Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Stroma—A Key Regulator in Prostate Function and Malignancy

Prostate cancer is a very common and highly unpredictable form of cancer. Whereas many prostate cancers are slow growing and could be left without treatment, others are very aggressive. Additionally, today there is no curative treatment for prostate cancer patients with local or distant metastasis. Identification of new, improved prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for prostate cancer and the finding of better treatment strategies for metastatic prostate cancer is therefore highly warranted. Interactions between epithelium and stroma are known to be important already during prostate development and this interplay is critical also in development, progression of primary tumors and growth of metastases. It is therefore reasonable to expect that future biomarkers and therapeutic targets can be identified in the prostate tumor and metastasis stroma and this possibility should be further explored.
A new technique for improving quality of speech in voice over IP using time-scale modification

Packet arrival-delay variations and losses seriously affect the quality of voice delivered in VoIP. In this paper, using a time-scale modification algorithm, an integrated scheme is proposed to handle these impairments without introducing additional delays. This scheme provides flexible arrivaldelay cut-offs to late arriving packets, reducing the packet loss-rate at the receiver. Further, the lost packets are concealed effectively. Extensive simulations have shown that the proposed scheme delivers high-quality speech across widely varying packet arrival-delays and loss-rates. The proposed scheme is fully receiver-based and with its low computational complexity and generic nature, is applicable to any VoIP system.
Direct observation of Σ7 domain boundary core structure in magnetic skyrmion lattice

Advanced electron microscopy reveals a unique structural relaxation mechanism in a magnetic skyrmion domain boundary core. Skyrmions are topologically protected nanoscale magnetic spin entities in helical magnets. They behave like particles and tend to form hexagonal close-packed lattices, like atoms, as their stable structure. Domain boundaries in skyrmion lattices are considered to be important as they affect the dynamic properties of magnetic skyrmions. However, little is known about the fine structure of such skyrmion domain boundaries. We use differential phase contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy to directly visualize skyrmion domain boundaries in FeGe1−xSix induced by the influence of an “edge” of a crystal grain. Similar to hexagonal close-packed atomic lattices, we find the formation of skyrmion “Σ7” domain boundary, whose orientation relationship is predicted by the coincidence site lattice theory to be geometrically stable. On the contrary, the skyrmion domain boundary core structure shows a very different structure relaxation mode. Individual skyrmions can flexibly change their size and shape to accommodate local coordination changes and free volumes formed at the domain boundary cores. Although atomic rearrangement is a common structural relaxation mode in crystalline grain boundaries, skyrmions show very unique and thus different responses to such local lattice disorders.
Gaining the profits of cloud computing in a public authority environment

In this paper, we discuss cloud computing in a public authority context. We define the key features and characteristics of the cloud in security centric environments such as the military environment. We address the most essential problems and obstacles to be considered before the benefits of cloud computing can be fully enabled therein. As a solution to problems with the adoption of cloud computing in public authority environments, we propose a new service model called knowledge management as a service, which also improves usability. The discussion and views presented in this paper can be adopted in any organisation with doubts concerning the sensitive and classified contents of current ICT systems in cloud computing.
An asymmetric inhibition model of hemispheric differences in emotional processing

Two relatively independent lines of research have addressed the role of the prefrontal cortex in emotional processing. The first examines hemispheric asymmetries in frontal function; the second focuses on prefrontal interactions between cognition and emotion. We briefly review each perspective and highlight inconsistencies between them. We go on to describe an alternative model that integrates approaches by focusing on hemispheric asymmetry in inhibitory executive control processes. The asymmetric inhibition model proposes that right-lateralized executive control inhibits processing of positive or approach-related distractors, and left-lateralized control inhibits negative or withdrawal-related distractors. These complementary processes allow us to maintain and achieve current goals in the face of emotional distraction. We conclude with a research agenda that uses the model to generate novel experiments that will advance our understanding of both hemispheric asymmetries and cognition-emotion interactions.
Expositions agrégées aux composés organiques semi-volatils dans l'habitat et risques sanitaires associés

Les populations sont exposees dans leur habitat a un nombre croissant de composes chimiques, dont les composes organiques semi-volatils (COSV). Ils se distribuent sur les surfaces, les phases particulaire et gazeuse de l’air et les poussieres, participant ainsi a l’exposition des populations par ingestion, par inhalation et par contact cutane. Plusieurs de ces composes sont suspectes d’etre toxiques pour l’Homme. L’objectif de cette these est d’evaluer, par une demarche d’evaluation des risques sanitaires, l’impact sur la sante publique des expositions aux COSV frequemment detectes dans les logements francais. Dans un premier temps, les expositions ont ete estimees pour 32 composes a partir de donnees de contamination et de facteurs humains d’exposition comme le poids, le volume respiratoire, le temps passe dans l’habitat, etc. Les voies orale, pulmonaire et cutanee ont ete agregees pour les COSV les plus preoccupants presents dans l’habitat et pour plusieurs tranches d’âge de la naissance a 30 ans. Dans un second temps, les risques pour la sante humaine ont ete modelises a partir de ces expositions et des donnees disponibles sur leur toxicite. Chaque compose a ete pris en compte individuellement mais egalement en melange sous l’hypothese d’additivite des doses. Ce travail a permis l’obtention de distributions representatives des expositions des populations dans l’habitat en France et d’identifier les voies et les medias dominants pour chaque compose ainsi que les COSV les plus a risque pour une certaine proportion de la population francaise.
Merging Clinical Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging to Evaluate the Construct Validity and Neural Network Engagement of the n-Back Task

Abstract The n-back task is a widely used neuroimaging paradigm for studying the neural basis of working memory (WM); however, its neuropsychometric properties have received little empirical investigation. The present study merged clinical neuropsychology and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the construct validity of the letter variant of the n-back task (LNB) and to further identify the task-evoked networks involved in WM. Construct validity of the LNB task was investigated using a bootstrapping approach to correlate LNB task performance across clinically validated neuropsychological measures of WM to establish convergent validity, as well as measures of related but distinct cognitive constructs (i.e., attention and short-term memory) to establish discriminant validity. Independent component analysis (ICA) identified brain networks active during the LNB task in 34 healthy control participants, and general linear modeling determined task-relatedness of these networks. Bootstrap correlation analyses revealed moderate to high correlations among measures expected to converge with LNB (|ρ|≥0.37) and weak correlations among measures expected to discriminate (|ρ|≤0.29), controlling for age and education. ICA identified 35 independent networks, 17 of which demonstrated engagement significantly related to task condition, controlling for reaction time variability. Of these, the bilateral frontoparietal networks, bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, bilateral superior parietal lobules including precuneus, and frontoinsular network were preferentially recruited by the 2-back condition compared to 0-back control condition, indicating WM involvement. These results support the use of the LNB as a measure of WM and confirm its use in probing the network-level neural correlates of WM processing. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–15)
Improving the Precision of INCA by Eliminating Solutions with Spurious Cycles

The Inequality Necessary Condition Analyzer (INCA) is a finite-state verification tool that has been able to check properties of some very large concurrent systems. INCA checks a property of a concurrent system by generating a system of inequalities that must have integer solutions if the property can be violated. There may, however, be integer solutions to the inequalities that do not correspond to an execution violating the property. INCA thus accepts the possibility of an inconclusive result in exchange for greater tractability. We describe here a method for eliminating one of the two main sources of these inconclusive results.
The Euro Area Sovereign Debt Crisis

For several years prior to 2010, countries in the euro area periphery engaged in heavy borrowing from foreign private investors, allowing domestic spending to outpace incomes. Now these countries face debt crises refl ecting a loss of investor confi dence in the sustainability of their fi nances. The result has been an abrupt halt in private foreign lending to these economies. This study explains how the periphery countries became dependent on foreign borrowing and considers the challenges they face reigniting growth while adjusting to greatly reduced access to foreign capital.
Cumulative Radiation Exposure and Cancer Risk Estimation in Children With Heart Disease

Background— Children with heart disease are frequently exposed to imaging examinations that use ionizing radiation. Although radiation exposure is potentially carcinogenic, there are limited data on cumulative exposure and the associated cancer risk. We evaluated the cumulative effective dose of radiation from all radiation examinations to estimate the lifetime attributable risk of cancer in children with heart disease. Methods and Results— Children ⩽6 years of age who had previously undergone 1 of 7 primary surgical procedures for heart disease at a single institution between 2005 and 2010 were eligible for the study. Exposure to radiation-producing examinations was tabulated, and cumulative effective dose was calculated in millisieverts. These data were used to estimate lifetime attributable risk of cancer above baseline using the approach of the Committee on Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII. The cohort included 337 children exposed to 13 932 radiation examinations. Conventional radiographs represented 92% of examinations, whereas cardiac catheterization and computed tomography accounted for 81% of cumulative exposure. Overall median cumulative effective dose was 2.7 mSv (range, 0.1–76.9 mSv), and the associated lifetime attributable risk of cancer was 0.07% (range, 0.001%–6.5%). Median lifetime attributable risk of cancer ranged widely depending on surgical complexity (0.006%–1.6% for the 7 surgical cohorts) and was twice as high in females per unit exposure (0.04% versus 0.02% per 1-mSv effective dose for females versus males, respectively; P<0.001). Conclusions— Overall radiation exposures in children with heart disease are relatively low; however, select cohorts receive significant exposure. Cancer risk estimation highlights the need to limit radiation dose, particularly for high-exposure modalities.
Thompson Sampling for Dynamic Multi-armed Bandits

The importance of multi-armed bandit (MAB) problems is on the rise due to their recent application in a large variety of areas such as online advertising, news article selection, wireless networks, and medicinal trials, to name a few. The most common assumption made when solving such MAB problems is that the unknown reward probability theta k of each bandit arm k is fixed. However, this assumption rarely holds in practice simply because real-life problems often involve underlying processes that are dynamically evolving. In this paper, we model problems where reward probabilities theta k are drifting, and introduce a new method called Dynamic Thompson Sampling (DTS) that facilitates Order Statistics based Thompson Sampling for these dynamically evolving MABs. The DTS algorithm adapts its success probability estimates, hat theta k, faster than traditional Thompson Sampling schemes and thus leads to improved performance in terms of lower regret. Extensive experiments demonstrate that DTS outperforms current state-of-the-art approaches, namely pure Thompson Sampling, UCB-Normal and UCB_f, for the case of dynamic reward probabilities. Furthermore, this performance advantage increases persistently with the number of bandit arms.
Autosomal dominant sacral agenesis: Currarino syndrome

Autosomal dominant sacral agenesis is characterised by a partial agenesis of the sacrum typically involving sacral vertebrae S2-S5 only. Associated features include anorectal malformation, a presacral mass, and urogenital malformation. Together, these features have been defined as the Currarino syndrome. Recently,HLXB9 has been identified as the major causative gene in Currarino syndrome allowing identification of asymptomatic heterozygotes. In this review, we have performed an analysis of medical publications, and our own additional cases, to identify the range of malformations and complications that occur. We have also estimated risks of malformation in heterozygotes by using Weinburg's proband method on families personally known to us in order to provide accurate genetic counselling information.
Chitosan: An Update on Potential Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

Chitosan is a natural polycationic linear polysaccharide derived from chitin. The low solubility of chitosan in neutral and alkaline solution limits its application. Nevertheless, chemical modification into composites or hydrogels brings to it new functional properties for different applications. Chitosans are recognized as versatile biomaterials because of their non-toxicity, low allergenicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. This review presents the recent research, trends and prospects in chitosan. Some special pharmaceutical and biomedical applications are also highlighted.
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of a Prostate Cancer Xenograft Model Seen on a 7 Tesla Animal MR Scanner: Comparison of ADC Values and Pathologic Findings

Objective To assess the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and pathologic measures of a tumor using a prostate cancer xenograft model. Materials and Methods Eighteen athymic nude mice with 36 PC-3-induced tumors were sacrificed to obtain specimens immediately after MR imaging in order to compare the findings on MR images with those seen on pathological specimens. Using a high-field small-animal MR scanner, T1- and T2-weighted imaging and DW MR imaging was performed. Tumors were then processed for Hematoxylin and Eosin staining to evaluate tumor cellularity, intratumoral necrosis and immunostaining using antibodies directed against CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to determine the levels of microvessel density (MVD). Mean ADC values that were measured on the solid portion within each tumor were compared with tumor volume, cellularity, degree of necrosis, VEGF expression, and MVD in the corresponding section of the pathological specimen. Results Mean ADC values of the solid portion within the PC-3-induced high-grade tumors were significantly correlated with the degree of intratumoral necrosis (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001) and MVD (r = -0.44, p = 0.008) on pathologic slides. The ADC values were not significantly correlated with tumor cellularity, VEGF expression, or tumor volume in high-grade prostate cancer tissues. Conclusion In the xenografted prostate cancer model, the ADC values of the solid portion of the tumors are significantly correlated with tumor necrosis and MVD of the pathologic specimens. The ADC values may be utilized as surrogate markers for the noninvasive assessment of tumor necrosis and MVD in high-grade prostate cancer.
German in Flux: Detecting Metaphoric Change via Word Entropy

This paper explores the information-theoretic measure entropy to detect metaphoric change, transferring ideas from hypernym detection to research on language change. We build the first diachronic test set for German as a standard for metaphoric change annotation. Our model is unsupervised, language-independent and generalizable to other processes of semantic change.
An enhanced floating point coprocessor for embedded signal processing and graphics applications

There has been a marked interest in enhancing general purpose microprocessors to accommodate signal processing, primarily to improve audio and video compression routines and speech recognition algorithms. Presented here are several enhancements incorporated in the ARM VFPv1 floating point architecture which have demonstrated significant performance improvements on critical signal processing kernels. The first implementation of the VFPv1 architecture is the VFP10 floating point coprocessor macrocell. Discussed are the FMAC (floating point multiply-accumulate chained) instructions, a separate load/store pipeline for parallel processing of arithmetic and transfer operations, and SIMD capabilities for most arithmetic instructions designed to take advantage of a new recirculating register file structure.
High-speed parallel Viterbi decoding: algorithm and VLSI-architecture

The Viterbi algorithm (VA) is considered as an example of a fairly complex algorithm that needs to be implemented for high-speed applications. A brief introduction to the algorithm is given, and the state of the art of high-speed Viterbi decoders is reviewed. The three principal levels of introducing additional parallelism into an algorithm-bit level, word level, and algorithm level-are outlined, and a solution for the VA at the bit level is indicated. <<ETX>>
Monopolization of food by zebrafish (Danio rerio) increases in risky habitats

Dominant zebrafish (Danio rerio) previously have been shown to reduce their monopolization of food when foraging in structurally complex habitats compared with open habitats. Complex habitats may be more difficult to defend but may also be safer. To decouple these effects, we compared aggression and monopolization of food in groups of zebrafish foraging in an open habitat and one with overhead cover, as well as in an open habitat and a complex (vegetated) habitat. Covered and open habitats should have been equally defendable. In our experiments, fish used covered habitats more than open ones, suggesting that the perceived risk of predation was lower in covered habitats. There was no difference in use of vegetated and open habitats, suggesting that these habitats, which should differ in defendability, did not differ in safety. We found that the degree of food monopolization (expressed in the coefficient of variation within groups) at risky feeders was significantly greater in open habitats than in covered,.
A leaf spot of figwort (Scrophularia ningpoensis) caused by Phoma sp

Abstract Since 2006, a new disease caused by Phoma sp. has been identified on figwort (Scrophularia ningpoensis) in Hubei province, China. The pathogen was isolated from diseased S. ningpoensis leaves growing under field conditions, and attempts were made to identify it by cultural and morphological characteristics as well as analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. There were no identical matches of the DNA sequence on GenBank (highest match less than 98% identity), and morphological and cultural characteristics placed it closely with Phoma congesta, but the host species did not match. Another two species with striking similarities, P. pooiensis and P. nebulosa, are also found on Scrophulariaceae, but there were significant morphological or cultural differences from these species. Pathogenicity of the isolate was tested by inoculating 20 S. ningpoensis plants under greenhouse conditions. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re-isolating the pathogen from the inoculated plants. This is the first report of leaf spot of S. ningpoensis caused by Phoma sp. , but the exact species remains to be determined.
Improved phase vocoder time-scale modification of audio

The phase vocoder is a well established tool for time scaling and pitch shifting speech and audio signals via modification of their short-time Fourier transforms (STFTs). In contrast to time-domain time-scaling and pitch-shifting techniques, the phase vocoder is generally considered to yield high quality results, especially for large modification factors and/or polyphonic signals. However, the phase vocoder is also known for introducing a characteristic perceptual artifact, often described as "phasiness", "reverberation", or "loss of presence". This paper examines the problem of phasiness in the context of time-scale modification and provides new insights into its causes. Two extensions to the standard phase vocoder algorithm are introduced, and the resulting sound quality is shown to be significantly improved. Moreover, the modified phase vocoder is shown to provide a factor-of-two decrease in computational cost.
Defoliation effects on growth and mortality of three young southern pine species

Foliage from loblolly (Pinus taeda L.), slash (P. elliottii Engelm.), and longleaf (P. palustris Mill.) pines was hand plucked to isolate the effects of level and timing of foliage removal on growth and mortality. Slash and loblolly pine received one of five defoliation treatments during one of four months: January, April, July, or October. Longleaf pine received one of three defoliation treatments during one of five 2-week periods from September to December. Growth and mortality were measured for each species for several years after treatment. Increased defoliation resulted in increased growth loss. Only total October defoliation caused significant mortality in loblolly and longleaf pine and moderate mortality in slash pine. Estimated difference in volume between control and defoliated trees after 5 or 6 years ranged from 0 to 2.3 ft3 (about 30 percent) per tree depending on species, defoliation season, and amount of defoliation. Trees receiving 95 percent or greater defoliation were generally smaller than the control trees after 13 or 19 years posttreatment.
A Vision System that Recognizes Objects on General Streets

This paper describes a vision based monitoring system which (1) classifies targets (vehicles and humans) based on shape appearance, (2) estimates their colors, and (3) detects special targets, from images of color video cameras set up toward a street. The categories of targets were classified into {human, sedan, van, truck, mule (golf cart for workers), and others), and their colors were classified into the groups of {redorange-yellow, green, blue-lightblue, white-silver-gray, darkblue-darkgray-black, and darkred-darkorange). On the detection of special targets, the test was carried out setting {FedEx van, UPS van, Police Car) as target and yielded desirable results. The system tracks the target, independently conducts category classification and color estimation, extracts the result with the largest probability throughout the tracking sequence from each result, and provides the data as the final decision. For classification and special target detection, we cooperatively used a stochastic linear discrimination method (linear discriminant analysis : LDA) and nonlinear decision rule (K-Nearest Neighbor rule: K-NN).