Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VLSI implementation of camera digital signal processor for document projection system

The camera digital signal processing (DSP) core is a key component for a video catching system. In this study, first high-performance and low-complexity algorithms are developed for the camera DSP system. The main functions involve the color interpolation, white balance, color space transformation, auto gain control, edge enhancement and color enhancement. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve good quality as for a color-filter-array format camera. Based on the algorithms, the DSP processor is developed with pipelined structure. The prototyping chip is verified with one FPGA device, and then its ASIC is also realized with 0.35um CMOS process. A real-time camera system with 1270×792 resolutions is successfully demonstrated by the combination with the extra components within one PCB broad.
Safety and Tolerability of Donepezil, Rivastigmine and Galantamine for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease: Systematic Review of the ‘Real-World’ Evidence

Background/Aims: The purpose of this systematic review was to compare the safety and tolerability of the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine for treating mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients in routine clinical practice. Methods: Electronic databases (Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE; accessed October 2008) and manual bibliographic searches were conducted to identify head-to-head non-randomised studies examining ChEIs for the treatment of AD. Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Results: Twelve head-to-head studies comparing ChEIs met the pre-specified inclusion criteria; 6 retrospective analyses and 6 prospective cohort studies. Donepezil was the most widely studied treatment and galantamine the least widely prescribed therapy. Fewer donepezil-treated subjects withdrew due to adverse events (AEs) compared with rivastigmine and galantamine-treated subjects. The incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) AEs was lower following treatment with donepezil compared with rivastigmine and galantamine. Non-GI (CNS and cardiovascular) AEs occurred at a low frequency, and had a similar incidence in subjects treated with the different ChEIs. Conclusions: Subjects with mild to moderate AD treated in routine clinical practice with donepezil were more adherent to pharmacotherapy, and had a lower risk of GI AEs compared with rivastigmine or galantamine. This finding accords with results reported in the randomised clinical trial literature.
HERSCHEL-ATLAS GALAXY COUNTS AND HIGH-REDSHIFT LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS: THE FORMATION OF MASSIVE EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES

Exploiting the Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey Science Demonstration Phase survey data, we have determined the luminosity functions (LFs) at rest-frame wavelengths of 100 and 250 μm and at several redshifts z ≳ 1, for bright submillimeter galaxies with star formation rates (SFRs) ≳ 100 M☉ yr−1. We find that the evolution of the comoving LF is strong up to z ≈ 2.5, and slows down at higher redshifts. From the LFs and the information on halo masses inferred from clustering analysis, we derived an average relation between SFR and halo mass (and its scatter). We also infer that the timescale of the main episode of dust-enshrouded star formation in massive halos (MH ≳ 3 × 1012 M☉) amounts to ∼7 × 108 yr. Given the SFRs, which are in the range of 102–103 M☉ yr−1, this timescale implies final stellar masses of the order of 1011–1012 M☉. The corresponding stellar mass function matches the observed mass function of passively evolving galaxies at z ≳ 1. The comparison of the statistics for submillimeter and UV-selected galaxies suggests that the dust-free, UV bright phase is ≳ 102 times shorter than the submillimeter bright phase, implying that the dust must form soon after the onset of star formation. Using a single reference spectral energy distribution (SED; the one of the z ≈ 2.3 galaxy SMM J2135-0102), our simple physical model is able to reproduce not only the LFs at different redshifts >1 but also the counts at wavelengths ranging from 250 μm to ≈1 mm. Owing to the steepness of the counts and their relatively broad frequency range, this result suggests that the dispersion of submillimeter SEDs of z > 1 galaxies around the reference one is rather small.
Early Age-Related Functional Connectivity Decline in High-Order Cognitive Networks

As the world ages, it becomes urgent to unravel the mechanisms underlying brain aging and find ways of intervening with them. While for decades cognitive aging has been related to localized brain changes, growing attention is now being paid to alterations in distributed brain networks. Functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) has become a particularly useful tool to explore large-scale brain networks; yet, the temporal course of connectivity lifetime changes has not been established. Here, an extensive cross-sectional sample (21–85 years old, N = 887) from a public fcMRI database was used to characterize adult lifespan connectivity dynamics within and between seven brain networks: the default mode, salience, dorsal attention, fronto-parietal control, auditory, visual and motor networks. The entire cohort was divided into young (21–40 years, mean ± SD: 25.5 ± 4.8, n = 543); middle-aged (41–60 years, 50.6 ± 5.4, n = 238); and old (61 years and above, 69.0 ± 6.3, n = 106) subgroups. Correlation matrices as well as a mixed model analysis of covariance indicated that within high-order cognitive networks a considerable connectivity decline is already evident by middle adulthood. In contrast, a motor network shows increased connectivity in middle adulthood and a subsequent decline. Additionally, alterations in inter-network interactions are noticeable primarily in the transition between young and middle adulthood. These results provide evidence that aging-related neural changes start early in adult life.
GALEX high time-resolution ultraviolet observations of dMe flare events

Aims. We present near ultraviolet (NUV: 1750–2800 A) and far ultraviolet (FUV: 1350–1750 A) light-curves for flares on 4 nearby dMe-type stars (GJ 3685A, CR Dra, AF Psc and SDSS J084425.9+513830.5) observed with the GALEX satellite. Methods. Taking advantage of the time-tagged events recorded with the GALEX photon counting detectors, we present high temporal resolution (<0.01 s) analysis of these UV flare data. Results. A statistical analysis of 700 s of pre-flare quiescence data for both CR Dra and SDSS J084425.9+513830.5 failed to reveal the presence of significant micro-flare activity in time bins of 0.2, 1 and 10 s intervals. Using an appropriate differential emission measure for both the quiescent and flaring state, it is possible to reproduce the observed FUV:NUV flux ratios. A major determinant in reproducing this flux ratio is found to be the value of plasma electron density during the flare. We also searched the count rate data recorded during each of the four flare events for periodicity associated with magneto-hydrodynamic oscillations in the active region coronal loops. Significant oscillations were detected during the flare events observed on all 4 stars, with periodicities found in the 30 to 40 s range. Flare oscillations with this periodicity can be explained as acoustic waves in a coronal loop of length of ≈10 9 cm for an assumed plasma temperature of 5−20 × 10 6 K. This suggests a loop length for these M-dwarf flares of less than 1/10th of the stellar radii. We believe that this is the first detection of non-solar coronal loop flare oscillations observed at ultraviolet wavelengths.
Virtual Rigid Bodies for Agile Coordination of Quadrotor Swarms and Human-Swarm Teleoperation

This article presents a method for controlling a swarm of quadrotor micro aerial vehicles to perform agile interleaved maneuvers while holding a fixed relative formation, and transitioning between different formations. We propose an abstraction, called a Virtual Rigid Body, which allows us to decouple the trajectory of the whole swarm from the trajectories of the individual quadrotors within the swarm. The Virtual Rigid Body provides a way to plan and execute complex interleaved trajectories, and also gives a simple, intuitive interface for a single human user to control an arbitrarily large aerial swarm in real time. The Virtual Rigid Body concept is integrated with differential flatness-based feedback control to give a suite of swarm control tools. The article also proposes a library architecture for a human operator to select between a number of pre-determined formations for the swarm in real time. Our methods are demonstrated in hardware experiments with a group of three quadrotors controlled autonomously, and a group of five quadrotors teleoperated by a single human user.
Evolutionary game theory and multi-agent reinforcement learning

In this paper we survey the basics of reinforcement learning and (evolutionary) game theory, applied to the field of multi-agent systems. This paper contains three parts. We start with an overview on the fundamentals of reinforcement learning. Next we summarize the most important aspects of evolutionary game theory. Finally, we discuss the state-of-the-art of multi-agent reinforcement learning and the mathematical connection with evolutionary game theory.
Integrin-α5 Coordinates Assembly of Posterior Cranial Placodes in Zebrafish and Enhances Fgf-Dependent Regulation of Otic/Epibranchial Cells

Vertebrate sensory organs develop in part from cranial placodes, a series of ectodermal thickenings that coalesce from a common domain of preplacodal ectoderm. Mechanisms coordinating morphogenesis and differentiation of discrete placodes are still poorly understood. We have investigated whether placodal assembly in zebrafish requires Integrin- α5 (itga5), an extracellular matrix receptor initially expressed throughout the preplacodal ectoderm. Morpholino knockdown of itga5 had no detectable effect on anterior placodes (pituitary, nasal and lens), but posterior placodes developed abnormally, resulting in disorganization of trigeminal and epibranchial ganglia and reduction of the otic vesicle. Cell motion analysis in GFP-transgenic embryos showed that cell migration in itga5 morphants was highly erratic and unfocused, impairing convergence and blocking successive recruitment of new cells into these placodes. Further studies revealed genetic interactions between itga5 and Fgf signaling. First, itga5 morphants showed changes in gene expression mimicking modest reduction in Fgf signaling. Second, itga5 morphants showed elevated apoptosis in the otic/epibranchial domain, which was rescued by misexpression of Fgf8. Third, knockdown of the Fgf effector erm had no effect by itself but strongly enhanced defects in itga5 morphants. Finally, proper regulation of itga5 requires dlx3b/4b and pax8, which are themselves regulated by Fgf. These findings support a model in which itga5 coordinates cell migration into posterior placodes and augments Fgf signaling required for patterning of these tissues and cell survival in otic/epibranchial placodes.
The influence of spirituality on servant leadership among small business entrepreneurs

The Influence of Spirituality on Servant Leadership Among Small Business Entrepreneurs by Sharilyn D. Franklin MBA, Fontbonne University, St. Louis, 1995 BA, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1989 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Applied Management and Decision Sciences Walden University November 2010
So What Orders Do Informed Traders Use?

We analyze informed traders' equilibrium choice of limit or market orders. We show that even after incorporating an order's price impact, not only may informed traders prefer to use limit orders, but also the probability of submitting limit orders can be so high that in equilibrium limit orders convey more information than market orders. We further show that the horizon of the private information is critical for this choice and is positively related to the probability of using limit orders. Our empirical analysis suggests that informed traders do prefer to use limit orders and that limit orders are indeed more informative.
Social Stratification and Cooperative Behavior in Spatial Prisoners' Dilemma Games

It has been a long-lasting pursuit to promote cooperation, and this study aims to promote cooperation via the combination of social stratification and the spatial prisoners’ dilemma game. It is previously assumed that agents share the identical payoff matrix, but the stratification or diversity exists and exerts influences in real societies. Thus, two additional classes, elites and scoundrels, derive from and coexist with the existing class, commons. Three classes have different payoff matrices. We construct a model where agents play the prisoners’ dilemma game with neighbors. It indicates that stratification and temptation jointly influence cooperation. Temptation permanently reduces cooperation; elites play a positive role in promoting cooperation while scoundrels undermine it. As the temptation getting larger and larger, elites play a more and more positive and critical role while scoundrels’ negative effect becomes weaker and weaker, and it is more obvious when temptation goes beyond its threshold.
Responses to racial and ethnic discrimination : a study examining indigenous people in Australia and Chile

Die vorgelegte Arbeit untersucht die Reaktionen auf rassische und ethnische Diskriminierung (RED) in indigenen Volkern Australiens und Chiles. Das TRAM-Modell, ein struktureller Zirkumplex, der vier grundlegende Reaktionsstile unterscheidet, wird postuliert. Die im TRAM-Modell verarbeiteten Merkmalsfacetten werden durch den RDQ operationalisiert, der eine neuartige psychometrische Skala darstellt und im Untersuchungsvorhaben vier empirische Studien durchlauft: Fur die Testentwicklung wurden in einem Vortest (N = 8) und einer Konstruktionsstudie (N = 101) Daten von australischen Aborigines erhoben. Aus der resultierenden Fragebogen-Endversion wurden die psychometrischen Eigenschaften des RDQ ermittelt, fur die jeweils Stichproben von australischen Aborigines (N = 127) und - in einer ins Kastilische ubersetzten Fragebogenversion - von chilenischen Mapuche (N = 179) rekrutiert wurden. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass der RDQ ein valides Messinstrument der vier postulierten Reaktionsstile auf RED darstellt. Die Reliabilitatsprufung blieb unzureichend und wird Bestandteil weiterer Untersuchungen sein. Die Bedeutung fur Forschungsergebnisse und -vorhaben in den Bereichen wahrgenommene Diskriminierung, psychologischer Stress und psychisches Wohlbefinden werden diskutiert.
Mortality in patients with early- or late-onset candidaemia

Objectives Although candidaemia is a well-known complication of hospital stay and has a crude mortality of ∼40%, few data are available for episodes diagnosed within 10 days after hospital admission. In this paper, we compared the risk factors for mortality according to the onset of candidaemia. Methods This was a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with early-onset candidaemia (EOC; ≤10 days) or late-onset candidaemia (LOC; >10 days) to identify any distinct clinical characteristics and risk factors for 30 day mortality in two Italian academic centres. Results A total of 779 patients were included in the study: 183 EOC and 596 LOC. Mortality was significantly lower in EOC (71/183, 38.8% versus 283/596, 47.5%, P = 0.03). In EOC, multivariate analysis showed that inadequate initial antifungal therapy (IIAT) (P = 0.005, OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.40–6.51), Candida albicans aetiology (P = 0.02, OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.11–4.26) and older age (P < 0.001, OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.07) were independent risk factors for mortality. In LOC, liver disease (P = 0.003, OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.36–4.43), IIAT (P = 0.002, OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.28–3.15) and older age (P < 0.001, OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.04) were independently associated with a fatal outcome, while treatment with caspofungin was associated with survival (P < 0.001, OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26–0.67). Conclusions EOC has different clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality compared with LOC. Although EOC mortality is significantly lower, the rate of inappropriate antifungal treatment is higher. Treatment with caspofungin is significantly associated with survival in patients with LOC. Efforts are needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of EOC.
A compact enhanced-bandwidth hybrid ring using an artificial lumped-element left-handed transmission-line section

A new type of compact enhanced-bandwidth hybrid ring using an artificial lumped-element left-handed (LH) transmission-line (TL) section is proposed. The replacement of the 270/spl deg/ branch of the conventional hybrid ring by a -90/spl deg/ LH-TL branch results in both size reduction and bandwidth enhancement. The working principle of the LH TL used in the hybrid ring is explained and the performances of the component are demonstrated by measurement results. The proposed hybrid exhibits 67% size reduction compared to the conventional one, and shows a 58% and 49% bandwidth enhancements at 2 GHz in the 180/spl deg/-out-of-phase and in-phase operations, respectively.
Inflammatory Micro-Environmental Cues of Human Atherothrombotic Arteries Confer to Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells the Capacity to Trigger Lymphoid Neogenesis

Background Experimental atherosclerosis is characterized by the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLOs) within the adventitial layer, which involves the chemokine-expressing aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs). TLOs have also been described around human atherothrombotic arteries but the mechanisms of their formation remain poorly investigated. Herein, we tested whether human vascular SMCs play the role of chemokine-expressing cells that would trigger the formation of TLOs in atherothrombotic arteries. Results We first characterized, by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analysis, the prevalence and cell composition of TLOs in human abdominal aneurysms of the aorta (AAAs), an evolutive form of atherothrombosis. Chemotaxis experiments revealed that the conditioned medium from AAA tissues recruited significantly more B and T lymphocytes than the conditioned medium from control (N-AAA) tissues. This was associated with an increase in the concentration of CXCL13, CXCL16, CCL19, CCL20, and CCL21 chemokines in the conditioned medium from AAA tissues. Immunofluorescence analysis of AAA cryosections revealed that α-SMA-positive SMCs were the main contributors to the chemokine production. These results were confirmed by RT-qPCR assays where we found that primary vascular SMCs from AAA tissues expressed significantly more chemokines than SMCs from N-AAA. Finally, in vitro experiments demonstrated that the inflammatory cytokines found to be increased in the conditioned medium from AAA were able to trigger the production of chemokines by primary SMCs. Conclusion Together, these results suggest that human vascular SMCs in atherothrombotic arteries, in response to inflammatory signals, are converted into chemokine-expressing cells that trigger the recruitment of immune cells and the formation of aortic TLOs.
A Statistical Method to Base Nutrient Recommendations on Meta-Analysis of Intake and Health-Related Status Biomarkers

Nutrient recommendations in use today are often derived from relatively old data of few studies with few individuals. However, for many nutrients, including vitamin B-12, extensive data have now become available from both observational studies and randomized controlled trials, addressing the relation between intake and health-related status biomarkers. The purpose of this article is to provide new methodology for dietary planning based on dose-response data and meta-analysis. The methodology builds on existing work, and is consistent with current methodology and measurement error models for dietary assessment. The detailed purposes of this paper are twofold. Firstly, to define a Population Nutrient Level (PNL) for dietary planning in groups. Secondly, to show how data from different sources can be combined in an extended meta-analysis of intake-status datasets for estimating PNL as well as other nutrient intake values, such as the Average Nutrient Requirement (ANR) and the Individual Nutrient Level (INL). For this, a computational method is presented for comparing a bivariate lognormal distribution to a health criterion value. Procedures to meta-analyse available data in different ways are described. Example calculations on vitamin B-12 requirements were made for four models, assuming different ways of estimating the dose-response relation, and different values of the health criterion. Resulting estimates of ANRs and less so for INLs were found to be sensitive to model assumptions, whereas estimates of PNLs were much less sensitive to these assumptions as they were closer to the average nutrient intake in the available data.
Non-communicable chronic diseases in the Americas: an economic perspective on health policies

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are amongst the principal burdens of disease in both developed and underdeveloped countries. The main causes of these illnesses are well known. They are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol. The prevalence of these risk factors is directly related to the activities of transnational corporations. To begin with, just the budgets dedicated to advertising for risky consumption is larger than the budget of the World Health Organization. NCDs have many complex links with the economy whose study is almost completely absent for the Americas. They have important economic microeconomic and macroeconomic impacts and affect economic performance in the long-term. Yet the detailed evaluation of their economic impact, which is essential for establishing the importance of alternative policies, has only just begun in some regions of the world and is almost completely absent for the Americas. The sheer burden on the working and aged population implies that strong impacts on labor, saving and investment, as well as an increased human capital depreciation can be expected. These will all impact long-term economic growth. It is a research priority to quantify these impacts. However, in the context of globalization many changes are occurring at a very fast pace, often faster than their rigorous analysis. It is urgent to develop a global institutional framework capable of promoting the control of NCD risk factors, as well as health and economic growth in general. For example, developing legal mechanisms to slow the negative impact of the deficient nutrition transition could be a step in that direction. In the context of globalization, an international institutional framework is urgently needed to balance markets with governance, to hold TNCs responsible for their impact, and to tax them so they carry their fair share of social weight.
Detection of both vanA & vanB genes in vanA phenotypes of Enterococci by Taq Man RT-PCR

Twenty seven isolates of vancomycin resistant Enterococci based on the disk diffusion and E- test have been screened; being found eight (0.3%) clinical isolates of vanA & vanB through Taq Man Real Time PCR assay. This study shows the presence of both vanA & vanB genotypes in vanA phenotypes clinical isolates in the three hospitals in Iran.