Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Approximate dynamic programming with recursive least-squares temporal difference learning for adaptive traffic signal control

In this study, an approximate dynamic programming approach with function approximation is applied to the scheduling of adaptive traffic signal control at isolated intersection. By using the linear function approximation, parameter adjustment is determined by the recursive least-squares temporal difference learning. The traffic modeling is based on the framework of Markov decision process. The proposed method can tackle the problem in the curse of dimensionality caused by the large state-action space in traffic model, especially in the adaptive control mode suggested in this paper. By comparing with other traffic control methods, the simulation results show that, our proposed algorithm can perform efficiently and quite well in real-time operation.
GESTIÓN DEL CONOCIMIENTO EN PYMES Y DESEMPEÑO COMPETITIVO

Este trabajo analiza la gestion del conocimiento en pequenas y medianas empresas a partir de la perspectiva de la medicion del capital intelectual. La evidencia empirica muestra que los recursos intangibles favorecen el desempeno competitivo. El objetivo es identificar el capital intelectual incorporado en practicas de gestion del conocimiento y analizar su influencia en el desempeno competitivo. La fuente de informacion es una encuesta en la industria mexicana de maquinados industriales. Mediante analisis multivariados se identifican grupos de practicas y se estima su influencia sobre el desempeno competitivo. Los resultados muestran que el capital humano esta asociado al cumplimiento de una amplia gama de objetivos competitivos, mientras que el capital tecnologico y el relacional tienen efectos selectivos.
Prediction of Outcome Following a First Episode of Schizophrenia

Background Although previous studies have attempted to identify predictors of outcome in schizophrenia, few have prospectively studied first episode patients for an adequate follow-up period. Method The psychopathological predictors of outcome were investigated in a subgroup of 51 subjects, originally included in the Northwick Park study of first episode schizophrenia who were followed up 7.3 years (s.d. 1.1, range 5.3– 10.3) after first admission in the Harrow study. Forty-four subjects (24 men, 20 women) were traced. Outcome measures were time to first readmission, occupational level and total duration of hospital admission at five years after first admission. Results A survival analysis of time to first relapse revealed that the presence of subjective feelings of depression (CATEGO syndrome SD) during the first admission was associated with early relapse while the presence of depressive delusions (CATEGO syndrome DD) and higher educational attainment protected against early relapse. Total duration of hospitalisation at five years after first onset was positively associated with the presence of CATEGO syndromes SD and OD (biological features of depression) and negatively associated with female sex. Poor occupational outcome was not significantly associated with any psychopathological predictors. Conclusions Our findings challenge the conventional view that symptoms of depression are associated with better outcome in schizophrenia.
Research Statement of Kirill Levchenko

Real software systems are messy. They are too ill-specified and complex to reason about formally, yet they face, and must defend against, security threats that were never contemplated in their original design. To address these computer security challenges, we have turned to empirical methods. Computer security has evolved from a prescriptive engineering discipline into a experimental science that views security problems and their solutions as a product of technical, social, and economic pressures that can be best understood using experimental techniques. There is an apparent tension between these two views—security as engineering and security as science— that still ignites debate at technical program committee meetings. My work, however, shows that these two views are complementary: one can be an engineer and a scientist, a builder and a breaker. Through my work, I have shaped the evolution of what is now termed evidence-based security, advocating that empirical computer security can be principled, and computer security principles can be grounded in empirical fact. One of the most fruitful applications of empirical methods in computer security has been to the study of e-crime. In my own work, I have used empirical techniques to study spam as a business process, an approach to spam that encompasses its technical, economic, and social dimensions. My work was the first to identify the role of payment processing as a bottleneck of spam monetization, giving birth to a new breed of more effective computer security interventions. Approaching e-crime as an economic undertaking has provided an advantageous perspective on illicit Bitcoin mining on botnets (and what it tells us about the value of compromised PCs), the CAPTCHA-solving industry (and its effect on online service abuse), the rising use of consumer-grade remote access malware (and its role in personalizing e-crime), as well as other elements of the underground ecosystem. Empirical techniques have also proven effective in the analysis of complex cyber-physical systems. I am currently developing methods for analyzing aircraft systems, work that builds on our study of the security of mobile cockpit information systems in general aviation (and the implications for safety of flight). I have also led an investigation of automobile emissions defeat devices in Volkswagen and Fiat small passenger diesel cars. Our work identified the software mechanism used to defeat emissions testing (and how its authors attempted to conceal its purpose), and identified a new software verification regime characterized by an adversarial relationship between prover and verifier.
A Mechanism to Preserve Private Data in Social Networking System

Social Networking System (SNS) like Facebook and Twitter have gained more popularity in this new era. It allows millions of individuals to create online profiles and share their personal information with vast networks of friend’s. SNS allows third party extensions to access the users’ information through Application Programming Interface (API). Since millions of users are using these sites it will lead to privacy problems and leakage of private information. This leakage happens without the knowledge of user, which leads to security problems like identity theft and phishing attack. Unknown user taking the information without our knowledge is called inference attack. This paper uses a permission based protection mechanism which limits the direct access of user data. Once an extension is certified by the user to access data from users’ profile, then there is no more control on how it uses the data. Third party application can be built on trusted or un-trusted server. If it is an un-trusted server it will lead to inference attack and malicious user may use the information for unintended purposes and our data will be at risk. The main objective of this project is to enable the security access control scheme against inference attack.
RESOLUTION IMPROVEMENT OF FREQUENTLY OBSERVED SATELLITE IMAGERY FOR URBAN CHARACTERIZATION

This paper proposes the method to develop a high-resolution image of urban properties from frequently observed low-resolution images based on the statistic process assuming urban properties have little temporal change. Because disaster responders sometimes have difficulty to obtain the map data in a digital form especially in developing countries, it is well known that satellite imagery and aerial photographs can support disaster response and rescue activities. But high-resolution images that can provide roads and buildings information expense considerably high when acquiring wide range data by means of aerial photographs or imagery of recently launched satellites with high-resolution sensors. On the other hand, satellite images of spatial resolution of 10 to 100 meter order cost comparatively low. The paper discusses the number of low-resolution images to develop a high-resolution image. First, a one-meter-resolution image derived from an aerial photograph is used as a truth image. Three-meter-resolution image is also evaluated as a reference high-resolution image. Secondly, a nine-meter-resolution image, which simulates an image scanned by a low-resolution sensor of satellites, is evaluated with a randomly selected offset of scan line. The same cell size as a reference image, i.e. three meter is employed for the low-resolution images. Thirdly, a resolution-improved image is synthesized from the average and standard deviation based on each pixel calculation of the simulated images. Then the difference between the reference image and synthesized image is evaluated. Finally, the relationship between the number of low-resolution images and the standard deviation of differences of all pixels in the average image is analyzed. The result quantitatively clarifies that a high-resolution image of urban properties with little temporal change can be developed with a sufficient number of low-resolution images when the precise geolocation is guaranteed.
Estimation of gene expression in heterocysts of Anabaena variabilis by using DNA-RNA hybridization

In the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis, specialized cells called heterocysts occur in a regular pattern along the filament and are the sites of nitrogen fixation. We used two different types of DNA-excess RNA hybridization techniques to estimate the number of genes expressed in recently differentiated, mature heterocysts. In the first, RNA and DNA were incubated in a phosphate buffer at 60 degrees C, and the hybrids were separated from the unhybridized material by hydroxylapatite chromatography. In the second, the nucleic acids were incubated at 50 degrees C in a buffer containing 50% formamide, and the fraction of DNA in duplexes was assayed by S1 nuclease digestion. Both techniques revealed that approximately 65% of the A. variabilis genome was expressed in vegetative cells and 45% of the genome was expressed in heterocysts. Two experiments were conducted to estimate the number of heterocyst-specific mRNA transcripts. In one, hybridization of heterocyst RNA to a null DNA probe (DNA not transcribed in vegetative cells) revealed that heterocyst-specific transcripts were encoded by 25% of the DNA sense strand, representing approximately 1,000 genes (assuming each to be 1,500 nucleotides in length). The second approach, in which total cell DNA was hybridized to a mixture of heterocyst and vegetative cell RNA, indicated that 14.7% of the DNA sense strand, or about 600 genes, was transcribed exclusively in the heterocyst. The remaining 900 to 1,300 transcripts present in the heterocyst appeared to be constitutively produced in both vegetative cells and heterocysts. The heterocyst-specific transcripts were present in abundant copies in the cell, while transcripts that occurred in both cell types were present at much lower frequency.
The presumed atypical chemokine receptor CXCR7 signals through Gi/o proteins in primary rodent astrocytes and human glioma cells

SDF‐1/CXCL12 binds to the chemokine receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, and controls cell proliferation and migration during development, tumorigenesis, and inflammatory processes. It is currently assumed that CXCR7 would represent an atypical or scavenger chemokine receptor which modulates the function of CXCR4. Contrasting this view, we demonstrated recently that CXCR7 actively mediates SDF‐1 signaling in primary astrocytes. Here, we provide evidence that CXCR7 affects astrocytic cell signaling and function through pertussis toxin‐sensitive Gi/o proteins. SDF‐1‐dependent activation of Gi/o proteins and subsequent increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration persisted in primary rodent astrocytes with depleted expression of CXCR4, but were abolished in astrocytes with depleted expression of CXCR7. Moreover, CXCR7‐mediated effects of SDF‐1 on Erk and Akt signaling as well as on astrocytic proliferation and migration were all sensitive to pertussis toxin. Likewise, pertussis toxin abolished SDF‐1‐induced activation of Erk and Akt in CXCR7‐only expressing human glioma cell lines. Finally, consistent with a ligand‐biased function of CXCR7 in astrocytes, the alternate CXCR7 ligand, I‐TAC/CXCL11, activated Erk and Akt through β‐arrestin. The demonstration that SDF‐1‐bound CXCR7 activates Gi/o proteins in astrocytes could help to explain some discrepancies previously observed for the function of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in other cell types. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Is Hysterosalpingography Still Relevant in Workup of Infertility? A Review Article

The study examined the current role of Hysterosalpingography in the investigation of the infertile couple in view of the increasing use of Laparoscopy in the evaluation and management of infertility. Electronic search of published literature was done using the Pubmed, Cochrane libraries and Google search engine. The search was restricted to English language articles. Hysterosalpingography is a simple method of evaluating fallopian tube patency and cervico-uterine abnormalities. It is virtually non-invasive; and it can be therapeutic. HSG has a high specificity and a high positive predictive value; it also has a low complication rate. It requires less skill acquisition and necessary equipment are readily available. Laparoscopy should be performed in cases of abnormal hysterosalpingogram or persisting infertility in despite of normal HSG and other parameters
Industry Based Regression Testing Using IIGRTCP Algorithm and RFT Tool

- Software maintenance is an expensive activity in Software Industry, estimated at nearly 60% of total cost. Regression testing is an integral part of this activity. Any modification to software is verified through Regression Testing. Both the research community and the software industry have paid substantial attention to it. This paper is a survey of the current practice, and the commonality as well as gaps between the two communities. The goal of our research is to improve control of regression testing and reduce redundant testing through proper selection strategies. The proposed Improvised Industry oriented Genetic algorithm for Regression Test case Prioritization (IIGRTP) is compared with previous approach of using APFD metric combined with the use of Rational Functional Tester (RFT), a Java Tool developed by IBM to automate the generation of test cases. RFT not only enables regression test case generation but also integrates with Rational Test Manager (RTM). We demonstrate the improved performance of our approach using a case study.
The effects of measurement error on previously reported mathematical relationships between indicator organism density and swimming-associated illness: a quantitative estimate of the resulting bias.

Several recent epidemiological studies seeking associations between swimming in recreational waters contaminated with domestic sewage and increased illness among such swimmers have reported mathematical relationships relating indicator organism densities to illness among swimmers. Common to the design of all of these studies is the failure to adequately control for large amounts of measurement error contained in estimates of exposure, i.e. estimated indicator organism densities. The limited precision of current methods of indicator organism enumeration, coupled with temporal and spacial variation in indicator organism densities at the locations studied, are responsible for a substantial portion of this measurement error. The failure to control adequately for these sources of measurement error has resulted in a significant amount of bias being present in the mathematical relationships reported by these previously published epidemiological studies. In order to explore the magnitude and direction of this bias, computer simulations were conducted using data in which estimation of indicator organism density was obtained by the two most widely used techniques of enumeration: the Multiple Tube Fermentation Technique and the Membrane Filtration Technique. The results of the computer simulations show that the bias caused by this measurement error is non-differential causing the mathematical relationships between indicator organism density and swimming-associated illness reported in previous epidemiological studies to underestimate true risk by a minimum of approximately 14%, and that this underestimate could range as high as approximately 30 to 57%. This study also demonstrates that substantial reduction of this bias can be easily accomplished by incorporating a formal water quality sampling strategy, based on statistical principles of experimental design and analysis, into the design of future epidemiological studies seeking mathematical relationships between indicator organism density and swimming-associated illness.
LOS PARADIGMAS DE LA COMUNICACION EN EL ALTIPLANO

El presente articulo analiza las nuevas tendencias de los medios de comunicacion en el Altiplano Puneno en relacion al contenido y la audiencia, ademas las contrasta con los paradigmas de la comunicacion establecidos a nivel global y que tienen relacion directa con los paradigmas del desarrollo; asi mismo, se evalua como los medios de comunicacion plantean su agenda y su vision del desarrollo en la region y de esta manera determinan su entendimiento sobre el contenido y responsabilidad de los medios. Finalmente, se hace un analisis de los paradigmas globales de la comunicacion y su caracterizacion en nuestro contexto.
APPLYING FUZZY ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS IN LOCATION MODE OF INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS ON AIRPORTS COMPETITION EVALUATION

This paper has three, main objectives: (a) the establishment of competitiveness criteria for the location mode of the airport; (b) this study first divides international logistics into two stages and four modes of development categories from the viewpoint of value-added. Then, the evaluation criteria for transshipment mode and re-processing export mode are established; (c) and integrates Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) approach to the international competition level for a comparative analysis of the suitable location mode of each airport (Chiang Kai Shek, Hong Kong, and Singapore’s Changi International Airport). The empirical results indicate that the proposed method can be used to identify the suitable location mode when international logistics system developed by airports.
Overcoming technology uncertainty by scalable platform

Under the recent volatile Consumer Electronics (CE) market, product development is becoming difficult. The most remarkable CE product in terms of Technology Uncertainty is Digital TV (DTV) as it has many features and still increasing. So, the paper focuses on DTV product, particularly its Electronics System Platform, as it plays a key role in the development. The authors found out that there are several types of Technology Uncertainty, depends on the product features, and classified them based on Courtney model. In the past, lots of researches were made in CE System platform. Among them, Scalable Platform is a new effective solution to develop wide range of product lines with short cycle. The research question is whether Scalable Platform also effective for the Technology Uncertainty. Thus, the objective is to investigate how Scalable Platform contributes to Technology Uncertainty. As a methodology, a number of interviews with DTV makers were conducted to gather the information in the development. Then comparative analysis was made among them to see the effectiveness of their solutions in terms of Technology Uncertainty. As a result of the investigation, Scalable platform is effective for a certain type of Technology Uncertainty in DTV development in the recent market environment.
Proteomics of Herpes Simplex Virus Replication Compartments: Association of Cellular DNA Replication, Repair, Recombination, and Chromatin Remodeling Proteinswith ICP8

ABSTRACT In this study, we have used immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify over 50 cellular and viral proteins that are associated with the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) ICP8 single-stranded DNA-binding protein. Many of the coprecipitating cellular proteins are known members of large cellular complexes involved in (i) DNA replication or damage repair, including RPA and MSH6; (ii) nonhomologous and homologous recombination, including the catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase, Ku86, and Rad50; and (iii) chromatin remodeling, including BRG1, BRM, hSNF2H, BAF155, mSin3a, and histone deacetylase 2. It appears that DNA mediates the association of certain proteins with ICP8, while more direct protein-protein interactions mediate the association with other proteins. A number of these proteins accumulate in viral replication compartments in the infected cell nucleus, indicating that these proteins may have a role in viral replication. WRN, which functions in cellular recombination pathways via its helicase and exonuclease activities, is not absolutely required for viral replication, as viral yields are only very slightly, if at all, decreased in WRN-deficient human primary fibroblasts compared to control cells. In Ku70-deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts, viral yields are increased by almost 50-fold, suggesting that the cellular nonhomologous end-joining pathway inhibits HSV replication. We hypothesize that some of the proteins coprecipitating with ICP8 are involved in HSV replication and may give new insight into viral replication mechanisms.
In vitro binding studies with two hypericum perforatum extracts--hyperforin, hypericin and biapigenin--on 5-HT6, 5-HT7, GABA(A)/benzodiazepine, sigma, NPY-Y1/Y2 receptors and dopamine transporters.

Interactions between neurotransmitter receptors involved in the pathophysiology of depression, anxiety and ethanol consumption and two extracts (hydromethanolic and lipophilic extracts obtained with hypercritical CO2) from Hypericum Perforatum L or St. John's wort (SJW) and three constituents (hyperforin, hypericin and biapigenin) were evaluated by in vitro binding assays. The two extracts, tested at 10 microg/ml, did not inhibit ligand binding at the following receptors: serotonin 5-HT6 and 5-HT7, benzodiazepine, sigma and neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1 and Y2 receptors. The hydromethanolic extract, but not the lipophilic extract, interacted with GABA(A) receptors (IC50 5.5 microg/ml), while both interacted with the dopamine (DA) transporters, albeit with high IC50 values (24.5 and 12.9 microg/ml, respectively). Biapigenin (1 microg/ml, 2 microM) inhibited ligand binding at benzodiazepine receptors only (IC50: 2 microM). Hyperforin (1 microg/ml, 2 microM) only inhibited [3H]WIN-35,428 binding to DA transporters, although the IC50 (5 microM) was higher than the IC50 found for inhibition of the synaptosomal DA reuptake (0.8 microM). This finding extended the same observation previously described for the 5-HTergic system to the DAergic system, confirming that the inhibition of monoamine reuptake is due to a different mechanism than that of synthetic antidepressants. Hypericin showed micromolar affinities for both NPY-Y1 and Y2 receptors and for sigma receptors (IC50 3-4 microM). These hypericin activities might be of interest because NPY and sigma receptors have been associated with anxiety disorders, depressive illnesses and ethanol consumption. However, they were present at relatively high hypericin concentrations, and were also light-dependent (i.e. the IC50 values increased when binding assays were carried out in the dark). Thus, our in vitro binding results may suggest that either the pharmacological effects of SJW are due to other molecules than hypericin or hyperforin (other constituents or active metabolites), or that the mechanism of action is different from those that have been considered up to now.