Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Noise adaptive FCM algorithm for segmentation of MRI brain images using local and non-local spatial information

Image segmentation is an important task in many image processing applications. Fuzzy C means clustering algorithm has been widely used for the segmentation. There are so many extended versions of the traditional FCM algorithm which utilizes the local spatial information to decrease the sensitivity of FCM algorithm to noise, but all these algorithms fail to segment the images heavily contaminated by noise. In order to overcome this problem, non-local spatial information is extracted from the image. During the extraction of non-local information, the filtering parameter h is a crucial parameter which needs to be appropriately determined. Instead of using a constant value of h, it can be adaptively determined using the standard deviation of noise present in the image and the non local information calculated by using this adaptive filtering parameter h is termed as noise adaptive non local spatial information. This property of adaptively determining the filtering parameter is utilized in the FCM algorithm, which uses both the local and non local spatial information (MFCM) for the segmentation of MRI images. In this paper Modified FCM algorithm (MFCM) using the noise adaptive non-local information is proposed. This algorithm is called Noise adaptive FCM algorithm for segmentation of MRI brain images using local and non-local spatial information. The trade off parameter which controls the trade-off between the two spatial information is also calculated using the non local spatial information, making it also adaptive in accordance with filtering parameter. Therefore the proposed algorithm adaptively utilizes both the local and non local information making it more robust against the noise as well as preserving the image details. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated by validation studies on synthetic as well as simulated brain MRI images. The results of the proposed algorithm show that the proposed algorithm is very robust to noise and other image artifacts as compared to other state of the art algorithms.
Voice Search in the Holy Quran

The holy Quran is sacred book of Muslims. The use of this book is very frequent either for reading, for memorization or for the search of a verse of Quran dealing with a particular subject. Muslims find difficulties in the use of this book in his audio format and especially in the search for a verse. For this, and to help Muslims, we focus our work on the problem of finding a verse in the holy Quran. The search will be in voice mode where the user dictates a verse into microphone. The goal is to receive the verse dictated by user from the microphone and compare it with all verses of holy Quran. It returns then the closest verse to the desired one. This goal requires a great work which will be proposed as a doctoral subject. In this paper we propose to acquire the query by playing a verse of the database and to capture it by microphone. This paper presents a new system that identifies an audio subsequence (requested verse of Holy Quran) using basic audio descriptors. Each audio document of corpus (all verses of Holy Quran) is pre-processed before the extraction of a set of basic audio descriptors, which characterize the temporal and the spectral information. Therefore, an audio signal is represented by a sequence of characteristics called in this paper "audio fingerprint". The search process is based on a new concept called "interference wave". This wave is generated from the content of audio signals, and used to calculate the similarity rate between two audio signals.
Pharmacology and effects of cannabis: A brief review

Background Increasing prevalence of recreational cannabis use among the young population has stimulated debate on the possible effects of acute and long-term use. Aims To highlight recent knowledge of mechanisms of action, effects on psychomotor and cognitive performance, and health risks associated with cannabis consumption. Method A brief review of recent literature on the prevalence of recreational cannabis use, the potency of modern cannabis preparations and the pharmacological actions of cannabis. Results Cannabinoids derived from herbal cannabis interact with endogenous cannabinoid systems in the body. Actions on specific brain receptors cause dose-related impairments of psychomotor performance with implications for car and train driving, aeroplane piloting and academic performance. Other constituents of cannabis smoke carry respiratory and cardiovascular health risks similar to those of tobacco smoke. Conclusions Cannabis is not, as widely perceived, a harmless drug but poses risks to the individual and to society.
Media Violence and the General Aggression Model

The General Aggression Model (GAM) is a meta-theory that considers the role of personal and situational variables on aggressive behavior, ranging from the biological to the cultural. Possible mediating variables include internal states (e.g., aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, increased physiological arousal) and the results of appraisal and decision processes (automatic and controlled). In this article, we focus on one situational variable—exposure to violent media—and how it can influence a wide array of cognitive, developmental, emotional, and social processes that can increase likelihood of aggression. Previous research has shown that exposure to violent media can increase aggression through all three internal state paths, and by increasing hostile appraisals. In this article, we use GAM as a theoretical framework to explain a wide variety of violent media effects. We also add some clarifications and extensions to GAM that research in the past 15 years has shown to be needed in the model. We also suggest new research directions in the media violence domain that we believe will be especially useful in the future.
Effector Functions Cutting Edge: TLR2 Directly Triggers Th1

Toll-like receptors recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, activate innate immunity, and consequently modulate adaptive immunity in response to infections. TLRs are also expressed on T cells, and it has been shown that T cell activation is modulated by TLR ligands. How-ever, the functions of TLRs on Th1 and Th2 effector cells and the molecular mechanisms underlying TLR-mediated activation are not fully understood. We analyzed TLR functions and downstream signaling events in both effector T cells. In mouse Th1 cells the stimulation by TLR2 but not by other TLRs directly induced IFN- (cid:1) production, cell proliferation, and cell survival without TCR stimulation, and these effects were greatly enhanced by IL-2 or IL-12 through the enhanced activation of MAPKs. In con-trast, no TLR affected the function of effector Th2 cells. These results identify TLR2 as a new specific activator of Th1 cell function and imply the involvement in Th1-me-diated responses. The Journal of Immunology, 2007, 178: 6715–6719.
The Effect of Withania somnifera Alcoholic Extract on Learning and Memory Disturbance in a Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in the Rat

Background and Objective: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) usually leads to memory deficit. In this study, we tried to assess the effect of Withania somnifera extract on the impaired learning and memory in the intrahippocampal kainate model of TLE in the rat. Materials & Methods: Male rats (n=32) were divided into sham, extract+sham, kainite, and kainite+extract. For induction of epilepsy, unilateral hippocampal injection of 1 microgram of kainate was made. Rats received the extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg daily for three days prior to surgery. At the end of 4 weeks, to assess learning and memory, initial latency and step through delay using passive avoidance test and the percentage of alternation behavior in the Y maze test were determined. Results: Extract pretreatment of kainate group did not significantly attenuate severity and incidence rate of seizures, did not significantly improve retrieval and recall in passive avoidance and significantly ameliorated spatial memory deficit in Y maze (p<0.05). Conclusion: These data suggest that Withania somnifera alcoholic extract could attenuate spatial memory disturbance in TLE model in rat.
Adaptive RBFNN type-2 fuzzy sliding mode controller for robot arm with pneumatic muscles

In this paper, we aim to propose a new robust controller for robot arm driven by pneumatic muscles. Based on sliding mode theory, this control approach consists on the combination of radial based function neural network and type-2 fuzzy logic system. First, the control approach was presented and the stability of the system in closed loop was analyzed using Lyapunov stability theorem. Next, the joints of 2-DOF manipulator robot were approximated as differential linear equations with parameters uncertainties and simulations were given to proof the efficiency and the superiority of this approach compared to radial based function network type-1 fuzzy sliding mode controller used as reference. Last, experimental validation of the proposed approach was presented.
Analysis to Two Detecting Methods of Non-Linear Analogue Quantity

In the embedded distribution control system, the analogue quantity under test is usually non-linear. In this paper, the concept of variable threshold neuron for the detecting of non-linear analogue is adopted. The subsection linearization and subsection variable slope are chosen as its training methods. It is shown by analyzing and comparing for the two training methods that the subsection linearization training method can improves the detecting precision and detecting resolution, and the subsection variable slope training method can not only calibrate the detecting curve from the subsection linearization ones but also give less computation error than it. Their simulation results are provided, and precise and feasible measurement is realized.
Consumer Perspectives on Information Needs for Health Plan Choice

The premise that competition will improve health care assumes that consumers will choose plans that best fit their needs and resources. However, many consumers are frustrated with currently available plan comparison information. We describe results from 22 focus groups in which Medicare beneficiaries, Medicaid enrollees, and privately insured consumers assessed the usefulness of indicators based on consumer survey data and Health Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS)-type measures of quality of care. Considerable education would be required before consumers could interpret report card data to inform plan choices. Policy implications for design and provision of plan information for Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid enrollees are discussed.
Revisiting the Diego Blood Group System in Amerindians: Evidence for Gene-Culture Comigration

Six decades ago the DI*A allele of the Diego blood group system was instrumental in proving Native American populations originated from Siberia. Since then, it has received scant attention. The present study was undertaken to reappraise distribution of the DI*A allele in 144 Native American populations based on current knowledge. Using analysis of variance tests, frequency distribution was studied according to geographical, environmental, and cultural parameters. Frequencies were highest in Amazonian populations. In contrast, DI*A was undetectable in subarctic, Fuegian, Panamanian, Chaco and Yanomama populations. Closer study revealed a correlation that this unequal distribution was correlated with language, suggesting that linguistic divergence was a driving force in the expansion of DI*A among Native Americans. The absence of DI*A in circumpolar Eskimo-Aleut and Na-Dene speakers was consistent with a late migratory event confined to North America. Distribution of DI*A in subtropical areas indicated that gene and culture exchanges were more intense within than between ecozones. Bolstering the utility of classical genetic markers in biological anthropology, the present study of the expansion of Diego blood group genetic polymorphism in Native Americans shows strong evidence of gene-culture comigration.
The public health impact of pediatric caustic ingestion injuries.

OBJECTIVE To determine the current public health burden of injuries due to caustic ingestion in children. DESIGN The 2009 Kids' Inpatient Database provides data on a sample of all pediatric hospital discharges in the United States during that year. Children with caustic ingestion injuries requiring hospitalization were identified by corresponding codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. Database analysis generated national estimates of summary statistics. SETTING A national database. PATIENTS Representative sample of all hospital discharge data on patients 18 years or younger. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Public health burden related to caustic injury, including potential factors related to admission outcome, the necessity of a procedure during the admission, admission length of stay, and total charges for the admission. RESULTS We estimated the prevalence of pediatric caustic ingestion injuries requiring hospitalization in the United States in 2009 to be 807 (95% CI, 731-882) children. The annual economic burden was estimated at $22 900 000 (95% CI, $15 400 000-$30 400 000) in total hospital charges. The mean charge per patient was estimated at $28 860 (95% CI, $19 799-$37 922) with a median of $9848. The mean length of admission was 4.13 (95% CI, 3.22-5.03) days with a median of 2 days. Among the 807 patients, 45.3% underwent esophagoscopy, and those admitted to teaching hospitals were more likely to undergo a procedure during their stay (P = .02). Logistic regression models suggested significant median income (P < .001) and sex (P < .001) variations. CONCLUSIONS The current public health burden of pediatric caustic ingestion injuries may be less than commonly cited. This finding supports the notion that legislative efforts have been successful. Despite these successes, these injuries continue to impose a significant burden on health care resources.
Sperm's tail identification and discrimination in microscopic images of stained human semen smear

Correct estimating of a man's fertility potential has long been of great interest to researchers. Sperm morphology is assessed routinely as part of standard laboratory analysis in the diagnosis of human male infertility. The evaluation of sperm size, shape and morphological smear characteristics should be assesed by carefully observing a stained sperm sample under a microscope. In order to avoid subjectivity, numerous studies that incorporate image analysis techniques in the assessment of sperm morphology have been proposed appeared. In this paper, we have proposed a new method to identify sperm's tail through some points which are placed on the sperm's tail, accurately. These estimated points could be used to verify the morphological characteristics of sperm's tail such as length, shape and etc. At first, sperm's head and mid-piece are segmented. Then, a pixel which is placed at the end of sperm's mid-piece, is selected as an initial point. At the next step, the proposed method finds the other pixels which are placed on the sperm's tail using structural similarity index in an iterative scheme. In order to stop the algorithm automatically at the end of sperm's tail, local entropy is estimated and used as a feature to determine if a point is located on the sperm's tail or not ,and also to determine the end of sperm's tail.
Oscillatory Brain Dynamics, Wavelet Analysis, and Cognition

On the basis of a systems theoretical approach it was hypothesized that event-related potentials (ERPs) are superpositions of stimulus-evoked and time-locked EEG rhythms reflecting resonance properties of the brain (Başar, 1980). This approach led to frequency analysis of ERPs as a way of analyzing evoked rhythms. The present article outlines the basic features of ERP frequency analysis in comparison to ERP wavelet analysis, a recently introduced method of time-frequency analysis. Both methods were used in an investigation of the functional correlates of evoked rhythms where auditory and visual ERPs were recorded from the cat brain. Intracranial electrodes were located in the primary auditory cortex and in the primary visual cortex thus permitting "cross-modality" experiments. Responses to adequate stimulation (e.g., visual ERP recorded from the visual cortex) were characterized by high amplitude alpha (8-16 Hz) responses which were not observed for inadequate stimulation. This result is interpreted as a hint at a special role of alpha responses in primary sensory processing. The results of frequency analysis and of wavelet analysis were quite similar, with possible advantages of wavelet methods for single-trial analysis. The results of frequency analysis as performed earlier were thus confirmed by wavelet analysis. This supports the view that ERP frequency components correspond to evoked rhythms with a distinct biological significance.
A Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies UGT1A1 as a Regulator of Serum Cell-Free DNA in Young Adults: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Introduction Circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) is a useful indicator of cell death, and it can also be used to predict outcomes in various clinical disorders. Several innate immune mechanisms are known to be involved in eliminating DNA and chromatin-related material as part of the inhibition of potentially harmful autoimmune responses. However, the exact molecular mechanism underlying the clearance of circulating cf-DNA is currently unclear. Methods To examine the mechanisms controlling serum levels of cf-DNA, we carried out a genome-wide association analysis (GWA) in a cohort of young adults (aged 24–39 years; n = 1841; 1018 women and 823 men) participating in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Genotyping was performed with a custom-built Illumina Human 670 k BeadChip. The Quant-iTTM high sensitivity DNA assay was used to measure cf-DNA directly from serum. Results The results revealed that 110 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with serum cf-DNA with genome-wide significance (p<5×10−8). All of these significant SNPs were localised to chromosome 2q37, near the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 (UGT1) family locus, and the most significant SNPs localised within the UGT1 polypeptide A1 (UGT1A1) gene region. Conclusion The UGT1A1 enzyme catalyses the detoxification of several drugs and the turnover of many xenobiotic and endogenous compounds by glucuronidating its substrates. These data indicate that UGT1A1-associated processes are also involved in the regulation of serum cf-DNA concentrations.
On the structure of Hardy–Sobolev–Maz'ya inequalities

We establish new improvements of the optimal Hardy inequality in the half-space. We first add all possible linear combinations of Hardy type terms, thus revealing the structure of this type of inequalities and obtaining best constants. We then add the critical Sobolev term and obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the validity of Hardy-Sobolev-Maz'ya type inequalities.
The marketisation of rehabilitation: Some economic considerations

This paper considers criminal justice policy in England and Wales since the Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) agenda implemented in 2013. TR rested on the proposition that probation services are best provided in a market context. Motivated by profit and extrinsic rewards, private sector consortia, and their employees, theoretically act efficiently to deter and rehabilitate offenders from crime. However, there is evidence that marketisation itself undermines the prospects of efficient social policy. Over-reliance on markets may undermine pro-social norms through emphasising individualism and extrinsic returns. Outsourcing is also associated with increasing inequality, which may also undermine pro-social norms. Further, the emphasis placed on self-interest in framing market-based incentive structures is associated with declining public welfare support for the economically marginalised and increased use of relatively expensive incarceration. In application, TR proved unsustainable. The innovation involves increasing reliance on the para-state sector, in which private profits rely on public payment. However, the profits expected under TR fell short of expectations, in part due to changes in wider society. The early cancellation of TR contracts highlights the inflexible nature of such public sector procurement. On the basis of theory and practice, we suggest a reconsideration of the government’s position on probation and set out reasonable steps to address shortcomings in the current system.
Joint channel-network coding strategies for networks with low-complexity relays

We investigate joint network and channel coding schemes for networks when relay nodes are not capable of performing channel coding operations. Rather, channel encoding is performed at the source node, whereas channel decoding is carried out only at the destination nodes. We examine three different decoding strategies: independent network-then-channel decoding, serial network and channel decoding, and joint network and channel decoding. Furthermore, we describe how to implement such joint network and channel decoding using iteratively decodable error correction codes. Using simple networks as a model, we derive achievable rate regions and use simulations to demonstrate the effectiveness of the three decoders. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incremental Clustering of Time-Series by Fuzzy Clustering

Today, analyzing the user’s behavior has gained wide importance in the data mining community. Typically, the behavior of a user is defined as a time series of his or her activities. In this paper, users are clustered based upon time series extracted from their behavior during the interaction with given system. Although there are several different techniques used to cluster time series and sequences, this paper will attack the problem by utilizing a novel incremental fuzzy clustering strategy in order to achieve the objective. Upon dimensionality reduction, time series data are pre-clustered using the longest common subsequence as an indicator for similarity measurement. Afterwards, by utilizing an efficient method, clusters are updated incrementally and periodically through a set of fuzzy approaches. In addition, we will present the benefits of the proposed system by implementing a real application: Customer Segmentation. In addition to having a low complexity, this approach can provide a deeper and more unique perspective for clustering of time series.
Low Power 7-T SRAM Using 90 NM Technology with Tanner Tool

The increasing market of portable electronics devices and battery powered portable electronic systems is making a pressure to the whole chip design industry to reduce the power dissipation of the electronics circuits so that battery backup can be increased. CMOS SRAM memory consumes almost 55% power of the total digital circuit. It is also said that memories are the power hungry devices in any digital system but today no digital system can be completed without memories. This article is based on the motivation of reduction of the dynamic power in SRAM memory and focuses on the analysis in terms of power dissipation, delay and area of the 7-transistor SRAM memory cell at 90 nm technologies by using the Tanner tool. The article targets towards short circuit power dissipation as well as switching power dissipation. The circuit is characterized by using the 90 nm technology which is having a supply voltage of 1.0 volts and threshold voltage is 0.3 volts.