Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing channel assignment performance in wireless mesh networks through interference mitigation functions

The notion of Total Interference Degree (TID) is traditionally used to estimate the intensity of prevalent interference in a Multi-Radio Multi-Channel Wireless Mesh Network (MRMC WMN). Numerous Channel Assignment (CA) approaches, link-scheduling algorithms and routing schemes have been proposed for WMNs which rely entirely on the concept of TID estimates. They focus on minimizing TID to create a minimal interference scenario for the network. In our prior works [1] and [2], we have questioned the efficacy of TID estimate and then proposed two reliable interference estimation metrics viz., Channel Distribution Across Links Cost (CDALcost) and Cumulative X-Link-Set Weight (CXLSwt) which are proven effective in both Grid and Random WMNS [3]. In this work, we assess the ability of these interference estimation metrics to replace TID as the interference-minimizing factor in a CA scheme implemented on a grid MRMC WMN. We carry out a comprehensive evaluation on ns-3 and then conclude from the results that the performance of the network increases by 10–15% when the CA scheme uses CXLSWt as the underlying Interference Mitigation Function (IMF) when compared with CA using TID as IMF. We also confirm that CDALcost is not a better IMF than TID and CXLSWt.
On the Use of a Fuzzy Object-Relational Database for Flexible Retrieval of Medical Images

This paper introduces a novel approach to medical image retrieval using a fuzzy object-relational database management system (FORDBMS). The system stores medical images along with information about the content of the image, such as the presence or absence of certain indicators of pathologies. It allows us to flexibly retrieve them on the basis of these indicators, making it possible to obtain images from patients with similar diagnosis and thus, following a common visual pattern. To illustrate the capabilities of the FORDBMS, this paper focuses on X-ray images of patients suffering from scoliosis (a medical condition in which the patient's spine is curved) from which spine descriptions are obtained. Then queries are performed to obtain a set of images with a certain curvature pattern. Results show high accuracy when evaluated by medical experts. Compared with other ad hoc content-based image retrieval systems, the one presented here is easily adaptable to other application domains, customizable, and very scalable.
Commercial applications of agents: lessons, experiences and challenges

As has been argued very eloquently and effectively, there is a chasm that needs to be crossed in the adoption of any new technology [8], and the marketing of such technologies must somehow try to bridge the gap that arises. Many currently see agent technologies in the middle of that chasm period of adoption, where addressing the visionaries as well as the pragmatists (or early adopters) who avoid risks but readily see the advantages of tested technologies [11], is necessary. As part of the needed marketing exercise, we believe that a catalogue of case studies of deployed applications with real quantified business benefit, can help convince those wavering pragmatists. Perhaps more importantly, the lessons that can be drawn from such case studies may also be used to guide the efforts of new commercial agent technology providers, both in developing the technology itself, and in understanding the concerns and constraints of early adopters.
Mineralogy and provenance of auriferous Waimumu Quartz Gravels, Southland, New Zealand

Waimumu Quartz Gravels, 8 km southwest of Gore, New Zealand, were deposited in Pliocene river channels, and were derived by recycling of older sediments on nearby uplifting mountain ranges. The high proportion of quartz pebbles (>90%) is a result of the decomposition of clay-altered lithic clasts during sedimentary recycling. Most of the quartz was derived from the Otago Schist Belt to the north, including upper greenschist facies metachert clasts with spessartine and piemontite. The quartz gravels at Waimumu Stream mine contain abundant Mn-rich garnet clasts that were derived from Otago Schist. In addition, chromite clasts constitute >10% of the heavy mineral sand fraction, and this may have been derived from the Dun Mountain Ophiolite Belt although the exact source is unknown. Most detrital gold occurs as flakes that have undergone long-distance transport. Rare grains of crystalline gold occur, some of which are in association with prismatic quartz crystals. Gold flakes have minor evidence for authigenic gold overgrowths in association with authigenic marcasite, and gold mobility may have been enhanced by marcasite precipitation and/or oxidation.
Random walks in recommender systems: exact computation and simulations

A recommender system uses information about known associations between users and items to compute for a given user an ordered recommendation list of items which this user might be interested in acquiring. We consider ordering rules based on various parameters of random walks on the graph representing associations between users and items. We experimentally compare the quality of recommendations and the required computational resources of two approaches: (i) calculate the exact values of the relevant random walk parameters using matrix algebra; (ii) estimate these values by simulating random walks. In our experiments we include methods proposed by Fouss et al. and Gori and Pucci, method P3, which is based on the distribution of the random walk after three steps, and method P3a, which generalises P3. We show that the simple method P3 can outperform previous methods and method P3a can offer further improvements. We show that the time- and memory-efficiency of direct simulation of random walks allows application of these methods to large datasets. We use in our experiments the three MovieLens datasets.
Validation of AIRSIAMSU cloud retrievals using MODIS cloud analyses

The AIRS/AMSU (flying on the EOS-AQUA satellite) sounding retrieval methodology allows for the retrieval of key atmospheric/surface parameters under partially cloudy conditions (Susskind et al.’). In addition, cloud parameters are also derived from the AIRS/AMSU observations. Within each AIRS footprint, cloud parameters at up to 2 cloud layers are determined with differing cloud top pressures and “effective” (product of infrared emissivity at 11 pm and physical cloud fraction) cloud fractions. However, so far the AIRS cloud product has not been rigorously evaluatedkalidated. Fortunately, collocatedcoincident radiances measured by MODISIAQUA (at a much lower spectral resolution but roughly an order of-magnitude higher spatial resolution than that of AIRS) are used to determine analogous cloud products from MODIS. This allows us for a rather rare and interesting possibility: the intercomparisons and mutual validation of imager vs. sounder-based cloud products obtained from the same satellite positions. First, we present results of small-scale (granules) instantaneous intercomparisons. Next, we will evaluate differences of temporally averaged (monthly) means as well as the representation of inter-annual variability of cloud parameters as presented by the two cloud data sets. In particular, we present statistical differences in the retrieved parameters of cloud fraction and cloud top pressure. We will investigate what type of cloud systems are retrieved most consistently (if any) with both retrieval schemes, and attempt to assess reasons behind statistically significant differences.
Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase 1 Is Not Strictly Required for Infection of Murine Cells by Retroviruses

ABSTRACT The DNA-breaking and -joining steps initiating retroviral integration are well understood, but the later steps, thought to be carried out by cellular DNA repair enzymes, have not been fully characterized. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) has been proposed to play a role late during retroviral integration, because infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-based vectors was reported to be strongly inhibited in PARP-1-deficient fibroblasts. PARP-1, a nuclear enzyme, binds tightly to nicked DNA and synthesizes poly(ADP-ribose) as an early response to DNA damage. To investigate the role of PARP-1 in retroviral integration, we infected wild-type and PARP-1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) separately with two HIV type 1-derived, vesicular stomatitis virus G-pseudotyped lentivirus vectors. Surprisingly, infection of both wild-type and PARP-1-deficient cells was observed with both vectors. Marker gene transduction and provirus formation by one vector was reduced by 45 to 75% compared to the wild type, but the other vector was unaffected by the PARP-1 mutant. In addition, PARP-1-deficient MEFs infected with Moloney murine leukemia virus showed no decrease in virus output after infection compared to the wild type. We conclude that PARP-1 cannot be strictly required for retroviral infection because replication steps, including integration, can proceed efficiently in its absence.
Methanethiosulfonate Derivatives of Rhodamine and Verapamil Activate Human P-glycoprotein at Different Sites*

The human multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1) actively extrudes a broad range of potentially cytotoxic compounds out of the cell. Key steps in understanding the transport process are binding of drug substrates in the transmembrane domains, initiation of ATPase activity, and subsequent drug efflux. We used cysteine-scanning mutagenesis of the transmembrane segment residues and reaction with the thiol-reactive drug substrate analog of rhodamine, methane-thiosulfonate-rhodamine (MTS-rhodamine), to test whether P-gp could be trapped in an activated state with high levels of ATPase activity. The presence of such an activated P-gp could be used to further investigate P-gp-drug substrate interactions. Single cysteine mutants (149) were treated with MTS-rhodamine, and ATPase activities were determined after removal of unreacted MTS-rhodamine. One mutant, F343C(TM6), showed a 5.8-fold increase in activity after reaction with MTS-rhodamine. Pre-treatment of mutant F343C with rhodamine B protected it from activation by MTS-rhodamine, indicating that residue Cys-343 contributes to the rhodamine-binding site. The ATPase activity of MTS-rhodamine-treated mutant F343C, however, was not stimulated further by colchicine or calcein-AM. By contrast, verapamil and Hoechst 33342 stimulated and inhibited, respectively, the ATPase activity of the MTS-rhodamine-treated mutant F343C. These results indicate that the MTS-rhodamine binding site overlaps that of colchicine and calcein-AM but not that of verapamil and Hoechst 33342 within the common drug-binding pocket.
On choosing layer profiles in atmospheric tomography

In control of the AO system of an ELT, most algorithms for atmospheric tomography are based on assuming atmospheric turbulence to occur only within a certain number of horizontal layers. The number of these layers is in general significantly smaller than the number of turbulent layers in the real atmosphere. We investigate the question, how the choice of the number and heights of the hypothetical layers (as parameters of the reconstruction algorithm) influences the resulting quality of the tomographic reconstruction.
Multi-layered learning systems for vision-based behavior acquisition of a real mobile robot

This paper presents a series of the studies of decomposing the large state/action space at the bottom level into several subspaces and merging those subspaces at the higher level. This allows the system to maintain computational resources assigned to the modules compact and small, to reuse the policies learned before, and therefore to avoid the curse of dimension. To show the validity of the proposed methods, we apply them to a simple soccer situation in the context of RoboCup, and show the experimental results.
Models for Music Analysis From a Markov Logic Networks Perspective

Analyzing and formalizing the intricate mechanisms of music is a very challenging goal for Artificial Intelligence. Dealing with real audio recordings requires the ability to handle both uncertainty and complex relational structure at multiple levels of representation. Until now, these two aspects have been generally treated separately, probability being the standard way to represent uncertainty in knowledge, while logical representation being the standard way to represent knowledge and complex relational information. Several approaches attempting a unification of logic and probability have recently been proposed. In particular, Markov logic networks (MLNs), which combine first-order logic and probabilistic graphical models, have attracted increasing attention in recent years in many domains. This paper introduces MLNs as a highly flexible and expressive formalism for the analysis of music that encompasses most of the commonly used probabilistic and logic-based models. We first review and discuss existing approaches for music analysis. We then introduce MLNs in the context of music signal processing by providing a deep understanding of how they specifically relate to traditional models, specifically hidden Markov models and conditional random fields. We then present a detailed application of MLNs for tonal harmony music analysis that illustrates the potential of this framework for music processing.
Maximum Throughput of CSMA Networks With Capture

This letter focuses on the throughput performance of carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) networks with capture, where one packet can be successfully transmitted as long as its received signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) exceeds a certain capture threshold. An explicit expression of the network throughput is derived, based on which the maximum throughput is further characterized. It is shown that the capture capability can lead to a significant throughput gain, yet a comparative study with Aloha networks reveals that it may also weaken the benefit of carrier sensing.
Ghostman: Augmented Reality Application for Telerehabilitation and Remote Instruction of a Novel Motor Skill

This paper describes a pilot study using a prototype telerehabilitation system (Ghostman). Ghostman is a visual augmentation system designed to allow a physical therapist and patient to inhabit each other's viewpoint in an augmented real-world environment. This allows the therapist to deliver instruction remotely and observe performance of a motor skill through the patient's point of view. In a pilot study, we investigated the efficacy of Ghostman by using it to teach participants to use chopsticks. Participants were randomized to a single training session, receiving either Ghostman or face-to-face instructions by the same skilled instructor. Learning was assessed by measuring retention of skills at 24-hour and 7-day post instruction. As hypothesised, there were no differences in reduction of error or time to completion between participants using Ghostman compared to those receiving face-to-face instruction. These initial results in a healthy population are promising and demonstrate the potential application of this technology to patients requiring learning or relearning of motor skills as may be required following a stroke or brain injury.
Meta-Pipeline: A New Execution Mechanism for Distributed Pipeline Processing

The Caravela platform has been proposed by the authors of this paper to perform distributed stream-based computing on general purpose computation. This platform uses a secured execution unit called flow-model that prevents remote users to touch local information in a computer. The flow-model is assigned to local or remote processing units that execute its program. This paper is focused on a new execution mechanism that defines a pipeline composed by flow-models, called meta-pipeline, and is designed as a set of additional functions of the Caravela platform. The pipeline is executed automatically by the meta-pipeline runtime environment. This paper describes the execution mechanism and also presents an application example.
Discrete-time, cyclostationary phase-locked loop model for jitter analysis

Timing jitter is one of the most significant phase-locked loop characteristics, with high impact on performance in a range of applications. It is, therefore, important to develop the tools necessary to study and predict PLL jitter performance at design time. In this paper a discrete-time, linear, cyclostationary PLL model for jitter analysis is proposed, which accounts for the cyclostationary nature of noise injected into the loop at various PLL components. The model also predicts the aliasing of jitter due to the downsampling and upsampling of frequencies around the PLL loop. Closed-form expressions are derived for the output jitter spectrum and match well with results of event-driven simulations of a 3rd-order PLL.
Conservation of Angular Momentum During Human Loco-motion

Motivation: The mechanics of walking and running are extremely complicated, exemplified by the fact that no robots can perform robust human walking. By focusing on angular momentum, a fundamental physical concept, we hope to develop a relatively simple model of stable motion. The angular momentum of a system is conserved if no external torques act on the system. During the aerial phase of locomotion, angular momentum is obviously conserved, but the interaction of the feet with the ground introduces external torques on the body. Therefore, there is no a priori reason for angular momentum in the CM frame to be conserved. However, recent observations in our research indicate that angular momentum is conserved to a large extent.
Automated methods for improved protein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting

In order to maximize protein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting noise peaks must be removed from spectra and recalibration is often required. The preprocessing of the spectra before database searching is essential but is time‐consuming. Nevertheless, the optimal database search parameters often vary over a batch of samples. For high‐throughput protein identification, these factors should be set automatically, with no or little human intervention. In the present work automated batch filtering and recalibration using a statistical filter is described. The filter is combined with multiple data searches that are performed automatically. We show that, using several hundred protein digests, protein identification rates could be more than doubled, compared to standard database searching. Furthermore, automated large‐scale in‐gel digestion of proteins with endoproteinase LysC, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight (MALDI‐TOF) analysis, followed by subsequent trypsin digestion and MALDI‐TOF analysis were performed. Several proteins could be identified only after digestion with one of the enzymes, and some less significant protein identifications were confirmed after digestion with the other enzyme. The results indicate that identification of especially small and low‐abundance proteins could be significantly improved after sequential digestions with two enzymes.
Antibiotic Penetrance of Ascitic Fluid in Dogs

Antibiotic concentrations in ascitic fluid after parenteral therapy may be important in the treatment of peritonitis. We have created ascites in dogs by partial ligation of the inferior vena cava. Ascitic fluid volume was measured at the time each antibiotic was administered. Nine antibiotics were studied in the same three dogs. Antibiotic concentration in ascitic fluid was found to vary inversely with ascites volume. Percentage of penetration (ratio of ascites peak to serum peak ×100) ranged from 5.8 to 65% among the drugs studied. Only metronidazole showed a statistically significant higher percentage of penetration than other antimicrobials. Concentrations in ascitic fluid after single doses of cephalothin (15 mg/kg) and the aminoglycosides (2 mg/kg, gentamicin and tobramycin; 7.5 mg/kg, amikacin and kanamycin) did not exceed the minimum inhibitory concentration of many gram-negative rods and may justify the use of higher than usual initial parenteral doses, or possibly initial intraperitoneal administration in seriously ill patients.
Integrating preferences into health status assessment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The ALS Utility Index

We developed a preference‐based measure, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Utility Index (ALSUI), allowing computation of US population‐based utility weights for the wide range of health states observed among ALS patients. A multi‐attribute utility approach was used. An ALS Health State Classification System was developed comprising the following attributes with different severity levels: Speech and Swallowing (A1); Eating, Dressing, and Bathing (A2); Leg Function (A3); and Respiratory Function (A4). An internet‐based survey was administered to a random sample of the US population to assess preferences for ALS health states based on this system using visual analog scale (VAS) and standard gamble (SG) questions. Using the VAS and SG data from 1374 individuals in the general population, utility functions were computed that corresponded to each severity level within A1, A2, A3, and A4. ALSUI scores for a given patient are computed by inputting his corresponding utility functions into the following multiplicative formula: ALSUI score = 1.06×(A1×A2×A3×A4)−0.06 on a scale where 0.0 reflects death and 1.0 reflects healthy. This study provides a useful tool for classifying ALS patients and determining a general public‐based utility score for ALS health states.
Extending equation-based congestion control to multicast applications

In this paper we introduce TFMCC, an equation-based multicast congestion control mechanism that extends the TCP-friendly TFRC protocol from the unicast to the multicast domain. The key challenges in the design of TFMCC lie in scalable round-trip time measurements, appropriate feedback suppression, and in ensuring that feedback delays in the control loop do not adversely affect fairness towards competing flows. A major contribution is the feedback mechanism, the key component of end-to-end multicast congestion control schemes. We improve upon the well-known approach of using exponentially weighted random timers by biasing feedback in favor of low-rate receivers while still preventing a response implosion. We evaluate the design using simulation, and demonstrate that TFMCC is both TCP-friendly and scales well to multicast groups with thousands of receivers. We also investigate TFMCC's weaknesses and scaling limits to provide guidance as to application domains for which it is well suited.