Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-time multi-scale pedestrian detection for driver assistance systems

Pedestrian detection is one of the most challenging and vital tasks of driver assistance systems (DAS). Among several algorithms developed for human detection, histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) followed by support vector machine (SVM) has shown the most promising results. This paper presents a hardware accelerator for real-time pedestrian detection at different scales to fulfill the real-time requirements of DAS. It proposes an algorithmic modification to the conventional multi-scale object detection by means of HOG+SVM to increase the throughput and maintain the accuracy reasonably high. Our hardware accelerator detects pedestrians at the rate of 60 fps for HDTV (1080×1920) frame.
Initial Experiences with Proton MR Spectroscopy in Treatment Monitoring of Mitochondrial Encephalopathy

Purpose Mitochondrial encephalopathy (ME) is a rare disorder of energy metabolism. The disease course can roughly be evaluated by clinical findings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate metabolic spectral changes using proton MR spectroscopy (MRS), and to establish a way to monitor ME by neuroimaging. Materials and Methods Proton MRS data were retrospectively reviewed in 12 patients with muscle biopsy-confirmed ME (M : F = 7 : 5, Mean age = 4.8 years). All received 1H-MRS initially and also after a ketogenic diet and mitochondrial disease treatment cocktail (follow up average was 10.2 months). Changes of N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratio, choline/creatine (Cho/Cr) ratio, and lactate peak in basal ganglia at 1.2 ppm were evaluated before and after treatment. Findings on conventional T2 weighted MR images were also evaluated. Results On conventional MRI, increased basal ganglia T2 signal intensity was the most common finding with ME (n = 9, 75%), followed by diffuse cerebral atrophy (n = 8, 67%), T2 hyperintense lesions at pons and midbrain (n = 4, 33%), and brain atrophy (n = 2, 17%). Lactate peak was found in 4 patients; 2 had disappearance of the peak on follow up MRS. Quantitative analysis showed relative decrease of Cho/Cr ratio on follow up MRS (p = 0.0058, paired t-test, two-tailed). There was no significant change in NAA/Cr ratio. Conclusion MRS is a useful tool for monitoring disease progression or impro-vement in ME, and decrease or disappearance of lactate peak and reduction of Cho/Cr fraction were correlated well with improvement of clinical symptoms.
De Novo Histoid Leprosy

Histoid leprosy is an uncommon entity with specific clinical, histopathological and bacteriological features. Histoid lepromas are sudden eruption of dome shaped lesions usually associated with dapsone resistance, as a variant of lepromatous leprosy or rarely arising de novo. We report a case who presented for the first time with histoid features with no history of taking dapsone/antileprosy treatment earlier in an elderly male with small to large lesions over normal skin in the post-leprosy elimination era.
Fearing the Uncertain: A Causal Exploration of Self-Esteem, Self-Uncertainty, and Mortality Salience

Fearing the Uncertain: A Causal Exploration of Self-Esteem, Self-Uncertainty, and Mortality Salience by Zachary P. Hohman Claremont Graduate University: 2012 Social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) is one of the most influential social psychological theories of group behavior and intergroup relations. Early social identity research focused on many different group processes; however, the motivation behind group identification was not fully explored. Researchers have proposed a variety of accounts for why people join and identify with groups. This dissertation unravels the relationship between, on the one hand, mortality salience, self-related uncertainty and self-esteem, and on the other group identification and ingroup defense. The general hypothesis derived from uncertainty-identity theory (Hogg, 2010) is that uncertainty and not fear of death or pursuit of self-esteem motivate people to identify with and defend their groups, and that identification mediates the relationship between uncertainty and defense of the group. Experiment 1 (N = 112) tested the relationship between uncertainty and self-esteem on defense of the ingroup, with the additional test of the mediating effects of identification with the group between uncertainty and ingroup defense. Results showed that uncertainty and not self-esteem motivate people to identify with a group, to defend their group, and that group defense is mediated by identification. Experiment 2 (N = 112) provided a replication of the typical TMT study, which suggests that selfesteem will buffer the effects of mortality salience on ingroup defense, with the additional test of the mediating effects of identification between mortality salience and defense of one’s group. As predicted, mortality salience only increased identification and defense of the group when self-esteem was not enhanced, as well, the interactive effects of mortality salience and self-esteem on defense was mediated by identification. Experiment 3 (N = 294) was a combination of both Experiments 1 and 2 and tested the hypothesis that uncertainty would moderate the relationship between self-esteem and mortality salience on group identification and ingroup defense. Exactly as predicted, only under high uncertainty the typical TMT results are demonstrated. Results across these three experiments demonstrate that self-uncertainty plays a significant role in reactions to mortality salience, and support uncertainty-identity theory’s analysis of the role of selfuncertainty in ideological conviction and group behavior.
Carbon nanotubes enhance the internalization of drugs by cancer cells and decrease their chemoresistance to cytostatics

Etoposide is a semisynthetic, chemotherapeutic drug widely recommended to treat an extensive range of human cancers. Our studies indicate that, while etoposide is capable of killing human cancer cells, exposure to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and etoposide results in enhanced cell death that appears to be synergistic and not merely additive. In this study, we used high pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to quantify the internal effective dose of etoposide when the human pancreatic cancer cell (PANC-1) was exposed to the combination of these agents. Our results unequivocally indicate that SWCNTs improve etoposide uptake and increase its capacity to kill cancer cells. We suggest that a combination of SWCNTs and etoposide may prove to be a more efficient chemotherapeutic protocol, especially because of the potential to lower toxic drug doses to levels that may be useful in decreasing adverse side effects, as well as in lowering the probability of inducing chemoresistance in exposed cancer cells.
Reliability and validity of the short form of the child health questionnaire for parents (CHQ-PF28) in large random school based and general population samples

Study objectives: This study assessed the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the 28 item short child health questionnaire parent form (CHQ-PF28) containing the same 13 scales, but only a subset of the items in the widely used 50 item CHQ-PF50. Design: Questionnaires were sent to a random regional sample of 2040 parents of schoolchildren (4–13 years); in a random subgroup test-retest reliability was assessed (n = 234). Additionally, the study assessed CHQ-PF28 score distributions and internal consistencies in a nationwide general population sample of (parents of) children aged 4–11 (n = 2474) from Statistics Netherlands. Main results: Response was 70%. In the school and general population samples seven scales showed ceiling effects. Both CHQ summary measures and one multi-item scale showed adequate internal consistency in both samples (Cronbach’s α>0.70). One summary measure and one scale showed excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.70); seven scales showed moderate test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.50–0.70). The CHQ could discriminate between a subgroup with no parent reported chronic conditions (n = 954) and subgroups with asthma (n = 134), frequent headaches (n = 42), and with problems with hearing (n = 38) (Cohen’s effect sizes 0.12–0.92; p<0.05 for 39 of 42 comparisons). Conclusions: This study showed that the CHQ-PF28 resulted in score distributions, and discriminative validity that are comparable to its longer counterpart, but that the internal consistency of most individual scales was low. In community health applications, the CHQ-PF28 may be an acceptable alternative for the longer CHQ-PF50 if the summary measures suffice and reliable estimates of each separate CHQ scale are not required.
Spatial multiplexing with transmit antenna and constellation selection for correlated MIMO fading channels

We consider spatial multiplexing systems in correlated multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) fading channels with equal power allocated to each transmit antenna. Under this constraint, the number and subset of transmit antennas together with the transmit symbol constellations are determined assuming knowledge of the channel correlation matrices. We first consider a fixed data rate system and vary the number of transmit antennas and constellation such that the minimum margin in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is maximized for linear and Vertical Bell Laboratories Layered Space-Time (V-BLAST) receivers. We also derive transmit antenna and constellation selection criteria for a successive interference cancellation receiver (SCR) with a fixed detection order and a variable number of bits transmitted on each substream. Compared with a system using all available antennas, performance results show significant gains using a subset of transmit antennas, even for independent fading channels. Finally, we select a subset of transmit antennas to maximize data rate given a minimum SNR margin. A lower bound on the maximum outage data rate is derived. The maximum outage data rate of the SCR receiver is seen to be close to the outage channel capacity.
High-Rate Vector Quantization for the Neyman–Pearson Detection of Correlated Processes

This paper investigates the effect of quantization on the performance of the Neyman-Pearson test. It is assumed that a sensing unit observes samples of a correlated stationary ergodic multivariate process. Each sample is passed through an N-point quantizer and transmitted to a decision device which performs a binary hypothesis test. For any false alarm level, it is shown that the miss probability of the Neyman-Pearson test converges to zero exponentially as the number of samples tends to infinity, assuming that the observed process satisfies certain mixing conditions. The main contribution of this paper is to provide a compact closed-form expression of the error exponent in the high-rate regime, i.e., when the number N of quantization levels tends to infinity, generalizing previous results of Gupta and Hero to the case of nonindependent observations. If d represents the dimension of one sample, it is proved that the error exponent converges at rate N2/d to the one obtained in the absence of quantization. As an application, relevant high-rate quantization strategies which lead to a large error exponent are determined. Numerical results indicate that the proposed quantization rule can yield better performance than existing ones in terms of detection error.
Incremental cost-effectiveness of a collaborative care intervention for panic disorder

Background. Panic disorder is a prevalent, often disabling, disorder among primary-care patients, but there are large gaps in quality of treatment in primary care. This study describes the incremental cost-effectiveness of a combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy intervention for patients with panic disorder versus usual primary-care treatment. Method. This randomized control trial recruited 232 primary-care patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder from March 2000 to March 2002 from six primary-care clinics from university-affiliated clinics at the University of Washington (Seattle) and University of California (Los Angeles and San Diego). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either treatment as usual or a combined CBT and pharmacotherapy intervention for panic disorder delivered in primary care by a mental health therapist. Intervention patients had up to six sessions of CBT modified for the primary-care setting in the first 12 weeks, and up to six telephone follow-ups over the next 9 months. The primary outcome variables were total out-patient costs, anxiety-free days (AFDs) and quality adjusted life-years (QALYs). Results. Relative to usual care, intervention patients experienced 60·4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 42·9–77·9] more AFDs over a 12-month period. Total incremental out-patient costs were $492 higher (95% CI $236–747) in intervention versus usual care patients with a cost per additional AFD of $8.40 (95% CI $2.80–14.0) and a cost per QALY ranging from $14158 (95% CI $6791–21496) to $24776 (95% CI $11885–37618). The cost per QALY estimate is well within the range of other commonly accepted medical interventions such as statin use and treatment of hypertension. Conclusions. The combined CBT and pharmacotherapy intervention was associated with a robust clinical improvement compared to usual care with a moderate increase in ambulatory costs.
In Vitro Activity of Ampicillin or Vancomycin Combined with Gentamicin or Streptomycin Against Enterococci

Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of four antibiotics and their combinations were determined for 38 strains of enterococci by a microtitration tube dilution technique. The drugs were ampicillin, vancomycin, gentamicin, and streptomycin; the combinations were ampicillin-gentamicin, ampicillin-streptomycin, vancomycin-gentamicin, and vancomycin-streptomycin. At achievable serum concentrations, ampicillin alone killed 60% of strains, whereas combination with streptomycin increased this to 90% and with gentamicin to 100%. Vancomycin alone showed striking inhibitory activity, but very poor bactericidal activity at achievable concentrations. Combination with one of the aminoglycosides increased the bactericidal activity substantially. When combined with ampicillin, gentamicin was both more active and showed synergistic bactericidal activity significantly more often (P < 0.01) than streptomycin.
Approaches to learning, need for cognition, and strategic flexibility among university students.

BACKGROUND Considerable research has described students' deep and surface approaches to learning. Other research has described individuals' self-regulated learning and need for cognition. There is a need for research examining the relationships among these constructs. AIMS This study explored relationships among approaches to learning (deep, surface), need for cognition, and three types of control of learning (adaptive, inflexible, irresolute). Theory suggested similarities among the deep approach, need for cognition, and adaptive control (aspects of self-regulated learning); and among surface, inflexible, and irresolute control (aspects of an ineffective approach to learning). One-factor and two-factor models were proposed. SAMPLE Participants were 226 Canadian military college students. METHOD Participants completed the following questionnaires: the Study Process Questionnaire (Biggs, 1978), the Need for Cognition Scale (Cacioppo & Petty, 1982), and the Strategic Flexibility Questionnaire (Cantwell & Moore, 1996). RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis supported the identification of the six scale factors. Second order confirmatory factor analysis indicated three factors representing constructs underlying these factors. CONCLUSIONS Neither the one- nor two-factor models accounted adequately for the data. Self-regulated learning was defined by measures of the deep approach to learning, need for cognition, and adaptive control of learning. The second factor divided into one factor consisting of irresolute control, the surface approach, and negative need for cognition; and another consisting of inflexible and negative adaptive control. Substantial relationships among scales support the need for further theory development.
Dynamic Instrumentation of Production Systems

This paper presents DTrace, a new facility for dynamic instrumentation of production systems. DTrace features the ability to dynamically instrument both user-level and kernel-level software in a unified and absolutely safe fashion. When not explicitly enabled, DTrace has zero. probe effect--the system operates exactly as if DTrace were not present at all. DTrace allows for many tens of thousands of instrumentation points, with even the smallest of systems offering on the order of 30,000 such points in the kernel alone. We have developed a C-like high-level control language to describe the predicates and actions at a given point of instrumentation. The language features user-defined variables, including thread-local variables and associative arrays. To eliminate the need for most postprocessing, the facility features a scalable mechanism for aggregating data and a mechanism for speculative tracing. DTrace has been integrated into the Solaris operating system and has been used to find serious systemic performance problems on production systems-problems that could not be found using pre-existing facilities.
Methods and meanings: credibility and trustworthiness of qualitative research.

H istorically, qualitative research has been viewed as “soft” science and criticized for lacking scientific rigor compared to quantitative research, which uses experimental, objective methods (Mays & Pope, 1995). Common criticisms are that qualitative research is subjective, anecdotal, subject to researcher bias, and lacking generalizability by producing large quantities of detailed information about a single, unique phenomenon or setting (Koch & Harrington, 1998). However, qualitative research is not inferior research, but a different approach in studying humans. Qualitative research emphasizes exploring individual experiences, describing phenomenon, and developing theory (Vishnevsky & Beanlands, 2004). A major challenge for researchers is striving for the highest possible quality when conducting and reporting research. As evidence-based professionals, nurses must be able to assess strengths, limitations, and quality or scientific merit of a study when reviewing the literature. Because quantitative and qualitative research differ in methodologic approach, different criteria exist in regard to critiquing each. The perspectives of quantitative research are rigor and validity, and the perspectives of qualitative research are credibility and trustworthiness. This article will present criteria for evaluating quality in qualitative research as proposed by Lincoln and Guba (1985) and Whittemore, Chase, and Mandle (2001); strategies to enhance credibility; and examples used by Pedersen, Hack, McClement, and Taylor-Brown (2013), who explored the patient navigation role from the perspective of young women with breast cancer. The most common criteria used to evaluate qualitative research are those purported by Lincoln and Guba (1985). To develop trustworthiness in qualitative research, Lincoln and Guba (1985) initially presented four criteria: credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. In 1994, Guba and Lincoln added a fifth criterion, authenticity.
Bit loading profiles for high-speed data in DOCSIS 3.1

DOCSIS 3.1 aims to provide higher speeds over coaxial cable systems than existing cable standards. It uses multicarrier modulation and allows different bit loading per subcarrier. As the subcarrier SNRs for different cable modems are different, DOCSIS 3.1 allows adaptation of data transmission to cable modems by permitting multiple profiles. These provisions enable intelligent bit loading practices in DOCSIS 3.1. This article addresses the problem of assigning profiles to cable modems based on similarity in subcarrier SNRs. Simple algorithms are proposed to group together cable modems suitable for the same modulation profile. It is shown that as the number of allowed profiles increases, higher average data rate can be achieved.
How to assess communication, professionalism, collaboration and the other intrinsic CanMEDS roles in orthopedic residents: use of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).

BACKGROUND Assessing residents' understanding and application of the 6 intrinsic CanMEDS roles (communicator, professional, manager, collaborator, health advocate, scholar) is challenging for postgraduate medical educators. We hypothesized that an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) designed to assess multiple intrinsic CanMEDS roles would be sufficiently reliable and valid. METHODS The OSCE comprised 6 10-minute stations, each testing 2 intrinsic roles using case-based scenarios (with or without the use of standardized patients). Residents were evaluated using 5-point scales and an overall performance rating at each station. Concurrent validity was sought by correlation with in-training evaluation reports (ITERs) from the last 12 months and an ordinal ranking created by program directors (PDs). RESULTS Twenty-five residents from postgraduate years (PGY) 0, 3 and 5 participated. The interstation reliability for total test scores (percent) was 0.87, while reliability for each of the communicator, collaborator, manager and professional roles was greater than 0.8. Total test scores, individual station scores and individual CanMEDS role scores all showed a significant effect by PGY level. Analysis of the PD rankings of intrinsic roles demonstrated a high correlation with the OSCE role scores. A correlation was seen between ITER and OSCE for the communicator role, while the ITER medical expert and total scores highly correlated with the communicator, manager and professional OSCE scores. CONCLUSION An OSCE designed to assess the intrinsic CanMEDS roles was sufficiently valid and reliable for regular use in an orthopedic residency program.