Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pricing on paths: a PTAS for the highway problem

In the highway problem, we are given an n-edge line graph (the highway), and a set of paths (the drivers), each one with its own budget. For a given assignment of edge weights (the tolls), the highway owner collects from each driver the weight of the associated path, when it does not exceed the budget of the driver, and zero otherwise. The goal is choosing weights so as to maximize the profit. A lot of research has been devoted to this apparently simple problem. The highway problem was shown to be strongly NP-hard only recently [Elbassioni,Raman,Ray,Sitters-'09]. The best-known approximation is O(log n/log log n) [Gamzu,Segev-'10], which improves on the previous-best O(log n) approximation [Balcan,Blum-'06]. Better approximations are known for a number of special cases. Finding a constant (or better! ) approximation algorithm for the general case is a challenging open problem. In this paper we present a PTAS for the highway problem, hence closing the complexity status of the problem. Our result is based on a novel randomized dissection approach, which has some points in common with Arora's quadtree dissection for Euclidean network design [Arora-'98]. The basic idea is enclosing the highway in a bounding path, such that both the size of the bounding path and the position of the highway in it are random variables. Then we consider a recursive O(1)-ary dissection of the bounding path, in sub-paths of uniform optimal weight. Since the optimal weights are unknown, we construct the dissection in a bottom-up fashion via dynamic programming, while computing the approximate solution at the same time. Our algorithm can be easily derandomized. The same basic approach provides PTASs also for two generalizations of the problem: the tollbooth problem with a constant number of leaves and the maximum-feasibility subsystem problem on interval matrices. In both cases the previous best approximation factors are polylogarithmic [Gamzu,Segev-'10, Elbassioni,Raman,Ray,Sitters-'09].
Posture interpolation with collision avoidance

While interpolating between successive postures of an articulated figure is not mathematically difficult, it is much more useful to provide postural transitions that are behaviorally reasonable and that avoid collisions with nearby objects. We describe such a posture interpolator which begins with a number of pre-defined static postures. A finite state machine controls the transitions from any posture to a goal posture by finding the shortest path of required motion sequences between the two. If the motion between any two postures is not collision free, a collision avoidance strategy is invoked and the posture is changed to one that satisfies the required goal while respecting object and agent integrity. <<ETX>>
Activation of Coagulation and Fibrinolysis in Heatstroke

Summary Hemorrhagic diathesis and widespread microthrombosis are common in heatstroke. To assess the early stages of coagulopathy in heatstroke, thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT), fibrin monomers, plasmin-a2-antiplasmin (PAP), plasminogen and D-Dimer were measured in 16 heatstroke patients (means ± SE rectal temperature 42.3 ± 0.2° C) pre- and postcooling and compared with 8 heatstressed and 23 normal controls. Comparing heatstroke patients with normal controls, TAT, fibrin monomers, PAP and D-Dimer were elevated to (median (range)) 16.5 (4-1000) versus 3.5 (2-7.2) Μg/l p<0.001,16 (4-113) versus 2 (2-9) nM p<0.001; 3300 (1000-36500) versus 255 (136-462) Μg/l p<0.001 and 0.72 (0.22-64.8) versus 0.15 (0.05-0.25) Μg/ml p<0.01 respectively. Plasminogen decreased to 81% (34-106); PAP, TAT and D-Dimer correlated significantly with hyperthermia (r = 0.577, p = 0.02; r = 0.635, p = 0.01; r = 0.76, p = 0.003). Postcooling PAP decreased to 545 (260-850) Μg/1 p<0.005, TAT 10 (6-70) |ig/l, and fibrin monomers 22 (18-86) nM remained unchanged. Heatstressed controls showed mild but significant increase in all markers. Activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis occurs early and is profound and sustained in heatstroke. Cooling seems to attenuate the activation of fibrinolysis only, however, this requires confirmation in a larger study population.
Hidden Community Mining under the RST/POSL Framework

The social network analysis (SNA) attempts to find explicit similarities between actors in the network. Traditional clustering methods are based on the attributes between actors in the network that lacks for logic foundation. In this paper we apply rough set theory to SNA. Objects are partitioned into equivalence classes interpreting the hidden community. This paper proposes a framework to find the implicit social network based on RST (rough set theory) and POSL to extract and express the social structure and relationship in diverse databases. The interface of different level is a mapping from a source model to a target model using a set of transformation rules. Finally, the validation is supported by OO jDREW to evaluate the correctness and the adequacy of the model. This paper will apply an example of a virtual team to validate the feasibility of the RST/POSL framework.
Blue Noise Sampling of Surfaces

We present an algorithm to generate point distributions with high-quality blue noise characteristics on discrete surfaces. It is based on the concept of Capacity-Constrained Surface Triangulation (CCST), which approximates the underlying continuous surface as a well-formed triangle mesh with uniform triangle areas. The algorithm takes a triangle mesh and the number of sample points as input, and iteratively alternates between optimization of the geometry (positions) of the points and optimization of their topology (connectivity) until convergence. Since the method is relaxation-based, it allows precise control over the number of sample points. Differential domain analysis shows that the point distribution of CCST exhibits typical blue noise characteristics, superior to other relaxation-based sampling methods and is very efficient compared to other traditional dart-throwing methods. We generalize CCST to non-uniform sampling by incorporating a density function. This can be useful in many geometry processing applications, such as curvature-aware remeshing. The problem of sampling, or point distribution, is ubiquitous in computer graphics [14]. It can be formulated as follows: given a domain S and the number of point samples n, position n points within the domain to form a pattern that satisfies some user-specified preferences. In practice, different applications require different patterns, but it seems that among numerous sampling patterns, the most useful are those which have so-called ''blue noise'' characteristic, which, in a nutshell, attest to high spatial uniformity and low regularity of the distribution. A good generator of blue noise distributions tends to replace low frequency aliasing with high frequency noise in order to be less visually objectionable [16], thus can be used in applications including rendering, sensing, imaging and geometry processing. One well-known class of sample patterns having the blue noise characteristic is the so-called Poisson Disk distribution [7], where the points are positioned such that the disk with an appropriate radius centered at each point is empty of other points. Because of its importance, a large volume of work investigating the generation of blue noise sample patterns on the plane exists. However, the problem of efficiently generating such sample patterns on non-planar surfaces is more difficult and much less work focuses on this issue. Most of the existing methods use either surface parameterization to reduce the surface case to the planar case, introducing distortions into the patterns, or extend the classical dart throwing algorithm [8] from the plane to the surface, thus are computationally expensive since geodesic distances must be …
Sources of Propylene Glycol and Glycol Ethers in Air at Home

Propylene glycol and glycol ether (PGE) in indoor air have recently been associated with asthma and allergies as well as sensitization in children. In this follow-up report, sources of the PGEs in indoor air were investigated in 390 homes of pre-school age children in Sweden. Professional building inspectors examined each home for water damages, mold odour, building’s structural characteristics, indoor temperature, absolute humidity and air exchange rate. They also collected air and dust samples. The samples were analyzed for four groups of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-VOCs (SVOCs), including summed concentrations of 16 PGEs, 8 terpene hydrocarbons, 2 Texanols, and the phthalates n-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). Home cleaning with water and mop ≥ once/month, repainting ≥ one room prior to or following the child’s birth, and “newest” surface material in the child’s bedroom explained largest portion of total variability in PGE concentrations. High excess indoor humidity (g/m3) additionally contributed to a sustained PGE levels in indoor air far beyond several months following the paint application. No behavioral or building structural factors, except for water-based cleaning, predicted an elevated terpene level in air. No significant predictor of Texanols emerged from our analysis. Overall disparate sources and low correlations among the PGEs, terpenes, Texanols, and the phthalates further confirm the lack of confounding in the analysis reporting the associations of the PGE and the diagnoses of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema, respectively.
Identification and analysis of DNA binding specific transcription factor binding sites in sucrose synthase promoter

Sucrose synthase (SUS) is one of the abundantly expressed genes in plants. In this study, the promoter sequence of SUS gene was identified, analyzed and retrieved from high throughput genomic sequence (HTGS) database. The transcription factor binding sites (TFBs) of subject promoter were identified through different bioinformatics tools. The analysis revealed several crucial motifs and TFBs within the entire promoter region. The most common site found within promoter region was AGL3, which binded with DNA-region specific binding site and involved in process of transcriptional regulation. AGL3 is also a key factor for studying protein dimerization activity. Furthermore, AGL3 encodes a protein, which encodes a conserved domain, MADS protein domain. The analysis of AGL3 through (Plant PAN 2.0) showed three associated TF: AT5G23260, AT2G03710, U81369, which were used for further analysis of conserved protein domains through Pfam and InterPro. We found that these TF could help in developmental regulation and validation of candidate genes. Moreover, the binding of AGL3 with serum response factor (SRF), a nuclear protein also indicates the transcriptional regulations of several growth factors. This core domain belongs to MADS protein family, which interacts with certain accessory factors and varies up to 90 amino acids. Analysis of such promoter sequences and their predicted TF can be useful to understand the transcriptional regulatory networks in plant genetic engineering.
The identification of new candidate genes Triticum aestivum FLOWERING LOCUS T3‐B1 (TaFT3‐B1) and TARGET OF EAT1 (TaTOE1‐B1) controlling the short‐day photoperiod response in bread wheat

Abstract Perception of photoperiod changes enables plants to flower under optimum conditions for survival. We used doubled haploid populations of crosses among Avalon × Cadenza, Charger × Badger and Spark × Rialto and identified short‐day flowering time response quantitative trait loci (QTL) on wheat chromosomes 1BS and 1BL. We used synteny between Brachypodium distachyon and wheat to identify potential candidates for both QTL. The 1BL QTL peak coincided with TaFT3‐B1, a homologue of the barley gene HvFT3, the most likely candidate gene. The 1BS QTL peak coincided with homologues of Arabidopsis thaliana S ENSITIVITY TO R ED LIGHT R EDUCED 1, WUSCHEL‐like and RAP2.7, which is also known as Zea mays TARGET OF EAT1, named TaSRR1‐B1, TaWUSCHELL‐B1 and TaTOE1‐B1, respectively. Gene expression assays suggest that TaTOE1‐B1 and TaFT3‐B1 are expressed more during short days. We identified four alleles of TaFT3‐B1 and three alleles of TaTOE1‐B1. We studied the effect of these alleles in the Watkins and GEDIFLUX diversity panels by using 936 and 431 accessions, respectively. Loss of TaFT3‐B1 by deletion was associated with late flowering. Increased TaFT3‐B1 copy number was associated with early flowering, suggesting that TaFT3‐B1 promotes flowering. Significant association was observed in the GEDIFLUX collection for TaTOE1‐B1, a putative flowering repressor.
Performance analysis of the full-duplex enabled decode-and-forward two-way relay system

Operating the full-duplex (FD) mode in the two-way (TW) relay system has the potential to vastly improve the spectrum utilization owing to the simultaneity of the transmission and reception on the same frequency band. However, the severe self-interference (SI) from the transmitting antenna to the local receiving antenna incurred by the FD mode will cause difficulties for decoding the desired signals. Contrary to the traditional theoretical analysis with perfect SI cancellation (SIC), this paper studies the impact of the residual self-interference (RSI) on the outage performance of the FD enabled decode-and-forward (DF) TW relay system. Exact closed-form outage probability expressions are derived based on the power allocation schemes at the relay node. Both the symmetrical and asymmetrical situations are investigated. Furthermore, the asymptotic outage probabilities are derived when the transmitting powers increase to infinity, and the results demonstrate that the outage probabilities monotonically increase and lastly converge to 1 as the transmitting power exceeds a certain threshold. Finally, simulation results are conducted to verify the accuracy of the theoretical analysis.
Constitutive or Inducible Protective Mechanisms against UV-B Radiation in the Brown Alga Fucus vesiculosus? A Study of Gene Expression and Phlorotannin Content Responses

A role as UV sunscreens has been suggested for phlorotannins, the phenolic compounds that accumulate in brown algae in response to a number of external stimuli and take part in cell wall structure. After exposure of the intertidal brown alga Fucus vesiculosus to artificial UV-B radiation, we examined its physiological responses by following the transcript level of the pksIII gene encoding a phloroglucinol synthase, likely to be involved in the first step of phlorotannins biosynthesis. We also monitored the expression of three targeted genes, encoding a heat shock protein (hsp70), which is involved in global stress responses, an aryl sulfotransferase (ast), which could be involved in the sulfation of phlorotannins, and a vanadium bromoperoxidase (vbpo), which can potentially participate in the scavenging of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and in the cross-linking and condensation of phlorotannins. We investigated whether transcriptional regulation of these genes is correlated with an induction of phlorotannin accumulation by establishing metabolite profiling of purified fractions of low molecular weight phlorotannins. Our findings demonstrated that a high dose of UV-B radiation induced a significant overexpression of hsp70 after 12 and 24 hours following the exposure to the UV-B treatment, compared to control treatment. The physiological performance of algae quantified by the photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) was slightly reduced. However UV-B treatment did not induce the accumulation of soluble phlorotannins in F. vesiculosus during the kinetics of four weeks, a result that may be related to the lack of induction of the pksIII gene expression. Taken together these results suggest a constitutive accumulation of phlorotannins occurring during the development of F.vesiculosus, rather than inducible processes. Gene expression studies and phlorotannin profiling provide here complementary approaches to global quantifications currently used in studies of phenolic compounds in brown algae.
Enhancing Innovation and Underlying Neural Mechanisms Via Cognitive Training in Healthy Older Adults

Non-invasive interventions, such as cognitive training (CT) and physical exercise, are gaining momentum as ways to augment both cognitive and brain function throughout life. One of the most fundamental yet little studied aspects of human cognition is innovative thinking, especially in older adults. In this study, we utilize a measure of innovative cognition that examines both the quantity and quality of abstracted interpretations. This randomized pilot trial in cognitively normal adults (56–75 years) compared the effect of cognitive reasoning training (SMART) on innovative cognition as measured by Multiple Interpretations Measure (MIM). We also examined brain changes in relation to MIM using two MRI-based measurement of arterial spin labeling (ASL) to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF) and functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) to measure default mode and central executive network (CEN) synchrony at rest. Participants (N = 58) were randomized to the CT, physical exercise (physical training, PT) or control (CN) group where CT and PT groups received training for 3 h/week over 12 weeks. They were assessed at baseline-, mid- and post-training using innovative cognition and MRI measures. First, the CT group showed significant gains pre- to post-training on the innovation measure whereas the physical exercise and control groups failed to show significant gains. Next, the CT group showed increased CBF in medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), two nodes within the Default Mode Network (DMN) compared to physical exercise and control groups. Last, significant correlations were found between innovation performance and connectivity of two major networks: CEN (positive correlation) and DMN (negative correlation). These results support the view that both the CEN and DMN are important for enhancement of innovative cognition. We propose that neural mechanisms in healthy older adults can be modified through reasoning training to better subserve enhanced innovative cognition.
Reciprocal relation between psychophysiological patterns of stress responsivity and sleep

Contemporary understanding of the brain indicates that a reciprocal relationship exists between mind and body. Biological functioning adjusts to the consequences of our behavior and our behavior is influenced by our biology. This is the case with the stress responsivity system. The stress hormone cortisol follows a biologically-predetermined daily cycle of secretion (controlled by circadian rhythm) that correlates with expected activity throughout the day, however this cycle can accommodate to different environmental changes that can occur. It has been noticed that individuals who report stress problems also report sleep problems. I hypothesized that sleep quality can predict maladjustments in cortisol’s rhythm. All participants provided saliva samples and had to take the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Salivivay cortisol was measured via was enzyme-immuno-assayed for cortisol. I analyzed the data for three independent studies: (1)12 samples were taken for basal and lab days in 65 individuals. People who scored worse in total PSQI showed decreased stress reactivity (γ 21=-.02, t(63)=-2.27, p=0.026) and faster recovery (γ31=-0.102, t(608)=-2.044, p=0.041). (2)6-8 samples per day across 5 days in 120 maltreated or control adolescents. I used a 3-level hierarchical linear model to examine rhythms within each day and within each individual. The cortisol rhythm was flattened on days when adolescents had poor sleep latency (β;=.013, p=.025 for time-since-waking, β=-.0008, p=.039 for quadratic time-since-waking). (3) 10 samples were taken in 44 skydivers for jumping and basal days. Those who scored worse in sleep latency had slower reactivity (γ31=-0.16, t(284)=-3.701, p<. 001) and slower recovery (γ31=0.22, t(284)=3.311, p<0.001). Stress and sleep problems are related to cognitive and physiological issues; finding an appropriate connection between them can be elemental in preventing problems.
The ability of two scoring systems to predict in-hospital mortality of patients with moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries in a Moroccan intensive care unit

Aim of Study: We aim to assess and to compare the predicting power for in-hospital mortality (IHM) of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II (APACHE-II) and the Simplified Acute Physiology Score-II (SAPS-II) for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted during a period of 2 years and 9 months in a Moroccan intensive care unit. Data were collected during the first 24 h of each admission. The clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed and used as per each scoring system to calculate the scores. Univariate and multivariate analyses through regression logistic models were performed, to predict IHM after moderate and severe TBIs. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC), specificities and sensitivities were determined and also compared. Results: A total of 225 patients were enrolled. The observed IHM was 51.5%. The univariate analysis showed that the initial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was lower in nonsurviving patients (mean GCS = 6) than the survivors (mean GCS = 9) with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0024). The APACHE-II and the SAPS-II of the nonsurviving patients were higher than those of the survivors (respectively 20.4 ± 6.8 and 31.2 ± 13.6 for nonsurvivors vs. 15.7 ± 5.4 and 22.7 ± 10.3 for survivors) with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0032 for APACHE-II and P = 0.0045 for SAPS-II). Multivariate analysis: APACHE-II was superior for predicting IHM (AUROC = 0.92). Conclusion: The APACHE-II is an interesting tool to predict IHM of head injury patients. This is particularly relevant in Morocco, where TBI is a greater public health problem than in many other countries.
Host-Directed Therapeutics: ATP as an Immunoadjunctive Agent for Chemotherapy against Mycobacterial Infections

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) treatment of human macrophages, which possess both P2X7 and P2Y2 receptors, potentiates the activity of macrophages (MΦs) to kill mycobacterial organisms in a P2X7-dependent manner. ATP-mediated killing of mycobacterial organisms within MΦs is partly mediated by phospholipase D, which is linked to leukocyte antimicrobial mechanisms dependent on the mobilization of intracellular Ca and subsequent lysosomal fusion and acidification of mycobacteria-containing phagosomes. ATP-mediated killing of intramacrophage mycobacteria is also attributable to MΦ apoptosis induced by P2X7-mediated signaling. Furthermore, ATP signals transmitted through P2X7 receptors up-regulate MΦ antimycobacterial activity in a cytosolic phospholipase A2-dependent manner. Recently, it has been demonstrated that ATP directly inhibits the growth of various bacteria, including Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and mycobacteria. The antibacterial activity of ATP is attributable to its iron-chelating ability. This chapter describes the possible usefulness of ATP-based immunoadjunctive therapy in the clinical management of intractable mycobacteriosis, using antimicrobial chemotherapeutics.