Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling Slotted Aloha as a Stochastic Game with Random Discrete Power Selection Algorithms

We consider the uplink case of a cellular system where m bufferless mobiles transmit over a common channel to a base station, using the slotted aloha medium access protocol. We study the performance of this system under several power differentiation schemes. Indeed, we consider a random set of selectable transmission powers and further study the impact of priorities given either to new arrival packets or to the backlogged ones. Later, we address a general capture model where a mobile transmits successfully a packet if its instantaneous SINR (signal to interferences plus noise ratio) is lager than some fixed threshold. Under this capture model, we analyze both the cooperative team in which a common goal is jointly optimized as well as the noncooperative game problem where mobiles reach to optimize their own objectives. Furthermore, we derive the throughput and the expected delay and use them as the objectives to optimize and provide a stability analysis as alternative study. Exhaustive performance evaluations were carried out, we show that schemes with power differentiation improve significantly the individual as well as global performances, and could eliminate in some cases the bi-stable nature of slotted aloha.
Doporu£ení Mezinárodní asociace medicínské informatiky (IMIA) t˝kající se vzd¥lávání v biomedicínské a zdravotnické informatice - První revize

Cil: Mezinarodni asociace medicinske informatiky (IMIA)se dohodla na revizi stavajicich mezinarodnich doporu-ceni týkajicich se vzdělavani ve zdravotnicke informa-tice/medicinskeinformatice. Tatodoporucenibymělapo-moci ustavit kurzy, zkusebni okruhy nebo dokonce kom-pletni programy v teto oblasti, dale rozvinout existujicivzdělavaci aktivity v různých statech a podpořit mezina-rodniaktivitytýkajicisevzdělavanivbiomedicinskeazdra-votnickeinformatice(BMZI),zejmenamezinarodniaktivityvevzdělavaniodbornikůvBMZIamělabypomocisdiletvýukovýsoftware. Metoda: Pracovni skupina IMIA, ktera byla navrženavroce2006,pracovalanaaktualizaciprvniverzeDoporu-ceni.TytoaktualizacebylysirocediskutovanyavylepsenyclenynarodnichspolecnostiIMIA,clenyakademickýchin-stituci IMIA a cleny pracovni skupiny IMIA zaměřene navzdělavanivezdravotnickeamedicinskeinformatice. Výsledky a zavěry: Doporuceni IMIA se soustřeďuji navzdělavacipotřebyodbornikůvezdravotnictvi,abyziskaliznalosti a dovednosti ve zpracovavani informaci a v in-formacnichakomunikacnichtechnologiich. Vzdělavacipo-třebyjsoupopsanyvtřidimenzionalnimramci. Dimenze jsou: 1) odbornici v oblasti zdravotnicke pece(např.lekaři,zdravotnisestry,odbornicivBMZI),2)druhspecializace v BMZI (IT uživatele, specialiste na BMZI)a 3) stupeň profesniho postupu (bakalařský, magisterský,doktorský). Výsledkyucenijsoudeﬁnovanynazakladězna-lostiapraktickýchdovednostiprozdravotnickeodbornikyvjejichrolicha)jakoITuživatelůab)jakospecialistůnaBMZI. Doporucenijsouuvedenaprokurzy/cyklypřednasekv BMZI jako soucast vzdělavacich programů v medicině,osetřovatelstvi, managementu zdravotni pece, zubnim le-kařstvi,farmacii,veřejnemzdravotnictvi,administracizdra-votnichzaznamůainformatiky/pocitacovevědy,stejnětakjakoprospecializovaneprogramyvBMZI(sbakalařským,magisterskýmnebodoktorskýmstupněm). Na podporu vzdělavani v BMZI nabizi IMIA uděleni cer-tiﬁkatuprovysocekvalitnivzdělavanivBMZI. Podporujevýměnu informaci o programech a kurzech v BMZI pro-střednictvimsvepracovniskupinyprovzdělavanivezdra-votnickeamedicinskeinformatice.
An Orientation Sensor-Based Head Tracking System for Driver Behaviour Monitoring

Although at present legislation does not allow drivers in a Level 3 autonomous vehicle to engage in a secondary task, there may become a time when it does. Monitoring the behaviour of drivers engaging in various non-driving activities (NDAs) is crucial to decide how well the driver will be able to take over control of the vehicle. One limitation of the commonly used face-based head tracking system, using cameras, is that sufficient features of the face must be visible, which limits the detectable angle of head movement and thereby measurable NDAs, unless multiple cameras are used. This paper proposes a novel orientation sensor based head tracking system that includes twin devices, one of which measures the movement of the vehicle while the other measures the absolute movement of the head. Measurement error in the shaking and nodding axes were less than 0.4°, while error in the rolling axis was less than 2°. Comparison with a camera-based system, through in-house tests and on-road tests, showed that the main advantage of the proposed system is the ability to detect angles larger than 20° in the shaking and nodding axes. Finally, a case study demonstrated that the measurement of the shaking and nodding angles, produced from the proposed system, can effectively characterise the drivers’ behaviour while engaged in the NDAs of chatting to a passenger and playing on a smartphone.
Interactive contour delineation of organs at risk in radiotherapy: Clinical evaluation on NSCLC patients.

PURPOSE Accurate delineation of organs at risk (OARs) on computed tomography (CT) image is required for radiation treatment planning (RTP). Manual delineation of OARs being time consuming and prone to high interobserver variability, many (semi-) automatic methods have been proposed. However, most of them are specific to a particular OAR. Here, an interactive computer-assisted system able to segment various OARs required for thoracic radiation therapy is introduced. METHODS Segmentation information (foreground and background seeds) is interactively added by the user in any of the three main orthogonal views of the CT volume and is subsequently propagated within the whole volume. The proposed method is based on the combination of watershed transformation and graph-cuts algorithm, which is used as a powerful optimization technique to minimize the energy function. The OARs considered for thoracic radiation therapy are the lungs, spinal cord, trachea, proximal bronchus tree, heart, and esophagus. The method was evaluated on multivendor CT datasets of 30 patients. Two radiation oncologists participated in the study and manual delineations from the original RTP were used as ground truth for evaluation. RESULTS Delineation of the OARs obtained with the minimally interactive approach was approved to be usable for RTP in nearly 90% of the cases, excluding the esophagus, which segmentation was mostly rejected, thus leading to a gain of time ranging from 50% to 80% in RTP. Considering exclusively accepted cases, overall OARs, a Dice similarity coefficient higher than 0.7 and a Hausdorff distance below 10 mm with respect to the ground truth were achieved. In addition, the interobserver analysis did not highlight any statistically significant difference, at the exception of the segmentation of the heart, in terms of Hausdorff distance and volume difference. CONCLUSIONS An interactive, accurate, fast, and easy-to-use computer-assisted system able to segment various OARs required for thoracic radiation therapy has been presented and clinically evaluated. The introduction of the proposed system in clinical routine may offer valuable new option to radiation oncologists in performing RTP.
A new hybrid-structure machine with multi-mode fault-tolerant operation for Mars Rover

Recently, Mars exploring draws more and more attention due to the successful landing of Mars Rovers. It was over 64 months for the Spirit Rover working on Mars. Also, since January 25, 2004, the Opportunity Rover works over 10 years on Mars. These two Rovers work much longer than their design period of 3 months. Furthermore, another NASA Mars Rover, the Curiosity Rover, works very actively on Mars. Thus, it tells that the electromagnetic devices are capable to survive in the Mars Environment. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new hybrid-structure machine for Mars Rover driving, which possesses the multi-mode fault-tolerant merit. That is, the propose machine possesses three operation modes, namely Mode I: the normal operation mode, Mode II: the remedial field-excited operation mode, and Mode III: the remedial rotor operation mode. By using the finite-element-method, three operation modes are analyzed and discussed. The analysis results show that the proposed machine achieves the high fault-tolerant operating capability. And this capability demonstrates that the machine can serve for Mars Rover in a severe environment.
A study on the factors influencing license income of technology commercialization in United States Universities

Although high-tech industries and academics have the capability of research and development for technologies, the capability of technology commercialization is considered to be more important. If they only do R&D without commercialization, it might lead to no returns. Due to the spur of US governmental policies, research-oriented purposes in universities are switched to industrial purposes instead of science purposes. After the Bayh-Dole Act was enacted in 1980, the activities of technology transfer between academics and industries dramatically boosted. The factors, which influence the performances of technology transfer, were proposed by some pervious researches, and most of them suggested that researches expenditure, patents, and published articles carry significant weight. According to some case studies of famous journal, they pointed out that patents have no contribution. This study uses AUTM licensing survey to figure out the relationship between issued patents, published articles, and technology commercialization. The result of the study shows that published articles do have an effect, but issued patents do not make a significant effect on technology commercialization.
Development of a subwavelength grating vortex coronagraph of topological charge 4 (SGVC4)

One possible solution to achieve high contrast direct imaging at a small inner working angle (IWA) is to use a vector vortex coronagraph (VVC), which provides a continuous helical phase ramp in the focal plane of the telescope with a phase singularity in its center. Such an optical vortex is characterized by its topological charge, i.e., the number of times the phase accumulates 2π radians along a closed path surrounding the singularity. Over the past few years, we have been developing a charge-2 VVC induced by rotationally symmetric subwavelength gratings (SGVC2), also known as the Annular Groove Phase Mask (AGPM). Since 2013, several SGVC2s (or AGPMs) were manufactured using synthetic diamond substrate, then validated on dedicated optical benches, and installed on 10-m class telescopes. Increasing the topological charge seems however mandatory for cancelling the light of bright stars which will be partially resolved by future Extremely Large Telescopes in the near-infrared. In this paper, we first detail our motivations for developing an SGVC4 (charge 4) dedicated to the near-infrared domain. The challenge lies in the design of the pattern which is unrealistic in the theoretically perfect case, due to state-of-the-art manufacturing limitations. Hence, we propose a new realistic design of SGVC4 with minimized discontinuities and optimized phase ramp, showing conclusive improvements over previous works in this field. A preliminary validation of our concept is given based on RCWA simulations, while full 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations (and eventually laboratory tests) will be required for a final validation.
Rational modeling of spectral data using orthonormal vector fitting

Vector fitting (VF) is an iterative rational macromodeling technique by B. Gustavsen and A. Semlyen (1999) that became quite popular over the last years, due to its simplicity and availability. Although the VF method provides accurate broadband macromodels, the numerical stability of the algorithm is not always optimal. In this paper, the orthonormal vector fitting (OVF) algorithm is introduced, which reduces the numerical sensitivity of the model parameterization to the choice of starting poles significantly, and limits the number of required iterations.
The Cosmic Microwave Background and Earth ' s Core-Mantle Boundary : A Tale of Two CMBs

The published uncertainties of estimates of cosmic microwave background (CMB) heterogeneity based on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) differential microwave radiometer (DMR) experiment are much too small: they neglect a systematic modelling error that can exceed the estimates. The same systematic modelling error pervades images of the topography of Earth's core-mantle boundary (also called the CMB) from earthquake travel-time data. In both problems, parametric models (truncated spherical harmonic expansions and/or pixel representations) have been fit by least-squares to noisy, unevenly distributed data on the sphere. The part of the "true" CMB that can not be expressed in the parametric representation gives rise to a systematic error that is formally infinite, unless additional constraints beyond the data are imposed. Even with optimistic assumptions about the neglected terms, the total uncertainty is comparable to the published structure. Inferences about individual spherical harmonic coefficients, about overall spectral shapes, and about pointwise values are all affected.
Fault-Tolerant Scheduling Framework for MedioGRID System

This paper presents a fault-tolerant scheduling framework that is mapped on the architecture of MedioGRID, a real-time satellite image processing system operating in a grid environment. Our study addresses the problem of fault-tolerant system for tasks execution. In MedioGRID, scheduling various computationally intensive and data intensive applications require information from satellite images. The proposed solution provides a fault-tolerant mechanism of mapping the image processing applications, on the available resources in MedioGRID clusters and uniform access. Various applications require simultaneous processing. Our approach demonstrates a very good behavior in the case of scheduling and executing groups of applications, while also achieving an optimized utilization of the resources in the system. We also survey the features of the Globus framework and the way these techniques can be applied on the MedioGRID architecture and highlight some solutions in order to enhance the fault tolerance at the MedioGRID application level, both simple and parallel.
Comparison of the short-term biological effects of 7alpha-[9-(4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoropentylsulfinyl)-nonyl]estra-1,3,5, (10)-triene-3,17beta-diol (Faslodex) versus tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer.

7Alpha-[9-(4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoropentylsulfinyl)-nonyl]estra-1,3,5, (10)-triene-3,17beta-diol (ICI 182,780; Faslodex) is a novel steroidal antiestrogen. This partially blind, randomized, multicenter study compared the effects of single doses of long-acting ICI 182,780 with tamoxifen or placebo on estrogen receptor (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PgR) content, Ki67 proliferation-associated antigen labeling index (Ki67LI), and the apoptotic index in the primary breast tumors of postmenopausal women. Previously untreated patients (stages T(1)-T(3); ER-positive or -unknown) were randomized and received a single i.m. dose of ICI 182,780 50 mg (n = 39), ICI 182,780 125 mg (n = 38), or ICI 182,780 250 mg (n = 44) or oral tamoxifen 20 mg daily (n = 36) or matching tamoxifen placebo (n = 43) for 14-21 days before tumor resection surgery with curative intent. The ER and PgR H-scores, together with the Ki67LI were determined immunohistochemically in the matched pretreatment biopsy and the posttreatment surgical specimens. The apoptotic index was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling on the same samples. The effects of treatment on each of these parameters were compared using analysis of covariance. ICI 182,780 produced dose-dependent reductions in ER and PgR H-scores and in the Ki67LI. The reductions in ER expression were statistically significant at all doses of ICI 182,780 compared with placebo (ICI 182,780 50 mg, P = 0.026; 125 mg, P = 0.006; 250 mg, P = 0.0001), and for ICI 182,780 250 mg compared with tamoxifen (P = 0.024). For PgR H-score, there were statistically significant reductions after treatment with ICI 182,780 125 mg (P = 0.003) and 250 mg (P = 0.0002) compared with placebo. In contrast, tamoxifen produced a significant increase in the PgR H-score relative to placebo, and consequently, all doses of ICI 182,780 produced PgR values that were significantly lower than those in the tamoxifen-treated group. All doses of ICI 182,780 significantly reduced Ki67LI values compared with placebo (ICI 182,780 50 mg, P = 0.046; 125 mg, P = 0.001; 250 mg, P = 0.0002), but there were no significant differences between any doses of ICI 182,780 and tamoxifen. ICI 182,780 did not alter the apoptotic index when compared with either placebo or tamoxifen. Short-term exposure to ICI 182,780 reduces the ERalpha in breast tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner by down-regulating ER protein concentration. The reductions in tumor PgR content by ICI 182,780 demonstrate that ICI 182,780, unlike tamoxifen, is devoid of estrogen-agonist activity. Reductions in tumor cell proliferative activity (as indicated by Ki67LI) show that ICI 182,780 is likely to have antitumor activity in the clinical setting.
Sampling-based consensus fuzzy clustering on Big Data

Many companies spend vast amounts of resources to collect, transform and store the massive amounts of data that flows through their business processes. When it comes to doing analysis and machine learning such as clustering on this data, time and compute speed gate determine how much data can be analyzed. Moreover, most Big Data clustering algorithms do not look at a complete, large dataset. Instead, they look at a subsample and work on approximations. However, work on samples can spread useful data that can be sources of value. In this paper, we use sampling combined with consensus strategy to dissemble the whole Big Data into small subsets, then basic partitions are locally generated from them using parallel processing. For the sampling part, we propose a partial data clustering (PDC) according to different nodes to classify the current sub-samples of partial data access (PDA) merged together with optimal prototypes generated from the last PDC and condensed into weighted points. For the consensus part, we apply a split-and-merge fuzzy clustering to equivalently transfer the consensus clustering problem into an optimization clustering one. Extensive experiments on several datasets demonstrate the ability to handle massive data and the consensus computing make the proposed classifier promising candidate for Big Data clustering.
Kraft lignin depolymerization in near critical water: effect of changing co-solvent

3), at 280-350 °C and 25MPa. An important aspect is to suppress char formation. Therefore, the char formation was studied by using different concentrations of methanol and phenol. The char yield varied between 14% and 26%. When using methanol as the only co-solvent, the char yield decreased with increasing methanol concentration. Adding phenol resulted in a further decrease. The reactor outlet consisted mainly of two liquid phases, an aqueous and an oil phase, mixed together. The chemical analysis of the aqueous phase showed the presence of mainly phenolic compounds, for instance guaiacol, catechol, phenol and cresol.
An ab initio study of nuclear volume effects for isotope fractionations using two‐component relativistic methods

We investigate the accuracy of two‐component Douglas–Kroll–Hess (DKH) methods in calculations of the nuclear volume term (≡ lnKnv) in the isotope fractionation coefficient. lnKnv is a main term in the chemical equilibrium constant for isotope exchange reactions in heavy element. Previous work based on the four‐component method reasonably reproduced experimental lnKnv values of uranium isotope exchange. In this work, we compared uranium reaction lnKnv values obtained from the two‐component and four‐component methods. We find that both higher‐order relativistic interactions and spin‐orbit interactions are essential for quantitative description of lnKnv. The best alternative is the infinite‐order Douglas–Kroll–Hess method with infinite‐order spin‐orbit interactions for the one‐electron term and atomic‐mean‐field spin‐same‐orbit interaction for the two‐electron term (IODKH‐IOSO‐MFSO). This approach provides almost equivalent results for the four‐component method, while being 30 times faster. The IODKH‐IOSO‐MFSO methodology should pave the way toward computing larger and more general molecules beyond the four‐component method limits. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pneumococcal disease seasonality: incidence, severity and the role of influenza activity

We tested whether the effect of influenza activity on invasive pneumococcal disease incidence and severity varies between age and comorbidity groups. Weekly rates of invasive pneumococcal disease were obtained from the Danish National Laboratory Surveillance System (1977–2007). Influenza-like illness data were collected from a sentinel surveillance system at the Statens Serum Institut (Copenhagen, Denmark). We fitted Poisson regression models for invasive pneumococcal disease, with predictors of seasonality, trends and influenza activity, and allowed the influenza activity variable to vary by comorbidity level and clinical presentation. Influenza activity accounted for 8.4% (95% CI 4.8−11.9%) and 6.9% (95% CI 5.4–10.2%) of all invasive pneumococcal disease cases among those aged 15–39 and ≥40 years, respectively, but had no measurable impact among children aged <15 years. Influenza activity was associated with significant increases in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal pneumonia in both children and adults. The association was more pronounced among younger adults without comorbidities. Case fatality also varied seasonally among the elderly, and this variation might be associated with influenza activity. Pneumococcal incidence and the severity of disease varied seasonally and between age groups. The effect of influenza activity on pneumococcal disease varied between children and adults, and this difference was largely due to differences in disease presentation. Pneumococcal incidence and the severity of disease varied seasonally and between age groups http://ow.ly/siBvx
Reliability and validity test of a Scoring Rubric for Information Literacy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to measure reliability and validity of the Scoring Rubric for Information Literacy (Van Helvoort, 2010). Design/methodology/approach Percentages of agreement and Intraclass Correlation were used to describe interrater reliability. For the determination of construct validity factor analysis and reliability analysis were used. Criterion validity was calculated with Pearson correlations. Findings In the described case, the Scoring Rubric for Information Literacy appears to be a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of information literate performance. Originality/value Reliability and validity are prerequisites to recommend a rubric for application. The results confirm that this Scoring Rubric for Information Literacy can be used in courses in higher education, not only for assessment purposes but also to foster learning.