Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving network security through SDN in cloud scenarios

The recent emergence of cloud enabled applications raises security concerns increasingly, since more and more personal and company data is outsourced. The security of single systems and services was broadly treated in the past. Cloud systems and services require a more detailed observation of their security requirements and fulfillment, since a huge amount of services and systems coexist on one virtualization layer without knowing other systems on the same layer. Only the cloud provider has a rare idea of these systems' behavior in his own cloud environment. Therefore this work proposes a network security approach which is aware of all existing systems and services hosted by at least one cloud provider. The main idea is to maintain a logically centralized database that provides latest security related information about each system or service. Using this knowledge base, our approach ponders a systems' security score, security requirements given by the systems' owners and the cloud provider, and reconfigures the network accordingly to meet the security requirements for every system. In addition, the reconfiguration process can be used to redirect traffic to additional security systems, in order to obtain more detailed information about a system and therefore increase the accuracy of the specific systems' security score.
The efficacy of Phaseolus vulgaris as a weight-loss supplement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials

A variety of dietary supplements are presently available as slimming aids, but their efficacy has not been proven. One such slimming aid is the bean extract, Phaseolus vulgaris. The aim of the present systematic review is to evaluate the evidence for or against the efficacy of P. vulgaris. Electronic and non-electronic searches were conducted to identify relevant human randomised clinical trials (RCT). Hand searches of bibliographies were also conducted. No age, time or language restrictions were imposed. The eligibility of studies was determined by two reviewers independently, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. We identified eleven eligible trials, and six were included. All the included RCT had serious methodological flaws. A meta-analysis revealed a statistically non-significant difference in weight loss between P. vulgaris and placebo groups (mean difference (MD) − 1·77 kg, 95 % CI − 3·33, 0·33). A further meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in body fat favouring P. vulgaris over placebo (MD − 1·86 kg, 95 % CI − 3·39, − 0·32). Heterogeneity was evident in both analyses. The poor quality of the included RCT prevents us from drawing any firm conclusions about the effects of P. vulgaris supplementation on body weight. Larger and more rigorous trials are needed to objectively assess the effects of this herbal supplement.
Benchmarking Contention Management Strategies in Clojure's Software Transactional Memory Implementation

Lock-based concurrent programs are difficult to write and prone to a variety of well-known errors. Software transactional memory (STM) poses an alternative to locks, promising to make concurrent programming easier. One of the few languages that have included STM from an early stage is Clojure, a Lisp dialect for the Java Virtual Machine. In our work, we benchmark the contention management strategies Aggressive, Priority and Karma in Clojure’s STM. Our results show that the choice of strategy has significant impact on performance, but that there are only a few specific cases where it is an advantage to use any of those tested over Clojure’s original. None of these cases warrant a replacement of the strategy that Clojure already uses. Since we only investigate a limited selection of the strategies suggested in STM research, future work is needed to find whether there exist other strategies that surpass Clojure’s.
Multiple control of fever production in the central nervous system of rabbits.

1. The effects of microinjection of prostaglandin D2, E2 and F2 alpha and of endogenous pyrogen on the rectal temperature of rabbits were extensively examined in sixty‐eight brain regions and in the third cerebral ventricle. 2. Intracerebroventricular injection of both prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha produced dose‐dependent fever over a range of 100‐1000 ng. The selective brain regions, the nucleus broca ventralis, preoptic area, anterior hypothalamus and the ventromedial hypothalamus, responded to microinjections of a small dose (less than 200 ng) of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha by producing fever. Furthermore, the lateral hypothalamus, ventral thalamus, substantia nigra and the trigeminal nucleus were also sensitive to high concentrations of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha, fever being produced. It is likely that prostaglandin D2 is not involved in fever induction. 3. The ventricular injection of endogenous pyrogen also produced fever. However, brain regions sensitive to microinjection of endogenous pyrogen were exclusively localized to regions near the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT), such as the nucleus broca ventralis and the preoptic area. In contrast to the monophasic fever induced by prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha, about 30 min after ventricular or cerebral injection of endogenous pyrogen the rectal temperature gradually started to rise and the fever was prolonged over 4 h. 4. We investigated the effect of an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, sodium salicylate, on biphasic fever induced by intravenous injection of bacterial endotoxin. The microinjections of sodium salicylate into the bilateral regions near the OVLT suppressed the second peak but had no effect on the first peak. 5. The present study clarifies that there exist two separate mechanisms of induction of biphasic fever. Correlating with the first peak of biphasic fever, prostaglandins synthesized outside the blood‐brain barrier act on multiple sites in the central nervous system to induce fever. Correlating with the second peak, endogenous pyrogen acts on regions near the OVLT to synthesize and release pyrogenic prostaglandins.
Oak woodland economics: a contingent valuation of conversion alternatives

Decisions on how much land should be devoted to oak woodland preservation is ultimately determined by society's valuation of its benefits and relative scarcity. Scarcity value can be measured by people's willingness-to-pay (WTP) to prevent oak woodland conversion to higher value land uses. In this study, we used the contingent valuation (CV) method to estimate WTP for oak woodland preservation in San Luis Obispo County (over 700,000 acres). Estimates ranged between $75 and $83 per voter, providing only about $12 million for land or easement purchases.
Learning to Predict Combinatorial Structures

Learning to Predict Combinatorial Structures Thomas Gärtner thomas.gaertner@iais.fraunhofer. de Shankar Vembu shankar.vembu@iais.fraunhofer. de Fraunhofer IAIS, Schloß Birlinghoven, 53754 Sankt Augustin, Germany
DNSSEC and its potential for DDoS attacks: a comprehensive measurement study

Over the past five years we have witnessed the introduction of DNSSEC, a security extension to the DNS that relies on digital signatures. DNSSEC strengthens DNS by preventing attacks such as cache poisoning. However, a common argument against the deployment of DNSSEC is its potential for abuse in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, in particular reflection and amplification attacks. DNS responses for a DNSSEC-signed domain are typically larger than those for an unsigned domain, thus, it may seem that DNSSEC could actually worsen the problem of DNS-based DDoS attacks. The potential for abuse in DNSSEC-signed domains has, however, never been assessed on a large scale. In this paper we establish ground truth around this open question. We perform a detailed measurement on a large dataset of DNSSEC-signed domains, covering 70% (2.5 million) of all signed domains in operation today, and compare the potential for amplification attacks to a representative sample of domains without DNSSEC. At first glance, the outcome of these measurements confirms that DNSSEC indeed worsens the DDoS phenomenon. Closer examination, however, gives a more nuanced picture. DNSSEC really only makes the situation worse for one particular query type (ANY), for which responses may be over 50 times larger than the original query (and in rare cases up to 179x). We also discuss a number of mitigation strategies that can have immediate impact for operators and suggest future research directions with regards to these mitigation strategies.
Strategies for developing lentil protein stabilized canola oil in water nanoemulsions

II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . IV TABLE OF CONTENT . V LIST OF TABLES . VIII LIST OF FIGURES . IX LIST OF SIMBOLS AND ABBREVIATION . XII 1. OVERVIEW . 1 1.1 OBJECTIVES . 2 1.2 HYPOTHESES . 2 2. LITERATURE REVIEW . 3 2.1 Emulsions and nanoemulsions . 3 2.2 Emulsion stability and destabilization mechanisms . 6 2.3 Proteins as emulsifiers . 10 2.4 Protein pre-treatment for improved emulsification . 13 2.5 Nanoemulsions as a delivery medium for lipid bioactive ingredients . 16 2.6 In vitro lipid digestion . 17 3. EFFECT OF LENTIL PROTEIN ISOLATE CONCENTRATION ON THE FORMATION, STABILITY AND RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF OIL-IN-WATER NANOEMULSIONS . 20 3.1 Abstract . 20 3.2 Introduction . 21 3.3 Materials and methods . 23 3.3.1 Materials . 23 3.3.2 Preparation of lentil protein solutions . 23 3.3.3 Preparation of nanoemulsions . 24
The Pyk2 FERM domain as a target to inhibit glioma migration

The invasion of malignant glioma cells into the surrounding normal brain precludes effective clinical treatment. In this report, we investigated the role of the NH2-terminal FERM domain in the regulation of the promigratory function of Pyk2. We report that the substitution of residues that constitute a small cleft on the surface of the F3 module of the FERM domain do not significantly alter Pyk2 expression but result in the loss of Pyk2 phosphorylation. A monoclonal antibody, designated 12A10, specifically targeting the Pyk2 FERM domain was generated and recognizes an epitope located on the β5C-α1C surface of the F3 module of the FERM domain. Amino acid substitutions in the F3 module that resulted in the loss of Pyk2 phosphorylation also inhibited the binding of 12A10, suggesting that the 12A10 epitope overlaps a site that plays a role in Pyk2 activity. Conjugation of 12A10 to a membrane transport peptide led to intracellular accumulation and inhibition of glioma cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner. A single chain Fv fragment of 12A10 was stable when expressed in the intracellular environment, interacted directly with Pyk2, reduced Pyk2 phosphorylation, and inhibited glioma cell migration in vitro. Stable intracellular expression of the 12A10 scFv significantly extended survival in a glioma xenograft model. Together, these data substantiate a central role for the FERM domain in regulation of Pyk2 activity and identify the F3 module as a novel target to inhibit Pyk2 activity and inhibit glioma progression. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(6):1505–14]
Image cytometric nuclear texture features in inoperable head and neck cancer: a pilot study

Image cytometric nuclear texture features in inoperable head and neck cancer: a pilot study Background. Image cytometry can measure numerous nuclear features which could be considered a surrogate end-point marker of molecular genetic changes in a nucleus. The aim of the study was to analyze image cytometric nuclear features in paired samples of primary tumor and neck metastasis in patients with inoperable carcinoma of the head and neck. Materials and methods. Image cytometric analysis of cell suspensions prepared from primary tumor tissue and fine needle aspiration biopsy cell samples of neck metastases from 21 patients treated with concomitant radiochemotherapy was performed. Nuclear features were correlated with clinical characteristics and response to therapy. Results. Manifestation of distant metastases and new primaries was associated (p<0.05) with several chromatin characteristics from primary tumor cells, whereas the origin of index cancer and disease response in the neck was related to those in the cells from metastases. Many nuclear features of primary tumors and metastases correlated with the TNM stage. Conclusions. A specific pattern of correlation between well-established prognostic indicators and nuclear features of samples from primary tumors and those from neck metastases was observed. Image cytometric nuclear features represent a promising candidate marker for recognition of biologically different tumor subgroups.
Multilectin affinity chromatography for characterization of multiple glycoprotein biomarker candidates in serum from breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Glycoproteins are often associated with cancer and are important in serum studies, for which glycosylation is a common posttranslational modification. METHODS We used multilectin affinity chromatography (M-LAC) to isolate glycoproteins from the sera of breast cancer patients and controls. The proteins were identified by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis of the corresponding tryptic digests. We used the FuncAssociate Gene Ontology program for association analysis of the identified proteins. Biomarker candidates in these groups were comparatively quantitated by use of peak area measurements, with inclusion of an internal standard. We analyzed data for concordance within the ontology association groups for vector of change with the development of breast cancer. RESULTS Detection of the known low-concentration biomarker HER-2 (8-24 mug/L) enabled us to establish a dynamic range of 10(6), relative to the amount of albumin, for the depletion step. We then used ELISA to confirm this range. Proteins associated with lipid transport and metabolism, cell growth and maintenance, ion homeostasis, and protease inhibition were found to be differentially regulated in serum from women with breast cancer compared with serum from women without breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS M-LAC for isolation of the serum glycoproteome, coupled with liquid chromatography-MS/MS and the use of gene ontology associations, can be used to characterize large panels of candidate markers, which can then be evaluated in a particular patient population.
Depleted Leukocyte Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Correlates With Unfavorable Left Ventricular Volumetric and Spherical Shape Remodeling in Acute Myocardial Infarction After Primary Angioplasty.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular (LV) shape influences LV systolic function. It is possible to assess LV shape using 3-D echocardiography sphericity index (SI). Maintaining mitochondrial DNA copy number (MCN) is important for preserving mitochondrial function and LV systolic function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Information is limited, however, regarding the relationship between leukocyte MCN and the subsequent change in LV shape after AMI.Methods and Results:Fifty-five AMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty were recruited. Plasma MCN was measured before primary angioplasty using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. 3-D echocardiography measurement of SI was performed at baseline, and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. AMI subjects with MCN lower than the median had a higher 6-month SI and LV volume compared with those with higher MCN. Baseline echocardiographic parameters were similar between the 2 groups. MCN was negatively correlated with 3- and 6-month SI, and 3- and 6-month LV volume. On multiple linear regression analysis, baseline plasma MCN could predict LV SI and LV volume at 6 months after primary angioplasty for AMI, even after adjusting for traditional prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS In AMI patients, higher plasma leukocyte MCN at baseline was associated with favorable LV shape and remodeling at 6-month follow-up. Plasma leukocyte MCN may provide a novel prognostic biomarker for LV remodeling after AMI.
A Practical Approach to Hardware and Software SoC Tradeoffs Using High-level Synthesis for Architectural Exploration

The complex world of SoC design is not immune to Moore’s law. Many SoCs are currently pushing the five to ten million-gate count on average. In addition, many contain a huge amount of software being processed by a DSP and/or general-purpose processor. We present a practical methodology to intelligently partition between hardware and software by using hard synthesis-based metrics. This approach is centered around architectural exploration from a single system-level model using existing modeling languages and existing synthesis tools. We highlight the advantages of this methodology compared to previous methodologies and the prevalent ad hoc approach, with a specific bias toward real-world applicability.
Mach cones and dijets - jet quenching and fireball expansion dynamics

The energy loss of a hard parton is regarded as a useful tool to probe properties of a soft medium. However, the information obtained by a measurement of the nuclear suppression R_AA is not very sensitive to medium properties. Thus, more differential observables are needed. Here we focus on the pattern of angular correlation of hadrons associated with a hard trigger. These show rich pattern when going from low p_T to high p_T associate momentum. At low p_T, the pattern of associate hadrons can be understood in terms of Mach shocks excited by the energy lost from the away side parton while the parton itself is absorbed by the medium. At high p_T, fluid dynamics is not applicable any more and the correlations become dominated by the punchtrough of the away side parton with subsequent fragmentation. We present an analysis of these phenomena taking into account the full expansion dynamics of soft matter and show how both transverse and longitudinal expansion play a crucial role in understanding the data.
Euler Top dynamics of Nambu-Goto p-branes

We propose a method to obtain new exact solutions of spinning p-branes in flat space-times for any p, which manifest themselves as higher dimensional Euler Tops and minimize their energy functional. We provide concrete examples for the case of spherical topology S2, S3 and rotational symmetry ? iSO(qi). In the case of toroidal topology T2, T3 the rotational symmetry is ? iSU(qi) with m target dimensions being compactified on the torus Tm . By double dimensional reduction the Light Cone Hamiltonians of T2, T3 reduce to those of closed string S1 and T2 membranes respectively. The solutions are interpreted as non-perturbative spinning soliton states of type IIA? IIB superstrings.
Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid: A New Standard for Contemporary Hemodialysis

The concept of renal replacement therapy (RRT) has evolved considerably over the last 2 decades. Dialysis, a key component of RRT intended to clear uremic toxins and periodically restore the internal milieu composition, has benefited from considerable advances in dialysis technology (bicarbonate-buffered dialysis fluid, ultrafiltration-controlled systems, profiling systems, blood volume and temperature control, direct quantification, and high-flux dialyzers) and innovative adjunctive drug therapies designed to correct anemia (erythropoietinstimulating agents (ESA), IV iron, etc.), metabolic bone disease (vitamin D and analogs, calcimimetics, etc.), and associated metabolic disorders (lipid-lowering agents, antioxidants, etc.) (1). Such refinement in optimizing RRT would have not been possible without intense and collaborative clinical research, which led to a better understanding of uremic complications and improvement in the standards of care for chronic kidney disease patients (2). Despite these medical and technical advances, it is disappointing to note that morbidity and mortality still remain high in dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients (3). Most recent studies have noted that the dialysis population has changed over the last decade, characterized by patients who are older and suffer from multiple comorbid conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases that compromise patient outcomes (4). Indeed, it has also been shown that chronic microinflammation represents the common link and amplifying factor to such dialysis-related pathology (5, 6). In this interesting debate, it is strange to note that the nephrology community has overlooked the microbial purity of dialysis fluid while technical solutions to correct impure dialysis fluid have been available for 2 decades (7, 8). This study is intent on supporting the use of ultrapure dialysis fluid (UPDF) in all hemodialysis (HD) modalities and showing that UPDF is technically and economically feasible in most dialysis facilities worldwide. (9, 10).
Adaptive Immunity in the Middle Ear Mucosa with Chronic Otitis Media

The middle ear is frequently invaded by the upper respiratory commensals. The growth of the commensals in the middle ear frequently causes infectious events. Some of these infectious events occur in children repeatedly when the middle ear is in a state of immune tolerance, a condition in which T lymphocytes are unable to kill invading microorganisms, bacterial or viral. This review article gives you some thoughts about how the middle ear immunity is compromised and predisposed to the upper respiratory infectious agents and commensals.
3D I-SLSJF: A consistent sparse local submap joining algorithm for building large-scale 3D Map

This paper presents an efficient and reliable algorithm for autonomous robots to build large-scale three dimensional maps by combining small local submaps. The algorithm is a generalization of our recent work on two dimensional map joining algorithm — Iterated Sparse Local Submap Joining Filter (I-SLSJF). The 3D local submap joining problem is formulated as a least squares optimization problem and solved by Extended Information Filter (EIF) together with smoothing and iterations. The resulting information matrix is exactly sparse and this makes the algorithm efficient. The smoothing and iteration steps improve the accuracy and consistency of the estimate. The consistency and efficiency of 3D I-SLSJF is demonstrated by comparing the algorithm with some existing algorithms using computer simulations.
The design and implementation of intelligent inspection robot system using combined flame sensors and infrared sensors

The article designed and implemented an intelligent inspection robot system based on the traditional obstacle avoidance algorithm and multi-sensor technology. The hardware of this system mainly consists of an infrared sensor, a flame sensor and three modules called power-supply module, motion controlling module and sensing module. Through the combination of multiple sensors, processor and driving equipment, the system implemented the feature of a robot in a structured context independent obstacle avoidance, eventually reaching the high temperature of ignition search location. The software part of the system used the small-angle indirect search method, not only to achieve obstacle avoidance smoothly, but also to prevent the decrease of accuracy in hazard inspection caused by wide-angle turning. The system combined the infrared sensor and flame sensor with a simple, high sensitivity, and flexibility advantages that can successfully achieve the goal of inspecting hazards intelligently.