Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A numerical study of a class of TVD schemes for compressible mixing layers

At high Mach numbers the two-dimensional time-developing mixing layer develops shock waves, positioned around large-scale vortical structures. A suitable numerical method has to be able to capture the inherent instability of the flow, leading to the roll-up of vortices, and also must be able to capture shock waves when they develop. Standard schemes for low speed turbulent flows, for example spectral methods, rely on resolution of all flow-features and cannot handle shock waves, which become too thin at any realistic Reynolds number. The performance of a class of second-order explicit total variation diminishing (TVD) schemes on a compressible mixing layer problem was studied. The basic idea is to capture the physics of the flow correctly, by resolving down to the smallest turbulent length scales, without resorting to turbulence or sub-grid scale modeling, and at the same time capture shock waves without spurious oscillations. The present study indicates that TVD schemes can capture the shocks accurately when they form, but (without resorting to a finer grid) have poor accuracy in computing the vortex growth. The solution accuracy depends on the choice of limiter. However a larger number of grid points are in general required to resolve the correct vortex growth. The low accuracy in computing time-dependent problems containing shock waves as well as vortical structures is partly due to the inherent shock-capturing property of all TVD schemes. In order to capture shock waves without spurious oscillations these schemes reduce to first-order near extrema and indirectly produce clipping phenomena, leading to inaccuracy in the computation of vortex growth. Accurate simulation of unsteady turbulent fluid flows with shock waves will require further development of efficient, uniformly higher than second-order accurate, shock-capturing methods.
El atún blanco (thunnus alalunga, Bonnaterre 1788) del Atlántico norte: aspectos sobre la biología, ecología y explotación del stock norte.

E latun blanco (Thunnus alalunga) es una especie pelagica oceanica que habita las aguas templadas y tropicales del Atlantico. El stock norte el Atlantico sustenta importantes pesquerias europeas y asiaticas y en Espana, la importante pesqueria de las flotas de cacea y cebo vivo. Parametros como la mortalidad natural, el crecimiento, la biologia reproductiva describen la historia de vida y la dinamica de la poblacion y son necesarios para ajustar los modelos de evaluacion del stock y calcular los puntos de referencia biologicos. Un primer objetivo fue realizar nuevas estimaciones de los parametros de mortalidad natural y crecimiento con modelos no empleados con anteriodad y analizar las escasas muestras de gonadas disponibles con metodos histologicos para estimar la fecundidad relativa. En segundo lugar, caracterizar la incertidumbre en los parametros biologicos investigados y evaluar su impacto en el calculo de los puntos de referencia biologicos (BRPs) definidos para el stock norte de atun blanco del Atlantico. Los parametros biologicos estimados en este estudio fueron empleados en el ajuste de los modelos: rendimiento por recluta y biomasa del stock reproductor (SSB/R) en condiciones de equilibrio para calcular los BRPs y evaluar el impacto en el stock de diferentes escenarios. Finalmente, comprobar la hipotesis de trabajo: no cambio en el estado del stock con los parametros estimados en este estudio.
Evaluating e-commerce cluster architectures using simulation

A set of three-tier e-commerce cluster architectures are analyzed: rigid, in which no machines are shared between tasks; flexible, in which all machines are shared; and hybrid, in which some machines are shared. Each architecture's performance space is mapped and trade-offs are discussed. Steady-state and temporary transient overload conditions are simulated. Simulation indicates that the hybrid architecture's steady-state performance is better than the rigid architecture and within three percent of the flexible architecture in the likely operating region. While the flexible architecture always drops order messages during transient overload, the hybrid architecture only begins dropping orders when they compose more than six percent of the messages. In addition, when order messages are dropped, the hybrid architecture drops fewer than the flexible architecture.
Generating optimized marker-based rigid bodies for optical tracking systems

Marker-based optical tracking systems are often used to track objects that are equipped with a certain number of passive or active point markers. Fixed configurations of these markers, so-called rigid bodies, can be detected by, for example, infrared stereo-based camera systems, and their position and orientation can be reconstructed by corresponding tracking algorithms. The main issue in designing the geometrical constellation of these markers and their 3D positions is to allow robust identification and tracking of multiple objects, and this design process is considered to be an essential and challenging task. At present, the design process is based on trial-and-error: the designer constructs a marker configuration, evaluates it in a given setup, and rearranges the marker positions within the configuration if necessary. Even though single ready-made rigid bodies permit sufficiently good tracking, it is not ensured that the corresponding arrangements of markers meet any quality criteria in terms of reliability and robustness. Furthermore, it is unclear whether it is possible to add further rigid bodies to the setup which are sufficiently distinguishable from the given ones. In this paper, we present an approach to semi-automatically generate marker-based rigid bodies which are optimal with respect to the properties of the tracking system for which they are used, e.g., granularity, accuracy, or jitter. Our procedure which is aimed at supporting the design process as well as improving tracking generates configurations for several devices associated with an arbitrary set of point-based markers. We discuss both the technical background of our approach and the results of an evaluation comparing the tracking quality of commercially available devices to the rigid bodies generated by our approach.
A framework for analysis and design of haptic interfaces

In this paper an overview over the field of haptics, haptic analysis and haptic design is given. The different groups of people in touch with haptics are introduced and their view on the different sectors is discussed. The state of art in the fields of haptic analysis and design is shown and the problems in the combination of this fields is analyzed. A framework for haptic analysis and design which overcomes this problems is proposed. In addition some works and on a system according to this framework are described in detail. The future works and expected results are also outlined as a conclusion.
Real-time pedestrian detection on a xilinx zynq using the HOG algorithm

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are the key to enable autonomous cars in the near future. One important task for autonomous cars is to detect pedestrians reliably in real-time. The HOG algorithm is one of the best algorithms for this task; however it is very compute intensive. To fulfill the real-time requirements for high resolution images an efficient parallel implementation is necessary. This paper presents an efficient hardware implementation as well as a parallel software implementation of the HOG algorithm for pedestrian detection on a Xilinx Zynq SoC. The hardware implementation achieves a speedup of 2x compared to the parallel software implementation for high resolution images (1920 x 1080). Against state-of-the-art a speedup of 1.32x is achieved. The hardware implementation has a reliable detection rate of 90.2% using a classifier trained by an AdaBoost algorithm and a minor false positive rate of 4 %.
A General Upper Bound on the Size of Constant-Weight Conflict-Avoiding Codes

Conflict-avoiding codes are used in the multiple-access collision channel without feedback. The number of codewords in a conflict-avoiding code is the number of potential users that can be supported in the system. In this paper, a new upper bound on the size of constant-weight conflict-avoiding codes is proved. This upper bound is general in the sense that it is applicable to all code lengths and all Hamming weights. Several existing constructions for conflict-avoiding codes, which are known to be optimal for Hamming weights equal to four and five, are shown to be optimal for all Hamming weights in general.
Molecular demonstration of Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma lewisi DNA in wild rodents from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand.

In this study, we investigated the molecular evidence of Trypanosoma evansi in wild rodents from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand. Between November 2007 and June 2009, 1664 rodents were trapped at eight sites representative of various ecological habitats. Of those animals, 94 were tested by direct microscopic blood examination, 633 using the Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomes (CATT/T. evansi) and 145 by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with two sets of primers: TRYP1 (amplifying ITS1 of ribosomal DNA of all trypanosomes) and TBR (amplifying satellite genomic DNA of Trypanozoon parasites). Using TRYP1, based on the size of the PCR products, 15 samples from the three countries were positive for Trypanosoma lewisi (two were confirmed by sequencing), and three were positive for Trypanozoon (one was confirmed by sequencing and three by TBR primers); the specificity of the primers failed as rodent DNA was amplified in some cases. Using TBR, six samples were positive for Trypanozoon (one was confirmed by sequencing); as T. evansi is the only species of the Trypanozoon sub-genus possibly present in Asian rodents, these results confirmed its presence in rodents from Thailand (Rattus tanezumi) and Cambodia (R. tanezumi, Niviventer fulvescens & Maxomys surifer). Further investigations are necessary to establish the situation in Lao PDR. None of the 16 samples most strongly positive to the CATT proved to be positive for Trypanozoon by PCR. The merits of the CATT for such studies were not confirmed. Studying the urban and rural circulation of these parasites in rodents will enable an evaluation of human exposure and infection risk, as human infections by T. evansi were recently described in India and by T. lewisi in India and Thailand. As sequencing PCR products is expensive, the development of new molecular and serological tools for rodents would be very useful.
Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration core biopsy: comparison between an automatic biopsy device and two conventional needle systems.

BACKGROUND endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) allows cytologic and/or histologic diagnosis of lesions within or adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. However, the amount of tissue obtained with a regular 22 gauge needle is not always satisfactory. With the development of a needle XNA-10J-KB (Shot-Gun) that resembles the automatic liver biopsy needle, it is expected that significant samples be obtained more frequently (core biopsy), optimizing histological analysis. OBJECTIVE to compare samples obtained with EUS-FNA using 3 different needle systems: GIP, NA-10J-1 and Shot-Gun. METHODS 19 patients underwent EUS-FNA for diagnosis (5) or tumor staging (14). Mean age was 58.9 years (range 27-82), being 50% men. All patients were submitted to EUS-FNA with the 3 needle models. The Shot-Gun model was "shot" when its tip was near the target inside the lesion, followed by aspiration. Samples were submitted for cytologic and histologic examination. RESULTS mean lesion size was 3.0 cm (range 0.8-5.5 cm). Final diagnoses were made after surgery or intra-operative biopsy: 13 pancreatic tumors (12 adenocarcinomas and 1 neuroendocrine tumor), 4 chronic pancreatitis, 1 acute pancreatitis, and 1 cholangiocarcinoma. Specimens adequate for cytologic diagnosis were obtained in 13/19 (68. 4%) patients using GIP model, in 14/19 (73.7%) with NA10J-1 model, and in 17/19 (89.5%) with ShotGun, model (p=0.039). Histologic analysis was possible in 10/19 (52.6%) patients using the GIP model, in 14/19 (73.7%) with NA10J-1, and in 17/19 (89.5%) with Shot-Gun, model (p=0.005). Adequate samples for cytologic or histologic assessment in 16/19 (84.2%) patients using the GIP model, in 17/19 (89.5%) with NA10J-1, and in 18/19 (94.7%) with Shot-Gun, model (p=0.223). In two cases biopsies were negative due to very hard tumors. CONCLUSION the Shot-Gun needle obtained better samples for histological diagnosis than NA10J-1 needle and GIP.
NPC1 and NPC2 Regulate Cellular Cholesterol Homeostasis through Generation of Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol-derived Oxysterols*

Mutations in the Niemann-Pick disease genes cause lysosomal cholesterol accumulation and impaired low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol esterification. These findings have been attributed to a block in cholesterol movement from lysosomes to the site of the sterol regulatory machinery. In this study we show that Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) and Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2) mutants have increased cellular cholesterol, yet they are unable to suppress LDL receptor activity and cholesterol biosynthesis. Cholesterol overload in both NPC1 and NPC2 mutants results from the failure of LDL cholesterol tobothsuppresssterolregulatoryelement-bindingprotein-dependent gene expression and promote liver X receptor-mediated responses. However, the severity of the defect in regulation of sterol homeostasis does not correlate with endoplasmic reticulum cholesterol levels, but rather with the degree to which NPC mutant fibroblasts fail to appropriately generate 25-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol in response to LDL cholesterol. Moreover, we demonstrate that treatment with oxysterols reduces cholesterol in NPC mutants and is able to correct the NPC1I1061T phenotype, the most prevalent NPC1 disease genotype. Our findings support a role for NPC1 and NPC2 in the regulation of sterol homeostasis through generation of LDL cholesterol-derived oxysterols and have important implications for the treatment of NPC disease.
Taxol inhibits the nuclear movements during fertilization and induces asters in unfertilized sea urchin eggs

Taxol blocks the migrations of the sperm and egg nuclei in fertilized eggs and induces asters in unfertilized eggs of the sea urchins Lytechinus variegatus and Arbacia punctulata. Video recordings of eggs inseminated in 10 microM taxol demonstrate that sperm incorporation and sperm tail motility are unaffected, that the sperm aster formed is unusually pronounced, and that the migration of the egg nucleus and pronuclear centration are inhibited. The huge monopolar aster persists for at least 6 h; cleavage attempts and nuclear cycles are observed. Colcemid (10 microM) disassembles both the large taxol-stabilized sperm aster in fertilized eggs and the numerous asters induced in unfertilized eggs. Antitubulin immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrates that in fertilized eggs all microtubules are within the prominent sperm aster. Within 15 min of treatment with 10 microM taxol, unfertilized eggs develop numerous (greater than 25) asters de novo. Transmission electron microscopy of unfertilized eggs reveals the presence of microtubule bundles that do not emanate from centrioles but rather from osmiophilic foci or, at times, the nuclear envelope. Taxol- treated eggs are not activated as judged by the lack of DNA synthesis, nuclear or chromosome cycles, and the cortical reaction. These results indicate that: (a) taxol prevents the normal cycles of microtubule assembly and disassembly observed during development; (b) microtubule disassembly is required for the nuclear movements during fertilization; (c) taxol induces microtubules in unfertilized eggs; and (d) nucleation centers other than centrioles and kinetochores exist within unfertilized eggs; these presumptive microtubule organizing centers appear idle in the presence of the sperm centrioles.
Incentives in Organizations: Uncertainty and Efficiency

Game-theoretical models of incentive mechanisms in organizations are considered. General formulation of incentive problem is introduced and classification of special cases is explored. It is stated below that in most of the incentive models under interval, stochastic and fuzzy uncertainty jump or compensating incentive functions are optimal. The study of the uncertainty role leads to the conclusion that with the growth of uncertainty the guaranteed efficiency of management decreases.
Synergistic Induction of Oxidative Injury and Apoptosis in Human Multiple Myeloma Cells by the Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine interactions between the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) and the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors sodium butyrate and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells that are sensitive and resistant to conventional agents. Experimental Design: MM cells were exposed to bortezomib for 6 h before the addition of HDAC inhibitors (total, 26 h), after which reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, signaling and cell cycle pathways, and apoptosis were monitored. The functional role of ROS generation was assessed using the free radical scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Results: Preincubation with a subtoxic concentration of bortezomib markedly sensitized U266 and MM.1S cells to sodium butyrate- and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction; caspase 9, 8, and 3 activation; and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase degradation; resulting in synergistic apoptosis induction. These events were associated with nuclear factor κB inactivation, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation, p53 induction, and caspase-dependent cleavage of p21CIP1, p27KIP1, and Bcl-2, as well as Mcl-1, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, and cyclin D1 down-regulation. The bortezomib/HDAC inhibitor regimen markedly induced ROS generation; moreover, apoptosis and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation were attenuated by N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Dexamethasone- or doxorubicin-resistant MM cells failed to exhibit cross-resistance to the bortezomib/HDAC inhibitor regimen, nor did exogenous interleukin 6 or insulin-like growth factor I block apoptosis induced by this drug combination. Finally, bortezomib/HDAC inhibitors induced pronounced lethality in primary CD138+ bone marrow cells from MM patients, but not in the CD138− cell population. Conclusions: Sequential exposure to bortezomib in conjunction with clinically relevant HDAC inhibitors potently induces mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in human MM cells through a ROS-dependent mechanism, suggesting that a strategy combining these agents warrants further investigation in MM.
Streptococcus suis Serotype 2, an Important Swine and Human Pathogen, Induces Strong Systemic and Cerebral Inflammatory Responses in a Mouse Model of Infection1

Streptococcus suis, an important swine and human pathogen, causes septic shock and meningitis. The pathogenesis of both systemic and CNS infections caused by S. suis is poorly understood. A hematogenous model of infection in CD1 mice was developed to study the systemic release of cytokines during the septic shock phase and the proinflammatory events in the CNS associated with this pathogen. Using a liquid array system, high levels of systemic TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-γ, CCL2, CXCL1, and CCL5 were observed 24 h after infection and might be responsible for the sudden death of 20% of animals. Infected mice that survived the early sepsis later developed clinical signs of meningitis and exhibited lesions in the meninges and in numerous regions of the brain, such as the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and corpus callosum. Bacterial Ags were found in association with microglia residing only in the affected zones. In situ hybridization combined with immunocytochemistry showed transcriptional activation of TLR2 and TLR3 as well as CD14, NF-κB, IL-1β, CCL2, and TNF-α, mainly in myeloid cells located in affected cerebral structures. Early transcriptional activation of TLR2, CD14, and inflammatory cytokines in the choroid plexus and cells lining the brain endothelium suggests that these structures are potential entry sites for the bacteria into the CNS. Our data indicate an important role of the inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of S. suis infection in mice. This experimental model may be useful for studying the mechanisms underlying sepsis and meningitis during bacterial infection.
Haloperidol Disrupts Opioid-Antinociceptive Tolerance and Physical Dependence

Previous studies from our laboratory and others have implicated a critical role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in opioid tolerance and dependence. Translational research targeting the CaMKII pathway is challenging, if not impossible, because of a lack of selective inhibitors. We discovered in a preliminary study that haloperidol, a butyrophenone antipsychotic drug, inhibited CaMKII, which led us to hypothesize that haloperidol can attenuate opioid tolerance and dependence by inhibiting CaMKII. The hypothesis was tested in two rodent models of opioid tolerance and dependence. Pretreatment with haloperidol (0.2–1.0 mg/kg i.p.) prevented the development of morphine tolerance and dependence in a dose-dependent manner. Short-term treatment with haloperidol (0.06–0.60 mg/kg i.p.) dose-dependently reversed the established morphine-antinociceptive tolerance and physical dependence. Correlating with behavioral effects, pretreatment or short-term treatment with haloperidol dose-dependently inhibited morphine-induced up-regulation of supraspinal and spinal CaMKIIα activity. Moreover, haloperidol given orally was also effective in attenuating morphine-induced CaMKIIα activity, antinociceptive tolerance, and physical dependence. Taken together, these data suggest that haloperidol attenuates opioid tolerance and dependence by suppressing CaMKII activity. Because haloperidol is a clinically used drug that can be taken orally, we propose that the drug may be of use in attenuating opioid tolerance and dependence.
Assessing the suitability of the eelgrass (Zostera marina L) deep edge as an indicator of water clarity in estuarine systems

The suitability of the seagrass deep edge as an indicator of water clarity was assessed by examining the sensitivity and specificity of this indicator to changes in light. Indicator specificity was assessed by examining the extent to which seasonal variation in environmental parameters affected the location of the deep edge at five eelgrass meadows in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire. The mean location of the eelgrass deep edge was seasonally stable at three sites, confirming its suitability as an indicator. At two sites, the deep edge responded to long-term light reduction and changes in deep edge location of 1.3 meters were detectable between seasons. The recommended method of monitoring the deep edge is to measure deep edge location in reference to a permanent transect. The sensitivity of eelgrass growing along a depth gradient to a reduction in light was examined through a literature review and an experimental design.