Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A simple and reliable credit-balanced incentive scheme for wireless ad-hoc networks

One of the fundamental challenges in wireless ad-hoc networking is promotion of cooperation among rational and selfish nodes. Various schemes have been proposed in the literature to stimulate nodes collaboration by improving data forwarding function or route discovery function. The novel algorithm proposed in this paper enhances these two ad-hoc networking functions by utilizing a unique credit-reputation hybrid approach. In the data forwarding phase, a reputation and credit combined mechanism offers incentives with simpler and less overhead process; in the route discovery phase, a new routing metric considering the remaining energy as well as balance between credits and energy has been introduced. Simulations results show that the scheme could successfully stimulate node cooperation by manipulating credits and reputation restrictions and more importantly actively discouraging three types of selfish behaviors.
Lack of the Matricellular Protein SPARC (Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteine) Attenuates Liver Fibrogenesis in Mice

Introduction Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular protein involved in many biological processes and found over-expressed in cirrhotic livers. By mean of a genetic approach we herein provide evidence from different in vivo liver disease models suggesting a profibrogenic role for SPARC. Methods Two in vivo models of liver fibrosis, based on TAA administration and bile duct ligation, were developed on SPARC wild-type (SPARC+/+) and knock-out (SPARC−/−) mice. Hepatic SPARC expression was analyzed by qPCR. Fibrosis was assessed by Sirius Red staining, and the maturation state of collagen fibers was analyzed using polarized light. Necroinflammatory activity was evaluated by applying the Knodell score and liver inflammatory infiltration was characterized by immunohistochemistry. Hepatic stellate cell activation was assessed by α-SMA immunohistochemistry. In addition, pro-fibrogenic genes and inflammatory cytokines were measured by qPCR and/or ELISA. Liver gene expression profile was analyzed in SPARC−/− and SPARC+/+ mice using Affymetrix Mouse Gene ST 1.0 array. Results SPARC expression was found induced in fibrotic livers of mouse and human. SPARC−/− mice showed a reduction in the degree of inflammation, mainly CD4+ cells, and fibrosis. Consistently, collagen deposits and mRNA expression levels were decreased in SPARC−/− mice when compared to SPARC+/+ mice; in addition, MMP-2 expression was increased in SPARC−/− mice. A reduction in the number of activated myofibroblasts was observed. Moreover, TGF-β1 expression levels were down-regulated in the liver as well as in the serum of TAA-treated knock-out animals. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) analysis suggested several gene networks which might involve protective mechanisms of SPARC deficiency against liver fibrogenesis and a better established machinery to repair DNA and detoxify from external chemical stimuli. Conclusions Overall our data suggest that SPARC plays a significant role in liver fibrogenesis. Interventions to inhibit SPARC expression are suggested as promising approaches for liver fibrosis treatment.
Graph cut segmentation with a global constraint: Recovering region distribution via a bound of the Bhattacharyya measure

This study investigates an efficient algorithm for image segmentation with a global constraint based on the Bhattacharyya measure. The problem consists of finding a region consistent with an image distribution learned a priori. We derive an original upper bound of the Bhattacharyya measure by introducing an auxiliary labeling. From this upper bound, we reformulate the problem as an optimization of an auxiliary function by graph cuts. Then, we demonstrate that the proposed procedure converges and give a statistical interpretation of the upper bound. The algorithm requires very few iterations to converge, and finds nearly global optima. Quantitative evaluations and comparisons with state-of-the-art methods on the Microsoft GrabCut segmentation database demonstrated that the proposed algorithm brings improvements in regard to segmentation accuracy, computational efficiency, and optimality. We further demonstrate the flexibility of the algorithm in object tracking.
“A Body Shape Index” in Middle-Age and Older Indonesian Population: Scaling Exponents and Association with Incident Hypertension

Background “A Body Shape Index” (ABSI) is a recently proposed index that standardizes waist circumference for body mass index (BMI) and height. This study aims to: (a) examine if the ABSI scaling exponents for standardizing waist circumference for BMI and height are valid in middle-aged and older Indonesian population, and (b) compare the association between incident hypertension and ABSI and other anthropometric measures. Methods and Findings The Indonesian Family Life Survey Wave 3 measured anthropometric variables and blood pressure of 8255 adults aged between 40 to 85 years in 2000. The relationship between two anthropometric quantities, e.g. weight (w) and height (h), can be expressed as the power law-equivalent , where p = 2 is the scaling exponent in the derivation of the BMI and can be estimated by linear regression analysis. This was extended to the regression analysis of the log-transformed waist circumference, weight and height to establish the scaling exponents in the ABSI. The values for men were similar to those developed by the previous American study, which were 2/3 (BMI) and 1/2 (height). Those for women were somewhat smaller, at 3/5 (BMI) and 1/5 (height). The original (American) ABSI leads to mild negative correlation with BMI (−0.14) and height (−0.12) in the female population. Analysis of the development of hypertension between Waves 3 and 4 (average interval 7.5 years) in relation to ABSI measured at Wave 3 showed stronger association if the locally derived (Indonesian) scaling exponents were used. However, both versions of the ABSI were less associated with incident hypertension than waist circumference and BMI. Conclusions The values for the scaling exponents for ABSI are roughly similar between the American population and the middle-aged and older Indonesian population, although larger discrepancy was found in women. The ABSI is less associated with incident hypertension than waist circumference and BMI.
Chest x-ray characterization: from organ identification to pathology categorization

This work presents a novel approach to chest x-ray characterization. It is based on the generation of a visual words dictionary to represent x-ray images, and similarity-based categorization with a kernel based SVM classifier. Two main tasks are addressed: First, the extraction of chest images from a large radiograph archive, i.e. an organ identification task; Second, the detection and identification of chest pathologies, i.e. shifting from the organ level to a pathology level analysis. We used a large generic archive of 12,000 radiographs (IRMA) to tune the system parameters. We demonstrate automated organ detection on the IRMA collection as well as the generalization to a new data collection. The application is shown to discriminate between healthy and pathology cases, as well as identify specific pathologies on a set of 223 chest radiographs taken from a routine hospital examination. Results indicate detection of pathology at a sensitivity of 88.4% and a specificity of 81%. This is a first step towards similarity-based categorization that has a major clinical importance in computer-assisted diagnostics.
Wage differentials between foreigners and locals-discrimination or unobserved skills ?

This paper analyzes a regulated trans-border labor market segmented by skills in the Canton of Ticino (Switzerland). Swiss regulation distinguishes two types of foreign labor force, i.e. trans-border commuters with de facto free access and immigrant workers regulated by quota. While wages are generally observed to be lower for trans-border commuters than for locals, immigrant workers accomplishing difficult tasks can earn higher wages than their Swiss counterparts. This can be due to differences in unobserved skills or to regulatory discrimination. In order to shed light on this, we analyze the labor market assuming that firms hire workers setting efficient wages according to a competitive screening model. Estimating a two step switching regression model including dummy variables for the different categories of foreign workers allows distinguish between discrimination and effects of asymmetric information. The bilateral treaties between Switzerland and the EU will introduce free mobility abolishing the current regulation by quota. Speculations abound on the impact this might have on wages. An effect of this liberalization can only be expected if current differentials are found to be due to regulation.
ffi cient Identification of Bad Signatures in RSA-Type Batch Signature

As the use of electronic voting systems and e-commerce systems increases, the efficient batch verification of digital signatures becomes more and more important. In this paper, we first propose a new method to identify bad signatures in batches efficiently for the case when the batch contains one bad signature. The method can find out the bad signature using smaller number of modular multiplications than the existing method. We also propose an extension to the proposed method to find out two or more bad signatures in a batch instance. Experimental results show that our method yields better performance than the existing method in terms of the number of modular multiplications. key words: batch verification, batch identification, RSA
Serial FEM/XFEM-Based Update of Preoperative Brain Images Using Intraoperative MRI

Current neuronavigation systems cannot adapt to changing intraoperative conditions over time. To overcome this limitation, we present an experimental end-to-end system capable of updating 3D preoperative images in the presence of brain shift and successive resections. The heart of our system is a nonrigid registration technique using a biomechanical model, driven by the deformations of key surfaces tracked in successive intraoperative images. The biomechanical model is deformed using FEM or XFEM, depending on the type of deformation under consideration, namely, brain shift or resection. We describe the operation of our system on two patient cases, each comprising five intraoperative MR images, and we demonstrate that our approach significantly improves the alignment of nonrigidly registered images.
Human Rights Institutions, Sovereignty Costs and Democratization

Why do countries join international human rights institutions, when membership often yields few material gains and constrains state sovereignty? This article argues that entering a human rights institution can yield substantial benefits for democratizing states. Emerging democracies can use the ‘sovereignty costs’ associated with membership to lock in liberal policies and signal their intent to consolidate democracy. It also argues, however, that the magnitude of these costs varies across different human rights institutions, which include both treaties and international organizations. Consistent with this argument, the study finds that democratizing states tend to join human rights institutions that impose greater constraints on state sovereignty.
Land surface skin temperatures from a combined analysis of microwave and infrared satellite observations for an all-weather evaluation of the differences between air and skin temperatures

[1] A neural network inversion scheme including first guess information has been developed to retrieve surface temperature Ts, along with atmospheric water vapor, cloud liquid water, and surface emissivities over land from a combined analysis of Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) data. In the absence of routine in situ surface skin measurements, retrieved Ts values are evaluated by comparison to the surface air temperature Tair measured by the meteorological station network. The Ts − Tair difference shows all the expected variations with solar flux, soil characteristics, and cloudiness. During daytime the Ts − Tair difference is driven by the solar insulation, with positive differences that increase with increasing solar flux. With decreasing soil and vegetation moisture the evaporation rate decreases, increasing the sensible heat flux, thus requiring larger Ts − Tair differences. Nighttime Ts − Tair differences are governed by the longwave radiation balance, with Ts usually closer or lower than Tair. The presence of clouds dampens all the difference. After suppression of the variability associated to the diurnal solar flux variations, the Ts and Tair data sets show very good agreement in their synoptic variations, even for cloudy cases, with no bias and a global rms difference of ∼2.9 K. This value is an upper limit of the retrieval rms because it includes errors in the in situ data as well as errors related to imperfect time and space collocations between the satellite and in situ measurements.
Prediction of Cardiac and Noncardiac Mortality After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background—Current risk models for predicting long-term mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention are restricted to all-cause mortality. We sought to develop novel risk models for the prediction of cardiac and noncardiac mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods and Results—We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent index percutaneous coronary intervention at Mayo Clinic from 2003 to 2008. Long-term deaths were ascertained through scheduled prospective surveillance. Cause of death was determined via telephone interviews, medical records, and autopsy reports. Fine and Gray extension of Cox proportional hazards models was used to model cause-specific cumulative incidence. Candidate variables and interactions were chosen a priori, without variable selection methods. Resulting models were mapped to an integer-based risk score. The study comprised 6636 patients followed up over a median of 62 months (25th, 75th percentiles: 45, 77 months). There were 1488 deaths, 518 (35%) cardiac, 938 (63%) noncardiac, and 32 (2%) unknown. The 5-year predicted cardiac mortality ranged from 0.6% to 97%, with a corrected c-statistic of 0.82. Risk factors for cardiac death included age, body mass index, ejection fraction, and history of congestive heart failure. The integer score for noncardiac death included age, medicine index, body mass index, current smoker, noncardiac Charlson index and cardiac Charlson index, and accommodated significant age-based interactions for smoking and the 2 Charlson indices. Predicted noncardiac mortality at 5 years ranged from 0.2% to 81%, with a corrected c-statistic of 0.77. Conclusions—We report novel risk models to predict cardiac and noncardiac long-term mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention.
Inflation on an Open Racetrack

We present a variant of warped D-brane inflation by incorporating multiple sets of holomorphically - embedded D7-branes involved in moduli stabilization with extent into a warped throat. The resultant D3-brane motion depends on the D7-brane configuration and the relative position of the D3-brane in these backgrounds. The non-perturbative moduli stabilization superpotential takes the racetrack form, but the additional D3-brane open string moduli dependence provides more flexibilities in model building. For concreteness, we consider D3-brane motion in the warped deformed conifold with the presence of multiple D7-branes, and derive the scalar potential valid for the entire throat. By explicit tuning of the microphysical parameters, we obtain inflationary trajectories near an inflection point for various D7-brane configurations. Moreover, the open racetrack potential admits approximate Minkowski vacua before uplifting. We demonstrate with a concrete D-brane inflation model where the Hubble scale during inflation can exceed the gravitino mass. Finally, the multiple sets of D7-branes present in this open racetrack setup also provides a mechanism to stabilize the D3-brane to metastable vacua in the intermediate region of the warped throat.
An Efficient Watermarking Method for MP3 Audio Files

— In this work, we present for the first time in our perception an efficient digital watermarking scheme for mpeg audio layer 3 files that operates directly in the compressed data domain, while manipulating the time and subband/channel domain. In addition, it does not need the original signal to detect the watermark. Our scheme was implemented taking special care for the efficient usage of the two limited resources of computer systems: time and space. It offers to the industrial user the capability of watermark embedding and detection in time immediately comparable to the real music time of the original audio file that depends on the mpeg compression, while the end user/audience does not face any artifacts or delays hearing the watermarked audio file. Furthermore, it overcomes the disadvantage of algorithms operating in the PCM-Data domain to be vulnerable to compression/recompression attacks, as it places the watermark in the scale factors domain and not in the digitized sound audio data. The strength of our scheme, that allows it to be used with success in both authentication and copyright protection, relies on the fact that it gives to the users the enhanced capability their ownership of the audio file not to be accomplished simply by detecting the bit pattern that comprises the watermark itself, but by showing that the legal owner knows a hard to compute property of the watermark.
Improving MapReduce Performance via Heterogeneity-Load-Aware Partition Function

MapReduce is an important programming model for large-scale data-intensive applications such as web indexing, scientific simulation, and data mining. Hadoop is an open-source implementation of MapReduce enjoying wide adoption. Partition function is an important component of Hadoop which split outputs of maps into bulks that place the input data of reduces. Based on the assumptions that cluster nodes are homogeneous and perform work at roughly the same rate, its default partition function splits intermediate keys into reduces. However, in practice the homogeneity assumptions seldom hold and cluster nodes usually perform work at different rate. In this paper, we design a heterogeneity-load-aware partition function named proportional partition function (PPF). Besides the dynamic loading of cluster nodes, PPF considers the capacity diversity of cluster nodes such as CPU processing speed and disk writing speed.
The magic of mentoring: a democratic approach to mentoring trainee teachers in post-compulsory education

Abstract This paper explores the impact of subject-specific mentoring within post-compulsory education. Using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, it considers those factors considered ‘most useful’ to teachers in training. The findings suggest that, contrary to the views espoused by bodies such as the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, mentors have a limited impact on the effectiveness of teacher education. Reasons for this are examined, including the context in which most trainees and mentors work as well as the restrictions created by initial teacher education frameworks. A more productive approach to supporting post-compulsory education trainees is explored through the development of a collaborative and democratic model of mentoring.
High accuracy operon prediction method based on STRING database scores

We present a simple and highly accurate computational method for operon prediction, based on intergenic distances and functional relationships between the protein products of contiguous genes, as defined by STRING database (Jensen,L.J., Kuhn,M., Stark,M., Chaffron,S., Creevey,C., Muller,J., Doerks,T., Julien,P., Roth,A., Simonovic,M. et al. (2009) STRING 8–a global view on proteins and their functional interactions in 630 organisms. Nucleic Acids Res., 37, D412–D416). These two parameters were used to train a neural network on a subset of experimentally characterized Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis operons. Our predictive model was successfully tested on the set of experimentally defined operons in E. coli and B. subtilis, with accuracies of 94.6 and 93.3%, respectively. As far as we know, these are the highest accuracies ever obtained for predicting bacterial operons. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the predictable accuracy of our model when using an organism's data set for the training procedure, and a different organism's data set for testing, we repeated the E. coli operon prediction analysis using a neural network trained with B. subtilis data, and a B. subtilis analysis using a neural network trained with E. coli data. Even for these cases, the accuracies reached with our method were outstandingly high, 91.5 and 93%, respectively. These results show the potential use of our method for accurately predicting the operons of any other organism. Our operon predictions for fully-sequenced genomes are available at http://operons.ibt. unam.mx/OperonPredictor/.
Improved method for detecting the short cycles of LDPC codes

It is well known that the short cycles in Tanner Graph (TG) greatly impact on the iterative decoding performance of low density parity check (LDPC) codes. In previous literature two methods can be found for detecting such short cycles. This paper presents an improved version of previous Jun Fan's method, which is based on combinational analysis and enumeration of the check matrix patterns caused by cycles of length of 4, 6, 8 and 10 in the corresponding TG. The improved method can more exactly detect the cycles of length greater than 4 in comparison with Jun Fan's method. The validation of the proposed method can be verified by the detection results of short cycles for some LPDC codes.
Shape context based image hashing using local feature points

Local feature points have been widely utilized in solving many problems in computer vision, such as robust matching, object detection and classification, due to the fact that they can hold the intrinsic geometric structures of the image content. However, its investigation in the area of image hashing is still limited. In this paper, we propose a novel shape context based image hashing approach using local feature points, by taking advantage of the geometric invariance of local feature points such as SIFT and preserving the intrinsic structure of the image content using shape context. Experimental results clearly show that the proposed hashing is robust to various classic and malicious attacks, due to the virtue of robust salient keypoints detection as well as the shape context feature descriptors. When compared with the current state-of-art block-based image hashing schemes, such as NMF and FJLT hashing, which extract robust features using dimension reduction, experimental results show that the proposed hashing scheme yields better identification performances under geometric attacks such as rotation attacks and brightness changes, and provides comparable performances under classic distortions such as additive noise, blurring and compression.