Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling sparse spatio-temporal representations for no-reference video quality assessment

We present a novel No-Reference (NR) video quality assessment (VQA) algorithm that operates on the sparse representation coefficients of local spatio-temporal (video) volumes. Our work is motivated by the observation that the primary visual cortex adopts a sparse coding strategy to represent visual stimulus. We use the popular K-SVD algorithm to construct spatio-temporal dictionaries to sparsely represent local spatio-temporal volumes of natural videos. We empirically demonstrate that the histogram of the sparse representations corresponding to each atom in the dictionary can be well modelled using a Generalised Gaussian Distribution (GGD). We then show that the GGD model parameters are good feature for distortion estimation. This, in turn leads us to the proposed NR-VQA algorithm. The GGD model parameters corresponding to each atom of the dictionary form the feature vector that is used to predict quality using Support Vector Regression (SVR). The proposed algorithm delivers competitive performance over the LIVE VQA (SD), EPFL (SD) and the LIVE Mobile high definition (HD) databases. Our algorithm is called SParsity based Objective VIdeo Quality Evaluator (SPOVIQE). The proposed algorithm is simple and computationally efficient as compared with other state-of-the-art NR-VQA algorithms.
Protective properties of HDL cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaque calcifications in advanced atherosclerosis in ischaemic stroke patients.

Introduction Atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries play an important role in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke. To a high extent there is evident asymmetry within the development of these changes, affecting just one artery. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the cardiovascular risk factors on the presence of haemodynamically significant atherosclerotic changes or occlusion only in one compared to both of the carotid arteries in patients with ischaemic stroke. Material and methods Patients diagnosed with ischaemic stroke were retrospectively assessed towards stenosis of ≥70% or occlusion in at least one of the internal or common carotid arteries. There were 104 patients enrolled in the study. Group I consisted of individuals with haemodynamically significant (≥70%) stenosis or occlusion in one carotid artery (n = 48). Group II consisted of patients with bilateral significant (≥70%) stenosis or occlusion in carotid arteries (n = 56). Results There were no changes found in the presence of non- -modifiable stroke risk factors between the groups. In group I higher HDL level (45.7 vs 38.9 mg/dL, p = 0.038) and significantly more frequent calcifications in the atherosclerotic plaques of carotid arteries were found (p = 0.03). There were no differences in other tested factors between groups. Conclusions The protective properties of HDL cholesterol and the slow formation of more stable, calcified plaques play an important role only in the development of unilateral advanced atherosclerosis in carotid arteries. The role of HDL cholesterol in stroke pathomechanism needs further studies.
Ultrasonic-assisted Extraction Process of Compound Yupingfeng

Objective:To investigate optimum extraction technology conditions of polysaccharides from Yupingfeng by ultrasonic-assisted extraction,and to compare extraction rate of polysaccharides between compound extraction and unilateral extraction.Method:Optimum extraction conditions were obtained by orthogonal design test,compared with traditional extraction technology,and compared extraction rate of polysaccharides from Yupingfeng by compound extraction and unilateral extraction.Result: Result showed that optimum technology conditions were:ultrasound temperature 55 ℃,ratio of solid-liquid 1∶20,ultrasonic time 20 min,under these optimum conditions,extraction rate of polysaccharides from Yupingfeng was 14.25%,extraction rate of impregnation method was 5.44% in 180 min,extraction rate of conventional mixing method was 7.35%. Conclusion: Compared with traditional extraction methods(impregnation method and mixing method),ultrasonic extraction had some advantages,such as time-saving,energy saving,high efficiency and so on.It offered sufficient conditions for large-scale and efficient production of modern medicine enterprises.
Role of the BrafV637E mutation in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by treatment with diethylnitrosamine in neonatal B6C3F1 mice

The BrafV637E mutation is frequently reported in mouse hepatic tumors, depending on the mouse strain, and corresponds to the human BrafV600E mutation. In this study, we detected the BrafV637E mutation by whole‐exome analysis in 4/4 hepatic tumors induced by neonatal treatment with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in male B6C3F1 mice. We also detected the BrafV637E mutation in 54/63 (85.7%) hepatic lesions, including microscopic foci and grossly visible tumors, by PCR‐direct sequencing. Although the mutation was detected in 5/7 (71.4%) hepatic tumors induced by neonatal DEN treatment followed by repeated CCl4 administration, it was not detected in 24 tumors induced by CCl4 treatment without DEN or in eight spontaneous lesions in B6C3F1 mice, suggesting that the mutation is induced by the genotoxic action of DEN. The DEN‐induced tumors exhibited hyperphosphorylation of ERK1 and Akt, suggesting that the BrafV637E mutation might activate the MAPK and Akt pathways. Moreover, the DEN‐induced tumors overexpressed mRNAs for the oncogene‐induced senescence (OIS) markers such as p15Ink4b and p19Arf as well as pro‐survival/pro‐proliferative cytokines/chemokines such as complement C5/C5a, ICAM‐1, IL‐1 receptor antagonist and CXCL9, suggesting that the BrafV637E mutation influences the expression of genes involved in either OIS or cellular growth/survival. Liver‐specific expression of mutated Braf under control of the albumin enhancer/promoter resulted in an enlarged liver that consisted entirely of small basophilic hepatocytes resembling DEN‐induced preneoplastic hepatocytes with ERK1/Akt hyperphosphorylation and C5/C5a overexpression. These results indicate that the BrafV637E mutation induces hepatocytic changes in DEN‐induced hepatic tumors. © 2016 The Authors. Molecular Carcinogenesis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Loss‐of‐function mutations in ISCA2 disrupt 4Fe–4S cluster machinery and cause a fatal leukodystrophy with hyperglycinemia and mtDNA depletion

Iron–sulfur (Fe–S) clusters are essential cofactors for proteins that participate in fundamental cellular processes including metabolism, DNA replication and repair, transcriptional regulation, and the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). ISCA2 plays a role in the biogenesis of Fe–S clusters and a recent report described subjects displaying infantile‐onset leukodystrophy due to bi‐allelic mutation of ISCA2. We present two additional unrelated cases, and provide a more complete clinical description that includes hyperglycinemia, leukodystrophy of the brainstem with longitudinally extensive spinal cord involvement, and mtDNA deficiency. Additionally, we characterize the role of ISCA2 in mitochondrial bioenergetics and Fe–S cluster assembly using subject cells and ISCA2 cellular knockdown models. Loss of ISCA2 diminished mitochondrial membrane potential, the mitochondrial network, basal and maximal respiration, ATP production, and activity of ETC complexes II and IV. We specifically tested the impact of loss of ISCA2 on 2Fe–2S proteins versus 4Fe–4S proteins and observed deficits in the functioning of 4Fe–4S but not 2Fe–2S proteins. Together these data indicate loss of ISCA2 impaired function of 4Fe–4S proteins resulting in a fatal encephalopathy accompanied by a relatively unusual combination of features including mtDNA depletion alongside complex II deficiency and hyperglycinemia that may facilitate diagnosis of ISCA2 deficiency patients.
A Boost PFC Converter With Programmable Harmonic Resistance

Power factor correction (PFC) converters with low harmonic input resistance are desirable loads to support the reduction of the harmonic distortion on the feeding grid. Therefore, a novel control strategy is proposed. Whereas previously proposed controllers tried to obtain a resistive behavior of the converter with a constant input impedance for all frequencies, including the fundamental, the proposed control strategy allows to set a harmonic input resistance which is independent of the input power level of the converter. Consequently, the harmonic input resistance remains low, even when the input power of the converter is decreased, which adds to the stability of the feeding grid. This paper describes the operation of a digitally controlled boost PFC converter with the new control algorithm. Experimental tests on a 1-kW prototype show that a practical realization of the algorithm is possible and that a programmable harmonic input resistance of the converter is obtained. The converter contributes to the damping in the power system, which is an important feature to mitigate harmonic voltage distortion due to resonances. The damping potential of the converter with the proposed control strategy is demonstrated on a scale model of a distribution system with a parallel resonance
Using the Geneva Emotion Wheel to Classify the Expression of Emotion on Robots

It is desirable that social robots are able to communicate a range of emotional states in a manner that is universally understood by people. It is proposed that the Geneva Emotion Wheel (GEW) has great potential for use as a tool for evaluating the ability of robots to express affective content. Some of the factors that make the GEW advantageous over existing methods include: a reduction in the importance of word labels, incorporation of emotional intensity, and coverage of 'no emotion' states. To support future research using the GEW, a software suite developed for conducting robotics experiments using the GEW has been made available as an opensource tool to the community.
Neighborhood watch: On network coding throughput and key sharing

Network coding (NC) has frequently been promoted as an approach for improving throughput in wireless networks. Existing work has mostly focused on the fundamental aspects of NC, while constraints arising in real-world network deployments have not received much attention. In particular, NC requires network nodes to overhear each other's packets, which oftentimes contradicts many security standards that attempt to provide link-layer confidentiality, e.g., by utilizing pairwise encryption keys as is the case IEEE 802.11i and ZigBee. There is an inherent trade-off between gains from NC and link-layer security: if many nodes share the secret link-layer key, NC will improve throughput, yet a leakage of the key will affect many nodes. On the other hand, having distinct secret keys will increase resilience against key compromise, but will also minimize the coding gain. We formulate this security vs. performance trade-off as an optimization problem and evaluate the effectiveness of NC under different sizes of key-sharing groups and network topologies. Our results show that increasing the key-sharing group by a single node can result in a maximum coding gain between 1.3% and 13.7%.
EPIC framework for enterprise processes integrative collaboration

Enterprise System Engineering (ESE), an emerging practice arising in the last decades, aims to improve enterprise operational processes. Its main goal is to enable better collaboration between humans, operational processes, and technical subsystems, by using system engineering methods. However, this is challenging due to the enterprise's unique property as a system of unsynchronized arrays of systems. This property might lead to severe consequences, such as cross‐enterprise failures, lack of decision‐support information for cross‐enterprise decisions, long delays in integration tests, and unexpected emergent behavior. Existing approaches such as ESE frameworks and Systems of Systems (SOS) engineering methods do not fully address this property. This paper presents a new ESE framework named EPIC (Enterprise Processes Integrative Collaboration), that enables better coordination between unsynchronized arrays of systems within the enterprise and even further across several enterprises. This coordination contributes to cross‐enterprise operational processes effectiveness. The paper summarizes the results of two successful large‐scale implementations of EPIC in the aerospace and transportation disciplines. Results analysis of processes performance and effectiveness, confirm that EPIC leads to improvement in enterprise operational processes. Similarly, we contend that EPIC may be applicable in other disciplines in order to obtain better enterprises by improving cross‐enterprise operational processes collaboration.
Dominant Allele Phylogeny and Constitutive Subgenome Haplotype Inference in Bananas Using Mitochondrial and Nuclear Markers

Abstract Cultivated bananas (Musa spp.) have undergone domestication patterns involving crosses of wild progenitors followed by long periods of clonal propagation. Majority of cultivated bananas are polyploids with different constitutive subgenomes and knowledge on phylogenies to their progenitors at the species and subspecies levels is essential. Here, the mitochondrial (NAD1) and nuclear (CENH3) markers were used to phylogenetically position cultivated banana genotypes to diploid progenitors. The CENH3 nuclear marker was used to identify a minimum representative haplotype number in polyploids and diploid bananas based on single nucleotide polymorphisms. The mitochondrial marker NAD1 was observed to be ideal in differentiating bananas of different genomic constitutions based on size of amplicons as well as sequence. The genotypes phylogenetically segregated based on the dominant genome; AAB genotypes grouped with AA and AAA, and the ABB together with BB. Both markers differentiated banana sections, but could not differentiate subspecies within the A genomic group. On the basis of CENH3 marker, a total of 13 haplotypes (five in both diploid and triploid, three in diploids, and rest unique to triploids) were identified from the genotypes tested. The presence of haplotypes, which were common in diploids and triploids, stipulate possibility of a shared ancestry in the genotypes involved in this study. Furthermore, the presence of multiple haplotypes in some diploid bananas indicates their being heterozygous. The haplotypes identified in this study are of importance because they can be used to check the level of homozygozity in breeding lines as well as to track segregation in progenies.
Dependable Content Distribution in D2D-Based Cooperative Vehicular Networks: A Big Data-Integrated Coalition Game Approach

Driven by the evolutionary development of automobile industry and cellular technologies, dependable vehicular connectivity has become essential to realize future intelligent transportation systems (ITS). In this paper, we investigate how to achieve dependable content distribution in device-to-device (D2D)-based cooperative vehicular networks by combining big data-based vehicle trajectory prediction with coalition formation game-based resource allocation. First, vehicle trajectory is predicted based on global positioning system and geographic information system data, which is critical for finding reliable and long-lasting vehicle connections. Then, the determination of content distribution groups with different lifetimes is formulated as a coalition formation game. We model the utility function based on the minimization of average network delay, which is transferable to the individual payoff of each coalition member according to its contribution. The merge and split process is implemented iteratively based on preference relations, and the final partition is proved to converge to a Nash-stable equilibrium. Finally, we evaluate the proposed algorithm based on real-world map and realistic vehicular traffic. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can achieve superior performance in terms of average network delay and content distribution efficiency compared with the other heuristic schemes.
Simulation of white LEDs with a planar luminescent layer using the extended Adding-Doubling method

The most common method to create white light with LEDs is the use of a luminescent material (e.g. phosphor) in combination with one or more blue LEDs. Different configurations can be used (intimate phosphor, remote phosphor, phosphor layer on top of a chip-on-board LED array). To design high quality LED sources it is important that these systems can be optimized. The Monte Carlo ray-tracing method is the traditional algorithm to simulate these systems. A disadvantage of the Monte Carlo method however is the large computation time which makes it less suitable for system optimization. We present a new simulation method to predict the performance of various white LED packages with a planar phosphor layer using the extended Adding-Doubling method. In a phosphor converted white LED part of the incident and converted light is back-scattered from the phosphor layer towards the LED package. This light will be partly reflected back onto the phosphor layer by the LED package. When simulating the LED source with the extended Adding-Doubling method, the behavior of the LED package can be approximated by a reflection matrix. This matrix includes the directions in which the light is scattered from the LED package, as well as the efficiencies. We found that, by using the extended Adding-Doubling method with the appropriate reflection matrix, it is possible to predict the total flux and the spectral angular intensity distribution of the light emitted from white LED packages with a planar luminescent layer. With this method we present a fast technique to predict the performance of phosphor converted white LEDs and optimize the optical parameters of the luminescent layer to obtain the best overall performance.
Altered Protein Interactions of the Endogenous Interactome of PTPIP51 towards MAPK Signaling

Protein–protein interactions play a pivotal role in normal cellular functions as well as in carcinogenesis. The protein–protein interactions form functional clusters during signal transduction. To elucidate the fine calibration of the protein–protein interactions of protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51) a small molecule drug, namely LDC-3, directly targeting PTPIP51 is now available. Therefore, LDC-3 allows for the studying of the regulation of the endogenous interactome by modulating PTPIP51 binding capacity. Small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) experiments show that the modification in PTPIP51 binding capacity is induced by LDC-3. Application of LDC-3 annuls the known regulatory phosphorylation mechanisms for PTPIP51 and consequently, significantly alters the assembly of the PTPIP51 associated protein complexes. The treatment of human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) with LDC-3 induces an altered protein–protein interaction profile of the endogenous interactome of PTPIP51. In addition, LDC-3 stabilizes PTPIP51 within a mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) complex composed of Raf-1 and the scaffold protein 14-3-3, independent of the phosphorylation status of PTPIP51. Of note, under LDC-3 treatment the regulatory function of the PTP1B on PTPIP51 fails to impact the PTPIP51 interaction characteristics, as reported for the HaCaT cell line. In summary, LDC-3 gives the unique opportunity to directly modulate PTPIP51 in malignant cells, thus targeting potential dysregulated signal transduction pathways such as the MAPK cascade. The provided data give critical insights in the therapeutic potential of PTPIP51 protein interactions and thus are basic for possible targeted therapy regimens.
Prediction of Pain and Opioid Utilization in the Perioperative Period in Patients Undergoing Primary Knee Arthroplasty: Psychophysical and Psychosocial Factors

Objective To identify factors associated with pain severity and opioid consumption in the early perioperative period. Design Prospective observational cohort study. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Subjects Patients with osteoarthritis older than age 45 years undergoing primary total knee replacement at Brigham and Women's Hospital. A total of 126 patients enrolled. Methods Preoperatively, pain questionnaires and quantitative sensory testing were performed on patients to develop a psychosocial and psychophysical profile. Postoperatively, pain scores and opioid consumption were measured as primary end points. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the predictive value of these characteristics on perioperative pain scores and opioid consumption. Results Regression analysis revealed several predictors of acute postoperative pain scores including temporal summation of pain (TSP; P = 0.001), body mass index (BMI; P = 0.044), number of previous knee surgeries (P = 0.006), and female gender (P = 0.023). Similarly, predictors of opioid utilization included TSP (P = 0.011), BMI (P = 0.02), age (P = <0.001), and tourniquet time (P = 0.003). Conclusions The only significant, unique predictors of both pain and opioid consumption were TSP, an index of central pain facilitatory processes, and BMI. Interestingly, psychosocial factors, such as catastrophizing and somatization, although correlated with postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption, generally did not independently explain substantial variance in these measures. This study suggests that BMI and quantitative sensory testing, specifically the temporal summation of pain, may provide value in the preoperative assessment of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and other surgeries via predicting their level of risk for adverse pain outcomes.
Mode Coupling and Parametric Resonance in Electrostatically Actuated Micromirrors

The main torsional mode of electrostatically actuated micromirrors is known to be dominated by parametric resonance when the actuation is performed via in-plane comb fingers. Here, we show that, for specific geometrical features of the mirror, parametric resonance simultaneously activates a spurious yaw mode. Due to the large torsional rotations, the two modes are nonlinearly coupled, inducing mutual stiffness variations and an unexpected temperature dependence of the main mode. After presenting an experimental evidence of the coupling, we develop and discuss a numerical model capable of capturing the key phenomena and of providing guidelines for a robust design.
Gramian‐based model order reduction of parameterized time‐delay systems

Time‐delay systems (TDSs) frequently arise in circuit simulation especially in high‐frequency applications. Model order reduction (MOR) techniques can be used to facilitate the simulation of TDSs. On the other hand, many kinds of variations, such as temperature and geometric uncertainties, can have significant impact on the transient responses of TDSs. Therefore, it is important to preserve parametric dependence during the MOR procedure. This paper presents a new parameterized MOR scheme for TDSs with parameter variations. We derive parameterized reduced‐order models (ROMs) for TDSs using balanced truncation by approximating the Gramians in the multi‐dimensional space of parameters. The resulting ROMs can preserve the parametric dependence, making it efficient for repeated simulations under different parameter settings. Numerical examples are presented to verify the accuracy and efficiency of our proposed algorithm. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.