Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilizing a NoSQL Data Store for Scalable Log Analysis

A potential problem for persisting large volume of data logs with a conventional relational database is that loading massive logs produced at high rates is not fast enough due to the strong consistency model and high cost of indexing. As a possible alternative, a modern NoSQL data store, which sacrifices transactional consistency to achieve higher performance and scalability, can be utilized. In this paper, we investigate to what degree a state-of-the-art NoSQL database can achieve high performance persisting and fundamental analyses of large-scale data logs from real world applications. For the evaluation, a state-of-the-art NoSQL database, MongoDB, is compared with a relational DBMS from a major commercial vendor and with a popular open source relational DBMS. MongoDB is chosen as it provides both primary and secondary indexing compared to other popular NoSQL systems. These indexing techniques are essential for scalable processing of queries over large scale data logs. To explore the impact of parallelism on query execution, sharding was investigated for MongoDB. Our results revealed that relaxing the consistency did not provide substantial performance enhancement in persisting large-scale data logs for any of the systems. However, for high-performance loading and analysis of data logs, MongoDB is shown to be a viable alternative compared to relational databases for queries where the choice of an optimal execution plan is not critical.
ErbB Receptor Signaling and Therapeutic Resistance to Aromatase Inhibitors

We have investigated the effect of HER-2 overexpression on resistance to the aromatase inhibitor letrozole in MCF-7 breast cancer cells stably expressing cellular aromatase (MCF-7/CA). MCF-7/CA cells overexpressing HER-2 showed a >2-fold increase in estrogen receptor (ER)–mediated transcriptional reporter activity upon treatment with androstenedione compared with vector-only control MCF-7/CA cells. Cotreatment with letrozole did not abrogate androstenedione-induced transcription and cell proliferation in HER-2-overexpressing cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays using cross-linked protein-DNA from MCF-7/CA/HER-2 cells indicated ligand-independent association of the ERα coactivators AIB-1 and CBP to the promoter region of the estrogen-responsive pS2 gene. Upon treatment with androstenedione, there were increased associations of AIB1 and CBP with the pS2 promoter in the HER-2-overexpressing compared with control MCF-7/CA cells. These results suggest that ligand-independent recruitment of coactivator complexes to estrogen-responsive promoters as a result of HER-2 overexpression may play a role in the development of letrozole resistance.
In vivo MRI measurement of fetal blood oxygen saturation in cardiac ventricles of fetal sheep: A feasibility study

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility to determine fetal blood oxygen saturation (sO2) with T2‐weighted MR sequences using a fetal sheep model. T2 measurements were performed on a 1.5‐T scanner using a T2 preparation pulse in combination with a three‐dimensional balanced steady‐state free precession sequence repeated at different echo times. Eight sheep fetuses were examined during a control, hypoxic, and recovery phase to perform T2‐weighted scans of the fetal blood in the heart. Signal intensities in the left and right ventricle were measured to calculate the MR blood sO2. During each phase, fetal carotid artery sO2 was directly measured and correlated with MR sO2. A Bland‐Altman plot was performed. Fetal carotid artery sO2 was 69% sO2 during control, 16% sO2 during hypoxemia, and 67% sO2 during recovery. Mean values of the MR sO2 were 49% sO2 and 40% sO2 for control, 6% sO2 and 3% sO2 for hypoxemia, and 51% sO2 and 43% sO2 for recovery in left ventricle and right ventricle, respectively. Mean values of fetal carotid artery sO2 and MR sO2 were highly correlated (left ventricle: r = 0.87, right ventricle: r = 0.89). According to the Bland‐Altman plot, MR sO2 was lower compared to fetal carotid artery sO2 (left ventricle: 15%, right ventricle: 20%). Based on our preliminary results, it seems to be possible to assess fetal sO2 with MR oximetry. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Satisfied but thinking about leaving: the reasons behind residential satisfaction and residential attractiveness in shrinking Portuguese cities

ABSTRACT Creating liveable cities is a policy priority, especially for cities that are experiencing population loss. A decline in the number of inhabitants is commonly associated with low levels of residential satisfaction. However, such a supposition does not often find empirical support in shrinking cities. In the present study, we identify variables that influence the level of residential satisfaction, as well as those influencing residential attraction (captured by the intention of current residents to leave their city in the near future). The study is based on a face-to-face questionnaire administered to 701 residents in four shrinking Portuguese cities. As expected, lower levels of residential satisfaction lead to an increased intention to leave the city. The results also show that the variables explaining residential satisfaction mostly differ from those explaining residential attractiveness. The specific characteristics of each city influence citizens’ assessment of residential satisfaction, but the variables impacting residential attractiveness are universal.
THE BENCHMARK CIRCUIT BY USING BUILT-IN SELF TEST AND TEST PATTERN GENERATION IN FPGA TECHNOLOGY

In the proposed method we are test the S27 sequential circuit by using Built in Self Test. This paper describes an on-chip test generation method for functional broadside tests. The hardware was base on the application of primary input sequences initial from a well-known reachable state, therefore using the circuit to produce additional reachable states. Random primary enter sequences were changed to avoid repeated synchronization and thus defer varied sets of reachable states. Functional broadside tests are two-pattern scan based tests that avoid over testing by ensuring that a circuit traverses only reachable states in the functional clock cycles of a check. These consist of the input vectors and the equivalent responses. They check for proper operation of a verified design by testing the internal chip nodes. Useful tests cover a very high percentage of modeled faults in logic circuits and their generation is the main topic of this method. Often, functional vectors are understood as verification vectors, these are used to verify whether the hardware actually matches its specification. Though, in the ATE world, any one vectors applied are understood to be functional fault coverage vectors applied during developing test. This paper show the on chip test Generation for a bench mark circuit using simple fixed hardware design with small no of parameters altered in the design for the generation of no of patterns.
A Bioimpedance Analysis Platform for Amputee Residual Limb Assessment

Objective: The objective of this research was to develop a bioimpedance platform for monitoring fluid volume in residual limbs of people with trans-tibial limb loss using prostheses. Methods: A customized multifrequency current stimulus profile was sent to thin flat electrodes positioned on the thigh and distal residual limb. The applied current signal and sensed voltage signals from four pairs of electrodes located on the anterior and posterior surfaces were demodulated into resistive and reactive components. An established electrical model (Cole) and segmental limb geometry model were used to convert results to extracellular and intracellular fluid volumes. Bench tests and testing on amputee participants were conducted to optimize the stimulus profile and electrode design and layout. Results: The proximal current injection electrode needed to be at least 25 cm from the proximal voltage sensing electrode. A thin layer of hydrogel needed to be present during testing to ensure good electrical coupling. Using a burst duration of 2.0 ms, intermission interval of 100 μs, and sampling delay of 10 μs at each of 24 frequencies except 5 kHz, which required a 200-μs sampling delay, the system achieved a sampling rate of 19.7 Hz. Conclusion: The designed bioimpedance platform allowed system settings and electrode layouts and positions to be optimized for amputee limb fluid volume measurement. Significance: The system will be useful toward identifying and ranking prosthetic design features and participant characteristics that impact residual limb fluid volume.
Dynamic Spectrum Access Protocol Without Power Mask Constraints

In this work, we investigate a statistical approach for dynamic spectrum access and radio resource management (RRM) in opportunistic cognitive radio (CR) networks. We propose a dis- tributed MAC protocol for such networks that enables unlicensed users to dynamically utilize the available spectrum while limiting the imposed interference on primary (PR) users. Our proposed protocol is novel in three aspects. First, it does not require CR users to coordinate with PR users. Second, it does not assume any predefined CR-to-PR power mask, and thus can exploit the available spectrum more efficiently. Third, it provides the PR users with a statistical guarantee on the fraction of time that their reception may be corrupted by CR users. To avoid corrupting PR user receptions, the protocol computes the maximum power that a CR transmission can use based on current network conditions. We show how to compute this maximum power by deriving models for the PR-to-CR and PR-to-PR interference. Simulation experiments illustrate that our MAC protocol can satisfy the statistical guarantee for PR users under various user deployment models and traffic loads.
Color opponency in cone-driven horizontal cells in carp retina. Aspecific pathways between cones and horizontal cells

The spectral and dynamic properties of cone-driven horizontal cells in carp retina were evaluated with silent substitution stimuli and/or saturating background illumination. The aim of this study was to describe the wiring underlying the spectral sensitivity of these cells. We will present electrophysiological data that indicate that all cone- driven horizontal cell types receive input from all spectral cone types, and we will present evidence that all cone-driven horizontal cell types feedback to all spectral cone types. These two findings are the basis for a model for the spectral and dynamic behavior of all cone- driven horizontal cells in carp retina. The model can account for the spectral as well as the dynamic behavior of the horizontal cells. It will be shown that the strength of the feedforward and feedback pathways between a horizontal cell and a particular spectral cone type are roughly proportional. This model is in sharp contrast to the Stell model, where the spectral behavior of the three horizontal cell types is explained by a cascade of feedforward and feedback pathways between cones and horizontal cells. The Stell model accounts for the spectral but not for the dynamic behavior of the horizontal cells.
Cosmological implications of baryon acoustic oscillation measurements

We derive constraints on cosmological parameters and tests of dark energy models from the combination of baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) measurements with cosmic microwave background (CMB) data and a recent reanalysis of Type Ia supernova (SN) data. In particular, we take advantage of high-precision BAO measurements from galaxy clustering and the Lyman-alpha forest (LyaF) in the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). Treating the BAO scale as an uncalibrated standard ruler, BAO data alone yield a high confidence detection of dark energy; in combination with the CMB angular acoustic scale they further imply a nearly flat universe. Adding the CMB-calibrated physical scale of the sound horizon, the combination of BAO and SN data into an "inverse distance ladder" yields a measurement of H-0 = 67.3 +/- 1.1 km s(-1) Mpc(-1), with 1.7% precision. This measurement assumes standard prerecombination physics but is insensitive to assumptions about dark energy or space curvature, so agreement with CMB-based estimates that assume a flat Lambda CDM cosmology is an important corroboration of this minimal cosmological model. For constant dark energy (Lambda), our BAO + SN + CMB combination yields matter density Omega(m) = 0.301 +/- 0.008 and curvature Omega(k) = -0.003 +/- 0.003. When we allow more general forms of evolving dark energy, the BAO + SN + CMB parameter constraints are always consistent with flat Lambda CDM values at approximate to 1 sigma. While the overall chi(2) of model fits is satisfactory, the LyaF BAO measurements are in moderate (2-2.5 sigma) tension with model predictions. Models with early dark energy that tracks the dominant energy component at high redshift remain consistent with our expansion history constraints, and they yield a higher H-0 and lower matter clustering amplitude, improving agreement with some low redshift observations. Expansion history alone yields an upper limit on the summed mass of neutrino species, Sigma m(nu) < 0.56 eV (95% confidence), improving to Sigma m(nu) < 0.25 eV if we include the lensing signal in the Planck CMB power spectrum. In a flat Lambda CDM model that allows extra relativistic species, our data combination yields N-eff = 3.43 +/- 0.26; while the LyaF BAO data prefer higher N-eff when excluding galaxy BAO, the galaxy BAO alone favor N-eff approximate to 3. When structure growth is extrapolated forward from the CMB to low redshift, standard dark energy models constrained by our data predict a level of matter clustering that is high compared to most, but not all, observational estimates.
3D Human Motion Analysis in Monocular Video Techniques and Challenges

Human motion and action analysis in video is an actively growing field with a broad spectrum of applications including video browsing and indexing, entertainment, virtual reality, human-computer interaction and surveillance. However, human motion analysis systems face important scientific and computational challenges. The proportions of the human body vary across individuals due to gender, weight, age or race. Aside from this variability, any single human body has many degrees of freedom due to articulation and the individual limbs are deformable due to muscle and clothing. Finally many realworld scenes involve multiple interacting humans occluded by each other or by other objects, and the scene conditions may also vary due to the camera motion or lighting changes. These factors make accurate 3D human models difficult to build and difficult to reconstruct reliably from 'flat' 2D images. During this talk I will discuss learning and inference algorithms for estimating 3D human motion in monocular video. While the problem has been traditionally approached using the powerful machinery of generative models, operating in an analysis by synthesis loop, the main emphasis of this talk will be on an emerging class of complementary discriminative temporal estimation models. These can be viewed as upside down, bottom-up versions of classical temporal models used with Kalman filtering or particle filtering. But instead of inverting a generative imaging model, we will learn to cooperatively predict complex, feedforward 2D-to-3D mappings, using Conditional Bayesian Mixtures of Experts. These are embedded in a probabilistic temporal framework in order to enforce dynamic constraints and allow a principled propagation of uncertainty. We call the resulting model BM3E (a Conditional Bayesian Mixture of Experts Markov Model). During the talk, I will discuss how inference can be restricted, for efficiency, to low-dimensional non-linear state spaces, and how the framework can be extended in order to deal with clutter and occlusion. I will also discuss the relative advantages of generative and initialize and recover from failure.
Long-term Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and Endometrial Cancer

Estrogen-alone therapy (ET) or estrogen and progestin (EPT) as menopausal hormone therapy (HT) has been commonly used to alleviate menopausal symptoms. Treatments containing ≥10 days per month of progestin are considered relatively safe with respect to endometrial cancer risk. However, the endometrial safety of long-term EPT regimens is uncertain. We conducted a case-control study of 311 invasive endometrial cancer cases and 570 controls nested within the California Teachers Study cohort. We used unconditional logistic regression to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association between long-term HT use and endometrial cancer risk, and to assess the modifying effect of body mass index (BMI). Long-term (≥10 years) use of ET, sequential EPT with <10 days per month progestin, and continuous-combined EPT (≥25 days/month progestin) were all associated with an elevated risk of endometrial cancer (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.5-8.1; OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.7-11.2; and OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3-3.3, respectively; all Ptrend < 0.001). The risk associated with short-term use was elevated only for ET preparations. The association for continuous-combined EPT was confined to thinner women (BMI, <25 kg/m2; Pinteraction = 0.03). Among heavier women (BMI, ≥25 kg/m2), use of continuous-combined EPT was associated with a statistically nonsignificant reduction in risk. These findings confirm that long-term use of ET, sequential EPT, or, among normal weight women, continuous-combined EPT is associated with increased risk of endometrial cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(2); 475–83
Histamine inhibits the melanin‐concentrating hormone system: implications for sleep and arousal

Melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons express histamine‐3 receptor (H3R) mRNA but not histamine‐1 (H1R) or histamine‐2 (H2R) receptor mRNA. Histamine inhibits MCH neurons by activating postsynaptic H3R. This effect is mediated through G protein‐dependent inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels. Histamine may function to silence MCH neurons during wakefulness.
Improving pseudorandom bit sequence generation and evaluation for secure Internet communications using neural network techniques

Random components play an especially important role in secure electronic commerce and Internet communications. For this reason, the existence of strong pseudo random number generators is highly required. This paper presents novel techniques, which rely on artificial neural network architectures, to strengthen traditional generators such as ANSI X.9 based DES and IDEA. Additionally, this paper proposes a test method for evaluating the required non-predictability property, which also relies on neural networks. This non-predictability test method along with commonly used statistical and non-linearity tests are proposed as methodology for the evaluation of strong pseudo random number generators. By means of this methodology, traditional and proposed generators are evaluated. The results show that the proposed generators behave significantly better than the traditional, in particular, in terms of non-predictability.
A Dual-Band Microwave Imaging System Prototype for Quantitative 3-D Dielectric Reconstruction

We present a microwave imaging (MWI) system prototype to reconstruct 3-D complex dielectric relaxation images of various complicated phantom models. The imaging cavity of this system is filled with a newly compounded emulsion. To achieve multifrequency operation, the proposed system utilizes a new multifrequency tapered patch antenna array. A novel method based on the principal component analysis (PCA) is first proposed to select optimal frequencies and useful data channels in MWI applications, which is the major innovation of this article. For 3-D imaging, particularly, under the black-box condition with no a priori information of the unknown targets, the enhanced variational Born iterative method (VBIM) is applied as the inverse solver, enabling the dielectric relaxation reconstruction from the multifrequency measured data. Multiple experiments with various phantoms are conducted to evaluate the system’s performance and imaging capabilities. These include single, double, and multiple spherical targets filled with various water–isopropyl alcohol mixtures and submerged either directly in the background emulsion or within another water–alcohol mixture that is submerged in the emulsion. Imaging results, including the comparison between measured data and simulated data, multifrequency and single-frequency reconstructed dielectric images, inversions with different PCA contribution thresholds, and reconstruction under black-box and preconditioned setup, can quantitatively demonstrate a good performance of the MWI system prototype.
Spike-based learning of transfer functions with the SpiNNaker neuromimetic simulator

Recent papers have shown the possibility to implement large scale neural network models that perform complex algorithms in a biologically realistic way. However, such models have been simulated on architectures unable to perform real-time simulations. In previous work we presented the possibility to simulate simple models in real-time on the SpiNNaker neuromimetic architecture. However, such models were “static”: the algorithm performed was defined at design-time. In this paper we present a novel learning rule, that exploits the peculiarities of the SpiNNaker system, enabling models designed with the Neural Engineering Framework (NEF) to learn transfer functions using a supervised framework. We show that the proposed learning rule, belonging to the Prescribed Error Sensitivity (PES) class, is able to learn, effectively, both linear and non-linear functions.
Patient safety in primary care: are general practice nurses the answer to improving warfarin safety? An Australian perspective.

Primary health care plays a pivotal role in health systems. The ageing population and mounting prevalence of chronic disease will place increasing demands on primary care. Currently, 30% of general practice patients in Australia are aged 65 and over (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2009) and almost half of general practice consultations involve a chronic condition (Knox et al. 2008). Older patients with chronic conditions often have multiple co-morbidities and medications, requiring general practitioners (GPs) to coordinate and case manage their care. Managing such complex patients poses challenges for GPs who are often time poor (Jacobsen et al. 2003), which results in an increasing reliance on shared care and patient self-management. This potentially increases the risk of patient safety incidents such as medication-related adverse events. Patient safety, which refers to “the reduction of risk of unnecessary harm associated with health care to an acceptable minimum,” (Runciman et al, 2009, p. 19) is a fundamental principle of health care influenced by a number of interrelated factors, related to individual patients, health professionals, policies, guidelines, and regulatory procedures. In this paper, we present the example of warfarin management to illustrate safety and quality issues in the Australian primary care setting.
Ratbert : Nearest Sequence Memory Based Prediction Model Applied to Robot Navigation

In this paper I examine the effectiveness of NSMP, a predictive algorithm based on Nearest Sequence Memory, in a robot navigational task. Learning an unknown environment typically involves successfully modeling the POMDP describing it. NSMP uses the Nearest Sequence Memory method to predict the consequence of a given action based on the set of instances that comprise its previous experience. I evaluate the performance of NSMP and examine the results and issues raised by this experiment.