Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Similar Characteristic of Traffic in Current Metro Area Network

Complexity and diversity of Internet traffic are constantly growing. Networking researchers become aware of the need to constantly monitor and reevaluate their assumptions in order to ensure that the conceptual models correctly represent reality. Using the dataset collected by NetTurbo from three different bidirectional OC-48 links in metro area networks at the two biggest ISPs of China, this paper carefully investigates the self-similar characteristics of traffic from different aspects. In contrast to the previous results which have been widely accepted, this paper shows that for the aggregated traffic and the TCP and UDP traffic whether the self-similarity exists is uncertain. Further, break down by the application category, only the traditional and uncategorized traffic are self-similar while the others are not. However, on the view of the individual application of each category, it seems that traffic of every application exhibits self-similarity. To the best of our knowledge, this paper firstly provides the experimental evidence showing that aggregating different groups of self-similar traffic series could generate a traffic series which is either self-similar or non-self-similar.
Ontology-based information extraction: An introduction and a survey of current approaches

Information extraction (IE) aims to retrieve certain types of information from natural language text by processing them automatically. For example, an IE system might retrieve information about geopolitical indicators of countries from a set of web pages while ignoring other types of information. Ontology-based information extraction (OBIE) has recently emerged as a subfield of information extraction. Here, ontologies - which provide formal and explicit specifications of conceptualizations - play a crucial role in the IE process. Because of the use of ontologies, this field is related to knowledge representation and has the potential to assist the development of the Semantic Web. In this paper, we provide an introduction to ontology-based information extraction and review the details of different OBIE systems developed so far. We attempt to identify a common architecture among these systems and classify them based on different factors, which leads to a better understanding on their operation. We also discuss the implementation details of these systems including the tools used by them and the metrics used to measure their performance. In addition, we attempt to identify the possible future directions for this field.
DiNoDB: Efficient Large-Scale Raw Data Analytics

Modern big data workflows, found in e.g., machine learning use cases, often involve iterations of cycles of batch analytics and interactive analytics on temporary data. Whereas batch analytics solutions for large volumes of raw data are well established (e.g., Hadoop, MapReduce), state-of-the-art interactive analytics solutions (e.g., distributed shared nothing RDBMSs) require data loading and/or transformation phase, which is inherently expensive for temporary data. In this paper, we propose a novel scalable distributed solution for in-situ data analytics, that offers both scalable batch and interactive data analytics on raw data, hence avoiding the loading phase bottleneck of RDBMSs. Our system combines a MapReduce based platform with the recently proposed NoDB paradigm, which optimizes traditional centralized RDBMSs for in-situ queries of raw files. We revisit the NoDB's centralized design and scale it out supporting multiple clients and data processing nodes to produce a new distributed data analytics system we call Distributed NoDB (DiNoDB). DiNoDB leverages MapReduce batch queries to produce critical pieces of metadata (e.g., distributed positional maps and vertical indices) to speed up interactive queries without the overheads of the data loading and data movement phases allowing users to quickly and efficiently exploit their data. Our experimental analysis demonstrates that DiNoDB significantly reduces the data-to-query latency with respect to comparable state-of-the-art distributed query engines, like Shark, Hive and HadoopDB.
Using vision, acoustics, and natural language for disambiguation

Creating a human-robot interface is a daunting experience. Capabilities and functionalities of the interface are dependent on the robustness of many different sensor and input modalities. For example, object recognition poses problems for state-of-the-art vision systems. Speech recognition in noisy environments remains problematic for acoustic systems. Natural language understanding and dialog are often limited to specific domains and baffled by ambiguous or novel utterances. Plans based on domain-specific tasks limit the applicability of dialog managers. The types of sensors used limit spatial knowledge and understanding, and constrain cognitive issues, such as perspective-taking. In this research, we are integrating several modalities, such as vision, audition, and natural language understanding to leverage the existing strengths of each modality and overcome individual weaknesses. We are using visual, acoustic, and linguistic inputs in various combinations to solve such problems as the disambiguation of referents (objects in the environment), localization of human speakers, and determination of the source of utterances and appropriateness of responses when humans and robots interact. For this research, we limit our consideration to the interaction of two humans and one robot in a retrieval scenario. This paper will describe the system and integration of the various modules prior to future testing.
Summary and initial results of the 2013-2014 speaker recognition i-vector machine learning challenge

During late-2013 through early-2014 NIST coordinated a special i-vector challenge based on data used in previous NIST Speaker Recognition Evaluations (SREs). Unlike evaluations in the SRE series, the i-vector challenge was run entirely online and used fixed-length feature vectors projected into a low-dimensional space (i-vectors) rather than audio recordings. These changes made the challenge more readily accessible, especially to participants from outside the audio processing field. Compared to the 2012 SRE, the i-vector challenge saw an increase in the number of participants by nearly a factor of two, and a two orders of magnitude increase in the number of systems submitted for evaluation. Initial results indicate the leading system achieved an approximate 37% improvement relative to the baseline system.
Polymorphisms in Pneumocystis jirovecii strains in Spanish children with cystic fibrosis.

Figure 1. Distribution of mitochondrial large subunit rRNA genotypes in Spanish patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups: HIV-infected adults with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), children with cystic fibrosis (CF), and adults with CF. Shown are rates for genotype (G) 1 (85C/248C), G2 (85A/248C), G3 (85T/ 248C), and strains with mixed polymorphisms. Polymorphisms in Pneumocystis jirovecii Strains in Spanish Children with Cystic Fibrosis
Specification and Design of Embedded Systems

With the rising complexity of digital designs and the deep sub-micron era right ahead, the specification and the design of embedded systems has to move to higher levels of abstraction. Co-design, the design of systems involving both hardware and software parts, consists of a set of refinement tasks that map an abstract specification of the design onto the intended system architecture. This article describes a generic co-design methodology including specification of the design at a high level of abstraction and step-wise refinement.
Ode to positive constructive daydreaming

Nearly 60 years ago, Jerome L. Singer launched a groundbreaking research program into daydreaming (Singer, 1955, 1975, 2009) that presaged and laid the foundation for virtually every major strand of mind wandering research active today (Antrobus, 1999; Klinger, 1999, 2009). Here we review Singer’s enormous contribution to the field, which includes insights, methodologies, and tools still in use today, and trace his enduring legacy as revealed in the recent proliferation of mind wandering studies. We then turn to the central theme in Singer’s work, the adaptive nature of positive constructive daydreaming, which was a revolutionary idea when Singer began his work in the 1950s and remains underreported today. Last, we propose a new approach to answering the enduring question: Why does mind wandering persist and occupy so much of our time, as much as 50% of our waking time according to some estimates, if it is as costly as most studies suggest?
The Schrödinger equation on spheres

It is shown that the fundamental solution to the Schrodinger equation on a d-dimensional sphere has an explicit description at times that are rational multiples of π. This leads to sharp L p estimates on the solution operator at those times. Analogous, though less explicit, results are obtained when spheres are replaced by Zoll manifolds, and when potentials are added.
Innovating With Rehabilitation Technology in the Real World

Abstract In this article, we discuss robotic-assisted therapy as an emerging and significant field of clinical rehabilitation and its value proposition for innovating rehabilitation clinical practice. Attempts to achieve integration among clinicians' practices and bioengineers' machines often generate new challenges and controversies. To date, the literature is indicative of a sizeable number and variety of robotic devices in the field of clinical rehabilitation, some are commercially available; however, large-scale clinical outcomes are less positive than expected. The following main themes related to integrating rehabilitation technology in real-world clinical practice will be discussed: the application of current evidence-based practice and knowledge in relation to treatment in the rehabilitation clinic, perspectives from rehabilitation professionals using robotic-aided therapy with regard to challenges, and strategies for problem solving. Lastly, we present innovation philosophies with regard to sustainability of clinical rehabilitation technologies.
What’s Normal? Immune Profiling of Human Milk from Healthy Women Living in Different Geographical and Socioeconomic Settings

Human milk provides a very wide range of nutrients and bioactive components, including immune factors, human milk oligosaccharides, and a commensal microbiota. These factors are essential for interconnected processes including immunity programming and the development of a normal infant gastrointestinal microbiome. Newborn immune protection mostly relies on maternal immune factors provided through milk. However, studies dealing with an in-depth profiling of the different immune compounds present in human milk and with the assessment of their natural variation in healthy women from different populations are scarce. In this context, the objective of this work was the detection and quantification of a wide array of immune compounds, including innate immunity factors (IL1β, IL6, IL12, INFγ, TNFα), acquired immunity factors (IL2, IL4, IL10, IL13, IL17), chemokines (IL8, Groα, MCP1, MIP1β), growth factors [IL5, IL7, epidermal growth factor (EGF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor, TGFβ2], and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM), in milk produced by healthy women of different ethnicities living in different geographic, dietary, socioeconomic, and environmental settings. Among the analyzed factors, IgA, IgG, IgM, EGF, TGFβ2, IL7, IL8, Groα, and MIP1β were detected in all or most of the samples collected in each population and, therefore, this specific set of compounds might be considered as the “core” soluble immune factors in milk produced by healthy women worldwide. This approach may help define which immune factors are (or are not) common in milk produced by women living in various conditions, and to identify host, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the immunological composition of this complex biological fluid. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials. gov, identifier NCT02670278.
Microelectromechanical systems

The microfabrication techniques used to develop high-performance closed-loop-controlled microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are discussed. A generalized MEMS could consist of mechanical components, sensors, actuators, and electronics, all integrated in the same environment. Bulk and surface micromachining, substrate bonding, and electroforming in conjunction with X-ray lithography, all integral components of silicon micromachining, are described. The development of a materials base for MEMS and a variety of physical phenomena for microactuator applications that have recently been demonstrated are reviewed. The applications and future trends of MEMS technologies are discussed. <<ETX>>
The 3D linear inverted pendulum mode: a simple modeling for a biped walking pattern generation

For 3D walking control of a biped robot we analyze the dynamics of a 3D inverted pendulum in which motion is constrained to move along an arbitrarily defined plane. This analysis yields a simple linear dynamics, the 3D linear inverted pendulum mode (3D-LIPM). Geometric nature of trajectories under the 3D-LIPM and a method for walking pattern generation are discussed. A simulation result of a walking control using a 12-DOF biped robot model is also shown.
Active Wavelet Networks for Face Alignment

The active appearance model (AAM) algorithm has proved to be a successful method for face alignment and synthesis. By elegantly combining both shape and texture models, AAM allows fast and robust deformable image matching. However, the method is sensitive to partial occlusions and illumination changes. In such cases, the PCA-based texture model causes the reconstruction error to be globally spread over the image. In this paper, we propose a new method for face alignment called active wavelet networks (AWN), which replaces the AAM texture model by a wavelet network representation. Since we consider spatially localized wavelets for modeling texture, our method shows more robustness against partial occlusions and some illumination changes.
In which cases surgical gastrostomy and jejunostomy techniques are inevitable?

PURPOSE This study investigated the surgical gastrostomy and jejunostomy procedures in cancer patients who needed nutritional support and endoscopy was unattainable. METHODS Operation time and procedure, anesthesia and tube types, procedure-specific and surgical complications, and tube replacement at the follow up period were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS 109 patients (44 female, 65 male, mean age 50.9 years, range 14-87) were subjected to surgical gastrostomy/ jejunostomy. Ninety-three (85.4%) patients had head-neck and gastrointestinal cancers. In 94 (86.2%) patients endoscopy was impossible due to obstruction of the esophagus and stomach. Gastrostomy/jejunostomy was combined with other surgical procedures in 12 (11 %) patients. Procedure- related complications occurred in 22 (20.7%) patients. Early 30-day mortality occurred in 12 (11 %) cases. The median follow up period was 3.6 months (range 0-18). CONCLUSION Obstructing cancer, obesity or previous laparotomy make the use of endoscopic techniques impossible. For these patients, surgical gastrostomy/jejunostomy is safe with acceptable complication rates and improves the treatment outcomes with nutritional support.
Kinetic‐Scale Ion Flux Fluctuations Behind the Quasi‐Parallel and Quasi‐Perpendicular Bow Shock

Properties of kinetic‐scale plasma turbulence are examined observationally with the help of Spektr‐R measurements in the Earth's magnetosheath. The statistics covers 6 years of ion flux measurements during years 2011–2017 and includes a few dozens of the magnetosheath crossings with total duration of 250 hr. Several types of Fourier spectra are distinguished in the magnetosheath according to a spectral shape at the scales of transition from magnetohydrodynamic to kinetic regimes. Spectral indices and occurrence rate of different spectral shapes are examined at different locations with respect to the magnetosheath boundaries—the magnetopause and the bow shock. Magnetosheath plasma behind the quasi‐parallel and quasi‐perpendicular bow shock is explored separately. Clear dynamics of spectral shapes across the magnetosheath is shown: spectra with broad bump at the transition frequencies occur more frequently in the vicinity of the bow shock, while spectra with plateau at the same frequencies are usually observed closer to the magnetopause. Spectral indices such as spectral slope at the kinetic scales and break frequency are shown to be weakly affected by the boundaries behind the quasi‐perpendicular bow shock. The steepest spectra are observed close to the quasi‐parallel bow shock.
Modeling Health Insurance Expansions: Effects of Alternate Approaches

Estimates of the costs and consequences of many types of public policy proposals play an important role in the development and adoption of particular policy programs. Estimates of the same, or similar, policies that employ different modeling approaches can yield widely divergent results. Such divergence often undermines effective policymaking. These problems are particularly prominent for health insurance expansion programs. Concern focuses on predictions of the numbers of individuals who will be insured and the costs of the proposals. Several different simulation-modeling approaches are used to predict these effects, making the predictions difficult to compare. This paper categorizes and describes the different approaches used; explains the conceptual and theoretical relationships between the methods; demonstrates empirically an example of the (quite restrictive) conditions under which all approaches can yield quantitatively identical predictions; and empirically demonstrates conditions under which the approaches diverge and the quantitative extent of that divergence. All modeling approaches implicitly make assumptions about functional form that impose restrictions on unobservable heterogeneity. Those assumptions can dramatically affect the quantitative predictions made.
The Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency in Patients With Thalassemia in South East of Iran, Sistan and Baluchistan Province

BACKGROUND There are different and controversial reports about zinc deficiency in patients with major thalassemia. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate zinc status in patients with major thalassemia in Sistan and Baluchistan province, southeastern Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study was performed in Ali Asghar Hospital, a specialized governmental hospital located in Zahedan, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 369 patients with a history of major thalassemia for more than 5 years entered the study using convenience sampling method. Thirty-six subjects were excluded from the study based on our exclusion criteria. Zinc level was measured in all patients after 12 hours fasting using atomic absorption spectrometry method in 2012. RESULTS Of 369 cases, 333 patients were eligible and evaluated. The mean age was 15.63 ± 7.4 years. One hundred ninety two cases were male and others were female (141 cases). About 27% (90) of the cases were 5-10 years-old, 24% (80) were 10-15 years-old and 49% were older than 15 years old. Iron chelator in 65.46% was Desferrioxamine, in 28.2% was Deferasirox and in 19.5% was combination of Desferrioxamine and Deferiprone. All cases had zinc deficiency, and 98.5% had severe zinc deficiency. Others (1.5%) had mild deficiency. CONCLUSIONS Our study on 333 patients with major thalassemia documented severe zinc deficiency in all cases. We had no cases with normal or increased zinc levels. It was different with other reports in the world.
Performance of Burn-Severity Metrics and Classification in Oak Woodlands and Grasslands

Burn severity metrics and classification have yet to be tested for many eastern U.S. deciduous vegetation types, but, if suitable, would be valuable for documenting and monitoring landscape-scale restoration projects that employ prescribed fire treatments. Here we present a performance analysis of the Composite Burn Index (CBI) and its relationship to spectral data (differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) and its relative form (RdNBR)) across an oak woodland - grassland landscape in southwestern Oklahoma, USA. Correlation and regression analyses were used to compare CBI strata, assess models describing burn severity, and determine thresholds for burn severity classes. Confusion matrices were used to assess burn severity classification accuracy. Our findings suggest that dNBR and RdNBR, thresholded using total CBI, can produce an accurate burn severity map in oak woodlands, particularly from an initial assessment period. Lower accuracies occurred for burn severity classifications of grasslands and raises questions related to definitions and detection of burn severity for grasslands, particularly in transition to more densely treed structures such as savannas and woodlands.
Similarity maps and field-guided T-splines

A variety of techniques were proposed to model smooth surfaces based on tensor product splines (e.g. subdivision surfaces, free-form splines, T-splines). Conversion of an input surface into such a representation is commonly achieved by constructing a global seamless parametrization, possibly aligned to a guiding cross-field (e.g. of principal curvature directions), and using this parametrization as domain to construct the spline-based surface. One major fundamental difficulty in designing robust algorithms for this task is the fact that for common types, e.g. subdivision surfaces (requiring a conforming domain mesh) or T-spline surfaces (requiring a globally consistent knot interval assignment) reliably obtaining a suitable parametrization that has the same topological structure as the guiding field poses a major challenge. Even worse, not all fields do admit suitable parametrizations, and no concise conditions are known as to which fields do. We present a class of surface constructions (T-splines with halfedge knots) and a class of parametrizations (seamless similarity maps) that are, in a sense, a perfect match for the task: for any given guiding field structure, a compatible parametrization of this kind exists and a smooth piecewise rational surface with exactly the same structure as the input field can be constructed from it. As a byproduct, this enables full control over extraordinary points. The construction is backward compatible with classical NURBS. We present efficient algorithms for building discrete conformal similarity maps and associated T-meshes and T-spline surfaces.