Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Approaches to Proportional Fairness

Proportional fairness has been shown to maximize the aggregate utility of rate control for elastic traffic in a resource sharing communication network, and has been applied to a broad range of resource allocation problems. For a refined analysis, however, the representation of proportional fairness as a relation between vectors with positive components will often not provide the level of detail that is needed. Therefore, we study the representation as a fuzzy relation, and propose several ways to specify a measure function to allocate a degree of (proportional) relatedness. The approaches are based on combinatorial aspects, especially size and number of related sub vectors, and geometric aspects, especially the minimum effort to change a vector to become related. A case study demonstrates that the introduced fuzzy fairness relations can be used to numerically evaluate the suitability of the maxmin fair state to represent the proportional fair state in a resource sharing network problem with maximum link capacities.
Geodetic Precession in PSR J1141–6545

We present observations that show dramatic evolution of the mean pulse profile of the relativistic binary pulsar J1141-6545 over a period of 5 yr. This is consistent with the precession of the pulsar spin axis due to relativistic spin-orbit coupling. Observations made between 1999 and 2004 with a number of instruments at the Parkes radio telescope demonstrate a steady, secular evolution of the mean total intensity profile, which increases in width by more than 50% during the 5 yr period. Analysis of the changing position angle of the linearly polarized component of the mean profile suggests that our line of sight is shifting closer to the core of the emission cone. We find that the slope of the position angle swing across the center of the pulse steepens with time and use a simplified version of the rotating vector model to constrain the magnitude and direction of the change in our line-of-sight angle relative to the pulsar magnetic axis. The fact that we appear to be moving deeper into the emission cone is consistent with the nondetection of this pulsar in previous surveys.
Revisiting JDL model for automotive safety applications: the PF2 functional model

The question raised in this paper, for the first time, is how the JDL model can be applied in multi-sensor automotive safety systems, since new sensors are integrated on-board, while new functions support the driver, intervene and control the vehicle. The paper proposes a hybrid hierarchical structure and develops a suitable functional model, namely the ProFusion2 (PF2) model; PF2 serves the broad automotive sensor data fusion community as a conceptual framework of common understanding and it provides recommendations and guidelines for implementation of fusion systems. Reference implementations are given as complete examples from the major automotive research initiative in Europe (PReVENTproject)
A Cell Biological Perspective on Past, Present and Future Investigations of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a quality control mechanism that ensures accurate chromosome segregation during cell division. It consists of a mechanochemical signal transduction mechanism that senses the attachment of chromosomes to the spindle, and a signaling cascade that inhibits cell division if one or more chromosomes are not attached. Extensive investigations of both these component systems of the SAC have synthesized a comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. This review recounts the milestone results that elucidated the SAC, compiles a simple model of the complex molecular machinery underlying the SAC, and highlights poorly understood facets of the biochemical design and cell biological operation of the SAC that will drive research forward in the near future.
Glutamate transport driven by an electrochemical gradient of sodium ions in Escherichia coli

The role of Na+ in glutamate transport was studied in Escherichia coli B, strain 29-78, which possesses a very high activity of glutamate transport (L. Frank and I. Hopkins, J. Bacteriol., 1969). Energy-depleted cells were exposed to radioactive glutamate in the presence of a sodium gradient, a membrane potential, or both. One hundred- to 200-fold accumulation of the amino acid was attained in the presence of both electrical and chemical driving forces for the sodium ion. Somewhat lower accumulation values were obtained when either chemical or electrical driving forces were applied separately. A chemical driving force was produced by the addition of external Na+ to Na+-free cells. A membrane potential was established by a diffusion potential either of H+ in the presence of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone or of SCN-. These results support the hypothesis of a Na+-glutamate cotransport. Na+-driven glutamate transport was also observed in wild-type E. coli B but not in a strain of K-12.
Health-Risk Factors and the Prevalence of Hypertension: Cross-Sectional Findings from a National Cohort of 87 143 Thai Open University Students

Background: Thailand is undergoing a health-risk transition which increases chronic diseases, particularly hypertension, as a result of a rapid transition from a developing to a developed country. This study analyzes the effect of health-risk factors such as demography, socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI) on the prevalence of hypertension. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis using data obtained in 2005 from 87 143 Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) students participating in the Thai Cohort Study (mean age 30.5 years, 54.7% female). Adjusted odds ratios of the association between risk factors and hypertension were analysed across two age groups by sex, after controlling for the confounding factors such as SES and BMI. Results: The prevalence of hypertension in men was approximately twice as high as that in women (6.9% vs 2.6%). Hypertension was associated with ageing, a lower education attainment, a higher BMI and having underlying diseases in both sexes. In men, hypertension was associated with being single, having a high income, spending more time on screens (TV & PC), cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol. In women, it was directly correlated with instant and roasted or smoked food consumption. Conclusions: Hypertension was highly associated with obesity and having underlying disease. The Thai health-risk transition is in a later stage. Thais should now be educated about the danger of high blood pressure and the protective power of a low fat and low salt diet, and a normal BMI. Cessation of smoking and moderation in alcohol intake should be promoted.
The Role of Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 Gene Polymorphisms in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Background: Genetic polymorphisms may play role in the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Objectives: We purposed to assess the role of interleukin 6 (IL 6) and interleukin 8 (IL 8) gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of NASH. Patients and Methods: Consecutive patients with biopsy proven NASH and age- and gender-matched healthy individuals with normal liver function tests and normal ultrasonography were enrolled in the study. Histopathological findings were recorded according to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS). Patients were classified according to fibrosis scores as fibrosis score < 2 (mild fibrosis group) and fibrosis score ≥ 2 (significant fibrosis group). Blood samples were collected and genomic DNA isolation kit was used to evaluate genetic polymorphisms. Results: Of thirty-eight patients, 27 (71%) were in mild fibrosis group and 11 (29%) in significant fibrosis group. Thirty-eight age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The frequencies of genotypes G/C and G/G of IL 6 among the NASH group and healthy controls were 39.5% and 60.5% vs. 53.6% and 46.4%, respectively (P = 0.32). The frequencies of the genotypes of IL 8 among the NASH group were 47.2%, 44.6%, and 8.2% for T/T, A/T, and A/A, and in healthy controls were 50%, 28.6% and 21.4%, respectively, (P = 0.568). The differences between IL 8 gene T/A and T/T genotypes were not significant statistically (P > 0.05). However, the frequency of A/A genotype in significant fibrosis group was higher than the mild fibrosis group (P = 0.0016). The differences of -251 A/T polymorphism in the IL 8 and -174 C/G polymorphism in the IL 6 were not statistically significant between fibrosis groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: IL6 and IL8 gene polymorphisms have no role in NASH pathogenesis and liver fibrosis process, but presence of the A/A genotype in the IL8 gene is associated with disease progression.
Apolipoprotein E, Especially Apolipoprotein E4, Increases the Oligomerization of Amyloid β Peptide

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia. Massive deposition of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) as senile plaques in the brain is the pathological hallmark of AD, but oligomeric, soluble forms of Aβ have been implicated as the synaptotoxic component. The apolipoprotein E ε 4 (apoE ε4) allele is known to be a genetic risk factor for developing AD. However, it is still unknown how apoE impacts the process of Aβ oligomerization. Here, we found that the level of Aβ oligomers in APOE ε4/ε4 AD patient brains is 2.7 times higher than those in APOE ε3/ε3 AD patient brains, matched for total plaque burden, suggesting that apoE4 impacts the metabolism of Aβ oligomers. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of apoE on Aβ oligomer formation. Using both synthetic Aβ and a split-luciferase method for monitoring Aβ oligomers, we observed that apoE increased the level of Aβ oligomers in an isoform-dependent manner (E2 < E3 < E4). This effect appears to be dependent on the ApoE C-terminal domain. Moreover, these results were confirmed using endogenous apoE isolated from the TBS-soluble fraction of human brain, which increased the formation of Aβ oligomers. Together, these data show that lipidated apoE, especially apoE4, increases Aβ oligomers in the brain. Higher levels of Aβ oligomers in the brains of APOE ε4/ε4 carriers compared with APOE ε3/ε3 carriers may increase the loss of dendritic spines and accelerate memory impairments, leading to earlier cognitive decline in AD.
Age-related changes in neural plasticity after motor learning

Increasing age is accompanied by structural deteriorations in the brain. Yet, somehow, older adults are still able to learn new motor skills, sometimes even as well as young adults. How do older adults accomplish this? Do they use different (sub)cortical strategies than young adults? It is important to understand the underlying neural mechanisms of motor learning and how these change with increasing age in order to further develop and improve neurorehabilitation programs in patients suffering from impaired motor function. This thesis examined age-related differences in the underlying neural mechanisms of motor learning. The authors used neurostimulation and neuroimaging techniques to examine markers of neural plasticity after both the acquisition and motor memory consolidation of a visuomotor tracking skill in young and older adults. The results show that, while acquiring and retaining the visuomotor skill at similar rates, older compared with young adults use different neural mechanisms when the visuomotor tracking skill is consolidated into motor memory. This might be indicative of alternative neural strategies in older adults to compensate for declines in gray matter volume in the aging brain. The results in this thesis provides new knowledge that is important for tailoring neurostimulation programs to the patient’s age and the stage of motor learning.
Coherence estimation for SAR imagery

In dual- or multiple-channel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging modes, cross-channel correlation is a potential source of information. The sample coherence magnitude is calculated over a moving window to generate a coherence magnitude map. High-resolution coherence maps may be useful to discriminate fine structures. Coarser resolution is needed for a more accurate estimation of the coherence magnitude. In this study, the accuracy of coherence estimation is investigated as a function of the coherence map resolution. It is shown that the space-averaged coherence magnitude is biased toward higher values. The accuracy of the coherence magnitude estimate obtained is a function of the number of pixels averaged and the number of independent samples per pixel (i.e., the coherence map resolution). A method is proposed to remove the bias from the space-averaged sample coherence magnitude. Coherence magnitude estimation from complex (magnitude and phase) coherence maps is also considered. It is established that the magnitude of the averaged sample coherence estimate is slightly biased for high-resolution coherence maps and that the bias reduces with coarser resolution. Finally, coherence estimation for nonstationary targets is discussed. It is shown that the averaged sample coherence obtained from complex coherence maps or coherence magnitude maps is suitable for estimation of nonstationary coherence. The averaged sample (complex) coherence permits the calculation of an unbiased coherence estimate, provided that the original signals can be assumed to be locally stationary over a sufficiently coarse resolution cell.
An Object-Oriented Approach To Generate Java Code From UML Statecharts

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) statechart diagram is used for modeling the dynamic behavior of a system. This paper describes an object-oriented (OO) approach to generate compact and efficient Java code from UML statechart diagrams. The states are represented as objects and all the behavior associated with a state is contained in one object. This localizes the state-specific behavior and partitions behavior for different states. Introducing separate objects for different states makes the transitions more explicit. We have implemented the statechart diagram having sequential and concurrent substates by extending the state design pattern using the concept of object composition and delegation. The method has been successfully implemented in our automatic code generating system, JCode, which generates Java code after reading the specifications of the UML statechart diagram. The paper also presents the results of the experiment in which the code generated by JCode is compared to that of Rhapsody and OCode. The results show that the code generated by JCode is 68% more efficient and four times more compact than that of Rhapsody and 50% more efficient than that of OCode.
Iterative Threshold Decoding of Product Codes Constructed from Majority Logic Decodable Codes

In this paper the performance of product and parallel concatenated block codes based on one step majority logic decodable (OSMLD) codes is investigated. Our iterative decoding process use a soft-input soft-output threshold decoding algorithm as component decoder. Numerical results for symmetric and asymmetric product codes transmitted additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel are provided. Results have shown that product codes are more efficient than parallel concatenated block codes for moderate and high signal to noise ratios (SNR)
Restructuring Schools for Cultural Inclusion: Changing the Schooling Process for African American Youngsters

The restructuring of schools has become a major focus for educational researchers and practitioners. The purpose and goals of school restructuring have been stated in various ways. The ingredients have included: changing the decisionmaking process to allow greater participation from teachers and parents,embellishing the curriculum with higher-order thinking skills; planning or developing new curriculum; increasing student participation in shared learning experiences and allowing students to take more responsibility for their own learning; holding schools accountable for getting results; providing new models for staff development that include teachers as coaches, mentors, and researchers; increasing collaboration between universities and public schools; providing support programs for beginning teachers; and increasing the use of school-based management. The list is impressive, but what will be the effect on the nation's most troubled schools on inner-city schools? Whatever restructuring is taken to mean, according to John O'Neil (1990), "the most visible 'proving ground' for school restructuring is in the inner cities, where some experts warn that a complete overhaul is needed to stem the tide of student dropouts and ill-prepared graduates (p. 4). " O'Neil further suggests that "successful" inner-city schools should become the model for restructuring. He describes programs and practices within these model schools that he believes provide insight and direction. On the contrary, Etta Hollins (1990) suggests a reexamination of programs claiming unprecedented success for urban schools. Hollins identifies three categories of "successful" school programs each of which is based on implicit views of the purpose of education, perceptions of the learner, and the nature of the instruc-
Static Hyperinflation Is Associated With Decreased Peak Exercise Performance in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the exercise capacity of children with cystic fibrosis to determine whether ventilatory limitation associated with static hyperinflation is related with decreased exercise capacity, thus predisposing these children to arterial hypoxemia during progressive exercise. METHODS: Thirty-seven children, ages 8–17 years, underwent spirometry, body plethysmography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing after arterial catheter placement. According to the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC), the subjects were categorized as either with (RV/TLC > 30%) or without static hyperinflation (RV/TLC < 30%). RESULTS: Children with static hyperinflation showed lower values of maximum load per kilogram (% predicted) (P = .01), which was aggravated by ventilatory limitation (FEV1 < 80% of predicted, peak oxygen consumption [% predicted] < 85%, and breathing reserve index > 0.7). Subjects with ventilatory limitation had significantly lower oxygen saturation (P = .04) and hypoxemia (P = .03) than did subjects without ventilatory limitation. CONCLUSIONS: In children with cystic fibrosis, static hyperinflation and ventilatory limitation are associated with decrease in exercise performance, oxygen saturation, and PaO2 during maximum cardiopulmonary exercise testing. All children with cystic fibrosis who exhibit static hyperinflation and ventilatory limitation may require SaO2 monitoring during progressive exercise.
Egovernment: Lessons from Implementation in Developing Countries

E-government applications from a large number of developing countries are reviewed. Different models of electronic delivery of services are compared. Delivery through conveniently located service centers where citizens are served by operators working on-line seems to be emerging as a popular model in countries with low penetration of Internet. Various elements that constitute readiness in implementing e-government are identified. It is argued that trial through a few quick strike , is important, as the benefits need to be demonstrated to citizens and civil servants.
Towards projection: mapping reflection onto the userland

Allowing end-users to extend and adapt applications can speedup software evolution and serve as a pedagogical tool for programming. Alas even open-ended architectures (like the Emacs architecture) presuppose a significant familiarity with programming languages and tools for end-users. General visual programming (as in the case of blocks) offers a more gentle alternative but still introduces additional tools and cognitive abstractions for prospective developers. We propose a possible third alternative: the direct mapping of reflective and meta-programming facilities onto base-level notions and interfaces through an additional self representation model, the projection layer. Our main hypothesis is that for certain types of applications used by non programmers (like for e.g., simulation software) this projection to the base-level has the potential to open a more gradual learning path for programming extensions, by using the same UI and abstractions that the end-user is already familiar with. This position paper analyses our approach and describes our on-going efforts to support or refute our hypothesis through a case-study on software for crisis assessment.
Parallel genome-wide analysis with central and graphic processing units

The Indonesia Colorectal Cancer Consortium (IC3), the first cancer biobank repository in Indonesia, is faced with computational challenges in analyzing large quantities of genetic and phenotypic data. To overcome this challenge, we explore and compare performance of two parallel computing platforms that use central and graphic processing units. We present the design and implementation of a genome-wide association analysis using the MapReduce and Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) frameworks and evaluate performance (speedup) using simulated case/control status on 1000 Genomes, Phase 3, chromosome 22 data (1,103,547 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms). We demonstrated speedup on a server with Intel Xeon E5-2620 (6 cores) and NVIDIA Tesla K20 over sequential processing.
Automatic Test-Generation for Spec#

Spec# [12, 1] is a superset of C# 2.0 that provides language extensions for contracts. These contracts can be checked statically using a theorem prover to verify the correctness of the code with respect to its specification, or they can be checked at run-time. Microsoft’s CodeContracts specification language [4] has similar goals, but is supported by a growing number of tools. To allow Spec# users to benefit from these tools (e.g., Clousot [7], Pex [11]), we will translate Spec# programs to CodeContracts programs. For the translation we will use an extended variant of CodeContracts that provides additional specification constructs (e.g., for ghost state or framing). The main challenge will be the encoding of the Spec# methodology (e.g., ownership, invariant semantics).