Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The talpid2 chick limb has weak polarizing activity and can respond to retinoic acid and polarizing zone signal

The talpid2 (ta2) chick mutant has wide, polydactylous wings and legs. Talpid2 limb cartilages have abnormal morphology and a very subtle anteroposterior polarity. Specifically, posterior ta2 limb structures are identifiable, while more anterior cartilages are less distinctive. Here, we investigate the development of anteroposterior limb pattern in the to2 embryo. We show that ta2 posterior limb bud mesoderm is capable of respecifying the anteroposterior axis of a normal wing. However, the average duplication obtained after grafting a ta2 polarizing region was significantly less than the average duplication formed after a graft of normal wing bud polarizing zone. Thus, polarizing activity appears to be weak in ta2. Grafts of normal polarizing zone to the posterior edge of ta2 wing buds had no effect on the ta2 phenotype. This result suggests that a weakly functioning polarizing signal does not account for the altered anteroposterior polarity in ta2 limbs, and that normal polarizing zone activity is not sufficient for formation of normal limb bud cartilages. We demonstrated that transmission of a polarizing signal through the ta2 limb mesoderm was normal. In addition, ta2 anterior border mesoderm had no polarizing activity. We also assessed the ability of ta2 limb bud mesoderm to respond to a polarizing signal. Either normal polarizing zone tissue or a bead containing retinoic acid was placed at the anterior edge of ta2 wing buds at stages 18–23. Both polarizing zone and retinoic acid caused respecification of the ta2 wing anteroposterior axis. The result was that a ta2 ulna replaced the radius, and the most posterior digit was duplicated anteriorly. Limb cartilages with normal morphology never formed. When a bead containing retinoic acid was placed at the posterior edge of ta2 wing buds, there was no effect on anteroposterior pattern. However, beads with retinoic acid always caused a reduction in the number of ta2 wing digits which formed, whether the beads were placed at the anterior or posterior edge of the developing ta2 limb.
Where art thou, Eve? Experiences laying traps for Internet eavesdroppers

This paper describes a set of experiments we conducted to answer the question: just how prevalent is Internet interception? That is, if we sent our most sensitive information (bank information, passwords, etc.) in the clear, should we expect to regret it? For a little over a year, we sent different types of Internet traffic over unencrypted channels between multiple clients and servers located at geographically diverse locations around the globe. Our messages contained seemingly sensitive and valuable information, including login credentials for banking sites, password reset links, etc. In total, we found no instances in which our information was acted upon by an eavesdropper. This paper details the numerous challenges— technical, legal, and ethical—of setting up and maintaining a year-long, large-scale honeytrap. We discuss some fundamental limitations of such an experiment, and argue why our results should not be misinterpreted to suggest that message encryption is gratuitous.
Adaptive fuzzy control for differentially flat MIMO nonlinear dynamical systems

The paper proposes flatness-based adaptive fuzzy control for uncertain MIMO nonlinear dynamical systems. The considered control scheme based on differential flatness theory extends the class of systems in which indirect adaptive fuzzy control can be applied. To conclude if a dynamical system is differentially flat, the following should be examined: i the existence of the flat output, which is a variable that can be written as a function of the system's state variables ii the system's state variables and the input can be written as functions of the flat output and its derivatives. Nonlinear systems satisfying the differential flatness property can be written in the Brunovsky canonical form via a transformation of their state variables and control inputs. The resulting control signal is shown to contain nonlinear elements, which in case of unknown system parameters can be calculated using neuro-fuzzy approximators. Using Lyapunov stability analysis it is shown that one can compute an adaptation law for the neuro-fuzzy approximators which assures stability of the closed loop. The performance of the proposed flatness-based adaptive fuzzy control scheme is tested through simulation experiments on benchmark nonlinear multi-input multi-output dynamical systems, such as robotic manipulators.
Local map extrapolation in dynamic environments

We present a generative approach to perform robot mapping that is based on an intelligent integration of static and dynamic entity classes within an environment, in order to extrapolate map information at various resolutions. Our framework differentiates from the conventional standpoint where different mapping levels are overlaid on one another, by fusing information from different mapping levels that allows us to infer new information within partially mapped environments. Towards this goal, we develop a class-dependent map extrapolation function that captures the discriminative relation between an environment entity and the mapping procedure. We illustrate the advantages in using heterogeneous contextual information when mapping an environment using a prototype implementation of our approach on an indoor robot platform, giving very promising results.
Proceedings of the Joint Workshops on Co-Scheduling of HPC Applications (COSH 2017) and Virtualization Solutions for High-Performance Computing (VisorHPC 2017) : Stockholm, Sweden, January 24, 2017, Co-located with HiPEAC 2017

s of Invited Talks 11 Disallowing Same-program Co-schedules to Improve Efficiency in Quad-core Servers Andreas de Blanche, Thomas Lundqvist 13 Improving QoS and Utilisation in modern multi-core servers with Dynamic Cache Partitioning Ioannis Papadakis, Konstantinos Nikas, Vasileios Karakostas, Georgios Goumas, Nectarios Koziris 21 Co-scheduling on Upcoming Many-Core Architectures Simon Pickartz, Jens Breitbart, Stefan Lankes 27 On the Applicability of Virtualization in an Industrial HPC Environment Tilman Küstner, Carsten Trinitis, Josef Weidendorfer, Andreas Blaszczyk, Patrik Kaufmann, Marcus Johansson 33 Towards a Lightweight RDMA Para-Virtualization for HPC Shiqing Fan, Fang Chen, Holm Rauchfuss, Nadav Har’El, Uwe Schilling, Nico Struckmann 39
Distributed device association for multiservice heterogeneous cellular networks with QoS provisioning

Heterogeneous cellular network offers a promising architecture for supporting multiservice traffic generated by Internet of thing (IoT) paradigm and human‐to‐human (H2H) communications. In this paper, a distributed device association algorithm is proposed to consider the diverse quality of service requirements for H2H devices and IoT devices coexisted in heterogeneous cellular network. In this context, the traffic generated by H2H devices and IoT devices is categorized into 2 main classes, ie, primary service class (PSC) requiring low outage probability and secondary service class (SSC) with a minimum long‐term rate requirement. Primary service class is principally used to model H2H traffic, while SSC is mainly used to model IoT traffic. The association problem is formulated to maximize the system revenue in terms of the number of devices belonging to the SSC while minimizing the global outage probability for devices modeled to PSC under quality of service guarantee. Since the proposed optimization problem is an NP combinatorial problem, an efficient solution is derived by relaxing the association constraints and adopting the Lagrange dual decomposition method. Simulation results show that our proposed algorithm outperforms the comparable schemes especially on outage performance for PSC‐modeled devices and number of accommodated SSC‐modeled devices.
Modulation of host defense peptide-mediated human mast cell activation by LPS

Human β-defensin3 (hBD3) and the cathelicidin LL-37 are host defense peptides (HDPs) that directly kill microbes and display immunomodulatory/wound-healing properties via the activation of chemokine, formylpeptide and epidermal growth factor receptors on leukocytes and epithelial cells. A C-terminal 14 amino acid hBD3 peptide with all Cys residues replaced with Ser (CHRG01) and an LL-37 peptide consisting of residues 17-29 (FK-13) display antimicrobial activity but lack immunomodulatory property. Surprisingly, we found that CHRG01 and FK-13 caused Ca2+ mobilization and degranulation in human mast cells via a novel G protein-coupled receptor known as Mas-related gene-X2 (MrgX2). At local sites of bacterial infection, the negatively charged LPS likely interacts with cationic HDPs to inhibit their activity and thus providing a mechanism for pathogens to escape host defense mechanisms. We found that LPS caused almost complete inhibition of hBD3 and LL-37-induced Ca2+ mobilization and mast cell degranulation. In contrast, it had no effect on CHRG01 and FK-13-induced mast cell responses. These findings suggest that HDP derivatives that kill microbes, harness mast cell’s host defense and wound-healing properties via the activation of MrgX2 but are resistant to inhibition by LPS could be utilized for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant microbial infections.
Extended collectives library for unified parallel C

Los procesadores multinucleo actuales mitigan los problemas de los procesadores con un solo nucleo (por ejemplo, las restricciones de potencia, memoria o paralelismo a nivel de instruccion), pero a su vez originan restricciones de programabilidad. En este escenario, el uso de un modelo de programacion paralela adecuado es clave para cambiar el paradigma de desarrollo a partir de aplicaciones secuenciales, siempre buscando maximizar la productividad de los programadores. El paradigma PGAS (Partitioned Global Address Space) representa un avance importante en este ambito, debido a su facil adaptacion a sistemas multinucleo mediante el uso de espacios privados y compartidos, que replican la estructura de memoria de estos sistemas. El lenguaje UPC (Unified Parallel C), que extiende la sintaxis de C para programacion paralela segun el modelo PGAS, ha atraido el interes de los desarrolladores en los ultimos anos; no obstante, la mejora del rendimiento de los compiladores y entornos de ejecucion para UPC ha relegado la programabilidad a un segundo plano, de forma que una implementacion simple no siempre garantiza un rendimiento adecuado. Por tanto, esta Tesis busca proporcionar desarrollos originales para favorecer la programabilidad con UPC sin descuidar el rendimiento, mediante un analisis de las caracteristicas del lenguaje y la implementacion de nuevas funcionalidades. La principal contribucion de esta Tesis es el desarrollo de una biblioteca extendida de comunicaciones colectivas, que complementa y mejora la biblioteca estandar actual con funciones que proporcionan alta flexibilidad por medio de implementaciones eficientes. Adicionalmente, se ha desarrollado una implementacion en UPC para el paradigma MapReduce (UPC-MR), con el objetivo de proveer un soporte eficiente y de alta escalabilidad para el procesado de grandes conjuntos de datos. Finalmente, el analisis y desarrollo de diversos codigos, que incluyen nucleos computacionales y aplicaciones reales (en particular, una simulacion paralela basada en el movimiento browniano de particulas), confirma la utilidad y usabilidad de las bibliotecas implementadas, demostrando que UPC puede proporcionar un alto rendimiento y escalabilidad con un reducido coste de desarrollo.
Evapotranspiration and Crop Water Stress Index in Mexican Husk Tomatoes (Physalis ixocarpa Brot)

Rutilo LopezLopez1, Ramon Arteaga Ramirez2, Ignacio Sanchez-Cohen1, Waldo Ojeda Bustamante3 and Victor Gonzalez-Lauck1 1Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agricolas y Pecuarias, Km. 1 Carretera Huimanguillo-Cardenas. 86400, Huimanguillo, Tabasco, 2Postgrado en Ingenieria Agricola y Uso Integral del Agua. Universidad Autonoma Chapingo. Km 38.5 Carretera Mexico-Texcoco. 56230, Chapingo, Texcoco, 3Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua, Paseo Cuauhnahuac 8532, Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos, 62550, Mexico
Memory patterns of acquisition and retention of verbal and nonverbal information in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND Previous research indicates that children with FASD have both memory and learning deficits. However, there is no consensus about whether the deficits identified from a pattern of impairment, and whether this pattern is consistent with the current theories regarding the organization of memory. Thus, the goal of this study was to further explore memory functions and expose possible patterns that may exist in children with FASD. METHODS The Children's Memory Scale (CMS) was used to measure visual and verbal memory, as well as learning and encoding, among 30 children with FASD (ages 9-16 years). Functioning was conceptualized through use of a model of working memory. RESULTS A significant difference between types of verbal memory in the FASD sample was identified. Specifically, recall of word pairs was found to be more impaired than that for stories. In addition to this, recall of immediate word pairs was significantly more impaired than that for delayed word pairs, implying the presence of encoding deficits in this area. CONCLUSIONS Children and adolescents with FASD displayed specific types of verbal memory deficits and these deficits were greater for immediate rather than delayed memory. These data are consistent with previous studies that describe deficits in immediate memory, and suggest that deficits in delayed memory are better accounted for by encoding deficits. Furthermore, their greatest difficulty arose with those items in which the phonological loop was required, which would have facilitated learning though internal recitation and adequate phonological storage. Further research into these distinctions in memory is warranted, as is exploration into educational techniques that could account for delayed encoding in children with FASD.
Improved Neutron-Capture Element Abundances in Planetary Nebulae

Abstract Spectroscopy of planetary nebulae (PNe) provides the means to investigate s-process enrichments of neutron(n)-capture elements that cannot be detected in Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars. However, accurate abundance determinations of these elements present a challenge. Corrections for unobserved ions can be large and uncertain, since in many PNe only one ion of a given n-capture element has been detected. Furthermore, the atomic data governing the ionization balance of these species are not well-determined, inhibiting the derivation of accurate ionization corrections. We present initial results of a program that addresses these challenges. Deep high-resolution optical spectroscopy of ∼20 PNe has been performed to detect emission lines from trans-iron species including Se, Br, Kr, Rb and Xe. The optical spectral region provides access to multiple ions of these elements, which reduces the magnitude and importance of uncertainties in the ionization corrections. In addition, experimental and theoretical efforts are providing determinations of the photoionization cross sections and recombination rate coefficients of Se, Kr and Xe ions. These new atomic data will make it possible to derive robust ionization corrections for these elements. Together, our observational and atomic data results will enable n-capture element abundances to be determined with unprecedented accuracy in ionized nebulae.
The impact of anemia on outcome of chemoradiation for limited small-cell lung cancer: a combined analysis of studies of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group.

BACKGROUND Associations between anemia and outcomes of chemoradiation have been documented in several malignancies, but few data exist for limited small-cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC). This combined analysis of 652 patients in two randomized clinical trials in LD-SCLC carried out by the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group was undertaken to explore the relationship between anemia at baseline and anemia arising during therapy, and outcomes of chemoradiation in this cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The relationships between overall survival and local control with hemoglobin levels at baseline and those arising during therapy (nadir hemoglobin (Hb) and maximum percentage drop from baseline values) were explored. RESULTS No Hb parameter was associated with either outcome. Baseline anemia was found in one-third of patients, was more common in males, in those with a poorer performance status and those with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase; all of these latter factors were associated with shorter survival. A trend towards improved local control in patients with the greatest drop in their Hb did not remain significant in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Anemia is common in patients with LD-SCLC. Anemia at diagnosis may have a different prognostic implication than that arising during therapy, and correction of anemia may have no impact on outcomes.
Selective atrophy of the radial peripapillary capillaries in chronic glaucoma.

The radial peripapillary capillaries of the retina are the most superficial of the capillary layers, They are limited to the area around the optic disc in the nerve fiber layer, especially along the upper and lower temporal vessels. They take a linear, more or less parallel course, are longer than the average capillary, and anastomose infrequently with each other and adjacent capillaries. All these factors combine to make them more vulnerable to increased intraocular pressure of a prolonged nature. Fifteen postmortem eyes in ten patients with chronic glaucoma are presented, showing varying degrees of atrophy in this layer of capillaries. The clinical implications of this type of selective capillary atrophy are discussed.
Intragastric Administration of TRPV1, TRPV3, TRPM8, and TRPA1 Agonists Modulates Autonomic Thermoregulation in Different Manners in Mice

The main aim of this study was to elucidate whether thermosensitive transient receptor potential channels (thermoTRPs) play a role in controlling autonomic thermoregulation. We investigated whether the activation of certain thermoTRPs, TRPV1, TRPV3, TRPM8, and TRPA1, would induce autonomic thermoregulation by administering chemical agonists derived from spices and aroma chemicals of these channels to anesthetized mice. We discovered the following: Capsaicin, a TRPV1 agonist, enhanced thermogenesis and heat diffusion; thymol and ethyl vanillin, TRPV3 agonists, did not have any effect on thermogenesis or heat diffusion; menthol and 1,8-cineole, TRPM8 agonists, enhanced thermogenesis; and allyl isothiocyanate and cinnamaldehyde, TRPA1 agonists, enhanced thermogenesis and inhibited heat diffusion. These results suggest that these thermoTRP agonists derived from spices and aroma chemicals modulate autonomic thermoregulation, except for TRPV3 agonists. Our findings suggest the possibility that each thermoTRP is a key sensor inducing reasonable autonomic thermoregulation according to its own activated temperature range.
Cortical Regulation of Subcortical Dopamine Release: Mediation via the Ventral Tegmental Area

Abstract: In vivo microdialysis was used to determine the extent to which ionotropic glutamate receptors in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) regulate dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Coapplication of 2‐amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5; 200 µM) and 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX; 50 µM) to the VTA via reverse dialysis decreased extracellular concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens by ∼30%. In accordance with previous results, electrical stimulation of the prefrontal cortex increased dopamine release by 60%. Application of AP5 and CNQX to the VTA during cortical stimulation blocked the effect of stimulation on dopamine release. These results indicate that ionotropic glutamate receptors in the VTA are critically involved in basal and evoked dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and suggest that a glutamatergic projection from the prefrontal cortex regulates the activity of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA.
Stress Reduction for Professionals Working with Aggressive Adolescents

The study described here investigated the effectiveness of relaxation training and systematic desensitization when used as stress reduction techniques with professional and paraprofessional persons working with severely behaviorally disordered adolescents. The 14 professionals and paraprofessionals in the sample were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group was instructed in relaxation training and systematic desensitization, while the control group participated in restraint training and other aggression management activities. There appeared to be a significant reduction in stress among those in the experimental group.
New strains of bacteria and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND The role of bacterial pathogens in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is controversial. In older studies, the rates of isolation of bacterial pathogens from sputum were the same during acute exacerbations and during stable disease. However, these studies did not differentiate among strains within a bacterial species and therefore could not detect changes in strains over time. We hypothesized that the acquisition of a new strain of a pathogenic bacterial species is associated with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS We conducted a prospective study in which clinical information and sputum samples for culture were collected monthly and during exacerbations from 81 outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Molecular typing of sputum isolates of nonencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was performed. RESULTS Over a period of 56 months, the 81 patients made a total of 1975 clinic visits, 374 of which were made during exacerbations (mean, 2.1 per patient per year). On the basis of molecular typing, an exacerbation was diagnosed at 33.0 percent of the clinic visits that involved isolation of a new strain of a bacterial pathogen, as compared with 15.4 percent of visits at which no new strain was isolated (P<0.001; relative risk of an exacerbation, 2.15; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.83 to 2.53). Isolation of a new strain of H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, or S. pneumoniae was associated with a significantly increased risk of an exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS The association between an exacerbation and the isolation of a new strain of a bacterial pathogen supports the causative role of bacteria in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.