Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integral Equation Methods and Numerical Solutions of Crack and Inclusion Problems in Planar Elastostatics

We present algorithms for crack and inclusion problems in planar linear elastostatics. The algorithms are based on new integral equations. For the pure crack problem the integral equations are of Fredholm's second kind. Our algorithms show great stability and allow for solutions to problems more complex than have previously been possible. Our results are orders of magnitudes more accurate than those of previous investigators, which rely on integral equations of Fredholm's first kind.
Early Identification of the Patient with Endotheliopathy of Trauma by Arrival Serum Albumin

Objective: Traumatic endotheliopathy (EoT) is associated with glycocalyx breakdown and capillary leak resulting in the extravasation of proteins. We hypothesized that lower serum albumin levels are associated with EoT, poor outcomes, and can be used for early EoT screening in trauma patients. Methods: We enrolled severely injured trauma patients with serum albumin levels available on admission. Syndecan-1 and soluble thrombomodulin were quantified from plasma by ELISA. Demographic and clinical data were obtained. We evaluated the association of serum albumin and EoT+ (syndecan-1 level ≥40 ng/mL), followed by dichotomization by serum albumin level, and subgroup comparisons. Results: Of the 258 patients enrolled 92 (36.0%) were EoT+ (syndecan-1 ≥ 40 ng/mL). Median albumin levels in the EoT+ group were 3.4 g/dL, and 3.8 g/dL in EoT− patients, P < 0.05. In a multifactorial analysis, lower albumin levels were inversely associated with the likelihood of EoT+. With receiver characteristic curve analysis, we determined a cutoff albumin level < 3.6 g/dL for EoT+ prediction (area under the curve 0.70; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.77). After dichotomizing by albumin <3.6 or ≥3.6 g/dL, 51.5% of patients had low albumin. Low albumin patients were more likely to have EoT+, as well as higher soluble thrombomodulin (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, they required more frequently blood transfusions, had fewer hospital-free days and higher mortality rate than those with normal albumin. Conclusions: EoT is a syndrome associated with leakage of albumin from the intravascular compartment, which re-emphasizes that arrival albumin may be a novel and timely approach to the identification of patients needing endothelial rescue therapy.
Modelling Confidence in Extraction of Place Tags from Flickr

The volume and potential value of user generated c ontent is ever growing. One such valuable source for better understanding of naïve o r vernacular geography is in the form of geotagged images from Flickr. Research in the past has looked into automatic identification of place tags from this source. This paper gives an overview of a data mining techniques for identification of places tag s at different levels of detail and a Bayesian infere nce model to predict the probability for each selec t d tag as being ‘non-noise’.
Extracting Forensic Explanation from Intrusion Alerts

Since it is desirable for an intrusion detection system to be operated with the real time performance, it is not unusual for an intrusion detection engine to perform a “lazy trigger. ” In other words, it reports only a partial list of multiple rules matching the attack signature pattern(s). In this research, we assert that the ability of inferring the hidden matching rules from the observed rule(s) is an alternative to leverage on intrusion detection alerts for generating forensic explanation, thus is one step towards bridging intrusion detection with forensic analysis. The objective of this research is to show (i) a probability model discovery approach for enabling such an inference mechanism, and (ii) a probabilistic inference mechanism for generating the most probable forensic explanation based on not only just the observed intrusion detection alerts, but also the unreported signature rules that are revealed in the probability model. Although the proposed approach is not specific to any IDS implementation, we choose the open source SNORT to illustrate its feasibility, and demonstrate the inference process applied to the intrusion detection alerts produced by SNORT for generating forensic explanation.
CAMINHOS PARA O EMPREENDEDORISMO: UMA TIPOLOGIA DE ACESSO À ATIVIDADE EMPREENDEDORA

Este artigo tem por objetivo central analisar os fatores sociais que, de forma articulada, explicam a decisao de uma pessoa se tornar empreendedora. Para o efeito e mobilizada informacao recolhida no âmbito de um projeto de investigacao realizado em Portugal direcionado para o estudo dos padroes, contextos e experiencias de empreendedorismo. Com base na componente qualitativa da pesquisa, relativa a analise de entrevistas aprofundadas a mulheres e homens empreendedores sobre os seus trajetos individuais, foi elaborada uma tipologia de acesso a empresarialidade. Esta categorizacao expressa diferentes combinacoes de fatores, dando particular destaque aos efeitos que o genero e as qualificacoes tem na opcao de trabalhar por conta propria, sem deixar de enfatizar a interligacao com as insercoes socioeconomicas, as redes interpessoais e as relacoes familiares
A Cross-Taxon Analysis of Insect-Associated Bacterial Diversity

Although it is well known that plants and animals harbor microbial symbionts that can influence host traits, the factors regulating the structure of these microbial communities often remain largely undetermined. This is particularly true for insect-associated microbial communities, as few cross-taxon comparisons have been conducted to date. To address this knowledge gap and determine how host phylogeny and ecology affect insect-associated microbial communities, we collected 137 insect specimens representing 39 species, 28 families, and 8 orders, and characterized the bacterial communities associated with each specimen via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bacterial taxa within the phylum Proteobacteria were dominant in nearly all insects sampled. On average, the insect-associated bacterial communities were not very diverse, with individuals typically harboring fewer than 8 bacterial phylotypes. Bacterial communities also tended to be dominated by a single phylotype; on average, the most abundant phylotype represented 54.7% of community membership. Bacterial communities were significantly more similar among closely related insects than among less-related insects, a pattern driven by within-species community similarity but detected at every level of insect taxonomy tested. Diet was a poor predictor of bacterial community composition. Individual insect species harbored remarkably unique communities: the distribution of 69.0% of bacterial phylotypes was limited to unique insect species, whereas only 5.7% of phylotypes were detected in more than five insect species. Together these results suggest that host characteristics strongly regulate the colonization and assembly of bacterial communities across insect lineages, patterns that are driven either by co-evolution between insects and their symbionts or by closely related insects sharing conserved traits that directly select for similar bacterial communities.
Cluster based Chinese abbreviation modeling

Abbreviations in Chinese are widely observed in Chinese spoken language. Automatic generation of Chinese abbreviations helps to improve Chinese natural language understanding systems and Chinese search engine. The abbreviation generation is treated as a character-based tagging problem. Due to limited training data, Chinese abbreviation generation suffers from data sparseness. Two types of strategies are proposed to reduce the impact from data sparseness. First of all, in addition to using a traditional sequence labelling method – Conditional Random Fields ( CRF ), we propose to apply Recurrent Neural Network with Maximum Entropy Extension ( RNNME ) [9], which actually shows similar performance as using CRF in our experiment. Secondly, we propose to use training data clustering and latent topic modeling in abbreviation generation. Using training data clustering or topic modeling not only addresses the data sparseness, but also takes advantage of the fact that full-names from the same cluster or the same latent topic have similar abbreviation patterns. Our experimental results show that using manual clustering, the accuracy of abbreviation generation achieves relatively 8% improvement. Using Latent topics that are obtained from Latent Dirichlet Allocation ( LDA ), the accuracy achieves relative 10% improvement.
Seizure characteristics, pathology, and outcome after temporal lobectomy

We analyzed the histories of 58 patients who had temporal lobectomy for seizure control. A good outcome was more likely if a definite lesion was removed. Unlike other pathologies, including nonspecific hippocampal sclerosis (NSHS), Ammon's horn sclerosis (AHS) was strongly related to a history of a prolonged childhood convulsion as the first epileptic event. Partial seizures developed at a younger age in patients with AHS than with NSHS or nonspecific changes. Epigastric rising sensations were associated with a greater chance of a good outcome than were other forms of simple partial seizure.
A Generalized Formulation for Permittivity Extraction of Low-to-High-Loss Materials From Transmission Measurement

We have derived a one-variable metric function for fast computations of the relative complex permittivity of low-to-high-loss materials from S 21 measurement at one frequency. We present how this function can be applied for different applications (e.g., relative complex permittivity measurement of a thin low-loss material). In addition, it can be applied as a measurement tool in broadband applications for samples with substantiate lengths, which demonstrate low-loss property at lower frequency bands and high-loss property at higher frequency bands. The derived expressions can work very well in limited frequency-band applications or for dispersive materials since it is based on point-by-point (or frequency-by-frequency) extraction. We measured the relative complex permittivity of two test samples (a low- and high-loss sample) for validation of the derived expressions.
Dexterity and Its Development

Contents: Preface. N.A. Bernstein, Part I: On Dexterity and Its Development. Introduction. What Is Dexterity? On Motor Control. On the Origin of Movements. On the Construction of Movements. Levels of Construction of Movements. On Exercise and Motor Skill. Dexterity and Its Features. From the Author. Part II: Commentaries. I.M. Feigenberg, L.P. Latash, N.A. Bernstein: The Reformer of Neuroscience. M.L. Latash, The Bernstein Problem: How Does the Central Nervous System Make Its Choices? G.J. van Ingen Schenau, A.J. van Soest, On the Biomechanical Basis of Dexterity. M.T. Turvey, C. Carello, Dynamics of Bernstein's Level of Synergies. P.J. Beek, A.A.M. van Santvoord, Dexterity in Cascade Juggling. K.M. Newell, Change in Movement and Skill: Learning, Retention, and Transfer. E.S. Reed, B. Bril, The Primacy of Action in Development.
Hybrid tracking of human operators using IMU/UWB data fusion by a Kalman filter

The precise localization of human operators in robotic workplaces is an important requirement to be satisfied in order to develop human-robot interaction tasks. Human tracking provides not only safety for human operators, but also context information for intelligent human-robot collaboration. This paper evaluates an inertial motion capture system which registers full-body movements of an user in a robotic manipulator workplace. However, the presence of errors in the global translational measurements returned by this system has led to the need of using another localization system, based on Ultra-WideBand (UWB) technology. A Kalman filter fusion algorithm which combines the measurements of these systems is developed. This algorithm unifies the advantages of both technologies: high data rates from the motion capture system and global translational precision from the UWB localization system. The developed hybrid system not only tracks the movements of all limbs of the user as previous motion capture systems, but is also able to position precisely the user in the environment.
Omnidirectional image capture on mobile devices for fast automatic generation of 2.5D indoor maps

We introduce a light-weight automatic method to quickly capture and recover 2.5D multi-room indoor environments scaled to real-world metric dimensions. To minimize the user effort required, we capture and analyze a single omni-directional image per room using widely available mobile devices. Through a simple tracking of the user movements between rooms, we iterate the process to map and reconstruct entire floor plans. In order to infer 3D clues with a minimal processing and without relying on the presence of texture or detail, we define a specialized spatial transform based on catadioptric theory to highlight the room's structure in a virtual projection. From this information, we define a parametric model of each room to formalize our problem as a global optimization solved by Levenberg-Marquardt iterations. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated on several challenging real-world multi-room indoor scenes.
FDM: a graph-based statistical method to detect differential transcription using RNA-seq data

Motivation: In eukaryotic cells, alternative splicing expands the diversity of RNA transcripts and plays an important role in tissue-specific differentiation, and can be misregulated in disease. To understand these processes, there is a great need for methods to detect differential transcription between samples. Our focus is on samples observed using short-read RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Methods: We characterize differential transcription between two samples as the difference in the relative abundance of the transcript isoforms present in the samples. The magnitude of differential transcription of a gene between two samples can be measured by the square root of the Jensen Shannon Divergence (JSD*) between the gene's transcript abundance vectors in each sample. We define a weighted splice-graph representation of RNA-seq data, summarizing in compact form the alignment of RNA-seq reads to a reference genome. The flow difference metric (FDM) identifies regions of differential RNA transcript expression between pairs of splice graphs, without need for an underlying gene model or catalog of transcripts. We present a novel non-parametric statistical test between splice graphs to assess the significance of differential transcription, and extend it to group-wise comparison incorporating sample replicates. Results: Using simulated RNA-seq data consisting of four technical replicates of two samples with varying transcription between genes, we show that (i) the FDM is highly correlated with JSD* (r=0.82) when average RNA-seq coverage of the transcripts is sufficiently deep; and (ii) the FDM is able to identify 90% of genes with differential transcription when JSD* >0.28 and coverage >7. This represents higher sensitivity than Cufflinks (without annotations) and rDiff (MMD), which respectively identified 69 and 49% of the genes in this region as differential transcribed. Using annotations identifying the transcripts, Cufflinks was able to identify 86% of the genes in this region as differentially transcribed. Using experimental data consisting of four replicates each for two cancer cell lines (MCF7 and SUM102), FDM identified 1425 genes as significantly different in transcription. Subsequent study of the samples using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) of several differential transcription sites identified by FDM, confirmed significant differences at these sites. Availability: http://csbio-linux001.cs. unc.edu/nextgen/software/FDM Contact: darshan@email.unc.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Fear of Movement/(Re)injury in Chronic Low Back Pain: Education or Exposure In Vivo as Mediator to Fear Reduction?

Clinical research of graded exposure in vivo with behavioral experiments in patients with chronic low back pain who reported fear of movement/(re)injury shows abrupt changes in self-reported pain-related fears and cognitions. The abrupt changes are more characteristics of insight learning rather than the usual gradual progression of trial and error learning. The educational session at the start of the exposure might have contributed to this insight. The current study examines the contribution of education and graded exposure versus graded activity in the reduction of pain-related fear and associated disability and physical activity. Six consecutive patients with chronic low back pain who reported substantial fear of movement/(re)injury were included in the study. After a no-treatment baseline measurement period, all the patients received a single educational session, followed again by a no-treatment period. Patients were then randomly assigned to either a graded exposure with behavioral experiments or an operant graded activity program. A diary was used to assess daily changes in pain intensity, pain-related fear, pain catastrophizing, and activity goal achievement. Standardized questionnaires of pain-related fear, pain vigilance, pain intensity, and pain disability were administered before and after each intervention and at the 6-month follow-up. An activity monitor was carried at baseline, during the interventions, and 1 week at 6-month follow-up. Randomization tests of the daily measures showed that improvements in pain-related fear and catastrophizing occurred after the education was introduced. The results also showed a further improvement when exposure in vivo followed the no-treatment period after the education and not during the operant graded activity program. Performance of relevant daily activities, however, were not affected by the educational session and improved significantly only in the exposure in vivo condition. All improvements remained at half-year follow-up only in patients receiving the exposure in vivo. These patients also reported a significant decrease in pain intensity at follow-up.
FLow-Induced PRotrusions (FLIPRs): A Platelet-Derived Platform for the Retrieval of Microparticles by Monocytes and Neutrophils

Rationale: Platelets are the most important cells in the primary prevention of blood loss after injury. In addition, platelets are at the interface between circulating leukocytes and the (sub)endothelium regulating inflammatory responses. Objective: Our aim was to study the dynamic process that leads to the formation of procoagulant and proinflammatory platelets under physiological flow. Methods and Results: In the present study, we describe the formation of extremely long, negatively charged membrane strands that emerge from platelets adhered under flow. These flow-induced protrusions (FLIPRs) are formed in vitro on different physiological substrates and are also detected in vivo in a mouse carotid injury model. FLIPRs are formed downstream the adherent and activated platelets and reach lengths of 250 &mgr;m. FLIPR formation is shear-dependent and requires cyclophilin D, calpain, and Rac1 activation. It is accompanied by a disassembly of the F-actin and microtubule organization. Monocytes and neutrophils roll over FLIPRs in a P-selectin/P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1–dependent manner, retrieving fragments of FLIPRs as microparticles on their surface. Consequently, monocytes and neutrophils become activated, as demonstrated by increased CD11b expression and L-selectin shedding. Conclusions: The formation of long platelet membrane extensions, such as the ones presented in our flow model, may pave the way to generate an increased membrane surface for interaction with monocytes and neutrophils. Our study provides a mechanistic model for platelet membrane transfer and the generation of monocyte/neutrophil–microparticle complexes. We propose that the formation of FLIPRs in vivo contributes to the well-established proinflammatory function of platelets and platelet-derived microparticles.
Raising awareness about sleep disorders

Sleep disorders affect a substantial number of people worldwide and may be increasing in prevalence. Unfortunately, many of these disorders can go unrecognized and untreated in clinical practice. Although physicians understand that good sleep is essential to patient health, approaching the issue is often glossed over in the primary care setting. Importantly, recent data also suggest that sleep disorders are becoming increasingly recognized in developing nations. Here, we review the pertinent features and treatment of some of the major sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, insomnia, and others, that affect patient health. We aim to promote clinician and public awareness of various sleep disorders with the intent of increasing rates of recognition and treatment.
Epigenetic regulation of Thy-1 gene expression by histone modification is involved in lipopolysaccharide-induced lung fibroblast proliferation

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by aberrant proliferation and activation of lung fibroblasts. Epigenetic regulation of thymocyte differentiation antigen 1 (Thy‐1) is associated with lung fibroblast phenotype transformation that results in aberrant cell proliferation. However, it is not clear whether the epigenetic regulation of Thy‐1 expression is required for LPS‐induced lung fibroblast proliferation. To address this issue and better understand the relative underlying mechanisms, we used mouse lung fibroblasts as model to observe the changes of Thy‐1 expression and histone deacetylation after LPS challenge. The results showed that cellular DNA synthesis, measured by BrdU incorporation, was impacted less in the early stage (24 hrs) after the challenge of LPS, but significantly increased at 48 or 72 hrs after the challenge of LPS. Meanwhile, Thy‐1 expression, which was detected by real‐time PCR and Western blot, in lung fibroblasts decreased with increased time after LPS challenge and diminished at 72 hrs. We also found that the acetylation of either histone H3 or H4 decreased in the LPS‐challenged lung fibroblasts. ChIP assay revealed that the acetylation of histone H4 (Ace‐H4) decreased in the Thy‐1 promoter region in response to LPS. In addition, all the above changes could be attenuated by depletion of TLR4 gene. Our studies indicate that epigenetic regulation of Thy‐1 gene expression by histone modification is involved in LPS‐induced lung fibroblast proliferation.
Identifying Trends in Enterprise Data Protection Systems

Enterprises routinely use data protection techniques to achieve business continuity in the event of failures. To ensure that backup and recovery goals are met in the face of the steep data growth rates of modern workloads, data protection systems need to constantly evolve. Recent studies show that these systems routinely miss their goals today. However, there is little work in the literature to understand why this is the case. In this paper, we present a study of 40,000 enterprise data protection systems deploying Symantec NetBackup, a commercial backup product. In total, we analyze over a million weekly reports which have been collected over a period of three years. We discover that the main reason behind inefficiencies in data protection systems is misconfigurations. Furthermore, our analysis shows that these systems grow in bursts, leaving clients unprotected at times, and are often configured using the default parameter values. As a result, we believe there is potential in developing automated, self-healing data protection systems that achieve higher efficiency standards. To aid researchers in the development of such systems, we use our dataset to identify trends characterizing data protection systems with regards to configuration, job scheduling, and data growth.