Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DYNAMIC MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY OF HV VOLTAGE DIVIDERS

Recently we proposed an approach based on digital filtering for evaluating dynamic non-stationary contributions to the measurement uncertainty. A dynamic simulator instead of a digital filter bank is here utilized for deriving the dynamic measurement uncertainty of mixed capacitive voltage dividers. These are used for lightning impulse measurements, during a calibration measurement of a standard lightning impulse.
Burden Analysis of Rare Microdeletions Suggests a Strong Impact of Neurodevelopmental Genes in Genetic Generalised Epilepsies

Genetic generalised epilepsy (GGE) is the most common form of genetic epilepsy, accounting for 20% of all epilepsies. Genomic copy number variations (CNVs) constitute important genetic risk factors of common GGE syndromes. In our present genome-wide burden analysis, large (≥ 400 kb) and rare (< 1%) autosomal microdeletions with high calling confidence (≥ 200 markers) were assessed by the Affymetrix SNP 6.0 array in European case-control cohorts of 1,366 GGE patients and 5,234 ancestry-matched controls. We aimed to: 1) assess the microdeletion burden in common GGE syndromes, 2) estimate the relative contribution of recurrent microdeletions at genomic rearrangement hotspots and non-recurrent microdeletions, and 3) identify potential candidate genes for GGE. We found a significant excess of microdeletions in 7.3% of GGE patients compared to 4.0% in controls (P = 1.8 x 10-7; OR = 1.9). Recurrent microdeletions at seven known genomic hotspots accounted for 36.9% of all microdeletions identified in the GGE cohort and showed a 7.5-fold increased burden (P = 2.6 x 10-17) relative to controls. Microdeletions affecting either a gene previously implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders (P = 8.0 x 10-18, OR = 4.6) or an evolutionarily conserved brain-expressed gene related to autism spectrum disorder (P = 1.3 x 10-12, OR = 4.1) were significantly enriched in the GGE patients. Microdeletions found only in GGE patients harboured a high proportion of genes previously associated with epilepsy and neuropsychiatric disorders (NRXN1, RBFOX1, PCDH7, KCNA2, EPM2A, RORB, PLCB1). Our results demonstrate that the significantly increased burden of large and rare microdeletions in GGE patients is largely confined to recurrent hotspot microdeletions and microdeletions affecting neurodevelopmental genes, suggesting a strong impact of fundamental neurodevelopmental processes in the pathogenesis of common GGE syndromes.
Epitope focusing in the primary cytotoxic T cell response to Epstein- Barr virus and its relationship to T cell memory

The relationship between primary and memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, and the factors influencing entry into memory, are poorly understood. Here we address this in the context of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a persistent human herpesvirus in which memory CTL responses in long-term virus carriers are highly focused on epitopes preferentially drawn from just three of the eight available virus latent proteins, EBNAs 3A, 3B, and 3C. To determine whether this unusual level of focusing is a consequence of long-term virus challenge, we carried out a detailed analysis of EBV antigen/epitope specificities in the primary virus-induced CTL response in 10 infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients of different HLA types. Primary effectors, studied in ex vivo assays and by limiting dilution cloning in vitro, were again highly skewed toward a small number of viral epitopes, almost all derived from the EBNA3 proteins, with CTL to the immunodominant epitope accounting for at least 1% of the circulating CD8+ IM T cell pool. This is the first unequivocal demonstration of an EBV-specific CD8+ CTL response in IM. Prospective studies on individual patients showed that, whereas all of the EBV reactivities found in CTL memory had been detectable earlier during primary infection, the memory population was not simply a scaled down version of the primary response. In particular (a) differences in the relative frequencies of CTL to immunodominant versus subdominant epitopes appeared to be much less marked in memory than in primary populations, and (b) we found at least one clear example in which a significant virus-specific reactivity within the primary response was never detectable in memory.
High Efficiency Reversible Data Hiding for Two-stage Vector Quantization Compressed Images

Data hiding is a booming technique aiming to embed secret data into digital media for content authentication, annotation or copyright protection. Reversible data hiding is a special type of data hiding technique that guarantees the host digital media can be losslessly recovered after the secret data are correctly extracted. In the past several years, some reversible data hiding schemes for Vector Quantization (VQ) compressed images have been proposed. Some of them embed data during the VQ encoding process, while others embed data during the VQ index streaming process. Compared with the traditional VQ, Multi-Stage Vector Quantization (MSVQ) is a more attractive data compression scheme with lower complexity and less encoding time due to the reduced codebook size. This paper proposes a novel reversible data hiding scheme based on two-stage VQ. The proposed framework consists of three phases, two-stage VQ codebook generation, path selection and data embedding, and cover image reconstruction and secret data extraction. Our main contribution lies in improving both the payload and transmission eﬃciency with a smaller codebook in comparison with traditional VQ-based reversible data hiding schemes. Experimental results validate the eﬀectiveness of our scheme and demonstrate that it outperforms several previous methods in terms of payload, eﬃciency and stego-image quality.
HybriDroid: Static analysis framework for Android hybrid applications

Mobile applications (apps) have long invaded the realm of desktop apps, and hybrid apps become a promising solution for supporting multiple mobile platforms. Providing both platform-specific functionalities via native code like native apps and user interactions via JavaScript code like web apps, hybrid apps help developers build multiple apps for different platforms without much duplicated efforts. However, most hybrid apps are developed in multiple programming languages with different semantics, which may be vulnerable to programmer errors. Moreover, because untrusted JavaScript code may access device-specific features via native code, hybrid apps may be vulnerable to various security attacks. Unfortunately, no existing tools can help hybrid app developers by detecting errors or security holes. In this paper, we present HybriDroid, a static analysis framework for Android hybrid apps. We investigate the semantics of Android hybrid apps especially for the interoperation mechanism of Android Java and JavaScript. Then, we design and implement a static analysis framework that analyzes inter-communication between Android Java and JavaScript. As example analyses supported by HybriDroid, we implement a bug detector that identifies programmer errors due to the hybrid semantics, and a taint analyzer that finds information leaks cross language boundaries. Our empirical evaluation shows that the tools are practically usable in that they found previously uncovered bugs in real-world Android hybrid apps and possible information leaks via a widely-used advertising platform.
More with less: lowering user burden in mobile crowdsourcing through compressive sensing

Mobile crowdsourcing is a powerful tool for collecting data of various types. The primary bottleneck in such systems is the high burden placed on the user who must manually collect sensor data or respond in-situ to simple queries (e.g., experience sampling studies). In this work, we present Compressive CrowdSensing (CCS) -- a framework that enables compressive sensing techniques to be applied to mobile crowdsourcing scenarios. CCS enables each user to provide significantly reduced amounts of manually collected data, while still maintaining acceptable levels of overall accuracy for the target crowd-based system. Naïve applications of compressive sensing do not work well for common types of crowdsourcing data (e.g., user survey responses) because the necessary correlations that are exploited by a sparsifying base are hidden and non-trivial to identify. CCS comprises a series of novel techniques that enable such challenges to be overcome. We evaluate CCS with four representative large-scale datasets and find that it is able to outperform standard uses of compressive sensing, as well as conventional approaches to lowering the quantity of user data needed by crowd systems.
The effects of hippotherapy in children and adolescents with autism : a systematic review

The Abstract: The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of hippotherapy, also known as horse- or equine-assisted therapy, for improving the socialization and communication behaviors of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The PubMed research database was used to search for relevant studies. Six studies were evaluated and demonstrated overall mixed findings for the use of hippotherapy as an effective treatment technique for communication and socialization skills. To further analyze the strength of these findings, the selected studies were evaluated for limitations related to outcome measure selected and treatment design. The present analysis revealed four main limitations: 1) lack of established treatment protocol led to differences with how hippotherapy was delivered; 2) most assessment measures were based on parent report; 3) small sample sizes; and 4) multiple treatment interference. While these
Topical Fluorometholone Treatment for Ocular Dryness in Patients With Sjögren Syndrome

AbstractThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an ophthalmic solution containing 0.1% fluorometholone (FML) and 0.1% sodium hyaluronate (HA) for the treatment of ocular dryness in Sjögren syndrome (SS) patients.Forty SS patients were randomly assigned to the FML or cyclosporin A (CsA) treatment groups. The FML group was treated with 0.1% FML and 0.1% HA, and the CsA group was treated with 0.5% CsA and 0.1% HA. Primary outcomes were corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, conjunctival goblet cell density, and the severity of conjunctival congestion. Patients were also evaluated based on tear film breakup time (TFBUT) and the Schirmer test.After 8 weeks of treatment, the mean CFS scores were significantly lower in both the groups, compared with the baseline values, and the CFS score of the FML group at week 2 was significantly lower than that of the CsA group (P = 0.042). The OSDI scores improved significantly in both the groups throughout the study, and the OSDI score in the FML group at week 4 was significantly lower than that of the CsA group (P = 0.042). After 8 weeks of therapy, the conjunctival goblet cell density was significantly higher in both the groups (P < 0.001 for both) compared with the baseline values. Conjunctival congestion was reduced in both the groups throughout the study, and the severity in the FML group was significantly less at week 4 compared with that in the CsA group (P = 0.035). The TFBUT in the FML group at week 8 was significantly longer than in the CsA group (P = 0.04). Treatment using topical 0.1% FML provided faster improvement in the symptoms of ocular dryness in SS patients compared with topical 0.5% CsA.
Studies on the organization and localization of actin and myosin in neurons

The organization of actin in mouse neuroblastoma and chicken dorsal root ganglion (DRG) nerve cells was investigated by means of a variety of electron microscope techniques. Microspikes of neuroblastoma cells contained bundles of 7- to 8-nm actin filaments which originated in the interior of the neurite. In the presence of high concentrations of Mg++ ion, filaments in these bundles became highly ordered to form paracrystals. Actin filaments, but not bundles, were observed in growth cones of DRG cells. Actin was localized in the cell body, neurites, and microspikes of both DRG and neuroblastoma nerve cells by fluorescein- labeled S1. Myosin was localized primarily in the neurites of chick DRG nerve cells with fluorescein-labeled anti-brain myosin antibody. This antibody also stained stress fibers in fibroblasts and myoblasts but did not stain muscle myofibrils.
Oncogenic Activating Mutations Are Associated with Local Copy Gain

Although activating mutations and gains in copy number are key mechanisms for oncogene activation, the relationship between the two is not well understood. In this study, we focused on KRAS copy gains and mutations in non–small cell lung cancer. We found that KRAS copy gains occur more frequently in tumors with KRAS activating mutations and are associated with large increases in KRAS expression. These copy gains tend to be more focal in tumors with activating mutations than in those with wild-type KRAS. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed that some tumors have homogeneous low-level gains of the KRAS locus, whereas others have high-level amplification of KRAS, often in only a fraction of tumor cells. Associations between activating mutation and copy gains were also observed for other oncogenes (EGFR in non–small cell lung cancer, BRAF and NRAS in melanoma). Activating mutations were associated with copy gains only at the mutated oncogene locus but not other oncogene loci. However, KRAS activating mutations in colorectal cancer were not associated with copy gains. Future work is warranted to clarify the relationship among the different mechanisms of oncogene activation. (Mol Cancer Res 2009;7(8):1244–52)
PV fed grid connected multilevel inverter with space vector control having over modulation

The three-phase grid-connected converter is widely used in renewable and electric power system applications. In general, two power conversion stages are required when low voltage unregulated PV output is conditioned to generate AC power. This report presents a space vector algorithm for a 3 level diode clamped multilevel inverter for operation in over modulation range. This type of inverter has several advantages over standard two level voltage source inverter, such as greater number of levels in output voltage waveforms, lower dv/dt, less harmonic distortion in voltage and current waveforms and lower switching frequencies. The operation of multilevel inverter in both stand alone and grid connected mode is discussed. The stand-alone mode multilevel inverter is controlled to provide voltage of desired magnitude and frequency to local loads. In grid connected mode multilevel inverter operates in current controlled mode to supply pre-defined active power to the grid. This report presents a SVPWM algorithm with over modulation for three level based on standard two level SVPWM. The presented scheme is described clearly and hardware results are reported to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Finding News in a Haystack - Event Based News Clustering with Social Media Based Ranking

We present NewsClu, an approach to collect, cluster, categorize and select news articles from the Internet. The framework is not limited to a certain field, resort or division of news - it is capable to work on any topic and runs on real time live data on the Internet. NewsClu keeps its user informed about that particular topic by filtering, organizing, ranking and clustering of news according to static, dynamic and social factors. Through event based clustering the framework filters duplicate and less relevant news, making it easier to read more interesting news in less time. NewsClu is innovative in terms of clustering and ranking compared to other approaches.
THE EFFECTS OF NICOTINE ON THE HABITUATION OF REINFORCER EFFECTIVENESS

Beyond its primary and secondary reinforcing effects, nicotine also enhances reinforcement from non-drug stimuli unrelated to smoking. Possibly relevant to that effect, preclinical research has shown that nicotine can maintain the effectiveness of a non-drug operant reinforcer across repeated presentations. Operant reinforcement is a dynamic process in which a reinforcer’s ability to promote behavior decreases systematically with each presentation, leading to within-session declines in responding. Habituation to the sensory aspects of a reinforcer is the mechanism underlying declines in its effectiveness. Nicotine’s effect on habituation of reinforcer effectiveness has not been demonstrated in humans. The current study was designed as a first step in translating animal research examining nicotine’s influence on habituation of reinforcer effectiveness to a human sample. Using a within-subjects design, 30 dependent smokers (14 males, 16 females) participated in two experimental sessions, as part of a larger study. Sessions varied by nicotine condition, no nicotine after overnight abstinence (>12 hr; CO 10 ppm; “nicotine condition”). In each session, participants engaged in a 15-min operant response task to earn time viewing a preferred picture (attractive human model; 7 sec per earned reinforcer; fixed-interval 10 schedule), with unique pictures per session. Overall, reinforced responding and duration of responding were each significantly greater in the nicotine versus no nicotine condition. When examining within-session patterns of responding, rate of reinforced responding declined less sharply early in the trial and persisted longer under the nicotine versus no nicotine condition. Exploratory analyses suggested that neither self-reported withdrawal levels nor nicotine condition order influenced differences in patterns of responding between conditions. Overall, these results are an initial demonstration of nicotine’s (via cigarette smoke) ability to maintain the effectiveness of a reinforcer longer, compared to a no nicotine control. Delaying declines in reinforcer effectiveness may be yet another way in which nicotine promotes smoking behavior.
Hypnotic imagery as a treatment for phantom limb pain: two case reports and a review

Objective: To provide a theoretical background, to review existing literature and to present new case material relevant to the treatment of phantom limb pain using hypnotic imagery. Method: This paper presents two new case reports involving the use of hypnotic imagery procedures in the alleviation of phantom limb pain and reviews 10 previous clinical studies which have involved a similar approach. The earlier studies were identified by electronic and manual searches of the relevant literature. Results: Two main treatment strategies can be identified: (1) ipsative/ imagery-based approaches and (2) movement/imagery-based approaches. A common finding is the need to treat the phantom limb as a fireal’ body part, to accept its existence as a valid mental representation and to avoid treating the amputation stump as the sole source of the phantom pain sensations. Conclusion: Hypnotic procedures appear to be a useful adjunct to established strategies for the treatment of phantom limb pain and would repay further, more systematic, investigation. Suggestions are provided as to the factors which should be considered for a more systematic research programme.
Millimeter wave beamforming for multiuser dual-polarized MIMO systems

Fifth generation wireless communication systems can achieve massive throughput increases from multi-user, multiple-input multiple-output systems combined with the emerging use of millimeter wavelengths in small heterogeneous cells. In this paper, we propose a beamforming algorithm for an outdoor millimeter wave, multiuser network, which exploits polarization diversity. First, we propose an adaptive channel sampling algorithm that estimates the beam-alignment vectors for multiple users. The proposed subspace sampling algorithm reduces the beam search time by sounding the channels for multiple users in parallel. With the beam-alignment vectors, we propose an algorithm for jointly estimating the optimal beamformers and combiners that minimize inter-user interference among serviced users while increasing the sum-rate of the system.
Density estimation in high and ultra high dimensions, regularization, and the L1 asymptotics

This article gives a theoretical treatment of the asymptotics of the L1 error of a model-based estimate of a density f(x|θ) on a finite dimensional Euclidean space Rk. The dimension p of the parameter vector θ is considered arbitrary but fixed in Section 2. Two theorems in Section 2 lay out the weak limits of a suitably scaled L1 error, with a general estimating sequence θ̂ and a general family of smooth densities f(x|θ) dominated by some σ-finite measure, the discrete case included. We show that the L1 error converges at the coarsest rate corresponding to the different coordinates of the parameter vector θ. Four applications are detailed in Section 3, a special one being a new confidence interval for a Poisson mean. Section 4 considers the high and the ultra high dimensional case, where p grows with n. The exact critical growth rate for p when maximum likelihood starts to falter is derived. Maximum likelihood is shown to exhibit a trichotomy of behavior; the desired behavior below the threshold, problematic behavior at the threshold, and disastrous behavior above the threshold. It is then shown that regularization, if coupled with the right amount of sparsity, can return consistent density estimation, even at the best possible n−1/2 rate. We give a complete description of the limiting behavior of the regularized density estimate under different sparsity conditions. Section 4 is specialized to the Gaussian case due to its special importance and well known links to function estimation. Research partially supported by NSF grant no. DMS 0707139.
Oxidative Stress and Its Clinical Applications in Dementia

Dementia is a complex disorder that mostly affects the elderly and represents a significant and growing public health burden in the world. Alzheimer's disease (AD)- associated dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are the most common forms of dementia, in which oxidative stress is significantly involved. Oxidative stress mechanisms may have clinical applications, that is, providing information for potential biomarkers. Thus brain-rich peptides with an antioxidant property, such as CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript), may be promising new markers. This paper summarizes the progress in research regarding oxidative stress in dementia with a focus on potential biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the main forms of dementia. Other central and peripheral biomarkers, especially those considered oxidative stress related, are also discussed. This paper aims to provide information to improve current understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of dementia. It also offers insight into the differential diagnosis of AD and DLB.
Low-Noise Density Clustering

We study density-based clustering under low-noise conditions. Our framework allows for sharply defined clusters such as clusters on lower dimensional manifolds. We show that accurate clustering is possible even in high dimensions. We propose two data-based methods for choosing the bandwidth and we study the stability properties of density clusters. We show that a simple graph-based algorithm known as the “friends-of-friends” algorithm successfully approximates the high density clusters.