Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Higher Mode Observation By the MASW Method

A higher mode (the first overtone) of high frequency (5–30 Hz) surface waves was observed by using the multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method at three boreholes located in unconsolidated sediments in the Fraser River Delta, near Vancouver, British Columbia. Each site has a unique near-surface shear (S)-wave velocity (Vs) structure as verified from downhole Vs measurements. The relative dominance of higher mode energy is examined in association with source distance as well as Vs structure. Our examination indicates that energy of higher modes tends to become more significant as the source distance becomes greater. It also reveals that the dominance may be related to a Vs structure: a greater dominance as Vs changes little with depth, or Vs has an overall low value, or a combination. The dependency on the source distance is observed to be stronger than that on the Vs structure. Attempts are made to explain the dependency by referring to one or a combination of three factors: attenuation, the nearfield effects, and the intrinsic nature of surface waves. Inclusion of higher mode during a surface wave measurement for near-surface (<30 m) application can be either an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on the specific type of application and the method used during the data acquisition and processing steps. It is, therefore, important to recognize through field observations those conditions both favorable and unfavorable to the generation of higher modes of high-frequency surface waves.
Automated drusen segmentation in fundus images for diagnosing age related macular degeneration

Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is an eye abnormality due to deposits of drusen on the retina and the disease may cause severe blindness. Early detection of ARMD using a computerized system can save patient's vision. The ophthalmologists can find this system useful for screening of ARMD. This paper presents a novel method for accurate detection of drusen in colored retinal images. The system uses filter bank to extract all possible drusen regions form retinal image and eliminates false pixels which appear because of resemblance of drusen with optic disc. The proposed system represents each region with a number of features and then applies support vector machine to classify these regions as drusen and non-drusen. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated by testing it on STARE database using parameters such as sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The validity of the proposed method is also shown by comparing it with already published methods.
The PARTY Partitioning Library User Guide - Version 1.1

The problem of partitioning a graph into a number of pieces is one of the fundamental tasks in computer science and has a number of applications e.g. in parallel programming or VLSI design. Finding optimal partitions according to diierent measures is in most cases NP-complete. Nevertheless, a large number of eecient partitioning heuristics have been developed during recent years. The performance of these methods in terms of computation time as well as quality of approximation is heavily innuenced by choices of parameters and certain implementation details. Fortunately, the partitioning problem itself is clearly deened and its description leads to a small interface. Thus, eecient implementations of approximation heuristics can be re-used for diierent applications. The PARTY partitioning library serves a variety of diierent partitioning methods in a very simple and easy way. Instead of implementing the methods directly, the user may take advantage of the ready implemented methods of the library. All implementations include latest developments to increase the performance of the partitioning heuristics. Two kinds of interfaces allow the use as stand-alone tool as well as the inclusion into application codes. The data-structures used as interface to PARTY are simple and easy to generate. Several research projects currently use the PARTY partitioning library to solve the partitioning problem.
Analysis of IRS imagery for detecting man-made objects with a multivalued recognition system

The present work describes a method of analyzing Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite imagery for detecting various man-made objects, namely, roads, bridges, airports, seaports, city area and town-ship/industrial areas. A multivalued recognition system has initially been used to classify the image pixels into six land cover types by providing multiple choices of classes. In order to identify certain targets, some spatial knowledge about them and their inter-relationships have been incorporated on the clustered image using some heuristic rules. The use of multiple class choices makes the detection procedures effective.
Effectiveness of Two Methods for Preparation of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma: An Experimental Study in Rabbits

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the quantity and quality of platelets in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) samples prepared using either the single- or the double-centrifugation protocol. Methods: Ten adult white New Zealand rabbits were used. Ten ml of blood were drawn from each animal via cardiac puncture. Each blood sample was divided into two equal parts for PRP preparation: 5 ml of blood were centrifuged according to a single-centrifugation protocol (Group I), and 5 ml were centrifuged according to a double-centrifugation protocol (Group II). Manual platelet counts were performed on the whole blood and PRP samples of each group. Smears were also done on all samples in order to see the morphology of the platelets. The data obtained in the manual platelet count were submitted to statistical analysis (repeated measures ANOVA, Tukey, P<.05). Results: The average whole blood platelet count was 446,389/μl. The PRP samples in Group II presented an average platelet amount significantly higher than that of Group I (1,986,875 ± 685,020/μl and 781,875 ± 217,693/μl, respectively). The PRP smears from Group II were the only one to present platelets with altered morphology (75% of the smears). A few lymphocytes with increased cytoplasm were observed in the PRP smears of both Groups I (25% of the smears) and II (62.5% of the smears). Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that the double-centrifugation protocol resulted in higher platelet concentrations than did the single-centrifugation protocol. However, the double-centrifugation protocol caused alterations in platelet morphology and was more sensitive to small processing errors.
A functional localizer for identifying brain regions engaged in prosodic processing in individual subjects

Prosody is an important cue for constraining interpretation. Brain imaging methods – fMRI in particular – have the potential to shed light on the mechanisms that support prosodic processing, but one widespread problem with previous neuroimaging studies of language is that they almost exclusively rely on group-based analyses where brains are aligned in a common space. Due to inter-individual differences in brain anatomy [1-3], functional activations do not line up well, leading to decreased sensitivity and selectivity [4-6]. Furthermore, traditional group analyses make it difficult to establish a cumulative research enterprise because if different patterns of results are obtained across studies, there is no way to determine which results are (more) valid [7].
Scalable Discrete Sampling as a Multi-Armed Bandit Problem

Drawing a sample from a discrete distribution is one of the building components for Monte Carlo methods. Like other sampling algorithms, discrete sampling suffers from the high computational burden in large-scale inference problems. We study the problem of sampling a discrete random variable with a high degree of dependency that is typical in large-scale Bayesian inference and graphical models, and propose an efficient approximate solution with a subsampling approach. We make a novel connection between the discrete sampling and Multi-Armed Bandits problems with a finite reward population and provide three algorithms with theoretical guarantees. Empirical evaluations show the robustness and efficiency of the approximate algorithms in both synthetic and real-world large-scale problems.
Syntheses of 4′-thioribonucleosides and thermodynamic stability and crystal structure of RNA oligomers with incorporated 4′-thiocytosine

A facile synthetic route for the 4′-thioribonucleoside building block 4′SN (N = U, C, A and G) with the ribose O4′ replaced by sulfur is presented. Conversion of l-lyxose to 1,5-di-O-acetyl-2,3-di-O-benzoyl-4-thio-d-ribofuranose was achieved via an efficient four-step synthesis with high yield. Conversion of the thiosugar into the four ribonucleoside phosphoramidite building blocks was accomplished with additional four steps in each case. Incorporation of 4′-thiocytidines into oligoribonucleotides improved the thermal stability of the corresponding duplexes by ∼1°C per modification, irrespective of whether the strand contained a single modification or a consecutive stretch of 4′SC residues. The gain in thermodynamic stability is comparable to that observed with oligoribonucleotides containing 2′-O-methylated residues. To establish potential conformational changes in RNA as a result of the 4′-thio modification and to better understand the origins of the observed stability changes, the crystal structure of the oligonucleotide 5′-r(CC4′SCCGGGG) was determined and analyzed using the previously solved structure of the native RNA octamer as a reference. The two 4′-thioriboses adopt conformations that are very similar to the C3′-endo pucker observed for the corresponding sugars in the native duplex. Subtle changes in the local geometry of the modified duplex are mostly due to the larger radius of sulfur compared to oxygen or appear to be lattice-induced. The significantly increased RNA affinity of 4′-thio-modified RNA relative to RNA, and the relatively minor conformational changes caused by the modification render this nucleic acid analog an interesting candidate for in vitro and in vivo applications, including use in RNA interference (RNAi), antisense, ribozyme, decoy and aptamer technologies.
Event Based Mobility Model for Subway Scenarios

High cost and complexity of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) testbeds let simulation as the best solution to experiment MANETs protocols and applications. Thus improving current simulation tools become crucial to provide valuable results. Mobility and propagation models are key element to realistically simulate user's behaviour and wave propagations and therefore assure the validity of the simulations results. Unfortunately, accurate mobility models are complex and consider a wide range of parameters. Indeed to reflect reality every detail which may modify the mobility of users has to be included in the models. Consequently most of the realistic simulations models are not scalable and involve excessive computation time. Furthermore, these models are very generic and fail to capture the impact of event in real environments. In this paper we present an accurate subway mobility model which requires only few parameters. Moreover the simulated environment represents an application prolific context which can easily be set up. Finally we provide average simulation execution time for large networks and a comparison with the random waypoint model.
Goat Meat Does Not Cause Increased Blood Pressure

While there are persistent rumors that the consumption of goat meat dishes increases blood pressure, there is no scientific evidence to support this. Two experiments were conducted to clarify whether or not blood pressure increases in conjunction with the consumption of goat meat dishes. In experiment 1, 24 Dahl/Iwai rats (15 weeks old, body weight 309.3±11.1 g) were evenly separated into 4 groups. The control group (CP) was fed a diet containing 20% chicken and 0.3% salt on a dry matter basis. The goat meat group (GM) was fed a diet containing 20% goat meat and 0.3% salt. The goat meat/salt group (GS) was fed a diet containing 20% goat meant and 3% to 4% salt. The Okinawan mugwort (Artemisia Princeps Pampan)/salt group (GY) was fed a diet containing 20% goat meat, 3% to 4% salt and 5% of freeze-dried mugwort powder. The experiment 1 ran for a period of 14 weeks during which time the blood pressure of the animals was recorded. The GS, and GY groups consumed significantly more water (p<0.01) than the CP and GM groups despite the fact that their diet consumption levels were similar. The body weight of animals in the CP, GM, and GS groups was similar while the animals in the GY group were significantly smaller (p<0.01). The blood pressure in the GM group was virtually the same as the CP group throughout the course of the experiment. In contrast, while the blood pressure of the animals in the GS and GY group from 15 to 19 weeks old was the same as the CP group, their blood pressures were significantly higher (p<0.01) after 20 weeks of age. The GY group tended to have lower blood pressure than the GS group. In experiment 2, in order to clarify whether or not the increase in blood pressure in the GS group and the GY group in experiment 1 was caused by an excessive intake of salt, the effects on blood pressure of a reduction of salt in diet were investigated. When amount of salt in the diet of the GS and GY group was reduced from 4% to 0.3%, the animal’s blood pressure returned to normotensive. These results indicate that, as in the case of chicken consumption, prolonged consumption of goat meat does not cause increased blood pressure, rather the large amount of salt used in the preparation of goat meat dishes is responsible for the increase in blood pressure.
Association of Lipids with Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Subclinical Hypothyroidism

Objective. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 20) and health controls (n = 20). Subjects and Methods. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and arylesterase (ARE) were analyzed. Results. TC, LDL-C, TBARS, and CAT were higher in subclinical hypothyroidism patients, whereas SOD did not change. Arylesterase activity was significantly lower in the SH group, compared with the control group. Correlation analyses revealed the association of lipids (TC and LDL-C) with both oxidative stress biomarkers and thyrotropin (TSH). Thyroid hormones were correlated only with triglyceride levels. In addition, TSH was significantly correlated with TBARS, CAT, and SOD. However, no significant correlations were observed after controlling TC levels. Conclusions. We found that SH patients are under increased oxidative stress manifested by reduced ARE activity and elevated lipoperoxidation and CAT activity. Secondary hypercholesterolemia to thyroid dysfunction and not hypothyroidism per se appears to be associated with oxidative stress in subclinical hypothyroidism.
Economic Cooperation in an Uncertain World

1. Introduction. 2. A Theoretical Framework for Modelling the Open Economy. 3. The Theory of Policy Coordination Under Uncertainty. 4. An Example: The Stock market Crash of October 1987. 5. Alternative Empirical Models of the Open Economy. 6. Model Uncertainty and the Gains from Coordination: An Empirical Analysis. 7. Cooperation versus Coordination. 8. On the Sustainability of Cooperative Agreements. 9. Issues in Bargaining. 10. Conclusions. Appendix - Cooperation and Coordination in Historical Perspective. Bibliography. Index.
Improving late life depression and cognitive control through the use of therapeutic video game technology: A proof‐of‐concept randomized trial

Existing treatments for depression are known to have only modest effects, are insufficiently targeted, and are inconsistently utilized, particularly in older adults. Indeed, older adults with impaired cognitive control networks tend to demonstrate poor response to a majority of existing depression interventions. Cognitive control interventions delivered using entertainment software have the potential to not only target the underlying cerebral dysfunction associated with depression, but to do so in a manner that is engaging and engenders adherence to treatment protocol.
Peroxiredoxin 1 promotes invasion and migration by regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition during oral carcinogenesis

Tobacco smoking is the major risk factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Previously, we found that nicotine up-regulates peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1), an important antioxidant enzyme, and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) in OSCC cells. However, the molecular mechanism of Prx1 in oral carcinogenesis remains obscure. To improve our understanding of the functional role of Prx1 during the cascade of tobacco-associated oral carcinogenesis, we characterized Prx1, NFκB, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers including E-cadherin, vimentin and Snail in 30 primary oral tumors (15 from smokers with OSCC and 15 from non-smokers with OSCC) and 10 normal oral mucosa specimens from healthy individuals. The expression levels of Prx1, nuclear NFκB, vimentin and Snail were higher in the tumors from smokers with OSCC than in those from non-smokers with OSCC or the healthy controls. The expression levels of E-cadherin showed an opposite trend. Prx1 silencing suppressed the nicotine-induced EMT, cell invasion and migration in SCC15 cells in vitro. Furthermore, Prx1 activated the NFκB pathway in SCC15 cells. Prx1 might therefore play an oncogenic role in tobacco-related OSCC and thus serve as a target for chemopreventive and therapeutic interventions.
Efficient Clustering Algorithms for Computing Better Local Optima

Clustering with most objective functions is NP-Hard, even to approximate well. However, in many settings it is often sufficient to find a good locally optimal solution than a true global one. This is evident from the vast empirical success of heuristics such as the k-means algorithm. In this paper, we formally initiate study of the problem of efficiently computing a good local optimum to a non-convex problem. We study this in the context of clustering and design polynomial time algorithms that can indeed achieve the desired output. Furthermore, our model naturally takes into account the fact that often there is uncertainty in choosing the right value of k. We design algorithms that can output a good locally optimal solution even when the value of k is unknown.
The Crucial Point in Time Where Thai Students Are Introduced English Language Writing.

There have been interests in finding appropriate ways in which students learn to write in English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL). Educators should be aware that ESL/EFL learners are less privileged in terms of exposure to the target language when compared to their English native speaker counterparts. Ironically, writing instructions to date are based on first language writing theory. This paper aims at examining relevant factors which instigate Thai EFL learners to write English in their home country where it is not commonly used in both media and daily communication. The data were collected from seven English majors and two writing teachers from two leading universities in Thailand through an open-ended questionnaire and interviewed and relevant documents. Then, they were analysed qualitatively. Results showed that only students who chose to major in English at universities in Thailand were given opportunities to experience writing skills. Theoretical lacks in existing literature related to introduction of English writing to ESL/EFL learners and how the present argument fulfills the gap were highlighted. Towards the end, it concludes with some insights for teachers and educators of students who live in similar EFL contexts. It is hoped that an informed and systematic implementation of English curriculum in Thailand will be materialized.
Recognizing Human Activities by Key Frame in Video Sequences

This paper presents a new method of human activity recognition, which is based on R transform and dynamic time warping (DTW) after the key frame is extracted from a cycle. For a key binary human silhouette, R transform is employed to represent low-level features. The advantage of the R transform lies in its low computational complexity and geometric invariance. The DTW distance based on the extracted features are calculated and compared similarities to recognize activities. Compared with other methods, ours is superior because the descriptor is robust to frame loss in the video sequence, disjoint silhouettes and holes in the shape, and thus achieves better performance in similar activities recognition, simple representation, computational complexity and template generalization. Sufficient experiments have proved the efficiency.
The importance of proofs of security for key establishment protocols q Formal analysis of Jan – Chen , Yang – Shen – Shieh

Despite the importance of proofs in assuring protocol implementers about the security properties of key establishment protocols, many protocol designers fail to provide any proof of security. Flaws detected long after the publication and/or implementation of protocols will erode the credibility of key establishment protocols. We revisit recent work of Choo, Boyd, Hitchcock, Maitland where they utilize the Bellare, Pointcheval, Rogaway (Authenticated key exchange secure against dictionary attacks, in: B. Preneel (Ed.), Advances in Cryptology – Eurocrypt 2000, Springer-Verlag, LNCS 1807/2000, pp. 139–155, 2000) computational complexity proof model in a machine specification and analysis (using an automated model checker – SHVT) for provably secure key establishment protocol analysis. We then examine several key establishment protocols without proofs of security, namely: protocols due to J.-K. Jan, Y. -H. Chen (A new efficient MAKEP for wireless communications, in: 18th International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications – AINA 2004, IEEE Computer Society, pp. 347–350, 2004), W. -H. Yang, J.-C. Shen, S. -P. Shieh (Designing authentication protocols against guessing attacks. Technical Report 2(3), Institute of Information & Computing Machinery, Taiwan, 1999. http:// www.iicm. org.tw/communication/c2_3/page07.doc), Y. -S. Kim, E. -N. Huh, J. Hwang, B. -W. Lee (An efficient key agreement protocol for secure authentication, in: A. Laganà, M.L. Gavrilova, V. Kumar, Y. Mun, C.J.K. Tan, O. Gervasi (Eds.), International Conference On Computational Science And Its Applications – ICCSA 2004, Springer-Verlag, LNCS 3043/2004, pp. 746-754, 2004), C. -L. Lin, H. -M. Sun, T. Hwang. (Three-party encrypted key exchange: attacks and a solution, in: A CM SIGOPS Operating Systems Review, pp. 12–20, 2000), and H. -T. Yeh, H. -M. Sun (Simple authenticated key agreement protocol resistant to password guessing attacks, in: A CM SIGOPS Operating Systems Review, 36(4), pp. 14–22, 2002). Using these protocols as case studies, we demonstrate previously unpublished flaws in these protocols. We may speculate that such errors could have been found by protocol designers if proofs of security were to be constructed, and hope this work will encourage future protocol designers to provide proofs of security. 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.