Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust Image Watermarking Using Feature Points and Image Normalization

In this paper we present a robust image watermarking method against geometric distortions and several attacks of signal processing. Initially, the original image is normalized and the feature points are then extracted. Furthermore, the locally most stable feature points are obtained and used to generate several non-overlapped circular regions. Texture-based image block classification in Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) domain is also used to get watermark imperceptibility. The watermark is embedded and extracted into classified regions using the DCT domain. In the detector stage, the watermark can be obtained without the original image. The experimental results show the watermark robustness against geometric distortion such as rotation, scaling and various other Affine Transformation, and common signal processing attacks, such as JPEG compression and noise contamination.
Perceptually guided high-fidelity rendering exploiting movement bias in visual attention

A major obstacle for real-time rendering of high-fidelity graphics is computational complexity. A key point to consider in the pursuit of “realism in real time” in computer graphics is that the Human Visual System (HVS) is a fundamental part of the rendering pipeline. The human eye is only capable of sensing image detail in a 2ˆ foveal region, relying on rapid eye movements, or saccades, to jump between points of interest. These points of interest are prioritized based on the saliency of the objects in the scene or the task the user is performing. Such “glimpses” of a scene are then assembled by the HVS into a coherent, but inevitably imperfect, visual perception of the environment. In this process, much detail, that the HVS deems unimportant, may literally go unnoticed. Visual science research has identified that movement in the background of a scene may substantially influence how subjects perceive foreground objects. Furthermore, recent computer graphics work has shown that both fixed viewpoint and dynamic scenes can be selectively rendered without any perceptual loss of quality, in a significantly reduced time, by exploiting knowledge of any high-saliency movement that may be present. A high-saliency movement can be generated in a scene if an otherwise static objects starts moving. In this article, we investigate, through psychophysical experiments, including eye-tracking, the perception of rendering quality in dynamic complex scenes based on the introduction of a moving object in a scene. Two types of object movement are investigated: (i) rotation in place and (ii) rotation combined with translation. These were chosen as the simplest movement types. Future studies may include movement with varied acceleration. The object's geometry and location in the scene are not salient. We then use this information to guide our high-fidelity selective renderer to produce perceptually high-quality images at significantly reduced computation times. We also show how these results can have important implications for virtual environment and computer games applications.
Cost-augmented narrowing-driven specialization

The aim of many program transformers is to improve efficiency while preserving program meaning. Correctness issues have been dealt with extensively. However, very little attention has been paid to formally establish the improvements achieved by these transformers. In this work, we introduce the scheme of a narrowing-driven partial evaluator enhanced with abstract costs. They are "abstract" in the sense that they measure the number of basic operations performed during a computation rather than actual execution times. Thus, we have available a setting in which one can discuss the effects of the program transformer in a precise framework and, moreover, to quantify these effects. Our scheme may serve as a basis to develop speedup analyses and cost-guided transformers. An implementation of the cost-augmented specializer has been undertaken, which demonstrates the practicality of our approach.
A Product Recommendation Approach Based on the Latent Social Trust Network Model for Collaborative Filtering

Recommender systems take advantage of dynamic and collective knowledge to make personalized recommendations to each user. Collaborative filtering as a well-known technique in recommender systems often encounters some challenges such as spare rating data and malicious attacks. Trust-based collaborative filtering employs the social trust network to make recommendations in order to alleviate the above problems. Unfortunately, explicit trust information is quite deficient, which leads to the limited recommendation capability. Therefore, a latent social trust network model is proposed to improve the recommendation performance. The latent social trust comes from the coupling trust and the co-citation trust as well as the similar interests between users. Based on the latent trust information, a new social trust network can be built and then be used to predict the target user's taste. The experimental results demonstrate that our approach can rationally infer the trust relationships between users and highly improve the recommendation performance.
ALY Is a Common Coactivator of RUNX1 and c-Myb on the Type B Leukemogenic VirusEnhancer

ABSTRACT Type B leukemogenic virus (TBLV), a mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) variant, often induces T-cell leukemias and lymphomas by c-myc activation following viral DNA integration. Transfection assays using a c-myc reporter plasmid indicated that the TBLV long terminal repeat (LTR) enhancer is necessary for T-cell-specific increases in basal reporter activity. The sequence requirements for this effect were studied using mutations of the 62-bp enhancer region in an MMTV LTR reporter vector. Deletion of a nuclear factor A-binding site dramatically reduced reporter activity in Jurkat T cells. However, a 41-bp enhancer missing the RUNX1 site still retained minimal enhancer function. DNA affinity purification using a TBLV enhancer oligomer containing the RUNX1 binding site followed by mass spectrometry resulted in the identification of ALY. Subsequent experiments focused on the reconstitution of enhancer activity in epithelial cells. ALY overexpression synergized with RUNX1B on TBLV enhancer activity, and synergism required the RUNX1B-binding site. A predicted c-Myb binding site in the enhancer was confirmed after c-myb overexpression elevated TBLV LTR reporter activity, and overexpression of c-Myb and RUNX1B together showed additive effects on reporter gene levels. ALY also synergized with c-Myb, and coimmunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated an interaction between ALY and c-Myb. These experiments suggest a central role for ALY in T-cell enhancer function and oncogene activation.
Motion-picture recording of polarized light propagating in optical medium

We propose a technique to simultaneously record two motion pictures of two linearly-polarized light of a light pulse propagating inside an optical medium. The technique employs light-in-flight recording by holography to record motion picture of light propagation. To record two linearly-polarized light simultaneously, the reference wave is horizontally divided into two segments. Each segment assigned for each direction of linearly-polarized light of the reference wave. To demonstrate the proposed technique, an optical system for light-in-flight recording by holography using a femtosecond pulsed laser was constructed and the system was applied to two objects. A calcite was set for one object to record the dynamic behavior of birefringence. Two motion pictures of the two linearly-polarized light propagating in the calcite were successfully observed. Starch syrup set in a transparent container was set for the other object to record the dynamic behavior of optical rotation. Two motion pictures of the two linearly-polarized light propagating in the starch syrup were successfully observed. Also, intensity changes of reconstructed images of polarized light beams accompanying with the propagations of each linearly-polarized light, which are due to optical rotation, was observed. Thus, the validity of the proposed technique was confirmed.
Analysis, Design, and Experimentation of a Double Forward Converter With Soft Switching Characteristics for All Switches

The study of a topology resulting from the combination of two forward structures attached to a single transformer core is presented in this paper, as a dual active bridge converter is obtained. In order to reduce the switching losses and the electromagnetic interference, a soft commutation cell, which provides zero-voltage commutation of the main switches for the entire load range, is implemented. Besides, the auxiliary switches are zero-current turned on and zero-current, zero-voltage turned off. This converter reduces the voltage over the main switches to half of the input voltage, employing only four switches and an additional transformer winding when compared to the full-bridge converter. The analysis of the circuit is carried out, and experimental results obtained from a prototype are also presented to support the theoretical assumptions.
Characteristics Analysis of Giant Magnetostrictive Actuator Applied in Jet-Pipe Servovalve

In order to improve the performance of jet-pipe servovalve, a novel pilot stage for jet-pipe servovalve driven by giant magnetostrictive actuator is presented, and its working principle is given. On the basis of Jiles-Atherton’s theory of magnetism, the dynamic nonlinear model of giant magnetostrictive actuator is deduced to analyze the characteristics. The simulation results shows the peak time of GMA is less than 0.5ms at the driving current of 1.5A, and the bandwidth can be reached up to 900Hz, but the static performance is worse than the torque motor applied in conventional jet-pipe servovalve.
Online implicit agent modelling

The traditional view of agent modelling is to infer the explicit parameters of another agent's strategy (i.e., their probability of taking each action in each situation). Unfortunately, in complex domains with high dimensional strategy spaces, modelling every parameter often requires a prohibitive number of observations. Furthermore, given a model of such a strategy, computing a response strategy that is robust to modelling error may be impractical to compute online. Instead, we propose an implicit modelling framework where agents aim to estimate the utility of a fixed portfolio of pre-computed strategies. Using the domain of heads-up limit Texas hold'em poker, this work describes an end-to-end approach for building an implicit modelling agent. We compute robust response strategies, show how to select strategies for the portfolio, and apply existing variance reduction and online learning techniques to dynamically adapt the agent's strategy to its opponent. We validate the approach by showing that our implicit modelling agent would have won the heads-up limit opponent exploitation event in the 2011 Annual Computer Poker Competition.
A novel system for tracking pedestrians using multiple single-row laser-range scanners

We propose a novel system for tracking pedestrians in a wide and open area, such as a shopping mall and exhibition hall, using a number of single-row laser-range scanners (LD-A), which have a profiling rate of 10 Hz and a scanning angle of 270/spl deg/. LD-As are set directly on the floor doing horizontal scanning at an elevation of about 20 cm above the ground, so that horizontal cross sections of the surroundings, containing moving feet of pedestrians as well as still objects, are obtained in a rectangular coordinate system of real dimension. The data of moving feet are extracted through background subtraction by the client computers that control each LD-A, and sent to a server computer, where they are spatially and temporally integrated into a global coordinate system. A simplified pedestrian's walking model based on the typical appearance of moving feet is defined and a tracking method utilizing Kalman filter is developed to track pedestrian's trajectories. The system is evaluated through both real experiment and computer simulation. A real experiment is conducted in an exhibition hall, where three LD-As are used covering an area of about 60/spl times/60 m/sup 2/. Changes in visitors' flow during the whole exhibition day are analyzed, where in the peak hour, about 100 trajectories are extracted simultaneously. On the other hand, a computer simulation is conducted to quantitatively examine system performance with respect to different crowd density.
Multi-layer simulation approach for evaluation of data service support in ATM networks

To evaluate the provision of data service support in ATM networks, complex interactions between different protocol layers have to be considered. These interactions are originated by concurrent operation of flow control mechanisms at several layers. In this paper, we propose a new modelling approach for performance evaluation of these kinds of system. The proposal is based on a modular and object-oriented SDL description. Using this approach, a generic ATM network model is described. Finally, a simulation model is built to illustrate its use. The study case shows a comparison between ABR and UBR supporting bursty data traffic carried over TCP. Our conclusion is that detailed modelling of all the relevant mechanisms operating at several layers is necessary to significantly evaluate the performance of data service support in ATM networks.
Natural Immunity to Ascaris lumbricoidesAssociated with Immunoglobulin E Antibody to ABA-1 Allergen and Inflammation Indicators in Children

ABSTRACT Children putatively immune to the large roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides were identified in an area of Nigeria where infection is hyperendemic. Immunity was associated with higher levels of serum ferritin, C-reactive protein, and eosinophil cationic protein, indicating ongoing acute phase or inflammatory processes. In contrast, children who were susceptible to the infection had little serological evidence of inflammation despite their high parasite burdens. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody activity in all subclasses was present in high titer in most children but appeared to have no protective function. Despite exceptionally high total IgE levels, there was no evidence that atopic responses to local common allergens was associated with natural immunity to Ascaris. Among those individuals who produced IgG antibody to recombinant ABA-1 allergen ofAscaris, the naturally immune group had significantly more IgE antibody to the allergen than did those susceptible to the infection. IgE antibody responses in conjunction with innate inflammatory processes therefore appear to associate with natural immunity to ascariasis.
Carotid intima-media thickness and the association with cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) with principal cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly. METHODS Carotid arterial IMT was measured by high resolution B mode ultrasound in 94 elderly subjects (old-aged group), and compared with subjects aged < 60 (middle-aged group). RESULTS In comparison with the middle-aged group, the prevalence of coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus was significantly higher, and serum cholesterol and systolic blood pressure were also significantly higher in old-aged group. Although there was no obvious difference in IMT between the two groups, carotid plaque and carotid wall thickening were more frequently found in old-aged group. Age, systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol were shown as the independent determinants for carotid IMT in the total participants, whereas no such independent relation was found in old-aged group. CONCLUSION Age is the major risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly. In other words, the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis is the result of advancing age combined with the effect of multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
A multi‐laboratory evaluation of in vitro platelet assays: the tests for extent of shape change and response to hypotonic shock. Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion Working Party of the International Society of Blood Transfusion

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the use of specific in vitro tests for the assessment of the quality of platelet components. A literature review found that the platelet discoid shape as measured photometrically by the extent of shape change (ESC) and hypotonic shock response (HSR) correlated well with in vivo viability. The purpose of this study was to determine whether multiple research laboratories can perform the ESC and HSR assays in an accurate, reproducible manner, with acceptable sensitivity and comparable results.
Probabilistic integrative modeling of genome-scale metabolic and regulatory networks in Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Prediction of metabolic changes that result from genetic or environmental perturbations has several important applications, including diagnosing metabolic disorders and discovering novel drug targets. A cardinal challenge in obtaining accurate predictions is the integration of transcriptional regulatory networks with the corresponding metabolic network. We propose a method called probabilistic regulation of metabolism (PROM) that achieves this synthesis and enables straightforward, automated, and quantitative integration of high-throughput data into constraint-based modeling, making it an ideal tool for constructing genome-scale regulatory-metabolic network models for less-studied organisms. PROM introduces probabilities to represent gene states and gene–transcription factor interactions. By using PROM, we constructed an integrated regulatory-metabolic network for the model organism, Escherichia coli, and demonstrated that our method based on automated inference is more accurate and comprehensive than the current state of the art, which is based on manual curation of literature. After validating the approach, we used PROM to build a genome-scale integrated metabolic-regulatory model for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a critically important human pathogen. This study incorporated data from more than 1,300 microarrays, 2,000 transcription factor–target interactions regulating 3,300 metabolic reactions, and 1,905 KO phenotypes for E. coli and M. tuberculosis. PROM identified KO phenotypes with accuracies as high as 95%, and predicted growth rates quantitatively with correlation of 0.95. Importantly, PROM represents the successful integration of a top-down reconstructed, statistically inferred regulatory network with a bottom-up reconstructed, biochemically detailed metabolic network, bridging two important classes of systems biology models that are rarely combined quantitatively.
Temporal Trends in Patient Characteristics and Treatment With Intravenous Thrombolysis Among Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients at Get With the Guidelines–Stroke Hospitals

Background—Substantial efforts over the past decade have increased rates of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) use in the United States. We sought to determine changes in patient characteristics and rates of tPA use over time among hospitalized acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Methods and Results—We analyzed all AIS patients (n=1 093 895) and those arriving ⩽2 hours and treated with tPA ⩽3 hours after onset (n=50 798) from 2003 to 2011 in the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guideline–Stroke (GWTG–Stroke). Categorical data were analyzed by Pearson &khgr;2 and continuous data by Wilcoxon test. Intravenous tPA use ⩽3 hours after onset increased from 4.0% to 7.0% in all AIS admissions and 42.6% to 77.0% in AIS patients arriving ⩽2 hours and fully eligible for tPA (P<0.001). In univariate analysis, tPA use increased over time, especially in those aged >85 years, nonwhite, and with milder strokes (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 0–4). Door-to-image time (median 24 versus 20 minutes) and door-to-tPA time (median 81 versus 72 minutes) also improved, with ≈65% of tPA-treated patients getting brain imaging ⩽25 minutes after arrival. Multivariable analysis showed that with each additional calendar year, the odds that an eligible patient would receive tPA increased by 1.37-fold, adjusting for other covariates. Conclusions—The frequency of IV tPA use among all AIS patients, regardless of contraindications, nearly doubled from 2003 to 2011. Treatment with tPA has expanded to include more patients with mild deficits, nonwhite race/ethnicity, and oldest old age.
Comparison of optimized Dynamic Mode Decomposition vs POD for the shallow water equations model reduction with large-timestep observations

We propose a framework for dynamic mode decomposition of 2D flows, when numerical or experimental data snapshots are captured with large time steps. Such problems originate for instance from meteorology, when a large time step acts like a filter in obtaining the significant Koopman modes, therefore the classic dynamic mode decomposition method is not effective. This study is motivated by the need to further clarify the connection between Koopman modes and POD dynamic modes. We apply dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to derive reduced-order models of Shallow Water Equations (SWE). A new algorithm for extracting the dominant Koopman modes of the flow field and a new criterion of selecting the optimal Koopman modes are proposed. A quantitative comparison of the spatial modes computed from the two decompositions is performed and a rigorous error analysis for the ROM models obtained by the classic POD and the optimized DMD is presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Contract-based Event Driven Model for Collaborative Security in Financial Information Systems

This paper introduces a new collaboration abstraction, called Semantic Room (SR), specifically targeted to facilitating sharing and processing large volumes of data produced and consumed in real time by a collection of networked participants. The model enables constructing flexible collaborative event-driven distributed systems with well-defined and contractually regulated properties and behavior. The contract determines the set of services provided by SR, the software and hardware resources required for its operation along with a collection of non-functional requirements, such as, data protection, isolation, trust, security, availability, fault-tolerance, and performance. We show how the SR model can be leveraged for creating trusted information processing systems for the sake of protecting financial institutions against coordinated security threats (e.g., stealthy scans, worm outbreaks, Distributed Denial of Service). To this end, we present several use-cases demonstrating a variety of the SR administration task flows, and discuss possible ways of implementing the SR abstraction using the collaborative intrusion detection as an example.