Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of local shrinkage patterns of self-adhering and flowable composites using 3D digital image correlation.

OBJECTIVE To analyze local shrinkage patterns in terms of surface shrinkage strains and z-axis displacements in a novel self-adhering composite and a conventional flowable composite using three-dimensional digital image correlation. METHOD AND MATERIALS Seven samples of each material were prepared in cylindrical Teflon molds 5 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick. The surface of the composites facing the cameras was sprayed with a fine layer of black paint. The unsprayed surface of each sample, opposite the one facing the cameras, was light cured for 40 seconds using a light-emitting diode unit. Digital images were taken immediately before and after light curing. Shrinkage was calculated as von Mises strains, and z-axis displacements were measured in microns. The data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA at a = . 05. RESULTS No significant difference in strain was observed between the two materials (P > .05). Strain distribution was nonhomogenous--the outer segments showed significantly higher strains than central parts in each material (P < .05). The opposite was observed for z-axis displacements-significantly greater displacements were found in central parts compared to the outer segments (P < .05). CONCLUSION Different shrinkage vectors across the surface of the tested flowable composites showed predominant in-plane shrinkage of the outer surface segments and out-of-plane shrinkage of the inner segments. These complex local deformation patterns in composite materials indicate zones of different types of forces exerted on the tooth-restoration interface in situ.
A Collaborative Filtering Approach to Personalized Interactive Entertainment using MPEG-21

In this chapter we present an integrated framework for personalized access to interactive entertainment content, using characteristics from the emerging MPEG-21 standard. Our research efforts focus on multimedia content presented within the framework set by today's movie content broadcasting over a variety of networks and terminals, i.e. analogue and digital television broadcasts, video on mobile devices, personal digital assistants and more. This work contributes to the bridging of the gap between the content and the user, providing end-users with a wide range of real-time interactive services, ranging from plain personalized statistics and optional enhanced in-play visual enhancements to a fully user-and content-adaptive platform. The proposed approach implements and extends in a novel way a well-known collaborative filtering approach; it applies a hierarchical clustering algorithm on the data towards the scope of group modelling implementation. It illustrates also the benefits from the MPEG-21 components utilization in the process and analyzes the importance of the Digital Item concept, containing both the (binary) multimedia content, as well as a structured representation of the different entities that handle the item, together with the set of possible actions on the item. Finally, a use case scenario is presented to illustrate the entire procedure. The core of this work is the novel group modelling approach, on top of the hybrid collaborative filtering algorithm, employing principles of taxonomic knowledge representation and hierarchical clustering theory. The outcome of this framework design is the fact that end-users are presented with personalized forms of multimedia content, thus enhancing their viewing experience and creating more revenue opportunities to content providers.
Digestive bioavailability to a deposit feeder (Arenicola marina) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with anthropogenic particles

Marine sediments around urban areas serve as catch basins for anthropogenic particles containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using incubations with gut fluids extracted from a deposit‐feeding polychaete (Arenicola marina), we determined the digestive bioavailability of PAHs from fly ashes, coal dusts, diesel soots, tire tread materials, and urban particulates. We found that gut fluids solubilize significant concentrations of PAHs from two tire treads, two diesel soots, and the urban particulates. However, PAHs in fly ashes and coal dusts were not available to the digestive agents in gut fluid. Potential digestive exposure to PAHs is much greater than that predicted to be available from these materials using equilibrium partitioning theory (EqP). Amending an already‐contaminated sediment with fly ash decreased phenanthrene solubilization by gut fluid. In contrast, addition of tire tread to the sediment resulted in increased solubilization of four PAHs by gut fluid. Therefore, addition of certain types of anthropogenic particles to sediments may result in an increase in bioavailable PAHs rather than a net decrease, as predicted by EqP. Difficulty in predicting the amount of change due to amendment may be due to interactions occurring among the mixture of compounds solubilized by gut fluid.
Raising expectations or constructing victims? Problems with promoting social inclusion through lifelong learning

Whilst in government, New Labour defined social exclusion as a state of ‘disadvantage’ resulting from individual psychology: namely, low aspirations, a lack of self-confidence or moral deviancy. Engagement in lifelong learning was considered a means of promoting social inclusion and of overcoming such disadvantage. This policy review explores how such a psychological approach to post-compulsory education impacts upon the more traditional educational and vocational goals of the sector. A critical discourse analysis of relevant government documents as well as interviews with key policy makers, suggests that New Labour’s policy may have had the unintended consequence of constructing psychological disadvantage amongst groups defined as socially excluded. A focus upon ameliorating the perceived psychological vulnerabilities of socially excluded groups may risk denying those targeted access to genuine educational provision or may create a culture of dependency upon formal educational institutions.
Learning information extraction patterns from tabular Web pages without manual labelling

We describe a domain independent approach to automatically constructing information extraction patterns for semistructured Web pages. The approach was tested on three corpora containing a series of tabular Web sites from different domains and achieved a success rate of at least 80%. A significant strength of the system is that it can infer extraction patterns from a single training page and does not require any manual labeling of the training page.
Language Governmentality in Philippine Education Policy

English has long been a significant force in Philippine schools. A product of colonialism, scholars often erroneously view this dominance as stemming from governmental mandate. This article argues that the drive for Anglophone classrooms comes from all facets of Philippine society. Indeed, even many minority language speakers view English as integral to producing ideal citizens. Through a language governmentality framework, the perceptions of the ideal Filipino are seen to be constantly evolving. With them, the motivations behind the push for English have shifted. Recently, English has again been repositioned, with public support for the use of home languages in the classroom. The initiative, however, is designed to produce greater English proficiency and the notion of the ideal English-speaking Filipino will likely remain.
Signal-adapted multiresolution transform for image coding

The authors consider the problem of designing multiresolution transforms that are adapted to the given image signal, in the sense that they maximize the coding gain at each resolution level. A simple alternating optimization algorithm is derived for solving this problem in the framework of the lattice realization of para-unitary quadrature mirror filters. The resulting large coding scheme is discussed in some detail, and its performance is compared with that of the discrete cosine transform (JPEG) technique and with that of some nonadapted multiresolution transforms. >
In situ visualization of rDNA arrangement and its relationship with subnucleolar structural regions in Allium sativum cell nucleolus

We used a DNA-specific staining technique to show the two states of DNA component distributed in the nucleolar region of Allium sativum cells. One state is the extended DNA fiber, and the other is the condensed DNA clump. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the extended DNA fiber was an rRNA gene. Anti-fibrillarin antibody immunolabeling revealed that these rRNA genes were located in the dense fibrillar component near the fibrillar center, including at the periphery of the fibrillar center. None was in the dense fibrillar component far away from the fibrillar center. The condensed DNA clump was located in the fibrillar center. Further observations showed that the rRNA genes in the nucleolus were all arranged around the fibrillar center and associated with the DNA clumps in the fibrillar center. Results of statistical analysis showed that the distribution region of rRNA genes occupied about one-third of the total dense fibrillar component region. Ag-NOR protein showed a similar distribution pattern to that of rDNA. Immunolabeling of an anti-RNA/DNA hybrid antibody demonstrated that the transcription sites of rRNA were located at the periphery of the fibrillar center and in the dense fibrillar component near the fibrillar center, and these sites were consistent with the location and arrangement of rDNA shown in situ. These results demonstrated that transcription of rRNA takes place around the fibrillar center and at the periphery, whereas the dense fibrillar component that was far away from fibrillar center was the non-transcription region. The DNA clumps within the fibrillar center were probably the anchoring sites for rDNA arrangement.
Exposure to pets and allergies in children

Currently, there is ongoing discussion regarding potential protective effects of exposure to pets during early childhood on the development of atopic disorders in children later in life. We used data from three consecutive cross‐sectional surveys to study the relationship between contact with dogs, cats and other pets, and allergic diseases in schoolchildren 5–14 years of age. In three study areas of the former East Germany, 7,611 questionnaires were received from 5,360 different children who were examined between 1992 and 1999 as school entrants, or third‐ or sixth‐graders. Allergic sensitization to common aeroallergens (birch, grass, mite, cat) was assessed by specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentrations [using radioallergosorbent testing (RAST)] for 85% of the children. After adjustment for possible confounders, inverse associations were found between contact with dogs in the first year of life and lifetime prevalences of asthma [odds ratio (OR) = 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43–1.08], hay fever (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.39–0.95), eczema (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.61–0.94), itchy rash (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.61–0.94), and pollen sensitization (RAST ≥ 4: OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38–0.82). These effects were more pronounced for children with atopic parents. Similar associations were observed for current contact with dogs. We identified no clear relationships for the other pets (cats, rodents, birds), with the exception that children currently exposed to cats were more likely to be sensitized against cats. In conclusion, this study supports the hypothesis of a potential protective mechanism related to dog exposure in early life, especially for children of atopic parents. However, this association was found only for dogs and not for cats.
Robust Space-Time Adaptive Processing Using Projection Statistics

In this paper, projection statistics (PS) are ap- plied to detect and mitigate outliers in adaptive processing algorithms. Outliers present in training data result in slow adaptive processor convergence. In radar, these outliers may arise from clutter discretes, desired targets, or jam- mers. PS provide a computationally tractable technique for identifying and mitigating outlier data samples prior to adaptive processing. We demonstrate that well known pro- cessing methods, such as sample matrix inversion and its variants can be made robust to these outlier impairments by incorporating PS into the algorithm formulation.
In Vivo and In Vitro Study of a Polylactide-Fiber-Reinforced β-Tricalcium Phosphate Composite Cage in an Ovine Anterior Cervical Intercorporal Fusion Model

A poly-70L/30DL-lactide (PLA70)–β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) composite implant reinforced by continuous PLA-96L/4D-lactide (PLA96) fibers was designed for in vivo spinal fusion. The pilot study was performed with four sheep, using titanium cage implants as controls. The composite implants failed to direct bone growth as desired, whereas the bone contact and the proper integration were evident with controls 6 months after implantation. Therefore, the PLA70/β-TCP composite matrix material was further analyzed in the in vitro experiment by human and ovine adipose stem cells (hASCs and oASCs). The composites proved to be biocompatible as confirmed by live/dead assay. The proliferation rate of oASCs was higher than that of hASCs at all times during the 28 d culture period. Furthermore, the composites had only a minor osteogenic effect on oASCs, whereas the hASC osteogenesis on PLA70/β-TCP composites was evident. In conclusion, the composite implant material can be applied with hASCs for tissue engineering but not be evaluated in vivo with sheep.
Race a word-level atpg-based constraints solver system for smart random simulation

Functional verijication of complex designs largely relies on the use of simulation in conjunction high-level verijication languages (HVL) and test-bench automation (TBA) tools. In a constraints-based verification methodology, constraints are used to model the environmental restrictions of the Design Under Verification (DUV), and are specijied using HVL constructs. The job of a constraints solver is to produce multiple random solutions to these constraints. These random solutions are used to drive legal random stimulus to the DUV using procedural HVL constructs.
Asymmetric p38 Activation in Zebrafish

Cleavage is one of the initial steps of embryogenesis, and is characterized by a series of symmetric and synchronous cell divisions. We showed that p38 MAP kinase (p38) is asymmetrically activated on one side of the blastodisc during the early cleavage period in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. When a dominant negative (DN) form of p38 was uniformly expressed, blastomere cleavage was impaired on one side of the blastodisc, resulting in the formation of blastomeres with a large mass of cytoplasm and an enlarged nucleus on the affected side. The area affected by the DN-p38 expression did not correlate with the initial cleavage plane, but coincided with the side where dharma/bozozok, a dorsal-specific zygotic gene, was expressed (Yamanaka et al. 1998). Furthermore, UV irradiation and removal of the vegetal yolk mass before the first cleavage, both of which inhibit the initiation of the dorsalizing signals, abolished the asymmetric p38 activation. Our findings suggest that asymmetric p38 activation is required for symmetric and synchronous cleavage, and may be regulated by the same machinery that controls the initiation of dorsalizing signals.
Birefringence and optical activity of the incommensurate phase of

By using a high-accuracy universal polarimeter, all the components of the optical-activity tensor g and birefringence \ensuremath{\Delta}n of [N(${\mathrm{CH}}_{3}$${)}_{4}$${]}_{2}$${\mathrm{ZnCl}}_{4}$ were measured in its paraelectric, incommensurate, and ferroelectric phases. Only one component, ${\mathit{g}}_{23}$, was found to appear both in the incommensurate and ferroelectric phases, but all the other components vanished in the three phases. This fact mostly disagrees with the recent report of Dijkstra, Kremers, and Meekes, but partly agrees with our previous result. It was confirmed that the paraelectric phase was optically inactive although Dijkstra, Kremers, and Meekes reported that most components of the gyration tensor were nonzero. The results for \ensuremath{\Delta}n agree with those of Dijkstra, Kremers, and Meekes except for \ensuremath{\Delta}${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{a}}$. The source of these experimental disagreements are discussed.
Depth map restoration and upsampling for kinect v2 based on IR-depth consistency and joint adaptive kernel regression

This paper presents a depth map restoration scheme for both the raw and projected depth map from Kinect v2 sensor. Based on IR-depth consistency, erroneous depth readings around foreground objects are removed by an edge aware consistency correction method. Moreover, a joint adaptive kernel regression algorithm is designed to upsample the sparse depth map after the projection from Kinect v2 sensor's depth camera to its full HD video camera. The structural information in the high resolution color image is implicitly utilized to guide the upsampling of depth map. The effectiveness of the proposed upsampling algorithm is illustrated by experimental results and comparisons on both real Kinect v2 data and Middlebury dataset.
Towards a Practical Pedestrian Distraction Detection Framework using Wearables

Pedestrian safety continues to be a significant con- cern in urban communities with distraction being one of the main contributing factor behind serious accidents involving pedestrians. The advent of sophisticated mobile and wearable devices, equipped with high-precision on-board sensors capable of measuring fine-grained user movements and context, provides a tremendous opportunity for designing effective pedestrian safety systems and applications. Accurate recognition of pedestrian distractions in real-time given the memory, computation and com- munication limitations of these devices, however, remains a key technical challenge in the design of such systems. Earlier research efforts in this direction have primarily focused on achieving high distraction detection accuracy, resulting in techniques that are either resource intensive and unsuitable for implementation on mainstream mobile devices, or computationally slow and not real- time, or require specialized hardware and thus less likely to be adopted by most users. Our goal in this paper is to design a pedestrian distraction detection technique that overcomes some of these shortcomings (of existing techniques) and achieves a favorable balance between computational efficiency, detection accuracy, and energy consumption.
The Isometric Knee Extension Moment- Angle Relationship: Experimental Data and Predictions Based on Cadaver Data

The influence of parameter values (i.e., fiber optimum lengths and moment arms) and simplification of the geometry of a Hill-type muscle model on the prediction of normalized maximal isometric knee extension moment to knee joint angle relationship was studied. For that purpose, the geometry of m. quadriceps femoris was modeled in considerable detail, and all parameter values were determined on one set of cadaver specimens that had been selected for muscular appearance. The predicted relationship was compared to that measured in human subjects over the full range of physiological knee angles, and a good correspondence was found ( r = .96). The good correspondence could be attributed to the substitution of realistic parameter values into the model. Incorporating complex muscle geometry into the model resulted in a small additional improvement of the prediction. It was speculated that the variation in results of cadaver measurements among studies reflects true differences caused by individuals’ levels of physical activity in the period preceding death. Insight into the factors determining performance of motor tasks will benefit practitioners in athletics and rehabilitation. It is generally recognized that performance depends on properties of the musculoskeletal system and on control, with the effects of control being determined by the stimulation patterns that the nervous system sends to the muscles. In order to gain insight into the importance of system properties and control, it is necessary to systematically manipulate these factors and monitor the effects on performance. Unfortunately, system properties cannot be changed in living subjects for obvious reasons, and subjects are unable to systematically manipulate their control. For that reason, researchers have turned to models of the neuromusculoskeletal system. These models may be constructed such that the input consists of muscle stimulation patterns and the output is the movement and therewith the performance on the task (Levine,
Medicine Open Access

The modern vision concerning the physiological actions and pathological relevance of endocrine cardiac system is a very complex one. Decreased or increased action of thyroid hormone (hypo‐ or hyperthyroidism) on different cellular and molecular pathways in the heart plays an important role in the development and progression of myocardial remodelling and heart failure. Cardiovascular signs and symptoms that accompany both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are presented, highlighting that correction of thyroid dysfunction most often reverses the abnormal cardiovascular hemodynamics.
The Influence of Negative Emotions on Customer Innovation Activities: An Examination Using Sentiment Analysis

With the advent of Web 2.0, increased user participation in diverse e-communities resulted in an abundance of information, including emotional information. We examined the influence of negative emotion in an online brand community, MyStarbuckIdea.com, developed to collect diverse customer ideas for the firm? s innovation, with the purpose of investigating how such emotion affects customer activities for innovation in the community. We first established several hypotheses on the relationships between discrete negative emotions and innovation activities. Then, having collected 84,918 customer ideas, we conducted POS tagging and term-based matching to calculate the inclusion and intensity of negative emotion using the negative emotion lexicon which we developed. As a result of testing our hypotheses with regression models, we show that 1) negative emotion significantly affects innovation activities in the brand community, and frustration is the most influential among the discrete negative emotions; and 2) as the intensity level of negative emotions increases, so does their influence.
Improved image partitioning for compression and representation using the lab color space in the LAR image codec

The LAR codec is an advanced image compression method relying on a quadtree partitioning of the image. The partitioning strongly impacts the LAR codec efficiency and enables both compression and representation efficiency. In order to increase the perceptual representation abilities without penalizing the compression efficiency we introduce and evaluate two partitioning criteria working in the Lab color space. These criteria are confronted to the original criterion and their compression and robustness performances are analyzed.