Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards secure wirelessMAN: Revisiting and evaluating authentication in WiMAX

Wireless communication is highly susceptible to security outbreaks with shear advancement in signal processing technology followed by immense deployment of high-speed mobile communication networks. Pitfalls in current architecture of IEEE 802.16 or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) have been put forth in recent literature, based on analytical reasoning and design methodologies. With identification of these vulnerabilities, some solutions have also been proposed for their rectification; however, the experimental assessment of these solutions has not been carried out in appropriate manners to justify the satisfaction of constraints. In this paper, we present a generic methodology to simulate and analyze the authentication protocols in WiMAX based on obtained results. We focus on the 1st and 2nd version of Privacy & Key Management (PKM) Protocols, which are implemented in the WiMAX architecture at present and compare their performance characteristics with another proposed solution ISNAP; which claims to eradicate most of the existing threats with introducing minimum overheads. The performance evaluation of these protocols has been carried out by simulating the behavior of BS and SS nodes in real-time wireless network using Linux based hosts. This work intends to establish the formal basis to justify the claims put forth in the specification of ISNAP against PKM v1 & v2.
Interactive Previewing for Transfer Function Specification in Volume Rendering

This paper presents a new technique for supplying meaningful visual feedback during direct volume rendering transfer function specification. The technique uses meta-data calculated during a pre-processing step to generate interactively an approximate volume rendering that is voxel-registered with a single user-selected slice. Because of the registration, this preview can easily be alpha-blended with a grey-scale image of the data that is being volume rendered. In this way, the user gets real-time visual feedback on her transfer function specification with regards to both the expected composited optical properties and the "fidelity" (how closely the rendering matches the original data) of the resulting rendering.
Surface effects on ground reaction forces and lower extremity kinematics in running.

INTRODUCTION Although running surface stiffness has been associated with overuse injuries, all evidence to support this suggestion has been circumstantial. In the present study, the biomechanical response of heel-toe runners to changes in running surface has been investigated. METHODS Six heel-toe runners performed shod running trials over three surfaces: a conventional asphalt surface, a new rubber-modified asphalt surface, and an acrylic sports surface. The surfaces were categorised according to impact absorbing ability using standard impact test procedures (BS 7044). RESULTS The rubber-modified asphalt was found to exhibit the greatest amount of mechanical impact absorption, and the conventional asphalt the least. The comparison of peak impact force values across surfaces for the group of subjects demonstrated no significant differences in magnitude of force. However, a significant reduction in loading rate of peak impact force was detected for the rubber-modified surface compared with conventional asphalt (P < 0.1). Although analysis of group data revealed no significant differences in kinematic variables when running on the different surfaces, a varied response to surface manipulation among runners was demonstrated, with marked differences in initial joint angles, peak joint angles, and peak joint angular velocities being observed. DISCUSSION For some subjects, the maintenance of similar peak impact forces for different running surfaces was explained by observed kinematic adjustments. For example, when running on the surface providing the least impact absorption, an increased initial knee flexion was observed for some subjects, suggesting an increased lower extremity compliance. However, for some subjects, sagittal plane kinematic data were not sufficient for the explanation of peak impact force results. It appears that the mechanism of adaptation varies among runners, highlighting the requirement of individual subject analyses.
Eyetrace2014 - Eyetracking Data Analysis Tool

Over the last years eye tracking became more and more popular. A variety of new eye-tracker models and algorithms for eye tracking data processing emerged. On the one hand this multitude of hardand software brought many advantages, on the other hand the diversity of devices and measures impedes the comparability and repeatability of eye-tracking studies. While supply of eye tracking software is high, the functioning of the algorithms, e.g. how fixations are identified, is often intransparent and unflexible. The Eyetrace software bundle approaches these problems by providing a variety of different evaluation methods compatible with many
Hierarchical modelling of temperature and habitat size effects on population dynamics of North Atlantic cod

Understanding how temperature affects cod (Gadus morhua) ecology is important for forecasting how populations will develop as climate changes in future. The effects of spawning-season temperature and habitat size on cod recruitment dynamics have been investigated across the North Atlantic. Ricker and Beverton and Holt stock– recruitment (SR) models were extended by applying hierarchical methods, mixed-effects models, and Bayesian inference to incorporate the influence of these ecosystem factors on model parameters representing cod maximum reproductive rate and carrying capacity. We identified the pattern of temperature effects on cod productivity at the species level and estimated SR model parameters with increased precision. Temperature impacts vary geographically, being positive in areas where temperatures are ,58C, and negative for higher temperatures. Using the relationship derived, it is possible to predict expected changes in population-specific reproductive rates and carrying capacities resulting from temperature increases. Further, carrying capacity covaries with available habitat size, explaining at least half its variability across stocks. These patterns improve our understanding of environmental impacts on key population parameters, which is required for an ecosystem approach to cod management, particularly under ocean-warming scenarios.
Early diagnosis of lung cancer: evaluation of a community-based social marketing intervention

Background Poor UK lung cancer survival rates may, in part, be due to late diagnosis. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a mixed-method community-based social marketing intervention on lung cancer diagnoses. Methods A public awareness campaign in conjunction with brief intervention training in general practices was piloted in six localities with a high lung cancer incidence. End points were self-reported awareness of lung cancer symptoms; intention to seek healthcare; chest x-ray referral rates in primary care; secular trends in the incidence of lung cancer and stage at diagnosis, compared before and after the intervention. Results 21% (128/600) (95% CI 18% to 25%) of the targeted population recalled something about the campaign. Compared with a responder in the control area, the odds of a responder in the intervention area saying that they would visit their general practitioner and request a chest x-ray for a cough was 1.97 times (95% CI 1.18 to 3.31, p=0.01). Primary care chest x-ray referral rates increased by 20% in the targeted practices in the year following the intervention compared with a 2% fall in the control practices. The difference was highly significant, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.22 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.33, p=0.001). There was a 27% increase in lung cancer diagnoses in the intervention area compared with a fall in the control area. The incidence rate ratio was 1.42 (95% CI 0.83 to 2.44 p=0.199). Conclusion This is encouraging early evidence that an awareness and early recognition initiative may facilitate lung cancer diagnosis.
Gender Differences in the ACT Mathematics Tests: A Cross Cultural Comparison.

This study focused on gender differences in scores on the Americar College Testing Program (ACT) assessment in mathematics for a larga sample of U.S. high school graduates (over 1,700,000) and a sample of 321 Chinese twelfth graders. A smaller gender difference was found for the Chinese sample than for the U.S. sample. However, similar pattern of difference was found for both cultures. Gender differences existed not only in score means but also in score distributions. Gender differences increasingly favored males as subject ability level increased, and the magnitude of gender differences was varied across tasks for both cultures. The homogeneous culture for Chinese males and females might be one cause of the smaller gender difference in the Chinese sample. (Contains 5 tables, 9 figures, and 6 references.) (Author/SLD) a *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Gender Differences in the ACT Mathematics Tests: A Cross Cultural Comparison U.S. DEPARTMINT Of EDUCAMN Oehce 01 EnucahonaI Romarch end InIcoovernent ECU ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) phs cascumeni has been fep,OduCed as recewed horn the person or organaahon onginahng d 0 MI110, changes have been made 10 improve reproduchon Quality Pootts ol *dew or opdhons staled . n Ih5 dock, ment do not necessanly represent otticnal OERI pecd.on or p0hCy -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY ymoipik6 14. )thu4, TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Xiaoping Wang Iowa Department of Education James Maxey The American College Testing Program Paper Presented at the 1995 Annual Meeting of NCME April 19, San Francisco, CA.
Microfluidic Devices for Forensic DNA Analysis: A Review

Microfluidic devices may offer various advantages for forensic DNA analysis, such as reduced risk of contamination, shorter analysis time and direct application at the crime scene. Microfluidic chip technology has already proven to be functional and effective within medical applications, such as for point-of-care use. In the forensic field, one may expect microfluidic technology to become particularly relevant for the analysis of biological traces containing human DNA. This would require a number of consecutive steps, including sample work up, DNA amplification and detection, as well as secure storage of the sample. This article provides an extensive overview of microfluidic devices for cell lysis, DNA extraction and purification, DNA amplification and detection and analysis techniques for DNA. Topics to be discussed are polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on-chip, digital PCR (dPCR), isothermal amplification on-chip, chip materials, integrated devices and commercially available techniques. A critical overview of the opportunities and challenges of the use of chips is discussed, and developments made in forensic DNA analysis over the past 10–20 years with microfluidic systems are described. Areas in which further research is needed are indicated in a future outlook.
Apyrases (Nucleoside Triphosphate-Diphosphohydrolases) Play a Key Role in Growth Control in Arabidopsis1[W][OA]

Expression of two Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) apyrase (nucleoside triphosphate-diphosphohydrolase) genes with high similarity, APY1 and APY2, was analyzed during seedling development and under different light treatments using β-glucuronidase fusion constructs with the promoters of both genes. As evaluated by β-glucuronidase staining and independently confirmed by other methods, the highest expression of both apyrases was in rapidly growing tissues and/or tissues that accumulate high auxin levels. Red-light treatment of etiolated seedlings suppressed the protein and message level of both apyrases at least as rapidly as it inhibited hypocotyl growth. Adult apy1 and apy2 single mutants had near-normal growth, but apy1apy2 double-knockout plants were dwarf, due primarily to reduced cell elongation. Pollen tubes and etiolated hypocotyls overexpressing an apyrase had faster growth rates than wild-type plants. Growing pollen tubes released ATP into the growth medium and suppression of apyrase activity by antiapyrase antibodies or by inhibitors simultaneously increased medium ATP levels and inhibited pollen tube growth. These results imply that APY1 and APY2, like their homologs in animals, act to reduce the concentration of extracellular nucleotides, and that this function is important for the regulation of growth in Arabidopsis.
Effects of Concomitant Schistosoma haematobium Infection on the Serum Cytokine Levels Elicited by Acute Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Infection in Malian Children

ABSTRACT Polyparasitism is common in the developing world, and interactions that alter disease severity may occur. We previously demonstrated that infection with Schistosoma hematobium was associated with protection against Plasmodium falciparum infection in children who were 4 to 8 years old. In this study, we determined whether underlying helminth infections affected the cytokine responses to acute falciparum malaria. A total of 338 schistosomiasis-positive [Sch(+)] children who were 4 to 14 years old were matched by age, residence, and sex with 338 schistosomiasis-negative [Sch(−)] children and monitored for a malaria transmission season (25 weeks). Serologic cytokine levels were measured at the time of the first clinical malaria episode and in children who did not contract malaria. Elevated background levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (37.1 pg/ml versus 10.9 pg/ml [P = 0.04]), IL-4 (27.7 pg/ml versus 6.9 pg/ml [P = 0.02]), IL-10 (18.2 pg/ml versus 7.2 pg/ml [P < 0.001]), and gamma interferon (18.2 pg/ml versus 4.7 pg/ml [P = 0.006]) were noted in Sch(+) children compared to Sch(−) children without malaria. IL-6 and IL-10 levels were elevated in association with acute malaria, but the levels appeared to be blunted in Sch(+) children compared to Sch(−) children who were 4 to 8 years old (for IL-6, 96.2 pg/ml versus 137.2 pg/ml [P = 0.08]; for IL-10, 195.9 pg/ml versus 282.2 pg/ml [P = 0.06]). The level of IL-10 was similarly lower in Sch(+) children than in Sch(−) children who were 9 to 14 years old (91.2 pg/ml versus 141.2 pg/ml [P = 0.03]). IL-4 levels were inversely correlated with the time until the first malaria infection in both the Sch(+) children (P < 0.001) and the Sch(−) children (P < 0.001) who were 4 to 8 years old. We postulate that the Th2-enriched environment induced by schistosomiasis protects against malaria and alters the cytokine milieu during an actual infection.
On the Fairness of the Reverse-Link MAC Layer in cdma 2000 1

We investigate the fairness of two reverse-link MAC algorithms in cdma2000 1xEV-DO High Rate Packet Data systems. Following the framework proposed by Kelly [1] for Internet congestion-control, we formulate a utility maximization problem and provide a simple sufficient condition for both algorithms to converge to the solution of this problem. Furthermore, we identify that the solution of this problem corresponds to the equal throughput fairness criteria, i.e., all the access terminals have equivalent throughput at the equilibrium.
Systematic review: endocrine abnormalities in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND Cirrhosis is the end stage of many different forms of acute and chronic liver damages. Interactions between liver and endocrine system is significant, because liver is the main organ of metabolism and catabolism of many proteins. AIM In this study, current literature about endocrine abnormalities among patients with liver cirrhosis was reviewed. METHODS A PubMed search was performed on English literature from January 1990 onward to find human studies reporting endocrine dysfunction in liver cirrhosis. Relevant articles were included and reviewed by two expert reviewers. Data were summarized ant tabulated in separate categories for each endocrine involvement. RESULTS Among 944 studies, 36 articles were eligible for review. Growth hormone resistance and low Insulin like growth factor-1 are prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis with negative impact on prognosis. Thyroid dysfunction is mostly seen in the form of sick euthyroid syndrome. Osteoporosis is also prevalent in cirrhosis but the exact mechanism is not clear. Adrenal insufficiency is a prevalent clinical feature both in compensated and critically ill patients with cirrhosis with negative impact on patients' outcomes. CONCLUSION Disorders of endocrine system is prevalent in cirrhosis. These patients should be checked and treated for these disorders to achieve a stable clinical situation and prepare for liver transplantation.
Somatic mutations in GLI3 and OFD1 involved in sonic hedgehog signaling cause hypothalamic hamartoma

Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is a congenital anomalous brain tumor. Although most HHs are found without any other systemic features, HH is observed in syndromic disorders such as Pallister–Hall syndrome (PHS) and oral‐facial‐digital syndrome (OFD). Here, we explore the possible involvement of somatic mutations in HH.
Inactivation of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (Prion) Agents by Environ LpH

ABSTRACT Agents causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) diseases are resistant to inactivation by several conventional decontamination methods. Using an animal bioassay, we compared the TSE agent disinfectant efficacy of a commercially available product referred to alternatively as LpH-SE, LpH-AG, or LpH-st to that of a similarly named but differently formulated product, Environ LpH, which was found to be an effective TSE agent disinfectant in a previous study. Here, we found LpH-SE to be at least 104-fold to 105-fold less effective than Environ LpH.
Neural correlates of food addiction.

CONTEXT Research has implicated an addictive process in the development and maintenance of obesity. Although parallels in neural functioning between obesity and substance dependence have been found, to our knowledge, no studies have examined the neural correlates of addictive-like eating behavior. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that elevated "food addiction" scores are associated with similar patterns of neural activation as substance dependence. DESIGN Between-subjects functional magnetic resonance imaging study. SETTING A university neuroimaging center. PARTICIPANTS Forty-eight healthy young women ranging from lean to obese recruited for a healthy weight maintenance trial. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The relation between elevated food addiction scores and blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging activation in response to receipt and anticipated receipt of palatable food (chocolate milkshake). RESULTS Food addiction scores (N = 39) correlated with greater activation in the anterior cingulate cortex, medial orbitofrontal cortex, and amygdala in response to anticipated receipt of food (P < .05, false discovery rate corrected for multiple comparisons in small volumes). Participants with higher (n = 15) vs lower (n = 11) food addiction scores showed greater activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the caudate in response to anticipated receipt of food but less activation in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex in response to receipt of food (false discovery rate-corrected P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Similar patterns of neural activation are implicated in addictive-like eating behavior and substance dependence: elevated activation in reward circuitry in response to food cues and reduced activation of inhibitory regions in response to food intake.
Set Operations in Object-Based Data Models

The semantics of set operations are not adequate for the richer data models of object-based database systems that include object-oriented and semantic data modeling concepts. The reason is that precise semantics of set operations on complex objects require a clear distinction between the dual notions of a set and a type, both of which are present in the class construct found in object-based data models. This gap is filled here by a framework for executing set theoretic operations on the class construct. The proposed set operations, including set difference, union, intersection and symmetric difference, determine both the type description of the derived class as well as its set membership. For the former, inheritance rules are developed for property characteristics such as single-valued versus multivalued and required versus optional. For the latter, the object identity concept is developed if borrowed from data modeling research. The framework allows for property inheritance among classes that are not necessarily IS-A related. >
Dense motion segmentation for first-person activity recognition

In this paper, we propose a dense motion segmentation method for human daily activity recognition from a wearable device - "Smart Glasses". The glasses are embedded with a camera, which allows the system to automatically recognise the wearer's activities from a first-person perspective. This application can be broadly applied to patients, elderly, safety workers, e-health monitoring, or anyone requiring cognitive assistance or guidance on their activities of daily living (ADLs). We validate our system in challenging real-world scenarios, and compare two feature extraction approaches: averaged optical flow and a combined dense motion segmentation approach. We classify them using LogitBoost (on Decision Stumps) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). We also suggest the optimal settings of the classifiers through cross-validation over our ADLs database. The results show that the optical flow with average pooling has a good performance when classifying general locomotive activities. The results also indicate the benefits that dense motion segmentation features can have on reliably classify activities involving a moving object, such as hands. We achieve an overall accuracy of up to 69.76% on 12 ADLs using local classifiers, and with a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) process this accuracy improves to up to 89.59%.
No association between MTHFR 677 C->T or 1298 A->C polymorphisms and endometrial cancer risk.

The enzyme 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, encoded by MTHFR , catalyzes the reduction of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. The MTHFR 677 C→T polymorphism results in an amino acid change, Ala→Val. The Val allele is associated with decreased enzyme activity ([1