Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multimodal vehicle type classification using convolutional neural network and statistical representations of MFCC

Recognition of vehicle types in real life traffic scenarios is a challenging task due to the diversity of vehicles and uncontrolled environments. Efficient methods and feature representations are needed to cope with these challenges. In this paper, we address the vehicle type classification problem in real life traffic scenarios and propose a multimodal method that uses efficient representations of audio-visual modalities in the fusion context. We first separate audio-visual modalities from video data by extracting the keyframes and the corresponding audio fragments. Then we extract deep convolutional neural network (CNN) and the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient (MFCC) features from the visual and audio modalities of the video data, respectively. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm is used for the visual part and various types of statistical representations of the MFCC feature vectors are calculated to select representative features. These representations are then fused to form a robust multimodal feature. Finally, we train Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers for final classification of vehicle types using the obtained multimodal features. We evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed method on the TRECVID 2012 SIN video performance dataset for both single- and multi-modal cases. Our results show that, fusing the proposed MFCC representations with the GoogLeNet CNN features improves the classification accuracy.
Face transfer with multilinear models

Face Transfer is a method for mapping videorecorded performances of one individual to facial animations of another. It extracts visemes (speech-related mouth articulations), expressions, and three-dimensional (3D) pose from monocular video or film footage. These parameters are then used to generate and drive a detailed 3D textured face mesh for a target identity, which can be seamlessly rendered back into target footage. The underlying face model automatically adjusts for how the target performs facial expressions and visemes. The performance data can be easily edited to change the visemes, expressions, pose, or even the identity of the target---the attributes are separably controllable. This supports a wide variety of video rewrite and puppetry applications.Face Transfer is based on a multilinear model of 3D face meshes that separably parameterizes the space of geometric variations due to different attributes (e.g., identity, expression, and viseme). Separability means that each of these attributes can be independently varied. A multilinear model can be estimated from a Cartesian product of examples (identities × expressions × visemes) with techniques from statistical analysis, but only after careful preprocessing of the geometric data set to secure one-to-one correspondence, to minimize cross-coupling artifacts, and to fill in any missing examples. Face Transfer offers new solutions to these problems and links the estimated model with a face-tracking algorithm to extract pose, expression, and viseme parameters.
Clinical Effects of Portulaca Oleracea Seeds on Dyslipidemia in Obese Adolescents: a Triple-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Childhood obesity is a major public health concern worldwide while the current epidemic may be secondary to over consumption of high-fat, energy-rich foods. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) has been traditionally used in medicine for several antioxidant and anti-atherogenic activities. In this study the anti-dyslipidemic effects of P.oleracea was evaluated in obese adolescents. Methods: In this triple-blinded randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial which was done from July 2011 to June 2012, obese adolescent patients whom were referred to the Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute (Iran) were randomly allocated to the two arms of cases and controls. The cases group was asked to take one capsule containing powdered P. oleracea seeds (500 milligrams) two times a day for one month, and the controls group were asked to take identical but placebo (lactose) capsules in the same way. Biochemical parameters including 12-hours fasting serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were measured before the initiation and after the completion of the study protocol. Findings: Total cholesterol, LDL-C, and TG showed statistically significant changes over time (one month) in the P. oleracea group (p < 0.05). However, between-group analysis using general linear model (multivariate) test revealed that the differences in the mentioned parameters between two study groups were statistically significant just for LDL-C and TG, while others did not differ significantly. Conclusion: P. oleracea L. may have positive effects on serum lipids profile which may be attributed to its polyphenolic and antioxidant compounds. This herbal drug seems to be well-tolerated in adolescent population as well. Further studies are recommended.
Faunal response to sea‐level and climate change in a short‐lived seaway: Jurassic of the Western Interior, USA

Understanding how regional ecosystems respond to sea‐level and environmental perturbations is a main challenge in palaeoecology. Here we use quantitative abundance estimates, integrated within a sequence stratigraphic and environmental framework, to reconstruct benthic community changes through the 13 myr history of the Jurassic Sundance Seaway in the western United States. Sundance Seaway communities are notable for their low richness and high dominance relative to most areas globally in the Jurassic, and this probably reflects steep temperature and salinity gradients along the 2000 km length of the Seaway that hindered colonization of species from the open ocean. Ordination of samples shows a main turnover event at the Middle–Upper Jurassic transition, which coincided with a shift from carbonate to siliciclastic depositional systems in the Seaway, probably initiated by northward drift from subtropical latitudes to more humid temperate latitudes, and possibly global cooling. Turnover was not uniform across the onshore–offshore gradient, but was higher in offshore environments. The higher resilience of onshore communities to third‐order sea‐level fluctuations and to the change from a carbonate to a siliciclastic system was driven by a few abundant eurytopic species that persisted from the opening to the closing of the Seaway. Lower stability in offshore facies was instead controlled by the presence of more volatile stenotopic species. Such increased onshore stability in community composition contrasts with the well‐documented onshore increase in taxonomic turnover rates, and this study underscores how ecological analyses of relative abundance may contrast with taxonomically based analyses. We also demonstrate the importance of a stratigraphic palaeobiological approach to reconstructing the links between environmental and faunal gradients, and how their evolution through time produces local stratigraphic changes in community composition.
Modified set partitioning in hierarchical trees algorithm based on hierarchical subbands

Abstract. This paper introduces a modified set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) algorithm that reduces the number of comparison operations and, consequently, the execution time needed to encode an image as compared to the SPIHT algorithm. The threshold of each independent subband is calculated after applying the discrete wavelet transform to the image. Scanning of the sets inside the subbands is determined by the magnitude of the thresholds that establishes a hierarchical scanning not only for the set of coefficients with larger magnitude, but also for the subbands. The algorithm uses the set partitioning technique to sort the transform coefficients. Results show that the modified SPIHT significantly reduces the number of operations and the execution time without sacrificing visual quality and the PSNR of the recovered image.
Sex ratio of Wuchereria bancrofti in surgical specimens from an endemic area of Brazil

Abstract The sex ratio of adult Wuchereria bancrofti from 172 histologically diagnosed cases of lymphatic filariasis, all from an endemic area of Recife, in north–eastern Brazil, was investigated. Of 172 tissue specimens examined, 74 (43%) were lymph nodes and 98 (57%) lymphatic-vessel segments. The morphology of the worms was generally disrupted, in some cases to the point where the worms were almost completely absorbed by the granulomatous inflammatory response. Parasite gender was clearly determined in only 110 (64%) specimens, 61 (55.5 %) of which were lymph nodes and 49 (44.5%) lymphatic vessels. Eighty-seven (79.1%) of these tissue specimens contained only female worms, 17 (14.5%) both males and females, and six only males, giving an overall female:male 'specimen' ratio of 4.5:1. Of the 63 tissue specimens in which dead or degenerating worms were noted, 60 (92.2%) contained only females. All the female worms detected were gravid, regardless of whether male worms were present in the specimen. The implications of these findings for parasite dynamics, the pathogenesis of bancroftian filariasis and the interpretation of ultrasound images of living adult worms are discussed.
Next generation sequencing and its applications in HPVassociated cancers

Approximately 18% of all human cancers have a viral etiology, and human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as one of the most prevalent viruses that plays causative role in nearly all cervical cancers and, in addition, in subset of head and neck, anal, penile and vulvar cancers. The recent introduction of next generation sequencing (NGS) and other omics approaches have resulted in comprehensive knowledge on the pathogenesis of HPV-driven tumors. Specifically, these approaches have provided detailed information on genomic HPV integration sites, disrupted genes and pathways, and common and distinct genetic and epigenetic alterations in different human HPV-associated cancers. This review focuses on HPV integration sites, its concomitantly disrupted genes and pathways and its functional consequences in both cervical and head and neck cancers. Integration of NGS data with other omics and clinical data is crucial to better understand the pathophysiology of each individual malignancy and, based on this, to select targets and to design effective personalized treatment options.
Tumour risks and genotype–phenotype correlations associated with germline variants in succinate dehydrogenase subunit genes SDHB, SDHC and SDHD

Background Germline pathogenic variants in SDHB/SDHC/SDHD are the most frequent causes of inherited phaeochromocytomas/paragangliomas. Insufficient information regarding penetrance and phenotypic variability hinders optimum management of mutation carriers. We estimate penetrance for symptomatic tumours and elucidate genotype–phenotype correlations in a large cohort of SDHB/SDHC/SDHD mutation carriers. Methods A retrospective survey of 1832 individuals referred for genetic testing due to a personal or family history of phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma. 876 patients (401 previously reported) had a germline mutation in SDHB/SDHC/SDHD (n=673/43/160). Tumour risks were correlated with in silico structural prediction analyses. Results Tumour risks analysis provided novel penetrance estimates and genotype–phenotype correlations. In addition to tumour type susceptibility differences for individual genes, we confirmed that the SDHD:p.Pro81Leu mutation has a distinct phenotype and identified increased age-related tumour risks with highly destabilising SDHB missense mutations. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, the penetrance (cumulative risk of clinically apparent tumours) in SDHB and (paternally inherited) SDHD mutation-positive non-probands (n=371/67 with detailed clinical information) by age 60 years was 21.8% (95% CI 15.2% to 27.9%) and 43.2% (95% CI 25.4% to 56.7%), respectively. Risk of malignant disease at age 60 years in non-proband SDHB mutation carriers was 4.2%(95% CI 1.1% to 7.2%). With retrospective cohort analysis to adjust for ascertainment, cumulative tumour risks for SDHB mutation carriers at ages 60 years and 80 years were 23.9% (95% CI 20.9% to 27.4%) and 30.6% (95% CI 26.8% to 34.7%). Conclusions Overall risks of clinically apparent tumours for SDHB mutation carriers are substantially lower than initially estimated and will improve counselling of affected families. Specific genotype–tumour risk associations provides a basis for novel investigative strategies into succinate dehydrogenase-related mechanisms of tumourigenesis and the development of personalised management for SDHB/SDHC/SDHD mutation carriers.
USE OF OPEN AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGICAL TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE VASCULAR INJURIES IN THE TRAUMA SETTING: A REVIEW OF THE AAST PROOVIT REGISTRY.

INTRODUCTION Vascular trauma data have been submitted to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma PROspective Observational Vascular Injury Trial (PROOVIT) database since 2013. We present data to describe current use of endovascular surgery in vascular trauma. METHODS Registry data from March 2013 to December 2016 were reviewed. All trauma patients who had an injury to a named artery, except the forearm and lower leg, were included. Arteries were grouped into anatomic regions and by compressible and non-compressible region for analysis. This review focused on patients with non-compressible transection, partial transection, or flow limiting defect injuries. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationships between study variables. RESULTS 1143 patients from 22 institutions were included. Median age was 32 years (interquartile range IQR 23-48) and 76% (n=871) were male. Mechanisms of injury were 49% (n=561) blunt, 41% (n=464) penetrating, and 1.8% (n=21) of mixed aetiology. Gunshot wounds accounted for 73% (n=341) of all penetrating injuries. Endovascular techniques were used least often in limb trauma and most commonly in patients with blunt injuries to more than one region. Penetrating wounds to any region were preferentially treated with open surgery (74%, n=341/459). The most common indication for endovascular treatment was blunt non-compressible torso injuries (NCTI). These patients had higher injury severity scores and longer associated hospital stays, but required less packed red blood cells (PRBC), and had lower in hospital mortality than those treated with open surgery. On multivariate analysis, admission low hemoglobin concentration and abdominal injury were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS Our review of PROOVIT registry data demonstrates a high utilization of endovascular therapy among severely injured blunt trauma patients primarily with non-compressible torso hemorrhage. This is associated with decreased need for blood transfusion and improved survival despite longer length of stay. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III, Therapeutic/care management.
The Effects of Electromagnetic Brake on Liquid Steel Flow in Thin Slab Caster

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with magneto hydro dynamics (MHD) is developed for a thin slab caster to investigate the effects of electromagnetic brake (EMBr) on liquid steel flow in continuous casting mold and to determine the EMBr practices which lead to optimal flow structure. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) tests in water model and meniscus flow measurements in real caster are performed to validate the predictions obtained with CFD models. The performance of different submerged entry nozzle designs, SEN 1 and SEN 2, are evaluated. The effects of nozzle submergence in relation to the applied magnetic field on mold flow structure are quantified. There are significant differences between flow structures obtained with SEN 1 and SEN 2, even though both designs have fundamental similarities and contain four ports. EMBr mainly reduces the meniscus velocities for SEN 2 as opposed to the foremost influence of EMBr for SEN 1 that is to significantly slow down the downward jet coming from the bottom ports. In addition, reducing the EMBr strength for shallow nozzle submergence and increasing the EMBr strength for deep nozzle submergence help to maintain similar meniscus activity for all conditions.
This is a repository copy of An exploratory randomised trial of a simple, brief psychological intervention to reduce subsequent suicidal ideation and behaviour in patients admitted to hospital for self-harm.

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A Diffraction Measurement Model and Particle Filter Tracking Method for RSS-Based DFL

Device-free localization (DFL) based on received signal strength (RSS) measurements functions by measuring RSS variation due to the presence of the target. The accuracy of a certain localization method closely depends on the accuracy of the measurement model itself. Existing models have been found not accurate enough under certain circumstances as they cannot explain some phenomena observed in DFL practices. In light of this, we propose a new model to characterize the RSS variation, which invokes diffraction theory and regards the target as a cylinder instead of a point mass. It is observed that the proposed model agrees well with experimental measurements, particularly when the target crosses the link or is in the vicinity of the link. Since the proposed measurement model is highly nonlinear, a particle filter-based tracking method is used to generate the approximate Bayesian estimate of the target position. As a performance benchmark, we have also derived the posterior Cramér-Rao lower bound of DFL for a diffraction model. A field test has shown that the proposed diffraction model may improve the tracking accuracy at least by 45% in a single-target case and by 27% in a double-target case.
An exploration on long-distance communications between left-behind children and their parents in China

In China, hundreds of millions of migrant workers have moved to cities or coastal regions for more or better-paid jobs and have left their children behind at their rural homes. Separated by thousands of kilometers, these "left-behind" children and their migrant parents use mobile phones as their primary - and often only - method of maintaining family connections. To better understand the use of technology in this long-distance communication, we conducted a multi-phased study using interviews and surveys in three different Chinese rural areas. In this paper, we report our findings on how these children communicate with their migrant parents and what information they exchange. We also discuss design implications derived from these findings that may improve communication between left-behind children and their parents.
Numerical Simulation of Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells Featuring Metal Oxides as Carrier-Selective Contacts

The applicability of different high (low) work function contact materials for the formation of alternative passivating and hole (electron) selective contacts is currently re-explored for silicon solar cells. To assist the engineering of those contacts, which is still in its infancy, numerical device simulations are used to improve knowledge regarding relevant heterojunction and thin film properties with the focus on metal oxide based hole contacts. The importance of 1) a high metal oxide work function for the induced c-Si pn-junction is shown. It is elucidated that for an efficient hole transport from this induced c-Si junction into the external electrode, via the buffer and the metal oxide, 2) the metal oxide's conduction band must be below the valence band of the buffer (or c-Si absorber) for direct band-to-band tunneling, or 3) bulk traps near the valence band edge of the buffer (or c-Si absorber) are needed for trap-assisted tunneling.
Holistic recognition of low quality license plates by CNN using track annotated data

This work is focused on recognition of license plates in low resolution and low quality images. We present a methodology for collection of real world (non-synthetic) dataset of low quality license plate images with ground truth transcriptions. Our approach to the license plate recognition is based on a Convolutional Neural Network which holistically processes the whole image, avoiding segmentation of the license plate characters. Evaluation results on multiple datasets show that our method significantly outperforms other free and commercial solutions to license plate recognition on the low quality data. To enable further research of low quality license plate recognition, we make the datasets publicly available.
Adaptive neural network control for time-delay teleoperation with uncertainties

Most studies on teleoperation systems only consider dynamical uncertainties. However, many practical applications contain unknown external disturbances, mechanical parameter and dynamics uncertainties. In this paper, a class of time-delay teleoperation system with internal mechanical friction and external disturbance uncertainties is investigated. An adaptive neural network control approach is proposed, in which adaptive laws are designed to estimate unknown internal friction and external disturbances, and radial basis function neural networks are used to approximate the unknown parameters in the system model. The proposed control scheme can guarantee that the tracking errors eventually converge to a small neighborhood around zero. Simulation results are used to illustrate the performance of the suggested approach.
Ethical Considerations for Data Collection Using Surveys

&NA; Surveys are widely used instruments to collect research data. Although surveys may appear relatively benign and easily unlinked to participants, considerations for the ethical conduct of research with surveys are important. Maintaining scientific rigor is essential. This article explores ethical tenets in relation to informed consent and scientific consent when using surveys.
Universal quantum computation with electronic qubits in decoherence-free subspace

We investigate how to carry out universal quantum computation deterministically with free electrons in decoherence-free subspace by using polarizing beam splitters, charge detectors, and single-spin rotations. Quantum information in our case is encoded in spin degrees of freedom of the electron-pairs which construct a decoherence-free subspace. We design building blocks for two noncommutable single-logic-qubit gates and a logic controlled phase gate, based on which a universal and scalable quantum information processing robust to dephasing is available in a deterministic way.