Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Officers’ Professional Preparation and Issues posed by New Military Missions

At the close of the twentieth century and the start of the twenty-first, the function of the military underwent a series of such rapid and significant changes that it is still difficult to describe and fully understand their scope. One of the reasons for this is that one cannot really say that any previous function has been abandoned, or that some truly new function has been assigned to the military: armed forces continue to ensure national defence, they continue to be an element of dissuasion, already in the past they had carried out peace support operations (PSOs), brought help on the occasion of natural disasters, fought terrorism, been called to cooperate with armies of other countries in broad international coalitions, and so on. They had, that is, already carried out, occasionally and individually, what would later be considered the typical components of the new missions. What has changed is the mix of the different functions, the prevalence of some over others within this mix, the simultaneous presence of multiple functions, each with a high degree of urgency and topicality. These changes seem to require a different military preparation than the one that characterises today’s armies, even the most modern and efficient ones. In this same issue of the Review, Yuko Kurashina and David Segal write:
Reducing the feature vector length in local binary pattern based face recognition

In this paper we propose a method for reducing the length of the feature vectors in the local binary pattern (LBP) based face recognition. This is done to speed up the matching of the feature vectors in real-time face recognition and detection systems. We define a new discrimination concept of the uniform local binary patterns called symmetry. Patterns are assigned different levels of symmetry based on the number of ones or zeros they contain. These symmetry levels are rotation invariant allowing a general discrimination methodology. Empirical studies on both human perception and LBP face recognition accuracy using the standard FERET database confirm that the concept of symmetry is an efficient discriminator.
Lipid droplet formation in leprosy: Toll‐like receptor‐regulated organelles involved in eicosanoid formation and Mycobacterium leprae pathogenesis

A hallmark of LL is the accumulation of Virchow's foamy macrophages. However, the origin and nature of these lipids, as well as their function and contribution to leprosy disease, remain unclear. We herein show that macrophages present in LL dermal lesions are highly positive for ADRP, suggesting that their foamy aspect is at least in part derived from LD (also known as lipid bodies) accumulation induced during ML infection. Indeed, the capacity of ML to induce LD formation was confirmed in vivo via an experimental model of mouse pleurisy and in in vitro studies with human peripheral monocytes and murine peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, infected cells were shown to propagate LD induction to uninfected, neighboring cells by generating a paracrine signal, for which TLR2 and TLR6 were demonstrated to be essential. However, TLR2 and TLR6 deletions affected LD formation in bacterium‐bearing cells only partially, suggesting the involvement of alternative receptors of the innate immune response besides TLR2/6 for ML recognition by macrophages. Finally, a direct correlation between LD formation and PGE2 production was observed, indicating that ML‐induced LDs constitute intracellular sites for eicosanoid synthesis and that foamy cells may be critical regulators in subverting the immune response in leprosy.
A Cooperative Spectrum Sensing Scheme without Dedicated Reporting Channels: Interference Impact on Primary Users

In cognitive radio networks, cooperative spectrum sensing typically requires two essential phases: the phase of primary user's signal detection by cognitive users and the phase of initial detection result reporting from the cognitive users to a fusion center, which are referred to as detection and reporting phases, respectively. Common control channels (also called dedicated reporting channels) from the cognitive users to fusion center are assumed in previous research to avoid interfering with the primary user in the reporting phase. This, however, requires additional channel resources and increases implementation complexity due to the dedicated reporting channels management. In this paper, we propose an alternative cooperative spectrum sensing framework without dedicated reporting channels and present an interference analysis of its impact on primary users. We show that the interference caused by the proposed scheme is controllable and can be constrained to satisfy a given primary user's quality-of-service (QoS) requirement. By jointly considering the detection and reporting phases, we further examine the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) performance of the proposed cooperative spectrum sensing scheme in Rayleigh fading environment. Numerical results illustrate that, with a guaranteed detection probability constraint, a minimized false alarm probability can be achieved through an optimization of the time durations between the detection and reporting phases.
Packet-optical integration and trend towards white boxes

Many implementations have been developed to integrate Packet (mostly IP) networks with underlying transport networks. These attempts can be characterized as virtual (via control architecture) and physical integration. The paper describes the benefits of packet-optical integration and an opportunity how to use the white box approach to realize the integration. Voyager as an example is described.
Architectural Support for Enhancing Critical Secrets Protection in Chip-Multiprocessors

Computer networking makes every computer component vulnerable to security attacks. Examples of such attacks include injection of malicious codes (e.g., buffer overflow), denial of service (DoS) attacks, and passive eavesdropping between CPU cores and off-chip devices. Also off-chip or on-chip devices taken over by an adversary can launch attacks to other components of a computer. Pure software solutions itself can not counter all attacks, AbstrAct
Paranasal aspergillosis – a spectrum of disease

Nasal and paranasal sinus aspergillosis has classically been described as having four types: allergic, non-invasive, invasive and fulminant (Sarti and Lucente, 1988). The allergic form is akin to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and is thought to be a combination of type I and type III immune responses to Aspergillus antigens (Katzenstein et al., 1983; Waxman et al., 1987). Non-invasive disease results from the formation of an aspergilloma or fungus ball and behaves as a chronic sinusitis. Both these forms are considered saprophytic, extramucosal disease, benign in nature (Hartwick and Batsakis, 1991). The invasive form as described by Hora (1965) behaves like a malignant neoplasm presenting with a facial mass and proptosis. It is slowly progressive and locally destructive. Fulminant disease (McGill etal., 1980) is angio invasive, rapidly destructive and often fatal. The histopathological changes associated with these clinical forms have been well described by Milroy et al. (1989). However analysis of previously reported cases does not demonstrate clear distinctions of type or such closely associated patterns of clinical behaviour.
Performance of an optoelectronic expert system for massively parallel knowledge base applications

In this paper a mapped-template logic-based parallel optoelectronic processor is proposed for expert systems in order to achieve high speed and high performance for massively parallel processing of rule-based systems. The proposed system is implemented using two-dimensional space optics symbolic correlator. Also in this paper, an optoelectronic system for a parallel inference engine is presented. The proposed optical inference engine infers conclusions to queries by representing knowledge (facts and rules) in 2D space using a matrix-like formulation. Performance evaluation algorithms for both search and reasoning are presented. Performance enhancement technique is also discussed in this paper. The performance analysis of the proposed system shows its remarkably improved performance compared with multiprocessor electronic systems using conventional programming.
A compositional framework for complex queries over uncertain data

The ability to flexibly compose confidence computation with the operations of relational algebra is an important feature of probabilistic database query languages. Computing confidences is computationally hard, however, and has to be approximated in practice. In a compositional query language, even very small errors caused by approximation can lead to an entirely incorrect result: A selection operation on an approximated probability can incorrectly keep or drop a tuple even if the probability value has been approximated to a very narrow confidence interval. In this paper, we study the query evaluation problem for compositional query languages for probabilistic databases with particular focus on providing overall result quality guarantees in the face of approximate intermediate results. We present a framework for evaluating compositional queries based on a new representation system that can capture uncertainty about probabilities. More specifically, we consider probability intervals instead of exact probabilities, interpreting tuples obtained by selection on approximate values as unreliable. We study the complexity of query evaluation over our new model. We present efficient confidence computation algorithms which compute bounds that are close to tight for important classes. For deciding a selection predicate, we show that no efficient randomized algorithm exists unless BPP⊃NP. Still we are able to efficiently guess robust predicates with a good error bound. Putting all these pieces together in our framework, we evaluate queries using a decomposition into a relational algebra plan and an approximation plan. The latter allows to successively improve accuracy and error bounds, while the relational algebra plan only has to be executed once.
Biogeography and Population Connectivity of Coral Reef Fishes

Most fundamentally, the distribution of populations and species is a function of both habitat availability and dispersal ability. Understanding the patterns that result from the interaction of these factors is one of the central aims of ecology. It has long been recognized that populations are not evenly distributed throughout the entire geographic range of the species. Populations occupy spatially distinct patches of suitable habitat that are separated from each other by areas of unsuitable habitat. Depending on factors such as the distance between populations, the nature of the intervening environment, and the relative mobility of the organisms in question, areas of unfavorable habitat may or may not prevent movement of individuals among patches. Given a long enough period of isolation between populations of the same species, speciation or local extinction may result. The degree of connectivity among populations therefore has major ecological and evolutionary implications. Though the implications of connectivity have long been acknowledged and explored in terrestrial organisms, variable connectivity patterns are only beginning to be recognized as an important driver of present-day population dynamics in the marine realm. It had long been assumed that, due to the lack of visible barriers and the presumed ability of larvae to passively disperse great distances by riding ocean currents, marine organisms dispersed freely and had high levels of population connectivity throughout their ranges. Recent studies in coastal habitats, however, have revealed that the larvae of many coral reef fish species actually settle much closer to their natal reefs than previously thought (Almany et al., 2007; Jones et al., 1999; Kingsford et al., 2002; Planes et al., 2001, Swearer et al., 1999; Taylor & Hellberg, 2003). Similarly, population structure has been found in pelagic species such as cod (Bentzen et al., 1996; Ruzzante et al., 2000) and tuna (Block et al., 2005; Carlsson et al., 2004). The existence of patchy marine populations, especially if the patches are not connected by migration or dispersal, has enormous implications for biodiversity conservation and management. For instance, isolated populations are more prone to extinction than are more connected ones (Munday, 2004). In this chapter we present an overview of the distribution and population connectivity patterns of coral reef fishes and the methods that have been used to quantify them. We argue that widespread variability in predicted and observed patterns can be explained via the interaction between reef fish life history traits and oceanographic conditions. We emphasize throughout the importance of understanding the
Developing and Evaluating a Psychoeducation Program for Caregivers of Bipolar Affective Disorder Patients: Report of a Pilot Project

Family caregivers of people with bipolar disorder experience a range of difficulties in understanding and coping with the impact of the disorder. The Family Support Team at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, developed an educational supportive program for families of people with bipolar disorder that sought to improve caregiver knowledge of the illness, reduce caregiver distress, and enhance caregiver coping. The program also sought to moderate caregiver attributions of patient behavior in order to build an illness perspective of behavior. The bipolar program was developed trialed, and evaluated Analysis of results shows encouraging improvements for some families in knowledge, distress, attributions, and ways of coping. Practice and research implications include identifying differences with the schizophrenia program, the importance of a problem-solving focus, maintaining a balance between information giving and support, and timing of the intervention.
Multipotent versus differentiated cell fate selection in the developing Drosophila airways

Developmental potentials of cells are tightly controlled at multiple levels. The embryonic Drosophila airway tree is roughly subdivided into two types of cells with distinct developmental potentials: a proximally located group of multipotent adult precursor cells (P-fate) and a distally located population of more differentiated cells (D-fate). We show that the GATA-family transcription factor (TF) Grain promotes the P-fate and the POU-homeobox TF Ventral veinless (Vvl/Drifter/U-turned) stimulates the D-fate. Hedgehog and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling cooperate with Vvl to drive the D-fate at the expense of the P-fate while negative regulators of either of these signaling pathways ensure P-fate specification. Local concentrations of Decapentaplegic/BMP, Wingless/Wnt, and Hedgehog signals differentially regulate the expression of D-factors and P-factors to transform an equipotent primordial field into a concentric pattern of radially different morphogenetic potentials, which gradually gives rise to the distal-proximal organization of distinct cell types in the mature airway. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.09646. 001
A threshold cointegration analysis of asymmetric adjustments in the Ghanaian maize markets

This paper analyzes the long-run equilibrium relationship between retail and wholesale Ghanaian maize prices with cointegration test assuming asymmetric adjustment. Using the Enders-Siklos asymmetric cointegration tests, it is found that the retail and wholesale prices are cointegrated with threshold adjustment. Furthermore, the adjustment process is asymmetric when the retail and wholesale prices adjust to achieve the long-term equilibrium. Finally, there is faster convergence for negative deviations from long-term equilibrium than for positive deviations. These results imply that price increases tend to persist whereas decreases tend to revert quickly towards equilibrium.
Recovery of flash memories for reliable mobile storages

As the mobile appliance is applied to many ubiquitous services and the importance of the information stored in it is increased, the security issue to protect the information becomes one of the major concerns. However, most previous researches focused only on the communication security, not the storage security. Especially, a flash memory whose operational characteristics are different from those of HDD is used increasingly as a storage device for the mobile appliance because of its resistance to physical shock and lower power requirement. In this paper, we propose a flash memory management scheme targeted for guaranteeing the data integrity of the mobile storage. By maintaining the old data specified during the recovery window, we can recover the old data when the mobile appliance is attacked. Also, to reduce the storage requirement for the recovery, we restrict the number of versions to be copied, called Degree of Integrity (DoI). Especially, we consider both the reclaim efficiency and the wear leveling which is a unique characteristic of the flash memory. Based on the performance evaluation, we confirm that the proposed scheme can be acceptable to many applications as a flash memory management scheme for improving data integrity.
Hetrogeneous Multi-Deployment Strategy Effect on Maximizing the Lifetime Routing in Wireless Sensor Network

In the last few years, a significant increasing interest in the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is noticed. A great challenge in WSN is the limitation of power in sensor nodes batteries, hence developing energy efficient solutions is a key issue for prolonging the lifetime of these networks. CMAX and OML are power efficient routing heuristics that have been proposed to maximize sensor networks lifetime. All the researches that evaluate these two heuristics, agreed on the superiority of OML over CMAX heuristic. In this work, in order to better represent real life terrains, four different types of single distributions were studied. In three-dimensional (3D) space, those distributions (Uniform, Poisson, Normal and Chi-square) were used to generate a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) to simulate the connectivity of random deployed WSN. For simulating Heterogeneous environments, 2-Hetro- and 4-Hetro-Distributions were implemented. Results of 2-Hetro-Distributions revealed the superiority of OML over CMAX heuristic in most of the cases. But unlike previous researches, slight improvement was shown by CMAX over OML when Chi-square_Normal (CN) distribution is used, with improvement ratio more than 7%. Also, improvement in the average lifetime equals to 38.63% is provided by CMAX when sensor nodes were deployed in a Chi-square_Poisson (CP) terrain. In 4-Hetro-Distributions, the best case for applying OML heuristic is noticed at the Normal_Poisson_Chi-square_Uniform distribution (NPCU) with improvement ratio up to 99.82% over CMAX. Results of Chi-square_Poisson_Normal_Uniform (CPNU) distribution pointed out that CMAX heuristic is providing better average lifetime than OML heuristic, with unexpected improvement ratio up to 65.48%. As evident by the results of this work, it is proven that Heterogeneity of real life terrains (i.e. multi-tone terrain changes) has a major effect on the lifetime routing in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN).
Recent introduction and rapid dissemination of Chikungunya virus and Dengue virus serotype 2 associated with human and mosquito coinfections in Gabon, central Africa.

BACKGROUND Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) were recently introduced in central Africa, along with Aedes albopictus. Simultaneous outbreaks of CHIKV and DENV-2 have subsequently occurred, in Cameroon in 2006 and Gabon in 2007. METHODS To study the spread of the 2 viruses, we conducted active surveillance of acute febrile syndromes throughout Gabon between 2007 and 2010. Diagnostic methods included quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and molecular characterization was based on partial envelope gene sequences. RESULTS Between 2007 and 2010, 4287 acutely febrile patients were investigated for CHIKV and DENV-2 infections, of whom 1567 were CHIKV-positive, 376 DENV-2-positive, and 37 coinfected. We diagnosed 153 CHIKV and 11 DENV-2 cases in 2008, and 5 CHIKV and 9 DENV-2 cases in 2009. In 2010, CHIKV and DENV-2 caused a second large simultaneous outbreak. Among 2826 acutely febrile patients examined during this outbreak, 1112 were CHIKV-positive, 288 DENV-2-positive, and 28 coinfected. Mosquitoes were collected near the homes of coinfected patients, and 1 Aedes albopictus specimen was found to be positive for both CHIKV and DENV-2. CONCLUSIONS These findings show the rapid dissemination of CHIKV and DENV-2 within a nonimmune population in a tropical African country, probably facilitated by the spread of Aedes albopictus. This has resulted in major simultaneous outbreaks with numerous coinfections in both human and mosquito.
Neurocognitive Mechanisms Underlying Metaphor Comprehension and Other Figurative Language

A complete neurolinguistic model of language comprehension must include the representational and processing components housed in both the left and right cerebral hemispheres. This article focuses on figurative language, most notably the comprehension of metaphors and idioms. We propose that a theory of figurative language relies on a dynamic interplay of bottom-up semantic activation of word information and the top-down constraints offered by the comprehenders' understanding of the conversational pragmatics. We conclude that related language phenomena (indirect speech acts, inferences, proverbs, humor, and some prosodic cues) rely on similar mechanisms that are also shared with literal language comprehension.
The properties of protein family space depend on experimental design

MOTIVATION Databases of protein families often exhibit drastically different properties of the protein family space. RESULTS We compared the properties of protein family space as reflected by exhaustive protein family databases and databases with predefined families. We used TRIBES, Protomap, ProDom and COGs as representatives of the exhaustive databases, and Pfam-A and Superfamily as databases that predefine families. We observe a power-law distribution of family sizes in all these databases, albeit in predefined databases the power-law line collapses before reaching smaller sized families. We discuss the future trends of this power-law distribution and suggest that saturation in the sampling of protein family space will result in a distortion of the power law in small family sizes. For larger genome sizes, predefined databases show logarithmic growth of the number of families per genome, whereas exhaustive databases exhibit a virtually linear relationship. All databases consistently differ in the proportion of protein families shared between taxa. Predefined databases have a larger number of protein families shared between the three domains of life, while exhaustive databases show a much more fragmented distribution. We argue that these discrepancies reflect alternative approaches to the trade-off issue of sensitivity versus specificity in the detection of homologous proteins. We conclude that these properties are complementary rather than contradictory, while describing the protein universe from different perspectives.