Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebral blood flow-related signal changes during breath-holding.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In the past, functional MR imaging techniques have been used successfully to determine cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) to various stimuli, complementing the arsenal of functional brain investigations feasible with MR imaging. While previous studies have focused on blood oxygenation changes under vasodilatory stress, the aim of this study was to assess regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes during breath-holding by using a flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) imaging technique. METHODS In six healthy volunteers, FAIR images were acquired during alternating periods of breath-holding and breathing at 40-second intervals after inspiration and at 30-second intervals after expiration, for a total dynamic scanning time of 10 minutes. To quantify the rCBF changes, we obtained 2.5-minute baseline samples during normal breathing. RESULTS Repeated challenges of breath-holding induced an overall rise in rCBF. In general, rCBF changes were greatest in gray matter and were insignificant in white matter. Using the mean values of the baseline images collected before breath-holding to calculate the rCBF changes, we found that quantitative analysis yielded an rCBF increase of 47% to 87% after breath-holding. The rCBF changes clearly depended on the breath-holding duration and technique; however, for one given breath-holding paradigm the results showed relatively small interindividual variability. CONCLUSION rCBF changes during a simple vascular challenge can be detected and quantified by means of functional MR imaging at 1.5 T. Noninvasive assessment of CVR could become a useful clinical tool to identify persons with impaired CVR.
First-order unification using variable-free relational algebra

We present a framework for the representation and resolution of first-order unification problems and their abstract syntax in a variable-free relational formalism which is an executable variant of the Tarski-Givant relation algebra and of Freyd’s allegories restricted to the fragment necessary to compile and run logic programs. We develop a decision procedure for validity of relational terms, which corresponds to solving the original unification problem. The decision procedure is carried out by a conditional relational-term rewriting system. There are advantages over classical unification approaches. First, cumbersome and underspecified meta-logical procedures (name clashes, substitution, etc.) and their properties (invariance under substitution of ground terms, equality’s congruence with respect to term forming, etc.) are captured algebraically within the framework. Second, other unification problems can be accommodated, for example, existential quantification in the logic can be interpreted as a new operation whose effect is to formalize the costly and error prone handling of fresh names (renaming apart).
Segmentation of skin cancer images using an extension of Chan and Vese model

Recently, more attention is given to automatic detection of cancer. However, the multitude kind of cancer (lung, breast, brain, skin etc.) complicates the detection of this disease with common approaches. An adaptive method for each cancer is the only response to achieve this aim. The segmentation of interest region is the first main step to differentiate between the suspicious and non suspicious part in the image. In this specific work, we focus on a segmentation approach based on Total Variation methods. We propose a generalization of Chan and Vese (CV) model theory and implement it to the particular case of skin cancer images.
Assessment of video naturalness using time-frequency statistics

Successful video quality analysers make use of a reference video to compare against or by training on a database of human rated distorted videoes as priors, both of which are either not available or difficult to obtain in many practical scenarios. Although efforts have been made towards designing still picture quality analyzers that are `completely blind' and do not require any prior training on, or exposure to, distorted images or human opinions of them [1], we are attempting to fill an important but challenging gap by designing a `completely blind' video naturalness analyser. The principle of this new approach is based on the regularties observed in time-frequency relationships of natural vidoes across time. Our experimental results on the LIVE VQA (video quality assessment) database [2] show that, even with no prior knowledge, the new VQA algorithm performs better than the full reference (FR) quality measure PSNR. The approach is very lean in computational expense which makes it a very good candidate for real time signal processing applications.
Increasing mixed service uplink capacity of UMTS by smart antennas

Plans for possible business cases express the number of users in the system as a function of the service-mix and system loading. In this paper, the increase of mixed service capacity of UMTS by smart antennas is investigated. System capacity for mixed traffic in the uplink of the FDD mode (Wideband CDMA) is analyzed. The results are expressed in terms of multiple-access noise rise and effective data throughput, which are derived by a stationary system simulator. Smart antennas provide a clear advantage in mixed rate traffic services in comparison to non-adaptive antennas. The system capacity can be enhanced by a factor of 2.5 or higher, depending on the multi-service mix. The maximum achievable effective throughput is found as a function of both the service mix and the system loading.
PENGUKURAN VALUE AT RISK MENGGUNAKAN PROSEDUR VOLATILITY UPDATING HULL AND WHITE BERDASARKAN EXPONENTIALLY WEIGHTED MOVING AVERAGE (EWMA) (Studi Kasus pada Portofolio Dua Saham)

Investment is an effort to get profits for individual or institution. But the investment policy is always faced with market risk as the effect of financial instruments movement such as stock price movements. Market risk measurement tool commonly used is Value at Risk (VaR), which measures the amount of loss at a certain confidence level. VaR measurement by Hull and White volatility updating procedure is a modification of the historical simulation involving information of volatility change calculated by Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA). This procedure is fit to financial data such as stock returns that are generally not normally distributed and are heteroskedastic. VaR calculation applied to the portfolio between Kalbe Farma Tbk (KLBF) stock and Lippo Karawaci Tbk (LPKR) stock from 3 January 2011 to 19 April 2013 were selected based on the largest trading volume at the end of the observation for LQ45 stocks listed in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) . The data used is the return calculated from the closing price of stocks. The validity of VaR was tested through a back test by Kupiec test, and concluded that the 95% VaR and 99% VaR are valid.
Efficiently using graphics hardware in volume rendering applications

OpenGL and its extensions provide access to advanced per-pixel operations available in the rasterization stage and in the frame buffer hardware of modern graphics workstations. With these mechanisms, completely new rendering algorithms can be designed and implemented in a very particular way. In this paper we extend the idea of extensively using graphics hardware for the rendering of volumetric data sets in various ways. First, we introduce the concept of clipping geometries by means of stencil buffer operations, and we exploit pixel textures for the mapping of volume data to spherical domains. We show ways to use 3D textures for the rendering of lighted and shaded iso-surfaces in real-time without extracting any polygonal representation. Second, we demonstrate that even for volume data on unstructured grids, where only software solutions exist up to now, both methods, iso-surface extraction and direct volume rendering, can be accelerated to new rates of interactivity by simple polygon drawing and frame buffer operations.
Household response to higher costs of domestic services in Ecuador

An increase in the wage for domestic workers represents an increase in the prices of a close market substitute for home production. This paper analyzes the response of households in the hours of work at home of the female head or wife of the head to changes in the hourly price for domestic services. The results differ between women in the labor force and women not in the labor force, this second group showing an increase in home production associated with an increase in the price for domestic services. Surprisingly, though, the estimation of a home production model predicted a negative response for Ecuadorian women who are employed or looking for a job. That is, higher prices of domestic services were associated with a decrease in the hours of work at home for employed women. A possible explanation for this striking result is that the market for domestic workers has excess demand.
Abnormal Fertilization Is Responsible for Reduced Fecundity Following Thiram-Induced Ovulatory Delay in the Rat1

Abstract Brief exposure to some pesticides, applied during a sensitive window for the neural regulation of ovulation, will block the preovulatory surge of LH and, thus, delay ovulation. Previously, we have shown that a single i.p. injection of 50 mg/kg of thiram, a dithiocarbamate fungicide that decreases norepinephrine synthesis, on proestrus (1300 h) suppresses the LH surge and delays ovulation for 24 h without altering the number of oocytes released. However, when bred, the treated dams had a decreased litter size and increased postimplantation loss. We hypothesized that the reduced litter size in thiram-delayed rats was a consequence of altered oocyte function arising from intrafollicular oocyte aging. To test this hypothesis, we examined delayed oocytes, zygotes, and 2-cell embryos for evidence of fertilization and polyspermy. In addition, we used confocal laser-scanning microscopy to evaluate and characterize cortical granule localization in oocytes and release in zygotes, because the cortical granule response is a major factor in the normal block to polyspermy. Our results demonstrate that a thiram-induced, 24-h delay in ovulation alters the fertilizability of the released oocyte. Although no apparent morphological differences were observed in the unfertilized mature oocytes released following the thiram-induced delay, the changes observed following breeding include a significant decrease in the percentage of fertilized oocytes, a significant increase in polyspermic zygotes (21%), and a 10-fold increase in the number of supernumerary sperm in the perivitelline space. Importantly, all the polyspermic zygotes exhibited an abnormal pattern of cortical granule exudate, suggestive of a relationship between abnormal cortical reaction and the polyspermy in the delayed zygotes. Because polyspermy is associated with polyploidy, abnormal development, and early embryonic death, the observed polyspermy could explain the abnormal development and decreased litter size that we observed previously following thiram-delayed ovulation.
Swarm Control Through Symmetry and Distribution Characterization

Two methods for control of swarms are described. The first of these methods, the Virtual Attractive-Repulsive (VARP) method, is based on potentials defined between swarm elements. The second control method, or the abstraction method, is based on controlling the macroscopic characteristics of a swarm. The derivation of a new control law based on the second method is described. Numerical simulation and analytical interpretation of the result is also presented.
Implications of Rhythm Awareness and Availability Infer-encing in an “ Always On ” World

This workshop position paper describes the goals and lessons learned from the author’s experiences with prototype awareness and communication systems. While the initial goal of those systems was to provide context information about remote colleagues at the current time, we found that use of the system over time also fostered a sense of future activity and availability. This notion of “rhythm awareness” opened new application opportunities in awareness systems as well as several new issues. We also explored the use of sensors in the office to detect situations when a person would likely not be available. Together, these explorations raise questions about machine inferencing of context and the overall usefulness of assessing “availability” in general. This paper also reflects on some of the issues that cross awareness research in general. Author
Stability and spectra of blow–up in problems with quasi–linear gradient diffusivity

We study a nonlinear diffusion equation which is invariant under a stretching group of transformations and which reduces to a linear diffusion equation in the limit of σ → 0. We show that if σ > 0 then the equation has solutions which form singularities which have a self–similar profile. By considering a nonlinear eigenvalue problem the existence and stability of the self–similar profiles is discussed. The existence of approximately self–similar behaviour is also considered for evolution profiles with several maxima and minima. This behaviour is compared to similar behaviour for the linear diffusion problem. The paper uses a combination of techniques from analysis and the theory of dynamical systems.
Feature Extraction Based on Mixture Probabilistic Kernel Principal Component Analysis

Feature extraction of training samples and testing samples face the problem of the high non-linear by complexity of the distribution of the samples. In contrast to linear PCA, KPCA is capable of capturing part of the higher-order statistics which are particularly important for encoding image structure. The Probabilistic kernel principal component analysis (PKPCA), defines PPCA probability model by non-linear mapping in the high-dimensional feature space. This paper presents the mix model of the probability of kernel principal component analysis (MPKPCA) method, which adopt a non-linear mapping to make the data from low-dimensional space to the high-dimensional kernel space, in kernel space, using the mixed probability principal component analysis (MPPCA), it combines the advantages of kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) and MPPCA characteristics. Experimental results under complex scenery demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is feasibility and effectiveness.
Identity-Based Fully Distributed Certificate Authority in an OLSR MANET

As the absence of a centralized control in mobile ad hoc networks (MANET), the tradition public key infrastructure (PKI) model is not fully applicable in MANET scenarios. In this paper, we have implemented a fully distributed Certificate Authority (CA) which based the Identity-Based Encryption (IBE) combined with distributed secrete sharing algorithm [1], and integrated it with an OLSR MANET. With the advantage of less computing and communication loss, the proposed scheme is more suit the MANET environment.
On the Performance of Visible Light Communication Systems With Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access

Visible light communication (VLC) has been proposed as a promising and efficient solution to indoor ubiquitous broadband connectivity. In this paper, non-orthogonal multiple access, which has been recently introduced as an effective scheme for fifth generation (5G) wireless networks, is considered in the context of VLC systems under different channel uncertainty models. To this end, we first derive a novel closed-form expression for the bit-error-rate (BER) under perfect channel state information (CSI). Capitalizing on this, we then quantify the effect of noisy and outdated CSI by deriving a simple and accurate approximation for the former and a tight upper bound for the latter. The offered results are corroborated by respective results from extensive Monte Carlo simulations and assist in developing useful insights on the effect of imperfect CSI knowledge on the overall system performance. Furthermore, it was shown that while noisy CSI leads to slight degradation in the BER performance, outdated CSI can cause considerable performance degradation, if the order of the users’ channel gains change due to the involved mobility.
STABILITY-INDICATING LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF ATAZANAVIR AND RITONAVIR IN PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATION

University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, Andhra Pradesh, India ABSTRACT: A simple, rapid, precise and accurate isocratic reversedphase stability-indicating HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of Atazanavir (AT) and Ritonavir (RT) in commercial tablets. The method has shown adequate separation for AT, RT from their degradation products. Separation was achieved on a Hypersil BDS-C18, 5 μm, 125 mm × 4.6 mm i.d. column using a mobile phase consisting of buffer (pH3.4) – acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min and UV detection at 250 nm. The drugs were subjected to oxidation, acid, base hydrolysis, photolysis and heat to apply stress conditions. The linearity of the proposed method was investigated in the range of 7.8–225 μg/mL (r 2 = 0.9993) for AT and 2.7-75 μg/mL (r 2 = 0.9995) for RT. The limit of detection was 2.4 μg/mL for AT and 0.9 μg/mL for RT. The limit of quantitation was 7.8 μg/mL for AT and 2.7 μg/mL for RT. Degradation products produced as a result of stress studies did not interfere with the detection of AT and RT and the assay can thus be considered stability-indicating.
An intensified systemic trafficking of bone marrow-derived stem/progenitor cells in patients with pancreatic cancer

Various experimental studies indicate potential involvement of bone marrow (BM)‐derived stem cells (SCs) in malignancy development and progression. In this study, we comprehensively analysed systemic trafficking of various populations of BM‐derived SCs (BMSCs), i.e., mesenchymal, haematopoietic, endothelial stem/progenitor cells (MSCs, HSCs, EPCs respectively), and of recently discovered population of very small embryonic/epiblast‐like SCs (VSELs) in pancreatic cancer patients. Circulating CD133+/Lin−/CD45−/CD34+ cells enriched for HSCs, CD105+/STRO‐1+/CD45− cells enriched for MSCs, CD34+/KDR+/CD31+/CD45− cells enriched for EPCs and small CXCR4+CD34+CD133+ subsets of Lin−CD45− cells that correspond to VSELs were enumerated and sorted from blood samples derived from 29 patients with pancreatic cancer, and 19 healthy controls. In addition, plasma levels of stromal‐derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1), growth/inhibitory factors and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P; chemoattractants for SCs), as well as, of complement cascade (CC) molecules (C3a, C5a and C5b‐9/membrane attack complex – MAC) were measured. Higher numbers of circulating VSELs and MSCs were detected in pancreatic cancer patients (P < 0.05 and 0.01 respectively). This trafficking of BMSCs was associated with significantly elevated C5a (P < 0.05) and C5b‐9/MAC (P < 0.005) levels together with S1P concentrations detected in plasma of cancer patients, and seemed to be executed in a SDF‐1 independent manner. In conclusion, we demonstrated that in patients with pancreatic cancer, intensified peripheral trafficking of selected populations of BMSCs occurs. This phenomenon seems to correlate with systemic activation of the CC, hepatocyte growth factor and S1P levels. In contrast to previous studies, we demonstrate herein that systemic SDF‐1 levels do not seem to be linked with increased mobilization of stem cells in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Annotation of collocations in a learner corpus for building a learning environment

Collocations in the sense of idiosyncratic lexical co-occurrences are one of the main barriers and challenges for any second language (L2) learner. In Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), a number of works deal with the automatic recognition of collocation errors and compilation of candidate lists for their correction. However, this is not sufficient. Firstly, to obtain a clear picture of the difficulties experienced by learners in order to be able to offer targeted aid to learners, a fine-grained linguistic analysis of collocation errors and their annotation in learner corpora is necessary. Secondly, programs must be developed that make concrete correction suggestions, besides providing correction candidate lists, and supply a learner with illustration and didactic material that is oriented towards the types of collocations with which this learner has difficulties. In our work, we attempt to push the state of the art one step further in both of these strands of research, focusing on Spanish as L2. Within the first strand, we carry out a detailed collocation-oriented annotation of a fragment of the corpus of learners of Spanish (CEDEL2). Within the second strand, we experiment with a number of strategies for choosing the most likely correction of a collocation error.
Archaea Appear to Dominate the Microbiome of Inflatella pellicula Deep Sea Sponges

Microbes associated with marine sponges play significant roles in host physiology. Remarkable levels of microbial diversity have been observed in sponges worldwide through both culture-dependent and culture-independent studies. Most studies have focused on the structure of the bacterial communities in sponges and have involved sponges sampled from shallow waters. Here, we used pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes to compare the bacterial and archaeal communities associated with two individuals of the marine sponge Inflatella pellicula from the deep-sea, sampled from a depth of 2,900 m, a depth which far exceeds any previous sequence-based report of sponge-associated microbial communities. Sponge-microbial communities were also compared to the microbial community in the surrounding seawater. Sponge-associated microbial communities were dominated by archaeal sequencing reads with a single archaeal OTU, comprising ∼60% and ∼72% of sequences, being observed from Inflatella pellicula. Archaeal sequencing reads were less abundant in seawater (∼11% of sequences). Sponge-associated microbial communities were less diverse and less even than any other sponge-microbial community investigated to date with just 210 and 273 OTUs (97% sequence identity) identified in sponges, with 4 and 6 dominant OTUs comprising ∼88% and ∼89% of sequences, respectively. Members of the candidate phyla, SAR406, NC10 and ZB3 are reported here from sponges for the first time, increasing the number of bacterial phyla or candidate divisions associated with sponges to 43. A minor cohort from both sponge samples (∼0.2% and ∼0.3% of sequences) were not classified to phylum level. A single OTU, common to both sponge individuals, dominates these unclassified reads and shares sequence homology with a sponge associated clone which itself has no known close relative and may represent a novel taxon.
Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century

PART I. TERRORISM IN PERSPECTIVE 1. An Idea Whose Time Has Come? 2. Not a Modern Phenomenon 3. Ideology and Terrorism. Rights from Wrongs? PART II. WHO ARE THE TERRORISTS? 4. Criminals or Crusaders? 5. Terrorism by the State 6. Terrorism, Inc. PART III. HOW DO THEY OPERATE? 7. Terrorist Training 8. The Media. A Weapon for Both Sides? 9. Domestic Terrorism in the United States PART IV. RESPONSES TO TERRORISM 10. Legal Perspectives on Terrorism 11. Counterterrorism. The Use of Special Forces 12. Terrorism, Intelligence, and the Law 13. Security Measures. A Frail Defense PART V. CURRENT TRENDS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS 14. New Terrorist Threat. Weapons of Mass Destruction 15. Future Trends