Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Service Graphs Generation in Intent-Based Networks

Intent-Based Networking (IBN) has recently gained interest to realize intelligent cloud management systems. IBN makes cloud consumption user-friendly by allowing users to specify “what needs to be done” rather than “how it should be done”. In this paper, we address the problem of service graphs generation in IBN, while considering functional requirements derived from user intent. We propose a solution that uses a domain ontology to translate the intents into their functional requirements which are specified in terms of initial services. Then, we use a service catalog along with the initial services to generate all possible service graphs that can meet the functional requirements of the given intent. Our evaluations show that the proposed solution achieves up to 84% improvement of the execution time compared to the existing benchmarks.
Carbon dioxide laser treatment promotes repair of the three‐dimensional network of elastic fibres in rat skin

Background We have previously reported that ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation induces a loss of linearity in the three‐dimensional structure of dermal elastic fibres, which results in the reduction of elastic properties of the skin and leads to wrinkle formation. We further reported that repair of wrinkles by all‐trans retinoic acid is accompanied by recovery of the linearity of elastic fibres. Carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers are widely used for treating wrinkles in cosmetic surgery.
Improved Particle Swarm Optimization with low-discrepancy sequences

Quasirandom or low discrepancy sequences, such as the Van der Corput, Sobol, Faure, Halton (named after their inventors) etc. are less random than a pseudorandom number sequences, but are more useful for computational methods which depend on the generation of random numbers. Some of these tasks involve approximation of integrals in higher dimensions, simulation and global optimization. Sobol, Faure and Halton sequences have already been used [7, 8, 9, 10] for initializing the swarm in a PSO. This paper investigates the effect of initiating the swarm with another classical low discrepancy sequence called Vander Corput sequence for solving global optimization problems in large dimension search spaces. The proposed algorithm called VC-PSO and another PSO using Sobol sequence (SO-PSO) are tested on standard benchmark problems and the results are compared with the Basic Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO) which follows the uniform distribution for initializing the swarm. The simulation results show that a significant improvement can be made in the performance of BPSO, by simply changing the distribution of random numbers to quasi random sequence as the proposed VC-PSO and SO-PSO algorithms outperform the BPSO algorithm by noticeable percentage, particularly for problems with large search space dimensions.
Efficacy of the Specific Endothelin A Receptor Antagonist Zibotentan (ZD4054) in Colorectal Cancer: A Preclinical Study

Endothelin 1 (ET-1) is overexpressed in cancer, contributing to disease progression. We previously showed that ET-1 stimulated proliferative, migratory, and contractile tumorigenic effects via the ETA receptor. Here, for the first time, we evaluate zibotentan, a specific ETA receptor antagonist, in the setting of colorectal cancer, in cellular models. Pharmacologic characteristics were further determined in patient tissues. Colorectal cancer lines (n = 4) and fibroblast strains (n = 6), isolated from uninvolved areas of colorectal cancer specimens, were exposed to ET-1 and/or ETA/B receptor antagonists. Proliferation (methylene blue), migration (scratch wounds), and contraction (gel lattices) were assessed. Receptor distribution and binding characteristics (Kd, Bmax) were determined using autoradiography on tissue sections and homogenates and cytospun cells, supported by immunohistochemistry. Proliferation was inhibited by ETA (zibotentan > BQ123; P < 0.05), migration by ETB > ETA, and contraction by combined ETA and ETB antagonism. Intense ET-1 stromal binding correlated with fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Colorectal cancer lines and fibroblasts revealed high density and affinity ET-1 binding (Bmax = 2.435 fmol/1 × 106 cells, Kd = 367.7 pmol/L; Bmax = 3.03 fmol/1 × 106 cells, Kd = 213.6 pmol/L). In cancer tissues, ETA receptor antagonists (zibotentan; BQ123) reduced ET-1 binding more effectively (IC50: 0.1–10 μmol/L) than ETB receptor antagonist BQ788 (∼IC50, 1 mmol/L). ET-1 stimulated cancer-contributory processes. Its localization to tumor stroma, with greatest binding/affinity to fibroblasts, implicates these cells in tumor progression. ETA receptor upregulation in cancer tissues and its role in tumorigenic processes show the receptor's importance in therapeutic targeting. Zibotentan, the most specific ETA receptor antagonist available, showed the greatest inhibition of ET-1 binding. With its known safety profile, we provide evidence for zibotentan's potential role as adjuvant therapy in colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(8); 1556–67. ©2013 AACR.
A Transfer Learning Based Detection and Grading of Cataract using Fundus Images

Among the most prominent causes for visual impairment, especially among older adults, is cataract. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 2.2 billion individuals globally are estimated to be blind or possess an eyesight problem. One of the most identified and important causes of this is cataracts. Cataracts should be identified and treated as soon as possible to avoid blindness. Ophthalmologists use an expensive slit lamp to diagnose cataracts in regions with few medical facilities. Consequently, the issue is that a lack of skilled ophthalmologists may delay the identification of cataracts, for which medical treatment is unavoidable. Medical image analysis based on artificial intelligence provides a rapid and precise diagnosis in modern healthcare. We utilized deep learning models based on transfer learning, namely VGG19, and ResNet-50, to diagnose cataracts using fundus images and enhance classification accuracy. The performance metric for the model is accuracy; the highest achieved accuracy was 98%.
Optimistic Boosting Internet Connection Throughput by Incorporating Blockchain Filters into Network Infrastructure

This study examines how blockchain filters might modify network architecture to boost internet speed. This novel strategy may address the growing need for faster, more reliable internet connections in a future where digital connectedness is crucial. Our work develops a blockchain-based filtering mechanism, evaluates performance, and uses mathematical modelling, simulations, and statistical analysis. Blockchain filters reduce latency, increase throughput, and reduce packet loss. It has major ramifications for network providers and customers. Network providers can improve resource allocation, customer happiness, and income streams, while customers may enjoy quicker connections, lower latency, and better security online. The report also suggests scalability, security, and real-world deployment to maximize this disruptive technology. This discovery enables a brighter, more efficient future for global internet access as the digital world evolves.
Applications of mathematical modeling in managing the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild deer under alternative harvesting scenarios

ABSTRACT The application of a recently developed mathematical model for predicting the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild deer was assessed under different scenarios where harvesting is employed in disease management. A process-based mathematical model for CWD transmission in wild deer populations was recently developed and parameterized by Al-arydah et al. (2011) to provide a scientific basis for understanding the factors that affect spread of CWD and evaluate concomitant disease-control strategies. The impact of gender on CWD transmission was shown to have a significant influence on the spread of the disease in the wild. Our model demonstrates a range of harvesting rates in which CWD is controlled and deer populations survive. However, if harvesting rates are too low, the disease remains endemic for decades. Conversely, the Canadian deer population is eradicated if harvesting rates are excessive. Future investigation includes building the model to assess the spread of CWD under different disease-management scenarios.
Clinical and histological study of permanent alopecia after bone marrow transplantation*

BACKGROUND Permanent alopecia after bone marrow transplantation is rare, but more and more cases have been described, typically involving high doses of chemotherapeutic agents used in the conditioning regimen for the transplant. Busulfan, classically described in cases of irreversible alopecia, remains associated in recent cases. The pathogenesis involved in hair loss is not clear and there are few studies available. In addition to chemotherapeutic agents, another factor that has been implicated as a cause is chronic graft-versus-host disease. However, there are no histopathological criteria for defining this diagnosis yet. OBJECTIVE the study aims to evaluate clinical and histological aspects in cases of permanent alopecia after bone marrow transplantation, identifying features of permanent alopecia induced by myeloablative chemotherapy and alopecia as a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease. METHODS data were collected from medical records of 7 patients, with description of the clinical features and review of slides and paraffin blocks of biopsies. RESULTS Two distinct histological patterns were found: one similar to androgenetic alopecia, non-scarring pattern, and other similar to lichen planopilaris, scarring alopecia. CONCLUSION The first pattern corroborates the literature cases of permanent alopecia induced by chemotherapeutic agents, and the second is compatible with manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease on scalp, that has never been described yet. The results contribute to the elucidation of the factors involved in these cases, including the development of therapeutic methods
Workforce or Workfare? The Optimal Use of Work Requirements When Labour is Supplied Along the Extensive Margin

This paper explores the use of workfare as part of a tax mix when labour supply responses are along the extensive margin. In an economy where the government has a priori chosen any tax-and-benefit schedule, we show that, despite their common goal of providing additional incentives for individuals to enter the labour force, workfare and an earned income tax credit are at odds with each other. We also show that, in the presence of an optimal nonlinear income tax, introducing unproductive workfare is always suboptimal when individuals face the same disutility of being on workfare. When this disutility is heterogeneous, unproductive workfare may be a useful policy tool.
Desmoglein 3-ELISA: a pemphigus vulgaris-specific diagnostic tool.

BACKGROUND Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune-blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes caused by autoantibodies against desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), an epidermal desmosomal adhesion protein of the cadherin family. Cloning of the Dsg3 gene and expression of the protein in a native conformation enabled the recent development of a specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of PV autoantibodies. OBJECTIVES To evaluate serum samples from patients with PV and other dermatologic diseases for anti-Dsg3 antibodies. To compare ELISA values with autoantibody titers obtained by classic indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). DESIGN Serum samples from patients with PV and various other bullous and nonbullous skin diseases were tested for anti-Dsg3 reactivity by ELISA. SETTING Ambulatory and hospitalized patients from a university hospital. PATIENTS Fifty-two serum samples from 11 patients with PV, and serum samples from 11 patients with bullous pemphigoid, 12 patients with other bullous diseases, 22 patients with various nonbullous skin disorders, and 10 healthy individuals were tested. RESULTS Forty-seven (98%) of 48 serum samples from patients with PV that were positive by IIF on monkey esophagus were also reactive by Dsg3-ELISA, whereas 4 of 4 IIF-negative PV serum samples showed no reactivity by ELISA. In addition, negative ELISA results were obtained from 11 of 11 serum samples from patients with bullous pemphigoid, 10 of 12 serum samples from patients with other bullous skin disorders, 7 of 9 serum samples from patients with autoimmune-connective tissue diseases, and 13 of 13 serum samples from patients with other nonbullous skin diseases. Interestingly, 1 patient with paraneoplastic pemphigus had positive ELISA results. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.654) between ELISA values and IIF titers within the whole population with PV. In addition, when multiple serum samples from 1 patient with PV sampled over a 2-year period were tested, ELISA reactivity paralleled both the IIF titers and the clinical course. CONCLUSION The Dsg3-ELISA is a sensitive, objective, and PV-specific test that should be considered as an adjunct test for the management of patients with PV.
Carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the SPICE event (Upper Cambrian) in eastern Laurentia: implications for global correlation and a potential reference section

Abstract The δ13C profile from the lower interval of the Martin Point section in western Newfoundland (Canada) spans the Upper Cambrian (uppermost Franconian – lowermost Trempealeauan). The investigated interval (∼110 m) is a part of the Green Point Formation of the Cow Head Group and consists of the upper part of the Tucker Cove Member (topmost part of the Shallow Bay Formation) and the lowermost part of the Martin Point Member (bottom of the Green Point Formation). It is formed of rhythmites of marine carbonates alternating with shales and minor conglomeratic interbeds. Multiscreening petrographic and geochemical techniques have been utilized to evaluate the preservation of the investigated lime mudstones. The δ13C and δ18O values of the sampled micrites (−4.8 ‰ to +1.0 ‰ VPDB and −8.2 ‰ to −5.3 ‰ VPDB, respectively) have insignificant correlation (R2 = 0.01), as similarly do the δ13C values with their Sr counterparts (R2 = 0.07), which supports the preservation of at least near-primary δ13C signatures that can be utilized to construct a reliable high-resolution carbon-isotope profile for global correlations. The δ13C profile exhibits two main negative excursions: a lower excursion (∼4 ‰) that reaches its maximum at the bottom of the section and an upper narrow excursion (∼6 ‰) immediately above the boundary of the Tucker Cove/Martin Point members (Shallow Bay Formation – Green Point Formation boundary). The lower excursion may be correlated with the global SPICE event, whereas the upper excursion may match with a post-SPICE event that has been also recognized in profiles of equivalent sections on different palaeocontinents.
Diversity and biological activities of the bacterial community associated with the marine sponge Phorbas tenacior (Porifera, Demospongiae)

The diversity of the cultivable microbiota of the marine sponge Phorbas tenacior frequently found in the Mediterranean Sea was investigated, and its potential as a source of antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiplasmodial compounds was evaluated. The cultivable bacterial community was studied by isolation, cultivation and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Twenty‐three bacterial strains were isolated and identified in the Proteobacteria (α or γ classes) and Actinobacteria phyla. Furthermore, three different bacterial morphotypes localized extracellularly within the sponge tissues were revealed by microscopic observations. Bacterial strains were assigned to seven different genera, namely Vibrio, Photobacterium, Shewanella, Pseudomonas, Ruegeria, Pseudovibrio and Citricoccus. The strains affiliated to the same genus were differentiated according to their genetic dissimilarities using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses. Eleven bacterial strains were selected for evaluation of their bioactivities. Three isolates Pseudovibrio P1Ma4, Vibrio P1MaNal1 and Citricoccus P1S7 revealed antimicrobial activity; Citricoccus P1S7 and Vibrio P1MaNal1 isolates also exhibited antiplasmodial activity, while two Vibrio isolates P1Ma8 and P1Ma5 displayed antioxidant activity. These data confirmed the importance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria associated with marine sponges as a reservoir of bioactive compounds.
Neonatal endotoxin encephalopathy

Telencephalic white matter of the neonatal kitten frequently contained diffuse astrogliosis or focal necrosis (sometimes including the thalamus and the caudate) following a single intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. No evidence for a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy was found. Telencephalic lesions in neonatal monkey and rabbit were also hemorrhagic. Enhanced karyorrhexis of glial nuclei was present in the telencephalic white matter of the neonatal rat. In the kitten, a delay in the generation of macrophages and hypertrophic astrocytes occurs following transient neonatal endotoxemia. Marked weight loss and temperature fluctuation are prominent systemic effects. Large hemispheric cavitary lesions are not accompanied by obvious neurological deficits in the kitten.
Secrecy outage on transmit antenna selection/maximal ratio combining in MIMO cognitive radio networks

This paper investigates the secrecy outage performance of transmit antenna selection (TAS)/maximal ratio combining (MRC) in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) cognitive radio networks (CRNs) over Rayleigh fading channels. In the considered system, a secondary user (SU-TX) equipped with NA (NA ≥ 1) antennas uses TAS to transmit confidential messages to another secondary user (SU-RX), which is equipped with NB (NB ≥ 1) antennas and adopts MRC scheme to process multiple received signals. Meanwhile, an eavesdropper equipped with NE (NE ≥ 1) antennas also adopts MRC scheme to overhear the transmitted information between SU-TX and SU-RX. SU-TX adopts the underlay strategy to guarantee the quality of service of the primary user without spectrum sensing. In this paper, we derive the closed-form expression for the secrecy outage probability (SOP) and propose a simplified SOP when the maximum transmit power at SU-TX is always sufficiently high. Finally, simulations are conducted to validate the accuracy of our proposed analytical models.
Near-infrared and visible-light periocular recognition with Gabor features using frequency-adaptive automatic eye detection

Periocular recognition has gained attention recently due to demands of increased robustness of face or iris in less controlled scenarios. We present a new system for eye detection based on complex symmetry filters, which has the advantage of not needing training. Also, separability of the filters allows faster detection via one-dimensional convolutions. This system is used as input to a periocular algorithm based on retinotopic sampling grids and Gabor spectrum decomposition. The evaluation framework is composed of six databases acquired both with near-infrared and visible sensors. The experimental setup is complemented with four iris matchers, used for fusion experiments. The eye detection system presented shows very high accuracy with near-infrared data, and a reasonable good accuracy with one visible database. Regarding the periocular system, it exhibits great robustness to small errors in locating the eye centre, as well as to scale changes of the input image. The density of the sampling grid can also be reduced without sacrificing accuracy. Lastly, despite the poorer performance of the iris matchers with visible data, fusion with the periocular system can provide an improvement of more than 20%. The six databases used have been manually annotated, with the annotation made publicly available.
Using a dose-area product for absolute measurements in small fields: a feasibility study

To extend the dosimetric reference system to field sizes smaller than 2 cm × 2 cm, the LNE-LNHB laboratory is studying an approach based on a new dosimetric quantity named the dose-area product instead of the commonly used absorbed dose at a point. A graphite calorimeter and a plane parallel ion chamber with a sensitive surface of 3 cm diameter were designed and built for measurements in fields of 2, 1 and 0.75 cm diameter. The detector surface being larger than the beam section, most of the issues linked with absolute dose measurements at a point could be avoided. Calibration factors of the plane parallel ionization chamber were established in terms of dose-area product in water for small fields with an uncertainty smaller than 0.9%.
Covariance discriminative learning: A natural and efficient approach to image set classification

We propose a novel discriminative learning approach to image set classification by modeling the image set with its natural second-order statistic, i.e. covariance matrix. Since nonsingular covariance matrices, a.k. a. symmetric positive definite (SPD) matrices, lie on a Riemannian manifold, classical learning algorithms cannot be directly utilized to classify points on the manifold. By exploring an efficient metric for the SPD matrices, i.e., Log-Euclidean Distance (LED), we derive a kernel function that explicitly maps the covariance matrix from the Riemannian manifold to a Euclidean space. With this explicit mapping, any learning method devoted to vector space can be exploited in either its linear or kernel formulation. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) are considered in this paper for their feasibility for our specific problem. We further investigate the conventional linear subspace based set modeling technique and cast it in a unified framework with our covariance matrix based modeling. The proposed method is evaluated on two tasks: face recognition and object categorization. Extensive experimental results show not only the superiority of our method over state-of-the-art ones in both accuracy and efficiency, but also its stability to two real challenges: noisy set data and varying set size.
A Dual-Driver Model of Retention and Turnover in the Direct Care Workforce

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to understand the factors associated with turnover and retention of direct care workers. We hypothesize that a dual-driver model that includes individual factors, on-the-job factors, off-the-job factors, and contextual factors can be used to distinguish between reasons for direct care workforces (DCWs) staying on the job or leaving the job. DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted 7 focus groups with 47 participants. We identified key themes they used to describe their experiences focusing on differences between stayers (had been in the same job for at least 3 years) and leavers (had changed jobs within the past 3 years). RESULTS Five major themes associated with turnover were identified as follows: (a) lack of respect, (b) inadequate management, (c) work or family conflicts, (d) difficulty of the work, and (e) job openings. Themes associated with retention were as follows: (a) being "called" to service, (b) patient advocacy, (c) personal relationships with residents, (d) religion or spirituality, (e) haven from home problems, and (f) flexibility. Themes associated with turnover were different from those associated with retention. IMPLICATIONS DCW turnover and retention are complex, multifactorial issues. Efforts to stabilize the DCW must address the issues associated with retention as well as those associated with turnover. Specifically, factors that promote retention may be qualitatively different than those that prevent turnover. Treating retention and turnover as simply the obverse of each other may be misleading in addressing the underlying problem of job stability among DCWs.