Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-scale edge detection of rice internal damage based on computer vision

Damage is easy to occur during the process of harvesting, classification, packaging, transporting, processing, preservation and selling etc. and the detection of internal damage is a difficult problem. Rice kernels were classified as those with none, single, double or multiple stress cracks. An image processing algorithm was used to enhance the object and reduce noise in the acquired image. At the same time a machine -vision system was developed to detect different types of stress cracks in rice kernels. None and single stress cracks were the easiest to detect. Careful positioning of the kernel over the lighting aperture was necessary for accurate detection of double and multiple stress cracks. This system provided an average accuracy of approximately 96.5% to none crack, 93.4% to single crack, 84.2%to double cracks and 83.4% to multiple cracks compared to human inspection. The processing time was between 0.45 and 0.12 s/kernel.
Endothelial Dysfunction and Arterial Stiffness in Ischemic Stroke: The Role of Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Background and Purpose— Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) represents a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity after a cerebral ischemic event (acute ischemic event, ischemic stroke, or transient ischemic attack). In the present study, endothelial function and arterial stiffness were analyzed in patients who experienced a postacute ischemic event with relation to SDB, sleep disruption, and nocturnal oxygenation parameters. Methods— SDB was assessed by full polysomnography in patients with acute ischemic event 3 months after the admission at our stroke unit. Moderate-severe SDB was defined according to the apnea-hypopnea index as apnea-hypopnea index ≥20. Endothelial function and arterial stiffness were assessed by peripheral arterial tonometry using Endo-PAT 2000. Results— Thirty-seven patients were included. The augmentation index was significantly different between patients with apnea-hypopnea index <20 and apnea-hypopnea index ≥20 (22.4±15.6% versus 34.6±21.6%; P=0.042), whereas reactive hyperemia index level was not (2.02±0.65 versus 2.31±0.61; P=0.127). Patients with apnea-hypopnea index ≥20 showed an increased risk for arterial stiffness (odds ratio, 5.98 [95% CI, 1.11–41.72]) even when controlling for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The augmentation index was correlated with the arousal index (P=0.010) and with mean O2 saturation (P=0.043). Conclusions— Poststroke patients with moderate-severe SDB were more prone to have increased arterial stiffness, although we did not find significant differences in endothelial function. Arterial stiffness also correlated with sleep disruption (arousal index) and mean O2 saturation.
Privacy Preserving Record Linkage Using Phonetic Codes

Phonetic codes such as Soundex and Metaphone havebeen used in the past to address the Record Linkage Problem.However, to the best of our knowledge, no particulareffort was made within this context towards privacy assuranceduring the matching process. Phonetic codes have aninteresting feature which can be cornerstone to providingprivacy. They are mappings of strings which do not exhibitthe one-to-one property.In this paper, we present a novel protocol for achieving privacypreserving record linkage using phonetics, we provideproof of correctness for our approach and finally we illustrateexperimental results concerning performance andmatching accuracy. The proposed protocol can be equallywell applied to codes different than the phonetic ones, which do not exhibit the one-to-one property, such as hash tables with comparable results.
Sliding Window-Based Fault Detection From High-Dimensional Data Streams

High-dimensional data streams are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in industrial systems. Efficient detection of system faults from these data can ensure the reliability and safety of the system. The difficulties brought about by high dimensionality and data streams are mainly the “curse of dimensionality” and concept drifting, and one current challenge is to simultaneously address them. To this purpose, this paper presents an approach to fault detection from nonstationary high-dimensional data streams. An angle-based subspace anomaly detection approach is proposed to detect low-dimensional subspace faults from high-dimensional datasets. Specifically, it selects fault-relevant subspaces by evaluating vectorial angles and computes the local outlier-ness of an object in its subspace projection. Based on the sliding window strategy, the approach is further extended to an online mode that can continuously monitor system states. To validate the proposed algorithm, we compared it with the local outlier factor-based approaches on artificial datasets and found the algorithm displayed superior accuracy. The results of the experiment demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed algorithm. They also indicated that the algorithm has the ability to discriminate low-dimensional subspace faults from normal samples in high-dimensional spaces and can be adaptive to the time-varying behavior of the monitored system. The online subspace learning algorithm for fault detection would be the main contribution of this paper.
A process for the design of Context-Sensitive Systems

Context-Sensitive Systems (CSS) demand that designers consider new aspects and challenges in comparison to traditional applications. In a preliminary experiment, we observed that developers have difficulties when including the concept of context in their applications. This paper presents a CSS Design Process, which details the main activities for context specification and the design of CSS and provides a systematic way to execute these tasks. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the process usage: a detailed execution of each defined activity on the design of a context-sensitive Expert Recommender System; and an evaluation of the process usage by distinct designers on their CSS projects. These studies showed a good acceptance of our proposal and indicated the feasibility of using the process on real projects.
A study for provisioning of QoS web-based services to the end-user

Although QoS provision has been researched extensively for B-ISDN (ATM based) networks and it is also under research for IP networks (Internet), until recently there was no real service environment to provide such QoS to end users. Demonstrators and laboratory experiments aimed mainly at proving specific technologies and architectures. Recent advances in the commercialisation of technology and respective standardisation effort have changed the scenery. End to end networks, capable of QoS support, are in a maturity status that will enable commercial deployment within the next few years. Still, there are no applications to take advantage of such services. It would be most desirable to enhance the way users use current applications (such as the established WEB browser), than to try to introduce new application S/W. This paper proposes a method based on the Open Service Gateway initiative (OSGi) specification [1] that enables the Quality of Service (QoS) for bandwidth demanding applications such as multimedia applications, by introducing S/W modules as enhancements into the existing applications. This method targets to the end-user, when using the network topolgy that is being standarised by the Full Services Access Network (FSAN) [2].
COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS OUTBREAK IN A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM UNSUCCESSFUL INTERVENTIONS

A retrospective review of an outbreak of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus soft tissue infections in a high school football team was conducted. Thirteen players had 20 infections. Available community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates showed identical antibiotic susceptibility and field inversion gel electrophoresis analysis band patterns. Nasal cultures and mupirocin were ineffective at predicting and controlling infection, respectively. Infections treated with β-lactam antibiotics were at risk for recurrence.
Semantic distance acquisition in SemaCS

Search functionality and technology is a growing area of research. However, simple search approaches are still frequently used. A simple keyword or thesauri-based search is efficient and can be easily scaled. However, keyword-based search cannot be used to infer what may or may not be relevant to the user and thesauri, or any other expert generated model, is expensive to produce and tends to be of limited applicability. Semantic Component Selection (SemaCS) approach is not tied to any specific domain and does not rely on expert input. SemaCS is based on actual data and statistical semantic distances between words. Information on semantic distances is used for searching and for automated generation of domain model taxonomy. This paper presents SemaCS's means of acquiring these semantic distances - mNGD (2) - and its initial evaluation.
Tensile modulus modeling of carbon black/polycarbonate, carbon nanotube/polycarbonate, and exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet/polycarbonate composites

Conductive fillers are often added to thermoplastic polymers to increase the resulting composite's electrical conductivity (EC) which would enable them to be used in electrostatic dissipative and semiconductive applications. The resulting composite also exhibits increased tensile modulus. The filler aspect ratio plays an important role in modeling composite EC, and tensile modulus. It is difficult to measure the filler aspect ratio after the manufacturing process (often extrusion followed by injection molding) in the composite, especially when nanomaterials are used. The EC percolation threshold is a function of the filler aspect ratio; hence, knowledge of this percolation threshold provides a means to extract the filler aspect ratio. In this study, the percolation threshold of the composite was determined from EC measurements and modeling, which in turn was used to determine the filler aspect ratio for tensile modulus modeling. Per the authors' knowledge, this approach has not been previously reported in the open literature. The fillers; carbon black (CB: 2–10 wt %), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT: 0.5–8 wt %), or exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (GNP: 2–12 wt %); were added to polycarbonate (PC) and the resulting composites were tested for EC and tensile modulus. With the filler aspect ratio determined from EC values for CNT/PC and GNP/PC composites, the three-dimensional randomly oriented fiber Halpin-Tsai model accurately estimates the tensile modulus for the CNT/PC composites and the Nielsen model predicts the tensile modulus well for the CB/PC and GNP/PC composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Intracranial bone marrow transplantation after traumatic brain injury improving functional outcome in adult rats.

OBJECT The authors tested the hypothesis that intracranial bone marrow (BM) transplantation after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats provides therapeutic benefit. METHODS Sixty-six adult Wistar rats, weighing 275 to 350 g each, were used for the experiment. Bone marrow prelabeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was harvested from tibias and femurs of healthy adult rats. Other animals were subjected to controlled cortical impact, and BM was injected adjacent to the contusion 24 hours after the impact. The animals were killed at 4, 7, 14, or 28 days after transplantation. Motor function was evaluated both before and after the injury by using the rotarod test. After the animals had been killed, brain sections were examined using hemotoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining methods. Histological examination revealed that, after transplantation, BM cells survived, proliferated, and migrated toward the injury site. Some of the BrdU-labeled BM cells were reactive, with astrocytic (glial fibrillary acid protein) and neuronal (NeuN and microtubule-associated protein) markers. Transplanted BM expressed proteins phenotypical of intrinsic brain cells, that is, neurons and astrocytes. A statistically significant improvement in motor function in rats that underwent BM transplantation, compared with control rats, was detected at 14 and 28 days posttransplantation. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of their findings, the authors assert that BM transplantation improves neurological outcome and that BM cells survive and express nerve cell proteins after TBI.
Behavior of limestone filler cement mortars exposed to magnesium sulfate attack

In the cement production industry, looking for a less expensive binder using industrial waste and natural resources has become a major concern for the deficit level in the manufacture of Portland cement. However, despite the technical, economic and environmental benefits brought by the use of blended cements, they are associated with disadvantages. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of the incorporation of limestone fillers on the mechanical properties and durability of mortars prepared in different combinations based on this admixture material. The durability was evaluated after immersing the specimens in a 5% solution of magnesium sulfate for periods up to 360 days, and the penetration of chloride ions. The test results demonstrated that mortar and paste samples incorporating higher replacement levels of limestone filler were more susceptible to sulfate attack. According to microstructural analysis, such as DRX, the deterioration was significantly associated with formation of thaumasite, gypsum, and the brucite in the deteriorated parts of the specimens.
Respiratory Infection with Influenza A Virus Interferes with the Induction of Tolerance to Aeroallergens1

Viral respiratory infections have been implicated in influencing allergen sensitization and the development of asthma, but their exact role remains controversial. Because respiratory exposure to Ag normally engenders T cell tolerance and prevents the development of airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and inflammation, we examined the effects of influenza A virus infection on tolerance induced by exposure to intranasal (i.n.) OVA and the subsequent development of AHR. We found that concurrent infection with influenza A abrogated tolerance induced by exposure to i.n. OVA, and instead led to the development of AHR accompanied by the production of OVA-specific IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ. When both IL-4 and IL-5 were neutralized in this system, AHR was still induced, suggesting that influenza-induced cytokines such as IL-13, or mechanisms unrelated to cytokines, might be responsible for the development of AHR. The length of time between influenza A infection and i.n. exposure to OVA was crucial, because mice exposed to i.n. OVA 15–30 days after viral inoculation developed neither AHR nor OVA-specific tolerance. These mice instead acquired Th1-biased OVA-specific immune responses associated with vigorous OVA-induced T cell proliferation, and reduced production of OVA-specific IgE. The protective effect of influenza A on AHR was dependent on IFN-γ, because protection was abrogated with a neutralizing anti-IFN-γ mAb. These results suggest that viral respiratory infection interferes with the development of respiratory allergen-induced tolerance, and that the time interval between viral infection and allergen exposure is critical in determining whether viral infection will enhance, or protect against, the development of respiratory allergen sensitization and AHR.
A Monte Carlo simulation of the omega phase transformation

Abstract A model of the β to ω phase transformation in Ti, Zr and Hf alloys is proposed whereby the three-dimensional displacive transition is decomposed into one-dimensional and two-dimensional components. The one-dimensional component is postulated to be a linear displacive defect along 〈111〉 closepacked rows of the b.c.c. structure, the two-dimensional component then consists of the cooperative ordering of neighbouring parallel linear defects in the (111) planes normal to the linear component. That the two-dimensional cooperative ordering of displaced row segments can lead to a sharp phase transition has been demonstrated by a two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation involving three types of symbols with nearest-neighbour interactions. Computer simulation exhibits characteristic two-domain ω structures which, along with the linear defect structure, appear to explain, at least qualitatively, observed electron and neutron diffraction patterns. It is tentatively suggested that the postulated linear defects .
Factors Influencing Stroke Survivors' Quality of Life During Subacute Recovery

Background and Purpose— Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important index of outcome after stroke and may facilitate a broader description of stroke recovery. This study examined the relationship of individual and clinical characteristics to HRQOL in stroke survivors with mild to moderate stroke during subacute recovery. Methods— Two hundred twenty-nine participants 3 to 9 months poststroke were enrolled in a national multisite clinical trial (Extremity Constraint-Induced Therapy Evaluation). HRQOL was assessed using the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), Version 3.0. The Wolf Motor Function Test documented functional recovery of the hemiplegic upper extremity. Multiple analysis of variance and regression models examined the influence of demographic and clinical variables across SIS domains. Results— Age, gender, education level, stroke type, concordance (paretic arm=dominant hand), upper extremity motor function (Wolf Motor Function Test), and comorbidities were associated across SIS domains. Poorer HRQOL in the physical domain was associated with age, nonwhite race, more comorbidities, and reduced upper-extremity function. Stroke survivors with more comorbidities reported poorer HRQOL in the area of memory and thinking, and those with an ischemic stroke and concordance reported poorer communication. Conclusions— Although results may not generalize to lower functioning stroke survivors, individual characteristics of persons with mild to moderate stroke may be important to consider in developing comprehensive, targeted interventions designed to maximize recovery and improve HRQOL.
The role of bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells in pathogenesis

Colonizing host epithelia represents a formidable challenge to bacterial pathogens. To a large extent, epithelial surfaces are designed to shield the multicellular organism from the environment and to protect the body interior from potentially harmful microbes. Where epithelial surfaces permit exchange of molecular components with the external world, a multitude of innate and acquired host defence mechanisms keep microorganisms in check. In addition, invading pathogens either have to compete successfully with resident commensal bacteria for space and nutrients or have to reach and establish themselves in otherwise sterile parts of the body. As we will discuss in this chapter, the specific interaction with host surface components and the tight adhesion to epithelial cells form one of the common ways in which bacterial pathogens have evolved to successfully accomplish the colonization of their respective host organism. It is important to emphasize that in many cases, this initial host–microbe encounter at the epithelial barrier is not only a critical determinant of pathogen–host specificity and range but also, to a large extent, a decisive point for the infection process as a whole. Adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to host cells had been observed at the beginning of the twentieth century in the early days of investigations into the microbiological origin of infectious diseases (Guyot, 1908). However, the concept that bacterial adhesion to host surfaces often represents an essential step in the development of infection matured only several decades later (Beachey, 1981; Duguid, 1959; Eden et al., 1976; McNeish et al., 1975; Punsalang and Sawyer, 1973). Mechanical cleansing processes, ranging from eye-blinking to
CD277 is a Negative Co-stimulatory Molecule Universally Expressed by Ovarian Cancer Microenvironmental Cells

CD277, a member of the butyrophilin subfamily 3 (BTN3), shares significant sequence similarities and predicted common structural features with inhibitory B7-H4 and other members of the B7 superfamily. Here we report that CD277 is consistently expressed in stromal, as well as tumor cells in the microenvironment of human advanced ovarian carcinoma specimens, both of primary and metastatic origin. MHC-II+ myeloid antigenpresenting leukocytes (dendritic cells and macrophages) express significantly higher levels of surface CD277, compared to other tumor-infiltrating leukocyte subsets, and this expression is significantly up-regulated by multiple common tumor microenvironmental signals, including VEGF and CCL3. Most importantly, engagement of CD277 on the surface of TCR-stimulated T cells inhibits their otherwise robust expansion and production of Th1 cytokines by preventing the up-regulation of cFLIP. Our results point to a role for CD277 up-regulated by microenvironmental signals in the acquisition of a regulatory phenotype by tumor-associated myeloid cells. Consequently, CD277, and likely other butyrophilins and butyrophilin-like molecules, emerge as regular players in the orchestration of immunosuppressive networks in ovarian cancer, and therefore new targets for interventions to overcome immune evasion and boost anti-tumor immunity in cancer patients.
A preliminary study of airport freight traffic forecasting based on least squares support vector machine

Based on least squares support vector machines (LS-SVM) technique, a new method for airport freight traffic volume forecasting is proposed. The basic theory of regression LS-SVM is given, together with the brief review of SVM. The historical statistical data of airport freight traffic and pertinent indices from 1983 to 2003, which are provided by National Bureau of Statistics of China and Civil Aviation Administration of China, are used as the total data set of LS-SVM. RBF kernel function, polynomial kernel function, and linear kernel function are used as the kernel function of LS-SVM to perform freight traffic volume forecasting, respectively. After five-fold cross-validation, the LS-SVM of RBF kernel function has the best forecasting performance. Eventually, RBF function is selected as the kernel function of LS-SVM and its optimal parameters are /spl sigma//sup 2/=20 and /spl gamma/=13. The maximum absolute forecasting error is 12.4 and the maximum relative forecasting error is 5.66%. The results show that LS-SVM is a promising tool to perform airport freight traffic volume forecasting.
Learning in Stochastic Games : A Review of the Literature Serial

A great deal of research has been recently focused on stochastic games. Stochastic games can generally model the interactions between multiple agents in an environment. One of the major challenges in stochastic games is the problem of learning a policy to play in such games. While lots of people have worked in this area and proposed various algorithms for that, there is no unique method which can outperform all other methods. Therefore, one should know the pros and cons of different algorithms in the literature to select the one that suits his/her situation best. In this paper, we survey different methods proposed in the literature, group them according to their approaches and discuss about the general advantages and disadvantages of each group.