Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adding Depth to Cartoons Using Sparse Depth (In)equalities

This paper presents a novel interactive approach for adding depth information into hand‐drawn cartoon images and animations. In comparison to previous depth assignment techniques our solution requires minimal user effort and enables creation of consistent pop‐ups in a matter of seconds. Inspired by perceptual studies we formulate a custom tailored optimization framework that tries to mimic the way that a human reconstructs depth information from a single image. Its key advantage is that it completely avoids inputs requiring knowledge of absolute depth and instead uses a set of sparse depth (in)equalities that are much easier to specify. Since these constraints lead to a solution based on quadratic programming that is time consuming to evaluate we propose a simple approximative algorithm yielding similar results with much lower computational overhead. We demonstrate its usefulness in the context of a cartoon animation production pipeline including applications such as enhancement, registration, composition, 3D modelling and stereoscopic display.
Investigation of Nd-Ce-Cu-O planar tunnel junctions and bicrystal grain boundary junctions

We have fabricated planar c-axis Pb/NCCO junctions and in-plane NCCO bicrystal grain boundary junctions. The Pb/NCCO junctions exhibit single-step elastic tunneling and sustain hysteretic Josephson supercurrents, evidence that NCCO has an s-wave component to its superconducting order parameter. Tunneling spectroscopy on high-resistance Pb/NCCO junctions reveals a semi-gap of 3-4 meV in the density of states of NCCO and evidence for phonon coupling to NCCO quasiparticles. The grain boundary junctions were made by laser ablating thin NCCO films onto yttrium-stabilized-zirconia bicrystal substrates and sustain supercurrents that modulate in applied magnetic field and show resistively-shunted-junction I-V characteristics.
Metal speciation and microbial growth-the hard (and soft) facts

Micro-organisms require certain metallic elements for growth and function (Hughes & Poole, 1989). These include, for example, the bulk elements potassium and magnesium, and trace elements such as manganese, iron, copper, zinc and molybdenum. Essential metals are shown in Fig. 1, the Periodic Table. The need for these essential metals is, or should be, acknowledged in the composition of growth media. However, higher concentrations of these metals, and the heavy metals such as silver, cadmium, mercury, tin and lead (Fig. l), may be toxic. In any study of the biological effects of either essential or toxic metals it is imperative that full account be taken of the speciation or chemical form(s) of the metal ion in the growth medium, in the organisms’ environment, and in experimental media such as buffers; the bioavailability, and hence reactivity, of the metal is critically dependent upon its speciation (Bernhard et al., 1986; Morrison et al., 1989). Unfortunately it appears that little attention is sometimes given to these matters, and that this has led to some invalid and misleading conclusions in the microbiological literature. In this review it is intended to survey the factors that control the speciation of metal ions in media, to summarize methods for establishing the speciation of metal ions in solution and to suggest some simple guidelines for estimating the bioavailability of metal ions in media. Some commonly-used media will be assessed in the light of these comments and attention drawn to errors that have resulted from a failure to recognize the importance of metal speciation. A recent and topical example will serve to illustrate the importance of speciation effects and the ease with which they are overlooked. It has been suggested in both the scientific and popular press that levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide could be reduced by ‘sowing’ the ocean with tons of iron filings to boost growth of marine algae (Davies, 1990; Martin et al., 1990). Little mention has been made of the problems of maintaining the iron in a form which is bioavailable. Significantly, Hutner (1972) cites much earlier work, which demonstrated that the 725
Self-adaptive simulated binary crossover for real-parameter optimization

Simulated binary crossover (SBX) is a real-parameter recombinationoperator which is commonly used in the evolutionary algorithm (EA) literature. The operatorinvolves a parameter which dictates the spread of offspring solutionsvis-a-vis that of the parent solutions. In all applications of SBX sofar, researchers have kept a fixed value throughout a simulation run. In this paper, we suggest a self-adaptive procedure of updating theparameter so as to allow a smooth navigation over the functionlandscape with iteration. Some basic principles of classicaloptimization literature are utilized for this purpose. The resultingEAs are found to produce remarkable and much better results comparedto the original operator having a fixed value of the parameter. Studieson both single and multiple objective optimization problems are madewith success.
Modeling and Simulation Study of the Propagation and Defense of Internet E-mail Worms

As many people rely on e-mail communications for business and everyday life, Internet e-mail worms constitute one of the major security threats for our society. Unlike scanning worms such as Code Red or Slammer, e-mail worms spread over a logical network defined by e-mail address relationships, making traditional epidemic models invalid for modeling the propagation of e-mail worms. In addition, we show that the topological epidemic models presented by M. Boguna, et al. (2000) largely overestimate epidemic spreading speed in topological networks due to their implicit homogeneous mixing assumption. For this reason, we rely on simulations to study e-mail worm propagation in this paper. We present an e-mail worm simulation model that accounts for the behaviors of e-mail users, including e-mail checking time and the probability of opening an e-mail attachment. Our observations of e-mail lists suggest that an Internet e-mail network follows a heavy-tailed distribution in terms of node degrees, and we model it as a power-law network. To study the topological impact, we compare e-mail worm propagation on power-law topology with worm propagation on two other topologies: small-world topology and random-graph topology. The impact of the power-law topology on the spread of e-mail worms is mixed: E-mail worms spread more quickly on a power-law topology than on a small-world topology or a random-graph topology, but immunization defense is more effective on a power-law topology.
Using facial expressions and peripheral physiological signals as implicit indicators of topical relevance

Multimedia search systems face a number of challenges, emanating mainly from the semantic gap problem. Implicit feedback is considered a useful technique in addressing many of the semantic-related issues. By analysing implicit feedback information search systems can tailor the search criteria to address more effectively users' information needs. In this paper we examine whether we could employ affective feedback as an implicit source of evidence, through the aggregation of information from various sensory channels. These channels range between facial expressions to neuro-physiological signals and are regarded as indicative of the user's affective states. The end-goal is to model user affective responses and predict with reasonable accuracy the topical relevance of information items without the help of explicit judgements. For modelling relevance we extract a set of features from the acquired signals and apply different classification techniques, such as Support Vector Machines and K-Nearest Neighbours. The results of our evaluation suggest that the prediction of topical relevance, using the above approach, is feasible and, to a certain extent, implicit feedback models can benefit from incorporating such affective features.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress and insulin resistance post-trauma: similarities to type 2 diabetes

• Introduction• Insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia in burn patients• Euglycaemic control in critically ill and burn patients• Molecular mechanisms associated with post‐burn insulin resistance: endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response• Induction of the ER stress response and intracellular calcium stores• Type 2 diabetes in animal models and links to the ER stress response• Clinical relevance of insulin resistance and ER stress in the post‐burn response• Targeting the ER stress response as a therapeutic for burn injury• Conclusions
Perception is reality: change leadership and work engagement

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how employee perceptions of change and leadership might impact work engagement following major organizational change. Design/methodology/approach Social media invited US workers recently experiencing major organizational change to anonymously complete a web-based survey requesting qualitative and quantitative responses. Values-based coding and thematic analysis were used to explore qualitative data. Hierarchical and linear regression, and bootstrapped mediation were used to analyze quantitative data. Findings Analysis of qualitative data identified employees’ perceptions of ideal change and ideal leadership were well supported in the change leadership literature. Analysis of quantitative data indicated that employee perceptions of leadership fully mediated the relationship between employee perceptions of change and work engagement. Practical implications Study findings imply that how employees perceive change is explained by how they perceive leadership during change, and that these perceptions impact work engagement. Although these findings appear commonsensical, the less than stellar statistics on major organizational change may encourage leaders to become more follower-focused throughout the change process. Originality/value The study makes a contribution to an understudied area of organizational research, specifically applied information processing theory. This is the first study that identifies employee perceptions of leadership as a mediator for perceptions of change and work engagement. From a value perspective, leaders as successful change agents recognize significant cost savings in dollars and human welfare by maintaining healthy workplaces with highly engaged workers.
Improving Assessment of Lipoprotein Profile in Type 1 Diabetes by 1H NMR Spectroscopy

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) present increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study is to improve the assessment of lipoprotein profile in patients with T1D by using a robust developed method 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), for further correlation with clinical factors associated to CVD. Thirty patients with T1D and 30 non-diabetes control (CT) subjects, matched for gender, age, body composition (DXA, BMI, waist/hip ratio), regular physical activity levels and cardiorespiratory capacity (VO2peak), were analyzed. Dietary records and routine lipids were assessed. Serum lipoprotein particle subfractions, particle sizes, and cholesterol and triglycerides subfractions were analyzed by 1H NMR. It was evidenced that subjects with T1D presented lower concentrations of small LDL cholesterol, medium VLDL particles, large VLDL triglycerides, and total triglycerides as compared to CT subjects. Women with T1D presented a positive association with HDL size (p<0.005; R = 0.601) and large HDL triglycerides (p<0.005; R = 0.534) and negative (p<0.005; R = -0.586) to small HDL triglycerides. Body fat composition represented an important factor independently of normal BMI, with large LDL particles presenting a positive correlation to total body fat (p<0.005; R = 0.505), and total LDL cholesterol and small LDL cholesterol a positive correlation (p<0.005; R = 0.502 and R = 0.552, respectively) to abdominal fat in T1D subjects; meanwhile, in CT subjects, body fat composition was mainly associated to HDL subclasses. VO2peak was negatively associated (p<0.005; R = -0.520) to large LDL-particles only in the group of patients with T1D. In conclusion, patients with T1D with adequate glycemic control and BMI and without chronic complications presented a more favourable lipoprotein profile as compared to control counterparts. In addition, slight alterations in BMI and/or body fat composition showed to be relevant to provoking alterations in lipoproteins profiles. Finally, body fat composition appears to be a determinant for cardioprotector lipoprotein profile.
Investigating Euclidean Mappings for CIEDE2000 Color Difference Formula

In recent years, various color difference formulas were developed for the CIELAB space, such as CMC, CIE94 and CIEDE2000. Although these formulas have achieved greater accuracy in perceptual measurement between colors, many applications cannot take advantage of this greater precision, because the Euclidean distances in CIELAB are not isometric in accordance with these new formulas. Thus, applications such as gamut mapping and color interpolation need a color space that is isometric in relation to the latest color difference formulas. This paper studies the mapping of the CIELAB space, particularly the ab plane of this space according to the metrics of the CIEDE2000 formula, through multidimensional scaling (MDS) techniques, more specifically ISOMAP and an optimization based on Sammon Mapping.
Consequences of EEG electrode position error on ultimate beamformer source reconstruction performance

Inaccuracy of EEG electrode coordinates forms an error term in forward model generation and ultimate source reconstruction performance. This error arises from the combination of both intrinsic measurement noise of the digitization apparatus and manual coregistration error when selecting corresponding points on anatomical MRI volumes. A common assumption is that such an error would lead only to displacement of localized sources. Here, we measured electrode positions on a 3D-printed full-scale replica head, using three different techniques: a fringe projection 3D scanner, a novel “Flying Triangulation” 3D sensor, and a traditional electromagnetic digitizer. Using highly accurate fringe projection data as ground truth, the Flying Triangulation sensor had a mean error of 1.5 mm while the electromagnetic digitizer had a mean error of 6.8 mm. Then, again using the fringe projection as ground truth, individual EEG simulations were generated, with source locations across the brain space and a range of sensor noise levels. The simulated datasets were then processed using a beamformer in conjunction with the electrode coordinates registered with the Flying Triangulation and electromagnetic digitizer methods. The beamformer's output SNR was severely degraded with the digitizer-based positions but less severely with the Flying Triangulation coordinates. Therefore, the seemingly innocuous error in electrode registration may result in substantial degradation of beamformer performance, with output SNR penalties up to several decibels. In the case of low-SNR signals such as deeper brain structures or gamma band sources, this implies that sensor coregistration accuracy could make the difference between successful detection of such activity or complete failure to resolve the source.
Electrophysiological evidence of attentional biases in social anxiety disorder

Background Previous studies investigating attentional biases in social anxiety disorder (SAD) have yielded mixed results. Recent event-related potential (ERP) studies using the dot-probe paradigm in non-anxious participants have shown that the P1 component is sensitive to visuospatial attention towards emotional faces. We used a dot-probe task in conjunction with high-density ERPs and source localization to investigate attentional biases in SAD. Method Twelve SAD and 15 control participants performed a modified dot-probe task using angry–neutral and happy–neutral face pairs. The P1 component elicited by face pairs was analyzed to test the hypothesis that SAD participants would display early hypervigilance to threat-related cues. The P1 component to probes replacing angry, happy or neutral faces was used to evaluate whether SAD participants show either sustained hypervigilance or decreased visual processing of threat-related cues at later processing stages. Results Compared to controls, SAD participants showed relatively (a) potentiated P1 amplitudes and fusiform gyrus (FG) activation to angry–neutral versus happy–neutral face pairs; (b) decreased P1 amplitudes to probes replacing emotional (angry and happy) versus neutral faces; and (c) higher sensitivity (d′) to probes following angry–neutral versus happy–neutral face pairs. SAD participants also showed significantly shorter reaction times (RTs) to probes replacing angry versus happy faces, but no group differences emerged for RT. Conclusions The results provide electrophysiological support for early hypervigilance to angry faces in SAD with involvement of the FG, and reduced visual processing of emotionally salient locations at later stages of information processing, which might be a manifestation of attentional avoidance.
The mechanics of explosive seed dispersal in orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)

Explosive dehiscence ballistically disperses seeds in a number of plant species. During dehiscence, mechanical energy stored in specialized tissues is transferred to the seeds to increase their kinetic and potential energies. The resulting seed dispersal patterns have been investigated in some ballistic dispersers, but the mechanical performance of a launch mechanism of this type has not been measured. The properties of the energy storage tissue and the energy transfer efficiency of the launch mechanism were quantified in Impatiens capensis. In this species the valves forming the seed pod wall store mechanical energy. Their mass specific energy storage capacity (124 J kg−1) was comparable with that of elastin and spring steel. The energy storage capacity of the pod tissues was determined by their level of hydration, suggesting a role for turgor pressure in the energy storage mechanism. During dehiscence the valves coiled inwards, collapsing the pod and ejecting the seeds. Dehiscence took 4.2±0.4 ms (mean ±SEM, n=13). The estimated efficiency with which energy was transferred to the seeds was low (0.51±0.26%, mean ±SEM, n=13). The mean seed launch angle (17.4±5.2, mean ±SEM, n=45) fell within the range predicted by a ballistic model to maximize dispersal distance. Low ballistic dispersal efficiency or effectiveness may be characteristic of species that also utilize secondary seed dispersal mechanisms.
Model checking early requirements specifications in Tropos

We describe an attempt to bridge the gap between early requirements specification and formal methods. In particular, we propose a new specification language, called Formal Tropos, that is founded on the primitive concepts of early requirements frameworks (actor, goal, strategic dependency) (Yu, 1997), but supplements them with a rich temporal specification language. We also extend existing formal analysis techniques, in particular model checking, to allow for an automatic verification of relevant properties for an early requirements specification. Our preliminary experiments demonstrate that formal analysis reveals gaps and inconsistencies in early requirements that are by no means trivial to discover without the help of formal analysis tools.
Model-based Motion Estimation of Elastic Surfaces for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

In order to assist surgeons during surgery on moving organs, e.g. minimally invasive beating heart bypass surgery, a master-slave system which synchronizes surgical instruments with the organ's motion is desired. This synchronization requires reliable estimation of the organ's motion. In this paper, we present a new approach to motion estimation based on a state motion model for a partition of the heart's surface. Its motion behavior is described by a partial differential equation whose input function is assumed to be periodic. An estimator is used on one hand to predict future model states based on reconstruction of the input function and on the other hand to incorporate noisy spatially discrete measurements in order to improve state estimation. The model-based motion estimation is evaluated using a simple heart simulator. Measurements are obtained by reconstructing 3D position of markers on a pulsating membrane by means of a stereo camera system.
Users' Acceptance of E-Government: A Study of Indian Central Excise

The study seeks to highlight the key variables affecting usage of e-government by internal users of Indian Central Excise. An e-government acceptance model is developed and empirically tested using the 163 usable questionnaire responses from internal users of the Indian Central Excise. A priority of the variables is set by calculating the â€œtotal effectâ€ of each variable on â€œintention to use e-government. â€ Further, the â€œtotal effectâ€ is compared with â€œratio of acceptanceâ€ and clear recommendations for the Central Excise are generated for increasing the usage of e-government among it users. The model developed here can be applied in other similar e-government projects to test the usersâ€™ intention to accept the system.
An observational study on information flow during nurses' shift change

We present an observational study that was conducted to guide the design and development of technologies to support information flow during nurses' shift change in a hospital ward. Our goal is to find out how the complex information sharing processes during nurses' brief shift change unfold in a hospital setting. Our study shows the multitude of information media that nurses access during the parallel processes of information assembly and disassembly: digital, paper-based, displayed and verbal media. An initial analysis reveals how the common information spaces, where information media are positioned and accessible by all participants, are actively used and how they interact with the personal information spaces ephemerally constructed by the participants. Several types of information are consistently transposed from the common information spaces to the personal information space including: demographics, historical data, reminders and to-dos, alerts, prompts, scheduling and reporting information. Information types are often enhanced with a variety of visual cues to help nurses carry out their tasks.
STEAM: event-based middleware for wireless ad hoc networks

With the widespread deployment and use of wireless data communications in the mobile computing domain the need for middleware that interconnects the components that comprise a mobile application in distributed and potentially heterogeneous environments arises. Middleware utilizing an event-based communication model is well suited to address the requirements of the mobile computing domain, as it requires a less tightly coupled communication relationship between application components compared to the traditional client/server communication model. This is particularly useful with the use of wireless technology, where communication relationships amongst application components are established very dynamically during the lifetime of the components. Recent research in the area of event-based middleware for the mobile computing domain focuses on infrastructure network models for wireless data communication. In this paper we present STEAM, an event-based middleware service that has been specifically designed for wireless local area networks utilizing the ad hoc network model. We argue that an implicit event model is best suited for the envisaged ad hoc environment and present our approach of exploiting a novel combination of three different types of event filter to address the problems related to the dynamic reconfiguration of the network topology as well as their impact on the scalability of a system and the timely delivery of events.