Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of facial soft tissue values and cranial skeletal widths in different body mass index percentile adolescent subjects

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to analyze facial soft tissue thickness and cranial skeletal transverse widths in adolescent subjects with different body mass index (BMI) percentiles. Methods The 80 subjects were divided into three groups according to BMI percentile: normal-weight, overweight, and obese adolescent subjects. Facial soft tissue linear and cranial skeletal transversal width measurements were performed on lateral and postero-anterior cephalometric radiographs. Results Glabella, nasion, pogonion, and gnathion soft tissue thicknesses were significantly different among normal-weight, overweight, and obese subjects (p < 0.05). However, other facial soft tissue thickness parameters were not statistically significantly different among the groups (p > 0.05). Moreover, there were no significant differences in cranial skeletal transversal widths among groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion Nasion soft tissue thickness was thicker in overweight subjects; whereas, glabella, pogonion and gnathion soft tissue thickness was thicker in obese subjects. All measured cranial skeletal widths were similar in normal-weight, overweight, and obese subjects.
Investigation of bipedal robot locomotion using pneumatic muscle actuators

Bipedal locomotion and particularly the human gait is a highly automated and complex process involving large numbers of actuators. Unfortunately actuator technology is an area of robotics with many conflicting requirements such as: high power density, high power to weight ratio, rapid response, accurate repeatable control, cleanliness, high efficiency, and low cost, which make selection complex. Pneumatic muscle actuators (PMA) [based on the McKibben Muscle] which can provide position and force control better than 1% have been applied to upper limbs with some success and with contractile forces in excess of 1000N (in units weighing less than 50g) there is considerable potential for use in bipedal locomotion. This paper will explore the design of a bipedal robot to take advantage of the potential of these actuators. Muscle co-ordination and control sequences will be considered for striding and standing activities and it will be shown that in terms of the energy requirements PMAs are very capable of providing a reliable bipedal drive source with linear actuation, low mass, fast response, compliant energy storage and simple construction.
Choosing the Best Design Strategy from Requirements. A Value-Based Approach

Various different valid software design solutions may respond satisfactorily to the same product requirements. In addition, a great part of the success of a software project depends on the software design selected. However, there are very few methods that quantify how much value will be added by each particular design strategy, and hence very little time is spent in choosing the best design option. We propose a method that estimates the value of a design strategy, starting from requirements. This method is based on the probability of change of each requirement as well as of its relative importance. Those parameters will later be traced into better design artifacts. The proposed approach takes into account the cost of each strategy, the probability, or risk, and the cost of introducing a better design solution.
Probabilistic Self-Localization and Mapping - An Asynchronous Multirate Approach

One of the main contributions of this article is related to the multirate asynchronous filtering approach for the SLAM problem based on PFs. Previous multirate filter contributions are mainly for linear systems. A Kalman filter is applied for linear quadratic regulator (LQG) control, while in a Kalman filter is developed using lifting techniques. In this article, significant improvements for robot pose estimation are obtained when introducing multirate techniques to FastSLAM. In particular, it is shown that multirate fusion aims to provide more accurate results in loop-closing problems in SLAM (localization and map building problems with closed paths). Additionally, in this article a pose estimation algorithm based on least squares (LS) fitting of line features is proposed. Since the complexity of LS fitting is linear to the number of features, this implies a low computational cost than other techniques. Therefore, methods based on PFs such as MCL and FastSLAM that require a large number of particles may benefit from this fact. In particular, this provides an accurate approximation of the posterior PDF for FastSLAM 2.0.
Spiral coding order of macroblocks with applications to SNR-scalable video compression

Video sequences are compressed by processing individual macroblocks within frames. Traditional macroblock order of processing is linear from the left to the right, and from the top to the bottom. In this paper, an alternative order of macroblock processing is considered. Proposed is the spiral scan beginning at the centre of an image, or more general, in the centre of interest that is often placed in the centre of an image by a person who shots the video. The paper shows that such a change of processing order does not influence compression performance but it is profitable in scalable video coding where it can be used in the enhancement layers by SNR scalability. The paper provides the respective experimental results for low-complexity efficient SNR scalability with fine granularity.
Directional cloning of PCR products using exonuclease III.

Directional cloning of PCR products is usually carried out through different cohesive ends created by digestion with restriction enzymes. Although this method is generally straightforward, it has disadvantages: (i) if present, internal sites will be cleaved by the restriction enzymes; (ii) to ensure efficient cleavage, several extra nucleotides have to be added to the 5' end of primers in addition to those providing the restriction site; (iii) several sites (Not I, Xba I, Xho I) have been reported recalcitrant to digestion (1); (iv) occasionally, restriction enzymes buffers are not compatible and digestions have to be carried out sequentially. 5' Cohesive termini can be created by controlled digestion with T4 DNA polymerase (2, 3). However, one method (2) is limited to the combination of palindromes consisting of ATs, or GCs, exclusively, and a second method (3) requires a relatively long 5' add-on sequence. The present method is based on exposing different 5' cohesive ends simultanously by controlled Exo HI digestion (Figure 1). Exo in is a 3'-5' exonuclease with little base specificity, it degrades linear duplex DNA at an almost synchronous rate from the 3' ends of both strands, the rate of digestion being remarkably uniform. Under saturating conditions, the rate of digestion can be controlled by temperature, at 4°C it is about 25 nucleotides/min (4). PCR products are linear molecules, being either blunt-ended, or modified with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity of Taq DNA polymerase at the 3' ends, in both cases the product serves as an appropriate template for Exo m. Kinased primers are used in the standard PCR protocol, the product is precipitated and about 50 ng is digested with 10 u of Exo III (Stratagene) at 4°C for 30 sec. The reaction mixture is immediately phenol-extracted, 50 ng of appropriately double digested vector (pBKS/EcoRI/Hindm) is added, and then precipitated. The mixture is ligated overnight at 16°C and transformed into competent XL-1 Blue cells. Potential gaps in recombinant molecules are repaired within the cells after transformation. The extent of the Exo HI digestion does not appear to be critical since transformation after 30, 60 or 90 sec periods of digestion yielded similar numbers of colonies. Using this new method, a 3 kb PCR product was very efficiently, directionally, subcloned into Eco RI/Hind IE-digested pBKS. The presence of an internal Eco RI site in the 3 kb PCR product prevented the use of Eco RI in the subcloning. Use of a standard blunt-end cloning method allowed the isolation of only one recombinant clone containing the 3 kb product whereas the Exo IQ-method yielded more than one hundred recombinant clones. This simple, rapid and efficient method has the following advantages: (i) it obviates the necessity for the use of restriction enzymes and the other, above mentioned, drawbacks; (ii) it uses shorter primers, with minimal add-on sequences; (iii) it is likely to be usable for any combination of 5' protruding ends.
Mechanisms and Regulation of Mitotic Recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Homology-dependent exchange of genetic information between DNA molecules has a profound impact on the maintenance of genome integrity by facilitating error-free DNA repair, replication, and chromosome segregation during cell division as well as programmed cell developmental events. This chapter will focus on homologous mitotic recombination in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, there is an important link between mitotic and meiotic recombination (covered in the forthcoming chapter by Hunter et al. 2015) and many of the functions are evolutionarily conserved. Here we will discuss several models that have been proposed to explain the mechanism of mitotic recombination, the genes and proteins involved in various pathways, the genetic and physical assays used to discover and study these genes, and the roles of many of these proteins inside the cell.
Influence of timestamping error on data inaccuracy

This paper studies the influence of timestamping error on data inaccuracy. Timestamping error refers to all time imperfections inherent in data acquisition and distributed sensor architectures. It is represented using a bounded error model. In order to estimate the significance of this error in data estimation and data fusion processes, we propose a method to convert the timestamping error into data inaccuracy. We then quantify the proportion of inaccuracy introduced by timestamping error. Real data acquired using an instrumented vehicle are analyzed, and the timestamping error is seen to represent a significant proportion of data inaccuracy. All applications in dynamic environments where a high level of precision is required, as well as applications in distributed environments with clock imperfections, will be concerned by this study.
Cyclic AMP Imaging in Adult Cardiac Myocytes Reveals Far-Reaching &bgr;1-Adrenergic but Locally Confined &bgr;2-Adrenergic Receptor–Mediated Signaling

&bgr;1- and &bgr;2-adrenergic receptors (&bgr;ARs) are known to differentially regulate cardiomyocyte contraction and growth. We tested the hypothesis that these differences are attributable to spatial compartmentation of the second messenger cAMP. Using a fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based approach, we directly monitored the spatial and temporal distribution of cAMP in adult cardiomyocytes. We developed a new cAMP-FRET sensor (termed HCN2-camps) based on a single cAMP binding domain of the hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channel 2 (HCN2). Its cytosolic distribution, high dynamic range, and sensitivity make HCN2-camps particularly well suited to monitor subcellular localization of cardiomyocyte cAMP. We generated HCN2-camps transgenic mice and performed single-cell FRET imaging on freshly isolated cardiomyocytes. Whole-cell superfusion with isoproterenol showed a moderate elevation of cAMP. Application of various phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors revealed stringent control of cAMP through PDE4>PDE2>PDE3. The &bgr;1AR-mediated cAMP signals were entirely dependent on PDE4 activity, whereas &bgr;2AR-mediated cAMP was under control of multiple PDE isoforms. &bgr;1AR subtype–specific stimulation yielded ≈2-fold greater cAMP responses compared with selective &bgr;2-subtype stimulation, even on treatment with the nonselective PDE inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) (&Dgr;FRET, 17.3±1.3% [&bgr;1AR] versus 8.8±0.4% [&bgr;2AR]). Treatment with pertussis toxin to inactivate Gi did not affect cAMP production. Localized &bgr;1AR stimulation generated a cAMP gradient propagating throughout the cell, whereas local &bgr;2AR stimulation did not elicit marked cAMP diffusion. Our data reveal that in adult cardiac myocytes, &bgr;1ARs induce far-reaching cAMP signals, whereas &bgr;2AR-induced cAMP remains locally confined.
Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is mainly clinical and to augment the clinical diagnosis ultrasonography and Computerized Tomographic Scan of the abdomen are also being used to help in diagnosis of the disease; which all carry some inherent limitations. This study was done to establish diagnostic accuracy of Ultrasonography (USG) in acute appendicitis taking histopathology of removed appendix as the gold standard. METHODS This cross-sectional validation study was conducted in Radiology Department, Military Hospital and Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi from July 2007 to January 2008. Sixty cases of clinically suspected acute appendicitis were selected on non-probability convenience sampling technique. All of them underwent ultrasound evaluation. Diagnostic accuracy of USG was calculated keeping histopathology of the removed appendix as gold standard whenever appendectomy was carried out. RESULTS Out of 60 patients whose USG of right lower quadrant was performed, 30 patients were correctly diagnosed as having acute appendicitis on USG out of 34 finally diagnosed cases based on histopathology. Similarly we picked 12 normal appendices out of 26 non-appendicitis patients. This showed that US scan has sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 92%, positive predictive value of 94%, negative predictive value of 86%, and overall accuracy of 90%. The most accurate appendiceal finding for appendicitis was a diameter of 7 mm or larger followed by non- compressibility of inflamed appendix. CONCLUSION Ultrasonography has high accuracy in diagnosing acute appendicitis and reduces negative appendectomies. Greater than 6-mm diameter of the appendix under compression is the most accurate USG finding with high positive predictive value for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
The Genomes On Line Database (GOLD) in 2007: status of genomic and metagenomic projects and their associated metadata

The Genomes On Line Database (GOLD) is a comprehensive resource that provides information on genome and metagenome projects worldwide. Complete and ongoing projects and their associated metadata can be accessed in GOLD through pre-computed lists and a search page. As of September 2007, GOLD contains information on more than 2900 sequencing projects, out of which 639 have been completed and their sequence data deposited in the public databases. GOLD continues to expand with the goal of providing metadata information related to the projects and the organisms/environments towards the Minimum Information about a Genome Sequence’ (MIGS) guideline. GOLD is available at http://www.genomesonline. org and has a mirror site at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Crete, Greece at http://gold.imbb. forth.gr/
Analysis and Simulation of Parasitic Parameters for PCB Planar Transformer

Three kinds of double sided PCB planar transformers are described in this paper: non-interleaving structure, part-interleaving structure and interleaving structure. The Magneto Motive Force (MMF) of the planar transformers with various structures is compared. The distribution of magnetic field intensity inside the transformers was verified by the Two Dimension Finite Element Analysis (FEA 2D). According to the relationship between the energy of leakage inductance and energy inside magnetic field, leakage inductance can be estimated. The parasitic capacitive effects and leakage inductance of various structures are simulated using software of Power Electronics Magnetics (PEmag). Finally, the interleaving structure with double secondary winding for the PCB planar transformer has been adopted to reduce the leakage inductance, and experiment is executed to compare the transformers with various structures described above.
A Novel Approach for Efficient and Effective Mining of Mobile User Behaviors

Many people increasingly rely on mobile communication services to carry out daily activities. Due to the limitation of the PCS network architecture, a constantly relocating user may encounter significant delay when requesting data or value-added services. Previous research showed that this inefficiency can be effectively reduced by predicting the user's mobile patterns. However, most research merely focused on the user's moving nodes without considering the traffic times and requested services which could dramatically affect the user's behavior. The research also did not consider how likely the user is going to relocate. Thus, in this work, we extend the hidden Markov model for modeling the behavior of the mobile users with regard to the following important factors: 1) moving node, 2) requested service, 3) user state, and 4) traffic time. Our novel approach requires only one scan of the target dataset. Moreover, the needed memory space and processing time can be independent of the transaction size. A user model can be built to predict the user's mobile patterns at different granularity levels, as well as for decision support and service improvement. Moreover, the built model can be easily adjusted later to reflect the latest user behavior without re-scanning the original dataset. Our approach can also be readily used to mine streaming data.
Ultimate performance of M -ary transmissions on fading channels

One of M frequency translates of a common signal is sent over a fading channel and is received in additive white noise. The receiver decides which signal was sent using energy measurements only. It is shown that as M is allowed to become very large, the performance depends only on the probability distribution of received energy per bit, and that this limiting behavior is the same as for optimum detection based on full knowledge of instantaneous channel properties. If sufficiently many independent copies of the channel can be achieved (i.e., independent diversity branches), the performance can be made to approach as closely as desired that of the nonfading infinite-bandwidth channel, independently of the exact channel statistics.
A UNIQUENESS THEOREM FOR AN INVERSE ELECTROMAGNETIC SCATTERING PROBLEM IN INHOMOGENEOUS ANISOTROPIC MEDIA

Abstract We show that the support of a (possibly) coated anisotropic medium is uniquely determined by the electric far-field patterns corresponding to incident time-harmonic electromagnetic plane waves with arbitrary polarization and direction. Our proof avoids the use of a fundamental solution to Maxwell’s equations in an anisotropic medium and instead relies on the well-posedness and regularity properties of solutions to an interior transmission problem for Maxwell’s equations. AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 35R30; 35Q60. Secondary 35P25; 78A45
Self-Perceptions of University Lecturers Who Teach in Live and Online Contexts

This paper reports on the self-perceptions of two university lecturers who teach via a combination of face-to-face and online modes. Interpretative analysis of case study material (based on conversations with the researcher and participant-selected online teaching extracts) is providing insights into how experienced lecturers perceive their teaching selves in the different contexts and how their teaching identities are being transformed through the experience of online teaching. By telling stories, we make identity claims (Ronai, 1997). In this study, narrative elicitation procedures offer participants the opportunity to articulate and reflect on their teaching selves in website material, computer-mediated communication and face-to-face teaching/learning contexts. Several extracts from the many stories told by two of the participants in this study are revealed and discussed to exemplify the approach and to highlight some of the research issues. The paper concludes with an outline of the implications of the research conducted thus far for the next phase of the study (researcher and participant roles, procedures).
Counsellors' perspectives on how mindfulness meditation influences counsellor presence within the therapeutic relationship.

The present study was a phenomenological inquiry exploring the lived experience of counselors who have a regular mindfidness meditation practice consisting of sitting meditation. The researcher interviewed five women counselors on how mindfulness meditation influences their presence within the therapeutic relationship. Utilizing a phenomenological research design emphasizing the association between individuals and their worlds, the researcher analyzed the data, selected meaningful statements, and clustered themes. The main themes discovered were: the path of mindfulness meditation, counsellor presence, compassion, bringing mindfulness and meditation to counselling, and self-awareness and insights through meditation. The findings were discussed within the context of the relevant research and theories in counselling psychology. Practical implications for counselling, future research recommendations, and study limitations were considered. TABLE OF CONTENTS . Abstract 11 . Table of
Developmental expression of cytochrome P450 aromatase genes (CYP19a and CYP19b) in zebrafish fry (Danio rerio).

Cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19) is the terminal enzyme in the steroidogenic pathway that converts androgens (e.g., testosterone) into estrogens (e.g., estradiol). Regulation of this gene dictates the ratio of androgens to estrogens; therefore, appropriate expression of this enzyme is critical for reproduction as well as being pivotal in sex differentiation for most vertebrates. It is assumed that most vertebrates have a single CYP19 gene that is regulated by multiple tissue-specific promoter regions. However, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has two genes (CYP19a and CYP19b), each encoding a significantly different protein and possessing its own regulatory mechanism. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of expression of each of the CYP19 genes in the developing zebrafish. A fluorescent-based method of real-time, quantitative RT-PCR provided the sensitivity and specificity to determine transcript abundance in single embryos/juveniles harvested at days 0 through 41 days post-fertilization (dpf), which encompasses the developmental events of sex determination and gonadal differentiation. CYP19 transcripts could be detected as early as 3 or 4 dpf, (CYP19a and CYP19b, respectively) and peak abundance was detected on day five. In general, the CYP19 genes differed significantly in the ontogeny of their expression. In most cases, the gonadal form of CYP19 (CYP19a) was more abundant than the brain form (CYP19b); however, unlike CYP19a, the pattern of CYP19b expression could be clearly segregated into two populations, suggesting an association with sex differentiation. Pharmacological steroids (ethinylestradiol and 17 alpha-methyltestosterone) enhanced the expression of the CYP19b gene at all three days examined (4, 6, and 10 dpf). These data suggest that the timely and appropriate expression of CYP19 is important in development and that the expression of CYP19b (the "extra-gonadal" form) may be associated with sexual differentiation if not sexual determination. J. Exp. Zool. 290:475-483, 2001.
Updating an LU Factorization with Pivoting

We show how to compute an LU factorization of a matrix when the factors of a leading principle submatrix are already known. The approach incorporates pivoting akin to partial pivoting, a strategy we call incremental pivoting. An implementation using the Formal Linear Algebra Methods Environment (FLAME) application programming interface (API) is described. Experimental results demonstrate practical numerical stability and high performance on an Intel Itanium2 processor-based server.