Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of Ozone Inactivation of Infectious Prion Protein

ABSTRACT The kinetics of ozone inactivation of infectious prion protein (PrPSc, scrapie 263K) was investigated in ozone-demand-free phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Diluted infectious brain homogenates (IBH) (0.01%) were exposed to a predetermined ozone dose (10.8 ± 2.0 mg/liter) at three pHs (pH 4.4, 6.0, and 8.0) and two temperatures (4°C and 20°C). The inactivation of PrPSc was quantified by determining the in vitro destruction of PrPSc templating properties using the protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) assay and bioassay, which were shown to correlate well. The inactivation kinetics were characterized by both Chick-Watson (CW) and efficiency factor Hom (EFH) models. It was found that the EFH model fit the experimental data more appropriately. The efficacy of ozone inactivation of PrPSc was both pH and temperature dependent. Based on the EFH model, CT (disinfectant concentration multiplied by contact time) values were determined for 2-log10, 3-log10, and 4-log10 inactivation at the conditions under which they were achieved. Our results indicated that ozone is effective for prion inactivation in ozone-demand-free water and may be applied for the inactivation of infectious prion in prion-contaminated water and wastewater.
Supporting Service Management with Service Encounters Analysis: A Case on Call Centre Outsourcing Operations

Background. A service encounter is the moment that a client directly interacts with a service firm. It is a social-oriented activity that an in-depth analysis of how the client behaved can contribute to the service quality. Objective. The primary objective of this study was to cluster the CLT into groups. The secondary objective was to discover the sequence of question types that asked in each group. Method. A real world call centre outsourcing practice and data mining techniques are used to discover client behaviour. Results. A total of 100,703 inbound calls from the call centre operational database are analyzed. 90.4% of the total calls were made by 85% of clients who used up to three business applications. 72.03% of the total calls were made by a group of clients who involved two to five question types. The clients were clustered into four groups by three behaviour variables. The sequences discovered in this study were mainly on two question types. Conclusion. The service encounter is a complex business process that an integrated perspective should be taken to analyze the dynamics among the entities involved. The client behaviour can be discovered and used as the feedback information for turning the operations in different organizational levels.
Aphid Alarm Pheromone as a Cue for Ants to Locate Aphid Partners

The mutualistic relationships that occur between myrmecophilous aphids and ants are based on the rich food supply that honeydew represents for ants and on the protection they provide against aphid natural enemies. While aphid predators and parasitoids actively forage for oviposition sites by using aphid semiochemicals, scouts of aphid-tending ant species would also benefit from locating honeydew resources by orienting toward aphid pheromone sources. The present study aims to provide additional information on the use of Aphis fabae alarm pheromone, i.e. (E)-β-farnesene (EβF), by ant scouts. The perception and behavioral impact of EβF on Lasius niger were investigated using electroantennography and two bio-assays measuring their attraction and orientation towards aphid semiochemicals. Pronounced electrical depolarizations were observed from L. niger scout antennae to stimulations of A. fabae alarm pheromone, while other sesquiterpenes elicited weak or no responses. L. niger scouts were significantly attracted toward EβF in a four-arm olfactometer, as well as in an two-choice bioassay. These laboratory results suggest for the first time that low amounts of aphid alarm pheromone can be used by L. niger scouts as a cue indicating the presence of aphid colonies and could therefore mediate the aphid-ant partnership in the field.
MEADE: Towards a Malicious Email Attachment Detection Engine

Email attachments are a growing delivery vector for malware. While machine learning (ML) has been successfully applied to portable executable (PE) malware detection, we ask, can we extend static ML approaches to detect malware across common email attachment file types, e.g., office documents and Zip archives? To this end, we collected a dataset of over 5 million malicious/benign Microsoft Office documents along with a smaller data set, which we use to provide more realistic estimates of thresholds for false positive rates on in-the-wild data. We also collected a dataset of approximately 500k malicious/benign Zip archives on which we performed a separate evaluation. We analyzed predictive performance using 70/30 train/test time splits, evaluating feature and classifier types that have been applied successfully in commercial PE antimalware products and R &D contexts. Using deep neural networks and gradient boosted decision trees, we are able to obtain ROC curves with > 0.99 AUC on both office document and Zip archive datasets. Discussion of deployment viability in various antimalware contexts is provided.
A Position Paper for the CHI 2000 Workshop: Pattern Languages for Interaction Design

I begin by discussing the use of pattern languages as lingua franca for supporting communication among the diverse parties to the design process. Next, I describe an example of the emergence of a lingua franca during the process of re-designing a small town, and the ways in which it enabled the community to shape its own future. I conclude by suggesting that pattern languages which describe a workplace or work domain could similarly function as a common language, giving workers more control over the future of their workplaces. I provide an abbreviated sketch of a language called Design Consultancy, which includes patterns such as Maintaining Mutual Awareness, Locally Mobile Workers, and Receptionist as Hub.
A polynomial expansion line search for large-scale unconstrained minimization of smooth L2-regularized loss functions, with implementation in Apache Spark

In large-scale unconstrained optimization algorithms such as limited memory BFGS (LBFGS), a common subproblem is a line search minimizing the loss function along a descent direction. Commonly used line searches iteratively find an approximate solution for which the Wolfe conditions are satisfied, typically requiring multiple function and gradient evaluations per line search, which is expensive in parallel due to communication requirements. In this paper we propose a new line search approach for cases where the loss function is analytic, as in least squares regression, logistic regression, or low rank matrix factorization. We approximate the loss function by a truncated Taylor polynomial, whose coefficients may be computed efficiently in parallel with less communication than evaluating the gradient, after which this polynomial may be minimized with high accuracy in a neighbourhood of the expansion point. Our Polynomial Expansion Line Search (PELS) was implemented in the Apache Spark framework and used to accelerate the training of a logistic regression model on binary classification datasets from the LIBSVM repository with LBFGS and the Nonlinear Conjugate Gradient (NCG) method. In large-scale numerical experiments in parallel on a 16-node cluster with 256 cores using the URL, KDDA, and KDDB datasets, the PELS approach produced significant convergence improvements compared to the use of classical Wolfe line searches. For example, to reach the final training label prediction accuracies, LBFGS using PELS had speedup factors of 1.8--2 over LBFGS using a Wolfe line search, measured by both the number of iterations and the time required, due to the better accuracy of step sizes computed in the line search. PELS has the potential to significantly accelerate large-scale regression and factorization computations, and is applicable to continuous optimization problems with smooth loss functions.
Running head : SAMPLE FOR STUDENTS Sample APA Paper for Students Interested in Learning APA Style

The abstract should be a single paragraph in block format (without paragraph indentation) and should not exceed 120 words. See section 1.07 of the APA manual (American Psychological Association [APA], 2001) for additional information. The abstract is simply a summary of the paper. One trick in writing the abstract is to write one summary sentence for each major part of the paper. Then you will have a nice, four-sentence abstract.
Selfrando: Securing the Tor Browser against De-anonymization Exploits

Abstract Tor is a well-known anonymous communication system used by millions of users, including journalists and civil rights activists all over the world. The Tor Browser gives non-technical users an easy way to access the Tor Network. However, many government organizations are actively trying to compromise Tor not only in regions with repressive regimes but also in the free world, as the recent FBI incidents clearly demonstrate. Exploiting software vulnerabilities in general, and browser vulnerabilities in particular, constitutes a clear and present threat to the Tor software. The Tor Browser shares a large part of its attack surface with the Firefox browser. Therefore, Firefox vulnerabilities (even patched ones) are highly valuable to attackers trying to monitor users of the Tor Browser. In this paper, we present selfrando-an enhanced and practical load-time randomization technique for the Tor Browser that defends against exploits, such as the one FBI allegedly used against Tor users. Our solution significantly improves security over standard address space layout randomization (ASLR) techniques currently used by Firefox and other mainstream browsers. Moreover, we collaborated closely with the Tor Project to ensure that selfrando is fully compatible with AddressSanitizer (ASan), a compiler feature to detect memory corruption. ASan is used in a hardened version of Tor Browser for test purposes. The Tor Project decided to include our solution in the hardened releases of the Tor Browser, which is currently undergoing field testing.
Fixed DO Solfège based object detection and positional analysis for the visually impaired

This paper proposes a novel approach towards object detection and its subsequent positional analysis for a visually impaired subject, using Fixed DO Solfège, basically sounds that we have heard multiple times, and we are aware of them and also their sequence is thus naturally perceived by us viz. DO-RE-MI-FA-SO-LA-TI This approach utilizes a concept of virtual zones superimposed on the viewport of a small wearable CMOS camera module mounted on the eyeglasses of the subject, communicating to a computing device with attached earplugs for sonic feedbacks in the Fixed DO Solfège notation. By implantation of a HAAR cascade based classifier trained system, several need to know objects are trained and fed into the recognition pool, which are thus detected in the viewport overlaid by the virtual harmonic zones further linked to the Fixed DO Solfège notations, and are mapped throughout the viewport in an incremental/sequential manner. As the subject moves his hand through the viewport, and his hands overlap the recognized objects, an audible beep basis on the sound of the zone is played on the earplugs. This not only enables the subject to know that in which direction a particular object is situated, but also, because of the sound, he can also know as to how many objects lie before/after the current object, this gives a sense of relative recognition and positional cognition of the objects.
Fundamental differences between micro‐ and nano‐Raman spectroscopy

Electric field polarization orientations and gradients close to near‐field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) probes render nano‐Raman fundamentally different from micro‐Raman spectroscopy. With x‐polarized light incident through an NSOM aperture, transmitted light has x, y and z components allowing nano‐Raman investigators to probe a variety of polarization configurations. In addition, the strong field gradients in the near‐field of a NSOM probe lead to a breakdown of the assumption of micro‐Raman spectroscopy that the field is constant over molecular dimensions. Thus, for nano‐Raman spectroscopy with an NSOM, selection rules allow for the detection of active modes with intensity dependent on the field gradient. These modes can have similar activity as infra‐red absorption modes. The mechanism can also explain the origin and intensity of some Raman modes observed in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Minimization in VLSI Chip Design Application of a Planar Max-Cut Algorithm

The design ofvery large scale integrated (VLSI) chips is an exciting area of applied discrete mathematics. Due to the intractability of the majority of the problems, and also due to the huge instance sizes, the design proc ess is decomposed into various sub-problems. In this paper, for a given detail d routing solution, we revisit the assignment of layers to net segments. For connecte d metalized nets, a layer change is accomplished by a vertical interconnection area ( via for short). We seek to minimize the use of these vias as vias not only reduce the elec trical reliability and performance of the chip, but also decrease the manufacturin g yield substantially. In the general case, the via minimization problem is NP-hard. H owever, it is known that the two layer via minimization problem can be solved as a maximum cut problem on a planar graph which is a polynomial task. The focus of t his paper is to use this approach for modern real-world chips. From the roughly two dozen wiring layers present, we take two adjacent ones for the via minimization. As a core-routine, we use a fast maximum cut algorithm on planar graphs. For being able to use the solutions in practice, we integrate practically relevant design rule constraints at the expense of potentially using further vias. Thus, our solution satisfie s the additional constraints present in actual current designs. The computational resul ts how that our implementation is fast on real-world instances as it usually compute s a solution within a few minutes CPU time only. Moreover, often a considerable amoun t f vias can be saved.
A EV Battery Charger Using a PFC based Bridgeless SEPIC Converter

Conventional PFC circuits in EV (Electric Vehicle) battery chargers have the efficiency limitation. To overcome this issue,their were lossess associated with thw DBR,hence a bridgeless single ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC) with improved power quality is presented in this paper. Input current drawn by the charger shows a unity power factor operation in a complete switching cycle. Due to elimination of DBR, conduction losses are significantly controlled. The overall performance of the proposed bridgeless SEPIC converter is analysed with the help of various operating modes.The battery is charged at constant current/ constant voltage control mode and it provides satisfactory results for inherent power factor correction, thus, improving overall performance of the charger. Keywords— Electric Vehicle; Bridgeless system SEPIC Converter; Diode bridge rectifier (DBR); Power Quality; Constant Current/Constant Voltage (CC/CV) control
Corpus-based unit selection for natural-sounding speech synthesis

Speech synthesis is an automatic encoding process carried out by machine through which symbols conveying linguistic information are converted into an acoustic waveform. In the past decade or so, a recent trend toward a non-parametric, corpus-based approach has focused on using real human speech as source material for producing novel natural-sounding speech. This work proposes a communication-theoretic formulation in which unit selection is a noisy channel through which an input sequence of symbols passes and an output sequence, possibly corrupted due to the coverage limits of the corpus, emerges. The penalty of approximation is quantified by substitution and concatenation costs which grade what unit contexts are interchangeable and where concatenations are not perceivable. These costs are semi-automatically derived from data and are found to agree with acoustic-phonetic knowledge. The implementation is based on a finite-state transducer (FST) representation that has been successfully used in speech and language processing applications including speech recognition. A proposed constraint kernel topology connects all units in the corpus with associated substitution and concatenation costs and enables an efficient Viterbi search that operates with low latency and scales to large corpora. An A* search can be applied in a second, rescoring pass to incorporate finer acoustic modelling. Extensions to this FST-based search include hierarchical and paralinguistic modelling. The search can also be used in an iterative feedback loop to record new utterances to enhance corpus coverage. This speech synthesis framework has been deployed across various domains and languages in many voices, a testament to its flexibility and rapid prototyping capability. Experimental subjects completing tasks in a given air travel planning scenario by interacting in real time with a spoken dialogue system over the telephone have found the system “easiest to understand” out of eight competing systems. In more detailed listening evaluations, subjective opinions garnered from human participants are found to be correlated with objective measures calculable by machine. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
A SAT solver using software and reconfigurable hardware

Summary form only given. In this paper we propose a novel approach for solving the Boolean satisfiability problem by combining software and reconfigurable hardware. The suggested technique avoids instance-specific hardware compilation and, as a result, achieves a higher performance than pure software approaches. Moreover, it permits problems that exceed the resources of the available reconfigurable hardware to be solved.
Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospira Seropositivity in Beef Cattle, Sheep and Deer Farmers in New Zealand

Leptospirosis is a global zoonosis that in New Zealand affects primarily people occupationally exposed to livestock. The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of five Leptospira serovars in farmers working on cattle, sheep and deer farms that had the serological status of animals previously assessed and to identify risk factors for farmer seropositivity. A total of 178 farmers from 127 properties participated in the study. Blood samples were tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for the presence of antibodies to Leptospira. Samples with a MAT titre ≥48 were considered seropositive. Using Bayesian statistical analysis, the median seroprevalence of Leptospira, all serovars combined, was estimated to be 6.6% (95% probability interval (PI) 3.6–10.9%). Risk factors associated with seropositivity were assisting deer or cattle calving, farming deer, having ≥25% of flat terrain and high abundance of wild deer on farm, while high possum abundance on farm was negatively associated with seropositivity. No association was observed between farmer serostatus and previously recorded livestock serology. Leptospira seropositivity was associated with influenza‐like illness of farmers (RR = 1.7; 95% PI 1.0–2.5). Assuming a causal relationship, this suggested an annual risk of 1.3% (95% PI 0.0–3.0%) of influenza‐like illnesses due to Leptospira infection in the population of farmers. The association between seropositivity and disease can be used to estimate the public health burden of leptospirosis in New Zealand. Identifying and understanding risk factors for Leptospira seropositivity can inform preventive measures, hence contributing to the reduction of leptospirosis incidence in farmers.
Crowd scenes analysis using multiple sliding windows classifiers and Histogram of Oriented Gradient

In recent years many research works have been devoted either to anomaly detection or anomaly classification. However, very few of them address both of them simultaneously. In this paper, we introduced a new method not only to detect and localize the abnormalities in crowded scenes but also to determine the class of abnormality. In This work, we used Histogram of Oriented Gradient to extract the features. Afterwards, we developed a model for each abnormality class based on structured output logistic regression. Using template matching scheme, those regions with maximum detection scores will be chosen as regions which contain abnormality. Aiming to increase model's precision, an iterative hard negative mining has been utilized. Such method was not applicable unless we had general and application free definition for abnormality. Regarding this, we defined a general abnormality definition. The proposed approach shows significant improvements in results over other state-of-the-art approaches.
Microstructural evolution and arrest in a silver nanoparticle based die attach material for extreme environments

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3D Mapping in the Brain

Bats and rats use different neural maps to navigate in their natural spatial surroundings. [Also see Reports by Heys et al. and Yartsev and Ulanovsky] What's it like to be a bat? If a rat could fly and echolocate, would it navigate and determine its position in the same way? In other words, could the rat truly understand three-dimensional (3D) space? Or is a bat's brain functionally specialized for life in the air? On pages 367 and 363 of this issue, Yartsev et al. (1) and Heys et al. (2) examine the neural encoding of 3D space and basic neuronal processing in bats and discover fundamental differences in the way species represent their own location.
The BEgrid Contact

The BEgrid initiative started early 2003 with the goal t computing in Belgium and to bring Belgium on the E attracted quite some interest in the research world an announcement meeting. Soon interested institutions infrastructure. Different from other grid initiatives in build a new infrastructure and from the beginning dep The Flemish Government was very interested in the in funding for equipment. The institutions that parti Universiteit Leuven, the Universiteit Antwerpen, th Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. They wer Zee. Tribune
Sensing actuators using a pneumatic bellows system and its application to a soft gripper

A pneumatic actuator using welded metal bellows is designed. Since this actuator has no sliding parts, there is no influence of friction forces. The actuator is expected to have good performance in positioning control and generating exact desired forces. In order to use the bellows actuator as a force sensor (bellows sensor), the static and dynamic characteristics of the bellows actuator are investigated. From these experimental results, the capability of the bellow sensor becomes clear. The bellows actuator is used as a sensing actuator and a pneumatic gripper. The effectiveness of the actuator is demonstrated through experiments. The efficiency of the developed gripper is indicated by means of insertion experiments. <<ETX>>