Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer's detection using various feature extraction approaches using a multimodal multi‐class deep learning model

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic brain condition that takes a toll on memory and potential to do even the most basic tasks. With no specific solution viable at this time, it's critical to pinpoint the start of Alzheimer's disease so that necessary steps may be initiated to limit its progression. We used three distinct neuroanatomical computational methodologies namely 3D‐Subject, 3D‐Patches, and 3D‐Slices to construct a multimodal multi‐class deep learning model for three class and two class Alzheimer's classification using T1w‐MRI and AV‐45 PET scans obtained from ADNI database. Further, patches of various sizes were created using the patch‐extraction algorithm designed with torch package leading to separate datasets of patch size 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, and 88. In addition, Slices were produced from images using either uniform slicing, subset slicing, or interpolation zoom approaches then joined back to form a 3D image of varying depth (8,16,24,32,40,48,56, and 64) for the Slice‐based technique. Using T1w‐MRI and AV45‐PET scans, our multimodal multi‐class Ensembled Volumetric ConvNet framework obtained 93.01% accuracy for AD versus NC versus MCI (highest accuracy achieved using multi‐modalities as per our knowledge). The 3D‐Subject‐based neuroanatomy computation approach achieved 93.01% classification accuracy and it overruled Patch‐based approach which achieved 89.55% accuracy and Slice‐Based approach that achieved 89.37% accuracy. Using a 3D‐Patch‐based feature extraction technique, it was discovered that patches of greater size (80, 88) had accuracy over 89%, while medium‐sized patches (56, 64, and 72) had accuracy ranging from 83 to 88%, and small‐sized patches (32, 40, and 48) had the least accuracy ranging from 57 to 80%. From the three independent algorithms created for 3D‐Slice‐based neuroanatomy computational approach, the interpolation zoom technique outperformed uniform slicing and subset slicing, obtaining 89.37% accuracy over 88.35% and 82.83%, respectively. Link to GitHub code: https://github.com/ngoenka04/Alzheimer-Detection.
Hardware Implementations for Symmetric Key Cryptosystems

The utilization of global communications network for supporting new electronic applications is growing. Many applications provided over the global communications network involve exchange of security-sensitive information between different entities. Often, communicating entities are located at different locations around the globe. This demands deployment of certain mechanisms for providing secure communications channels between these entities. For this purpose, cryptographic algorithms are used by many of today’s electronic applications to maintain security. Cryptographic algorithms provide set of primitives for achieving different security goals such as: confidentiality, data integrity, authenticity, and non-repudiation. In general, two main categories of cryptographic algorithms can be used to accomplish any of these security goals, namely, asymmetric key algorithms and symmetric key algorithms. The security of asymmetric key algorithms is based on the hardness of the underlying computational problems, which usually require large overhead of space and time complexities. On the other hand, the security of symmetric key algorithms is based on non-linear transformations and permutations, which provide efficient implementations compared to the asymmetric key ones. Therefore, it is common to use asymmetric key algorithms for key exchange, while symmetric key counterparts are deployed in securing the communications sessions. This thesis focuses on finding efficient hardware implementations for symmetric key cryptosystems targeting mobile communications and resource constrained applications. First, efficient lightweight hardware implementations of two members of the Welch-Gong (WG) family of stream ciphers, the WG(29, 11) and WG-16, are considered for the mobile communications domain. Optimizations in the WG(29, 11) stream cipher are considered when the GF ( 229 ) elements are represented in either the Optimal normal basis type-II (ONB-II) or the Polynomial basis (PB). For WG-16, optimizations are considered only for PB representations of the GF ( 216 ) elements. In this regard, optimizations for both ciphers are accomplished mainly at the arithmetic level through reducing the number of field multipliers, based on novel trace properties. In addition, other optimization techniques such as serialization and pipelining, are also considered. After this, the thesis explores efficient hardware implementations for digit-level multiplication over binary extension fields GF (2m). Efficient digit-level GF (2m) multiplications are advantageous for ultra-lightweight implementations, not only in symmetric key algorithms, but also in asymmetric key algorithms. The thesis introduces new architectures for digit-level GF (2m) multipliers considering the Gaussian normal basis (GNB) and PB representations of the field elements. The new digit-level GF (2m) single multipliers do not require loading of the two input field elements in advance to computations. This feature results in high throughput fast
Influence of Emulsifying Salts on the Growth of Bacillus thuringiensis CFBP 3476 and Clostridium perfringens ATCC 13124 in Processed Cheese

Processed cheese is a dairy product with multiple end-use applications, where emulsifying salts play a fundamental role in physicochemical changes during production. Moreover, some of these salts may be a strategy to control spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms, contributing to safety and shelf life extension. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory activity of two emulsifying salts (ESSP = short polyP and BSLP = long polyP) against Bacillus thuringiensis CFBP 3476 and Clostridium perfringens ATCC 13124, and to compare the in situ effects of two emulsifying salts treatments (T1 = 1.5% ESSP and T2 = 1.0% ESSP + 0.5% BSLP) in processed cheeses obtained by two different methods (laboratory- and pilot-scales), during 45-day storage at 6 °C. C. perfringens ATCC 13124 growth was not affected in vitro or in situ (p > 0.05), but both of the treatments reduced B. thuringiensis CFBP 4376 counts in the tested condition. Counts of the treatments with B. thuringiensis CFBP 3476 presented a higher and faster reduction in cheeses produced by the laboratory-scale method (1.6 log cfu/g) when compared to the pilot-scale method (1.8 log cfu/g) (p < 0.05). For the first time, the inhibitory effect of emulsifying salts in processed cheeses obtained by two different methods was confirmed, and changes promoted by laboratory-scale equipment influenced important interactions between the processed cheese matrix and emulsifying salts, resulting in B. thuringiensis CFBP 4376 growth reduction.
Modeling the growth of diverse microorganisms during feast‐famine enrichment

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers that can decrease the severe environmental pollution of petroleum plastics. PHA production by mixed microbial communities has been extensively studied to lower the high PHA prices. However, the competition between distinct microbial communities during the enrichment of PHA accumulators in mixed cultures has not been widely investigated. Thus, in this work, we developed a mathematical model for the competition between PHA accumulators and non‐PHA accumulators in the feast‐famine enrichment strategy. The developed model successfully simulated published lab‐scale experimental data for Plasticicumulans acidivorans, a well‐studied PHA accumulator that can store PHA up to 90% of the cell weight. The growth kinetics for both PHA and non‐PHA accumulators were estimated and compared to the values in the literature. The uncertainties in the model kinetics were studied by expanding the model to include additional sub‐biomass components for each heterotrophic group. As a result, the microbial diversity of microbial communities was observed to influence the enrichment of PHA accumulators in mixed cultures. Additionally, the calibrated model was applied to investigate the cultivation conditions, such as cycle lengths, carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio, and solids retention time for successful P. acidivorans enrichment in mixed cultures. The developed model can be applied to control the cultivation and enrichment of PHA accumulators in large‐scale PHA production systems.
Clostridioides difficile Flagellin Activates the Intracellular NLRC4 Inflammasome

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), is a major cause of nosocomial diarrhea and colitis. C. difficile flagellin FliC contributes toxins to gut inflammation by interacting with the immune Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) to activate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Flagella of intracellular pathogens can activate the NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4 (NLRC4) inflammasome pathway. In this study, we assessed whether flagellin of the extracellular bacterium C. difficile internalizes into epithelial cells and activates the NLRC4 inflammasome. Confocal microscopy showed internalization of recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP)-FliC into intestinal Caco-2/TC7 cell line. Full-length GFP-FliC activates NLRC4 in Caco-2/TC7 cells in contrast to truncated GFP-FliC lacking the C-terminal region recognized by the inflammasome. FliC induced cleavage of pro-caspase-1 into two subunits, p20 and p10 as well as gasdermin D (GSDMD), suggesting the caspase-1 and NLRC4 inflammasome activation. In addition, colocalization of GFP-FliC and pro-caspase-1 was observed, indicating the FliC-dependent NLRC4 inflammasome activation. Overexpression of the inflammasome-related interleukin (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and IL-33) encoding genes as well as increasing of the IL-18 synthesis was detected after cell stimulation. Inhibition of I-kappa-B kinase alpha (IKK-α) decreased the FliC-dependent inflammasome interleukin gene expression suggesting a role of the NF-κB pathway in regulating inflammasome. Altogether, these results suggest that FliC internalizes into the Caco-2/TC7 cells and activates the intracellular NLRC4 inflammasome thus contributing to the inflammatory process of C. difficile infection.
Influence of the Kuroshio Large Meander on the Climate around Japan Based on a Regional Climate Model

We performed a 20-year numerical experiment over the period 1985 to 2004 using a high-resolution North Pacific Ocean General Circulation Model (NPOGCM) and a 20 km-resolution regional climate model (RCM20) to clarify the impact of the Kuroshio large meander (LM) on the climate around Japan. The NPOGCM reproduced the two primary quasi-stationary states, straight path (SP), and large meander (LM), although the periods during which each state prevailed differed from those indicated in the observational data. The NPOGCM result also showed that the Kuroshio LM causes a cold sea surface temperature anomaly to the south of the Pacific coast of the central Japan. Using the result as a lower boundary condition, a continuous numerical integration was performed by the RCM20. An 8-year composite analysis of the atmospheric circulations of the RCM20 simulation for the Kuroshio LM and SP showed that, in both winter and summer, substantial decreases in the upward surface turbulent heat flux, the frequency of precipitation, and the frequency of steep horizontal gradients in equivalent potential temperature over the ocean are caused by the cold sea surface temperature anomaly. Similar effects are evident over the land area of Japan, although they are less intense, at most 20–50 % of magnitude over the cold sea surface temperature anomaly area, and limited to the coastal region on the Pacific Ocean side in the central part of the country.
Predictors and Consequences of Not Seeking Healthcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the HEAF Cohort

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a dramatic reduction of routine healthcare availability in many European countries. Among a cohort of English middle-aged adults, we explored pre-pandemic and pandemic factors associated with not seeking healthcare during lockdown, and their effect on subsequent self-reported health measures. Longitudinal data from the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) cohort were used. Pre-pandemic data came from the 5th annual follow-up (2019), when participants were aged 56–71 years, and pandemic data were collected by e-survey in February 2021 and November 2021. Response rates of the two e-surveys were 53% and 79%, respectively. Pre-pandemic predictors of not seeking healthcare were: female gender, higher BMI, higher comorbidity, poorer self-rated health and depression; non-care seekers were also more likely to report that family or friends were affected by COVID-19 and to have been advised to shield. Not seeking healthcare during lockdown was associated with a higher risk of reporting worsening of physical, but not mental, health during the later phase of the pandemic. In this cohort, those with generally poorer health were disproportionately more likely to not seek healthcare during lockdown, which may potentially exacerbate pre-existing inequalities and lead to longer-term health consequences.
Analysis and Evaluation of the Progressive Collapse Behaviour of a Cable Dome Structure

In this study, the progressive collapse behaviour of a cable dome structure was analysed and evaluated according to the importance of element. First, the dynamic response and collapse mode caused by the removal of different types of cables and struts from a cable dome structure were studied using the instantaneous unloading method of full dynamic equivalent load. Second, a method was developed for element importance classification based on collapse modes, and the importance coefficient was introduced after comparing the node displacements before and after the removal of different elements. On this basis, the correlations of the importance coefficient of an element with its importance classification and the collapse mode caused by its removal were examined. Third, the influences of some design parameters on the resistance of cable dome structures to progressive collapses and on the importance coefficients of components were analysed and evaluated. Finally, a method was proposed to determine the critical value of the element importance category. The results of this study indicated that Cable-Strut elements differed in their antiprogressive collapse effects and importance coefficients, and thus produced different dynamic responses and collapse modes when they were removed. Cable domes differed in their critical importance coefficients for Cable-Strut elements, and design parameters differed in their influence on the antiprogressive collapse resistance of cable domes.
GENERALIZED FIXED POINT ALGEBRAS FOR COACTIONS OF LOCALLY COMPACT QUANTUM GROUPS

We extend the construction of generalized fixed point algebras to the setting of locally compact quantum groups - in the sense of Kustermans and Vaes - following the treatment of Marc Rieffel, Ruy Exel and Ralf Meyer in the group case. We mainly follow Meyer's approach analyzing the construc- tions in the realm of equivariant Hilbert modules. We generalize the notion of continuous square-integrability, which is ex- actly what one needs in order to define generalized fixed point algebras. As in the group case, we prove that there is a correspondence between contin- uously square-integrable Hilbert modules over an equivariant C � -algebra B and Hilbert modules over the reduced crossed product of B by the underlying quantum group. The generalized fixed point algebra always appears as the al- gebra of compact operators of the associated Hilbert module over the reduced crossed product. equivalent to an ideal in the reduced crossed product C0(X) ⋊r G, where we let G act on C0(X) in the usual way. This ideal is the entire crossed product if and only if the action is free. The imprimitivity bimodule implementing the Morita equivalence between the algebra C0(G\X) and the ideal in the crossed product turns out to be a suitable completion of the space Cc(X) of compactly supported continuous functions on X. Based on this fact, Rieffel called a (not necessarily commutative) G-C ∗ -algebra, that is, a C ∗ -algebra A with a (strongly) continuous action of G, proper if there exists a dense ∗-subalgebra A0 of A with some suitable properties (modeled on Cc(X) in the commutative case) such that A0 can be completed to an imprimitiv- ity bimodule between the generalized fixed point algebra Fix(A0) - obtained from averaging elements of A0 along the given action - and a suitable ideal I(A0) in
Stochastic Differential Equations in a Differentiable Manifold

The theory of stochastic differential equations in a differentiate manifold has been established by many authors from different view-points, especially by R Lévy [2], F. Perrin [1], A. Kolmogoroff [1] [2] and K. Yosida [1] [2]. It is the purpose of the present paper to discuss it by making use of stochastic integrals.
Controlling Laser High-Order Harmonic Generation Using Weak Counter-Propagating Light

CONTROLLING LASER HIGH-ORDER HARMONIC GENERATION USING WEAK COUNTER-PROPAGATING LIGHT Sergei L. Voronov Department of Physics and Astronomy Doctor of Philosophy Laser high-order harmonic generation in the presence of relatively weak interfering light is investigated. The interfering pulses intersect the primary harmonicgenerating laser pulse at the laser focus. The interfering light creates a standing intensity and phase modulation on the field, which disrupts microscopic phase matching and shuts down local high harmonic production. Suppression of the 23 harmonic (by two orders of magnitude) is observed when a counter-propagating interfering pulse of light is introduced. A sequence of counter-propagating pulses can be used to shut down harmonic production in out-of-phase zones of the generating volume to achieve quasi phase matching. Harmonic emission is enhanced in this case. A new high-power laser system with higher pulse energy has been constructed to further investigate quasi phase matching of high-order harmonics generated in difficultto-ionize atomic gases (e.g., neon as opposed to argon). The new system can also be used to study harmonic generation in ions. A new counter-propagating beam produces a train of 5 pulses with regulated timing. In preliminary tests, the new system has produced high harmonics up to the 65 order in neon. This should increase with additional adjustments to the laser system. The high-order harmonics have also demonstrated to be useful for polarized reflectometry measurements of optical surfaces in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelength range.
Predictors of Chronic Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Group Psychotherapy Favorable Outcomes; A Prospective Cohort Study in Croatia.

BACKGROUND Combat-related chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a therapeutically resistant disorder of the fluctuating course. The success of a group psychotherapy is partial. The aim of this paper is to determine baseline characteristics of veterans for whom a group psychotherapy will be the effective psychotherapeutic treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We performed this prospective cohort study in two geographically distant institutions: Regional Psychotrauma Center at the Psychiatric Clinic Split, and the Daily Hospital of the Psychiatric Hospital "Sveti Ivan" Zagreb, Croatia. We selected a consecutive sample of 86 veterans with combat-related chronic PTSD admitted to the group psychotherapy during 2009-2012. The primary outcome was ≥5% improvement in PTSD symptoms severity measured by Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD and adjusted for the baseline Mississippi scale score. Predictors were participants' 17 baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and psychological features like personality traits, stress-coping mechanisms, and depression. RESULTS We identified two patients' segments with significantly higher likelihood for the favorable treatment outcome. The first one were patients with the low score (≤8) on the phobia scale and high score (≥7) on the hysterical personality scale. In this segment 100% of patients experienced a favorable treatment outcome. The second one were the patiens with a higher score (>8) on the phobia scale, the low score (≤12) on the free-floating anxiety scale and the high score ≥8) on the obsession scale. In this segment, 64% experienced the favorable treatment outcome. CONCLUSION The favorable outcome of the group psychotherapy of PTSD symptoms severity in patients with combat-related chronic PTSD can be predicted before the start of the treatment. The favorable outcome should be expected in patients with the low phobia and pronounced hysteria personality traits, or in patients with higher phobia, but with low free-floating anxiety and low obsession.
The Joint Effect of Perceived Psychosocial Stress and Phthalate Exposure on Hormonal Concentrations during the Early Stage of Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Phthalates alter the hormonal balance in humans during pregnancy, potentially affecting embryonic and fetal development. We studied the joint effect of exposure to phthalates, quantified by urinary phthalate metabolite concentration, and perceived psychological stress on the concentration of hormones in pregnant women (n = 90) from the Nitra region, Slovakia, up to the 15th week of pregnancy. We used high-performance liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), and electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay to determine urinary concentrations of phthalates and serum concentrations of hormones, respectively. We used Cohen perceived stress scale (PSS) to evaluate the human perception of stressful situations. Our results showed that mono(carboxy-methyl-heptyl) phthalate (cx-MiNP) and a molar sum of di-iso-nonyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDiNP) were negatively associated with luteinizing hormone (LH) (p ≤ 0.05). Mono(hydroxy-methyl-octyl) phthalate (OH-MiNP) and the molar sum of high-molecular-weight phthalate metabolites (ΣHMWP) were positively associated with estradiol (p ≤ 0.05). PSS score was not significantly associated with hormonal concentrations. When the interaction effects of PSS score and monoethyl phthalate (MEP), cx-MiNP, ΣDiNP, and ΣHMWP on LH were analyzed, the associations were positive (p ≤ 0.05). Our cross-sectional study highlights that joint psychosocial stress and xenobiotic-induced stress caused by phthalates are associated with modulated concentrations of reproductive hormones in pregnant women.
Assessing Learning Skills and Work Habits: What Do Report Card Data Tell Us?

Many school systems ask teachers to assess and report upon aspects of student performance beyond academic achievement. In Ontario, K–12 teachers assess a common set of six Learning Skills and Work Habits. How well teachers are able to undertake these assessments is not well studied. This study examines Grade 9 and 12 report card data from two districts in Ontario, Canada to determine to what extent different learning skills are assessed independently of each other, and to what extent they are associated with teacher-awarded academic achievement and achievement on a standardized Grade 9 mathematics examination delivered by Ontario’s Educational Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Results indicate that the set of six Learning Skills and Work Habits are assessed as a unitary construct. Grades on these skills have higher correlations with teacher-awarded grades than with standardized test scores. Finally, gender differences in both academic achievement and achievement on the set of skills are investigated.