Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A dynamic fuzzy genetic algorithm for natural image segmentation using adaptive mean shift

Abstract In this paper, a colour image segmentation approach based on hybridisation of adaptive mean shift (AMS), fuzzy c-mean and genetic algorithms (GAs) is presented. Image segmentation is the perceptual faction of pixels based on some likeness measure. GA with fuzzy behaviour is adapted to maximise the fuzzy separation and minimise the global compactness among the clusters or segments in spatial fuzzy c-mean (sFCM). It adds diversity to the search process to find the global optima. A simple fusion method has been used to combine the clusters to overcome the problem of over segmentation. The results show that our technique outperforms state-of-the-art methods.
Deficient DNA End Joining Activity in Extracts from Fanconi Anemia Fibroblasts*

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetic disorder associated with genomic instability and cancer predisposition. Cultured cells from FA patients display a high level of spontaneous chromosome breaks and an increased frequency of intragenic deletions, suggesting that FA cells may have deficiencies in properly processing DNA double strand breaks. In this study, an in vitro plasmid DNA end joining assay was used to characterize the end joining capabilities of nuclear extracts from diploid FA fibroblasts from complementation groups A, C, and D. The Fanconi anemia extracts had 3–9-fold less DNA end joining activity and rejoined substrates with significantly less fidelity than normal extracts. Wild-type end joining activity could be reconstituted by mixing FA-D extracts with FA-A or FA-C extracts, while mixing FA-A and FA-C extracts had no effect on end joining activity. Protein expression levels of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK)/Ku-dependent nonhomologous DNA end-joining proteins Xrcc4, DNA ligase IV, Ku70, and Ku86 in FA and normal extracts were indistinguishable, as were DNA-dependent protein kinase and DNA end binding activities. The end joining activity as measured by the assay was not sensitive to the DNA-PK inhibitor wortmannin or dependent on the nonhomologous DNA end-joining factor Xrcc4. However, when DNA/protein ratios were lowered, the end joining activity became wortmannin-sensitive and no difference in end joining activity was observed between normal and FA extracts. Taken together, these results suggest that the FA fibroblast extracts have a deficiency in a DNA end joining process that is distinct from the DNA-PK/Ku-dependent nonhomologous DNA end joining pathway.
Investigation of the wear of prefabricated attachments--an in vitro study of retention forces and fitting tolerances.

OBJECTIVE To quantify wear processes by measuring the retention force changes and the fitting tolerance at different prefabricated attachment systems to estimate the wear constancy and applicability in clinical practice. METHOD AND MATERIALS Seven prefabricated attachment systems (Dalbo-Classic, Dalbo-PLUS, Dalbo-Z, Mini-Gerber-PLUS, Stufenexzenter, SpharoLock, and Degussa-Kugelankersystem) with different construction and alloy composition were tested. Twenty samples of each system were subjected to 10,000 insertion-separation cycles in a wear simulator with a periodontium-simulating specimen holder. The simulator was designed to record the force needed to insert and to separate the attachment and the distance moved during the insertion and separation cycles. RESULTS All types of anchors showed wear that led to a loss or to an increase in retention force at the beginning of the wear simulation. Anchors with a plastic retention insert showed the slightest changes in retention force. The wear does not have an effect on the fitting tolerance. CONCLUSION Anchor systems that possess an adjustable matrix should be preferred. They allow decreasing or increasing the retention force of an anchor if this force is changed by wear. There is no risk of a loss of support if forces in occlusal direction are exerted because there is no clinically relevant change in the fitting tolerance.
Very low power consumption SAR ADC for wireless sensor networks

This study aims to design analog-to-digital converter based on successive approximations (SAR ADC), with very low power consumption, in an advanced CMOS technology (28 nm), following the industrial methodologies IC. This project was conducted in partnership with Synopsys, operating at a supply voltage of 0.5 V ± 10% with a resolution of 12 bits and 500 kS/s sampling frequency. Keywords— Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), Successive-Approximation Register (SAR), low power consumption, Integrated Circuit (IC).
Alcohol use patterns and trajectories of health-related quality of life in middle-aged and older adults: a 14-year population-based study.

OBJECTIVE A 14-year multiwave panel design was used to examine relationships between longitudinal alcohol-consumption patterns, especially persistent moderate use, and change in health-related quality of life among middle-aged and older adults. METHOD A nationally representative sample of 5,404 community-dwelling Canadians ages 50 and older at baseline (1994/1995) was obtained from the longitudinal National Population Health Survey. Alcohol-consumption patterns were developed based on the quantity and frequency of use in the 12 months before the interview. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3). Latent growth curve modeling was used to estimate the change in HUI3 for each alcohol pattern after adjusting for covariates measured at baseline. RESULTS Most participants showed stable alcohol-consumption patterns over 6 years. Persistent non-users, persistent former users, those decreasing their consumption levels, and those with unstable patterns (i.e., U shaped and inverted U shaped) had lower HUI3 scores at baseline compared with persistent moderate drinkers. A more rapid decline in HUI3 scores than that observed for persistent moderate users was seen only in those with decreasing consumption (p < .001). In a subgroup identified as consistently healthy before follow-up, longitudinal drinking patterns were associated with initial HUI3 scores but not rates of change. CONCLUSIONS Persistent moderate drinkers had higher initial levels of health-related quality of life than persistent nonusers, persistent former users, decreasing users, U-shaped users, and inverted U-shaped users. However, rates of decline over time were similar for all groups except those decreasing their consumption, who had a greater decline in their level of health-related quality of life than persistent moderate users.
SPONTANEOUS TIBIALIS ANTERIOR TENDON RUPTURE: A RARE CAUSE OF FOOT DROP

Tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) rupture is an uncommon musculoskeletal condition that is rarely encountered by neurologists.1 Most patients present with foot drop and pain and may be misdiagnosed as a peroneal mononeuropathy or L5 radiculopathy. Clinical recognition and distinction of this entity from other causes of foot drop are important for neurologists. We describe two patients with spontaneous TAT ruptures who presented for neurologic consultation for suspected peroneal neuropathies. ### Case 1. A 73-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation and hypertension was walking on his treadmill when he noted a painless “pop” in his right anterior ankle followed by “flopping” of his foot. A few days later, he noted swelling on the anterior aspect of his ankle and difficulty dorsiflexing his right foot. He denied back pain and bladder dysfunction. Neurologic examination demonstrated mild weakness in right ankle dorsiflexion with normal strength in all other muscles including toe extension and ankle eversion and inversion. There was swelling on the anterior surface of the right ankle (figure, A). The extensor hallucis longus and digitorum longus tendons were intact, but the TAT was not palpable …
Changes in the proportion of proteins fractions depending on lactoferrin polymorphism gene and the somatic cells count in the milk of Polish Holstein-Frisian and Polish Red-White cattle

In dairy cattle, lactoferrin plays an important role in the control of mammary gland health, protecting it from mastitis, the most costly disease in milk production. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between genetic polymorphism of lactoferrin and somatic cells count and the proportion of certain milk protein fractions (serum albumin, α-casein, β-casein, κ-casein, α-lactalbumin). The research material was milk samples collected from cows of two breeds: Polish Holstein-Frisian (PHF) and Polish Red-White (PRW). Basic composition, proportion of protein fractions, lactoferrin concentration and genetic polymorphism of lactoferrin were determined in milk. Two genotypes of lactoferrin gene were found: AA and AB. In milk from PRW cows, a significantly (P≤0.01; P≤0.05) higher level of αcasein and lower level of β-casein was shown. The serum albumin level was higher in the milk from PHF cows with AB genotype. The milk from PRW cows with AA genotype was characterized by a higher level of α-lactalbumin. In milk from PHF cows an analogous relation was not observed. The concentration of lactoferrin in milk from cows with AA genotype was higher. The level of serum albumin, α-casein and β-casein was higher in milk from cows with SCC lower than 400 000 per ml, independently to the breed and to the genotype. This study showed that the polymorphism of lactoferrin gene does not affect fat level and composition of protein fractions in milk as expected. It was showed that SCC affects more the fat level and composition of protein fractions than the polymorphism of lactoferrin gene or the breed (PRW or PHF).
Menopausal Hormone Therapy Does Not Influence Lung Cancer Risk: Results from the California Teachers Study

Background: Results from studies examining the association between hormone therapy (HT) and lung cancer risk disagree. Methods: We examined the associations between HT use and lung cancer risk among 60,592 postmenopausal women enrolled in the prospective California Teachers Study cohort. Between 1995 and 2007, a total of 727 women had a diagnosis of lung cancer. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were fit using age as the time metric. Results: No measure of HT use was associated with lung cancer risk (all Ptrend values ≥0.4). In addition, no variations in risk by smoking status (never, ever, former, current), type of HT [estrogen (E)-alone, E + progestin (P) use], type of menopause, or lung cancer histology were observed. Conclusions: Our findings do not support an association between HT and lung cancer. Impact: This large-scale, prospective study, which capitalizes on the detailed hormone use, smoking history, and type of menopause information available within this unique cohort, was unable to find any association between intake of HT and lung cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(3); 560–4. ©2011 AACR.
Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor effects on epithelia. Regulation of intercellular junctions in transformed and nontransformed cell lines, basolateral polarization of c-met receptor in transformed and natural intestinal epithelia, and induction of rapid wound repair in a transformed model epi

Intestinal epithelial cells rest on a fibroblast sheath. Thus, factors produced by these fibroblasts may influence epithelial function in a paracrine fashion. We examined modulation of intestinal epithelial function by one such fibroblast product, scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF/SF). This effect was studied in vitro by using model T84 intestinal epithelial cells. When applied to confluent T84 monolayers, HGF/SF attenuates transepithelial resistance to passive ion flow in a dose-dependent manner (maximum fall at 300 ng/ml, 28% control monolayer resistance, P < 0.001, ED50 of 1.2 nM), t1/2 of 20 h. This functional effect of HGF/SF and distribution of its receptor, c-met, are polarized to the basolateral membranes of T84 intestinal epithelial cells. HGF/SF effects on resistance are not attributable to altered transcellular resistance (opening of Cl- and/or basolateral K+ channels), cytotoxicity, or enhanced cell proliferation; they therefore represent specific regulation of paracellular tight junction resistance. Analysis with biochemically purified rodent HGF/SF and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells reveals that effects on paracellular tight junctions also occur in other nontransformed epithelia. Binding of HGF/SF to its receptor in T84 intestinal epithelial cells is accompanied by tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor. Because loosening of intercellular junctions between cells could facilitate separation, spreading, and migration of epithelial cells during physiologic processes such as wound resealing, we determined the effects of HGF/SF on intestinal epithelial wound resealing using our previously published in vitro model (Nusrat, A., C. Delp, and J. L. Madara. 1992. J. Clin. Invest. 89:1501-1511). HGF/SF markedly enhanced wound closure (> 450% increase in rate, P < 0.001) by influencing the migratory and spreading response in not only cells adjoining the wound but also cells many positions removed from the wound. We thus speculate that HGF/SF may serve as an important cytokine that influences epithelial parameters such as transepithelial resistance and wound resealing. Further pharmacological approaches to manipulate HGF/SF signaling pathways may provide novel therapeutic strategies to enhance repair of intestinal epithelial erosions/ulcerations.
Privacy Protection Based Secure Data Transaction Protocol for Smart Sensor Meter in Smart Grid

A smart grid is a data communications network integrated with an electrical grid that collects and analyzes near-real-time data on power transmission, distribution, and consumption. Currently, smart grid systems are considered to be necessary for improving the monitoring and control of a power distribution infrastructure. Using distributed measurement architecture, it is possible to gather information about the smart grid status for monitoring and controlling the overall infrastructure, including remote units. This architecture can control the use of electricity. In particular, users can monitor and regulate the electricity consumption of each home appliance in real time. Likewise, power companies can monitor and control electricity consumption for stabilizing electricity supply. However, serious problems can arise in case of data leakage. For example, if malicious attackers can sniff and analyze data, they can obtain the usage pattern of a house and ascertain when it is empty. They could then burgle the house. We propose a privacy-enhanced secure data transaction protocol that can protect private data by encrypting them. The encrypted data include the user's ID, home appliance serial number, and electricity consumption. Thus, attackers cannot obtain important data from the encrypted data. In addition, unauthorized power companies cannot access this information too.
Mixed Strategy Play and the Minimax Hypothesis

This paper reports on a set of experiments designed to discriminate among the possible sources of the failure of the unique mixed strategy minimax equilibrium of the O'Neill (1987) game. First, the experimental design allows one to identify the causes of the serial correlation in subjects' action choices. Second, the design allows one to discriminate among a set of mixed strategies which generate distributions over actions and wins similar to the distributions generated by the minimax strategy. This is accomplished by introducing a new methodology for eliciting mixed strategies, which overcomes some of the difficulties with previous experimental attempts to directly observe mixed strategies. The results clearly show that subjects' choices do not coincide with their minimax strategies, and that players' intended behavior is not minimax. Analysis of the data also reveals that subjects adopt a wide variety of strategies. It is shown that this heterogeneity can rationalize some of the features of the aggregate data that are consistent with the predictions made by the minimax hypothesis.
A severe phenotype of Kennedy disease associated with a very large CAG repeat expansion

pupillary function is incomplete. The classification of isolated internal ophthalmoplegia in association with bulbar palsy warrants discussion. Recently, we examined the disease characteristics of 15 historical case reports of patients diagnosed as having polyneuritis cranialis and produced diagnostic criteria. We concluded that a diagnosis of polyneuritis cranialis should only be made in patients who displayed ocular (cranial nerves III, IV, and/or VI) and bulbar (cranial nerves IX, X, and/or XII) weakness. Although rare, we suggested that polyneuritis cranialis should be classified as a subtype of GBS and MFS, rather than overlap between acute ophthalmoparesis and acute pharyngeal weakness, which are also very rare. Based on this classification, the patient we described could therefore be diagnosed with polyneuritis cranialis. This was also supported by the presence of IgG anti-GQ1b antibodies, which has been found to be the most commonly identified antibody in patients with polyneuritis cranialis.
Distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles is allelic to hereditary inclusion body myopathy

Background: Distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV) is an autosomal-recessive disorder with preferential involvement of the tibialis anterior muscle that starts in young adulthood and spares quadriceps muscles. The disease locus has been mapped to chromosome 9p1-q1, the same region as the hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM) locus. HIBM was originally described as rimmed vacuole myopathy sparing the quadriceps; therefore, the two diseases have been suspected to be allelic. Recently, HIBM was shown to be associated with the mutations in the gene encoding the bifunctional enzyme, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE). Objective: To determine whether DMRV and HIBM are allelic. Methods: The GNE gene was sequenced in 34 patients with DMRV. The epimerase activity in lymphocytes from eight DMRV patients was also measured. Results: The authors identified 27 unrelated DMRV patients with homozygous or compound-heterozygous mutations in the GNE gene. DMRV patients had markedly decreased epimerase activity. Conclusions: DMRV is allelic to HIBM. Various mutations are associated with DMRV in Japan. The loss-of-function mutations in the GNE gene appear to cause DMRV/HIBM.
Fraud on host card emulation architecture: Is it possible to fraud a payment transaction realized by a mobile phone using an "Host Card Emulation" system of security ? Invited paper

Mobile payment transactions with a NFC device are secured by two main architectures. The first is in using a "Secure Element" included in the mobile phone, the second using an external "Host Card Emulation" architecture where the banking card emulation is realized in a grid connected by the air to the mobile phone. That last solution seems to be the preferred solution today. Is it possible to fraud this type of transaction?
Cooperator switch diversity in cooperative networks

Cooperative diversity allows single-antenna terminals to explore uplink transmit diversity via antenna sharing. However, the achievable diversity gain is limited by the imperfect source-relay link. In this paper, we propose a cooperator switch diversity scheme to enhance the performance of cooperative networks. Cooperator switch diversity allows the source terminal to select a partner with good source-relay link quality out of multiple partners. We analyze the outage performance of the proposed technique over Rayleigh fading channels. We show that the cooperator switch diversity can significantly increase the diversity gain offered by cooperative networks.
The Brain Tumor Cooperative Group NIH Trial 87-01: A Randomized Comparison of Surgery, External Radiotherapy, and Carmustine versus Surgery, Interstitial Radiotherapy Boost, External Radiation Therapy, and Carmustine

OBJECTIVE The objective of the Brain Tumor Cooperative Group NIH Trial 87-01 trial was to investigate the effect of additional implanted radiation therapy in newly diagnosed patients with pathologically confirmed malignant gliomas. METHODS The study involved a randomized comparison of surgery, external beam radiotherapy, and carmustine (BCNU) versus surgery, external beam therapy, interstitial radiotherapy boost, and BCNU in newly diagnosed malignant gliomas. 125I was chosen as best suited for this effort because it allowed preimplantation planning and postimplantation quality assurance review. Two hundred ninety-nine patients met the eligibility criteria and were randomized into the two arms of the study between December 1987 and April 1994. Follow-up continued for an additional 3 years. Twenty-nine patients were identified as having committed protocol violations and were excluded, resulting in 270 subjects in the Valid Study Group. One hundred thirty-seven patients received external beam radiation and BCNU, and 133 underwent the 125I implantation plus external beam radiation and BCNU therapy. RESULTS The overall median survival for the Valid Study Group was 64.3 weeks. The median survival for patients receiving additional therapy of 125I was 68.1 weeks, and median survival for those receiving only external beam radiation and BCNU was 58.8 weeks. The cumulative proportion surviving between the two treatment groups was not statistically significantly different (log-rank test, P = 0.101). As in other studies in the literature, age, Karnofsky score, and pathology were predictors of mortality. Additional analyses incorporating an adjustment for these prognostic variables, either in a stratified analysis or Cox proportional hazards model, did not result in statistically significant differences in the cumulative proportion of patients surviving between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSION We conclude that there is no long-term survival advantage of increased radiation dose with 125I seeds in newly diagnosed glioma patients.
Work Stealing Based Volunteer Computing Coordination in P2P Environments

—This paper aims at the evaluation of work stealing based Volunteer Computing (VC) coordination with the goal of confirming the scalability of VC for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) environments. Our previous work has successfully modelled work stealing for VC coordination and been evaluated by a few applications and a small number of machines. However, this paper argues that the evaluation of scalability of VC by the statistical data of real world applications or through mathematical modelling is either limited by the number of volunteer machines or difficult to achieve because of the peer churn in P2P opportunistic environments. This paper proposes a simulation model for the same VC functions but performing the virtual work so that the statistical data can be quickly obtained for the dynamic behaviors of a large number of volunteers. The initial evaluation results have demonstrated that the work stealing based VC coordination scales up to 10K volunteers against varying churn rate, communication cost and stealing granularity. The confirmation of scalability ensures that VC can be effectively applied to P2P opportunistic environments.
Investigation of Muscle Fatigue by Processing EMG Signal

Surface EMG signals are taken from the human muscle and have some advantages over the needle electrode originated EMG's recordings. In this study, we have processed surface EMG's coming from the normal subject set (7 female and 7 male) to investigate the effects of the muscle fatigue on the 50% maximum voluntary contraction condition. We have observed great correlation between three features which are the slope of the changes of median frequency, number of zero crossing, and wavelet transform based entropy. We also found that the wavelet transform based entropy values have the great abrupt changes for some subjects.