Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proposition d'une nouvelle méthode d'accès déterministe pour un réseau personnel sans fil à fortes contraintes temporelles

Aujourd'hui, les technologies de reseaux sans fil (WLAN/WPAN) presentes sur le marche sont nombreuses et globalement complementaires. Cependant, trop peu d'entre elles proposent de reelles garanties sur la remise de messages dans un temps borne alors que ces exigences sont fondamentales dans le cadre d'une utilisation de type industriel. Dans le cadre de nos travaux, nous proposons une nouvelle couche MAC entierement deterministe pour un reseau sans fil personnel basse consommation (LP-WPAN) IEEE 802.15. 4 presentant des garanties sur le plan temporel. Tout d'abord, un etat de l'art est effectue sur les principaux reseaux sans fil existants, les mecanismes de gestion de la Qualite de Service et les methodes d'acces generalement utilisees. Nous presentons ensuite la technologie IEEE 802.15. 4/ZigBee sur laquelle sont bases nos travaux. Cette etude approfondie nous a permis d'identifier certaines imperfections au niveau de la methode d'acces par rapport aux contraintes temporelles. Nous proposons de combler ces lacunes par la creation d'une couche MAC entierement deterministe dont nous presentons les caracteristiques et les nouvelles fonctionnalites. Plusieurs methodes complementaires ont ete utilisees pour valider nos propositions : Reseaux de Petri, simulation et prototypage reel. Les resultats obtenus et les analyses de ces trois etudes sont exposes.
Explained global constraints at work

Constraint satisfaction problems (csp) [21] have proven to be an efficient model for solving many combinatorial and complex problems. Moreover, recurring patterns and subproblems in those problems are now handled through global constraints [2, 4, 18]. Global constraints have been a good advocate for using constraint programming techniques to solve real-life problems. Explanations (specializing (a)tms [7]) and generalizing nogoods [20]) have been initially introduced to improve backtracking-based algorithms [9]. However, they have been recently used for many other purposes [11] including new solving techniques [13, 14], dynamic constraint solving [22, 6] and user interaction [15]. Explanations represent an explicit and limited trace of the behavior of the solver. Introducing both explanations and global constraints in a constraint solver is a real challenge. Indeed, three points may be kept in mind: (1) providing precise and meaningful explanations to be offered to the user extracting the locality of part of the reasoning of the global constraint, (2) altering the efficiency of the original constraint as few as possible i.e. developing algorithms within the constraints efficient for both filtering and explanation capabilities and (3) providing algorithmic tools for both incrementality (taking into account new events from filtering) and decrementality (in order to be able to replace backtracking with repair-based techniques as explanation-based solvers usually offer).
Activation of c-MET Induces a Stem-Like Phenotype in Human Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer consists of secretory cells and a population of immature cells. The function of immature cells and their mutual relation with secretory cells are still poorly understood. Immature cells either have a hierarchical relation to secretory cells (stem cell model) or represent an inducible population emerging upon appropriate stimulation of differentiated cells. Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) receptor c-MET is specifically expressed in immature prostate cells. Our objective is to determine the role of immature cells in prostate cancer by analysis of the HGF/c-MET pathway. Gene-expression profiling of DU145 prostate cancer cells stimulated with HGF revealed induction of a molecular signature associated with stem cells, characterized by up-regulation of CD49b, CD49f, CD44 and SOX9, and down-regulation of CD24 (‘stem-like signature’). We confirmed the acquisition of a stem-like phenotype by quantitative PCR, FACS analysis and Western blotting. Further, HGF led to activation of the stem cell related Notch pathway by up-regulation of its ligands Jagged-1 and Delta-like 4. Small molecules SU11274 and PHA665752 targeting c-MET activity were both able to block the molecular and biologic effects of HGF. Knock-down of c-MET by shRNA infection resulted in significant reduction and delay of orthotopic tumour-formation in male NMRI mice. Immunohistochemical analysis in prostatectomies revealed significant enrichment of c-MET positive cells at the invasive front, and demonstrated co-expression of c-MET with stem-like markers CD49b and CD49f. In conclusion, activation of c-MET in prostate cancer cells induced a stem-like phenotype, indicating a dynamic relation between differentiated and stem-like cells in this malignancy. Its mediation of efficient tumour-formation in vivo and predominant receptor expression at the invasive front implicate that c-MET regulates tumour infiltration in surrounding tissues putatively by acquisition of a stem-like phenotype.
Association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea consequences

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two diseases that often coexist within an individual. This coexistence is known as overlap syndrome and is the result of chance rather than a pathophysiological link. Although there are claims of a very high incidence of OSAS in COPD patients, recent studies report that it is similar to the general population. Overlap patients present sleep-disordered breathing associated to upper and lower airway obstruction and a reduction in respiratory drive. These patients present unique characteristics, which set them apart from either COPD or OSAS patients. COPD and OSAS are independent risk factors for cardiovascular events and their coexistence in overlap syndrome probably increases this risk. The mechanisms underlying cardiovascular risk are still unclear, but may involve systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and tonic elevation of sympathetic neural activity. The treatment of choice for overlap syndrome in stable patients is CPAP with supplemental oxygen for correction of upper airway obstructive episodes and hypoxemia during sleep.
Modification of three-dimensional transition in the wake of a rotationally oscillating cylinder

A study of the flow past an oscillatory rotating cylinder has been conducted, where the frequency of oscillation has been matched to the natural frequency of the vortex street generated in the wake of a stationary cylinder, at Reynolds number 300. The focus is on the wake transition to three-dimensional flow and, in particular, the changes induced in this transition by the addition of the oscillatory rotation. Using Floquet stability analysis, it is found that the fine-scale three-dimensional mode that typically dominates the wake at a Reynolds number beyond that at the second transition to three-dimensional flow (referred to as mode B) is suppressed for amplitudes of rotation beyond a critical amplitude, in agreement with past studies. However, the rotation does not suppress the development of three-dimensionality completely, as other modes are discovered that would lead to three-dimensional flow. In particular, the longer-wavelength mode that leads the three-dimensional transition in the wake of a stationary cylinder (referred to as mode A) is left essentially unaffected at low amplitudes of rotation. At higher amplitudes of oscillation, mode A is also suppressed as the two-dimensional near wake changes in character from a single- to a double-row wake; however, another mode is predicted to render the flow three-dimensional, dubbed mode D (for double row). This mode has the same spatio-temporal symmetries as mode A.
Differentiation and central projections of peripheral sensory cells with action-potential block in Drosophila mosaics

The ultrastructural differentiation and central projection of identified bristle mechanosensory neurons were examined in Drosophila mutants lacking action potentials. Two mutations, parats1 and napts, are known to block axonal conduction in centrally located neurons at high temperatures. Their effects on epithelial sensory cells, which are derived from imaginal disks during pupation, have not been determined. Furthermore, the parats1 napts double-mutant flies are lethal at all temperatures; thus the synergistic effect of these mutations on neurons has not yet been studied. It is possible to examine the above questions in genetic mosaics. By monitoring a reflex response involving identified bristle sensory cells, we found that the 2 mutations exert similar effects on these epithelial sensory cells as seen in central neurons. This also indicates that the action potential mechanisms in both epithelial sensory cells and central neurons are under similar genetic control. The parats1 napts double-mutant sensory cells in mosaics are nonfunctional at all temperatures, providing an opportunity to examine, at the single cell level, the development of neurons with activity block. Ultrastructural specializations typical of epithelial sensory cells were found in the double-mutant cells. Cobalt backfilling experiments showed that central projections of these nonfunctional sensory cells were not altered, as compared with the active contralateral sensory cells. Therefore, blockage of the action potential mechanism in individual sensory cells has no effect on their pathfinding and arborization.
UVB-Protective Effects of Isoflavone Extracts from Soybean Cake in Human Keratinocytes

It has been shown by chromatography that aglycone, glucoside, acetylglucoside and malonylglucoside isoflavone extracts prepared from soybean cake showed better antioxidant activities than isoflavone standards. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of these isoflavone extracts against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced keratinocyte damage. Our results demonstrated that these soybean cake isoflavone extracts could inhibit UVB-induced keratinocyte death. Moreover, they could inhibit UVB-induced intracellular release of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) Furthermore, these isoflavone extracts differentially inhibited UVB-induced MAPK phosphorylation. The ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation was not inhibited by all tested isoflavone extracts, whereas JNK phosphorylation was inhibited by group I to group III isoflavone extracts. Since these isoflavone extracts are relative stable and easily obtained than the isoflavone standards, we suggest that soybean cake may be a useful potential source for developing effective skin care agents in against photoaging.
Responsive systems comparison method: Dynamic insights into designing a satellite radar system

Often shifts in context, such as changes in budgets, administrations, and warfighter needs, occur more frequently than high-cost space-based system development timelines. In order to ensure the successful development and operation of such systems, designers must balance between anticipating future needs and meeting current constraints and expectations. This paper describes the application of Multi-Epoch Analysis on a previously introduced satellite radar system program case study, quantitatively analyzing the impact of changing contexts and preferences on “best” system designs for the program. Each epoch characterizes a fixed set of context parameters, such as available technology, infrastructure, environment, and mission priorities. For each epoch, several thousand design alternatives are parametrically assessed in terms of their ability to meet imaging, tracking, and programmatic expectations using Multi-Attribute Tradespace Exploration. While insights on tradeoffs are discovered within a particular epoch, further dynamic insights become apparent when comparing tradespaces across multiple epochs. The Multi-Epoch Analysis reveals three key insights: 1) the ability to quantitatively investigate the impact of “requirements” across many systems and contexts, 2) the ability to quantitatively identify value “robust” systems, including both passively robust and changeable systems, and 3) the ability to quantitatively identify key system tradeoffs and compromises across stakeholders and missions.
The Impact of the ICTs on Local Power Relationships

This paper is grounded in the empirical reality of a growing use of the ICTs in public administrations. Generally, informationand communication technologies (ICTs) are being introduced in an organization in order to increase operational efficiency, quality, and transparency. But, besides these intended effects, the introduction of the ICTs also leads to substantial changes in the power relationships among all involved actors. This paper therefore studies the implications of ICTs on the changing power relations in local public administration settings.
Bayesian Estimation Using MCMC Approach Based on Progressive First-Failure Censoring from Generalized Pareto Distribution

In this paper, based on a new type of censoring scheme called a progressive first-failure censored, the maximum likelihood (ML) and the Bayes estimators for the two unknown parameters of the Generalized Pareto (GP) distribution are derived. This type of censoring contains as special cases various types of censoring schemes used in the literature. A Bayesian approach using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method to generate from the posterior distributions and in turn computing the Bayes estimators are developed. Point estimation and confidence intervals based on maximum likelihood and bootstrap methods are also proposed. The approximate Bayes estimators have been obtained under the assumptions of informative and non-informative priors. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the proposed methods. Finally, the maximum likelihood and different Bayes estimators are compared via a Monte Carlo simulation study.
University of Birmingham Systematic review and meta-analysis : influence of smoking cessation on incidence of pneumonia in HIV

Background: Smoking is common in people infected with HIV but cessation support is not a routine part of clinical care. The aim was to assess whether smoking is a risk factor for pneumonia in people with HIV and whether smoking cessation ameliorates excess risk. Methods: We performed MEDLINE and Embase database searches and included cohort or case-control studies conducted in adult patients infected with HIV extracting a hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) that compared the incidence of bacterial pneumonia or pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci (PCP) between two smoking categories. Studies were appraised for quality and combined using inverse variance meta-analysis. Results: Fourteen cohort and case-control studies were included. Assessment of outcome was good, but assessment of exposure status was poor. Current smokers were at higher risk of bacterial pneumonia than former smokers: HR 1.37 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.78). There was no evidence that former smokers were at higher risk than never smokers: HR 1.24 (95%CI: 0.96, 1.60). Current smokers were at higher risk of bacterial pneumonia than current non-smokers: HR of 1.73 (95%CI: 1.44, 2.06). There was no evidence that smoking increased the incidence of PCP. The HR for current versus non-smokers was 0.94 (95%CI: 0.79, 1.12), but from casecontrol studies the OR was 1.76 (95%CI: 1.25, 2.48) with heterogeneity. Confined to higher quality studies, the OR was 0.97 (95%CI: 0.81, 1.16). Residual confounding is possible, but available data suggest this is not an adequate explanation. Conclusions: Smoking is a risk factor for bacterial pneumonia but not PCP and smoking cessation reduces this risk.
Simulating Collective Behaviors for Virtual Crowds with Social Communication Model

近年來,無論在電腦動畫、電玩或電影產業,利用電腦 製作壯觀的人群場景已逐漸成為不可或缺的要素之一。 然 而,傳統手工編輯關鍵格(key frame)逐一調整角色動作製作 人群場景的方式,過程曠日費時,故利用電腦自動產生擬真 的人群互動已是時勢所趨。 在電腦動畫的領域,人群模擬的研究日漸豐碩,但過去 的研究大部分著重於碰撞避免及路徑導航(navigation),對於 個體在群體中的互動模式則鮮少貢獻。 我們引用過去的社會 心理學與群眾心理學文獻,藉由 bottom-up 的方式,建立一 個具溝通機制的即時人群模擬平台。 本系統中的 agent 因擁 有個別化的行為參數而具異質性,並可藉由訊息傳遞的過 程,達到群體運動的可控制及客製化 (customization)為目 的。 我們在此論文中將以動畫實例說明此人群模擬模型的有 效性,並在 3D 動畫軟體中具體呈現。
THE USE OF E-GOVERNANCE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY: A CASE OF CHITUNGWIZA MUNICIPALITY

This research was based on assessing the use of e-governance by local authorities to improve service delivery: A case of Chitungwiza Municipality. The research objectives were to find out the benefits of e-governance system, to find out the challenges being faced by Chitungwiza Municipality in implementation and use of e-governance system and to proffer possible strategies that can be employed to ameliorate some of the challenges being faced. The research was confined to Chitungwiza respondents only. Literature review then focused on giving description of e-governance, benefits of e-governance, challenges being faced by the local authorities in using e-governance, strategies that can be adopted by local authorities to implement and use e-governance and the use of e-governance system by other local authorities in different countries. Descriptive research design was used. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The sample for the research was 50 respondents which constituted 10 employees, 10 top management and 30 residents. Questionnaires and personal interviews were used as the research instruments. An overall response rate of 84% was obtained from the questionnaires and interviews. Data presentation and analysis was done. Findings obtained from the research study were presented in tables, graphs and pie-charts followed by the analysis. Major findings of the research were that, Chitungwiza Municipality is faced with financial shortages, lack of adequate machinery and minimum support from the government so as to fully implement and use e-governance system to improve service delivery. The council does not have its website where people can access information. Some of the council departments do not have adequate computers and some no longer function well. People have limited knowledge on e-governance and they do not have adequate knowledge on the benefits of using e-governance system. Strategies that can be adopted by Chitungwiza Municipality to implement and use e-governance include engaging public private partnerships, training of personnel, increasing awareness to the public on e-governance, and city twinning. Lastly recommendations were made which include, efforts should be made to ensure that e-governance system is taken aboard by the Municipality in years to come in order to improve service delivery to the public through advanced use of internet and council website, the council need to plan and have a council website so as to make services accessible to the citizens ,training of staff should be done so that they can gain deep understanding on the benefits of e-governance and the council should make use of public private partnerships and city twinning so as to acquire financial and other resources in order to implement and use e-governance system to improve service delivery.
Reusing Precisions for Efficient Regression Verification

Continuous testing during development is a well-established technique for software-quality assurance. Continuous model checking from revision to revision is not yet established as a standard practice, because the enormous resource consumption makes its application impractical. Model checkers compute a large number of verification facts that are necessary for verifying if a given specification holds. We have identified a category of such intermediate results that are easy to store and efficient to reuse: abstraction precisions. The precision of an abstract domain specifies the level of abstraction that the analysis works on. Precisions are thus a precious result of the verification effort and it is a waste of resources to throw them away after each verification run. In particular, precisions are small and thus easy to store; they are easy to process and have a large impact on resource consumption. We experimentally show the impact of precision reuse on industrial verification problems, namely, 59 device drivers with 1119 revisions from the Linux kernel.
Origin of the Near-Ecliptic Circumsolar Dust Band

The zodiacal dust bands are bright infrared (IR) strips produced by thermal emission from circumsolar rings of particles. Two of the three principal dust bands, known as β and γ, were previously linked to the recent asteroid collisions that produced groups of fragments, so-called asteroid families, near the orbits of (832) Karin and (490) Veritas. The origin of the third, near-ecliptic α band has been unknown until now. Here we report the discovery of a recent breakup of a >20 km diameter asteroid near α’s originally suspected source location in the Themis family. Numerical modeling and observations of the α-band thermal emission from the Spitzer Space Telescope indicate that the discovered breakup is the source of α-band particles. The recent formation of all principal dust bands implies a significant time variability of the circumstellar debris disks.
A model intercomparison of changes in the Atlantic thermohaline circulation in response to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration

As part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, integrations with a common design have been undertaken with eleven different climate models to compare the response of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) to time‐dependent climate change caused by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration. Over 140 years, during which the CO2 concentration quadruples, the circulation strength declines gradually in all models, by between 10 and 50%. No model shows a rapid or complete collapse, despite the fairly rapid increase and high final concentration of CO2. The models having the strongest overturning in the control climate tend to show the largest THC reductions. In all models, the THC weakening is caused more by changes in surface heat flux than by changes in surface water flux. No model shows a cooling anywhere, because the greenhouse warming is dominant.
Interdependent Defense Games: Modeling Interdependent Security under Deliberate Attacks

We propose interdependent defense (IDD) games, a computational game-theoretic framework to study aspects of the interdependence of risk and security in multi-agent systems under deliberate external attacks. Our model builds upon interdependent security (IDS) games, a model due to Heal and Kunreuther that considers the source of the risk to be the result of a fixed randomizedstrategy. We adapt IDS games to model the attacker's deliberate behavior. We define the attacker's pure-strategy space and utility function and derive appropriate cost functions for the defenders. We provide a complete characterization of mixed-strategy Nash equilibria (MSNE), and design a simple polynomial-time algorithm for computing all of them, for an important subclass of IDD games. In addition, we propose a randominstance generator of (general) IDD games based on a version of the real-world Internet-derived Autonomous Systems (AS) graph (with around 27K nodes and 100K edges), and present promising empirical results using a simple learning heuristics to compute (approximate) MSNE in such games.