of Twilight, these responses to the text are submitted to qualitative analysis using NVivo software, and metaphors for reading are grouped and analysed using concepts from cognitive linguistics. Applying Cognitive Grammar (Langacker, 2008), we explore the creativity with which readers extend, combine and elaborate conventional metaphors for reading in this discourse context, and identify further recurring metaphors such as READING IS EATING for this text. Comparison of our positive and negative reviews reveals differences in the mappings of these metaphors, specifically the framing of the reader, which reflects the varying quality of the embodied experiences being described. We argue that, when contextualised in relation to a particular work of fiction and a particular online discourse context, the language produced by readers can offer insights into polarised reading experiences such as immersion and resistance.
A Novel Blind Color Image Watermarking Technique in Hybrid Domain Using LSB Approach and Discrete Slantlet Transform

This paper proposes a blind color image watermarking technique in hybrid domain which combines LSB approach and Discrete Slantlet transform (DST). The proposed technique utilizes two interrelated watermarks namely, main watermark (MW) and sub-watermark (SW), which is a statistical information of the MW. Firstly, the RGB cover image is converted to YCbCr color space. Then the Cb component is selected for embedding the MW by utilizing the first three least-significant-bits of eight bit-plane in spatial domain. Secondly, the Cr component is selected and converted into the transform domain using DST, and is subsequently decomposed into three levels viz. HL1, LL2 and LL3 sub-bands. The SW is then embedded onto the LL3. Experimental results show that the performance of the proposed technique is very encouraging with average PSNR of 43db, and NCC value of more than 0.93 for both extracted watermarks after performing five severe attacks. It also reveals that capacity has increased to more than 12.5%.
Meta-analysis of sex-specific genome-wide association studies

Despite the success of genome‐wide association studies, much of the genetic contribution to complex human traits is still unexplained. One potential source of genetic variation that may contribute to this “missing heritability” is that which differs in magnitude and/or direction between males and females, which could result from sexual dimorphism in gene expression. Such sex‐differentiated effects are common in model organisms, and are becoming increasingly evident in human complex traits through large‐scale male‐ and female‐specific meta‐analyses. In this article, we review the methodology for meta‐analysis of sex‐specific genome‐wide association studies, and propose a sex‐differentiated test of association with quantitative or dichotomous traits, which allows for heterogeneity of allelic effects between males and females. We perform detailed simulations to compare the power of the proposed sex‐differentiated meta‐analysis with the more traditional “sex‐combined” approach, which is ambivalent to gender. The results of this study highlight only a small loss in power for the sex‐differentiated meta‐analysis when the allelic effects of the causal variant are the same in males and females. However, over a range of models of heterogeneity in allelic effects between genders, our sex‐differentiated meta‐analysis strategy offers substantial gains in power, and thus has the potential to discover novel loci contributing effects to complex human traits with existing genome‐wide association data. Genet. Epidemiol. 34:846–853, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.