Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance assessment of a distributed intrusion detection system in a real network scenario

The heterogeneity and complexity of modern networks and services urge the requirement for flexible and scalable security systems, which can be dynamically configured to suit the everchanging nature of security threats and user behavior patterns. In this paper we present a distributed architecture for an Intrusion Detection System, allowing for traffic analysis at different granularity levels, performed by using the best available techniques. Such architecture leverages the principle of separation of concerns, and hence proposes to build up a system comprising entities specialized in performing different tasks, appropriately orchestrated by a broker entity playing the crucial role of the mediator. This paper stresses the point that a distributed system, besides being inherently more scalable than a centralized one, allows for better detection capabilities thanks to the effective exploitation of the inner heterogeneity of the involved detection engines. In order to support our findings, we will describe the design, implementation and deployment of the proposed solution in the framework of the INTERSECTION FP7 European Project.
The Preparation and Catalytic Performance of Nanoporous CuO/CeO 2 Composites

Nanoporous CuO/CeO2 ribbons are successfully prepared through dealloying melt-spun Al80-xCu20Cex (x = 0.5, 1, 2, 3, at%) alloy in a 5 wt% NaOH aqueous solution, followed by calcining in air. The samples are characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, HRTEM, Raman and gas chromatograph. For the dealloyed melt-spun Al80-xCu20Cex (x = 0.5, 1, 2, 3, at%) alloy, the XRD results indicate that Cu and Cu2O are formed, while CuO and CeO2 are formed coupled with calcinations. The SEM shows that the CuO/CeO2 ribbons with a homogeneous pore/grain structure are thermally stable up to 600℃because uniform CeO2 particles are dispersedly loaded on the fine CuO grains of the porous structure, which is validated by TEM again. Meanwhile, the Raman spectra show that the concentration of oxygen vacancies reach a maximum value when the calcining temperature at 600℃. In addition, the gas chromatograph results show that the dealloyed Al78Cu20Ce2 ribbons with calcined at 600℃have the best active catalysis for CO oxidation and the rates of CO conversation reaching at 50% and 100% are 150℃and 320℃, respectively, owing to the synergetic effects of the CuO and CeO2 species.
Exposure to ionizing radiation and development of bone sarcoma: new insights based on atomic-bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

BACKGROUND Radiation-induced bone sarcoma has been associated with high doses of ionizing radiation from therapeutic or occupation-related exposures. However, the development of bone sarcoma following exposure to lower doses of ionizing radiation remains speculative. METHODS A cohort analysis based on the Life Span Study (n = 120,321) was performed to assess the development of bone sarcoma in atomic-bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki followed from 1958 to 2001. The excess relative risk per gray of ionizing radiation absorbed by the bone marrow was estimated. Additional subject demographic, survival, and clinical factors were evaluated. RESULTS Nineteen cases of bone sarcoma (in eleven males and eight females) were identified among the 80,181 subjects who met the inclusion criteria, corresponding to an incidence of 0.9 per 100,000 person-years. The mean ages at the time of the bombing and at diagnosis were 32.4 and 61.6 years, respectively. The mean bone marrow dose was 0.43 Gy. Osteosarcoma was the most commonly identified bone sarcoma. The most common bone sarcoma site was the pelvis. The overall unadjusted five-year survival rate was 25%. A dose threshold was found at 0.85 Gy (95% confidence interval, 0.12 to 1.85 Gy), with a linear dose-response association above this threshold. The linear slope equaled an excess relative risk of 7.5 per Gy (95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 23.14 per Gy) in excess of 0.85 Gy. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of what we believe is one of the longest and largest prospective studies assessing the development of bone sarcoma in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation, it appears that the development of radiation-induced bone sarcoma may be associated with exposure to much lower doses of ionizing radiation than have previously been reported. Such new insights may potentially improve bone sarcoma prevention measures and broaden our understanding of the role of ionizing radiation from various sources on the development of malignant tumors. This study stresses the need to become increasingly aware of the various health risks that may be attributable to even low levels of ionizing radiation exposure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Pelvic organ prolapse in the Women's Health Initiative: gravity and gravidity.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of and correlates for pelvic organ prolapse. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional analysis of women who enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Replacement Therapy Clinical Trial (n = 27,342 women). Baseline questionnaires ascertained demographics and personal habits. A baseline pelvic examination assessed uterine prolapse, cystocele, and rectocele. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to investigate factors that were associated with pelvic organ prolapse. RESULTS In the 16,616 women with a uterus, the rate of uterine prolapse was 14.2%; the rate of cystocele was 34.3%; and the rate of rectocele was 18.6%. For the 10,727 women who had undergone hysterectomy, the prevalence of cystocele was 32.9% and of rectocele was 18.3%. After controlling for age, body mass index, and other health/physical variables, African American women demonstrated the lowest risk for prolapse. Hispanic women had the highest risk for uterine prolapse. Parity and obesity were strongly associated with increased risk for uterine prolapse, cystocele, and rectocele. CONCLUSION Pelvic organ prolapse is a common condition in older women. The risk for prolapse differs between ethnic groups, which suggests that the approaches to risk-factor modification and prevention may also differ. These data will help address the gynecologic needs of diverse populations.
Studies on the mechanism of bacterial resistance to complement-mediated killing. II. C8 and C9 release C5b67 from the surface of salmonella minnesota S218 because the terminal complex does not insert into the bacterial outer membrane

The mechanism for consumption of terminal complement components and release of bound components from the surface of serum-resistant salmonella minnesota S218 was studied. Consumption of C8 and C9 by S218 occurred through interaction with C5b67 on the bacterial surface because C8 and C9 were consumed when added to S218 organisms previously incubated in C8-deficient serum and washed to remove all C5b67 on the bacterial surface because C8 and C9 were consumed when added to S218 organisms previously incubated in C8- deficient serum and washed to remove al but cell bound C5b67. Rapid release of (125)I C5 and (125)I C7 from the membrane of S218 was dependent on binding of C8 because (125)I C5 and (125)I C7 deposition in C8D serum was stable and was twofold higher in C8D than in PNHA, and addition of purified C8 or C8 and C9 to S218 previously incubated in C8D serum caused rapid release of (125)I C5 and (125)I C7 from the organism. Analysis by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation of the fluid phase from the reaction of S218 and 10 percent PNHS revealed a peak consistent with SC5b-9, in which the C9:C7 ratio was 3.3:1, but the NaDOC extracted bound C5b-9 complex sedimented as a broad peak with C9:C7 of less than 1.2:1. Progressive elution of C5b67 and C5b-9 from S218 but not serum-sensitive S. minnesota Re595 was observed with incubation in buffers of increasing ionic strength. Greater than 90 percent of the bound counts of (125)I C5 or (125)I C9 were released from S218 by incubation in 0.1 percent trypsin, but only 57 percent of (125)I C9 were released by treatment of Re595 with trypsin. These results are consistent with the concept that C5b-9 forms on the surface of the serum-sensitive S. minnesota S218 in normal human serum, but the formed complex is released and is not bactericidal for S218 because it fails to insert into hydrophobic outer membrane domains.
Persistent, Exocytosis-Independent Silencing of Release Sites Underlies Homosynaptic Depression at Sensory Synapses inAplysia

The synaptic connections of Aplysia sensory neurons (SNs) undergo dramatic homosynaptic depression (HSD) with only a few low-frequency stimuli. Strong and weak SN synapses, although differing in their probabilities of release, undergo HSD at the same rate; this suggests that the major mechanism underlying HSD in these SNs may not be depletion of the releasable pool of vesicles. In computational models, we evaluated alternative mechanisms of HSD, including vesicle depletion, to determine which mechanisms enable strong and weak synapses to depress with identical time courses. Of five mechanisms tested, only release-independent, stimulus-dependent switching off of release sites resulted in HSD that was independent of initial synaptic strength. This conclusion that HSD is a release-independent phenomenon was supported by empirical results: an increase in Ca2+ influx caused by spike broadening with a K+ channel blocker did not alter HSD. Once induced, HSD persisted during 40 min of rest with no detectable recovery; thus, release does not recover automatically with rest, contrary to what would be expected if HSD represented an exhaustion of the exocytosis mechanism. The hypothesis that short-term HSD involves primarily a stepwise silencing of release sites, rather than vesicle depletion, is consistent with our earlier observation that HSD is accompanied by only a modest decrease in release probability, as indicated by little change in the paired-pulse ratio. In contrast, we found that there was a dramatic decrease in the paired-pulse ratio during serotonin-induced facilitation; this suggests that heterosynaptic facilitation primarily involves an increase in release probability, rather than a change in the number of functional release sites.
Design and implementation of active error canceling in hand-held microsurgical instrument

Presents the development and. initial experimental results of the first prototype of Micron, an active hand-held instrument to sense and compensate physiological tremor and other unwanted movement during vitreoretinal microsurgery. The instrument incorporates six inertial sensors, allowing the motion of the tip to be computed. The motion captured is processed to discriminate between desired and undesired components of motion. Tremor canceling is implemented via the weighted-frequency Fourier linear combiner (WFLC) algorithm, and compensation of non-tremorous error via a neural network technique is being investigated. The instrument tip is attached to a three-degree-of-freedom parallel manipulator with piezoelectric actuation. The actuators move the tool tip in opposition to the tremor, thereby suppressing the erroneous motion. Motion canceling experiments with oscillatory motions in the frequency band of physiological tremor show that Micron is able to reduce error amplitude by 45.3% in 1-D tests and 37.2% in 3-D tests.
Ripping the pith from the Peel: Institutional and Internet cultures of archiving pop music radio

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Symptomatic vaginal discharge is a poor predictor of sexually transmitted infections and genital tract inflammation in high-risk women in South Africa.

BACKGROUND Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a public health priority, particularly in regions where the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is high. In most developing countries, STIs are managed syndromically. We assessed the adequacy of syndromic diagnosis of STIs, compared with laboratory diagnosis of STIs, and evaluated the association between STI diagnosis and the risk of HIV acquisition in a cohort of high-risk women. METHODS HIV-uninfected high-risk women (n = 242) were followed for 24 months. Symptoms of STIs were recorded, and laboratory diagnosis of common STI pathogens was conducted every 6 months. Forty-two cytokines were measured by Luminex in cervicovaginal lavage specimens at enrollment. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection was evaluated monthly. RESULTS Only 12.3% of women (25 of 204) who had a laboratory-diagnosed, discharge-causing STI had clinically evident discharge. Vaginal discharge was thus a poor predictor of laboratory-diagnosed STIs (sensitivity, 12.3%; specificity, 93.8%). Cervicovaginal cytokine concentrations did not differ between women with asymptomatic STIs and those with symptomatic STIs and were elevated in women with asymptomatic STIs, compared with women with no STIs or bacterial vaginosis. Although laboratory-diagnosed STIs were associated with increased risk of HIV infection (hazard ratio, 3.3 [95% confidence interval, 1.5-7.2)], clinical symptoms were not. CONCLUSIONS Syndromic STI diagnosis dependent on vaginal discharge was poorly predictive of laboratory-diagnosed STI. Laboratory-diagnosed STIs were associated with increased susceptibility to HIV acquisition, while vaginal discharge was not.
Global Inequality: An Introduction

Global inequality has been little analyzed by sociologists despite their claim to be the scienti? c experts most in charge of the study of human inequalities and social strati? cation. Most undergraduate courses on social inequalities study race, class and gender without ever acknowledging that the greatest inequalities are between those individuals and households that live in developed versus less developed societies. The amount of international inequality has vastly outweighed within country inequalities since at least the 1870s when a wave of economic globalization under the Pax Britannica increased average wages in the core while leaving most of the periphery and the semiperiphery at subsistence levels. Increasing inequality was one of the most important consequences of nineteenth century globalization, and this fact is pregnant with importance for those who seek to understand what the consequences of twentieth century globalization may be. Resistance to global capitalism and attacks on symbols of power are likely to increase, just as they did in the decades following the great expansion of trade and investment in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Research into the causes of increasing inequalities is thus extremely important for social scientists, policy makers and global citizens who need to understand how the world-system works in order to change it.
Adult neurogenesis and depression

Adult neurogenesis (ANGE) is a process of generating new neurons in the brains of adult mammals, including humans. It takes place, e.g., in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampal formation. The function of the new neurons is not fully explained; however, they are considered to play an important role in learning and memory processes. There is also evidence that ANGE can mediate the response of hippocampal formation to stress, preventing the onset of depression. Besides, newly-generated neurons seem to play an important role in therapeutic action of antidepressants (AD). Results from animal models and human studies, confirming and questioning the hypothesis of a key connection between depression and ANGE, are presented. It is not clear whether the suppression of the production of new neurons influences the pathogenesis of depression and it seems that some other factors are more important. However, it is likely that the level of ANGE is important in treatment of at least some forms of depression. Several experiments, using animal models, have shown that AD, mood stabilizers or other depression therapies increase the level of ANGE. Also, blocking the generation of new neurons abolishes their therapeutic effect. Nevertheless, some recent publications question the significance of ANGE in AD action. The discrepancies described herein, concerning the significance of ANGE in aetiology and treatment of depression, may reflect the complexity of the depressive disorder. This complexity is manifested by the different response (or no response) to various AD and other depression therapies in human patients.
A security- and privacy-driven hybrid biometric template protection technique

Biometric template protection techniques are used to secure biometric templates from various attacks and threats. As the trade-off between the performance and the security and privacy of said techniques has drawn increasing concerns from the researchers, a single approach can no longer satisfy the elevated requirement. In this paper, a state-of-the-art hybrid template protection method, called the cancelable secure sketch (CaSS) is proposed. The concept of CaSS is demonstrated via a cancelable fingerprint, namely the multi-line code (MLC) with the code-offset construction of secure sketch. The proposed method boasts high security and privacy by virtue of the revocability of MLC. Besides, inheriting the high performance of binary MLC, the CaSS method is able to achieve 0% FRR and FAR.
Providing treatment for hepatitis C in an Australian district centre

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a major public health problem world wide. The introduction of combined therapy (interferon and ribavirin) and the recent development of pegylated interferon have offered the opportunity to alter the natural history of HCV, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality. Until recently, treatment has been confined to larger Australian cities. This paper describes the establishment of a clinic for the treatment of HCV in a regional Australian city. The facilities of the sexual health clinic were utilised. Factors contributing to the success of the clinic include the specialist nurse, a multidisciplinary approach, and the service model of shared care with general practitioners. The patient population and the outcomes of managing HCV in a regional centre are described. The sustained viral response rate is comparable to the published data from specialist centres.
Oxygenated Perfluorocarbons Protect the Intestine From the Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rabbits

Objective: To investigate whether intraluminal administration of oxygenated perfluorocarbons (PFCs) protects the enterocyte from acute ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Materials and Methods: Twenty rabbits were divided in 4 groups: sham-operated controls (group A), acute I/R (group B), acute I/R plus infusion of oxygenated PFCs 30 minutes before ischemia (group C), and acute I/R plus infusion of oxygenated PFCs 30 minutes before reperfusion (group D). Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and mucosal disaccharidase activity were examined. Intestinal biopsies were obtained for electron microscopy study. Results: Group B CPK mean values are 3495.2 ± 157.35 and 4855 ± 350.21 U/L. Group C: 2674.6 ± 265.87 and 3231 ± 232.30. Group D: 2382.2 ± 102.90 and 3217.6 ± 185.61 at 120 and 180 minutes (P < .05). At 180 minutes, maltase and sucrose values were 33.63, 51.88, 8.45, and 19.91, and 17.99, 22.87, 6.62, and 14.24 µmol/min per g for groups A, B, C, and D, respectively (P < .05). Histopathology showed the least cellular deterioration in PFC groups. Conclusion: Oxygenated PFCs protect the enterocyte during bowel I/R.
Advances in the management of adrenal tumors

Adrenal tumors are very common, with the majority being non-hypersecretory and benign and less than 1% being malignant. Most primary adrenal tumors are sporadic, but may be associated with other endocrine and familial disorders, especially pheochromocytoma. All patients with “sporadic” pheochromocytoma should be screened for MEN-2 and Von Hippel-Lindau disease. As in many endocrine tumors, there are no uniform definitive histologic criteria to distinguish malignancy, which is dependent on the clinical behavior of the tumor and is accurately diagnosed in the presence of adjacent organ invasion, recurrence, or distant metastasis. Surgery remains the cornerstone and the treatment of choice for functional and primary malignant adrenal tumors, both for cure and palliation, with low morbidity and mortality.
Inverted FTIR: easy multitouch sensing for flatscreens

The increased attention which multitouch interfaces have received in recent years is partly due to the availability of cheap sensing hardware such as FTIR-based screens. However, this method has so far required a bulky projector-camera setup behind the screen. In this paper, we present a new approach to FTIR sensing by "inverting" the setup and placing the camera in front of the screen. This allows the use of unmodified flat screens as display, thereby dramatically shrinking the space required behind the screen and enabling the easy construction of new types of interactive surfaces.
Economic burden of obesity in youths aged 6 to 17 years: 1979-1999.

OBJECTIVE To examine the trend of obesity-associated diseases in youths and related economic costs. METHODS Using a multiyear data file of the National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1979-1999, we analyzed the changes in obesity-associated diseases and economic costs in youths (6-17 years of age) over time. Diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea, and gallbladder disease were examined to explore the trend of the disease burden. Other obesity-associated diseases for which obesity was listed as a secondary diagnosis were also analyzed. Obesity-associated hospital costs were estimated from the discharges with obesity listed as a principal or secondary diagnosis. RESULTS From 1979-1981 to 1997-1999, the percentage of discharges with obesity-associated diseases increased. The discharges of diabetes nearly doubled (from 1.43% to 2.36%), obesity and gallbladder diseases tripled (0.36% to 1.07% and 0.18% to 0.59%, respectively), and sleep apnea increased fivefold (0.14% to 0.75%). Ninety-six percent of discharges with a diagnosis of obesity listed obesity as a secondary diagnosis. Asthma and some mental disorders were the most common principal diagnoses when obesity was listed as a secondary diagnosis. Obesity-associated annual hospital costs (based on 2001 constant US dollar value) increased more than threefold; from $35 million (0.43% of total hospital costs) during 1979-1981 to $127 million (1.70% of total hospital costs) during 1997-1999. CONCLUSIONS Among all hospital discharges, the proportion of discharges with obesity-associated diseases has increased dramatically in the past 20 years. This increase has led to a significant growth in economic costs. These findings may reflect the impact of increasing prevalence and severity of obesity. Diet and physical activity interventions should be developed for weight loss and prevention of weight gain in youths.