Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Compact Routing based Mapping System for the Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP)

The Internet and its associated global routing tables are growing at an alarming rate. Will the current routing infrastructure be able to scale itself to sustain such growth? Over the past several years, many efforts have been made to resolve this important issue. This paper offers a novel solution to this serious problem by proposing and presenting an experimental mapping system called Compact Routing based Mapping (CRM). The idea here is to combine the perceived benefits of both Compact Routing and Locator/Identifier Separation Protocol (LISP). In CRM, the critical functions that affect the scalability of the routing system are grounded to the theory of Compact Routing; so that we might overcome the shortcomings of LISP-ALT. We mitigated Compact Routing’s presumption of a static network by reusing LISP’s registration messages and choosing landmarks dynamically based on their capability to aggregate. The key objective of this paper is to provide proof of concept, to give first-hand experience regarding the complicacies that arise with the actual development of such a mapping system. Our work also includes a comprehensive comparison between CRM and LISP-ALT. The results suggest that, CRM would be feasible in the current Internet if deployed and it would be far less expensive than LISP-ALT.
Research of improved recommendation algorithm based on collaborative filtering and content prediction

This paper proposes an algorithm combining the sparse matrix filling method and the collaborative filtering algorithm, in order to solve the collaborative filtering recommendation system's “cold start” problem when the system confronts a new item and some sparse data. This algorithm improves the accuracy of similarity calculation for the user or the item. It predicts ahead the item which is to be filled when it fills the sparse user-item scores matrix. The algorithm achieves an accurate virtual score and fills out a virtual user-item scores form. Then the algorithm carries out the prediction based on this scores form. We experimented on the MovieLens dataset. The experiment results showed that this algorithm can improve the accuracy of the evaluation prediction effectively. To a certain extent, this algorithm solves the “cold start” problem.
Cross-Cultural and Cross-Lingual Ontology Engineering

Just as internationalization [i18n] and localization [L10n] do not simply consist of translation of interface components, but also of careful cross-cultural and cross-functional considerations to the cultural sensitivities of the intended source and target languages, similar considerations should be given to those issues in the realization of Semantic Web systems. Specifically, this paper describes issues that transcend linguistic and cultural aspects that affect the functional implementation of crosscultural and cross-lingual semantic web services. The paper describes lexical and semantic aspects of ontology design that need to be considered for ontology-based applications that cross cultural and/or linguistic boundaries. The paper places special emphasis on ontology engineering issues related to intensional and extensional ontological definition. It proposes an engineering framework that grounds intensional definitions tightly with cultural aspects, while grounding extensional definitions more closely with linguistic aspects of ontology engineering, specifically as it pertains to design, mapping and querying.
The coping styles of adolescents with type 1 diabetes are associated with degree of metabolic control.

OBJECTIVE To systematically study the various coping styles in a population-based sample of adolescents with type 1 diabetes, exploring the association of different coping styles with metabolic control and adolescent self-reported diabetes-related quality of life. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Of a total population of 116 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (age 13-18 years), 103 (89%) participated in the study, completing a questionnaire to obtain information on coping styles and perception of diabetes-specific quality of life. The mean age (+/-SD) was 14.9 +/- 1.6 years, diabetes duration 7.1 +/- 3.8 years, HbA(1c) 9.4 +/- 1.6%, and male-to-female ratio 52:51. RESULTS There was a significant correlation between higher HbA(1c) values and higher degree of mental (r = 0.25, P < 0.05) and behavioral (r = 0.33, P < 0.01) disengagement and aggressive coping (r = 0.33, P < 0.01). Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that greater use of aggressive coping (P < 0.05) and behavioral disengagement (P < 0.05) were significantly related to increase in HbA(1c). Greater use of active coping (P < 0.05) was significantly related to a decrease in HbA(1c). Partial correlation analysis showed that lower scores on diabetes-specific quality of life were significantly related to greater use of emotion-focused coping (r = -0.22 to -0.49). Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that greater use of mental disengagement was significantly related to lower degree of perceived diabetes-related impact. CONCLUSIONS Poor metabolic control and lower degree of diabetes-related quality of life are associated with greater use of emotion-focused coping in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Explorer The association of genetic variation in CACNA 1 C with structure and function of a frontotemporal system

Objectives—A single nucleotide polymorphism at the CACNA1C gene (rs1006737) has been reported in genome-wide association studies to be associated with bipolar disorder (BD) with genome-wide significance. However, the neural system effects of CACNA1C that mediate the association are not known. In this study, we assessed associations between rs1006737 variation and both morphology and functional connectivity within a corticolimbic frontotemporal neural system implicated in BD. Methods—A total of 55 European Americans were divided into two groups: a GG group homozygous for the 'G' allele (n = 30) and carriers of the high risk A allele ('A-carrier' group, AA/ AG genotypes; n = 25). The subjects participated in both high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and functional MRI scans during emotional face-processing. Voxel-based morphometry and functional connectivity analyses were performed. Results—Compared to the GG group, the A-carrier group showed significantly increased gray matter volume and reduced functional connectivity within a corticolimbic frontotemporal neural system (p < 0.05, corrected). Conclusion—The findings support effects of the rs1006737 variation on the frontotemporal neural system implicated in BD, both in gray matter morphology and functional connectivity. This suggests that influence of CACNA1C variation on corticolimbic structure and function may be a mechanism contributing to the neural circuitry of BD.
REIT Modified Duration and Convexity

Listed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) share several characteristics with bonds. Modified duration and convexity – interest rate risk measures generally applied in bond analyses – could therefore be natural candidates to measure the REIT price sensitivity to interest rate changes. In this paper, we propose a theoretical model that relates the REIT price changes to interest rate fluctuations. Then, we test this model empirically using data from all the 22 Italian listed REITs in the time period 2007–09. Our results show that the relationship between REIT price changes and interest rate variations is, indeed, nonlinear and significant even after market price fluctuations are taken into account. Estimates of modified duration and convexity based on historical data are provided for our sample of REITs.
Complications of craniofacial resection for malignant tumors of the skull base: Report of an International Collaborative Study

Advances in imaging, surgical technique, and perioperative care have made craniofacial resection (CFR) an effective and safe option for treating malignant tumors involving the skull base. The procedure does, however, have complications. Because of the relative rarity of these tumors, most existing data on postoperative complications come from individual reports of relatively small series of patients. This international collaborative report examines a large cohort of patients accumulated from multiple institutions with the aim of identifying patient‐related and tumor‐related predictors of postoperative morbidity and mortality and set a benchmark for future studies.
Traffic Shifting away from P 2 P File Sharing to Web Services

This report is a continuation of the first report in IIR Vol.4, and it summarizes the results of analysis of traffic over the broadband access services operated by IIJ. In the previous report, we reported that domestic and international Internet traffic volumes over the past five years were increasing at an annual rate of about 30%, and were comparatively stable. However, we also stated that it would be difficult to predict the future using previous data because traffic is greatly affected by the behavior of a sub-section of heavy users, and the usage may change due to non-technical elements such as social factors.
The Inequitable Treatment of English Learners in California's Public Schools - eScholarship

Gandara and Rumberger investigate the extent to which California’s English Learners—one-fourth of the state’s public school population—have access to the teachers, instructional materials, and facilities that will enable them to succeed in an English-only, standards-based policy system in which they must learn and compete for grade-to-grade promotion and high school graduation along side (and on the same terms as) their English speaking peers. Gandara and Rumberger conclude that that these students receive a substantially inequitable education vis-a-vis their English-speaking peers, even when those peers are similarly economically disadvantaged. They demonstrate that California has failed in its duty to guarantee that EL students have the teachers, the curriculum, the instruction, the assessment, and the support services they need to achieve meaningful access to the same academic content as native English speaking students. Furthermore, when the state has become aware of specific substandard learning conditions for English Learners it has failed to act effectively to correct these problems. Furthermore, with an ill planned class size reduction program and the poorly articulated implementation of Proposition 227, the state has worsened the learning conditions for these students.
Vision and Quality of Life: Development of Methods for the VisQoL Vision-Related Utility Instrument

Purpose: To describe the methods and innovations used in constructing the VisQoL, a vision-related utility instrument for the health economic evaluation of eye care and rehabilitation programs. Methods: The VisQoL disaggregates vision into six items. Utilities were estimated for item worst responses (the worst level for each item, with all other items at their best level) and VisQoL all-worst responses (all items at their worst level) using the time trade-off procedure. Time trade-off questions require people to imagine living a fixed number of years with a particular health condition and then indicate how many of those years of life they would be willing to trade to have perfect health. Where respondents indicated a health state was “worse than death” negative utilities were estimated. Time trade-off questions minimized the “focusing effect,” which occurs if respondents discount the fact that all other aspects of health are at their best when answering questions, by using pictorial and verbal aids. Results: Item utilities were combined using a multiplicative model, and VisQoL model utilities placed on a scale where 0.00 and 1.00 represent full health and death, respectively. The VisQoL allows utilities to be calculated for a wide range of vision-related conditions. Conclusion: The 6-item VisQoL has excellent psychometric properties and is specifically designed to be sensitive to vision-related quality of life. It is the first instrument to permit the rapid estimation of utility values for use in economic evaluations of vision-related programs.
Ultra-low-dose estriol and lactobacilli in the local treatment of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of an ultra-low-dose vaginal estriol 0.03 mg in combination with viable Lactobacillus acidophilus KS400 (Gynoflor® vaginal tablets) in the short-term therapy and to investigate the long-term maintenance dose in the treatment of vaginal atrophy. Methods This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (Controlled phase – initial therapy) followed by an open-label follow-up (Open phase – test medication initial and maintenance therapy). Included were postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy symptoms and Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI) of ≤ 40%. The method of treatment was initial therapy with test medication (or placebo in first phase), one vaginal tablet daily for 12 days, followed by maintenance therapy, one tablet on two consecutive days weekly for 12 weeks. Results A total of 87 women completed the study. The Controlled phase results for a change in VMI demonstrated superiority of the 0.03 mg estriol–lactobacilli combination to placebo (p < 0.001). In the test group, the positive change in VMI was 35.2%, compared to 9.9% in the placebo group. In the Open phase after the initial therapy, the VMI was increased to 55.4% and, during maintenance therapy, it stayed at a comparable level (52.8–49.4%). The maturation of epithelium was followed by improvement of clinical symptoms and normalization of the vaginal ecosystem. Conclusions The ultra-low-dose, vaginal 0.03 mg estriol–lactobacilli combination (Gynoflor®) was superior to placebo with respect to changes in VMI after the 12-day initial therapy, and the maintenance therapy of two tablets weekly was sufficient to prevent the relapse of vaginal atrophy.
he kinematics of motor imagery : Comparing the dynamics of real nd virtual movements

Motor imagery (MI) is a key tool for studying the cognitive functions of movement. These studies assume that movements and their MI (virtual movements) involve the same cognitive functions. The real–virtual isochrony and isometry of movements of different complexity and accuracy, and the kinematics of real and ccepted 2 October 2008 vailable online 15 October 2008
64-bit floating-point FPGA matrix multiplication

We introduce a 64-bit ANSI/IEEE Std 754-1985 floating point design of a hardware matrix multiplier optimized for FPGA implementations. A general block matrix multiplication algorithm, applicable for an arbitrary matrix size is proposed. The algorithm potentially enables optimum performance by exploiting the data locality and reusability incurred by the general matrix multiplication scheme and considering the limitations of the I/O bandwidth and the local storage volume. We implement a scalable linear array of processing elements (PE) supporting the proposed algorithm in the Xilinx Virtex II Pro technology. Synthesis results confirm a superior performance-area ratio compared to related recent works. Assuming the same FPGA chip, the same amount of local memory, and the same I/O bandwidth, our design outperforms related proposals by at least 1.7X and up to 18X consuming the least reconfigurable resources. A total of 39 PEs can be integrated into the xc2vp125-7 FPGA, reaching performance of, e.g., 15.6 GFLOPS with 1600 KB local memory and 400 MB/s external memory bandwidth.
Modifiable factors influencing relatives’ decision to offer organ donation: systematic review

Objective To identify modifiable factors that influence relatives’ decision to allow organ donation. Design Systematic review. Data sources Medline, Embase, and CINAHL, without language restriction, searched to April 2008. Review methods Three authors independently assessed the eligibility of the identified studies. We excluded studies that examined only factors affecting consent that could not be altered, such as donor ethnicity. We extracted quantitative results to an electronic database. For data synthesis, we summarised the results of studies comparing similar themes. Results We included 20 observational studies and audits. There were no randomised controlled trials. The main factors associated with reduced rates of refusal were the provision of adequate information on the process of organ donation and its benefits; high quality of care of potential organ donors; ensuring relatives had a clear understanding of brain stem death; separating the request for organ donation from notification that the patient had died; making the request in a private setting; and using trained and experienced individuals to make the request. Conclusions Limited evidence suggests that there are modifiable factors in the process of requests for organ donation, in particular the skills of the individual making the request and the timing of this conversation, that might have a significant impact on rates of consent. Targeting these factors might have a greater and more immediate effect on the number of organs for donation than legislative or other long term strategies.
Cell-Specific Cre Recombinase Expression Allows Selective Ablation of Glutamate Receptors from Mouse Horizontal Cells

In the mouse retina, horizontal cells form an electrically coupled network and provide feedback signals to photoreceptors and feedforward signals to bipolar cells. Thereby, horizontal cells contribute to gain control at the first visual synapse and to the antagonistic organization of bipolar and ganglion cell receptive fields. However, the nature of horizontal cell output remains a matter of debate, just as the exact contribution of horizontal cells to center-surround antagonism. To facilitate studying horizontal cell function, we developed a knockin mouse line which allows ablating genes exclusively in horizontal cells. This knockin line expresses a Cre recombinase under the promoter of connexin57 (Cx57), a gap junction protein only expressed in horizontal cells. Consistently, in Cx57+/Cre mice, Cre recombinase is expressed in almost all horizontal cells (>99%) and no other retinal neurons. To test Cre activity, we crossbred Cx57+/Cre mice with a mouse line in which exon 11 of the coding sequence for the ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit GluA4 was flanked by two loxP sites (GluA4fl/fl). In GluA4fl/fl:Cx57+/Cre mice, GluA4 immunoreactivity was significantly reduced (∼50%) in the outer retina where horizontal cells receive photoreceptor inputs, confirming the functionality of the Cre/loxP system. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from isolated horizontal cell somata showed a reduction of glutamate-induced inward currents by ∼75%, suggesting that the GluA4 subunit plays a major role in mediating photoreceptor inputs. The persistent current in GluA4-deficient cells is mostly driven by AMPA and to a very small extent by kainate receptors as revealed by application of the AMPA receptor antagonist GYKI52466 and concanavalin A, a potentiator of kainate receptor-mediated currents. In summary, the Cx57+/Cre mouse line provides a versatile tool for studying horizontal cell function. GluA4fl/fl:Cx57+/Cre mice, in which horizontal cells receive less excitatory input, can thus be used to analyze the contribution of horizontal cells to retinal processing.
Combined approach to pattern classification in parametric case

This paper is devoted to the methods for combining heterogeneous sets of learning data: set of training examples and set of IF-THEN rules with unprecisely formulated weights. Adopting the probabilistic (Bayes) model of recognition task and assuming known form of class conditional probability density functions (CPDFs) with unknown parameters, the recognition algorithm via fusion of both sets of data is presented. Proposed concept of combining of input data consists in treating of both sets as sources of information about unknown parameters of CPDFs, which leads to the modified maximum likelihood (ML) method of parametr estimation. In proposed procedure the likelihood function is maximized taking into account constraints provided by the set of rules. A series of numerical examples with computer generated data for several cases which differ in form and number of rules is considered. To find feasible solution of ML problem two approaches were employed. The first method uses the Kuhn-Tucker conditions for the nonlinear problem with inequality constraints, the second one however is approximated procedure which does not guarantee the optimality of result. For each solution the estimation error, i.e. distance between values of estimator and parameter is calculated as a measure of its quality, which allows us to rank procedures and to imply some practical conclusions. Key–Words: Pattern recognition, Parametric case, Maximum likelihood method
An Efficient Hardware Architecture for Spectral Hash Algorithm

The Spectral Hash algorithm is one of the Round 1 candidates for the SHA-3 family, and is based on spectral arithmetic over a finite field, involving multidimensional discrete Fourier transformations over a finite field, data dependent permutations, Rubic-type rotations, and affine and nonlinear functions. The underlying mathematical structures and operations pose interesting and challenging task s for computer architects and hardware designers to create fast, efficient, and compact ASIC and FPGA realizations. In this paper, we present an efficient hardware architecture for the full 512-bit hash computation using the spectra l hash algorithm. We have created a pipelined implementation on a Xilinx Virtex-4 XC4VLX200-11 FPGA which yields 100 MHz and occupies 38,328 slices, generating a throughput of 51.2 Gbps. Our fully parallel implementation shows that the spectral hash algorithm is about 100 times faster than the fastest SHA-1 implementation, while requir ing only about 13 times as many logic slices.
A New Frequency Spectrum Sensing Approach Based on Spatial Spectrum Estimation in OFDM System

This paper presents another look at the problem of frequency spectrum sensing based on energy detection in OFDM. OFDM is one of the most important techniques to improve the capacity of the channel in 3G and 4G. In order to detect the presence of the spectrum holes and utilize them efficiently withou causing interference to primary users in OFDM, spatial spectrum estiamtion is considered as the key functionality. In this paper, we proposed a new frequency spectrum estimation method in OFDM based on the detection directions of arrival (DOA) sources in every resource element (RE) band. The simulation result shows that our proposed scheme can heighten the channel utilization of CR users in OFDM.