Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UML in practice

UML has been described by some as “the lingua franca of software engineering”. Evidence from industry does not necessarily support such endorsements. How exactly is UML being used in industry - if it is? This paper presents a corpus of interviews with 50 professional software engineers in 50 companies and identifies 5 patterns of UML use.
Multistable Thermal Actuators Via Multimaterial 4D Printing

3D printing of smart materials, called “four‐dimensional” (4D) printing, adds active, responsive functions to 3D‐printed structures. Shape memory polymers (SMPs) can be employed as an active material in 4D printing, and this could be useful for a wide range of potential applications. New design for 4D printing is presented here by introducing SMPs into rotational multistable structures. Two different digital SMPs are employed to enable large‐angle, thermal actuation in a controlled manner. It is started with bistable structures and then extending them to quadristable ones. In this design, by adjusting the thickness of SMP beams, a balance is controlled between the energy barrier and shape memory force, and this can enable controlled thermal actuation. Especially, one can control the activation time for thermal actuation. Multistable structures can simplify actuation and motion control without complicated control systems. Therefore, by adopting multistable structures in 4D printing, one can potentially enable precisely controlled, large‐magnitude, rapid actuation beyond the material capability of SMPs. These multistable structures do not require heating in the programming stage and this significantly simplifies the actuation procedure. This work provides new physical insights into 3D‐printable, active structures, and could be useful for various smart actuators responding to the environmental stimuli.
Laser speckle photometry: an advanced method for defect detection in ceramics

Due to the special structural and functional properties, the advanced ceramic technology plays an important role in many areas of the industry. Fraunhofer IKTS develops novel ceramic materials for industrial applications, e.g. Na-β-alumina. These materials are used to produce high-temperature, low-cost ceramic batteries. In Na-β-alumina the defects occurs in production by extrude process. Therefore, defect detection is of great importance for quality assurance of ceramics for industrial applications, and advanced non-destructive diagnostic procedures are required. Laser Speckle Photometry (LSP) is an innovative optical non-destructive and monitoring technique based on the detection and analysis of thermally or mechanically activated characteristic speckle dynamics in the non-stationary optical field. Unlike other techniques based on speckle phenomenona, which concentrate on the distortion of whole speckle pattern or fringes, LSP is based on measuring spatial-temporal dynamics of laser speckles in near field, which focuses on the intensity change of each single pixel of camera sensor. The advantages of the new NDT method are, for instance, contactless, noninvasive, full field, fast, real time, high precision and sensitivity. The basic LSP setup has a simple but robust design to reduce the cost compared with other conventional NDT methods, and depending on its working principle, it can be integrated into in-line manufacturing process. The results of measurements will be presented by an imaging LSP method. At current research stage, the detectability of LSP for defects in ceramics is 300 μm in terms of length for crack and 200 μm in terms of diameter for pore.
Detailed In Vivo Analysis of the Role of Helicobacter pylori Fur in Colonization and Disease

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori persistently colonizes the harsh and dynamic environment of the stomach in over one-half of the world's population and has been identified as a causal agent in a spectrum of pathologies that range from gastritis to invasive adenocarcinoma. The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) is one of the few regulatory proteins that has been identified in H. pylori. Fur regulates genes important for acid acclimation and oxidative stress and has been shown to be important for colonization of H. pylori in both murine and Mongolian gerbil models of infection. To more thoroughly define the role of Fur in vivo, we conducted an extensive temporal analysis of the location of, competitive ability of, and resultant pathology induced by a Δfur strain in the Mongolian gerbil model of infection and compared the results to results for its wild-type parent. We found that at the earliest time points postinfection, significantly more Δfur bacteria than wild-type bacteria were recovered. However, this trend was reversed by day 3, when there was significantly increased recovery of the wild-type strain. The increased recovery of the Δfur strain at 1 day postinfection reflected increased recovery from both the corpus and the antrum of the stomach. When the wild-type strain was allowed to colonize first, the Δfur strain was unable to compete for colonization at any time postinfection. However, when the Δfur strain was allowed to colonize first, the wild type efficiently outcompeted the Δfur strain only at early times postinfection. Finally, we demonstrated that there was a delay in the development and severity of inflammation and pathology of the Δfur strain in the gastric mucosa even after comparable levels of colonization occurred. Together, these data indicate that H. pylori Fur is most important at early stages of infection and illustrate the importance of the ability of H. pylori to adapt to its constantly fluctuating environment when it is establishing infection, inflammation, and disease.
Speech processing in the networked home environment - a view on the amigo project

Full interoperability of networked devices in the home has been kind of an elusive concept for quite some years. Amigo, an Integrated Project within the EU 6-th framework program, tries to make home networking a reality by addressing two key issues: First, it brings together many major players in the domestic appliances, communications, consumer electronics and computer industry to develop a common open source middleware platform. Second, emphasis is placed on the development of intelligent user services that make the benefit of a networked home environment tangible for the end user. This paper shows how speech processing can contribute to this second goal of user-friendly, personalized, context-aware services.
Drosophila tools and assays for the study of human diseases

ABSTRACT Many of the internal organ systems of Drosophila melanogaster are functionally analogous to those in vertebrates, including humans. Although humans and flies differ greatly in terms of their gross morphological and cellular features, many of the molecular mechanisms that govern development and drive cellular and physiological processes are conserved between both organisms. The morphological differences are deceiving and have led researchers to undervalue the study of invertebrate organs in unraveling pathogenic mechanisms of diseases. In this review and accompanying poster, we highlight the physiological and molecular parallels between fly and human organs that validate the use of Drosophila to study the molecular pathogenesis underlying human diseases. We discuss assays that have been developed in flies to study the function of specific genes in the central nervous system, heart, liver and kidney, and provide examples of the use of these assays to address questions related to human diseases. These assays provide us with simple yet powerful tools to study the pathogenic mechanisms associated with human disease-causing genes. Editors' choice - Drosophila Collection: In this review and accompanying poster, we highlight the physiological and molecular parallels between fly and human organs that validate the use of Drosophila to study the molecular pathogenesis underlying human diseases.
Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency and Corneal Neovascularization

The corneal limbus harbors corneal epithelial stem cells and contributes to the unique microenvironment of the stem cell niche. Corneal conditions, such as infections, tumors, immunological disorders, trauma, and chemical burns, often lead to the deficiency of the corneal stem cells, and subsequent vision loss. One key feature of limbal stem cell deficiency is corneal neovascularization. There is a delicate balance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors that, in a normal cornea, maintain an avascular state. A pro-angiogenic shift in this balance can occur due to various mechanisms, such as inflammation, gene mutations, physical breach in the limbal barrier, and decreased production of anti-angiogenic molecules. Currently available treatment options for limbal stem cell deficiency include allogeneic and autologous limbal transplants, and more recently, transplantation of alternative sources of epithelium, such as cultivated corneal and oral mucosal stem cells. Further studies are needed to investigate the combination of limbal and stem cell transplantation and concurrent anti-angiogenic therapy.
Annual Life History–Dependent Gene Expression in the Hypothalamus and Liver of a Migratory Songbird

Birds seasonally switch from one life history state (LHS) to another to maximize their fitness. Accordingly, they exhibit distinct differences in their physiological and behavioral phenotypes between seasons. Possible molecular mechanisms underlying changes through the seasons have scarcely been examined in migratory birds. The present study measured key genes suggested to be involved in the metabolic regulation of 4 photoperiodically induced seasonal LHSs in a long-distance migratory songbird, the blackheaded bunting (Emberiza melanocephala). Buntings were held under short days (8 h light:16 h darkness, 8L:16D), during which they maintained the winter nonmigratory phenotype. Then they were exposed for several weeks to long days (13L:11D). Differences in the activity-rest pattern, body fattening and weight gain, testis size, organ (heart, intestine) weights, and blood glucose and triglyceride levels confirmed that buntings sequentially exhibited spring migration–linked premigratory, migratory, and postmigratory LHSs under long days. The mRNA levels of circadian genes involved in metabolism (Bmal1, Clock, Npas2, Rorα, and Rev-erbα) and of genes that encode for proteins/enzymes involved in the regulation of glucose (Sirt1, FoxO1, Glut1, and Pygl) and lipids (Hmg-CoA; Pparα, Pparγ; Fasn and Acaca) showed LHS-dependent changes in their light-dark expression patterns in the hypothalamus and liver. These initial results on genetic regulation of metabolism in a migratory species extend the idea that the transitions between LHSs in a seasonal species are accomplished by changes at multiple regulatory levels. Thus, these findings promise new insights into the mechanism(s) of adaptation to seasons in higher vertebrates.
Assessment of Oculomotor Function in Patients With Postconcussion Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Background: Concussion and its associated sequel, postconcussion syndrome (PCS), have a debilitating impact on the lives of concussed patients. However, a diagnostic biomarker for this condition is lacking. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in using oculomotor function testing as an objective assessment of patients with PCS. Objectives: To systematically synthesize, appraise, and summarize all published empirical studies that have assessed alteration of oculomotor functions in patients with PCS. Methods: Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, and CINAHL databases searched up to July 2016 for studies that used oculomotor function assessment in patients with postconcussion symptoms. Results: The search identified 1637 citations, and finally 8 case-control studies were included. Of these, 5 studies used a similar task with a target moving in a circular trajectory. Three other studies measured conventional oculomotor tasks such as saccade, vergence, and smooth pursuit eye movements. Conclusions: Currently, there is limited support for the recommendation of oculomotor function assessments for diagnosis and identification of patients with PCS following head trauma. Therefore, more rigorous studies assessing oculomotor function changes in patients with PCS are warranted.
Evaluation of Carrageenan induced anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of bark of Ficus virens Linn. in swiss albino mice

The aim of the present study was to explore the probable anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of Ficus virens bark using Carrageenan induced inflammation in the mice. Swiss albino mice were treated orally with normal saline (as control group) and Ficus virens extract (200 and 400 mg/kg), 60 min before 0.1 mL 1% carrageenan injection. Paw volume was measured before and 1, 2, and 3 h after the injection of carrageenan. The results were expressed as the Mean ±SEM and the statistical significance of differences between groups was analyzed by One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s test. The sub plantar injection of carrageenan caused a time-dependent paw edema in the mice. Oral administration of Ficus virens extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) inhibited paw swelling dose-dependently at 1, 2, and 3, h after Carrageenan injection. We can conclude from the outcome of the present work that Ficus virens extract exert an excellent anti-inflammatory effect in the mice.
Statistical frameworks for setting cutoff points of metabolic syndrome criteria

ABSTRACT We propose three statistical frameworks for determining the cutoff points of metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria, consisting of six components that are the same as in widely used MetS definitions, e.g., the 2004 updated NCEP-ATPIII criteria. Several international organizations have proposed MetS definitions; no literature indicates that any of these definitions is based on statistical frameworks. For all the three frameworks, the cutoff points are set to maximize the observed prevalence rate of stroke and DM. The three frameworks differ in assumptions on the joint distribution of the six components. Using the cohort data from a regional hospital in Taiwan, we illustrate applications of the three frameworks and compare them with the updated NCEP-ATPIII definition and the 2009 consensus definition of IDF and AHA/NHLBI. The performance measure is the odds ratio, the odds of getting stroke or DM within subjects with MetS divided by the analogous odds for subjects without MetS. Our numerical results show that the odds ratios of the three frameworks are higher than those of the updated-NCEP and consensus definitions, showing that the proposed frameworks seem to provide a better association of MetS with stroke and DM.
Pricing of Geometric Transportation Networks

We propose algorithms for pricing a transportation network in such a way that the profit generated by the customers is maximized. We model the transportation network as a subset of the plane and take into account the fact that the customers minimize their own transportation cost. The underlying theory is a two-player game model called Stackelberg games. We propose algorithms for the cases where the fare does and does not depend on the distance traveled, in the L1 or L2 metrics. In particular, we propose an O(n log n) algorithm for optimal pricing of a highway under the L2 metric, and an O(nk log n log3 k) algorithm for orthogonally convex networks of complexity O(k) under the L1 metric.
Efficient tetrahedral mesh generation based on sampling optimization

We present a heuristic approach to tetrahedral mesh generation for implicit closed surfaces. It consists of a surface sampling step and a volume sampling step that both work in a unified optimization framework. First, high‐quality isotropic samplings as well as a triangular mesh on the surface are generated. Then uniform volume samplings are determined by optimizing the point distribution inside the closed surface domain. Finally, the tetrahedral mesh is easily obtained by constrained Delaunay triangulation. Experimental results show that the new method can generate ideal tetrahedral meshes for closed implicit surfaces efficiently that are Delaunay based. Our method has the advantage of high efficiency and nice performance at surface boundaries. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A system for controlling a particulate filter temperature

A system (10) for controlling the temperature of a particulate filter (38) coupled to an exhaust outlet (36) of an internal combustion engine (12) includes a controller (18) responsive to volumetric flow and temperature of exhaust gas to determine a filter regeneration parameter. In a hybrid electric-engine vehicle application, various control strategies are implemented as a function of the regeneration parameter to control exhaust gas temperature suitably for proper regeneration of the particulate filter (38). Such strategies include shifting the duty cycle of the engine (12) toward lower engine speed operation along lines of constant power output, modifying the ratio of electrical power and engine power and controlling recharging of the battery (30) supplying electrical energy to the vehicle's electric drive motor under vehicle deceleration conditions. In vehicle applications including a transmission coupled directly to the engine (12), shift points of the transmission are modified as a function of the regeneration parameter to control exhaust gas temperature.
Leptin and cancer: Pathogenesis and modulation

Leptin, a product of Ob gene from adipocytes regulates appetite, energy expenditure and body mass composition by decreasing orexigenic and increasing anorexigenic neuropeptide release from hypothalamus. Research over the past few years have suggested leptin/leptin receptor dysregulation to have a role in the development of a large variety of malignancies like breast ca, thyroid ca, endometrial ca and gastrointestinal malignancies, predominantly through JAK/STAT pathway which modulates PI3K/AKT3 signaling, ERK1/2 signaling, expression of antiapoptotic proteins (like XIAP), systemic inflammation (TNF-α, IL6), angiogenic factors (VEGF) and hypoxia inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) expression. In this review, the current understanding of leptin's role in carcinogenesis has been elaborated. Also a few agents modulating leptin signaling to inhibit cancer cell growth has been described.
The Influence of Information Technology on the Use of Loosely Coupled Organizational Forms: An Industry-Level Analysis

Information technology (IT) enhances coordination both within the firm and between the firm and its external partners. Consequently, IT investment can promote both loosely and tightly coupled organizational forms. Indeed, in some industries, widespread investment in IT is associated with high levels of disaggregation. In other industries, this is not the case. We argue that the specific influence of IT on firm boundaries depends on the broader industrial context. We investigate conditions whereby IT investments enable industries to be more loosely coupled through alliance formation and the use of contingent workers. We use transaction cost and modular systems theory to ground our theoretical development. The extent to which industrywide IT investment is associated with loosely coupled organizational forms depends on (1) limited asset specificity because of industry standards, (2) the level of industry uncertainty resulting from technological change, and (3) the overall complexity of the industry in terms of diverse inputs. Specifically, when industry standards exist, IT investment leads to greater use of both alliances and contingent workers. IT investment has a stronger positive relationship with the use of contingent workers when levels of technological change are low as compared to when levels of technological change are high. When there are high levels of input diversity and industry standards exist, IT investment led to an increased use of contingent workers. Our analyses provides a more refined view of IT influence on firm boundaries.
Desorption of halogenated organics from model solids, sediments, and soil under unsaturated conditions. 1. Isotherms.

Desorption isotherms spanning 4-5 orders of magnitude in vapor concentration were measured for chloroform, trichloroethylene, and . tetrachloroethylene under unsaturated conditions at 100 % relative humidity. The mechanisms affecting isotherm shape were investigated using model solids, aquifer materials, and soil spanning a range in physical properties. Uptake from the vapor phase was examined in terms of four sorption mechanisms: (1) mineral surface adsorption, (2) partitioning into natural organic matter, (3) partitioning into surface-bound water, and (4) adsorption in micropores. Evidence is presented that a heretofore overlooked mechanism-adsorption in micropores-contributes significantly to sorbate uptake and contributes to isotherm nonlinearity on solids with low natural organic matter contents. Micropores are those pores less than several adsorbate diameters in width and are implicated as showing enhanced adsorption as compared to pores of larger dimension. Isotherm shape on solids with low natural organic matter appears to be dominated by intraaggregate microporosity.
Query Evaluation and Progression in AOL Knowledge Bases

Recently Lakemeyer and Levesque proposed the logic AOC, which amalgamates both the situation calculus and Levesques logic of only knowing. While very expressive the practical relevance of the formalism is unclear because it heavily relies on second-order logic. In this paper we demonstrate that the picture is not as bleak as it may seem. In particular, we show that for large classes of AOL knowledge bases and queries, including epistemic ones, query evaluation requires first-order reasoning only. We also provide a simple semantic definition of progressing a knowledge base. For a particular class of knowledge bases, adapted from earlier results by Lin and Reiter, we show that progression is first-order representable and easy to compute.
pCT derived arterial input function for improved pharmacokinetic analysis of longitudinal dceMRI for colorectal cancer

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI is a dynamic imaging technique that is now widely used for cancer imaging. Changes in tumour microvasculature are typically quantified by pharmacokinetic modelling of the contrast uptake curves. Reliable pharmacokinetic parameter estimation depends on the measurement of the arterial input function, which can be obtained from arterial blood sampling, or extracted from the image data directly. However, arterial blood sampling poses additional risks to the patient, and extracting the input function from MR intensities is not reliable. In this work, we propose to compute a perfusion CT based arterial input function, which is then employed for dynamic contrast enhanced MRI pharmacokinetic parameter estimation. Here, parameter estimation is performed simultaneously with intra-sequence motion correction by using nonlinear image registration. Ktrans maps obtained with this approach were compared with those obtained using a population averaged arterial input function, i.e. Orton. The dataset comprised 5 rectal cancer patients, who had been imaged with both perfusion CT and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI, before and after the administration of a radiosensitising drug. Ktrans distributions pre and post therapy were computed using both the perfusion CT and the Orton arterial input function. Perfusion CT derived arterial input functions can be used for pharmacokinetic modelling of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI data, when perfusion CT images of the same patients are available. Compared to the Orton model, perfusion CT functions have the potential to give a more accurate separation between responders and non-responders.