Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Price of Anarchy of Restricted Job Scheduling Games

The Price of Anarchy [Koutspoupias and Papadimitriou, 1999] is the, by now celebrated, ratio used to measure how system performance is affected by the selfish behaviour of agents using it. In this work we show bounds on the Price of Anarchy for problems of restricted scheduling of selfish jobs on related and unrelated machines.
The AGEDIS tools for model based testing

We describe the tools and interfaces created by the AGEDIS project, a European Commission sponsored project for the creation of a methodology and tools for automated model driven test generation and execution for distributed systems. The project includes an integrated environment for modeling, test generation, test execution, and other test related activities. The tools support a model based testing methodology that features a large degree of automation and also includes a feedback loop integrating coverage and defect analysis tools with the test generator and execution framework. Prototypes of the tools have been tried in industrial settings providing important feedback for the creation of the next generation of tools in this area.
Transient performance of voltage source converter connected to grid through LCL-filter under unbalanced voltage conditions

Grid-connected voltage source converters (VSC's) are used in many applications with power quality concerns due to good controllability and output power quality. However, the major drawback is their sensitivity to grid disturbances, e.g. voltage dips. Moreover, when VSCs are used in distributed generation (DG) applications, voltage imbalance may be intolerant. The VSC may trip due to current imbalance or due to overcurrent. In this paper, dual vector current controller is adopted for the VSC connected to the grid through LCL-filter to achieve sinusoidal grid currents with no harmonics and smooth DC-link voltage during voltage dips. The LCL-filter resonance is damped by adjusting the controller gain. Proper current references are generated using a signal command from the DC- link voltage controller and compensates for oscillating powers produced in fault cases. The controller is examined for all types of unbalanced dips.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection—risk factors for hospital admission: a case‐control study

Most infants are infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the first 2 y of life. The majority have only a mild upper respiratory tract infection, but 1–2% develop a more severe illness and are admitted to hospital. Aim: To carry out a study of risk factors for hospital admission because of RSV infection in Denmark in children aged less than 2 y of age. Methods: The study population included all 1252 children admitted to hospital with verified RSV infection in two Danish counties during the 5‐y period 1990–1994. The investigation comprised a retrospective case‐control study with five matched controls per case. In a multivariate analysis the risk factors included medical and demographic variables, and in infants < 3 mo of age at hospitalization, two aspects of innate immunity: mannose‐binding lectin (MBL) concentration and maternal RSV serum antibody titre, measured on eluates from stored dried blood from the infants’4th day of life. The effect of each risk factor is expressed as an odds ratio, corresponding to the relative risk of being a case rather than a control if the risk factor is present. Results: The following independent risk factors were identified: age, sex, month of birth, gestational age, birthweight, presence of a sibling, up to 5 y older than the case, and maternal smoking during pregnancy. There was a marginal effect of maternal RSV antibody levels, but no effect of neonatal serum MBL concentration or of crowding in the household.
Predictive factors of low HCO3- levels in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Metabolic acidosis is a major metabolic abnormality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and alkali is provided with dialysis treatment to patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) to keep their acid-base balance within normal serum HCO3- levels. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined the levels of venous serum HCO3- in 163 patients on CPD and the predictive factors for HCO3- levels low enough to indicate metabolic acidosis. The mean value for HCO3- was 26+/-2.4 mmol/l and for anion gap was 13.1+/-3.1 mEq/l. A serum bicarbonate concentration of less than 24 mmol/l, compatible with metabolic acidosis, was observed in 13.5% of the patients. In a multivariate analysis HCO3- levels were directly correlated with older age and use of CaCO3- as phosphate binders, and inversely associated with serum potassium, the use of sevelamer and low lactate dialysis solutions. Higher serum urea levels, the use of low lactate solutions and sevelamer instead of CaCO3 were significantly predictive factors for HCO3- levels < 24 mmol/l. CONCLUSIONS Venous HCO3- and anion gap values were within the normal ranges in stable CPD patients. In 13.5% of them, however, chronic metabolic acidosis was observed based on venous HCO3- levels < 24 mmol/l. Dietary protein intake, the use of sevelamer and low (35 mmol/l) concentration of lactate in dialysis solutions are important predictive factors for chronic metabolic acidosis in these patients.
Building Similar Link Network in Large-Scale Web Resources

Similar Link Network (SiLN) is a semantic over layer on Web resources with similar relations instead of hyperlinks, which aims at providing plentiful semantics for intelligent Web activities. However, SiLN is difficult to be built based on cosine computation in large-scale Web resources due to its high building time complexity and weak connectivity. Herein, three strategies are proposed to address those issues. First, dividing and conquering strategy is applied to divide the large-scale Web resources into amounts of rough similar communities, which reduces SiLN’s building time complexity significantly. After that, a multi-level structure network is designed to effectively manage the large-scale Web resources to guarantee SiLN’s connectivity. Finally, two-level feedback with isolated resources strategy is developed to improve the accuracy of the building of SiLN. Experimental results have proved that our proposed method of building SiLN is feasible and efficient, with the merits of low complexity, good connectivity and high precision.
Cl(-)-dependent NH4+ transport mechanisms in medullary thick ascending limb cells.

To characterize Cl(-)-dependent NH4+ transport mechanisms in renal medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL), intracellular pH (pHi) and membrane potential (PD) were monitored with use of 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)- 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and 3,3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine, respectively, in suspensions of rat MTAL tubules in CO2-free media. Exposure of MTAL cells to 4 mM NH4Br caused, after an initial cell alkalinization due to NH3 entry, an NH4(+)-induced fall in pHi that was approximately 67% less pronounced in Cl(-)-free than in Cl(-)-containing media. The following experiments were performed in the presence of 1 microM amiloride to block the MTAL NH4+ conductance. When cells were preincubated in a Cl(-)-free gluconate medium in which K+ and Cl- conductances are greatly reduced, abrupt addition of 100 mN N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG)-Cl had no effect on cell PD and pHi in the absence of ammonia, but acutely acidified the cells by approximately 0.2 pH units in the presence of 4 mM NH4Br, which thus indicated nonelectrogenic (NMDG-Cl)-dependent NH4+ influx. The latter also occurred in a Cl(-)-free thiocyanate medium in which the Cl- conductance was blocked by 0.1 mM diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC). An NMDG-Cl- dependent NH4(+)-induced fall in pHi was reduced approximately 33% by 10 mM Ba+, approximately 84% by 0.1 mM bumetanide, and 100% by 1.5 mM furosemide, whereas 1 mM hydrochlorothiazide had no effect; inhibition by Ba+ was observed even in the presence of 0.1 mM verapamil added to block both K+ channels and K+/NH4+ antiport. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Therapeutic trial of cerebral vasospasm with the serine protease inhibitor, FUT-175, administered in the acute stage after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The therapeutic effect of the synthetic serine protease inhibitor, FUT-175, on cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was investigated. Twenty-three patients with severe SAH who were admitted between February and July 1990 and who underwent surgery within 48 hours of the initial aneurysmal rupture were treated with an intravenous administration of FUT-175 soon after the operation. The patients were divided randomly into three groups, each receiving a different dose of FUT-175 (Group A, 20 mg every 12 hours for 4 days; Group B, 20 mg every 6 hours for 4 days, Group C, 40 mg every 6 hours for 4 days). The results were compared with another group of twenty-two patients with severe SAH who were admitted before February 1990 and received equivalent treatment, except they were not treated with FUT-175. In 64% of all the patients treated with FUT-175 (Groups A, B, C), and in 85% of those treated with higher doses of FUT-175 (Groups B and C), there was no spasm or only mild vasospasm on the angiogram. The incidence of a delayed ischemic neurological deficit significantly decreased from 55% in the control group to 13% in all patients treated with FUT-175 and to 7% in the patients treated with higher doses (P less than 0.05). The incidence of cerebral infarction resulting from vasospasm significantly decreased from 43% in the control group to 9% in patients treated with FUT-175. In the patients treated with higher doses of FUT-175 (Groups B and C), none developed cerebral infarction. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Melatonin Effects on Hard Tissues: Bone and Tooth

Melatonin is an endogenous hormone rhythmically produced in the pineal gland under the control of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the light/dark cycle. This indole plays an important role in many physiological processes including circadian entrainment, blood pressure regulation, seasonal reproduction, ovarian physiology, immune function, etc. Recently, the investigation and applications of melatonin in the hard tissues bone and tooth have received great attention. Melatonin has been investigated relative to bone remolding, osteoporosis, osseointegration of dental implants and dentine formation. In the present review, we discuss the large body of published evidence and review data of melatonin effects on hard tissues, specifically, bone and tooth.
Preparation and Characterization of Gelatin-Tamarind Gum /Carboxymethyl Tamarind Gum Based Phase Separated Hydrogels and Films for Tissue Engineering Application

The purpose of this research was to synthesize and characterize gelatin and tamarind gum/carboxymethyl tamarind gum based phase-separated hydrogels and films for tissue engineering applications. The polymeric constructs were thoroughly characterized using bright-field microscope, FTIR spectroscope, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), mechanical tester and impedance analyzer. The biocompatibility and swelling property also evaluated. The antimicrobial efficiency of ciprofloxacin (model antimicrobial drug) loaded hydrogels and films were studied against E. coli. The in vitro drug release was carried out in pH 7.4. Microstuctural analysis suggested the formation of phase-separated formulations. FTIR studies suggested that carboxymethyl tamarind gum altered the secondary structure of the gelatin molecules. Presence of the polysaccharides within the formulations resulted in the increase in the enthalpy and entropy for evaporation of the moisture from the hydrogels and films. The mechanical studies indicated viscoelastic nature of the polymeric constructs. Electrical analysis suggested an increase in the impedance of the formulations in the presence of the tamarind gum. The presence of carboxymethyl tamarind gum resulted in the decrease in the impedance of the formulations. The hydrogels and films exhibited good biocompatibility, and pH dependent swelling behavior. The drug loaded samples showed good antimicrobial activity and the drug release was pH dependent and diffusion mediated.
SecureSMS: prevention of SMS interception on Android platform

Damage caused by smishing has been rapidly increased. A major problem resulted from the smishing is to induce overcharging via micropayment service without interaction with a user. The overcharging is based on the interception of SMS that contains one-time password for the micropayments. Almost all the damage has occurred on android platform. Various solutions to prevent the smishing have been launched recently. However, none of them are able to completely protect it against SMS interception. In this paper, we address the limitations of the existing solutions and suggest a method which thoroughly can prevent SMS interception by means of the modified android platform. We demonstrate the proposed method by implementing it and developing an app which is replaced with the native SMS app. In addition, we suggest an additional idea to protect our mechanism against expected threats on the rooted environment.
Obtaining Japanese Lexical Units for Semantic Frames from Berkeley FrameNet Using a Bilingual Corpus

An attempt was made to semi-automatically obtain “lexical units” (LUs) for Japanese from the English LUs deﬁned in the semantic frame database provided by Berkeley FrameNet (BFN) using an English-Japanese bilingual corpus. This task was a prerequisite to building a complete database of semantic frames for Japanese. In the task, a Japanese word is ﬁrst translated into an English word or phrase, E . E is one of the lexical units that evoked a particular semantic frame, F , in the BFN database. When other lexical units of F are translated back into Japanese, this deﬁnes a candidate set of F for the lexical units of F in Japanese. The viability of the proposed method was tested on a Japanese verb ( X -ga Y -wo) osou (roughly meaning “ X attack(s) Y ,” “ X hit(s) Y ,” “ X surprise(s) Y ” in English, showing that it is a relatively pol-ysemous word). The resulting translation was compared to semantic descriptions provided by IPAL and Nihongo Goi-Taikei (A Japanese Lexicon), two well-known language resources for Japanese, and also by the Frame Oriented Concept Analysis of Language (FOCAL). The comparison revealed that FOCAL, BFN, Goi Taikei, and IPAL provided ﬁner-grained descriptions in this speciﬁc order.
Complex interactions among members of an essential subfamily of hsp70 genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a large family of genes related to hsp70, the major heat shock-inducible gene of Drosophila melanogaster. One subfamily, identified by sequence homology, contains four genes, SSA1, SSA2, SSA3, and SSA4 (formerly YG100, YG102, YG106, and YG107, respectively). Previous studies showed that strains containing mutations in SSA1 and SSA2 are temperature sensitive for growth. SSA4, which is normally heat inducible and not expressed during vegetative growth, is expressed at high levels in ssa1 ssa2 strains at 23 degrees C. We constructed mutations in SSA3 and SSA4 and analyzed strains carrying mutations in the four genes. Strains carrying mutations in SSA3 SSA4 or SSA3 and SSA4 were indistinguishable from the wild type. However, ssa1 ssa2 ssa4 strains were inviable. SSA3, like SSA4, is a heat-inducible gene that is not normally expressed at 23 degrees C. Nevertheless, an intact copy of SSA3 regulated by the constitutive SSA2 promoter was capable of rescuing a ssa1 ssa2 ssa4 strain. This indicates that SSA3 encodes a functional protein and that the SSA1, SSA2, SSA3, and SSA4 gene products are functionally similar.
Resting energy expenditure; assessment methods and applications

The energetic expense daily total of an individual (EEDT) represents the energy that the organism consumes. It is constituted by the sum of: metabolic basal rate (MBR), termogenesis endogenous (TE) and energetic expense linked to the physical activity (EEPA). The determination of the EEDT considering the physical activity and the state of health of a person, it is very important to fit the calculation of the nutritional need for every individual. The MBR is the minimal quantity of energy that an organism needs to be alive. It constitutes a from 60 to 70 % of the EEPA in the majority of the sedentary adults, while, in the physically very active individuals it is of approximately 50 %. It changes depending on the corporal composition, specially on the corporal lean mass. The basal metabolism expressed as MRB, it is different from the metabolic rate in rest (MRR) or Resting energy expenditure (REE); the latter is obtained when the determination is done in rest and in the conditions described for the MRB but not in fasting, including therefore the energy used for the biological utilization of the food. Habitually, the REE decides by means of different technologies as the indirect calorimetry, the electrical bioimpedancy, the doubly marked water, the predictive equations, between others. These methods are used in the clinical practice and in scientific studies. Nevertheless, due to the inconsistency of the results of these researches, still there is no a consensus with regard to his applicability though the evidence indicates that the measurement of the consumption of oxygen, it is the method of major precision. Aims: This review has as aim expose the components of the energetic expense in rest, as well as the technologies for its determination and estimation, indicating its advantages, limitations and practical applications. Results: Part of the technologies of evaluation of the energetic expense described in this review, they remain relegated, for its complexity and cost to the area of the investigation. For a long time the indirect calorimetry, she remained also restricted to this field. Nevertheless, the technological advances have allowed the development of precise light and attainable equipments that allow that
The Fc receptor for IgG on human natural killer cells: phenotypic, functional, and comparative studies with monoclonal antibodies.

We compare five monoclonal antibodies ( B73 .1, 3G8 , Leu- 11a , Leu- 11b , and VEP13 ) that react with natural killer (NK) cells and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN). We show that all of these antibodies are directed against and inhibit the functional properties of the receptor for the Fc portion of IgG (FcR). Modulation of the FcR on NK cells after reaction with immune complexes induces the disappearance of the antigen(s) recognized by each of the five antibodies. Conversely, the antibodies block binding of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes to the NK cells and PMN and inhibit their ability to mediate cytotoxicity against antibody-sensitized tumor target cells. By using two-color immunofluorescence techniques, we characterize directly the lymphocyte population recognized by these antibodies and show that it is a homogeneous subset that does not bear markers of either B or T cells, with the exception of the 33,000 dalton antigen characteristic of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells present in 20 to 50% of the cells, and the 45,000 dalton receptor for sheep erythrocytes present on 80 to 90% of the cells. The phenotype of the cells reacting with the monoclonal antibodies corresponds to that of NK cells. Cross-competition experiments indicate that these antibodies detect at least two distinct epitopes on FcR, one ( B73 .1) preferentially expressed on NK cells and one or more ( 3G8 /Leu- 11a /Leu- 11b / VEP13 ) preferentially expressed on PMN. The lack of reactivity of these antibodies with B cells suggests that human B cells bear a different FcR from that on NK cells and PMN.
Asymmetric dimethylarginine: a new player in the pathogenesis of renal disease?

Purpose of reviewThis review summarizes current knowledge on asymmetric dimethylarginine, renal function in health and disease, and renal disease progression and examines interventions that may modify the plasma concentration of this methylarginine. Recent findingsNitric oxide deficiency may occur in patients with chronic kidney disease and may contribute to accelerate progression of chronic kidney disease, hypertension and cardiovascular complications. An increase of endogenous nitric oxide inhibitors like asymmetric dimethylarginine seems to play a major role in this process. The kidneys are crucial in both, in reabsorbing and generating L-arginine as well as in eliminating asymmetric dimethylarginine primarily by the enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase and to a minor degree by urinary excretion. Asymmetric dimethylarginine accumulation predicts both accelerated renal function loss and death in patients with chronic kidney disease and incident cardiovascular complications in patients with end stage renal disease. SummaryAsymmetric dimethylarginine is a new risk factor potentially implicated in the progression of renal insufficiency and in the high rate of cardiovascular complications of patients with chronic kidney disease.
The endothelin system. A new target for therapeutic intervention.

Since its identification in 1988,1 endothelin has attracted intensive interdisciplinary research interest because of its unique profile as an endothelium-derived vasoactive factor with a powerful and characteristically long-lasting vasopressor activity. Indeed, in terms of cellular mechanisms of action, endothelin appears to be quite similar to many classic vasoconstrictor substances such as angiotensin II and norepinephrine. However, the slow time course of the regulatory mechanisms of its biosynthesis and secretion more resembles that of inflammatory cytokines, giving this family of small peptides a unique position within the realm of intercellular mediators with cardiovascular relevance.
5D-5 Tailored Single Crystal Orientations for Improved Tonpilz Transducer Performance

Various transverse length extensional modes of single crystal piezoelectrics were evaluated for high power capabilities and compared with the longitudinal "33" mode. Both bar and tube geometries, and d31 and d32 piezoelectric modes were explored. The elastic, piezoelectric and dielectric properties were evaluated under dynamic conditions using a matrix of stress, temperature and electric field conditions. Crystallographic orientation significantly affected domain stability; poling along the lang001rang axis showed a higher phase transition point, relative to stress and temperature, than the lang110rang orientation. The optimized transverse mode (d31 ) showed significantly improved properties due to the orthogonal relationship between electric field and pre-stress; strains over 0.2% were recorded
Accounting Restatements, Governance and Municipal Debt Financing

We find that mean municipal debt costs are greater following financial restatement disclosures. Comparisons of the relative use of municipal debt, and of the use of unsecured versus secured debt, corroborate that financial restatements increase the cost of municipal debt financing. Additional analyses indicate that adverse consequences of restatements are mitigated by strong audit oversight and by provisions that encourage direct voter participation in the governance process. The evidence supports the use of restatements as a summary measure of financial reporting quality in the municipal context and informs thinking about auditor and voter oversight in the municipal financial reporting process.