Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A robust online subspace estimation and tracking algorithm

In this paper, we present a robust online subspace estimation and tracking algorithm (ROSETA) that is capable of identifying and tracking a time-varying low dimensional subspace from incomplete measurements and in the presence of sparse outliers. Our algorithm minimizes a robust ℓ1 norm cost function between the observed measurements and their projection onto the estimated subspace. The projection coefficients and sparse outliers are computed using ADMM solver and the subspace estimate is updated using a proximal point iteration with adaptive parameter selection. We demonstrate using simulated experiments and a video background subtraction example that ROSETA succeeds in identifying and tracking low dimensional subspaces using fewer iterations than other state of art algorithms.
Application of response surface methodology to optimise supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of volatile compounds from Crocus sativus.

BACKGROUND Crocus sativus has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. The volatile compounds of C. sativus appear biologically active and may act as antioxidants as well as anticonvulsants, antidepressants and antitumour agents. In order to obtain the highest possible yield of essential oils from C. sativus, response surface methodology was employed to optimise the conditions of supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction of the volatile compounds from C. sativus. Four factorswere investigated: temperature, pressure, extraction time and carbon dioxide flow rate. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the volatile compounds extracted by supercritical fluid extraction were compared with those obtained by hydro-distillation and Soxhlet extraction. RESULTS The optimum extraction conditions were found to be: optimised temperature 44.9°C, pressure 34.9 MPa, extraction time 150.2 min and CO₂ flow rate 10.1 L h⁻¹. Under these conditions, the mean extraction yield was 10.94 g kg⁻¹. The volatile compounds extracted by supercritical fluid extraction and Soxhlet extraction contained a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids. CONCLUSION Response surface methodology was successfully applied for supercritical fluid CO₂ extraction optimisation of the volatile compounds from C. sativus. The study showed that pressure and CO₂ flow rate had significant effect on volatile compounds yield produced by supercritical fluid extraction. This study is beneficial for the further research operating on a large scale.
Modeling individual and group actions in meetings with layered HMMs

We address the problem of recognizing sequences of human interaction patterns in meetings, with the goal of structuring them in semantic terms. The investigated patterns are inherently group-based (defined by the individual activities of meeting participants, and their interplay), and multimodal (as captured by cameras and microphones). By defining a proper set of individual actions, group actions can be modeled as a two-layer process, one that models basic individual activities from low-level audio-visual (AV) features,and another one that models the interactions. We propose a two-layer hidden Markov model (HMM) framework that implements such concept in a principled manner, and that has advantages over previous works. First, by decomposing the problem hierarchically, learning is performed on low-dimensional observation spaces, which results in simpler models. Second, our framework is easier to interpret, as both individual and group actions have a clear meaning, and thus easier to improve. Third, different HMMs can be used in each layer, to better reflect the nature of each subproblem. Our framework is general and extensible, and we illustrate it with a set of eight group actions, using a public 5-hour meeting corpus. Experiments and comparison with a single-layer HMM baseline system show its validity.
Extending Component Composition Using Model Driven and Aspect-Oriented Techniques

Component-based software engineering is an interesting and emerging discipline focused on reuse plug&play pieces of software. However, these pieces of software are distributed by the companies as binary units of composition. So, nowadays the system requirements are continuously evolving, as a consequence the component acquired normally need to require be adapted to these new requirements. However, once a binary component is ready to market, its contract cannot be changed in order to be adapted to new context or new requirements. In this sense, new modularization mechanisms like aspect-orientation can facilitate the software systems adaptation and evolution. Besides, this kind of modularization joined to model driven techniques can help to obviate contracts and weave new behavior to an already developed system. In this paper, a component composition mechanism based on aspect-oriented and model-driven techniques is presented, extending the typical composition based on interfaces and events. To do this, the components and their relations (basic relations –provides, uses– and extended relations described using aspect-oriented techniques) are modeled using UML. Then, using our approach based on model-driven development (MDD) the system modeled is transformed to obtain a component based system based on a specific component model. This work has been developed using Corba Component Model (CCM) as the component model1.
A Taxonomy of Gestures in Human Computer Interactions

We present a survey and taxonomy of gesture-based computer interactions motivated by a literature review of over 40 years of gesture based interactions. This work presents a unique perspective on gesture-based interactions, categorized in terms of four key elements: gesture styles, the application domains they are applied to, input technologies and output technologies used for implementation. The taxonomy provides a means of addressing gestures as an interaction mode across the different application domains so that researchers and designers can draw on the vast amount of research that has been addressed within the literature from an interaction perspective.
Efficient combination of parametric spaces, models and metrics for speaker diarization1

In this paper we present a method of combining several acoustic parametric spaces, statistical models and distance metrics in speaker diarization task. Focusing our interest on the post-segmentation part of the problem, we adopt an incremental feature selection and fusion algorithm based on the Maximum Entropy Principle and Iterative Scaling Algorithm that combines several statistical distance measures on speech-chunk pairs. By this approach, we place the merging-of-chunks clustering process into a probabilistic framework. We also propose a decomposition of the input space according to gender, recording conditions and chunk lengths. The algorithm produced highly competitive results compared to GMM-UBM state-of-the-art methods.
Message generation facilities for interoperability in pervasive healthcare environments

Novel information and communication technologies enable the construction of systems that allow the provision of new healthcare services anywhere, at any time, and to anyone. Since these healthcare systems may offer their healthcare records in different electronic formats, the openEHR foundation developed a dual model to achieve semantic interoperability between these systems. In this paper we propose an approach, based on the use of openEHR archetypes, for generating messages to be exchanged amongst heterogeneous systems in pervasive healthcare environments so that their interoperability can be guaranteed at the syntax and semantic levels.
Real-Time Output Trajectory Tracking using a Discrete Neural Backstepping Controller

This paper deals with adaptive tracking for discrete-time MIMO nonlinear systems in presence of bounded disturbances. A high order neural network (HONN) structure is used to approximate a control law designed by the backstepping technique, applied to a block strict feedback form (BSFF). The learning algorithm for the HONN is based on an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). This paper also includes the respective stability analysis, using the Lyapunov approach. The proposed scheme is implemented in real-time to control a three phase induction motor, as to track a time-variying speed reference and a constant flux magnitude reference.
Exploring a diffusion of benefit: does a woman with breast cancer derive benefit from an intervention delivered to her partner?

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To provide preliminary data on a diffusion of psychosocial benefit to women diagnosed with breast cancer when only their partners receive a psychoeducational intervention focused on the breast cancer experience. DESIGN Single-group, pretest/post-test pilot study; participants served as their own controls. SETTING Communities in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. SAMPLE 9 women with a first diagnosis of breast cancer within the previous six months whose partners received the Helping Her Heal intervention. METHODS Data were collected from women pre- and postintervention via standardized questionnaires with established reliability and validity. Confidential exit interviews were conducted after postintervention data were returned. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES State anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y [STAI-Y]), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale [CES-D]), and marital quality (Dyadic Adjustment Scale [DAS]; Mutuality and Interpersonal Sensitivity scale). FINDINGS Wilcoxon signed-rank tests showed significant improvements on the CES-D (p = 0.01), STAI-Y (p = 0.01), and DAS affectional expression subscale (p = 0.03) in women from pre- to postintervention. Review of exit interview transcripts indicated that women generally were positive about the impact of the program and viewed their partners' gains in communication skills as the greatest benefit of participating. CONCLUSIONS This study offers preliminary support for a diffusion of psychosocial benefit to women with breast cancer when a psychoeducational intervention is delivered to their partners. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Diffusion of benefit should be examined in a large, randomized, clinical trial to provide evidence for focusing some clinical efforts on partners alone, rather than adding to diagnosed women's burden of multiple clinical encounters.
Advances on criteria for biological plausibility in artificial neural networks: Think of learning processes

Artificial neural network (ANN) community is engaged in biological plausibility issues these days. Different views about this subject can lead to disagreements of classification criteria among ANN researchers. In order to contribute to this debate, two of these views are highlighted here: one is related directly to the cerebral cortex biological structure, and the other focuses the neural features and the signaling between neurons. The model proposed in this paper considers that a biologically more plausible ANN has the purpose to create a more faithful model concerning the biological structure, properties, and functionalities, including learning processes, of the cerebral cortex, not disregarding its computational efficiency. The choice of the models upon which the proposed description is based takes into account two main criteria: the fact they are considered biologically more realistic and the fact they deal with intra and inter-neuron signaling in electrical and chemical synapses. Also, the duration of action potentials is taken into account. In addition to the characteristics for encoding information regarding biological plausibility present in current spiking neuron models, a distinguishable feature is emphasized here: a combination of Hebbian learning and error-driven learning.
Assessing the Value of High-Quality Care for Work-Associated Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a Large Integrated Health Care System: Study Design.

CONTEXT Little is known about quality of care for occupational health disorders, although it may affect worker health and workers' compensation costs. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common work-associated condition that causes substantial disability. OBJECTIVE To describe the design of a study that is assessing quality of care for work-associated CTS and associations with clinical outcomes and costs. DESIGN Prospective observational study of 477 individuals with new workers' compensation claims for CTS without acute trauma who were treated at 30 occupational health clinics from 2011 to 2013 and followed for 18 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Timing of key clinical events, adherence to 45 quality measures, changes in scores on the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and 12-item Short Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-12v2), and costs associated with medical care and disability. RESULTS Two hundred sixty-seven subjects (56%) received a diagnosis of CTS and had claims filed around the first visit to occupational health, 104 (22%) received a diagnosis before that visit and claim, and 98 (21%) received a diagnosis or had claims filed after that visit. One hundred seventy-eight (37%) subjects had time off work, which started around the time of surgery in 147 (83%) cases and lasted a median of 41 days (interquartile range = 42 days). CONCLUSIONS The timing of diagnosis varied, but time off work was generally short and related to surgery. If associations of quality of care with key medical, economic, and quality-of-life outcomes are identified for work-associated CTS, systematic efforts to evaluate and improve quality of medical care for this condition are warranted.
A software architecture for dynamically generated adaptive Web stores

We provide technical details about the software and hardware architecture of SETA, a prototype toolkit for the creation of Web stores which personalize the interaction with customers. SETA is based on a multi-agent architecture and on the use of MAS technologies, which support a seamless communication among the system agents and an easy distribution of such agents on different computers.
Can GE-Covariance Originating in Phenotype to Environment Transmission Account for the Flynn Effect?

The Dickens and Flynn model of the Flynn effect (generational increases in mean IQ) assigns an important role to genotype-environment covariance (GE-cov). We quantify GE-cov in a longitudinal simplex model by modeling it as phenotype to environment (Ph->E) transmission in twin data. The model fits as well as the standard genetic simplex model, which assumes uncorrelated genetic and environmental influences. We use the results to explore numerically the possible role of GE-cov in amplifying increases in environmental means. Given the estimated Ph->E transmission parameters, GE-cov resulted in an amplification (in std units) of a factor 1.57 (full scale IQ) to 1.7 (performance IQ). The results lend credence to the role of GE-cov in the Flynn effect.
Thermal management and characterization of the active component embedding into organic substrate

The reliability problem and the thermal management problem of active embedded component into organic substrate becomes a bottleneck restricting development. On the one hand, these paper overviews the thermal management features of the technology, the modeling of the thermal management and the application of thermal methods. It does the cooling and the thermal stress simulation analysis for typical materials and structures used in active embedded component into organic substrate using finite-element analysis. On the other hand, it analyses the thermal management issues of two common packages, wire bonding and flip chip of active embedded component into organic substrates. The flip chip approach has better cooling performance and other processing benefits over wire bonding. Active embedded technology is generally restricted to a power density which is less than 0.08W/mm2 in order to utilized natural convection cooling. The BT (Bismaleimide Triazine) resin material is more suitable for embedding active devices than is FR-4.
Childhood mortality after a high dose of vitamin A in a high risk population.

OBJECTIVES--To determine whether a single high dose of vitamin A given to all children in communities with high mortality and malnutrition could affect mortality and to assess whether periodic community wide supplementation could be readily incorporated into an ongoing primary health programme. DESIGN--Opportunistic controlled trial. SETTING--Jumla district, Nepal. SUBJECTS--All children aged under 5 years; 3786 in eight subdistricts given single dose of vitamin A and 3411 in remaining eight subdistricts given no supplementation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Mortality and cause of death in the five months after supplementation. RESULTS--Risk of death for children aged 1-59 months in supplemented communities was 26% lower (relative risk 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.55 to 0.99) than in unsupplemented communities. The reduction in mortality was greatest among children aged 6-11 months: death rate (deaths/1000 child years at risk) was 133.8 in supplemented children and 260.8 in unsupplemented children (relative risk 0.51, 0.30 to 0.89). The death rate from diarrhoea was also reduced (63.5 supplemented v 97.5 unsupplemented; relative risk 0.65, 0.44 to 0.95). The extra cost per death averted was about $11. CONCLUSION--The results support a role for Vitamin A in increasing child survival. The supplementation programme was readily integrated with the ongoing community health programme at little extra cost.
Design of a moisture independent microwave mass flow detector for particulate solids

Simulations on a novel moisture independent mass flow detector based on a mass flow sensor with open an cylindrical resonator where carried out. The massflow sensor consists of two MircroStrip Patch couplers integrated in a Composite Right-/Lefthanded Transmission line resonator. The design of a particulate mass flow detector based on this sensor is given and the algorithm to detect the average solids concentration is shown. The simultaneous detection of the velocity and the moisture independent solids/air concentration from a single measurement, ensures a true mass flow detector. Since it was already shown formerly, both sensor principles are able to measure the moisture dependent massflow rate with high precision, we expect for the combination of both principles a detection accuracy in the range of both single sensor principles. Measurements of natural substance granulate with different amounts of moisture up to 18% (vol.) were done in order to proof the concept. The novel detector design is promising for industrial applications with various scenarios of gas/solids, gas/liquid and liquid/solids flows.
Cell therapy of stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma with autologous Epstein-Barr virus-targeted cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

PURPOSE Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related malignancy expressing EBV antigens that are possible targets of cell therapy, including latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2). We conducted a clinical trial of EBV-targeted cell therapy with autologous virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) for NPC refractory to conventional treatments. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ten patients with EBV-related stage IV NPC in progression after conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy received intravenously autologous EBV-specific CTLs reactivated and expanded ex vivo from peripheral blood lymphocytes through stimulation with EBV-transformed autologous B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL). Toxicity, specific cellular immune responses, and clinical tumor responses were evaluated. RESULTS EBV-specific CTLs could be generated in all patients and were predominantly CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes displaying specific killing of autologous EBV-LCL, autologous NPC cells as well as autologous targets bearing the EBV antigen LMP2. Patients received two to 23 infusions of EBV-specific CTLs that were well tolerated with the exception of grade 1 to 2 inflammatory reactions at the tumor site in two cases. Control of disease progression was obtained in six of 10 patients (two with partial response and four with stable disease). Analysis of interferon-gamma-producing cells demonstrated an increased frequency of EBV-specific immunity, with appearance of LMP2-specific responses in four patients, of whom three had clinical benefit. CONCLUSION Cell therapy with EBV-targeted autologous CTLs is safe, induces LMP-2-specific immunologic responses, and is associated with objective responses and control of disease progression in patients with stage IV NPC resistant to conventional treatments.
In situ TEM Nanomechanical Testing of Ceramics: Room-Temperature Plastic Deformation Mechanisms

This dissertation presents the investigation of the effects of size-scale and crystallographic orientation on room-temperature plastic deformation of ceramics. Using in situ electron microscopy based nanomechanical testing, I show that sub-micron-scale single-crystalline refractory carbides exhibit size- and orientation-dependent room-temperature plasticity under uniaxial compression. Refractory carbides such as ZrC, TaC and SiC - chosen as candidate materials - owing to their high hardness (g 20 Gpa), high elastic modulus (g 350 GPa) and melting point (g 3000 K), are widely used in various high temperature/high hardness structural applications. Most of the previous studies conducted on these materials are on bulk samples at temperatures g 0.3 Tm. While these studies have helped understand the thermomechanical behavior, relatively little is known concerning their room-temperature mechanical properties. Here, I investigated simultaneous morphological and microstructural changes during mechanical deformation of sub-micron-size cylindrical pillars, identified slip systems and measured yield strength as a function of crystal size. I show that for ZrC pillars, loading along [100] and [111] directions activate {11-0} and {001} slip systems, respectively. For both the orientations, yield strengths increase with decreasing crystal size. Unexpectedly, ZrC(111) is found to be up to 10i? ½ softer than ZrC(100). For TaC pillars, loading along [100] and [011] directions activate {110} and {11-1} slip systems. In contrast to ZrC, I did not observe any size effects on yield strength. In the case of 6H-SiC, loading along the basal direction results in brittle fracture, while loading at 45 dC with respect to leads to dislocation glide-controlled plasticity at room-temperature. Molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations helped in identification of the most energetically favorable slip systems and the mechanisms governing the plastic deformation. My results provide important insights into room-temperature plastic deformation modes operating in refractory carbides.