Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF SNOW PROPERTIES ON THE DUAL FREQUENCY RADAR ALTIMETER SIGNAL OF ENVISAT OVER THE ANTARCTIC ICE-SHEET

A unique advantage of the ENVISAT altimeter system is the acquisition in S band as well as the classical Ku band. This S band frequency is designed to measure the ionospheric delay over the ocean surfaces. Over land and ice, however, the returned radar echo differences between the two frequencies are also function of the properties of the sensed medium. This is particularly the case over the Antarctic snow. The 2 waves get a different interaction with the snow surface roughness, density, stratifications, snow grains. Here, we study the 4 years time-series of the RA-2 ENVISAT waveform parameters over the whole ice-sheet. The time series present both a stationnar and a seasonal signature. The analysis of the stationar signature show the importance of the surface roughness at a cm-scale in the altimetric waveform. In particular, we show that the snow surfaces must sometimes be considered smooth, with an important coherent scattering component at the vertical. This observation is integrated in a altimetric echo model. We then simulate the seasonal densification of the snowpack and show that it reproduces simultaneously the observations in the two radar bands. From this modelling, we conclude that the seasonal densification of the snowpack creates artificial bias in the altitude series retracked from the altimetric data.
Evaluation of quinolone derivatives for antitrypanosomal activity

About 160 fluoroquinolones and derivatives were tested for antitrypanosomal activity in a drug sensitivity assay followed by fluorometric evaluation. The most active quinolone compounds had IC50 values in the range from 100 to 900 ng/ml, while several derivatives were not active at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. In a structure activity relationship study, modification of the quinolones at position R1, R2, R3 and R8 did not influence trypanocidal activity. An exchange of the fluor at position 6 may contribute to an increase in activity but does not entirely control it. Pyrrolidine substituents at position R7 generally were more active than other substituents at this position. Tetracyclic quinolone derivatives were amongst the most active compounds with IC50 values in the range of 0.3–8.8 μg/ml. The in vitro cytotoxicity on HT‐29 cells was determined for active compounds with IC50 values below 1 μg/ml. In addition, six drugs with an IC50 below 1 μg/ml and a selectivity index of more than 10 were chosen for in vivo experiments. Dose escalation experiments with a maximum dose of 100 mg/kg/bid were performed in a mouse model without central nervous system involvement. For unknown reasons the in vitro effect of the drugs could not be confirmed in vivo, but the class of compound remains of interest for their mode of action, the low toxicity, pharmacological properties and the availability of a large number of synthesized compounds.
Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Genomically-Diverse Isolates of Streptococcus mutans

High coverage, whole genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing of 57 geographically- and genetically-diverse isolates of Streptococcus mutans from individuals of known dental caries status was recently completed. Of the 57 sequenced strains, fifteen isolates, were selected based primarily on differences in gene content and phenotypic characteristics known to affect virulence and compared with the reference strain UA159. A high degree of variability in these properties was observed between strains, with a broad spectrum of sensitivities to low pH, oxidative stress (air and paraquat) and exposure to competence stimulating peptide (CSP). Significant differences in autolytic behavior and in biofilm development in glucose or sucrose were also observed. Natural genetic competence varied among isolates, and this was correlated to the presence or absence of competence genes, comCDE and comX, and to bacteriocins. In general strains that lacked the ability to become competent possessed fewer genes for bacteriocins and immunity proteins or contained polymorphic variants of these genes. WGS sequence analysis of the pan-genome revealed, for the first time, components of a Type VII secretion system in several S. mutans strains, as well as two putative ORFs that encode possible collagen binding proteins located upstream of the cnm gene, which is associated with host cell invasiveness. The virulence of these particular strains was assessed in a wax-worm model. This is the first study to combine a comprehensive analysis of key virulence-related phenotypes with extensive genomic analysis of a pathogen that evolved closely with humans. Our analysis highlights the phenotypic diversity of S. mutans isolates and indicates that the species has evolved a variety of adaptive strategies to persist in the human oral cavity and, when conditions are favorable, to initiate disease.
Received signal strength based location estimation of a wireless LAN client

We consider the problem of identifying the location of a mobile client in an IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN. We propose an estimation algorithm that utilizes received signal strength (RSS) measurements provided by most 802.11b physical layer implementations. In contrast to traditional radio map-based methods that require a burdensome map building phase, the proposed algorithm requires no prior training by employing a probabilistic RSS model that is derived from indoor signal propagation models and the blueprint of the building in which the location estimation system is being deployed. Experimental studies demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method.
Improving the robustness of Newton-based power flow methods to cope with poor initial points

Solving power flow problems is essential for the reliable and efficient operation of a power network. However, current software for solving these problems have questionable robustness due to the limitations of the solution methods used, which are typically based on the Newton-Raphson method. One limitation is that a “good” initial point is usually required to obtain a solution. We explore homotopy-based techniques to mitigate this limitation. These techniques have been tested on large power flow test cases with poor initial points and it can be seen that they can lead to methods that are much more robust than traditional methods.
Don't panic: reverse debugging of kernel drivers

Debugging of device drivers' failures is a very tough task because of kernel panics, blue screens of death, hardware volatility, long periods of time required to expose the bug, perturbation of the drivers by the debugger, and non-determinism of multi-threaded environment. This paper shows how reverse debugging reduces the influence of these factors to the process of drivers debugging. We present reverse debugger as a practical tool, which was tested for i386, x86-64, and ARM platforms, for Windows and Linux guest operating systems. We show that our tool incurs very low overhead (about 10%), which allows using it for debugging of the time sensitive applications. The paper also presents the case study which demonstrates reverse debugging of the USB kernel drivers for Linux.
A recursive Otsu-Iris filter technique for high-speed detection of lumen region from endoscopic images

In this paper, a hardware efficient technique to segment the lumen region from endoscopic images is presented. It is based on applying the combined Otsu-Iris filter operations recursively. The proposed technique applies the Otsu's procedure recursively to obtain a coarse region of interest (ROI), which is then subjected to an Iris filter operation so that a smaller enhanced region can be identified. This enhanced region is subjected to the Otsu's procedure recursively and the process of performing Iris filter operation is repeated as before. It has been shown that by repeating this Otsu-Iris filter combination in an iterative manner facilitates in the rapid identification of the lumen region accurately. It has been shown that the proposed method substantially reduces the number of computations of Otsu's procedure when compared with the APT-Iris filter method. Finally, unlike the APT-Iris filter method, it does not require the precomputation of the cumulative limiting factor, which is highly dependent on the complex endoscopic images.
Emotional Intelligence – Its Importance and Relationship with Individual Peformance, Team-Effectiveness, Leadership and Marketing Effectiveness

The aim of this review is to analyze how emotional intelligence plays a crucial and significant role in guiding and enhancing one’s behavior and activity both within oneself and in workplace effectively and efficiently. A brief literature review is done to identify the relative importance of emotional intelligence, methods to measure emotional intelligence and the relationship of emotional intelligence with individual performance, team-effectiveness, leadership and marketing that best guide one’s activity towards self- and organizational growth. Emotional intelligence is found to be positively correlated with all the factors and acts as an important determinant in analyzing, modifying and channelizing one’s behavior towards self- and organizational growth. Difficulty in testing emotional intelligence as there is no clear evidence on whether it originates from one’s personality trait or through learning and experience. Though many theoretical and few empirical evidences are available to best support emotional intelligence, future research should focus on developing more empirical models that takes into consideration all the critical aspects that emotional intelligence possess so to have deeper understanding of its perspective. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015. v6n1p120
Flt3L‐mobilized dendritic cells bearing H2‐Kbm1 apoptotic cells do not induce cross‐tolerance to CD8+ T cells across a class I MHC mismatched barrier

Tolerization of allogeneic CD8+ T cells is still a pending issue in the field of transplantation research to achieve long‐term survival. To test whether dendritic cells (DC) bearing allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I mismatched apoptotic cells could induce cross‐tolerance to alloreactive CD8+ T cells, the following experimental strategy was devised. Rag2/γc KO B6 mice were treated with Fms‐like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L)‐transduced B16 melanoma cells to drive a rapid expansion and mobilization of DC in vivo. Of all DC populations expanded, splenic CD11c+CD103+CD8α+ DC were selectively involved in the process of antigen clearance of X‐ray irradiated apoptotic thymocytes in vivo. Considering that CD11c+CD103+CD8α+ DC selectively take up apoptotic cells and that they are highly specialized in cross‐presenting antigen to CD8+ T cells, we investigated whether B6 mice adoptively transferred with Flt3L‐derived DC loaded with donor‐derived apoptotic thymocytes could induce tolerance to bm1 skin allografts. Our findings on host anti‐donor alloresponse, as revealed by skin allograft survival and cytotoxic T lymphocyte assays, indicated that the administration of syngeneic DC presenting Kbm1 donor‐derived allopeptides through the indirect pathway of antigen presentation was not sufficient to induce cross‐tolerance to alloreactive CD8+ T cells responding to bm1 alloantigens in a murine model of skin allograft transplantation across an MHC class I mismatched barrier.
The Trade-off Between Usability and Security in the Context of eGovernment: A Mapping Study

Most governments implement the latest information communication technology (ICT) to improve the online experience of their citizens and businesses. Governments put great effort into providing user-focused services that are usable, secure and accessible by portable and wireless devices (e.g. tablets, smart phones etc.). However, such devices bring with them specific problems of usability and security that affect how users interact with government digital services (GDS). This paper presents a systematic mapping study, investigating the existing problems of usability and security of GDS accessed through smart devices. It aims to uncover what evaluation methods have been used by researchers and investigate how the trade-off between usability and security is assessed in the context of GDS accessed through smart devices. The paper summarises the current knowledge available with regards to this trade-off over the last ten years. The results of the mapping study help identify several research gaps, leading to areas for new research in the domain of usability and security in the context of GDS.
Executive equity comepnsation and earnings management : A quantile regression analysis

Prior research has investigated the association between executive equity compensation and earnings management but the evidence is not conclusive. We investigate this question using the quantile regression approach which allows the coefficient on the independent variable (equity compensation) to shift across the distribution of the dependent variable (earnings management). Based on a sample of 18,203 U.S. non-financial firm-year observations from 1995 to 2008, we find that chief executive officer (CEO) equity compensation is positively associated with the absolute value of discretionary accruals at all quantiles of absolute discretionary accruals, but the association becomes weaker as the quantile decreases. The association between CEO equity compensation and signed values of discretionary accruals is positive (negative) when the discretionary accruals are at the high (medium and low) quantiles. The results are robust to alternative measures of equity incentives and earnings management and alternative model specifications. Overall, the quantile regression results suggest that equity compensation motivates income-increasing earnings management when the firm has low financial reporting quality, but mitigates income-increasing earnings management when the financial reporting quality is high. The results also demonstrate that the least-squares and least-sum optimization techniques which are used commonly in prior research do not capture the behavior of firms at the high and low quantiles of financial reporting quality.
Making Sense of the Stories of Experience: Methodology for Research and Teaching

In order to understand the work experience of information professionals, one must ask questions of meaning. This paper explores one way of learning to do qualitative research by exploring the meaning of school media specialist work through narrative analysis of their stories of experience. The phenomenological method of collecting and reading others' and one's own stories of experience offers one way to go beyond learning the standard set of skills and values that characterize the profession. To make sense of one's work suggests beginning a stance of reflective practice.
Beam-forming for Secure Communication in Amplify-and-Forward Networks: An SNR based approach

The problem of secure communication in Amplify-and-Forward (AF) relay networks with multiple eavesdroppers is considered. Assuming that a receiver (destination or eavesdropper) can decode a message only if the received SNR is above a predefined threshold, we introduce SNR based optimization formulations to calculate optimal scaling factors for relay nodes in two scenarios. In the first scenario, we maximize the achievable rate at the legitimate destination, subject to the condition that the received SNR at each eavesdropper is below the target threshold. Due to the non-convex nature of the objective function and eavesdroppers' constraints, we transform variables and obtain a Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Program (QCQP) with convex constraints, which can be solved efficiently. When the constraints are not convex, we consider a Semi-definite relaxation (SDR). In the second scenario, we minimize the total power consumed by all relay nodes, subject to the condition that the received SNR at the legitimate destination is above the threshold and at every eavesdropper, it is below the corresponding threshold. We propose a semi-definite relaxation of the problem in this scenario and also provide an analytical lower bound.
Fast Semi-Analytical Model-Based Acoustic Inversion for Quantitative Optoacoustic Tomography

We present a fast model-based inversion algorithm for quantitative 2-D and 3-D optoacoustic tomography. The algorithm is based on an accurate and efficient forward model, which eliminates the need for regularization in the inversion process while providing modeling flexibility essential for quantitative image formation. The resulting image-reconstruction method eliminates stability problems encountered in previously published model-based techniques and, thus, enables performing image reconstruction in real time. Our model-based framework offers a generalization of the forward solution to more comprehensive optoacoustic propagation models, such as including detector frequency response, without changing the inversion procedure. The reconstruction speed and other algorithmic performances are demonstrated using numerical simulation studies and experimentally on tissue-mimicking optically heterogeneous phantoms and small animals. In the experimental examples, the model-based reconstructions manifested correctly the effect of light attenuation through the objects and did not suffer from the artifacts which usually afflict the commonly used filtered backprojection algorithms, such as negative absorption values.
Image-based environment matting

Environment matting is a powerful technique for modelling the complex light-transport properties of real-world optically active elements: transparent, refractive and reflective objects. Zongker et al [1999] and Chuang et al [2000] show how environment mattes can be computed for real objects under carefully controlled laboratory conditions. However, for many objects of interest, such calibration is difficult to arrange. For example, we might wish to determine the distortion caused by filming through an ancient window where the glass has flowed; we may have access only to archive footage; or we might simply want a more convenient means of acquiring the matte.
La "narraction" comme mode d'elaboration de la strategie en situation d'incertitude : le cas de la therapie genetique et des "innovations technologiques de rupture"

L'innovation et notamment l'innovation technologique constitue un enjeu important et un pari a hauts risques en raison de l'incertitude qui lui est associee. En nous focalisant sur les "innovations technologiques de rupture", notre travail fournit un cadre conceptuel et une grille d'analyse susceptibles d'aider les organisations dans l'elaboration et la mise en oeuvre de leur strategie en situation d'incertitude incompressible (non probabilisable). Nous decrivons successivement les strategies de trois acteurs majeurs (bioavenir / rhone-poulenc, aflm et afm) dans le domaine de la therapie genique au travers de la mobilisation des laboratoires academiques (detenteurs de ressources et competences rares) qu'ils operent. Les champs de litterature mobilises empruntent a la sociologie de l'innovation, aux ecoles normatives de la strategie, a celles centrees sur l'incrementalisme et l'apprentissage organisationnel ainsi qu'a celles qui mettent en exergue la construction de sens ("sense-making"). Chacun des terrains etudies permet de tester les limites descriptives et/ou explicatives de la litterature qui est presentee en regard. Nous montrons que, confrontes aux limites de leur rationalite et des informations existantes (puisqu'en attente d'etre produites au cours du processus d'innovation), les acteurs ont recours de maniere complementaire a la fiction (la narration). Cette narration est d'un type particulier dans la mesure ou elle se construit pour et par l'action (narraction). Elle integre une serie de mises a l'epreuve qui progressivement valident ou infirment les narractions proposees et induisent leurs reconfigurations eventuelles ainsi que celles des organisations qui les conduisent. L'adequation des organisations en reseau est mise en evidence. Des recommandations pour la conduite de la strategie au sein d'une organisation de ce type (le cnrs) sont effectuees. La narraction est proposee comme un mode d'elaboration et de conduite de la strategie.
A hyper heuristic algorithm for scheduling of fog networks

Fog computing is a new computing structure that brings the cloud to the edge of the network. This structure is designed for applications that require a low latency. Fog computing has been proposed to improve cloud computing disadvantages. The system is faced with a variety of dynamic resources distributed and heterogeneous. Hence, scheduling and allocating resources is essential to maximize the use of these resources and the satisfaction of users. Classical algorithms are suitable for small scheduling problems, but the problem emerges in big scheduling problems. To improve the performance of the scheduling problem, heuristic algorithms are used. In this paper, we used the test and select technique to introduce a hyperheuristic algorithm. We compare the proposed algorithm with several heuristic algorithms. The results show that our proposed algorithm improved the average energy consumption of 69.99% and cost 59.62% relative to the PSO, ACO, SA algorithms.
Mixture models of categorization

Many currently popular models of categorization are either strictly parametric (e.g., prototype models, decision bound models) or strictly nonparametric (e.g., exemplar models) (F. G. Ashby & L. A. Alfonso-Reese, 1995, Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 39, 216-233). In this article, a family of semiparametric classifiers is investigated where categories are represented by a finite mixture distribution. The advantage of these mixture models of categorization is that they contain several parametric models and nonparametric models as a special case. Specifically, it is shown that both decision bound models (F. G. Ashby & W. T. Maddox, 1992, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 16, 598-612; 1993, Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 37, 372-400) and the generalized context model (R. M. Nosofsky, 1986, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 115, 39-57) can be interpreted as two extreme cases of a common mixture model. Furthermore, many other (semiparametric) models of categorization can be derived from the same generic mixture framework. In this article, several examples are discussed and a parameter estimation procedure for fitting these models is outlined. To illustrate the approach, several specific models are fitted to a data set collected by S. C. McKinley and R. M. Nosofsky (1995, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 21, 128-148). The results suggest that semi-parametric models are a promising alternative for future model development.
MIMO Zero-Forcing Performance Evaluation Using the Holonomic Gradient Method

For multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) spatial-multiplexing transmission, zero-forcing (ZF) detection is appealing because of its low complexity. Our recent MIMO ZF performance analysis for Rician-Rayleigh fading, which is relevant in heterogeneous networks, has yielded for the ZF outage probability and ergodic capacity infinite-series expressions. Because they arose from expanding the confluent hypergeometric function 1F1(·, ·, σ) around 0, they do not converge numerically at realistically high Rician K-factor values. Therefore, herein, we seek to take advantage of the fact that 1F1(·, ·, σ) satisfies a differential equation, i.e., it is a holonomic function. Holonomic functions can be computed by the holonomic gradient method (HGM), i.e., by numerically solving the satisfied differential equation. Thus, we first reveal that the moment generating function (m.g.f.) and probability density function (p.d.f.) of the ZF signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are holonomic. Then, from the differential equation for 1F1(·, ·, σ), we deduce those satisfied by the SNR m.g. f. and p.d. f. and demonstrate that the HGM helps compute the p.d. f. accurately at practically relevant values of K. Finally, numerical integration of the SNR p.d. f. produced by HGM yields accurate ZF outage probability and ergodic capacity results.