Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Active monitoring of delays with asymmetric routes

There is an increasing interest in network monitoring recently. Indeed, knowledge of link characteristics is of significant importance in order to provide efficient routing. In this paper, we consider active network monitoring of link delays in a Service Provider or Enterprise IP network using round trip delays. Our proposition guarantees that all links are monitored contrary to previous propositions. Indeed, previous propositions assume symmetric routing in networks when placing the monitoring stations. With this assumption, round trips may be different when routes are asymmetric and link delays are not significant. We say that links are not monitored in this case. Previous propositions do not monitor 5.76% of links in average and 10% in worst cases during our simulations while we monitor always 100% of links. Moreover, in our proposition, the amount of traffic is reduced and the measures are more precise since the distance from a monitoring station (beacon) to the edges is limited by a given bound. Indeed, probe messages use short paths, traverse less routers and less links with our proposition. Finally, the number of beacons is not increased compared to the previous heuristic and so the installation and maintenance costs are minimized. // La surveillance des reseaux permet de mieux connaitre les caracteristiques du reseau et de permettre par la suite un routage plus efficace. Dans cet article, nous considerons la surveillance active des delais des liens en mesurant des temps de parcours aller et retour (round trip delays). Notre proposition garantit que tous les liens sont mesures contrairement aux propositions precedentes qui ne mesurent pas la totalite des liens du reseau. En effet, les propositions precedentes assument que le routage est symetrique et placent les stations de surveillance sous cette contrainte forte. Dans ce cas, 5.76moyenne et 10simulations alors que nous surveillons toujours 100la quantite de trafic genere par la surveillance est reduite car nous limitons la distance d'une station au lien qu'elle surveille.
Can Data Science Inform Environmental Justice and Community Risk Screening for Type 2 Diabetes?

Background Having the ability to scan the entire country for potential “hotspots” with increased risk of developing chronic diseases due to various environmental, demographic, and genetic susceptibility factors may inform risk management decisions and enable better environmental public health policies. Objectives Develop an approach for community-level risk screening focused on identifying potential genetic susceptibility hotpots. Methods Our approach combines analyses of phenotype-genotype data, genetic prevalence of single nucleotide polymorphisms, and census/geographic information to estimate census tract-level population attributable risks among various ethnicities and total population for the state of California. Results We estimate that the rs13266634 single nucleotide polymorphism, a type 2 diabetes susceptibility genotype, has a genetic prevalence of 56.3%, 47.4% and 37.0% in Mexican Mestizo, Caucasian, and Asian populations. Looking at the top quintile for total population attributable risk, 16 California counties have greater than 25% of their population living in hotspots of genetic susceptibility for developing type 2 diabetes due to this single genotypic susceptibility factor. Conclusions This study identified counties in California where large portions of the population may bear additional type 2 diabetes risk due to increased genetic prevalence of a susceptibility genotype. This type of screening can easily be extended to include information on environmental contaminants of interest and other related diseases, and potentially enables the rapid identification of potential environmental justice communities. Other potential uses of this approach include problem formulation in support of risk assessments, land use planning, and prioritization of site cleanup and remediation actions.
Extreme Learning Machine with Enhanced Variation of Activation Functions

The main aim of this paper is to stress the fact that the sufficient variability of activation functions (AF) is important for an Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) approximation accuracy and applicability. A slight modification of the standard ELM procedure is proposed, which allows increasing the variance of each AF, without losing too much from the simplicity of random selection of parameters. The proposed modification does not increase the computational complexity of an ELM training significantly. Enhancing the variation of AFs results in reduced output weights norm, better numerical conditioning of the output weights calculation, smaller errors for the same number of the hidden neurons. The proposed approach works efficiently together with the Tikhonov regularization of ELM.
The consequences of facultative sex in a prey adapting to predation

A species reproductive mode, along with its associated costs and benefits, can play a significant role in its evolution and survival. Facultative sexuality, being able to reproduce both sexually and asexually, has been deemed evolutionary favourable as the benefits of either mode may be fully realized. In fact, many studies have focused on identifying the benefits of sex and/or the forces selecting for increased rates of sex using facultative sexual species. The costs of either mode, however, can also have a profound impact on a population's evolutionary trajectory. Here, we used experimental evolution and fitness assays to investigate the consequences of facultative sexuality in prey adapting to predation. Specifically, we compared the adaptive response of algal prey populations exposed to constant rotifer predation and which had alternating cycles of asexual and sexual reproduction where sexual episodes were either facultative (sexual and asexual progeny simultaneously propagated) or obligate (only sexual progeny propagated). We found that prey populations with facultative sexual episodes reached a lower final relative fitness and suffered a greater trade‐off in traits under selection, that is defence and competitive ability, as compared to prey populations with obligate sexual episodes. Our results suggest that costs associated with sexual reproduction (germination time) and asexual reproduction (selection interference) were amplified in the facultative sexual prey populations, leading to a reduction in the net advantage of sexuality. Additionally, we found evidence that the cost of sex was reduced in the obligate sexual prey populations because increased selection for sex was observed via the spontaneous production of sexual cells. These results show that certain costs associated with facultative sexuality can affect an organism's evolutionary trajectory.
Recruitment of Compensatory Mechanisms in Sagittal Spinal Malalignment Is Age and Regional Deformity Dependent: A Full-Standing Axis Analysis of Key Radiographical Parameters

Study Design. Retrospective review, full-body radiographical analysis of adult patients with sagittal spinal malalignment (SSM). Objective. To investigate the compensatory mechanisms involved in the sagittal plane of the body after progressive spinal sagittal malalignment and to study the impact of age on compensatory mechanism recruitment. Summary of Background Data. Patients with SSM recruit compensatory mechanisms to maintain erect posture and horizontal gaze. Mechanisms such as pelvic retroversion, knee flexion, and pelvic shift have been proposed, but how they contribute and how age affects their recruitment are poorly understood. Methods. Retrospective review of adult patients with SSM who underwent full-standing axis stereoradiography (EOS imaging). Radiographical measurements were performed with Surgimap. Patients were categorized on the basis of the mismatch between pelvic incidence (PI) and lumbar lordosis (PI-LL). Compensatory mechanisms were normalized to each patient's PI-LL and compared by mismatch groups. In addition, patients were subcategorized into 2 age groups (≥65 and <65 yr) and compared within the same groups of mismatch. Results. A total of 161 patients with a mean age of 62.93 ± 12.8 years. Mean sagittal vertical axis = 62.3 ± 61.5 mm; pelvic tilt (PT) = 29.2° ± 8.4°; and PI-LL = 21.0° ± 14.9°. Mismatch groups were as follows: group 1: PI-LL 0°–10°; group 2: 10°–20°; group 3: 20°–30°; and group 4: >30°. There were significant differences between all groups with regard to thoracic kyphosis (TK), PT, knee flexion angle, and pelvic shift by analysis of variance (P < 0.001). As PI-LL increased, TK and PT contribution to the compensation cascade decreased and knee flexion angle and pelvic shift contribution increased. Patients with PI-LL of more than 30° who were older had significantly less PT and more TK than patients with similar PI-LL who were younger. Conclusion. Spinopelvic mismatch is an important driver in SSM. Pelvic retroversion and flattening of TK (reduction) become exhausted with increasing mismatch, at which point there seems to be a steady transfer of compensation toward significant participation of the lower limbs. Further analysis suggests differential recruitment of these compensatory mechanisms based upon age. Level of Evidence: 3
Inverse scattering of Hz waves using local shape‐function imaging: A T‐matrix formulation

Inverse scattering algorithms for Hz polarized waves are scarce, due to the added difficulties of polarization charges. Nevertheless, the polarization charges cannot be ignored for 3D problems as well as for 2D Hz problems. This work aims to reconstruct arbitrary inhomogeneous dielectric objects from Hz scattering data using a new formulation that abandons the standard integral equation model for a T‐matrix model. This new algorithm, called local shape‐function (LSF) imaging, is modified for dielectric objects with Hz incident fields, where previously the LSF algorithm was applied to metallic objects with Ez incident fields. The advantage of the LSF algorithm is a more accurate modeling of the induced interfacial polarization charges. For comparison, the Hz distorted Born iterative method using integral equations is shown to be valid only for small contrasts, while the LSF algorithm converges for much larger dielectric contrasts. ©1994 John Wiley & Sons Inc
Will Joe the Plumber envy Bill Gates? The impact of both absolute and relative differences on interdependent preferences

We investigate experimentally the impact of unflattering social comparisons on individuals’ behaviour. More precisely, we examine the relationship between the satisfaction subjects derive from social comparisons and subjects’ decisions to reduce others’ income. In our experiment, subjects are randomly paired and receive an endowment. Then subjects have to report their satisfaction level after being informed of their own endowment and of their opponent’s endowment. Then they can choose, or not, to reduce their opponent’s endowment incurring a personal cost. We observe: (1) most people report their satisfaction to be negatively affected by learning others’ endowments; (2) destructive decisions are predominantly undertaken by dissatisfied subjects; (3) satisfaction is negatively affected by absolute difference (difference between subjects’ endowments measured in absolute terms) and (4) relative difference between subjects’ endowments modulates subjects’ negative behaviour.
Phylogenomic Analysis Resolves the Interordinal Relationships and Rapid Diversification of the Laurasiatherian Mammals

Abstract Although great progress has been made in resolving the relationships of placental mammals, the position of several clades in Laurasiatheria remain controversial. In this study, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of 97 orthologs (46,152 bp) for 15 taxa, representing all laurasiatherian orders. Additionally, phylogenetic trees of laurasiatherian mammals with draft genome sequences were reconstructed based on 1608 exons (2,175,102 bp). Our reconstructions resolve the interordinal relationships within Laurasiatheria and corroborate the clades Scrotifera, Fereuungulata, and Cetartiodactyla. Furthermore, we tested alternative topologies within Laurasiatheria, and among alternatives for the phylogenetic position of Perissodactyla, a sister-group relationship with Cetartiodactyla receives the highest support. Thus, Pegasoferae (Perissodactyla + Carnivora + Pholidota + Chiroptera) does not appear to be a natural group. Divergence time estimates from these genes were compared with published estimates for splits within Laurasiatheria. Our estimates were similar to those of several studies and suggest that the divergences among these orders occurred within just a few million years.
Do Health Maintenance Organizations Work for Medicare?

Since 1985, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has encouraged health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to provide Medicare coverage to enrolled beneficiaries for fixed prepaid premiums. Our evaluation shows that the risk program achieves some of its goals while not fulfilling others. We find that HMOs provide care of comparable quality to that delivered by fee-for-service (FFS) providers using fewer health care resources. Enrollees experience substantially reduced out-of-pocket costs and greater coverage. However, because the capitation system does not account for the better health of those who enroll, the program does not save money for Medicare.
Imitation in Rats: Initial Responding and Transfer Evidence

In two experiments, rats observed a conspecific demonstrator pushing a single manipulandum, a joystick, to the right or to the left for food reward before being given access to the joystick, for the first time, from a different orientation. In Experiment 1, rats that had observed left-pushing made more of their first three responses to the left than did rats that had observed right-pushing. In Experiment 2 the axis of joystick movement was rotated through 90° between observation and testing for half of the animals. These rats, like those that were tested with the joystick in the position it had occupied during demonstrator responding, showed a significant tendency to push the joystick in the same direction relative to their own bodies as had their demonstrators. These results, which cannot be explained in terms of stimulus-reinforcer learning, provide evidence that rats are capable of imitation, i.e. response, or response-reinforcer, learning by observation.
Broadband source localization with a single hydrophone

Source localization with vertical arrays in shallow water has been a topic of intense research in the last 20 years. Although horizontal arrays can (and have) been used, vertical arrays are better suited for extracting signal modal structure and thus provide a source-location estimate in range and depth. It is well known that broadband signals have a localization capability superior to that of narrowband signals. One question that remains largely unresolved is whether frequency extent can compensate for the spatial diversity provided by sensor arrays, i.e. at the limit, can a broadband signal be localized with a single sensor? This communication presents theoretical, simulated, and practical evidence that a multipath-delay maximum-likelihood estimator does provide enough signal to background discrimination for localizing a 500 Hz bandwidth signal at 5 km range in a 130 m depth shallow water channel with a single hydrophone. The real data used in this study were collected during the INTIMATE'96 experiment which was conducted off the west of Portugal in June 1996 during an internal tide tomography experiment. A comparison with localization results provided by a direct match between the received and the model-generated arrival patterns is discussed.
Molecular genetics research in ADHD: Ethical considerations concerning patients' benefit and resource allocation

Immense resource allocations have led to great data output in genetic research. Concerning ADHD resources spent on genetic research are less than those spent on clinical research. But there are successful efforts made to increase support for molecular genetics research in ADHD. Concerning genetics no evidence based conclusive results have significant impact on prevention, diagnosis or treatment yet. With regard to ethical aspects like the patients' benefit and limited resources the question arises if it is indicated to think about a new balance of resource allocation between molecular genetics and non‐genetics research in ADHD. An ethical reflection was performed focusing on recent genetic studies and reviews based on a selective literature search. There are plausible reasons why genetic research results in ADHD are somehow disappointing for clinical practice so far. Researchers try to overcome these gaps systematically, without knowing what the potential future benefits for the patients might be. Non‐genetic diagnostic/therapeutic research may lead to clinically relevant findings within a shorter period of time. On the other hand, non‐genetic research in ADHD may be nurtured by genetic approaches. But, with the latter there exist significant risks of harm like stigmatization and concerns regarding data protection. Isolated speeding up resources of genetic research in ADHD seems questionable from an ethical point of view. There is a need to find a new balance of resource allocation between genetic and non‐genetic research in ADHD, probably by integrating genetics more systematically into clinical research. A transdisciplinary debate is recommended. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Understanding Youth Development From the Practitioner's Point of View: A Call for Research on Effective Practice

This article calls for research on the expertise of youth development practitioners. We argue for studies focused on understanding youth practice from practitioners' points of view—as they experience and enact it—with the aim of contributing findings and frameworks that are helpful to their work and learning. To improve youth programs, first, it is essential to better understand the challenges frontline staff face in their work. We review evidence showing that running a program and facilitating youth development is more challenging and multidimensional than is generally appreciated. Second, it is essential to understand the strategies effective practitioners employ to address these challenges. Studies indicate that the expertise of frontline staff is central to program impact; we review findings suggesting the diverse, contextually-attuned skills this expertise entails. Case studies in three domains of decision-making (designing programs, youth's motivation, and ethical dilemmas) are used to provide a vision for this research.
How Hearing Aids, Background Noise, and Visual Cues Influence Objective Listening Effort

Objectives: The purpose of this article was to evaluate factors that influence the listening effort experienced when processing speech for people with hearing loss. Specifically, the change in listening effort resulting from introducing hearing aids, visual cues, and background noise was evaluated. An additional exploratory aim was to investigate the possible relationships between the magnitude of listening effort change and individual listeners’ working memory capacity, verbal processing speed, or lipreading skill. Design: Twenty-seven participants with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss were fitted with linear behind-the-ear hearing aids and tested using a dual-task paradigm designed to evaluate listening effort. The primary task was monosyllable word recognition and the secondary task was a visual reaction time task. The test conditions varied by hearing aids (unaided, aided), visual cues (auditory-only, auditory-visual), and background noise (present, absent). For all participants, the signal to noise ratio was set individually so that speech recognition performance in noise was approximately 60% in both the auditory-only and auditory-visual conditions. In addition to measures of listening effort, working memory capacity, verbal processing speed, and lipreading ability were measured using the Automated Operational Span Task, a Lexical Decision Task, and the Revised Shortened Utley Lipreading Test, respectively. Results: In general, the effects measured using the objective measure of listening effort were small (~10 msec). Results indicated that background noise increased listening effort, and hearing aids reduced listening effort, while visual cues did not influence listening effort. With regard to the individual variables, verbal processing speed was negatively correlated with hearing aid benefit for listening effort; faster processors were less likely to derive benefit. Working memory capacity, verbal processing speed, and lipreading ability were related to benefit from visual cues. No variables were related to changes in listening effort resulting from the addition of background noise. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that, on the average, hearing aids can reduce objectively measured listening effort. Furthermore, people who are slow verbal processors are more likely to derive hearing aid benefit for listening effort, perhaps because hearing aids improve the auditory input. Although background noise increased objective listening effort, no listener characteristic predicted susceptibility to noise. With regard to visual cues, while there was no effect on average of providing visual cues, there were some listener characteristics that were related to changes in listening effort with vision. Although these relationships are exploratory, they do suggest that these inherent listener characteristics like working memory capacity, verbal processing speed, and lipreading ability may influence susceptibility to changes in listening effort and thus warrant further study.
Comparison of Feature Detection Methods for an Automotive Camera System

Many computer vision algorithms incorporate some form of object tracking. However one of the keys to good tracking is good feature selection. In this context, an important question is, what is a good feature to track and how can we recognise one? Some authors have suggested methods based on the intensity variance in both the vertical and horizontal directions in the image, where the eigenvalues of a given window are calculated and a decision is made based on these values as to whether a feature exists or not. In this paper we wish to examine the performance of this feature selection method when compared with more traditional corner selection approaches using a simple tracking algorithm. Testing is carried out using a video sequence recorded with an automotive camera system, where objects in the image behave in a manner particular to such systems.