Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two edge type LDPC codes for the wiretap channel

We consider transmission over a wiretap channel where both the main channel and the wiretapper's channel are Binary Erasure Channels (BEC). We propose a code construction using two edge type LDPC codes based on the method of Thangaraj, Dihidar, Calderbank, McLaughlin and Merolla. The advantage of our construction is that we can easily calculate the threshold over the main channel. Using standard LDPC codes with a given threshold over the BEC we give a construction for a two edge type LDPC code with the same threshold. Since this construction gives a code for the main channel with threshold zero we also give numerical methods to find two edge type LDPC codes with non-zero threshold for the main channel.
A Supervised Learning Process to Validate Online Disease Reports for Use in Predictive Models

Abstract Pathogen distribution models that predict spatial variation in disease occurrence require data from a large number of geographic locations to generate disease risk maps. Traditionally, this process has used data from public health reporting systems; however, using online reports of new infections could speed up the process dramatically. Data from both public health systems and online sources must be validated before they can be used, but no mechanisms exist to validate data from online media reports. We have developed a supervised learning process to validate geolocated disease outbreak data in a timely manner. The process uses three input features, the data source and two metrics derived from the location of each disease occurrence. The location of disease occurrence provides information on the probability of disease occurrence at that location based on environmental and socioeconomic factors and the distance within or outside the current known disease extent. The process also uses validation scores, generated by disease experts who review a subset of the data, to build a training data set. The aim of the supervised learning process is to generate validation scores that can be used as weights going into the pathogen distribution model. After analyzing the three input features and testing the performance of alternative processes, we selected a cascade of ensembles comprising logistic regressors. Parameter values for the training data subset size, number of predictors, and number of layers in the cascade were tested before the process was deployed. The final configuration was tested using data for two contrasting diseases (dengue and cholera), and 66%–79% of data points were assigned a validation score. The remaining data points are scored by the experts, and the results inform the training data set for the next set of predictors, as well as going to the pathogen distribution model. The new supervised learning process has been implemented within our live site and is being used to validate the data that our system uses to produce updated predictive disease maps on a weekly basis.
Region-based super-resolution reconstruction using parallel programming

This paper presents region-based super-resolution reconstruction approach using a parallel programming for minimizing interpolation artifacts. In the proposed algorithm of regularized iterative SR, two different types of constraints are incorporated, namely (i) edge reconnection and (ii) orientation adaptive filtering. By combining these two constraints the proposed SR algorithm can successfully remove aliasing artifact and, as a result, produce edgepreserving high-resolution (HR) images. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is more effective than traditional methods.
Isolation of Adherent Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Bacteria Using PAH-Sorbing Carriers

ABSTRACT Two different procedures were compared to isolate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-utilizing bacteria from PAH-contaminated soil and sludge samples, i.e., (i) shaken enrichment cultures in liquid mineral medium in which PAHs were supplied as crystals and (ii) a new method in which PAH degraders were enriched on and recovered from hydrophobic membranes containing sorbed PAHs. Both techniques were successful, but selected from the same source different bacterial strains able to grow on PAHs as the sole source of carbon and energy. The liquid enrichment mainly selected for Sphingomonasspp. , whereas the membrane method exclusively led to the selection ofMycobacterium spp. Furthermore, in separate membrane enrichment set-ups with different membrane types, three repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR-related Mycobacterium strains were recovered. The new Mycobacterium isolates were strongly hydrophobic and displayed the capacity to adhere strongly to different surfaces. One strain, Mycobacterium sp. LB501T, displayed an unusual combination of high adhesion efficiency and an extremely high negative charge. This strain may represent a new bacterial species as suggested by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. These results indicate that the provision of hydrophobic sorbents containing sorbed PAHs in the enrichment procedure discriminated in favor of certain bacterial characteristics. The new isolation method is appropriate to select for adherent PAH-degrading bacteria, which might be useful to biodegrade sorbed PAHs in soils and sludge.
Usage and Distribution for Commercial Purposes Requires Written Permission. Epididymitis following Cytoreductive Surgery with Intraperitoneal Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy: Two Case Reports

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy has emerged as an aggressive treatment option with intent to either cure or extend disease-free survival of selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. However, postoperative complications are common. We describe the cases of 2 men who underwent CRS with hyperthermic intraperitoneal oxaliplatin and developed scrotal pain, which was consistent with noninfec-tious epididymitis.
Efficacy of Varenicline for Smoking Cessation between Smokers with and without Psychiatric Disorders: A 12-week Observational Study

Background: Patients with psychiatric disorders have high cigarette smoking-related morbidity and mortality. Varenicline, a α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist, has been approved for smoking cessation, but few studies compared the efficacy between the smokers with and without different psychiatric disorders. Methods: Smokers aged more than 20 years with a daily cigarette consumption of more than 10 cigarettes/ or a Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence Scale (FTND) score of more than 4 were enrolled. The efficacy of smoking cessation and adverse effects were compared between the smokers with and without psychiatric disorders after 12-week varenicline treatment. Results: In total, 140 smokers were recruited, of whom 94 (67.1%) had psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (n=19), bipolar disorder (n= 29), depressive disorder (n=31), or other psychiatric disorders (n =15). Compared with the smokers without psychiatric disorders, those with psychiatric disorders were significantly more likely to be women, younger, have a shorter smoking history and a higher FTND score (all p<0.05). After 3 months of varenicline treatment, the smokers with psychiatric disorders had a significantly lower point smoking cessation rate (12.4% vs. 27.3%, p=0.012) and a lower percentage of daily reduced cigarette consumption (54% vs. 68%, p=0.02). The most commonly reported adverse events were nausea, without any group difference. Conclusion: The smokers with psychiatric disorders had a lower point smoking cessation rate than the smokers without psychiatric disorder after 12-week varenicline treatment. The development of novel tobacco treatments program integrated with psychiatric management for these patients is required.
Effects of Implantation Site of Stem Cell Grafts on Behavioral Recovery From Stroke Damage

Background and Purpose— Findings that MHP36 stem cells grafted into intact parenchyma contralateral to the lesion induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion promoted recovery from stroke deficits led us to investigate whether implantation site of stem cells affects the functional efficacy of MHP36 grafts. Methods— MHP36 cells (200 000/8 &mgr;L) were implanted in the left (n=8) or right (n=9) parenchyma or infused into the right ventricle (intraventricular; n=7) 2 to 3 weeks after stroke induced by 60 minutes of intraluminal right middle cerebral artery occlusion. Additionally, intact (n=11) and stroke (n=7) control groups were tested for 14 weeks in bilateral asymmetry, rotation bias, and spatial learning tasks before histological investigation of cell distribution and differentiation. Results— Rats with left and right parenchymal grafts showed reduced bilateral asymmetry but no improvement in spatial learning. Conversely, spatial learning improved in rats with intraventricular grafts, but marked asymmetry persisted. No grafted group showed reduced amphetamine-induced rotation bias or reduced lesion volume relative to stroke controls. In all grafted groups, cells occupied both sides of the brain. A third of cells grafted in the striatum crossed the midline to occupy homologous regions in intact and lesioned hemispheres and differentiated into site-appropriate phenotypes. Conclusions— After stroke, both the intact and lesioned hemispheres attract grafted stem cells, suggesting repair processes that utilize cells both for local repair and to augment plastic changes in contralateral motor pathways. However, differential effects of parenchymal and intraventricular grafts suggest that different mechanisms are implicated in recovery from cognitive and sensorimotor deficits induced by stroke.
The Weight Calculation in the Case-Based Reasoning Based on Sensitivity Analysis

Using the method of sensitivity analysis, the weight of partial similarity has been calculated based on researching on the calculation model of similarity in CBR(Case-Based Reasoning). The change of design target value has been calculated by using FEA(Failure Mode and Effect analysis )software to analyze the structure whose design variable was little changed. Based on the result of FEA, the similarity of design variable has been achieved by central-difference, then the weight of partial similarity and the importance degree of design variable has been computed. The example shows that the weight calculated by the method in this paper is objective and feasible, and the similarity of design variable is very valuable for variant and optimal design.
On Gray Labeling for Downlink Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access Without SIC

The impact of labeling a multilevel coding scheme with pulse amplitude modulation constellation in downlink non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) systems is studied. Particular interest is paid to the case where the strong user's receiver does not perform successive interference cancellation (SIC) before decoding its desired message. With judiciously chosen parameters, it was shown in a recent work that the considered scheme can approach the capacity region to within a constant gap. In this letter, analytic and extensive simulation results are given to show that Gray labeling provides better performance than non-Gray labeling and natural labeling for the scheme in terms of the symbol error rate, block error rate, and ε-feasible rate. Simulation results also indicate that the performance gap between the case with SIC and that without SIC for Gray labeling can be further bridged, which suggests the possibility of avoiding SIC in downlink NOMA.
Word Sense Disambiguation Improves Information Retrieval

Previous research has conflicting conclusions on whether word sense disambiguation (WSD) systems can improve information retrieval (IR) performance. In this paper, we propose a method to estimate sense distributions for short queries. Together with the senses predicted for words in documents, we propose a novel approach to incorporate word senses into the language modeling approach to IR and also exploit the integration of synonym relations. Our experimental results on standard TREC collections show that using the word senses tagged by a supervised WSD system, we obtain significant improvements over a state-of-the-art IR system.
Improving the Robustness of Single-View Ear-Based Recognition under a Rotated in Depth Perspective

An algorithm is proposed for improving the robustness of an ear biometric system with the aim of developing a surveillance-system based on ear biometrics. To deal with pose variations that are rotated in depth, the Gabor jets of different poses are estimated and used as training data for a discriminant analysis-based classifier. Experimental evaluations show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, and the potential for improving the robustness of a single-view-based ear surveillance-system.
L-DOPA Is an Endogenous Ligand for OA1

Albinism is a genetic defect characterized by a loss of pigmentation. The neurosensory retina, which is not pigmented, exhibits pathologic changes secondary to the loss of pigmentation in the retina pigment epithelium (RPE). How the loss of pigmentation in the RPE causes developmental defects in the adjacent neurosensory retina has not been determined, but offers a unique opportunity to investigate the interactions between these two important tissues. One of the genes that causes albinism encodes for an orphan GPCR (OA1) expressed only in pigmented cells, including the RPE. We investigated the function and signaling of OA1 in RPE and transfected cell lines. Our results indicate that OA1 is a selective L-DOPA receptor, with no measurable second messenger activity from two closely related compounds, tyrosine and dopamine. Radiolabeled ligand binding confirmed that OA1 exhibited a single, saturable binding site for L-DOPA. Dopamine competed with L-DOPA for the single OA1 binding site, suggesting it could function as an OA1 antagonist. OA1 response to L-DOPA was defined by several common measures of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) activation, including influx of intracellular calcium and recruitment of β-arrestin. Further, inhibition of tyrosinase, the enzyme that makes L-DOPA, resulted in decreased PEDF secretion by RPE. Further, stimulation of OA1 in RPE with L-DOPA resulted in increased PEDF secretion. Taken together, our results illustrate an autocrine loop between OA1 and tyrosinase linked through L-DOPA, and this loop includes the secretion of at least one very potent retinal neurotrophic factor. OA1 is a selective L-DOPA receptor whose downstream effects govern spatial patterning of the developing retina. Our results suggest that the retinal consequences of albinism caused by changes in melanin synthetic machinery may be treated by L-DOPA supplementation.
Automatically generated classifiers for opinion mining with different term weighting schemes

Automatically generated classifiers using different term weighting schemes for Opinion Mining are presented. New collective nature-inspired self-tuning meta-heuristic for solving unconstrained and constrained real- and binary-parameter optimization problems called Co-Operation of Biology Related Algorithms was developed and used for classifiers design. Three Opinion Mining problems from DEFT'07 competition were solved by proposed classifiers. Also different weighting schemes were used for data processing. Obtained results were compared between themselves and with results obtained by methods which were proposed by other researchers. As the result workability and usefulness of designed classifiers were established and best data processing approach for them was found.
Cyberbullying issues in schools : an exploratory, qualitative study from the perspective of teaching professionals

Cyberbullying is a relatively recent phenomenon originally coming to the forefront of the public agenda following a number of anecdotal accounts. It has been defined as “any behaviour performed through electronic or digital media by individuals or groups that repeatedly communicates hostile or aggressive messages intended to inflict harm or discomfort on others” (Tokunaga, 2010: 278). This study is designed to explore cyberbullying issues in school settings from the perspective of teaching professionals. This area is of consequence given that research focussing on face-to-face bullying has suggested that teaching professionals and school staff can have differing definitions and understandings of bullying behaviour and the high prevalence of unreported cyberbullying in schools. The participants in this research were Anti-Bullying Co-ordinators in eight schools in one Local Authority. The staff who participated were employed in a range of settings (Primary, Secondary, Middle and High schools). The views of teaching professionals were obtained using semi-structured interviews and the data were analysed using Thematic Analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006). The results indicate that teaching professionals are beginning to develop an understanding of issues relating to cyberbullying and acknowledge the unique features of this type of behaviour. The findings also highlight that consideration has been given to the level of involvement schools should have when dealing with cyberbullying issues. Furthermore schools are aware of the impact of this type of behaviour and have employed a range of methods to prevent and intervene in cyberbullying. However schools still require additional support to understand how to respond to this phenomenon more comprehensively.
An enhanced coulomb counting method for estimating state-of-charge and state-of-health of lead-acid batteries

This paper proposes an enhanced coulomb counting method based on the depth-of-discharge (DOD) to estimate the state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) for valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries. The losses at different discharging currents are accounted for compensation to the releasable capacities. Furthermore, the SOH is revaluated at the depletion and fully charged states by the maximum releasable capacity and the charged capacity, consequently leading to more accurate SOC estimation. Through the experiments that emulate practical operations, the experimental results reveal that the maximum error is less than 6 %.
Neural Systems Involved When Attending to a Speaker

Remembering what a speaker said depends on attention. During conversational speech, the emphasis is on working memory, but listening to a lecture encourages episodic memory encoding. With simultaneous interference from background speech, the need for auditory vigilance increases. We recreated these context-dependent demands on auditory attention in 2 ways. The first was to require participants to attend to one speaker in either the absence or presence of a distracting background speaker. The second was to alter the task demand, requiring either an immediate or delayed recall of the content of the attended speech. Across 2 fMRI studies, common activated regions associated with segregating attended from unattended speech were the right anterior insula and adjacent frontal operculum (aI/FOp), the left planum temporale, and the precuneus. In contrast, activity in a ventral right frontoparietal system was dependent on both the task demand and the presence of a competing speaker. Additional multivariate analyses identified other domain-general frontoparietal systems, where activity increased during attentive listening but was modulated little by the need for speech stream segregation in the presence of 2 speakers. These results make predictions about impairments in attentive listening in different communicative contexts following focal or diffuse brain pathology.
Correlation between I/sub DDQ/ testing quality and sensor accuracy

In existing approaches to I/sub DDQ/ fault simulation, the lack of estimate of the faulty current values in comparison with the instrumentation sensitivity prevents realistic assessments of testing quality. This paper fills the gap, presenting a method to estimate the faulty current considering the device conductances as well as the bridging resistance, and computing the fault coverage as a function of the sensor accuracy. Such information helps in the design of current monitoring equipments. <<ETX>>
A new channel emulator for low voltage broadband power line communication

The design and testing of high speed powerline communication systems requires an efficient channel emulator. On the basis of low-voltage broadband PLC, with analysis of existing modeling and simulators, implementation of channel and noise models are discussed, and a flexible, easy configurable, practical and circuit area efficient channel simulator is presented, implemented and verified on FPGA.
Technical and Applied Features of Functional Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans

TECHNICAL AND APPLIED FEATURES OF FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS AND BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PLANS by Shannon M. Hawkins When conducted correctly, functional behavior assessments (FBAs) can help professionals intervene with problem behavior using function-based interventions. Despite the fact that researchers have shown that effective interventions are based on function, recent investigators have found that most behavioral intervention plans (BIPs) are written without regard to the function of students’ problem behaviors as documented in their FBAs. This study was conducted to examine the overall technical adequacy of FBAs and BIPs within one educational system to evaluate reliance on the outcomes of FBAs in the development of BIPs. The technical and applied features of a randomly selected sample of 134 FBA/BIPs of students with disabilities, ages 3-21 years, who were receiving services due to their severe emotional and behavioral disorders (SEBD) or autism spectrum disorders (ASD) within the Georgia Network of Educational and Therapeutic Services (GNETS) were analyzed. In addition, similarities and differences between function-based strategies specified in BIPs were examined. Logistic regression was used to reveal the probability that a given behavioral function can predict which intervention(s) might be chosen. A series of chi-square tests of independence and a multinomial logistic regression model were used to examine how BIP component variables, demographic variables, behavioral function variables, and behavioral intervention variables related to each other statistically. Components described as critical in research literature for conducting FBAs and developing BIPs were absent from a significant number of the student files. Results suggest few of the prescribed interventions were likely to be related to function. The findings extend research on FBAs and BIPs, particularly as they are used with students with SEBD and autism, documenting that a significant number of BIPs are developed without regard of the function of the problem behavior. TECHNICAL AND APPLIED FEATURES OF FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS AND BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PLANS by Shannon M. Hawkins