Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incremental high throughput network traffic classifier

Today's network traffic are dynamic and fast. Conventional network traffic classification based on flow feature and data mining are not able to process traffic efficiently. Hardware based network traffic classifier is needed to be adaptable to dynamic network state and to provide accurate and updated classification at high speed. In this paper, a hardware architecture of online incremental semi-supervised algorithm is proposed. The hardware architecture is designed such that it is suitable to be incorporated in NetFPGA reference switch design. The experimental results on real datasets show that with only 10% of labeled data, the proposed architecture can perform online classification of network traffic at 1Gbps bitrate with 91% average accuracy without loosing any flows.
Potential value of Gleason score in predicting the benefit of cabazitaxel in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

AIM This study aimed to identify predictive/prognostic factors in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients treated with cabazitaxel. PATIENTS & METHODS Patients were enrolled from March 2011 to December 2011 in an international expanded access program. In January 2012, when cabazitaxel became commercially available, a prospective study was initiated at University Federico II of Naples and at Rionero in Vulture Hospital. RESULTS Forty-seven patients were enrolled in this study. Patients received a median of nine cycles of cabazitaxel. Median progression-free survival was 7.0 months (95% CI: 5.7-8.0). Seventeen patients were still alive at the time of the analysis, with a median overall survival of 14 months (95% CI: 11-16). At multivariate analysis, a higher Gleason score (≥ 8) appeared to be associated with prolonged progression-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.18-0.72); however, the higher Gleason score showed no statistical impact on overall survival. CONCLUSION We hypothesize that the Gleason score has the potential to be incorporated in the clinical decision-making process for definition of treatment strategy in docetaxel-pretreated castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. We encourage further experimentation in this setting.
Microevolutionary studies in nematodes: a beginning

Comparisons between related species often allow the detailed genetic analysis of evolutionary processes. Here we advocate the use of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (and several other rhabditid species) as model systems for microevolutionary studies. Compared to Drosophila species, which have been a mainstay of such studies, C. elegans has a self‐fertilizing mode of reproduction, a shorter life cycle and a convenient cell‐level analysis of phenotypic variation. Data concerning its population genetics and ecology are still scarce, however. We review molecular, behavioral and developmental intraspecific polymorphisms for populations of C. elegans, Oscheius sp. 1 and Pristionchus pacificus. Focusing on vulval development, which has been well characterized in several species, we discuss relationships between patterns of variations: (1) for a given genotype (developmental variants), (2) after mutagenesis (mutability), (3) in different populations of the same species (polymorphisms) and (4) between closely related species. These studies have revealed that evolutionary variations between sister species affect those characters that show phenotypic developmental variants, that are mutable and that are polymorphic within species. BioEssays 23:807–819, 2001. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Speckle reduction of SAR images using curvelet and wavelet transforms based on spatial features characteristics

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite sensors recently provide valuable sources of earth observation data for various environmental applications. Beside the specifics properties of these data including multi-polarization and polarimetric image data, the presence of unavoidable speckle seriously degrades the quality of these data. Specifically, in certain applications such as clustering, classification and change detection speckles make some difficulties in analysis data and interpretation of results. In this research, a hybrid approach, based on frequency-domain transforms, is proposed. This method is a combination of wavelet and curvelet transforms to suppress the speckle noise in SAR images. This approach based on features and region which has a good efficiency in removing noise and preserving information of data in case of edges and shape. Results of these methods were compared simultaneously and with conventional speckle filtering methods (e.g. Lee, Frost and Kuan).
A method for fuzzy rules extraction directly from numerical data and its application to pattern classification

In this paper, we discuss a new method for extracting fuzzy rules directly from numerical input-output data for pattern classification. Fuzzy rules with variable fuzzy regions are defined by activation hyperboxes which show the existence region of data for a class and inhibition hyperboxes which inhibit the existence of data for that class. These rules are extracted from numerical data by recursively resolving overlaps between two classes. Then, optimal input variables for the rules are determined using the number of extracted rules as a criterion. The method is compared with neural networks using the Fisher iris data and a license plate recognition system for various examples. >
Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthase by L‐NAME Speeds Phase II Pulmonary V̇O2 Kinetics in the Transition to Moderate‐Intensity Exercise in Man

There is evidence that the rate at which oxygen uptake (V̇O2) rises at the transition to higher metabolic rates within the moderate exercise intensity domain is modulated by oxidative enzyme inertia, and also that nitric oxide regulates mitochondrial function through competitive inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase in the electron transport chain. We therefore hypothesised that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) would alleviate the inhibition of mitochondrial V̇O2 by nitric oxide and result in a speeding of V̇O2 kinetics at the onset of moderate‐intensity exercise. Seven males performed square‐wave transitions from unloaded cycling to a work rate requiring 90 % of predetermined gas exchange threshold with and without prior intravenous infusion of L‐NAME (4 mg kg−1 in 50 ml saline over 60 min). Pulmonary gas exchange was measured breath‐by‐breath and V̇O2 kinetics were determined from the averaged response to four exercise bouts performed in each condition using a mono‐exponential function following elimination of the phase I response. There were no significant differences between the control and L‐NAME conditions for baseline V̇O2 (means ±s.e.m. 797 ± 32 vs. 794 ± 29), the duration of phase I (15.4 ± 0.8 vs. 17.2 ± 0.6), or the steady‐state increment in V̇O2 above baseline (1000 ± 83 vs. 990 ± 85 ml min−1), respectively. However, the phase II time constant of the V̇O2 response was significantly smaller following L‐NAME infusion (22.1 ± 2.4 vs. 17.9 ± 2.3; P < 0.05). These data indicate that inhibition of NOS by L‐NAME results in a significant (19 %) speeding of pulmonary V̇O2 kinetics in the transition to moderate‐intensity cycle exercise in man. At least part of the intrinsic inertia to oxidative metabolism at the onset of moderate‐intensity exercise may result from competitive inhibition of mitochondrial V̇O2 by nitric oxide at cytochrome c oxidase, although other mechanisms for the effect of L‐NAME on V̇O2 kinetics remain to be explored.
Microactuator using tensile thin film

The thin film is advantageous for preparing the compliant spring and structures with little mass. The surface micromachining can take these advantages. Since the film structures suffer from the bending generated by the stress imbalance inside, the bulk micromachining is now frequently used. When the tensile stress is introduced in the thin film combining with bulk micromachining, the structural robustness will be obtained. As for the torsion bar, the compliant spring performance can be obtained for the twisting motion keeping the rigidity against the other motions. The potentials are indicated with the micromirror. The performances of the low-voltage driving, temperature stability, possibility for increasing the resonant frequency by decreasing the mass of the moving element, and the wireless driving using the subtle energy generated by the electromagnetic induction are confirmed.
The Effect of SIFT Features Properties in Descriptors Matching for Near-duplicate Retrieval Tasks

The scale invariant feature transformation algorithm (SIFT) has been widely used for near-duplicate retrieval tasks. Most studies and evaluations published so far focused on increasing retrieval accuracy by improving descriptor properties and similarity measures. Contrast, scale and orientation properties of the SIFT features were used in computing the SIFT descriptor, but their explicit influence in the feature matching step was not studied. Moreover, it has not been studied yet how to specify an appropriate criterion to extract (almost) the same number of SIFT features (respectively keypoints) of all images in a database. In this work, we study the effects of contrast and scale properties of SIFT features when ranking and truncating the extracted descriptors. In addition, we evaluate if scale, contrast and orientation features can be used to bias the descriptor matching scores, i.e., if the keypoints are quite similar in these features, we enforce a higher similarity in descriptor matching. We provide results of a benchmark data study using the proposed modifications in the original SIFT−128D and on the region compressed SIFT (RC-SIFT−64D) descriptors. The results indicate that using contrast and orientation features to bias feature matching can improve near-duplicate retrieval performance.
Infant Temperament Is Associated with Relative Food Reinforcement.

OBJECTIVE Food reinforcement refers to how hard someone is motivated to work to gain access to food. Infant temperament is defined as behavioral styles, or constitutionally based individual differences in reactive and regulatory aspects of behavior. Identifying correlates of food reinforcement, such as infant temperament, may help identify infants at risk for future negative health consequences (e.g., overweight or obesity) of high food reinforcement. METHODS This study tested aspects of parent-reported negative reactivity and regulation and their associations with relative food reinforcement in a cross-sectional sample of 105 9- to 18-month-old infants. Hierarchical linear regression models were then used to predict infant food reinforcement for the temperament dimensions that were significantly related to it. RESULTS Two temperament dimensions, cuddliness (regulatory aspect) (B = -0.050, ΔR2 = 0.074, p = 0.005) and rate of recovery from distress and arousal (reactive aspect) (B = -0.040, ΔR2 = 0.045, p = 0.031), were inversely associated with relative food reinforcement. CONCLUSION Clarifying the nature of relationships between these two behavioral predictors, infant temperament and relative food reinforcement, and early obesity can elucidate the role of individual differences in early obesity risk and can further inform targets for early behavioral obesity preventive interventions.
Spectral characteristics of discharges from artificial charged aerosol cloud

Application of the artificial clouds of charged water aerosol capable to initiate discharges inside clouds and between cloud and ground could help on the solving of problem of separation of the lightning intracloud and ground discharges, and establishment of connections between the parameters and the spectral characteristics of discharge current impulses and its electromagnetic radiation. Results of analysis of spectral characteristics of discharge from artificial thundercloud and radiation created by them in near field using two kinds of wavelets are presented. Characteristics frequency ranges for different stages of discharge formation and its radiation are analyzed. Comparison between the discharge current parameters and the parameters of its electromagnetic radiation and wavelet characteristic frequencies has been fulfilled. Application of received results to the analysis of electromagnetic radiation signals registered during the different stages of lightning is discussed.
A class-of-service oriented packet scheduling (COPS) algorithm for EPON-based access networks

We consider the problem of dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) for Ethernet passive optical networks (EPONs), subject to requirements of fairness, efficiency, and cost. The traffic from the access side is aggregated at ONUs and mapped to different classes of service queues. We employ credit pooling technique, together with weighted-share policy, that enables the OLT to partition the upstream bandwidth among different classes, and to prevent ONUs from monopolizing the bandwidth. We propose a packet scheduling algorithm, referred to as COPS (Class-of-service Oriented Packet Scheduling) that meets our requirements set out above. We compare COPS with a well-known scheduling algorithm which employed a standard priority-based scheduling, and we show that COPS is superior in terms of network utilization and maximum packet delay.
The Strategic Alignment between Knowledge Management and Information Systems Strategy: The Impact of Contextual and Cultural Factors

A knowledge asset has been increasingly recognised as the most valuable asset in organisations as it playing an enabling role in formulating a successful strategies and achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. However, to continuously capture, maintain and reuse the key information, and arbitrates the strategic knowledge assets, KM should be aligned with business process, organisations and IT. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to investigate the direct effect of the contextual factors such as IT infrastructure and skills, existence of CKO and knowledge sharing on the KM strategic alignment between KM and IS strategy (KMSA-IS) in the banking sector at Arabian Gulf countries. However, cultural factors such as openness to change, organisational structure and trust were examined to have indirect effect on KMSA-IS via the knowledge sharing. In addition, the impact of KMSA-IS on the organisational performance was examined. The results revealed that the contextual factors such as IT infrastructure and skills and existence of CKO as well as the knowledge sharing have shown a significant contribution on KMSA-IS. Organisational structure and trust however, revealed to have indirect impact on KMSA-IS via the knowledge sharing. Therefore, executive managers in the Arabian Gulf banking sectors should adopt new rules using flexible organisational culture, reforming and redesigning their organisational structure and incorporating an advanced IT in their operations for competitive advantage. Moreover, they need to establish an alignment between KM and IS strategy in order to move their KM systems in a direction that holds promise for long-lasting competitive advantage.
Aorto-iliac angiography as a screening tool in selecting patients for transfemoral aortic valve implantation with the Edwards SAPIEN bioprosthesis.

AIMS Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a promising therapeutic option for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) considered at too high risk for conventional aortic valve replacement. The balloon-expandable Edwards valve can be implanted using either the transfemoral or transapical routes, depending on arterial ilio-femoral suitability. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of ilio-femoral angiography as an initial screening tool for TAVR using the transfemoral approach with the Edwards SAPIEN valve. METHODS AND RESULTS Aortography with bilateral ilio-femoral run-off was assessed in the antero-posterior projection. Minimal arterial diameter, vessel tortuosity and calcification were assessed. Transfemoral implantation was appropriate when the minimal arterial diameter was >7 mm for a 23 mm trans-catheter heart valve (THV) and >8 mm for a 26 mm THV with limited calcifications and tortuosity. Included were 135 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing cardiac catheterisation before conventional aortic valve replacement or TAVR. Mean femoral artery diameter was 7.5+/-1.3 mm and mean iliac artery diameter was 9.3+/-2.3 mm. There was no or moderate tortuosity in 72% of them. Calcifications were absent or moderate in 83%. At first sight, the transfemoral route was considered potentially suitable in 71% of patients for a 23 mm THV and 39% of patients for a 26 mm TAVI. CONCLUSIONS In the course of haemodynamic and angiographic evaluation of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, angiography of the ilio-femoral access can be used as a first screening modality to determine potential candidacy for a transfemoral TAVR using a balloon expandable THV.
Hydrophobic‐functionalized ZIF‐8 nanoparticles incorporated PDMS membranes for high‐selective separation of propane/nitrogen

It is still a great challenge to prepare high performance mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) because of the difficulty in finely tuning the compatibility between filler and organic phases. In this work, ZIF-8 nanoparticles hydrophobically functionalized by 5, 6-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMBIM) via shell ligand exchange (SLE) reaction were incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix to fabricate defect-free MMMs. Organic-–inorganic interface compatibility was realized because of more abundant organic ligands from DMBIM. The effects of different loadings on membrane microstructure and gas separation performance were investigated systematically. A significantly enhanced C3H8/N2 separation performance with C3H8 permeability over 2.10 × 104 Barrer (91 % higher than that of pure PDMS membrane) and C3H8/N2 selectivity of 99.5 (116 % higher than that of pure PDMS membrane) were achieved. Additionally, the as-prepared membrane also exhibited excellent stability during long term operation. © 2016 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pressure tuning of strains and piezoelectric fields in cubic superlattices and heterostructures: Linear effects.

Strained superlattices and heterostructures under hydrostatic pressure exhibit changes in the elastic strain and stress components which, in the lowest order, are linear in the applied pressure. An arbitrary direction of growth is assumed. Criteria are established for predicting the form of such changes in any combination of material constituents. The pressure dependence of the tetragonal distortion is shown to affect the built-in piezoelectric fields, wherever present. Expressions are derived for the effective linear compressibilities parallel and perpendicular to the direction of growth, and for the effective bulk compressibilities and bulk moduli of the system.
An experimental comparison of source location privacy methods for power optimization in WSNs

Wireless sensor technology may be envisioned as the promising substitute of traditional collaborative distributed schemes, especially for monitoring applications. However, the widespread adoption of such technology is being slowed down because of growing security concerns, specially critical in stationary sensor topologies which create new threats to the privacy of individuals and organizations. As a countermeasure against source observability and traceability, several source-location privacy solutions have been presented so far. The goal of this paper is twofold. We present an experimental comparison of the energy consumption of existing strategies (i.e. Flooding, Phantom and Fake Routing) as well as proposing a novel energy-aware approach aimed at disguising the real source in the presence of a global eavesdropper. A major finding of this preliminary work is that source anonymity is reached with minimum consumption.
Immunogenetic and immunological problems of allogeneic haemopoietic radio-chimaeras in man.

Allogeneic bone marrow grafting is described in 21 human leukaemic subjects. Failure of the graft occurred in 6 cases and take in 15 cases. In the latter group, all 15 cases were complicated by the secondary syndrome, which was fatal in 11 cases and controlled in 4 cases. The immunogenetic and immunological factors determining the establishment and evolution of haematological radio-chimaeras in man are discussed. The choice of donor in fundamental. Three tests are considered to be effective in donor selection, the indirect histocompatibility test (the so-called third man test proposed by us), the leucocyte antigen test and the reaction of donor and recipient leucocytes in the dermis of an irradiated hamster. When marrow from several donors is transfused, the recipient spontaneously selects that genetically nearest. It seems likely there is more chance of finding a suitable donor among genetically related subjects than among those who are unrelated. The frequency of graft take seems slightly less in recipients who have previously received blood transfusions. Total bone marrow graft is associated with specific tolerance towards donor tissues. This is paralleled by the production in the chimaera of immunoglobulins produced by the graft. The secondary syndrome seems, as in animals, to be related essentially to the graft versus host reaction. It is convenient to distinguish between its various manifestations, on the one hand, those lesions which are readily controlled such as hepatitis or erythrodermia associated with infiltration and proliferation of immunologically competent cells from the graft, and on the other hand immune insufficiency with regard to micro organisms, especially viruses and Candida albicans. This latter group, the mechanism of which is complex, still eludes attempts at preventive and curative control. The use of multiple donors, the administration of cortisone during marrow transfusion and amethopterin and/or cyclophosphamide in the days following transfusions, all seem to have reduced the severity of the secondary syndrome, which however still cannot be satisfactory controlled. The graft reaction against the leukaemic cells is utilised as an antileukaemic treatment. In the 4 patients who escaped acute secondary syndrome survival has been notably longer, the longest lasted 20 months, when death from zoster encephalitis supervened. There were no clinical signs of leukaemia or histological evidence of this at autopsy.
Design approach of a large strain sensor based on nanoparticle technology: A highly-integrable sensor for Morphing applications including SHM & shape reconstruction

The work at hand illustrates the design approach adopted for a large strain sensor, based on the carbon nanotube (CNT) technology, devoted to operations of structural health monitoring and shape reconstruction. After a critical discussion on the specifications, the most suited materials and processes were selected, with specific focus on the dispersion and deposition strategies. Then, by means of a FE approach, the topology in terms of CNT volume concentration, morphology (curvature) and orientation, was identified. A feasibility study on the manufacturability was then carried out. Finally, in compliance with the initial specifications, the set of calibration and space qualification tests was illustrated. The above mentioned activities were developed within the Project “Graphene-Polymeric Spray Sensor for Shape Recognition of Super-Deformable Structures”, GRAPSS, sponsored by CIRA within the “Curiosity Driven” initiative.
A Framework for a Programmer's Minion

Programming environments should help theprogrammer. Today's environments do a lot along these lines, yet more is possible. We are developing facilities within theCode Bubbles environment to proactively assist theprogrammer. These facilities attempt to take care of mundanetasks that the programmer otherwise would need to do, effectively acting as a programmer's minion. This paperdescribes the framework provided by the environment tosupport these tasks and an evaluation of the effectiveness of theinitial minion implementation.