Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multichannel blind identification: from subspace to maximum likelihood methods

A review of blind channel estimation algorithms is presented. From the (second-order) moment-based methods to the maximum likelihood approaches, under both statistical and deterministic signal models. We outline basic ideas behind several new developments, the assumptions and identifiability conditions required by these approaches, and the algorithm characteristics and their performance. This review serves as an introductory reference for this currently active research area.
Single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators based on sponge-like porous PTFE thin films for mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered electronics

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are promising innovative energy conversion devices that convert mechanical energy into electricity based on triboelectric friction. In this paper, we report the development of a single-electrode TENG (S-TENG) based on sponge-like porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thin films. The porous PTFE thin films were fabricated via a facile approach by using deionized (DI) water as the soft template. The porosity effect on the output performance of the porous PTFE S-TENG was investigated under mechanical oscillations. The optimal porosity for achieving the maximum VOC output was found to be 5.1 V when the DI water volume fraction was 50%. The output voltage of the porous PTFE S-TENG is 1.8 times higher than that of the solid PTFE thin film based S-TENG under the same oscillation. The porous PTFE S-TENG can also generate considerable electricity by harvesting mechanical energy from human motions. An output voltage of 1.1 V was obtained when the S-TENG was pressed by a bare human hand. When pressed by a human hand within a latex glove, the output voltage reached 6.9 V, and the generated electric energy could instantaneously power 5 commercial green light emitting diodes (LEDs) without any energy storage process. This development of the porous PTFE S-TENG could open a new avenue towards developing self-powered personal electronics, owing to its flexibility, simple one-electrode structure, and ability to harvest mechanical energy from human motions.
Phosphoinositide-signaling is one component of a robust plant defense response

The phosphoinositide pathway and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3) have been implicated in plant responses to many abiotic stresses; however, their role in response to biotic stress is not well characterized. In the current study, we show that both basal defense and systemic acquired resistance responses are affected in transgenic plants constitutively expressing the human type I inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (InsP 5-ptase) which have greatly reduced InsP3 levels. Flagellin induced Ca2+-release as well as the expressions of some flg22 responsive genes were attenuated in the InsP 5-ptase plants. Furthermore, the InsP 5-ptase plants were more susceptible to virulent and avirulent strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000. The InsP 5-ptase plants had lower basal salicylic acid (SA) levels and the induction of SAR in systemic leaves was reduced and delayed. Reciprocal exudate experiments showed that although the InsP 5-ptase plants produced equally effective molecules that could trigger PR-1 gene expression in wild type plants, exudates collected from either wild type or InsP 5-ptase plants triggered less PR-1 gene expression in InsP 5-ptase plants. Additionally, expression profiles indicated that several defense genes including PR-1, PR-2, PR-5, and AIG1 were basally down regulated in the InsP 5-ptase plants compared with wild type. Upon pathogen attack, expression of these genes was either not induced or showed delayed induction in systemic leaves. Our study shows that phosphoinositide signaling is one component of the plant defense network and is involved in both basal and systemic responses. The dampening of InsP3-mediated signaling affects Ca2+ release, modulates defense gene expression and compromises plant defense responses.
Computer surgery 3D simulations for a new teaching-learning model

Using 3D computer simulations for training surgeons is not new, but neither is the use of e-learning for improving students knowledge acquisition. What we propose is to use 3D computer simulations in such a versatile way that those simulations could act as learning objects designed directly by those who own the experience we want to be transmitted. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to create a model in charge of communicating learning objects and simulators. This model ensures that, on the one hand, the simulation offers an interface to the learning process stable enough not to be affected by every small change. On the other hand, the model also ensures that the simulation offers a mechanism for adopting changes in the learning process. The key to solve this contradiction is to take the complex behavior of the simulation objects out of their control, leaving in them just very basic behaviors. This paper presents the problem and the design proposed to solve it in a more detailed way.
A Framework of Model-Driven Web Application Testing

Web applications have become complex and crucial in many fields. In order to assure their quality, a high demand for systematic methodologies of Web application testing is emerging. In this paper, a methodology of model-driven testing (MDT) for Web application is presented. Model is the core of this method. Web application model is built to describe the system under testing. Test case models are generated based-on the Web application model. Test deployment model and test control model are designed to describe the environment and process of test execution. The test engine executes test cases based-on the test deployment and control model automatically. After that, testing results are reflected to test case models. A framework is designed for supporting this methodology. In order to get better extensibility and flexibility, it is loose-coupled by a modeler and a tester. The modeler enables developers to design meta-models, and is responsible for creating, visualizing and saving models. The tester takes in charge of recovering the tested Web application model, generating test cases, and executing test
Geocast Routing - Performance of LBM and GeoGRID

Especially scenarios like public safety or battle field require reliable Multicast (voice) communication. There are different ways to choose and maintain the groups of receivers. One alternative for certain use cases, especially for areas of danger, is Geocast. Using Geocast, a receiver is defined by its geographic position. Especially for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) there are several Geocast routing protocols that solve the problem of finding a path to the Geocast region. In the Geocast region the messages are flooded. Generally, a Geocast protocol assumes that each node knows its own geographic position. In reality this implies the existence of a system such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), EGNOS, or GALILEO. Using one of these systems, a node can determine its position up to 5m accuracy. In [YKC04] several Geocast routing protocols are classified and their performance is evaluated. In addition to this, it is important to know how to set the parameters of the different protocols. Thus, in this paper we will at first describe two different Geocast routing protocols (section 2). Next, we will describe the evaluation environment (section 3). After this, we will show in detail, how the parameters can be set (section 4). Finally, we will show briefly some performance evaluation results (section 5) and conclude our paper (section 6).
Removing unwanted variation in a differential methylation analysis of Illumina HumanMethylation450 array data

Due to their relatively low-cost per sample and broad, gene-centric coverage of CpGs across the human genome, Illumina’s 450k arrays are widely used in large scale differential methylation studies. However, by their very nature, large studies are particularly susceptible to the effects of unwanted variation. The effects of unwanted variation have been extensively documented in gene expression array studies and numerous methods have been developed to mitigate these effects. However, there has been much less research focused on the appropriate methodology to use for accounting for unwanted variation in methylation array studies. Here we present a novel 2-stage approach using RUV-inverse in a differential methylation analysis of 450k data and show that it outperforms existing methods.
Evidence for an evolutionary relationship between the large adaptor nucleoporin Nup192 and karyopherins

Significance Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are proteinaceous transport channels gating transport of macromolecules across the nuclear envelope. Nup192 is one of five members of an adaptor nucleoporin complex (ANC) that is believed to be integral for linking the NPC subcomplexes and accommodating the dilations of the central transport channel. We present the structure of the N-terminal half of Nup192 that uncovers similarities with karyopherins, suggesting an evolutionary relationship. Using biochemical and in vivo data, we generated an interaction map of the ANC, providing a starting point for its mechanistic dissection. Nucleocytoplasmic transport is facilitated by nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), which are massive proteinaceous transport channels embedded in the nuclear envelope. Nup192 is a major component of an adaptor nucleoporin subcomplex proposed to link the NPC coat with the central transport channel. Here, we present the structure of the ∼110-kDa N-terminal domain (NTD) of Nup192 at 2.7-Å resolution. The structure reveals an open ring-shaped architecture composed of Huntingtin, EF3, PP2A, and TOR1 (HEAT) and Armadillo (ARM) repeats. A comparison of different conformations indicates that the NTD consists of two rigid halves connected by a flexible hinge. Unexpectedly, the two halves of the ring are structurally related to karyopherin-α (Kap-α) and β-karyopherin family members. Biochemically, we identify a conserved patch that binds an unstructured segment in Nup53 and show that a C-terminal tail region binds to a putative helical fragment in Nic96. The Nup53 segment that binds Nup192 is a classical nuclear localization-like sequence that interacts with Kap-α in a mutually exclusive and mechanistically distinct manner. The disruption of the Nup53 and Nic96 binding sites in vivo yields growth and mRNA export defects, revealing their critical role in proper NPC function. Surprisingly, both interactions are dispensable for NPC localization, suggesting that Nup192 possesses another nucleoporin interaction partner. These data indicate that the structured domains in the adaptor nucleoporin complex are held together by peptide interactions that resemble those found in karyopherin•cargo complexes and support the proposal that the adaptor nucleoporins arose from ancestral karyopherins.
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) as a Risk Factor for Depressive Symptoms in Elderly Men: Results from a Large Prospective Study in Southern Chinese Men

A cross-sectional relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and depressive symptoms was previously reported among Southern Chinese men; however, the temporal relationship was unclear. Our objective is to evaluate the temporal relationship between moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms and clinically significant depressive symptoms in elderly Chinese men aged 65 in a prospective manner. In a prospective cohort of 2,000 Chinese men aged 65 to 92 years in Hong Kong, we studied the association of having moderate to severe LUTS at baseline and having clinically relevant depressive symptoms at year 2 follow-up. After excluding men with prostate or bladder cancer or surgery (n = 20) and lost to follow-up (n = 254), data on 1,726 subjects were analyzed. LUTS were measured by the International Prostate Symptom score; and clinically relevant depressive symptoms were measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale. The multiple logistic regressions showed that the presence of moderate-to-severe LUTS at baseline were significantly associated with increased risk for being depressed at two-year follow-up, with adjustments for demographic, lifestyle, medical factors, weight status and stressful life events (OR = 2.97; CI: 1.70–5.20). Association remained significant with additional adjustments for baseline GDS score (OR = 1.88; CI: 1.03–3.41). LUTS are important risk factors in predicting the presence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms. In elderly men, increased awareness and possible screening are needed to detect the increased risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms.
CAUI demonstration: composing music based on human feelings

We demonstrate a method to locate relations and constraints between a music score and its impressions, by which we show that machine learning techniques may provide a powerful tool for composing music and analyzing human feelings. We examine its generality by modifying some arrangements to provide the subjects with a specified impression. This demonstration introduces some user interfaces, which are capable of predicting feelings and creating new objects based on seed structures, such as spectra and their transition for sounds that have been extracted and are perceived as favorable by the test subject.
Bariatric endoscopy: current state of the art, emerging technologies, and challenges

ABSTRACT Introduction: Over the last few decades obesity has become a major health issue worldwide. Although dietary and lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of obesity management, it still poses a huge challenge for the majority of patients to permanently change their eating habits. Bariatric endoscopy represents an evolving filed of minimally invasive techniques and procedures for weight loss trying to respond to these challenges by developing new methods with the increasing role of endoscopists in the management of obesity. Areas covered: The aim of this article is to review the role and the advantages of bariatric endoscopy in the management of obesity by providing a comprehensive reference source and evaluating the currently available and emerging endoscopic devices and techniques for weight loss. Expert commentary: Endoscopic methods for weight loss represent a useful armamentarium in the management of obesity by providing improved effectiveness compared with medications, with a lower risk profile than traditional bariatric surgery. Although preliminary results of recently introduced methods are encouraging, many questions remain regarding the safety and efficacy of such interventions. Combining scientific background with advancements in technology is the key strategy for the further development of bariatric endoscopy.
Real-time smoke rendering using compensated ray marching

We present a real-time algorithm called compensated ray marching for rendering of smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting. Our approach is based on a decomposition of the input smoke animation, represented as a sequence of volumetric density fields, into a set of radial basis functions (RBFs) and a sequence of residual fields. To expedite rendering, the source radiance distribution within the smoke is computed from only the low-frequency RBF approximation of the density fields, since the high-frequency residuals have little impact on global illumination under low-frequency environment lighting. Furthermore, in computing source radiances the contributions from single and multiple scattering are evaluated at only the RBF centers and then approximated at other points in the volume using an RBF-based interpolation. A slice-based integration of these source radiances along each view ray is then performed to render the final image. The high-frequency residual fields, which are a critical component in the local appearance of smoke, are compensated back into the radiance integral during this ray march to generate images of high detail. The runtime algorithm, which includes both light transfer simulation and ray marching, can be easily implemented on the GPU, and thus allows for real-time manipulation of viewpoint and lighting, as well as interactive editing of smoke attributes such as extinction cross section, scattering albedo, and phase function. Only moderate preprocessing time and storage is needed. This approach provides the first method for real-time smoke rendering that includes single and multiple scattering while generating results comparable in quality to offline algorithms like ray tracing.
The Influence of Stubborn Agents in a Multi-Agent Network for Inter-Team Cooperation/Negotiation

When teams interact for cooperation or negotiation, there are unique dynamics that occur depending on the conditions. In this paper, a multi-agent system is used under the restrain of a network structure to model two teams of agents interacting for a common consensus, however with the presence of stubborn agents. The networks used were a minimum dumbbell network and two scale-free networks joined together. The network topology, which is a global characteristic, along with the presence of conflicting stubborn agents, can cause various conditions that affect teamwork in cooperation or negotiation. Notable characteristics revealed are boundary role persons (BRPs), lack of unity, need for a third party moderator, coalition formation, and loyalty of the BRP dependent on the distance from the core ideology of the team. Both local and global characteristics of network structures contribute to such phenomenon. The modeling method and corresponding simulation results provide valuable insight for predicting possible social dynamics and outcome when planning cooperation/negotiation tactics.
Health plan policies and programs for colorectal cancer screening: a national profile.

BACKGROUND A consensus has emerged that average-risk adults 50 years of age or older should be screened for colorectal cancer (CRC). OBJECTIVES To describe health plans' coverage policies, guidelines, and organized programs to promote CRC screening. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Review of data from the National Cancer Institute Survey of Colorectal Cancer Screening Practices, administered to a national sample of health plans in 1999-2000. The survey inquired about coverage policies for fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and double-contrast barium enema; the nature of any guidelines the plan had issued to its providers on CRC screening; and systems for recruiting patients into screening and for tracking and reporting the results of screening and follow-up procedures. RESULTS Of 346 eligible health plans, 180 (52%) responded. Nearly all health plans covered at least 1 CRC screening modality. Plans were most likely to cover fecal occult blood testing (97%) and least likely to cover colonoscopy (57%). Sixty-five percent had issued guidelines on CRC screening to providers. One quarter had a mechanism to remind patients that they are due for CRC screening, but fewer had systems for prompting providers, contacting noncompliant patients, or tracking completion of screening. CONCLUSIONS Health plans have the ability to provide organizational infrastructure for a broad range of preventive services to well-defined populations. However, few health plans had all 3 essential CRC screening delivery components--coverage, guidelines, and tracking systems--in place in 1999-2000.
Exploring the relationship between mathematics anxiety and performance: The role of intrusive thoughts

The current study examined the relationship between math anxiety and arithmetic performance by focusing on intrusive thoughts experienced during problem solving. Participants (N = 122) performed two-digit addition problems on a verification task. Math anxiety significantly predicted response time and error rate. Further, the extent to which intrusive thoughts impeded calculation mediated the relationship between math anxiety and per cent of errors on problems involving a carry operation. Moreover, results indicated that participants experienced a range of intrusive thoughts and these were related to significantly higher levels of math anxiety. The findings lend support to a deficient inhibition account of the math anxiety-to-performance relationship and highlight the importance of considering intrusive thoughts in future work.
Deproteinization of serum: Another best approach to eliminate all forms of bilirubin interference on serum creatinine by the kinetic Jaffe reaction

The negative interference of conjugated, unconjugated, and delta bilirubin on patient serum creatinine determined by the kinetic Jaffe reaction is the unresolved problem. We compared bilirubin interference on thirty patients’ serum creatinine obtained from four analyzers, with and without deprotenization before the Jaffe reaction, to the Vitros dry enzymatic method. We found significant negative interference from bilirubin on serum creatinine in all samples directly applied to four wet chemical methods, except the one incorporated with serum blank rate. The negative interferences linearly related to bilirubin concentration. However, bilirubin did not interfere on serum creatinine obtained from all wet chemical methods incorporated with deproteinization process before the reaction. We conclude that deproteinized serum before the reaction is the best approach to eliminate all forms of bilirubin interference on serum creatinine determined by the kinetic Jaffe reaction. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:116–121, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Noval image restoration approach for colour images corrupted with impulsive noise

Generally, image restoration is an important task in any image processing system. This study discusses a novel colour image denoising approach by using new decision based morpho filter for salt and pepper noise corrupted digital color images. The key drawback of the various denoising technique is incapability of edge preservation while image restoration. The proposed denoising algorithm overcomes the aforementioned problem and efficiently removes the corrupted pixels by morphological operation. The proposed system is evaluated by bench mark images such as Lena, Barbara and Peppers. A satisfactory denoising performance is achieved and the result of the system is compared with existing restoration methods such as standard median filter (SMF), adaptive median filter (AMF) and decision based algorithm (DBA).
Fuzzy Association Rule Mining Algorithm to Generate Candidate Cluster: An Approach to Hierarchical Document Clustering

As text documents are largely increasing in the internet, the process of grouping similar documents for versatile applications have put the eye of researchers in this area. However most clustering methods suffer from challenges in dealing with problems of high dimensionality, scalability, accuracy and meaningful cluster labels. Hierarchical clustering is a solution on that. Proper clustering set generation plays important role in hierarchical clustering. This paper shows the process of generation of candidate cluster set of given document set. Testing has been done on some predefined data set.
Reducing the number of Bloom filters

Bloom Filters have been applied in many fields, including data base, network management, computer network, and computer communication etc., owing to its fast membership query and memory efficiency. In network field, Bloom Filters were used to lookup the forwarding tables in backbone routers and Data Centre switches. These solutions all build many Bloom Filters to achieve fast lookup. The main shortcoming of these solution is: too many Bloom Filters require too many hash computations and memory accesses, and the variety of Bloom Filter sizes poses challenges to system design and probably degrades the system performance. To address this issues, we proposed Set absorption algorithm to reduce the number of Bloom Filters, while balancing the size of Bloom Filters. Experimental results showed that after using our algorithm, better performance of the Bloom Filter-based solutions was obtained.