Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust hand-eye self-calibration

This paper introduces robust globally optimal hand-eye self-calibration of camera orientation for the automotive domain. The main contribution are new feasibility problems to integrate this problem into a branch-and-bound parameter space search. The algorithm constitutes the first guaranteed globally optimal maximizer for the support of all three orientation parameters with respect to an a priori defined threshold of reprojection errors. The algorithm operates directly on interest point correspondences and does not depend on any structure and motion preprocessing to estimate camera poses. The complete system is implemented and validated on both synthetic and real automotive datasets.
Bayesian Road Estimation Using Onboard Sensors

This paper describes an algorithm for estimating the road ahead of a host vehicle based on the measurements from several onboard sensors: a camera, a radar, wheel speed sensors, and an inertial measurement unit. We propose a novel road model that is able to describe the road ahead with higher accuracy than the usual polynomial model. We also develop a Bayesian fusion system that uses the following information from the surroundings: lane marking measurements obtained by the camera and leading vehicle and stationary object measurements obtained by a radar-camera fusion system. The performance of our fusion algorithm is evaluated in several drive tests. As expected, the more information we use, the better the performance is.
Virtues for Leading Change

Pressures to change abound and often create individual frustration and stress due to individuals feeling victimized during times of change unless they have a sense of control over the change. Additionally, change can often seem daunting, beyond the capacity of any one person, although systems theory purports its possibility. Granted, the holonic notion of life suggests people, also known as individual systems, never have complete control due to their participation in larger systems which creates constant flux. This does not suggest, however, that individuals do not have some control. This article illustrates the importance of self-control in times of significant change and argues that individuals can and do change the world.
Discrimination of speech, musical instruments and singing voices using the temporal patterns of sinusoidal segments in audio signals

We developed a method for discriminating speech, musical instruments and singing voices based on sinusoidal decomposition of audio signals. Although many studies have been conducted, few have worked on the problem of the temporal over-lapping of the categories of sounds. In order to cope with such problems, we used sinusoidal segments with variable lengths as the discrimination units, although most of traditional work has used ﬁxed-length units. The discrimination is based on the temporal characteristics of the sinusoidal segments. We achieved an average discrimination rate of 71.56% in classifying sinusoidal segments in non-mixed audio data. In the time segments, the accuracy 87.9% in non-mixed-category audio data and 66.4% in 2-mixed-category are achieved. In the comparison of the proposed and the MFCC methods, the effectiveness of temporal features and the importance of the use of both the spectral and temporal characteristics were proved.
Molecular cloning and high-level expression of a bromoperoxidase gene from Streptomyces aureofaciens Tü24

A bromoperoxidase gene was cloned from Streptomyces aureofaciens Tü24 into Streptomyces lividans TK64 by using the promoter-probe vector pIJ486. Subcloning of DNA from the original, unstable clone allowed the gene to be localized to a 1.7-kilobase (kb) fragment of DNA. Southern blotting showed that the cloned 1.7-kb insert hybridized to a 4.3-kb fragment in an SstI digest of S. aureofaciens Tü24 total DNA. The 1.7-kb insert was shown to code for a protein with the electrophoretic properties of the subunits of the nonheme bromoperoxidase isolated from S. aureofaciens Tü24. The protein produced by S. lividans TK64 transformed with pHM621, which contained an 8.0-kb insert, was shown to be identical to the S. aureofaciens Tü24 bromoperoxidase in terms of its electrophoretic mobility on denaturing and nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels and its NH2-terminal amino acid sequence. The bromoperoxidase was overproduced (up to 180 times) by S. lividans TK64 containing pHM621. Based on the heat stability of the S. aureofaciens Tü24 bromoperoxidase, a new and simple purification procedure with very high yields was developed.
Cardiovascular Events in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Adults With or Without History of Myocardial Infarction

Background—Whether diabetic patients without a history of myocardial infarction (MI) have the same risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events as nondiabetic patients with a history of MI remains controversial. We compared risks of CHD and stroke events and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in diabetic and nondiabetic men and women with and without a history of MI. Methods and Results—We followed a total of 13 790 African American and white men and women ages 45 to 64 years who participated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, beginning in 1987 to 1989. There were 634 fatal CHD or nonfatal MI events, 312 fatal or nonfatal strokes, and 358 deaths from CVD during an average of 9 years of follow-up (125 998 person-years). After adjustment for age, sex, race, Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities field center, and multiple baseline risk factors, patients who had a history of MI without diabetes at baseline had 1.9 times the risk of fatal CHD or nonfatal MI (95% CI, 1.35 to 2.56; P <0.001) compared with diabetic patients without a prior history of MI. The nondiabetic patients with MI also had 1.8 times the risk of CVD mortality compared with diabetic patients without MI (95% CI, 1.22 to 2.72; P =0.003). However, stroke risk was similar between diabetic patients without MI and nondiabetic patients with MI (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.79; P =0.87). We also observed that nondiabetic patients with MI had a carotid artery wall thickness similar to diabetic patients without MI (P =0.77). Conclusions—Diabetic patients without MI had lower risk of CHD events and mortality from CVD compared with nondiabetic patients with MI, but stroke risk was similar between these 2 groups.
Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor in nonparenchymal as well as parenchymal cells in rat liver after necrosis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can induce proliferation of sinusoidal endothelial cells. Its mRNA expression was increased in proliferating rat hepatocytes in primary culture. To clarify a role of VEGF in liver after necrosis, expressions of VEGF and its receptors were measured in the liver or liver cells isolated from rats after carbon tetrachloride intoxication. Hepatic VEGF mRNA expression increased later than 24 h after the intoxication and became prominent at 168 h when liver necrosis disappeared, while hepatic mRNA expressions of its receptors increased between 24 and 72 h. VEGF mRNA expression was increased in Kupffer cells, hepatic macrophages and stellate cells isolated from rats between 24 and 72 h after the intoxication and in hepatocytes at 168 h compared to those cells from normal rats. Immunohistochemical VEGF stains were comparable to such results. Vascular endothelial cells existed abundantly in the necrotic areas, and sinusoidal endothelial cells appeared following disappearance of the necrotic areas. VEGF mRNA expression in hepatocytes isolated from 70% resected liver was increased at 12 h after the operation and became marked between 72 and 168 h. Similar increase of hepatic VEGF expression was immunohistochemically seen. In conclusion, VEGF derives from nonparenchymal as well as parenchymal cells in rat liver after necrosis. The former might contribute to vascular endothelial cell proliferation and the latter to sinusoidal endothelial cell regeneration.
Customer delivered value in a Web-based supermarket

This paper explores the marketing of daily consumer goods in a pilot Web-based supermarket, in which no regular customers existed from among 65 registered ones at the end of the pilot project. Descriptive case research strategy and qualitative methods of analysis are utilized. Empirical evidence was obtained through multiple sources during an eight-month pilot period. The case study is analyzed using customer delivered value as a framework. The achieved results demonstrate the value and costs for pilot customers, and reveal key issues for further development. Although the Web's potential for marketing has been noted in the literature, this case shows difficulties in delivering total customer value when costs are also taken into account. It is suggested that systems development should find new means to deliver additional customer value in Web retailing context to exceed switching costs for customers.
Who’s Afraid of Critical Social Science?

The article offers an assessment of rationales for critical social science (CSS), noting that over the last three decades these have become increasingly cautious and timid, so that, for example, critique is reduced to uncovering hidden presuppositions and deepening reflexivity. First, the article outlines a simple conception of CSS based on the standpoint of the reduction of illusion, distinguishes this from scepticism and partisanship, and notes the importance of the denaturalization of social forms, Second, it assesses the critical standpoint of freedom. Third, the article argues that a stronger standpoint of the critique of avoidable suffering is needed and already implicit in limited form in existing CSS. Fourth, the article explores and counters some of the key reasons for the retreat of critique, and concludes.
Depressive symptoms following stroke and transient ischemic attack: is it time for a more intensive treatment approach? results from the TABASCO cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether depressive symptoms after a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) increase the risk of cognitive impairment and functional deterioration at 2-year follow-up. METHODS Participants were survivors of first-ever, mild-to-moderate ischemic stroke or TIA from the TABASCO prospective cohort study who underwent 3T magnetic resonance imaging and were examined by a multiprofessional team 6, 12, and 24 months after the event using direct interviews, depression scales, and neurologic, neuropsychological, and functional evaluations. The main outcome was the development of cognitive impairment, either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. MCI was diagnosed by a decline on at least 1 cognitive domain (≥ 1.5 SD) of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score and/or on the computerized neuropsychological battery, as compared with age- and education-matched published norms. Dementia was diagnosed by a consensus forum that included senior neurologists specializing in memory disorders and a neuropsychologist. RESULTS Data were obtained from 306 consecutive eligible patients (mean age: 67.1 ± 10.0 years) who were admitted to the department of emergency medicine at the Tel Aviv Medical Center from April 1, 2008, to December 1, 2011, within 72 hours from onset of symptoms of TIA or stroke. Of these patients, 51 (16.7%) developed cognitive impairment during a 2-year follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis showed that a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score ≥ 6 at admission and at 6 months after the event was a significant independent marker of cognitive impairment 2 years after the stroke/TIA (OR = 3.62, 95% CI, 1.01-13.00; OR = 3.68, 95% CI, 1.03-13.21, respectively). A higher GDS score at 6 months was also related to a worse functional outcome (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Our results support depression screening among stroke and TIA survivors as a tool to identify patients who are prone to have a worse cognitive and functional outcome. These patients may benefit from closer medical surveillance and a more intensive treatment approach. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01926691.
VOWEL EPENTHESIS AND SEGMENT IDENTITY IN KOREAN LEARNERS OF ENGLISH

Recent literature has sought to understand the presence of epenthetic vowels after the productions of postvocalic word-final consonants by second language (L2) learners whose first languages (L1s) restrict the presence of obstruents in coda position. Previous models include those in which epenthesis is seen as a strategy to mitigate the effects of coda licensing restrictions in the L1; others see epenthesis as a result of misperception of consonant releases in the L2 as indicating the presence of an additional syllable nucleus. The current study examines segmental identification and syllable counting in inexperienced Korean learners of English as a foreign language. Across stimuli, two effects were found. Increased perceptual epenthesis correlated with increased identification of a segment as voiceless, indicating a joint perception of voicelessness and an epenthetic vowel. Also, rate of epenthesis increased with accuracy of detecting sibilants and coronal segments, sounds characterized by salient consonant noise. Taken together, these results indicate a perceptual mechanism that evaluates segmental content and prosodic structure from an integrated percept. Analyses across individual listeners do not support a model in which perceptual epenthesis is a strategy to increase segmental accuracy; rather, they support models in which both syllable counting and segmental identification are skills that are reflections of increased proficiency in the L2. These results are discussed with respect to models of L2 phonology that rely on the robust encoding of lexical items.
Cross-racial lineup identification: assessing the potential benefits of context reinstatement

Abstract The current research examined the potential benefit of context reinstatement on the cross-race effect in lineup identification. Participants viewed a series of own- and other-race faces and subsequently attempted identification of these faces from target-present and target-absent lineups. The traditional cross-race effect was found on measures of discrimination accuracy and response bias; however, discrimination accuracy across own- and other-race faces was shown to interact with context reinstatement such that only own-race faces benefited from the provision of contextual information. This finding is discussed in light of encoding-based theories of the cross-race effect, and with regard to the theoretical and practical limitations of mitigating the phenomenon at the time of identification.
Microassembly technologies for MEMS

Microassembly promises to extend MEMS beyond the confines of silicon micromachining. This paper surveys research in both serial and parallel microassembly. The former extends conventional `pick and place' assembly into the micro- domain, where surface forces play a dominant role. Parallel assembly involves the simultaneous precise organization of an ensemble of micro components. This can be achieved by microstructure transfer between aligned wafers or arrays of binding sites that trap an initially random collection of parts. Binding sites can be micromachined cavities or electrostatic traps: short-range attractive forces and random agitation of the parts serve to fill the sites. Microassembly strategies should furnish reliable mechanical bonds and electrical interconnection between the micropart and the target substrate or subassembly.
A Comprehensive Instrument for Measuring Individual Competency of IT Applications in an Enterprise IT Environment

An instrument that can efficiently measure individual competency of IT applications (ICITA) is presented. It allows an organization to develop and manage the IT application capability of individuals working in an enterprise IT environment. The measurement items are generated from the definition and major components of individual competency of IT applications. The reliability and validity of the instrument construct are verified by factor and correlation analysis. A 15-item instrument is proposed to efficiently measure individual competency of IT applications and the instrument will contribute to the improved ICITA of human resources working in an enterprise IT environment. key words: individual competency, IT applications, measurement item, measurement instrument
Co‐ordinated bacteriocin production and competence development: a possible mechanism for taking up DNA from neighbouring species

It is important to ensure DNA availability when bacterial cells develop competence. Previous studies in Streptococcus pneumoniae demonstrated that the competence‐stimulating peptide (CSP) induced autolysin production and cell lysis of its own non‐competent cells, suggesting a possible active mechanism to secure a homologous DNA pool for uptake and recombination. In this study, we found that in Streptococcus mutans CSP induced co‐ordinated expression of competence and mutacin production genes. This mutacin (mutacin IV) is a non‐lantibiotic bacteriocin which kills closely related Streptococcal species such as S. gordonii. In mixed cultures of S. mutans and S. gordonii harbouring a shuttle plasmid, plasmid DNA transfer from S. gordonii to S. mutans was observed in a CSP and mutacin IV‐dependent manner. Further analysis demonstrated an increased DNA release from S. gordonii upon addition of the partially purified mutacin IV extract. On the basis of these findings, we propose that Streptococcus mutans, which resides in a multispecies oral biofilm, may utilize the competence‐induced bacteriocin production to acquire transforming DNA from other species living in the same ecological niche. This hypothesis is also consistent with a well‐known phenomenon that a large genomic diversity exists among different S. mutans strains. This diversity may have resulted from extensive horizontal gene transfer.
College Women's Fears and Precautionary Behaviors Relating to Acquaintance Rape and Stranger Rape

Past research on women's fear of rape has focused on women's fears relating to stranger rape, even though most rapes are acquaintance rapes. In this study, 139 undergraduate women completed a questionnaire concerning their fears, precautionary behaviors, and beliefs relating to acquaintance and stranger rape. Women reported being more fearful of rape by strangers than by acquaintances, and they reported engaging in more precautionary behaviors because of fear of stranger rape than of acquaintance rape. When asked to self-generate situations in which they feared rape, they generated more situations in which they feared stranger rape than acquaintance rape. Paradoxically, they estimated that acquaintance rape was more common. Precautionary behaviors were best predicted by level of fear. A history of acquaintance rape had no effect on women's responses. Theoretical and educational implications are discussed.
Supporting Awareness in Groupware through an Aspect-Oriented Middleware Service

Solutions have been proposed to support awareness in groupware. Frequently, this requirement is fulfilled by similar functionalities that are implemented in different modules within these collaborative applications. These solutions usually represent crosscut concerns related to awareness by the use of object-oriented programming. As a result, tightly coupled components are generated as well as code redundancy and scattering. Flexibility and agility, related to awareness maintenance and evolution can be considered a challenge. This paper presents an awareness service named Aw2SOA, which was developed to support awareness functionalities in a Web-based Groupware Service-Oriented Architecture (WGWSOA) environment. The WGWSOA infrastructure is based on middleware services for collaborative applications. Aw2SOA is a middleware specific service which was implemented according to service-oriented architecture (SOA) principles and aspect-oriented programming (AOP) concepts. Case studies were carried out focusing on service integration activities as well as using groupware application development in order to evaluate this solution.
Transurethral resection of the prostate for patients with Gleason score 6 prostate cancer and symptomatic prostatic enlargement: a risk-adaptive strategy for the era of active surveillance.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether transurethral resection of the prostate can be used as both (i) treatment for symptomatic prostatic enlargement in patients with prostate cancer and (ii) a risk-adaptive strategy for reducing prostate-specific antigen levels and broadening the indications of active surveillance. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed data of 3680 patients who underwent prostate biopsies at a single institution (March 2006 to January 2012). Of 529 men who had Gleason score 6 prostate cancer and were ineligible for active surveillance, 86 (16.3%) underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for symptomatic prostatic enlargement. We assessed how changes in prostate-specific antigen and prostate-specific antigen density influenced the eligibility for active surveillance and the outcome of subsequent therapy. The following active surveillance criteria were used: prostate-specific antigen ≤ 10 ng/ml, prostate-specific antigen density ≤ 0.15, positive cores ≤ 3 and single core involvement ≤ 50%. RESULTS The median age, pre-operative prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume were 71 years, 6.95 ng/ml, and 45.8 g, respectively. In 82.6% (71/86) of analyzed cases, ineligibility for active surveillance had resulted from elevated prostate-specific antigen level or prostate-specific antigen density. With a median resection of 16.5 g, transurethral resection of the prostate reduced the percentage of prostate-specific antigen and the percentage of prostate-specific antigen density by 34.5 and 50.0%, respectively, making 81.7% (58/71) of the patients eligible for active surveillance. Prostate-specific antigen level remained stabilized in all (21/21) patients maintained on active surveillance without disease progression during the median follow-up of 50.6 months. Among patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, 96.7% (29/30) exhibited localized disease. CONCLUSIONS Risk-adaptive transurethral resection of the prostate may prevent overtreatment and allay prostate-specific antigen-associated anxiety in patients with biopsy-proven low-grade prostate cancer and elevated prostate-specific antigen. Additional benefits include voiding symptom improvement and the avoidance of curative therapy's immediate side effects.
The Residents’ Benefits and Concerns Before and After a New Rail Stop

Transit-oriented developments are touted as providing a variety of social benefits, but personal benefits to residents are underresearched. The authors surveyed 51 residents before and after a new light rail stop was constructed in their revitalizing Salt Lake City neighborhood. Residents anticipated and then later experienced increased housing and neighborhood economic values, enhanced sense of community, and improved neighborhood reputation. Residents experienced greater than anticipated pedestrian and child safety after rail service started. Compared with resident perceptions of walkable neighborhoods elsewhere, the Salt Lake residents perceived their neighborhood to be denser, and offering less land-use diversity and more crime safety problems. Perceived walkability increased, with residents reporting greater land-use diversity and neighborhood satisfaction after rail stop completion. However, residents said more stores, parks and trails, and trees would improve walkability. These results show the personal benefits residents desire to make transit-oriented living a satisfying residential alternative.