Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of Unicast and Broadcast Gossip Algorithms for Wireless Sensor Networks

Gossip is a well-known technique for distributed computing in an arbitrarily connected network, that can be adopted effectively in wireless sensor networks. Gossip algorithms have been widely studied in previous literature, but mostly from a theoretical point of view. The aim of this paper is to verify the behavior of the gossip approach in practical scenarios, through the analysis and interpretation of simulated results. So, we investigate the impact of optimizing the neighbor selection probabilities, the effect of multiple link failures and that of limited transmission radius. The possibility to use broadcast-like algorithms to increase the rate of convergence in averaging problems is also discussed and its advantage estimated.
Influence of residual C‐peptide secretion on nocturnal serum TSH peak in well‐controlled diabetic patients

Several alterations in hypothalamo–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) function have been described in diabetes mellitus and have been attributed to metabolic decompensation. The present study was performed in order to establish whether residual endogenous insulin secretion in patients with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) may play a role in the control of HPT function.
LB-MAP: Load-Balanced Middlebox Assignment in Policy-Driven Data Centers

Middleboxes (MBs), such as firewalls and load balancers, are playing an increasingly important role in cloud data centers for security or performance purposes. The recent introduction of Software Defined Network (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) in cloud data centers has greatly facilitated the efficient management of software-based middbleboxes in data center networks. In policy-driven cloud data centers, it requires that virtual machine (VM) traffic traverses a sequence of specified middleboxes in order to achieve security and performance guarantee. Much research has been done to study how to place middleboxes inside data centers for cost-efficient VM traffic traversal. However, not much research has focused on load balance of middleboxes. In this paper we study the Load-Balanced Middlebox Assignment Problem (LB-MAP), which minimizes the communication energy cost of VM pairs while satisfying their policy requirement as well as the capacity constraint of the switches that the middleboxes are placed upon. We show that LB-MAP is equivalent to the classic minimum cost flow problem (MCF), which can be solved optimally and efficiently. We also design a suite of efficient heuristic algorithms based on different criteria viz. VM-Based, MB-Based, and VM+MB-Based. Via extensive simulations, we show that all the heuristic algorithms perform close to the optimal minimum cost flow algorithm, while VM+MB-Based performs best among all the heuristic algorithms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that addresses the energy cost minimization for VM communications as well as load-balancing for middleboxes in policy-driven data centers.
Comparison of modified technetium-99m albumin and technetium-99m red blood cells for equilibrium ventriculography.

UNLABELLED A newly developed modified form of 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin reconstituted from a kit (99mTc-dimercaptopropionyl-human serum albumin; 99mTc-DMP-HSA) was prospectively compared to 99mTc-labeled red blood cells (RBC) in patients referred for equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography at rest to evaluate its potential use as a blood-pool imaging agent. METHODS A Paired comparison between 99mTc-DMP-HSA and either in vitro or in vivo 99mTc-labeled RBC was performed within 2 days in 20 patients'. For each study, two sets of images were acquired, starting at 15 min and 180 min postinjection, respectively. Each set consisted of a gated blood-pool cardiac study and a planar static image centered on the patient's thorax. All data were processed by two independent observers. Early and late postinjection parameters were calculated: ejection fraction (EF) value, activity within the main organs surrounding the left ventricle (LV), ratio of activity between the LV and these surrounding organs for each study separately, and temporal (late/early) evolution of the intraorgan activities and of the LV/organ ratios after decay correction. RESULTS The images and the visual wall-motion analysis were of good quality with both agents in most patients, without significant image degradation at 180 min postinjection. Calculated EF values were highly comparable with the two tracers. Interobserver variability was 0.17% (RBC) and 1.08% (DMP-HSA) for the early EF value (EF1), and 0.62% (RBC) and 0.27% (DMP-HSA) for the late EF (EF2). Mean difference between EF2 and EF1 was 0.74% (Observer 1) and 0.28% (Observer 2) for 99mTc-RBC, and -2.88% (Observer 1) and -2.07% (Observer 2) for 99mTc-DMP-HSA. When comparing 99mTc-DMP-HSA to 99mTc-RBC the mean difference was 1.27% (Observer 1) and 0.36% (Observer 2) for EF1, and -2.35% (Observer 1) and -1.99% (Observer 2) for EF2. Also, the biodistribution and temporal evolution of the organ repartition of both compounds were stable and similar, with values of late/early activity ratios very close to one for all the studied organs [mean intraorgan ratio: 0.946 for 99mTc-RBC (range: 0.881-1.086) and 0.979 for 99mTc-DMP-HSA (range: 0.914-1.141); mean late/early LV/organ ratio: 0.964 for 99mTc-RBC (range: 0.919-1.016) and 0.967 for 99mTc-DMP-HSA (range: 0.912-1.035)]. CONCLUSION Paired comparison of kit-prepared 99mTc-DMP-HSA to 99mTc-labeled RBC demonstrated that both agents were very closely related regarding as well the calculated EF value as the in vivo stability up to more than 3 hr postinjection. Technetium-99m-DMP-HSA may constitute a practical and useful replacement for 99mTc-labeled RBC.
Monoclonal antibodies to three non-glycosylated antigens of herpes simplex virus type 2.

Summary The production and properties of three monoclonal antibodies, designated LP1, LP4 and AP2, directed against non-glycosylated polypeptides of herpes simplex virus type 2 are described. LP1 is specific for polypeptide VP16 and cross-reacts with HSV-1; LP4 reacts with the major DNA-binding protein and is type-specific. AP2 is directed against the major capsid antigen of HSV-1 and HSV-2.
Hand function assessment in patients receiving haemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE To assess the usefulness of Duruöz's Hand Index (DHI) in patients undergoing haemodialysis. METHODS Patients receiving haemodialysis for more than 2 months were recruited randomly. Demographic, clinical and functional characteristics of patients were evaluated. Functional assessment was performed with DHI, Hand Functional Index (HFI), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Purdue Pegboard, grip strength and 3 kinds of pinch strengths. DHI was correlated (Spearman's) with the other functional parameters in assessing the convergent validity and with non-functional parameters in assessing the divergent validity. RESULTS Sixty patients with a mean age of 50.05 were recruited. The average duration of haemodialysis was 55.02 months. DHI is significantly correlated with HAQ, HFI, Purdue Pegboard scores, grip strength and 3 types of pinch strengths while no significant correlation was found with non-functional parameters. CONCLUSIONS DHI is a practical scale which is efficient in assessing accurately the functional disability of the hand in patients receiving haemodialysis.
3D velocity field time series using synthetic aperture radar: application to tidal-timescale ice-flow variability in Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica

We present a general method for retrieving time-series of three component surface velocity field vector given a set of continuous synthetic aperture radar (SAR) acquisitions collected from multiple geometries. Our algorithm extends the single-line-of-sight mathematical framework developed for time-series analysis using interferometric SAR (InSAR) to three spatial dimensions. The inversion is driven by a design matrix corresponding to a dictionary of displacement functions parameterized in time. The resulting model minimizes a cost function using a non-regularized least-squares method. We applied our method to Rutford ice stream (RIS), West Antarctica, using a set of 101 multi-track multi-angle COSMO-SkyMed displacement maps generating azimuth and range pixel offsets.
Investigation of fringing electric field effect on high-resolution blue phase liquid crystal spatial light modulator.

The fringing electric field effect which determines the performance of a high-resolution blue phase liquid crystal spatial light modulator (BPLC-SLM) is investigated by numerical modeling. The BPLC-SLM is polarization-dependent due to the transverse electric field component. The physical mechanism of the phase profile properties for different polarization states is analyzed. General design issues related to the BPLC-SLM configuration and phase profile properties are discussed. Notably, the material parameters and cell gap thickness are both optimized to obtain a low operation voltage (V2π=26.07 V). This work provides fundamental understanding for the feasibility of low operation voltage and high spatial resolution BPLC-SLM.
Ultrasound characterization of C60-based nanocomposite ceramics, sintered by HPS and SPS methods

The series of bulk samples of ceramics C<sub>60</sub>/Cer (Cer = B<sub>4</sub>C, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and c-BN) with different volumetric contents of nanocarbon C<sub>60</sub> were prepared from powder mixtures obtained by grinding in a ball mill, followed by sintering by two methods: (a) by hot-pressing sintering (HPS) and (b) by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effects of C<sub>60</sub> content and sintering conditions on the elastic properties (ultrasound velocities, and elastic moduli) of bulk ceramics were characterized by laser ultrasound technique. The ultrasound studies of nanocomposite ceramic materials on the basis of fullerite C<sub>60</sub> conducted by us were complementary to comprehensive measurements of structural, mechanical and thermal characteristics of these ceramics.
Human Metapneumovirus Establishes Persistent Infection in the Lungs of Mice and Is Reactivated by Glucocorticoid Treatment

ABSTRACT Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been identified as a worldwide agent of serious upper and lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children. HMPV is second only to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as a leading cause of bronchiolitis, and, like RSV, consists of two major genotypes that cocirculate and vary among communities year to year. Children who have experienced acute HMPV infection may develop sequelae of wheezing and asthma; however, the features contributing to this pathology remain unknown. A possible mechanism for postbronchiolitis disease is that HMPV might persist in the lung providing a stimulus that could contribute to wheezing and asthma. Using immunohistochemistry to identify HMPV-infected cells in the lungs of mice, we show that HMPV mediates biphasic replication in respiratory epithelial cells then infection migrates to neuronal processes that innervate the lungs where the virus persists with no detectable infection in epithelial cells. After glucocorticoid treatment, the virus is reactivated from neural fibers and reinfects epithelial cells. The findings show that HMPV persists in neural fibers and suggest a mechanism for disease chronicity that has important implications for HMPV disease intervention strategies.
A privacy-aware overlay routing scheme in WSNs

In most of the wireless sensor networks (WSNs) configurations, the sensors are statically deployed and configured to propagate the captured information towards a sink-sensor, a gateway with legacy systems or the internet. The captured information might be unclassified, such as environmental data, or classified as private information, such as the location of an important asset, person, or actuator. In the latter case, privacy enhancement mechanisms might be essential to ensure the confidentiality of the propagated information, as well as the location of the information source (i.e., a sensor). Light cryptographic cyptosystems, such us Elliptic Curve, might be useful to cipher the information that is relayed towards the sink. On the other hand, the static deployment of sensors in WSN simplifies the reveal of the information source. An eavesdropper might use reverse packet-routing to identify the location of the source sensor, i.e., the one that captured and reported the information. To deal with these issues, and enhance source-location privacy, information secrecy in WSNs, ensure source-to-sink unlinkability, without complex and demanding crypto-operations, we have introduced a novel approach that uses a non–geographical, overlay routing method for packet forwarding, routing, and delivery. This paper introduces the architecture of the approach, and assesses its performance through simulation experiments, providing comparisons with relative approaches. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of social robots on young patients' socio-emotional wellbeing in a pediatric inpatient care context

In this thesis, I explore how interactive technologies can positively impact human wellness and flourishing. I investigate this in the context of pediatric inpatient care. Children and their parents may undergo challenging experiences when admitted for inpatient care at pediatric hospitals. While most hospitals make efforts to provide socio-emotional support for patients and their families during care, gaps still exist between human resource supply and demand. The Huggable project aims to close this gap by creating a social robot able to mitigate stress and anxiety and to promote positive affect and physical activity in pediatric patients by engaging them in playful interactive activities. We ran a randomized controlled trial study at a local pediatric hospital to study how three different interactive mediums (a plush teddy bear, a virtual agent on a screen and a social robot) affects the child patient's physical activity, affect, joyful play, stress and anxiety. In this thesis, I analyze the social, emotional, linguistic and physical behaviors of the patients, caretakers and medical staff with the video data collected during the Huggable study. Results from the behavioral analyses show that a social robot promotes more physical movement, more emotional verbal expressions, and more dynamic patient-caretaker-medical staff interaction than the virtual character and the plush interventions. Then, I extend the findings from the in-hospital experiment and develop an autonomous virtual avatar mobile application that provides personalized positive psychology interventions. A three-week longitudinal study with smartphone users showed that the interactive virtual avatar resulted an immediate improvement on people's affect and the users' engagement with the avatar increased over time due to the personalization algorithm implemented in the system. The findings from the randomized clinical trial in the pediatric hospital and the longitudinal study with smartphone users suggest the potential benefit of an autonomous and personalized social robot in pediatric inpatient-care contexts on young patients’ social and emotional wellbeing. Thesis Supervisor: Cynthia Breazeal Title: Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Application of a temperature‐dependent fluorescent dye (Rhodamine B) to the measurement of radiofrequency radiation‐induced temperature changes in biological samples

We have applied a non‐contact method for studying the temperature changes produced by radiofrequency (RF) radiation specifically to small biological samples. A temperature‐dependent fluorescent dye, Rhodamine B, as imaged by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used to do this. The results were calibrated against real‐time temperature measurements from fiber optic probes, with a calibration factor of 3.4% intensity change °C−1 and a reproducibility of ±6%. This non‐contact method provided two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional images of temperature change and distributions in biological samples, at a spatial resolution of a few micrometers and with an estimated absolute precision of around 1.5 °C, with a differential precision of 0.4 °C. Temperature rise within tissue was found to be non‐uniform. Estimates of specific absorption rate (SAR) from absorbed power measurements were greater than those estimated from rate of temperature rise, measured at 1 min intervals, probably because this interval is too long to permit accurate estimation of initial temperature rise following start of RF exposure. Future experiments will aim to explore this. Bioelectromagnetics 30:583–590, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
P14 methylation in human colon cancer is associated with microsatellite instability and wild-type p53.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Colorectal cancers with high levels of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) have an unexplained low rate of p53 gene mutations. Most such cancers have the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP+) with methylation and transcriptional silencing of the mismatch repair gene MLH1. The p14 (ARF) gene on chromosome 9p is deleted and/or silenced by hypermethylation in a subset of human malignancies. There is evidence suggesting that p14 suppresses tumorigenicity by stabilizing the p53 protein. METHODS We investigated the role of p14 in colorectal cancer by determining its methylation status in cancers that were studied previously for microsatellite instability, CIMP, and mutations of p53 and K-RAS. RESULTS p14 methylation was present in 21 of 94 cases overall (22%) and was frequent particularly in the subgroups with MSI-H (52% [11 of 21] vs. 14% [10 of 72], P = 0.004), in CIMP+ cases (40% [19 of 48] vs. 4% [2 of 46], P < 0.001), and in cases without p53 alterations (36% [17 of 47] vs. 7% [3 of 44], P = 0.004). Of 91 fully characterized cases, 41 (45%) had p53 mutations alone, 17 (19%) had p14 methylation alone, 30 (33%) had neither, but only 3 (3%) had both p53 mutations and p14 methylation. p14 methylation is an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis, being detectable in normal aging epithelium by using sensitive assays. CONCLUSIONS In colorectal cancer, p14 methylation is associated with the presence of microsatellite instability and with absence of p53 mutations. The results provide a possible explanation for the paucity of p53 mutations in colon cancers with microsatellite instability.
Expression and Significance of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor–1α and Survivin in Laryngeal Carcinoma Tissue and Cells

Objective The aim was to evaluate hypoxia-inducible factor–1α (HIF-1α) and survivin expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) tissues and cell lines and to investigate whether HIF-1α has an effect on the regulation of survivin gene expression in LSCC cells under hypoxia. Study Design Prospective, observational. Setting Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated First People’s Hospital. Subjects and Methods The expression of HIF-1α and survivin protein in human LSCC tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. HIF-1α and survivin gene expression levels in Hep-2 cells were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. In hypoxic cells, HIF-1α expression was inhibited by RNA interference. Results HIF-1α and survivin were both highly expressed in LSCC tissues and significantly related to the clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P < .05). Meanwhile, a positive correlation existed between HIF-1α and survivin expression (r = 0.456, P < .01). In LSCC cells, HIF-1α and survivin expression were obviously upregulated in response to hypoxia (P < .05). The downregulation of HIF-1α expression dramatically decreased survivin gene expression in hypoxic cells (P < .05). Conclusion HIF-1α could be considered as an important regulator for the upregulation of survivin gene expression induced by hypoxia in LSCC cells, and both proteins could be regarded as 2 key predictors of malignant progression and metastasis of LSCC.
Color constancy: a biological model and its application for still and video images

A novel biological model for color constancy (CC) is presented. This is the first biological model that succeeds in achieving automatic color correction of real still and video images (registered patent). It is based on two chromatic adaptation mechanisms in retinal color-coded cells: local adaptation and remote chromatic adaptation. Our simulations calculate the perceived image in order to correct image colors (as is commonly required in cameras). The results indicate that the contribution of adaptation mechanisms to CC is significant, robust, and succeeded in performing color correction of still images and video sequences under single and multiple illumination conditions.
Hit-to-scroll: a scroll interface utilizing impacting motions for a handheld projector

Mobile devices equipped with projectors are beginning to spread through the market. In order to offer comfortable operations by avoiding the attention shift between the projected image and input devices such as a touch panel attached to the mobile device, new operation interfaces specifically designed for handheld projectors are needed to be developed. One of the key focus has been on the use of the motions of handheld projectors. [Raskar et al. 2004] proposed an interface utilizing the handheld projector as a pointing device, by displaying a cursor pointer at the center of the projection range while stabilizing the other objects to the screen.
Assessment of interrater and intrarater reliability of the Fahn–Tolosa–Marin Tremor Rating Scale in essential tremor

The purpose of this study was to evaluate interrater and intrarater reliability of the Fahn–Tolosa–Marin Tremor Rating Scale (TRS) in essential tremor (ET). Proper treatment of ET is contingent upon correct assessment of the severity, loss of function, and disability related to tremor. Videotape recordings of 17 subjects with ET evaluated with the TRS were produced and sent to 59 raters. Once the raters returned the videotape and completed the score sheet, they were mailed a second tape with the same recordings presented in a different order. In the interrater reliability evaluation, modified Kappa statistics for seven tremor type composites ranged from 0.10 to 0.65 in the first videotape and 0.17 to 0.62 in the second videotape. Interrater reliabilities were greater for Part A items (magnitude of tremor in different body parts) than for Part B items (tremor in writing and drawings) of the TRS. The average Spearman correlation was 0.87, indicating very good consistency between the two videotapes, but correlations for Part A were somewhat better than for Part B. It is best when the same rater performs repeated measures of tremor on a patient, particularly when judging tremor in handwriting and drawings. Training of raters on use of the TRS would help standardize judgement. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Life events, depressive relapse and maintenance treatment

Synopsis Occurrence of life events was recorded in 30 recovered depressed women undergoing clinical relapse in a controlled trial of maintenance treatment with amitriptyline and psychotherapy, and in 30 matched patients who did not relapse. Overall, patients who relapsed experienced significantly more life events in the three months before relapse, and especially in the month immediately preceding it. Undesirable events were particularly implicated. Event rates prior to relapse were closely comparable in treatment subgroups, giving no evidence that differential stress was required to produce relapse. The findings reinforce previous studies indicating an overall relationship between life events of certain types and depression, but do not suggest that the beneficial effects of maintenance treatment are specifically protective against life stress.