LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Multiple-Kernel Based Vehicle Tracking Using 3D Deformable Model and Camera Self-Calibration

Tracking of multiple objects is an important application in AI City geared towards solving salient problems related to safety and congestion in an urban environment. Frequent occlusion in traffic surveillance has been a major problem in this research field. In this challenge, we propose a model-based vehicle localization method, which builds a kernel at each patch of the 3D deformable vehicle model and associates them with constraints in 3D space. The proposed method utilizes shape fitness evaluation besides color information to track vehicle objects robustly and efficiently. To build 3D car models in a fully unsupervised manner, we also implement evolutionary camera self-calibration from tracking of walking humans to automatically compute camera parameters. Additionally, the segmented foreground masks which are crucial to 3D modeling and camera self-calibration are adaptively refined by multiple-kernel feedback from tracking. For object detection/ classification, the state-of-theart single shot multibox detector (SSD) is adopted to train and test on the NVIDIA AI City Dataset. To improve the accuracy on categories with only few objects, like bus, bicycle and motorcycle, we also employ the pretrained model from YOLO9000 with multiscale testing. We combine the results from SSD and YOLO9000 based on ensemble learning. Experiments show that our proposed tracking system outperforms both state-of-the-art of tracking by segmentation and tracking by detection. Keywords—multiple object tracking, constrained multiple kernels, 3D deformable model, camera self-calibration, adaptive segmentation, object detection, object classification
A near-optimal polynomial time algorithm for learning in certain classes of stochastic games

We present a new algorithm for polynomial time learning of optimal behavior in single-controller stochastic games. This algorithm incorporates and integrates important recent results of Kearns and Singh 5] in reinforcement learning and of Monderer and Tennenholtz 7] in repeated games. In stochastic games, the agent must cope with the existence of an adversary whose actions can be arbitrary. In particular, this adversary can withhold information about the game matrix by refraining from (or rarely) performing certain actions. This forces upon us an exploration vs. exploitation dilemma more complex than in Markov decision processes in which, given information about particular parts of a game matrix, the agent must decide how much eeort to invest in learning the unknown parts of the matrix. We present a polynomial time algorithm that addresses these issues in the context of the class of single controller stochastic games, providing the agent with near-optimal return.
Patellar taping, patellofemoral pain syndrome, lower extremity kinematics, and dynamic postural control.

CONTEXT
Patellar taping has been a part of intervention for treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). However, research on the efficacy of patellar taping on lower extremity kinematics and dynamic postural control is limited.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of patellar taping on sagittal-plane hip and knee kinematics, reach distance, and perceived pain level during the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) in individuals with and without PFPS.


DESIGN
Repeated-measures design with 2 within-subjects factors and 1 between-subjects factor.


SETTING
The University of Toledo Athletic Training Research Laboratory.


PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS
Twenty participants with PFPS and 20 healthy participants between the ages of 18 and 29 years.


INTERVENTION(S)
The participants performed 3 reaches of the SEBT in the anterior direction under tape and no-tape conditions on both legs.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
The participants' hip and knee sagittal-plane kinematics were measured using the electromagnetic tracking system. Reach distance was recorded by hand and was normalized by dividing the distance by the participants' leg length (%MAXD). After each taping condition on each leg, the participants rated the perceived pain level using the 10-cm visual analog scale.


RESULTS
The participants with PFPS had a reduction in pain level with patellar tape application compared with the no-tape condition (P = .005). Additionally, participants with PFPS demonstrated increased %MAXD under the tape condition compared with the no-tape condition, whereas the healthy participants demonstrated decreased %MAXD with tape versus no tape (P = .028). No statistically significant differences were noted in hip flexion and knee flexion angles.


CONCLUSIONS
Although patellar taping seemed to reduce pain and improve SEBT performance of participants with PFPS, the exact mechanisms of these phenomena cannot be explained in this study. Further research is warranted to investigate the effect of patellar taping on neuromuscular control during dynamic postural control.
Comparison of EXIT-25 and the Frontal Assessment Battery for evaluation of executive dysfunction in patients attending a memory clinic.

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and the EXIT-25 have emerged as 2 widely used screening instruments for executive dysfunction, but their screening properties have not been evaluated in a head-to-head comparison.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study of 92 individuals presenting for cognitive assessment at a community hospital.


RESULTS
The EXIT-25 took longer than the FAB to complete (mean difference = 9.27 min, 95% CI: 9.86-8.68). EXIT-25 and FAB scores showed significant correlation (Spearman's r = -0.79, p < 0.001) with one another, and each showed acceptable convergent validity and divergent validity.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2 tests provide similar information about the presence of executive dysfunction. The FAB takes less time to complete, and appears to be less frustrating for patients, making it more feasible as a screening test for executive dysfunction in a memory clinic setting.
Learning to rank using gradient descent

We investigate using gradient descent methods for learning ranking functions; we propose a simple probabilistic cost function, and we introduce RankNet, an implementation of these ideas using a neural network to model the underlying ranking function. We present test results on toy data and on data from a commercial internet search engine.
Minimizing the losses in penile lengthening: "V-Y half-skin half-fat advancement flap" and "T-closure" combined with severing the suspensory ligament.

INTRODUCTION
The technique most commonly used for penile lengthening is the release of the suspensory ligament in combination with an inverted V-Y skin plasty. This technique has drawbacks such as the possibility of reattachment of the penis to the pubis, a hump that forms at the base of the penis, in addition to alteration in the angle of erection.


AIM
In this work, we describe a new technique that overrides these drawbacks and minimize the loss of gained length.


METHODS
The suspensory ligament was released through a penopubic incision. The caudal flap of the resected ligaments was reflected caudally and sutured to the Buck's fascia. The V flap was incised. The caudal half of the V was deskinned, leaving a cranial skin-covered V flap, and a caudal, rectangular fat flap. The fat flap was pulled into the gap between the base of the penis and the pubis and secured in position by suturing its deep surface and lower edge to the pubis. This maneuver filled up the gap. The V incision was closed as a Y. The penopubic incision was closed as a T shape, to avoid pulling the penis back at skin closure. A stay suture stretched from the glans to the thigh, maintaining the penis in the stretched position. A urinary catheter was inserted.


RESULTS
Six months after surgery, there was no loss in the length gained. The angle of erection (as reported by the patient) was similar to that prior to the procedure. The skin incisions left no hump and a faint scar that was not troublesome to the patient.


CONCLUSION
"V-Y half-skin half-fat advancement flap" and "T-closure" may improve the results of suspensory ligament release for penile lengthening. The reported techniques minimize the losses compromising length gain, whether in-surgery or following it.
Traffic sign segmentation and classification using statistical learning methods

Traffic signs are an essential part of any circulation system, and failure detection by the driver may significantly increase the accident risk. Currently, automatic traffic sign detection systems still have some performance limitations, specially for achromatic signs and variable lighting conditions. In this work, we propose an automatic traffic-sign detection method capable of detecting both chromatic and achromatic signs, while taking into account rotations, scale changes, shifts, partial deformations, and shadows. The proposed system is divided into three stages: (1) Segmentation of chromatic and achromatic scene elements using L∗a∗b∗ and HSI spaces, where two machine learning techniques (k-Nearest Neighbors and Support Vector Machines), are benchmarked; (2) Post-processing in order to discard non-interest regions, to connect fragmented signs, and to separate signs located at the same post; (3) Sign-shape classification by using Fourier Descriptors, which yield significant advantage in comparison to other contour-based methods, and subsequent shape recognition with machine learning techniques. Experiments with two databases of real-world images captured with different cameras yielded a sign detection rate of about 97% with a false alarm rate between 3% and 4%, depending on the database. ∗Corresponding author Email addresses: josemaria.lillo@urjc.es (J.M. Lillo-Castellano), inmaculada.mora@urjc.es (I. Mora-Jiménez), carlos.figuera@urjc.es (C. Figuera-Pozuelo), joseluis.rojo@urjc.es (J.L. Rojo-Álvarez) Preprint submitted to Neurocomputing November 19, 2014 Our method can be readily used for maintenance, inventory, or driver support system applications.
Global diarrhoea morbidity, weather and climate

Diarrhoea rates are influenced by weather and climate; transmission can be affected by temperature and rainfall extremes, although few studies have quantified this effect. We undertook a global cross-sectional study of diarrhoea incidence in children under 5, drawing on studies published in the last 50 yr, and assessed the association with climate variables. Log-linear regression was used to quantify any association, controlling for the effects of age, socio-economic conditions and access to improved water and sanitation. We found a negative association between rainfall and diarrhoea rates, with a 4% increase in diarrhoea incidence (95% confidence interval, CI: 1–7%, p = 0.02) for each 10 mm mo–1 decrease in rainfall. Little evidence for association with temperature or climate type was found. Our result for rainfall is consistent with a similar study covering a smaller geographic region. Though biases cannot be excluded, the most likely mechanism is that low rainfall leads to water scarcity, which in turn leads to the use of unprotected water sources and reduces hygiene practices. In the future, greater numbers are expected to experience water scarcity, which may lead to more diarrhoea cases in some locations. This study lends support to programmes for hygiene and water and sanitation coverage, as well as lending support to actions to adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Rapid Building of an ASR System for Under-Resourced Languages Based on Multilingual Unsupervised Training

This paper presents our work on rapid language adaptation of acoustic models based on multilingual cross-language bootstrapping and unsupervised training. We used Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems in the six source languages English, French, German, Spanish, Bulgarian and Polish to build from scratch an ASR system for Vietnamese, an underresourced language. System building was performed without using any transcribed audio data by applying three consecutive steps, i.e. cross-language transfer, unsupervised training based on the “multilingual A-stabil” confidence score [1], and bootstrapping. We investigated the correlation between performance of “multilingual A-stabil” and the number of source languages and improved the performance of “multilingual A-stabil” by applying it at the syllable level. Furthermore, we showed that increasing the amount of source language ASR systems for the multilingual framework results in better performance of the final ASR system in the target language Vietnamese. The final Vietnamese recognition system has a Syllable Error Rate (SyllER) of 16.8% on the development set and 16.1% on the evaluation set.
Patents and the engineer

Technology-based companies are heavily dependent upon patents for protection of their research and development (R&D) investment. The interaction of engineers and scientists with the patent system in large R&D organizations is analyzed and factors influencing motivation and creativity are considered. Suggestions are made to improve communication with patent attorneys and to enhance creativity.
High stability of blood samples for flow cytometric analysis of VASP phosphorylation to measure the clopidogrel responsiveness in patients with coronary artery disease.

cation of twenty-one new mutations in the factor IX gene by SSCP analysis. Hum Mutat 1999; 13: 160–5. 8. Herbert O, Trossaert M, Boisseau P et al. Evaluation of denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) in the screening of mutations in haemophilia B patients. J Thromb Haemost 2004; 2: 2267–9. 9. Haemophilia B Mutation database: (Version 13, 2004): http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ip/petergreen/haemBda tabase.html/. A database of point mutations and short additions and deletions in the factor IX gene. 10. Jayandharan G, Shaji RV, Nair SC et al. Novel missense mutations in two patients with factor XI deficiency (Val271Leu and Tyr351Ser) and one patient with combined factor XI and factor IX deficiency (Phe349Val). J Thromb Haemost 2005; 3: 808–11. 11. Bottema CDK, Ketterling RP, Li S et al. Missense mutations and evolutionary conservation of amino acids: evidence that many of the amino acids in factor IX function as “spacer” elements. Am J Hum Genet 1991; 49: 820–38. 12. Larson PJ, Stanfield-Oakley SA, VanDusen WJ et al. Structural integrity of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domain of human blood coagulation factor IXa is required for its binding to cofactor VIIIa. J Biol Chem 1996; 271: 3869–76. 13. Aktimur A, Gabriel MA, Gailani D et al. The factor IX gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domain is involved in interactions between factor IX and factor XIa. J Biol Chem 2003; 278: 7981–7. 14. Enjolras N, Plantier JL, Rodriguez MH et al. Two novel mutations in EGF-like domains of human factor IX dramatically impair intracellular processing and secretion. J Thromb Haemost 2004; 2: 1143–54. 15. Bajaj S. Region of factor IXa protease domain that interacts with factor VIIIa: Analysis of select haemophilia B mutants. Thromb Haemost 1999; 82: 218–25. 16. Yoshitake S, Schach BG, Foster DC et al. Nucleotide sequence of the gene for human factor IX (antihemophilic factor B). Biochemistry 1985; 24: 3736–50. Letters to the Editor
Why Neural Translations are the Right Length

We investigate how neural, encoder-decoder translation systems output target strings of appropriate lengths, finding that a collection of hidden units learns to explicitly implement this functionality.
A high-throughput clinical assay for testing drug facilitation of exposure therapy.

OBJECTIVE
Several studies have demonstrated that D-cycloserine (DCS) facilitates exposure therapy. We developed a standardized test of this facilitation (i.e., a clinical assay), with the goal of testing for facilitation more quickly and inexpensively than a full clinical trial.


METHOD
We developed a standardized brief exposure in which participants with social anxiety disorder gave a videotaped speech. Participants were randomized to receive a single capsule of 250 mg DCS or a matching placebo prior to preparation for the speech. Distress levels were rated during the speech and again, approximately 1 week later, during a speech in an identical situation. Our primary measure of DCS's exposure-facilitating effect was between-session habituation: whether or not the participants showed less distress during the second speech compared to the first. We also measured levels of subjective anxiety and fear of scrutiny.


RESULTS
Subjects randomized to receive DCS prior to their first speech were more likely to show between-session habituation than those who received placebo. We also found greater reduction of performance-related fear overall in the DCS group.


CONCLUSION
Our clinical assay was able to detect exposure facilitation effects rapidly and in a highly standardized way, and is estimated to take a fraction of the time and costs of a clinical trial. Given the increasing interest in using medications to enhance learning-based psychotherapy, this high-throughput clinical assay approach may be a favorable method for testing novel mechanisms of action, and clarifying optimal parameters, for therapy facilitation.
Nutrition labels: a survey of use, understanding and preferences among ethnically diverse shoppers in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE
Effective nutrition labels are part of a supportive environment that encourages healthier food choices. The present study examined the use, understanding and preferences regarding nutrition labels among ethnically diverse shoppers in New Zealand.


DESIGN AND SETTING
A survey was carried out at twenty-five supermarkets in Auckland, New Zealand, between February and April 2007. Recruitment was stratified by ethnicity. Questions assessed nutrition label use, understanding of the mandatory Nutrition Information Panel (NIP), and preference for and understanding of four nutrition label formats: multiple traffic light (MTL), simple traffic light (STL), NIP and percentage of daily intake (%DI).


SUBJECTS
In total 1525 shoppers completed the survey: 401 Maori, 347 Pacific, 372 Asian and 395 New Zealand European and Other ethnicities (ten did not state ethnicity).


RESULTS
Reported use of nutrition labels (always, regularly, sometimes) ranged from 66% to 87% by ethnicity. There was little difference in ability to obtain information from the NIP according to ethnicity or income. However, there were marked ethnic differences in ability to use the NIP to determine if a food was healthy, with lesser differences by income. Of the four label formats tested, STL and MTL labels were best understood across all ethnic and income groups, and MTL labels were most frequently preferred.


CONCLUSIONS
There are clear ethnic and income disparities in ability to use the current mandatory food labels in New Zealand (NIP) to determine if foods are healthy. Conversely, MTL and STL label formats demonstrated high levels of understanding and acceptance across ethnic and income groups.
On Generalized Records and Spatial Conjunction in Role Logic

We have previously introduced role logic as a notation for describing properties of relational structures in shape analysis, databases and knowledge bases. A natural fragment of role logic corresponds to two-variable logic with counting and is therefore decidable. We show how to use role logic to describe open and closed records, as well the dual of records, inverse records. We observe that the spatial conjunction operation of separation logic naturally models record concatenation. Moreover, we show how to eliminate the spatial conjunction of formulas of quantifier depth one in first-order logic with counting. As a result, allowing spatial conjunction of formulas of quantifier depth one preserves the decidability of two-variable logic with counting. This result applies to two-variable role logic fragment as well. The resulting logic smoothly integrates type system and predicate calculus notation and can be viewed as a natural generalization of the notation for constraints arising in role analysis and similar shape analysis approaches.
A comparative crossover evaluation of amlodipine and nifedipine GITS before and after a missed dose: 48-h blood pressure profiles.

Missing one or more days of medication on these “drug holidays” can disrupt the steady level of the drug and lead to rebound reactions when the dose is suddenly stopped, and restarting the full dose of the drug can evoke exaggerated effects. 2 A number of ways to compensate for these missed doses have been suggested, including antihypertensive drugs with 36, 48, and even 72 h of action prescribed every 24 h. 1
A Novel Current Control System of IPMSM Operating at High Speed based on Model Predictive Control

This paper describes the novel current control system of interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) based on model predictive control (MPC). Proposed current controller directly selects one of the switching modes of PWM inverter instead of generating voltage reference as conventional one. The problem with selecting the switching mode to output is formulated as MPC problem, considering actual requirements for current control system such as reduction of current error and switching frequency in the steady state. Simulation results show that current transient response improves by proposed current control system, especially at high speed region, where voltage satulation occurs and the inverter operates in overmodulation mode in some cases.
International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems Embedded Face Detection and Recognition Regular Paper

The  need  to  increase  security  in  open  or public spaces has in turn given rise to the requirement to monitor these spaces and analyse those images on‐site and on‐time. At  this  point,  the  use  of  smart  cameras  ‐  of  which  the popularity has been  increasing  ‐  is one  step  ahead. With sensors  and  Digital  Signal  Processors  (DSPs),  smart cameras generate ad hoc results by analysing the numeric images transmitted from the sensor by means of a variety of  image‐processing  algorithms. Since  the  images  are not transmitted  to  a  distance  processing  unit  but  rather  are processed  inside  the  camera,  it does not necessitate high‐ bandwidth networks or high processor powered systems; it  can  instantaneously  decide  on  the  required  access. Nonetheless, on account of restricted memory, processing power  and  overall  power,  image  processing  algorithms need  to  be  developed  and  optimized  for  embedded processors.  Among  these  algorithms,  one  of  the  most important is for face detection and recognition. A number of  face  detection  and  recognition  methods  have  been proposed  recently and many of  these methods have been tested on general‐purpose processors.  In  smart  cameras  ‐ which  are  real‐life  applications  of  such  methods  ‐  the widest use is on DSPs. In the present study, the Viola‐Jones face detection method  ‐ which was  reported  to  run  faster on  PCs  ‐  was  optimized  for  DSPs;  the  face  recognition method was combined with the developed sub‐region and mask‐based  DCT  (Discrete  Cosine  Transform).  As  the employed  DSP  is  a  fixed‐point  processor,  the  processes were performed with integers insofar as it was possible. To enable  face  recognition,  the  image was divided  into  sub‐ regions  and  from  each  sub‐region  the  robust  coefficients against  disruptive  elements  ‐  like  face  expression, illumination,  etc.  ‐  were  selected  as  the  features.  The discrimination  of  the  selected  features was  enhanced  via LDA  (Linear Discriminant Analysis)  and  then  employed for  recognition.  Thanks  to  its  operational  convenience, codes that were optimized for a DSP received a functional test after the computer simulation. In these functional tests, the face recognition system attained a 97.4% success rate on the most popular face database: the FRGC.