Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting component failures at design time

How do design decisions impact the quality of the resulting software? In an empirical study of 52 ECLIPSE plug-ins, we found that the software design as well as past failure history, can be used to build models which accurately predict failure-prone components in new programs. Our prediction only requires usage relationships between components, which are typically defined in the design phase; thus, designers can easily explore and assess design alternatives in terms of predicted quality. In the ECLIPSE study, 90% of the 5% most failure-prone components, as predicted by our model from design data, turned out to actually produce failures later; a random guess would have predicted only 33%.
Prosody and phonetic variability: Lessons learned from acoustic model clustering

Most research on the use of prosody in automatic speech processing has focused on F0, energy and duration correlates to prosodic structure. However, there are multiple sources of evidence suggesting that there are spectral correlates as well. This paper presents an analysis of prosodically labeled conversational speech data using acoustic parameters and clustering techniques that are standard in speech recognition. We find acoustic differences primarily associated with segment position at prosodic constituent onsets and at prominent syllables. Importantly, phones at fluent vs. disfluent boundaries are frequently placed in different clusters. These differences can be leveraged in a “multiple pronunciation” acoustic model to aid in detecting fluent vs. disfluent prosodic boundaries, and potentially for improving recognition accuracy.
Design and implementation of instant messenger security monitoring system based on protocol analysis

Based on the deep analysis of IM texts, files and audio protocol characteristics, an instant messenger monitoring system is designed and implemented. By means of capture techniques of network data packets, protocol characteristic identification techniques based on regular expression, and storage strategy for transfer files, the presented monitoring system can monitor texts, transfer files and audio data of many instant messenger tools, such as MSN, ICQ and QQ. At the same time, the problem raised by version upgrade of IM software is resolved by means of adding new rules based on protocol characteristics.
Hepatic vein pressure predicts GFR in cirrhotic patients with hemodynamic kidney dysfunction

The role of “nephrocongestion” in hemodynamic renal disease is understudied. Intra‐abdominal hypertension accompanies liver disease and renal disease. Our hypothesis states that in those patients with liver disease, hepatic vein pressure measured during a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure reflects intra‐abdominal pressure and predicts estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We gathered data from our clinical database and chart review on a cohort of cirrhotic patients who received TIPS at Montefiore as part of their clinical care between 2004 and 2014. We evaluated association of demographic and measured variables with eGFR in those subjects without end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Using multivariate regression, we examined the relationship between eGFR and hepatic vein pressure while adjusting for age, proteinuria, and ultrasound evidence for parenchymal kidney disease. The mean age of the subjects was 57 years old. Two thirds of the patients were male, 23% were White, and 20% were Black. A higher percentage of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as determined by lower than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, had proteinuria and ultrasound evidence for parenchymal kidney disease. A multivariate linear regression showed a significant and negative association between hepatic vein pressure and eGFR when adjusting for age, race, and proteinuria. Hepatic vein pressure is negatively and significantly associated with eGFR in those patients with liver failure. This finding has major implications for the way we evaluate hemodynamic renal disease.
Dynamic language models for interactive speech applications

This work proposes the use of hierarchical LMs as an effective method both for e(cid:14)ciently dealing with context-dependent LMs in a dialogue system and for increasing the robustness of LM estimation and adaptation. Starting from basic LMs that express elementary semantic units, concepts, or data-types, sentence level LMs are recursively built. The resulting LMs may be a combination of grammars, word classes, and statistical LMs. Moreover, these LMs can be e(cid:14)ciently compiled into probabilistic recursive transition networks. A speech decoding algorithm directly exploits the recursive representation and produces the most probable parse tree matching the speech signal. The proposed approach has been implemented for a data-entry task which covers structured data, e.g. numbers, dates, and proper names, as well as free texts. In this task, the active LM must continuously change according to the current status, the active form, and the data entered so far. Finally, while the hierarchical approach results very convenient to cope with this task, it also looks very general and can give advantages in other applications, e.g. dictation.
Video-based character animation

In this paper we introduce a video-based representation for free viewpoint visualization and motion control of 3D character models created from multiple view video sequences of real people. Previous approaches to video-based rendering provide no control of scene dynamics to manipulate, retarget, and create new 3D content from captured scenes. Here we contribute a new approach, combining image based reconstruction and video-based animation to allow controlled animation of people from captured multiple view video sequences. We represent a character as a motion graph of free viewpoint video motions for animation control. We introduce the use of geometry videos to represent reconstructed scenes of people for free viewpoint video rendering. We describe a novel spherical matching algorithm to derive global surface to surface correspondence in spherical geometry images for motion blending and the construction of seamless transitions between motion sequences. Finally, we demonstrate interactive video-based character animation with real-time rendering and free viewpoint visualization. This approach synthesizes highly realistic character animations with dynamic surface shape and appearance captured from multiple view video of people.
Efficient Kernel Approximation for Large-Scale Support Vector Machine Classification

Training support vector machines (SVMs) with nonlinear kernel functions on large-scale data are usually very timeconsuming. In contrast, there exist faster solvers to train the linear SVM. We propose a technique which sufficiently approximates the infinite-dimensional implicit feature mapping of the Gaussian kernel function by a low-dimensional feature mapping. By explicitly mapping data to the low-dimensional features, efficient linear SVM solvers can be applied to train the Gaussian kernel SVM, which leverages the efficiency of linear SVM solvers to train a nonlinear SVM. Experimental results show that the proposed technique is very efficient and achieves comparable classification accuracy to a normal nonlinear SVM solver.
Dynamically-Driven Inactivation of the Catalytic Machinery of the SARS 3C-Like Protease by the N214A Mutation on the Extra Domain

Despite utilizing the same chymotrypsin fold to host the catalytic machinery, coronavirus 3C-like proteases (3CLpro) noticeably differ from picornavirus 3C proteases in acquiring an extra helical domain in evolution. Previously, the extra domain was demonstrated to regulate the catalysis of the SARS-CoV 3CLpro by controlling its dimerization. Here, we studied N214A, another mutant with only a doubled dissociation constant but significantly abolished activity. Unexpectedly, N214A still adopts the dimeric structure almost identical to that of the wild-type (WT) enzyme. Thus, we conducted 30-ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for N214A, WT, and R298A which we previously characterized to be a monomer with the collapsed catalytic machinery. Remarkably, three proteases display distinctive dynamical behaviors. While in WT, the catalytic machinery stably retains in the activated state; in R298A it remains largely collapsed in the inactivated state, thus implying that two states are not only structurally very distinguishable but also dynamically well separated. Surprisingly, in N214A the catalytic dyad becomes dynamically unstable and many residues constituting the catalytic machinery jump to sample the conformations highly resembling those of R298A. Therefore, the N214A mutation appears to trigger the dramatic change of the enzyme dynamics in the context of the dimeric form which ultimately inactivates the catalytic machinery. The present MD simulations represent the longest reported so far for the SARS-CoV 3CLpro, unveiling that its catalysis is critically dependent on the dynamics, which can be amazingly modulated by the extra domain. Consequently, mediating the dynamics may offer a potential avenue to inhibit the SARS-CoV 3CLpro.
A B US E NCODING TO R EDUCE C ROSSTALK N OISE E FFECT IN S YSTEM ON C HIP

This paper proposes a new bus coding scheme for reducing the crosstalk in System on chip(soc). As circuit geometries become smaller, wire interconnections become closer together and taller, thus increasing the cross-coupling capacitance between nets. At the same time, parasitic capacitance to the substrate becomes less as interconnections become narrower, and cell delays are reduced as transistors become smaller. With circuit geometries at 0.25 micron and above, substrate capacitance is usually the dominant effect. However, with geometries at 0.18 micron and below, the coupling capacitance between nets becomes significant, making crosstalk analysis increasingly important for accurate timing analysis. We show experimentally that the proposed codes allow reducing crosstalk delay by at least 14% based on available data.
Spread of OXA-48-mediated resistance to carbapenems in Lebanese Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli that produce extended spectrum β-lactamase

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A Night to Remember: A Harm-Reduction Birthday Card Intervention Reduces High-Risk Drinking During 21st Birthday Celebrations

Objective: In collaboration with Residence Life, the Heads UP research team developed a 21st birthday card program to help reduce the risky drinking often associated with these celebrations. Participants: 81 students (28 males, 53 females) completed a post-21st birthday survey. Of these, 74 reported drinking during their 21st birthday and were included in the analyses. Methods: During the 2005-2006 school year, the authors assigned students celebrating 21st birthdays to either receive an alcohol risk-reduction birthday card or to a no-card condition. The students completed a survey after their birthday. Results: Students who received the card consumed fewer drinks and reached lower blood alcohol content (BAC) levels on their birthday than did students who did not receive it. Female students who received the card consumed 40% fewer drinks and reached nearly 50% lower BAC levels than women who did not receive it. Conclusion: This program is easily replicated, inexpensive, and may be used by universities to reduce risk related to celebratory alcohol consumption.
Continuous Electromyography for Monitoring Depth of Anesthesia

Utilizing a randomized, controlled study design, the clinical utility of monitoring spontaneous electromyography during methohexital anesthesia was evaluated for short outpatient gynecologic procedures. In the experimental group (n = 20), the anesthesiologist used conventional monitors as well as the Datex ABM device for determining the maintenance anesthetic requirement. The control group (n = 20) was monitored in an identical fashion, but the video monitor screen was turned off during the operation. The methohexital maintenance requirement was nonsignificantly decreased (5.0 ± 1.2 vs 5.6 ± 1.8 mg/min) in the experimental group. Adequacy of anesthesia (as determined by cardiorespiratoy stability and the absence of purposeful movement during the maintenance period) did not differ between the two study groups. Although the awakening time for the experimental group (2.9 ± 1.9 minutes) was decreased to a statistically significant degree compared to the control group (4.5 ± 3.0 minutes), the difference was of no clinical significance. Thus, continuous electromyographic and EEG monitoring with the Datex ABM device did not significantly improve administration of methohexital during brief outpatient procedures.
High and Low Levels of Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus E2 Protein Generate Opposite Effects on Gene Expression*

The papillomavirus E2 protein plays an important role in viral transcriptional regulation and replication. We chose to study the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) E2 protein as a transcriptional regulator because of the availability of an animal model for papilloma formation, which may be relevant for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and replication. We studied the effect of expression levels of E2 on the long control region, which contains transcriptional promoter and enhancer elements, and synthetic E2-dependent artificial promoters in which the E2 was the dominant factor in the transcriptional activation. These experiments indicated that high levels of E2 were inhibitory and low levels were stimulatory for transactivation. In addition, we showed that the complex formed between CRPV E2 and the cognate binding site was less stable than the complex formed between HPV E2 and the same cognate binding site. Furthermore, we showed that CRPV E2 binding to its transcriptional regulatory sequence was stabilized by other proteins such as E1, which produced increments in transcriptional activation of E2-dependent genes. The data may be used to define conditions in which the rabbit model can be used for the screening of drugs which are inhibitory to the HPV and CRPV replication and gene expression.
The Impact of Contractual Savings Institutions on Securities Markets

The authors assess empirically the impact of contractual savings institutions portfolios (pension funds and life insurance companies) on securities markets, for example, depth and liquidity in the domestic stock market, and depth in the domestic bond market. They discuss how the institutionalization of savings can modify financial markets through the lengthening of securities' maturities. The results are the following: 1) An increase in assets of contractual savings institutions relative to domestic financial assets has a positive impact on the depth of stock and bond markets on average. 2) The impact on stock market depth and liquidity is nonlinear: it is stronger in countries where corporate information is more transparent. 3) There is evidence of a significant heterogeneity among countries: contractual savings have a stronger impact on securities markets in countries where the financial system is market based, pension fund contributions are mandatory, and international transactions in securities are lower. 4) The authors do not find that the impact of contractual savings institutions on securities markets is explained by the overall level of development, education, demographic structure or the legal environment.
Assessment and Predicting Factors of Repeated Brain Computed Tomography in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients for Risk-Stratified Care Management: A 5-Year Retrospective Study

Background and Objective. To determine the value of repeated brain CT in TBI cases for risk-stratified care management (RSCM) and to identify predicting factors which will change the neurosurgical management after repeated brain CTs. Methods. A 5-year retrospective study from January 2009 to August 2013 was conducted. The primary outcome was the value of repeated brain CT in TBI cases. The secondary outcome is to identify predicting factors which will change the neurosurgical management after repeated brain CTs. Results. There were 145 consecutive patients with TBI and repeated brain CT after initial abnormal brain CT. Forty-two percent of all cases (N = 61) revealed the progression of intracranial hemorrhage after repeated brain CT. In all 145 consecutive patients, 67.6% of cases (N = 98) were categorized as mild TBI. For mild head injury, 8.2% of cases (N = 8) had undergone neurosurgical management after repeated brain CT. Only 1 from 74 mild TBI patients with repeated brain CT had neurosurgical intervention. Clopidogrel and midline shift more than 2 mm on initial brain CT were significant predicting factors to indicate the neurosurgical management in mild TBI cases. Conclusion. Routine repeated brain CT for RSCM had no clinical benefit in mild TBI cases.
A Randomised Controlled Trial of Artemether-Lumefantrine Versus Artesunate for Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Treatment in Pregnancy

Background To date no comparative trials have been done, to our knowledge, of fixed-dose artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnancy. Evidence on the safety and efficacy of ACTs in pregnancy is needed as these drugs are being used increasingly throughout the malaria-affected world. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of artemether-lumefantrine, the most widely used fixed ACT, with 7 d artesunate monotherapy in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Methods and Findings An open-label randomised controlled trial comparing directly observed treatment with artemether-lumefantrine 3 d (AL) or artesunate monotherapy 7 d (AS7) was conducted in Karen women in the border area of northwestern Thailand who had uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The primary endpoint was efficacy defined as the P. falciparum PCR-adjusted cure rates assessed at delivery or by day 42 if this occurred later than delivery, as estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Infants were assessed at birth and followed until 1 y of life. Blood sampling was performed to characterise the pharmacokinetics of lumefantrine in pregnancy. Both regimens were very well tolerated. The cure rates (95% confidence interval) for the intention to treat (ITT) population were: AS7 89.2% (82.3%–96.1%) and AL 82.0% (74.8%–89.3%), p = 0.054 (ITT); and AS7 89.7% (82.6%–96.8%) and AL 81.2% (73.6%–88.8%), p = 0.031 (per-protocol population). One-third of the PCR-confirmed recrudescent cases occurred after 42 d of follow-up. Birth outcomes and infant (up to age 1 y) outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups. The pharmacokinetic study indicated that low concentrations of artemether and lumefantrine were the main contributors to the poor efficacy of AL. Conclusion The current standard six-dose artemether-lumefantrine regimen was well tolerated and safe in pregnant Karen women with uncomplicated falciparum malaria, but efficacy was inferior to 7 d artesunate monotherapy and was unsatisfactory for general deployment in this geographic area. Reduced efficacy probably results from low drug concentrations in later pregnancy. A longer or more frequent AL dose regimen may be needed to treat pregnant women effectively and should now be evaluated. Parasitological endpoints in clinical trials of any antimalarial drug treatment in pregnancy should be extended to delivery or day 42 if it comes later. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN86353884
Mutations reveal voltage gating of CNGA1 channels in saturating cGMP

Activity of cyclic nucleotide–gated (CNG) cation channels underlies signal transduction in vertebrate visual receptors. These highly specialized receptor channels open when they bind cyclic GMP (cGMP). Here, we find that certain mutations restricted to the region around the ion selectivity filter render the channels essentially fully voltage gated, in such a manner that the channels remain mostly closed at physiological voltages, even in the presence of saturating concentrations of cGMP. This voltage-dependent gating resembles the selectivity filter-based mechanism seen in KcsA K+ channels, not the S4-based mechanism of voltage-gated K+ channels. Mutations that render CNG channels gated by voltage loosen the attachment of the selectivity filter to its surrounding structure, thereby shifting the channel's gating equilibrium toward closed conformations. Significant pore opening in mutant channels occurs only when positive voltages drive the pore from a low-probability open conformation toward a second open conformation to increase the channels' open probability. Thus, the structure surrounding the selectivity filter has evolved to (nearly completely) suppress the expression of inherent voltage-dependent gating of CNGA1, ensuring that the binding of cGMP by itself suffices to open the channels at physiological voltages.
Log-periodic antennas with in-phase currents

The approximate method of calculating directional characteristics of log-periodic antenna: directional patterns, directivity, and pattern factor is proposed. The analytical expressions are determined, and characteristics of antennas with straight metal dipoles and with in-phase radiators of the same dimensions are calculated. The advantage of using in-phase radiators is demonstrated. It is shown that the log-periodic antennas of radiators with in-phase current distribution allow to decrease the antenna length and to provide the high directivity in a wide frequency range. The problem of optimization of considered antennas by methods of mathematical programming is stated.