Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
K-Means Clustering Using Localized Histogram Analysis

The first step required for many applications and algorithms is the segmentation or clustering of an image. This intuitively easy problem is actually very difficult for a computer to automatically perform. While having an effective solution to this problem would be valuable for all types of image processing, it would be especially useful in medical imaging. One method that addresses this problem is the K-means clustering algorithm. This paper presents a simple case of applying this algorithm to images, and extends it by redefining the distance measure to consider texture information. Results are shown for both algorithms, with the improvements from the modified algorithm clearly visible.
An Ontology-Based System for the Marketing Information Management

In the new globalisation context the competition for expanding to new markets becomes sharper for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. We answer their information needs by building the AMI-SME system. The AMI-SME system is an ontology-based system for the management of marketing information. In the context of this system we show how specially built domain ontologies aid the organization of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises information in a meaningful way. Based on our experience in building the main ontology of the system we argue that the untrained user cannot commit to a formal ontology.
Study of RFEC-Based Transport Protocol in Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks

Different from terrestrial sensor networks, underwater sensor networks use acoustic channels for communication and most sensor nodes are mobile due to water current. These distinctions feature underwater sensor networks with highly dynamic topology, high bit error rate, large propagation delay, and low available bandwidth. Traditional ARQ series are not suitable due to their frequent feedbacks, which is undesirable in underwater environment. On the other hand, pure FEC can't apply into underwater sensor networks, not only because of its complexity, but also because it needs some feedbacks. This paper studied transport protocol in underwater sensor networks, implemented a reliable lightweight RFEC-based encoding and decoding algorithm. Then combine the algorithm with ARQ to a transport protocol. In this way, take advantages of FEC to deal with high bit error, and ARQ to avoid feedbacks. Through simulation experiment on method of random sequences generation, parameters selection, and transmission strategy, some useful conclusion is gotten. It provides practical data and references on practical application of underwater sensor networks.
Molecular genetic bases of Salmonella entry into host cells

Salmonella spp. can enter into non‐phagocytic cells, a property that is essential for their pathogenicity. Recently, considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the molecular genetic bases of this process. It is now evident that Salmonella entry functions are largely encoded on a 35–40 kb region of the Salmonella chromosome located at centisome 63. The majority of the loci in this region encode components of a type III or contact‐dependent secretion system homologous to those described in a variety of animal and plant‐pathogenic bacteria as well as a number of proteins that require this system for their export to the extracellular environment. A somewhat unexpected finding has been the remarkable homology between the Salmonella and Shigella proteins that mediate the entry of these organisms into cultured epithelial cells.
Stereotypes in Four Current AOUM Sexuality Education Curricula: Good Girls, Good Boys, and the New Gender Equality

It has long been noted that sexuality education curricula contain gender stereotypes and heterosexism that may be harmful to people of all genders. Many of the stereotypes and sources of heterosexism that have been discussed in the literature have to do with old-fashioned and restrictive roles for men and women and focus on heterosexual sex and marriage. In this article, we analyzed four currently used Abstinence Only Until Marriage (AOUM) curricula in order to examine to what extent these curricula reproduce these stereotypes. We found only a few instances of older stereotypes of boys as pursuers and girls as passive recipients. There were instead more modern ideals of choice and equality that were represented; however, we found that the language of choice and equality was often used to support new stereotypes of female sexuality. For example, in treating boys and girls as equal in terms of pressuring each other to have sex or objectifying each other, they introduce some problematic new images and stereotypes of female sexuality. We use Blum's theory of “false symmetry” and Glick and Fiske's theory of benevolent sexism to explain the problems with these new images.
Maximum Feasibility Approach for Consensus Classifiers : Applications to Protein Structure Prediction

A novel strategy to optimize consensus classifiers for large classification problems is proposed, based on Linear Programming (LP) techniques and the recently introduced Maximum Feasibility (MaxF) heuristic for solving infeasible LP problems. For a set of classifiers and their normalized class dependent scores one postulates that the consensus score is a linear combination of individual scores. We require this consensus score to satisfy a set of linear constraints, imposing that the consensus score for the true class be higher than for any other classes. Additional constraints may be added in order to impose that the margin of separation (difference between the true class score and false classes scores) for the consensus classifier be larger than that of the best individual classifier. Since LP problems defined this way are typically infeasible, approximate solutions with good generalization properties are found using interior point methods for LP in conjunction with the MaxF heuristic. The new technique has been applied to a number of classification problems relevant for protein structure prediction.
Linear Precoding for MIMO Channels with QAM Constellations and Reduced Complexity

Author(s): Ketseoglou, Thomas; Ayanoglu, Ender | Abstract: In this paper, the problem of designing a linear precoder for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems in conjunction with Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is addressed. First, a novel and efficient methodology to evaluate the input-output mutual information for a general Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system as well as its corresponding gradients is presented, based on the Gauss-Hermite quadrature rule. Then, the method is exploited in a block coordinate gradient ascent optimization process to determine the globally optimal linear precoder with respect to the MIMO input-output mutual information for QAM systems with relatively moderate MIMO channel sizes. The proposed methodology is next applied in conjunction with the complexity-reducing per-group processing (PGP) technique, which is semi-optimal, to both perfect channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) as well as statistical channel state information (SCSI) scenarios, with high transmitting and receiving antenna size, and for constellation size up to $M=64$. We show by numerical results that the precoders developed offer significantly better performance than the configuration with no precoder, and the maximum diversity precoder for QAM with constellation sizes $M=16,~32$, and $~64$ and for MIMO channel size $100\times100$.
Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process Methods for Evaluating the Comfort of Textiles

Because there are many indexes when evaluating the performance of clothing fabrics, the method used widely is analytic hierarchy process (AHP). However, they often neglect the fuzziness when people give the intensity of importance on an absolute scale, selecting one index with membership of one and rejecting one index with membership of zero. In this experiment, we used the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to express brain cognition and evaluate the synthesis performance of fabrics. Triangular Fuzzy Numbers (TFN) replaced the crisp number of pair wise comparison matrix, and then the defuzzification process was used to establish fuzzy vectors, through which the final result was obtained by applying the fuzzy relation composite theory. The results showed that the tested fabric belonged to the good degree, membership at 41.0%. The combination of AHP and fuzzy decision was an efficient way to tackle uncertain problem and design intelligent wearable devices.
Implementation of CareTV in care for the elderly: The effects on feelings of loneliness and safety and future challenges

Background: The number of lonely elderly is expected to increase due to demographic changes. CareTV is a technological solution, which allows users to interact with carers, family and friends from their home. In prior research users mentioned that CareTV expanded their social contacts, but it had not been measured if feelings of loneliness as a consequence have decreased. Objective: Investigate whether CareTV is a valid instrument for elderly to engage in meaningful social contacts by a video connection to avoid loneliness. Evaluate the implementation process and identify the remaining future challenges. Methods: From March 2008, elderly people receiving homecare from Proteion Thuis were informed about CareTV and asked to participate in the study. The CareTV duplex video/voice network allowed clients to communicate 24 hours, 7 days a week with a nurse practitioner. Applications of CareTV are (1) Alarm Service (2) Care Service (3) Good morning/good evening service (4) Welfare and housing and (5) Family Contact. During the one year trial period, feelings of loneliness and safety were measured using a questionnaire. In addition, clients' experiences were evaluated in open questions in the survey. The implementation was evaluated retrospectively with a framework developed by Broens. Results: 180 clients of homecare organization Proteion Thuis were connected to CareTV. 130 clients with the average age of 73.2 years were included in the study. The results show that the average feeling of loneliness at group level significantly ( p< 0.001) decreased from 5.97 (sd 2.77) to 4.02 (sd 3.91) between the start and end of the study on a scale from 0 till 11. Social loneliness (5-items) as well as emotional loneliness (6-items) showed significant decreases. To evaluate safety, no sum score could be calculated, but on item level: for 5 out of 9 items, most clients felt less safe after one year. For one item most clients had improved feelings of safety and for three items, most clients had an equal score. Evaluation of implementation shows what has been done and what needs to be done in future for the specific determinants. Conclusion: Feelings of loneliness significantly decreased within one year. As loneliness is a problem in an estimated 30-40% of the elderly, CareTV seems to be a suitable instrument for elderly, to live longer at home with less feelings of loneliness. Feelings of safety on item level did not seem to improve, this might be due to the fact that no validated scale was used. On the other hand, individual clients indicated that they felt safe with careTV. In future, a study with a validated safety scale should be performed in order to clarify the effect of CareTV on feelings of safety. The analysis of the development and implementation process indicates that the business development approach may be strengthened and that the homecare organization itself may take the lead in that process.
Requirement for p 34 cd 2 Kinase Is Restricted to Mitosis in the Mammalian cdc 2 Mutant FT 210

The mouse FT210 cell line is a temperature-sensitive cdc2 mutant. FT210 cells are found to arrest specifically in G2 phase and unlike many alleles of cdc2 and cdc28 mutants of yeasts, loss of p34 '~c2 at the nonpermissive temperature has no apparent effect on cell cycle progression through the G1 and S phases of the division cycle. FT210 cells and the parent wildtype FM3A cell line each possess at least three distinct histone HI kinases. HI kinase activities in chromatography fractions were identified using a synthetic peptide substrate containing the consensus phosphorylation site of histone H1 and the kinase subunit compositions were determined immunochemically with antisera prepared against the "PSTAIR" peptide, the COOH-terminus of mammalian p34 r and the human cyclins A and B1. The results show that p34 r forms two separate complexes with cyclin A and with cyclin B1, both of which exhibit thermal lability at the nonpermissive temperature in vitro and in vivo. A third HI kinase with stable activity at the nonpermissive temperature is comprised of cyclin A and a cdc2-1ike 34-kD subunit, which is immunoreactive with anti"PSTAIR" antiserum but is not recognized with antiserum specific for the COOH-terminus of p34 ~2. The cyclin A-associated kinases are active during S and G2 phases and earlier in the division cycle than the p34cdc2-cyclin B1 kinase. We show that mouse cells possess at least two cdc2-related gene products which form cell cycle regulated histone H1 kinases and we propose that the murine homolog of yeast p34 ~c~c~ is essential only during the G2-to-M transition in
Pharmacogenetic profiling for cetuximab plus irinotecan therapy in patients with refractory advanced colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways may play a relevant role in determining the activity of cetuximab therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). We investigated possible associations between genetic variants and clinical outcomes of MCRC patients treated with cetuximab-irinotecan salvage therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients who underwent cetuximab-irinotecan salvage therapy after disease progression during or after first-line bolus/infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin chemotherapy and a second-line irinotecan-based regimen were considered eligible for analysis of polymorphisms with putative influence on cetuximab-related pathways. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) 61A>G, EGF receptor (EGFR) 216G>T, EGFR 497G>A, EGFR intron-1 (CA)(n) dinucleotide short (S)/long (L) variant, cyclin-D1 870A>G, immunoglobulin-G fragment-C receptors RIIIa 158G>T, and RIIa 131G>A were studied for a possible association with overall survival (OS) as the primary end point. Additional analyses were addressed at possible associations among polymorphisms and EGFR expression, toxicity, and response. RESULTS In 110 assessable patients, significant association with favorable OS was observed for EGFR intron-1 S/S and EGF 61 G/G genotypes. In the multivariate model, EGFR intron-1 S/S and EGF 61 G/G genotypes showed a hazard ratio of 0.41 (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.78; P = .006) and 0.44 (95% CI, 0.23 to 0.84; P = .01), respectively. EGFR intron-1 S/S carriers showed more frequent G2-G3 skin toxicity (chi(2) test = 12.7; P = . 001) and treatment response (chi(2) test = 9.45; P = . 008) than EGFR intron-1 L/L carriers. CONCLUSION Although additional studies are required for confirmation, our findings could optimize the use of cetuximab in MCRC patients.
Using Artificial Neural Network for Robust Voice Activity Detection Under Adverse Conditions

We present an approach to model-based voice activity detection (VAD) for harsh environments. By using mel-frequency cepstral coefficients feature extracted from clean and noisy speech samples, an artificial neural network is trained optimally in order to provide a reliable model. There are three main aspects to this study: First, in addition to the developed model, recent state-of-the-art VAD methods are analyzed extensively. Second, we present an optimization procedure of neural network training, including evaluation of trained network performance with proper measures. Third, a large assortment of empirical results on the noisy TIMIT and SNOW corpuses including different types of noise at different signal-to-noise ratios is provided. We evaluate the built VAD model on the noisy corpuses and compare against the state-of-the-art VAD methods such as the ITU-T Rec. G. 729 Annex B, the ETSI AFE ES 202 050, and recently promising VAD algorithms. Results show that: (i) the proposed neural network classifier employing MFCC feature provides robustly high scores under different noisy conditions; (ii) the invented model is superior to other VAD methods in terms of various classification measures; (iii) the robustness of the developed VAD algorithm is still hold in the case of testing it with the completely mismatched environment.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Body Weight in Chicken F2 Resource Population

Chicken body weight is an economically important trait and great genetic progress has been accomplished in genetic selective for body weight. To identify genes and chromosome regions associated with body weight, we performed a genome-wide association study using the chicken 60 k SNP panel in a chicken F2 resource population derived from the cross between Silky Fowl and White Plymouth Rock. A total of 26 SNP effects involving 9 different SNP markers reached 5% Bonferroni genome-wide significance. A chicken chromosome 4 (GGA4) region approximately 8.6 Mb in length (71.6–80.2 Mb) had a large number of significant SNP effects for late growth during weeks 7–12. The LIM domain-binding factor 2 (LDB2) gene in this region had the strongest association with body weight for weeks 7–12 and with average daily gain for weeks 6–12. This GGA4 region was previously reported to contain body weight QTL. GGA1 and GGA18 had three SNP effects on body weight with genome-wide significance. Some of the SNP effects with the significance of “suggestive linkage” overlapped with previously reported results.
Comparing integer data structures for 32- and 64-bit keys

In this article, we experimentally compare a number of data structures operating over keys that are 32- and 64-bit integers. We examine traditional comparison-based search trees as well as data structures that take advantage of the fact that the keys are integers such as van Emde Boas trees and various trie-based data structures. We propose a variant of a burst trie that performs better in time than all the alternative data structures. In addition, even for small sets of keys, this burst trie variant occupies less space than comparison-based data structures such as red-black trees and B-trees. Burst tries have previously been shown to provide a very efficient base for implementing cache efficient string sorting algorithms. We find that with suitable engineering, they also perform excellently as a dynamic ordered data structure operating over integer keys. We provide experimental results when the data structures operate over uniform random data. We also present experimental results for other types of data, including datasets arising from Valgrind, a widely used suite of tools for the dynamic binary instrumentation of programs.
Origin and phylogenetic status of the local Ashanti Dwarf pig (ADP) of Ghana based on evidence from mtDNA analysis, MC1R, and Y-chromosome haplotypes

The Ashanti Dwarf Pig (ADP) of Ghana is an endangered pig breed with hardy and disease resistant traits. Characterisation of animal genetic resources provides relevant data for their conservation and sustainable use for food security and economic development. We investigated the origin and phylogenetic status of the local ADP of Ghana and their crosses with modern commercial breeds based on mtDNA, MC1R and Y-chromosome sequence polymorphisms, as well as genome-wide SNP genotyping. The study involved 164 local pigs sampled from the three agro-ecological zones of Ghana. Analyses of the mitochondrial D-loop region and Y-chromosome sequences revealed both European and Asian genetic signatures, with differences between the geographical zones. Black coat colour is the most predominant within the breed, with dominant black MC1R alleles of both Asian and European origin contributing. European alleles for spotting are present at a low frequency in the sample set, and may account for the occurrence of spotted piglets in some APD litters. PCA analysis of SNP data revealed a strong location and breed effect on clustering of local Ghanaian pigs. On a global level, Ghanaian local pigs cluster closely with European pigs of commercial origin, such as the Large White. The presence of both European and Asian contributions, with differences between geographical zones probably reflects trading and colonial influences. Understanding the effects of admixture on important adaptive and economic traits of the ADP and other local breeds in Africa is critical for developing sustainable conservation programmes to prevent the decline of these genetic resources.
A social skills group for children

Abstract An NHS Trust set up groups to teach social skills to children and adolescents using a cognitive behavioural framework. One group of seven children (five boys and two girls) is described. Parents were invited to a parallel parents' group. Each group lasted for 90 minutes and ran weekly for 6 weeks. Extensive liaison with parents and teachers took place before, during and after the group. Analysis of pre- and postgroup questionnaires sent to parents and teachers indicated improved social functioning, outside the group, for most of the children. Parents valued the dialogue with professionals and often felt supported by them for the first time. Therapists' contact with teachers ensured full knowledge of children's behaviour and the transfer of skills to schools. Cognitive behavioural techniques with children under-going group work require intensive liaison to facilitate generalization of skills learnt.
GUI Testing Techniques: A Survey

This paper presents a survey of existing GUI test case generation techniques; we have thoroughly reviewed the existing literature, identified Analysis parameters and provided a comparative Analysis of all the existing techniques. We have classified the GUI test case generation techniques on the basis of Fault Models which is a novel work in the context of GUI testing. Our Analysis shows a clear picture about the usefulness of each technique. Classification of the techniques according to the fault model expected to help determine which technique is most suitable to capture which type of faults.
Scalable multi-query optimization for exploratory queries over federated scientific databases

The diversity and large volumes of data processed in the Natural Sciences today has led to a proliferation of highly-specialized and autonomous scientific databases with inherent and often intricate relationships. As a user-friendly method for querying this complex, ever-expanding network of sources for correlations, we propose exploratory queries. Exploratory queries are loosely-structured, hence requiring only minimal user knowledge of the source network. Evaluating an exploratory query usually involves the evaluation of many distributed queries. As the number of such distributed queries can quickly become large, we attack the optimization problem for exploratory queries by proposing several multi-query optimization algorithms that compute a global evaluation plan while minimizing the total communication cost, a key bottleneck in distributed settings. The proposed algorithms are necessarily heuristics, as computing an optimal global evaluation plan is shown to be NP-hard. Finally, we present an implementation of our algorithms, along with experiments that illustrate their potential not only for the optimization of exploratory queries, but also for the multiquery optimization of large batches of standard queries.