Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Lightweight Encryption Method for Privacy Protection in Surveillance Videos

Privacy protection of surveillance videos is an important issue because of the pervasiveness of surveillance cameras. Region of interest (RoI) privacy protection prefers encrypting limited privacy-sensitive areas to encrypting the entire video because of the resource-tightened Internet of Things devices. However, many cryptographic technologies now applied in privacy protection, e.g., AES and RSA, are not efficient to meet the real-time requirement for surveillance videos. A lightweight encryption approach is then devised based on layered cellular automata (LCA). Using our approach, the extracted RoIs are fed into the initial state of an 8-layer cellular automata, which is driven by the randomly selected rules for the LCA’s state transitions. As a result, all RoIs are encrypted independently and synchronously. The encrypted RoIs are stored at the camera side and can be used by authenticated users through an on-demand manner. The surveillance video without RoIs can be watched in real-time by any user online. Theoretical analyses and experimental results show that our approach is both efficient and effective.
Initial observations from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)

As of June 19, 2010, the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter, an instrument on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, has collected over 2.0 × 109 measurements of elevation that collectively represent the highest resolution global model of lunar topography yet produced. These altimetric observations have been used to improve the lunar geodetic grid to ∼10 m radial and ∼100 m spatial accuracy with respect to the Moon's center of mass. LOLA has also provided the highest resolution global maps yet produced of slopes, roughness and the 1064‐nm reflectance of the lunar surface. Regional topography of the lunar polar regions allows precise characterization of present and past illumination conditions. LOLA's initial global data sets as well as the first high‐resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) of polar topography are described herein.
Correlates of Vaccine-Induced Immunity

The immune system is redundant, and B and T cells collaborate. However, almost all current vaccines work through induction of antibodies in serum or on mucosa that block infection or interfere with microbial invasion of the bloodstream. To protect, antibodies must be functional in the sense of neutralization or opsonophagocytosis. Correlates of protection after vaccination are sometimes absolute quantities but often are relative, such that most infections are prevented at a particular level of response but some will occur above that level because of a large challenge dose or deficient host factors. There may be 11 correlate of protection for a disease, which we term “cocorrelates. ” Either effector or central memory may correlate with protection. Cell-mediated immunity also may operate as a correlate or cocorrelate of protection against disease, rather than against infection. In situations where the true correlate of protection is unknown or difficult to measure, surrogate tests (usually antibody measurements) must suffice as predictors of protection by vaccines. Examples of each circumstance are given.
Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems ( PACIS ) 2014 UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF MOTIVES IN SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

Smartphone has become highly prevalent in recent years. It demonstrates as a useful technology that brings productivity and convenience in our daily life. However, smartphone usage can also drive psychological and behavioral maladaptive dependency, which may result in negative problems. Given that research on smartphone addiction is still limited in the information systems literature, this paper aims to propose a framework of motives from the functionalist perspective and investigate why users will be addicted to smartphones. Four categories of motives for smartphone usage are proposed in this study. They include enhancement motives (i.e., information seeking and perceived enjoyment), social motives (i.e., social relationship), coping motives (i.e., mood regulation and pastime), and conformity motives (i.e., conformity). We empirically test our research model using online survey method. The findings illustrate that perceived enjoyment, mood regulation, pastime, and conformity positively affect smartphone addiction, whereas information seeking and social relationship have no significant effects. Implications for both research and practice are provided.
A Review of Creep Deformation and Rupture Mechanisms of Cr-Mo Alloy for the Development of Creep Damage Constitutive Equations under Lower Stress

This paper presents a review of creep deformation and rupture mechanisms of low Cr-Mo alloy for the development of its creep damage constitutive equations under lower stress. The most popular Kachanov-Robatnov-Hayhurst (KRH) formulation was not necessarily developed and calibrated for low stress and cannot depict the creep strain accurately under multi-axial state of stress due to the three-dimensional generalization method used. This paper summarizes a critical analysis on the cavity nucleation and growth, and the deformation mechanisms and creep damage evolution characteristics at the temperature ranging for 723K to 923K (450 ℃ to 650 ℃), particularly under low stress level (0.2-0.4 ��), in order to form the physical base for the development of creep damage constitutive equation. Moreover, it covers the influence of the stress level, states of stress, and the failure criterion.
Melatonin and serotonin in flowers and fruits of Datura metel L.

Abstract: Datura metel is a plant that contains several different neurologically active phytochemicals which affect human health. On‐going research has examined the potential role of the human neuroindoles, melatonin and serotonin, in medicinal plants with neurological efficacy. In this report, we describe the quantification of melatonin and serotonin in flowers and developing fruits of Datura metel and the effects of cold stress on the levels of these neuroindoles in the reproductive tissues of this plant. Melatonin and serotonin were found at the highest levels in the least developed flower buds with decreasing concentrations as the flower buds matured. Cold stress significantly increased the concentration of melatonin in young flower buds. In the developing fruit, melatonin was present at relatively stable, high concentrations for the first 10 days after anthesis. After 10–15 days, the ovule had grown to a sufficient size for excision and analysis and melatonin was found to be at the highest concentrations in the developing ovule with minimal concentrations of the neuroindoles in the fleshy fruit. Together, these data indicate that melatonin may play a role in protecting the reproductive tissues during flower and seed formation in a Datura species.
Tannins and Bacitracin Differentially Modulate Gut Microbiota of Broiler Chickens

Antibiotic growth promoters have been used for decades in poultry farming as a tool to maintain bird health and improve growth performance. Global concern about the recurrent emergence and spreading of antimicrobial resistance is challenging the livestock producers to search for alternatives to feed added antibiotics. The use of phytogenic compounds appears as a feasible option due to their ability to emulate the bioactive properties of antibiotics. However, detailed description about the effects of in-feed antibiotics and alternative natural products on chicken intestinal microbiota is lacking. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene was used to study composition of cecal microbiota in broiler chickens supplemented with either bacitracin or a blend of chestnut and quebracho tannins over a 30-day grow-out period. Both tannins and bacitracin had a significant impact on diversity of cecal microbiota. Bacitracin consistently decreased Bifidobacterium while other bacterial groups were affected only at certain times. Tannins-fed chickens showed a drastic decrease in genus Bacteroides while certain members of order Clostridiales mainly belonging to the families Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae were increased. Different members of these groups have been associated with an improvement of intestinal health and feed efficiency in poultry, suggesting that these bacteria could be associated with productive performance of birds.
Sleep Abnormalities in Guillain Barre Syndrome : A Clinical and Polysomnographic Study

Methodology: This prospective hospital based study included 30 adults with GB syndrome (mean: 34.30 ± 1.40 years; M:F=24:6). All patients underwent evaluation with phenotypic details, nerve conduction studies, sleep questionnaires and over-night polysomnography (PSG). Three (10%) patients had baseline sleep disturbances with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) of >5 and all the 3 patients continued to have poor sleep during hospitalization. Sixteen (53.3%) patients had poor sleep during their hospital stay as assessed by Richards score. Sleep disturbances as per St Mary’s sleep score depicted similar observations over 10 nights. Overnight PSG was carried out within 1st to 12 day of hospitalization (mean: 6.83 ± 3.07; median: 6.5).
Stroke risk among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Increased stroke risk among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients has not yet been established. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess stroke risk among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched from database inception until December 31, 2016 to identify longitudinal observational studies that investigated the association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and stroke. Stroke risk was quantified by overall and subgroup analyses, and a pooled hazard ratio was calculated. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Publication bias was assessed using Begg’s rank correlation test. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. In a random-effects model, significantly increased stroke risk was observed among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.43). In subgroup analyses stratified by stroke subtype, study quality, and adjustment by socioeconomic status, the association between increased stroke risk and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients was robust. Statistically significant publication bias was not detected. In summary, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was found to be associated with increased stroke risk. Additional prospective studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the increase in stroke risk and identify effective preventive interventions.
Acoustic sensitivity to micro-perturbations of KEMAR's pinna surface geometry

To better understand the relations between pinna anthropometry and acoustic features used for sound localisation, acoustic sensitivity analysis was carried out on the DB60 pinna of the Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research (KEMAR), with the aid of computer simulations with the Finite-Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. Starting with the original shape of the pinna and an adjacent patch of KEMAR's head voxelated on a uniform 3D grid of resolution 2 mm, FDTD simulation was used to obtain a baseline set of Pinna-Related Transfer Functions (PRTFs) at 45 spatial locations covering a wide range of azimuth and elevation angles, a distance 1 m from the ear. A total of 1784 unique “micro”-perturbations were then effected by adding a single voxel at a time along the entire outer surface of the pinna and adjoining head-side. For each perturbation, a full set of PRTFs were obtained by simulation and compared with the original PRTFs, to precisely quantify the resulting shifts in the centre-frequencies of 234 acoustic features (at most 4 peaks and 3 notches per PRTF, across 45 spatial locations) that appeared up to 14 kHz. This large amount of data allowed the creation of detailed 3D maps of the pinna showing patterns of frequency sensitivity for every peak and notch, thus revealing the anatomical parts of the pinna most strongly affiliated with each acoustic feature. A measure of correlation was used to group the 234 pinna sensitivity maps into a smaller number of distinct categories. The results contribute to knowledge on the physical modes of pinna resonance and anti-resonance.
Progress in the pharmacological treatment of human cystic and alveolar echinococcosis: Compounds and therapeutic targets

Human cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are helmintic zoonotic diseases caused by infections with the larval stages of the cestode parasites Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis, respectively. Both diseases are progressive and chronic, and often fatal if left unattended for E. multilocularis. As a treatment approach, chemotherapy against these orphan and neglected diseases has been available for more than 40 years. However, drug options were limited to the benzimidazoles albendazole and mebendazole, the only chemical compounds currently licensed for treatment in humans. To compensate this therapeutic shortfall, new treatment alternatives are urgently needed, including the identification, development, and assessment of novel compound classes and drug targets. Here is presented a thorough overview of the range of compounds that have been tested against E. granulosus and E. multilocularis in recent years, including in vitro and in vivo data on their mode of action, dosage, administration regimen, therapeutic outcomes, and associated clinical symptoms. Drugs covered included albendazole, mebendazole, and other members of the benzimidazole family and their derivatives, including improved formulations and combined therapies with other biocidal agents. Chemically synthetized molecules previously known to be effective against other infectious and non-infectious conditions such as anti-virals, antibiotics, anti-parasites, anti-mycotics, and anti-neoplastics are addressed. In view of their increasing relevance, natural occurring compounds derived from plant and fungal extracts are also discussed. Special attention has been paid to the recent application of genomic science on drug discovery and clinical medicine, particularly through the identification of small inhibitor molecules tackling key metabolic enzymes or signalling pathways.
The Hierarchical Structure of the Face Network Revealed by Its Functional Connectivity Pattern

A major principle of human brain organization is “integrating” some regions into networks while “segregating” other sets of regions into separate networks. However, little is known about the cognitive function of the integration and segregation of brain networks. Here, we examined the well-studied brain network for face processing, and asked whether the integration and segregation of the face network (FN) are related to face recognition performance. To do so, we used a voxel-based global brain connectivity method based on resting-state fMRI to characterize the within-network connectivity (WNC) and the between-network connectivity (BNC) of the FN. We found that 95.4% of voxels in the FN had a significantly stronger WNC than BNC, suggesting that the FN is a relatively encapsulated network. Importantly, individuals with a stronger WNC (i.e., integration) in the right fusiform face area were better at recognizing faces, whereas individuals with a weaker BNC (i.e., segregation) in the right occipital face area performed better in the face recognition tasks. In short, our study not only demonstrates the behavioral relevance of integration and segregation of the FN but also provides evidence supporting functional division of labor between the occipital face area and fusiform face area in the hierarchically organized FN. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Although the integration and segregation are major principles of human brain organization, little is known about whether they support the cognitive processes. By correlating the within-network connectivity (WNC) and between-network connectivity (BNC) of the face network with face recognition performance, we found that individuals with stronger WNC in the right fusiform face area or weaker BNC in the right occipital face area were better at recognizing faces. Our study not only demonstrates the behavioral relevance of the integration and segregation but also provides evidence supporting functional division of labor between the occipital face area and fusiform face area in the hierarchically organized face network.
RISK ASSESSMENT OF EROSION FROM CONCENTRATED FLOW ON RANGELANDS USING OVERLAND FLOW DISTRIBUTION AND SHEAR STRESS PARTITIONING

Abstract. Erosion rates of overland flow on rangelands tend to be relatively low, but under certain conditions where flow is concentrated, soil loss can be significant. Therefore, a rangeland site can be highly vulnerable to soil erosion where overland flow is likely to concentrate and exert high shear stress on soil grains. This concept is commonly applied in cropland and wildland soil erosion modeling using predictions of flow effective shear stress (shear stress applied on soil grains). However, historical approaches to partition shear stress in erosion models are computationally complex and require extensive parameterization. Furthermore, most models are not capable of predicting the conditions in which concentrated flow occurs on rangelands. In this study, we investigated the rangelands conditions at which overland flow is more likely to become concentrated and developed equations for partitioning the shear stress of concentrated flow on rangelands. A logistic equation was developed to estimate the probability of overland flow to become concentrated. Total shear stress of rangeland overland flow was partitioned into components exerted on soil, vegetation, and rock cover using field experimental data. In addition, we investigated the vegetation cover limit at which the effective shear stress component is substantially reduced, limiting the erosion rate. The results from the partitioning equations show that shear stress exerted on soil grains was relatively small in sheet flow. Shear stress exerted on soil grains in concentrated flow was significantly higher when bare soil exceeded 60% of the total surface area but decreased significantly when the bare soil area was less than 25% or when the plant base cover exceeded 20%. These percentages could be used as relative measures of hydrologic recovery for disturbed rangelands or as triggers that indicate a site is crossing a threshold beyond which soil erosion might accelerate due to the high effective shear stress.
Extreme precipitation patterns and reductions of terrestrial ecosystem production across biomes

Precipitation regimes are predicted to shift to more extreme patterns that are characterized by more heavy rainfall events and longer dry intervals, yet their ecological impacts on vegetation production remain uncertain across biomes in natural climatic conditions. This in situ study investigated the effects of these climatic conditions on aboveground net primary production (ANPP) by combining a greenness index from satellite measurements and climatic records during 2000–2009 from 11 long‐term experimental sites in multiple biomes and climates. Results showed that extreme precipitation patterns decreased the sensitivity of ANPP to total annual precipitation (PT) at the regional and decadal scales, leading to decreased rain use efficiency (RUE; by 20% on average) across biomes. Relative decreases in ANPP were greatest for arid grassland (16%) and Mediterranean forest (20%) and less for mesic grassland and temperate forest (3%). The cooccurrence of heavy rainfall events and longer dry intervals caused greater water stress conditions that resulted in reduced vegetation production. A new generalized model was developed using a function of both PT and an index of precipitation extremes and improved predictions of the sensitivity of ANPP to changes in precipitation patterns. Our results suggest that extreme precipitation patterns have substantially negative effects on vegetation production across biomes and are as important as PT. With predictions of more extreme weather events, forecasts of ecosystem production should consider these nonlinear responses to altered extreme precipitation patterns associated with climate change.
Chlorophyll Fluorescence Better Captures Seasonal and Interannual Gross Primary Productivity Dynamics Across Dryland Ecosystems of Southwestern North America

Satellite remote sensing provides unmatched spatiotemporal information on vegetation gross primary productivity (GPP). Yet understanding of the relationship between GPP and remote sensing observations and how it changes with factors such as scale, biophysical constraint, and vegetation type remains limited. This knowledge gap is especially apparent for dryland ecosystems, which have characteristic high spatiotemporal variability and are under‐represented by long‐term field measurements. Here we utilize an eddy covariance (EC) data synthesis for southwestern North America in an assessment of how accurately satellite‐derived vegetation proxies capture seasonal to interannual GPP dynamics across dryland gradients. We evaluate the enhanced vegetation index, solar‐induced fluorescence (SIF), and the photochemical reflectivity index. We find evidence that SIF is more accurately capturing seasonal GPP dynamics particularly for evergreen‐dominated EC sites and more accurately estimating the full magnitude of interannual GPP dynamics for all dryland EC sites. These results suggest that incorporation of SIF could significantly improve satellite‐based GPP estimates.
Increased population sampling confirms low genetic divergence among Pteropus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) fruit bats of Madagascar and other western Indian Ocean islands

Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus occur throughout the Austral-Asian region west to islands off the eastern coast of Africa. Recent phylogenetic analyses of Pteropus from the western Indian Ocean found low sequence divergence and poor phylogenetic resolution among several morphologically defined species. We reexamine the phylogenetic relationships of these taxa by using multiple individuals per species. In addition, we estimate population genetic structure in two well-sampled taxa occurring on Madagascar and the Comoro Islands (P. rufus and P. seychellensis comorensis). Despite finding a similar pattern of low sequence divergence among species, increased sampling provides insight into the phylogeographic history of western Indian Ocean Pteropus, uncovering high levels of gene flow within species.
Arbuscular mycorrhizae and soil/plant water relations

The water relations of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants have been compared often. However, virtually nothing is known about the comparative water relations of AM and nonAM soils or about the relative influence of AM colonization of soil vs. AM colonization of plants on host water balance. In this review, I summarize findings that support the assertion that colonization of soil may play as important a role as colonization of roots regarding how AM symbiosis affects the water relations of host plants. We observed a slight but significant AM effect on the soil moisture characteristic curve of a Sequatchie fine sandy loam following 7 mo of mycorrhization by Glomus intraradices/Vigna unguiculata. In a separate study, few AM effects on either the wet or dry hysteretic curves were discernible after 12 mo of mycorrhization by G. intraradices or Gigaspora margarita on roots of Phaseolus vulgaris. Using myc- bean mutants, we determined that about half of the considerable promotion of stomatal conductance by G. in.