Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Secure and Pervasive Collaborative Platform for Medical Applications

Providing secure, extensible, pervasive and easy to implement collaborative environment for medical applications poses significant challenge for state-of-the-art computer systems and networks. In this paper, we describe such a collaborative environment developed for Ithanet project, based on Grid authentication mechanisms. Significant effort has been put into developing a system, that is capable of deployment across tightly secured networking environments as implemented in vast majority of hospitals. The environment is extensible enough to incorporate Grid-service based collaborative systems like AccessGrid.
A High Performance, QoS-Enabled, S3-Based Object Store

A scale-out and reliable object store is an important building block of a cloud service, for storing virtual machine images, backups and large application data. As such an object store, Amazon S3 is available for Amazon EC2 users and other S3-compatible storage systems are also used in private clouds. However, there is concern about performance instability when many applications concurrently access the storage service, due to the characteristics of shared use. This paper presents an approach to introducing a QoS-enabled function into the S3-based object store. The object store accepts an explicit performance request as an advanced reservation, and enables QoS in the access with the extended S3 Restful interface. Implicit and static performance setting is also possible for the unmodified S3 interface. Papio S3, an object store which supports both of these S3 interfaces, is developed for implementing the approach, along with achievement of high performance upload/download using the multipart data transfer. The evaluation confirms the performance of Papio S3, and its QoS capability at the S3 data transfer, in several situations where multiple S3 clients concurrently access the same Papio S3 system. In addition, the QoS effect is compared with a load balancing approach in an existing object store, as part of the experiment.
Complexity Reduction by Modified Scale-Space Construction in SIFT Generation Optimized for a Mobile GPU

Scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) is one of the most widely used local features for computer vision in mobile devices. A mobile graphic processing unit (GPU) is often used to run computer-vision applications using SIFT features, but the performance in such a case is not powerful enough to generate SIFT features in real time. This paper proposes an efficient scheme to optimize the SIFT algorithm for a mobile GPU. It analyzes the conventional scale-space construction step in the SIFT generation, finding that reducing the size of the Gaussian filter and the scale-space image leads to a significant speedup with only a slight degradation of the quality of the features. Based on this observation, the SIFT algorithm is modified and implemented for real-time execution. Additional optimization techniques are employed for a further speedup by efficiently utilizing both the CPU and the GPU in a mobile processor. The proposed SIFT generation scheme achieves a processing speed of 28.30 frames/s for an image with a resolution of $1280 \times 720$ running on a Galaxy S5 LTE-A device, thereby gaining a speedup by the factors of 114.78 and 4.53 over CPU- and GPU-only implementations, respectively.
A framework for the selection of electronic marketplaces: a content analysis approach

Although there has recently been an increased practitioner and media focus on electronic marketplaces, there still remains confusion over the advantages of participation. As a consequence organisations are finding difficulty in developing strategies, policies and procedures in relation to the e‐marketplace selection process. In some cases due to the dynamic and evolving environment of electronic trading, there can be a reluctance on the part of buyers and suppliers to participate in e‐marketplaces. Several classification models offer assessments of which type of marketplace are most suitable for different procurement purposes, but they fail to remain relevant in this dynamically changing environment. In this paper a content analysis of research and practitioner articles is carried out to evaluate the issues that prospective participants, seeking to purchase goods and services online, need to address in their selection process. A framework to support electronic marketplace related decision making is proposed, which is based within the contexts of business drivers, internal company issues and e‐marketplace facilitators.
A Mobile-UNITY Specification of the Mobile IP Protocol

This paper examines the mobile computing paradigm from a formal perspective. We show that existing assertional-style specification and verification methods can be extended to accommodate reasoning about mobile computations. The UNITY notation and proof logic provide the technical foundation for this work. The novel features entail modeling component location, movement, and transient (context-dependent) interactions within a mobile computing environment. The new model, called Mobile UNITY, is illustrated on a simplified version of Mobile IP, a protocol that deals with mobile hosts at the network level. The research offers new insights into the modeling, specification, and verification of mobile protocols and applications. This is an important step toward the eventual delivery of high-dependability systems. The abstract and highly-decoupled specification of transient interactions employed by Mobile UNITY suggests new ways of interfacing mobile components.
An approach to examine the Metadata and Data of a database Management System by making use of a forensic comparison tool

This paper will discuss how a forensic comparison tool can effectively assist in a forensic investigation of the metadata and data of a database installation, and an approach to handle the output of the forensic comparison tool in a forensic investigation. The metadata of a psql DBMS installation was compromised to support this statement. The relational database management system was divided into four abstract layers to separate various types of metadata and separate the metadata from the data. These four abstract layers are the data model, data dictionary, and application schema and application data layers. Code was implemented to construct a forensic tool that compares a suspect DBMS installation with a clean DBMS installation. Any discrepancies between the two DBMS installation are reported. The forensic tool considers two types of comparisons namely a file search and dump search. The file search has a three step procedure of (1) checking if all files in both installations are the same, (2) compare the md5 hashes of files that exist in both DBMS installations, (3) and compare the contents of files which are not the same. The dump search makes a dump of both DBMS installations and compares the output. The dump search is particular useful in managing discrepancies found with the file search. This paper proposes a way in which these discrepancies can be handled by considering various outcomes and scenarios. The four abstract layers make it easier to manage a forensic examination after discrepancies were reported by the forensic comparison tool. An approach is discussed on how to deal with add-ons and different versions of DBMS installations. Although the psql DBMS was used for the forensic tool, the concepts in this paper remain independent of DBMS. Keywords-component; database forensics; database metadata;
Etude des composites SiC/SiBC à matrice multiséquencée en fatigue cyclique à hautes températures sous air

The aim of this work is to study composite behaviour observed during cyclic fatigue under air at high temperatures, in order to understand damage accumulation resulting from mechanical fatigue and oxidation, and then to evaluate fatigue lifetime. Principle of the multilayered matrix is to consume part of the incoming oxygen and to prevent access of residual oxygen to carbon interphase through microcracks, by forming sealant glasses. Cyclic fatigue tests performed in air from 25°C to 1200°C showed that oxidation during fatigue was low, compared to composites without neither seal-coat nor cycling loading. At “low” temperatures, fracture surface present short fibre pullout. Fatigue occurs at longitudinal bundle/inter-bundle matrix interface. Lifetimes are long. Whereas at “high” temperatures, lifetimes decrease, debonding occurs at the interface between fibre and matrix, and individual fibre pullout phenomenon is much more important. Damage mechanisms are linked to slow crack growth, creep and oxidation, whose interaction make the interpretation difficult.
Using supercritical carbon dioxide as a tool for preserving culturally significant items

Conservators treat and repair a huge array of damaged and degrading materials on a regular basis. As such, there are many techniques and protocols in place to deal with these problems successfully, be that via preventative or interventive methods. However, there is need for new and innovative techniques that offer long term stabilisation to materials and objects that are prevalent within museum collections. As an alternative to some of these conservation techniques, hydration with supercritical carbon dioxide was investigated here. Both modern and historic, hardwood and softwood samples were successfully hydrated using this technique. The addition of a co-solvent (methanol) to the supercritical fluid solvent stream was used as a method to increase the solubility of water in carbon dioxide, and therefore improve levels of hydration. To evaluate the extent of any damage being caused during the supercritical fluid treatment, microstructural and macrostructural analytical techniques were carried out. The supercritical hydration technique allowed historic wood to be hydrated and stabilised. Strength properties were seen to be maintained or improved after the supercritical treatment, providing conservators with a viable method of hydration. A feasibility study looking at the cleaning and characterisation of historic leather samples was investigated using spectroscopic methods. The sensitivity of Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform spectroscopy on historic leather was explored. Additionally, changes in elemental composition on the surface of the leather were monitored using Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive spectroscopy. Cleaning historic leather via a supercritical carbon dioxide solvent stream showed the greatest potential for future work. However, the characterisation of unattributed historic leather is a vast and complex task that would require the expertise of a leather conservator, if the investigation were to be continued.
Associations of early growth and adult adiposity with patterns of salivary cortisol in adulthood.

CONTEXT Early growth and obesity are associated with adult chronic disease. A suspected mediator is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and cortisol regulation. Our prior hypothesis was that cortisol levels are affected by anthropometry at several life stages. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to assess whether prenatal and postnatal growth and adiposity are associated with adult cortisol levels, and whether early growth and adiposity are related to later cortisol through adult body size. DESIGN Weight, head circumference (birth), height, and body mass index (BMI) (7 yr); and height, BMI (33 yr), and waist-hip ratio (WHR) (45 yr) were measured in the 1958 British birth cohort. SETTING All study subjects were born in England, Scotland, and Wales in 1 wk in March 1958. PARTICIPANTS A total of 6,470 participants with salivary cortisol were gathered from 12,069 invitees (54%) at 45 yr. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Two saliva samples on 1 d were collected: 45 min postwaking (t1) and 3 h later (t2). Three cortisol outcomes were measured: t1 level, area-under-curve, and abnormal t1-t2 pattern. RESULTS WHR was associated with all cortisol measures: among men over the WHR range 0.81-1.05, t1 cortisol decreased by approximately 3 nmol/liter, and the risk of an abnormal t1-t2 pattern increased by 77%; for women, over the WHR range 0.69-0.93, the risk of an abnormal t1-t2 pattern increased by 74%. For childhood measures, among males, increasing 7-yr BMI was associated with decreased t1 cortisol and increased risk of an abnormal t1-t2 pattern. Poorer prenatal growth in women, and postnatal growth in both sexes, was associated with increasing area-under-curve. CONCLUSIONS Smaller head circumference, shorter stature, lower BMI, and WHR are associated with higher cortisol levels.
OPTICAL ROTATION AND HELICAL POLYPEPTIDE CHAIN CONFIGURATION IN COLLAGEN AND GELATIN

The optical rotation phenomena exhibited by a citrate-extracted fraction of ichthyocol (from carp swim bladder), as well as by the parent gelatin derived therefrom, have been studied. Dispersion data for all cases follow a single-term Drude equation, but the variations with state are adequately expressed by simple reference to changes in [α]D as follows:— 1. The native collagen fraction, dispersed in 0.15 M citrate buffer at pH 3.7 in the cold (11°C.), yields a high negative specific rotation, [α]D, near –350°. 2. During equilibration at 40°C. , which causes conversion to a monodisperse parent gelatin, the rotation drops to about –110°. 3. Gelation at 2°C. results in a partial regain of rotation to around –290°. This mutarotation is reversible, depending on temperature. 4. In the range 0.02 to 0.28 per cent the native ichthyocol and the warm gelatin solutions show little concentration dependence, but with the cold gelatin solutions the specific rotation increases with concentration. Gelatin films formed by cold evaporation yield high specific rotation (ca. –620°), but those formed by hot evaporation retain low optical activity. 5. Since this same collagen-gelatin system has been investigated physicochemically, it is possible to relate molecular changes to the observed variations in optical rotation. Conclusions are similar to those of Robinson (1953), who studied other gelatins: high negative rotation is believed related to a native collagen polypeptide configuration, herein specified as helical (from x-ray diffraction considerations) and destroyed by heating. The possible roles of intermolecular interactions and of prevalent pyrrolidine constituents in influencing the helical configuration and optical activity are discussed.
PL of low-density InAs/GaAs quantum dots with different bimodal populations

Optical response of the indium arsenide (InAs)/gallium arsenide (GaAs) quantum dots (QDs) with a bimodal distribution is investigated through varying an initial GaAs capping layer between 35 and 18 monolayers. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements confirm that a thinner initial capping layer can reduce the QD dimensions and also modify the population ratio between the large QDs and the small QDs. Therefore, PL quenching related to QD dimension and carrier transfer between the bimodal QD populations has been affected. Manipulation of the initial GaAs capping layer provides a feasible approach to tailor the formation and optical performance of InAs QDs for optoelectronic device applications.
Real-Time Surface of Revolution Reconstruction on Dense SLAM

We present a fast and accurate method for reconstructing surfaces of revolution (SoR) on 3D data and its application to structural modeling of a cluttered scene in real-time. To estimate a SoR axis, we derive an approximately linear cost function for fast convergence. Also, we design a framework for reconstructing SoR on dense SLAM. In the experiment results, we show our method is accurate, robust to noise and runs in real-time.
Psychosocial costs of transferring indigenous women from their community for birth.

OBJECTIVE To describe the psychosocial effect of transferring Canadian Inuit women out of their communities for birth. DESIGN Semi-structured interviews. SETTING Two communities in the central Canadian arctic. PARTICIPANTS Postnatal women and their partners, Inuit community members. MAIN FINDINGS Women face many stressors as a result of being transferred from their community for the birth of their baby, not least of which is the lack of a partner and family support. Stressors were categorised as emotional, physical and economic, and women were given little choice or support for the place of birth and method of delivery. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Midwives need to be aware of the psychosocial disruption and stress faced by women and their families as a result of being transferred from their community for birth. Maternal/child policies and care need to focus more on the psychosocial aspects of labour, such as family and professional support, and less on the physical aspects which cannot be adequately addressed without culturally sensitive care. Consumers must be involved in the development of maternity services.
Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience Computational Neuroscience Made-to-order Spiking Neuron Model Equipped with a Multi-timescale Adaptive Threshold

Information is transmitted in the brain through various kinds of neurons that respond differently to the same signal. Full characteristics including cognitive functions of the brain should ultimately be comprehended by building simulators capable of precisely mirroring spike responses of a variety of neurons. Neuronal modeling that had remained on a qualitative level has recently advanced to a quantitative level, but is still incapable of accurately predicting biological data and requires high computational cost. In this study, we devised a simple, fast computational model that can be tailored to any cortical neuron not only for reproducing but also for predicting a variety of spike responses to greatly fl uctuating currents. The key features of this model are a multi-timescale adaptive threshold predictor and a nonresetting leaky integrator. This model is capable of reproducing a rich variety of neuronal spike responses, including regular spiking, intrinsic bursting, fast spiking, and chattering, by adjusting only three adaptive threshold parameters. This model can express a continuous variety of the fi ring characteristics in a three-dimensional parameter space rather than just those identifi ed in the conventional discrete categorization. Both high fl exibility and low computational cost would help to model the real brain function faithfully and examine how network properties may be infl uenced by the distributed characteristics of component neurons. For these reasons, simplifi ed phenomenological models such as the leaky integrate-and-fi re (LIF) model (Stein, 1965) have been proposed, and these models have been useful for studying learning , memory, and the dynamics of neural networks (Gerstner and Kistler, 2002; Hansel and Sompolinsky, 1998). Due to this sim-plifi cation, many details of the biophysical properties of neurons are abandoned. However, simplifi ed models that extend beyond the qualitative description of neuronal fi ring have been developed (Fourcaud-Trocmé et al. Nonlinear integrate-and-fi re models have been successfully applied to some typical neurons (Badel et al., 2008; Brette and Gerstner, 2005). The spike response model (SRM) exhibits fairly good predictive performances (Jolivet et al., 2004, 2006; Kobayashi and Shinomoto, 2007). It is feasible to fi t the LIF model to neurophysiological data, in particular, to reproduce the statistical features in interspike intervals (Inoue et al. but parameter optimization in the SRM or nonlinear models for predicting spike times is a diffi cult problem because of their non-linearity or a large number of parameters. In this study, we propose a minimal model for accurately predicting …
A new scene change feature for video transcoding

In video transcoding, information collected from a precoded video stream may be used to benefit the coding process. There is a need to detect the scene change in video streams because statistical information may vary when scene change occurs. Several scene change features are discussed for compressed video. In order to realize efficient detection, we propose a novel scene change feature for compressed video streams. The motion change information within each frame is used to identify the scene change. Experimental results show that this proposed scene change feature is rather robust and can provide useful information to realize accurate detection.
The effect of population density on the performance of a spatial social network algorithm for multi-objective optimisation

Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) is increasingly being applied to optimisation of multi-objective problems in engineering design and scientific investigation. This paper investigates the behaviour of a novel algorithm based on an extension of the concepts of spatial social networks using a model of the behaviour of locusts and crickets. In particular, observation of locust swarms suggests a specific dependence on population density for ordered behaviour. Computational experiments demonstrate that both the new, spatial, social network algorithm and a conventional MOPSO algorithm exhibit improved performance with increased swarm size and crowding. This observation may have particular significance for design of some forms of distributed PSO algorithms.
On the Interference of Task-Irrelevant Hue Variation on Texture Segmentation

Although natural images often include discordant information about object boundaries, the majority of research on texture segmentation has involved variation along a single dimension, eg colour, orientation, size. In this study, we examined orientation-based texture segmentation in the presence and absence of task-irrelevant colour variation. Previously, it had been shown that orientation-based texture segmentation was impaired if the elements, normally of one colour, were randomly allocated one of two colours (Morgan et al, 1992 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 248 291–295). We found that this interference disappeared, however, when the spatial pattern of the colour variation was regular, as opposed to random, and when the elements were randomly positioned. We consider four models of how relevant and irrelevant texture information might combine to produce the interference effect, with special regard to these new findings. None of the models could account for the dependency of the interference effect on the spatial arrangement of colour and orientation in the texture. We suggest that inter-element separation and spatial-frequency selectivity are critical variables in the interference effect.