Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deconstructing Javanese Batik Motif: When Traditional Heritage Meets Computation

The paper discusses some aspects of Iterated Function System while referring to some interesting point of view into Indonesian traditional batik. The deconstruction is delivered in our recognition of the Collage Theorem to find the affine transform of the iterated function system that attracts the iteration of drawing the dots into the complex motif of - or at least, having high similarity to - batik patterns. We employ and revisit the well-known Chaos Game to reconstruct after having some basic motifs is deconstructed. The reconstruction of the complex pattern opens a quest of creativity broadening the computationally generated batik exploiting its self-similarity properties. A challenge to meet the modern computational generative art with the traditional batik designs is expected to yield synergistically interesting results aesthetically. The paper concludes with two arrows of our further endeavors in this field, be it enriching our understanding of how human cognition has created such beautiful patterns and designs traditionally since ancient civilizations in our anthropological perspective while in the other hand providing us tool to the empowerment of batik as generative aesthetics by employment of computation.
A graphics architecture for high-end interactive television terminals

This article presents a graphics software architecture for next-generation digital television receivers. We propose that such receivers should include a standardised Java-based procedural environment capable of rendering 2D/3D graphics and video, and a declarative environment supporting W3C recommendations such as SMIL and XForms. We also introduce a graphics architecture model that meets such requirements. As a proof-of-concept, a prototype implementation of the model is presented. This implementation enhances television content by allowing the user to play 3D graphics games, to run Java applications, and to browse XML-based documents while meeting current hardware restrictions.
K-Band Radio frequency Interference Survey of Southeastern Michigan

The Radio frequency Interference Survey of Earth (RISE) is a new type of instrument used to survey and characterize the presence of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) that can affect microwave radiometers. It consists of a combined microwave radiometer and kurtosis spectrometer with broad frequency coverage and high temporal and spectral resolution. A K-Band airborne version has been built and flown across southeast Michigan. A kurtosis detector is included in RISE to reliably detect the presence of RFI, even at very low levels, and to aid in its characterization. A radiometer is included to measure the impact of the RFI on observed brightness temperature.
Interlaboratory Reproducibility of a Single-Locus Sequence-Based Method for Strain Typing of Aspergillus fumigatus

ABSTRACT Seven international laboratories tested the recently proposed single-locus typing strategy for Aspergillus fumigatus subtyping for interlaboratory reproducibility. Comparative sequence analyses of portions of the locus AFUA_3G08990, encoding a putative cell surface protein (denoted CSP), was performed with a panel of Aspergillus isolates. Each laboratory followed very different protocols for extraction of DNA, PCR, and sequencing. Results revealed that the CSP typing method was a reproducible and portable strain typing method.
Open-Source and Consumer Electronics—The Back Door to World Domination: Why Reinvent the Wheel (Especially When Nice People Are Giving Wheels Away for Free)?

The development work that used to be seen as a tedious but necessary part of any embedded computing product is increasingly found and released as open-source software. Perhaps the ultimate example of this is in the provision of an entire market-ready user experience in the Android operating system (OS). This article demonstrates some of the immediate consequences such as accelerating the time to market, leveling the user interface playing field, and lowering the bar to product entry and goes on to consider a longer-term impact. Is this truly a free lunch?
Fuzzy Diagnostic System for Oleo-Pneumatic Drive Mechanism of High-Voltage Circuit Breakers

Many oil-based high-voltage circuit breakers are still in use in national power networks of developing countries, like those in Eastern Europe. Changing these breakers with new more reliable ones is not an easy task, due to their implementing costs. The acting device, called oleo-pneumatic mechanism (MOP), presents the highest fault rate from all components of circuit breaker. Therefore, online predictive diagnosis and early detection of the MOP fault tendencies are very important for their good functioning state. In this paper, fuzzy logic approach is used for the diagnosis of MOP-type drive mechanisms. Expert rules are generated to estimate the MOP functioning state, and a fuzzy system is proposed for predictive diagnosis. The fuzzy inputs give information about the number of starts and time of functioning per hour, in terms of short-term components, and their mean values. Several fuzzy systems were generated, using different sets of membership functions and rule bases, and their output performances are studied. Simulation results are presented based on an input data set, which contains hourly records of operating points for a time horizon of five years. The fuzzy systems work well, making an early detection of the MOP fault tendencies.
Privacy-preserving approach to bayesian network structure learning from distributed data

In many situations, data is scattered across different sites, making the modeling process difficult or sometimes impossible. Some applications could benefit from collaborations between organisations but data security or privacy policies often act as a barrier to data mining on such contexts. In this paper, we present a novel approach to learning Bayesian Networks (BN) structures from multiple datasets, based on the use of Ensembles and an Island Model Genetic Algorithm (IMGA). The proposed design ensures no data is shared during the process and can fit many applications.
Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction: An analysis of 1612 cases from the ACS-NSQIP surgical outcomes database

Abstract There is continued debate about the outcomes of direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction when compared to a two-stage expander/implant approach. The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes after DTI reconstruction utilising the American College of Surgeons–National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database. This study reviewed the 2005–2010 ACS-NSQIP databases identifying encounters with common procedural terminology codes for DTI (19340) (mastectomy and immediate implant placement). A composite variable of “major surgical complications” (deep infection, return to OR, device loss) was used as the dependent variable in the analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess for pre- and intraoperative factors associated with the occurrence of “major surgical complications”. Overall, 1612 patients underwent one stage, DTI reconstruction with an average age of 50.8 ± 10.7 years with a body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) of 26.9 ± 6.3 kg/m2. The incidence of major surgical complications was 9%. A multivariate regression analysis revealed obesity (OR = 1.54, p = 0.03), active smoking (OR = 1.60, p = 0.044), and prolonged operative time (>1 SD above average) (OR = 1.88, p = 0.002) were associated with surgical morbidity. The results of the analysis emphasize that DTI-based breast reconstruction can be an excellent option for a specific group of patients. Careful pre-operative patient selection will optimise outcomes, and caution must be used in assessing suitability of DTI in obese patients and active smokers.
Exploiting algebra/coalgebra duality for program fusion extensions

We reformulate algorithms for optimizing functional programs through a well known fusion technique. The reformulation sheds a new perspective which simplifies significantly the extensions to cope with programs involving mutually recursive definitions and recursion over multiple arguments. The presentation is based on a recursion scheme known as hylomorphism but other related fusion techniques may benefit from the results. Our algorithms are implemented as part of a fusion tool called HFusion.
International Journal of Women's Health Dovepress Sclerostin Inhibition: a Novel Therapeutic Approach in the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures are growing problems with the aging population and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. At this time, other than parathyroid hormone analogs, all therapies for osteoporosis are antiresorptive. Therefore, researchers have focused efforts on development of more anabolic therapies. Understanding of the Wnt signaling pathway, which is critical for skeletal development, and the role of scle-rostin in inhibition of Wnt signaling has led to the discovery of a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of osteoporosis – sclerostin inhibition. In this review, we discuss the biology of Wnt signaling and sclerostin inhibition. We then discuss human disorders of decreased sclerostin function and animal models of sclerostin inhibition. Both have served to elucidate the effects of decreased sclerostin levels and function – increased bone mass and strength and fewer fractures. In addition, we review data from Phase I and II studies of the two humanized sclerostin monoclonal antibodies, romosozumab and blosozumab, both of which have had positive effects on bone mineral density. We conclude with a discussion of the ongoing Phase III studies of romosozumab. The available data support the potential for neutralizing sclerostin monoclonal antibodies to serve as anabolic agents in the treatment of osteoporosis.
In vitro availability of iron and zinc: effects of the type, concentration and fractions of digestion products of the protein

An in vitro dialysis method was employed to determine the effect on the Fe and Zn absorption of the type (beef, pork and soyabean) and the amount (10 and 30 g/kg) of protein present. In addition, the effects of low- and high-molecular-weight (LMW and HMW respectively) digestion products were investigated. After in vitro digestion and dialysis a lower percentage of N, Fe and Zn was found in the LMW fractions from beef, pork and soyabean proteins when the protein level was increased from 10 to 30 g/kg; the higher level of protein being associated with a lower percentage of hydrolysed protein. The highest percentage levels of intrinsic Fe were always found in the HMW fractions, independent of the type and the level of proteins studied, while in the case of Zn, both HMW and LMW fractions gave similar values. An interaction was found between inorganic Zn and non-haem-Fe. The addition of inorganic Zn (10 μg/ml) caused a significant decrease in the in vitro availability of Fe from soyabean protein, while it did not affect the dialysability of intrinsic Fe from beef and pork proteins. Our results showed that the type and the level of the protein had a positive effect on the dialysability of extrinsic Fe. We postulate that the effect of a protein on the absorption of extrinsic Fe could be accounted for by free amino acids and/or small peptides released during the digestion process and also by the undigested or partially-digested HMW fractions of hydrolysed proteins which could play a fundamental role in the availability of this essential element.
Tracking genomic instability within irradiated and bystander populations

Over the past two decades, our understanding of radiation biology has undergone a fundamental shift in paradigms away from deterministic ‘hit‐effect’ relationships and towards complex ongoing ‘cellular responses’. These responses include now familiar, but still poorly understood, phenomena associated with radiation exposure such as genomic instability and bystander effects. Although these responses share some common features (e.g. they occur at high frequency following very low doses, are heterogeneous in their induction and are observed at time points far removed from the initial radiation exposure), the precise relationship between genomic instability and bystander effects remains to be elucidated. This review will provide a synthesis of the known, and proposed, interrelationships among irradiated and bystander cellular responses to radiation. It also discusses our current experimental approach for gaining a clearer understanding of the relationship between damage induction and long‐term effects in both irradiated and bystander cells.
Gallbladder Cancer Incidence and Mortality, United States 1999–2011

Background: Gallbladder cancer is a rare cancer with unusual distribution, and few population-based estimates for the United States have been published. Methods: Using population-based cancer incidence and mortality data, we examined U.S. gallbladder cancer incidence and death rates for 2007–2011 and trends for 1999–2011. Results: During 2007 to 2011, approximately 3,700 persons were diagnosed with primary gallbladder cancer (rate = 1.13 cases per 100,000) and 2,000 died from the disease (rate = 0.62 deaths per 100,000) each year in the United States. Two thirds of gallbladder cancer cases and deaths occurred among women. Gallbladder cancer incidence and death rates were three times higher among American Indian and Alaska Native persons than non-Hispanic white persons. By state, gallbladder cancer incidence and death rates ranged by about 2-fold. During 1999 to 2011, gallbladder cancer incidence rates decreased among women but remained level among men; death rates declined among women but stabilized among men after declining from 1999 to 2006. Gallbladder cancer incidence rates increased in some subgroups, notably among black persons, those aged <45 years, and for endocrine tumors. Conclusions: Data from U.S. population-based cancer registries confirm that gallbladder cancer incidence and death rates are higher among women than men, highest among American Indian and Alaska Native persons, and differ by region. While overall incidence and death rates decreased during 1999 to 2011, incidence rates increased among some small subgroups. Impact: Surveillance of gallbladder cancer incidence and mortality, particularly to monitor increases in subgroups, may provide clues to etiology and stimulate further research. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(9); 1319–26. ©2015 AACR.
5-Aminolevulinic Acid Derivatives in Photomedicine: Characteristics, Application and Perspectives

Abstract The introduction of lipophilic derivatives of the naturally occurring heme precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) into photomedicine has led to a true revival of this research area. 5-ALA–mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) and fluorescence photodetection (FD) of neoplastic disease is probably one of the most selective cancer treatments currently known in oncology. To date, this method has been assessed experimentally for the treatment of various medical indications. However, the limited local bioavailability of 5-ALA has widely prevented its use in daily clinical practice. Although researchers were already aware of this drawback early during the development of 5-ALA–mediated PDT, only recently have well-established concepts in pharmaceutical science been adapted to investigate ways to overcome this drawback. Recently, two derivatives of 5-ALA, methylaminolevulinate (MAL) and hexylaminolevulinate (HAL), gained marketing authorization from the regulatory offices in Europe and Australia. MAL is marketed under the trade name Metvix for the treatment of actinic keratosis and difficult-to-treat basal cell carcinoma. HAL has recently been launched under the trade name Hexvix to improve the detection of superficial bladder cancer in Europe. This review will first present the fundamental concepts underlying the use of 5-ALA derivatives in PDT and FD from a chemical, biochemical and pharmaceutical point of view. Experimental evidences from preclinical data on the improvements and limits observed with 5-ALA derivatives will then be introduced. The state-of-the-art from clinical studies with 5-ALA esters will be discussed, with special emphasis placed on the process that led to the development of MAL in dermatology and to HAL in urology. Finally, we will discuss promising medical fields in which use of 5-ALA derivatives might potentially lead to further use of this methodology in photomedicine.
A self-consistent theory for graphene transport

We demonstrate theoretically that most of the observed transport properties of graphene sheets at zero magnetic field can be explained by scattering from charged impurities. We find that, contrary to common perception, these properties are not universal but depend on the concentration of charged impurities nimp. For dirty samples (250 × 1010 cm−2 < nimp < 400 × 1010 cm−2), the value of the minimum conductivity at low carrier density is indeed 4e2/h in agreement with early experiments, with weak dependence on impurity concentration. For cleaner samples, we predict that the minimum conductivity depends strongly on nimp, increasing to 8e2/h for nimp ≈ 20 × 1010 cm−2. A clear strategy to improve graphene mobility is to eliminate charged impurities or use a substrate with a larger dielectric constant.
Parameters Affecting Length of Stay Among Neurosurgical Patients in an Intensive Care Unit.

AIM to determine the predictive factors on the length of stay of neurosurgical patients in the ICU setting. METHODS all patients admitted to the neurosurgical ICU between February 1 and July 31, 2011 were recruited. Patient demographics and clinical data for each variable were collected within 30 minutes of admission. The ICU length of stay was recorded and analyzed by linear regression model with statistical significance at p-value <0.05. RESULTS there were 276 patients admitted, of whom 89.1% were elective cases. The mean (95% CI) and median (min-max) of ICU length of stay were 2.36 (2.09-2.63) and 2 (1-25) days. The variables associated with ICU length of stay and their percent change (95% CI) were the Glasgow Coma Scale motor subscore (GCSm), 6.72% (-11.20 to -2.01) lower for every 1 point score change; blood pH, 1.16% (0.11 to 2.21) higher for every 0.01 unit change; and emergency admission type, 58.30% (29.16 to 94.0) higher as compared to elective admission. CONCLUSION the GCSm, pH and emergency admission were found to be the main predictive variables of neurosurgical patient length of stay in the intensive care unit, however, the model should be further explored in a larger sample size and using subgroup analysis.
Epidemiology of anxiety disorders in the 21st century

Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and separation anxiety disorder, are the most prevalent mental disorders and are associated with immense health care costs and a high burden of disease. According to large population-based surveys, up to 33.7% of the population are affected by an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Substantial underrecognition and undertreatment of these disorders have been demonstrated. There is no evidence that the prevalence rates of anxiety disorders have changed in the past years. In cross-cultural comparisons, prevalence rates are highly variable. It is more likely that this heterogeneity is due to differences in methodology than to cultural influences. Anxiety disorders follow a chronic course; however, there is a natural decrease in prevalence rates with older age. Anxiety disorders are highly comorbid with other anxiety disorders and other mental disorders.
Impact of Mobility on the BER Performance of Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

In this paper, the authors quantify the impact of mobility on the bit error rate (BER) performance of ad hoc wireless networks. Analytical expressions, relating the BER at the end of a multihop route with the mobility characteristics of the nodes and the switching strategy, are derived on the basis of a rigorous detection-theoretic approach. In particular, two network switching scenarios are considered: 1) opportunistic nonreservation-based switching (ONRBS), where a message flows from source to destination by opportunistically choosing the available shortest consecutive links and 2) reservation-based switching (RBS), where, after the creation of a multihop route from source to destination, the message is "forced" to flow over the reserved links, regardless of their actual lengths. The network performance is evaluated for both an ideal case (without interference) and a realistic case (with interference). The improved robustness against mobility offered by ONRBS, with respect to RBS, is analyzed and quantified. In particular, two node mobility models, known as direction-persistent (DP) and direction-non-persistent (DNP), are considered, and it is shown that DP mobility causes a much more profound degradation in the end-to-end route BER than DNP mobility. This conclusion is more pronounced in ad hoc wireless networks employing RBS. Overall, the results show that if the medium access control (MAC) protocol is not efficient in canceling or mitigating the interference, then the role of the switching/routing strategy in network performance is quite minor
Mitophagy Regulated by the PINK 1-Parkin Pathway

Mitochondria play key roles in the cellular metabolism of lipids and iron as well as in cell death signaling. Mitochondrial dysregulation produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which results in oxidative stress. Moreover, the accumulation of damaged mi‐ tochondria leads to cell death and tissue dysfunction. Mitochondrial maintenance in‐ volves mitophagy, a selective autophagy process that removes abnormal mitochondria. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder caused by the specific loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Two genes im‐ plicated in PD, PINK1 and Parkin, regulate mitophagy in cultured cells. Reduction of the ΔΨm leads to activation of PINK1, which stimulates the recruitment of Parkin to the mitochondrial outer membrane of damaged mitochondria and activates Parkin’s ubiquitin-ligase activity. Activated mitochondrial Parkin leads to the ubiquitination of mitochondrial proteins and subsequent mitophagy. This elaborate molecular mecha‐ nism was recently uncovered and the findings demonstrate the physiological and pathological roles of the PINK1-Parkin pathway. Here, we review these key findings on the molecular mechanism and ideas relevant to neurodegeneration caused by dys‐ regulation of the PINK1-Parkin pathway.