Popularity-Aware Closeness Based Caching in NDN Edge Networks.

By enabling name-based routing and ubiquitous in-network caching, Named Data Networking (NDN) is a promising network architecture for sixth generation (6G) edge network infrastructures. However, the performance of content retrieval largely depends on the selected caching strategy, which is implemented in a distributed fashion by each NDN node. Previous research showed the effectiveness of caching decisions based on content popularity and network topology information. This paper presents a new distributed caching strategy for NDN edge networks based on a metric called popularity-aware closeness (PaC), which measures the proximity of the potential cacher to the majority of requesters of a certain content. After identifying the most popular contents, the strategy caches them in the available edge nodes that guarantee the higher PaC. Achieved simulation results show that the proposed strategy outperforms other benchmark schemes, in terms of reduced content retrieval delay and exchanged data traffic.

Caching Transient Contents in Vehicular Named Data Networking: A Performance Analysis.

Named Data Networking (NDN) is a promising communication paradigm for the challenging vehicular ad hoc environment. In particular, the built-in pervasive caching capability was shown to be essential for effective data delivery in presence of short-lived and intermittent connectivity. Existing studies have however not considered the fact that multiple vehicular contents can be transient, i.e., they expire after a certain time period since they were generated, the so-called FreshnessPeriod in NDN. In this paper, we study the effects of caching transient contents in Vehicular NDN and present a simple yet effective freshness-driven caching decision strategy that vehicles can implement autonomously. Performance evaluation in ndnSIM shows that the FreshnessPeriod is a crucial parameter that deeply influences the cache hit ratio and, consequently, the data dissemination performance.

Parkinson's disease resting tremor severity classification using machine learning with resampling techniques.

In resting tremor, the body part is in complete repose and often dampens or subsides entirely with action. The most frequent cause of resting tremors is known as idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). For examination, neurologists of patients with PD include tests such as finger-to-nose tests, walking back and forth in the corridor, and the pull test. This evaluation is focused on Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), which is subjective as well as based on some daily life motor activities for a limited time frame. In this study, severity analysis is performed on an imbalanced dataset of patients with PD. This is the reason why the classification of various data containing imbalanced class distribution has endured a notable drawback of the performance achievable by various standard classification learning algorithms. In this work, we used resampling techniques including under-sampling, over-sampling, and a hybrid combination. Resampling techniques are incorporated with renowned classifiers, such as XGBoost, decision tree, and K-nearest neighbors. From the results, it is concluded that the Over-sampling method performed much better than under-sampling and hybrid sampling techniques. Among the over-sampling techniques, random sampling has obtained 99% accuracy using XGBoost classifier and 98% accuracy using the decision tree. Besides, it is observed that different resampling methods performed differently with various classifiers.

Co-occurrence of alcohol use disorder and behavioral addictions: relevance of impulsivity and craving.

PURPOSE: The aims of the study were to evaluate the occurrence of behavioral addictions (BAs) in alcohol use disorder (AUD) subjects and to investigate the role of impulsivity, personality dimensions and craving. METHODS: 95 AUD outpatients (DSM-5) and 140 homogeneous controls were assessed with diagnostic criteria and specific tests for gambling disorder, compulsive buying, sexual, internet and physical exercise addictions, as well as with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Temperamental and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R). The Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) and Visual Analogue Scale for craving (VASc) were also administered to the AUD sample. RESULTS: 28.4% (n=27) of AUD subjects had at least one BA, as compared to 15% (n=21) of controls (χ(2)=6.27; p=.014). In AUD subjects, direct correlations between BIS-11 and Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS), Internet Addiction Disorder test (IAD), Exercise Addiction Inventory-Short Form (EAI-SF) scores (p<.01), between OCDS obsessive and CBS and VASc and CBS, IAD scores (p<.003), were found. BIS-11 (t=-2.36; p=.020), OCDS obsessive (Z=-4.13; p<.001), OCDS compulsive (Z=-2.12; p=.034) and VASc (Z=-4.94; p<.001) scores were higher in AUD subjects with co-occurring BAs. The occurrence of BAs was associated with higher impulsivity traits (BIS-11 scores; OR=1.08; p=.012) and higher craving levels (VASc scores; OR=2.48; p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize a significant rate of co-occurrence of BAs in AUD. High levels of impulsivity and craving for alcohol seem to be associated with other addictive behaviors.

Neural correlate of the projection of mental states on the not-structured visual stimuli.

Projection is a spontaneous and complex mental activity responsible for the subjective meaning attribution. The hypotheses of this study were that the neural correlate of projection may involve frontal, parietal, and temporal brain areas, and that alexithymia may be negatively associated with intensities in limbic and paralimbic areas during projection. EEG data were recorded continuously at 250 Hz using NetStation 4.5.1 with 256-channels HydroCel Geodesic Sensor Net in 20 healthy subjects during the presentation of structured and not-structured visual stimuli. The tasks were paying attention to the stimuli and thinking about the possible meaning of each image. Event related potential (ERP) components and low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLoreta) were analyzed. Participants were administered the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale before stimulus presentation. Source analyses (sLORETA) showed a greater activated source in the left primary somatosensory cortex (BA1) compared to all the others BA in both conditions through all the ERP components. An involvement of the frontal (right-BA4, left- and right-BA9, left-BA11) and parietal (left and right-BA2 and left-BA7) areas was found in projective response to not-structured visual stimuli. Alexithymia levels were negatively correlated with the anterior (right-BA32) and posterior (left-BA29) cingulate cortex. Findings show the relevance of fronto-parieto circuits during projection, where the internally generating somatosensory representations could drive an intermodal meaning attribution during the task. Moreover, high alexithymia levels were associated with a reduced activation of the cingulated cortex.

Primary open angle glaucoma: an overview on medical therapy.

The purpose of this review is to discuss the topics relevant to the use of intraocular pressure-lowering strategies, which remains the first line in the management of glaucoma. Estimates of blindness from glaucoma and identification of risk factors remain of interest for all ophthalmologists. New functional tests offer promise for better detection and more accurate diagnosis of glaucoma. We finally discuss the impact of various glaucoma therapies, the principles of monotherapy and fixed combinations, which offer benefits of convenience, cost, and safety.

The role of antimetabolites in filtration surgery for neovascular glaucoma: intermediate-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: To compare the intermediate-term efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Mitomycin C (MMC) as adjunctive antimetabolites in neovascular glaucoma (NVG) filtration surgery. METHODS: Forty consecutive eyes of 40 patients with NVG refractory to medical therapy were randomized to receive antimetabolite-augmented trabeculectomy. Eighteen eyes received postoperative 5-FU (5-FU group) and 22 eyes received intraoperative, low-dose (0.2 mg/ml) MMC for 2 mins (MMC group). The main outcome measure was intraocular pressure (IOP). Surgical success was defined as IOP < 21 mmHg with topical treatment (qualified success) or without topical treatment (complete success). Surgical failure was defined as IOP > or = 21 mmHg, despite postoperative topical treatment, and by postoperative blindness. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 35.8 +/- 22.6 months in the 5-FU group and 18.6 +/- 17.2 months in the MMC group. This difference was not significant. Mean IOP decreased from 40.4 +/- 10.3 mmHg to 14.7 +/- 3.4 mmHg (p < 0.0001) in the 5-FU group and from 42 +/- 11.3 mmHg to 22.9 +/- 13.3 mmHg (p = 0.0006) in the MMC group; however, the difference between the 5-FU and MMC groups was not significant at any point. The success rate in the 5-FU group was 55.5% (44.4% complete, 11.1% qualified), compared with 54.5% (9.1% complete, 45.4% qualified) in the MMC group. This difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of patients who achieved postoperative IOP < 21 mmHg was similar in both groups, although a larger proportion of patients treated with MMC-augmented trabeculectomy required topical treatment in comparison with the 5-FU group.