Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Formal Behavior Specification of Multi-Robot Systems Using Hierarchical State Machines in XABSL

This paper presents the latest developments of the Extensible Agent Behavior Specication Language (XABSL), a modular and scalable tool for engineering complex multiagent behavior. It is based on hierarchical nite state machines. By the new extensions the development of cooperative multi agent behavior is supported through language elements which allow to conveniently specify how the state machines of multiple agents interact. Basic properties of XABSL are illustrated in direct comparison with Petri Net Plans and the COLBERT language using examples of basic robot behavior. More complex examples from robot soccer are used to illustrate the new extensions of XABSL. The complete system is available online on the XABSL website (http://www.xabsl.de).
Using Ontologies For Software Documentation.

High quality software documentation is a substanti al issue to understand software systems. Shorter time-to-market software cycles increase the importance of automatism to keep the documentat io up to date. In this paper, we describe the automatic support of the sof tware documentation process using a social semantic software approach. Therefor e, we introduce a software documentation ontology as underlying knowledge base . Th defined ontology is populated automatically through analyzing source co de, documentation and code executions and made accessible to developers v ia a wiki. The wiki enforces collaboration and allows correcting analys is errors. We demonstrate, that the use of social semantic systems can support software documentation processes efficiently.
Robust sliding mode control based wind power generation

With the growing needs of energy, the use of renewable resources to serve the purpose has been increased. Our paper is just a light into the solution to the crisis that is looming over us. We have designed a controller in the direction of improving the efficiency of Wind energy systems. The approach is based on a sliding mode control methodology, i.e., the system under control is driven towards a sliding mode by tuning the parameters of the controller. In this loop, the parameters of the controller are adjusted such that a zero learning error level is reached in one dimensional phase space defined on the output of the controller.
SIW components and antennas based on eco-friendly materials and technologies: State-of-the-art and future applications

Substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology represents a good candidate for the next generation of microwave and millimeter wave components and antennas. In particular, in the emerging area of the wireless sensors networks and the Internet of Things, SIW technology is the ideal candidate for the implementation of low-cost and eco-friendly wireless nodes. In this scenario, SIW components and antennas implemented by using unconventional materials and technologies (like paper and textile) open new interesting perspective for the development of green microwave systems.
Recent advances in multiple system atrophy

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a fatal orphan neurodegenerative disorder that manifests with autonomic, parkinsonian, cerebellar, and pyramidal features. It is characterized by the accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein (αSyn) in oligodendroglia and neurons, affecting multiple parts of the central, autonomic and perípheral system. Both the etiology and pathogenesis of MSA are unknown, although a genetic component has been proposed. Accumulation of aberrant αSyn in oligodendrocytes, preceded by relocation of p25α protein from myelin into oligodendroglia, results in the formation of insoluble glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs). These changes are associated with proteasomal, mitochondrial and lipid transport dysfunction, oxidative stress, reduced trophic transport, neuroinflammation and other noxious factors. Their interaction induces dysfunction of the oligodendroglial-myelin-axon-neuron complex, resulting in the system-specific pattern of neurodegeneration characterizing MSA as a synucleinopathy with oligodendroglio-neuronopathy. Propagation of modified toxic αSyn species from neurons to oligodendroglia by " prion-like " transfer and its spreading to associate neuronal pathways result in multi-system involvement. No reliable biomarkers are currently available for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of MSA and neither effective neuroprotective nor disease-modifying therapies of MSA are available, although novel treatment strategies targeting αSyn are under discussion. Multidisciplinary research to elucidate the genetic and molecular background of the deleterious cycle of noxious processes to develop reliable diagnostic biomarkers and to deliver targets for effective treatment of this hitherto incurable disorder is urgently needed.
Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade prevents up-regulation of angiotensin II type 1A receptors in rat injured artery.

We investigated the effects of the angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist KRH-594 on levels of the mRNAs for AT1A, AT1B, platelet-derived growth factor-receptor beta (PDGF-Rbeta), and extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes using the competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and on neointimal formation in the balloon-injured rat carotid artery. The mRNA levels for AT1A and PDGF-Rbeta, but not for AT1B, increased from day 3 after injury to day 14. KRH-594 administered orally at 3 and 10 mg/kg/day significantly suppressed these increases. KRH-594 (10 mg/kg/day) also suppressed the injury-induced gene expressions for transforming growth factor-beta1 and fibronectin and reduced collagen alpha1(I) and alpha1(III) mRNA levels for the first 7 days after injury. KRH-594 (10 and 30 mg/kg/day) significantly and dose-dependently reduced the neointimal area in cross sections of the artery 14 days after injury. Another AT1 antagonist, TCV-116 (candesartan cilexetil; 1 and 3 mg/kg/day p.o.), had similar effects on the morphological change and AT1A mRNA level, whereas a smooth muscle relaxant, hydralazine (10 mg/kg/day p.o.), did not. These results indicate that up-regulation of AT1A, PDGF-Rbeta, and ECM-related genes in the balloon-injured carotid artery is in part an AT1-mediated phenomenon and that prevention of receptor up-regulation may contribute to the attenuating effects of AT1 antagonists on neointimal formation after injury.
Aberrant Methylation of PCDH10 Predicts Worse Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients with Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy

Background Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in men, and inevitably some patients experience biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. To date, there are no reliable predictors for prostate cancer recurrence, and novel predictors are urgently needed. PCDH10 (protocadherin-10) is a novel tumor suppressor gene, which is down-regulated by promoter methylation in prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using PCDH10 methylation to predict the biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. Material/Methods Fresh tissue samples were obtained from 151 patients with primary prostate cancer, and from 34 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as control. The methylation status of PCDH10 in prostate cancer tissues and controls were examined using methylation-specific PCR (MSP), and then associated with clinicopathological features and BCR-free survival of patients with prostate cancer. Results We found that PCDH10 methylation was detected in 79 (52.3%) patients with prostate cancer, but no methylation was found in controls (P<0.0001). Moreover, PCDH10 methylation was significantly associated with higher preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (P <0.0001), higher Gleason Score (P<0.0001), advanced clinical stage (P=0.0002), lymph node metastasis (P=0.0389), angiolymphatic invasion (P=0.0303), and biochemical recurrence (P=0.0068). Moreover, PCDH10 methylation was associated with poor BCR-free survival (P<0.0001), and may be used as an independent predictor of BCR-free survival (P=0.0046). Conclusions Our results indicate that PCDH10 methylation in prostate cancer tissue is an independent prognostic biomarker of worse BCR-free survival of patients with prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.
Occurrence, Diversity, and Pathogenicity of HalophilicVibrio spp. and Non-O1 Vibrio cholerae from Estuarine Waters along the Italian Adriatic Coast

ABSTRACT The occurrence, diversity, and pathogenicity of Vibriospp. were investigated in two estuaries along the Italian Adriatic coast. Vibrio alginolyticus was the predominant species, followed by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, non-O1 Vibrio cholerae, and Vibrio vulnificus. By using a biochemical fingerprinting method, all isolates were grouped into nine phenotypes with similarity levels of 75 to 97.5%. The production of toxins capable of causing cytoskeleton-dependent changes was detected in a large number of Vibrio strains. These findings indicate a significant presence of potentially pathogenicVibrio strains along the Adriatic coast.
Cloud Application Modelling and Execution Language ( CAMEL ) and the PaaSage Workflow

Model-driven engineering (MDE) is a branch of software engineering that aims at improving the productivity, quality, and cost-effectiveness of software development by promoting models and model transformations as the primary assets in software development. Models can be specified using general-purpose languages like the Unified Modeling Language (UML). However, to fully unfold the potential of MDE, models are frequently specified using domain-specific languages (DSLs), which are tailored to a specific domain of concern. The PaaSage project1 delivers a platform to support the modelling, execution, and adaptation of multi-cloud applications (i.e., applications deployed across multiple private, public, or hybrid cloud infrastructures). In order to cover the necessary aspects of the modelling and execution of multi-cloud applications, PaaSage adopts the Cloud Application Modelling and Execution Language (CAMEL) [5]. CAMEL integrates and extends existing DSLs, namely the Cloud Modelling Language (CloudML) [1], Saloon [4], and the Organisation part of CERIF [2]. In addition, CAMEL integrates new DSLs developed within the project, such as the Scalability Rule Language (SRL) [3]. CAMEL enables PaaSage users to specify multiple aspects of multi-cloud applications, such as provisioning and deployment topology, provisioning and deployment requirements, service-level objectives, metrics, scalability rules, providers, organisations, users, roles, security controls, execution contexts, execution histories, etc. In order to facilitate the integration across the components managing the life-cycle of multi-cloud applications, PaaSage leverages upon CAMEL models that are progressively refined throughout the modelling, deployment, and execution phases of the PaaSage workflow (see Figure 1):
The Short-Term Effectiveness of a Remedial Mathematics Course: Evidence from a UK University

Whilst in the US there is a growing debate about the effectiveness of remedial university courses, this issue is less questioned in the UK. Using a regression discontinuity approach and data from a large School of a post-1992 UK university, we estimate the effect of remediation on student outcomes. We find no evidence that attending a math remedial program improves student performance in the first year. This finding is consistent and complements that of a recent study by Lagerlof and Seltzer (2009), which is based on data from a pre-1992 UK university. Taken together, these results may call for a review of the remediation policy offered at university level in the UK.
A new polar magnetic index of geomagnetic activity

We developed a new polar magnetic (PM) index of geomagnetic activity which, similarly to the existing polar cap index, was computed from magnetic field data from near‐pole geomagnetic observatories. However, we used a different method for its calculation, which provided the high correlation of this index with both solar wind data and many events in geospace environment. This improves significantly the reliability of forecasting geomagnetic disturbances and such key parameters as cross‐polar‐cap voltage and Joule heating in high‐latitude ionosphere, which play an important role in the development of global geomagnetic, ionospheric, and thermospheric disturbances. In this paper, we examined PM index in the Northern Hemisphere only. We tested the PM index for 10‐year period. The correlation between PM index and upstream solar wind data for all these years is very high (the squared correlation coefficient R2 ≈ 0.74 which corresponds to the linear correlation coefficients R ≈ 0.86). The PM index also shows the high correlation with the cross‐polar‐cap voltage and hemispheric Joule heating (the squared correlation coefficient R2 between the actual and predicted values of these parameters reaches ∼0.81 which corresponds to the linear correlation coefficients R ≈ 0.9), which results in significant increasing the prediction reliability of these parameters. Thus, the polar magnetic (PM) index of geomagnetic activity provides a significant increase in the forecasting reliability of geomagnetic disturbances and related events in geospace environment, and it may be used as an important input parameter in modeling ionospheric, magnetospheric, and thermospheric processes.
Watershed segmentation with boundary curvature ratio based merging criterion

This paper proposes to incorporate boundary curvature ratio, region homogeneity and boundary smoothness into a single new merging criterion to improve the over-segmentation of marker-controlled watershed segmentation algorithm. The result is a more refined segmentation result with smooth boundaries and regular shapes. To pursue a final segmentation result with higher inter-variance and lower intra-variance, an optimal number of segments could be self-determined by a proposed formula. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the merits of this method.
Genetic Algorithm with Gradient Based Tuning for Constructing Fuzzy Rules

This paper presents a hybrid method to construct concise and comprehensible fuzzy rules from training data. The construction procedure consists of a genetic algorithm, which determines the rulebase, and a gradient based optimization for the tuning of the membership functions. An approximation of the well-known Lukasiewicz logic is used to describe both the fuzzy connectives and the memberships, which by this way have continuous derivatives.
Identification of Soat1 as a Quantitative Trait Locus Gene on Mouse Chromosome 1 Contributing to Hyperlipidemia

We previously identified two closely linked quantitative trait loci (QTL) on distal chromosome 1 contributing to major variations in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in an intercross derived from C57BL/6 (B6) and C3H/HeJ (C3H) apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE−/−) mice. Soat1, encoding sterol o-acyltransferase 1, is a functional candidate gene located underneath the proximal linkage peak. We sequenced the coding region of Soat1 and identified four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between B6 and C3H mice. Two of the SNPs resulted in amino-acid substitutions (Ile147Val and His205Tyr). Functional assay revealed an increased enzyme activity of Soat1 in peritoneal macrophages of C3H mice relative to those of B6 mice despite comparable protein expression levels. Allelic variants of Soat1 were associated with variations in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in an intercross between B6.apoE−/− and C3H.apoE−/− mice. Inheritance of the C3H allele resulted in significantly higher plasma lipid levels than inheritance of the B6 allele. Soat1 variants were also significantly linked to major variations in plasma esterified cholesterol levels but not with free cholesterol levels. Trangenic expression of C3H Soat1 in B6.apoE−/− mice resulted in elevations of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These results indicate that Soat1 is a QTL gene contributing to hyperlipidemia.
Ambiguity Aversion and Incompleteness of Financial Markets

It is widely thought that incomes risks can be shared by trading infinancial assets. But financial assets typically carry some riskidiosyncratic to them, hence, disposing incomes risk using financial assetswill involve buying into the inherent idiosyncratic risk. However, standardtheory argues that diversification would reduce the inconvenience ofidiosyncratic risk to arbitrarily low levels. This argument is less robustthan what standard theory leads us to believe: ambiguity aversion canexacerbate the tension between the two kinds of risks to the point thatclasses of agents may not want to trade some financial assets. Thus,theoretically, the effect of ambiguity aversion on financial markets is tomake the risk sharing opportunities offered by financial markets lesscomplete than it would be otherwise.
Cognitive Radio Networks and Security : A Survey

In cognitive radio networks (CRNs), cognitive radio (CR) nodes adaptively access the spectrum aiming to maximize the utilization of the scarce resource. Crucial to the successful deployment of CRNs, security issues have begun to receive research interests recently. This article surveys the research advances in CRNs. First, the fundamentals of CRNs including the basic components (i.e., characteristics, opportunistic links, and network architectures), opportunistic spectrum access (OSA), and the inherent issues in CRNs are reviewed. Then, we present the current issues in security for CRNs. The current works on attacks in different layers of CRNs along with the state-of-the-art counter-strategies are investigated in detail.
A high-throughput low-power hardware architecture for H.264 deblocking filter

In this paper we present a high throughput low power hardware architecture of deblocking filter for H.264/AVC. In order to enhance throughput, we propose five-stage pipeline filter core and novel double-filter architecture to process vertical and horizontal edges simultaneously. A novel parallel filtering order is adopted not only to eliminate structure hazard but also to efficiently reuse the intermediate data and reduce SRAM access times. In addition, our architecture utilizes clock gating schemes for both filter cores and transposes to further reduce power consumption. While working at clock frequency of 150MHz, synthesized under 0.13um CMOS standard cell technology, our design achieves the throughput of 1562kMB/s, which could easily meet the throughput requirement of all the levels in H.264/AVC video coding standard and the power consumption of 0. 6µW per macroblock which is suitable for mobile applications. sf]Y
Knowledge for Theory and Practice

We examine three related ways in which the gap between theory and practice has been framed. One approach views it as a knowledge transfer problem, a second argues that theory and practice represent distinct kinds of knowledge, and a third incorporates a strategy of arbitrage—leading to the view that the gap is a knowledge production problem. We propose a method of engaged scholarship for addressing the knowledge production problem, arguing that engaged scholarship not only enhances the relevance of research for practice but also contributes significantly to advancing research knowledge in a given domain. Understanding the relationship between theory and practice is a persistent and difficult problem for scholars who work in professionalsional schools typically build their raison d'e ˆ tre on the mission of developing knowledge that can be translated into skills that advance the But, as evi-denced by the often lamented gap between theory and practice, this mission remains an elusive ideal. Several special issues in leading academic journals 1 have highlighted growing concerns that academic research has become less useful for solving practical problems and that the gulf between theory and practice in the professions is widening (Anderson, Herriot, & Hodgkinson, 2001; Rynes et al., 2001). There is also increasing criticism that findings from academic as well as consulting studies are not useful to practitioners and do not get implemented (Beer, 2001; Gibbons et al., 1994). Academics are being criticized for not adequately putting their research into prac-Professional knowledge workers, as well, are criticized for not being aware of relevant research and not doing enough to put their practice into theory (Van de Ven, 2002; Weick, 2001). As a result, organizations are not learning fast enough to keep up with the changing times. In this paper we focus on the relationship between theory and practice in the field of management. We do not attempt a comprehensive review of the debate, either in general or with respect to the management literature. Rather, we examine three ways in which the gap between theory and practice has been framed, and we then focus on one approach that we believe moves the discussion forward in a productive way. The gap between theory and practice is typically framed as a knowledge transfer problem. This approach is based on the assumption that practical knowledge (knowledge of how to do things) in a professional domain derives at least in part from research knowledge (knowledge …
Effect of acute alcohol injection on plasma beta-endorphin levels in Warsaw high-preferring rats treated with acamprosate and naltrexone

Naltrexone and acamprosate are the most effective drugs in reducing alcohol consumption, operating through different pharmacological mechanisms. Some studies have demonstrated that naltrexone and acamprosate in combination have significantly greater effectiveness in alcohol therapy than either agent used alone. We have previously found that beta-endorphin plasma levels are increased after repeated treatment with either of these drugs. In this study, we examined the effect of a single administration of ethanol on the beta-endorphin levels in rats treated with both naltrexone and acamprosate. We used Warsaw High Preferring (WHP) rats and treated them for 10 days with naltrexone (2 mg/kg, ip) and acamprosate (200 mg/kg, po) or with each of these drugs separately. The control group was treated with saline and 1% methylcellulose. One hour before blood collection, the rats were injected with a single dose of ethanol or saline. We observed the increases in beta-endorphin levels after a single administration of ethanol to untreated rats compared with a single administration of saline. The same increase was observed after a single administration of ethanol to rats treated with naltrexone or naltrexone and acamprosate. However, a single injection of ethanol to rats treated only with acamprosate resulted in smaller increases in plasma beta-endorphin content. As the endogenous opioid system has an important role in the development of craving for alcohol, restoring the alcohol-induced deficits of beta-endorphin in the reward system may be an important factor contributing to preventing craving and relapse to drinking. Therefore, we suggest that the similar changes in the activity of beta-endorphin following therapy with either naltrexone alone or combined naltrexone plus acamprosate, may explain why the combined drug therapy is not more effective in treating alcoholism than naltrexone alone. The present findings support the results from some randomized clinical trials demonstrating that the efficacy of acamprosate plus naltrexone in the treatment of alcoholism was not significantly different from the efficacy of the treatment with naltrexone alone.