Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed control architecture for multiservice networks

The research focuses in devising decentralised and distributed control system architecture for the management of internetworking systems to provide improved service delivery and network control. The theoretical basis, results of simulation and implementation in a real-network are presented. It is demonstrated that better performance, utilisation and fairness can be achieved for network customers as well as network/service operators with a value based control system. A decentralised control system framework for analysing networked and shared resources is developed and demonstrated. This fits in with the fundamental principles of the Internet. It is demonstrated that distributed, multiple control loops can be run on shared resources and achieve proportional fairness in their allocation, without a central control. Some of the specific characteristic behaviours of the service and network layers are identified. The network and service layers are isolated such that each layer can evolve independently to fulfil their functions better. A common architecture pattern is devised to serve the different layers independently. The decision processes require no co-ordination between peers and hence improves scalability of the solution. The proposed architecture can readily fit into a clearinghouse mechanism for integration with business logic. This architecture can provide improved QoS and better revenue from both reservation-less and reservation-based networks. The limits on resource usage for different types of flows are analysed. A method that can sense and modify user utilities and support dynamic price offers is devised. An optimal control system (within the given conditions), automated provisioning, a packet scheduler to enforce the control and a measurement system etc are developed. The model can be extended to enhance the autonomicity of the computer communication networks in both client-server and P2P networks and can be introduced on the Internet in an incremental fashion. The ideas presented in the model built with the model-view-controller and electronic enterprise architecture frameworks are now independently developed elsewhere into common service delivery platforms for converged networks. Four US/EU patents were granted based on the work carried out for this thesis, for the cross-layer architecture, multi-layer scheme, measurement system and scheduler. Four conference papers were published and presented.
Iridal-Type Triterpenoids Displaying Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibition and Anti-Inflammatory Effects from Belamcanda chinensis

The aim of this study is to explore anti-inflammatory phytochemicals from B. chinensis based on the inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzyme, human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and anti-inflammatory activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage. Three stereoisomers of iridal-type triterpenoids (1–3) were isolated from the roots of B. chinensis and their stereochemistries were completely identified by NOESY spectra. These compounds were confirmed as reversible noncompetitive inhibitors against HNE with IC50 values of 6.8–27.0 µM. The binding affinity experiment proved that iridal-type triterpenoids had only a single binding site to the HNE enzyme. Among them, isoiridogermanal (1) and iridobelamal A (2) displayed significant anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as iNOS, IL-1β, and TNF-α through the NF-κB pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. This is the first report that iridal-type triterpenoids are considered responsible phytochemicals for anti-inflammatory effects of B. chinensis.
A Post-Scan Point Cloud Colorization Method for Cultural Heritage Documentation

The 3D laser scanning technique is important for cultural heritage documentation. The laser itself normally does not carry any color information, so it usually requires an embedded camera system to colorize the point cloud. However, when the embedded camera system fails to perform properly under some external interferences, a post-scan colorization method is always desired to improve the point cloud visuality. This paper presents a simple but efficient point cloud colorization method based on a point-to-pixel orthogonal projection under an assumption that the orthogonal and perspective projections can produce similar effects for a planar feature as long as the target-to-camera distance is relatively short (within several meters). This assumption was verified by a simulation experiment, and the results show that only approximately 5% of colorization error was found at a target-to-camera distance of 3 m. The method was further verified with two real datasets collected for the cultural heritage documentation. The results showed that the visuality of the point clouds for two giant historical buildings had been greatly improved after applying the proposed method.
Vehicle Routing Problem with Deadline and Stochastic Service Times: Case of the Ice Cream Industry in Santiago City of Chile

The research evaluates the vehicular routing problem for distributing refrigerated products. The mathematical model corresponds to the vehicle routing problem with hard time windows and a stochastic service time (VRPTW-ST) model applied in Santiago de Chile. For model optimization, we used tabu search, chaotic search and general algebraic modeling. The model’s objective function is to minimize the total distance traveled and the number of vehicles using stochastic waiting restrictions at the customers’ facilities. The experiments were implemented in ten scenarios by modifying the number of customers. Experiments were established with several customers that can be solved using the general algebraic modeling technique in order to validate the tabu search and the chaotic search methods. The study considered two algorithms modified with Monte Carlo (tabu search and chaotic search). Additionally, two modified algorithms, TSv2 and CSv2, were proposed to reduce execution time. These algorithms were modified by delaying the Monte Carlo procedure until the first set of sub-optimal routes were found. The results validate the metaheuristic chaotic search to solve the VRPTW-ST. The chaotic search method obtained a superior performance than the tabu search method when solving a real problem in a large city. Finally, the experiments demonstrated a direct relationship between the percentage of customers with stochastic waiting time and the model resolution time.
Improvements in the Effectiveness of Early Detection in Colorectal Cancer with Open-Label Randomised Study

Introduction: The general objective of this research is to improve the quality of colorectal cancer screening (CRC) by assessing, as an indicator of effectiveness, the ability of colonoscopy to detect more advanced adenomas in the exposed group than in the control group. Material and Methods: The present work is designed as an open-label randomized study on cancer screening, using two groups based on their exposure to the protocol: an exposed to intervention group (EIG, 167), and a control group (CG, 167), without the intervention of the protocol and by 1:1 matching. Results: In 167 patients in the GEI, 449 polyps are visualized and 274 are adenomas (80.58%), of which 100 (36.49%) are advanced adenomas. In the CG (n = 174), there are 321 polyps and 152 adenomas (82.60%). The variables significantly associated by logistic regression to the detection of adenomas are the male sex with an OR of 2.52. The variable time to withdrawal, ≥9 min, is significant at 99% confidence (p = 0.002/OR 34.67) and the fractional dose is significant at 99% (p = 0.009, OR 7.81). Conclusion: Based on the observations made, our study suggests that the intervention in collaboration between primary care and hospital care is effective from a preventive point of view and achieves the objective of effectiveness and quality of the PCCR.
Future Perspectives in Spinal Cord Repair: Brain as Saviour? TSCI with Concurrent TBI: Pathophysiological Interaction and Impact on MSC Treatment

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), commonly caused by high energy trauma in young active patients, is frequently accompanied by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although combined trauma results in inferior clinical outcomes and a higher mortality rate, the understanding of the pathophysiological interaction of co-occurring TSCI and TBI remains limited. This review provides a detailed overview of the local and systemic alterations due to TSCI and TBI, which severely affect the autonomic and sensory nervous system, immune response, the blood–brain and spinal cord barrier, local perfusion, endocrine homeostasis, posttraumatic metabolism, and circadian rhythm. Because currently developed mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapeutic strategies for TSCI provide only mild benefit, this review raises awareness of the impact of TSCI–TBI interaction on TSCI pathophysiology and MSC treatment. Therefore, we propose that unravelling the underlying pathophysiology of TSCI with concomitant TBI will reveal promising pharmacological targets and therapeutic strategies for regenerative therapies, further improving MSC therapy.
Tax Risk Prediction of Real Estate Based on Convolutional Neural Network

Risk management is an important link in tax administration. From China’s taxation practice, risk identification has become the weakness of tax management. With the complexity of massive data and the secrecy of modern transactions, traditional tax risk identification can no longer adapt to the development of the times. In the past, most risk researches focused on the basic machine learning stage. There are gaps in the application of deep learning in tax risk management. Based on the tax risk management indicators, this paper took the real estate industry as an example. We used convolutional neural network (CNN) to construct a tax risk prediction model. The experiment shows that a tax risk prediction model based on CNN has higher accuracy in tax risk identification and has a stronger ability to process tax data. The model has a certain reference value for tax authorities to reduce tax risk and tax loss.
A 1 Year Child with Hydrocephalus: A Case Report

Introduction: Hydrocephalus is the accumulation of fluid in the cavities deep within the brain. The extra fluids cause the ventricles to expand, putting pressure on the brain. The brain and spinal column are bathed in cerebrospinal fluid, which usually flows into the ventricles. Excessive cerebrospinal fluid pressure caused by hydrocephalus, on the other hand, can harm brain tissues and result in a variety of cognitive impairments. Case Presentation: Here we have selected a case of hydrocephalus. In this case, when the complete history has been taken it found that patient having a history of NICU admission for prematurity and Low Birth Weight for 40 days. During history collection, it found that the child was all right until 4 months of age after which she started to notice that the child's head circumference was increasing at an abnormal rate and has now been brought to AVBRH for further management. After all investigation in MRI brain reveals extensive dilatation of ventricular system including bilateral lateral ventricle and III and IV ventricles associated with wide-open foramen of Luschka and Magendie with thinning of the adjacent cerebral cortex and cerebellar parenchyma. Features suggestive of communicating hydrocephalus. In the EEG record, the background record shows rhythmic synchronous > 13 Hz beta activity in the bilateral hemisphere. Abnormal EEG record. Then, the doctor planned for the Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy with general anesthesia. Conclusion: In this study, we mainly focus on expert surgical management and excellent nursing care which leads to fast recovery of the patient. After a conversation with the patient, her response was positive and after nursing management and treatment, she was discharged without any postoperative complications and satisfaction of recovery.
Furosemide/Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug–Drug Pharmaceutical Solids: Novel Opportunities in Drug Formulation

The design of drug–drug multicomponent pharmaceutical solids is one the latest drug development approaches in the pharmaceutical industry. Its purpose is to modulate the physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), most of them already existing in the market, achieving improved bioavailability properties, especially on oral administration drugs. In this work, our efforts are focused on the mechanochemical synthesis and thorough solid-state characterization of two drug–drug cocrystals involving furosemide and two different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) commonly prescribed together: ethenzamide and piroxicam. Besides powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis, stability, and solubility tests were performed on the new solid materials. The aim of this work was evaluating the physicochemical properties of such APIs in the new formulation, which revealed a solubility improvement regarding the NSAIDs but not in furosemide. Further studies need to be carried out to evaluate the drug–drug interaction in the novel multicomponent solids, looking for potential novel therapeutic alternatives.
Business Model Innovation for Industrie 4.0: Why the 'Industrial Internet' Mandates a New Perspective on Innovation

Industrie 4.0 (I40), i.e. the implementation of cyber-physical systems along the entire value chain and a far reaching digitalization of products and processes, is regarded as a significant agent of change in our current industrial system. While the previous discussion of I40 has been centered on technologies and standards, our focus is on business models (BM) for and enabled by I40. Having the right I40 BM will ultimately decide about companies’ market positions and profitability. This calls for a systematic process for business model innovation (BMI). The previous academic literature has offered mostly conceptual reviews to date. Empirical analyses of management approaches and processes applied for BMI are scarce. Based on an exploratory research design, we present the results of a comparative interview study with large companies and industry associations. We analyze I40 business model characteristics, provide an in-depth perspective of companies’ processes, structures and tools for BMI and derive upcoming practices as well as key competencies for BMI in the course of I40. Our results indicate a diverse picture. While some companies have dedicated BMI structures in place and lead I40 BMI, others could benefit from complementing existing product and service development with a systematic approach to BMI, building the fundamental capability to exploit the opportunities of I40.
For RF Signal-Based UAV States Recognition, Is Pre-processing Still Important At The Era Of Deep Learning?

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, also called drones) have been widely deployed in our living environments for a range of applications such as healthcare, agriculture, and logistics. Despite their unprecedented advantages, the increased number of UAVs and their growing threats demand high-performance management and emergency control strategies. To accurately detect a UAV’s working state including hovering and flying, data collection from Radio Frequency (RF) signals is a key step of these strategies and has thus attracted significant research interest. Deep neural networks (DNNs) have been applied for UAV state detection and shown promising potentials. While existing work mostly focuses on improving the DNN structures, we discover that RF signals’ pre-processing before sending them to the classification model is as important as improving the DNN structures. Experiments on a dataset show that, after applying proposed pre-processing methods, the 10-time average accuracy is improved from 46.8% to 91.9%, achieving nearly 50% gain comparing with the benchmark work using the same DNN structure. This work also outperforms the state-of-the-art CNN models, confirming the great potentials of data pre-processing for RF-based UAV state detection.
Broadband PIFA Rectenna Design for a Multi-Source Energy Harvesting Device

Combining different energy harvesting devices to optimize output power is crucial to the achievement of sustainable energy. This thesis focuses on the design, simulation and fabrication of a broadband Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA) constructed for energy harvesting and its integration with a solar cell. An assessment of available ambient RF energy was performed by surveying power density levels from 700MHz to 18GHz. The measured spectrum was then used to determine the bandwidth for our rectifying antenna. The PIFA design was chosen for its small size and low profile, in order to limit the area covering the solar panel. The purpose of this antenna is to harvest power during the times that solar energy is unavailable. The thorough analysis, design and fabrication specifics of the antenna and its integration with the solar panel are discussed in detail. Future work involving the implementation of a PIFA array to optimize the amount of energy harvested is also presented.
Diversity by Design in Music Recommender Systems

Music Recommender Systems (Music RS) are nowadays pivotal in shaping the listening experience of people all around the world. Partly driven by the commercial application of this technology, music recommendation research has gained increasing attention both within and outside the Music Information Retrieval (MIR) community. Thanks also to the widespread use of recommender systems in music streaming services, it has been possible to enhance several characteristics of such systems in terms of performance, design, and user experience. Nonetheless, imagining Music RS only from an application-driven perspective may generate an incomplete view of how this technology is affecting people’s habitus, from the decision-making processes to the formation of musical taste and opinions. In this overview, we address the concept of diversity in music recommendation, and taking a value-driven approach we review diversity-related methodologies proposed in the Music RS literature. Additionally, by taking as an example the wider context of Information Technology (IT), we present the elements interacting in the diversity by design paradigm. We do that to acknowledge the lack of a comprehensive framework in Music RS research to address diversity, until now mostly driven by empirical results and fragmented in different application areas. Maintaining an interdisciplinary perspective, we discuss some challenges that MIR practitioners may face when researching Music RS, going beyond the search for better performance and instead questioning the theoretical foundations on which to base future research.
Reviewing the Etiologic Agents, Microbe-Host Relationship, Immune Response, Diagnosis, and Treatment in Chromoblastomycosis

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a neglected human disease, caused by different species of pigmented dematiaceous fungi that cause subcutaneous infections. This disease has been considered an occupational disease, occurring among people working in the field of agriculture, particularly in low-income countries. In 1914, the first case of CBM was described in Brazil, and although efforts have been made, few scientific and technological advances have been made in this area. In the field of fungi and host cell relationship, a very reduced number of antigens were characterized, but available data suggest that ectoantigens bind to the cell membrane of host cells and modulate the phagocytic, immunological, and microbicidal responses of immune cells. Furthermore, antigens cleave extracellular proteins in tissues, allowing fungi to spread. On the contrary, if phagocytic cells are able to present antigens in MHC molecules to T lymphocytes in the presence of costimulation and IL-12, a Th1 immune response will develop and a relative control of the disease will be observed. Despite knowledge of the resistance and susceptibility in CBM, up to now, no effective vaccines have been developed. In the field of chemotherapy, most patients are treated with conventional antifungal drugs, such as itraconazole and terbinafine, but these drugs exhibit limitations, considering that not all patients heal cutaneous lesions. Few advances in treatment have been made so far, but one of the most promising ones is based on the use of immunomodulators, such as imiquimod. Data about a standard treatment are missing in the medical literature; part of it is caused by the existence of a diversity of etiologic agents and clinical forms. The present review summarizes the advances made in the field of CBM related to the diversity of pathogenic species, fungi and host cell relationship, antigens, innate and acquired immunity, clinical forms of CBM, chemotherapy, and diagnosis.
European Research and Development in Hybrid Flexible Electronics

Abstract : The increasing miniaturization and complexity of emerging electronics products and systems brings many technical challenges but also excellent promise for improving capabilities and reducing costs through printing-like manufacturing processes and through combining of functionalities in what are called hybrid flexible electronics systems. Important application areas include energy, consumer electronics, healthcare, communications, and national defense. This report is a review of hybrid flexible electronics research and development activities in Western Europe, conducted by a panel of leading U.S. experts in the field, as a window to view what opportunities and challenges exist for U.S. researchers, educators, and manufacturers in this highly interdisciplinary field. The report covers materials development, device challenges, systems opportunities, and processing and manufacturing topics. It also includes a section that reviews several of the large European innovation centers that are bringing a multidisciplinary and practical commercial focus to R&D in the field. The report details the strengths of the basic research being conducted in Europe and the vitality of the close partnerships between university groups, basic research laboratories, industry, and innovation centers, sustained by sizeable research grants that specifically promote such interactions and efficiently support development. Appendix C summarizes the results of the WTEC bibliometric study of world research in hybrid flexible electronics, 1994? 2008, which includes a view of the status of R&D in this field in Asia as well as in Europe and the United States.