Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On discovering regional taxi service disequilibrium with geographical collaborative filtering

A challenging problem that taxi service faces is to fulfill all passenger requests in different regions of a city and different time periods. Taxicab service rate of a region calculated from existing trajectory data can indicate the utilization rate of taxicabs in the region and help solving the problem. However, as trajectory data often contain corrupt or missing records in real scenarios, taxicab service rates of some region may not be available. This paper proposed a method to estimate taxicab service rates based on collaborative filtering with geographical factors and improved similarity measurements. The method proves to be efficient after validation on a large taxicab trajectory dataset.
Criterion Validity of the Early Communication Indicator for Infants and Toddlers

The Early Communication Indicator (ECI) is a progress monitoring measure designed to support intervention decisions of the home visitors and early educators who serve infants and toddlers. The present study sought to add to the criterion validity claims of the ECI in a large sample of children using measures of language and preliteracy not previously investigated. Early Head Start service providers administered and scored ECIs quarterly for infants and toddlers in their caseload as part of standard services. In addition, a battery of language and early literacy criterion tests were administered by researchers when children were 12, 24, 36, and 48 months of age. Analyses of this longitudinal data then examined concurrent and predictive correlational patterns. Results indicated that children grew in communicative proficiency with age, and weak to moderately strong patterns of relationship emerged that differed by ECI scale, age, and criterion measure. The strongest positive patterns of relationships were between Single Words and Multiple Words and the criterion at older ages. Gestures and Vocalizations established a pattern of negative relationships to the criterion measures. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Down is the new up : multimodal neuroimaging investigations of the negative bold response

This thesis contends with the critical paradigm in Wallace studies that posits affective interpersonal resolutions to a central ironic problem. I suggest that this 'x over irony' approach has reached something of a stalemate, especially in critical studies of Infinite Jest. I argue that a narcissistically operative irony isolates Infinite Jest's characters from interpersonal affectivity, but, at the same time, protects them from an engulfment threat; that is, isolation and engulfment form an affective double-bind in the novel that characters mitigate in singular ways. In the first chapter, I deal with the critical literature on Wallace, showing how Wallace's take on irony amounts to a criticism of its narcissistic uses. In the second chapter, I show how James Incandenza is the key figure of the isolating trajectory of the ironic-narcissistic defence. In the third chapter, I investigate Avril Incandenza in terms of the engulfment threat that relates to the horrific affects described in relation to psychotic depression. Lastly, I explore Hal and Orin in view of the isolation-engulfment double-bind in order to demonstrate the consequences of the narcissistic subjectivity in Wallace's fiction. Ultimately, I suggest that characters are caught in a two-sided affective threat that they mitigate, rather than resolve.
Haptic aesthetics in the blind: A behavioral and fMRI investigation

Understanding perception and aesthetic appeal of arts and environmental objects, what is appreciated, liked, or preferred, and why, is of prime importance for improving the functional capacity of the blind and visually impaired and the ergonomic design for their environment, which however so far, has been examined only in sighted individuals. This paper provides a general overview of the first experimental study of tactile aesthetics as a function of visual experience and level of visual deprivation, using both behavioral and brain imaging techniques. We investigated how blind people perceive 3D tactile objects, how they characterize them, and whether the tactile perception, and tactile shape preference (liking or disliking) and tactile aesthetic appreciation (judging tactile qualities of an object, such as pleasantness, comfortableness etc.) of 3D tactile objects can be affected by the level of visual experience. The study employed innovative behavioral measures, such as new forms of aesthetic preference-appreciation and perceptual discrimination questionnaires, in combination with advanced functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) techniques, and compared congenitally blind, late-onset blind and blindfolded (sighted) participants. Behavioral results demonstrated that both blind and blindfolded-sighted participants assessed curved or rounded 3D tactile objects as significantly more pleasing than sharp 3D tactile objects, and symmetric 3D tactile objects as significantly more pleasing than asymmetric 3D tactile objects. However, as compared to the sighted, blind people showed better skills in tactile discrimination as demonstrated by accuracy and speed of discrimination. Functional MRI results demonstrated that there was a large overlap and characteristic differences in the aesthetic appreciation brain networks in the blind and the sighted. As demonstrated both populations commonly recruited the somatosensory and motor areas of the brain, but with stronger activations in the blind as compared to the sighted. Secondly, sighted people recruited more frontal regions whereas blind people, in particular, the congenitally blind, paradoxically recruited more 'visual' areas of the brain. These differences were more pronounced between the sighted and the congenitally blind rather than between the sighted and the late-onset blind, indicating the key influence of the onset time of visual deprivation. Understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms should have a wide range of important implications for a generalized cross-sensory theory and practice in the rapidly evolving field of neuroaesthetics, as well as for 'cutting-edge' rehabilitation technologies for the blind and the visually impaired.
Motion pattern-based image features for glaucoma detection from retinal images

Glaucoma is an eye disorder that causes irreversible loss of vision and is prevalent in the aging population. Glaucoma is indicated both by structural changes and presence of atrophy in retina. In retinal images, these appear in the form of subtle variation of local intensities. These variations are typically described using local shape based statistics which are prone to error. We propose an automated, global feature based approach to detect glaucoma from images. An image representation is devised to accentuate subtle indicators of the disease such that global image features can discriminate between normal and glaucoma cases effectively. The proposed method is demonstrated on a large image dataset annotated by 3 medical experts. The results show the method to be effective in detecting subtle glaucoma indicators. The classification performance on a dataset of 1186 color retinal images containing a mixture of normal, suspect and confirmed cases of glaucoma is 97 percent sensitivity at 87 percent specificity. This improves further when the suspect cases are removed from the abnormal cases. Thus, the proposed method offers a good solution for glaucoma screening from retinal images.
Memory in Cultural Context : A Methodological Perspective

Acknowledgments First and foremost, I am very grateful to Heidi Keller and Bettina Lamm who inspired me to embark on this research journey. The dissertation would not have been possible without their support, guidance, and encouragement. I am also indebted to the Nso community of Kumbo where I was allowed several research sojourns, getting to know their culture and family life. Their openness and friendliness made research in Kumbo delightful. Special thanks must go to the research assistants who introduced me to their community and tirelessly supported the research project. Here, I would like to mention Patience-Marie Nsam Nsaedzeka, Maurice Mofor, Eunice Yovsi, and Gaston Fonyuy. I am also very grateful to the mothers and children who participated in this research project and would like to express my gratitude to all the students who helped me collect the data and complete the coding process. My sincere appreciation also goes out to my colleagues of the LEGEK group as well as those in the Department of Culture and Development in Osnabrück. A special thank you goes to Nicolas Mönkediek for his technical advice and endless supply of candies. Finally, I would like to thank my family for supporting me throughout the research journey.
TSH Measurement and Its Implications for Personalised Clinical Decision-Making

Advances in assay technology have promoted thyrotropin (TSH) measurements from participation in a multi-analyte assessment of thyroid function to a statistically defined screening parameter in its own right. While this approach has been successful in many ways, it has some grave limitations. This includes the basic question of what constitutes an agreed reference range and the fact that the population-based reference range by far exceeds the variation of the intraindividual set point. Both problems result in a potential misdiagnosis of normal and pathological thyroid function in a substantial proportion of patients. From a physiological perspective, TSH plays an integrated role in thyroid homeostasis. Few attempts have been made to adopt physiological insights into thyroid homeostasis for medical decision-making. Some emerging novel findings question the widely assumed log-linear TSH-FT4 relationship over the entire thyroid function spectrum. This data favours more complex hierarchically structured models. With a better understanding of its role in thyroid homeostasis in thyroid health and disease, TSH can be revisited in the context of thyroid regulation. This, in turn, could help overcome some of the limitations arising from its isolated statistical use and offer new prospects towards a more personalised interpretation of thyroid test results.
Bound Analysis of Imperative Programs with the Size-change Abstraction (extended version)

The size-change abstraction (SCA) is an important program abstraction for termination analysis, which has been successfully implemented in many tools for functional and logic programs. In this paper, we demonstrate that SCA is also a highly effective abstract domain for the bound analysis of imperative programs. We have implemented a bound analysis tool based on SCA for imperative programs. We abstract programs in a pathwise and context dependent manner, which enables our tool to analyze real-world programs effectively. Our work shows that SCA captures many of the essential ideas of previous termination and bound analysis and goes beyond in a conceptually simpler framework.
Phototoxic Action Spectrum on a Retinal Pigment Epithelium Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Exposed to Sunlight Normalized Conditions

Among the identified risk factors of age-related macular degeneration, sunlight is known to induce cumulative damage to the retina. A photosensitive derivative of the visual pigment, N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E), may be involved in this phototoxicity. The high energy visible light between 380 nm and 500 nm (blue light) is incriminated. Our aim was to define the most toxic wavelengths in the blue-green range on an in vitro model of the disease. Primary cultures of porcine retinal pigment epithelium cells were incubated for 6 hours with different A2E concentrations and exposed for 18 hours to 10 nm illumination bands centered from 380 to 520 nm in 10 nm increments. Light irradiances were normalized with respect to the natural sunlight reaching the retina. Six hours after light exposure, cell viability, necrosis and apoptosis were assessed using the Apotox-Glo Triplex™ assay. Retinal pigment epithelium cells incubated with A2E displayed fluorescent bodies within the cytoplasm. Their absorption and emission spectra were similar to those of A2E. Exposure to 10 nm illumination bands induced a loss in cell viability with a dose dependence upon A2E concentrations. Irrespective of A2E concentration, the loss of cell viability was maximal for wavelengths from 415 to 455 nm. Cell viability decrease was correlated to an increase in cell apoptosis indicated by caspase-3/7 activities in the same spectral range. No light-elicited necrosis was measured as compared to control cells maintained in darkness. Our results defined the precise spectrum of light retinal toxicity in physiological irradiance conditions on an in vitro model of age-related macular degeneration. Surprisingly, a narrow bandwidth in blue light generated the greatest phototoxic risk to retinal pigment epithelium cells. This phototoxic spectrum may be advantageously valued in designing selective photoprotection ophthalmic filters, without disrupting essential visual and non-visual functions of the eye.
The relative frequency of "dementia of unknown etiology" increases with age and is nearly 50% in nonagenarians.

CONTEXT With the recent change in pathological criteria for Alzheimer disease (AD), a group of patients has emerged who do not meet pathological criteria for any well-characterized degenerative dementias. Whether these unclassified patients have vascular dementia or some other form of dementia is not known. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical characteristics, pathological substrate, and relative frequency of dementia not caused by well-characterized degenerative dementias. DESIGN/SETTING Clinicopathological study of a prospectively observed sample of elderly nondemented and demented subjects recruited from our urban community. METHODS In our series of 128 subjects with prospective neuropsychological evaluations as well as neuropathology, we identified 35 clinically nondemented subjects and 20 demented patients who did not meet pathological criteria for well-characterized degenerative dementias such as AD or dementia with Lewy bodies. The 20 demented patients were grouped together under the term dementia of unknown etiology (DUE). We compared clinical, genetic, neuropsychological, pathological, and neurochemical characteristics of the nondemented group, patients with DUE, and 28 patients with AD and no other pathological abnormality. RESULTS Mean age at death for patients with DUE was 89.1 +/- 5.8 years compared with 79.9 +/- 11.4 years for AD (P<.001). Patients with AD and DUE did not differ in sex, risk factors, apolipoprotein E genotype, neuropsychological features, or neurological features. Hippocampal sclerosis (in 11 patients with dementia and no controls) and leukoencephalopathy (in 7 patients with dementia and 1 control) were associated with cognitive impairment; other vascular markers were not. Dementia of unknown etiology accounted for 5% of all cases of dementia among patients dying in their 70s, 21% for patients dying in their 80s, and 48% for patients dying in their 90s. CONCLUSIONS A significant percentage of demented patients older than 80 years do not meet pathological criteria for AD or dementia with Lewy bodies. Hippocampal sclerosis and leukoencephalopathy are common in these patients but rare in clinically nondemented subjects.
A low noise wearable wireless ECG system with body motion cancellation for long term homecare

This paper presents a low noise wearable wireless Electrocardiogram (ECG) system used for long term homecare and noninvasive monitoring three Leads ECG signals. An ac coupling circuit is implemented to remove the dc offset component created by the body movement and employs a high common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) instrumentation amplifier to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). The analog front end is connected to the End-Device which samples the three Leads signals with 200 Hz sampling frequency and sends data to a Coordinator on the PC using ZigBee protocol. A QRS and heart rate detection algorithm is implemented on a GUI data acquisition host. The system is evaluated when the body is walking and running. A reasonable performance is achieved even under body motion.
Finding all the DC solutions of circuits containing diodes and bipolar transistors

The paper deals with diode-transistor circuits having multiple DC solutions and offers two contraction and elimination methods enabling us to find all the DC solutions. They can be directly used to the circuits with constant parameters, when the chip is at fixed temperature, or merged into an earlier developed algorithm enabling us to analyse circuits with the thermal constraint. Numerical experiments show that the proposed approach is efficient and improves the analysis of transistor circuits having multiple DC solutions. It is illustrated via a numerical example.
Fundamentals of Ornamental Plants in Removing Benzene in Indoor Air

The concentration of benzene in indoor air has received appreciable attention due to its adverse health effects. Although phytoremediation has been considered as an eco-friendly method to remove benzene, it is unclear how to select plants with a high removal rate. In this study, we evaluated the benzene removal efficiency of four common ornamental plants, Epipremnum aureum, Chlorophytum comosum, Hedera helix and Echinopsis tubiflora, and we also explored the factors impacting benzene removal efficiency. The removal efficiency of all plants in this study averaged at 72 percent. The benzene absorption rates of Epipremnum aureum, Hedera helix and Chlorophytum comosum were 1.10, 0.85 and 0.27 µg·m−3·cm−2, respectively. This is due to the different transpiration rates and chlorophyll concentrations in the plants. The benzene removal efficiency of crassulacean acid metabolism plant (Echinopsis tubiflora) was 23% higher than C3 plant (Epipremnum aureum) under dark conditions. This can be attributed to the fact that the characteristic of Echinopsis tubiflora stomata is different from Epipremnum aureum stomata, which is still open under dark conditions. Therefore, Echinopsis tubiflora can take up more benzene than Epipremnum aureum. For different initial benzene concentrations, the benzene removal efficiency of Echinopsis tubiflora was always great (50–80%), owing to its high rate of transpiration and concentration of chlorophyll. Our findings indicate that transpiration rate and chlorophyll concentration can be used as reference parameters to facilitate ornamental plant screening for indoor air quality improvement.
Rolling Bearing Diagnosis using Cyclostationary tools and neural networks

Rotating machines are ubiquitous in the context of industrial control; early detection of their mechanical defects plays an important role for productivity and economic high gain. These defects are currently characterized by randomness and hidden periodicities. We propose in this regard is the study of the cyclical aspect of these defects by studying statistical tools in areas such as coherence spectrum. Applications on bearings are designed to show the impact of these tools.
Face Recognition for the Visually Impaired

: The inability to recognize known individuals in the absence of audio or haptic cues severely limits the visually impaired in their social interactions and puts them at risk from a security perspective. In recent years, several prototype systems have been developed to aid this population with the face recognition task. This paper aims to provide an overview of the state of the art in this domain, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions and discusses some of the issues that need to be addressed and resolved to expedite the practical deployment and widespread acceptance of such systems.
Ground state energy scaling laws during the onset and destruction of the intermediate state in a type I superconductor

The intermediate state of a type I superconductor is a classical example of energy‐driven pattern formation, first studied by Landau in 1937. Three of us recently derived five different rigorous upper bounds for the ground‐state energy, corresponding to different microstructural patterns, but only one of them was complemented by a lower bound with the same scaling [Choksi, Kohn, and Otto, J. Nonlinear Sci. 14 (2004), 119–171]. This paper completes the picture by providing matching lower bounds for the remaining four regimes, thereby proving that exactly those five different regimes are traversed with an increasing magnetic field. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nonlinear algorithm based on new Kalmanfiltering method for integrated SINS / GPS Navigation System

Aimed at a low-cost scheme of SINS/GPS integrated navigation system using low precision inertial sensors(MIMU), the precise error equations is basic for filter. The psi-angle model has been widely used. However, the model is not effective for a system with large attitude errors because the neglected error terms in the model degrade the performance of a designed filter. Different correcting methods of Kalman filter for deep integration of pseudorange with strapdown inertial navigation system are investigated in this paper. On the base of analyzing navigation errors, a composed correcting Kalman filter for SINS / GPS integrated navigation system is proposed by combining output correcting method and feedback correcting method. Compared with the two correcting methods,the composed correcting method improves the integration system navigation accuracy. The simulation results show the efficiency of this composed correcting Kalman filter.
The Timing of Monetary Policy Shocks 1

A vast empirical literature has documented delayed and persistent effects of monetary policy shocks on output. We show that this finding results from the aggregation of output impulse responses that differ sharply depending on the timing of the shock: When the monetary policy shock takes place in the first two quarters of the year, the response of output is quick, sizable, and dies out at a relatively fast pace. In contrast, output responds very little when the shock takes place in the third or fourth quarter. We propose a potential explanation for the differential responses based on uneven staggering of wage contracts across quarters. Using a stylized dynamic general equilibrium model, we show that a very modest amount of uneven staggering can generate differences in output responses similar to those found in the data. JEL Codes: E1, E52, E58, E32, E31.
An on-line energy management strategy for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles using an Estimation Distribution Algorithm

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) have great potential in reducing energy consumption and pollutant emissions, due to the use of electric batteries as another energy source. One of the critical considerations in PHEV development is the design of its energy management strategy, which determines how energy flows in a hybrid powertrain should be managed in response to a variety of system parameters. In this paper, we propose a generic framework of real-time energy management for PHEVs, where an Estimation Distribution Algorithm (EDA) is used for on-line (i.e., real-time) optimization of the power-split strategy. Different methods for controlling the battery pack's State of Charge (SOC) are proposed and sensitivity analyses are conducted to evaluate their performance. Study results validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods and show promise for further field implementation.
Development of Active Support Splint driven by Pneumatic Soft Actuator (ASSIST)

In this study, in order to realize an assist of independent life for the elderly or people in need of care and relieve a physical burden for care worker, an active support splint driven by pneumatic soft actuator (ASSIST) has been developed. ASSIST consists of a plastic interface with the palm and arm and two rotary-type soft actuators put in both sides of appliance. In this paper, the fundamental characteristics of ASSIST is described, and then the effectiveness of this splint is experimentally discussed. Finally, the operation of ASSIST based on a human intention is described.