Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wavelet Methods in Statistics

The main statistical application of wavelets is in signal denoising (a.k.a. smoothing, nonparametric function estimation). As a motivating example, consider the noisy signal in Figure 1. Our objective is to try to remove the noise and get as close as possible to revealing the “true” structure of the signal. If you squint, you can probably tell that the signal is composed of at least 5 different pieces. Let us see if some established smoothing methods can tell us more.
Mirroring and beyond: coupled dynamics as a generalized framework for modelling social interactions

When people observe one another, behavioural alignment can be detected at many levels, from the physical to the mental. Likewise, when people process the same highly complex stimulus sequences, such as films and stories, alignment is detected in the elicited brain activity. In early sensory areas, shared neural patterns are coupled to the low-level properties of the stimulus (shape, motion, volume, etc.), while in high-order brain areas, shared neural patterns are coupled to high-levels aspects of the stimulus, such as meaning. Successful social interactions require such alignments (both behavioural and neural), as communication cannot occur without shared understanding. However, we need to go beyond simple, symmetric (mirror) alignment once we start interacting. Interactions are dynamic processes, which involve continuous mutual adaptation, development of complementary behaviour and division of labour such as leader–follower roles. Here, we argue that interacting individuals are dynamically coupled rather than simply aligned. This broader framework for understanding interactions can encompass both processes by which behaviour and brain activity mirror each other (neural alignment), and situations in which behaviour and brain activity in one participant are coupled (but not mirrored) to the dynamics in the other participant. To apply these more sophisticated accounts of social interactions to the study of the underlying neural processes we need to develop new experimental paradigms and novel methods of data analysis
On the mechanism of action of muscle fibre activity in synapse competition and elimination at the mammalian neuromuscular junction

Activity‐dependent competition plays a crucial role in the refinement of synaptic connections in the peripheral and central nervous system. The reduction in number of axons innervating each neuromuscular junction during development, i.e. synapse elimination, appears to be one such competitive activity‐driven event. Recently, we showed that asynchronous firing of competing presynaptic terminals is a key player in synapse elimination. Although some previous studies suggested that activity of the postsynaptic cell may be an intermediary in the disposal of redundant presynaptic inputs, the mechanism involved remains unknown. In the present study, in order to assess the role of evoked muscle activity in this process, we inhibited the generation of postsynaptic action potentials in muscle fibers in vivo, through the overexpression of inwardly rectifying Kir2.1 and Kir2.2 channels, via electroporation of the soleus muscle in the mouse hindlimb. Electrophysiological and morphological data show that overexpression of potassium channels in the endplate region of neonatal muscle fibres induces membrane hyperpolarization and an increase in conductance, inhibition of the action potential mechanism and prolonged persistence of polyneuronal innervation. These changes are not seen in muscle fibres with overexpression of a non‐conducting Kir2.1 mutant. Our results are compatible with the interpretation that the block of action potential generation, even in single endplates, can inhibit synapse elimination through local signalling.
Adopting Knowledge Based Security System for Software Development Life Cycle

The high-demand from the software industry led to the development of many Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) models that help produce high quality software within budget and time constraints. Most of these SDLC models do not completely cover security as early as possible in the development cycle. Since security is a major concern to the users and the developers, adopting it at the early stages of the SDLC could help to ensure integrity, accessibility and confidentiality in future systems. It is still unclear how to achieve a perfectly secured software system by modifying the SDLC models. In this paper, the Knowledge Based Security System (KBSS) model is proposed to help in modeling and specifying security at all stages of SDLC in an effort to achieve a maximally secured software system. KBSS is a system that categorizes, clusters, monitors, alerts, and controls the Security Knowledge Management by the knowledge of the Security Expert Team, who are able to identify, collect, organize, manage, retrieve, provide and store all aspects of security functions and issues.
QoE-Driven Cross-Layer Optimization for Wireless Dynamic Adaptive Streaming of Scalable Videos Over HTTP

Recently, Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) has attracted significant attention. In this paper, we consider DASH-based transmission of scalable videos in wireless broadband access networks (e.g., long-term evolution and WiMAX), and propose three methods to enhance the quality of experience of wireless DASH users. First, we design an improved mapping scheme from scalable video coding layers to DASH layers that can provide the desired bitrates, enhance the video end-to-end throughput, and reduce the HTTP communication overhead. Second, we develop a DASH-friendly scheduling and resource allocation algorithm by integrating the DASH-based media delivery and the radio-level adaptation via a cross-layer approach. It utilizes the characteristics of video content and scalable video coding, and greatly reduces the possibility of video playback interruption by considering the client buffer status. The optimization problem is formulated as a mixed binary integer programming problem, and is solved by a subgradient method. Finally, a DASH proxy-based bitrate stabilization algorithm is proposed to improve the video playback smoothness that can achieve the desired tradeoff between playback quality and stability. Simulations with the Qualnet tool demonstrate that our schemes achieve better performances than other methods in the literature.
Continuity and Change in Pathways to Young Adult Disadvantage: Results from a British Birth Cohort

A life-course account of the pathways to adult social exclusion for children born in 1958 is explored. We identify the pervasive childhood factors, associated with a wide range of adult disadvantage, and specific life-course domain antecedents. Childhood disadvantage has more powerful legacies for women than for men: pathways to social exclusion are gendered. Experiences of disadvantage between ages 16 and 23 relate as closely to outcomes at age 33 as at age 23. The excess legacy of childhood disadvantage for women is mediated through lone motherhood. There are strong continuities and interconnections across the life-course in the legacies of earlier disadvantage. Unemployment or divorce between ages 23 and 33 promote disadvantage at age 33 and the legacies of divorce are more powerful for women. The implications for our understanding of the processes of social exclusion and the need for policy responses tailored according to lifetime patterns of disadvantage are discussed.
Effect of age at onset of schizophrenia on white matter abnormalities

Background The pattern of brain morphological changes at the early stages of schizophrenia may depend on the age at onset of illness; in children and adolescents with schizophrenia, grey matter deficits are seen in the parietal lobe whereas in individuals with adult onset these are more widespread. Aims To examine whether white matter is similarly affected. Method Diffusion tensor imaging was used to compare fractional anisotropy measures in individuals with adolescent-onset (n = 17) and adult-onset schizophrenia (n = 17) with those in age- and gender-matched controls. Results Compared with their respective controls, individuals with adolescent-onset schizophrenia showed fractional anisotropy decrease in parietal regions; individuals with adult onset showed additional fractional anisotropy reductions in frontal, temporal and cerebellar regions. A differential effect of age at onset (adolescent v. adult) was noted bilaterally in medial prefrontal white matter. Conclusions White matter abnormalities in frontal regions in schizophrenia may depend on developmental stage at the time of illness onset.
Nonlinear, Optimal Control of a Wind Turbine Generator

In this paper, the design of a nonlinear rotor-side controller (RSC) is developed for a wind turbine generator based on nonlinear, H2 optimal control theory. The objective is to demonstrate the synthesis of a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. In the case of a doubly fed induction generator, it is essential that the RSC and the MPPT algorithm are synthesized concurrently as the nonlinear perturbation dynamics about an operating point is either only just stable or unstable in most real generators. The algorithm is validated based on using nonlinear estimation techniques and maximizing an estimate of the actual power transferred from the turbine to the generator. The MPPT algorithm is successfully demonstrated both in the case when no disturbances were present, as it is a prerequisite for successful implementation, and in cases when significant levels of wind disturbances are present.
A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for human plasma apolipoprotein A-V concentration Published, JLR Papers in Press, June 16, 2005. DOI 10.1194/jlr.D500018-JLR200

Apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) is a recently discovered apolipoprotein that appears to have a role in plasma triglyceride (TG) transport. We have developed an ELISA for apoA-V using monoclonal antibodies that has a lower limit of detection of 0.3 ng/ml and linearity up to 20 ng/ml. The ELISA was then used to quantify plasma apoA-V in 196 healthy subjects and 106 patients with insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus. In the healthy subjects, total apoA-V concentration was 179.2 ± 74.8 ng/ml, and it was greater in females than in males (P < 0.005). It was correlated positively with the plasma HDL cholesterol (r = 0.32, P < 0.0001), apoA-I (r = 0.27, P = 0.0001), and apoE (r = 0.18, P = 0.011) concentrations and negatively with plasma TG concentration (r = −0.22, P = 0.021). In relation to single nucleotide polymorphism 3 (−1131C/T) of the apoA-V gene, apoA-V concentration was higher in the T/T type than in the C/C type (P < 0.01). Plasma TG concentration was lower in the T/T type than in the C/C or C/T type (P < 0.05). ApoA-V concentration was lower in the diabetic patients (69.4 ± 44.3 ng/ml; P < 0.01) than in the healthy controls.
Telomere shortening and chromosomal instability abrogates proliferation of adult but not embryonic neural stem cells

Chromosome integrity is essential for cell viability and, therefore, highly proliferative cell types require active telomere elongation mechanisms to grow indefinitely. Consistently, deletion of telomerase activity in a genetically modified mouse strain results in growth impairments in all highly proliferative cell populations analyzed so far. We show that telomere attrition dramatically impairs the in vitro proliferation of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) isolated from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of telomerase-deficient adult mice. Reduced proliferation of postnatal neurogenic progenitors was also observed in vivo, in the absence of exogenous mitogenic stimulation. Strikingly, severe telomere erosion resulting in chromosomal abnormalities and nuclear accumulation of p53 did not affect the in vitro proliferative potential of embryonic NSCs. These results suggest that intrinsic differences exist between embryonic and adult neural progenitor cells in their response to telomere shortening, and that some populations of tissue-specific stem cells can bypass DNA damage check points.
The Impact of Soft Traits and Cognitive Abilities on Life Outcomes: Subjective Wellbeing, Education Achievement, and Rational Choices: A Chocolate Tasting Experiment

Linking to a growing literature in behavioral economics, this study combines neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics to empirically analyze the extent to which academic achievement, the relative weight of rationality vs. fairness in decision-making, and life satisfaction are affected by cognitive ability, persistent personality traits, and short-term stimuli based on psychological priming techniques. Prior to undertaking a course exam and playing the role of the respondent in an ultimatum game, a group of Masters and PhD students were stimulated either emotionally (via chocolate tasting) or rationally (via mathematical problem solving). Results show that, in addition to rational skills, short term stimuli and persistent personality traits have a significant impact on academic performance. They also influence the extent to which decisions are affected by notions of rationality and fairness and individuals’ subjective satisfaction with life. Given the economic importance of the associated outcomes, this opens up an important research agenda.
Dimensions of a Projection Column and Architecture of VPM and POm Axons in Rat Vibrissal Cortex

This is the first article in a series of 3 studies that investigate the anatomical determinants of thalamocortical (TC) input to excitatory neurons in a cortical column of rat primary somatosensory cortex (S1). S1 receives 2 major types of TC inputs, lemiscal and paralemniscal. Lemiscal axons arise from the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) of the thalamus, whereas paralemniscal fibers originate in the posteromedial nucleus (POm). While these 2 TC projections are largely complementary in L4, overlap in other cortical layers is still a matter of debate. VPM and POm axons were specifically labeled in the same rat by virus-mediated expression of different fluorescent proteins. We show that columnar and septal projection patterns are maintained throughout most of the cortical depth with a lower degree of separation in infragranular layers, where TC axons form bands along rows. Finally, we present anatomical dimensions of “TC projection domains” for a standard column in S1.
Experience with performing architecture tradeoff analysis

Software architectures, like complex designs in any field, embody tradeoffs made by the designers. However, these tradeoffs are not always made explicitly by the designers and they may not understand the impacts of their decisions. This paper describes the use of a scenario-based and model-based analysis technique for software architectures-called ATAM-that not only analyzes a software architecture with respect to multiple quality attributes, but explicitly considers the tradeoffs inherent in the design. This is a method aimed at illuminating risks in the architecture through the identification of attribute trends, rather than at precise characterizations of measurable quality attribute values. In this paper, the operationalization of ATAM is illustrated via a specific example in which we analyzed a U.S. Army system for battlefield management.
Association between Vitamin D Receptor Gene BsmI Polymorphism and Bone Mineral Density in A Population of 146 Iranian Women

Objective: Osteoporosis is a bone disorder that reduces bone mineral density (BMD) and leads to bone fracture. In addition to different factors, gene polymorphisms have been revealed to be associated with osteoporosis. In this study, we investigated the association between the BsmI polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene (rs1544410) and BMD in a population of Iranian women. Materials and Methods: In this case control study, clinical risk factors for osteoporosis were obtained from the participants through a questionnaire for a case-control study. The World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria were applied for the diagnosis of the disease. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 146 pre- and or postmenopausal Iranian women aged between 35 and 71 years (53.53 ± 9.8). The study population was classified for BMD into normal and osteoporotic groups, who matched for age, pregnancy status, menstrual condition, and body mass index (BMI). The BMD of the lumbar spine (L1-4) and femoral neck was measured. Polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to detect and analyze the genotype. Results: The frequencies of AA and GG were significantly different between the two groups (p value<0.05), with the first genotype being higher in the patients and the second being higher in the normal group. The GG genotype was significantly associated with increased BMD in the lumbar spine (p value<0.05) but non-significant in the femoral neck (p value>0.05). Conclusion: BsmI polymorphism of VDR gene has a significant association with BMD in the lumbar spine and may have a minor effect on the proximal femur BMD in Iranian women.
Electrochemistry of Caffeic Acid Aqueous Solutions with pH 2.0 to 8.5

The electrochemical behavior of caffeic acid (H3CAF) in aqueous solutions with pH 2.0 to 8.5 was studied by cyclic voltammetry, controlled potential electrolysis and UV-vis spectroscopy. The electro-oxidation of H3CAF involves a reversible transfer of two electrons and two protons in solutions of pH up to 5.5, in agreement with the one step-two electron mechanism. In solutions of pH higher than 5.5, the process of electro-oxidation of H3CAF follows an ECi mechanism. The main oxidation product is the corresponding o-quinone (o-HCAF), which is decomposed quickly at pH higher than 7.4 obeying a first order kinetics. In the pH range investigated, the formal potential (E0') varies linearly with pH, generating a straight line with an angular coefficient of -60.83 mV/pH. In parallel, the anodic peak current (ipa) decreases in a nonlinear mode. The processes are controlled by diffusion over the whole pH range studied.
Tunable sparse network coding

A fundamental understanding of the relationship between delay performance and complexity in network coding is instrumental towards its application in practical systems. The main argument against delay-optimal random linear network coding (RLNC) is its decoding complexity, which is O(n 3 ) for n original packets. Fountain codes, such as LT and Raptor codes, reduce the decoding load on the receiver but at the cost of introducing additional, non-negligible delay. The source of this increased delay is the inherent sparsity of the code, which significantly reduces the impact of a new coded packet, i.e., the probability of a packet to be linearly independent from the knowledge at the receiver, as we approach the end of the transmission (when few degrees of freedom are missing). Thus, the additional overhead is mainly due to the transmission of the last data packets. Our key observation is that switching gears to denser codes as the transmission process progresses could considerably reduce the delay overhead while maintaining the complexity advantages of a sparse code. We propose tunable sparse network coding as a dynamic coding mechanism with a code structure with two regions: a sparse region, with various levels of sparsity, and a dense region, where packets are generated as per RLNC. We characterize the problem in multicast sessions on general networks and illustrate trade-offs in especial cases of interest. We also present a novel mechanism to perform efficient Gaussian elimination for sparse matrices that guarantees linear decoding complexity with high probability.
Multi-Bit Data Hiding Scheme for Compressing Secret Messages

The goal of data hiding techniques usually considers two issues, embedding capacity and image quality. Consequently, in order to achieve high embedding capacity and good image quality, a data hiding scheme combining run-length encoding (RLE) with multi-bit embedding is proposed in this paper. This work has three major contributions. First, the embedding capacity is increased 62% because the secret message is compressed before embedding into the cover image. Secondly, the proposed scheme keeps the multi-bit generalized exploiting modification direction (MGEMD) characteristics, which are effective to reduce modified pixels in the cover image and to maintain good stego image quality. Finally, the proposed scheme can prevent modern steganalysis methods, such as RS steganalysis and SPAM (subtractive pixel adjacency matrix), and is compared to MiPOD (minimizing the power of the optimal detector) scheme. From our simulation results and security discussions, we have the following results: First, there are no perceivable differences between the cover images and stego images from human inspection. For example, the average PSNR of stego images is about 44.61 dB when the secret message (80,000 bits) is embedded for test cover images (such as airplane, baboon, Lena) of size 512×512. Secondly, Appl. Sci. 2015, 5 1034 on average, 222,087 pixels were not modified after embedding for the cover image. That is to say, 12% less pixels are modified as compared to the MGEMD method. From the performance discussions, the proposed scheme achieves high embedding capacity and good image quality, but also maintains stego image security.
Research Report - A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the User Information Satisfaction Instrument

The structure and dimensionality of the user information satisfaction UIS construct is an important theoretical issue that has received considerable attention. Building upon the work of Bailey and Pearson Bailey, J. E. , S. W. Pearson. 1983. Development of a tool for measuring and analyzing computer user satisfaction. Management Sci.295, May 530--545. , Ives et al. Ives, B. , M. Olson, J. J. Baroudi. 1983. The measure of user information satisfaction. Comm. ACM2610, October 785--793. conduct an exploratory factor analysis and recommend a 13-item instrument two indicators per item for measuring user information satisfaction. Ives et al. also contend that UIS is comprised of three component measures information product, EDP staff and services, and user knowledge or involvement. In a replication using exploratory techniques, Baroudi and Orlikowski Baroudi, J. J., W. J. Orlikowski. 1988. A short-form measure of user information satisfaction: A psychometric evaluation and notes on use. J. Management Inform. Systems44, Spring 44--59. confirm the three factor structure and support the diagnostic utility of the three factor model. Other researchers have suggested a need for caution in using the UIS instrument as a single measure of user satisfaction; they contend that the instrument's three components measure quite different dimensions whose antecedents and consequences should be studied separately. The acceptance of UIS as a standardized instrument requires confirmation that it explains and measures the user information satisfaction construct and its components. Based on a sample of 224 respondents, this research uses confirmatory factor analysis LISREL to test alternative models of underlying factor structure and assess the reliability and validity of factors and items. The results provide support for a revised UIS model with four first-order factors and one second-order higher-order factor. To cross-validate these results, the authors reexamine two data sets, including the original Baroudi and Orlikowski data, to assess the revised UIS model. The results show that the revised model provides better model-data fit in all three data sets. Thus, the evidence supports the use of: 1 the 13-item instrument as a measure of an overall UIS; and 2 four component factors for explaining the UIS construct.