Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power law distributions in information science: Making the case for logarithmic binning

We suggest partial logarithmic binning as the method of choice for uncovering the nature of many distributions encountered in information science (IS). Logarithmic binning retrieves information and trends "not visible" in noisy power-law tails. We also argue that obtaining the exponent from logarithmically binned data using a simple least square method is in some cases warranted in addition to methods such as the maximum likelihood. We also show why often used cumulative distributions can make it difficult to distinguish noise from genuine features, and make it difficult to obtain an accurate power-law exponent of the underlying distribution. The treatment is non-technical, aimed at IS researchers with little or no background in mathematics.
Setting an Upper-Wavelength Limit to the Supercontinuum Generated in a Photonic Crystal Fibre

We report about a novel kind of supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fibre in which the spectral broadening occurs only on the blue side of the pump wavelength. As a consequence a limit to the extent of the supercontinuum is set and thus a way for tailoring the broadened spectrum according to a peculiar application is provided. We present a theoretical explanation along with experimental data which are supported by the results of a set of numerical sim-
Statistical Reform in Psychology

We investigated whether statistical practices in psychology have been changing since 1998. Early in this period, the American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Statistical Inference (TFSI; Wilkinson & TFSI, 1999) advocated improved statistical practices, including reporting effect sizes and confidence intervals (CIs). The APA (2001) Publication Manual included expanded advice on effect sizes and stated that CIs are ‘‘in general, the best reporting strategy’’ (p. 22). Any changes since 1998 may, of course, have had many causes other than those two sources of advice.
Compiler optimization of memory-resident value communication between speculative threads

Efficient inter-thread value communication is essential for improving performance in thread-level speculation (TLS). Although several mechanisms for improving value communication using hardware support have been proposed, there is relatively little work on exploiting the potential of compiler optimization. Building on recent research on compiler optimization of scalar value communication between speculative threads, we propose compiler techniques for the optimization of memory-resident values. In TLS, data dependences through memory-resident values are tracked by the underlying hardware and preserved by re-executing any speculative thread that violates a dependence; however, re-execution incurs a large performance penalty and should be used only to resolve data dependences that are infrequent. In contrast, value communication for frequently-occurring data dependences must be very efficient. We propose using the compiler to first identify frequently-occurring memory-resident data dependences, then insert synchronization for communicating values to preserve these dependences. We find that by synchronizing frequently-occurring data dependences we can significantly improve the efficiency of parallel execution. A comparison between compiler-inserted and hardware-inserted memory synchronization reveals that the two techniques are complementary, with each technique benefitting different benchmarks.
Assessment of Cooling Effect and Surface Quality to Face Milling of AlMg3 Using Several Cooling Lubrication Methods

This article analyzes the temperature variations in the cutting zone under flood of oil-water emulsion (FE), near dry machining (NDM), and dry cutting (DC) conditions. The research compares the dual effects of air-oil mixture in NDM with the cooling effect to DC and FE in terms of the reduction of the cutting temperature through the cooling effect, as well as the reduction of heat generation through the lubricating effect to face milling. The case study concerning the face milling of AlMg3 and the experimental measurements show the cooling and the lubricating effects in NDM reduce the cutting temperatures on the tool-chip interface with respect to the dry machining. The cutting speed remains a dominant factor in the cutting temperature compared with the feed and the depth of cut in the NDM processes. The other aspect investigated, connected with the cooling and lubrication effects, is the machined surface quality.
Preparation of Nano-Sized Wollastonite Using Calcium Silicate Residue of Potassium Feldspar after Extraction of Potassium and Alumina

In this paper, wollastonite nanopowder were successfully synthesized by the surfactants modified-calcined method using calcium silicate residue of potassium feldspar after extraction of potassium and alumina. The effects of modifier and calcined temperature on the phase composition, morphology and microstructure were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the phase of samples with different modifier processing is wollastonite-2M, while CTAB as modifier can avoid preferred orientation growth. The obtained wollastonite powder is spherical in morphology and well dispersed with the particle size of approximately 150nm.
Designing Physics Game to Support Inquiry Learning and to Promote Retrieval Practice

Instruction in physics aims at achieving two goals: the acquisition of body of knowledge and the ability to solve quantitative problems in physics. This requires students to connect physical phenomena, principles, and symbols in physics. Computer simulation provides graphical model that bridges those three levels of knowledge. However, such minimally guided approach may harm learning since it does not align with working memory limitations. The use of scaffolding, e.g., traditional instruction and concept mapping may help students to better understand the simulation, yet simulation lacks of practice in problem solving. In contrast, intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) guide students in learning and support problem solving practice. However, they lack of good graphical model. In this paper, we designed an online puzzle game in physics that combines simulation and pseudo-tutor (namely QTut). We emphasized on extensibility, scalability, and reusability as design guidelines. Subsequently, we performed usability tests on our prototype to collect usersâ perceptions on the learning and entertainment aspects of the game. The results indicated the game as educative and somewhat entertaining. The use of scaffolding in the game positively contributed to the game learning experience. Moreover, the game GUI has expressive power to make the game understandable, even with little instructions.
Dynamic inversion for multivariable non-affine-in-control systems via time-scale separation

This paper presents a tracking design methodology applicable to multivariable non-affine-in-control systems. The main focus is on solving the tracking problem for non-linear systems whose dynamics depend non-linearly on the control input. The latter is designed to be faster than the main system dynamics. Using singular perturbation theory along with the Lyapunov stability theorems, it is shown that the proposed controller approximates an unknown dynamic inversion based solution with bounded errors, provides closed-loop stability, and solves the tracking problem with bounded errors. Simulations illustrate the theoretical results.
Self‐assembly of Protein Nanoarrays on Block Copolymer Templates

There is considerable interest in developing functional protein arrays on the nanoscale for high‐throughput protein‐based array technology, and for the study of biomolecular and cell interactions at the physical scale of the biomolecules. To these ends, self‐assembly based techniques may be desirable for the nanopatterning of proteins on large sample areas without the use of lithography equipment. We present a fast, general approach for patterning proteins (and potentially other biomolecules) on the nanoscale, which takes advantage of the ability of block copolymers to self‐assemble into ordered surface nanopatterns with defined chemical heterogeneity. We demonstrate nanoarrays of immunoglobulin and bovine serum albumin on polystyrene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) templates, and illustrate the applicability of our technique through immunoassays and DNA sensing performed on the protein nanoarrays. Furthermore, we show that the pattern formation mechanism is a nanoscale effect originating from a combination of fluid flow forces and geometric restrictions templated by an underlying nanopattern with a difference in protein adsorption behavior on adjacent, chemically distinct surfaces. This understanding may provide a framework for extending the patterning approach to other proteins and material systems.
Multiprotocol lambda switching: combining MPLS traffic engineering control with optical crossconnects

This article describes an approach to the design of control planes for optical crossconnects which leverages existing control plane techniques developed for MPLS traffic engineering. The proposed approach combines recent advances in MPLS traffic engineering control plane constructs with OXC technology to provide a framework for real-time provisioning of optical channels, foster development and deployment of a new class of OXCs, and allow the use of uniform semantics for network management and operations control in hybrid networks consisting of OXCs and label switching routers. The proposed approach is particularly advantageous for OXCs intended for data-centric optical internetworking systems.
Struvite crystallization from nutrient rich wastewater

Discharge of untreated nutrient-rich wastewater is a problematic issue, which may cause root burning and eutrophication of receiving water. It is also a problematic issue due to the formation of crystalline deposits in waste water systems. The recovery of nutrients using a crystallization technique may provide a value added product. The recovered product is struvite, which is chemically known as magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate. The key focus of this research is the modeling and simulation of struvite growth, which incorporates solution chemistry and thermodynamics, kinetics of growth and process description of the recovery system. This research also focuses on the strategy of struvite crystallization in a fed batch system, to avoid spontaneous precipitation. A fully integrated control strategy in pilot scale is developed in this research. This control strategy is based on feedback control, maintaining constant supersaturation throughout the crystallization. The development and commissioning of experiments includes investigation of suitable seeds, automatic temperature control, operating zone of crystallization and correct design of the pilot scale reactor. Experimental investigation showed a precise stability of the controlled supersaturation. Moreover, size independent growth is indicated in this investigation. An ensemble of experimental data is combined with a dynamic model to carry out parameter estimation of struvite growth kinetic parameters using gPROMS.
A greedy approximation algorithm for the minimum (2, 2)-connected dominating set problem

Using a connected dominating set (CDS) to serve as the virtual backbone of a wireless sensor network (WSN) is an effective way to save energy and reduce the impact of broadcasting storms. Since nodes may fail due to accidental damage or energy depletion, it is desirable that the virtual backbone is fault tolerant. This could be modeled as a k-connected, m-fold dominating set ((k,m)-CDS). Given a virtual undirected network G=(V,E), a subset C\subset V is a (k,m)-CDS of G if (i) G[C], the subgraph of G induced by C is k-connected, and (ii) each node in V\C has at least m neighbors in C. We present a two-phase greedy algorithm for computing a (2,2)-CDS that achieves an asymptotic approximation factor of $(3+\ln(\Delta+2))$, where $\Delta$ is the maximum degree of G. This result improves on the previous best known performance factor of $(4+\ln\Delta+2\ln(2+\ln\Delta))$ for this problem.
A Survey on Intrusion Network Detection System Using Data Mining Techniques

As more and more data goes online, there is a pressing need to secured dissemination of a large amount of information. Because of the effort required to monitor networks and systems manually, it is not easy to detect attempts at misuse or successful attacks without the help of intelligent intrusion Detection system (IDS). IDS, much like the security industry, have grown rapidly over the past few years. These tools have become essential security componentsas valuable to many organizations as a firewall However, as in any environment, things change. Networks and crackers are evolving fast, demanding that security tools keep up. Intrusion Detection Systems face several daunting, but exciting challenges in the future and are sure to remain one of our best weapons in the area of network security. The modern day Network IDS faces some very challenging problems, like switched environment, increased network traffic, and encryption. Add that, the performance consideration of IDS, such as false positives and missed attacks, and the mole hill does become a mountain! The way to go seems to be analysis and data correlation. The concept of management console dedicated to the task of correlating abnormal event notifications, with relevance measures is an emerging one. One can pictures many distributed elements performing specific jobs, each passing the results onto a higher level for correlation and analysis. In an environment where many machines have similar configurations, a complete port scan on machine may trigger alarms but slow scans across ports of different machines might go unnoticed and will result in the intruder gaining all the information about the services running on each machine, thus successfully performing a distributed port scan. We focus on detecting a distributed port scan, by sniffing packets on the network. Five types of TCP port scans, performed by nap are successfully detected, in scan sweeps of one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, many-to-many hosts. Our approach also manages to detect slow scans which are typically missed by available commercial packages, because of the feature that we select to examine. KeywordsAnomaly Detection, Intrusion detection, clustering.
Fronthaul-Aware Group Sparse Precoding and Signal Splitting in SWIPT C-RAN

We investigate the precoding, remote radio head (RRH) selection and signal splitting in the simultaneous wireless information and power transferring (SWIPT) cloud radio access networks (C-RANs). The objective is to minimize the power consumption of the SWIPT C-RAN. Different from the existing literature, we consider the nonlinear fronthaul power consumption and the multiple antenna RRHs. By switching off the unnecessary RRHs, the group sparsity of the precoding coefficients is introduced, which indicates that the precoding process and the RRH selection are coupled. In order to overcome these issues, a group sparse precoding and signal splitting algorithm is proposed based on the majorization-minimization framework, and the convergence behavior is established. Numerical results are used to verify our proposed studies.
Transfer RNA Bound to MnmH Protein Is Enriched with Geranylated tRNA – A Possible Intermediate in Its Selenation?

The wobble nucleoside 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thio-uridine (mnm5s2U) is present in bacterial tRNAs specific for Lys and Glu and 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thio-uridine (cmnm5s2U) in tRNA specific for Gln. The sulfur of (c)mnm5s2U may be exchanged by selenium (Se)–a reaction catalyzed by the selenophosphate-dependent tRNA 2-selenouridine synthase encoded by the mnmH (ybbB, selU, sufY) gene. The MnmH protein has a rhodanese domain containing one catalytic Cys (C97) and a P-loop domain containing a Walker A motif, which is a potential nucleotide binding site. We have earlier isolated a mutant of Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhimurium with an alteration in the rhodanese domain of the MnmH protein (G67E) mediating the formation of modified nucleosides having a geranyl (ge)-group (C10H17-fragment) attached to the s2 group of mnm5s2U and of cmnm5s2U in tRNA. To further characterize the structural requirements to increase the geranylation activity, we here report the analysis of 39 independently isolated mutants catalyzing the formation of mnm5ges2U. All these mutants have amino acid substitutions in the rhodanese domain demonstrating that this domain is pivotal to increase the geranylation activity. The wild type form of MnmH+ also possesses geranyltransferase activity in vitro although only a small amount of the geranyl derivatives of (c)mnm5s2U is detected in vivo. The selenation activity in vivo has an absolute requirement for the catalytic Cys97 in the rhodanese domain whereas the geranylation activity does not. Clearly, MnmH has two distinct enzymatic activities for which the rhodanese domain is pivotal. An intact Walker motif in the P-loop domain is required for the geranylation activity implying that it is the binding site for geranylpyrophosphate (GePP), which is the donor molecule in vitro in the geranyltransfer reaction. Purified MnmH from wild type and from the MnmH(G67E) mutant have bound tRNA, which is enriched with geranylated tRNA. This in conjunction with earlier published data, suggests that this bound geranylated tRNA may be an intermediate in the selenation of the tRNA.
Mifepristone Induces Growth Arrest, Caspase Activation, and Apoptosis of Estrogen Receptor-Expressing, Antiestrogen-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells

Purpose: A major clinical problem in the treatment of breast cancer is the inherent and acquired resistance to antiestrogen therapy. In this study, we sought to determine whether antiprogestin treatment, used as a monotherapy or in combination with antiestrogen therapy, induced growth arrest and active cell death in antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cells. Experimental Design: MCF-7 sublines were established from independent clonal isolations performed in the absence of drug selection and tested for their response to the antiestrogens 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) and ICI 182,780 (fulvestrant), and the antiprogestin mifepristone (MIF). The cytostatic (growth arrest) effects of the hormones were assessed with proliferation assays, cell counting, flow cytometry, and a determination of the phosphorylation status of the retinoblastoma protein. The cytotoxic (apoptotic) effects were analyzed by assessing increases in caspase activity and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Results: All of the clonally derived MCF-7 sublines expressed estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor but showed a wide range of antiestrogen sensitivity, including resistance to physiological levels of 4-OHT. Importantly, all of the clones were sensitive to the antiprogestin MIF, whether used as a monotherapy or in combination with 4-OHT. MIF induced retinoblastoma activation, G1 arrest, and apoptosis preceded by caspase activation. Conclusions: We demonstrate that: (a) estrogen receptor+progesterone receptor+, 4-OHT-resistant clonal variants can be isolated from an MCF-7 cell line in the absence of antiestrogen selection; and (b) MIF and MIF plus 4-OHT combination therapy induces growth arrest and active cell death of the antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cells. These preclinical findings show potential for a combined hormonal regimen of an antiestrogen and an antiprogestin to combat the emergence of antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cells and, ultimately, improve the therapeutic index of antiestrogen therapy.
Encoding of amplitude modulation in the cochlear nucleus of the cat.

1. Amplitude modulation (AM) is a pervasive property of acoustic communication systems. In the present study we investigate neural temporal mechanisms in the auditory nerve and cochlear nuclei of the pentobarbital sodium-anesthesized cat associated with the neural coding of 100% AM tones, both in quiet and in the presence of wideband, quasi-flat-spectrum noise. The AM carrier frequency was set to the neuron's characteristic frequency (CF) and the sound pressure level (SPL) of acoustic stimuli was varied over a wide dynamic range of intensities (< or = 40 dB). The temporal AM-encoding capability of auditory neurons was measured by computing the synchronization coefficient (SC) of the neural response to the signal's modulation and carrier frequency. The temporal modulation transfer function (tMTF) of a neuron was then computed by measuring the SC of the response to signals of variable fmod (50-2550 Hz). 2. Neurons in the cochlear nuclei synchronize on average more highly to the modulation frequency than fibers of comparable CF, threshold, and spontaneous rate in the auditory nerve. The disparity in performance is greatest at high SPLs and low signal-to-noise ratios. However, there is a significant degree of diversity in AM-encoding capability among neurons in both the cochlear nuclei and auditory nerve. Among auditory nerve fibers (ANFs), low- and medium-spontaneous-rate (SR) units (SR < 18 spike/s) phase-lock with greater precision than comparable high-SR units at any given frequency, particularly at moderate to high SPLs, consistent with previous studies. 3. The phase-locking capabilities of neurons in the cochlear nucleus are considerably more variable than in the auditory nerve. Moreover, the variability itself depends on two distinct measures of phase-locking performance. Most ANFs are capable of phase-locking to frequencies as high as 3-4 kHz. In the cochlear nucleus many unit types do not phase-lock to modulation frequencies > 1 kHz. As a result, phase-locking performance is measured on the basis of two parameters, maximum synchronization, irrespective of stimulus frequency, and the upper frequency limit for significant phase-locking. 4. Cochlear nucleus neurons may be divided into three distinct groups on the basis of maximum synchronization capability. In group 1 are the primary-like (PL) units of the anteroventral division, whose phase-locking capabilities are comparable with those of high-SR ANFs. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Multiple sclerosis, vitamin D, and HLA-DRB1*15

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a remarkable geographic distribution inversely paralleling that of regional ultraviolet radiation, supporting the hypothesis that vitamin D plays a central role in the disease etiology. The major histocompatibility complex exerts the largest genetic contribution to MS susceptibility, but much risk remains unexplained and direct gene-environment interaction is a strong candidate for this additional risk. Such interactions may hold the key for disease prevention. Recent developments: Several recent studies strengthen the candidacy of vitamin D as a key player in the causal cascade to MS. This includes a newly identified gene-environment interaction between vitamin D and the main MS-linked HLA-DRB1*1501 allele and evidence showing that vitamin D levels are significantly lower in patients with MS as compared to controls. Also, a recent study in twins with MS supports the notion that vitamin D levels are under regulation by genetic variation in the 1α-hydroxylase and vitamin D receptor genes, perhaps pointing to their importance in the disease pathogenesis. Conclusions: These findings have important practical implications for studies of disease mechanisms and prevention. Missing genetic risk may partly be explained by gene-environment interactions. More practically important is that these observations highlight a pressing need to determine if vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the timing of action and the tissues in which this interaction takes place are not clear and future studies in prospective cohorts and animal models will be essential for deciphering the role of vitamin D in MS.