Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Auto-Scaling Approach in the Telco Cloud Using Self-Learning Algorithm

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Network (SDN) technologies makes it possible for the Telco Operators to assign resource for virtual network functions (VNF) on demand. Provision and orchestration of physical and virtual resource is crucial for both Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee and cost management in cloud computing environment. Auto-scaling mechanism is essential in the lifecycle management of those VNFs. Threshold based policy is always applied in classic IT cloud environments which can not satisfy carrier grade requirements such as reliability and stability. In this paper, we present a novel SLA-aware and Resource-efficient Self-learning Approach (SRSA) for auto-scaling policy decision. The scenarios of the service volatility is categorized into daily busy-and-idle scenario and burst-traffic scenario. First, we formulate the workload of the VNF as discrete-time series and treat procedure of policy-making in auto-scaling as a Markov Decision Process (MDP). Second, parameters in the Reinforcement Learning process are tuned cautiously. Finally the experiments show that our solution outperforms threshold based policy and voting policy adopted by RightScale in oscillation suppression, QoS guarantee, and energy saving.
Bactericidal Activity of TiO2 Photocatalyst in Aqueous Media: Toward a Solar-Assisted Water Disinfection System.

Irradiation of suspensions of Escherichia coli ([approximately] 10[sup 6] cells/mL) and TiO[sub 2] (anatase) with UV-visible light of wave-lengths longer than 380 nm resulted in the killing of the bacteria within minutes. Oxygen was found to be a prerequisite for the bactericidal properties of the photocatalyst. Bacterial killing was found to adhere to first-order kinetics. The rate constant was proportional to the square root of the concentration of TiO[sub 2] and proportional to the incident light intensity in the range [approximately] 180- [approximately] 1660 [mu]E s[sup [minus]1] m[sup [minus]2]. The trends in these simulated laboratory experiments were mimicked by outdoor tests conducted under the summer noonday sun in Texas. The implications of these results as well as those of previous investigations in terms of practical applicability to solar-assisted water treatment and disinfection at remote sites are discussed relative to water technologies currently considered as viable as alternatives to chlorination. 24 refs., 8 figs.
Intensionality, Intensional Recursion, and the Gödel-Löb axiom

The use of a necessity modality in a typed $\lambda$-calculus can be used to separate it into two regions. These can be thought of as intensional vs. extensional data: data in the first region, the modal one, are available as code, and their description can be examined. In contrast, data in the second region are only available as values up to ordinary equality. This allows us to add non-functional operations at modal types whilst maintaining consistency. In this setting, the G\"odel-L\"ob axiom acquires a novel constructive reading: it affords the programmer the possibility of a very strong kind of recursion which enables them to write programs that have access to their own code. This is a type of computational reflection that is strongly reminiscent of Kleene's Second Recursion Theorem.
Segmentation of Textile Textures using Contextual Clustering

paper presents texture segmentation concept using supervised method in contextual clustering and fuzzy logic. The data set used is the textile textures. The image is split into 3 X 3 windows. The features of the windows are presented to the input layer of the contextual clustering. The algorithm involves least computation in the segmentation of textures. The output of fuzzy logic depends upon the radii of the clusters used during segmentation. The implementation of the algorithm is made by the fuzzy membership its probability indicates the spatial influence of the neighboring pixels on the centre pixel. Keywordsmage segmentation, clustering, fuzzy logic, textures.
Individualizing School- Climate Surveys

Summary A positive school climate is important in maintaining an effective educational environment characterized by excellence, productivity, and cooperation. Because of its impact on successful educational experiences, administrators should attempt to assess climate rather than rely on feelings or intuition to estimate it. Individualized surveys offer a flexible method of addressing specific school needs and concerns. At first glance, the thought of individualizing a climate survey may appear to be an overwhelming task; however, with planning and effort, it can be accomplished. A systematic process outlining a method for individualizing a climate survey includes (a) planning, (b) preparation, (c) survey development, (d) administration, (e) analysis of results, and (f) dissemination. A tailored climate survey can be used by administrators to assess the current climate, evaluate programs designed to enhance the climate, and periodically monitor a climate for signs of change. Although time and effort are re.
Gas Chromatography Analysis with Olfactometric Detection (GC-O) as a Useful Methodology for Chemical Characterization of Odorous Compounds

The gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) technique couples traditional gas chromatographic analysis with sensory detection in order to study complex mixtures of odorous substances and to identify odor active compounds. The GC-O technique is already widely used for the evaluation of food aromas and its application in environmental fields is increasing, thus moving the odor emission assessment from the solely olfactometric evaluations to the characterization of the volatile components responsible for odor nuisance. The aim of this paper is to describe the state of the art of gas chromatography-olfactometry methodology, considering the different approaches regarding the operational conditions and the different methods for evaluating the olfactometric detection of odor compounds. The potentials of GC-O are described highlighting the improvements in this methodology relative to other conventional approaches used for odor detection, such as sensoristic, sensorial and the traditional gas chromatographic methods. The paper also provides an examination of the different fields of application of the GC-O, principally related to fragrances and food aromas, odor nuisance produced by anthropic activities and odorous compounds emitted by materials and medical applications.
Information Organization and Knowledge Evolution - Strategy as Seen from Epistemology and the Natural Sciences

This paper draws together research and perspectives developed by strategists and strategy researchers, economists, sociologists, biologists and physicists. Conceptually, it is based upon a 'epistemological-cognitive' interpretation of evolution as learning process that accumulates information and transforms it into `knowledge' via codification and structural organization of this knowledge (Riedl 1978, 2000). Strategy and management as a process of social evolution are about the selection and recombination of new variants in often modular and complex social and material structures, which are in turn influenced by actors' perceptions about these structures. These material elements and their mental representations are selected and recombined during processes of social evolution and in need of being adapted to each other, which may explain the particular paths of social developments in the past and allow prediction of future paths.
Nonpharmacological intervention for agitation in dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions for agitation in older adults with dementia. Methods: Seven electronic databases (to 2004) were searched, and randomized clinical trials employing nonpharmacologic interventions for agitation in dementia published in English or Korean were selected. In addition, the reference lists from relevant review articles and all eligible studies were searched to identify other trials. Interventions were categorized into seven types: sensory intervention, social contact, activities, environmental modification, caregiver training, combination therapy, and behavioral therapy. Studies were abstracted, and data were pooled by intervention category. Results: Fourteen studies (n = 586) were included. Sensory interventions were statistically significantly effective in reducing agitation (standardized mean difference: SMD −1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.76 to −0.38, p = 0.002), while social contact (SMD −0.19; CI −0.71 to 0.33), activities (SMD −0.20; CI −0.71 to 0.31), environmental modification (weighted mean difference: WMD 1.90; CI −2.82 to 6.62), caregiver training (SMD 0.21; CI −0.15 to 0.57), combination therapy (WMD 1.85; CI −1.78 to 5.48), and behavioral therapy interventions (SMD −0.27; CI −0.72 to 0.19) were not significantly effective in reducing agitation. These results were consistent among higher quality studies. Conclusion: This systematic review indicated that among the seven types of nonpharmacological interventions available for agitation in older adults with dementia, only sensory interventions had efficacy in reducing agitation. More trials are needed to confirm this finding and future research should use more rigorous methods.
Vision as Dance? Three Challenges for Sensorimotor Contingency Theory

In Action in Perception Alva Noe develops and presents a sensorimotor account of vision and of visual consciousness. According to such an account seeing (and indeed perceiving more generally) is analysed as a kind of skilful bodily activity. Such a view is consistent with the emerging emphasis, in both philosophy and cognitive science, on the critical role of embodiment in the construction of intelligent agency. I shall argue, however, that the full sensorimotor model faces three important challenges. The first is to negotiate a path between two prima facie unsatisfactory readings of the central claim that conscious perceptual experience is constituted by knowledge of patterns of sensorimotor dependence. The second is to convince us that the sensorimotor contribution, in such cases, is actually constitutive of perceptual experience rather than merely causally implicated in the origination of such experience. 2 And the third is to respond to the important challenge raised by what I will dub 'sensorimotor summarizing' models of the relation between conscious experience and richly detailed sensorimotor routines. According to such models 3 conscious perceptual experience only rather indirectly reflects the rich detail of our actual sensorimotor engagements, which are instead lightly sampled as a coarse guide, optimized for planning and reasoning, and geared and filtered according to current needs and purposes.
Detection of Tumor Suppressor Genes in Cancer Development by a Novel shRNA-Based Method

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers with poor survival rates and limited therapeutic options. To improve the understanding of this disease's biology, a prerequisite for the generation of novel therapeutics, new platforms for rapid and efficient genetic and therapeutic screening are needed. Therefore, a combined in vitro/in vivo hybrid shRNA assay was developed using isolated murine primary pancreatic ductal cells (PDCs), in which oncogenic KrasG12D could be activated in vitro by genomic recombination through 4OH-tamoxifen–induced nuclear translocation of Cre-ERT2 expressed under control of the ROSA26 promoter. Further genetic manipulation was achieved through selective and stable RNAi against the tumor suppressors p16Ink4a (CDKN2A) or Trp53 (TP53) using lentiviral gene delivery. Treatment of PDCs with 4OH-tamoxifen increased phosphorylation of ERK downstream of KRAS, and subsequent lentiviral transduction resulted in sustained target gene repression. Double-mutant PDCs were then reintroduced into the pancreata of NOD-SCID-gamma (NSG) mice and monitored for tumor growth. Orthotopic implantation of PDCs carrying the activated KrasG12D-allele and shRNA against p16Ink4a or Trp53 resulted in tumor growth, metastasis, and reduced survival of NSG mice. In contrast, KrasG12D alone was not sufficient to induce tumor growth. Implications: The combinatory in vitro/in vivo approach described in this study allows for rapid and efficient identification of genes involved in carcinogenesis and opens new avenues for the development of therapeutic strategies to improve cancer treatment. Mol Cancer Res; 13(5); 863–9. ©2015 AACR.
Training and Competition Readiness in Triathlon

Triathlon is characterized by the multidisciplinary nature of the sport where swimming, cycling, and running are completed sequentially in different events, such as the sprint, Olympic, long-distance, and Ironman formats. The large number of training sessions and overall volume undertaken by triathletes to improve fitness and performance can also increase the risk of injury, illness, or excessive fatigue. Short- and medium-term individualized training plans, periodization strategies, and work/rest balance are necessary to minimize interruptions to training due to injury, illness, or maladaptation. Even in the absence of health and wellbeing concerns, it is unclear whether cellular signals triggered by multiple training stimuli that drive training adaptations each day interfere with each other. Distribution of training intensity within and between different sessions is an important aspect of training. Both internal (perceived stress) and external loads (objective metrics) should be considered when monitoring training load. Incorporating strength training to complement the large body of endurance work in triathlon can help avoid overuse injuries. We explore emerging trends and strategies from the latest literature and evidence-based knowledge for improving training readiness and performance during competition in triathlon.
ZatLab Gesture Recognition Framework: Machine Learning Results

The main problem this work addresses is the real-time recognition of gestures, particularly in the complex domain of artistic performance. By recognizing the performer gestures, one is able to map them to diverse controls, from lightning control to the creation of visuals, sound control or even music creation, thus allowing performers real-time manipulation of creative events. The work presented here takes this challenge, using a multidisciplinary approach to the problem, based in some of the known principles of how humans recognize gesture, together with the computer science methods to successfully complete the task. This paper is a consequence of previous publications and presents in detail the Gesture Recognition Module of the ZatLab Framework and results obtained by its Machine Learning ML algorithms. One will provide a brief review the previous works done in the area, followed by the description of the framework design and the results of the recognition algorithms.
Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty with a Burch-Schneider Antiprotrusion Cage and Autologous Bone Grafting for Acetabular Fractures in Elderly Patients

Objectives To investigate the clinical and functional outcome in an elderly population with acetabular fractures after low-energy trauma treated acutely with a total hip arthroplasty supported by a reinforcement ring (Burch-Schneider antiprotrusion cage) and autologous bone grafting of the acetabulum. Setting University hospital. Design Retrospective clinical study. Patients Ten patients (7 males) available for follow-up, with a mean age at the time of surgery of 73 years (range 57–87). The mean time to follow-up was 38 months (range 11–84). Intervention Primary total hip arthroplasty supported by a reinforcement ring (Burch-Schneider Antiprotrusion Cage) and autologous bone grafting of the acetabulum. Main Outcome Measurements Surgical data, complications, radiographic assessment, pain, walking ability, Harris Hip Score, activities of daily living, health-related quality of life according to EuroQol (EQ-5D). Results The mean operating time was 159 minutes (range 125–185). The mean intraoperative blood loss was 1100 mL (700–1600 mL). The reinforcement ring was stable and there were no signs of loosening of the acetabular component or stem in any of the patients. The bone graft was completely incorporated in all cases. Four patients presented slight (Brooker I-II) heterotopic bone formation. All patients were still independent walkers at follow-up but with a slightly increased need for walking aids. The mean Harris Hip Score was 85 (range 69–99). The mean EQ-5Dindex score was 0.62. Conclusion Primary total hip replacement with a reinforcement ring and bone grafting of the socket seems to be a promising treatment alternative in displaced acetabular fractures in elderly patients with osteoporotic bone, except in those with an increased risk of dislocation.
Biological motion: An exercise in bottom-up vs. top-down processing

Biological motion is the phenomenon of recognizing a human form out of moving point-light dots, where both bottom-up and top-down processing mechanisms have been reported. This study reviews available psychological and neuroscientific evidence, and it assesses attempts either to assimilate biological motion to other structure-from-motion cases (bottom-up) or to include biological motion into a visual "social cognition" subsystem (top-down). While neither theoretical option seems to accommodate all relevant psychological results, the study proposes that biological motion may be an object recognition task, inside the framework of Pylyshyn's (1999a) sequence of data-driven and cognitive mechanisms. This implies that a bottom-up object construction out of two-dimensional stimulus information precedes a top-down, but emotionally significant categorization of a particular human movement. Recognition of biological motion may be an example of visual processing in general.
Order-recursive FIR smoothers

This paper introduces order-recursive FIR smoothers and shows that order-recursive FIR filters are special forms that occur when no future data values are used to estimate the signal. The formulation leads naturally to generalizations of the concepts of prediction-error basis and Cholesky factorization which are well known in FIR filter design. >
An initial investigation into non-visual computer supported collaboration

In this paper we present an initial study of computer supported collaboration between visually impaired users based around the interactive browsing and manipulation of simple graphs. We specifically looked at supporting awareness of others activities and interaction between participants. We found that shared audio and haptic locating tools, to allow users to find each other, are useful. However further work is required to determine the general applicability of our findings.
Advanced Techniques in Reliability Model Representation and Solution

The current tendency of flight control system designs is towards increased integration of applications and increased distribution of computational elements. The reliability analysis of such systems is difficult because subsystem interactions are increasingly interdependent. Researchers at NASA Langley Research Center have been working for several years to extend the capability of Markov modelling techniques to address these problems. This effort has been focused in the areas of increased model abstraction and increased computational capability. The reliability model generator (RMG) is a software tool that modes-effects algorithm to produce the reliability model from the graphical description. The hbox{ASSURE software tool is a parallel processing program that uses the semi-Markov unreliability range evaluator (SURE) solution technique and the abstract semi-Markov specification interface to the SURE tool (hbox{ASSIST) modelling language. A failure modes-effects simulation is used by hbox{ASSURE. These tools were used to analyze a significant portion of a complex flight control system. The successful combination of the power of graphical representation, automated model generation, and parallel computation leads to the conclusion that distributed fault-tolerant system architectures can now be analyzed.
Experimental study on UHF RFID tags integrated in medical bandage and paper-based materials

In this paper, the effects of the human body, bandage, and moisture on the performance of passive UHF RFID tags is analyzed. The tags used for measurements include a commercially available RFID tag and tags developed on paper and rayon bandage substrates, using brush-painted conductive silver ink. In order to evaluate the tags' performance, wireless measurements are done on different body parts, when changing the humidity level, and when increasing turns of bandage. The results show that the bandage-integrated tag antennas can be used in the vicinity of the human body in wound-healing and sensing applications.
Olmesartan medoxomil combined with hydrochlorothiazide for the treatment of hypertension

In most patients with hypertension, especially Stage 2 hypertension, adequate control of blood pressure (BP) is only achieved with combination drug therapy. When using combination therapy, antihypertensive agents with complementary mechanisms of action are recommended, for example, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) in combination with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a β-blocker + HCTZ, an ACE inhibitor + HCTZ, or a calcium channel blocker + an ACE inhibitor. One such combination is olmesartan medoxomil + HCTZ, which is available as fixed-dose, single-tablet combinations for once-daily administration. In clinical trials, olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ reduced systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) to a greater extent than either component as monotherapy. A clinical study in patients with Stage 1 or 2 hypertension showed that olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ achieved a similar mean reduction in DBP, but a significantly greater mean reduction in SBP and higher rate of BP control (<140/90 mmHg) than observed with losartan/HCTZ, at US/European-approved starting doses. In a non-inferiority trial, the antihypertensive efficacy of olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ was comparable to that of atenolol/HCTZ. Furthermore, indirect comparisons have shown that olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ compares favorably with other antihypertensive combination therapies, including other ARB/HCTZ combinations and amlodipine besylate/benazepril. Olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ is generally well tolerated. In conclusion, olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ is an effective and well-tolerated combination antihypertensive therapy that results in significant BP reductions and BP control in many patients.
Computing with Autopoietic devices Computing with Autopoietic Systems

Introduction. In 1973, in the middle of rather unfortunate political events, two Chilean biologists, Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela, introduced the concept of Autopoietic systems (“auto”= self and ”poiesis” = generating or producing) as a theoretical construct on the nature of living systems centering on two main notions: the circular organization of metabolism and a redefinition of the systemic concepts of structure and organization. This theoretical contruct has found an important place in theoretical biology, but it can also be used as a foundation for a new type of authentically “soft” computing. To understand the main point of our exposition, how Autopoietic systems can be used to compute, it is first necessary to give a brief summary of Autopoietic theory along with the notion of structural coupling.