Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Security and BER performance trade-off in wireless communication systems applications

There is nowadays a strong need of designing communications systems with excellent BER performance and high levels of privacy, specially in wireless networking and mobile communications. The transmission of encrypted information over a noisy channel presents an error propagation effect, which degrades the BER performance of the system. In this paper, we present combined errorcontrol coding and encryption schemes based on iteratively decoded error-control codes like LDPC and turbo codes and AES algorithm. We show that the proposed schemes strongly reduce this degradation effect. The increase of the level of privacy is obtained by using procedures of pseudo random nature over the encoders and decoders of the error-control code. Thus, the proposed schemes provide a given communication system with excellent BER performance and encryption capabilities. Keywords— Iteratively decoded error-control codes, AES algorithm.
Easy diagnosis of invasive pneumococcal disease.

advisories and travel health precautions were subsequently released, including those from Canada and United States (9,10). These precautions recommended that preventative measures such as vaccination and safe food and water consumption practices be adhered to by residents and visitors to affected regions. Although the public health community anticipated that travel-associated cases would be diagnosed in Québec, this report of a documented case (supported by laboratory and epidemiologic data) emphasizes the domestic and international public health risk caused by the nationwide outbreak in Haiti. It also illustrates the need for an accurate travel history in clinical and laboratory diagnosis of cholera infections.
Question-Answering in Role-Playing Games

In this paper, we give a general description of the issues associated with performing basic Question-Answering (QA) tasks against non-player characters (NPCs) within a simple role-playing game (RPG) or virtual world environment. We describe the aspects of this kind of QA system and provide an overview of our initial explorations into the implementation and evaluation of a QA system that is appropriate for RPG environments. We also introduce Keystone, a simple RPG environment that provides a small virtual world that allows different NPC controller backends to be plugged in thus allowing these systems to be evaluated in a more realistic game environment.
Error estimates to smooth solutions of semi‐discrete discontinuous Galerkin methods with quadrature rules for scalar conservation laws

In this article, we focus on error estimates to smooth solutions of semi‐discrete discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods with quadrature rules for scalar conservation laws. The main techniques we use are energy estimate and Taylor expansion first introduced by Zhang and Shu in (Zhang and Shu, SIAM J Num Anal 42 (2004), 641–666). We show that, with P k (piecewise polynomials of degree k) finite elements in 1D problems, if the quadrature over elements is exact for polynomials of degree ( 2 k ) , error estimates of O ( h k + 1 / 2 ) are obtained for general monotone fluxes, and optimal estimates of O ( h k + 1 ) are obtained for upwind fluxes. For multidimensional problems, if in addition quadrature over edges is exact for polynomials of degree ( 2 k + 1 ) , error estimates of O ( h k ) are obtained for general monotone fluxes, and O ( h k + 1 / 2 ) are obtained for monotone and sufficiently smooth numerical fluxes. Numerical results validate our analysis. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 467–488, 2017
Robust live media streaming in swarms

Data dissemination in decentralized networks is often realized by using some form of swarming technique. Swarming enables nodes to gather dynamically in order to fulfill a certain task collaboratively and to exchange resources (typically pieces of files or packets of a multimedia data stream). As in most distributed systems, swarming applications face the problem that the nodes in a network have heterogeneous capabilities or act selfishly. We investigate the problem of efficient live data dissemination (e.g., TV streams) in swarms. The live streams should be distributed in such a way that only nodes with sufficiently large contributions to the system are able to fully receive it-even in the presence of freeloading nodes or nodes that upload substantially less than required to sustain the multimedia stream. In contrast, uncooperative nodes cannot properly receive the data stream as they are unable to fill their data buffers in time, incentivizing a fair sharing of resources. If the number of selfish nodes increases, our emulation results reveal that the situation steadily deteriorates for them, while obedient nodes continue to receive virtually all packets in time.
ADAPTIVE ESTIMATION IN ELLIPTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS WITH EXTENSIONS TO HIGH DIMENSIONS

The goal of this paper is to propose efficient and adaptive regularized estimators for the nonparametric component, mean and covariance matrix in both high and fixed dimensional situations. Although, semiparametric estimation of elliptical distribution has also been discussed in [8], we wish to expand the model in two ways. First, study adaptive estimation methods with a novel scheme of estimating the nonparametric component and second, we perform regularized estimation of Euclidean parameters of the elliptical distribution such that high dimensional inference of the Euclidean parameters under certain additional structural assumption can be carried out. Some methods have already been developed. But we extend the work in [5] [6] [10] [18] [19]. The estimate of elliptic densities can also be used to approximately estimate certain sub-class of log-concave densities by using results from convex geometry. The problem of estimation of mixture of elliptical distributions is also important in clustering, as the level sets produce disjoint elliptical components, which can be viewed as model of clusters of specific shape high dimensional space. The regularized estimation of mixture of elliptical distributions will also lead to an algorithm for finding elliptical clusters in high dimensional space under highly relaxed tail conditions.
Accelerating AdaBoost using UCB

This paper explores how multi-armed bandits (MABs) can be applied to accelerate AdaBoost. AdaBoost constructs a strong classifier in a stepwise fashion by adding simple base classifiers to a pool and using their weighted "vote" to determine the final classification. We model this stepwise base classifier selection as a sequential decision problem, and optimize it with MABs. Each arm represents a subset of the base classifier set. The MAB gradually learns the "utility" of the subsets, and selects one of the subsets in each iteration. ADABOOST then searches only this subset instead of optimizing the base classifier over the whole space. The reward is defined as a function of the accuracy of the base classifier. We investigate how the well-known UCB algorithm can be applied in the case of boosted stumps, trees, and products of base classifiers. The KDD Cup 2009 was a large-scale learning task with a limited training time, thus this challenge offered us a good opportunity to test the utility of our approach. During the challenge our best results came in the Up-selling task where our model was within 1% of the best AUC rate. After more thorough post-challenge validation the algorithm performed as well as the best challenge submission on the small data set in two of the three tasks.
NIST System for Measuring the Directivity Index of Hearing Aids under Simulated Real-Ear Conditions

The directivity index is a parameter that is commonly used to characterize the performance of directional hearing aids, and is determined from the measured directional response. Since this response is different for a hearing aid worn on a person as compared to when it is in a free field, directivity index measurements of hearing aids are usually done under simulated real-ear conditions. Details are provided regarding the NIST system for measuring the hearing aid directivity index under these conditions and how this system is used to implement a standardized procedure for performing such measurements. This procedure involves a sampling method that utilizes sound source locations distributed in a semi-aligned zone array on an imaginary spherical surface surrounding a standardized acoustical test manikin. The capabilities of the system were demonstrated over the frequency range of one-third-octave bands with center frequencies from 200 Hz to 8000 Hz through NIST participation in an interlaboratory comparison. This comparison was conducted between eight different laboratories of members of Working Group S3/WG48, Hearing Aids, established by Accredited Standards Committee S3, Bioacoustics, which is administered by the Acoustical Society of America and accredited by the American National Standards Institute. Directivity measurements were made for a total of six programmed memories in two different hearing aids and for the unaided manikin with the manikin right pinna accompanying the aids. Omnidirectional, cardioid, and bidirectional response patterns were measured. Results are presented comparing the NIST data with the reference values calculated from the data reported by all participating laboratories.
Approximate shortest path on a polyhedral surface based on selective refinement of the discrete graph and its applications

A new algorithm is proposed for calculating the approximate shortest path on a polyhedral surface. The method mainly uses Dijkstra's algorithm and is based on selective refinement of the discrete graph of a polyhedron. Although the algorithm is an approximation, it has the significant advantages of being fast, easy to implement, high approximation accuracy, and numerically robust. The approximation accuracy and computation time are compared between this approximation algorithm and the extended Chen and Han (1990) (ECH) algorithm that can calculate the exact shortest path for non-convex polyhedra. The approximation algorithm can calculate shortest paths within 0.4% accuracy to roughly 100-1000 times faster than the ECH algorithm in our examples. Two applications are discussed of the approximation algorithm to geometric modeling.
Endogenous Truncated TrkB.T1 Receptor Regulates Neuronal Complexity and TrkB Kinase Receptor Function In Vivo

Pathological or in vitro overexpression of the truncated TrkB (TrkB.T1) receptor inhibits signaling through the full-length TrkB (TrkB.FL) tyrosine kinase receptor. However, to date, the role of endogenous TrkB.T1 is still unknown. By studying mice lacking the truncated TrkB.T1 isoform but retaining normal spatiotemporal expression of TrkB.FL, we have analyzed TrkB.T1-specific physiological functions and its effect on endogenous TrkB kinase signaling in vivo. We found that TrkB.T1-deficient mice develop normally but show increased anxiety in association with morphological abnormalities in the length and complexity of neurites of neurons in the basolateral amygdala. However, no behavioral abnormalities were detected in hippocampal-dependent memory tasks, which correlated with lack of any obvious hippocampal morphological deficits or alterations in basal synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation. In vivo reduction of TrkB signaling by removal of one BDNF allele could be partially rescued by TrkB.T1 deletion, which was revealed by an amelioration of the enhanced aggression and weight gain associated with BDNF haploinsufficiency. Our results suggest that, at the physiological level, TrkB.T1 receptors are important regulators of TrkB.FL signaling in vivo. Moreover, TrkB.T1 selectively affects dendrite complexity of certain neuronal populations.
Simultaneous Determination of Ibuprofen and Caffeine in Urine Samples by Combining MCR-ALS and Excitation-emission Data

Second order advantage of excitation-emission fluorescence matrix was applied for the simultaneous determination of ibuprofen and caffeine. The proposed method is based on the measurement of the native fluorescence and recording emission spectra of ibuprofen and caffeine in different excitation wavelengths. The mixture of these compounds was resolved by multivariate curve resolution coupled with alternative least squares (MCR-ALS) on constructed matrix. The EEM spectra were recorded at excitation wavelengths from 250-275 nm; the emission wavelengths ranged from 275-400 nm. For each particular quantitative determination, an augmented matrix was defined. The resolution of each augmented-data matrix gave an estimation of the excitation and emission spectra of the species included in the model. Ibuprofen and caffeine were determined in concentration range from 0.10-8.00 and 0.50-15.00 g ml -1 , respectively. The minimal sample pretreatment and relatively low running cost, make this method a good alternative to existing methods for determination of the analytes in urine samples.
Colour Reconnection at Future e+e− Colliders

The effects of colour reconnection (CR) at e+e− colliders are revisited, with focus on recently developed CR models. The new models are compared with the LEP2 measurements for e+e− → W+W− → q1q2q3q4 and found to lie within their limits. Prospects for constraints from new high-luminosity e+e− colliders are discussed. The novel arena of CR in Higgs decays is introduced, and illustrated by shifts in angular correlations that would be used to set limits on a potential CP -odd admixture of the 125 GeV Higgs state.
Biomedical applications of polarimetric imaging contrast. Initial studies for scattering media and human tissues

Improving the visualization of dysplastic regions of uterine cervix in vivo is essential for a better identification of the locations to biopsy and a better definition of the boundaries of the anomalous regions to be surgically removed. For this purpose we propose an innovative optical technique based on multispectral full Mueller polarimetric imaging in backscattering configuration. Measurements on ex vivo samples were performed to define the best acquisition procedures and data treatments for in vivo diagnosis. As this optimization requires thorough understanding of polarimetric contrasts between healthy and anomalous tissues, we simulated the propagation of polarized light in multilayer structures representative of real tissues. These structures typically involve an uppermost layer describing the epithelium and/or superficial connective tissue, on top of a totally depolarizing lambertian surface lumping the contribution of deeper layers. The simulations were performed by using a Monte Carlo code which has been modified and adapted to our topic. We thus showed that the contribution of the cell nuclei is in fact quite small in the backscattering geometry. For connective tissue, collagen fibers were modelled as 200 nm radius scatterers. Once more this contribution alone could not reproduce the main experimental features. Very small scatterers (50 nm typical radius) have to be included to account for the Rayleigh-like polarimetric response observed in all tissues, both healthy and diseased. These scatterers may be representative of proteins, whose concentration seems to be a crucial parameter to account for the observed contrasts. In this sense, polarimetric imaging may reflect not only the tissue morphology as seen by optical microscopy, but also its physiological state, which may be a very important point for cancer detection and staging.
Reduced-order minimum time control of advection-reaction-diffusion systems via dynamic programming.

A numerical approach for a time-optimal feedback control problem for an advection-reaction-diffusion model is considered. Our approach is composed by three main building blocks: approximation of the abstract system dynamics, feedback computation based on dynamic programming and state observation. For the approximation of the abstract system dynamics, we consider a finite element semi-discretization in space, leading to a large-scale dynamical system, whose dimension is reduced by means of a Balanced Truncation algorithm. Next, we apply the dynamic programming principle over the reduced dynamics, and characterize the value function of the optimal control problem in terms of viscosity solutions of the resulting Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation, which is solved via a semi-Lagrangian scheme. Finally, the computation of corresponding feedback controls and its insertion into the control loop is performed by implementing a Luenberger observer.
Semi-automated Hyperlink markup for archived video

1. MOTIVATION AND BACKGROUND One of the problems keeping video from being a fully first-class data component of hypermedia documents is the difficulty of treating the objects depicted in video as identifiable, linkable content. Rather, video tends to be manipulated as frames of pixels with no further subdivisions. We previously reported on the realtime OvalTine system [1], in which we showed the creation and maintenance of links in real-time video streams such as teleconferences. This paper presents our continuing work with this system, demonstrating the use of the basic real-time image tracking algorithms for use in automated markup of stored video data. There is increasing interest in video data being incorporated in hypermedia structures. Digital libraries are growing in popularity and scope, and video is an important component of such archives. All major news services have vast video archives, valuable “footage” that would be of use in education, historical research, even entertainment.
An Analytical Model to Measure IS-Enabled Organizational Effectiveness

When business managers are considering whether to invest in an enterprise resource planning ERP system, they ask the question: "What are the returns on investment? " When the ERP system is implemented and in operation, business managers ask another question: "How successful is the system? " To answer these questions, clues can be found by examining organizational effectiveness improvements as a result of ERP system implementation. This paper suggests that being able to identify the dimensions of organizational effectiveness is enabled by ERP systems. Together with positive organizational effectiveness improvements, the business value of ERP systems can be demonstrated. To provide the evidence needed to support the notion, a confirmatory factor analysis CFA was conducted. Analyses reveal that the construct of IS-enabled organizational effectiveness can be modeled, at a higher-order abstraction level, as a third-order construct manifested by three second-order constructs and ten first-order constructs.
Research of auto-constructed implementation technology for information extraction patterns

According to the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine clinical cases, in this paper, we propose an automatic generation algorithm of extraction patterns, GEPTCMA, which is based on bootstrapping. The algorithm includes two models: TCM-RPAM and TCMW-MODEL. TCM-RPAM is a method for the acquisition of bi relations and bi relation patterns; TCMW-MODEL is used for acquiring the sets of the domain keywords in the traditional Chinese medicine. Our experimental results show the precision/recall of data extraction using this system is as good as those from the templates based on structured information extraction. The domain experts in traditional Chinese medicine also give us an affirmation.
Segmentation of low-grade gliomas in MRI: Phase based method

Segmentation of gliomas in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images is a crucial task for early tumor diagnosis and surgical planning. Although many methods for brain tumor segmentation exist, the improvement of this process is still difficult. Indeed, MRI images show complex characteristics and the different tumor tissues are difficult to distinguish from the normal brain tissues; especially the low-grade glioma (LGG), distinguished by their infiltrating character. In fact, it is difficult to extract the tumor from the surrounding healthy parenchyma tissue without any risk of neurological functional sequelae. The purpose of this paper is to provide a new MRI brain low grade glioblastomas tumor segmentation method based on the local phase information. We applied the proposed method on a set of selected images (Flair, T1 and T1c). Those images were from patients with low-grade glioma. The preliminary results obtained seem to be interesting.
Differential evolution using mutation strategy with adaptive greediness degree control

Differential evolution (DE) has been demonstrated to be one of the most promising evolutionary algorithms (EAs) for global numerical optimization. DE mainly differs from other EAs in that it employs difference of the parameter vectors in mutation operator to search the objective function landscape. Therefore, the performance of a DE algorithm largely depends on the design of its mutation strategy. In this paper, we propose a new kind of DE mutation strategies whose greediness degree can be adaptively adjusted. The proposed mutation strategies utilize the information of top t solutions in the current population. Such a greedy strategy is beneficial to fast convergence performance. In order to adapt the degree of greediness to fit for different optimization scenarios, the parameter t is adjusted in each generation of the algorithm by an adaptive control scheme. This way, the convergence performance and the robustness of the algorithm can be enhanced at the same time. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive greedy mutation strategies, the approach is applied to original DE algorithms, as well as DE algorithms with parameter adaptation. Experimental results indicate that the proposed adaptive greedy mutation strategies yield significant performance improvement for most of cases studied.
p53 directly activates cystatin D/CST5 to mediate mesenchymal-epithelial transition: a possible link to tumor suppression by vitamin D3

Cystatin D (CST5) encodes an inhibitor of cysteine proteases of the cathepsin family and is directly induced by the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Interestingly, vitamin D3 exerts tumor suppressive effects in a variety of tumor types. In colorectal cancer (CRC) cells CST5 was shown to mediate mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). We recently performed an integrated genomic and proteomic screen to identify targets of the p53 tumor suppressor in CRC cells. Thereby, we identified CST5 as a putative p53 target gene. Here, we validated and characterized CST5 as a direct p53 target gene. After activation of a conditional p53 allele, CST5 was upregulated on mRNA and protein levels. Treatment with nutlin-3a or etoposide induced CST5 in a p53-dependent manner. These regulations were direct, since ectopic and endogenous p53 occupied a conserved binding site in the CST5 promoter region. In addition, treatment with calcitriol, the active vitamin D3 metabolite, and simultaneous activation of p53 resulted in enhanced CST5 induction and increased repression of SNAIL, an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducing transcription factor. Furthermore, CST5 inactivation decreased p53-induced mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) as evidenced by decreased inhibition of SNAIL and of migration by p53. Furthermore, CST5 expression was directly repressed by SNAIL. In summary, these results imply CST5 as an important mediator of tumor suppression by p53 in colorectal cancer. In addition, they suggest that a combined treatment activating p53 and the vitamin D3 pathway may function via induction of CST5.