Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toward secure energy harvesting cooperative networks

The concept of energy harvesting cooperative networks is an emerging technology that has very high potential for a large variety of applications. However, energy transfer capability may lead to unprecedented security challenges. In this article, we study energy security issues and the solutions in energy harvesting networks. We first identify typical energy related attacks and then propose defense solutions against these attacks. We also carry out security analysis and performance analysis to evaluate our proposed solutions. Simulation results have shown that the proposed defense solutions are effective and efficient.
Walking assist design of a dual-arm robot

In this paper, a dual-arm mobile robot is designed and experimented to provide walking support to a user. The robot has two operation modes, which can be transformed according to the user's need. When the robot is in the grasping mode, the robot can fetch an object using computer vision and 6-DOF robot arms. When the user wants walking help, the robot can be configured to the supporting mode to provide walking assist. In the supporting mode, the robot arms are transformed to close and hold each other by the special designed buckle mechanism. A motion planning strategy is proposed to achieve arm-closing and buckle locking and unlocking. In this way, the robot arms are configured into a handrail for user support. Furthermore, a 6-DOF force/torque sensor is installed on the right robot arm to estimate the user's motion intent. The walking support system determines robot velocity based on a compliance controller to provide the walking assist. Several experiments validate the proposed design and demonstrate the dual-arm robot can provide user walking assist.
A study on multicriteria recommender system using implicit feedback and fuzzy linguistic approaches

The present Recommender systems have intrusiveness problem in its operations, provide less accuracy in recommendations and operate on uncertain nature of data. In order to make Recommender systems to provide effortless assistance along with accuracy in recommendations, a combined framework is proposed which combines the implicit relevance feedback, multicriteria ratings and fuzzy linguistic approaches. A Music Recommender System is developed as prototype model to evaluate the performance of the proposed approaches under the user-based and item-based prediction algorithms against different parameters namely data sparsity levels, training/test data ratio and neighbourhood sizes. From the experimental evaluation, it was observed that the fuzzy-implicit-multicriteria ratings based recommendation approach provides more recommendation accuracy than traditional and other recommendation approaches considered.
Resistance of Interleukin-1β-Deficient Mice to Fatal Sindbis Virus Encephalitis

ABSTRACT Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations are frequently elevated in central nervous system (CNS) viral infections, but the pathophysiologic significance of such elevations is not known. To examine the role of IL-1β in CNS viral pathogenesis, we compared the natural histories of IL-1β-deficient and wild-type 129 SV(ev) mice infected with a neurovirulent viral strain, neuroadapted Sindbis virus (NSV). We found that the incidence of severe paralysis and death was markedly decreased in NSV-infected IL-1β−/− mice compared to NSV-infected wild-type mice (4 versus 88%,P < 0.001). Despite this marked difference in clinical outcome, no differences in numbers of apoptotic cells or presence of histopathologic lesions in the brains of moribund wild-type mice and those of clinically healthy IL-1β−/− mice could be detected. These results suggest that IL-1β deficiency is protective against fatal Sindbis virus infection by a mechanism that does not involve resistance to CNS virus-induced apoptosis or histopathology.
The potential of adaptive interfaces as an accessibility aid for older web users

Supporting effective and enjoyable Web usage by people with sensory, motor and cognitive impairments requires more than just accessible Web content. There is an additional task of matching people with an accessibility solution that best accommodates their particular needs - which, especially for older Web users, may fluctuate in severity, number and combination. Lack of awareness of one's own accessibility needs and the solutions that may exist to accommodate them may lead to a reduced quality Web browsing experience or even abandonment. This paper discusses the difficulties in matching people with less severe, but multiple, impairments with the most appropriate accessibility features at a given time, and explores the role of automated or semi-automated adaptations as a solution for this problem. We review related work, and report on the early stages of our own work conducted to prove the concept of adaptations for accessibility in the specific context of supporting Web users with age-related capability decline. We also consider the potential ethical issues of automated and semi-automated accessibility adaptations on the wellbeing of older Web users, and how these might best be managed in a suitably sensitive way.
Concordance, variance, and outliers in 4 contemporary cardiac troponin assays: implications for harmonization.

BACKGROUND Data to standardize and harmonize the differences between cardiac troponin assays are needed to support their universal status in diagnosis of myocardial infarction. We characterized the variation between methods, the comparability of the 99th-percentile cutoff thresholds, and the occurrence of outliers in 4 cardiac troponin assays. METHODS Cardiac troponin was measured in duplicate in 2358 patient samples on 4 platforms: Abbott Architect i2000SR, Beckman Coulter Access2, Roche Cobas e601, and Siemens ADVIA Centaur XP. RESULTS The observed total variances between the 3 cardiac troponin I (cTnI) methods and between the cTnI and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) methods were larger than expected from the analytical imprecision (3.0%-3.7%). The between-method variations of 26% between cTnI assays and 127% between cTnI and cTnT assays were the dominant contributors to total variances. The misclassification of results according to the 99th percentile was 3%-4% between cTnI assays and 15%-17% between cTnI and cTnT. The Roche cTnT assay identified 49% more samples as positive than the Abbott cTnI. Outliers between methods were detected in 1 patient (0.06%) with Abbott, 8 (0.45%) with Beckman Coulter, 10 (0.56%) with Roche, and 3 (0.17%) with Siemens. CONCLUSIONS The universal definition of myocardial infarction should not depend on the choice of analyte or analyzer, and the between- and within-method differences described here need to be considered in the application of cardiac troponin in this respect. The variation between methods that cannot be explained by analytical imprecision and the discordant classification of results according to the respective 99th percentiles should be addressed.
Developing a Scale to Measure Undergraduates' Antifrustration Ability

Antifrustration ability is an individual’s ability to fight against setbacks. In this study, we developed a 15-item antifrustration ability scale for undergraduates, for use as a measurement tool in related research. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the 3 factors of ability to endure, to mediate, and to grow with frustration explained 53.77% of the variance in anti- frustration ability. Internal consistency coefficients for the 3 factors ranged from . 76 to . 80, and split-half coefficients ranged from . 76 to . 78. As an instrument with high reliability and validity, the newly developed Antifrustration Ability Scale can be applied directly to measure undergraduates’ ability to endure, mediate, and grow with frustration.
Cones perform a non‐linear transformation on natural stimuli

Visual information in natural scenes is distributed over a broad range of intensities and contrasts. This distribution has to be compressed in the retina to match the dynamic range of retinal neurons. In this study we examined how cones perform this compression and investigated which physiological processes contribute to this operation. M‐ and L‐cones of the goldfish were stimulated with a natural time series of intensities (NTSI) and their responses were recorded. The NTSI displays an intensity distribution which is skewed towards the lower intensities and has a long tail into the high intensity region. Cones transform this skewed distribution into a more symmetrical one. The voltage responses of the goldfish cones were compared to those of a linear filter and a non‐linear biophysical model of the photoreceptor. The results show that the linear filter under‐represents contrasts at low intensities compared to the actual cone whereas the non‐linear biophysical model performs well over the whole intensity range used. Quantitative analysis of the two approaches indicates that the non‐linear biophysical model can capture 91 ± 5% of the coherence rate (a biased measure of information rate) of the actual cone, where the linear filter only reaches 48 ± 8%. These results demonstrate that cone photoreceptors transform an NTSI in a non‐linear fashion. The comparison between current clamp and voltage clamp recordings and analysis of the behaviour of the biophysical model indicates that both the calcium feedback loop in the outer segment and the hydrolysis of cGMP are the major components that introduce the specific non‐linear response properties found in the goldfish cones.
Classification of various attacks and their defence mechanism in online social networks: a survey

ABSTRACT Due to the popularity and user friendliness of the Internet, numbers of users of online social networks (OSNs) and social media have grown significantly. However, globally utilised, social networks are the consequence of the lack of understanding of secrecy and protection on OSN and media has increased. Secrecy and surety of OSNs need to be inquired from various positions. According to recent studies, OSN users expose their private information such as email address, phone number etc. In this paper, we have presented a high-level classification of recent OSN attacks for recognising the problem and analysing the blow of such attacks on World Wide Web. We have also discussed OSN attacks on different social networking web applications by citing certain recent reports such as Kaspersky security network and Sophos security threat report. We also offer some simple-to-implement user practice tips to protect the system and user’s information. In addition to this, we have discussed a comprehensive analysis of numerous defensive approaches on OSN security. Lastly, based on the acknowledged strength and faults of these defensive approaches, we have explained open research issues.
Combinatorial Branch-and-Bound for the Maximum Weight Independent Set Problem

We describe three combinatorial branch-and-bound solvers for the maximum weight independent set problem. All use weighted clique covers to generate upper bounds, and all branch according to the method of Balas and Yu (1986). One extends and speeds up the method of Babel (1994). A second one employs a modified method from Balas and Yu (1986) to produce clique covers that share structural similarities with those produced by Babel (1994). Each of these improves on its predecessor. A third solver is a hybrid of the other two. It yields the best known results on some graphs
Trophallaxis in robotic swarms - beyond energy autonomy

The paper considers trophallaxis in robot swarms, which is presented as a concept for resource sharing among individuals inspired by altruistic behaviour in natural populations. A number of elementary problems are identified, such as energy containment, robot morphology, rendezvous motion control and individual resource exchange behaviour. The CISSBot is presented as a design study as well as a proof of concept illustrating how a trophallactic exchange mechanism may be implemented based on batteries in commercially available form factor. A collison free proximity motion control is presented and illustrated by numerical simulation results. A probabilistic Markovian model including relevant effects; mobility, charging, battery exchange and energy consumption is presented and illustrated with numerical examples.
Analyzing system logs: a new view of what's important

System logs, such as the Windows Event log or the Linux system log, are an important resource for computer system management. We present a method for ranking system log messages by their estimated value to users, and generating a log view that displays the most important messages. The ranking process uses a dataset of system logs from many computer systems to score messages. For better scoring, unsupervised clustering is used to identify sets of systems that behave similarly. We propose a new feature construction scheme that measures the difference in the ranking of messages by frequency, and show that it leads to better clustering results. The expected distribution of messages in a given system is estimated using the resulting clusters, and log messages are scored using this estimation. We show experimental results from tests on xSeries servers. A tool based on the described methods is being used to aid support personnel in the IBM xSeries support center.
Transient Protein-Protein Interaction of the SH3-Peptide Complex via Closely Located Multiple Binding Sites

Protein-protein interactions play an essential role in cellular processes. Certain proteins form stable complexes with their partner proteins, whereas others function by forming transient complexes. The conventional protein-protein interaction model describes an interaction between two proteins under the assumption that a protein binds to its partner protein through a single binding site. In this study, we improved the conventional interaction model by developing a Multiple-Site (MS) model in which a protein binds to its partner protein through closely located multiple binding sites on a surface of the partner protein by transiently docking at each binding site with individual binding free energies. To test this model, we used the protein-protein interaction mediated by Src homology 3 (SH3) domains. SH3 domains recognize their partners via a weak, transient interaction and are therefore promiscuous in nature. Because the MS model requires large amounts of data compared with the conventional interaction model, we used experimental data from the positionally addressable syntheses of peptides on cellulose membranes (SPOT-synthesis) technique. From the analysis of the experimental data, individual binding free energies for each binding site of peptides were extracted. A comparison of the individual binding free energies from the analysis with those from atomistic force fields gave a correlation coefficient of 0.66. Furthermore, application of the MS model to 10 SH3 domains lowers the prediction error by up to 9% compared with the conventional interaction model. This improvement in prediction originates from a more realistic description of complex formation than the conventional interaction model. The results suggested that, in many cases, SH3 domains increased the protein complex population through multiple binding sites of their partner proteins. Our study indicates that the consideration of general complex formation is important for the accurate description of protein complex formation, and especially for those of weak or transient protein complexes.
From an artificial neural network to a stock market day-trading system: A case study on the BM&F BOVESPA

Predicting trends in the stock market is a subject of major interest for both scholars and financial analysts. The main difficulties of this problem are related to the dynamic, complex, evolutive and chaotic nature of the markets. In order to tackle these problems, this work proposes a day-trading system that “translates” the outputs of an artificial neural network into business decisions, pointing out to the investors the best times to trade and make profits. The ANN forecasts the lowest and highest stock prices of the current trading day. The system was tested with the two main stocks of the BM&FBOVESPA, an important and understudied market. A series of experiments were performed using different data input configurations, and compared with four benchmarks. The results were evaluated using both classical evaluation metrics, such as the ANN generalization error, and more general metrics, such as the annualized return. The ANN showed to be more accurate and give more return to the investor than the four benchmarks. The best results obtained by the ANN had an mean absolute percentage error around 50% smaller than the best benchmark, and doubled the capital of the investor.
Fast-to-Slow Transition of Skeletal Muscle Contractile Function and Corresponding Changes in Myosin Heavy and Light Chain Formation in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington´s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease resulting from an expanded polyglutamine sequence (poly-Q) in the protein huntingtin (HTT). Various studies report atrophy and metabolic pathology of skeletal muscle in HD and suggest as part of the process a fast-to-slow fiber type transition that may be caused by the pathological changes in central motor control or/and by mutant HTT in the muscle tissue itself. To investigate muscle pathology in HD, we used R6/2 mice, a common animal model for a rapidly progressing variant of the disease expressing exon 1 of the mutant human gene. We investigated alterations in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), a typical fast-twitch muscle, and the soleus (SOL), a slow-twitch muscle. We focussed on mechanographic measurements of excised muscles using single and repetitive electrical stimulation and on the expression of the various myosin isoforms (heavy and light chains) using dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of whole muscle and single fiber preparations. In EDL of R6/2, the functional tests showed a left shift of the force-frequency relation and decrease in specific force. Moreover, the estimated relative contribution of the fastest myosin isoform MyHC IIb decreased, whereas the contribution of the slower MyHC IIx isoform increased. An additional change occurred in the alkali MyLC forms showing a decrease in 3f and an increase in 1f level. In SOL, a shift from fast MyHC IIa to the slow isoform I was detectable in male R6/2 mice only, and there was no evidence of isoform interconversion in the MyLC pattern. These alterations point to a partial remodeling of the contractile apparatus of R6/2 mice towards a slower contractile phenotype, predominantly in fast glycolytic fibers.
Measuring the Strength of Indirect Coupling

It is widely accepted that coupling plays an important role in software quality, particularly in the areas of software maintenance, so effort should be made to keep coupling levels to a minimum in order to reduce the complexity of the system. We have previously introduced the concept of "indirect" coupling - coupling formed by relationships/dependencies that are not directly evident - with the belief that high levels of indirect coupling can constitute greater costs to maintenance as it is harder to detect. In this paper we extend our previous studies by proposing metrics that can advance our understanding of the exact relationship between indirect coupling and maintainability. In particulars the metrics focus on the reflection of "strength" as it is a fundamental component of coupling. We present our observations on the results of applying the metrics to existing Java applications.
Automata and Logic

Exercise 12 Let Σ := {a, b}, M := {0, 1, 2}, and let ◦ : M ×M → M be defined as x ◦ y := (x + y) mod 3. We define mappings Φ,Φ′ : Σ∗ → M by setting Φ(w) := |w | mod 3 and Φ′(w) := |w |a mod 3, where |w | denotes the length of w and |w |a the number of occurrences of the symbol a in w . a) Show that both Φ and Φ′ are monoid homomorphisms from (Σ∗, ·, ε) into (M, ◦, 0). b) For each of the languages Φ−1({0, 2}), Φ−1({1}) and (Φ′)−1({1}) devise a finite automaton that recognises the language.
Design Aspects of Discovery Systems

SUMMARY This paper reviews design aspects of computational discovery systems through the analysis of some successful discovery systems. We first review the concept of viewscope/view on data which provides an interpretation of raw data in a specific domain. Then we relate this concept to the KDD process described by Fayyad et al. (1996) and the developer’s role in computational discovery due to Langley (1998). We emphasize that integration of human experts and discovery systems is a crucial problem in designing discovery systems and claim together with the analysis of discovery systems that the concept of viewscope/view gives a way for approaching this problem.
Piracy Accommodation and the Optimal Timing of Royalty Payments

This paper generalizes the two-period model of Watt (2000) who demonstrates the possibility of optimal accommodation of a pirate when the royalty rate applying to a creation is uniform and second-period Cournot competition applies. Admitting nonlinear contracts with period-specific royalty rates that leave total payments unchanged, simulation analysis shows that a producer of originals does better to increase the royalty rate in period 1 and decrease the rate to a negative level in period 2, thereby more than offsetting the usual cost advantage available to a pirate. Watt's illustrative examples regarding piracy accommodation (but not piracy exclusion) are overturned when a nonlinear contract is chosen optimally, although accommodation remains optimal in some other cases. Further, where exclusion is impossible under uniform royalties, cases exist where exclusion is feasible under nonlinear royalties. Even so, accommodation may be a preferable strategy.
Tumor-Infiltrated Immune Response Correlates with Alterations in the Apoptotic and Cell Cycle Pathways in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg Cells

Purpose: To analyze tumor-microenvironment relationships in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) as potential determinants in the decision-making process related to the alterations in cell cycle and apoptotic pathways of Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (H/RS) cells. Experimental Design: Based on a cohort of 257 classic HL patients, we carried out a global descriptive correlational analysis and logistic regression study to identify tumor-infiltrated immune cell rate in HL that could be interconnected with genes involved in the regulation of apoptotic/proliferative pathways in H/RS cells. Results: Our results reveal the existence of a connection between the reactive microenvironment and molecular changes in apoptotic/proliferative pathways in H/RS cells. A lesser incidence of infiltrated cytotoxic cells in the tumor (CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD57+ natural killer, and granzyme B+ cells) was associated with overexpression of antiapoptotic proteins (Bcl-XL, survivin, caspase-3, and nuclear factor-κB) in tumoral cells. Increased incidence of general infiltrated immune cells, such as CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD57+ natural killer cells, activated CTL, and dendritic cells, in the microenvironment of the tumor was associated with increased growth fraction of tumoral cells, including G1-S checkpoint (cyclin D and cyclin E) and tumor suppressor pathways (p16 and SKP2), and with the presence of EBV (signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 and 3 expression; STAT1/STAT3). Conclusions: A lower level of cytotoxic cells correlated with an increase of antiapoptotic mechanisms in H/RS cells, whereas the global infiltrated immune population correlated with the growth fraction of the tumor. Our collective data suggest a causal relationship between infiltrated immune response and concurrent changes of the different proliferative checkpoints, tumor suppressor, and apoptotic pathways of H/RS cells in HL.