Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FT-SOAP : A Fault-tolerant web service

Security is the major concern that refrains people from conducting commerce electronically. The security concerns related to electronic commerce (EC) includes transaction security and system security. We can partially address the transaction security issues by message distribution middleware such as simple object access protocol (SOAP), which is one of the information technology (IT) infrastructures that facilitate EC. It requires a comprehensive set of IT in order to address the system security issues where fault-tolerance technology is one of the core technologies to enhance the system survivability after attack. Based on our preliminary investigation, we conclude that the current SOAP architecture is lack of mechanism to build a highly reliable EC system. We propose a comprehensive fault-tolerance framework based on the current SOAP architecture in order to address the system security issues for EC. We consider this research is the continuing effort of our previous work on fault-tolerant CORBA, thought there are similarities and differences between these two technologies. We propose a standard recommendation that outlines a set of interfaces named fault-tolerant SOAP (FT-SOAP). The FT-SOAP includes four functionalities and three basic components. The SOAP architecture needs modifications/extensions to meet the requirements of FT-SOAP. Our design takes the advantages of SOAP features. The new proposed components in SOAP and the extensions of SOAP engine is backward compatible to non-fault-tolerant SOAP system. Our approach can be used to develop other supports on SOAP.
Efficient signal integrity verification method of multi-coupled RLC interconnect lines with asynchronous circuit switching

A new signal integrity verification method of integrated circuit interconnects with asynchronous circuit switching is presented. A ramp input is modeled with delayed step inputs. Then signal transient variations due to asynchronous input signal switching are accurately as well as efficiently determined by using traveling-wave-based waveform approximation (TWA) technique. It is shown that using 90nm technology, the signal timing and crosstalk of multi-coupled lines with asynchronous switching inputs have an excellent agreement with SPICE simulation but its computation time is several thousand times faster than that of SPICE simulation using generic segment-based RLC circuit model
Pathophysiology and Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a ubiquitous yet diverse cardiac arrhythmia whose incidence increases with age; with most forms of cardiac and some pulmonary diseases; and with a number of metabolic, toxic, endocrine, or genetic abnormalities.1 2 Classification of clinical AF subtypes can be achieved on the basis of the ease by which episodes of the arrhythmia terminate as follows3 : “Paroxysmal” AF refers to episodes that generally stop spontaneously after no more than a few days. “Persistent” AF occurs less frequently than paroxysmal AF and, rather than self-terminating, requires cardioversion to restore sinus rhythm. “Permanent” AF cannot be converted to sinus rhythm. These terms apply strictly to chronic AF, because a single episode of the arrhythmia cannot be fully categorized. Although there are some mixed patterns, they generally derive from physician impatience for early cardioversion or from pragmatic clinical considerations (eg, to avoid thrombus formation or hemodynamic decompensation). Patients initially presenting with paroxysmal AF often progress to longer, non–self-terminating bouts. An exception may be paroxysmal AF during intense vagotonia. Moreover, AF initially responsive to pharmacological or electrical cardioversion tends to become resistant and cannot then be converted to sinus rhythm. To some extent, the failure of the physician to suggest or the patient to accept further cardioversion attempts may lead to diagnosis of “permanent” AF. Thus, the “point of no return” may be determined by true pathophysiological abnormalities or may merely be an artifact of clinical pragmatism. Effective prevention is essential in managing this arrhythmia whose occurrence is widespread, progression is relentless, and morbidity and mortality are significant. To focus on means for prevention necessitates considering both clinical risk factors and pathophysiology. AF derives from a complex continuum predisposing factors, summarized in Table 1⇓. In the West, about 5% of the population >65 years of age …
Basic mechanisms of ovarian function: germ cells

Recent work is reviewed on several molecular aspects of gene expression during oocyte maturation and early development. Several analyses have been carried out on protein synthesis patterns using the high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. The protein pattern of some 400–500 spots in sea urchin oocytes before and just after fertilization are quite similar. By gastrula, major stage specific protein changes have been noted. In a similar study major protein changes are noted during the meiotic maturation process in mammals. With the use of the single-copy DNA hybridization technique, the quantitative levels of rare mRNA sequence expression have been determined during oogenesis and early development in the sea urchin model. The mature oocyte sequence set of some 37 × 106 nucleotides of information (or potentially 18,500 different proteins) is synthesized during oogenesis and slowly utilized during development. The sea urchin gastrula mRNA is predominantly synthesized by the embryo genome; however, essentially all those gastrula mRNA sequences can also be found in the mature oocyte (maternal) set. It is proposed by Hough-Evans et al. that this maternal sequence set, which is made during oogenesis and both utilized (translated in 10,000–20,000 proteins), and in part, continually synthesized by all stages of the embryo, plays a critical role in the morphogenic formation of a sea urchin embryo.
Are There Gains to Delaying Marriage? The Effect of Age at First Marriage on Career Development and Wages

Age at first mariage has risen dramatically since the mid-1960s among a wide spectrum of the U.S. population. Researchers have considered many possible explanations for this trend. Few, though, have asked why individuals should want to delay marriage in the first place. One possibility is that early marriage inhibits the career development of one or both individuals in a marriage. This hypothesis is tested using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. Using panel data methods that exploit longitudinal variation in wages and marriage timing, the authors estimate that delaying marriage increases hourly wages of women by nearly four percent for each year they delay. Marriage timing has no impact on the wages of men. They find that delaying marriage may have costs as well. All else equal, women who delay marriage marry spouses with lower wages.
Bioinformatics Original Paper Identification of Coding and Non-coding Sequences Using Local Hö Lder Exponent Formalism

Motivation: Accurate prediction of genes in genomes has always been a challenging task for bioinformaticians and computational biologists. The discovery of existence of distinct scaling relations in coding and non-coding sequences has led to new perspectives in the understanding of the DNA sequences. This has motivated us to exploit the differences in the local singularity distributions for characterization and classification of coding and non-coding sequences. Results: The local singularity density distribution in the coding and non-coding sequences of four genomes was first estimated using the wave-let transform modulus maxima methodology. Support vector machines classifier was then trained with the extracted features. The trained clas-sifier is able to provide an average test accuracy of 97.7%. The local singularity features in a DNA sequence can be exploited for successful identification of coding and non-coding sequences.
Controllable Imprinted Polymer Layer Coated Silica-Gel for S-1-(1-Naphthyl) Ethylamine Recognition by ATRP

Controlled grafting of S-1-(1-naphthyl) Ethylamine-imprinting polymer layer on the silica-gel was carried out by the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Polymerization time was used as the independent variable to manipulate the amount of grafted imprinting polymer on the silica-gel. For comparison, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) without silica-gel also prepared at the same condition. SEM, FT-IR and UV spectrum were used to study the structural morphology and selectivity of polymers and probe the incorporation of imprinted polymer layer on the surface of substrates. Results indicate that the integration of ATRP and molecularly imprinted polymerization realize preparation of molecular selective polymers and it is possible to tune selectivity and morphology in rational way by changing polymerization times. Meanwhile, we achieve a reference strategy for the development of molecularly imprinting polymer for drugs and to handle forms in certain applications such as chromatographic stationary phases for chiral separations.
Symmetry and Synchrony in Coupled Cell Networks 1: Fixed-Point Spaces

Equivariant dynamical systems possess canonical flow-invariant subspaces, the fixed-point spaces of subgroups of the symmetry group. These subspaces classify possible types of symmetry-breaking. Coupled cell networks, determined by a symmetry groupoid, also possess canonical flow-invariant subspaces, the balanced polydiagonals. These subspaces classify possible types of synchrony-breaking, and correspond to balanced colorings of the cells. A class of dynamical systems that is common to both theories comprises networks that are symmetric under the action of a group Γ of permutations of the nodes ("cells"). We investigate connections between balanced polydiagonals and fixed-point spaces for such networks, showing that in general they can be different. In particular, we consider rings of ten and twelve cells with both nearest and next-nearest neighbor coupling, showing that exotic balanced polydiagonals — ones that are not fixed-point spaces — can occur for such networks. We also prove the "folk theorem" that in any Γ-equivariant dynamical system on Rk the only flow-invariant subspaces are the fixed-point spaces of subgroups of Γ.
Molecular determinants of a Ca2+‐binding site in the pore of cyclic nucleotide‐gated channels: S5/S6 segments control affinity of intrapore glutamates

Cyclic nucleotide‐gated (CNG) channels play an important role in Ca2+ signaling in many cells. CNG channels from various tissues differ profoundly in their Ca2+ permeation properties. Using the voltage‐dependent Ca2+ blockage of monovalent current in wild‐type channels, chimeric constructs and point mutants, we have identified structural elements that determine the distinctively different interaction of Ca2+ with CNG channels from rod and cone photoreceptors and olfactory neurons. Segments S5 and S6 and the extracellular linkers flanking the pore region are the only structural elements that account for the differences between channels. Ca2+ blockage is strongly modulated by external pH. The different pH dependence of blockage suggests that the pKa of intrapore glutamates and their protonation pattern differ among channels. The results support the hypothesis that the S5–pore–S6 module, by providing a characteristic electrostatic environment, determines the protonation state of pore glutamates and thereby controls Ca2+ affinity and permeation in each channel type.
Integrated Energy Management of Plug-in Electric Vehicles in Power Grid With Renewables

This paper presents an integrated control scheme for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operation in the distribution grid with renewable energy sources. A hierarchical framework is proposed for V2G applications, and the mathematical models are built for both smart charging and V2G operation with distribution grid constraints. V2G power is regulated to minimize the total operating cost (TOC) while providing frequency regulation. The simulation results verify the control algorithm in coordinating distributed electric vehicle (EV) aggregations with the varying wind power and daily load. For V2G dynamic regulation, EVs connected in close proximity to wind power generators can locally compensate for the wind fluctuation with fast response and, hence, smooth out the power fluctuation at the bus having wind power generators and EVs. Each individual EV is strategically assigned to implement the simulated control algorithm through a bidirectional converter. An experimental platform is incorporated into the proposed integrated energy management to demonstrate the instantaneous response of EV battery storage.
Quicker Q-Learning in Multi-Agent Systems

Multi-agent learning in Markov Decisions ProbK i s chanenging because of the presence ot two credit assignment problems: 1) How to credit an action taken at time step t for rewards received at t’ > t ; and 2 ) How to credit an action taken by agent z considering the system reward is a function of the actions of all the agents. The first credit assignment problem is typically addressed with temporal difference methods scch as Q-learning OK TD(X) The second credit assi,onment problem is typically addressed either by hand-crafting reward functions that assign proper credit to an agent, or by making certain independence assumptions about an agent’s state-space and reward function. To address both credit assignment problems simultaneously, we propose the “Q Updates with Immediate Counterfactual Rewards-learning” (QUICRlearning) designed to improve both the convergence properties and performance of Q-learning in large mulh-agent problems. Instead of assumng that an agent’s value function can be made independent of other agents, this method suppresses the impact of other agents using counterfactual rewards. Results on multl-agent grid-world problems over multiple topologies show that QUICR-learning can achieve up to thirty fold improvements in performance over both conventlonal and local Q-learning in the largest tested systems. -_ __ _ _
A controlled trial of urethane treatment in multiple myeloma.

Patients with multiple myeloma were stratified according to prior treatment and randomly assigned to coded urethane or placebo syrup administration. Urethane administration was of shorter duration than placebo treatment, but was associated, in patients who received 100 Gm. or more, with leukopenia in the last half of treatment courses. All recognizable beneficial effects were extracted from individual case histories and were found to be nearly equally distributed between the two treatments. Interpretation of the causes of clinical benefit was difficult but there was close temporal relationship to radiation, antibiotics for infection, or corticosteroid administration. Some clinical features and laboratory data of 36 patients with placebo-treated multiple myeloma are provided. Urethane-treated patients died somewhat earlier on the average than those treated with placebo. This was ascribable in large part to accelerated mortality in urethane-treated patients who were azotemic. When hemoglobin concentration, marrow plasma cell content, performance status and azotemia were used to construct a relative ranking prognostic index, among the two-thirds of patients with the worst indexes significantly shorter survival was associated with urethane treatment (p < .05). In the best prognostic class, no difference was observed in the survival of urethane- or placebo-treated patients. Since urethane administration was in no way superior to placebo administration, and was characterized by shortened survival, its use in the doses and schedule employed in this study would appear ill advised.
A Handbook Supporting Model-Driven Software Development - a Case Study

A modular brush drive assembly used in a brush box for processing a substrate is provided. The modular brush drive assembly includes a pair of brush drives. Each of the pair of brush drives has a mandrel capable of receiving a brush for processing a substrate, a mandrel support arm, and a brush drive housing configured to receive the mandrel and the mandrel support arm. The brush drive housing is configured to pivot. A brush drive position control assembly is further provided and includes a pair of interlocking brush angle gears which interconnect with brush drive shafts. A positioning control is coupled to one of the interlocking brush angle gears to cause pivoting of each brush drive housing. Component parts are designed to be configurable to a plurality of orientations and implementations.
Surface displacement due to banda-aceh earthquake and its effect on geo-informatic work in Thailand

On the morning of December 26 2004, a major earthquake which was the fourth in instrumental seismology history happened 30 km below sea level off the coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Using Okada’s elastic formulae, the displacement caused by the earthquake on a number of GPS sites in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Thailand can be computed. The model based on the assumption of 450 km long rupture predicts motions of 1-10 cm on most GPS station between 500 and 1,500 km from the epicenter. According to the model, northeast sites of the epicenter including Phuket are mostly affected. The prediction of horizontal displacement on Phuket GPS station is 10.9 cm to the west and 11.2 cm to the south or roughly 15.6 cm to southwest. The results from preliminary data processing of two GPS permanent stations in Indonesia and Singapore closely agree with the model. Thus, a 5-day GPS measurement campaign to determine the new absolute geodetic coordinates of Phuket station was carried out in January 2005 and accurate coordinates down to 1 cm level or better are expected to come out in mid-February 2005. The new coordinates of Phuket station will be extremely valuable for geophysicist to determine if rupture exceed 450 km assumed in the model and also for geodesists and national mapping agency to verify changes on the coordinates of geodetic control network of Thailand. The GPS measurement campaign is part of the international collaboration in SEAMERGES (South-East Asia Mastering Environmental Research with Geodetic Space Technique) research project in the framework of the ASEANEU University Network Programme (AUNP). This paper reports the mentioned GPS measurement, the necessity to use the absolute instead of relative positioning, the processing of the observed GPS data, and the analysis of the displacement effects on large scale maps and geo-information.
Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus: The First Decade

Interferon alfa therapy emerged as an early treatment option for patients with chronic hepatitis C. This therapy, however, fails to produce a sustained virological response in most patients. Various host and viral baseline characteristics, some of which include hepatitis C virus genotype, viral load, presence of cirrhosis, and patient age, affect the response to interferon therapy. The addition of ribavirin to interferon therapy significantly improves long-term virological response in treatment-naive patients and is also more effective than repeat interferon therapy is in patients who fail to initially achieve sustained virological or biochemical responses. However, ribavirin can induce reversible hemolytic anemia, and combination therapy with a ribavirin/interferon regimen is not tolerated as well as interferon is alone. Pegylated interferons used alone or in combination with ribavirin provide improved treatment options for different patient groups with chronic hepatitis C.
VISUAL CHARACTER N-GRAMS FOR CLASSIFICATION AND RETRIEVAL OF RADIOLOGICAL IMAGES

Diagnostic radiology struggles to maintain high interpretation accuracy. Retrieval of past similar cases would help the inexperienced radiologist in the interpretation process. Character n-gram model has been effective in text retrieval context in languages such as Chinese where there are no clear word boundaries. We propose the use of visual character n-gram model for representation of image for classification and retrieval purposes. Regions of interests in mammographic images are represented with the character ngram features. These features are then used as input to back-propagation neural network for classification of regions into normal and abnormal categories. Experiments on miniMIAS database show that character n-gram features are useful in classifying the regions into normal and abnormal categories. Promising classification accuracies are observed (83.33%) for fatty background tissue warranting further investigation. We argue that Classifying regions of interests would reduce the number of comparisons necessary for finding similar images from the database and hence would reduce the time required for retrieval of past similar cases.
Effect of Human Excreta Mixture on Biogas Production

China is a large agricultural country that has abundant biomass resource which can be generated biogas for heating and lighting. To improve biogas production efficiency of human excreta, which is a main kind of material in household biogas use, a laboratory-scale simulated experimental using self-designed constant temperature anaerobic fermentation equipment was conducted in our study. The results showed that increase of temperature can improve biogas generation efficiency of human excreta, and the other way is to mix the human excreta with other materials especially with the high C materials. Compare with the high costing of increase temperature, co-digestion with wheat straw has obvious advances: the crop straw can easily obtain and both wastes can be handled in the anaerobic fermentation process. The co-digestion developed in our study may be applicable to human excreta with other crop straws such as corn straw for biogas production.
Path Planning for Mobile Robot using 4EGSOR via Nine- Point Laplacian (4EGSOR9L) Iterative Method

paper presents an attempt to solve path planning problem for a mobile robot operating in indoor environment model using iterative numerical technique. It is based on the use of Laplace's Equation to compute the potential functions in the environment grid model of the robot. The proposed block iterative method, better known as Four Point-Explicit Group via Nine-Point Laplacian (4EGSOR9L), employs a finite- difference scheme to compute the potential functions to be used in generating smooth path between start and goal points. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed 4EGSOR9L method performs faster than the previous methods in computing the potential functions of the environment model. Keywordspath planning; Four-Point Explicit Group SOR via Nine-Point Laplacian (4EG9LSOR); Laplace's equation.