Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discovering Volatile and Aspectual Requirements Using a Crosscutting Pattern

A modern software development approach needs to cope with the constant requirements changes observed in current business markets. Such volatile requirements are usually tangled with other requirements making systems evolution difficult. In this poster, we propose a conceptual framework to identify volatile requirements as well as requirements that classic approaches are unable to modularize. This framework is based on what we called the crosscutting pattern and uses traceability matrices and matrix operations.
Hyperexcitability of the network contributes to synchronization processes in the human epileptic neocortex

Hyperexcitability and hypersynchrony of neuronal networks are thought to be linked to the generation of epileptic activity in both humans and animal models. Here we show that human epileptic postoperative neocortical tissue is able to generate two different types of synchronies in vitro. Epileptiform bursts occurred only in slices derived from epileptic patients and were hypersynchronous events characterized by high levels of excitability. Spontaneous population activity emerged in both epileptic and non‐epileptic tissue, with a significantly lower degree of excitability and synchrony, and could not be linked to epilepsy. These results help us to understand better the role of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal circuits in the generation of population events, and to define the subtle border between physiological and pathological synchronies.
From human to mouse and back: 'tumorgraft' models surge in popularity.

Mouse xenograft models of cancer, understandably, have a terrible reputation. Although researchers and companies routinely use these human tumors in mice for preclinical drug testing, individual models poorly predict how drugs will act in the clinic. Retrospective re views published by the National Cancer Institute in 2001 and the National Cancer Institute of Canada in 2003 came to the same conclusion: Drugs that work against cancer in xenograft mice rarely work in people with the same tumor, with the exception of lung
The Upstream-activating Sequences of the σ54 Promoter Pu of Pseudomonas putida Filter Transcription Readthrough from Upstream Genes*

Although the m-xylene-responsive σ54 promoter Pu of Pseudomonas putida mt-2, borne by the TOL plasmid pWWO, is one of the strongest known promoters in vivo, its base-line level in the absence of its aromatic inducer is below the limit of any detection procedure. This is unusual because regulatory networks (such as the one to which Pu belongs) can hardly escape the noise caused by intrinsic fluctuations in background transcription, including that transmitted from upstream promoters. This study provides genetic evidence that the upstream-activating sequences (UAS), which serve as the binding sites for the pWW0-encoded XylR protein (the m-xylene-responsive σ54-dependent activator of Pu), isolate expression of the upper TOL genes from any adventitious transcriptional flow originating further upstream. An in vivo test system was developed in which different segments of the Pu promoter were examined for the inhibition of incoming transcription products from an upstream promoter in P. putida and Escherichia coli. Minimal transcription filter ability was located within a 105-bp fragment encompassing the UAS of Pu. Although S1 nuclease assays showed that the UAS prevented the buildup of downstream transcripts, the mechanism seems to diverge from a typical termination system. This was shown by the fact that the UAS did not halt transcription in vitro and that the filter effect could not be relieved by the anti-termination system of λ phage. Because the Pu promoter lies adjacent to the edge of a transposon in pWW0, the preset transcriptional filter in the UAS may isolate the upper TOL operon from undue expression after random insertion of the mobile genetic element in a new replicon.
Advanced Multimodal Fusion for Biometric Recognition System based on Performance Comparison of SVM and ANN Techniques

Multimodal fusion for biometrics recognition system had gained specific attention nowadays thanks to its remarkable valuable results. For this approach, classification methods have been the basis of important recognition accuracy improvements. The artificial neural networks (ANN) and support vector machines (SVM) belong to this class of methods. This paper presents comparison concerning the performances of the some methods that have been successfully applied to the fusion of scores for multimodal biometric recognition. After recognizing each single modality which was the fingerprint, the face as well as the voice, we recovered three similarity scores. These scores are then introduced into the classification system based on neural networks and on support vector machine techniques. Experimental results demonstrate that the identity established by such an integrated system is more reliable than the established identity by fingerprint recognition system, facial verification system and a voice verification system. Fusion phases are performed at score level. An average rate (= 57,69 %) is obtained by fusion with ANN. While fusion with the SVM gives an average rate equal to (= 63,31 %). A brief
Applications of Banach ideals of operators

1. Apologies. Since much of the recent work in the Banach space aspects of Functional Analysis, especially the geometry of Banach spaces, could, by a bit of chicanery, be construed as applications of Banach ideals, the title does not indicate a complete survey. This work is surely not exhaustive of the subject matter. Thus, many good papers are totally ignored. This is somewhat compensated for by the monograph [1.1] of Lindenstrauss and Tzafriri on the geometry of the classical Banach spaces and the "pre-book" [1.2] of A. Pietsch on the general theory of ideals of operators. Since a lecture should have a central theme, I have chosen a fundamental result of Grothendieck which asserts that there are Banach spaces E and F for which every bounded linear operator from E to F is 2-absolutely summing. (Definitions will be forthcoming.) This result and the local structure of Banach spaces are the unifying topics of this paper. For the numerous topics this unification omits, again, apologies. I have addressed myself to the material at hand twice before [1.3], [1.4], [1.5], the latter in collaboration with Y. Gordon and D. R. Lewis. I apologize for mentioning, again, the beautiful result of Stegall and Lewis [1.6] and tramping once again over ground covered in [1.3]-[1.5]. However, I feel, perhaps with prejudice, that these results are worthy of further discussion. An additional apology of sorts is needed. I have included many definitions which are old hat to experts in Banach space theory. It is hoped that the material will thus be accessible to a larger audience, perhaps even to some persons completely outside Functional Analysis. Finally, many of the results stated have their natural setting in Probability Theory. I have avoided the probabilistic language entirely. Thus "random variable" becomes "measurable function" etc. This is an editorial judgment on my part, and apologies are extended to anyone this may offend.
Arabidopsis thaliana—Aphid Interaction

Aphids are important pests of plants that use their stylets to tap into the sieve elements to consume phloem sap. Besides the removal of photosynthates, aphid infestation also alters source-sink patterns. Most aphids also vector viral diseases. In this chapter, we will summarize on recent significant findings in plant-aphid interaction, and how studies involving Arabidopsis thaliana and Myzus persicae (Sülzer), more commonly known as the green peach aphid (GPA), are beginning to provide important insights into the molecular basis of plant defense and susceptibility to aphids. The recent demonstration that expression of dsRNA in Arabidopsis can be used to silence expression of genes in GPA has further expanded the utility of Arabidopsis for evaluating the contribution of the aphid genome-encoded proteins to this interaction.
Less choosy or different preference? Impact of hypoxia on hermit crab shell assessment and selection

Hermit crabs that rely on gastropod shells for protection have to assess a number of shell features, each of which can bring different, and sometimes conflicting, advantages to their bearer. We examined how environmentally induced stress, in the form of hypoxia, can alter the relative benefits of different shell features and result in the selection of different shells by the hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus. Hermit crabs under hypoxic conditions spent significantly less time investigating shells before entering them. Despite this apparently superficial assessment, they chose shells that were well suited to hypoxic conditions. After 24 h, they were found in shells that were significantly lighter than those chosen by hermit crabs under normal oxygen. This shift in preference was achieved at the expense of the internal spaciousness of the shell, which may have deleterious implications for predation and reproduction. This cost was more evident for larger hermit crabs since there was no relationship between hermit crab size and shell characteristics for hermit crabs in hypoxia. Under oxygen stress, hermit crabs therefore alter their shell preference in favour of lighter, and thus smaller, shells, probably reflecting a greater concern for energy minimization than protection from predation or reproduction. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Dexmedetomidina oral como medicación preanestésica en pacientes pediátricos. Comparación entre dosis y efectos clínicos

Dexmedetomidina es un farmaco α2-agonista, que se ha utilizado como sedante, analgesico, ansiolitico y coadyuvante anestesico. El proposito de este estudio fue evaluar su eficacia como hipnotico y ansiolitico administrado por via oral, utilizado a diferentes dosis como medicacion preanestesica y sus efectos adversos en pacientes pediatricos. Estudio aleatorizado y doble ciego, en el que se administro dexmedetomidina por via oral en 30 ninos ASA I y II, con edades entre uno y 10 anos, asignados a uno de tres grupos, recibiendo dexmedetomidina a 2, 3 y 4 μg/kg, respectivamente, 30 minutos antes de la separacion de los padres. Se registro frecuencia cardiaca, saturacion arterial de oxigeno, escala de sedacion y ansiolisis antes de la medicacion preanestesica, cada cinco minutos por 30 minutos durante la induccion anestesica, cada cinco minutos en el periodo transanestesico y en recuperacion cada 15 minutos durante una hora y posteriormente cada 30 minutos hasta ser egresados del hospital. La frecuencia cardiaca disminuyo 30 minutos despues de la medicacion en los tres grupos; la saturacion arterial de oxigeno se mantuvo sin cambios clinicamente significativos durante todo el estudio. El tiempo para alcanzar valoracion observacional de alerta/sedacion (VOA/S) de 18 no difirio entre los tres grupos. El promedio para ser egresados del hospital fue significativamente mayor en el grupo III. Este estudio muestra el potencial uso de dexmedetomidina administrada por via oral como agente en la medicacion preanestesica en pacientes pediatricos, sin efectos hemodinamicos y ventilatorios adversos, ofreciendo un volumen de administracion pequeno e insipido.
Realistic force feedback for virtual reality based diagnostic surgery simulators

Virtual reality surgery simulators are almost certainly the future of endoscopic surgery trainers. While many aspects of such systems, such as the visualization of the operating scene, have been brought to satisfactory levels of resemblance to real endoscopic surgery, the haptic feedback simulation is one of the major obstacles remaining. The aim of this work is to describe the main components necessary for a realistic haptic feedback in surgery, concentrating on the modelling of soft organic tissue, necessary for the simulation of soft tissue deformation. We also present a method to measure in-vivo the material parameters figuring in the developed elastomechanical models of living tissues.
Heterodimerization of Mdm2 and Mdm4 is critical for regulating p53 activity during embryogenesis but dispensable for p53 and Mdm2 stability

Mdm2 and Mdm4 are homologous RING domain-containing proteins that negatively regulate the tumor suppressor p53 under physiological and stress conditions. The RING domain of Mdm2 encodes an E3-ubiquitin ligase that promotes p53 degradation. In addition, Mdm2 and Mdm4 interact through their respective RING domains. The in vivo significance of Mdm2-Mdm4 heterodimerization in regulation of p53 function is unknown. In this study, we generated an Mdm4 conditional allele lacking the RING domain to investigate its role in Mdm2 and p53 regulation. Our results demonstrate that homozygous deletion of the Mdm4 RING domain results in prenatal lethality. Mechanistically, Mdm2-Mdm4 heterodimerization is critical for inhibiting lethal p53 activation during early embryogenesis. However, Mdm2-Mdm4 interaction is dispensable for regulating p53 activity as well as the stability of Mdm2 and p53 at later stages of development. We propose that Mdm4 is a key cofactor of Mdm2 that inhibits p53 activity primarily during early embryogenesis but is dispensable for regulating p53 and Mdm2 stability in the adult mouse.
[The effect of progesterone on proliferation and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cell].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the regulatory effect of progesterone on proliferation and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cell line HO8910 in vitro. METHODS Ovarian cancer cell line HO8910 originated from human ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma was cultured in vitro. Two groups were set up: study group (progesterone in different concentrations) and control group without progesterone. Cell proliferation was measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-z-yl)-2,5-dipheny tetrazolium blue (MTT) colorimetric assay. Cell cycle and apoptotic percentage were detected by flow cytometry, morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed by light and electron microscopy, and apoptotic cells were quantitatively determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). In addition, expression of intracellular bcl-2 protein was analyzed by flow cytometric indirect immunofluorescent technique. RESULTS Progesterone of 1 x 10(-7)-1 x 10(-5) mol/L inhibited HO8910 cell growth significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). After treatment with progesterone, the enhanced G0/G1 arrest was accompanied with the enhanced apoptotic peak and percentage, as well apoptotic cells were found more than those in control group (P < 0.05). By light and electron microscopy, there were many morphological characteristics of apoptosis including compaction and margination of nuclear chromatin, nuclear fragments, and apoptotic bodies. Analysis on expression of intracellular bcl-2 protein showed that progesterone could down-regulate bcl-2 protein and at concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L it could almost block bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS It is suggested in the present study that progesterone can inhibit the proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer cells in vitro and there is an accordant dose-response relationship. Its anticancer effect seems to be due to induction of apoptosis which maybe a result of down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2.
Optimizing process creation and execution on multi-core architectures

The execution of a single process multiple data (SPMD) application involves running multiple instances of a process with possibly varying arguments. With the widespread adoption of massively multicore processors, there has been a focus towards harnessing the abundant compute resources effectively in a power-efficient manner. Although much work has been done towards optimizing distributed process launch using hierarchical techniques, there has been a void in studying the performance of spawning processes within a single node. Reducing the latency to spawn a new process locally results in faster global job launch. Further, emerging dynamic and resilient execution models are designed on the premise of maintaining process pools for fault isolation and launching several processes in a relatively shorter period of time. Optimizing the latency and throughput for spawning processes would help improve the overall performance of runtime systems, allow adaptive process-replication reliability and motivate the design and implementation of process management interfaces in future manycore operating systems. In this paper, we study the several limiting factors for efficient spawning of processes on massively multicore architectures. We have developed a library to optimize launching multiple instances of the same executable. Our microbenchmarks show a 20–80% decrease in the process spawn time for multiple executables. We further discuss the effects of memory locality and propose NUMA-aware extensions to optimize launching processes with large memory-mapped segments including dynamic shared libraries. Finally, we describe vector operating system interfaces for spawning a batch of processes from a given executable on specific cores. Our results show a speedup of a factor of 40–50 over the traditional method of launching new processes using fork and exec system calls.
La malnutrition : cause sous-jacente des dec es de l'enfant par maladies infectieuses dans les pays en developpement

Introduction Selon de recentes estimations, la malnutrition (mesuree d’apres les parametres anthropometriques) serait associee a 50 % environ des deces chez l’enfant. Bien que l’association entre la malnutrition et la mortalite toutes causes confondues soit bien etablie, la part du risque associe a la malnutrition dans les deces dus a certaines maladies est moins bien documentee. Nous avons passe en revue les travaux publies sur la question afin d’examiner les donnees faisant apparaitre une relation entre malnutrition et mortalite de l’enfant par diarrhee, infection respiratoire aigue, paludisme et rougeole, maladies responsables de plus de la moitie des deces chez l’enfant dans le monde. Methodes Nous avons interroge MEDLINE pour rechercher les mises au point pertinentes ainsi que les etudes realisees en communaute et en milieu hospitalier. Les resultats des etudes de cohorte et des etudes cas-temoins ont egalement ete analyses et recapitules. Resultats La relation la plus forte et la plus reguliere entre la malnutrition et l’augmentation du risque de deces a ete observee pour la diarrhee et les infections respiratoires aigues. Bien que limitees, les donnees evoquent egalement un risque accru de deces par paludisme. La relation entre l’etat nutritionnel et le deces par rougeole semble toutefois moins systematique. Si certaines etudes en milieu hospitalier et etudes cas-temoins font etat d’un risque accru de deces par rougeole, peu d’etudes en communaute mettent en evidence une telle association. Discussion Le risque de deces associe a la malnutrition semble varier selon les maladies, variation qui a des repercussions importantes sur l’evaluation des programmes nutritionnels et des programmes pour la survie de l’enfant mis en œuvre dans des regions ayant des profils pathologiques differents.
Transformer coupled multi-input two stage standalone solar photovoltaic scheme for rural areas

In this paper a transformer coupled multi-input dc-dc converter (TCMDDC) based solar photovoltaic system for standalone applications is proposed. The proposed TCMDDC can realize maximum power point tracking and battery charge control while maintaining proper voltage level. In the process it allows reduction in number of power conversion stages as compared to the existing standalone schemes. This leads to enhancements in efficiency and reliability of the proposed scheme. Further, it allows the use of low voltage levels for solar PV array and battery thereby eliminating concerns pertaining to the safety of personnel and equipment. A suitable control strategy that allows the TCMDDC to operate in different modes that are encountered in a standalone scheme is also devised. The viability of the scheme is ascertained through detailed analytical and simulation studies.
Development and evaluation of a mini core collection for the U.S. peanut germplasm collection

A core collection (831 accessions) has been developed to represent the U.S. Arachis hypogaea L. germplasm collection. This core collection has been shown to be effective in improving the efficiency of identifying genes of interest in the entire germplasm collection. However, an even smaller subset of germplasm is needed for traits which are difficult and/or expensive to measure. The objectives of this study were to select a core of the core collection and to evaluate the usefulness of this subset of germplasm to identify genes of interest in peanut. Data for eight above ground and eight below ground morphological characteristics were measured for each accession in the core collection. Cluster analysis was used on these data to partition the core accessions into groups which, theoretically, are genetically similar. Random sampling was then used to select a 10% sample from each group. The result was a core of the core collection (mini core) consisting of 112 accessions. Examination of morphological data indicated that the majority of genetic variation expressed in the core collection has been preserved in this core of the core collection. Data on disease resistances for accessions in the core collection were collected and used to determine retrospectively how effective the use of a mini core collection would have been in identifying sources of resistance in the core collection. Results indicated that the mini core collection can be used to improve the efficiency of identifying desirable traits in the core collection. For resistance to late leaf spot (Cercosporidiumpersonatum (Berk. & M. A. Curtis), the use of a mini core collection would have improved the efficiency of identifying resistant accessions in the entire collection. The core of the core approach should be particularly useful for traits which are difficult and/or expensive to measure.
Probabilistic learning from mislabelled data for multimedia content recognition

There have been considerable advances in multimedia recognition recently as powerful computing capabilities and large, representative datasets become ubiquitous. A fundamental assumption of traditional recognition techniques is that the data available for training are accurately labelled. Given the scale and diversity of web data, it takes considerable annotation effort to reduce label noise to acceptable levels. In this work, we propose a novel method to work around this issue by utilizing approximate apriori estimates of the mislabelling probabilities to design a noise-aware learning framework. We demonstrate the proposed framework's effectiveness on several datasets of various modalities and show that it is able to achieve high levels of accuracy even when faced with significant mislabelling in the data.