Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unravelling seams: improving mobile gesture recognition with visual feedback techniques

Gesture recognition is emerging as an engaging interaction technique in mobile scenarios, and high recognition rates promote user acceptance. Several factors influence recognition rates including the nature of the gesture set and the suitability of the gesture recognition algorithm. This work explores how seamfulness in gesture stroke visualization affects recognition rates. We present the results of a user evaluation of a gesture recognition system that shows that raw (seamful) visualization of low-delity gesture stroke data has recognition rates comparable to no feedback. Providing filtered (seamless) stroke visualization to the user, while retaining the un-filtered input data for recognition, resulted in a 34.9% improvement in gesture recognition rate over raw stroke data. The results provide insights into the broader design space of seamful design, and identifies areas where seamlessness is advantageous.
Screening of Natural Products for Anti-HIV Potential: An In vitro Approach

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the etiological agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). There are 2 types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. However, worldwide, predominant virus is HIV-1. The development of safe, effective and low cost anti-HIV drugs is among the top global priorities of drug development since the disease is not yet curable, significant toxicity of available anti-HIV drugs, no vaccine and emergence of drug-resistant viruses. One of the strategies has been to identify anti-HIV compounds from natural sources such as plants, herbominerals, marine organisms and microbes. Current review summarizes commonly used In vitro assays to screen natural products (crude extracts and/or isolated compounds) for anti-HIV potential. Anti-HIV research should be focused on compounds that interfere with various parts of viral life cycle. Preliminary screening of natural products can be carried out with simple cell-based assays such as MTT or XTT assay and HIV p24 expression using Human T-cell lines. Target specific studies can be achieved through evaluating effect of test substances on HIV gp120/CD interaction, reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease enzymes using sophisticated techniques such as ELISA, Liquid Scintillation Counting, Flourometric, Sprectrophotometric and HPLC-based methods. Nevertheless, further pharmacological and toxicological investigation of active natural product/isolated compound is imperative. To conclude on an optimistic note, natural product derived active compounds serve as important lead molecules as demonstrated in case of development of Calanolide A isolated from Callophyllum lanigerum as NonNucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NNRTI). However, more such novel anti-HIV agents are necessary to be discovered.
Improved visual function and attenuation of declines in health-related quality of life after cataract extraction.

OBJECTIVE To measure the effect of cataract extraction and lens implantation on elderly persons' health-related quality of life and on their ability to perform visual activities. DESIGN Evaluations of health status were conducted preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months after surgery on patients scheduled for cataract extraction. SETTING Patients were enrolled from the General Eye Service of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and 33 Boston practices. PATIENTS The cohort consisted of 464 patients aged 65 years or older who were identified from the surgical schedule of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. At 3 to 12 months after surgery, 458 (99%) of the participants were successfully contacted. Health-related quality of life data were available for 419 (90%) to assess changes after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Ophthalmologic examinations were performed preoperatively and during the follow-up period. The Activities of Daily Vision Scale (ADVS) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short from (SF-36) were administered before surgery and at 3 and 12 months postoperatively to assess changes in health status. RESULTS At 12 months after surgery, 95% of patients had improved Snellen visual acuity, 80% had improved ADVS scores, but only 36% had improved SF-36 physical functioning. Average scores on seven of eight SF-36 subscales worsened at 12 months. Patients with improved ADVS scores had significantly smaller declines across all SF-36 dimensions except for role limitations due to emotional problems. CONCLUSION Improved visual function after cataract surgery was associated with better health-related quality of life, suggesting that age-related declines in health may be attenuated by improvements in visual function.
The series elastic shock absorber: tendon elasticity modulates energy dissipation by muscle during burst deceleration

During downhill running, manoeuvring, negotiation of obstacles and landings from a jump, mechanical energy is dissipated via active lengthening of limb muscles. Tendon compliance provides a ‘shock-absorber’ mechanism that rapidly absorbs mechanical energy and releases it more slowly as the recoil of the tendon does work to stretch muscle fascicles. By lowering the rate of muscular energy dissipation, tendon compliance likely reduces the risk of muscle injury that can result from rapid and forceful muscle lengthening. Here, we examine how muscle–tendon mechanics are modulated in response to changes in demand for energy dissipation. We measured lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle activity, force and fascicle length, as well as leg joint kinematics and ground-reaction force, as turkeys performed drop-landings from three heights (0.5–1.5 m centre-of-mass elevation). Negative work by the LG muscle–tendon unit during landing increased with drop height, mainly owing to greater muscle recruitment and force as drop height increased. Although muscle strain did not increase with landing height, ankle flexion increased owing to increased tendon strain at higher muscle forces. Measurements of the length–tension relationship of the muscle indicated that the muscle reached peak force at shorter and likely safer operating lengths as drop height increased. Our results indicate that tendon compliance is important to the modulation of energy dissipation by active muscle with changes in demand and may provide a mechanism for rapid adjustment of function during deceleration tasks of unpredictable intensity.
Accuracy of Self-Reported Physical Activity Levels in Obese Adolescents

Introduction. Self-reported measures of habitual physical activity rely completely on the respondent's ability to provide accurate information on their own physical activity behaviours. Our aim was to investigate if obese adolescents could accurately report their physical activity levels (PAL) using self-reported diaries. Methods. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured using doubly labelled water (DLW) and resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured via indirect calorimetry. Activity energy expenditure (AEE) and PAL values were derived from measured TEE and REE. Self-reported, four-day activity diaries were used to calculate daily MET values and averaged to give an estimated PAL value (ePAL). Results. Twenty-two obese adolescents, mean age 13.2 ± 1.8 years, mean BMI 31.3 ± 4.6 kg/m2, completed the study. No significant differences between mean measured and estimated PAL values were observed (1.37 ± 0.13 versus 1.40 ± 0.34, P = 0.74). Bland Altman analysis illustrated a significant relationship (r = −0.76, P < 0.05) between the two methods; thus the bias was not consistent across a range of physical activity levels, with the more inactive overreporting their physical activity. Conclusion. At an individual level, obese adolescents are unlikely to be able to provide an accurate estimation of their own activity.
Recognition and reconstruction of 3D objects using model-based perceptual grouping

We address a new algorithm for recognition and reconstruction of 3D polyhedral objects, based on perceptual grouping and graph search technique. Perceptual grouping is performed in a model-based framework, in which decision tree classifier is employed for learning and retrieving geometric information of the 3D model object. On the other hand, in order to extract the polygonal patch structure, initial grouping result is represented by a Gestalt graph. Polygonal patch hypotheses are then generated by graph search and verified by the consistency test with the model. In the experiments, it is shown that the model-based grouping reduces the number of the generated hypotheses efficiently, and furthermore, robust recognition and reconstruction are achieved by means of the graph search technique.
Compressing and searching XML data via two zips

XML is fast becoming the standard format to store, exchange and publish over the web, and is getting embedded in applications. Two challenges in handling XML are its size (the XML representation of a document is significantly larger than its native state) and the complexity of its search (XML search involves path and content searches on labeled tree structures). We address the basic problems of compression, navigation and searching of XML documents. In particular, we adopt recently proposed theoretical algorithms [11] for succinct tree representations to design and implement a compressed index for XML, called XBZIPiNDEX, in which the XML document is maintained in a highly compressed format, and both navigation and searching can be done uncompressing only a tiny fraction of the data. This solution relies on compressing and indexing two arrays derived from the XML data. With detailed experiments we compare this with other compressed XML indexing and searching engines to show that XBZIPiNDEX has compression ratio up to 35% better than the ones achievable by those other tools, and its time performance on some path and content search operations is order of magnitudes faster: few milliseconds over hundreds of MBs of XML files versus tens of seconds, on standard XML data sources.
Methods to improve joint attention in young children with autism: a review

We provide an overview of studies in the past 10 years (2004–2014) that have aimed to improve joint attention (JA) in young children at risk for, or with, autism spectrum disorder. Thirteen randomized controlled trial (RCT) interventions were found, which received particular focus. Three studies used intervention methods with a developmental orientation and focused on caregiver-mediated methods. Others used combined developmental and behavioral approaches and delivered intervention via trained interventionists, caregivers, and teachers. Interventions ranged widely in density, both with respect to the amount of intervention delivered weekly and the total duration of intervention. Fourteen single-subject research design (SSRD) studies and one quasi-experimental pre–post design study were also included. Notably absent in the RCTs were studies using only behavioral methods, while behavioral methods dominated in the SSRDs. The outcomes of the RCTs using combined behavioral and developmental methods generally demonstrate short-term social communication gains. While some studies demonstrated long-term maintenance and positive outcomes in related areas such as language, many did not. The mixed results for language outcomes indicate a need for further investigation. In addition, future studies should further examine participants’ developmental readiness and intervention dose in relation to outcome, as well as aim to isolate active ingredients of interventions.
Silk: A Resilient Routing Fabric for Peer-to-Peer Networks

Several proposed peer-to-peer networks use hypercube routing for scalability. In a previous paper, we showed that consistency of neighbor tables in hypercube routing guarantees the existence of a path from any source node to any destination node. Consistency, however, can be broken by the failure of one node. To improve the robustness of hypercube routing, we generalize the concept ofconsistency to -consistency for . We then show that a -consistent hypercube routing network provides at least disjoint paths from any source node to any destination node with a probability close to 1. The first objective of this report is the design and specification of a new join protocol together with a proof that it generates -consistent neighbor tables for an arbitrary number of concurrent joins (under the assumption that there is no concurrent leave or failure). To do so, we construct a more general definition of C-set tree than our previous one as the conceptual foundation for protocol design and reasoning about consistency. Both the new protocol and proof require major extensions to the ones in our previous paper to generalize them from 1-consistency to -consistency. The second objective of this report is the design and evaluation of a failure recovery protocol for -consistent networks. From simulation experiments in which up to 50% of the nodes in a -consistent network failed (when a node fails, it becomes silent), we found that, for , K-consistency was recovered in every experiment. The third objective of this report is to extend our join and failure recovery protocols such that they construct and maintain -consistent neighbor tables for networks whose nodes join and fail concurrently and frequently. In particular, our join protocol is extended with rules to handle failures of not only existing nodes but also other joining nodes. These extended protocols, being implemented in our prototype system named Silk, will be referred to as Silk protocols. From simulation experiments in which the number of concurrent joins and failures was up to 50% of the initial network size, we found that, for , Silk generated and maintained K-consistent neighbor tables after the concurrent joins and failures in every experiment. We also present an analysis of the communication and storage overheads of Silk protocols and show that Silk is scalable to a large number of network nodes.
Effects of environmental and operational variability on structural health monitoring

Stated in its most basic form, the objective of structural health monitoring is to ascertain if damage is present or not based on measured dynamic or static characteristics of a system to be monitored. In reality, structures are subject to changing environmental and operational conditions that affect measured signals, and these ambient variations of the system can often mask subtle changes in the system's vibration signal caused by damage. Data normalization is a procedure to normalize datasets, so that signal changes caused by operational and environmental variations of the system can be separated from structural changes of interest, such as structural deterioration or degradation. This paper first reviews the effects of environmental and operational variations on real structures as reported in the literature. Then, this paper presents research progresses that have been made in the area of data normalization.
Optical Basicity and Nepheline Crystallization in High Alumina Glasses

The purpose of this study was to find compositions that increase waste loading of high-alumina wastes beyond what is currently acceptable while avoiding crystallization of nepheline (NaAlSiO4) on slow cooling. Nepheline crystallization has been shown to have a large impact on the chemical durability of high-level waste glasses. It was hypothesized that there would be some composition regions where high-alumina would not result in nepheline crystal production, compositions not currently allowed by the nepheline discriminator. Optical basicity (OB) and the nepheline discriminator (ND) are two ways of describing a given complex glass composition. This report presents the theoretical and experimental basis for these models. They are being studied together in a quadrant system as metrics to explore nepheline crystallization and chemical durability as a function of waste glass composition. These metrics were calculated for glasses with existing data and also for theoretical glasses to explore nepheline formation in Quadrant IV (passes OB metric but fails ND metric), where glasses are presumed to have good chemical durability. Several of these compositions were chosen, and glasses were made to fill poorly represented regions in Quadrant IV. To evaluate nepheline formation and chemical durability of these glasses, quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and the Product Consistency Test were conducted. A large amount of quantitative XRD data is collected here, both from new glasses and from glasses of previous studies that had not previously performed quantitative XRD on the phase assemblage. Appendix A critically discusses a large dataset to be considered for future quantitative studies on nepheline formation in glass. Appendix B provides a theoretical justification for choice of the oxide coefficients used to compute the OB criterion for nepheline formation.
Preparation and Characterization of PVA/PVP Nanofibers as Promising Materials for Wound Dressing

The PVA/PVP, PVA/PVP with 5% and 10% chitosan and PVA/PVP-Iodine fibers were produced via electrospinning technique. Their morphological and chemical characteristics were examined with SEM, TGA, FT-IR, viscometer and four-point probe conductivity measurement apparatus. The addition of chitosan increased the viscosity and the electrical conductivity of the polymer. The increase chitosan contents resulted in the diameters of the fibers smaller than expected. This was attributed to the increase in the viscosity of the solution and the electrical conductivity of the resulting fibers. The DSC results show that iodine was efficiently cross-linked with the polymer, forming an amorphous structure.
Improved Direct Torque and Reactive Power Control of a Matrix-Converter-Fed Grid-Connected Doubly Fed Induction Generator

Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) is the most popular variable-speed generator for wind energy application due to its superior performance, lower cost, and control flexibility. Instead of back-to-back converters, matrix converter (MC) can be a good alternative for connecting the DFIG rotor to the grid. This paper presents a novel lookup-table-based hysteresis controller for a variable-speed constant-frequency DFIG supplied from a direct MC. For the machine control, a modified direct torque controller (DTC) with reactive power and speed control in the outer loops has been used. The reactive component of the MC input current has been also controlled using a hysteresis controller considering all active switch states based on estimated input current and load power factor. This upgradation of the input current control switching table reduces the distortion in the grid-supplied current waveform. Overall, the performance of the DFIG with MC is experimentally shown to be superior while using the proposed controller compared with a standard DTC-based control or space-vector-pulsewidth-modulation-based vector control of MC-fed DFIG reported in the literature.
Paraconsistent Reasoning for Expressive and Tractable Description Logics

Four-valued description logic has been proposed to reason with description logic based inconsistent knowledge bases, mainly ALC. This approach has a distinct advantage that it can be implemented by invoking classical reasoners to keep the same complexity as classical semantics. In this paper, we further study how to extend the four-valued semantics to more expressive description logics, such as SHIQ, and to more tractable description logics including EL++, DL-Lite, and Horn-DLs. The most effort we spend defining the four-valued semantics of expressive four-valued description logics is on keeping the reduction from four-valued semantics to classical semantics as in the case of ALC; While for tractable description logics, we mainly focus on how to maintain their tractability when adopting four-valued semantics.
Draft Genome Sequence of Geobacter sp. Strain OR-1, an Arsenate-Respiring Bacterium Isolated from Japanese Paddy Soil

ABSTRACT Here, we report a draft genome sequence of Geobacter sp. strain OR-1, an arsenate-respiring bacterium isolated from Japanese paddy soil. It contained two distinct arsenic islands, one including genes for a respiratory arsenate reductase (Arr) as well as for arsenic resistance (arsD-arsA-acr3-arsR-arrA-arrB) and the second containing only genes for arsenic resistance.
Cigarette Smoke Increases Endothelial CXCL16-Leukocyte CXCR6 Adhesion In Vitro and In Vivo. Potential Consequences in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major comorbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although the mechanism of its development remains largely unknown, it appears to be associated with cigarette consumption and reduced lung function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential link between water-soluble cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced endothelial dysfunction and the function of CXCL16/CXCR6 axis on the initial attachment of leukocytes, in addition to its possible impact on COPD-associated systemic inflammation. To do this, we employed several experimental approaches, including RNA silencing and flow cytometry analysis, the dynamic flow chamber technique, and intravital microscopy in the cremasteric arterioles of animals exposed to cigarette smoke (CS). CSE-induced arterial CXCL16 expression, leading to increased platelet–leukocyte and mononuclear cell adhesiveness. CSE-induced CXCL16 expression was dependent on Nox5 expression and subsequent RhoA/p38 MAPK/NF-κB activation. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that COPD patients (n = 35) presented greater numbers of activated circulating platelets (PAC-1+ and P-selectin+) expressing CXCL16 and CXCR6 as compared with age-matched controls (n = 17), with a higher number of CXCR6+-platelets in the smoking COPD group than in ex-smokers. This correlated with enhanced circulating CXCR6+-platelet–leukocyte aggregates in COPD patients. The increase in circulating numbers of CXCR6-expressing platelets and mononuclear cells resulted in enhanced platelet–leukocyte and leukocyte adhesiveness to CSE-stimulated arterial endothelium, which was greater than that found in age-matched controls and was partly dependent on endothelial CXCL16 upregulation. Furthermore, CS exposure provoked CXCL16-dependent leukocyte–arteriolar adhesion in cremasteric arterioles, which was significantly reduced in animals with a nonfunctional CXCR6 receptor. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence that increased numbers of CXCR6-expressing circulating platelets and mononuclear leukocytes from patients with COPD might be a marker of systemic inflammation with potential consequences in CVD development. Accordingly, CXCL16/CXCR6 axis blockade might constitute a new therapeutic approach for decreasing the risk of CVD in COPD patients.
Light-weight Domain-based Form Assistant : Querying Databases on the Web

The Web has been rapidly “deepened” by myriad searchable databases online, where data are hidden behind query forms. Helping users query alternative “deep Web” sources in the same domain (e.g., Books, Airfares) is an important task with broad applications. As a core component of those applications, dynamic query translation (i.e., translating a user’s query across dynamically selected sources) has not been extensively explored. While existing works focus on isolated subproblems (e.g., schema matching, query rewriting) to study, we target at building a complete query translator and thus face new challenges: 1) To complete the translator, we need to solve the predicate mapping problem (i.e., map a source predicate to target predicates), which is largely unexplored by existing works; 2) To satisfy our application requirements, we need to design a customizable system architecture to assemble various components addressing respective subproblems (i.e., schema matching, predicate mapping, query rewriting). Tackling these challenges, we develop a light-weight domain-based form assistant, which can generally handle alternative sources in the same domain and is easily customizable to new domains. Our experiment shows the effectiveness of our form assistant in translating queries for real Web sources.