Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cache, process and forward in Information-centric networking. (Mécanismes de cache, traitement et diffusion de l'information dans les réseaux centrés sur l'information (ICN))

This thesis investigates how making content caching and forwarding latency-aware can improve data delivery performance in Information-Centric Networks (ICN). We introduce a new mechanism that leverages retrieval time observations to decide whether to store an object in a network cache, based on the expected delivery time improvement. We demonstrate that our distributed latency-aware caching mechanism, LAC+, outperforms state of the art proposals and results in a reduction of the content mean delivery time and standard deviation of LRU caches by up to 60%, along with a fast convergence to these figures. In a second phase, we conjointly optimize the caching function and the multipath request forwarding strategies. To this purpose, we introduce the mixed forwarding strategy LB-Perf, directing the most popular content towards the same next hops to foster egress caches convergence, while load-balancing the others. Third, we address ICN fairness to contents. We show that traditional ICN caching, which favors the most popular objects, does not prevent the network from being globally fair, content-wise. The incidence of our findings comforts the ICN community momentum to improve LFU cache management policy and its approximations. We demonstrate that in-network caching leads to content-wise fair network capacity sharing as long as bandwidth sharing is content-wise fair. Finally, we contribute to the research effort aiming to help ICN Forwarding Information Base scale when confronted to the huge IoT era’s namespace.We propose AFFORD, a novel view on routing in named-data networking that combines machine learning and stochastic forwarding.
Syrian Youth in Za'atari Refugee Camp as ICT Wayfarers: An Exploratory Study Using LEGO and Storytelling

We share insights from exploratory research with Syrian youth at the Za'atari Refugee Camp in Jordan about the role of information and mobile technology in their daily lives, and how they serve as information, communication and technology (ICT) wayfarers. Survey findings (n=174) show most youth own mobiles and SIM cards, and WhatsApp and Google are the most popular apps/engines. Design Workshop data contradicted youth survey self-reports of being heavy ICT users on behalf of others. Instead, narrative-drawings (n=50) created using LEGO Mini-Figures depicted situations involving primarily instrumental assistance, with fewer representations of informational, technological and emotional assistance, per Dervin's Sense-Making framework. Depicting mostly events in Syria, with several in Za'atari, the narrative-drawings reflect the youths' affinity for the forms of assistance outlined in the fourth Geneva Convention. The research informed longer workshops in the camp setting in accordance with the methodology's original aim to co-design ICT mediary devices that support the youths' mediary behavior, as represented by their narrative-drawings and survey data, and in support of UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Passive congregation based particle swam optimization (pso) with self-organizing hierarchical approach for non-convex economic dispatch

This paper proposes a passive congregation based PSO with self-organizing hierarchical algorithm approach for solving the economic dispatch problem of power system, where some of the units have prohibited operating zones. This Algorithm is known to perform better than conventional gradient based optimization methods for non-convex optimization problems. Conventional PSO algorithm is a population based heuristic search, employing problem of premature convergence. In this work, an innovative approach based on the concept of passive congregation based PSO with self-organizing hierarchical approach is employed to overcome the problem of premature convergence in classical PSO method.
A 10-Year Climatology of Amazonian Rainfall Derived from Passive Microwave Satellite Observations

Abstract In this study, a satellite-derived precipitation “climatology” (climate description) over northern South America using a passive microwave technique, the Goddard Profiling algorithm, is presented. The results are statistically adjusted to have the same probability distribution as a rain gauge dataset. The climatologies take the form of the mean estimated rainfall for a 10-yr+ period, with subdivisions by month and meteorological season. For the 6-yr period 1992–97, when two satellites were in operation, diurnal variability (to the extent it is discerned by four unequally spaced observations) is presented. In the mean, dramatic patterns of alternating morning and evening maxima are seen stretching from the northeast (Atlantic coast) across the continent to the Pacific. The effects of local circulations caused by topography, coastlines, and geography (river valleys) on the rainfall patterns are evident, particularly in the region around Manaus, Brazil, where the Negro and Solimoes Rivers merge. The.
Outcomes in oligohydramnios: the role of etiology in predicting pulmonary morbidity/mortality

Abstract Objective Early-onset oligohydramnios is typically secondary to renal-urinary anomalies (RUA) or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). We compared neonatal pulmonary outcomes between these etiologies. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women with oligohydramnios identified before 24 completed weeks of gestation attributed to either PPROM or RUA. Patients were excluded if other fetal anomalies were noted. Respiratory morbidity was assessed by the need for oxygen at 36 corrected weeks or at hospital discharge. Results Of 116 eligible patients, 54 chose elective pregnancy termination. A total of 39.5% of PPROM (n=17/43) and 36.8% of RUA (n=7/19) pregnancies experienced pre-viable loss (P=1.00). Significantly fewer PPROM live births resulted in neonatal mortality (26.9% vs. 75.0%, P<0.01). There was no difference in respiratory morbidity (57.9% vs. 66.6%, P=1.00). The collective incidence of respiratory mortality and morbidity was not different between etiologies (P=0.06). Conclusion This analysis suggests that the prognoses for oligohydramnios due to pre-viable PPROM vs. renal anomalies are similarly grave, though RUA infants experienced a higher rate of neonatal respiratory mortality.
A New Species of Wren (Troglodytidae: Thryophilus) from the Dry Cauca River Canyon, Northwestern Colombia

ABSTRACT . We describe a new species of wren in the genus Thryophilus (Troglodytidae) based on analysis of morphological, vocal, and genetic variation. Individuals of the new species are readily separated in the field or the museum from those of any other wren species, including its closest relatives T. rufalbus and T. nicefori, by a combination of traits including, but not limited to, plumage coloration of the upperparts, the pattern of barring on the wings and tail, overall smaller body size, a richer repertoire of syllable types, shorter trills, and distinctive terminal syllables. The new species is allopatrically distributed in relation to its congeners, being restricted to the dry Cauca River Canyon, a narrow inter-Andean valley enclosed by the Nechí Refuge rainforests and the northern sectors of the Western and Central Andes of Colombia. Individuals or pairs have been found only in remnant patches of dry forest and scrub at 250– 850 m elevation. This newly discovered species is uncommon and threatened because of ongoing transformation of natural habitats in the Cauca River Canyon, and especially because of the planned construction of a major dam in the region; immediate conservation actions are thus imperative.
Error-Resilient Masking Approaches for Privacy Preserving Data Aggregation

The deployment of future energy systems promises a number of advantages for a more stable and reliable grid as well as for a sustainable usage of energy resources. The efficiency and effectiveness of such smart grids rely on customer consumption data that is collected, processed, and analyzed. This data is used for billing, monitoring, and prediction. However, this implies privacy threats. Approaches exist that aim to either encrypt data in certain ways, to reduce the resolution of data or to mask data in a way so that an individuals’ contribution is untraceable. While the latter is an effective way for protecting customer privacy when aggregating over space or time, one of the drawbacks of these approaches is the limitation or full negligence of device failures. In this paper, we therefore propose a masking approach for spatio-temporal aggregation of time series for protecting individual privacy while still providing sufficient error-resilience and reliability.
Association of blood pressure components with mortality and cardiovascular events in prehypertensive individuals: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Abstract Background: The effects of each blood pressure index [systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP)] on the occurrence of mortality and cardiovascular (CV) events have not yet been investigated in prehypertensive populations. Methods: A total of 30,258 prehypertensive Korean participants underwent periodic health examination between 2003 and 2004 were enrolled, and the associations of BP components with mortality and CV events were investigated. Moreover, based on the DBP [80 ≤ DBP <90 mmHg (N = 21,323) and DBP <80 mmHg (N = 8,935)], the effects of BP components were also evaluated. Results: Multivariate Cox analyses in prehypertensive group revealed that the hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.121 and 1.130 per 10 mmHg increase in SBP and PP for mortality, respectively. Additionally, 10 mmHg increase of SBP (HR:1.090) was still significantly, but increase of PP (HR:1.060) was marginally associated with higher incidence of CV events. However, there were no significant associations with increase in DBP or MAP on adverse clinical outcomes in prehypertensive group. In the prehypertensive subjects with DBP <80 mmHg, CV events more frequently occurred by 38.8% and 28.5% per 10 mmHg increase in SBP and PP, respectively. Conclusions: Prehypertensive subjects might need to be cautioned when they have high SBP or PP with low DBP even in healthy populations. Key message Prehypertensive subjects should be cautioned when they have high-systolic blood pressure or pulse pressure with low-diastolic blood pressure, even without previous hypertension, diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease.
Differential regulation of sodium channels as a novel proarrhythmic mechanism in the human failing heart

Aims In heart failure (HF), enhanced persistent Na+ current (INaL) exerts detrimental effects on cellular electrophysiology and can induce arrhythmias. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Our aim was to potentially investigate the regulation and electrophysiological contribution of neuronal sodium channel NaV1.8 in failing human heart and eventually to reveal a novel anti-arrhythmic therapy. Methods and results By western blot, we found that NaV1.8 protein expression is significantly up-regulated, while of the predominant cardiac isoform NaV1.5 is inversely reduced in human HF. Furthermore, to investigate the relation of NaV1.8 regulation with the cellular proarrhythmic events, we performed comprehensive electrophysiology recordings and explore the effect of NaV1.8 on INaL, action potential duration (APD), Ca2+ spark frequency, and arrhythmia induction in human failing cardiomyocytes. NaV1.8 inhibition with the specific blockers A-803467 and PF-01247324 decreased INaL, abbreviated APD and reduced cellular-spontaneous Ca2+-release and proarrhythmic events in human failing cardiomyocytes. Consistently, in mouse cardiomyocytes stressed with isoproterenol, pharmacologic inhibition and genetically knockout of NaV1.8 (SCN10A-/-), were associated with reduced INaL and abbreviated APD. Conclusion We provide first evidence of differential regulation of NaV1.8 and NaV1.5 in the failing human myocardium and their contribution to arrhythmogenesis due to generation of INaL. We propose inhibition of NaV1.8 thus constitutes a promising novel approach for selective anti-arrhythmic therapy in HF.
A review of the detection methodologies of multiple human tracking & action recognition in a real time video surveillance

Human tracking & action recognition is an important research area in computer vision or what is called as real time video processing along with potential applications in many other fields such as augment reality, human-machine interaction, and advanced driver assistance systems and so on. Despite a lot of progress in the field, visual tracking remains a difficult problem due to many challenges. In this survey paper, a brief review of the research work that is being be done in the field of multiple human tracking & action recognition is being presented along with some of their drawbacks.
Robotic implementation of a microchip-based protein clean-up and enrichment system for MALDI-TOF MS readout

A capillary filling microfluidic proteomic sample processing system has been realized in an automated set-up. Chip-integrated solid-phase extraction is performed in a 96-array format followed by sequential capillary action elution into a piezoelectric microdispenser and subsequent transfer to MALDI targets. Samples are eluted and deposited in volumes of 200–300 nl. The robotic system offers calibration to user-defined microextraction arrays and MALDI-target formats at micrometre resolution. Built-in force feedback control ensures a precise and robust microchip docking/handling in three dimensions. An efficient automated washing protocol eliminates analyte carry-over. System throughput ranges typically from 50–100 samples h−1.
Intake of Polydextrose Alters Hematology and the Profile of Short Chain Fatty Acids in Partially Gastrectomized Rats

Polydextrose (PDX) ingestion may increase the intestinal absorption of iron. This study evaluated the effects of 7.5% polydextrose supplementation on markers of iron uptake, transport and storage in partially gastrectomized rats. Half of a batch of 40 male Wistar rats (250 g) underwent Billroth II partial gastrectomy with anterior truncal vagotomy (GXT), while the other half underwent sham gastrectomy (SHAM). At 7 postoperative days, the animals were subdivided into four groups (n = 10): Sham Control and GXT Control (no polydextrose); Sham PDX and GXT PDX (with 7.5% PDX). The animals were euthanized after 60 day of PDX treatment. Organ weight, cecal pH, the characterization and quantification of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), hematological parameters, hepatic iron content and the expression of ferroportin (FPT) in the jejunum, cecum, colon and liver were evaluated. PDX caused changes in the cecum of the supplemented animals, where there was a decrease in pH, increase in cecal wall and marked production of SCFA, especially acetic and propionic acids (p < 0.05). Hepatic iron levels were lower in GXT animals. PDX increased hemoglobin (HGB) values by 29.2% and hematocrit (HCT) by 55.8% in the GXT PDX group compared to the GXT Control group. The GXT PDX group had lower hepatic FPT expression (p < 0.05). PDX led to increased SCFA concentration in the supplemented animals. Considering that SCFAs play a central role in the increasing nutrients uptake, this mechanism may be involved in altering the hematology profile observed in these animals but not enough to reverse iron deficiency anemia in post-gastrectomy rats.
Generation of antibacterial peptides from crude cheese whey using pepsin and rennet enzymes at various pH conditions.

BACKGROUND The current study aimed to prepare antimicrobial agents for food preservation from crude cheese whey. Crude cheese whey was digested with porcine pepsin, and calf and fungal rennets at various pHs. The digests were assessed for antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. RESULTS The calf rennet digest at pH 3.0 showed the highest antibacterial activity. Three antibacterial peptides that acted against B. subtilis lactoferrin f(20-30), and β-lactoglobulin f(14-22) and f(92-103) were identified in the calf rennet digest. Only lactoferrin f(20-30) also exerted bactericidal activity against E. coli. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that the three peptides were generated by the porcine pepsin at pH 2.5, whereas the calf rennet generated them at a wider pH (pH 2.5-3.5). Fungal rennet generated only β-lactoglobulin f14-22 at pH 3.5. The pepsin and calf rennet digests at pH 2.5 and 3.0, respectively, reduced the E. coli and B. subtilis populations by approximately 2 log at 6000 µg mL-1 in milk at 4 °C. CONCLUSION The calf rennet and porcine pepsin digests of cheese whey, at a specific acidic pH, which can be prepared from food-grade materials, have the potential to be used as natural food preservatives due to the presence of the three antibacterial peptides. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Determination of Genetic Diversity in Chilo partellus, Busseola fusca, and Spodoptera frugiperda Infesting Sugarcane in Southern Malawi Using DNA Barcodes

Sugarcane is one of the most valuable crops in the world. Native and exotic Lepidopteran stemborers significantly limit sugarcane production. However, the identity and genetic diversity of stemborers infesting sugarcane in Malawi is unknown. The main objectives for this study were to identify and determine genetic diversity in stemborers infesting sugarcane in Malawi. We conducted field surveys between June 2016 and March 2017 in the Lower Shire Valley district of Chikwawa and Nsanje, southern Malawi. Molecular identification was based amplification the partial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene region. Phylogenetic trees for sequences were generated and published GenBank accessions for each species were constructed. We found that Malawi Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) specimens belonged to clade II, Spodoptera frugiperda sp. 1 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) were infesting sugarcane. Interspecific divergence ranged from 8.7% to 15.3%. Intraspecific divergence was highest for B. fusca, 3.6%. There were eight haplotypes for B. fusca, three for S. frugiperda and three for C. partellus. The importance of accurate species identification and genetic diversity on stemborer management is presented.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Distress Tolerance Treatment for Smoking Cessation

We previously developed a distress tolerance (DT)-based treatment that showed promising results for smokers with a history of early lapse. In the current study, we conducted a randomized controlled trial of this DT treatment for a general population of smokers not limited to those with a history of early lapse. We randomized 116 participants (41% female) to DT or standard treatment (ST). Both treatments included 1 individual session during Week 1 followed by 7 group sessions during Weeks 2–9 (quit date at Session 4), two 20-min phone sessions, and 8 weeks of transdermal nicotine patch. Results indicated no significant differences between conditions in the primary outcome of biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence or in time to 1st lapse. Verified abstinence rates in DT were 38.7%, 38.7%, 46.77%, 40.32%, 20.9%, and 17.7% versus 40.7%, 37.0%, 53.7%, 44.4%, 33.3%, and 22.2% in ST at 1, 2, 4, 8, 13, and 26 weeks postquit, respectively. Additionally, we found no significant moderators of treatment efficacy and few differences in treatment process variables. These findings stand somewhat in contrast to those in our previous study and other recent studies of similar acceptance-based treatments. However, differences in methodology, inclusion of nicotine replacement therapy in both treatment conditions, and strict inclusion−exclusion criteria that excluded many smokers with affective vulnerabilities may underlie this discrepancy. Future research should evaluate the utility of DT and other acceptance-based treatments in populations with affective vulnerabilities who might specifically benefit from a DT-based approach.
The Shortest Possible Return Time of  $\beta$ -Mixing Processes

We consider a stochastic process and a given <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$n$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-string. We study the shortest <italic>possible</italic> return time (or shortest return path) of the string over all the realizations of process starting from this string. For a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-mixing process having complete grammar, and for each size <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$n$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of the strings, we approximate the distribution of this short return (properly re-scaled) by a non-degenerated distribution. Under mild conditions on the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> coefficients, we prove the existence of the limit of this distribution to a non-degenerated distribution. We also prove that ergodicity is not enough to guaranty this convergence. Finally, we present a connection between the shortest return and the Shannon entropy, showing that maximum of the re-scaled variables grow as the matching function of Wyner and Ziv.
Modeling phosphorus transport in agricultural watersheds: Processes and possibilities

ABSTRACT: Modeling phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural watersheds is key to quantifying the long term water quality benefits of alternative best management practices. Scientists engaged in this endeavor struggle to represent processes controlling P transport at scales and time frames that are meaningful to farmers, resource managers, and policy makers. To help overcome these challenges, we reviewed salient issues facing scientists that model P transport, providing a conceptual framework from which process-based P transport models might be evaluated. Recent advances in quantifying the release of soil P to overland and subsurface flow show that extraction coefficients relating soil and flow P are variable but can be represented as a function of land cover or erosion. Existing information on best management effects on P export should be linked to watershed models to better represent changes in P transport. The main needs of P transport models are inclusion of flexible coefficients relating soil and overland flow P, fertilizer and manure management and P loss, stream channel effects on edge-of-field P losses prior to water body input, and linkage of watershed and water-body response models. However, it is essential that the most appropriate model be carefully selected, according to a user9s needs in terms of available input data, level of predictive accuracy, and scale of simulation being considered.
Why some village water and sanitation committees are better than others : a study of Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh (India)

In order to understand the dynamics of good governance at the village level, the Water and Sanitation Program - South Asia commissioned a study of village water and sanitation committee, in two World Bank-assisted rural water supply, and sanitation projects in the states of Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, India. The study concludes that transparency, participation, inclusion, and ownership are important committee features. When committees have higher scores for these features, the projects are more effective in terms of both financial performance, and consumer satisfaction.