Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges on real-time monitoring of patients through the Internet

Real-time remote monitoring of patients aims at improving and facilitating the accessibility to data about the vital signals of hospitalized patients, or patients that need to be closely monitored while at their own homes, by medical care professionals. By resorting to remote monitoring systems, the need for clinical staff to physically move next to each patient to supervise their clinical condition is reduced. This paper focuses on the key issues and challenges faced in the design and implementation of a distributed remote patient monitoring system using the Internet as communication platform, while describing some of the technologies that can be employed for this purpose. To optimize the systems' usability by medical care professionals, intuitive interfaces were developed using Web technologies, with an Internet browser as the only tool required to access the system. The study demonstrated that data updating based on database pooling system (periodic queries) is not the optimal solution, as the resulting system is not scalable. Also, monitoring several patients simultaneously (on the same browser) requires considerable processing at the client machine, particularly in the case of ECG signals.
Anger Management : Using Sentiment Analysis to Manage Online Communities

As online communities grow and user generated content increases, the need for community management also rises. Community management has three main purposes: to create a positive experience for existing participants, to encourage appropriate, socio-normative behaviors, and to encourage potential participants to make contributions. Research indicates that the quality of content a potential participant sees on a site is highly influential; off-topic, negative comments are a particularly strong boundary to participation. A problem for community managers, therefore, is the detection and elimination of such undesirable content. As a community grows this task becomes more daunting. In this paper, we introduce an approach to automatic detection of inappropriate negative user contributions. We apply sentiment analysis techniques to the task of classifying short comments about news stories, a challenge due to the lack of context in the short comments. In combination with relevance detection techniques, this work will inform a hybrid community management system by automatically flagging off-topic and hostile comments.
Is a non-uniform system of creatures more efficient than a uniform one?

We have analyzed the creatures exploration problem with non-uniform creatures. The creatures' task is to visit all empty cells in an environment containing obstacles with a minimum number of steps. Ten different algorithms with good performance from former investigations were used on 16 environments. New metrics were defined for such a multi agent system, like the absolute and relative efficiency. The efficiency relates the work of an agent system to the work of a reference system. A reference system is such a system that can solve the problem with the lowest number of creatures with potentially different algorithms. It turned out that the system CG-32a (32 creatures, algorithms C and G, alternating placed initially) is 31% respectively 33% more efficient than the reference systems. The relative efficiency was even higher when systems using the same algorithms were compared. Mixing different types of creatures resulted in efficiencies higher than one in 6% of all non-uniform systems.
Matryoshka: Tunneled packets breaking the rules

Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPSs) are widely used to secure computer networks. They monitor network traffic by searching for unusual combinations in protocol headers and for malicious patterns in the packet payloads. In this paper we present “Matryoshka”, a vulnerability that allows tunneled malicious packets to bypass the signature mapping procedures implemented in many industrial IDPS. Matryoshka is implemented as a tool and tested against Snort under different topologies and modes. To mitigate attacks that can be initialized using the bypassed tunneled malicious packets, a Snort preprocessor was developed and tested, and results demonstrated that all malicious tunneled packets were successfully detected. Processing overhead of the preprocessor to inspect and decapsulate tunneled packets was measured at 2% of the overall overhead of inspecting, decapsulating, and matching the malicious signature, and at 0:2% of the overall overhead of inspecting, decapsulating, assembling, and matching the signature.
An IP-Traceback-based Packet Filtering Scheme for Eliminating DDoS Attacks

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) is still an important security challenge for computer networks. Filter-based DDoS defense is considered as an effective approach, since it can defend against both victim-resource-consumption attacks and link-congestion attacks. However, the high possibility of false positive and the huge consumption of router resources reduce the practicality of existing filter-based approaches. In order to solve this problem, we propose a new mechanism to efficiently eliminate the impact caused by DDoS attacks. We utilize the IP traceback results to obtain an attack graph that contains the candidate filtering routers. Taking the different filtering performance of the routers in the attack graph into consideration, we propose a filtering scheme to determine a small set of filtering routers that would increase filtering performance and reduce false positive. Simulation results based on real-world network topologies demonstrate that the proposed scheme can reduce the damage caused by DDoS attacks effectively and maintain the loss of normal traffic within an acceptable level.
Adverse Outcomes of Anticoagulant Use among Hospitalized Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Comparison of the Rates of Major Bleeding Events between Unfractionated Heparin and Enoxaparin

Background Anticoagulation therapy is usually required in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for treatment or prevention of thromboembolic diseases. However, this benefit could easily be offset by the risk of bleeding. Objectives To determine the incidence of adverse outcomes of anticoagulants in hospitalized patients with CKD, and to compare the rates of major bleeding events between the unfractionated heparin (UFH) and enoxaparin users. Methods One year prospective observational study was conducted in patients with CKD stages 3 to 5 (estimated GFR, 10–59 ml/min/1.73 m2) who were admitted to the renal unit of Dubai Hospital. Propensity scores for the use of anticoagulants, estimated for each of the 488 patients, were used to identify a cohort of 117 pairs of patients. Cox regression method was used to estimate association between anticoagulant use and adverse outcomes. Results Major bleeding occurred in 1 in 3 patients who received anticoagulation during hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR], 4.61 [95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05–10.35]). Compared with enoxaparin users, patients who received anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin had a lower mean [SD] serum level of platelet counts (139.95 [113]×103/µL vs 205.56 [123] ×103/µL; P<0.001), and had a higher risk of major bleeding (HR, 4.79 [95% CI, 1.85–12.36]). Furthermore, compared with those who did not receive anticoagulants, patients who did had a higher in-hospital mortality (HR, 2.54 [95% CI, 1.03–6.25]); longer length of hospitalization (HR, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.01–1.06]); and higher hospital readmission at 30 days (HR, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.10–2.91]). Conclusions Anticoagulation among hospitalized patients with CKD was significantly associated with an increased risk of bleeding and in-hospital mortality. Hence, intensive monitoring and preventive measures such as laboratory monitoring and/or dose adjustment are warranted.
Bioluminescence tomography for media with spatially varying refractive index

Biomedical imaging has developed into the level of molecular imaging. Bioluminescence tomography (BLT), as an optical imaging modality, is a rapidly developing new and promising field. So far, much of the theoretical analysis of BLT is based on a diffusion approximation equation for media with constant refractive index. In this article, we study the BLT problem for media with spatially varying refractive index. We introduce a general framework with Tikhonov regularization for this purpose, present its well-posedness and establish the error bounds for its numerical solution by the finite element method. Numerical results are reported on simulations of the BLT problem for media with spatially varying refractive index.
Throughput analysis of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol in the presence of hidden nodes

The IEEE 802.15. 4 medium access control (MAC) protocol, which is widely used in current WSN deployments, does not provide any hidden node avoidance mechanisms. This leads to severe performance degradation in IEEE 802.15. 4 MAC protocol in the presence of hidden nodes. In this paper, we apply a discrete-time Markov Chain model to analyse the throughput of IEEE 802.15. 4 MAC protocol in the presence of hidden nodes. Based on the proposed model, the effects of network size, network topology, frame length and frame arrival rate on the throughput of the system are investigated.
Calling cards for DNA-binding proteins.

Identifying genomic targets of transcription factors is fundamental for understanding transcriptional regulatory networks. Current technology enables identification of all targets of a single transcription factor, but there is no realistic way to achieve the converse: identification of all proteins that bind to a promoter of interest. We have developed a method that promises to fill this void. It employs the yeast retrotransposon Ty5, whose integrase interacts with the Sir4 protein. A DNA-binding protein fused to Sir4 directs insertion of Ty5 into the genome near where it binds; the Ty5 becomes a "calling card" the DNA-binding protein leaves behind in the genome. We constructed customized calling cards for seven transcription factors of yeast by including in each Ty5 a unique DNA sequence that serves as a "molecular bar code. " Ty5 transposition was induced in a population of yeast cells, each expressing a different transcription factor-Sir4 fusion and its matched, bar-coded Ty5, and the calling cards deposited into selected regions of the genome were identified, revealing the transcription factors that visited that region of the genome. In each region we analyzed, we found calling cards for only the proteins known to bind there: In the GAL1-10 promoter we found only calling cards for Gal4; in the HIS4 promoter we found only Gcn4 calling cards; in the PHO5 promoter we found only Pho4 and Pho2 calling cards. We discuss how Ty5 calling cards might be implemented for mapping all targets of all transcription factors in a single experiment.
Motion estimation and compensation under varying illumination

In this paper we propose a new approach to motion-compensated filtering of image sequences that contain time-varying illumination. There are two contributions in this paper. First, we propose a new method for the estimation of dense 2-D motion that is robust to time-varying illumination often present in images. We define the structural model that is based on the assumption of intensity gradient constancy along motion trajectories. This is in contrast to the usual hypothesis of the intensity constancy. Secondly, we apply the proposed approach to motion-compensated temporal interpolation. We compare the image reconstruction error obtained using the new approach with the error obtained for standard models. <<ETX>>
Improving protein threading accuracy via combining local and global potential using TreeCRF model

Protein structure prediction remains to be an open problem in bioinformatics. There are two main categories of methods for protein structure prediction: Free Modeling (FM) and Template Based Modeling (TBM). Protein threading, belonging to the category of template based modeling, identifies the most likely fold with the target by making a sequence-structure alignment between target protein and template protein. Though protein threading has been shown to more be successful for protein structure prediction, it performs poorly for remote homology detection.
Hardware Random number Generator for cryptography

One of the key requirement of many schemes is that of random numbers. Sequence of random numbers are used at several stages of a standard cryptographic protocol. A simple example is of a Vernam cipher, where a string of random numbers is added to massage string to generate the encrypted code. It is represented as $C=M \oplus K $ where $M$ is the message, $K$ is the key and $C$ is the ciphertext. It has been mathematically shown that this simple scheme is unbreakable is key K as long as M and is used only once. For a good cryptosystem, the security of the cryptosystem is not be based on keeping the algorithm secret but solely on keeping the key secret. The quality and unpredictability of secret data is critical to securing communication by modern cryptographic techniques. Generation of such data for cryptographic purposes typically requires an unpredictable physical source of random data. In this manuscript, we present studies of three different methods for producing random number. We have tested them by studying its frequency, correlation as well as using the test suit from NIST.
Control of DC-DC Converters

A constant voltage regulator, to supply constant power loads, is realized using a Switched-capacitor converter. Exhaustive studies have been carried out to find the suitability of available control schemes and finally one control scheme investigated with (i) operation of the converter at different crossover frequencies (ii) operation of the converter at different phase Margins. Various operating modes have been analyzed and then a mathematical model is formulated to carry out the dynamic performance and controller design studies. State-space averaging method is employed in the modeling stage. The switched capacitor converter mathematical analysis, modeling and controller design of the single loop control scheme are presented and closed loop simulation results of the switched capacitor dc-dc converter with this control scheme are obtained through PSIM simulator. In the first stage a simple voltage-mode, single-loop; controller is adopted for load voltage regulation. Four important open-loop system small-signal model transfer functions required for controller design are derived, using these transfer functions together with the K-factor design oriented method the controller is designed to meet the frequency response specifications, gain margin and phase margin, and to ensure stability of the system. Taking this designed controller the closed-loop converter system is simulated in the PSIM power electronics simulator and tested the controller regulation capability against source and load disturbances. To verify the simulation results, experimental investigations have been carried out and the measured results are closely matching with the simulated results
50 Years of Progress in Speech and Speaker Recognition Research

Research in automatic speech and speaker recognition has now spanned five decades. This paper surveys the major themes and advances made in the past fifty years of research so as to provide a technological perspective and an appreciation of the fundamental progress that has been accomplished in this important area of speech communication. Although many techniques have been developed, many challenges have yet to be overcome before we can achieve the ultimate goal of creating machines that can communicate naturally with people. Such a machine needs to be able to deliver a satisfactory performance under a broad range of operating conditions. A much greater understanding of the human speech process is required before automatic speech and speaker recognition systems can approach human performance.
Highly Efficient Transfer of Chromosomes to a Broad Range of Target Cells Using Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Expressing Murine Leukemia Virus-Derived Envelope Proteins

Microcell-mediated chromosome transfer (MMCT) is an essential step for introducing chromosomes from donor cells to recipient cells. MMCT allows not only for genetic/epigenetic analysis of specific chromosomes, but also for utilization of human and mouse artificial chromosomes (HACs/MACs) as gene delivery vectors. Although the scientific demand for genome scale analyses is increasing, the poor transfer efficiency of the current method has hampered the application of chromosome engineering technology. Here, we developed a highly efficient chromosome transfer method, called retro-MMCT, which is based on Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing envelope proteins derived from ecotropic or amphotropic murine leukemia viruses. Using this method, we transferred MACs to NIH3T3 cells with 26.5 times greater efficiency than that obtained using the conventional MMCT method. Retro-MMCT was applicable to a variety of recipient cells, including embryonic stem cells. Moreover, retro-MMCT enabled efficient transfer of MAC to recipient cells derived from humans, monkeys, mice, rats, and rabbits. These results demonstrate the utility of retro-MMCT for the efficient transfer of chromosomes to various types of target cell.
A review of process metrics in defect prediction studies

Process metrics appear to be an effective addition to software defect prediction models usually built upon product metrics. We present a review of research studies that investigate process metrics in defect prediction. The following process metrics are discussed: Number of Revisions, Number of Distinct Committers, Number of Modified Lines, Is New and Number of Defects in Previous Revision. We not only introduce the definitions of the aforementioned process metrics but also present the most important results, recent advances and the summary regarding the use of these metrics in software defect prediction models, as well as the taxonomy of the analysed process metrics.
Exploring the contribution of phonological memory to metasyntactic abilities in bilingual children

ABSTRACT The contribution of phonological memory to syntactic abilities has been demonstrated in various populations, but its relationship to metasyntactic abilities, defined as the ability to control syntactic aspects of language, remains largely unexplored. This study therefore aims to examine the contribution of phonological memory in the completion of two metasyntactic tasks: an ungrammatical sentence repetition and an error replication task. Eighty-three bilingual children (Mage = 10.5) completed the two metasyntactic tasks as well as tasks meant to control for lexical knowledge and syntactic abilities. A nonword repetition task measured phonological memory. Contrary to theoretical arguments which suggest that completion of both these tasks demonstrates the effect of phonological memory on metasyntactic abilities, the results show that phonological memory contributes significantly to metasyntactic abilities, only when measured by the repetition of ungrammatical sentences. Results suggest that different metasyntactic tasks rely differently on underlying linguistic and cognitive abilities.
Loads and loads and loads: the influence of prospective load, retrospective load, and ongoing task load in prospective memory

In prospective memory tasks different kinds of load can occur. Adding a prospective memory task can impose a load on ongoing task performance. Adding ongoing task load (OTL) can affect prospective memory performance. The existence of multiple target events increases prospective load (PL) and adding complexity to the to-be-remembered action increases retrospective load (RL). In two experiments, we systematically examined the effects of these different types of load on prospective memory performance. Results showed an effect of PL on costs in the ongoing task for categorical targets (Experiment 2), but not for specific targets (Experiment 1). RL and OTL both affected remembering the retrospective component of the prospective memory task. We suggest that PL can enhance costs in the ongoing task due to additional monitoring requirements. RL and OTL seem to impact the division of resources between the ongoing task and retrieval of the retrospective component, which may affect disengagement from the ongoing task. In general, the results demonstrate that the different types of load affect prospective memory differentially.
SNR estimation for constant envelope signals in AWGN channel

This paper presents a way of SNR estimation based on envelopes of the signals. To analyze the properties of the algorithm, we used MATLAB to simulate MPSK signals and implemented the algorithm in hardware. The results indicate that the algorithm estimates the signals accurately if provided with enough data. The complexity is low enough for a hardware-implementation for real-time estimation to be feasible.
Developing a heterogeneous intrusion tolerant CORBA system

Intrusion tolerant systems provide high-integrity and high-availability services to their clients in the face of successful attacks from an adversary. The Intrusion Tolerant Distributed Object Systems (ITDOS) research project is developing an architecture for a heterogeneous intrusion tolerant distributed object system. ITDOS integrates a Byzantine Fault Tolerant multicast protocol into an open-source CORBA ORB to provide intrusion tolerant middleware. This foundation allows up to f simultaneous Byzantine failures of replicated servers in a system of at least 3f+1 replicas. Voting on unmarshalled CORBA messages allows heterogeneous application implementations for a given service, allowing for greater diversity in implementation and greater survivability. Symmetric encryption session keys generated by distributed pseudo-random function techniques provide confidential client-server communications. This paper overviews the ITDOS architecture, discusses some of the challenging technical issues related to intrusion tolerance in heterogeneous middleware systems, and offers views on future areas of work.