Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
R^2NC: Redundant and Random Network Coding for H.264/SVC Transmission

In this paper we are interested in improving the performance of constructive network coding schemes for video transmission over packet lossy networks. A novel unequal packet loss protection scheme R2NC based on low-triangular global coding matrix with ladder-shaped partition will be presented, which combines redundant and random network coding for robust H.264/SVC video transmission. Firstly, the error-correcting capabilities of redundant network coding make our scheme resilient to loss. Secondly, the implementation of random network coding at the intermediate nodes with multiple input links can reduce the cost of network bandwidth, thus reducing the end to end delay for video transmission. Thirdly, the low-triangular global coding matrix with ladder-shaped partition is maintained throughout R2NC process to provide unequal erasure protection for H.264/SVC priority layers. The redundant network coding avoids the retransmission of lost packets and improves error correcting capabilities of lost packets. Based only on the knowledge of the loss rates on the output links, the source node and intermediate nodes can make decisions for redundant network coding and random network coding (i.e., how much redundancy to add at this node). However, the redundancy caused by redundant network coding makes the network load increases, in order to improve network throughput, we perform random network coding at the intermediate nodes. Our approach is grounded on the overall distortion of reconstructed video minimization by optimizing the amount of redundancy assigned to each layer. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate the significant improvement of H.264/SVC video reconstruction quality with R2NC over packet lossy networks.
Pharmacotherapy for acute pain in children: current practice and recent advances

Introduction: Acute pain in children may be undertreated. Improved understanding of developmental neurobiology and paediatric pharmacokinetics should facilitate better management of pharmacotherapy. The objective of this review is to discuss current paediatric practice and recent advances with these analgesic agents by using an evidence-based approach. Areas covered: Using PubMed an extensive literature review was conducted on the commonly used analgesic agents in children from 2000 to April 2010. Expert opinion: A multimodal analgesic regimen provides better pain control and functional outcome in children. The choice of pharmacological treatment is determined by the severity and type of pain. However, more research and evidence is required to determine the optimal drug combinations.
Reset Price Inflation and the Impact of Monetary Policy Shocks

A standard state-dependent pricing model generates little monetary non-neutrality. Two ways of generating more meaningful real effects are time-dependent pricing and strategic complementarities. These mechanisms have telltale implications for the persistence and volatility of "reset price inflation. " Reset price inflation is the rate of change of all desired prices (including for goods that have not changed price in the current period). Using the micro data underpinning the CPI, we construct an empirical measure of reset price inflation. We find that time-dependent models imply unrealistically high persistence and stability of reset price inflation. This discrepancy is exacerbated by adding strategic complementarities, even under state-dependent pricing. A state-dependent model with no strategic complementarities aligns most closely with the data.
The Role of Indian Caste Identity and Caste Inconsistent Norms on Status Representation

The Indian caste system is a complex social structure wherein social roles like one’s profession became ‘hereditary,’ resulting in restricted social mobility and fixed status hierarchies. Furthermore, we argue that the inherent property of caste heightens group identification with one’s caste. Highly identified group members would protect the identity of the group in situations when group norms are violated. In this paper, we were interested in examining the consequence of caste norm violation and how an individual’s status is mentally represented. High caste norms are associated with moral values while the lower caste norms are associated with immorality. We predicted a ‘black sheep effect,’ that is, when high caste individuals’ group identity (caste norm violation condition) is threatened their salient high caste identity would increase, thereby resulting in devaluing the status of their fellow in-group member if the latter is perceived as perpetrator. We presented participants with a social conflict situation of a victim and a perpetrator that is ‘Caste norm consistent’ (Lower caste individual as a perpetrator and higher caste individual as a victim) and vice versa ‘Caste norm inconsistent’ condition (higher caste individual as perpetrator and lower caste individual as a victim). Then, participants had to choose from nine pictorial depictions representing the protagonists in the story on a vertical line, with varying degrees of status distance. Results showed evidence for the black sheep effect and, furthermore, revealed that no other identity (religious, national, and regional) resulted in devaluing the status of fellow in-group member. These results help us understand the ‘black sheep’ effect in the context of moral norms and status representation and are discussed in the framework of the Indian society.
Enhanced Apoptosis of Peripheral CD5-Negative B Lymphocytes from Chronically Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Patients: Reversal after Antiviral Treatment

ABSTRACT Whereas enhanced peripheral T-cell apoptosis and its association with autoimmunity have recently been reported, the apoptotic status of peripheral B cells in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains ambiguous. We therefore sought to investigate the sensitivity of peripheral B cells to apoptosis and to assess the possible benefits of antiviral treatment in mitigating these effects. Spontaneous apoptosis, the extent of apoptosis rescue, and NF-κB expression in peripheral B cells were studied in patients with chronic HCV infections (group 1), in sustained responders after antiviral treatment (group 2), and in healthy controls (group 3). For group 1, spontaneous B-cell apoptosis was increased (26% ± 4.6%) and apoptosis rescue was altered (39%) compared to group 3 (18% ± 5% and 50%, respectively; P = 0.001). In contrast, apoptosis and apoptosis rescue were similar for groups 2 and 3. Enhanced B-cell apoptosis was associated with decreased NF-κB expression and was found only in CD5-negative (CD5neg) B cells, whereas CD5pos cells were apoptosis resistant. Chronic HCV infection is associated with enhanced peripheral B-cell apoptosis and decreased apoptosis rescue. Successful antiviral treatment reverses these abnormalities to the levels seen in healthy individuals. The relative resistance of the CD5pos B-cell subpopulation to apoptosis may play a role in HCV-related autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation.
Perspectives on enhancing physical activity and diet for health promotion among at-risk urban UK South Asian communities: a qualitative study

Objectives To explore perspectives on enhancing physical activity and diet among South Asians in urban deprived communities at high risk of chronic disease and to inform development of culturally appropriate health promotion intervention. Design Qualitative study using semistructured one-to-one and family group interviews with thematic analysis of data. Setting Urban disadvantaged communities in the East Midlands of the UK. Participants 45 respondents, including 34 people of South Asian origin (16 at-risk individuals, six family groups involving 18 relatives), of mainly Pakistani and Indian origin, including 16 non-English speakers; and 11 health professionals working locally with communities of concern. Results South Asian participants underlined the challenges of requiring family members across generations to engage in modifying dietary behaviours, and the central role of communal eating of traditional ‘Asian’ food in their cultural lives. Barriers to increasing physical activity included cost, personal safety and lack of time outside of long working hours and carer commitments. However, increasing walking activity was regarded as feasible by both community and health professional participants. Respondents emphasised using a social approach for potential interventions, undertaking activity with family or friends and with bilingual community peers to facilitate engagement, motivation and support. Spoken content and delivery of interventions was favoured, including personal stories and multilingual audio–visual information; within local informal rather than provider settings, including the home; and aided by pedometers for self-monitoring. Conclusions Focusing on physical activity by increasing walking may hold promise as health promotion in this deprived South Asian community context. Further intervention development, with exploration of feasibility and acceptability of the social approach and elements suggested, is merited.
Noninvasive Imaging and Measurement of Accommodation Using Dual-Channel SD-OCT

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and practicality of real-time noninvasive imaging and measurement of ocular accommodation (0–5D with one diopter step) using dual-channel, dual-focus spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Materials and Methods: A custom-built, dual-channel, dual-focus SD-OCT was used to image the anterior segment, including the cornea, iris, and anterior and posterior lens surfaces. Three consecutive measurements were taken in each accommodative session for each subject. Changes in ocular dimensions during accommodation were calculated based on the acquired SD-OCT images. A Friedman test was used to test sensitivity of ocular dimension changes per diopter of accommodation. Results: With accommodation, anterior chamber depth (ACD), curvature radius of both anterior (RAL) and posterior (RPL) lens surfaces, and pupil diameter (PD) decreased significantly, whereas lens thickness (LT) increased significantly (p < 0.05, Friedman test). Ocular dimensions tended to change according to the increasing of accommodative stimulus, as did a backward movement of the posterior lens surface. Conclusions: SD-OCT, via extended imaging depth through a dual-channel, dual-focus approach, is a feasible and practical modality for noninvasive imaging and measurement of ocular accommodation.
Michelson, FitzGerald and Lorentz: the origins of relativity revisited

It is argued that an unheralded moment marking the beginnings of relativity theory occurred in 1889, when G. F. FitzGerald, no doubt with the puzzling 1887 Michelson-Morley experiment fresh in mind, wrote to Heaviside about the possible effects of motion on inter-molecular forces in bodies. Emphasis is placed on the difference between FitzGerald's and Lorentz's independent justifications of the shape distortion effect involved. Finally, the importance of the their `constructive' approach to kinematics---stripped of any commitment to the physicality of the ether--- will be defended, in the spirit of Pauli, Swann and Bell.
3d surface profiling and high resolution imaging for refining the florin rings and epicuticular wax crystals of Pinus koraiensis needles

3D surface profiling and high resolution imaging were performed to refine the Florin rings and epicuticular wax crystals of Pinus koraiensis needles. Needles were collected from four‐year‐old seedlings and air‐dried for surface observations. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that stomata were found on the abaxial (lower) surface of needles. Measured as ca. 40 μm long, they were largely elliptical or oval‐shaped. Epicuticular wax crystals were present in the epistomatal chambers as well as on the surrounding epidermis. Rodlets were prevalently found on the stomatal bands and furrows as well as within the epistomatal chambers. The presence of wax tubules was ascertained by the distinct terminal openings at their ends. The occurrence of wax ridges was evident on the epidermis near the saw‐tooth margins (nonstomatal areas). No distinct wax ridges were detected on the dewaxed needles. Raised Florin rings were distinct on the stomata. White light scanning interferometry showed that the diameter and width of stomata were ca. 44.02 ± 3.33 μm and 32.10 ± 3.30 μm, respectively. Measured from the neighboring epidermis to the stomatal aperture, the mean height of the stoma reached ca. 6.23 ± 1.28 μm. Focus variation metrology allowed measuring the mean elevation angle of the stoma, reaching ca. 41.41 ± 11.25°. This is the first report on a novel approach to the establishment of quantitative criteria of Florin ring classification by nontactile 3D surface profiling beyond the previous qualitative descriptions of Florin rings of coniferous species. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
QUANTITATIVE MODEL OF VOLUME HOLOGRAM FORMATION IN PHOTOPOLYMERS

A quantitative model is presented to describe the formation of volume holograms in a polymeric medium containing photopolymerizable acrylate monomers that undergo spatially modulated gelation as a result of exposure to a visible “write” beam. The model refines the simple diffusion model of Zhao and Mouroulis [J. Mod. Opt. 41, 1929 (1994)], by including cure dependence of both the photoreaction kinetics and the monomer diffusivity. These dependences are determined by experimental measurements, using near infrared spectroscopy to quantify the degree of cure and the time dependence of the hologram formation to infer the cure-dependent diffusivity. The cure-dependent diffusion coefficient can be fit by an expression from a free-volume theory, and the cure-dependent reaction rate coefficient is found to be proportional to the diffusivity, showing the reaction rate to be diffusion limited. With the model parameters determined experimentally, predictions are then made of the first, second, and third harmonics of the grating profile, and these are found to be in good agreement with the measured values. The results show the validity of the model and its usefulness in predicting the optimal exposure conditions and performance of a given holographic material.
Hybrid Integration of Visual Attention Model into Image Quality Metric

SUMMARY Integrating the visual attention (VA) model into an objec-tive image quality metric is a rapidly evolving area in modern image quality assessment (IQA) research due to the signiﬁcant opportunities the VA information presents. So far, in the literature, it has been suggested to use either a task-free saliency map or a quality-task one for the integration into quality metric. A hybrid integration approach which takes the advantages of both saliency maps is presented in this paper. We compare our hybrid integration scheme with existing integration schemes using simple quality metrics. Results show that the proposed method performs better than the previous techniques in terms of prediction accuracy.
Objects with roles

The use of object-oriented conceptual models for modeling office applications and information systems is discussed. A model for describing object behavior based on the concept of role is presented. Roles allow one to describe different perspectives for object evolution. For each role, relevant characteristics such as role properties, role states, messages, and role-state transition rules and constraints are defined. The implications of considering several roles in parallel for an object are discussed, and a classification of possible role interactions is given.
Factors Associated With Postpartum Depression in Chilean Women

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of postpartum depression in a regular clinical setting among Chilean women. The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale, Spanish Version was used to assess symptoms of depression. Chilean women (45%) reported depressive symptoms including suicidal thoughts, sleeping/eating disturbances, and emotional stability. Factors that predicted the probability of PPD included attitudes concerning pregnancy, social support, and tobacco use. Routine screening for PPD could make a difference in prevention, prompt diagnosis, and management of postpartum depression in developing countries.
A Multiobjective Optimization-Based Evolutionary Algorithm for Constrained Optimization

A considerable number of constrained optimization evolutionary algorithms (COEAs) have been proposed due to increasing interest in solving constrained optimization problems (COPs) by evolutionary algorithms (EAs). In this paper, we first review existing COEAs. Then, a novel EA for constrained optimization is presented. In the process of population evolution, our algorithm is based on multiobjective optimization techniques, i.e., an individual in the parent population may be replaced if it is dominated by a nondominated individual in the offspring population. In addition, three models of a population-based algorithm-generator and an infeasible solution archiving and replacement mechanism are introduced. Furthermore, the simplex crossover is used as a recombination operator to enrich the exploration and exploitation abilities of the approach proposed. The new approach is tested on 13 well-known benchmark functions, and the empirical evidence suggests that it is robust, efficient, and generic when handling linear/nonlinear equality/inequality constraints. Compared with some other state-of-the-art algorithms, our algorithm remarkably outperforms them in terms of the best, mean, and worst objective function values and the standard deviations. It is noteworthy that our algorithm does not require the transformation of equality constraints into inequality constraints
Prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in aged horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an ageing-related neurodegenerative disorder. The prevalence and risk factors for PPID using seasonally adjusted basal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations in aged horses have not been previously reported. OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for PPID in a population of horses aged ≥ 15 years in Queensland, Australia. METHODS Owner-reported data was obtained using a postal questionnaire distributed to an equestrian group. A subgroup of surveyed owners were visited and a veterinary physical examination performed on all horses aged ≥ 15 years. Blood samples were analysed for basal plasma alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and ACTH concentrations, routine haematology and selected biochemistry. Aged horses with elevations above seasonally adjusted cut-off values for basal plasma ACTH were considered positive for PPID. Positive horses were compared with their aged counterparts to determine risk factors and clinical signs associated with PPID. RESULTS Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction was prevalent in aged horses (21.2%) despite owners infrequently reporting it as a known or diagnosed disease or disorder. Numerous clinical or historical signs were associated with an increased risk of PPID in the univariable model, but only age (odds ratio (OR) 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.25, P<0.001) and owner-reported history of hirsutism (OR 7.80; 95% CI 3.67-16.57, P<0.001) remained in the final multivariable model. There were no routine haematological or biochemical variables supportive of a diagnosis of PPID. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction occurs commonly in aged horses despite under-recognition by owners. The increased risk of PPID with age supports that this is an ageing associated condition. Aged horses with clinical or historical signs consistent with PPID, especially owner-reported hirsutism (delayed shedding and/or long hair coat), should be tested and appropriate treatment instituted.
Effects of vitamin B-12 supplementation on neurologic and cognitive function in older people: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Moderate vitamin B-12 deficiency is relatively common in older people. However, there is little robust evidence on the effect of vitamin B-12 supplementation on neurologic and cognitive outcomes in later life. Objective: We investigated whether vitamin B-12 supplementation benefits neurologic and cognitive function in moderately vitamin B-12–deficient older people. Design: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 7 general practices in South East England, United Kingdom. Study participants were aged ≥75 y and had moderate vitamin B-12 deficiency (serum vitamin B-12 concentrations: 107–210 pmol/L) in the absence of anemia and received 1 mg crystalline vitamin B-12 or a matching placebo as a daily oral tablet for 12 mo. Peripheral motor and sensory nerve conduction, central motor conduction, a clinical neurologic examination, and cognitive function were assessed before and after treatment. Results: A total of 201 participants were enrolled in the trial, and 191 subjects provided outcome data. Compared with baseline, allocation to vitamin B-12 was associated with a 177% increase in serum concentration of vitamin B-12 (641 compared with 231 pmol/L), a 331% increase in serum holotranscobalamin (240 compared with 56 pmol/L), and 17% lower serum homocysteine (14.2 compared with 17.1 μmol/L). In intention-to-treat analysis of covariance models, with adjustment for baseline neurologic function, there was no evidence of an effect of supplementation on the primary outcome of the posterior tibial compound muscle action potential amplitude at 12 mo (mean difference: −0.2 mV; 95% CI: –0.8, 0.3 mV). There was also no evidence of an effect on any secondary peripheral nerve or central motor function outcome, or on cognitive function or clinical examination. Conclusion: Results of the trial do not support the hypothesis that the correction of moderate vitamin B-12 deficiency, in the absence of anemia and of neurologic and cognitive signs or symptoms, has beneficial effects on neurologic or cognitive function in later life. This trial was registered at www.isrctn. com as ISRCTN54195799.
Postural stability during visual stimulation and the contribution from the vestibular apparatus

Conclusion: When combined with vestibular dysfunction, visual flow can exacerbate reductions in postural stability. This effect may be one of the mechanisms underlying visual vertigo, which can be evaluated using frequency analysis of body sway elicited by optokinetic stimulation (OKS). Objective: To clarify the interaction between the postural responses to visual flow and to input from the vestibular apparatus as a mediator of visual vertigo. Methods: Horizontal and vertical OKS with a stable fixation target were presented to 14 healthy subjects and 38 peripheral vestibular patients standing in a Romberg's posture, and the center of standing pressure was monitored using a force platform. The direction and amplitude of induced body sway were analyzed, along with the power spectra of the body mass fluctuations. Results: Each directional optokinetic stimulus induced body sway that would compensate for the virtual inclination of the subject's gravitational reference frame. However, the amplitude of this body sway was not increased by vestibular dysfunction. Healthy subjects showed increased stability in response to downward OKS and decreased stability in response to upward OKS, whereas no specific changes were seen in response to horizontal OKS. This stability was greatly diminished in patients with vestibular dysfunction subjected to the same directional OKS.