Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Query Similarity for Improving Presentation of News Verticals

Users often issue web queries related to current news events. For such queries, it is useful to predict the news intent automatically and highlight the news documents on the search result page. An example query would be \election results" issued during the time of elections. These highlighted displays are called news verticals. Prior work has proposed several features for predicting whether a query has news intent. However, most approaches treat each query individually. So on a given day, very similar queries can be assigned opposite predictions. In our work, we explore how a system can utilize query similarity information to improve the quality of news verticals along two dimensions|prediction and presentation. We show via a study of actual search trac that the accuracy of predicting queries into newsworthy and not newsworthy categories can be improved using query similarity. Further, we present a method to identify a canonical variant for a newsworthy query such that using the canonical query would retrieve better results from the news backend to show in the display. Use of the canonical query also has the advantage of creating a consistent presentation of results for query variants related to the same news event.
Mobile Ad Hoc wireless network for pre- and post-emergency situations in nuclear power plant

This paper describes the mobile Ad-Hoc (wireless) network (MANET) for emergency scenarios in nuclear power plant (NPP). Authors proposed the system with such properties as flexibility and a self-forming and self-healing network topology that dynamically adjusts to the moving configuration per each intermediate routing node. It is also proposed to integrate MANET and Bluetooth-like technologies to create an unmanned formation of autonomous quadcopters that provides both indoor and outdoor communications coverage inside and outside of the NPP.
A new technique for quality scalable video coding with H.264

In this paper, we provide a technique that allows H264/AVC to achieve quality scalable coding by allowing the coder to produce different coded motion qualities. This technique is called block ordering scalability. It realizes scalability by exploiting the existing building blocks of the standard. It may need minor changes of the current standard, but in its simple form, presented here, it does not need any change at all. The blocks carrying the updating picture information are ordered according to their importance into different slices. This reordering allows realizing a gradual refinement of the quality of coded pictures. An implementation of such a system is achieved by analyzing the motion of a given picture to determine the most important blocks to code for basic quality and the less important ones used for enhancement. In this case, scalability affects the quality of the reproduced motion. This way of coding the enhancement blocks allows achieving rate-adaptive coding. Many experimental results that show the efficiency of the technique are provided.
The rapid release of corticosterone from the adrenal induced by ACTH is mediated by nitric oxide acting by prostaglandin E2

The adrenal cortex is a major stress organ in mammals that reacts rapidly to a multitude of external and internal stressors. Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) is the main stimulator of the adrenal cortex, activating corticosteroid synthesis and secretion. We evaluated the mechanism of action of ACTH on adrenals of male rats, preserving the architecture of the gland in vitro. We demonstrated that both sodium nitroprusside (NP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, and ACTH stimulate corticosterone release. NO mediated the acute response to ACTH because Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, a NO synthase inhibitor, and hemoglobin, a NO scavenger, blocked the stimulation of corticosterone release induced by ACTH. NP stimulated prostaglandin E release, which in turn stimulated corticosterone release from the adrenal. Additionally, indomethacin, which inhibits cyclooxygenase, and thereby, prostaglandin release, prevented corticosterone release from the adrenal induced by both NP and ACTH, demonstrating that prostaglandins mediate acute corticosterone release. Corticosterone content in adrenals after incubation with ACTH or NP was lower than in control glands, indicating that any de novo synthesis of corticosterone during this period was not sufficient to keep up with the release of the stored hormone. The release induced by ACTH or NP depleted the corticosterone content in the adrenal by ≈40% compared with the content of glands incubated in buffer. The mechanism of rapid release is as follows: NO produced by NO synthase activation by ACTH activates cyclooxygenase, which generates PGE2, which in turn releases corticosterone stored in microvesicles and other organelles.
Prospective Randomized Controlled Comparison of Caudal Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine in Pediatric Patients

Background: Bupivacaine and ropivacaine are commonly used agents for caudal anesthesia in pediatric patients. Several studies have shown different motor and cardiovascular effects of two drugs. Aim: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of both drugs and secondary objective was to compare motor blockade and hemodynamic effects caused by them. Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective randomized controlled study including 50 consecutive patients in the age group of 1-10 years, who underwent urogenital surgeries under general anesthesia. Caudal block was given with either bupivacaine (0.25%) 1 ml/kg (Group I) or ropivacaine (0.25%) 1 ml/kg (Group II). Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were recorded as a baseline, before the anesthesia induction and then at 30, 60 and 90 min after incision. Pain scores were assessed post-operatively by a single observer at 30 min and then at 2, 4, 8 and 12 h with a 5-point observer pain score (OPS). Patients and observer were blinded to the medication given. The duration of absolute analgesia was defined as the time from caudal injection until the pain score was >2. Motor block was assessed by modified Bromage scale. Statistical analysis was performed with Chi-square test, Student′s t-test and log-rank test. P < 0.05 were considered as significant. Results: HR and SBP measured at a specific time intervals showed no significant difference. All the patients had adequate intraoperative analgesia. Mean OPS were comparable between two groups. Duration of absolute analgesia was 276.8 (11) min in Group I and 284.8 (12) min for Group II. The only significant difference was the motor-block score at 2, 3 and 4 h after surgery, although the score was same 1 h post-operatively. Conclusion: The efficacy of both ropivacaine and bupivacaine is almost same in terms of onset and duration of analgesia. Therefore, the motor blockade caused by ropivacaine is less; there is no significant difference in cardiovascular events.
Benders' Decomposition Based Heuristics for Large-Scale Dynamic Quadratic Assignment Problems

Problem statement: Dynamic Quadratic Assignment Problem (DQAP) is NP hard problem. Benders decomposition based heuristics method is applied to the equivalent mixed-integer linear programming problem of the original DQAP. Approach: Approximate Benders Decomposition (ABD) generates the ensemble of a subset of feasible layout for Approximate Dynamic Programming (ADP) to determine the sub-optimal optimal solution. A Trust-Region Constraint (TRC) for the master problem in ABD and a Successive Adaptation Procedure (SAP) were implemented to accelerate the convergence rate of the method. Results: The sub-optimal solutions of large-scales DQAPs from the method and its variants were compared well with other metaheuristic methods. Conclusion: Overall performance of the method is comparable to other metaheuristic methods for large-scale DQAPs.
Tax Illusion and Labour Supply of Married Women: Evidence from German Data

In the face of complex budget sets, the assumption that individuals act on the basis of complete knowledge of the tax system is a theoretical borderline. The issues examined here are (1) to what extent do agents perceive their true marginal tax rate when making labor supply decisions, and (2) does the perception of the marginal tax rate differ among socioeconomic groups? Using German panel data, the authors find that the assumption of complete knowledge of the tax system does not fit the data well and that education is the main determinant of a correct perception of the marginal tax rate. Coauthors are Francois Laisney, Michael Lechner, and Winfried Pohlmeier. Copyright 1995 by WWZ and Helbing & Lichtenhahn Verlag AG
Effective multi-GPU communication using multiple CUDA streams and threads

In the context of multiple GPUs that share the same PCIe bus, we propose a new communication scheme that leads to a more effective overlap of communication and computation. Multiple CUDA streams and OpenMP threads are adopted so that data can simultaneously be sent and received. A representative 3D stencil example is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of our scheme. We compare the performance of our new scheme with an MPI-based state-of-the-art scheme. Results show that our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art scheme, being up to 1.85× faster. However, our performance results also indicate that the current underlying PCIe bus architecture needs improvements to handle the future scenario of many GPUs per node.
Wetting-induced effective interaction potential between spherical particles

Using a density-functional-based interface displacement model, we determine the effective interaction potential between two spherical particles which are immersed in a homogeneous fluid such as the vapor phase of a one-component substance or the A-rich liquid phase of a binary liquid mixture composed of A and B particles. If this solvent is thermodynamically close to a first-order fluid-fluid phase transition, the spheres are covered with wetting films of the incipient bulk phase, i.e., the liquid phase or the B-rich liquid, respectively. Below a critical distance between the spheres their wetting films snap to a bridgelike configuration. We determine phase diagrams for this morphological transition, and analyze its repercussions on the effective interaction potential. Our results are accessible to various types of force microscopy and scattering experiments, and may be relevant to flocculation in colloidal suspensions.
Pleiotropic mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae affecting sterol uptake and metabolism

Sterol uptake control mutants (upc−) have been isolated via ethylmethanesulfonate mutagenesis from wild‐type Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These mutants are heme and sterol competent but possess the ability to accumulate exogenous sterol(s) under aerobic conditions. Previous demonstrate sterol uptake only in a hem−, erg− background; however, the Upc− strains described here are Hem+ and do not require exogenous sterol for growth. We were unable to obtain viable hem+, erg−, upc+ recombinants; such combinations appear to be lethal. Isolates of Upc mutants demonstrated different levels of sterol uptake, and sterol analysis revealed a broad phenotypic range with regard to amounts and accumulation of ergosterol and non‐ergosterol sterols. Assays of acyl CoA: ergosterol acyltransferase and sterol ester hydrolase showed no apparent difference in activity between Upc mutants and the wild type.
Myoepithelial Cell-Rich Pleormorphic Adenoma of Minor Salivary Gland of Parapharyngeal Space

Parapharyngeal space tumors are rare and constitute only 0.5–1.0% of head and neck tumors. Minor salivary gland tumor is still rare in parapharyngeal space. We are reporting a case of pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary gland of parapharyngeal space. A 42-year-old female presented with a history of mass in the oropharynx for 3 years. She presented with “hot potato voice” and dysphagia. CECT and MRI were done, showing large parapharyngeal space tumor. FNAC was suspicious for tumor of nerve cell origin. Tumor was excised using “paramedian mandibulotomy with mandibular swing approach”. Histopathological examination was inconclusive, suggesting possibility of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, solitary fibrous tumor, neurogenic tumor. On immunohistochemistry, tumor was positive for cytokeratin, EMA (dim), S-100, and P 63 and negative for SMA thus proving the case as myoepithelial cell-rich pleomorphic adenoma.
Equilibrium Constant for Conversion of Pyruvate to Acetyl Phosphate and Formate

Preparations of pyruvate formate-lyase were made from Escherichia coli cells. Net reversal of the “phosphoroclastic split” of pyruvate was readily demonstrated with these preparations. Incubation of acetyl phosphate with formate resulted in the accumulation of pyruvate in concentrations up to 0.5 mm. Catalytic amounts of coenzyme A were essential. Pyruvate was also readily formed from acetyl coenzyme A and formate. The equilibrium constant of the reaction (pyruvate− + HPO42− → acetyl phosphate2− + formate−) has been determined to be about 23 at 37 C.
Tyrosine kinase activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Previous evidence showed that b‐ and a‐type flagellins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are modified in vivo by phosphorylation at tyrosine. This research was designed to demonstrate phosphorylation of flageliin at tyrosine in vitro. Evidence presented showed that flageilin is labelled by [γ‐32P]‐ATP, but not by [α‐32P]‐ATP, when incubated with cell envelope fractions. Results suggested that autophosphoryiation of a 42 kDa membrane protein occurred. No activity was detected in cytoplasmic fractions. Flagellin protein was identified by flagella‐specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) and was labelled with anti‐phosphotyrosine mAb. Confirmation of tyrosine kinase activity was shown by labelling of synthetic poly (Glu:Tyr) as a substrate with [γ‐32P]‐ATP. Labelling of poly (Glu:Tyr) was heat sensitive and time dependent. Labelled phosphotyrosine was observed in partial acid hydrolysates of substrates. Using poly (Glu:Tyr) as substrate, tyrosine kinase activity was shown to be inhibited by sulphydryl reagents. It appears that tyrosine kinase and flagellin phosphorylation occur in several Pseudomonas spp. Location of phosphotyrosine in a conserved region of flagellin may serve as a cell signal so that intact flagellin is appropriately exported.
Buffers in Peritoneal Dialysis

Patients undergoing dialysis turn over to the buffer contained in the dialytic solution the task of neutralizing the "fixed acids" produced daily and the regeneration of body buffers. During the dialytic session, the actual correction of acid-base imbalance depends on: the quantity of buffer really gained by the patient; the patient's ability to metabolize the incoming buffer load; the losses of bicarbonate and organic acids into the dialysate (1,2). The sodium salts of several organic oxidizable anions (such as acetate, lactate, citrate, malate, pyruvate, alphaketoglutarate, succinate etc.) are capable of consuming H+ derived from carbonic acid, causing the release of bicarbonate. In turn, sodium salts are converted to organic acids, which have to be fully metabolized (3). Unfortunately, the two buffers currently utilized in peritoneal dialysis (PD) lactate and acetate do not lack side effects and metabolic problems. Both of them are peripheral vasodilators, affect myocardial contractility, are directly responsible for a reduction of blood pressure and could playa role in the blood lipid disorders suffered by dialyzed people. The low pH of the solutions (5.5-6.0), mandatory to avoid glucose caramelizing, could damage the peritoneal membrane. In case of slowed metabolism (lactic acidosis, diabetes, Addison's disease, alcoholism and, possibly, uremia) the existing acidosis may even worsen. The initial effect of the entry of the buffers into blood is an acidification because it changes the ratio HA/A(indissociate/dissociate), increasing the amount of salt, thereby liberating a quantity of free H+. The buffer effect starts only when metabolization begins. For all these reasons, the one "ideal" buffer in PD could be sodium bicarbonate but special, new devices are needed to avoid the fall of CaC03 within the peritoneum (4). We summarize here the main characteristics of buffers and some recent proposals (systems) to make bicarbonate PD really feasible. The International Journal Of Artificial Organs / Vol. 10/ no. 1, 1987/ pp. 3-8
Cosine Modulated Structures for Rational Multirate Filter Banks

We propose a new structure for rational multirate filter banks (FBs) using cosine modulation. More precisely, the proposed structure is intended to realize a critically sampled subband analysis where the L subbands are allowed to have bandwidths given by integer ratios pi/qi, provided that ∑L i=1 pi/qi = 1. We show that within our construction there exist FIR solutions allowing perfect reconstruction (PR). As opposed to previous structures the proposed method is applicable to arbitrary combinations of rational bandwidth ratios and suitable for a wide range of applications.
Reducing reverberation effects in convolutive blind source separation

In this paper, we propose a new method for reducing the reverberation effects in convolutive blind source separation which lead to reduced intelligibility of the separated sources (e.g., speech signals). The existing methods mainly try to maximize the separating performance without paying much attention to the linear distortion in the separated signals. We propose a modification to the existing algorithms that reduces the distortions introduced by the demixing filters. In particular we investigate the possibilities of modifying the frequency responses of the demixing filters to have no spectral peaks, which leads to near allpass character of the overall system. The good performance of the modified algorithm will be demonstrated on real-world data.
Subcutaneous administration of testosterone. A pilot study report.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of low doses of subcutaneous testosterone in hypogonadal men since the intramuscular route, which is the most widely used form of testosterone replacement therapy, is inconvenient to many patients. METHODS All men with primary and secondary hypogonadism attending the reproductive endocrine clinic at Royal Victoria Hospital, Monteral, Quebec, Canada, were invited to participate in the study. Subjects were enrolled from January 2002 till December 2002. Patients were asked to self-administer weekly low doses of testosterone enanthate using 0.5 ml insulin syringe. RESULTS A total of 22 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean trough was 14.48 +/- 3.14 nmol/L and peak total testosterone was 21.65 +/- 7.32 nmol/L. For the free testosterone the average trough was 59.94 +/- 20.60 pmol/L and the peak was 85.17 +/- 32.88 pmol/L. All of the patients delivered testosterone with ease and no local reactions were reported. CONCLUSION Therapy with weekly subcutaneous testosterone produced serum levels that were within the normal range in 100% of patients for both peak and trough levels. This is the first report, which demonstrated the efficacy of delivering weekly testosterone using this cheap, safe, and less painful subcutaneous route.
Characterization of a New Metallo-β-Lactamase Gene, blaNDM-1, and a Novel Erythromycin Esterase Gene Carried on a Unique Genetic Structure in Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 14 from India

ABSTRACT A Swedish patient of Indian origin traveled to New Delhi, India, and acquired a urinary tract infection caused by a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain that typed to the sequence type 14 complex. The isolate, Klebsiella pneumoniae 05-506, was shown to possess a metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) but was negative for previously known MBL genes. Gene libraries and amplification of class 1 integrons revealed three resistance-conferring regions; the first contained blaCMY-4 flanked by ISEcP1 and blc. The second region of 4.8 kb contained a complex class 1 integron with the gene cassettes arr-2, a new erythromycin esterase gene; ereC; aadA1; and cmlA7. An intact ISCR1 element was shown to be downstream from the qac/sul genes. The third region consisted of a new MBL gene, designated blaNDM-1, flanked on one side by K. pneumoniae DNA and a truncated IS26 element on its other side. The last two regions lie adjacent to one another, and all three regions are found on a 180-kb region that is easily transferable to recipient strains and that confers resistance to all antibiotics except fluoroquinolones and colistin. NDM-1 shares very little identity with other MBLs, with the most similar MBLs being VIM-1/VIM-2, with which it has only 32.4% identity. As well as possessing unique residues near the active site, NDM-1 also has an additional insert between positions 162 and 166 not present in other MBLs. NDM-1 has a molecular mass of 28 kDa, is monomeric, and can hydrolyze all β-lactams except aztreonam. Compared to VIM-2, NDM-1 displays tighter binding to most cephalosporins, in particular, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, and cephalothin (cefalotin), and also to the penicillins. NDM-1 does not bind to the carbapenems as tightly as IMP-1 or VIM-2 and turns over the carbapenems at a rate similar to that of VIM-2. In addition to K. pneumoniae 05-506, blaNDM-1 was found on a 140-kb plasmid in an Escherichia coli strain isolated from the patient's feces, inferring the possibility of in vivo conjugation. The broad resistance carried on these plasmids is a further worrying development for India, which already has high levels of antibiotic resistance.
Low Complexity Adaptive Turbo Frequency-Domain Channel Estimation for Single-Carrier Multi-User Detection

Adaptive turbo frequency-domain channel estimation is incorporated with low complexity turbo space-frequency equalization (TSFE) for single-carrier (SC) multi-user detection. The simplified turbo recursive least square (RLS) channel estimation algorithm provides nearly the same performance as its full complexity version, with a tremendous complexity reduction. With PSK modulations, the simplified turbo RLS channel estimation reduces to turbo LMS channel estimation. With a low training overhead, the simplified turbo RLS channel estimation provides a performance comparable to the case with perfect channel state information (CSI).
Phenolic Diterpenes from Rosemary Suppress cAMP Responsiveness of Gluconeogenic Gene Promoters

The cAMP/protein kinase A/cAMP response element (CRE)‐binding protein pathway is important for various physiological aspects including regulation of gluconeogenic gene expression. Rosemary, a well‐known herb, has been reported to decrease blood glucose levels. We found that methanol extracts of rosemary suppressed forskolin (FSK)‐stimulated luciferase expression under the control of CRE, as well as the promoters for cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK‐C) and glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G6Pase) catalytic subunit genes in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Three abietane‐type diterpenes and two flavonoids were isolated from the rosemary extracts. Among these, 7‐O‐methylrosmanol (1) and royleanonic acid (3) effectively suppressed FSK‐induced luciferase expression under the control of the CRE, PEPCK‐C and G6Pase gene promoters. PEPCK‐C and G6Pase, which play a key role in the homeostatic regulation of blood glucose levels, are important for managing type II diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the ability of rosemary and its components to suppress cAMP responsiveness of the PEPCK‐C or G6Pase gene may contribute to its antihyperglycemic activity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.