Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AODV with Sufficient Intermediary Bandwidth Aware

Congestion is a major problem in mobile ad hoc network (MANET) which causes long delay and significant loss of data packets, and increases the routing overhead and battery power consumption. The shortest path route seldom offers the optimal route, especially when it traverses the congested area of the mobile network. This paper proposes a novel AODV with Sufficient Intermediary Bandwidth Aware (AODV+SIBA) routing protocol which significantly improves the performance of on-demand routing protocols by discovering better routes to avoid congestion. The ns-2 simulation results illustrate the improvement of network performance and stability by reducing data packet delay and routing overhead and increasing packet delivery ratio, under high traffic load. Moreover, in case of low-to-medium traffic load, its performance is close to the popular AODV routing protocol and the quality of its properties is maintained.
Analog memristive time dependent learning using discrete nanoscale RRAM devices

We propose a scheme that mimics the analog time dependent learning characteristics of biological synapses using a small set of discrete nanoscale RRAM devices whose switching voltages vary stochastically. Using numerical models and simulations, we demonstrate that a voltage limited analog memristor operating in the tunneling regime and a parallel combination of <; 10 RRAM devices having discrete resistance states (two resistance states - high and low), can both be employed as artificial synapses with similar statistical performance. We also show that by appropriately choosing the programming voltages and hence the switching probability of the RRAM devices, it is possible to tune the relative conductance of the synaptic element anywhere in the range of 2-100. This paper thus shows the possibility of using discrete RRAM devices to realize an analog functionality in artificial learning systems.
QR-TAN: Secure Mobile Transaction Authentication

The security of electronic transactions depends on the security of the user's terminal. An insecure terminal may allow an attacker to create or manipulate transactions. Several techniques have been developed that help to protect transactions performed over insecure terminals. TAN codes, security tokens, and smart cards prevent an attacker who obtained the user's password from signing transactions under the user's identity. However, usually these techniques do not allow a user to assert that the content of a transaction has not been manipulated. This paper contributes with the QR-TAN authentication technique. QR-TANs are a transaction authentication technique based on two-dimensional barcodes. Compared to other established techniques, QR-TANs show three advantages: First, QR-TANs allow the user to directly validate the content of a transaction within a trusted device. Second, validation is secure even if an attacker manages to gain full control over a user’s computer. Finally, QR-TANs in combination with smart cards can also be utilized for offline transactions that do not require any server.
New Cosmological and Experimental Constraints on the CMSSM

We analyze the implications of several recent cosmological and experimental measurements for the mass spectra of the Constrained MSSM (CMSSM). We compute the relic abundance of the neutralino and compare the new cosmologically expected and excluded mass ranges with those ruled out by the final LEP bounds on the lightest chargino and Higgs masses, with those excluded by current experimental values of BR(B→Xsγ), and with those favored by the recent measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We find that for tan β45 there remains relatively little room for the mass spectra to be consistent with the interplay of the several constraints. On the other hand, at larger values of tan β the decreasing mass of the pseudoscalar Higgs gives rise to a wide resonance in the neutralino WIMP pair-annihilation, whose position depends on the ratio of top and bottom quark masses. As a consequence, the cosmologically expected regions consistent with other constraints often grow significantly and generally shift towards superpartner masses in the TeV range.
Spatial sampling design based on stochastic complexity

A new methodology is introduced for spatial sampling design when the variable of interest cannot be directly observed, but information on it can be obtained by sampling a related variable, and estimation of the underlying model is required. An approach based on entropy has been proposed by Bueso, Angulo, and Alonso (1998, Environ. Ecol. Statist.5, No. 1, 29-44) in the case where a model for the involved variables is given. However, in some cases a predetermined structure modelling the behaviour of the variables cannot be assumed. In this context, we derive criteria for solving the design problem based on the stochastic complexity theory and on the philosophy of the EM algorithm. For applying the proposed criteria a computational procedure is developed based on the supplemented EM algorithms. The methodology is illustrated with a numerical example.
Psychophysics of Autostereogram Videos : Contrast , Repetition , Blur and Colour

Autostereograms are single image stereograms that take advantage of the binocular fusion and stereopsis of the human vision system and enable us to visualize three dimensional objects or scenes that are embedded in two-dimensional images. Autostereograms can be either static or videos that are created from animated depth masks of objects or scenes. In this paper, we present experimental measurements of the psychophysical thresholds for 3-D perception in Random Dot Autostereogram (RDA) videos with respect to contrast, repetition of the random dots that constitute the repetitive patches inside a RDA video, blur and colour of random dots. The approach we followed focused on performance data gathering for stereopsis achievement in human participants by conducting experiments on whether and how fast it is achieved. The stimuli used were autostereogram videos of basic objects (cubes, tubes, pyramids, disks, stars and pentagons) in which we varied the setting of one of the aforementioned features (contrast, repetition, blur and colour) while keeping the rest fixed. Our findings showed that there is an upper threshold of Gaussian blur radius at 33-35 pixels (≈ 2.38◦ − 2.53◦ visual angle), a lower threshold of 0.03 Michelson contrast, an optimal range of settings 70-100 pixels (corresponding to ≈ 5.05◦ − 7.22◦ visual angle) for repetition period and a lower threshold for luminance value of red/green random dots between 0.73 cd/m2 to 0.98 cd/m2 beyond which stereopsis is not achieved in human participants. The experiments, in addition to establishing the range of perceptibility, also demonstrate that stereo fusion is possible even when every frame in the video uses a different random dot field.
Pain, agitation, and behavioural problems in people with dementia admitted to general hospital wards: a longitudinal cohort study

Abstract Pain is underdetected and undertreated in people with dementia. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of pain in people with dementia admitted to general hospitals and explore the association between pain and behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD). We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of 230 people, aged above 70, with dementia and unplanned medical admissions to 2 UK hospitals. Participants were assessed at baseline and every 4 days for self-reported pain (yes/no question and FACES scale) and observed pain (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia scale [PAINAD]) at movement and at rest, for agitation (Cohen–Mansfield Agitating Inventory [CMAI]) and BPSD (Behavioural Pathology in Alzheimer Disease Scale [BEHAVE-AD]). On admission, 27% of participants self-reported pain rising to 39% on at least 1 occasion during admission. Half of them were able to complete the FACES scale, this proportion decreasing with more severe dementia. Using the PAINAD, 19% had pain at rest and 57% had pain on movement on at least 1 occasion (in 16%, this was persistent throughout the admission). In controlled analyses, pain was not associated with CMAI scores but was strongly associated with total BEHAVE-AD scores, both when pain was assessed on movement (&bgr; = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.07-0.32, P = 0.002) and at rest (&bgr; = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.14-0.69, P = 0.003). The association was the strongest for aggression and anxiety. Pain was common in people with dementia admitted to the acute hospital and associated with BPSD. Improved pain management may reduce distressing behaviours and improve the quality of hospital care for people with dementia.
Neurochemical biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of movement disorders

In recent years, the neurochemical analysis of neuronal proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has become increasingly accepted for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative dementia diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. CSF surrounds the central nervous system, and in the composition of CSF proteins one finds brain‐specific proteins that are prioritized from blood‐derived proteins. Levels of specific CSF proteins could be very promising biomarkers for central nervous system diseases. We need the development of more easily accessible biomarkers, in the blood. In neurodegenerative diseases with and without dementia, studies on CSF and blood proteins have investigated the usefulness of biomarkers in differential diagnosis. The clinical diagnoses of Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration still rely mainly on clinical symptoms as defined by international classification criteria. In this article, we review CSF biomarkers in these movement disorders and discuss recent published reports on the neurochemical intra vitam diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders (including recent CSF α‐synuclein findings). © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Int22h-1/int22h-2-mediated Xq28 rearrangements: intellectual disability associated with duplications and in utero male lethality with deletions

Background X linked intellectual disability (XLID) is common, with an estimated prevalence of 1/1000. The expanded use of array comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) has led to the identification of several XLID-associated copy-number variants. Methods Array CGH analysis was performed using chromosomal microarray with ∼105 000 oligonucleotides covering the entire genome. Confirmatory fluorescence in situ hybridisation analyses were subsequently performed. Chromosome X-inactivation (XCI) was assessed using methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digestion followed by PCR amplification. Results A novel ∼0.5 Mb duplication in Xq28 was identified in four cognitively impaired males who share behavioural abnormalities (hyperactivity and aggressiveness) and characteristic facial features (high forehead, upper eyelid fullness, broad nasal bridge and thick lower lip). These duplications were inherited from mothers with skewed XCI and are mediated by nonallelic homologous recombination between the low-copy repeat regions int22h-1 and int22h-2, which, in addition to int22h-3, are also responsible for inversions disrupting the factor VIII gene in haemophilia A. In addition, we have identified a reciprocal deletion in a girl and her mother, both of whom exhibit normal cognition and completely skewed XCI. The mother also had two spontaneous abortions. Conclusions The phenotypic similarities among subjects with int22h-1/int22h-2-mediated Xq28 duplications suggest that such duplications are responsible for a novel XLID syndrome. The reciprocal deletion may not be associated with a clinical phenotype in carrier females due to skewed XCI, but may be lethal for males in utero. Advancements in array CGH technology have enabled the identification of such small, clinically relevant copy-number variants.
Application methods of ant colony algorithm

As one of the most prestigious and beneficial methods of artificial intelligence, ant colony takes the advantage of communal behavior of ants in nature for solving optimization problems in various fields. However, this useful algorithm requires extensive and repetitious computation, as a result, the processing duration of the present algorithm seems to be one of the most serious challenges about it. In order to solve optimization problems in which duration is very important, this paper attempts to review the previously applied methods and consider the advantages and the disadvantages of each method through highlighting the problems algorithm designers encounter.
On Constructing n-Entities Communication Protocol and Service with Alternative and Concurrent Functions

In this paper, we consider a flexible method for designing n-entities communication protocols and services. The proposed technique considers alternative and parallel composition of n service specifications and n protocol specifications, where n ≥ 2. The specifications are specified in Basic LOTOS which is a Formal Description Technique (FDT). We use the weak bisimulation equivalence (≈) to represent the correctness properties between the service specification and the protocol specification. key words: service, protocol, FDT, alternative composition,
Three-Dimensional Structure of Drosophila Testis Tip: The Spatial Relation Between Dividing Cells

Abstract At the apical tip of Drosophila testis, there is a stem cell niche known as the proliferation center, where the stem cells are maintained by hub cell cluster for the regulation of differentiation and proliferation. Germline stem cells go through mitosis four times from one primary spermatogonial cell to the 16-cell stage before the maturation. The cells derived from the same germline stem cell are located within one cyst, an enclosed system by two cyst cells, and they are connected by the intercellular bridges called ring canals. In this study, the three-dimensional (3D) structure of Drosophila testis tip was reconstructed from serial sections. The size of cells at each stage was compared in volume from the 3D structure. The stages of cells in a cyst could be distinguishable exactly by counting the cells linked with intercellular bridges in 3D-reconstructed structure. The cysts containing the same stage cells appeared in the horizontal plane. Both the germline stem cell directly attached to the hub cell and the spermatogonial cells detached from the hub cell were divided at the almost perpendicular direction to the spermatogonial cell layers. The dividing phase in one cyst was delayed gradually through the cytoplasmic region of intercellular bridge.
Android SMS Malware: Vulnerability and Mitigation

In this paper, we study some messaging design decisions which resulted in a set of vulnerabilities in the Android operating system, and we demonstrate how a malware application can be built to abuse these vulnerabilities. The application presents itself as a regular SMS messaging application and uses its basic permissions to send/receive short messages. Since many operators worldwide provide services that allow users to transfer credits/units through SMS, the application abuses this service to transfer credits from users illegally. The "permission" subsystem, the "broadcast receiver" subsystem, and the message-sending mechanism contribute to forming a haven for SMS malware by granting them absolute control over sending, receiving, and hiding SMS messages. Accordingly, the malicious application hides any acknowledgments from the telecom operator that might appear after a credit transfer transaction. This enables malware to drain the balance of the attacked user and has the potential to cause damage to a large number of users as well as telecom operators. The application was demonstrated on a local operator and it successfully passed standard screening procedures that claim to catch malware. A set of possible solutions are also presented in order to mitigate the risks of such attacks.
Comparison of Device-Based, One and Two-Handed 7DOF Manipulation Techniques

We evaluate three bimanual 7 degree-of-freedom (7DOF) object manipulation techniques that use a pair of precision grasped isotonic devices called buttonballs. 7DOF manipulation means changing position, orientation and scale. We compare the techniques in a (stereo) Fish-tank Virtual Reality (VR) system. The user study displays multiple randomly located boxes of different sizes and the user must dock (i.e. align) each target box with an objective box at the screen center. Comparing task completion times shows that in cases where target and objective boxes are the same size, all three techniques perform equivalently. When the sizes differ--requiring a scale change--two of the technique's, Spindle+Wheel and a minor variant of Grab-and-Scale perform similarly, and are both faster than the third technique, One-Hand+Scale. We compare and contrast our results with other work including free-hand versus held device input and also with 7DOF object manipulation versus 7DOF view manipulation.
Change in body mass index and neurocognitive effects in retired NFL players

Contact sport athletes can experience thousands of repetitive head impacts (RHI) in their career. Retired NFL players have been found to be suffering from depression, mood/behavior changes, and cognition deficits that are linked to underlying neurological impairment from RHIs, including the neurodegenerative disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine received funding from the National Institutes of Health to create the DETECT study to examine methods of diagnosing CTE during life and to examine the possible risk factors for CTE and other long-term consequences of RHI. This study examined the association between change in body mass index (BMI) and cognitive impairment in retired NFL players. The cohort was 95 retired NFL players between the ages of 40-69 who have a minimal 12 years of football experience and minimal 2 years in the NFL. The participants underwent a 2-3 hour neuropsychological battery. Change in BMI was from the time of retirement (height and weight available on the NFL website archive of historical players) and from time of the DETECT study visit (height and weight recorded by nurses on digital scales). The results found significance between greater change in BMI and decline in psychomotor speed/executive functioning (p=0.038). There was also significance between WAIS Digit symbol coding test and BMI change (p=0.043). The results show that greater positive change in BMI have negative consequences on retired NFL player’s cognitive functioning.
Combining explicit and implicit measures to study the effects of persuasive games

Understanding how games influence players is an integral part of persuasive game design. However, evaluating player attitudes to determine the success of a persuasive game can be difficult, e.g., if games deal with sensitive topics that invite socially desirable answers to explicit measures such as questionnaires. In this paper, we discuss the application of an implicit measure – the Implicit Association Test – to support explicit data, and to help game designers and games user researchers better understand the effects of persuasive games on player attitudes.
A Carboxy-Terminal Trimerization Domain Stabilizes Conformational Epitopes on the Stalk Domain of Soluble Recombinant Hemagglutinin Substrates

Recently, a new class of broadly neutralizing anti-influenza virus antibodies that target the stalk domain of the viral hemagglutinin was discovered. As such, induction, isolation, characterization, and quantification of these novel antibodies has become an area of intense research and great interest. Since most of these antibodies bind to conformational epitopes, the structural integrity of hemagglutinin substrates for the detection and quantification of these antibodies is of high importance. Here we evaluate the binding of these antibodies to soluble, secreted hemagglutinins with or without a carboxy-terminal trimerization domain based on the natural trimerization domain of T4 phage fibritin. The lack of such a domain completely abolishes binding to group 1 hemagglutinins and also affects binding to group 2 hemagglutinins. Additionally, the presence of a trimerization domain positively influences soluble hemagglutinin stability during expression and purification. Our findings suggest that a carboxy-terminal trimerization domain is a necessary requirement for the structural integrity of stalk epitopes on recombinant soluble influenza virus hemagglutinin.
Samskara Minimal structural features for detecting subjectivity and polarity in Italian tweets

English. Sentiment analysis classification tasks strongly depend on the properties of the medium that is used to communicate opinionated content. There are some limitations in Twitter that force the user to exploit structural properties of this social network with features that have pragmatic and communicative functions. Samskara is a system that uses minimal structural features to classify Italian tweets as instantiations of a textual genre, obtaining good results for subjectivity classification, while polarity classification needs substantial improvements. Italiano. I compiti di classificazione a livello di sentiment analysis dipendono fortemente dalle proprietà del mezzo usato per comunicare contenuti d’opinione. Vi sono limiti oggettivi in Twitter che forzano l’utente a sfruttare le proprietà strutturali del mezzo assegnando ad alcuni elementi funzioni pragmatiche e comunicative. Samskara è un sistema che si propone di classificare i tweets italiani come se appartenessero a un genere testuale, interprentandoli come elementi caratterizzati da strutture minimali e ottenendo buoni risultati nella classificazione della soggettività mentre la classificazione della polarità ha bisogno di sostanziali miglioramenti.
A Comparison of Experimental and Analytical Procedures to Measure Passive Drag in Human Swimming

The aim of this study was to compare the swimming hydrodynamics assessed with experimental and analytical procedures, as well as, to learn about the relative contributions of the friction drag and pressure drag to total passive drag. Sixty young talented swimmers (30 boys and 30 girls with 13.59±0.77 and 12.61±0.07 years-old, respectively) were assessed. Passive drag was assessed with inverse dynamics of the gliding decay speed. The theoretical modeling included a set of analytical procedures based on naval architecture adapted to human swimming. Linear regression models between experimental and analytical procedures showed a high correlation for both passive drag (Dp = 0.777*Df+pr; R2 = 0.90; R2 a = 0.90; SEE = 8.528; P<0.001) and passive drag coefficient (CDp = 1.918*CDf+pr; R2 = 0.96; R2 a = 0.96; SEE = 0.029; P<0.001). On average the difference between methods was -7.002N (95%CI: -40.480; 26.475) for the passive drag and 0.127 (95%CI: 0.007; 0.247) for the passive drag coefficient. The partial contribution of friction drag and pressure drag to total passive drag was 14.12±9.33% and 85.88±9.33%, respectively. As a conclusion, there is a strong relationship between the passive drag and passive drag coefficient assessed with experimental and analytical procedures. The analytical method is a novel, feasible and valid way to gather insight about one’s passive drag during training and competition. Analytical methods can be selected not only to perform race analysis during official competitions but also to monitor the swimmer’s status on regular basis during training sessions without disrupting or time-consuming procedures.