Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of dynamic biometrie security characteristics against other biometrics

Biometrie data can be used as “something you are” in authentication systems, but if a biometrie is compromised by a malicious entity, the genuine user can no longer use it because it cannot be easily changed. Dynamic biometrics may offer a practical alternative, as they capture both an inherence factor along with a changeable knowledge factor in a single step. This paper investigates dynamic biometrics and whether they offer useful security authentication properties compared to conventional biometrics. In particular the paper focuses on one type of dynamic biometry, authentication based on Gesture Recognition, and presents a proof of concept experiment. Security characteristics of examples from three classes of dynamic biometrics are compared to a selection of common physiological (“fixed”) biometrics, leading to the conclusion that in addition to providing one-step, two factor authentication, dynamic biometry may provide privacy benefits in some circumstances.
A Retrospective Controlled Study into Memory Complaints Reported by Depressed Patients After Treatment with Electroconvulsive Therapy and Pharmacotherapy or Pharmacotherapy Only

Few studies have been conducted comparing complaints of memory problems using objective and subjective memory scales in depressed patients who received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) + pharmacotherapy or treatment with pharmacotherapy only. Patients who suffer from depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (Fourth Edition) criteria and who were admitted within the past 5 years before this study in a general psychiatric hospital were screened for inclusion. Objective retrograde amnesia was assessed using the Autobiographical Memory Interview and the Amsterdam Media Questionnaire (AMQ). Subjective retrograde amnesia was assessed using the Squire Subjective Memory Questionnaire and the ECT Retrograde Amnesia and Perception Scale (ERAPS), a newly developed scale. Twenty of the 84 patients who received ECT + pharmacotherapy and 30 of the 196 patients who received pharmacotherapy only participated in the study. Patients' ERAPS memory scores were compared with proxies' ERAPS memory scores of the patients to assess the reliability of memory complaints. The ECT + pharmacotherapy group was found to suffer more from memory problems using the AMQ 1990 test. There was also a difference for the proxy's ERAPS memory score, reflecting the conviction of proxies from the ECT + pharmacotherapy patients that these patients suffer more memory problems due to the illness, treatment with pharmacotherapy, or ECT. The differences could not be explained by the influence of determinants for retrograde amnesia. ECT + pharmacotherapy patients did not attribute their memory problems mainly to ECT but put equal "blame" on the depressive illness, treatment with pharmacotherapy, and ECT. The analyses suggest that the AMQ 1990s test is (more) sensitive in registering retrograde amnesia than the other scales used in the study.
Evaluating Mechanism Trust Model Based on Behavior Result under Cloud Computing

An evaluating mechanism-based cloud computing trust model is raised to aim at the issue of how the cloud service user selects credible cloud service supplier. The trust model constitutes an evaluating system about service behavior between cloud service supplier and cloud service user. After formalized evaluation about entity achieved, certain algorithm would be used to get the trust and trust value of an entity to another one, and the research about the above trust value could be used to solve the issue of trust between cloud service user and cloud service supplier. Secondary, in order to settle the problem, e.g. the unreal and vicious entity which is trusted in the trust model, a trust management measure is formed based on curve fitting. The measure could help determine truth degree and accuracy degree of trust value after dynamic analysis and judgment and analyze the behavior intent of entity for the purpose to assure accuracy and stability of trust model. The simulation result shows that the evaluation result of the model is more close to real credibility and cloud service supplier, at the same time, could effective resist the attack from the vicious cloud service user, assure safety of cloud service environment and help improve cloud service quality.
Ripple-triggered stimulation of the locus coeruleus during post-learning sleep disrupts ripple/spindle coupling and impairs memory consolidation

Experience-induced replay of neuronal ensembles occurs during hippocampal high-frequency oscillations, or ripples. Post-learning increase in ripple rate is predictive of memory recall, while ripple disruption impairs learning. Ripples may thus present a fundamental component of a neurophysiological mechanism of memory consolidation. In addition to system-level local and cross-regional interactions, a consolidation mechanism involves stabilization of memory representations at the synaptic level. Synaptic plasticity within experience-activated neuronal networks is facilitated by noradrenaline release from the axon terminals of the locus coeruleus (LC). Here, to better understand interactions between the system and synaptic mechanisms underlying “off-line” consolidation, we examined the effects of ripple-associated LC activation on hippocampal and cortical activity and on spatial memory. Rats were trained on a radial maze; after each daily learning session neural activity was monitored for 1 h via implanted electrode arrays. Immediately following “on-line” detection of ripple, a brief train of electrical pulses (0.05 mA) was applied to LC. Low-frequency (20 Hz) stimulation had no effect on spatial learning, while higher-frequency (100 Hz) trains transiently blocked generation of ripple-associated cortical spindles and caused a reference memory deficit. Suppression of synchronous ripple/spindle events appears to interfere with hippocampal-cortical communication, thereby reducing the efficiency of “off-line” memory consolidation.
Are There Indirect Fitness Benefits of Female Extra-Pair Reproduction? Lifetime Reproductive Success of Within-Pair and Extra-Pair Offspring

The forces driving extra-pair reproduction by socially monogamous females, and the resulting genetic polyandry, remain unclear. A testable prediction of the hypothesis that extra-pair reproduction partly reflects indirect selection on females is that extra-pair young (EPY) will be fitter than their within-pair young (WPY) maternal half-siblings. This prediction has not been comprehensively tested in a wild population, requiring data on the lifetime reproductive success (LRS) of maternal half-sib EPY and WPY. We used 17 years of genetic parentage data from song sparrows, Melospiza melodia, to compare the LRS of hatched EPY and WPY maternal half-siblings measured as their lifetime number of hatched offspring, recruited offspring, and hatched grandoffspring. EPY hatchlings were not significantly fitter than WPY hatchlings for any of three measures of LRS. Furthermore, opposite to prediction, EPY hatchlings tended to have lower LRS than their maternal half-sibling WPY hatchlings on average. EPY also tended to be less likely to survive to hatch than their maternal half-sibling WPY. Taken together, these results fail to support one key hypothesis explaining the evolution of genetic polyandry by socially monogamous females and suggest there may be weak indirect selection against female extra-pair reproduction in song sparrows.
Equity, Heterogeneity and International Environmental Agreements

Abstract Much of the literature on international environmental agreements (IEA) considers the case of identical countries. There is a much smaller literature concerning the more complex but more realistic case of country heterogeneity. This paper involves modifying the standard static homogeneous country model of international environmental agreements. In particular, we consider two types of countries, differing in size as well as in marginal damage from pollution. Although the IEA does not have a unique size in this case, we do introduce two equilibrium refinements and explore the implications for coalition size. The two refinements include one based on efficiency and one based on equity.
Rethink radiotherapy – BIGART 2017

The present issue of Acta Oncologica contains studies presented at the 15th Acta Oncologica Symposium, held in Aarhus, Denmark on June 13–16, 2017. The symposium was dedicated to aspects of Biology-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy (BiGART) and attracted more than 200 physicians, physicists, radiobiologists and other scientists with an active interest in this specific area. Acta Oncologica has sponsored scientific symposia since the late 80s. The aim of these meetings has been to focus on oncological issues of emerging interest, preferably with a multidisciplinary and multi-professional approach. The current series of Acta Oncologica meetings with focus on radiotherapy (RT) have encompassed stereotactic body RT (SBRT) [1], image-guided RT [2], particle RT [3] and BiGART [4–6], all reflecting development in RT during the last decennium within the fields of treatment planning [7–12], (biological) imaging [13–33], adoptive RT, [34–44] particle therapy [45–50], clinical outcome [51–63], quality assurance [64,65], and other important factors [66–72]. The aim of BiGART is treatment adaptation in time and space based on biological and anatomical features, maximizing the therapeutic ratio for each individual patient. Key topics for the BiGART2017 conference included:
Altered Left Ventricular Diastolic Properties During Pacing‐Induced Ischemia in Dogs with Coronary Stenoses: Potentiation by Caffeine

An upward shift of the left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressure-volume relation has been observed during angina in humans and has recently been induced by pacing tachycardia in dogs with coronary stenoses. To assess the mechanism of this phenomenon, we studied the effects of caffeine (an agent known to prolong intracellular calcium availability) on the upward shift of the LV diastolic pressure-volume relation induced by pacing tachycardia in dogs with coronary stenoses. Severe (90%) coronary artery stenoses were produced on both the left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries in 14 chloralose-anesthetized, β-blocked dogs with chest and pericardium open. In six dogs, two pairs of ultrasonic crystals were implanted subendocardially in the ischemic areas. The left atrium was paced at a rate of 1.5 times the resting heart rate for 3 minutes. In the immediate post-pacing period there was a rise of the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) from 9 ± 1 to 15 ± 1 mm Hg (P < 0.005) at comparable peak-systolic pressures and slightly increased end-diastolic segment lengths (16.8 ± 0.9 mm to 17.5 ± 0.9 mm) (P < 0.005). After the return of LV hemodynamics to baseline values, atrial pacing was repeated at a rate and blood pressure comparable to the first pacing run but with the administration of caffeine (20 ± 4 mg/kg, intravenously) in the last 30 seconds of pacing. In the post-pacing period, the LVEDP rose from 9 ± 1 to 27 ± 2 mm Hg (P < 0.005) at comparable peak systolic pressures and slightly increased end-diastolic segment lengths (16.8 ± 0.9 mm to 17.3 ± 1.0 mm) (P < 0.05). The increased LV filling pressure persisted three times longer than in the control pacing run and was associated with a marked upward shift of the LV diastolic pressure-segment length and pressure-volume relation. The same dose of caffeine, when given in the non-ischemic (control) setting, produced a transient (<1 minute) fall in LV peak systolic pressure (112 ± 6 to 97 ± 3 mm Hg, P < 0.005), LVEDP (9 ± 1 to 7 ± 1 mm Hg, P < 0.01) and end-systolic segment length (14.8 ± 0.9 to 14.3 ± 0.9 mm, P < 0.005) consistent with a peripheral vasodilatory effect of caffeine. It is concluded that caffeine potentiates the ischemia-induced changes in LV diastolic stiffness. These findings could be explained by sustained intracellular calcium availability with persistent contractile element interaction in diastole.
Un monde de ressources rares

Erick Orsenna et Le Cercle des economistes ont dresse l'inventaire des ressources rares.Oui, les Raretes existent et se font de plus en plus pressantes et intolerables pour les uns, pas pour les autres.Oui, il y a de vraies et de fausses Raretes.Oui, il y a aussi des Raretes partagees par toute la planete.Jamais la productivite agricole n'a ete aussi forte, et jamais les famines n'ont ete aussi frequentes.Jamais la terre n'a porte autant de diplomes, et jamais l'analphabetisme n'a autant progresse.Jamais nous n'avons ete aussi riches, et jamais il n'y a eu autant de pauvres.Le Cercle des economistes et Erik Orsenna ont dresse l'inventaire des ressources rares, cherche les raisons et proposent quelques principes pour echapper a cette malediction : l'urgence dans l'action, l'innovation dans les choix, la preference pour le developpement durable et la reorganisation de la gouvernance mondiale des ressources.
The Safety of Ingested Caffeine: A Comprehensive Review

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world. Natural sources of caffeine include coffee, tea, and chocolate. Synthetic caffeine is also added to products to promote arousal, alertness, energy, and elevated mood. Over the past decade, the introduction of new caffeine-containing food products, as well as changes in consumption patterns of the more traditional sources of caffeine, has increased scrutiny by health authorities and regulatory bodies about the overall consumption of caffeine and its potential cumulative effects on behavior and physiology. Of particular concern is the rate of caffeine intake among populations potentially vulnerable to the negative effects of caffeine consumption: pregnant and lactating women, children and adolescents, young adults, and people with underlying heart or other health conditions, such as mental illness. Here, we review the research into the safety and safe doses of ingested caffeine in healthy and in vulnerable populations. We report that, for healthy adults, caffeine consumption is relatively safe, but that for some vulnerable populations, caffeine consumption could be harmful, including impairments in cardiovascular function, sleep, and substance use. We also identified several gaps in the literature on which we based recommendations for the future of caffeine research.
Ring Finger Nuclear Factor RNF168 Is Important for Defects in Homologous Recombination Caused by Loss of the Breast Cancer Susceptibility Factor BRCA1*

Background: RNF168 promotes chromosomal break localization of 53BP1 and BRCA1; 53BP1 loss rescues homologous recombination (HR) in BRCA1-deficient cells. Results: RNF168 depletion suppresses HR defects caused by BRCA1 silencing; RNF168 influences HR similarly to 53BP1. Conclusion: RNF168 is important for HR defects caused by BRCA1 loss. Significance: Although RNF168 promotes BRCA1 and 53BP1 localization to chromosomal breaks, RNF168 affects HR similarly to 53BP1. The RING finger nuclear factor RNF168 is required for recruitment of several DNA damage response factors to double strand breaks (DSBs), including 53BP1 and BRCA1. Because 53BP1 and BRCA1 function antagonistically during the DSB repair pathway homologous recombination (HR), the influence of RNF168 on HR has been unclear. We report that RNF168 depletion causes an elevated frequency of two distinct HR pathways (homology-directed repair and single strand annealing), suppresses defects in HR caused by BRCA1 silencing, but does not suppress HR defects caused by disruption of CtIP, RAD50, BRCA2, or RAD51. Furthermore, RNF168-depleted cells can form ionizing radiation-induced foci of the recombinase RAD51 without forming BRCA1 ionizing radiation-induced foci, indicating that this loss of BRCA1 recruitment to DSBs does not reflect a loss of function during HR. Additionally, we find that RNF168 and 53BP1 have a similar influence on HR. We suggest that RNF168 is important for HR defects caused by BRCA1 loss.
Characterization of polyamine synthesis pathway in Bacillus subtilis 168

The ubiquitous polyamines fulfil a variety of functions in all three kingdoms of life. However, little is known about the biosynthesis of these compounds in Gram‐positive bacteria. We show that, in Bacillus subtilisthere is a single pathway to polyamines, starting from arginine, with agmatine as an intermediate. We first identified the structural gene of arginine decarboxylase, speA (formerly cad ), and then described the speE speB operon, directing synthesis of spermidine synthase and agmatinase. This operon is transcribed into two messenger RNAs, a major one for the speE gene and a minor one for both speE and speB. The promoter of the operon was identified upstream from the speE gene by primer extension analysis. Transcription of this operon indicated that the level of agmatinase synthesis is very low, thus allowing a stringent control on the synthesis of putrescine and, therefore, of all polyamines. This is consistent with the level of polyamines measured in the cell.
Resistance vessel structure and the pathogenesis of hypertension

Aim To review evidence on the influence of resistance vessel structure in the pathogenesis of essential and experimental hypertension. Results of review In essential hypertension, recent experiments have provided direct evidence that the structure of the more proximal resistance vessels (small arteries) is abnormal, with a reduction in the lumen and an increase in the ratio of medial thickness to lumen diameter (media: lumen ratio). Furthermore, the abnormal structure appears to be due more to 'remodelling' (a rearrangement of a normal amount of material around a smaller lumen), rather than to a growth process, in agreement with the original Folkow hypothesis. These abnormalities are usually closely correlated with blood pressure, but whether the abnormalities cause, or are the effect of, the increased blood pressure remains unclear. However, in animal experiments where procedures have been used to create a discrepancy between blood pressure and small artery structure (e.g., unclipping a rat made hypertensive by the Goldblatt technique), the blood pressure has not been correlated with small artery structure. This suggests that the abnormal structure of small arteries in hypertension is adaptive, rather than causal. Therefore if the resistance vessel structure as a whole is a primary factor in essential hypertension, it seems that it must be the more distal resistance vessels which are responsible. There is evidence that alterations in the structure and function of renal afferent arterioles could have a pathogenetic effect in genetic hypertension, and it is suggested that further work be directed towards testing this possibility.
Electrochemical performance of a graphene–polypyrrole nanocomposite as a supercapacitor electrode

A unique nanoarchitecture has been established involving polypyrrole (PPy) and graphene nanosheets by in situ polymerization. The structural aspect of the nanocomposite has been determined by Raman spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy reveals that the thickness of the synthesized graphene is ∼ 2 nm. The dispersion of the nanometer-sized PPy has been demonstrated through transmission electron microscopy and the electrochemical performance of the nanocomposite has been illustrated by cyclic voltammetry measurements. Graphene nanosheet serves as a support material for the electrochemical utilization of PPy and also provides the path for electron transfer. The specific capacitance value of the nanocomposite has been determined to be 267 F g − 1 at a scan rate of 100 mV s − 1 compared to 137 mV s − 1 for PPy, suggesting the possible use of the nanocomposite as a supercapacitor electrode. After 500 cycles, only 10% decrease in specific capacitance as compared to initial value justifies the improved electrochemical cyclic stability of the nanocomposite.
Randomized preprocessing of configuration for fast path planning

This paper presents a new approach to path planning for robots with many degrees of freedom (DOF) operating in known static environments. The approach consists of a preprocessing and a planning stage. Preprocessing, which is done only once for a given environment, generates a network of randomly, but properly selected, collision-free configurations (nodes). Planning then connects any given initial and final configurations of the robot to two nodes of the network and computes a path through the network between these two nodes. Experiments show that after paying the preprocessing cost (on the order of hundreds of seconds), planning is extremely fast (on the order of a fraction of a second for many difficult examples involving a 10-DOF robot). The approach is particularly attractive for many-DOF robots which have to perform many successive point-to-point motions in the same environment. <<ETX>>
Artificial Intelligence Research at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The primary goal of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is to understand how computers can be made to exhibit intelligence. Two corollary goals are to make computers more useful and to understand certain aspects of human intelligence. Current research includes work on computer robotics and vision, expert systems, learning and commonsense reasoning, natural language understanding, and computer architecture.
Ultrasound Examination for the Diagnosis of Chronic Anterior Talofibular Ligament Injury

Background Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury is a commonly seen sports-related injury and a major underlying pathology of chronic ankle instability. However, it is difficult to accurately identify chronic injury of the ATFL. Purpose To investigate the value of ultrasound (US) examination in identifying chronic ATFL injury. Material and Methods We evaluated 83 consecutive patients who underwent US examination for diagnosis of the ATFL injury and subsequent ankle arthroscopy. The arthroscopic findings were used as the reference standard. Results Forty-four patients were found to have ATFL injury on arthroscopy. The accuracy of US examination for the detection of ATFL injury was 95.2%, with sensitivity of 97.7%, specificity of 92.3%, positive predictive value of 93.5%, negative predictive value of 97.3%, positive likelihood ratio of 12.7, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.025. Conclusion US examination is a reliable and accurate method to evaluate chronic ATFL injury.
In vivo distribution of integrins in renal cell carcinoma: integrin-phenotype alteration in different degrees of tumor differentiation and VLA-2 involvement in tumor metastasis.

We studied 23 renal cell carcinomas and two normal kidney tissues by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against subunits of the VLA integrins (VLA-1 to VLA-6) and CD51. All integrins investigated in our study, except VLA-4 (ubiquitous negative), were distributed in different patterns in tumors assayed. We found a correlation between VLA-2 expression and site of tissue; primary tumor cells expressed no VLA-2 integrin, whereas tumor cells from metastatic tissues exhibited VLA-2 positivity (P < .009). Additionally, the expression of VLA-3 and VLA-5 correlated with tumor grading; both integrins were undetectable in G1 tumors but widely expressed in G2 and G3 tumors (VLA-3, p < .000; VLA-5, p < .005). Our results suggest that VLA-2 integrin is involved in metastasis of RCC and that poorly differentiated tumor cells have a different integrin phenotype when compared to normal or highly differentiated tumor cells.