Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real time tracking of multiple persons by Kalman filtering and face pursuit for multimedia applications

We present an algorithm that can track multiple persons and their faces simultaneously in a video sequence, even if they are completely occluded from the camera's point of view. The algorithm is based on the detection and tracking of person masks and their faces. Face localization uses skin detection based on color information with an adaptive thresholding. In order to handle occlusions, a Kalman filter is defined for each person that allows the prediction of the person bounding box, of the face bounding box and of its speed. In case of incomplete measurements (for instance, in case of partial occlusion), a partial Kalman filtering is done. Several results show the efficiency of this method. This algorithm allows real time processing.
The Phosphatomes of the Multicellular Myxobacteria Myxococcus xanthus and Sorangium cellulosum in Comparison with Other Prokaryotic Genomes

Background Analysis of the complete genomes from the multicellular myxobacteria Myxococcus xanthus and Sorangium cellulosum identified the highest number of eukaryotic-like protein kinases (ELKs) compared to all other genomes analyzed. High numbers of protein phosphatases (PPs) could therefore be anticipated, as reversible protein phosphorylation is a major regulation mechanism of fundamental biological processes. Methodology Here we report an intensive analysis of the phosphatomes of M. xanthus and S. cellulosum in which we constructed phylogenetic trees to position these sequences relative to PPs from other prokaryotic organisms. Principal Findings Predominant observations were: (i) M. xanthus and S. cellulosum possess predominantly Ser/Thr PPs; (ii) S. cellulosum encodes the highest number of PP2c-type phosphatases so far reported for a prokaryotic organism; (iii) in contrast to M. xanthus only S. cellulosum encodes high numbers of SpoIIE-like PPs; (iv) there is a significant lack of synteny among M. xanthus and S. cellulosum, and (v) the degree of co-organization between kinase and phosphatase genes is extremely low in these myxobacterial genomes. Conclusions We conclude that there has been a greater expansion of ELKs than PPs in multicellular myxobacteria.
Multiyear precipitation reduction strongly decrease carbon uptake over North China

Drought has been a concern of global and regional water, carbon and energy cycles. From 1999 to 2011, North China experienced a multiyear precipitation reduction, which decreased significantly water availability as indicated by decreased soil moisture and Palmer Drought Severity Index. In this study, three light use efficiency models (CASA, MODIS-GPP and EC-LUE) and one dynamic vegetation model (IBIS) were used to characterize the impacts of long-term drought on terrestrial carbon fluxes over the North China. All of four models showed the reduction in averaged GPP of 0.026–0.047 Pg C yr −1 from 1999 to 2011 compared to 1982–2011. Based on IBIS model, simulated ecosystem respiration fell from 1999 to 2011 by 0.016 Pg C yr −1 . Multiple precipitation reduction changed the regional carbon uptake of 0.0014 Pg C yr −1 from 1982 to 1998 to a~net source of 0.018 Pg C yr −1 . Moreover, a pronounced decrease of maize yield was found ranging from 1999 to 2011 versus the average of 1978–2011 at almost all provinces over the study region. The largest reduction of maize yield occurred in the Beijing (2499 kg ha −1 yr −1 ), Jilin (2180 kg ha −1 yr −1 ), Tianjing (1923 kg ha −1 yr −1 ) and Heilongjiang (1791 kg ha −1 yr −1 ), and maize yield anomaly was significantly correlated with the precipitation through May and September over the entire study area. Our results revealed that recent climate change, and especially drought-induced water stress, is the dominant cause of the reduction in the terrestrial carbon sink.
Acoustic morphology of expressive speech: what about contours?

A thromboembolic capturing system captures thromboemboli in the arterial and venous circulation. A vascular tube such as a guidewire includes a porous filter at is distal end. The filter is collapsible, capable of maintaining open and closed configurations when placed within a vessel. Opening and closing of the filter is controlled by strings or sutures running through the tube. The filter is able to retain captured thromboembolic material in conjunction with angioplasty or interventional cardiovascular procedure. When the tube comprises a guidewire, it is of sufficient strength, torquability and softness to be used for angioplasty, stent placement and other interventional procedures.
Sparse modeling of heart sounds and murmurs based on orthogonal matching pursuit

In this paper, we address the Heart Sound signal modeling problem. The approach taken is based on sparse and redundant representations on an overcomplete dictionary. We apply matching pursuit (MP) and orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) on two sets of normal and pathological phonocardiograms (PCGs). The dictionary includes classical Gabor wavelets or time-frequency atoms which are the product of a sinusoid and a Gaussian window function. The normalized root-mean-square error (NRMSE) was computed between the original and the reconstructed signals. The results show that the OMP method is very suitable to the transient and complex properties of the PCG's, as it yielded excellent NRMSE's around 1.61% for normal sounds and 5.19% for pathological murmurs.
Detection and Characterization of Anomalies in Multivariate Time Series

Anomaly detection in multivariate time series is an important data mining task with applications to ecosystem modeling, network traffic monitoring, medical diagnosis, and other domains. This paper presents a robust algorithm for detecting anomalies in noisy multivariate time series data by employing a kernel matrix alignment method to capture the dependence relationships among variables in the time series. Anomalies are found by performing a random walk traversal on the graph induced by the aligned kernel matrix. We show that the algorithm is flexible enough to handle different types of time series anomalies including subsequence-based and local anomalies. Our framework can also be used to characterize the anomalies found in a target time series in terms of the anomalies present in other time series. We have performed extensive experiments to empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm. A case study is also presented to illustrate the ability of the algorithm to detect ecosystem disturbances in Earth science data.
Recovering 3D Planar Arrangements from Videos

Acquiring 3D geometry of real world objects has various applications in 3D digitization, such as navigation and content generation in virtual environments. Image remains one of the most popular media for such visual tasks due to its simplicity of acquisition. Traditional image-based 3D reconstruction approaches heavily exploit point-to-point correspondence among multiple images to estimate camera motion and 3D geometry. Establishing point-to-point correspondence lies at the center of the 3D reconstruction pipeline, which however is easily prone to errors. In this paper, we propose an optimization framework which traces image points using a novel structure-guided dynamic tracking algorithm and estimates both the camera motion and a 3D structure model by enforcing a set of planar constraints. The key to our method is a structure model represented as a set of planes and their arrangements. Constraints derived from the structure model is used both in the correspondence establishment stage and the bundle adjustment stage in our reconstruction pipeline. Experiments show that our algorithm can effectively localize structure correspondence across dense image frames while faithfully reconstructing the camera motion and the underlying structured 3D model.
A Study of the Region Covariance Descriptor: Impact of Feature Selection and Image Transformations

We analyse experimentally the region covariance descriptor which has proven useful in numerous computer vision applications. The properties of the descriptor--despite its widespread deployment--are not well understood or documented. In an attempt to uncover key attributes of the descriptor, we characterise the interdependence between the choice of features and distance measures through a series of meticulously designed and performed experiments. Our results paint a rather complex picture and underscore the necessity for more extensive empirical and theoretical work. In light of our findings, there is reason to believe that the region covariance descriptor will prove useful for methods that perform image super-resolution, deblurring, and denoising based on matching and retrieval of image patches from an image dictionary.
Ego-motion and indirect road geometry estimation using night vision

The sensors present in modern premium cars deliver a wealth of information. We will in this work illustrate one way of making better use of the sensor information already present in modern premium cars. More specifically, we will show how a far infrared (FIR) camera can be used to enhance the estimates of the vehicle ego-motion and indirectly the road geometry in 3D. The FIR camera is primarily intended for pedestrian detection. The solution is obtained by solving a suitable sensor fusion problem, where we merge information from proprioceptive sensors with the FIR camera images. In order to illustrate the performance of the proposed method we have made use of measurement sequences recorded during night-time driving on rural roads in Sweden. The results illustrate that the FIR images can be used to improve the ego-motion estimation, especially during night time driving.
The AUXIN BINDING PROTEIN 1 Is Required for Differential Auxin Responses Mediating Root Growth

Background In plants, the phytohormone auxin is a crucial regulator sustaining growth and development. At the cellular level, auxin is interpreted differentially in a tissue- and dose-dependent manner. Mechanisms of auxin signalling are partially unknown and the contribution of the AUXIN BINDING PROTEIN 1 (ABP1) as an auxin receptor is still a matter of debate. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we took advantage of the present knowledge of the root biological system to demonstrate that ABP1 is required for auxin response. The use of conditional ABP1 defective plants reveals that the protein is essential for maintenance of the root meristem and acts at least on the D-type CYCLIN/RETINOBLASTOMA pathway to control entry into the cell cycle. ABP1 affects PLETHORA gradients and confers auxin sensitivity to root cells thus defining the competence of the cells to be maintained within the meristem or to elongate. ABP1 is also implicated in the regulation of gene expression in response to auxin. Conclusions/Significance Our data support that ABP1 is a key regulator for root growth and is required for auxin-mediated responses. Differential effects of ABP1 on various auxin responses support a model in which ABP1 is the major regulator for auxin action on the cell cycle and regulates auxin-mediated gene expression and cell elongation in addition to the already well known TIR1-mediated ubiquitination pathway.
Student-Centered Learning in an Earth Science, Preservice, Teacher-Education Course

E lementary education majors do not generally have the best attitudes toward science. In a poll of 70 students taken at the beginning of the semester for the last three semesters, 27 liked science, 23 did not, and 20 did some of the time. An Earth-science-content course was designed using hands-on activities and more student-centered learning in an attempt to convince future teachers that they really do like science. Basic topics in the Earth sciences are covered, including astronomy, geology, meteorology, and hydrology. Even though this paper discuses activities in an Earth science class, any sciencecontent course could be adapted in a similar manner to include student-centered activities. Evolution of the course From 1999–2001, university faculty members held a series of workshops for inservice teachers to learn Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) protocols and become certified as GLOBE instructors. As part of GLOBE, teachers learned the proper way to use lab equipment, gather and analyze data, submit data to an international database via the worldwide web, and access data from other schools for comparative studies. Success of the workshops was evaluated in several ways, including preand post-content knowledge exams, preand post-self efficacy surveys, GLOBE evaluation forms, and in-house surveys (Avard 2001). Overall, teachers were excited In an effort to get elementary teachers to teach more science in the classroom, a required preservice science education course was designed to promote the use of hands-on teaching techniques. This paper describes course content and activities for an innovative, student-centered, Earth science class. However, any sciencecontent course could be adapted in a similar manner to include more student-centered activities. Student-Centered Learning in an Earth Science, Preservice, TeacherEducation Course
Semantic Alignment of Agent Interactions through the Communication Product

We provide the formal foundation of a novel approach to tackle semantic heterogeneity in multi-agent communication by looking at semantics related to interaction in order to avoid dependency on a priori semantic agreements. We do not assume existence of any ontologies, neither local to interacting agents nor external to them, and we rely only on interactions themselves to resolve terminological mismatches. In the approach taken in this paper we look at the semantics of messages that are exchanged during an interaction entirely from an interaction-specific point of view: messages are deemed semantically related if they trigger compatible interaction state transitions—where compatibility means that the interaction progresses in the same direction for each agent, albeit their partial view of the interaction (their interaction model) may be more simple than the interaction that is actually happening. Our underlying claim is that semantic alignment is often relative to the particular interaction in which agents are engaged in, and, that in such cases the interaction state should be taken into account and brought into the alignment mechanism.
A music application for visually impaired people using daily goods and stationeries on the table

Music applications, like a GarageBand, have become more popular today because they afford intuitive comfortable visual interface for users to play, remix, and compose music. But visually impaired people have difficulties to use such a software application. Therefore, this paper introduces a novel music interface for visually impaired people using daily goods and stationery on the table. An experimental system was developed with Kinect for AR marker and gesture recognition, and with sounds of three instruments, the piano, the guitar and the percussion. Five blind young people participated in the evaluation of right combination of the goods. The results shows that the proposed interface is effective both single use and collaborative work.
ANALISIS KREATIVITAS SISWA DALAM PEMECAHAN MASALAH VISUAL SPASIAL DAN LOGIS MATEMATIS DITINJAU DARI GENDER

: This research is an explorative research with qualitative approach aimed at analyzing students' creativity in spatial and logical mathematical visual problem solving in terms of gender. The instrument in this study is the researcher himself as the main instrument guided by mathematical problem solving test and interview guide. The subjects of the study were students of class XI SMAN 3 Makassar consisting of 2 female students (SP) and 2 male students (SL). Data collection is done by way of job analysis and interview which analyzed with qualitative content analysis technique with deductive approach consisting of 4 phases that is preparation, organizing, exposure and data estimation. The results showed that 1) students' creativity in terms of product in solving mathematical problems (spatial and mathematical mathematical visual problems), SP students are generally better than SL students in solving the same problem, 2) SP and SP spatial visual problem solving creativity from the process side through the stage of formulating, planning, and producing where SP uses visual skills first then using logical reasoning in solving problems whereas, SL uses logical reasoning first then using the visual ability possessed, 3) creativity problem solving logical mathematical students SP and SL almost the same at each stage however, description of answers given SP more detailed/unravel and at the producing stage, SP make and write a conclusion in finding the answer pattern while is not for SL.
Implicit Learning–Explicit Knowing: A Role for Sleep in Memory System Interaction

There is evidence that sleep supports the enhancement of implicit as well as explicit memories (i.e., two memory systems that during learning normally appear to act together). Here, employing a serial reaction time task (SRTT) paradigm, we examined the question whether sleep can provide explicit knowledge on an implicitly acquired skill. At learning, young healthy subjects (n = 20) were first trained on the SRTT. Then, implicit knowledge was assessed on two test blocks, in which grammatically incorrect target positions were occasionally interspersed by the difference in reaction times between grammatically correct and incorrect target positions. To assess explicit sequence knowledge, thereafter subjects performed on a generation task in which they were explicitly instructed to predict the sequential target positions. In half the subjects, learning took place before a 9-hour retention interval filled with nocturnal sleep (sleep group), in the other half, the retention interval covered a 9-hour period of daytime wakefulness (wake group). At subsequent retesting, both testing on the generation task and the SRTT test blocks was repeated. At learning before the retention interval, subjects displayed significant implicit sequence knowledge which was comparable for the sleep and wake groups. Moreover, both groups did not display any explicit sequence knowledge as indicated by a prediction performance not differing from chance on the generation task. However, at retesting, there was a distinct gain in explicit knowledge in the subjects who had slept in the retention interval, whereas generation task performance in the wake group remained at chance level. SRTT performance in the test blocks at retesting did not indicate any further gain in skill (i.e., unchanged reaction time differences between grammatically correct and incorrect target positions) independently of whether subjects had slept or remained awake after learning. Our results indicate a selective enhancement of explicit memory formation during sleep. Because before sleep subjects only had implicit knowledge on the sequence of target transitions, these data point to an interaction between implicit and explicit memory systems during sleep-dependent off-line learning.
Mindfulness- and Acceptance-based Interventions for Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background Mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions are increasingly studied as a potential treatment for a variety of mental conditions. Objective To assess the effects of mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions on psychotic symptoms and hospitalization in patients with psychosis Methods MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO were screened from inception through April 2015. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were analyzed when they assessed psychotic symptoms or hospitalization in patients with psychosis; affect, acceptance, mind-fulness, and safety were defined as secondary outcomes. Results Eight RCTs with a total of 434 patients comparing mindfulness-based (4 RCTs) or acceptance-based interventions (4 RCTs) to treatment as usual or attention control were included. Six RCTs had low risk of bias. Moderate evidence was found for short-term effects on total psychotic symptoms, positive symptoms, hospitalization rates, duration of hospitalization, and mindfulness and for long-term effects on total psychotic symptoms and duration of hospitalization. No evidence was found for effects on negative symptoms, affect, or acceptance. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion Mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions can be recommended as an additional treatment for patients with psychosis.
Recovery and Migration of Application Logic from Legacy Systems

Future Internet technologies necessitate dramatic changes in system design, delivery and usage patterns. For many legacy applications it means that their further development and transition to the Internet becomes problematic or even impossible due to the obsolescence of technologies they use. Replacement of the old system with the new one, built from scratch, is usually economically unacceptable. Therefore, there is a call for methods and tools supporting the automated migration of legacy systems into a new paradigm. This paper proposes a tool supported method for recovery and migration of application logic information from legacy systems. The information extracted from a legacy application is stored in the form of precise requirement-level models enabling automated transformation into a new system structure in a model-driven way. Evaluation of the approach is based on a case study legacy system.
When Questions Change Behavior

In three experiments, we examined the meremeasurement effect, wherein simply asking people about their intent to engage in a certain behavior increases the probability of their subsequently engaging in that behavior. The experiments demonstrate that manipulations that should affect the ease of mentally representing or simulating the behavior in question influence the extent of the mere-measurement phenomenon. Participants who were asked about their intention to engage in various behaviors were more likely to engage in those behaviors than participants not asked about their intentions in situations in which mentally simulating the behavior in the intention question was relatively easy. We tested this ease-of-representation hypothesis using both socially desirable and socially undesirable behaviors, and our dependent variables comprised both self-reports and actual behaviors. Our findings have implications for survey research in various social contexts, including assessments of risky behaviors by public health organizations.
Optimization of LC-VCO tuning range under different inductor/varactor losses limitations

This paper presents the main challenges in the design of wide tuning range LC voltage controlled oscillators (LC-VCOs) in CMOS technologies. Design trade-offs such as tank losses, phase noise, and power consumption are discussed and analyzed. A VCO that has a wide tuning range that covers frequencies from 5.5 GHz to 10.2 GHz was designed and fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS process. The worst case measured phase noise is -83 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz frequency offset from the carrier. The design occupies 0.125 mm2 silicon area, and dissipates 11 mW (excluding the buffers).
A smoothed dynamic tabu search embedded GRASP for m-VRPTW

Vehicle routing problem with both time window and limited number of vehicles (m-VRPTW) is an useful extension of VRPTW problem in real applications. We propose an improved greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) framework by techniques including multiple initialization and solution reuse. Furthermore, a new technique of smoothed dynamic tabu search is embedded into the GRASP to improve the performance. The experimental results for benchmark data show that the new algorithm can solve the m-VRPTW problem better than the published algorithm in accuracy.