Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematic Epistasis Analysis of the Contributions of Protein Kinase A- and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Dependent Signaling to Nutrient Limitation-Evoked Responses in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cellular responses to environmental stimuli require conserved signal transduction pathways. In budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), nutrient limitation induces morphological changes that depend on the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway and the Kss1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. It was unclear to what extent and at what level there is synergy between these two distinct signaling modalities. We took a systematic genetic approach to clarify the relationship between these inputs. We performed comprehensive epistasis analysis of mutants lacking different combinations of all relevant pathway components. We found that these two pathways contribute additively to nutrient limitation-induced haploid invasive growth. Moreover, full derepression of either pathway rendered it individually sufficient for invasive growth and thus, normally, both are required only because neither is maximally active. Furthermore, in haploids, the MAPK pathway contributes more strongly than the PKA pathway to cell elongation and adhesion, whereas nutrient limitation-induced unipolar budding is independent of both pathways. In contrast, in diploids, upon nutrient limitation the MAPK pathway regulates cell elongation, the PKA pathway regulates unipolar budding, and both regulate cell adhesion. Thus, although there are similarities between haploids and diploids, cell type-specific differences clearly alter the balance of the signaling inputs required to elicit the various nutrient limitation-evoked cellular behaviors.
Query Optimization of Distributed Database Based on Parallel Genetic Algorithm and Max-Min Ant System

Since the era of big data is coming, the first important problem is how to enhance the speed of database query. For the query optimization of distributed database, the speed of query depends on the data transfer and order of join. The cost model minimizing communication cost is the emphasis of research. Parallel Genetic Algorithm-Max-Min Ant System was proposed to seek a best query execution plan, which combines faster convergence of Genetic Algorithm, globally search ability of Max-Min Ant System and parallel property of both them. The experiment results show that the proposed algorithm is effective for query processing of multi-join, and plays important role in improving the performance of distributed database.
Enhancing Social Interactions at Conferences

Abstract Conferator is a novel social conference system that provides the management of social interactions and context information in ubiquitous and social environments. Using RFID and social networking technology, Conferator provides the means for effective management of personal contacts and according conference information before, during and after a conference. We describe the system in detail, before we analyze and discuss results of a typical application of the Conferator system. Zusammenfassung Als ein neuartiges soziales Konferenzmanagementsystem ermöglicht der Conferator die einfache Verwaltung sozialer Beziehungen und Interaktionen sowie das Management von konferenzspezifischen Informationen sowohl vor, während als auch nach einer Konferenz. Basierend auf RFID Technik gekoppelt mit sozialen Netzen bietet der Conferator die Möglichkeit, einfach und effektiv persönliche Kontakte und Informationen wie etwa den Konferenzplan zu verwalten. Wir beschreiben das System und präsentieren Analyseergebnisse in einem typischen Konferenz-Anwendungsszenario.
Relative validation of a quantitative FFQ for use in Brazilian pregnant women

Abstract Objective To evaluate the ability of an FFQ, designed for use in Brazilian pregnant women, to estimate nutrient intakes during pregnancy. Design A prospective study was conducted among 103 pregnant women attended by the Brazilian national health-care service. Food intake during pregnancy was evaluated by three 24 h dietary recalls (24hR), one per trimester of pregnancy, and also by two FFQ. The FFQ with eighty-five food items included questions about frequency of intake and portion sizes during two periods: the first 24 weeks of pregnancy and the pregnancy period as a whole. Deattenuated Pearson's correlation coefficients and joint classification into quartiles of nutrient intake were applied. Setting Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil. Subjects One hundred and three pregnant women, aged 18–35 years. Results Acceptable correlation coefficients (r > 0·35) were found for Ca, K, Zn, Mg, fibre, vitamin C, niacin and folic acid for intake for the first 24 weeks; and for energy, lipids, protein, carbohydrate, Fe, K, Zn, fibre, vitamin B6, riboflavin and niacin for the gestational period as a whole. A high proportion of study participants (≥70 %) were categorized into the same or adjacent quartiles for estimated energy, carbohydrate, Ca, K, fibre, Zn, cholesterol, vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin E and folic acid. Gross misclassification ranged from 2·3 % (dietary fibre) to 12·5 % (vitamin A, thiamin and SFA). Conclusions The FFQ is a useful tool for assessing categories of nutrient intake during pregnancy, since a high proportion of women were classified into the same or adjacent quartiles.
Visualising the landscape of multi-objective problems using local optima networks

Local optima networks (LONs) represent the landscape of optimisation problems. In a LON, graph vertices represent local optima in the search domain, their radii the basin sizes, and directed edges between vertices the ability to transit from one basin to another (with the edge width denoting how easy this is). Recently, a network construction approach inspired by LONs has been proposed for multi-objective problems which uses an undirected graph, representing mutually non-dominating solutions and neighbouring links, but not basin sizes. In contrast, here we introduce two formulations for multi/many-objective problems which are analogous to the traditional LON, using dominance-based hill-climbing to characterise the search domain. Each vertex represents a set of locally optimal solutions, with basins and ease of transition between them shown. These LONs vary depending on whether a point-based (dominance neutral optima) or set-based (Pareto local optima) representation is used to define mode construction. We illustrate these alternative formulations on some illustrative problems. We discuss some of the underlying computational issues in constructing LONs in a multi-objective as opposed to uni-objective problem domain, along with the inherent issue of neutrality - as each a vertex in these graphs almost invariably represents a set in our proposed constructs.
Trust-Based Security in Pervasive Computing Environments

T raditionally, stand-alone computers and small networks rely on user authentication and access control to provide security. These physical methods use system-based controls to verify the identity of a person or process, explicitly enabling or restricting the ability to use, change, or view a computer resource. However, these strategies are inadequate for the increased flexibility that distributed networks such as the Internet and pervasive computing environments require because such systems lack central control and their users are not all predetermined. Mobile users expect to access locally hosted resources and services anytime and anywhere, leading to serious security risks and access control problems. We propose a solution based on trust management that involves developing a security policy, assigning credentials to entities, verifying that the credentials fulfill the policy, delegating trust to third parties, and reasoning about users' access rights. This architecture is generally applicable to distributed systems but geared toward pervasive computing environments. Pervasive computing strives to simplify day-today life by providing mobile users with the means to carry out personal and business tasks via portable and embedded devices. These tasks range from the sim-ple—switching on the lights in a conference room, checking e-mail, and organizing meetings—to the more complex— booking airline tickets, buying and selling stock, or managing bank accounts. Pervasive computing environments of the near future will involve the interaction , coordination, and cooperation of numerous, casually accessible, and often invisible computing devices and services. As Figure 1 shows, these devices— whether carried on our person or located in our homes, businesses, and class-rooms—will connect via wired and wireless links to one another as well as to the global networking infrastructure to provide more relevant information and integrated services. The eBiquity Research Group (http:// research.ebiquity.org) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, is designing pervasive computing systems composed of autonomous, intelligent, self-describing, and interacting components. SmartSpaces are instances of pervasive systems in which the domain is divided into a hierarchy of spaces with a controller managing the services in each space. Centaurus is a framework we developed for SmartSpaces that includes a message based transport protocol designed to perform well in low-bandwidth networks and with resource-poor devices. We use this protocol in the Smart Office scenario, in which mobile users access computers, fax machines, printers, the lights, and even such mundane appliances as the coffee maker via handheld devices connected over short-range Bluetooth wireless links. Adding security to such …
Sense of Coherence in People with Cerebral Palsy in Greece

Purpose: The basic aim of this research was to evaluate the Sense of Coherence (SOC) in people with Cerebral Palsy in Greece. Also, the correlation of SOC with their Quality of Life was investigated. Method: For the purposes of the research, a mixed methodological approach was chosen. The Sense of Coherence (SOC) was administered to 37 people with Cerebral Palsy. Semi-structured interviews at Special Educators were also conducted and observation of the participants was carried out in order to collect sufficient data both for their Sense of Coherence and Quality of Life. Results: The results depict high scores of sense of coherence in people with cerebral palsy, which is in significant correlation to their quality of life. It appeared that there was no statistically significant difference between them (Ζ = -0.736, p-value = 0.462) and the significance level was determined at a = 5%. Also, there was no statistically significant differentiation in SOC-score between people with different types of cerebral palsy (F = 0.258, p-value = 0.933), with the significance level at 5%. Conclusion: As a conclusion, people with Cerebral Palsy are satisfied with their everyday life. They can control their feelings and they can cope with unknown situations. They experience pleasant feelings and do not easily experience the emotion of disappointment.
Managing the Multiple Identities of the Corporation

In the wake of corporate acquisitions, mergers, and spin-offs, considerable senior management attention has been devoted to corporate identity and its communication to key stakeholder groups. This article provides a framework to help management achieve clearer understanding and better management of their corporation's identities. Many firms operate with a belief in a single monolithic corporate identity. Our research leads to a different view: organizations have multiple identities. We delineate five kinds of identity, within a framework termed the AC²ID Test™(ACCID), namely, the actual, communicated, conceived, ideal, and desired identities. These reflect respectively: the current, distinct attributes of the organization; what the organization communicates about itself; the perceptions of the corporation by stakeholders; the optimum positioning for the organization; and corporate vision from the perspective of the CEO or management board. Not only should management understand its multiple identities, it also should be alert to critical misalignments among them, as these can seriously weaken a company.
Vulnerability analysis of highway traffic networks using origin-destination tollgate data

The existing research on analyzing the vulnerability of road networks is largely dependent on the assumption of a known traffic model in the simulations. In this paper, we present a new approach for quantitatively evaluating the vulnerability of highway networks based on real-world highway tollgate data that reflect the highway's characteristics, such as structural betweenness and traffic movements. Specifically, O-D (origin-destination) tollgate data are collected across three major highway networks in China (Beijing city and Shanxi and Anhui Provinces) for three months. The case study examines the vulnerability of highway traffic networks from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Moreover, a more in-depth study of vulnerability is conducted from residential and transportation perspectives. Our evaluation results will serve as guidelines for improving the toll highway system. i.e., to help the road administration identify the critical sections (that are highly vulnerable to congestion) and take early maintenance actions for avoiding monetary/time costs caused by disruptions.
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) signaling in retinoblastoma cells

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) - expressed in the developing retina - are known to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis in several tumor entities. The objective of this study was to determine the role of the BMP4 pathway in retinoblastoma cells, which are absent in a functional retinoblastoma (RB1) gene. BMP receptors were detected in all retinoblastoma cell lines investigated. A correct transmission of BMP signaling via the Smad1/5/8 pathway could be demonstrated in WERI-Rb1 retinoblastoma cells and application of recombinant human BMP4 resulted in an increase in apoptosis, which to a large extend is caspase independent. Cell proliferation was not affected by BMP4 signaling, although the pRb-related proteins p107 and p130, contributing to the regulation of the same genes, are still expressed. WERI-Rb1 cells exhibit elevated endogenous levels of p21CIP1 and p53, but we did not detect any increase in p53, p21CIP1or p27KIP1 expression levels. Id proteins became, however, strongly up-regulated upon exogenous BMP4 treatment. Thus, RB1 loss in WERI-Rb1 cells is obviously not compensated for by pRb-independent (e.g. p53-dependent) cell cycle control mechanisms, preventing an anti-proliferative response to BMP4, which normally induces cell cycle arrest.
Social yoga mats: designing for exercising/socializing synergy

Recent works that aim to design for enhancing the physical fitness and/or social lives of senior citizens take limited advantage of the synergistic relationship between exercising and socializing, which is prominently observed during group exercise. In this paper we introduce our design of Social Yoga Mats, which aim to extend this synergy from weekly yoga classes into the home. We approach our design from an embodied interaction perspective and conduct our exploration through a series of sketching-driven co-design sessions with senior yoga students and instructors. We contribute by presenting our design insights in the form of an early articulation of the design space for digital technologies that capitalize on exercising/socializing synergy.
From Lab to Lake – Evaluation of Current Molecular Methods for the Detection of Infectious Enteric Viruses in Complex Water Matrices in an Urban Area

Quantitative PCR methods are commonly used to monitor enteric viruses in the aquatic environment because of their high sensitivity, short reaction times and relatively low operational cost. However, conclusions for public health drawn from results of such molecular techniques are limited due to their inability to determine viral infectivity. Ethidium monoazide (EMA) and propidium monoazide (PMA) are capable to penetrate the damaged or compromised capsid of the inactivated viruses and bind to the viral nucleic acids. We assessed whether dye treatment is a suitable approach to improve the ability of qPCR to distinguish between infectious and non-infectious human adenovirus, enterovirus and rotavirus A in surface water of an urban river and sewage before and after UV disinfection. Like the gold standard of cell culture assays, pretreatment EMA-/PMA-qPCR succeeded in removing false positive results which would lead to an overestimation of the viral load if only qPCR of the environmental samples was considered. A dye pretreatment could therefore provide a rapid and relatively inexpensive tool to improve the efficacy of molecular quantification methods in regards to viral infectivity.
A Chaotic Sequence Watermarking Algorithm for Infrared Image

A watermarking algorithm for the infrared image copyright protection was developed.The whole process was based on integer wavelet transform. Encrypt the grey scale image watermark by Logistic chaotic sequence,and then decompose based on integer wavelet.Select the perceptually significant wavelet coefficients,and then inosculate in the given position of the original image.The watermark was detected hierarchically to save detection time. Experimental results show that the algorithm can be ensuring the range of temperature in ±1%,which did not affect the application of the infrared image. Meanwhile,it is implemented fast,invisible and robust enough
Automatic segmentation of mouse behavior using hidden Markov model

A common approach to analysis of mouse behavior recorder by video tracking systems employs manual segmentation and labeling of mouse activity into behavioral acts. Developed automatic methods allow segmentation only to lingering and progression segments, suffer from poor precision and require parameter tuning. We propose a novel approach based on hidden Markov model for simultaneous segmentation and labeling of mouse trajectory into behavior acts. The method uses manually labeled video sequences for training. The developed approach has shown promising results when applied for segmentation of mouse behavior in a novel environment.
Aligning Quality Requirements and Test Results with QUPER's Roadmap View for Improved High-Level Decision-Making

Weak alignment of requirements engineering (RE) and Software Testing (ST) may lead to problems in delivering the required products in time with the right quality. Despite the importance of aligning RE and ST, the research have mainly been focused on one or the other of RE and ST. Previous work has identified several challenges in aligning RE and ST related to Quality Requirements, for example, the need for tool support for QR, defining and managing QR, and verification of QR. In this position paper, we introduce a new view of the QUPER model, namely aligning QR targets and test results in QUPERs roadmap view. The alignment view was evaluated at a case company with 13 practitioners. The results show that the alignment of QR and test results using QUPER's roadmap view was viewed as an important input to the decision-making process.
Simulation-Based Game Theoretic Analysis of Keyword Auctions with Low-Dimensional Bidding Strategies

We perform a simulation-based analysis of keyword auctions modeled as one-shot games of incomplete information to study a series of mechanism design questions. Our first question addresses the degree to which incentive compatibility fails in generalized second-price (GSP) auctions. Our results suggest that sincere bidding in GSP auctions is a strikingly poor strategy and a poor predictor of equilibrium outcomes. We next show that the rank-by-revenue mechanism is welfare optimal, corroborating past results. Finally, we analyze profit as a function of auction mechanism under a series of alternative settings. Our conclusions coincide with those of Lahaie and Pennock [2007] when values and quality scores are strongly positively correlated: in such a case, rank-by-bid rules are clearly superior. We diverge, however, in showing that auctions that put little weight on quality scores almost universally dominate the pure rank-by-revenue scheme.
Cluster Based Routing in Mobile Ad hoc Wireless Networks Using Neuro-Genetic Paradigm

An Ad-Hoc network is a collection of wireless mobile nodes forming a temporary network without the aid of any established infrastructure or centralized administration. The topology of connections between nodes in ad hoc networks may be quite dynamic. Ad hoc networks require a highly adaptive routing scheme to deal with the frequent topology changes. In this paper we propose clustering based algorithm using both neural network and the mechanisms of a genetic algorithm (GA). Cluster head selection is proposed using neural networks with the objective of maximizing the network lifetime.We use GA's because GA mechanisms allow for self-configuration systems and maintain state information about the neighbouring network better than traditional MANET routing mechanisms. GA mechanisms allow a node to change routing information quickly and efficiently to adjust an ever changing local topology, initiating fewer link breakages. And we obtain the alternative path or backup path to avoid reroute discovery in the case of link failure or node failure. Keywords. -MANET, Routing Protocol, Clusters, Neural Network, Genetic Algorithm.
Strategic Partnerships and Competitiveness of Business-to-Business E-Marketplaces: Preliminary Evidence from Europe

Business-to-business (B2B) marketplaces offer the potential of substantial increases in efficiency and transparency in their target industries. We argue that to realize this potential they must form strategic partnerships. While the need to partner with companies in their target industries has been coming to the forefront with the rise of industry-sponsored marketplaces, firms find that there is a further need to partner with other organizations to create more extensive and adaptive service offerings. The goal of this research is to support the view that forming strategic partnerships with specialized service providers and other marketplaces is an important means for marketplaces to create successful business models and to improve their competitive position. We examine the relevant theory and explore the status of partnering activities of European B2B marketplaces, which we surveyed from April to May 2001. Additionally, we report on a set of in-depth interviews with the management of a number of major B2B marketplaces. The results support our view that partnering skills are critical for B2B marketplaces to improve their competitive position.
ESA—an expert supported OOA method and tool

Although this paper deals with object-oriented software development in general, the focus is definitely set on object-oriented analysis (OOA). After a short comparison of the most important OOA approaches, a new one will be derived. This approach is evolutionary, non-domain specific and starts at the definition of a software system. Based on this approach there will be a presentation of an expert supported OOA tool (ESA), which supports an analyst starting at the collection of the requirements through the analysis of an object-oriented system up to a preliminary high-level design. Both the method and the tool are conceived for the needs of practitioners.