Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Raising flags: Detecting covert storage channels using relative entropy

This paper focuses on one type of Covert Storage Channel (CSC) that uses the 6-bit TCP flag header in TCP/IP network packets to transmit secret messages between accomplices. We use relative entropy to characterize the irregularity of network flows in comparison to normal traffic. A normal profile is created by the frequency distribution of TCP flags in regular traffic packets. In detection, the TCP flag frequency distribution of network traffic is computed for each unique IP pair. In order to evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method, this study uses real regular traffic data sets as well as CSC messages using coding schemes under assumptions of both clear text, composed by a list of keywords common in Unix systems, and encrypted text. Moreover, smart accomplices may use only those TCP flags that are ever appearing in normal traffic. Then, in detection, the relative entropy can reveal the dissimilarity of a different frequency distribution from this normal profile. We have also used different data processing methods in detection: one method summarizes all the packets for a pair of IP addresses into one flow and the other uses a sliding moving window over such a flow to generate multiple frames of packets. The experimentation results, displayed by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, have shown that the method is promising to differentiate normal and CSC traffic packet streams. Furthermore the delay of raising an alert is analyzed for CSC messages to show its efficiency.
ultimodal Summar ization of M eeting Recordings

Recorded meetings are useful only if people can find, access, and browse them easily. Key-frames and video skims are useful representations that can enable quick previewing of the content without actually watching a meeting recording from beginning to end. This paper proposes a new method for creating meeting video skims based on audio and visual activity analysis together with text analysis. Audio activity analysis is performed by analyzing sound directions — indicating different speakers— and audio amplitude. Detection of impor tant visual events in a meeting is achieved by analyzing the localized luminance variations in consideration with the omni-directional property of the video captured by our meeting recording system. Text analysis is based on the Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency measure. The resulting video skims better capture the impor tant meeting content compared to the skims obtained by uniform sampling.
Leaching of Pyrite by Acidophilic Heterotrophic Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria in Pure and Mixed Cultures

ABSTRACT Seven strains of heterotrophic iron-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria were examined to determine their abilities to promote oxidative dissolution of pyrite (FeS2) when they were grown in pure cultures and in mixed cultures with sulfur-oxidizingThiobacillus spp. Only one of the isolates (strain T-24) oxidized pyrite when it was grown in pyrite-basal salts medium. However, when pyrite-containing cultures were supplemented with 0.02% (wt/vol) yeast extract, most of the isolates oxidized pyrite, and one (strain T-24) promoted rates of mineral dissolution similar to the rates observed with the iron-oxidizing autotroph Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Pyrite oxidation by another isolate (strain T-21) occurred in cultures containing between 0.005 and 0.05% (wt/vol) yeast extract but was completely inhibited in cultures containing 0.5% yeast extract. Ferrous iron was also needed for mineral dissolution by the iron-oxidizing heterotrophs, indicating that these organisms oxidize pyrite via the “indirect” mechanism. Mixed cultures of three isolates (strains T-21, T-23, and T-24) and the sulfur-oxidizing autotroph Thiobacillus thiooxidans promoted pyrite dissolution; since neither strains T-21 and T-23 nor T. thiooxidans could oxidize this mineral in yeast extract-free media, this was a novel example of bacterial synergism. Mixed cultures of strains T-21 and T-23 and the sulfur-oxidizing mixotrophThiobacillus acidophilus also oxidized pyrite but to a lesser extent than did mixed cultures containing T. thiooxidans. Pyrite leaching by strain T-23 grown in an organic compound-rich medium and incubated either shaken or unshaken was also assessed. The potential environmental significance of iron-oxidizing heterotrophs in accelerating pyrite oxidation is discussed.
Antihypertensive drugs and lip cancer in non-Hispanic whites.

BACKGROUND In screening pharmaceuticals for possible carcinogenic effects we noted an association between lip cancer risk and the photosensitizing antihypertensive drugs hydrochlorothiazide and nifedipine. In this study, we further characterized the risk of lip cancer associated with these and other commonly used antihypertensive drugs. METHODS In a comprehensive medical care program, we evaluated prescriptions dispensed and cancer occurrence from August 1, 1994, to February 29, 2008. We identified 712 patients with lip cancer (cases) and 22,904 comparison individuals (controls) matched for age, sex, and cohort year of entry in the susceptible group, non-Hispanic whites. We determined use, at least 2 years before diagnosis or control index date, of the commonly prescribed diuretics hydrochlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide combined with triamterene, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril, the calcium channel blocker nifedipine, and the β-adrenergic blocker atenolol, the only nonphotosensitizer agent studied. We analyzed the use of each drug exclusively and regardless of use of the others, and focused on duration of use. Conditional logistic regression was used for analysis of matched case-control sets, with control for cigarette smoking. RESULTS At least a 5-year supply of a drug yielded the following odds ratios (95% CIs), respectively, compared with no use: hydrochlorothiazide, 4.22 (2.82-6.31); hydrochlorothiazide-triamterene, 2.82 (1.74-4.55); lisinopril, 1.42 (0.95-2.13); nifedipine, 2.50 (1.29-4.84); and atenolol, 1.93 (1.29-2.91). When the other drugs were excluded, the odds ratio for atenolol was reduced to 0.54 (0.07-4.08). CONCLUSION These data support an increased risk of lip cancer in non-Hispanic whites receiving treatment for hypertension with long-term use of photosensitizing drugs.
Postoperative Outcomes and Complications After Laparoscopy-assisted Pylorus-preserving Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer

Objective: Laparoscopy-assisted pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (LAPPG) was introduced as a function-preserving and minimally invasive operation for early gastric cancer (EGC) in Japan. This study investigated the postoperative outcomes, complications, and associated risk factors of the procedure. Methods: From January 2005 to December 2009, 307 patients with EGC diagnosed before surgery underwent LAPPG. The postoperative outcomes and complications were assessed in this study. Postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications, and risk factors related to complications were analyzed. Results: The mean operation time for LAPPG was 229.4 ± 47.5 minutes and estimated blood loss was 49.1 ± 62.0 mL. The mean total number of dissected lymph nodes was 31.6 ± 10.4, with nodal involvement observed in 25 patients (8.5%). The preoperative diagnostic accuracy of EGC was 93.2%. Complications developed in 53 patients (17.3%), and major complications, classified as grades greater than Clavien-Dindo classification IIIa, were observed in 4 patients (1.3%). The most frequent complication was gastric stasis, occurring in 19 patients (6.2%). Body mass index (BMI) and surgical experience of LAPPG were identified as significant risk factors of postoperative complications. Body mass index was related to severity of the complications. The patients' serum total protein and albumin did not change significantly after surgery. Conclusions: Laparoscopy-assisted pylorus-preserving gastrectomy is a safe operation with excellent postoperative outcomes in terms of minimized major complications based on the Clavien-Dindo classification in patients with EGC in the middle third of the stomach. To prevent postoperative complications, surgeons need to ensure an extra leaning period for LAPPG, and LAPPG should be performed cautiously in patients with high BMI.
Measuring Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity: A Critical Review of Instruments

Research has proliferated on sexual addiction in recent years, and this has led to an increase in the instruments created to measure this construct. The authors review 17 instruments that have been created to assess sexual addiction, including self-report rating scales, self-report checklists, and clinician rating scales measuring symptoms of sexual addiction, as well as self-report rating scales measuring consequences associated with sexual addiction. For each instrument, the authors describe its structure, conceptual basis, and samples studied. They also evaluate the evidence for the reliability and validity of each instrument. The instruments vary widely in their psychometric properties. Many have been created recently, and others have only been studied in specific populations. For each group of instruments, the authors make recommendations for researchers and clinicians.
Behavioral Correlates of Hippocampal Neural Sequences

Sequences of neural activity representing paths in an environment are expressed in the rodent hippocampus at three distinct time scales, with different hypothesized roles in hippocampal function. As an animal moves through an environment and passes through a series of place fields, place cells activate and deactivate in sequence, at the time scale of the animal’s movement (i.e., the behavioral time scale). Moreover, at each moment in time, as the animal’s location in the environment overlaps with the firing fields of many place cells, the active place cells fire in sequence during each cycle of the 4-12 Hz theta oscillation observed in the hippocampal local field potentials (i.e., the theta time scale), such that the neural activity, in general, represents a short path that begins slightly behind the animal and ends slightly ahead of the animal. These sequences have been hypothesized to play a role in the encoding and recall of episodes of behavior. Sequences of neural activity occurring at the third time scale are observed during both sleep and awake but restful states, when animals are paused and generally inattentive, and are associated with sharp wave ripple complexes (SWRs) observed in the hippocampal local field potentials. During the awake state, these sequences have been shown to begin near the animal’s location and extend forward (forward replay) or backward (backward replay), and have been hypothesized to play a role in memory consolidation, path planning, and reinforcement learning. This thesis uses a novel sequence detection method and a novel behavioral spatial decision task to study the functional significance of theta sequences and SWR sequences. The premise of the thesis is that by investigating the behavioral content represented by these sequences, we may further our understanding of how these sequences contribute to hippocampal function. The first part of the thesis presents an analysis of SWR sequences or replays, revealing several novel properties of these sequences. In particular it was found that instead of
Risk factors for central and obstructive sleep apnea in 450 men and women with congestive heart failure.

In previous analyses of the occurrence of central (CSA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), only men were studied and risk factors for these disorders were not well characterized. We therefore analyzed risk factors for CSA and OSA in 450 consecutive patients with CHF (382 male, 68 female) referred to our sleep laboratory. Risk factors for CSA were male gender (odds ratio [OR] 3.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39 to 8.84), atrial fibrillation (OR 4.13; 95% CI 1.53 to 11. 14), age > 60 yr (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.35 to 4.15), and hypocapnia (PCO(2 )< 38 mm Hg during wakefulness) (OR 4.33; 95% CI 2.50 to 7. 52). Risk factors for OSA differed by gender: in men, only body mass index (BMI) was significantly associated with OSA (OR for a BMI > 35 kg/m(2), 6.10; 95% CI 2.86 to 13.00); whereas, in women, age was the only important risk factor (OR for age > 60 yr, 6.04; 95% CI 1.75 to 20.0). We conclude that historical information, supplemented by a few simple laboratory tests may enable physicians to risk stratify CHF patients for the presence of CSA or OSA, and the need for diagnostic polysomnography for such patients. Sin DD, Fitzgerald F, Parker JD, Newton G, Floras JS, Bradley TD. Risk factors for central and obstructive sleep apnea in 450 men and women with congestive heart failure.
Association between Cognitive Activity and Cognitive Function in Older Hispanics

Abstract There is limited research on the association between participation in cognitively stimulating activity and cognitive function in older Hispanics. The main purpose of the present study was to explore whether frequency of cognitive activity and its association with cognitive function in Hispanics is comparable to that of non-Hispanics. In a multiethnic cohort of 1571 non-demented older adults, we assessed past and current cognitive activity, availability of cognitive resources in the home in childhood and middle age, and five domains of cognitive function. The measures of cognitive activity and cognitive resources had adequate reliability and validity in our subset of Hispanic participants (n = 81). Hispanics reported lower levels of education, lower frequency of cognitive activity and less cognitive resources than non-Hispanic White (n = 1102) and non-Hispanic Black (n = 388) participants. Despite these differences the strength of the association between cognitive activity and cognitive function was comparable across ethnic groups. Because Hispanics have lower frequency of cognitive activity, the benefit of cognitive activity to late life cognitive function may be potentially larger in this segment of the population. Thus, interventions aimed at increasing frequency of participation in cognitively stimulating activity may offer a potential target to reduce cognitive impairment in Hispanics. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–11)
Deletion of the Nucleotide Excision Repair Gene Ercc1 Reduces Immunoglobulin Class Switching and Alters Mutations Near Switch Recombination Junctions

The structure-specific endonuclease ERCC1-XPF is an essential component of the nucleotide excision DNA repair pathway. ERCC1-XPF nicks double-stranded DNA immediately adjacent to 3′ single-strand regions. Substrates include DNA bubbles and flaps. Furthermore, ERCC1 interacts with Msh2, a mismatch repair (MMR) protein involved in class switch recombination (CSR). Therefore, ERCC1-XPF has abilities that might be useful for antibody CSR. We tested whether ERCC1 is involved in CSR and found that Ercc1 − / − splenic B cells show moderately reduced CSR in vitro, demonstrating that ERCC1-XPF participates in, but is not required for, CSR. To investigate the role of ERCC1 in CSR, the nucleotide sequences of switch (S) regions were determined. The mutation frequency in germline Sμ segments and recombined Sμ-Sγ3 segments cloned from Ercc1 − / − splenic B cells induced to switch in culture was identical to that of wild-type (WT) littermates. However, Ercc1 − / − cells show increased targeting of the mutations to G:C bp in RGYW/WRCY hotspots and mutations occur at sites more distant from the S–S junctions compared with WT mice. The results indicate that ERCC1 is not epistatic with MMR and suggest that ERCC1 might be involved in processing or repair of DNA lesions in S regions during CSR.
System-Level Simulation of a Self-Powered Sensor with Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

This paper presents a complete system simulation of a self-powered communication module. The components are described with the Verilog-A language, that allows to merge the electrical and mechanical models of the system. The self-powered sensor system is composed by an energy harvesting piezoelectric generator that powers a RF transmitter. The simulations here presented compare between the case of a battery-less and battery-powered system. The results obtained with the simulation model implemented allow to show how design choices of the system change the periodicity of the transmission and the ability to recharge the battery.
Cloning of pMOL28-encoded nickel resistance genes and expression of the genes in Alcaligenes eutrophus and Pseudomonas spp

The 163-kilobase-pair (kb) plasmid pMOL28, which determines inducible resistance to nickel, cobalt, chromate, and mercury salts in its native host Alcaligenes eutrophus CH34, was transferred to a derivative of A. eutrophus H16 and subjected to cloning procedures. After Tn5 transposon mutagenesis, restriction endonuclease analysis, and DNA-DNA hybridization, two DNA fragments, a 9.5-kb KpnI fragment and a 13.5-kb HindIII fragment (HKI), were isolated. HKI contained EK1, the KpnI fragment, as a subfragment flanked on both sides by short regions. Both fragments were ligated into the suicide vector pSUP202, the broad-host-range vector pVK101, and pUC19. Both fragments restored a nickel-sensitive Tn5 mutant to full nickel and cobalt resistance. The hybrid plasmid pVK101::HKI expressed full nickel resistance in all nickel-sensitive derivatives, either pMOL28-deficient or -defective, of the native host CH34. The hybrid plasmid pVK101::HKI also conferred nickel and cobalt resistance to A. eutrophus strains H16 and JMP222, Alcaligenes hydrogenophilus, Pseudomonas putida, and Pseudomonas oleovorans, but to a lower level of resistance. In all transconjugants the metal resistances coded by pVK101::HKI were expressed constitutively rather than inducibly. The hybrid plasmid metal resistance was not expressed in Escherichia coli. DNA sequences responsible for nickel resistance in newly isolated strains showed homology to the cloned pMOL28-encoded nickel and cobalt resistance determinant.
Source Multilingual Research System for Image Content Retrieval dedicated to Conservation-Restoration exchange between Cultural Institutions

1 Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France 6, rue des Pyramides 75041 Paris Cedex 01 tel : +33 1 4020 5871 fax : +33 1 4703 3246 christian.lahanier@culture.fr 2 Digital Publishing Japan 3 Rue de Medicis Paris 75006 France tel: +33 (0) 1 4326 7834 fax: +33 (0) 1 4326 7834 shindo@dp-j.com ruven@dp-j.com 3 Intelligence, Agents and Multimedia Research Group Dept. of Electronic and Computer Science The University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ tel: +44 23 80 59 44 91 fax: +44 23 80 59 28 65 km@ecs.soton. ac.uk phl@ecs.sotton. ac.uk
A bio‐oceanographic filter to larval dispersal in a reef‐building coral

Gene flow was shown to be limited between western and eastern Caribbean populations of the reef‐building coral, Acropora palmata. However, some mixing was detected among populations near Puerto Rico. Our genetic analyses categorize A. palmata samples from the east coast of the Dominican Republic with the western Caribbean population, suggesting a filter to gene flow east of the Dominican Republic. To test the hypothesis of a present day bio‐oceanographic filter occurring between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic (i.e., in the Mona Passage), we used a Lagrangian stochastic model (LSM) of larval dispersal, coupling coral life history characteristics with physical forcing. The model operated at two spatial scales: Caribbean‐wide and focusing on the Mona Passage area. Results from the Caribbean‐wide study showed no significant virtual larval exchange between the two populations. The small‐scale model indicated that virtual larvae do not readily traverse the Mona Passage during the corals' reproductive season. Larvae released from Mona Island, in the center of the passage, are retained in the lee within topographically steered eddies, which act, together with the larval competency period, as a de facto filter to dispersal. Combined, our findings reveal the location of a seasonal filter to gene flow and its mechanism.
Incidence and remission of asthma in schoolchildren: report from the obstructive lung disease in northern Sweden studies.

OBJECTIVE An increasing prevalence of asthma has been reported worldwide as well as in Sweden. In 1996, the prevalence of asthma and type 1 allergy was investigated in a cohort of 3525 children 7 and 8 years old in 3 areas of northern Sweden. The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of asthma and to identify risk factors for incident cases over 1 year. METHODS The study started with a parental questionnaire, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire with additional questions, a skin prick test, and a validation study. The cohort was followed up after 1 year with the same questions. The response rate to the questionnaire was 97% in 1996, and 3339 children (97%) participated both in 1996 and 1997. RESULTS The incidence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 0.9/100/year; of wheezing, 3.8/100/year; and of new frequent or daily users of asthma medicines, 1.1/100/year. There was no difference by sex. The risk factor pattern based on incident cases of asthma was different from that based on prevalent cases. Significant risk factors for incident asthma were a positive skin test (odds ratio [OR]: 9.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8-22.7); low birth weight (OR: 7.4; 95% CI: 2.2-24.5); and family history of asthma (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1-6.3). Having or having had pets at home was associated with a decreased risk for asthma and wheezing based on prevalent cases, although it was associated with an increased risk for incidence of wheezing (OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.3-6.2). Remission of asthma, which was reported by 10% of the children with current asthma during 1 year, was associated with a negative skin test. CONCLUSION The incidence of asthma at the age of 8 years was high, but remission was also common. Important risk factors for the development of asthma at this age were type 1 allergy, low birth weight, and family history of asthma. Furthermore, the results suggest that in a region where sensitivity to domestic animals is a strong risk factor for asthma, the presence of pets in the home may have different effects in early childhood compared with later in childhood.
A process-algebraic approach to hybrid systems

Process algebra is a theoretical framework for the modelling and analysis of the behaviour of concurrent discrete event systems that has been developed within computer science in past quarter century. It has generated a deeper understanding of the nature of concepts such as observable behaviour in the presence of nondeterminism, system composition by interconnection of concurrent component systems, and notions of behavioural equivalence of such systems. It has contributed fundamental concepts such as bisimulation, and has been successfully used in a wide range of problems and practical applications in concurrent systems. We believe that the basic tenets of process algebra are highly compatible with the behavioural approach to dynamical systems. In our contribution we present an extension of classical process algebra that is suitable for the modelling and analysis of continuous and hybrid dynamical systems. It provides a natural framework for the concurrent composition of such systems, and can deal with nondeterministic behaviour that may arise from the occurrence of internal switching events. Standard process algebraic techniques lead to the characterization of the observable behaviour of such systems as equivalence classes under some suitably adapted notion of bisimulation.