Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast Hardware Algorithm for Division in $ \hbox{GF}(2^{m})$ Based on the Extended Euclid's Algorithm With Parallelization of Modular Reductions

We propose a fast hardware algorithm for division in GF(2m) based on the extended Euclid's algorithm. The algorithm requires only one iteration to perform the operations that correspond to the ones performed in two iterations of previously reported division algorithms. Since the algorithm performs modular reductions in parallel by changing the order of execution of the operations, a circuit based on this algorithm has almost the same critical path delay as the previously proposed ones. The circuit computes division in m clock cycles, whereas the previously proposed circuits take 2m - 1 or more clock cycles.
Collecte orientée sur le Web pour la recherche d'information spécialisée. (Focused document gathering on the Web for domain-specific information retrieval)

Les moteurs de recherche verticaux, qui se concentrent sur des segments specifiques du Web, deviennent aujourd'hui de plus en plus presents dans le paysage d'Internet. Les moteurs de recherche thematiques, notamment, peuvent obtenir de tres bonnes performances en limitant le corpus indexe a un theme connu. Les ambiguites de la langue sont alors d'autant plus controlables que le domaine est bien cible. De plus, la connaissance des objets et de leurs proprietes rend possible le developpement de techniques d'analyse specifiques afin d'extraire des informations pertinentes.Dans le cadre de cette these, nous nous interessons plus precisement a la procedure de collecte de documents thematiques a partir du Web pour alimenter un moteur de recherche thematique. La procedure de collecte peut etre realisee en s'appuyant sur un moteur de recherche generaliste existant (recherche orientee) ou en parcourant les hyperliens entre les pages Web (exploration orientee). Nous etudions tout d'abord la recherche orientee. Dans ce contexte, l'approche classique consiste a combiner des mot-cles du domaine d'interet, a les soumettre a un moteur de recherche et a telecharger les meilleurs resultats retournes par ce dernier.Apres avoir evalue empiriquement cette approche sur 340 themes issus de l'OpenDirectory, nous proposons de l'ameliorer en deux points. En amont du moteur de recherche, nous proposons de formuler des requetes thematiques plus pertinentes pour le theme afin d'augmenter la precision de la collecte. Nous definissons une metrique fondee sur un graphe de cooccurrences et un algorithme de marche aleatoire, dans le but de predire la pertinence d'une requete thematique. En aval du moteur de recherche, nous proposons de filtrer les documents telecharges afin d'ameliorer la qualite du corpus produit. Pour ce faire, nous modelisons la procedure de collecte sous la forme d'un graphe triparti et appliquons un algorithme de marche aleatoire biaise afin d'ordonner par pertinence les documents et termes apparaissant dans ces derniers.Dans la seconde partie de cette these, nous nous focalisons sur l'exploration orientee du Web. Au coeur de tout robot d'exploration orientee se trouve une strategie de crawl qui lui permet de maximiser le rapatriement de pages pertinentes pour un theme, tout en minimisant le nombre de pages visitees qui ne sont pas en rapport avec le theme. En pratique, cette strategie definit l'ordre de visite des pages. Nous proposons d'apprendre automatiquement une fonction d'ordonnancement independante du theme a partir de donnees existantes annotees automatiquement.
Human female attractiveness: waveform analysis of body shape

Two putative cues to female physical attractiveness are body mass index (BMI) and shape (particularly the waist–hip ratio or WHR). To determine the relative importance of these cues we asked 23 male and 23 female undergraduates to rate a set of 60 pictures of real women's bodies in front–view for attractiveness. In our set of images, the relative ranges of BMI and WHR favoured WHR. We based these ranges on a sample of 457 women. We did not limit the WHR range, although we kept the BMI range to 0.5 s.d. either side of the sample means. As a result, WHR averaged 1.65 s.d. either side of its sample mean. However, even with these advantages, WHR was less important than BMI as a predictor of attractiveness ratings for bodies. BMI is far more strongly correlated with ratings of attractiveness than WHR (BMI ∼ 0.5, WHR ∼ 0.2). To further explore the relative importance of BMI and WHR, we deliberately chose a subset of these images that demonstrated an inverse correlation of BMI and WHR (i.e. a group in which as images get heavier they also become more curvaceous). If WHR is the most important determinant of attractiveness, then the more curvaceous (but higher BMI) images should be judged most attractive. However, if BMI is a better predictor, then the opposite should be true. We found that the more curvaceous (but higher BMI) images were judged least attractive, thereby inverting the expected rating pattern. This strongly suggests that viewers' judgements were influenced more by BMI than WHR. Finally, it is possible that body shape is an important cue to attractiveness, but that simple ratios (such as WHR) are not adequately capturing it. Therefore, we treated the outline of the torso as a waveform and carried out a set of waveform analyses on it to allow us to quantify body shape and correlate it with attractiveness. The waveform analyses address the complexity of the whole torso shape, and reveal innate properties of the torso shape and not shape elements based on prior decisions about arbitrary physical features. Our analyses decompose the waveform into objective quantified elements whose importance in predicting attractiveness can then be tested. All of the components that were good descriptors of body shape were weakly correlated with attractiveness. Our results suggest that BMI is a stronger predictor of attractiveness than WHR.
On privacy-utility tradeoffs for constrained data release mechanisms

Privacy-preserving data release mechanisms aim to simultaneously minimize information-leakage with respect to sensitive data and distortion with respect to useful data. Dependencies between sensitive and useful data results in a privacy-utility tradeoff that has strong connections to generalized rate-distortion problems. In this work, we study how the optimal privacy-utility tradeoff region is affected by constraints on the data that is directly available as input to the release mechanism. In particular, we consider the availability of only sensitive data, only useful data, and both (full data). We show that a general hierarchy holds, that is, the tradeoff region given only the sensitive data is no larger than the region given only the useful data, which in turn is clearly no larger than the region given both sensitive and useful data. In addition, we determine conditions under which the tradeoff region given only the useful data coincides with that given full data. This is based on the common information between the sensitive and useful data.
Biochemical Isolation and Characterization of the Tubulovesicular LC3-positive Autophagosomal Compartment*

Autophagosomes and their precursors are best defined by electron microscopy but may also be traced in living cells based on the distribution of specific autophagy molecules. LC3, the most commonly examined autophagy marker in mammalian cells, labels structures that are frequently manifested as dots or rings using light microscopy; however, the nature of these structures is not entirely clear. We reported here a novel approach to examine the LC3-positive compartment in cell-free lysates, which revealed that they were actually tubulovesicular structures with considerable heterogeneity. Using affinity purification, we isolated these membranes for electron microscopy, which indicated that they possessed ultrastructural features consistent with autophagosomal membranes at various maturation stages. Further biochemical and proteomics analyses demonstrated the presence of multiple autophagy-related and other functional molecules. The different distribution patterns of Atg5, Atg16, Atg9, and p62/SQSTM1 on the LC3-positive compartment provided new clues on how these molecules might be involved in the dynamics of the autophagosomal membranes. Finally, several morphologically unique groups of LC3-positive membranes were categorized. Their topological configurations suggested that double-membrane vesicles could be derived from single membrane compartments via different means, including tubule-to-vesicle conversion, whose presence was supported by live cell imaging. These findings thus provide new information on the dynamics of the autophagosomal compartment.
Finding the First Generation of Stars and Black Holes(Origins : From Early Universe to Extrasolar Planets)

The first stars and black holes that formed in the Universe are likely too faint for a direct detection. However, by ionizing most of the intergalactic medium (IGM), they left an indirect clue that reveals their existence. We discuss currently available observational constraints on the reionization history of IGM, and the extent to which accreting black holes (BHs) and stars can help account for these observations. We argue, based on the combined statistics of Lyman a and β absorption in quasar spectra, that the IGM contains a significant amount of neutral hydrogen with n HI /n H ≥ 0.1. On the other hand, we argue, based on the lack of a strong evolution in the observed abundance of Lyman a emitting galaxies beyond z ∼ 5.5, that the mean neutral hydrogen fraction cannot exceed n HI /n H 0.3 at the same redshift. We conclude that the IGM is experiencing rapid ionization at redshift z ∼ 6. We find that quasar BHs, including faint ones that are individually below the detection thresholds of existing optical and X-ray surveys, are unlikely to drive the evolution of the neutral fraction around this epoch, because they would over-produce the present-day soft X-ray background. On the other hand, the seeds of the z ∼ 6 quasar BHs likely appeared at much earlier epochs (2 ∼ 20), and produced hard ionizing radiation by accretion. These early BHs are promising candidates to account for the high redshift (z ∼ 15) ionization implied by the recent cosmic microwave anisotropy data from WMAP. Using a model for the growth of BHs by accretion and mergers in a hierarchical cosmology, we suggest that the early growth of quasars must include a super-Eddington growth phase, and that, although not yet optically identified, the FIRST radio survey may have already detected several thousand > 10 8 M ○. BHs at z > 6.
Increased long‐term potentiation in the surround of experimentally induced focal cortical infarction

Functional recovery after stroke is partly due to cortical reorganization on a structural as well as a functional level. Recent investigations have shown that the excitability of brain areas surrounding cortical ischemic lesions is increased, probably due to a down‐regulation of γ‐aminobutyric acid–receptor activity. There is some evidence that these changes might increase the susceptibility of the lesioned brain for adaptive changes and recovery. Here, we investigated the propensity for the induction of long‐term potentiation (LTP) in the surround of experimentally induced focal cortical infarcts in rat somatosensory cortex in vitro. By using standard paradigms, LTP induction was found to be facilitated ipsilaterally in slices of lesioned animals 1 week after lesion induction. In homotopic contralateral areas, LTP was not different from control values. As LTP is commonly associated with plasticity and learning, the results provide further evidence for the lesion‐induced amplification of network plasticity, as it is required for the reshaping of cortical circuits by timely training procedures.
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF‐α) alpha converting enzyme and soluble TNF‐α receptor type 1 in psoriasis patients in relation to the chronic alcohol consumption

Background Tumour necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme (TACE) is a major sheddase of TNF‐α and its receptors, essential for the generation of soluble, mature molecules. The regulation of the TACE activity by ethanol in vitro has been suggested recently. The alcohol abuse is a frequent problem among psoriasis patients. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between long‐term alcohol consumption and the concentration of TACE in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and its substrate – soluble TNF‐α receptor type 1 (sTNF‐R1) in plasma in psoriasis patients.
Predictors of response and remission in a large cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with tocilizumab in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify predictors of response and remission to tocilizumab (TCZ) in RA patients seen in daily routine clinical practice. METHODS The efficacy of TCZ was evaluated after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria. Regression analysis was performed to study the association between remission or EULAR response and the following characteristics: gender, age, current smokers, prior cardiovascular disease (CVD), 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), CRP, RF or ACPA positivity, combination therapy with DMARDs and TCZ as the first biological therapy or after failure of at least one biological therapy. RESULTS In total, 204 patients were included with a mean DAS28 score of 5.14. EULAR response and remission were obtained in 86.1% and 40% of patients, respectively, at week 24. In multiple regression analysis, a high baseline CRP level [odds ratio (OR) 4.454 (95% CI 1.446, 13.726)] was significantly associated with EULAR response at week 24 and, inversely, age >55 years [OR 0.285 (95% CI 0.086, 0.950)] and prior CVD [OR 0.305 (95% CI 0.113, 0.825)] were significantly associated with lower EULAR response at week 24. Older age was also associated with less remission at week 24 [OR 0.948 (95% CI 0.920, 0.978)]. No additional effectiveness was found when TCZ was used in combination with a DMARD or when patients were naive to biological agents. CONCLUSION In daily practice we identified three predictors of a better response for TCZ therapy in RA: a younger age, a high baseline CRP level and no history of CVD.
Cobots: a novel material handling technology

Cobots are a class of hybrid human-controlled/computercontrolled material handling device, which can enhance ergonomics, productivity, and safety. Cobots implement software-defined virtual guiding surfaces, as well as providing some amplification of human power ("power assist"). Cobots make use of steerable nonholonomic joints to produce the guiding surfaces that aid the operator. This unique steering system, in place of powerful actuators, results in guiding surfaces that are smooth, frictionless, and intrinsically stable -making cobots particularly appropriate for safety-critical tasks. In this paper we describe the basic concepts of cobots with reference to laboratory prototypes having two or three workspace dimensions. Early industrial application in automobile final assembly plants is underway, and two cobots presently in industrial environments are described
Development and initial application of a fully integrated photoacoustic micro-ultrasound system

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging for biomedical applications has been under development for many years. Based on the many advances over the past decade, a new photoacoustic imaging system has been integrated into a micro-ultrasound platform for co-registered PA¿ultrasound (US) imaging. The design and implementation of the new scanner is described and its performance quantified. Beamforming techniques and signal processing are described, in conjunction with in vivo PA images of normal subcutaneous mouse tissue and selected tumor models. In particular, the use of the system to estimate the spatial distribution of oxygen saturation (sO2) in blood and co-registered with B-mode images of the surrounding anatomy are investigated. The system was validated in vivo against a complementary technique for measuring partial pressure of oxygen in blood (pO2). The pO2 estimates were converted to sO2 values based on a standard dissociation curve found in the literature. Preliminary studies of oxygenation effects were performed in a mouse model of breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) in which control mice were compared with mice treated with a targeted antiangiogenic agent over a 3 d period. Treated mice exhibited a >90% decrease in blood volume, an 85% reduction in blood wash-in rate, and a 60% decrease in relative tissue oxygenation.
Responsibility Modelling For Resilience

We describe a method for modelling responsibilities, which we define as duties that are discharged by agents, using some resources in a particular context. Responsibilities can be used to analyse socio-technical issues and represent the softer aspects of work. The relationships between responsibilities, agents and resources are captured using graphical responsibility models. These models help the stakeholders to identify vulnerabilities, so that they can then be appropriately managed, thereby making complex systems, such as critical national infrastructure, more resilient. We have also combined the method with a keyword approach to analyse tactical issues, such as alternative system configurations. Responsibility modelling is a lightweight method that we have used in areas ranging from contingency planning to system assurance. Based on our experiences we have developed checklist questions to guide the prospective analysis of complex systems. We are now using responsibility modelling to analyse aspects of critical national infrastructure in the UK. The discipline of resilience engineering is starting to mature, with the development of methods and tools to support the practice. The Functional Resonance Analysis Method (Hollnagel, 2004), for example, offers a way of analysing systems in terms of component functions and their inter-relationships. We have been analysing systems using responsibilities, rather than functions, based on our observations that systems often fail due to socio-technical, rather than technical reasons. We take a pragmatic view, and define a responsibility as: a duty, held by some agent, to achieve, maintain or avoid some given state, subject to conformance with organisational, social and cultural norms. The key features of responsibilities are: that they are allocated to agents (usually people or organisations, but they could also be some technology or a software application); that resources (time, people, information or physical resources) are needed to discharge them; and that they are discharged in a context which includes factors that define (and
Minireview: Parthenogenesis in mammals

The term parthenogenesis is de®ned as the production of an embryo from a female gamete in the absence of any contribution from a male gamete, with or without the eventual development into an adult. This phenomenon differs from: (i) gynogenesis: in this case, the oocyte is stimulated by a spermatozoa to complete the second meiotic division and to undergo further development, but the male gamete will not contribute genetically to the developing embryo; (ii) androgenesis: in this situation, the egg is also activated by a spermatozoa but only the male genome takes part in the subsequent development (for review, see Kaufman, 1983). The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by Mos, an active component of the cytostatic factor (CSF) responsible for oocyte metaphase II arrest, appears to be one of the mechanisms able to prevent unfertilized eggs from proceeding into parthenogenetic development (Colledge et al., 1994; Furuno et al., 1994; Hashimoto et al., 1994; Choi et al., 1996; Abrieu et al., 1997).
Design and Feasibility Testing of the truth FinishIt Tobacco Countermarketing Brand Equity Scale

The original truth campaign was a branded, national smoking prevention mass media effort focused on at-risk youth ages 12–17. Today the truth brand focuses on the goal of finishing tobacco (truth FinishIt). There have been significant changes in the tobacco control landscape, leading FinishIt to focus on 15- to 21-year-olds. The present article reports on formative research and media monitoring data collected to pilot test a new truth FinishIt brand equity scale. The goals of this study were to (a) content analyze truth FinishIt mass media ads, (b) assess truth’s social media and followers’ perceptions of truth’s digital brand identity, and (c) develop and feasibility test a new version of the truth FinishIt brand equity scale using data from an existing Truth Initiative media monitoring study. Through factor analysis, we identified a brand equity scale, as in previous research, consisting of 4 main constructs: brand loyalty, leadership/satisfaction, personality, and awareness. Targeted truth attitudes and beliefs about social perceptions, acceptability, and industry-related beliefs were regressed on the higher order factor and each of the 4 individual brand equity factors. Ordinary least squares regression models generally showed associations in the expected directions (positive for anti-tobacco and negative for pro-tobacco) between targeted attitudes/beliefs and truth FinishIt brand equity. This study succeeded in developing and validating a new truth FinishIt brand equity scale. The scale may be a valuable metric for future campaign evaluation. Future studies should examine the effects of truth FinishIt brand equity on tobacco use behavioral outcomes over time.
Coplanar Waveguide Filters Based on Multibehavior Etched-Ground Stubs

In this paper, coplanar waveguide filters with etched-ground stubs that have multiple behaviors are proposed. The response of a unit cell is a band reject with one or more transmission zeros according to the number and the lengths of the stubs. A library of transmission line models is being built for the basic cells and then used for the design of more elaborated structures. The potential of these new topologies is highlighted by providing different filtering structures with interesting features: a second-order narrow bandpass filter, and two configurations for a lowpass filter with a wide stopband. All theoretical predictions have been verified by electromagnetic simulation and measurements.
Exploiting Ofdm for Covert Communication Table of Contents

Both LTE and WiMAX (802.16) 4th generation wireless systems (4G) utilize orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). These technologies will become more wide spread as time goes on. Therefore, it would be beneficial to study covert communication in the presence of OFDM systems. OFDM is becoming more utilized due to a number of advantages it has over other techniques in wireless communication. OFDM can help to mitigate inter symbol-interference (ISI) resulting from multipath propagation. The lower rate of the sub-carriers is what makes this possible. OFDM takes several narrow-band lower-rate signals, and using the discrete Fourier transform, combines them into one high rate wide-band signal. The orthogonality of the OFDM signal eliminates cochannel interference. OFDM combined with adaptive modulation can be very effective in frequency selective environments. Most OFDM standards call for unused subchannels for channel spacing and synchronization of transmitter and receiver. The effects we will be discussing in this thesis pertain to inserting a narrow band signal, that will be used for covert communication, in one of the unused sub-carrier locations of the OFDM signal and analyzing its effects on the OFDM signal. Although this signal is in an unused “slot”, it is no longer orthogonal. We will also examine the effect of the OFDM signal on the covert signal. It would also be beneficial to study the ability to recover the information in the covert carrier in the midst of an OFDM signal. It will be important to view the effects of the covert signal on the OFDM signal by varying both