Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Significance of Lymph Node Ratio in Stage III Rectal Cancer

Purpose Although nodal metastasis is the most powerful prognostic factor in rectal cancer, marked heterogeneity exists within stage III rectal cancer. Recent studies of rectal cancer have shown a prognostic superiority of the lymph node ratio (LNR) compared with N stage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the LNR in the era of the 7th edition of the TNM classification. Methods We included 190 patients who underwent a curative resection for rectal cancer with nodal metastasis. The patients were divided into four groups on the basis of statistically calculated cut-off values as 0.21, 0.32, and 0.61. Results The LNR was an independent risk factor for overall survival (OS; P = 0.008) and for systemic recurrence-free survival (SRFS; P = 0.002). However, the LNR was not a predictive factor for local recurrence. When the N stage of the sixth TNM staging system was separately analyzed as a covariate, the LNR was also found to be a predictive factor for both OS and SRFS (P = 0.012 and P = 0.004, respectively). A LNR value of 0.21 offered the best cut off to separate patients into two prognostic groups. Conclusion The defined cut-off values of the LNR were an independent risk factor for OS and distant metastasis-free survival in patients with rectal cancer, irrespective of the sixth or the seventh version of the TNM classification, and the LNR should be considered as a prognostic variable in any future staging system.
Evidence of a type 1/type 2 dichotomy in the correlation between quasar optical polarization and host-galaxy/extended emission position angles

Aims. For Seyfert galaxies, the AGN unification model provides a simple and well-established explanation of the type 1/type 2 dichotomy through orientation-based effects. The generalization of this unification model to the higher luminosity AGNs that quasars are remains a key question. The recent detection of type 2 radio-quiet quasars seems to support such an extension. We propose a further test of this scenario. Methods. On the basis of a compilation of quasar host-galaxy position angles consisting of previously published data and of new measurements performed using HST Archive images, we investigate the possible existence of a correlation between the linear polarization position angle and the host-galaxy/extended emission position angle of quasars. Results. We find that the orientation of the rest-frame UV/blue extended emission is correlated to the direction of the quasar polarization. For type 1 quasars, the polarization is aligned with the extended UV/blue emission, while these two quantities are perpendicular in type 2 objects. This result is independent of the quasar radio loudness. We interpret this (anti-)alignment effect in terms of scattering in a two-component polar+equatorial model that applies to both type 1 and type 2 objects. Moreover, the orientation of the polarization –and then of the UV/blue scattered light– does not appear correlated to the major axis of the stellar component of the host-galaxy measured from near-IR images.
The eukaryotic genome: a system regulated at different hierarchical levels

Eukaryotic gene expression can be viewed within a conceptual framework in which regulatory mechanisms are integrated at three hierarchical levels. The first is the sequence level, i.e. the linear organization of transcription units and regulatory sequences. Here, developmentally co-regulated genes seem to be organized in clusters in the genome, which constitute individual functional units. The second is the chromatin level, which allows switching between different functional states. Switching between a state that suppresses transcription and one that is permissive for gene activity probably occurs at the level of the gene cluster, involving changes in chromatin structure that are controlled by the interplay between histone modification, DNA methylation, and a variety of repressive and activating mechanisms. This regulatory level is combined with control mechanisms that switch individual genes in the cluster on and off, depending on the properties of the promoter. The third level is the nuclear level, which includes the dynamic 3D spatial organization of the genome inside the cell nucleus. The nucleus is structurally and functionally compartmentalized and epigenetic regulation of gene expression may involve repositioning of loci in the nucleus through changes in large-scale chromatin structure.
Accurate Ronding Scheme for the Newton-Raphson Method Using Redundant Binary Representation

Proposes a new algorithm of estimation and compensation of the error effect for rounding in the case of implementation of division and square root using the Newton-Raphson method. The authors analyze the error of the hardware system to confirm the condition of the implementation with respect to this algorithm. Next, they describe in detail how to compensate the error by using this algorithm. Finally, they show that the hardware components for this algorithm, the direct rounding mechanism in the recode circuit and the sticky digit generating circuit, can be realized simply by improving the redundant binary representation multiplier. The number of increasing cycles for this new algorithm is only one, and the rounding result using this algorithm satisfies IEEE Standard 754 rounding perfectly. >
2016 Ieee International Conference on Big Data (big Data) Request: a Scalable Framework for Interactive Construction of Exploratory Queries

—Exploration over large datasets is a key first step in data analysis, as users may be unfamiliar with the underlying database schema and unable to construct precise queries that represent their interests. Such data exploration task usually involves executing numerous ad-hoc queries, which requires a considerable amount of time and human effort. In this paper, we present REQUEST, a novel framework that is designed to minimize the human effort and enable both effective and efficient data exploration. REQUEST supports the query-from-examples style of data exploration by integrating two key components: 1) Data Reduction, and 2) Query Selection. As instances of the REQUEST framework, we propose several highly scalable schemes, which employ active learning techniques and provide different levels of efficiency and effectiveness as guided by the user's preferences. Our results, on real-world datasets from Sloan Digital Sky Survey, show that our schemes on average require 1-2 orders of magnitude fewer feedback questions than the random baseline, and 3-16× fewer questions than the state-of-the-art, while maintaining interactive response time. Moreover, our schemes are able to construct, with high accuracy, queries that are often undetectable by current techniques.
Static analysis by abstract interpretation of embedded critical software

Formal methods are increasingly used to help ensuring the correctness of complex, critical embedded software systems. We show how sound semantic static analyses based on Abstract Interpretation may be used to check properties at various levels of a software design: from high level models to low level binary code. After a short introduction to the Abstract Interpretation theory, we present a few current applications: checking for run-time errors at the C level, translation validation from C to assembly, and analyzing SAO models of communicating synchronous systems with imperfect clocks. We conclude by briey proposing some requirements to apply Abstract Interpretation to modeling languages such as UML.
An Intelligent Autopilot System that learns flight emergency procedures by imitating human pilots

We propose an extension to the capabilities of the Intelligent Autopilot System (IAS) from our previous work, to be able to learn handling emergencies by observing and imitating human pilots. The IAS is a potential solution to the current problem of Automatic Flight Control Systems of being unable to handle flight uncertainties, and the need to construct control models manually. A robust Learning by Imitation approach is proposed which uses human pilots to demonstrate the task to be learned in a flight simulator while training datasets are captured from these demonstrations. The datasets are then used by Artificial Neural Networks to generate control models automatically. The control models imitate the skills of the human pilot when handling flight emergencies including engine(s) failure or fire, Rejected Take Off (RTO), and emergency landing, while a flight manager program decides which ANNs to be fired given the current condition. Experiments show that, even after being presented with limited examples, the IAS is able to handle such flight emergencies with high accuracy.
Lines Underground: Exploring and Mapping Venezuela’s Cave Environment

How do the lines on a map come into being? What stories do they tell? These questions are examined in the context of cave exploration and mapping in Venezuela. Ethnographic analysis focuses on mapping in the field, the translation of notes into final maps, and discourses surrounding these practices. The lines that cave surveyors sketch in field books while traversing underground passages reveal a dialectic between cartographic and exploratory practices. Two key factors shape this dynamic: first, the experience of probing humans “pushing passages” with no obvious end in sight, and second, the coordinated and skilled use of tools by explorers working in teams. Here, humans define both the scale and perspective of cartographic representations. But bodies slithering along passages make lines, too. This paper simultaneously considers lines of lead on paper and traces of bodies in the earth as a way to think of exploration and mapping as emergent engagements. This case powerfully illustrates the ontogenic nature of maps, highlighting the (re)production of social relations that continually brings them into being along with the environment that engenders these engagements. Finally, cave exploration and mapping illustrate the limits of our vision and technologies to grasp and order nature. Comment les lignes sur une carte voient-elles le jour? Quelles histoires racontent-elles? Dans l’article, on examinera ces questions dans le contexte de l’exploration spéléologique et de la représentation cartographique du Venezuela. Cette analyse ethnographique sera axée sur la cartographie sur le terrain, la transposition des notes sur les cartes finales et les discours entourant ces pratiques. Les lignes que les géomètres experts en spéléologie dessinent dans leurs carnets d’observations dans les passages souterrains révèlent une dialectique entre la cartographie et les pratiques d’exploration qui est formée par deux facteurs clés : premièrement, l’expérience des humains qui sondent les « passages » sans en voir la fin; et, deuxièmement, l’utilisation coordonnée d’outils spécialisés par les explorateurs qui travaillent en équipes. Ici, le mot humain définit à la fois l’échelle de grandeur et le point de vue des représentations cartographiques. Toutefois, les corps qui se faufilent dans les passages forment eux aussi des lignes. Dans l’article, on considère à la fois les lignes tracées au crayon sur du papier et les traces laissées par les corps dans la terre afin d’envisager l’exploration et la représentation cartographique comme des engagements naissants. Ce cas illustre superbement la nature ontogénique des cartes et met en relief la (re)production des relations sociales qui les font constamment naître, ainsi que l’environnement qui crée ces engagements. Enfin, l’exploration spéléologique et la cartographie illustrent les limites de notre vision et des technologies permettant de comprendre et d’ordonner la nature.
An optimal DNA segmentation based on the MDL principle

The biological world is highly stochastic as well as inhomogeneous in its behavior. The transition between homogeneous and inhomogeneous regions of DNA, known also as change points, carry important biological information. Our goal is to employ rigorous methods of information theory to quantify structural properties of DNA sequences. In particular, we adopt the Stein-Ziv lemma to find asymptotically optimal discriminant function that determines whether two DNA segments are generated by the same source and assuring exponentially small false positives. Then we apply the minimum description length (MDL) principle to select parameters of our segmentation algorithm. Finally, we perform extensive experimental work on human chromosome 9. After grouping A and G (purines) and T and C (pyrimidines) we discover change points between coding and noncoding regions as well as the beginning of a CpG island.
An Efficient and Robust User Authentication Scheme for Hierarchical Wireless Sensor Networks without Tamper-Proof Smart Card

The cluster heads in hierarchical wireless sensor networks gather real time data from the other ordinary sensor nodes and send those data to a nearest base station. But, the main important issue is that how a user will get the real time data directly from a cluster head securely. To solve this problem, many user authentication schemes have been proposed in literature. In 2012, Das et al. proposed a dynamic password-based user authentication scheme for hierarchical wireless sensor networks and showed that their scheme is secure against all possible attacks. In this paper, we have pointed out that Das et al.’s scheme is insecure against insider attack, theft attack and session key recovery attack, and their scheme also suffers from dynamic cluster head addition overhead problem, limited number of cluster heads access problem and clock synchronization problem. To overcome these drawbacks, we have proposed an efficient and robust user authentication scheme for hierarchical wireless sensor networks without tamper-proof smart card in this paper. We have also shown that our scheme provides better tread-off among security and communication overhead compare to the Das et al.’s scheme.
A Prototype of Digitalized Anatomy Museum with a Scientific Design

Anatomy museums display the intricacy of human anatomy to medical students and public. This study aims to create a prototype of a digitalized twenty first century museum. The prototype was conceived after a study on sixteen renowned anatomy museums in India. The museums have evolved over the centuries from an institute housing a collection of models, to one with formalin preserved specimens and plastinates. The modern anatomy museums are digitalized and use audiovisual aids and electronic screens to express anatomy. The advances in science must be utilized in medical education. The future generations live in world that is completely digitalized. Hence, modern innovations such as computer, internet, Wi-Fi, electronic screens, projectors, 3-D viewing capabilities, 3-D holograms and anatomical mannequins, must be used to teach anatomy in anatomy museums. It is also essential to incorporate museum visit, as a part of regular curriculum, in schools and in undergraduate medical education. An anatomy museum is not meant only for display of specimens. It has to be designed, to function as an institute where active learning can take place, thus including the museum in the mainstream of medical education. The future of anatomy will certainly be more digitalized. However, the traditional techniques of model making, dissection and plastination will always have a special place in all the anatomy museums for time immemorial.
H∞ filtering for fast-varying-delay Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems

In this article, an H/sub /spl infin// filtering problem for continuous-time Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems with multiple time-varying delays in state variables is addressed. Based on Lyapunov-Krasovskii approach, a delay-dependent sufficient conditions is obtained. Unlike the existing results requiring the information on derivative of delay time, the condition we proposed is free from derivative information on delay time, which means a fast-varying delay time is allowed. Furthermore the condition is expressed as linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) form, therefore the set of H/sub /spl infin// filter gains can be determined by LMI solvers. Lastly, an example is demonstrated using the proposed design methodology.
Energy-efficient dynamic task scheduling algorithms for DVS systems

Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) is a well-known low-power design technique that reduces the processor energy by slowing down the DVS processor and stretching the task execution time. However, in a DVS system consisting of a DVS processor and multiple devices, slowing down the processor increases the device energy consumption and thereby the system-level energy consumption. In this paper, we first use system-level energy consideration to derive the “optimal ” scaling factor by which a task should be scaled if there are no deadline constraints. Next, we develop dynamic task-scheduling algorithms that make use of dynamic processor utilization and optimal scaling factor to determine the speed setting of a task. We present algorithm duEDF, which reduces the CPU energy consumption and algorithm duSYS and its reduced preemption version, duSYS_PC, which reduce the system-level energy. Experimental results on the video-phone task set show that when the CPU power is dominant, algorithm duEDF results in up to 45&percent; energy savings compared to the non-DVS case. When the CPU power and device power are comparable, algorithms duSYS and duSYS_PC achieve up to 25&percent; energy saving compared to CPU energy-efficient algorithm duEDF, and up to 12&percent; energy saving over the non-DVS scheduling algorithm. However, if the device power is large compared to the CPU power, then we show that a DVS scheme does not result in lowest energy. Finally, a comparison of the performance of algorithms duSYS and duSYS_PC show that preemption control has minimal effect on system-level energy reduction.
Structure and Characteristics of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced SiC Composite

Carbon nanotube plays an important role in various applications due to its extreme optic, electronic and mechanical properties. In the present work, attempts have made to investigate the effects of incorporation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC composites. Firstly, carbon nanotubes were modified by chemical method in order to add carboxyl group on their surface. Then modified carbon nanotubes were located on the surface on SiC particles by silicon coupling agent. A designed carbon nanotube reinforced composite was obtained after pressureless sintering. SEM was employed to investigate the micro-structure of as-prepared SiC material. Its properties of, such as density, hardness, strength, etc. were determined in detail. The relationship between the micro-structure and properties of carbon nanotube reinforced SiC composite were discussed.
Auditory processing skills in normal hearing adult listeners with and without self-reported auditory skill complaint

Auditory Processing Tests, including the PPST, the DDT, the HINT, and the RGDT, were administered to normal hearing adults between the ages of 20-40. No differences were indicated between results of the Control and Experimental groups, though differences within the Experimental group were noted on the DDT, the HINT, and the RGDT.
Genome-wide analysis of the CaHsp20 gene family in pepper: comprehensive sequence and expression profile analysis under heat stress

The Hsp20 genes are present in all plant species and play important roles in alleviating heat stress and enhancing plant thermotolerance by preventing the irreversible aggregation of denaturing proteins. However, very little is known about the CaHsp20 gene family in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), an important vegetable crop with character of temperate but thermosensitive. In this study, a total of 35 putative pepper Hsp20 genes (CaHsp20s) were identified and renamed on the basis of their molecular weight, and then their gene structure, genome location, gene duplication, phylogenetic relationship, and interaction network were also analyzed. The expression patterns of CaHsp20 genes in four different tissues (root, stem, leaf, and flower) from the thermotolerant line R9 under heat stress condition were measured using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The transcripts of most CaHsp20 genes maintained a low level in all of the four tissues under normal temperature condition, but were highly induced by heat stress, while the expression of CaHsp16.6b, 16.7, and 23.8 were only detected in specific tissues and were not so sensitive to heat stress like other CaHsp20 genes. In addition, compared to those in thermotolerant line R9, the expression peak of most CaHsp20 genes in thermosensitive line B6 under heat stress was hysteretic, and several CaHsp20 genes (CaHsp16.4, 18.2a, 18.7, 21.2, 22.0, 25.8, and 25.9) showed higher expression levels in both line B6 and R9. These data suggest that the CaHsp20 genes may be involved in heat stress and defense responses in pepper, which provides the basis for further functional analyses of CaHsp20s in the formation of pepper acquired thermotoleance.
An Enhanced Biometric Based Remote User Authentication Scheme Using Smart Card

In remote authentication scheme, a remote user can communicate with server over open networks even though the physical distance is much far. Before interaction, they require to establish common session key by authenticating each other. Recently in 2014, Kumari et al. proposed the efficient scheme for remote user authentication. However in this paper, we show that the Kumari et al.’s scheme is vulnerably susceptible to the Insider Attack, Stolen Verifier Attack, Session Key Disclosure Attack, Password Guessing Attack, Modification Attack, User Impersonation Attack, Replay Attack, Shoulder Surfing Attack and Denial of Service Attack. Afterwards, we have proposed an improved remote user authentication scheme to deal with these attacks and other attacks.
On independent sets, 2-to-2 games, and Grassmann graphs

We present a candidate reduction from the 3-Lin problem to the 2-to-2 Games problem and present a combinatorial hypothesis about Grassmann graphs which, if correct, is sufficient to show the soundness of the reduction in a certain non-standard sense. A reduction that is sound in this non-standard sense implies that it is NP-hard to distinguish whether an n-vertex graph has an independent set of size ( 1- 1/√2 ) n - o(n) or whether every independent set has size o(n), and consequently, that it is NP-hard to approximate the Vertex Cover problem within a factor √2-o(1).
A Low-Power CoAP for Contiki

Internet of Things devices will by and large be battery-operated, but existing application protocols have typically not been designed with power-efficiency in mind. In low-power wireless systems, power-efficiency is determined by the ability to maintain a low radio duty cycle: keeping the radio off as much as possible. We present an implementation of the IETF Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) for the Contiki operating system that leverages the ContikiMAC low-power duty cycling mechanism to provide power efficiency. We experimentally evaluate our low-power CoAP, demonstrating that an existing application layer protocol can be made power-efficient through a generic radio duty cycling mechanism. To the best of our knowledge, our CoAP implementation is the first to provide power-efficient operation through radio duty cycling. Our results question the need for specialized low-power mechanisms at the application layer, instead providing low-power operation only at the radio duty cycling layer.