Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF PRIORITY SCHEMES WITH PRIORITY JUMPS IN WIRELESS NETWORKS

Network traffic can often be divided into multiple classes of traffic, each having a different QOS (Quality of Service) standard. For delay-sensitive traffic, it is important that mean delay and delay jitter are not too large, while for delay-insensitive traffic, the loss ratio is the restrictive quantity. To support and differentiate several classes of traffic in a network, priority schemes are used. In the priority scheduling discipline for instance, priority is always given to the delay sensitive traffic, i.e. high priority traffic is always scheduled for service before the delay-insensitive (low-priority) traffic. We consider three models and analyze a jumping scheme in which a random call of the low priority queue can jump to the high priority queue (to incorporate “impatient” calls). Some performance measures such as blocking probability of new calls and dropping probability of handoff calls is obtained.
Microchannel-connected SU-8 honeycombs by single-step projection photolithography for positioning cells on silicon oxide nanopillar arrays

We report on the fabrication, functionalization and testing of SU-8 microstructures for cell culture and positioning over large areas. The microstructure consists of a honeycomb arrangement of cell containers interconnected by microchannels and centered on nanopillar arrays designed for promoting cell positioning. The containers have been dimensioned to trap single cells and, with a height of 50 µm, prevent cells from escaping. The structures are fabricated using a single ultraviolet photolithography exposure with focus depth in the lower part of the SU-8 resist. With optimized process parameters, microchannels of various aspect ratios are thus produced. The cell containers and microchannels serve for the organization of axonal growth between neurons. The roughly 2 µm-high and 500 nm-wide nanopillars are made of silicon oxide structured by deep reactive ion etching. In future work, beyond their cell positioning purpose, the nanopillars could be functionalized as sensors. The proof of concept of the novel microstructure for organized cell culture is given by the successful growth of interconnected PC12 cells. Promoted by the honeycomb geometry, a dense network of interconnections between the cells has formed and the intended intimate contact of cells with the nanopillar arrays was observed by scanning electron microscopy. This proves the potential of these new devices as tools for the controlled cell growth in an interconnected container system with well-defined 3D geometry.
Comb Convolution for Efficient Convolutional Architecture

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are inherently suffering from massively redundant computation (FLOPs) due to the dense connection pattern between feature maps and convolution kernels. Recent research has investigated the sparse relationship between channels, however, they ignored the spatial relationship within a channel. In this paper, we present a novel convolutional operator, namely comb convolution, to exploit the intra-channel sparse relationship among neurons. The proposed convolutional operator eliminates nearly 50% of connections by inserting uniform mappings into standard convolutions and removing about half of spatial connections in convolutional layer. Notably, our work is orthogonal and complementary to existing methods that reduce channel-wise redundancy. Thus, it has great potential to further increase efficiency through integrating the comb convolution to existing architectures. Experimental results demonstrate that by simply replacing standard convolutions with comb convolutions on state-of-the-art CNN architectures (e.g., VGGNets, Xception and SE-Net), we can achieve 50% FLOPs reduction while still maintaining the accuracy.
Tectonics and seismicity of the Tindari Fault System, southern Italy: Crustal deformations at the transition between ongoing contractional and extensional domains located above the edge of a subducting slab

The Tindari Fault System (southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) is a regional zone of brittle deformation located at the transition between ongoing contractional and extensional crustal compartments and lying above the western edge of a narrow subducting slab. Onshore structural data, an offshore seismic reflection profile, and earthquake data are analyzed to constrain the present geometry of the Tindari Fault System and its tectonic evolution since Neogene, including the present seismicity. Results show that this zone of deformation consists of a broad NNW trending system of faults including sets of right‐lateral, left‐lateral, and extensional faults as well as early strike‐slip faults reworked under late extension. Earthquakes and other neotectonic data provide evidence that the Tindari Fault System is still active in the central and northern sectors and mostly accommodates extensional or right‐lateral transtensional displacements on a diffuse array of faults. From these data, a multiphase tectonic history is inferred, including an early phase as a right‐lateral strike‐slip fault and a late extensional reworking under the influence of the subduction‐related processes, which have led to the formation of the Tyrrhenian back‐arc basin. Within the present, regional, geodynamic context, the Tindari Fault System is interpreted as an ongoing accommodation zone between the adjacent contractional and extensional crustal compartments, these tectonic compartments relating to the complex processes of plate convergence occurring in the region. The Tindari Fault System might also be included in an incipient, oblique‐extensional, transfer zone linking the ongoing contractional belts in the Calabrian‐Ionian and southern Tyrrhenian compartments.
Crater FTEs: Simulation results and THEMIS observations

The BATS‐R‐US magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model predicts flux transfer events (FTEs) with strong core magnetic fields embedded within a broadened current layer of weak magnetic field strengths on the equatorial dayside magnetopause during intervals of southward and duskward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation. Multipoint THEMIS observations at 2202 UT on June 20, 2007 of a southward‐moving FTE on the post‐noon magnetopause confirm the predictions of the model. THEMIS‐E and ‐A with large impact parameters simply observe enhanced magnetic field strengths in draped magnetosheath magnetic field lines, THEMIS‐B and ‐C with moderate impact parameters pass through the broadened current layer to observe crater FTEs with deep troughs bounding a strong core field, while THEMIS‐D with a very low impact parameter observes the core magnetic field strength enhancement embedded in the current layer.
Semantic Feature Attention Network for Liver Tumor Segmentation in Large-scale CT database

Liver tumor segmentation plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and surgical planning. In this paper, we propose a novel Semantic Feature Attention Network (SFAN) for liver tumor segmentation from Computed Tomography (CT) volumes, which exploits the impact of both low-level and high-level features. In the SFAN, a Semantic Attention Transmission (SAT) module is designed to select discriminative low-level localization details with the guidance of neighboring high-level semantic information. Furthermore, a Global Context Attention (GCA) module is proposed to effectively fuse the multi-level features with the guidance of global context. Our experiments are based on 2 challenging databases, the public Liver Tumor Segmentation (LiTS) Challenge database and a large-scale in-house clinical database with 912 CT volumes. Experimental results show that our proposed framework can not only achieve the state-of-the-art performance with the Dice per case on liver tumor segmentation in LiTS database, but also outperform some widely used segmentation algorithms in the large-scale clinical database.
Cooperative Manipulation via Internal Force Regulation: A Rigidity Theory Perspective

This article considers the integration of rigid cooperative manipulation with rigidity theory. Motivated by rigid models of cooperative manipulation systems, i.e., where the grasping contacts are rigid, we introduce, first, the notion of bearing and distance rigidity for graph frameworks in $\mathsf {SE}(3)$. Next, we associate the nodes of these frameworks to the robotic agents of rigid cooperative manipulation schemes and we express the object-agent internal forces by using the graph rigidity matrix, which encodes the infinitesimal rigid body motions of the system. Moreover, we show that the associated cooperative manipulation grasp matrix is related to the rigidity matrix via a range-nullspace relation, based on which we provide novel results on the relation between the arising interaction and internal forces and, consequently, on the energy-optimal force distribution on a cooperative manipulation system. Finally, simulation results enhance the validity of the theoretical findings.
Predictive Engagement: An Efficient Metric For Automatic Evaluation of Open-Domain Dialogue Systems

User engagement is a critical metric for evaluating the quality of open-domain dialogue systems. Prior work has focused on conversation-level engagement by using heuristically constructed features such as the number of turns and the total time of the conversation. In this paper, we investigate the possibility and efficacy of estimating utterance-level engagement and define a novel metric, {\em predictive engagement}, for automatic evaluation of open-domain dialogue systems. Our experiments demonstrate that (1) human annotators have high agreement on assessing utterance-level engagement scores; (2) conversation-level engagement scores can be predicted from properly aggregated utterance-level engagement scores. Furthermore, we show that the utterance-level engagement scores can be learned from data. These scores can improve automatic evaluation metrics for open-domain dialogue systems, as shown by correlation with human judgements. This suggests that predictive engagement can be used as a real-time feedback for training better dialogue models.
Mechanisms of TRP-channel mediated dopaminergic degeneration in C. elegans

One of the most common manifestations of dopaminergic degeneration in humans is in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Although dopaminergic degeneration affects a significant portion of the aging population, the pathways and mechanisms underlying it have not yet been elucidated. The Doitsidou lab has recently established a model of dopaminergic degeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. In this model, a Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel (TRP-4) has mutated and results in a gain of function. Based on the morphology of the dopaminergic neurons, the overactive channel is believed to be activating a necrotic cell death pathway. This thesis aims to identify the pathways relevant to TRP-4 mediated dopaminergic degeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. It takes a two-pronged approach, comparing TRP-4 degeneration to other models of neurodegeneration and conducting a forward genetic screen to identify novel candidates. Through these approaches, the nature of TRP-4 degeneration has been further elucidated. The results gathered in this thesis explore the involvement of lysosomal acidification through the V-ATPase pump in dopaminergic cell death and are not conclusive as to whether or not the V-ATPase pump plays a role in TRP-4 induced degeneration. The lysosomal biogenesis pathway is implicated in dopaminergic degeneration in the TRP-4 model. Differences in lysosomal morphology in dopaminergic neurons are established between the wild type and degenerating states. Finally, three full and three partial suppressors of degeneration were discovered through the automated forward genetic screen. Together, this thesis brings insight into intracellular the mechanisms underlying a novel, TRP-channel based model of dopaminergic degeneration.
Antioxidant Activity And Phenolic Compounds Contents Of Spider Flower (Cleome Arabica Ssp.Arabica), A Well Acclimated Species In The Algerian Desert Areas

A detailed study was performed on the antioxidant activity of the alcoholic extract of different plant parts of Cleome Arabica ssp. arabica (CAA) in relation with their total phenolic, flavonoid and proanthocyanidins contents in order to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical formulations. The total yield, total phenolic (TP), total flavonoids (TF) and total proanthocyanidins (TPA) contents of all the fractions were also determined. Cleome Arabica ssp. arabica was also subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening test for various constituents. The total phenolic contents (TPC) of three parts (Leaves, seeds and roots) was 78,56 ± 0,01 mg GAEq/g extract, while total flavonoid contents (TFC) of the same parts was 19,57 ± 0,01 mg REq/g extract, and total proanthocyanidins (TPA) was 17,41 ± 0,01 mg CYEq/ g of extract. Leaves extract was found significantly higher as compared to other parts extracts. Phytochemical screening of leaves, seeds and roots extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. The antioxidant capacity of extracts was determined by three methods DPPH, FRAP, and phosphomolybdenum. The obtained results showed that leaves extract has the highest antioxidant capacity with low value of IC50 for DPPH and FRAP and the highest quantity of antioxydants compounds in phosphomolybdenum assay, followed by seeds extract and finally roots extract.
The Forex Market in Practice: A Computing Approach for Automated Trading Strategies

Prediction of various market indicators is an important issue in finance. This can be accomplished through computer models and related applications. It turned out that artificial models have both great advantages and some limitations for learning the data patterns and predicting future values of the financial phenomenon under analysis. In this paper we analyze the particular financial market called Forex and the way computing models are used to automate trading strategies by making affordable predictions on the evolution of exchange rates between currencies.
IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT STATUS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF INDIAN GINSENG D. AND PANAX

Free radicals have been implicated in causation of many ailments. Free radical scavenging properties of plant extract showed their antioxidant potential in therapeutics. Comparative free radical scavenging property of Indian ginseng (Withania somnifera D. (Solanaceae)) and Panax ginseng D. (Araliaceae) was studied under three in vitro models viz. DPPH method, Nitric oxide method and Lipid peroxidation method. The aqueous extract were prepared, evaporated under vacuum and subjected to qualitative analysis for active ingredients. IC50 μg/ml was calculated. It was 523.89, 7.629 and 270.43 μg/ml in Indian ginseng while, it was 199.22, 7.56 and 130.72 μg/ml in Panax ginseng D. with DPPH, Nitric oxide and Lipid peroxidation groups respectively. Result showed scavenging property in Indian ginseng as well as in Panax ginseng D. in all three methods with variation due to presence of different flavinoids and saponin (glycosides) components. The statistical analysis revealed a difference in IC50 at same concentration, indicating that scavenging property is dependent on the reactivity of active constituents present in plant extracts.
Interactions between Exchange Traded Currency Futures and OTC Derivatives

This paper tests the informational advantage hypothesis for foreign exchange futures contracts relative to OTC contracts using actual OTC foreign exchange derivative trading data. In addition, we test for substitutability vs. complementarity of OTC products against foreign exchange futures products. We examine monthly trade volume and volatility estimates of the OTC market and futures markets for the Canadian dollar contracts for the Canadian dollar over the period January 1998 to September 2005. Futures trading activity is shown to provide leading information to the OTC markets, suggesting that there are informational advantages to futures markets. Trading volume in the OTC (exchange traded) market shows uni-(bi-) directional Granger causality to the volatility to both spot and futures markets, consistent with greater responsiveness of the exchange traded (OTC) market to changes in market-wide (idiosyncratic)risk. Regression tests support substitutability between the foreign exchange futures market and the OTC derivatives market.
VASTA: a vision and language-assisted smartphone task automation system

We present VASTA, a novel vision and language-assisted Programming By Demonstration (PBD) system for smartphone task automation. Development of a robust PBD automation system requires overcoming three key challenges: first, how to make a particular demonstration robust to positional and visual changes in the user interface (UI) elements; secondly, how to recognize changes in the automation parameters to make the demonstration as generalizable as possible; and thirdly, how to recognize from the user utterance what automation the user wishes to carry out. To address the first challenge, VASTA leverages state-of-the-art computer vision techniques, including object detection and optical character recognition, to accurately label interactions demonstrated by a user, without relying on the underlying UI structures. To address the second and third challenges, VASTA takes advantage of advanced natural language understanding algorithms for analyzing the user utterance to trigger the VASTA automation scripts, and to determine the automation parameters for generalization. We run an initial user study that demonstrates the effectiveness of VASTA at clustering user utterances, understanding changes in the automation parameters, detecting desired UI elements, and, most importantly, automating various tasks. A demo video of the system is available here: http://y2u.be/kr2xE-FixjI.
TRANSFERABILITY AND UPDATING OF DISAGGREGATE TRAVEL DEMAND MODELS

In recent years much work has gone into the development of disaggregate travel demand models. However, little has been done to evaluate the ability of these models to predict travel behavior in locations other than the area for which the model was estimated. Unlike aggregate models, the parameters of disaggregate models are not dependent on a particular zonal system and therefore have the potential for transferability. The motivation behind transferring is clear - if a model estimated in one area can be transferred to another, the cost of conducting transportation studies could be greatly reduced. Several possible approaches for transferring are developed and discussed from a theoretical perspective. For an empirical evaluation, a work-trip modal-split model estimated on Washington, D.C., data is transferred to New Bedford, Massachusetts, using each of the proposed approaches. The results of estimating the original model on Los Angeles data are also represented. The most significant result is the exceptional performance of the original Washington work mode choice model on both NEw Bedford and Los Angeles data. This is noteworthy in view of the extreme differences of the means for several variables between these cities. Of the several approaches for transferring that were developed, Bayesian updating based on combining the existing model coefficients with the estimation results from a new sample gave the best overall performance. The results of this study indicate that the potential transferability of disaggregate travel demand models can be realized. /Author/
CERATO-PLATANIN TREATED PLANE LEAVES RESTRICT CERATOCYSTIS PLATANI GROWTH AND OVEREXPRESS DEFENCE-RELATED GENES

SUMMARY Cerato-platanin (CP) is a small protein of 120 amino acids, produced by the ascomycete Ceratocystis platani (Walter) Engelbrecht et Harrington (Cep), the agent of plane canker stain. CP is located in the cell walls of the conidia, hyphae and ascospores of Cep, is able to self-aggregate, and is released into the culture medium in the first growth stages of in vitro culture. CP is the founder member of the CP family, a group of proteins involved in the interaction between the producing microbe and the host cell. Leaves of Cep-susceptible Platanus acerifolia react to treatments with CP in a resistance-like manner, producing extracellular and intracellular phenolic compounds and undergoing cell plasmolysis and/or death. The present study provides evidence that in plane leaves the CP-activated defence-related events are strictly correlated with the inhibition of Cep growth on the leaves and with a high level of transcripts of 78 differentially expressed genes. Of the transcripts, 19.2% regarded as genes coding for defence and/or stress related proteins. The other genes concerned DNA/RNA synthesis and metabolism, protein synthesis/turnover, energy, primary cellular metabolism and the signalling pathways. The results demonstrated that after treatment of the plane leaves with CP, a substantial network of regulatory interaction and coordination was formed, as well as other defence-related molecular events.
NGFR , and RUNX 3 , CLU , CASZ 1 Genes EZH 2 Mediates Epigenetic Silencing of Neuroblastoma Suppressor

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial pediatric solid tumor with an undifferentiated status and generally poor prognosis, but the basis for these characteristics remains unknown. In this study, we show that upregulation of the Polycomb protein histone methyltransferase EZH2, which limits differentiation in many tissues, is critical tomaintain the undifferentiated state and poor prognostic status of NB by epigenetic repression of multiple tumor suppressor genes. We identified this role for EZH2 by examining the regulation of CASZ1, a recently identified NB tumor suppressor gene whose ectopic restoration inhibits NB cell growth and induces differentiation. Reducing EZH2 expression by RNA interference–mediated knockdown or pharmacologic inhibiton with 3-deazaneplanocin A increased CASZ1 expression, inhibited NB cell growth, and induced neurite extension. Similarly, EZH2 / mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) displayed 3-fold higher levels of CASZ1mRNA compared with EZH2þ/þMEFs. In cells with increased expression of CASZ1, treatment with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor decreased expression of EZH2 and the Polycomb Repressor complex component SUZ12. Under steady-state conditions, H3K27me3 and PRC2 components bound to the CASZ1 gene were enriched, but this enrichment was decreased after HDAC inhibitor treatment. We determined that the tumor suppressors CLU, NGFR, and RUNX3 were also directly repressed by EZH2 like CASZ1 in NB cells. Together, our findings establish that aberrant upregulation of EZH2 in NB cells silences several tumor suppressors, which contribute to the genesis andmaintenance of the undifferentiated phenotype of NB tumors.Cancer Res; 72(1); 315–24. 2011 AACR.