Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parametric sparse representation for autofocused imaging through unknown walls

ABSTRACT In order to obtain a high-resolution and well-focused image from compressively sampled echo data in the presence of wall ambiguity, a parametric sparse representation algorithm is proposed in this paper. A parametric dictionary with an unknown wall parameter is designed to represent the wall’s ambiguity. Then, imaging through unknown walls problem is converted into a joint optimization one which can be decomposed into sequential sparse imaging and wall parameter estimation. Specifically, the wall parameter estimation is performed by searching the maximum contrast. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
EEPROM memory: threshold voltage built in self diagnosis

Knowing, that the threshold voltage of the EEPROM memory cells is a key parameter to determine the overall performance of the memory, a build in structure to extract this information is a very relevant choice to fast diagnose failure in the memory. Thus, the objective of this paper is to present a built in self-diagnosis of EEPROM memory cells, based on threshold voltage extraction. In order to extract the threshold voltage, the modified circuit and the associated test sequence are presented. Based on the threshold voltage extraction, complementary information is proposed to improve the classical memory diagnosis
An XML-based multi-agent system to support an adaptive cultural heritage learning

Mobile learning (m-learning) refers to the use of mobile and handheld IT devices in teaching and learning and it may currently be most useful as a support to cultural heritage learning by exploiting portable devices like smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), e-books, tablet PCs and laptop computers. M-learning could bring important benefits to schools, assisting in education, supporting classroom teaching and enabling personal and group learning. This paper presents MX-Learn that extends X-Learn, a state-of-the-art XML-based, multi-agent system for supporting "user-device" adaptive elearning, with the aim of improving cultural heritage learning methods by the development of flexible and personalized scenario through innovative multimedia services.
Fundamentals of a components sharing network to accelerate JavaScript software development

Based on a systematic review of empirical studies about software components selection and usability techniques applied to a functional prototype, this article maps the functional and non-functional requirements of a components sharing network that aims to accelerate JavaScript software development. Results point out that integrating the development environment to a component search mechanism with automated filters, ordered by quality criteria, and allow code snippets rank and improvements submission on a version control system are the path to accelerate the development and motivate IT students and professionals to participate in this network.
USING MOBILE PHONE DATA AND AIRTIME CREDIT PURCHASES TO ESTIMATE FOOD SECURITY

More reliable and timely information on food security could be valuable for addressing challenges of food availability, volatility in food prices and emergency response. This study explores the potential of using mobile phone data to develop a real-time proxy indicator of food security that can be adapted for regions where standard household surveys (or early warning indicators) are not always possible or available.
Neurobehavioural effects of electromagnetic fields

Very few laboratory studies in children have explored the effects of exposure to low level electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on neurobehavioural function. Studies investigating effect on neurotransmitters, cognitive function and brain activity in adults and animals indicate that acute exposure to EMFs does not appear to engender any consistent physiological or behavioural impairment although a few subtle effects may occur. This suggests that exposure of children to low level EMFs may not cause significant detrimental effects on brain function. However the available evidence is not sufficient to draw any definite conclusions, and further laboratory studies are required. In particular, experiments investigating the effects of radiofrequency (RF) fields on the performance of well‐characterised cognitive and behavioural tasks by immature and developing animals are recommended, if studies with children cannot be performed for ethical and practical reasons. Bioelectromagnetics Supplement 7:S116–S126, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel approach toward integration of rules into business processes using an agent-oriented framework

Every action a business process performs must be explicitly anticipated, designed for, and implemented by business professionals. The business process is dependent upon business rules (BRs) to achieve its objectives, which also involve pre- and post-conditions in the business process (BP). Most of the current techniques implement these rules directly into BPs. This will result in the BP becoming even more complicated and harder to customize. Most BRs (and laws) are buried in data warehouses as raw data. Incorporating the BRs into any BP is very complex, in terms of customization, reuse, and system integration. To overcome this problem, we propose and implement an agent-oriented framework. Using this framework, we can make the process of incorporating BR into BP less complex. The agent creates a bridge between components of the business structure, the BRs, and the BP. The BP consists of activities and sub-activities. The agent is able to communicate with BP and BRs to execute a BP. The agent can also communicate with other agents and have control over their own internal states and behavior. In this paper, we propose and implement a simple case study to execute a BP dependent upon BRs. The case study shows how the agent will synchronize, integrate, and deploy the BP
In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Micafungin (FK463) against Dimorphic Fungi: Comparison of Yeast-Like and Mycelial Forms

ABSTRACT The characteristics of in vitro micafungin (FK463) antifungal activity against six species of dimorphic fungi were investigated in accordance with the NCCLS M27-A microdilution methods. MICs of micafungin, amphotericin B, itraconazole, and fluconazole for Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Penicillium marneffei, and Sporothrix schenckii were determined both for the yeast-like form and mycelial form. Coccidioides immitis was tested only in its mycelial form. We have clearly demonstrated that the in vitro activity of micafungin depends considerably on the growth form of dimorphic fungi. Micafungin exhibited potent activity against the mycelial forms of H. capsulatum, B. dermatitidis, and C. immitis (MIC range, 0.0078 to 0.0625 μg/ml), while it was very weakly active against their yeast-like forms (MIC range, 32 to >64 μg/ml). Micafungin was also more active against the mycelial forms than the yeast-like forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Penicillium marneffei, and S. schenckii. The MICs of amphotericin B were 2 to 5 dilutions lower for the mycelial forms than for the yeast-like forms of B. dermatitidis and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. There was no apparent difference in the activity of itraconazole between the two forms. The MICs of fluconazole for the yeast-like forms were generally lower than those for the mycelial forms, and considerably so for B. dermatitidis. These results suggest that the growth form employed in antifungal susceptibility testing of dimorphic fungi can considerably influence the interpretation of results. At present, it cannot be judged whether micafungin has clinical usefulness for dimorphic fungus infections, since for most fungi it remains uncertain which growth form correlates better with therapeutic outcome. However, the results of this study warrant further investigations of micafungin as a therapeutic agent for infections caused by dimorphic fungi.
Microinjection of the catalytic fragment of myosin light chain kinase into dividing cells: effects on mitosis and cytokinesis

Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is thought to regulate the contractile activity in smooth and non-muscle cells, and may play an important role in controlling the reorganization of the actin-myosin cytoskeleton during cell division. To test this hypothesis we have microinjected the 61-kD catalytic fragment of MLCK into mitotic cells, and examined the effects of unregulated MLCK activity on cell division. The microinjection of active 61 kD causes both a significant delay in the transit time from nuclear envelope breakdown to anaphase onset, and an increase in motile surface activity during and after metaphase. Control experiments with intact MLCK or with inactive catalytic fragment suggest that these effects are specifically induced by the unregulated myosin light chain kinase activity. Immunofluorescence analysis suggests that delays in mitosis are coupled to disruptions of spindle structures, while increased surface motility may be related to changes in the organization of actin and myosin at the cell cortex. Most importantly, despite the expression of strong phenotypes, 61 kD- injected cells still form functional cleavage furrows that progress through cytokinesis at rates identical to those of control cells. Together, these results suggest that the activity of MLCK can affect mitosis and cortical activities, however additional control mechanisms are likely involved in the regulation of cytokinesis.
Approximation of matrices

We improve here two results from the preprints [DK], [AFKK] on approximating matrices by random submatrices. We use a construction of a random subset of a finite set, which is different from what was suggested in [AFKK]. Instead of taking a random q-element subset of an n-element set, we consider independent {0, 1}-valued random variables δ1, . , δn, taking value 1 with probability δ = q/n. These variables serve as selectors. Namely, we define a random set I = {j ∈ {1, . , n} | δj = 1}. Then E|I| = E n ∑
Effect of Temperature on the Potential and Current Thresholds of Axon Membrane

The effect of temperature on the potential and current thresholds of the squid giant axon membrane was measured with gross external electrodes. A central segment of the axon, 0.8 mm long and in sea water, was isolated by flowing low conductance, isoosmotic sucrose solution on each side; both ends were depolarized in isoosmotic KCl. Measured biphasic square wave currents at five cycles per second were applied between one end of the nerve and the membrane of the central segment. The membrane potential was recorded between the central sea water and the other depolarized end. The recorded potentials are developed only across the membrane impedance. Threshold current values ranged from 3.2 µa at 267deg;C to 1 µa at 7.5°C. Threshold potential values ranged from 50 mv at 26°C to 6 mv at 7.5°C. The mean Q 10 of threshold current was 2.3 (SD = 0.2), while the Q 10 for threshold potentials was 2.0 (SD = 0.1).
Validating the AIRS Version 5 CO Retrieval With DACOM In Situ Measurements During INTEX-A and -B

Herein we provide a description of the atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS) version 5 (v5) carbon monoxide (CO) retrieval algorithm and its validation with the DACOM in situ measurements during the INTEX-A and -B campaigns. All standard and support products in the AIRS v5 CO retrieval algorithm are documented. Building on prior publications, we describe the convolution of in situ measurements with the AIRS v5 CO averaging kernel and first-guess CO profile as required for proper validation. Validation is accomplished through comparison of AIRS CO retrievals with convolved in situ CO profiles acquired during the NASA Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiments (INTEX) in 2004 and 2006. From 143 profiles in the northern mid-latitudes during these two experiments, we find AIRS v5 CO retrievals are biased high by 6%-10% between 900 and 300 hPa with a root-mean-square error of 8%-12%. No significant differences were found between validation using spiral profiles coincident with AIRS overpasses and in-transit profiles under the satellite track but up to 13 h off in time. Similarly, no significant differences in validation results were found for ocean versus land, day versus night, or with respect to retrieved cloud top pressure or cloud fraction.
Force of infection is key to understanding the epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Papua New Guinean children

Genotyping Plasmodium falciparum parasites in longitudinal studies provides a robust approach to estimating force of infection (FOI) in the presence of superinfections. The molecular parameter molFOI, defined as the number of new P. falciparum clones acquired over time, describes basic malaria epidemiology and is suitable for measuring outcomes of interventions. This study was designed to test whether molFOI influenced the risk of clinical malaria episodes and how far molFOI reflected environmental determinants of transmission, such as seasonality and small-scale geographical variation or effects of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). Two hundred sixty-four children 1–3 y of age from Papua New Guinea were followed over 16 mo. Individual parasite clones were tracked longitudinally by genotyping. On average, children acquired 5.9 (SD 9.6) new P. falciparum infections per child per y. molFOI showed a pronounced seasonality, was strongly reduced in children using ITNs (incidence rate ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, [0.38, 0.61]), increased with age, and significantly varied within villages (P = 0.001). The acquisition of new parasite clones was the major factor determining the risk of clinical illness (incidence rate ratio, 2.12; 95% confidence interval, [1.93, 2.31]). Adjusting for individual differences in molFOI completely explained spatial variation, age trends, and the effect of ITN use. This study highlights the suitability of molFOI as a measure of individual exposure and its central role in malaria epidemiology. It has substantial advantages over entomological measures in studies of transmission patterns, and could be used in analyses of host variation in susceptibility, in field efficacy trials of novel interventions or vaccines, and for evaluating intervention effects.
A Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Vaccine Encoding Eimeria acervulina Antigen Offers Protection against E. acervulina Challenge

ABSTRACT Coccidiosis is a ubiquitous disease caused by intestinal protozoan parasites belonging to several distinct species of the genus Eimeria. Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is critically important for protection against Eimeria; thus, our approach utilizes the bacterial type III secretion system (TTSS) to deliver an antigen directly into the cell cytoplasm of the immunized host and into the major histocompatibility complex class I antigen-processing pathway for induction of CMI and antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in particular. To accomplish this goal, Eimeria genes encoding the sporozoite antigen EASZ240 and the merozoite antigen EAMZ250 were fused to the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium effector protein gene sptP in the parental pYA3653 vector, yielding pYA3657 and pYA3658, respectively. SptP protein is secreted by the TTSS of Salmonella and translocated into the cytoplasm of immunized host cells. The host strain chromosomal copy of the sptP gene was deleted and replaced by a reporter gene, xylE. The newly constructed vectors pYA3657 and pYA3658 were introduced into host strain χ8879 (ΔphoP233 ΔsptP1033::xylEΔ asdA16). This strain is an attenuated derivative of the highly virulent strain UK-1. When strain χ8879(pYA3653) as the vector control and strain χ8879 harboring pYA3657 or pYA3658 were used to orally immunize day-of-hatch chicks, colonization of the bursa, spleen, and liver was observed, with peak titers 6 to 9 days postimmunization. In vitro experiments show that the EASZ240 antigen is secreted into the culture supernatant via the TTSS and that it is delivered into the cytoplasm of Int-407 cells by the TTSS. In vivo experiments indicate that both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are induced in chickens vaccinated with a recombinant attenuated Salmonella serovar Typhimurium vaccine, which leads to significant protection against Eimeria challenge.
Visual Saliency Guided Global and Local Resizing for 3D Models

In the literature of industrial designing and digital entertainment, the resizing of 3D complex models is a popular and useful operation. One of the key issues in model resizing is that some visually salient features of the underlying model should be preserved as much as possible. Based on the surface deformation scheme, a novel visual saliency guided content-aware model resizing approach is presented in this paper. Firstly, the edge sensitivity measure is determined by edge saliency measure and slippage value. Owing to the edge sensitivity, a quadratic energy function can thus be constructed to guide salient feature-preserving model resizing. Finally, the original model can be non-homogeneously scaled according to the per-edge scales solved by iteratively minimizing the quadratic energy function. Our visual saliency guided model resizing scheme can be benefit not only for the global resizing procedure but also for the local resizing operation. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed model resizing scheme can effectively preserve the visually salient features of the underlying model in a content-aware manner.
Electrical Breakdown of Gases: The Prebreakdown Stage

In this paper, a review of the theories and experiments devoted to the understanding of the development of the electrical breakdown of a gas insulated gap, i. e. , the switching delay, is presented. The presentation is chronological. The classical Townsend and streamer models for breakdown are discussed; followed by a brief account of the continuous acceleration and avalanche-chain models. These last two models have been proposed primarily to describe breakdown at large electric fields. Then, the two-group model for breakdown at voltages above approximately 20-percent self-breakdown is presented. Finally, a brief analysis is given of the present state of the field and the direction it is takdng.
Personality Subtypes of Adolescents Who Attempt Suicide

Abstract Research suggests that personality pathology is shared among a considerable portion of adolescents presenting suicidal behavior. Furthermore, heterogeneity of personality within this population suggests a need to tease apart different types of attempters. The goal of this study was to identify the personality subtypes of adolescents who attempt suicide. We analyzed data on 266 adolescents, ages 13 to 18 years, with a history of at least one suicide attempt who were selected by treating clinicians for having at least some degree of personality problems. We used a Q-factor analysis to identify subtypes based on the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-II for Adolescents (a 200-item measure of personality pathology used by clinically experienced observers). We derived six subtypes: Externalizing, Internalizing, Emotionally dysregulated, High functioning, Narcissistic, and Immature. The subtypes differed on measures of adaptive functioning, axis I and II pathology, and etiology. Adolescents who attempt suicide constitute a heterogeneous group, and they vary meaningfully on a measure of personality pathology. Interventions targeting suicidal behaviors in adolescents should consider individual differences.
Chapter 6. Paper 2: a Kernel-based Semi-naive Bayes Classifier Using P-trees 6.1. Abstract 6.2. Introduction

The Naive Bayes classifier, despite its simplistic nature, has remained popular over the years and outperforms more complex classifiers in many settings, in particular where the feature space dimension is high. We take the Naive Bayes classifier as a starting point and reduce correlations by joining highly correlated attributes. Each joined attribute is treated as one attribute within an otherwise Naive Bayes classifier. Continuous attributes are integrated through approximate kernel density estimates that remove the need to discretize attributes as a preprocessing step as has been done in previous work. We implement a lazy Semi-naive Bayes classifier using P-trees and demonstrate that it generally outperforms the Naive Bayes classifier. One of the main challenges in data mining is to handle many attributes. The volume of the space that is spanned by all attributes grows exponentially with the number of attributes, and the density of training points decreases accordingly. This phenomenon is also termed the curse of dimensionality [1]. Many current problems, such as DNA sequence analysis and text analysis, suffer from the problem. (See "spam" and "splice" data sets from [2] discussed later.) Classification techniques that estimate a class label based on the density of training points such as nearest neighbor and Parzen window classifiers have
Long-Term Progression and Outcomes With Aging in Patients With Lone Atrial Fibrillation: A 30-Year Follow-Up Study

Background— The long-term natural history of lone atrial fibrillation is unknown. Our objective was to determine the rate and predictors of progression from paroxysmal to permanent atrial fibrillation over 30 years and the long-term risk of heart failure, thromboembolism, and death compared with a control population. Methods and Results— A previously characterized Olmsted County, Minnesota, population with first episode of documented atrial fibrillation between 1950 and 1980 and no concomitant heart disease or hypertension was followed up long term. Of this unique cohort, 76 patients with paroxysmal (n=34), persistent (n=37), or permanent (n=5) lone atrial fibrillation at initial diagnosis met inclusion criteria (mean age at diagnosis, 44.2±11.7 years; male, 78%). Mean duration of follow-up was 25.2±9.5 years. Of 71 patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation, 22 had progression to permanent atrial fibrillation. Overall survival of the 76 patients with lone atrial fibrillation was 92% and 68% at 15 and 30 years, respectively, similar to 86% and 57% survival for the age- and sex-matched Minnesota population. Observed survival free of heart failure was slightly worse than expected (P=0.051). Risk for stroke or transient ischemic attack was similar to the expected population risk during the initial 25 years of follow-up but increased thereafter (P=0.004), although CIs were wide. All patients who had a cerebrovascular event had developed ≥1 risk factor for thromboembolism. Conclusions— Comorbidities significantly modulate progression and complications of atrial fibrillation. Age or development of hypertension increases thromboembolic risk.
Cytomorphology of non‐small cell lung carcinoma with anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangement

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase demonstrating activating mutations in several malignancies including a subset (1–5%) of non‐small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Prior work examining, the histologic features of these tumors found a spectrum of findings, notably a solid/acinar pattern, as well as a mucinous cribriform pattern. We present the first study to date describing the cytomorphology of NSCLC harboring ALK rearrangements.