Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and characterisation of a photonic sensor platform for the detection of biofilm formation

This thesis focuses on the development and characterisation of a waveguide-based photonic sensing platform for the detection of biofilm. This integrated photonic platform is based upon the high sensitivity of an optical field distribution formed in optical waveguides and the resulting changes in the refractive index and absorption of this environment. The sensor platform and materials formulations were established from simulation studies conducted with the Olympios software. These simulations demonstrated the importance of correctly specifying the material refractive index to achieve single-mode waveguides. They also highlighted the necessity to deposit a high refractive index layer (HRIL) on top of the optical waveguides in order to increase the intensity of the evanescent field responsible for the sensing performance of the platform. Platform fabrication exploited a low-cost process using photocurable organic-inorganic hybrid sol–gel materials, which were microstructured by UV-photolithography to form channel optical waveguides. A tantalum-based material was synthesized using the sol–gel process with refractive index as high as 1.87. This material was developed, optically characterised and applied as an evanescent field enhancement layer, deposited at the surface of the waveguide to increase the sensitivity of the sensing platform. The sensor characterisation was performed by monitoring the output intensity of the optical waveguide while contaminated water was monitored in both quasi-static and dynamic flow-rates on the platform. It is shown that the sensing performance of this biosensor platform relies on the applied flow-rate. In quasi-static flow rate, the biofilm formation was detected after 10 min of reactions, demonstrating the early stage biofilm formation in quasi-static flow-rate. The progressive increase of the flow-rate showed an increase of the detection time. Furthermore, the sensing performances of this photonic platform were found to be strongly dependent on the thickness of the HRIL, confirming the simulations studies. This work proved the concept of employing a waveguide-based photonic platform for the early detection of biofilm formation, including the induction phase, and as such, I believe this system has immense potential for future applications as a label-free and real-time biosensor platform for bioenvironmental applications.
Associations between circulating IL-17 levels and rheumatoid arthritis and between IL-17 gene polymorphisms and disease susceptibility: a meta-analysis

Objectives To systematically review evidence regarding the relationship between circulating interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and associations between polymorphisms in IL-17 genes and RA susceptibility. Method We performed a meta-analysis of serum/plasma IL-17 levels in patients with RA and controls, and evaluated evidence of associations between the rs2275913, rs3819024, rs4711998 and rs8193036 polymorphisms in IL-17A and the rs763780 and rs2397084 polymorphisms in IL-17F and risk for RA. Results Fourteen studies including 3118 patients with RA and 2725 controls were included. Our meta-analysis revealed that IL-17 levels were significantly higher in the RA group than in the control group (p=3.1×10−6). Subgroup analysis using sample size showed increased IL-17 levels in samples from both small (n≤100) and large (n>100) RA groups (p=1.1×10−4 and p=0.008, respectively). We found evidence of associations between RA and alleles from the IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 polymorphisms in Caucasians (p=0.003 and p=0.037, respectively). In addition, we found an association between RA and alleles of the IL-17A rs3819024 polymorphism in the pooled RA cohort compared with matched controls (p=0.033). However, no evidence of association was found between the IL-17F rs2397084, IL-17A rs4711998 and IL-17A rs8193036 polymorphisms and RA susceptibility. Conclusions Our meta-analysis revealed significantly higher circulating IL-17 levels in patients with RA, and found evidence of associations between the IL-17A rs2275913, IL-17F rs763780 and IL-17A rs3819024 polymorphisms and pathogenesis of RA.
Using custom transformation axes for mid-air manipulation of 3D virtual objects

Virtual Reality environments are able to offer natural interaction metaphors. However, it is difficult to accurately place virtual objects in the desired position and orientation using gestures in mid-air. Previous research concluded that the separation of degrees-of-freedom (DOF) can lead to better results, but these benefits come with an increase in time when performing complex tasks, due to the additional number of transformations required. In this work, we assess whether custom transformation axes can be used to achieve the accuracy of DOF separation without sacrificing completion time. For this, we developed a new manipulation technique, MAiOR, which offers translation and rotation separation, supporting both 3-DOF and 1-DOF manipulations, using personalized axes for the latter. Additionally, it also has direct 6-DOF manipulation for coarse transformations, and scaled object translation for increased placement. We compared MAiOR against an exclusively 6-DOF approach and a widget-based approach with explicit DOF separation. Results show that, contrary to previous research suggestions, single DOF manipulations are not appealing to users. Instead, users favored 3-DOF manipulations above all, while keeping translation and rotation independent.
Safety issues in nonstop update of running programs for mobile robots

Nonstop update (NSU) is a service robot architecture to upgrade running robot controllers without suspending the services of robot systems. Its target application is mobile robots operating in remote or hazardous environments where suspension of ongoing missions is unacceptable or human intervention for changing or debugging programs is not easy. The present paper introduces NSU from a point of view of both safety and performance. The present paper defines the safety in NSU as a property that controller programs should not suspend or run away because of update-related sources. Safety issues such as deadlocks, module dependency, discontinuity of behavior between before and after update, and delays due to update overhead time are addressed. Safety and performance of NSU is examined and demonstrated by using three practical mobile systems: a mobile manipulator for a power assist system, a hexapod legged mobile robot, and a biped walking robot with wheeled legs.
Application of Motion-Based Visual Servoing to Target Tracking

In this paper, the classical task of mobile target tracking using a pan-and-tilt camera is considered. The authors use recent results in motion-based visual servoing to deal with complex targets for which shape and texture are unknown. The first method consists of designing a control law directly from the estimated image motion. This leads to the computation of the pan-and-tilt acceleration necessary to reduce the tracking error. A second method, more efficient for target tracking, consists of retrieving the target position in the image from its estimated motion. This leads to classical image-based visual servoing. For both methods, experimental results obtained at video rate are presented and discussed.
Self-pumped phase conjugation, higher order diffraction and image correlation using barium titanate

Using barium titanate as the photorefractive material, we show self-pumped phase conjugation, beam coupling, higher non-Bragg order generation yielding forward phase conjugate, and image correlation using higher order diffraction. It is shown that 2K gratings are primarily responsible for higher order diffraction.
Deep Learning for Natural Language Sequence Labelling Applied to Epigenomics

Foundational to our understanding of DNA meaning is our ability to model its function. With the aim of creating a predictive model on epigenome DNaseIaccessible enhancer regions we apply NLP techniques to the hereditary language. With the tools borrowed from the NLP domain, we make strides towards an accurate model for the location and cell type associated with enhancers in our sequence dataset. Experimentation with data embedding and model architecture lead us to narrow the range of successful models for this task. The most successful model we studied achieves a balanced accuracy of 73% and a gain in certainty of 1.46 on our test data. We know of no previous attempt to build a predictive model on this dataset.
Boxes go bananas: encoding higher-order abstract syntax with parametric polymorphism

Higher-order abstract syntax is a simple technique for implementing languages with functional programming. Object variables and binders are implemented by variables and binders in the host language. By using this technique, one can avoid implementing common and tricky routines dealing with variables, such as capture-avoiding substitution. However, despite the advantages this technique provides, it is not commonly used because it is difficult to write sound elimination forms (such as folds or catamorphisms) for higher-order abstract syntax. To fold over such a datatype, one must either simultaneously define an inverse operation (which may not exist) or show that all functions embedded in the datatype are parametri.In this paper, we show how first-class polymorphism can be used to guarantee the parametricity of functions embedded in higher-order abstract syntax. With this restriction, we implement a library of iteration operators over data-structures containing functionals. From this implementation, we derive "fusion laws" that functional programmers may use to reason about the iteration operator. Finally, we show how this use of parametric polymorphism corresponds to the Schürmann, Despeyroux and Pfenning method of enforcing parametricity through modal types. We do so by using this library to give a sound and complete encoding of their calculus into System F? This encoding can serve as a starting point for reasoning about higher-order structures in polymorphic languages.
Reproducibility and validity of the 50-meter walking test in community-dwelling elderly

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the reproducibility and validity of the 50-m walking test. [Subjects] Reproducibility was investigated in 19 community-dwelling elderly women (mean age, 76.3 years), and validity was investigated in 31 community-dwelling elderly individuals (12 men and 19 women; mean age, 75.7 years). [Methods] The time taken to walk 50 m, the time taken to walk each 10-m section (laps 1–5), the time taken to walk 10 m, and grip strength were measured. In addition, the functional reach test (FRT), one-leg standing test, and timed up and go (TUG) test were performed. [Results] In a reproducibility analysis, the interclass correlation coefficient (1,1) was 0.97. In a Bland-Altman analysis, no systematic error was found. The measured values from the 50-m walking test included a measurement error of 1.5 s, and the acceptable margin of error was confirmed to be 3.1 s. In a validity analysis, the 50-m walking test score was significantly correlated with the 10-m walking and TUG test scores. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that the 50-m walking test score may be a useful index of the walking ability of community-dwelling elderly.
A new dynamic differential logic style as a countermeasure to power analysis attacks

Power analysis attacks exploit the existence of ldquoside channelsrdquo in implementations of cryptographic algorithms to extract secret data. The scientific literature reports consolidated methods - such as Differential Power Analysis (DPA) and Simple Power Analysis (SPA) - for extracting a secret cryptographic key through the sensing of the hardware power consumption. We propose a novel dynamic and differential CMOS logic style as a countermeasure against power attacks on cryptographic devices. The proposed logic family exploits the idea of using signals with 3 possible states and operates with power consumption ideally independent on both the logic values and the sequence of data. We have designed a set of logic gates, flip flops and a simple S-BOX, and compared the S-BOX against previously published secure logic styles in terms of transistor count, power consumption and correlation between data and power dissipation.
H.264 Multiple Description Coding Based on Redundant Picture Representation

In this paper a novel H.264 multiple description technique is proposed. The coding approach is based on the redundant slice representation option, defined in the H.264 standard. In presence of losses, the redundant representation can be used to replace missing portions of the compressed bitstream, thus yielding a certain degree of error resilience. This paper addresses the creation of two balanced descriptions based on the concept of redundant slices, while keeping full compatibility with the H.264 standard syntax and decoding behavior. Moreover, a practical algorithm for redundancy tuning as a function of the packet loss rate is provided. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed technique favorably compares with other H.264 multiple description approaches.
Design and Fabrication of SiO2 Coated Al Thin Films with High Performance for Solar Front Reflectors

The SiO2 coated Al thin films deposited on glass substrate for solar front reflectors were designed using Essential Macleod Program (EMP) and successfully fabricated by magnetron sputtering. The obtained thin films showed high reflectivity (up to 89.51%) under the light wavelength ranged from 250 to 2500 nm, which was identical with calculated results. Moreover, the thin films showed high anti-corrosion properties after the harsh abrasion tests. The high performance of the thin films was mainly attributed to the SiO2 layer, which served as a good protection without serious degradation of reflectivity, demonstrating the bright prospects for outdoor solar front reflectors.
Cost-Benefit Analysis as Market Simulation: A New Approach to the Problem of Anomalies in Environmental Evaluation

Most normative economics assumes that individuals have coherent preferences. This paper responds to growing evidence of failures of this assumption, particularly in the context of stated-preference methods widely used in environmental policy analysis. I propose a criterion of consumer sovereignty which does not presuppose preference coherence, and which is satisfied by competitive markets. I then propose an approach to cost-benefit analysis that attempts to simulate consumer sovereignty in situations of market failure. The key idea is to use valuations revealed 'at the moment of consumption'. I argue that this principle is better implemented by hedonic pricing than by contingent valuation.
Using Ontology Based Knowledge Discovery in Location Based Services

Rapid development of information technology for mobile computing, improvement in the accuracy of positioning systems, and ubiquitous use of mobile devices has generated large quantities of raw trajectories that represent the movement of moving objects. Mining such data, which contain not only space and time attributes, but also context attributes, is significant for many applications within the location based services domain. Such systems can provide more effective services to users through an understanding of a moving objects location, its context, and interests. But, in spite of the fact that most service providers offer various services to users, they are unable to identify relevant customers at the right time and right place. Recently different methods of data mining have been used in location based services for extracting patterns and modeling the behavior of users. However, due to the excessive number of extracted patterns it has been very difficult to infer knowledge from these patterns for an application domain. Given that several criteria such as geographic area, the nature of the entity, etc., influence movement behavior, one needs to consider this complexly during the knowledge discovery process. Therefore, this paper proposes a model that integrates an ontology-based approach for efficient interpretation of extracted patterns from an objects movement behavior.
A cutaneous gene therapy approach to human leptin deficiencies: correction of the murine ob/ob phenotype using leptin‐targeted keratinocyte grafts

Leptin deficiency produces a phenotype of obesity, diabetes, and infertility in the ob/ob mouse. In humans, leptin deficiency occurs in some cases of congenital obesity and in lipodystrophic disorders characterized by reduced adipose tissue and insulin resistance. Cutaneous gene therapy is considered an attractive potential method to correct circulating protein deficiencies, since gene‐transferred human keratinocytes can produce and secrete gene products with systemic action. However, no studies showing correction of a systemic defect have been reported. We report the successful correction of leptin deficiency using cutaneous gene therapy in the ob/ob mouse model. As a feasibility approach, skin explants from transgenic mice overexpressing leptin were grafted on immunodeficient ob/ob mice. One month later, recipient mice reached body weight values of lean animals. Other biochemical and clinical parameters were also normalized. In a second human gene therapy approach, a retroviral vector encoding both leptin and EGFP cDNAs was used to transduce HK and, epithelial grafts enriched in high leptin‐producing HK were transplanted to immunosuppressed ob/ob mice. HK‐derived leptin induced body weight reduction after a drop in blood glucose and food intake. Leptin replacement through genetically engineered HK grafts provides a valuable therapeutic alternative for permanent treatment of human leptin deficiency conditions. —Larcher, F. , Del Rio, M. , Serrano, F. , Segovia, J. C. , Ramírez, A. , Meana, A. , Page, A. , Abad, J. L. , González, M. A. , Bueren, J., Bernad, A. , Jorcano, J. L. A cutaneous gene therapy approach to human leptin deficiencies: correction of the murine ob/ob phenotype using leptin‐tar‐geted keratinocyte grafts. FASEB J. 15, 1529–1538 (2001)
A Recognizer of Rational Trace Languages

The relevance of instruction parallelization and optimal event scheduling is currently increasing. In particular, because of the high amount of computational power available today, the industrial interest on automatic code parallelization is raising notably. In the last years, several contributions have arisen in these fields, exploiting the theory of traces that provides a powerful mathematical formalism that can be effectively used to model and study concurrent executions of events. However, there is a quite large amount of open problems that need to be further investigated in this area. In this paper, we present a one-pass recognition algorithm to solve the membership problem for rational trace languages, that is the problem of deciding whether or not a certain string belongs (i.e., is member of) a trace, or a trace language. Solving this problem is fundamental for designing efficient parsers. Our solution is detailed through the formal specification of the Buffer Machine, a non-deterministic, finite-state automaton with multiple buffers that can solve the membership problem in polynomial time.
Carotid body potentiation during chronic intermittent hypoxia: implication for hypertension

Autonomic dysfunction is involved in the development of hypertension in humans with obstructive sleep apnea, and animals exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). It has been proposed that a crucial step in the development of the hypertension is the potentiation of the carotid body (CB) chemosensory responses to hypoxia, but the temporal progression of the CB chemosensory, autonomic and hypertensive changes induced by CIH are not known. We tested the hypothesis that CB potentiation precedes the autonomic imbalance and the hypertension in rats exposed to CIH. Thus, we studied the changes in CB chemosensory and ventilatory responsiveness to hypoxia, the spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), heart rate variability (HRV) and arterial blood pressure in pentobarbital anesthetized rats exposed to CIH for 7, 14, and 21 days. After 7 days of CIH, CB chemosensory and ventilatory responses to hypoxia were enhanced, while BRS was significantly reduced by 2-fold in CIH-rats compared to sham-rats. These alterations persisted until 21 days of CIH. After 14 days, CIH shifted the HRV power spectra suggesting a predominance of sympathetic over parasympathetic tone. In contrast, hypertension was found after 21 days of CIH. Concomitant changes between the gain of spectral HRV, BRS, and ventilatory hypoxic chemoreflex showed that the CIH-induced BRS attenuation preceded the HRV changes. CIH induced a simultaneous decrease of the BRS gain along with an increase of the hypoxic ventilatory gain. Present results show that CIH-induced persistent hypertension was preceded by early changes in CB chemosensory control of cardiorespiratory and autonomic function.
SlideSeer: a digital library of aligned document and presentation pairs

Research findings are often transmitted both as written documents and narrated slide presentations. As these two forms of media contain both unique and replicated information, it is useful to combine and align these two views to create a single synchronized medium. We introduce SlideSeer, a digital library that discovers, aligns and presents such presentation and document pairs. We discuss the three major system components of the SlideSeer DL: 1) the resource discovery, 2) the fine-grained alignment and 3) the user interface. For resource discovery, we have bootstrapped our collection building process using metadata from DBLP and CiteSeer. For alignment, we modify maximum similarity alignment to favor monotonic alignments and incorporate a classifier to handle slides which should not be aligned. For the user interface, we allow the user to seamlessly switch between four carefully motivated views of the resulting synchronized media pairs.
Filling the Gap - Extending Service Oriented Architectures with Semantics

The problems of integrating information and processes between businesses continue to represent a challenge for which no universal solution has been found. Service oriented architecture (SOA) represents a technology leap in this direction, allowing businesses to define the functionality of their various systems as discrete, loosely coupled services, accessible through well defined interfaces. Augmenting the SOA approach with semantics guarantees unambiguous Web service descriptions and explicit meaning for the data they interchange. We describe an example to motivate semantic enhancement and present WSMX as a semantic execution environment addressing the search and integration challenges. We propose that using WSMX, complex collaboration scenarios can be built in a dynamic fashion, sustained by concrete solutions that solve heterogeneity issues at the data, process and protocol levels