Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrating the Validation Incremental Neural Network and Radial-Basis Function Neural Network for Segmenting Prostate in Ultrasound Images

Prostate hyperplasia is usually found affecting male adults in developed countries. Transrectal ultrasoundgraphy (TRUS) imaging is widely used to diagnose prostate disease. Ultrasonic images are often argued with their primitive echo perturbations and speckle noise, which may confuse the physicians in inspection. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an automatic prostate segmentation system in TRUS images. The automatic segmentation system utilizes a prostate classifier which consists of Validation Incremental Neural Network and Radial-Basis Function Neural Networks for prostate segmentation. Experimental results show that the proposed method has higher accuracy than Active Contour Model (ACM).
Semantic Blogging Agents: Weblogs and Personalization in the Semantic Web

In this paper we propose an architecture for personalized and context-aware information access in the Semantic Web. We identify different agents and explain how blogs can be utilized to improve information access in this architecture. One ambition is the extraction of semantics from blog entries and other Web resources. We also try to improve trust by exploiting information about user identities. This paper is intended as a work in progress paper, most of the ideas are still in the early phases. Areas of interest: [08], [04], [07]
Retirement Outcomes in the Health and Retirement Study

This article examines retirement outcomes in the first four waves of the 1992-1998 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Measured retirement is seen to differ, sometimes substantially, with the definition of retirement used and among various groups analyzed. Moreover, those differences vary with the wave of the survey as respondents age. Retirement comprises a complex set of flows among states representing nonretirement, partial retirement, and complete retirement. Using the self-reported definition of retirement, 77 percent of transitions continue in the same or equivalent states between adjoining waves of the HRS, 17 percent involve a move from greater to lesser labor force participation, and 6 percent involve a move from lesser to greater labor force participation. Twenty-two percent of the sample report they were partially retired at some time in the first four waves, and by age 65, over a fifth of the population is partially retired. Altogether, 17 percent of the sample experienced a reversal in the course of the survey, moving from a state of less work to a state of more work. A comparison of retirement flows for men between the HRS and the 1969-1979 Retirement History Study (RHS) shows that the large spike in the population leaving nonretirement at age 65 observed in the 1969-1979 RHS has fallen from 18 to 11 percentage points in the HRS and that the share leaving nonretirement at 62 has increased from 13 to 20 percentage points over time. The results presented here should help researchers improve their understanding of the structure of the dependent variable in retirement studies. Incorrect or arbitrary measurement of the retirement variable may lead to a misunderstanding of how Social Security and related policies affect retirement outcomes. Thus, the improved understanding of retirement gained from this research will be helpful to those designing retirement policies as they attempt to understand the effects of those policies.
Evaluating Person and Item Fit in Science Achievement Test of TIMSS 2015 for Australian Grade 4 Students Using Rasch Measurement

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the person and item fit of science achievement test for Australian grade 4 students (N = 421) using Rasch measurement. This study was conducted in two stages. First, the software evaluated the person fit then the misfitting persons are removed based on the criteria. Second, the software examined the item fit of the reduced data set. The result indicated that there were ten underfitting persons with the range of person fit index from 1.512 to 1.984. The item difficulty, infit, and outfit MNSQs range of the initial analysis and those of after misfitting person removal are slightly different. The Rasch item and person reliability slightly change. For the final analysis, the infit MNSQs and the outfit MNSQs are within the reasonable range for high stakes MCQs which implies that the items are good and indicate the sufficient fit to Rasch model for practical measurement purposes. Keywords—Rasch model, students’ science achievement, person fit, item fit
IDMA/CDMA: A Hybrid Multiple Access Scheme

In this paper, we propose a hybrid multiple access scheme which combines interleave division multiple access (IDMA) and code division multiple access (CDMA), therefore, we refer to this scheme as IDMA/CDMA. We employ IDMA technique as the uplink transmission and CDMA technique as the downlink transmission. Thus, IDMA/CDMA can achieve a very simple chip-by-chip iterative multi-user detection (MUD) strategy at the base station, and the simplified receive processing for the user ends (UEs). The proposed scheme can substantially utilize the advantages of IDMA and CDMA technologies.
Privacy-preserving clone detection for RFID-enabled supply chains

Counterfeit products cause financial losses and represent a health risk. Within RFID-enabled supply chains, where products are equipped with RFID tags, clone detection mechanisms based on tag traces can help in detecting counterfeits. These mechanisms assume that supply chain partners share (private) information to run trace analysis, and may suffer from supply chain dynamics, tag misreads, product recalls, and misdeliveries. In this work, we present a novel, effective, privacy-preserving clone detection mechanism for RFID-enabled supply chains. Our mechanism does not rely on global knowledge of supply chain structures or products flow, it is robust to recalls and misdeliveries, and considers tag misreads while evaluating the presence of counterfeits. We propose privacy-preserving implementations of our mechanism that show better performance when compared to similar implementations based on existing secure multi-party computation frameworks.
Eigenvalue Problems for Fractional $p(x,y)$-Laplacian Equations with Indefinite Weight

In this paper, we consider a class of eigenvalue problems for fractional p ( x, y )-Laplacian equations with indeﬁnite weight in fractional Sobolev space with variable exponent. Under some suitable conditions on the growth rates involved in the problem, we establish some results on the existence of a continuous family of eigenvalues using variational techniques and Ekeland’s variational principle.
Directional decomposition based total variation image restoration

This paper proposes an extension of total variation (TV) image deconvolution technique that enhances image quality over classical TV while preserving algorithm speed. Enhancement is achieved by altering the regularization term to include directional decompositions before the gradient operator. Such decompositions select areas of the image with characteristics that are more suitable for a certain type of gradient than another. Speed is guaranteed by the use of the augmented Lagrangian approach as basis for the algorithm. Experimental evidence that the proposed approach improves TV deconvolution is provided, as well as an outline for a future work aiming to support and substantiate the proposed method.
Gut microbiota-based translational biomarkers to prevent metabolic syndrome via nutritional modulation

In the face of the global epidemic of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its strong association with the increasing rate of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, it is critical to detect MetS at an early stage in the clinical setting to implement preventive intervention long before the complications arise. Lipopolysaccharide, the cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria produced from diet-disrupted gut microbiota, has been shown to induce metabolic endotoxemia, chronic low-grade inflammation, and ultimately insulin resistance. Therefore, ameliorating the inflammation and insulin resistance underlying MetS by gut microbiota-targeted, dietary intervention has gained increasing attention. In this review, we propose using dynamic monitoring of a set of translational biomarkers related with the etiological role of gut microbiota, including lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), for early detection and prevention of MetS via nutritional modulation. LBP initiates the recognition and monomerization of lipopolysaccharide and amplifies host immune responses, linking the gut-derived antigen load and inflammation indicated by the plasma levels of CRP. Fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR are measured to evaluate insulin sensitivity that is damaged by pro-inflammatory cytokines. The dynamic monitoring of these biomarkers in high-risk populations may provide translational methods for the quantitative and dynamic evaluation of dysbiosis-induced insulin resistance and the effectiveness of dietary treatment for MetS.
Quantum computer with mixed states and four-valued logic

In this paper we discuss a model of quantum computer in which a state is an operator of density matrix and gates are general quantum operations, not necessarily unitary. A mixed state (operator of density matrix) of n twolevel quantum systems is considered as an element of 4 n -dimensional operator Hilbert space (Liouville space). It allows us to use a quantum computer model with four-valued logic. The gates of this model are general superoperators which act on n-ququat state. Ququat is a quantum state in a four-dimensional (operator) Hilbert space. Unitary two-valued logic gates and quantum operations for an n-qubit open system are considered as four-valued logic gates acting on n-ququats. We discuss properties of quantum four-valued logic gates. In the paper we study universality for quantum four-valued logic gates.
Brain activity related to action-and non-action related sounds in a three-dimensional sound reproduction system

The mirror neuron system (MNS) is the brain region that is activated when seeing the sight or hearing the sound of another's action. We investigated whether the mirror neuron system shows differential activation for action-related and non-action-related sounds and whether it is susceptible to the quality of the sounds. In this experiment, we used a threedimensional sound field reproduction and recording system based on the boundary surface control principle (BoSC). Murhythms of EEG over the sensorimotor cortex (Fz, Cz, C3 and C4 electrodes) were recorded throughout the experiment. The results showed significant differences between action-related and non-action-related sounds at Cz and C3 through 62ch loudspeakers. We found a significant difference between 1-ch and 62-ch loudspeakers when subjects listened to actionrelated sounds. These results confirm that the mirror neuron system is activated in a three-dimensional sound reproduction system when we listen to action-related sounds.
Hybrid Dysgenesis in Drosophila simulans Associated with a Rapid Invasion of the P-Element

In a classic example of the invasion of a species by a selfish genetic element, the P-element was horizontally transferred from a distantly related species into Drosophila melanogaster. Despite causing ‘hybrid dysgenesis’, a syndrome of abnormal phenotypes that include sterility, the P-element spread globally in the course of a few decades in D. melanogaster. Until recently, its sister species, including D. simulans, remained P-element free. Here, we find a hybrid dysgenesis-like phenotype in the offspring of crosses between D. simulans strains collected in different years; a survey of 181 strains shows that around 20% of strains induce hybrid dysgenesis. Using genomic and transcriptomic data, we show that this dysgenesis-inducing phenotype is associated with the invasion of the P-element. To characterize this invasion temporally and geographically, we survey 631 D. simulans strains collected on three continents and over 27 years for the presence of the P-element. We find that the D. simulans P-element invasion occurred rapidly and nearly simultaneously in the regions surveyed, with strains containing P-elements being rare in 2006 and common by 2014. Importantly, as evidenced by their resistance to the hybrid dysgenesis phenotype, strains collected from the latter phase of this invasion have adapted to suppress the worst effects of the P-element. Author Summary Some genes perform necessary organismal functions, others hijack the cellular machinery to replicate themselves, potentially harming the host in the process. These ‘selfish genes’ can spread through genomes and species; as a result, eukaryotic genomes are typically saddled with large amounts of parasitic DNA. Here, we chronicle the surprisingly rapid global spread of a selfish transposable element through a close relative of the genetic model, Drosophila melanogaster. We see that, as it spreads, the transposable element is associated with damaging effects, including sterility, but that the flies quickly adapt to the negative consequences of the transposable element.
The Computational Semantics of Characters

The semantic properties associated with larger text units, typically morphemes, words, phrases, and sentences, have been treated computationally in innumerable studies. Smaller text units have largely been ignored to date in the context of computational semantics research. We argue in this paper that although the forms of smaller units at the orthographic level have received considerable attention in the Unicode discussion, they have semantic properties which require additional explicit consideration. In this paper we present a new approach to the computational semantics of characters, which fills this gap:1 the orthographic projection of linguistic information, analogous to phonetic interpretation. We consider a number of use cases prior to discussion of three different perspectives. Adopting a holistic view of semantics, we discover that there are properties at this lower level which require similar specification to that at more well-studied levels, and which can coherently extend computational linguistic models to the domain of orthography. Word semantic representations, e.g. in the Generative Lexicon approach [6], allow the decomposition of word semantics into specific levels of description, e.g. argument structure, event structure, qualia structure and lexical inheritance structure. Syntactic frameworks e.g. HPSG [7] apply a similar representation to combine those syntactic and semantic features which are relevant for sentence syntax. A representation in (often underspecified) hierarchical classes seems to be generic enough for the purpose. In character-to-glyph projection, such principles are generally not applied, on the assumption, perhaps, that character semantics is trivial. The opposite is the case. The semantics of a specific glyph (or an entire font e.g. Hiragana or Kanji) may include an assignment to a language (e.g. Japanese) or language family, to a specific social group, e.g. phoneticians (the International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA), or a company which defines a font as part of its corporate identity. Such semantic properties will play a useful role in practical Semantic Web search. In the computational language documentation paradigm, this kind of explicit description of font and glyph semantics, rather than the ad hoc interpretations given by the average font user, is an absolute necessity. Especially in legacy data, representations of a language in written form will not be accessble if the font information is
Image Restoration Through Dictionary Learning and Sparse Representation

Based on the content dual-dictionary learning and sparse representation, we put forward a novel method of image restoration. This method can improve the adaptive ability of the image. To restore the image, the dual-dictionary is trained with sparse representation. Comparing with the traditional dictionary learning algorithm, the method in this paper can capture more high-frequency information and enhance the image quality further in image reconstruction. The experimental results show that the proposed method is useful for image restoration and much better than other methods.
An Implementation of SAR Testbed and the Flight Test Results

SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) has been widely used for reconnaissance. Because of the advantage of getting high resolution images regardless of day and night, its demand is increasing for the military field. Because the SAR coherently combines many viewing angles to create a large synthetic aperture(narrow beam) radar, a testbed which is capable of moving straightly the SAR during the integration angle, is required. This paper describes the testbed developed to test and evaluate the SAR performance. It forms high-quality images in real time and archives the raw data for the purpose of post processing on the ground.
Dynamic simulations of 13 TATA variants refine kinetic hypotheses of sequence/activity relationships.

The fundamental relationship between DNA sequence/deformability and biological function has attracted numerous experimental and theoretical studies. A classic prototype system used for such studies in eukaryotes is the complex between the TATA element transcriptional regulator and the TATA-box binding protein (TBP). The recent crystallographic study by Burley and co-workers demonstrated the remarkable structural similarity contrasted to different transcriptional activity of 11 TBP/DNA complexes in which the DNAs differed by single base-pairs. By simulating these TATA variants and two other single base-pair variants that were not crystallizable, we uncover sequence-dependent structural, energetic, and flexibility properties that tailor TATA elements to TBP interactions, complementing many previous studies by refining kinetic hypotheses on sequence/activity correlations. The factors that combine to produce favorable elements for TBP activity include overall flexibility; minor groove widening, as well as roll, rise, and shift increases at the ends of the TATA element; untwisting within the TATA element accompanied by large roll at the TATA element ends; and relatively low maximal water densities around the DNA. These features accompany the severe deformation induced by the minor-groove binding protein, which kinks the TATA element at the ends and displaces local water molecules to form stabilizing hydrophobic contacts. Interestingly, the preferred bending direction itself is not a significant predictor of activity disposition, although certain variants (such as wild-type AdMLP, 5'-TATA4G-3', and inactive A29, 5'-TA6G-3') exhibit large preferred bends in directions consistent with their activity or inactivity (major groove and minor groove bends, respectively). These structural, flexibility, and hydration preferences, identified here and connected to a new crystallographic study of a larger group of DNA variants than reported to date, highlight the profound influence of single base-pair DNA variations on DNA motion. Our refined kinetic hypothesis suggests the functional implications of these motions in a kinetic model of TATA/TBP recognition, inviting further theoretical and experimental research.
The Peer-to-Peer Wireless Network Confederation : Enabling Global Wi-Fi Roaming

Belonging to the same family of standards as Ethernet, it was nicknamed 'Wireless Ethernet' and was considered an appropriate networking technology for offices because it did not rely on cables. Although burdened by inherent insecurity (Fluhrer, 2001) and low bit rates compared to its wired equivalent, IEEE 802.11 was a success. The cost of manufacturing 802.11 chipsets fell quickly and 802.11 client adapters found their way from desktop PCs to laptops and personal digital assistants. Wi-Fi (short for Wireless Fidelity), a consumer-friendly moniker for 802.11 was adopted and the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), a nonprofit international association was formed in 1999 to certify the interoperability of Wi-Fi products. WECA changed its name to the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2002 (Wi-Fi Alliance, 2004). The two main components of Wi-Fi networks are the wireless stations and the Wi-Fi access points, which are the wireless equivalent of Ethernet hubs. Stations equipped with Wi-Fi adapters can communicate wirelessly with nearby access points that link them to each other, to the local wired network, and to the Internet. Stations can also communicate with each other without access points, assuming their radios are within range, in a so-called 'ad hoc' mode (IEEE Std 802.11, 1999). Newer IEEE specifications include 802.11g, which enables stations and access points to connect to each other at speeds of up to 54 Mbps, and 802.11i, which employs advanced authentication and encryption algorithms to protect against unauthorized users that attempt to gain access to private networks (IEEE Standards, 2004). 802.11i also protects the confidentiality and integrity of wireless sessions that are usually susceptible to eavesdropping and hijacking attacks. The term 'Wi-Fi hotspot' is now being used to describe an area where Wi-Fi connectivity is available via a nearby access point. Public hotspots can be found in airport lounges and shopping malls; in coffee shops and restaurants; in hotels and exhibition centers. Wi-Fi users that include business travelers, patrons, and other visitors can use their portable devices in these hotspots to access e-mail, corporate intranets, or the Internet. Users can browse the Web, use instant messaging and
Evolutionary Development of Phase-Based Dialogue Systems

We put forward initial results on lightweight phase-based control for dialogue systems as a test case of evolutionary development of such systems. A new design pattern for generalized phase-based processing is presented. A phase-based view of top-level control for dialogue systems is suggested in terms of the new pattern. The work verifies the generality of a previously reported development method for dialogue system, w.r. t. the choice of implementation frameworks.
FBMC System: An Insight Into Doubly Dispersive Channel Impact

It has been claimed that filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) systems suffer from negligible performance loss caused by moderate dispersive channels in the absence of guard time protection between symbols. However, a theoretical and systematic explanation/analysis for the statement is missing in the literature to date. In this paper, based on one-tap minimum mean square error (MMSE) and zero-forcing (ZF) channel equalizations, the impact of doubly dispersive channel on the performance of FBMC systems is analyzed in terms of mean square error of received symbols. Based on this analytical framework, we prove that the circular convolution property between symbols and the corresponding channel coefficients in the frequency domain holds loosely with a set of inaccuracies. To facilitate analysis, we first model the FBMC system in a vector/matrix form and derive the estimated symbols as a sum of desired signal, noise, intersymbol interference (ISI), intercarrier interference (ICI), interblock interference (IBI), and estimation bias in the MMSE equalizer. Those terms are derived one-by-one and expressed as a function of channel parameters. The numerical results reveal that under harsh channel conditions, e.g., with large Doppler spread or channel delay spread, the FBMC system performance may be severely deteriorated and error floor will occur.