Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automatic Lecture Video Indexing Using Video OCR Technology

During the last years, digital lecture libraries and lecture video portals have become more and more popular. However, finding efficient methods for indexing multimedia still remains a challenging task. Since the text displayed in a lecture video is closely related to the lecture content, it provides a valuable source for indexing and retrieving lecture contents. In this paper, we present an approach for automatic lecture video indexing based on video OCR technology. We have developed a novel video segmenter for automated slide video structure analysis and a weighted DCT (discrete cosines transformation) based text detector. A dynamic image constrast/brightness adaption serves the purpose of enhancing the text image quality to make it processible by existing common OCR software. Time-based text occurence information as well as the analyzed text content are further used for indexing. We prove the accuracy of the proposed approach by evaluation.
Hierarchical Goal Network Planning: Initial Results

In applications of HTN planning, repeated problems have arisen from the lack of correspondence between HTN tasks and classical-planning goals. We describe these problems and provide a new Hierarchical Goal Network (HGN) planning formalism that overcomes them. HGN tasks have syntax and semantics analogous to classical planning problems, and this has several benefits: HGN methods can be significantly simpler to write than HTN methods, there is a clear criterion for whether the HGN methods are correct, and classical-planning heuristic functions can be adapted for use in HGN planning. We define the HGN formalism, illustrate how to prove correctness of HGN methods, provide a planning algorithm called GNP (Goal Network Planner), and present experimental results showing that GNP’s performance compares favorably to that of SHOP2. We provide a planning-graph heuristic for optional use in GNP, and give experimental results showing the kinds of situations in which it helps or hurts GNP’s performance.
Improving the Interoperation between Generics Translations

Generics on the Java platform are compiled using the erasure transformation, which only supports by-reference values. This causes slowdowns when generics operate on primitive types, such as integers, as they have to be transformed into reference-based objects. Project Valhalla is an effort to remedy this problem by specializing classes at load-time so they can efficiently handle primitive values. In its current early prototype, the Valhalla compilation scheme limits the interaction between specialized and erased generics, thus preventing certain useful code patterns from being expressed. Scala has been using compile-time specialization for 6 years and has three generics compilation schemes working side by side. In Scala, programmers are allowed to write code that freely exercises the interaction between the different compilation schemes, at the expense of introducing subtle performance issues. Similar performance issues can affect Valhalla-enabled bytecode, whether the code was written in Java or translated from other JVM languages. In this context we explain how we help programmers avoid these performance regressions in the miniboxing transformation: (1) by issuing actionable performance advisories that steer programmers away from performance regressions and (2) by providing alternatives to the standard library constructs that use the miniboxing encoding, thus avoiding the conversion overhead.
Precipitation variability and its relation to climate anomalies in the Bolivian Altiplano

Precipitation variability over the Bolivian Altiplano is strongly affected by local climate and temporal variation of large‐scale atmospheric flow. Precipitation is the main water source for drinking water and agricultural production. For this reason, a better understanding of precipitation variability and its relation with climate phenomena can provide important information for forecasting of droughts and floods, disaster risk reduction, and improvement of water management. We present results of an analysis of the austral summer precipitation variability at six locations in the Bolivian Altiplano and connections to climate variability. For this purpose, the variability of the summer precipitation was related to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Antarctic Meridional Mode (AMM), and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). A statistically significant correlation between climate indices and precipitation was found in various spectral frequencies and power. The variability of the summer precipitation was associated with the climate indices using a band‐pass filter, representing the signal at a particular period of time. For the ENSO, band‐pass filtering was applied for Niño3. 4 and Niño3 at band ~2–7 years, for NAO band ~5–8 years, and for AMM band ~10–13 years. The variability of summer precipitation was related to all studied climate modes by negative relationships. The physical explanation for this is first the dry air transported from the Pacific Ocean to the Altiplano during El Niño events. Second, NAO and ENSO are dynamically linked through teleconnections. Third, the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) shifts are northwards during the warm phases of AMM. These physical mechanisms lead to a reduced austral summer precipitation associated with positive phases of the ENSO, NAO, and AMM. The results can be used to better forecast precipitation in the Bolivian Altiplano and provide support for the development of policies to improve climate resilience and risk management of water supply.
Prevalence of overweight and underweight in public and private schools in the Seychelles.

OBJECTIVE We compared the prevalence of body weight categories between public and private schools in the Seychelles, a rapidly developing small island state in the African region. METHODS In 2004-2006, weight and height were measured and self-reported information on physical activity collected in children of three selected grades in all schools in the country. Overweight, obesity and thinness were defined according to standard criteria. RESULTS Based on 8 462 students (377 in private schools), the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was markedly higher in private than public schools (boys: 37% [95% CI: 31-44] vs. 15% [14-16]; girls: 33% [26-41] vs. 20% [19-22]). The prevalence of thinness grade 1 was lower in private than public schools (boys: 9% [5-13] vs. 20% [19-21]; girls: 13% [8-18] vs. 19% [18-20]). Students in private schools reported more physical activity at leisure time while students in public schools reported larger weekly walking time. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that school type may be a useful indicator for assessing the association between socio-economic status and overweight in children, and that overweight affects wealthy children more often than others in developing countries.
Physionet: Components of a New Research Resource for Complex Physiologic Signals". Circu-lation Vol

1287472 Fluoroaromatic silicon compounds DOW CORNING CORP 27 Nov 1969 [20 Feb 1969] 58081/69 Headings C3S and C3T [Also in Divisions C4-C5] The invention comprises silanes of the formula and corresponding siloxanes containing at least one unit of the formula and optional units of the formula Z @ SiO 4-c/2 , wherein X represents -OH or a hydrolysable radical (e.g. halogen, hydrocarbonoxy, ketoxime, hydrazino, amino, hydrocarbon thio, nitrile, isocyanate, sulphate, carbamate and aminoxy), R represents hydrogen, a monovalent hydrocarbon radical optionally substituted by chlorine, bromine or iodine, or a betaperfluoroalkylethyl radical, R f represents a perfluoroalkyl radical, Z represents hydrogen, hydroxy, a hydrolysable group or an organic radical attached to the Si atom through an Si-C linkage (particularly a vinyl radical), a is 0, 1 or 2, b is 0, 1, 2 or 3, c is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and the total number of R and X radicals attached to silicon in the second formula does not exceed 5. The silanes are prepared by reacting together magnesium, a chlorosilane of the formula ClSiR a X 3-a and an R f substituted dibromobenzene in a tetrahydrofuran solvent. Compounds in which X represents a hydrolysable group may be hydrolysed to corresponding silanols or to corresponding siloxanes. Uses. -as ingredients of coating compositions, sealants and lubricants.
Deformable part-based robust face detection under occlusion by using face decomposition into face components

In this paper, we propose modifications of deformable part-based models in order to increase the robustness of face detection under occlusion. The modifications are: i) the tree, representing the deformable part-based model of the frontal face, which is partitioned into 11 subtrees representing face components; ii) the weight of each face component which is obtained based on the results of psychological experiments; iii) the introduction of new scoring functions and thresholds; and iv) a new procedure for robust face detection based on the valuation of scoring functions and thresholds. The experiment was performed only for frontal face images, and thus this work is used only as a proof of concept. Based on the encouraging experimental results, we conclude that the proposed method is suitable for extension to detect faces with different poses under occlusions.
Hidden synaptic differences in a neural circuit underlie differential behavioral susceptibility to a neural injury

Individuals vary in their responses to stroke and trauma, hampering predictions of outcomes. One reason might be that neural circuits contain hidden variability that becomes relevant only when those individuals are challenged by injury. We found that in the mollusc, Tritonia diomedea, subtle differences between animals within the neural circuit underlying swimming behavior had no behavioral relevance under normal conditions but caused differential vulnerability of the behavior to a particular brain lesion. The extent of motor impairment correlated with the site of spike initiation in a specific neuron in the neural circuit, which was determined by the strength of an inhibitory synapse onto this neuron. Artificially increasing or decreasing this inhibitory synaptic conductance with dynamic clamp correspondingly altered the extent of motor impairment by the lesion without affecting normal operation. The results suggest that neural circuit differences could serve as hidden phenotypes for predicting the behavioral outcome of neural damage. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.02598. 001
Unsupervised Learning of Prototypical Fillers for Implicit Semantic Role Labeling

Gold annotations for supervised implicit semantic role labeling are extremely sparse and costly. As a lightweight alternative, this paper describes an approach based on unsupervised parsing which can do without iSRL-specific training data: We induce prototypical roles from large amounts of explicit SRL annotations paired with their distributed word representations. An evaluation shows competitive performance with supervised methods on the SemEval 2010 data, and our method can easily be applied to predicates (or languages) for which no training annotations are available.
Differences in Apparent Pore Sizes of Low and High Voltage-activated Ca2+ Channels*

Pore size is of considerable interest in voltage-gated Ca2+ channels because they exemplify a fundamental ability of certain ion channels: to display large pore diameter, but also great selectivity for their ion of choice. We determined the pore size of several voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels of known molecular composition with large organic cations as probes. T-type channels supported by the CaV3.1, CaV3.2, and CaV3.3 subunits; L-type channels encoded by the CaV1.2, β1, and α2δ1 subunits; and R-type channels encoded by the CaV2.3 and β3subunits were each studied using a Xenopus oocyte expression system. The weak permeabilities to organic cations were resolved by looking at inward tails generated upon repolarization after a large depolarizing pulse. Large inward NH 4 + currents and sizable methylammonium and dimethylammonium currents were observed in all of the channels tested, whereas trimethylammonium permeated only through L- and R-type channels, and tetramethylammonium currents were observed only in L-type channels. Thus, our experiments revealed an unexpected heterogeneity in pore size among different Ca2+channels, with L-type channels having the largest pore (effective diameter = 6.2 Å), T-type channels having the tiniest pore (effective diameter = 5.1 Å), and R-type channels having a pore size intermediate between these extremes. These findings ran counter to first-order expectations for these channels based simply on their degree of selectivity among inorganic cations or on the bulkiness of their acidic side chains at the locus of selectivity.
A Novel Xenograft Model in Zebrafish for High-Resolution Investigating Dynamics of Neovascularization in Tumors

Tumor neovascularization is a highly complex process including multiple steps. Understanding this process, especially the initial stage, has been limited by the difficulties of real-time visualizing the neovascularization embedded in tumor tissues in living animal models. In the present study, we have established a xenograft model in zebrafish by implanting mammalian tumor cells into the perivitelline space of 48 hours old Tg(Flk1:EGFP) transgenic zebrafish embryos. With this model, we dynamically visualized the process of tumor neovascularization, with unprecedented high-resolution, including new sprouts from the host vessels and the origination from VEGFR2+ individual endothelial cells. Moreover, we quantified their contributions during the formation of vascular network in tumor. Real-time observations revealed that angiogenic sprouts in tumors preferred to connect each other to form endothelial loops, and more and more endothelial loops accumulated into the irregular and chaotic vascular network. The over-expression of VEGF165 in tumor cells significantly affected the vascularization in xenografts, not only the number and size of neo-vessels but the abnormalities of tumor vascular architecture. The specific inhibitor of VEGFR2, SU5416, significantly inhibited the vascularization and the growth of melanoma xenografts, but had little affects to normal vessels in zebrafish. Thus, this zebrafish/tumor xenograft model not only provides a unique window to investigate the earliest events of tumoral neoangiogenesis, but is sensitive to be used as an experimental platform to rapidly and visually evaluate functions of angiogenic-related genes. Finally, it also offers an efficient and cost-effective means for the rapid evaluation of anti-angiogenic chemicals.
Inverted Mode Patch Antenna for Dual-Band Communications

In this letter, a single-port patch antenna with dual-band operation is presented. In order to provide two types of services, different radiation patterns for each band are proposed. The original aspect of the proposed design is the inverted disposition of modes compared with the short-circuited ring patches, where the resonant frequency of the zeroth-order mode is below the frequency of the first order one. In addition, the antenna is flexible for any application, because both frequencies are independent of each other.
Transmit/receive pulse-shaping design in BFDM systems over time-frequency dispersive AWGN channel

In this paper, we propose an optimal biorthogonal pulses design for a biorthogonal frequency division multiplexing (BFDM) systems operating on a time-frequency dispersive additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. The proposed transmit and receive pulse shapes which are expressed as a linear combination of the most localized Hermite waveforms and are therefore well time-frequency localized. We propose a method for designing biorthogonal pulse shapes that maximize the signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR). We demonstrate that the SINR of the BFDM systems operating over dispersive channels with additive white Gaussian noise converges to the value of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Elevated Plasma C-Terminal Endothelin-1 Precursor Fragment Concentrations Are Associated with Less Anxiety in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Results from the Observational DIAST-CHF Study

Background The role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the neurobiology of anxiety is unknown, therefore, we assessed in the observational multicenter DIAST-CHF study whether the C-terminal ET-1 precursor fragment (CT-proET-1) is linked to anxiety. Methods Plasma concentrations of CT-proET-1 were measured in a total of 1,410 patients presenting with cardiovascular risk factors (mean age 66.91±8.2 years, 49.3% males, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 60.0±8.2%) who had completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Results Among the total study cohort (n = 1,410), there were 118 subjects (8.4%) with an HADS anxiety score above the cut-off level of 11 suggestive of clinically relevant anxiety. Plasma CT-proET-1 levels were significantly lower in the group of anxious patients as compared to non-anxious patients (p = 0.013). In regression models adjusted for sex, age, systolic blood pressure, and diameters of left atrium and ventricle, plasma CT-proET-1 was again linked to anxiety (Exp(β) = 0.247, 95%-confidence interval [95%-CI] = 0.067–0.914, p = 0.036). Given the high prevalence of depressive disorders in anxious patients, we additionally included the HADS depression score as an independent variable in the models and found that CT-proET-1 remained a significant predictor of anxiety, independent of comorbid depression (Exp(β) = 0.114, 95%-CI = 0.023–0.566, p = 0.008). Conclusions Our data from a population-based study in outpatients with cardiovascular risk factors revealed that circulating CT-proET-1 levels are negatively associated with anxiety. Further investigations are required to clarify the putative anxiolytic effect of ET-1 or its precursor molecules in humans and to decipher its mechanistic pathways.
Role of moesin in HMGB1-stimulated severe inflammatory responses

Summary Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to infection causes systemic inflammation. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), as a late mediator of sepsis, enhances hyper-permeability, and it is therefore a therapeutic target. Despite extensive research into the underlying mechanisms of sepsis, the target molecules controlling vascular leakage remain largely unknown. Moesin is a cytoskeletal protein involved in cytoskeletal changes and para-cellular gap formation. The objectives of this study were to determine the roles of moesin in HMGB1-mediated vascular hyperpermeability and inflammatory responses and to investigate the mechanisms of action underlying these responses. Using siRNA knockdown of moesin expression in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), moesin was found to be required in HMGB1-induced F-actin rearrangement, hyperpermeability, and inflammatory responses. The mechanisms involved in moesin phosphorylation were analysed by blocking the binding of the HMGB1 receptor (RAGE) and inhibiting the Rho and MAPK pathways. HMGB1-treated HUVECs exhibited an increase in Thr558 phosphorylation of moesin. Circulating levels of moesin were measured in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock; these patients showed significantly higher levels of moesin than healthy controls, which was strongly correlated with disease severity. High blood moesin levels were also observed in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in mice. Administration of blocking moesin antibodies attenuated CLP-induced septic death. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the HMGB1-RAGE-moesin axis can elicit severe inflammatory responses, suggesting it to be a potential target for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for sepsis.
Induced oxidative stress and decreased expression of inducible heat shock protein 70 (ihsp 70) in patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas.

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is one of the most common carcinomas observed in humans. Recently we have reported that increased oxidative stress is associated with human colorectal cancer. There are few and controversial studies on the clinical relevance of the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70), a member of the HSP family, in colorectal cancer. In this study, we assayed lipid peroxide levels, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and the expression of inducible heat shock protein 70 (ihsp 70) in 20 paired samples of colorectal tumor and adjacent normal tissues in order to determine the relationship between oxidative stress and ihsp 70 expression. Histopathological results were also considered to establish the clinical relevance of ihsp 70 in colorectal cancer. METHODS Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as an indicator of lipid peroxidation and GPx activity were assayed by spectrophotometric methods. The Western blotting procedure was used for the determination of ihsp 70 expression. RESULTS Significant increases were observed in MDA levels (111%) and GPx activities (50%) of malignant tissues as compared with normal tissues of the patients with colorectal cancer. The expression of ihsp 70 was found to be decreased in malignant tissues as compared with normal tissues of the patients. Significant negative correlations were detected between MDA levels and ihsp expression (r = -0.516; P < 0.05 ) and GPx activity and ihsp 70 expression (r = -0.471; P < 0.05) in malignant tissues of patients. When the patients were grouped according to histopathological characteristics, no difference was found in MDA levels, GPx activity and ihsp 70 expression. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that ihsp70 expression is suppressed under induced oxidative stress conditions in malignant tissues of patients with colorectal cancer. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms responsible for this decrease and the definitive role of ihsp 70 in colorectal cancer.
More Compact E-Cash with Efficient Coin Tracing

In 1982, Chaum [21] pioneered the anonymous e-cash which finds many applications in e-commerce. In 1993, Brands [8–10] and Ferguson [30, 31] published on single-term offline anonymous ecash which were the first practical e-cash. Their constructions used blind signatures and were inefficient to implement multi-spendable e-cash. In 1995, Camenisch, Hohenberger, and Lysyanskaya [12] gave the first compact 2-spendable e-cash, using zero-knowledge-proof techniques. They left an open problem of the simultaneous attainment of O(1)-unit wallet size and efficient coin tracing. The latter property is needed to revoke bad coins from over-spenders. In this paper, we solve [12]’s open problem, and thus enable the first practical compact e-cash. We use a new technique whose security reduces to a new intractability assumption: the Decisional Harmonically-Tipped Diffie-Hellman (DHTDH) Assumption.
Sliding Mode Control of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Arbitrary Relative Degree and Unknown Control Direction

This paper considers the model reference tracking control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems, based on sliding mode and output-feedback. No particular growth condition is imposed on the nonlinearity. Moreover, the design does not assume the prior knowledge of the control direction. For plants of arbitrary relative degree, global or semi-global asymptotic stability with respect to a compact set is guaranteed. Ultimate finite-time or exponential convergence of the tracking error to zero is achieved by using a hybrid lead filter based on 2-sliding mode exact differentiators. A monitoring function is used to determine the unknown control direction