Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics and current fluctuations in an ac-driven charge shuttle

The behaviour of a charge shuttle under a pure ac field has been recently considered theoretically and experimentally. If the system presents an asymmetry in the tunnelling amplitudes the device acts as a nanoelectromechanical rectifier, transforming a pure ac voltage field into a direct current. In this paper, we first review the model and the appearance of the rectifying effect for bias voltages below the threshold of self-oscillation. We discuss in some detail the dynamics of the central island that, like the current, presents a strong dependence on the forcing ac field frequency. In the presence of both a constant and a small oscillating bias voltage, we analyse the transition from the static to the self-oscillating solution. We then consider current fluctuations (full counting statistics) for periodic motion of the grain. We explicitly evaluate the current noise numerically and we find that it shows clear signatures of correlated transport at certain locking frequencies. In the adiabatic limit, we obtain a simple expression for the full counting statistics and calculate explicitly the first four moments.
The inclusion of exogenous variables in functional autoregressive ozone forecasting

In this article, we propose a new technique for ozone forecasting. The approach is functional, that is we consider stochastic processes with values in function spaces. We make use of the essential characteristic of this type of phenomenon by taking into account theoretically and practically the continuous time evolution of pollution. One main methodological enhancement of this article is the incorporation of exogenous variables (wind speed and temperature) in those models. The application is carried out on a six‐year data set of hourly ozone concentrations and meteorological measurements from Béthune (France). The study examines the summer periods because of the higher values observed. We explain the non‐parametric estimation procedure for autoregressive Hilbertian models with or without exogenous variables (considering two alternative versions in this case) as well as for the functional kernel model. The comparison of all the latter models is based on up‐to‐24 hour‐ahead predictions of hourly ozone concentrations. We analyzed daily forecast curves upon several criteria of two kinds: functional ones, and aggregated ones where attention is put on the daily maximum. It appears that autoregressive Hilbertian models with exogenous variables show the best predictive power. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Matters of Gravity Gravitational Microlensing and the Search for Dark Matter: a P Ersonal View, Bohdan Paczynski Editor

Research briefs: Gravitational Microlensing and the Search for Dark Matter: A Personal View, Bohdan Paczynski : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 5 Laboratory Gravity: The G Mystery and Intrinsic Spin Experiments, Riley Newman : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 11 LIGO Project update, Stan Whitcomb : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 15
Validation of a simplified food frequency questionnaire for the assessment of dietary habits in Iranian adults: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, Iran

BACKGROUND Dietary assessment is the first step of dietary modification in community-based interventional programs. This study was performed to validate a simple food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) for assessment of selected food items in epidemiological studies with a large sample size as well as community trails. METHODS This validation study was carried out on 264 healthy adults aged ≥ 41 years old living in 3 district central of Iran, including Isfahan, Najafabad, and Arak. Selected food intakes were assessed using a 48-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The FFQ was interviewer-administered, which was completed twice; at the beginning of the study and 2 weeks thereafter. The validity of this SFFQ was examined compared to estimated amount by single 24 h dietary recall and 2 days dietary record. Validation of the FFQ was determined using Spearman correlation coefficients between daily frequency consumption of food groups as assessed by the FFQ and the qualitative amount of daily food groups intake accessed by dietary reference method was applied to evaluate validity. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine the reproducibility. RESULTS Spearman correlation coefficient between the estimated amount of food groups intake by examined and reference methods ranged from 0.105 (P = 0.378) in pickles to 0.48 (P < 0.001) in plant protein. ICC for reproducibility of FFQ were between 0.47-0.69 in different food groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The designed SFFQ has a good relative validity and reproducibility for assessment of selected food groups intake. Thus, it can serve as a valid tool in epidemiological studies and clinical trial with large participants.
Reconfigurable fault-tolerant control using GIMC structure

In this note, a fault-tolerant control strategy is proposed from a robust control perspective by applying the recently introduced generalized internal model control architecture. This fault-tolerant control design consists of two parts: a nominal performance controller and a robustness controller, and works in such way that when a sensor failure is detected, the controller structure is reconfigured by adding a robustness loop to compensate the fault. This note shows how to design such controllers for a single-input two-output gyroscope system so that the performance with the nominal controller may be maintained in the case of sensor failure and/or model uncertainties.
A corpus-based technique for grammar development

We argue in this paper in favor of a fully constraint-based approach in the perspective of grammar development. Representing syntactic information by means of constraints makes it possible to include several parsers at the core of the development process. In this approach, any constraint (then any syntactic property) can be evaluated separately. This aspect, on top of being highly useful in a dynamic grammar development, also allows to quantify the impact of a constraint over a grammar. We describe in this paper a general architecture for developing a grammar in this perspective and different tools that can be used in this schema.
MagnetiCode: physical mobile interaction through time-encoded magnetic identification tags

We present MagnetiCode, a new tagging mechanism that allows for physical mobile interaction. MagnetiCode tags can be captured and decoded by every compass-equipped mobile phone. They rely on a novel approach of transmitting binary IDs in form of a pulsed magnetic field. MagnetiCode therefore is able to substitute static tagging mechanisms like QR codes or RFID tags, in situations where visual tags are not appropriate or the expected number of users with NFC-enabled devices is poor. We confirm the general feasibility of our approach in a study.
A graph theory-based online keywords model for image semantic extraction

Image captions and keywords are the semantic descriptions of the dominant visual content features in a targeted visual scene. Traditional image keywords extraction processes involves intensive data- and knowledge-level operations by using computer vision and machine learning techniques. However, recent studies have shown that the gap between pixel-level processing and the semantic definition of an image is difficult to bridge by counting only the visual features. In this paper, augmented image semantic information has been introduced through harnessing functions of online image search engines. A graphical model named as the "Head-words Relationship Network" (HWRN) has been devised for tackling the aforementioned problems. The proposed algorithm starts from retrieving online images of similarly visual features from the input image, the text content of their hosting webpages are then extracted, classified and analysed for semantic clues. The relationships of those "head-words" from relevant webpages can then be modelled and quantified using linguistic tools. Experiments on the prototype system have proven the effectiveness of this novel approach. Performance evaluation over benchmarking state-of-the-art approaches has also shown satisfactory results and promising future applications.
Collaboratively Constructed Linguistic Resources for Language Variants and their Exploitation in NLP Application – the case of Tunisian Arabic and the Social Media

Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the formal language in most Arabic countries. Arabic Dialects (AD) or daily language differs from MSA especially in social media communication. However, most Arabic social media texts have mixed forms and many variations especially between MSA and AD. This paper aims to bridge the gap between MSA and AD by providing a framework for the translation of texts of social media. More precisely, this paper focuses on the Tunisian Dialect of Arabic (TAD) with an application on automatic machine translation for a social media text into MSA and any other target language. Linguistic tools such as a bilingual TAD-MSA lexicon and a set of grammatical mapping rules are collaboratively constructed and exploited in addition to a language model to produce MSA sentences of Tunisian dialectal sentences. This work is a first-step towards collaboratively constructed semantic and lexical resources for Arabic Social Media within the ASMAT (Arabic Social Media Analysis Tools) project.
B-spline registration of 3D images with Levenberg-Marquardt optimization

B-splines are a well-known approach for non-rigid image registration. Though successfully applied to various medical applications they exhibit a high computational complexity mainly because of the lack of dedicated optimization methods. In this work we focus on a Levenberg-Marquardt type optimization routine. As a similarity measure we use least-squares functionals such as the sum of squared differences, the cross-correlation and the local correlation measure, respectively. The latter is used for multi-modality registration tasks. The proposed registration algorithm consists of three main parts. In each iteration step one has to (a) build a linear system of equations, (b) solve this system and compute an update, (c) determine the step length for the following iteration step. Appropriate stopping criteria ensure the termination of the registration task. A standard approach for (c) and several modifications are investigated. Using a quadratic model we are able to avoid additional execution of (b) during the step length adaption. Several solvers (Cholesky, CG, pre-conditioning) for (b) have been evaluated. Also, modifications on the most time consuming task (a) are investigated, leading to a speed-up by a factor up to 30. Finally, the algorithm is embedded in a multi-scale framework (both on image and on parameter level) providing additional regularization, an increased capture range and speed-up. Convergence tests have been successfully applied for a priori known transformations. Feasibility of the proposed approach is also shown for clinical applications including PET-CT registrations (19 data sets) and MR mammography.
Finite sample penalization in adaptive density deconvolution

We consider the problem of estimating the density g of identically distributed variables X i , from a sample Z 1, …, Z n , where Z i =X i +σϵ i , i=1, …, n and σϵ i is a noise independent of X i with known density σ−1 f ϵ(·/σ). We numerically study the adaptive estimators, constructed by a model selection procedure described by Comte et al. [2006, Penalized contrast estimator for density deconvolution, Canadian Journal of Statistics, 37(3)]. We illustrate their properties in various contexts and test their robustness (misspecification of errors, dependency and so on). Comparisons are made with respect to deconvolution kernel estimators. It appears that our estimation algorithm, based on a fast procedure, performs very well in all contexts.
Oxidative ecology of paternal care in wild smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu

ABSTRACT Physiologically, oxidative stress is considered a homeostatic imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and absorption. From an ecological perspective, oxidative stress may serve as an important constraint to life-history traits, such as lifespan, reproduction and the immune system, and is gaining interest as a potential mechanism underlying life-history trade-offs. Of late, there has been much interest in understanding the role of oxidative stress in the ecology of wild animals, particularly during challenging periods such as reproduction. Here, we used a long-term study population of a fish with sole-male parental care, the smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, to examine the associations among oxidative stress indicators and life-history variables in nest-guarding males. In addition, we investigated the potential role of oxidative stress as a physiological mediator of the life-history trade-off decision of paternal smallmouth bass to stay with or abandon their brood. We found that oxidative stress was significantly related to the life history of paternal smallmouth bass, such that older, larger fish with greater reproductive experience and larger broods nesting in cooler water temperatures had lower levels of oxidative stress. However, we found no significant correlation between oxidative stress and nesting success, suggesting that oxidative stress may not be involved in the decision of male smallmouth bass to abandon their brood. Wild fish have been relatively understudied in the emerging field of oxidative ecology, and this study makes noteworthy contributions by revealing interesting connections between the life histories of paternal smallmouth bass and their oxidative status. Summary: The complex role of oxidative stress as a potential physiological mediator of life-history trade-off decisions for paternal smallmouth bass.
K-Ras Mutations in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Prognostic and Predictive Value

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous disease due to the presence of different clinically relevant molecular subtypes. Until today, several biological events have been identified in lung adenocarcinoma, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocations, offering new hopes to patients with metastatic disease. Unfortunately, in approximately 50% of adenocarcinoma and for those harbouring K-RAS mutations, the most frequent mutation in Caucasian lung adenocarcinoma, so far no specific drug demonstrated efficacy. The rat sarcoma (RAS) genes, including H-RAS, K-RAS, and N-RAS, encode a family of proteins regulating cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. K-RAS mutations are present in 20–30% of NSCLC and occur most commonly, but not exclusively, in adenocarcinoma histology and life-long smokers. Although in colorectal cancer patients K-RAS mutations represent a validated negative predictive biomarker for treatment with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies, their role in selecting specific treatment for NSCLC patients remains undefined. Aim of the present paper is to critically analyze the prognostic and predictive value of K-RAS mutations in NSCLC.
A Novel Method for Combining Algebraic Decoding and Iterative Processing

We propose novel error correction coding schemes called generalized integrated interleaving and sparsely integrated interleaving codes. In the context of block interleaved codewords, generalized integrated interleaving allows nonuniform redundancy to be shared among all the interleaves. This allows the redundancy to be adjusted on-the-fly to better suit the error statistics of the channel or storage device. Sparsely integrated interleaving groups data nodes in a distributed storage system into subgroups. A data node can belong to several subgroups. Small errors are corrected locally within each subgroup. A localized algebraic iterative decoding algorithm is used to decode across subgroups to correct large errors that cannot be corrected within subgroups. Very little correction capability is sacrificed to achieve fast error correction and lower communication overhead. This scheme improves data access for all the data nodes and allows easy scaling of the distributed storage network
Service providers’ perspectives, attitudes and beliefs on health services delivery for Aboriginal people receiving haemodialysis in rural Australia: a qualitative study

Objective Providing services to rural dwelling minority cultural groups with serious chronic disease is challenging due to access to care and cultural differences. This study aimed to describe service providers’ perspectives on health services delivery for Aboriginal people receiving haemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease in rural Australia. Design Semistructured interviews, thematic analysis Setting A health district in rural New South Wales, Australia Participants Using purposive sampling, 29 renal and allied service providers were recruited, including nephrologists, renal nurses, community nurses, Aboriginal health workers, social workers and managers. Six were Aboriginal and 23 non-Aboriginal. Results Improving cultural understanding within the healthcare system was central to five themes identified: rigidity of service design (outreach, inevitable home treatment failures, pressure of system overload, limited efficacy of cultural awareness training and conflicting priorities in acute care); responding to social complexities (respecting but challenged by family obligations, assumptions about socioeconomic status and individualised care); promoting empowerment, trust and rapport (bridging gaps in cultural understanding, acknowledging the relationship between land, people and environment, and being time poor); distress at late diagnosis (lost opportunities and prioritise prevention); and contending with discrimination and racism (inherent judgement of lifestyle choices, inadequate cultural awareness, pervasive multilevel institutionalised racism and managing patient distrust). Conclusions Service providers believe current services are not designed to address cultural needs and Aboriginality, and that caring for Aboriginal patients receiving haemodialysis should be family focused and culturally safer. An Aboriginal-specific predialysis pathway, building staff cultural awareness and enhancing cultural safety within hospitals are the measures recommended. Increasing patient support for home haemodialysis may improve health and the quality of care outcomes.
Distributed Group Authentication for RFID Supply Management

We investigate an application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) referred to in the literature as group scanning, in which an RFID reader device interrogates several RFID tags to establish “simultaneous” presence of a group of tags. Our goal is to study the group scanning problem in strong adversarial settings and show how group scanning can be used in distributed applications for supply chain management. We present a security framework for group scanning and give a formal description of the attending security requirements. Our model is based on the Universal Composability framework and supports re-usability (through modularity of security guarantees). We propose two novel protocols that realize group scanning in this security model, based on off-the-shelf components such as low-cost (highly optimized) pseudorandom functions, and show how these can be integrated into RFID supply-chain management systems.
Cricket Shots Video Retrieval using Motion Trajectory

A B S T R A C T The paper proposes the new way of retrieving sports videos. Broadly there are two ways of video retrieval, one is text based video retrieval and other one is content based video retrieval. Text based video retrieval also called as tag based video retrieval. In text based video retrieval videos are retrieved based on the tags assigned to them while storing. In content based video retrieval the videos are retrieved only based on the content in the video. This paper proposes new way of video retrieval but it belongs to content based type of video retrieval. The system retrieves the videos of batsman in cricket sport. The input to the system is sketch or picture of the right hand or left hand batsman then user gives the motion strokes of the shots whose videos user wants to retrieve. If its a right hand batsman selected then system should retrieve the videos of the right hand batsman with the relevant shot motion provided by the user and same for left hand batsman. The proposed system can ease down the complexities of traditional text and content based video retrieval techniques. The proposed system is designed for the cricket sports video retrieval although it can be modified for other sports also.
The radiation response of human malignant melanoma cells grown in vitro.

Summary The three malignant melanoma cell lines used are characterized by having high, intermediate , and low quantities of pigment production. The response of these malignant melanoma cells to X-ray in vitro does not correlate with a model of the classically radioresistant tumor cell that clinical experience might predict. The in vitro melanoma cells were only slightly more resistant to X-rays than the nontumor in vitro Chinese hamster ovary cell line tested. The responses to X-rays of all three melanoma lines were the same ( n = 40, D 0 = 100 rads). The response to ultraviolet light varied with the amount of pigment present in each cell line. The strain producing a high quantity of pigment was the most UV resistant ( n = 3, D 0 = 57 ergs/sq mm). The strain producing a low pigment quantity was the most UV sensitive ( n = 3, D 0 = 31 ergs/sq mm). All melanoma strains were more resistant to UV than the Chinese hamster ovary cell line ( n = 10, D 0 = 20 ergs/sq mm). Survival determinations made as a function of time between two fractionated UV doses of 100 + 100 ergs/sq mm indicated that these melanoma cells possessed ability to recover from sublethal UV damage.
Validation of the URICA-S in Group Therapy: Associations of Stages of Change with Therapeutic Factors and Treatment Outcome

ABSTRACT Stages of change could be driving forces to activate the realization of therapeutic factors and symptom change. Consequently, the aims of the present study were to investigate whether the stages of change concept is valid in group therapy settings shown by factor analysis, internal consistencies, and criterion validity. A total of 377 patients completed measures of stages of change, symptom change, and therapeutic factors. A confirmatory factor analysis replicated the stages of change factors for group therapy. Related to the criterion validity, stages of change demonstrated only low, non-significant associations with symptom change, but some stages of change were significant predictors of certain therapeutic factors. Further research is needed to explore whether a stronger focus on motivational stages of change could help to intensify the realization of therapeutic factors in group therapy.
Place recognition based on Gabor filters and SVMs for mobile robot self-localization

This paper proposes a novel appearance-based place recognition approach for mobile robot localization. The multi-channel Gabor filters is used to extract the global texture features of the scene images which are associated with the corresponding locations, and then these texture features are fed to support vector machine classifiers to determine the location of mobile robot. The algorithm has been tested on our designed and developed autonomous mobile robot CASIA-I. The experiment results indicate that the algorithm can reach up to 91.11% correct location rate, be robust to the various illumination and contrast, and satisfy the real-time self-localization demand of mobile robot.