Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical Inference of a Competing Risks Model with Modified Weibull Distributions

Statistical inferences of the parameters included in a competing risks model are presented. It is assumed here that the causes of failures may occur at times that follow modified Weibull distributions. The case of Weibull distributions can be derived as special case of the problem studied in this paper. The maximum likelihood procedure is used to get the point estimations and asymptotic confidence intervals of the parameters. Two hypothesis are tested. The first is when the causes of failure follow exponential distributions against modified Weibull. The second is when the causes of failure follow Weibull distributions against modified Weibull. We used a set of real data to explain the theoretical results obtained.
Adsorption of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate on Ge Substrate: The Effect of a Low-Polarity Solvent

This paper describes the adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) molecules in a low polar solvent on Ge substrate by using Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The maximum SDS amount adsorbed is (5.0 ± 0.3) × 1014 molecules cm−2 in CHCl3, while with the use of CCl4 as subphase the ability of SDS adsorbed is 48% lower. AFM images show that depositions are highly disordered over the interface, and it was possible to establish that the size of the SDS deposition is around 30–40 nm over the Ge surface. A complete description of the infrared spectroscopic bands for the head and tail groups in the SDS molecule is also provided.
DETECTION OF 25-YEAR LAND-COVER CHANGE IN A CRITICAL WATERSHED IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES USING LANDSAT MSS AND ETM+ IMAGES: IMPORTANCE IN WATERSHED REHABILITATION

We analyzed Landsat MSS and ETM+ images to detect 25-year land-cover change (1976-2001) in the critical Taguibo Watershed in Mindanao Island, Southern Philippines. This watershed has experienced historical modifications of its land-cover due to the presence of logging industries in the 1960s, and continuous deforestation due to illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture in the present time. To estimate the impacts of land-cover change on watershed runoff, we utilized the land-cover information derived from the Landsat images to parameterize a GIS-based hydrologic model. The model was then calibrated with field-measured discharge data and used to simulate the responses of the watershed in its year 2001 and year 1976 land-cover conditions. The availability of landcover information on the most recent state of the watershed from the Landsat ETM+ image made it possible to locate areas for rehabilitation such as barren and logged-over areas. We then created a “rehabilitated” land-cover condition map of the watershed (reforestation of logged-over areas and agro-forestation of barren areas) and used it to parameterize the model and predict the runoff responses of the watershed. Model results showed that changes in land-cover from 1976 to 2001 were directly related to the significant increase in surface runoff. Runoff predictions showed that a full rehabilitation of the watershed especially in barren and logged-over areas will likely to reduce the generation of huge volume of runoff during rainfall events. The results of this study have demonstrated the usefulness of multi-temporal Landsat images in detecting land-cover change, in identifying areas for rehabilitation, and in evaluating rehabilitation strategies for management of tropical watersheds through its use in hydrologic modeling. * Corresponding author.
A Generalisation of the ICP Algorithm for Articulated Bodies

The ICP algorithm has been extensively used in computer vision for registration and tracking purposes. The original formulation of this method is restricted to the use of non-articulated models. A straightforward generalisation to articulated structures is achievable through the joint minimisation of all the structure pose parameters, for example using Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) optimisation. However, in this approach the aligning transformation cannot be estimated in closed form, like in the original ICP, and the approach heavily suffers from local minima. To overcome this limitation, some authors have extended the straightforward generalisation at the cost of giving up some of the properties of ICP. In this paper, we present a generalisation of ICP to articulated structures, which preserves all the properties of the original algorithm. The key idea is to divide the articulated body into parts, which can be aligned rigidly in the way of the original ICP, with additional constraints to keep the articulated structure intact. Experiments show that our method reduces the residual registration error by a factor of 2.
Antigen-Specific Polyclonal Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Induced by Fusions of Dendritic Cells and Tumor Cells

The aim of cancer vaccines is induction of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that can reduce the tumor mass. Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells and play a central role in the initiation and regulation of primary immune responses. Thus, DCs-based vaccination represents a potentially powerful strategy for induction of antigen-specific CTLs. Fusions of DCs and whole tumor cells represent an alternative approach to deliver, process, and subsequently present a broad spectrum of antigens, including those known and unidentified, in the context of costimulatory molecules. Once DCs/tumor fusions have been infused back into patient, they migrate to secondary lymphoid organs, where the generation of antigen-specific polyclonal CTL responses occurs. We will discuss perspectives for future development of DCs/tumor fusions for CTL induction.
Relationship Between Extreme Rainfall and Surface Temperature in Sicily (Italy)

The study of the relationship between extreme rainfall events and surface temperature represents an important issue in hydrology and meteorology and it could be of capital importance for evaluating the effect of global warming on future precipitation. Various approaches have been tested across different parts of the world, and, in many cases, it has been observed an intensification of precipitation with increasing temperature consistently with the thermodynamic Clausius-Clapeyron relation (CC-rate of 6-7% °C -1 ), according to which a warmer atmosphere is capable of holding more moisture. Nevertheless, in different locations, the scaling rate between temperature and extreme precipitation has resulted significantly different with respect to the CC-rate, in some cases sensibly higher (super-CC) and in other relevantly lower (sub-CC). In this work, an analysis of the scaling relationship between sub-daily extreme rainfall events and surface temperature is carried out, using data from a large number of rain and temperature gauges across Sicily (Italy). Results highlight the relevant importance of some modeling choices and, particularly, of rainfall duration, for this type of analysis in semi-arid region. An overall sub-CC scaling rate has been detected for most part of the region.
Pre-service Educational Assistants’ Attitudes Toward Inclusion

In recent years, educational assistants (EAs) have taken on an integral role in special education. They often work with the most challenging and vulnerable student population (i.e., students with exceptionalities). To prepare EAs, some of Ontario’s publicly funded colleges have developed pre-service training programs. In Ontario, the number of students receiving special education services from kindergarten to Grade 12 is increasing, and policy trends are advocating for inclusion. Literature has suggested that educators’ attitudes toward educational inclusion may impact the extent to which inclusive strategies are implemented. Despite the importance that EAs bring to the special education team, very few studies have investigated their attitudes toward inclusion. This qualitative study investigated four pre-service EAs’ attitudes toward educational inclusion through the use of semi-structured interviews. Participants held mostly positive attitudes toward inclusion, but expressed concerns about implementation. Recommendations are made for policy, practice, and research based on three themes that emerged from the data.
A secure non-blind block based digital image watermarking technique using DWT and DCT

Digital image watermarking can be considered as a better solution to protect authentication of images and its copyright protection. The purpose of proposed method is to provide better security of host image. Proposed method is implemented using DWT and DCT. Watermark image is inserted in LL sub-band of host image by dividing it using DWT. 8×8 block DCT is applied on LL sub-band and watermark is embedded into last pixel of each block. On the basis of watermark pixel value, pixel value of host image is affected. Here, binary watermark image is taken for experiment. Extraction process is completely non-blind technique. In extraction DWT technique is applied on both host image and watermarked image. Finally reverse process of embedding is applied to extract exact watermark image.
Applying Recent Enhancements in Reputation Based Mechanisms for Promoting Trust in Mobile Communities

One inherent problem with virtual communities is how to assess the trustworthiness of unknown peers. Reputation based trust mechanisms are one means to help users decide whether to rely on a stranger or not. Using eBay’s feedback forum as an example, we show how simple reputation based trust mechanisms work. We evaluate shortcomings of these mechanisms and give an overview of reasonable enhancements. Later we show how effectiveness is improved by various means including policy based trust measures and using more sophisticated models for calculating reputation values. When applying the mechanisms to mobile communities, we realize that they have specific requirements of reputation based trust mechanisms such as decentralized reputation storage. With these results, we analyze which enhancements fulfill the given requirements. Next we describe a hypothetical reputation based trust mechanism for a virtual community.
On the Performance Evaluation of Distributed Resource Block and Power Allocation in D2D-enabled Multi-Cell Networks

Device-to-Device (D2D) communication presents a new paradigm in mobile networking that allows for increased network spectral efficiency, energy efficiency, offloaded traffic for Base Stations and less congestion in cellular core network. In this paper we address the problem of multi-cell interference minimization in D2D underlay cellular networks. The problem is solved in the joint space of resource blocks (RBs) and uplink transmission power under minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) constraints for all users of the network. The problem is decomposed into two sub-problems. The first confronts the RB allocation and is modeled as a bilateral symmetric interaction game. To obtain the Nash equilibrium point of the game, while eliminating the overhead and restrictions associated with the application of sequential best response dynamics, we introduce a distributed algorithm where all users become active independently with some probability, and all active players revise their strategy according to the best-response rule allowing for simultaneous and independent moves. Next, for every shared RB a distributed power control algorithm is used in order to find the solution of the problem in the uplink transmission power space. The proposed approach is evaluated through modeling and simulation and its performance is thoroughly compared against solutions that adopt the sequential best response dynamics.
Analysis of Architecture Pattern Usage in Legacy System Architecture Documentation

Architecture patterns are an important tool in architectural design. However, while many architecture patterns have been identified, there is little in-depth understanding of their actual use in software architectures. For instance, there is no overview of how many patterns are used per system or which patterns are the most common or most important for particular domains. In addition, little is known of how architecture patterns ay interact with each other. We studied architecture documentation of 47 systems to learn about their architecture patterns. Most systems had two or more architecture patterns, and certain patterns were prominent in different application domains. We identified several patterns that are commonly used together, and are beginning to learn how such combinations may impact system quality attributes. This information can be used to help designers select architecture patterns, can help people learn both architectures and patterns, and can be useful in architectural reviews.
FPGA Prototyping Strategy for a H.264/AVC Video Decoder

This paper presents the prototyping strategy used to validate the designed modules of a main profile H.264/AVC video decoder designed to achieve 1080p HDTV resolution, implemented in a FPGA. All modules designed were completely described in VHDL and further validated through simulations. The post place-and-route synthesis results indicate that the designed architectures are able to target real time when processing HDTV 1080p frames (1080times1920). The architectures were prototyped using a Digilent XUP V2P board, containing a Virtex-II Pro XC2VP30 Xilinx FPGA. The prototyping strategy used an embedded Power PC and associated logic and buffering to control the modules under prototyping. A host computer, running the reference software, was used to generate the input stimuli and to compare the results, through a RS-232 serial interface.
Spectral-based algorithms of direction-of-arrival estimation for adaptive digital antenna arrays

Spectral-based algorithms of estimating the signal parameters, particularly a number of sources and the direction-of-arrival (DOA), are described in this article. This article provides Bartlett and Capon algorithms, which are directly dependent upon the physical size of the array, MUSIC and ESPRIT algorithms with the resolution capability not limited by the array aperture. Some of these algorithms are simulated in MathCAD.
Direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urine specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic men by using a rapid polymerase chain reaction assay

Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in men has traditionally been limited to men who present with urethral symptoms, thereby limiting the detection of asymptomatic chlamydia infection in men. In order to effectively screen both symptomatic and asymptomatic men, we evaluated a newly developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, Amplicor C. trachomatis, from Roche Molecular Systems for the detection of C. trachomatis in urine specimens in comparison with urethral culture. A total of 530 male urine specimens were collected from 322 symptomatic and 208 asymptomatic men attending two sexually transmitted disease clinics in Baltimore, Md. The prevalence of C. trachomatis by culture was 9.8% (10.6% in symptomatic men and 8.2% in asymptomatic men). Compared with culture, the sensitivity of the PCR was 92.8%, the specificity was 94.7%, the positive predictive value was 68.4%, and the negative predictive value was 99.1%. Discrepant results between culture and PCR were further analyzed by direct fluorescent-antibody staining of elementary bodies in urine sediment and in culture transport vials and by major outer membrane protein PCR of transport media for specimens with negative culture. The revised sensitivity and specificity of PCR for urine were 95.0 and 99.8%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 98.7 and 99.1%, respectively. The sensitivity of culture compared with PCR and/or direct fluorescent-antibody staining was 68.4%. These results indicate that the PCR assay is a highly sensitive and specific assay for the detection of C. trachomatis in male urine specimens and provides a noninvasive technique for routine screening of chlamydia infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic men.
Computer Vision and Image Understanding a Generalised Framework for Saliency-based Point Feature Detection

Here we present a novel, histogram-based salient point feature detector that may naturally be applied to both images and 3D data. Existing point feature detectors are often modality specific, with 2D and 3D feature detectors typically constructed in separate ways. As such, their applicability in a 2D-3D context is very limited, particularly where the 3D data is obtained by a LiDAR scanner. By contrast, our histogram-based approach is highly generalisable and as such, may be meaningfully applied between 2D and 3D data. Using the generalised approach, we propose salient point detectors for images, and both untextured and textured 3D data. The approach naturally allows for the detection of salient 3D points based jointly on both the geometry and texture of the scene, allowing for broader applicability. The repeatability of the feature detectors is evaluated using a range of datasets including image and LiDAR input from indoor and outdoor scenes. Experimental results demonstrate a significant improvement in terms of 2D-2D and 2D-3D repeatability compared to existing multi-modal feature detectors.
Splitting interfaces: making trust between applications and operating systems configurable

In current commodity systems, applications have no way of limiting their trust in the underlying operating system (OS), leaving them at the complete mercy of an attacker who gains control over the OS. In this work, we describe the design and implementation of Proxos, a system that allows applications to configure their trust in the OS by partitioning the system call interface into trusted and untrusted components. System call routing rules that indicate which system calls are to be handled by the un-trusted commodity OS, and which are to be handled by a trusted private OS, are specified by the application developer. We find that rather than defining a new system call interface, routing system calls of an existing interface allows applications currently targeted towards commodity operating systems to isolate their most sensitive components from the commodity OS with only minor source code modifications. We have built a prototype of our system on top of the Xen Virtual Machine Monitor with Linux as the commodity OS. In practice, we find that the system call routing rules are short and simple -- on the order of 10's of lines of code. In addition, applications in Proxos incur only modest performance overhead, with most of the cost resulting from inter-VM context switches.
On Symmetry Group Properties of the Benney Equations

In the present study, we investigate the symmetry groups of Benney equations that are the system of nonlinear integro-differential equations. We first investigate the symmetry groups of the Benney equations by using the method. Then we obtain all reduced forms of the system of integro-differential equations with fewer variables based on symmetry groups; and lastly, we seek a similarity solution to the reduced system of the equations.
A Novel Gene Essential for the Development of Single Positive Thymocytes

ABSTRACT A critical step during intrathymic T-cell development is the transition of CD4+ CD8+ double-positive (DP) cells to the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-restricted CD4− CD8+ and MHC-II-restricted CD4+ CD8− single-positive (SP) cell stage. Here, we identify a novel gene that is essential for this process. Through the T-cell phenotype-based screening of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutant mice, we established a mouse line in which numbers of CD4 and CD8 SP thymocytes as well as peripheral CD4 and CD8 T cells were dramatically reduced. Using linkage analysis and DNA sequencing, we identified a missense point mutation in a gene, E430004N04Rik (also known as themis), that does not belong to any known gene family. This orphan gene is expressed specifically in DP and SP thymocytes and peripheral T cells, whereas in mutant thymocytes the levels of protein encoded by this gene were drastically reduced. We generated E430004N04Rik-deficient mice, and their phenotype was virtually identical to that of the ENU mutant mice, thereby confirming that this gene is essential for the development of SP thymocytes.
Imitating human dance motions through motion structure analysis

This paper presents a method for importing human dance motion into humanoid robots through visual observation. The human motion data is acquired from a motion capture system consisting of 8 cameras and 8 PC clusters. Then the whole motion sequence is divided into motion elements and clustered into groups according to the correlation of end-effector trajectories. We call these segments 'motion primitives'. New dance motions are generated by concatenating these motion primitives. We are also trying to make a humanoid dance these original or generated motions using inverse-kinematics and dynamic balancing techniques.
Antiglomerular basement membrane nephritis in beige mice. Deficiency of leukocytic neutral proteinases prevents the induction of albuminuria in the heterologous phase

Antiglomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis with massive albuminuria can be induced in mice by injection of heterologous antibodies against mouse GBM. The albuminuria and the glomerular lesions in this model are not mediated by complement, but are dependent on the presence of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) in the glomeruli. Neutral serine proteinases and reactive oxygen metabolites produced by activated PMN have been implicated as agents contributing to tissue damage. We examined the role of leukocytic neutral proteinases by comparing the glomerular damage and albuminuria after injection of rabbit anti-mouse GBM antibodies in normal control mice (C57BL/6J, +/+) and in beige mice (C57BL/6J,bg/bg) in which PMN are deficient of the neutral proteinases elastase and cathepsin G. The dose- dependent albuminuria that occurred in control mice after injection of 1.4-22 mg of anti-GBM antibodies was not observed in beige mice, despite a comparable influx of PMNs in the glomeruli. By electron microscopy both strains showed a similar attachment of PMN to the denuded GBM together with swelling and necrosis of endothelial cells. Elastase activity of extracts from PMN of beige mice was only 10-15% of the activity of control mice. In vitro, GBM degradation by PMN extracts of beige mice was 70% lower than that seen in control experiments. PMNs of beige and control mice showed no differences in superoxide production. In addition, administration of scavengers of reactive oxygen metabolites, such as catalase and desferrioxamine, did not prevent the albuminuria in this model. These findings support the important contribution of leukocytic neutral proteinases to the induction of albuminuria in the acute phase of anti-GBM nephritis in the mouse.
Developing Sensitivity

This article presents the results of a qualitative case study on the diaries of Etty Hillesum. The focus of this investigation is on the way her inner development leads to increased sensitivity. This research revealed that Etty’s inner development is characterized by a transformation from great opacity to transparency in three phases. Whereas she is at first lost in inner chaos, she shows an impressive serenity and inner peace at the end of her writings. It is argued that in each of the three phases, Etty adapts her strategies to the new challenges she has to face in life. The main processes involved here are “mental cleansing,” “mental slimming,” and “mental emptying. ” Going through these processes, she codevelops the sensitivity as well as the firmness she needs to face reality in all its aspects.