Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the maturity of requirements through argumentation: A good enough approach

Requirements engineers need to be confident that enough requirements analysis has been done before a project can move forward. In the context of KAOS, this information can be derived from the soundness of the refinements: sound refinements indicate that the requirements in the goal-graph are mature enough or good enough for implementation. We can estimate how close we are to `good enough' requirements using the judgments of experts and other data from the goals. We apply Toulmin's model of argumentation to evaluate how sound refinements are. We then implement the resulting argumentation model using Bayesian Belief Networks and provide a semi-automated way aided by Natural Language Processing techniques to carry out the proposed evaluation. We have performed an initial validation on our work using a small case-study involving an electronic document management system.
7. Respondent-Driven Sampling: An Assessment of Current Methodology

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) employs a variant of a link-tracing network sampling strategy to collect data from hard-to-reach populations. By tracing the links in the underlying social network, the process exploits the social structure to expand the sample and reduce its dependence on the initial (convenience) sample. The current estimators of population averages make strong assumptions in order to treat the data as a probability sample. We evaluate three critical sensitivities of the estimators: (1) to bias induced by the initial sample, (2) to uncontrollable features of respondent behavior, and (3) to the without-replacement structure of sampling. Our analysis indicates: (1) that the convenience sample of seeds can induce bias, and the number of sample waves typically used in RDS is likely insufficient for the type of nodal mixing required to obtain the reputed asymptotic unbiasedness; (2) that preferential referral behavior by respondents leads to bias; (3) that when a substantial fraction of the target population is sampled the current estimators can have substantial bias. This paper sounds a cautionary note for the users of RDS. While current RDS methodology is powerful and clever, the favorable statistical properties claimed for the current estimates are shown to be heavily dependent on often unrealistic assumptions. We recommend ways to improve the methodology.
Human Neutrophil Cytoskeletal Dynamics and Contractility Actively Contribute to Trans-Endothelial Migration

Transmigration through the endothelium is a key step in the immune response. In our recent work, the mechanical properties of the subendothelial matrix and biophysical state of the endothelium have been identified as key modulators of leukocyte trans-endothelial migration. Here, we demonstrated that neutrophil contractile forces and cytoskeletal dynamics also play an active biophysical role during transmigration through endothelial cell-cell junctions. Using our previously-established model for leukocyte transmigration, we first discovered that >93% of human neutrophils preferentially exploit the paracellular mode of transmigration in our in vitro model, and that is independent of subendothelial matrix stiffness. We demonstrated that inhibition of actin polymerization or depolymerization completely blocks transmigration, thus establishing a critical role for neutrophil actin dynamics in transmigration. Next, inhibition of neutrophil myosin II-mediated contractile forces renders 44% of neutrophils incapable of retracting their trailing edge under the endothelium for several minutes after the majority of the neutrophil transmigrates. Meanwhile, inhibition of neutrophil contractile forces or stabilization of microtubules doubles the time to complete transmigration for the first neutrophils to cross the endothelium. Notably, the time to complete transmigration is significantly reduced for subsequent neutrophils that cross through the same path as a previous neutrophil and is less dependent on neutrophil contractile forces and microtubule dynamics. These results suggest that the first neutrophil induces a gap in endothelial cell-cell adhesions, which “opens the door” in the endothelium and facilitates transmigration of subsequent neutrophils through the same hole. Collectively, this work demonstrates that neutrophils play an active biophysical role during the transmigration step of the immune response.
Circulating Mitochondrial Nucleic Acids Have Prognostic Value for Survival in Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Advanced prostate cancer represents a heterogeneous disease entity with differences in clinical behavior, response to therapy, and survival. We assessed whether we could distinguish poor from good prognosis patients at presentation in our clinic by means of quantifying circulating cell-free mitochondrial and genomic nucleic acids in plasma. Experimental Design: We collected plasma from 75 prostate cancer patients and from 14 subjects with benign disease. Nucleic acids were isolated, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; 16S rRNA), mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA; cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1), and genomic DNA (U1A DNA) transcripts were quantified by real-time amplification. An association between cell-free nucleic acids and metastasis, prostate-specific antigen doubling time, and hemoglobin levels was determined. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard and survival estimation studies were done. Results: We show that elevated mtDNA and mtRNA levels are present in plasma of prostate cancer patients with a poor 2-year survival (P = 0.02 and 0.003, respectively). Cancer patients with high plasma mitochondrial nucleic acids, using a calculated optimal cutoff point, show a decreased survival compared with patients with low levels (35% versus 73% cumulative survival for mtDNA and 21% versus 73% for mtRNA). Multivariate analysis indicates that mtRNA is an independent predictor of 2-year survival. Conclusions: Quantification of plasma mitochondrial nucleic acids may be used to recognize patients with a poor prognosis. In advanced prostate cancer patients, mtRNA seemed the strongest predictor of overall survival and an independent prognostic factor for cancer-related death. Amplification of mitochondrial nucleic acids shows increased sensitivity and specificity over genomic DNA as diagnostic and prognostic marker in prostate cancer patients.
Students’ satisfaction in higher education: the role of practices, needs and beliefs of teachers

Purpose The purpose of the paper is the analysis of the evolution of students’ satisfaction over time in a large Italian university and the effects on it because of some characteristics of the teachers: didactic practices, beliefs and needs with regard to teaching and learning. Design/methodology/approach The first step of the analysis identifies a latent construct, measured with items composing the questionnaire, and proposes a reduced set of indicators to measure satisfaction and to model its evolution over time (information collected in three consecutive academic years is available). A second step clusters teachers in homogenous groups with reference to their opinions, beliefs and needs, collected with a new survey conducted at the University of Padova, with the aim of developing strategies to support academic teachers. Then, a mixture conditional latent growth model is estimated with covariates affecting the latent parameters and class membership. Findings Model estimation identifies a large group of university courses with a high level of satisfaction, which stays constant over time, and a small group of problematic courses with low satisfaction, moreover, that decreases over the three considered academic years. Interesting significant effects of covariates related to both the teacher and the didactic activity are estimated. Originality/value Statistical analyses show that the implementation of innovative didactic practices and commitment to quality of teaching are important factors to be encouraged by the university management. On the contrary, the traditionalist way of teaching and a low passion for teaching do not improve students’ satisfaction.
Successful immunotherapy of an intraocular tumor in mice.

Immune privilege in the eye is considered essential in the protection against local sight-threatening inflammatory responses. However, the deviant immune responses in the eye may also provide an ideal opportunity to uncontrolled growth of viruses or tumors by inhibiting intraocular immunological attack. To establish to what extent immune privilege interferes with T cell-mediated antitumor immunotherapy, we established a new ocular tumor model in the mouse and tested whether well-defined tumor-specific CTLs can eradicate an immunogenic intraocularly growing tumor. Tumor cells, transformed by human adenovirus type 5 early region 1 (Ad5E1), injected s.c. in a dose of 10(7) cells, did not induce s.c. tumor growth in C57BL/6 mice. However, an injection of 0.3 x 10(6) of these cells into the anterior chamber of the eye led to intraocular tumor growth in 95% of mice (n = 20). Tumor growth in the eye did not induce systemic tumor-specific tolerance, because 70% of the mice were able to eradicate the tumor spontaneously after 5 weeks. Mice vaccinated s.c. with irradiated tumor cells were protected against intraocular tumor challenge, indicating that preactivated memory T cells are able to protect against intraocular tumor growth. Moreover, an i.v. injection of an Ad5E1-specific CTL clone was able to eradicate established intraocular Ad5E1-transformed tumors, whereas the anatomy of the eye remained intact. These results demonstrate that tumor-specific, CTL-mediated immunity can be used successfully for the prevention and eradication of tumors growing in the immune-privileged anterior chamber of the eye, without detectable destruction of the eye.
A survey of results relating to Giuga's conjecture on primality

This article is an expanded version of the talk given by the first author at the $25$th Anniversary Conference of the Centre de R\'echerches Math\'ematiques. In ~1950, G. ~Giuga conjectured that if an integer~$n$ satisfies $\sum\limits_{k=1}^{n-1} k^{n-1} \equiv -1$ mod~$n$, then~$n$ must be a prime. In this paper, we survey and complement a recent article (B$^{3}$G) on this interesting and now well established conjecture. \par Giuga proved that~$n$ is a counterexample to his conjecture if and only if each prime divisor~$p$ of~$n$ satisfies $(p-1) \mid (n/p-1)$ and $p \mid (n/p-1)$. Using this characterization, he proved computationally that any counterexample has at least 1000~digits; equipped with more computing power, E. ~Bedocchi later raised this bound to 1700~digits. By improving on their method, we determine that any counterexample has at least 13,800~digits. \par We also give some new results on the second of the above conditions. This leads to open questions about what we call Giuga numbers and Giuga sequences. Finally we study eight natural variations on our theme. Complete details are provided in this section since the results are entirely new.
Representation Generates Information

Early agreement within the field on the topic of representation has now given way to a complex combination of positions. Anti-representationalists question the significance of representation in cognition. Representationalists continue to argue in favor but have been unable to demonstrate the case in any formal way. In the present paper, that task is addressed using the mathematics of information theory applied in a framework of dual-role, Bayesian models. It is shown that the achievement of sensory efficiency entails utilization of embedded representational structures and that such structures can be seen as recovering lost information. It is also shown that the requirement for such structures grows in proportion with the degree of distributive structure in the environment. In the achievement of sensory efficiency there is thus a tradeoff between strategies which serve to moderate distributive structure and strategies which serve to recover information thereby lost. On this basis, there is the possibility, in general, of adopting either a representational or non-representational strategy. Both sides in the debate are thus essentially correct but can be seen as emphasizing different extremes of a functional continuum.
Protective Effect of Aerobic Exercise Against L-Name-Induced Kidney Damage in Rats

Exercise, alone or combined with changes in lifestyle, can prevent or reduce the need for pharmacotherapy in patients with compromised endothelium-dependent function. The aim of this study was to examine the protective effect of aerobic exercise against (L-NAME)-kidney damage in male rats induced by Nω-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). L-NAME was administered to rats intraperitoneally in doses of 10 mg kg-1 six days a week over eight weeks. Rats exercised by running on a treadmill at the speed of (15 to 22) m min-1, 25 min to 64 min per day, five days a week over eight weeks. The rats were killed 48 h after the last dose, and their kidneys removed and homogenised to measure the levels of heat shock protein70 (HSP70), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). We also measured serum nitrite/nitrate. Chronic administration of L-NAME significantly increased renal HSP70 and TBARS levels and decreased renal SOD activity and serum nitrites/nitrates. Training modified abnormal renal HSP70, lowered TBARS, and increased SOD and serum nitrite/nitrate. Our results have confirmed that regular aerobic exercise protects against nitric oxide deficiency-induced kidney damage by modifying HSP70, up-regulating SOD activity, and depleting TBARS. Sažetak Tjelovježba kao takva ili u kombinaciji s promjenama u životnim navikama može smanjiti potrebu za uzimanjem lijekova u bolesnika s kompromitiranom endotelnom funkcijom. Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio utvrditi zaštitno djelovanje aerobnog vježbanja od oštećenja bubrega koje uzrokuje metil (2S)-2-amino- 5-{[amino(nitramido)metiliden]amino}pentanoat (L-NAME) u Wistar štakora. L-NAME se davao štakorima osam tjedana intraperitonealno u dozi od 10 mg kg-1 na dan, šest dana u tjednu. U tih osam tjedana, štakori su trčali na traci brzinom od 15 m min-1 do 22 m min-1, 25 min do 64 min na dan, pet dana u tjednu. Četrdeset osam sati po primitku posljednje doze L-NAME-a štakori su žrtvovani, a njihovi bubrezi uklonjeni i homogenizirani radi mjerenja razina HSP70, SOD-a i TBARS-a. Također smo mjerili koncentraciju nitrita/nitrata u serumu. Dugotrajna primjena L-NAME značajno je povećala razine HSP70 i TBARS-a te smanjila aktivnost SOD-a u bubrezima odnosno razine nitrita/nitrata u serumu. Vježbanje je smanjilo povišene razine HSP70 i TBARS-a, a povećalo aktivnost SOD-a i razinu nitrita/nitrata u serumu. Naši rezultati potvrđuju da redovito vježbanje štiti od oštećenja bubrega uzrokovanog nedostatkom dušikova oksida, tako što mijenja razine HSP70, potiče aktivnost SOD-a, te smanjuje razine TBARS-a.
Towards Minkowski vacua in type II string compactifications

We study the vacuum structure of compactifications of type II string theories on orientifolds with SU(3) × SU(3) structure. We argue that generalised geometry enables us to treat these non-geometric compactifications using a supergravity analysis in a way very similar to geometric compactifications. We find supersymmetric Minkowski vacua with all the moduli stabilised at weak string coupling and all the tadpole conditions satisfied. Generically the value of the moduli fields in the vacuum is parametrically controlled and can be taken to arbitrarily large values.
Evaluation model of the lay-out of sickbeds that based on the overall satisfaction

By analyzing the factors which have impact on how the hospital arrange its sickbeds, this paper gives a evaluation index system about arranging the sickbeds and a evaluation model that based on the overall satisfaction of the patients and the hospital. From the perspective of patients, we consider their time, cost and the therapeutic effect, while from the viewpoint of the hospital, the analysis incorporates its social benefits and economic benefits. In conclusion, we apply the model to solve the problem B of China Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling in 2009.The work has provided a frame of reference and the improving direction to optimize the allocation of medical resources and strengthen the sickbeds management of hospitals.
Rights, Identity and Claims-Making

The nation-state mode of citizenship – the predominant way we think about citizenship – assumes the existence of actors whose rights and identities are grounded within the bounds of national collectives. And these collectives are assumed to constitute the authentic sites for the realization of claims-making and civic participation. The experience of postwar immigrants in Europe, on the other hand, reveals that the contemporary practices of citizenship are increasingly decoupled from belonging in the national collective. Regardless of their historical or cultural ties to the German nation, and even without a formal German nationality, Turkish immigrants in Berlin make claims on Berlin's authority structures and participate in Berlin's public institutions. When Pakistani immigrants in Britain make demands for the teaching of Islam in public schools, they mobilize around a Muslim identity, but they also appeal to a universalistic language of 'human rights' to justify their claims. And, not only do they mobilize to affect the local school authorities, they also pressure the national government and take their case to the European Court of Human Rights. Contrary to the predominant understandings and conceptualizations, the boundaries of citizenship are not located in a nation-state but encompass the local and the transnational.
REAL-TIME AUTOMATIC LANDSCAPE IMAGE DETECTION IN DIGITAL STILL CAMERA PREVIEW IMAGES WITH FUZZY LOGIC USER CONTROL

În cele ce urmează este prezentat un sistem de analiză automată a scenei, bazat pe imaginile (“preview”-uri) achiziţionate de camera foto înainte de captarea fotografiei. În urma analizei, scena este clasificată fără intervenţia utilizatorului în “peisaj” sau “non-peisaj”, scopul acestei clasificări fiind acela de a stabili cele mai potrivite valori ale parametrilor de expunere. Soluţia propusă poate fi integrată într-un cadru mai larg de clasificare a scenelor, capabil să distingă între mai multe tipuri de scene. Un astfel de sistem este util mai ales în cazul în care scene de natură diferită se succed intercalat şi repede, astfel încât utilizatorul nu are timpul necesar să modifice manual parametrii de expunere. Clasificarea în „peisaj”/”non-peisaj” poate fi reglată de utilizator prin varierea unui singur parametru (realizată prin inferenţă fuzzy) de-a lungul unei scale având punctul neutru amplasat la mijlocul ei.
Lattice decoding for the Compute-and-Forward protocol

In this work we focus exclusively on the Compute-and-Forward (C&F) protocol as a channel coding-based approach for Physical Layer Network Coding. The Core principle of this relaying strategy is based on using Nested Lattice Codes. The source nodes in a relay network encode their messages into lattice codewords and transmit them to the relay. The latter receives a noisy mixing of these codewords and decodes an integer linear combination of them for sequential transmission. To the best of our knowledge, all existent works related to the Compute-and-Forward protocol study only its theoretical limits and no experimental analysis has been proposed so far. Our contribution through this work concerns a plethora of practical aspects, related to lattice decoding for the C&F, that need to be solved to achieve the promising potential of this strategy. We propose practical decoding approaches and investigate the achieved diversity order and identify the relevant parameters that may influence it. We provide simulation results to compare the performance of the different proposed decoding approaches and to link theoretical results with practical aspects.
Design and Comparison of Different Switched Reluctance Machines Topologies for Automotive Applications

The present paper approaches the comparative design and analysis of 5 SRM topologies for an EPAS application. Different number of phases and different combination of stator and rotor pole number will be considered, keeping the same main dimensions (outer and inner stator diameter, airgap length, stack length, stator pole height, stator yoke width, rotor pole height) and the same winding per phase (number of turns and wire diameter). A preliminary sizing of the machine will be carried on, giving the initial geometric data. The key dimensions will be calculated and the winding will be dimensioned. A numericalbased performances analysis will be performed for each case. Index Terms — switched reluctance machine, electrical power assisted steering systems, fault tolerance, conventional and optimization design, numerical field analysis
Latent Class Approach to Estimate the Willingness to Pay for Transit User Information

The aim of analysis is to understand how unreliable information influences user behaviour and how much it discourages public transport use. For this purpose, a Stated Preference Survey was carried out in order to know the preferences of public transport users relating to information needs and uncertainty on the information provided by Advanced Traveller Information System (ATIS). The perceived uncertainty is defined as information inaccuracy. In our study, we considered the difference between forecasted or scheduled waiting time at the bus stop and/or metro station provided by ATIS, and that experienced by user, to catch the bus and/or metro. A questionnaire was submitted to an appropriate sample of Palermo’s population. A Latent Class Logit model was calibrated, taking into account attributes of cost, information inaccuracy, travel time, waiting time, and cut-offs in order to reveal preference heterogeneity in the perceived information. The calibrated model showed various sources of preference heterogeneity in the perceived information of public transport users as highlighted by the analysis reported. Finally, the willingness to pay was estimated, confirming a great sensitivity to the perceived information, provided by ATIS.
Study on Cervical Spine Stresses Based on Finite Element Model

Objective: To establish three dimensional finite element model of the whole cervical spine and investigate biomechanical characteristic of the human cervical spine for application of clinical diagnosis and therapy. Method: A healthy adult female was subjected, three dimensional finite element model of the whole cervical spine was established using the method of 3D interpolation with CT. Result: The model included seven vertebrae, five discs, postical structure and seven ligaments. The volume of the whole model is 74 878.34mm3, the surface area is 32 616.04mm2, which consisting of 578 007elements, 123 358nodes, comparing the simulation data with the literature, the validity of the model was verified. Conclusion: The three-dimensional finite element model simulates the structure and property of cervical spine, whose structure is whole, its elements is fine, the model is very accurate and credible. The equivalent (Von Mises) stress of centum, facet joints and intervertebral disc in flexion is higher than in extension, the result of the biomechanical study was better correlated with the available experimental data. This indicates that the model can be used to analyze the biomechanics characteristic of the human cervical spine f in different condition.