Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cyber-physical testbed — The impact of cyber attacks and the human factor

The case of Critical Infrastructures (CIs), and especially Cyber-Physical CIs, which nowadays rely on computers and the Internet for their operation, is an important research area. Decentralized Critical Infrastructure management systems play a key role in reducing costs and improving the quality of service of industrial processes, but also they introduce various security vulnerabilities. In this paper, we focus on the implementation of a Cyber-Physical testbed which includes physical equipment and the cyber security issues on the communication channel between the CIs, such as a power grid, a transportation infrastructure (railway) and the energy market. We simulate the energy (spot) market auctions and the power grid network, but we emulate the ICT information part which is the focus of our work. We set in motion a well-known attack, Denial-of-Service (DoS), in Cyber-Physical systems and we are able to identify the consequences not only in power distribution network but also in financial and transportation area.
Renal Dysfunction, Rather Than Nonrenal Vascular Dysfunction, Mediates Salt-Induced Hypertension

Long-term high salt intake increases the risk for hypertension and associated cardiovascular and kidney disease, whereas modest reductions in salt intake significantly decrease blood pressure (BP) in many hypertensive subjects.1–3 However, the mechanisms of salt-induced changes in BP continue to be the subject of considerable interest and controversy. Response by Morris et al on p 907 Salt in the context of this review refers to NaCl. In humans and experimental models, full expression of salt-sensitive hypertension depends on sodium and chloride.4–6 Although some studies suggest that sodium bicarbonate loading can raise BP and cause renal vasoconstriction in sensitive subjects, the BP effect is about half as great as with NaCl loading,7 and plasma volume is expanded much less by nonchloride sodium salts than by NaCl.8 Hemodynamic events that initially accompany abrupt, large increases in salt intake in subjects who are considered to be salt resistant include positive sodium balance and increased extracellular fluid volume (ECFV), transient increased cardiac output (CO), and minimal changes in BP.9 Total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) may initially decrease, perhaps as a result of reflex/hormonal mechanisms that cause vasodilation in response to volume loading, but within a few days, TPR returns to nearly normal as salt/volume balance is re-established and CO and BP return to nearly normal levels. In salt-sensitive subjects, high salt intake also causes sodium retention (which has been reported to be similar7 or greater10 than that in salt-resistant subjects) and increases in ECFV and CO.9 In salt-sensitive subjects, however, high salt intake causes a gradual increase in BP followed by an increase in TPR.9 Because BP is mathematically the product of CO and TPR, the rise in BP in salt-sensitive subjects has been attributed to increased TPR, or vasodysfunction.9 …
Maximal families of bent sequences

In a recent paper Olsen, Scholtz, and Welch (OSW) describe the use of bent functions to construct families of sequences with asymptotically optimal correlation properties. We show that the sequences produced by the OSW construction possess the claimed correlation properties if and only if the underlying bent functions are pairwise orthogonal. Consequently, the cardinality of a family of OSW sequences of length 2^{n}-1 cannot exceed 2^{n/2} . We also describe methods of selecting a maximal set of orthogonal bent functions.
An introduction to quantum gravity

Quantum gravity was born as that branch of modern theoretical physics that tries to unify its guiding principles, i.e., quantum mechanics and general relativity. Nowadays it is providing new insight into the unification of all fundamental interactions, while giving rise to new developments in mathematics. The various competing theories, e.g. string theory and loop quantum gravity, have still to be checked against observations. We review the classical and quantum foundations necessary to study field-theory approaches to quantum gravity, the passage from old to new unification in quantum field theory, canonical quantum gravity, the use of functional integrals, the properties of gravitational instantons, the use of spectral zeta-functions in the quantum theory of the universe, Hawking radiation, some theoretical achievements and some key experimental issues.
Increased expression of VEGF following exercise training in patients with heart failure

Background and aims During the last decades several angiogenic factors have been characterized but so far it is unknown whether local muscle exercise training increases the expression of these factors in patients with moderate heart failure. Expression of the major putative angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at the level of messneger RNA (mRNA) and/or protein was therefore studied before and after 8 weeks of training in patient with chronic heart failure.
METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE CONSEQUENCES OF DEPRIVING PRETERM INFANTS OF ENTERAL NUTRITION

ABSTRACT. Plasma enteroglucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin, motilin, neurotensin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and blood glucose, alamine, ketone bodies, lactate and pyruvate were measured on the sixth postnatal day in (a) a group of 10 preterm infants who on account of hyaline membrane disease had not received enteral feeding since birth and (b) before and at 55, 90, and 120 minutes after feeding in a group of healthy preterm infants fed three‐hourly on human milk. Gut hormones were also measured in umbilical venous cord blood. The infants receiving regular boluses of milk from birth demonstrated postnatal surges in preprandial concentrations of gut hormones together with cyclical hormonal responses to feeding. None of these changes were seen in infants receiving intravenous fluids. The latter infants also had lower concentrations of blood alanine, glycerol and hydroxybutyrate and lacked the phasic changes in intermediary metabolites seen in the infants receiving enteral boluses of milk. Thus deprivation of enteral feeding results in a profound alteration of the metabolic and endocrine milieu which may have important effect on the process of adaptation to postnatal life.
Analyzing Temporal Constraints for Web Services Composition

Web service composition has become the optimum technique for Service Oriented Architecture applications because it provides a way to obtain value-added services by combining several Web services. One key issue is that service composition must meet user’s deadline requirements. In this paper we focus our attention on modeling and analyzing time-related properties in service composition. A model called extended time Petri net (ETPN) is introduced, in which the temporal constraints are across transitions. The formal definitions of atomic Web service and service composition are proposed based on ETPN. Timestamp state class method is used to analyze the temporal constraints. Some definitions of service composition are presented such as effective path, compatibility, etc. An algorithm is developed to analyze the weak compatibility of two Web services. Furthermore, the approach of service compatibility checking is provided. Finally, a real-life case is given to evaluate our proposal and to demonstrate the applicability of our approach.
GENETIC STRUCTURE AND DOMESTICATION OF CARROT ( DAUCUS CAROTA SUBSP . SATIVUS ) ( APIACEAE ) 1

Human manipulation of wild progenitors during crop domestication has led to the foundation of modern agriculture ( Zohary and Hopf, 2000 ; Glémin and Bataillon, 2009 ). A common suite of traits including loss of seed shattering, dormancy, and branching are often selected during the domestication process and referred to as the “domestication syndrome” ( Zohary and Hopf, 2000 ). After primary traits have been selected and fi xed, the process of domestication often has directed more attention to quality traits such as color, shape, and fl avor, and physiological traits contributing to uniformity ( Doebley et al., 2006 ). Studies analyzing the genetic structure of wild and cultivated crops, in combination with archeological and historical evidence, have provided insight into the geographic and temporal details of domestication to reveal where, when, and how many times a crop was domesticated ( Meyer et al., 2012 ). To date, the majority of domestication studies has focused on staple food crops with little attention toward root vegetables ( Meyer et al., 2012 ). Cultivated carrot ( Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus L.) is a common vegetable with a well-known and widely distributed weedy progenitor, wild carrot or Queen Anne’s lace ( D. carota subsp. carota ). Carrot is the most widely grown crop of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), cultivated on 1.2 M hectares globally (carrot and turnip as aggregate data) ( FAO, 2011 ), of which 34 000 hectares of carrots are produced in US with an estimated annual crop value of $758 M ( USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2011 ). Wild carrot occurs widely across temperate regions of the globe. The time frame and geographic region(s) of the fi rst cultivation of carrots are unclear. Vavilov (1992 , pp. 337–340) identifi ed Asia Minor (eastern Turkey) and the inner Asiatic regions as the centers of origin of cultivated carrot and noted Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) as being “the basic center of Asiatic kinds of cultivated carrots” where “wild carrots . practically invited themselves to be cultivated”. As observed by the presence of carrot seed at prehistoric human habitations 4000 to 5000 yr 1 Manuscript received 8 February 2013; revision accepted 26 March 2013. The authors thank the California Fresh Carrot Marketing Board and the Bejo, Nunhems, Rijk Zwaan, Takii, and Vilmorin seed companies for fi nancial support. D.G. was supported by the Polish National Science Center, project no. N N302 062236 from 2009–2011. 9 Author for correspondence: (e-mail: philipp.simon@ars.usda.gov)
On the role of the atom–cavity detuning in bimodal cavity experiments

The coherent evolution of the atom–cavity state in bimodal (cavity) experiments has been analysed for a realistic time dependence in detuning the atomic transition frequency. Apart from a ‘smooth switch’ of the atomic resonance from one to the second mode of a bimodal cavity, we considered also an additional (effective) interaction between the field modes of the cavity, known as a ‘communication channel’. Comparison of our model computations has been made especially with the measurements by Rauschenbeutel et al (2001 Phys. Rev. A 64 050301) who demonstrated for the first time the entanglement of the field modes in a bimodal cavity. It is shown that the agreement between the (theoretically) predicted and experimental phase shifts can be improved by allowing a ‘communication’ between the two field modes during a short but finite switch of the atomic transition frequency from one mode to the other. We therefore suggest that the details of the atom–cavity detuning should be taken into account for the future interpretation of bimodal cavity experiments.
The influence of approach speed and functional noise on users' perception of a robot

How a robot approaches a person greatly determines the interaction that follows. This is particularly relevant when the person has never interacted with the robot before. In human communication, we exchange a multitude of multimodal signals to communicate our intent while we approach others. However, most robots do not have the capabilities to produce such signals and easily communicate their intent. In this paper we propose to communicate intent when a robot approaches a person through functional noise and approach speed. Both were manipulated in a between-subjects experiment (N=40) either slowly increasing at the start of the approach and slowly decreasing when the robot reached the human or maximized at the start and abruptly stopped at the end of the approach. We analyzed questionnaires and video data from the interaction and found that particularly functional noise that in-/decreased in volume was helpful to communicate the robot's intent but only in congruence with an in-/decreasing velocity.
Column: Putting the Science in Digital Forensics

In a recent study, digital forensics was found to lack a consensus around even the most basis notions and terminology of the field. To quote: â€œThese two preliminary studies individually suggest that scientific consensus in the area of digital forensic evidence examination is lacking in the broad sense, but that different groups within that overall community may have limited consensus around areas in which they have special expertise, and that the current peerreviewed publication process is not acting to bring about the sorts of elements typically found in the advancement of a science toward such a consensus. perhaps the most significant challenge may be in the development of a common language to describe the field. â€ (see PDF for full column)
Transmit Beamforming Optimization for Wireless Information and Power Transfer in MISO Interference Channels with Signal Cooperation

In simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) systems, dedicated energy signals only convey wireless energy, but not information. For this reason, the energy-carring signals in the SWIPT can be pre- determined in advance and is shared among communication nodes. By exploiting this nature, this paper designs the optimal transmit beamforming vectors for the multiple-input single-output SWIPT interference channel with signal cooperation (IFC-SC), where the energy- carrying signal waveforms are known to transmitters and receivers. Specifically, we aim to identify the optimal tradeoff between the information rate and the harvested energy. To this end, an information rate maximization problem is formulated under minimum required harvested energy constraint, which is non-convex in general. To solve the problem, a new parameterization technique is introduced, and we can decouple the original problem into two subproblems, which yields closed-form beamforming solutions by addressing the line search method for the parameter. Simulation results confirms that the proposed optimal IFC-SC beamforming vectors outperform conventional SWIPT IFC systems.
Digitoxin induces apoptosis in cancer cells by inhibiting nuclear factor of activated T-cells-driven c-MYC expression

Background: Cardiac glycosides such as digitoxin have been shown to directly cause apoptotic death of cancer cells both in vitro, and in vivo. However, the mechanism connecting cardiac glycoside action to apoptosis is not known. It has been reported that compounds resembling digitoxin are able to reduce c-MYC expression. Furthermore, it has been previously shown that the transcription of c-MYC depends on nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) binding sites in the c-MYC promoter. We have therefore hypothesized that NFAT might mediate digitoxin effects on c-MYC mRNA message. Materials and Methods: We have chosen to study this process in HeLa cells where structurally intact c-MYC genes in 8q24 co-localize with human papilloma virus 18 at all integration sites. Results: Here we show that within the 1st h following treatment with digitoxin, a significant reduction in c-MYC mRNA occurs. This is followed by a precipitous loss of c-MYC protein, activation of caspase 3, and subsequent apoptotic cell death. To test the NFAT-dependence mechanism, we analyzed the effects of digitoxin on NFAT isoform-dependent auto-activation of a NFAT-luciferase expression system. Drug dependent effects on expression varied according to each of the four canonical NFAT isoforms (1, 2, 3 or 4). The most digitoxin-sensitive NFAT isoform was NFAT1. Using c-MYC chromatin immune precipitation, we find that digitoxin inhibits interaction of NFAT1 with the proximal c-MYC promoter. Conclusions: These results suggest that the carcinotoxic activity of digitoxin includes suppression of NFAT-driven c-MYC expression.
Localization of outdoor mobile robots using road features

It is required lots of sensor systems to deal with general environmental uncertainties. However, in semi-structured outdoor environments, such as paved road, the environmental uncertainties are generally lower than that of the general environments. As a result, it can be dealt with a single Laser Range Finder by using the utilizations of curb-detection in the semi-structured environments. In this paper, we presented outdoor mobile robot localization scheme by exploiting the detected curb information. For localization, we used data of robot's odometry, DGPS, and compass was combined using Extended Kalman Filter. The data of extracted curb was also used. Using the data of curb, we can get more reliable localization results and suggest algorithm showing better localization performance than that of result from using only DGPS and compass in area in which DGPS's error is large.
Intestinal permeability in patients with atopic eczema

Intestinal permeability was investigated in adult patients with atopic eczema by in vivo and in vitro techniques. Patients with symptoms of ‘immediate’ food allergy were specifically excluded. A 51Cr‐labelled ethylenediaminetetraacetate absorption test was carried out in eighteen patients. Their mean (± s.d.) 24‐hour urine excretion following oral administration of the test substance (2·1 ± 0·9%) did not differ significantly from that of thirty‐four normal controls (1·9±0·5%). Small bowel permeability was estimated directly in jejunal mucosal samples in ten patients with three permeability probes of differing molecular weight. Mucosal permeability did not differ significantly from that of fifteen control patients for any of the test substances. Two patients had abnormal results by both tests and in one this was due to coeliac disease. These results suggest that altered intestinal permeability is not important in the pathogenesis of eczema. Patients demonstrating increased intestinal permeability should undergo jejunal biopsy to exclude significant small bowel disease.
Proteomic Analysis of Global Changes in Protein Expression during Bile Salt Exposure of Bifidobacterium longum NCIMB 8809

ABSTRACT Adaptation to and tolerance of bile stress are among the main limiting factors to ensure survival of bifidobacteria in the intestinal environment of humans. The effect of bile salts on protein expression patterns of Bifidobacterium longum was examined. Protein pattern comparison of strains grown with or without bile extract allowed us to identify 34 different proteins whose expression was regulated. The majority of these proteins were induced after both a minor (0.6 g liter−1) and a major (1.2 g liter−1) exposure to bile. These include general stress response chaperones, proteins involved in transcription and translation and in the metabolism of amino acids and nucleotides, and several enzymes of glycolysis and pyruvate catabolism. Remarkably, xylulose 5-phosphate/fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase, the key enzyme of the so-called bifidobacterial shunt, was found to be upregulated, and the activity on fructose 6-phosphate was significantly higher for protein extracts of cells grown in the presence of bile. Changes in the levels of metabolic end products (acetate and lactate) were also detected. These results suggest that bile salts, to which bifidobacteria are naturally exposed, induce a complex physiological response rather than a single event in which proteins from many different functional categories take part. This study has extended our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the capacity of intestinal bifidobacteria to tolerate bile.
Towards designing a federated database framework for disease outbreak notification systems

Nowadays, the volume of healthcare data that is increasing exponentially, is stored in geographically distributed databases. Current solutions allow healthcare practitioners, epidemiologists and researchers to collect and analyze critical information from these databases by accessing multiple data sources to make critical decisions related to their work. However, this can be a time-consuming and error-prone process. Providing a uniform and logical unit to obtain data is not an easy task and needs clean data integration process. Among the data integration approaches, Federated Databases andWeb Services are the recent approaches that minimize the interference of current operations, handle the heterogeneities, and maintain the local autonomy of component systems. In this paper, we propose a design for a federated databases framework to handle the operations of outbreak notification systems based on a cloud environment with a utilization of Web services approach.
Emotion Recognition from EEG during Self-Paced Emotional Imagery

Here we present an analysis of a 12-subject electroencephalographic (EEG) data set in which participants were asked to engage in prolonged, self-paced episodes of guided emotion imagination with eyes closed. Our goal is to correctly predict, given a short EEG segment, whether the participant was imagining a positive respectively negative-valence emotional scenario during the given segment using a predictive model learned via machine learning. The challenge lies in generalizing to novel (i.e., previously unseen) emotion episodes from a wide variety of scenarios including love, awe, frustration, anger, etc. based purely on spontaneous oscillatory EEG activity without stimulus event-locked responses. Using a variant of the Filter-Bank Common Spatial Pattern algorithm, we achieve an average accuracy of 71.3% correct classification of binary valence rating across 12 different emotional imagery scenarios under rigorous block-wise cross-validation.
NY-ESO-1 expression in DCIS: A new predictor of good prognosis

Background At present, it is difficult to predict which patients with ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS) will subsequently develop frank invasive breast cancer (IDC). A recent survey by our group has shown that NY-ESO-1 and MAGEA are both expressed in DCIS. This study was aimed at determining whether expression of these antigens was related to the later development of IDC. Results 14 of 42 (33%) of patients developed invasive breast cancer during the follow up period. Only one of those DCIS cases that relapsed was positive for NYESO-1 at diagnosis. In contrast, DCIS samples of 15 of the 28 (54%) of those patients who remained disease-free expressed NY-ESO-1. (Permutation chi square p=0.0033). Methods We identified 42 patients with DCIS, and followed them up for more than 10 years. NY-ESO-1 and MAGEA were demonstrated by immunostaining as were CD8+ infiltrates on all sections together with the conventional markers, ER, PR, and HER2. Conclusions Expression of NY-ESO-1 may predict those patients who will not subsequently develop invasive breast cancer and could therefore potentially be helpful in defining prognosis in patients with DCIS.
Changes in the odds of extreme events in the Atlantic basin depending on the position of the extratropical jet

In this study we establish a link between the position of the extratropical jet over the Atlantic and extreme temperature events (below the local seasonal 5% quantile or above the 95% quantile respectively) and wind events (above the local 98% quantile) in the Atlantic basin for the present climate. The strongest link between temperature extremes and the jet is found for the winter season. Extended areas in Europe, Greenland and North America see an increased or decreased chance of winter cold extremes depending on the jet position, even up to a week after the jet occupied the position of interest. Chances of warm temperature extremes in summer in southeastern Europe are higher several days after the jet was located in the central Atlantic. Chances of wind extremes are higher in Western Europe at the latitude of the jet and reduced to the north and south.