Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Test Selection for Data-Flow Reactive Systems Based on Observations

Conformance testing amounts to verifying adequacy between the behaviors and the specified behaviors of an implementation. In this paper, we handle model-based conformance testing for data-flow critical systems with time constraints. Specifications are described with a formal model adapted for such systems and called Variable Driven Timed Automata (VDTA). VDTA are inspired by timed automata but they use input/output communication variables, allowing clear and short specifications. We present a conformance relation for this model and we propose a symbolic test selection algorithm based on a test purpose. The selection algorithm computes the variations on inputs allowing to reach an expected state of the implementation. Then we propose an on-line testing algorithm.
Fat Distribution and Glucose Intolerance Among Greenland Inuit

OBJECTIVE A high amount of subcutaneous fat is suggested to explain the observation of lower obesity-associated metabolic risk among Inuit than among Europeans. We examined the association between measures of obesity (visceral adipose tissue [VAT], subcutaneous adipose tissue [SAT], BMI, waist circumference [WC], and percentage of body fat) and the indices of glucose metabolism (fasting and 2-h glucose levels, insulin resistance per homeostasis model assessment [HOMA-IR], and the insulin sensitivity index [ISI0,120]) among Greenland Inuit. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 3,108 adult Inuit participated in a population-based study. The examination included a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and anthropometric measurements. VAT and SAT were measured by ultrasound according to a validated protocol. Information on sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviors was obtained by interview. RESULTS Mean SATs were 1.8 and 3.5 cm in men and women, respectively. Mean VATs were 7.0 and 6.3 cm in men and women, respectively. The total prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 9%. Percentage of body fat generally was most strongly associated with all outcomes. Both SAT and VAT were significantly associated with glucose intolerance, fasting and 2-h plasma glucose levels, HOMA-IR, and ISI0,120. VAT was more strongly associated with all outcomes than was SAT. After further adjustment for BMI or WC, VAT was associated with glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, whereas there was a trend toward a negative or no association with SAT. CONCLUSIONS High mean values of SAT may to a large extent explain the high WC in Inuit populations, and this is suggested to contribute to the lower observed metabolic risk for a given level of obesity.
On the Fundamentals of a Successful Reform for National Prosperity—An Economic Analysis Based on the Practice of China’s Reform

This paper discusses the fundamentals required for successful reform, i.e., the necessary institutional changes required to make a nation grow sustainably wealthier. It argues that enriching the people is a prerequisite for a prosperous nation and further reveals the inherent logic behind the statement i°in order to enrich the people, they must be given private rights, and in order to protect the peoplei¯s private rights, public power must be limited.i± Based on this argument, we examine and analyze the experience of Chinai¯s reform over the past 30 years and come to the conclusion that it is necessary to transform government functions and further deepen market-oriented reform. We hold that Chinai¯s economic performance bears no special or exceptional economic law, and there does not exist the so-called i°China Modeli± characterized by government taking the leading role as a relatively mature, stable, and widely applicable development model, but that there does exist a Chinese development path or experience featuring the inherent logic of i°prospering the nation through enriching its peoplei± that can be employed by countries all over the world.
A trust based secure routing scheme for MANETS

A MANET is a kind of wireless mobile network that can be easily established with the help of few infrastructure less connections. In such networks, every node is independent of its own and hence can act as a router and performs the job of routing as well. All the nodes in a MANET are dynamic in nature, in that the nodes can change their location from time to time due to their mobility feature, and any node is free to join and leave the network as and when needed and hence we can say that the topology changes dynamically. In recent days, security in MANET's has been the prime focus within the research community. There are many different attacks aimed at MANET's but solutions to these have been not paid much attention in literature. There are several methods that can deal with security issues in wired networks but the same cannot be used for wireless networks. There are many routing protocols proposed for MANET's but most of them exhibit poor performance in the presence of malicious nodes. This paper focuses on a new hybrid secure routing protocol S-DSR that establishes a secure communication path across the nodes in the network which can improve the packet delivery ratio and throughput etc. This protocol helps in finding the best path for secure file transmission based on the trust information from the neighbouring nodes. The proposed protocol has been implemented on NS-2. This protocol achieves better packet delivery ratio and reduced delay when compared with protocols like AODV, AOMDV etc.
Melanopsin-Positive Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells: From Form to Function

Melanopsin imparts an intrinsic photosensitivity to a subclass of retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). Generally thought of as irradiance detectors, ipRGCs target numerous brain regions involved in non-image-forming vision. ipRGCs integrate their intrinsic, melanopsin-mediated light information with rod/cone signals relayed via synaptic connections to influence light-dependent behaviors. Early observations indicated diversity among these cells and recently several specific subtypes have been identified. These subtypes differ in morphological and physiological form, controlling separate functions that range from biological rhythm via circadian photoentrainment, to protective behavioral responses including pupil constriction and light avoidance, and even image-forming vision. In this Mini-Symposium review, we will discuss some recent findings that highlight the diversity in both form and function of these recently discovered atypical photoreceptors.
Activation of intracellular signaling by hepatitis B and C viruses: C‐viral core is the most potent signal inducer

To clarify the effects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on hepatocytes, we analyzed and compared the induction of intracellular signals by HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) proteins. We examined the influence of 7 HCV (core, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B) and 4 HBV (precore, core, polymerase, and X) proteins on 5 well‐defined intracellular signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis by use of a reporter assay. Viral protein–expression vectors were cotransfected into mammalian cells with reporter vectors having a luciferase gene driven by the following inducible cis‐enhancer elements: the cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element, the serum response element (SRE), and the binding sites for nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB), activator protein 1 (AP‐1), and serum response factor (SRF). In addition, the activation of signals by HCV proteins was examined in a reporter plasmid having a natural interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) promoter upstream of a luciferase gene. Of 11 HCV and HBV proteins, HCV core had the strongest influence on intracellular signals, especially NF‐κB–, AP‐1–, and SRE‐associated pathways. HCV core's activation level exceeded that of HBV X protein, a well‐characterized transactivator of these signals. Moreover, HCV core activated the IL‐8 promoter through NF‐κB and AP‐1. For the other proteins, HCV NS4B showed signal activation, but signals were activated at a lesser extent. The luciferase reporter assay, a recently introduced technique, helped in the elucidation of molecular events underlying the inflammatory and proliferation process in the liver induced by HCV.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β: A Mediator of Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease?

Proliferation and activation of microglial cells is a neuropathological characteristic of brain injury and neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease. Microglia act as the first and main form of immune defense in the nervous system. While the primary function of microglia is to survey and maintain the cellular environment optimal for neurons in the brain parenchyma by actively scavenging the brain for damaged brain cells and foreign proteins or particles, sustained activation of microglia may result in high production of proinflammatory mediators that disturb normal brain functions and even cause neuronal injury. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β has been recently identified as a major regulator of immune system and mediates inflammatory responses in microglia. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β has been extensively investigated in connection to tau and amyloid β toxicity, whereas reports on the role of this enzyme in neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease are negligible. Here we review and discuss the role of glycogen synthase-3β in immune cells in the context of Alzheimer's disease pathology.
Stress Doppler Echocardiography in Relatives of Patients With Idiopathic and Familial Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Results of a Multicenter European Analysis of Pulmonary Artery Pressure Response to Exercise and Hypoxia

Background— This large, prospective, multicentric study was performed to analyze the distribution of tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) values during exercise and hypoxia in relatives of patients with idiopathic and familial pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and in healthy control subjects. We tested the hypothesis that relatives of idiopathic/familial PAH patients display an enhanced frequency of hypertensive TRV response to stress and that this response is associated with mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor II (BMPR2) gene. Methods and Results— TRV was estimated by Doppler echocardiography during supine bicycle exercise in normoxia and during 120 minutes of normobaric hypoxia (Fio2=12%; ≈4500 m) in 291 relatives of 109 PAH patients and in 191 age-matched control subjects. Mean maximal TRVs were significantly higher in PAH relatives during both exercise and hypoxia. During exercise, 10% of control subjects but 31.6% of relatives (P<0.0001) exceeded the 90% quantile of mean maximal TRV seen in control subjects. Hypoxia revealed hypertensive TRV in 26% of relatives (P=0.0029). Among control subjects, TRV at rest was not related to age, sex, body mass index, systemic blood pressure, smoking status, or heart rate. Within kindreds identified as harboring deleterious mutations of the BMPR2 gene, a hypertensive TRV response occurred significantly more often compared with those without detected mutations. Conclusions— Pulmonary hypertensive response to exercise and hypoxia in idiopathic/familial PAH relatives appears as a genetic trait with familial clustering, being correlated to but not caused by a BMPR2 mutation. The suitability of this trait to predict manifest PAH development should be addressed in long-term follow-up studies.
Implementation of Data Mining Techniques for Strategic CRM Issues

Customer satisfaction is the lifeline for the growth of any organization. Now a days, basic concept of marketing is not selling the product to customers but it is to reach to the hearts of the customers so that they can feel a sense of belongingness with the organization. The organizations and individuals having right access to the right information at the right moment of time will be the one to survive. In spite of having ever growing data bases the problem is that the organizations fail to fully capitalize the true benefits which can be gained from this great wealth of information, as they are not able to extract valuable information from these huge data bases. The solution lies in the use of Data Mining tools for customer segmentation and profitability, marketing and customer relationship management. This paper throws light on the underlying technology and the perspective applications of data mining in customer relationship management.
Secrecy Performance of Dual-Hop Threshold Relaying System with Diversity Reception

In this paper, the secrecy of a cooperative system consisting of a single source, relay, destination and eavesdropper is analyzed. The threshold-selection decode-and-forward relay is considered, where the relay can correctly decode and forward only if it satisfies a threshold signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Both destination and eavesdropper take advantage of the direct and relayed transmissions through maximal ratio diversity combining. The secrecy outage probability (SOP) and ergodic secrecy rate are derived in closed-form for different channel state information (CSI) availability. It was observed that when the required rate is low, having CSI knowledge is more advantageous than in the case of higher rate. An increase in the required threshold SNR at the relay can increase the SOP if the relayed link SNR is relatively higher than the direct link SNR. It was also shown that SOP cannot be improved beyond a certain value when keeping either dual-hop link average SNR fixed and increasing the other link SNR, whereas the ergodic secrecy rate can be increased by keeping the source to destination average SNR fixed.
Quantitative Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Fluorescein Angiography Dynamics in the Eye

Purpose We describe a novel approach to analyze fluorescein angiography to investigate fluorescein flow dynamics in the rat posterior retina as well as identify abnormal areas following laser photocoagulation. Methods Experiments were undertaken in adult Long Evans rats. Using a rodent retinal camera, videos were acquired at 30 frames per second for 30 seconds following intravenous introduction of sodium fluorescein in a group of control animals (n = 14). Videos were image registered and analyzed using principle components analysis across all pixels in the field. This returns fluorescence intensity profiles from which, the half-rise (time to 50% brightness), half-fall (time for 50% decay) back to an offset (plateau level of fluorescence). We applied this analysis to video fluorescein angiography data collected 30 minutes following laser photocoagulation in a separate group of rats (n = 7). Results Pixel-by-pixel analysis of video angiography clearly delineates differences in the temporal profiles of arteries, veins and capillaries in the posterior retina. We find no difference in half-rise, half-fall or offset amongst the four quadrants (inferior, nasal, superior, temporal). We also found little difference with eccentricity. By expressing the parameters at each pixel as a function of the number of standard deviation from the average of the entire field, we could clearly identify the spatial extent of the laser injury. Conclusions This simple registration and analysis provides a way to monitor the size of vascular injury, to highlight areas of subtle vascular leakage and to quantify vascular dynamics not possible using current fluorescein angiography approaches. This can be applied in both laboratory and clinical settings for in vivo dynamic fluorescent imaging of vasculature.
Motile kinetochores and polar ejection forces dictate chromosome position on the vertebrate mitotic spindle

We argue that hypotheses for how chromosomes achieve a metaphase alignment, that are based solely on a tug-of-war between poleward pulling forces produced along the length of opposing kinetochore fibers, are no longer tenable for vertebrates. Instead, kinetochores move themselves and their attached chromosomes, poleward and away from the pole, on the ends of relatively stationary but shortening/elongating kinetochore fiber microtubules. Kinetochores are also "smart" in that they switch between persistent constant-velocity phases of poleward and away from the pole motion, both autonomously and in response to information within the spindle. Several molecular mechanisms may contribute to this directional instability including kinetochore-associated microtubule motors and kinetochore microtubule dynamic instability. The control of kinetochore directional instability, to allow for congression and anaphase, is likely mediated by a vectorial mechanism whose magnitude and orientation depend on the density and orientation or growth of polar microtubules. Polar microtubule arrays have been shown to resist chromosome poleward motion and to push chromosomes away from the pole. These "polar ejection forces" appear to play a key role in regulating kinetochore directional instability, and hence, positions achieved by chromosomes on the spindle.
Interfacial Effect on Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Ternary Nanocomposites

The matrix/filler interface plays a vital role in mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/rigid nanoparticles composites. In general, the use of spherical stearic acid modified CaCO3 (SA-CaCO3) can induce a weak interfacewhich facilitatesparticle debonding from the matrix under loading and reduces plastic resistance, enhancing the toughness of nanocomposites, while the use of polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGS) can improve the Young’s modulus and yield stress because of strong interfacial binding between particle and matrix. With the objective to simultaneously improve the modulus, yield stress and toughness, the ternary nanocomposites, PP/PGS/CaCO3 (PPSC), were prepared and the morphology, crystallization, and mechanical behavior were investigated and compared to their binary nanocomposites. The results show that Young’s modulus is enhanced as the particle loading, and the yield stress is balanced by two interactions, i.e. the decreasing effect of the weak interface and the enhancement effect of the strong interface. The impact strength of the ternary nanocomposites shows insignificant improvement compared with neat PP, which is attributed to the brittle effect of the weak interface in the particle cluster of SA-CaCO3 and PGS.
Fractionally spaced equalizer based on multichannel linear prediction

A blind MMSE equalizer based on linear prediction is presented in this paper. It can directly equalize the channel from the fractionally sampled observations without performing channel identification. In addition, it can be implemented efficiently using the RLS algorithm. Simulation results show that the blind MMSE equalizer has smaller mean-square error of symbol estimation than the prediction-based zero-forcing equalizer.
p130Cas interacts with estrogen receptor α and modulates non-genomic estrogen signaling in breast cancer cells

Steroid hormones bind to their receptors and trans-activate target genes. Rapid non-genomic action of steroid hormones has been proposed in addition to the one at the genomic level. Estrogen has been described to activate c-Src kinase and this activation has been shown to be responsible for estrogen-dependent mitogenicity. A major substrate of c-Src kinase activity is the cytoskeletal protein p130Cas, originally identified in v-Src-transformed cells. We show that in the human breast carcinoma T47D cells, upon estrogen treatment, p130Cas rapidly and transiently associates with the estrogen receptor α in a multi-molecular complex containing the c-Src kinase and the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase. Association of p130Cas with the estrogen receptor α occurs within 3 minutes of estrogen treatment and is dependent on c-Src kinase activation. Transient overexpression of p130Cas in T47D cells increases estrogen-dependent Src kinase and Erk1/2 MAPKs activities and accelerates their kinetics of stimulation. A similar effect was detected on estrogen-dependent cyclin D1 expression, suggesting a role for p130Cas in regulating estrogen-dependent cell cycle progression. Double-stranded small RNA interference (siRNA) by silencing endogenous p130Cas protein, was sufficient to inhibit estrogen-dependent Erk1/2 MAPKs activity and cyclin D1 induction, demonstrating the requirement of p130Cas in such events. Therefore, our data show that the adaptor protein p130Cas associates with the estrogen receptor transducing complex, regulating estrogen-dependent activation of c-Src kinase and downstream signaling pathways.
Greater Muscle Damage Induced by Fast Versus Slow Velocity Eccentric Exercise

Debate exists concerning the effect of contraction velocity on muscle damage, and few human studies have yet to address this issue. This study examined whether the velocity of eccentric exercise affected the magnitude of muscle damage. Twelve untrained subjects performed a series of slow velocity isokinetic eccentric elbow flexions (SV: 30 degrees . s (-1)) of one arm and a fast velocity exercise (FV: 210 degrees . s (-1)) of the other arm, separated by 14 days. In order to standardise the time under tension (120 s) for the two conditions, the number of muscle actions for SV was 30 and 210 for FV. Criterion measures consisted of maximal voluntary torque for isometric, concentric (4 velocities) and eccentric contractions (2 velocities), range of motion (ROM) and relaxed elbow joint angle (RANG), upper arm circumference, muscle soreness and plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity. Measures were taken before, immediately after, 0.5 hour and 24 - 168 hours (240 hours for CK) after each eccentric exercise protocol, and changes in the measures over time were compared between FV and SV by two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Both protocols resulted in significant decrements in isometric and dynamic torque (p < 0.01), but FV showed significantly (p < 0.05) greater reductions over time ( approximately 55 %) and a slower recovery compared to SV ( approximately 30 %). Significantly (p < 0.05) larger decreases in, and delayed recovery of, ROM and RANG were evident after FV compared to SV. FV had significantly (p < 0.05) larger increases in upper arm circumference and soreness compared to SV, and peak plasma CK activity was 4.5-fold greater (p < 0.05) following FV than SV. These results suggest that, for the same time under tension, fast velocity eccentric exercise causes greater muscle damage than slow velocity exercise in untrained subjects.