Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed processing of data streams on the edge devices

Diversity of communication technologies in Internet of Things and increasing the amount of sensor data outlined the idea of using intermediate devices for storage and pre-processing - such as gateways in sensor networks. Moreover, semantic interoperability is emerging as an attractive solution for communication between autonomous entities or smart objects in Internet of Things, so the paper examines the functionalities of semantic data annotation in embedded devices with limited resources located at the edge of the Smart Grid network.
Functional and structural connectivity of frontostriatal circuitry in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abnormalities in frontostriatal circuitry potentially underlie the two core deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); social interaction and communication difficulties and restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Whilst a few studies have examined connectivity within this circuitry in ASD, no previous study has examined both functional and structural connectivity within the same population. The present study provides the first exploration of both functional and structural frontostriatal connectivity in ASD. Twenty-eight right-handed Caucasian male ASD (17.28 ± 3.57 years) and 27 right-handed male, age and IQ matched controls (17.15 ± 3.64 years) took part in the study. Resting state functional connectivity was carried out on 21 ASD and control participants, and tractography was carried out on 22 ASD and 24 control participants, after excluding subjects for excessive motion and poor data quality. Functional connectivity analysis was carried out between the frontal cortex and striatum after which tractography was performed between regions that showed significant group differences in functional connectivity. The ASD group showed increased functional connectivity between regions in the frontal cortex [anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), paracingulate gyrus (Pcg) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)], and striatum [nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and caudate]. Increased functional connectivity between ACC and caudate was associated with deactivation to social rewards in the caudate, as previously reported in the same participants. Greater connectivity between the right MFG and caudate was associated with higher restricted interests and repetitive behaviors and connectivity between the bilateral Pcg and NAcc, and the right OFC and NAcc, was negatively associated with social and communicative deficits. Although tracts were reliably constructed for each subject, there were no group differences in structural connectivity. Results are in keeping with previously reported increased corticostriatal functional connectivity in ASD.
Towards a functional explanation for the occurrence of anorexia during parasitic infections

The development and occurrence of anorexia, the voluntary reduction in food intake during parasitic infections in animals, is somewhat paradoxical and contrary to conventional wisdom and expectation. We take the view that its occurrence is an evolved, costly behavioural adaptation which serves a function. Five such functional and general hypotheses to account for it are developed: (1) anorexia is induced by the parasite for its own benefit; (2) food intake decreases to starve parasites; (3) the negative effect on the host's energetic efficiency during parasitic diseases has a direct effect on food consumption; (4) food intake decreases for the purpose of promoting an effective immune response in the host; and (5) anorexia allows the host to become more selective in its diet, and thus select foods that either minimize the risk of infection or are high in antiparasitic compounds. Only hypotheses (4) and (5) survive the comparison for consistency with the physiological, metabolic and behavioural alterations that occur during the development of parasitic infections, and with the rule of generality (i.e. account for its occurrence in both protozoan and helminth infections). Both surviving hypotheses will need further experimental testing for their support or rejection, and such experiments are proposed. Also, the advantages and consequences of viewing anorexia during parasitic infections within a functional framework are discussed. These arise from the recognition that anorexia is a disease-coping strategy, part of the mechanism of recognition of parasite invasion by the immune system, which leads to a modification of the host's feeding behaviour. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Preservatives Daily Dose of Benzalkonium Chloride in the Treatment of Glaucoma from the Patient ' s Perspective

Nowadays, in indication of local anti-glaucoma treatment the physician can choose from several tens of active ingredients and concentrations in eye drops available on the market. We make our choice taking course of the disease, topical clinical record le, and our clinical experience into account, but we also pay attention to the patient's subjective acceptance of the previous treatment. The objective is to nd such a treatment that would guarantee the preservation of visual function as well as the quality of patient's life. The drug must be well-tolerated and the side e ects (either general or local) must not deteriorate the patient's cooperation in the treatment regime. The presence and composition of excipients play an important role here. We have reckoned with the daily dose of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in the treatment of glaucoma.
Output Power Limit in Energy Harvesting Systems Based on Magnetic Induction Incorporating High-Frequency Effects

Wireless power transfer systems based on magnetic induction are usually modeled using the magneto-quasi-static approximation, and by neglecting skin effects and radiation losses. These assumptions imply that the extracted power can grow unlimitedly by increasing frequency or coil size. To bridge this gap, this work proposes general expression for the actual received power of magnetic induction-based energy harvesting transducer, extracting power from a given ambient magnetic field, while accounting for the high-frequency effects. A primary result is that the receiver’s output power is inherently limited by radiation losses at high frequencies and impaired by skin and proximity effects at medium frequencies. The approach provides a design tool for estimating the maximal power that can be delivered through a given transducer, and the optimal operating frequency.
Population-based study of human papillomavirus infection and cervical neoplasia in rural Costa Rica.

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical neoplasia. Because few population-based studies have investigated the prevalence of type-specific infection in relation to cervical disease, we studied a high-risk population, estimating the prevalence of HPV infection and the risk associated with various HPV types. METHODS We screened 9175 women in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, to obtain a referent standard final diagnosis, and tested 3024 women for more than 40 types of HPV with a polymerase chain reaction-based system. RESULTS Among women with normal cytology, HPV infections peaked first in women younger than 25 years, and they peaked again at age 55 years or older with predominantly non-cancer-associated types of HPV and uncharacterized HPV types. Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) (n = 189) decreased consistently with age. The prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) (n = 128) peaked first around age 30 years and again at age 65 years or older. Seventy-three percent of LSILs were HPV positive, with HPV16 being the predominant type (16% of positive subjects). HPV was found in 89% of HSILs and 88% of cancers, with HPV16 being strongly predominant (51% and 53% of positive subjects). Virtually all HSILs and cancers had cancer-associated HPV types, with high odds ratios (ORs) and attributable fractions around 80%. Risk for HPV16 was particularly high (OR for HSILs = 320, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 97-1000; OR for cancer = 710, 95% CI = 110-4500). CONCLUSIONS We confirm the early decline of HPV infection with age but note increased prevalence after menopause, which could be related to a second peak of HSILs, an observation that warrants further investigation. At least 80% of HPVs involved in cervical carcinogenesis in this population have been characterized. Polyvalent vaccines including the main cancer-associated HPV types may be able to prevent most cases of cervical disease in this region.
Microperimetric Assessment after Epiretinal Membrane Surgery: 4-Year Follow-Up

Purpose. To investigate retinal function using microperimetry in patients affected by idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) and cataract who underwent combined surgery: 4-year follow-up. Design. Prospective, interventional case series. Methods. 30 eyes of 30 consecutive patients with iERM and age-related cataract underwent 25-gauge vitrectomy and cataract surgery. At baseline, 90 and 180 days, and 1 and 4 years, we examined retinal mean sensitivity (MS), retinal mean defect (MD), fixation stability, and frequency of microscotomas using MP1 microperimetry. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) using a spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were also performed. Results. All patients completed 1-year follow-up, while 23 patients reached last follow-up. Baseline MS and MD (10.48 ± 4.17 and −9.18 ± 4.40 dB) significantly changed at one year (12.33 ± 3.66 and −7.49 ± 3.31 dB, p < 0.01), at four years (14.18 ± 3.46 and −4.66 ± 2.85, p < 0.01), and between one and four years (p < 0.01) after surgery. Compared to baseline, CRT and BCVA significantly changed at one year and remained stable at four years. No variations were observed in fixation stability and frequency of microscotomas compared to baseline. Conclusions. Long-term follow-up using microperimetry seems useful to evaluate patients after iERM surgery: retinal sensitivity changes even when BCVA and CRT remain stable.
Multichannel Texture Analysis Using Localized Spatial Filters

A computational approach for analyzing visible textures is described. Textures are modeled as irradiance patterns containing a limited range of spatial frequencies, where mutually distinct textures differ significantly in their dominant characterizing frequencies. By encoding images into multiple narrow spatial frequency and orientation channels, the slowly varying channel envelopes (amplitude and phase) are used to segregate textural regions of different spatial frequency, orientation, or phase characteristics. Thus, an interpretation of image texture as a region code, or carrier of region information, is emphasized. The channel filters used, known as the two-dimensional Gabor functions, are useful for these purposes in several senses: they have tunable orientation and radial frequency bandwidths and tunable center frequencies, and they optimally achieve joint resolution in space and in spatial frequency. By comparing the channel amplitude responses, one can detect boundaries between textures. Locating large variations in the channel phase responses allows discontinuities in the texture phase to be detected. Examples are given of both types of texture processing using a variety of real and synthetic textures. >
Pedestrian detection from still images

In this work, a pedestrian detection method based on adaptive boosting is proposed. The proposed method works on still images. The features utilized in the work are derived from Haar-like templates. An Adaboost classifier is utilized for both feature selection and classification. To show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, the system is trained by using Nicta Pedestrian Dataset and tested by using Penn Fudan Pedestrian Dataset. The experimental result shows the proposed method's effectiveness.
Boundary Detection Method for Large-Scale Coverage Holes in Wireless Sensor Network Based on Minimum Critical Threshold Constraint

The existing coverage hole boundary detection methods cannot detect large-scale coverage hole boundary in wireless sensor network quickly and efficiently. Aiming at this problem, a boundary detection method for large-scale coverage holes in wireless sensor network based on minimum critical threshold constraint is proposed. Firstly, the optimization problem of minimum critical threshold is highlighted, and its formulaic description is constructed according to probabilistic sensing model. On the basis of this, the distributed gradient information is used to approximately solve the optimization problem. After that, local-scale rough boundary detection algorithm incorporating the minimum critical threshold and its iterative thinning algorithm are proposed according to blocking flow theory. The experimental results show that the proposed method has low computational complexity and network overhead when detecting large-scale coverage hole boundary in wireless sensor network.
Towards Privacy-Aware Handling of Authorizations

Privacy issues have hindered centralised authentication approaches from being adopted by a wide range of users. This also applies to authorizations which suffer from privacy problems when stored and processed centrally. We present first steps towards a framework of privacy-aware handling of authorizations. We split up the storage and the processing of access control policies in a user-centric approach. We illustrate our approach at the example of a security infrastructure scenario.
Laparoscopic Radical Cholecystectomy for Primary or Incidental Early Gallbladder Cancer: The New Rules Governing the Treatment of Gallbladder Cancer

Aim To evaluate the technical feasibility and oncologic safety of laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy (LRC) for primary or incidental early gallbladder cancer (GBC) treatment. Methods Articles reporting LRC for GBC were reviewed from the first case reported in 2010 to 2015 (129 patients). 116 patients had a preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder cancer (primary GBC). 13 patients were incidental cases (IGBC) discovered during or after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results The majority of patients who underwent LRC were pT2 (62.7% GBC and 63.6% IGBC). Parenchyma-sparing operation with wedge resection of the gallbladder bed or resection of segments IVb-V were performed principally. Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy was carried out according to the reported depth of neoplasm invasion. Lymph node retrieved ranged from 3 to 21. Some authors performed routine sampling biopsy of the inter-aorto-caval lymph nodes (16b1 station) before the radical treatment. No postoperative mortality was documented. Discharge mean day was POD 5th. 16 patients had post operative morbidities. Bile leakage was the most frequent post-operative complication. 5 y-survival rate ranged from 68.75 to 90.7 months. Conclusion Laparoscopy can not be considered as a dogmatic contraindication to GBC but a primary approach for early case (pT1b and pT2) treatment.
Defined factors induce reprogramming of gastrointestinal cancer cells

Although cancer is a disease with genetic and epigenetic origins, the possible effects of reprogramming by defined factors remain to be fully understood. We studied the effects of the induction or inhibition of cancer-related genes and immature status-related genes whose alterations have been reported in gastrointestinal cancer cells. Retroviral-mediated introduction of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell genes was necessary for inducing the expression of immature status-related proteins, including Nanog, Ssea4, Tra-1-60, and Tra-1-80 in esophageal, stomach, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, and cholangiocellular cancer cells. Induced cells, but not parental cells, possessed the potential to express morphological patterns of ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm, which was supported by epigenetic studies, indicating methylation of DNA strands and the histone H3 protein at lysine 4 in promoter regions of pluripotency-associated genes such as NANOG. In in vitro analysis induced cells showed slow proliferation and were sensitized to differentiation-inducing treatment, and in vivo tumorigenesis was reduced in NOD/SCID mice. This study demonstrated that pluripotency was manifested in induced cells, and that the induced pluripotent cancer (iPC) cells were distinct from natural cancer cells with regard to their sensitivity to differentiation-inducing treatment. Retroviral-mediated introduction of iPC cells confers higher sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents and differentiation-inducing treatment.
Applicability of GPGPU Computing to Real-Time AI Solutions in Games

This paper reviews developments in general purpose computing on graphics processor units (GPGPU computing) from the perspective of video-game-related artificial intelligence (AI). We present an overview of the field, beginning with early shader language solutions and continuing to discuss three accessible platforms for GPGPU development: CUDA, OpenCL, and Direct Compute. Consideration is given to the commercial and practical realities which hinder the adoption of GPGPU solutions within video game AI, and developments in GPGPU computing directly relevant to common AI practices within the video games industry are reviewed in depth.
The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications Study at 30 Years: Overview

OBJECTIVE The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) was designed to test the glucose hypothesis and determine whether the complications of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) could be prevented or delayed. The Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) observational follow-up determined the durability of the DCCT effects on the more-advanced stages of diabetes complications including cardiovascular disease (CVD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The DCCT (1982–1993) was a controlled clinical trial in 1,441 subjects with T1DM comparing intensive therapy (INT), aimed at achieving levels of glycemia as close to the nondiabetic range as safely possible, with conventional therapy (CON), which aimed to maintain safe asymptomatic glucose control. INT utilized three or more daily insulin injections or insulin pump therapy guided by self-monitored glucose. EDIC (1994–present) is an observational study of the DCCT cohort. RESULTS The DCCT followed >99% of the cohort for a mean of 6.5 years and demonstrated a 35–76% reduction in the early stages of microvascular disease with INT, with a median HbA1c of 7%, compared with CONV, with a median HbA1c of 9%. The major adverse effect of INT was a threefold increased risk of hypoglycemia, which was not associated with a decline in cognitive function or quality of life. EDIC showed a durable effect of initial assigned therapies despite a loss of the glycemic separation (metabolic memory) and demonstrated that the reduction in early-stage complications during the DCCT translated into substantial reductions in severe complications and CVD. CONCLUSIONS DCCT/EDIC has demonstrated the effectiveness of INT in reducing the long-term complications of T1DM and improving the prospects for a healthy life span.
Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human insulin‐like growth factor I given subcutaneously to healthy volunteers and to patients with growth hormone receptor deficiency

The pharmacokinetics of recombinant human insulin‐like growth factor I (rhIGF‐I) were studied in healthy volunteers and in patients with growth hormone receptor deficiency (GHRD; Laron syndrome). Following single subcutaneous injections of rhIGF‐I, 40 and 80 μgkg, to healthy volunteers, the peptide was absorbed slowly, with a maximum concentration reached after about 7 hours. Following daily multiple subcutaneous injections of rhIGF‐I, 40 μg/kg, trough concentrations of IGF‐I were increased by 277 ± 50 μg/l (mean ± SD) from baseline. IGF‐I was thus characterized as a low‐clearance peptide, with a clearance and half‐life estimated at about 0.20 ml/minute/kg and 20 hours, respectively, in healthy volunteers. The volume of distribution was low, about 0.20–0.36 litres/kg, the bioavailability of subcutaneously administered rhIGF‐I was 100%, and the rate of production of IGF‐I was estimated to be about 50 μg/kg/day (3.5 mg/day). Patients with GHRD had low baseline IGF‐I concentrations (30–50 μg/l) and a much more rapid turnover of IGF‐I compared with that in healthy volunteers. The clearance and half‐life of IGF‐I were estimated to be about 0.60 ml/minute/kg and 6 hours, respectively. The volume of distribution was about the same as in healthy subjects. Due to the rapid turnover of IGF‐I, trough IGF‐I concentrations were increased to just above baseline during subcutaneous injections of 40 μg/kg once daily for 7 days. The maximum increase in IGF‐I levels was 111 ± 12 μg/l and 150 ± 3 μg/l following daily subcutaneous injections of 40 × 1 and 40 × 2 μg/kg for 7 days, respectively.
A computational analysis of the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide initiated by single-site beta-diketiminate metal complexes: defining the mechanistic pathway and the origin of stereocontrol.

The ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide at a beta-diketiminate magnesium center, [HC{CMeN-2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)}(2)]Mg(OMe)(THF), has been investigated using a B3-LYP density functional procedure employing three different layers of basis set: 6-311G(3d) at the Mg center, 6-31G(d) for both the ligand skeleton and the monomer, and a STO-3G basis set at the bulky 2,6-diisopropylphenyl substituents. By studying the consecutive ring-opening of two lactide molecules, clear conclusions are drawn regarding both the mechanism of ring-opening and the origin of heterotactic stereocontrol observed with such initiators. Polymerization proceeds via two major transition states, an observation applicable to other coordinative initiator systems, with the highest energy transition state dictating the stereochemistry of monomer insertion. In the beta-diketiminate magnesium system, a detailed examination of the rate-limiting second transition state geometries reveals that heterotactic poly(lactic acid) arises via the minimization of several steric interactions, possibly reinforced by an attractive CH.pi interaction.
Spinless photon dark matter from two universal extra dimensions

We explore the properties of dark matter in theories with two universal extra dimensions, where the lightest Kaluza–Klein state is a spin-0 neutral particle, representing a six-dimensional photon polarized along the extra dimensions. Annihilation of this ‘spinless photon’ proceeds predominantly through Higgs boson exchange, and is largely independent of other Kaluza–Klein particles. The measured relic abundance sets an upper limit on the spinless photon mass of 500 GeV, which decreases to almost 200 GeV if the Higgs boson is light. The phenomenology of this dark matter candidate is strikingly different from Kaluza–Klein dark matter in theories with one universal extra dimension. Elastic scattering of the spinless photon with quarks is helicity suppressed, making its direct detection challenging, although possible at upcoming experiments. The prospects for indirect detection with gamma rays and antimatter are similar to those of neutralinos. The rates predicted at neutrino telescopes are below the sensitivity of next-generation experiments.
Change Impact Analysis for SysML Requirements Models based on Semantics of Trace Relations

Change impact analysis is one of the applications of requirements traceability in software engineering community. In this paper, we focus on requirements and requirements relations from traceability perspective. We provide formal definitions of the requirements relations in SysML for change impact analysis. Our approach aims at keeping the model synchronized with what stakeholders want to be modeled, and possibly implemented as well, which we called as the domain. The differences between the domain and model are defined as external inconsistencies. The inconsistencies are propagated for the whole model by using the formalization of relations, and mapped to proposed model changes. We provide tool support which is a plug-in of the commercial visual software modeler BluePrint.