Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Appearance-Based Hand Sign Recognition from Intensity Image Sequences

Abstract In this paper, we present a new approach to recognizing hand signs. In this approach, motion recognition (the hand movement) is tightly coupled with spatial recognition (hand shape). The system uses multiclass, multidimensional discriminant analysis to automatically select the most discriminating linear features for gesture classification. A recursive partition tree approximator is proposed to do classification. This approach combined with our previous work on hand segmentation forms a new framework which addresses the three key aspects of hand sign interpretation: hand shape, location, and movement. The framework has been tested to recognize 28 different hand signs. The experimental results show that the system achieved a 93.2% recognition rate for test sequences that had not been used in the training phase. It is shown that our approach provide performance better than that of nearest neighbor classification in the eigensubspace.
High Performance Document Layout Analysis

In this paper, I summarize research in document layout analysis carried out over the last few years in our laboratory. Correct document layout analysis is a key step in document capture conversions into electronic formats, optical character recognition (OCR), information retrieval from scanned documents, appearance-based document retrieval, and reformatting of documents for on-screen display. We have developed a number of novel geometric algorithms and statistical methods. Layout analysis systems built from these algorithms are applicable to a wide variety of languages and layouts, and have proven to be robust to the presence of noise and spurious features in a page image. The system itself consists of reusable and independent software modules that can be reconfigured to be adapted to different languages and applications. Currently, we are using them for electronic book and document capture applications. If there is commercial or government demand, we are interested in adapting these tools to information retrieval and intelligence applications.
Polymorphisms in ABC Transporter Genes and Concentrations of Mercury in Newborns – Evidence from Two Mediterranean Birth Cohorts

Background The genetic background may influence methylmercury (MeHg) metabolism and neurotoxicity. ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters actively transport various xenobiotics across biological membranes. Objective To investigate the role of ABC polymorphisms as modifiers of prenatal exposure to MeHg. Methods The study population consisted of participants (n = 1651) in two birth cohorts, one in Italy and Greece (PHIME) and the other in Spain (INMA). Women were recruited during pregnancy in Italy and Spain, and during the perinatal period in Greece. Total mercury concentrations were measured in cord blood samples by atomic absorption spectrometry. Maternal fish intake during pregnancy was determined from questionnaires. Polymorphisms (n = 5) in the ABC genes ABCA1, ABCB1, ABCC1 and ABCC2 were analysed in both cohorts. Results ABCB1 rs2032582, ABCC1 rs11075290, and ABCC2 rs2273697 modified the associations between maternal fish intake and cord blood mercury concentrations. The overall interaction coefficient between rs2032582 and log2-transformed fish intake was negative for carriers of GT (β = −0.29, 95%CI −0.47, −0.12) and TT (β = −0.49, 95%CI −0.71, −0.26) versus GG, meaning that for a doubling in fish intake of the mothers, children with the rs2032582 GG genotype accumulated 35% more mercury than children with TT. For rs11075290, the interaction coefficient was negative for carriers of TC (β = −0.12, 95%CI −0.33, 0.09), and TT (β = −0.28, 95%CI −0.51, −0.06) versus CC. For rs2273697, the interaction coefficient was positive when combining GA+AA (β = 0.16, 95%CI 0.01, 0.32) versus GG. Conclusion The ABC transporters appear to play a role in accumulation of MeHg during early development.
Expression of a novel mRNA in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells.

AIMS: The differential display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) technique was used to search for differences between the mRNA expression profiles of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines established from head and neck tumours and normal keratinocytes from the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. METHODS: Total RNA prepared from both cell types was reverse transcribed into cDNA then amplified in a PCR mixture. To compare the electrophoretic patterns, mRNAs were amplified by nested PCR using specific oligonucleotides. Additionally, using labelled cDNA probes, northern hybridisation was carried out on three cancer cell lines of different origin, a biopsy from a parotid gland pleomorphic adenoma, healthy mucosa, and keratinocytes. RESULTS: Comparison of the separated bands revealed a fragment with a differential expression pattern in the SCC cells. This cloned sequence of a 336 base pair mRNA fragment exhibited no significant homology with known transcripts. Additionally, after amplification and sequencing of the 3' end of the fragment no homology with a known human gene sequence was found. However, low homology with a genomic sequence of a nematode was found. Northern hybridisation confirmed the selective expression of this fragment in SCC cells versus the cancer cell lines of different origin, the biopsy of the pleomorphic adenoma, keratinocytes, and healthy mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first differentially expressed human genome transcript of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck identified by DDRT-PCR. It may prove useful, in the future, to characterise this tumour type.
Imposing Constraints from the Source Tree on ITG Constraints for SMT

In the current statistical machine translation (SMT), erroneous word reordering is one of the most serious problems. To resolve this problem, many word-reordering constraint techniques have been proposed. Inversion transduction grammar (ITG) is one of these constraints. In ITG constraints, target-side word order is obtained by rotating nodes of the source-side binary tree. In these node rotations, the source binary tree instance is not considered. Therefore, stronger constraints for word reordering can be obtained by imposing further constraints derived from the source tree on the ITG constraints. For example, for the source word sequence { a b c d }, ITG constraints allow a total of twenty-two target word orderings. However, when the source binary tree instance ((a b) (c d)) is given, our proposed “imposing source tree on ITG” (IST-ITG) constraints allow only eight word orderings. The reduction in the number of word-order permutations by our proposed stronger constraints efficiently suppresses erroneous word orderings. In our experiments with IST-ITG using the NIST MT08 English-to-Chinese translation track's data, the proposed method resulted in a 1.8-points improvement in character BLEU-4 (35.2 to 37.0) and a 6.2% lower CER (74.1 to 67.9%) compared with our baseline condition.
Impact of IL28B Genetic Variation on HCV-Induced Liver Fibrosis, Inflammation, and Steatosis: A Meta-Analysis

Background & Aims IL28B polymorphisms were shown to be strongly associated with the response to interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and spontaneous viral clearance. However, little is known about how these polymorphisms affect the natural course of the disease. Thus, we conducted the present meta-analysis to assess the impact of IL28B polymorphisms on disease progression. Methods A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Integrated odds ratios (OR) were calculated with a fixed-effects or random-effects model based on heterogeneity analyses. Results We identified 28 studies that included 10,024 patients. The pooled results indicated that the rs12979860 genotype CC was significantly associated (vs. genotype CT/TT; OR, 1.122; 95%CI, 1.003–1.254; P = 0.044), and that the rs8099917 genotype TT tended to be (vs. genotype TG/GG; OR, 1.126; 95%CI, 0.988–1.284; P = 0.076) associated, with an increased possibility of severe fibrosis. Both rs12979860 CC (vs. CT/TT; OR, 1.288; 95%CI, 1.050–1.581; P = 0.015) and rs8099917 TT (vs. TG/GG; OR, 1.324; 95%CI, 1.110–1.579; P = 0.002) were significantly associated with a higher possibility of severe inflammation activity. Rs8099917 TT was also significantly associated with a lower possibility of severe steatosis (vs. TG/GG; OR, 0.580; 95%CI, 0.351–0.959; P = 0.034), whereas rs12979860 CC was not associated with hepatic steatosis (vs. CT/TT; OR, 1.062; 95%CI, 0.415–2.717; P = 0.901). Conclusions IL28B polymorphisms appeared to modify the natural course of disease in patients with CHC. Disease progression seems to be promoted in patients with the rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT genotypes.
PA20 : A new SANS and GISANS project for soft matter, materials and magnetism

This article presents the new Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) instrument PA20 which will replace the PAXE instrument at LLB-Orphée. SANS is well-known to be especially well adapted to research in soft matter, materials and nanosciences and SANS is particularly powerful in the studies of complex systems, with isotopic labeling and contrast variation method, but also for large-scale structures (magnetic or not). PA20 is part of the LLB instrumental upgrade program "CAP2015". PA20 will not only maintain LLB's capabilities in SANS, but also considerably extend them in terms of SANS for magnetism with a polarized neutron option and Grazing Incidence SANS (GISANS), with an improved dynamical Q-range. The total length of PA20 will be 40 m, including a 19 m collimation length, a 20 m detector tank containing high-resolution/high-emciency XY detectors, and a casemate containing a monochromator (velocity selector λ = 0.3 − 2 nm), a chopper system for Time-of-Flight (TOF) mode, a polarizer and an RF spin flipper. PA20 will allow faster measurements, with "single-shot" access to a wider range of scattering vectors, on possibly small samples (few mm in size). In addition, polarized neutrons will enable magnetic studies in both SANS and GISANS configurations. Studies of nanostructured surfaces and interfaces (deposited or embedded nano-objects), magnetic domain formation, multilayered materials or magnetic thin films through specular and off-specular signals will be possible through GISANS setups. The versatility of PA20 should contribute to both enlarge the neutron user community, especially in expanding areas like nanosciences, and offer improved services for users in the years to come.
Pre-Processing of X-Ray Medical Image Based on Improved Temporal Recursive Self-Adaptive Filter

The random noises caused by different devices in the process of X-ray imaging make images degraded, which results in incomplete or even incorrect medical diagnoses. The image pre-processing is the primary procedure of digital X-ray imaging device. Due to the features of X-ray medical image, the temporal recursive filter can be used, whose filtering coefficient decreases exponentially with the difference of two adjacent frames. However, considering the hardware implementation complexity in real-time dynamic processing, an improved self-adaptive filtering algorithm is proposed, of which the filtering coefficient is generated by a linear decay function. We use a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and other peripherals to design and implement the X-ray medical image pre-processing system based on the improved self-adaptive filter. The design fundamentals and methods are discussed in details, including video decoder, encoder, processing, and display. The experiment results show that the proposed algorithm and system improve the imagepsilas signal-noise-ratio effectively, after 4 to 8 frame recursions. The pre-processing system can be practically used in digital X-ray imaging device.
Thermal model of totally enclosed water-cooled permanent magnet synchronous machines for electric vehicle applications

Totally enclosed water-cooled permanent magnet machines (TEWCPMMs) have been widely applied in electric vehicles (EVs) due to its advantages of high torque density, high power factor and strong overloading capacity. However, the TEWCPMM is often experienced with extremely high ambient temperature in very limited space, which may lead to serious machine faults. In order to investigate thermal performance deeply, after investigation on the air convection within the end-space, this paper presents a thermal model, which takes the influence of the air temperature within the end-space on the temperature distribution by convection into consideration. Combining electromagnetic finite-element analysis (FEA) with thermal resistance network (TRN) of the TEWCPMM, the thermal model is established, which is based on the law of heat flux balance in two continuous iterative calculations. Finally, experiments are performed on a 36-kW prototype to validate the proposed thermal model.
Contributions of Basal and Postprandial Hyperglycemia Over a Wide Range of A1C Levels Before and After Treatment Intensification in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To determine the relative contributions of basal hyperglycemia (BHG) versus postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) before and after treatment intensification in patients with glycated hemoglobin A1c (A1C) >7.0% while on prior oral therapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Self-measured, plasma-referenced glucose profiles and A1C values were evaluated from participants in six studies comparing systematically titrated insulin glargine with an alternative regimen (adding basal, premixed, or prandial insulin, or increasing oral agents). Hyperglycemic exposure (>100 mg/dL [5.6 mmol/L]) as a result of BHG versus PPHG was calculated. RESULTS On prior oral therapy, 1,699 participants (mean age 59 years, diabetes duration 9 years) had mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 194 mg/dL (10.8 mmol/L), and mean A1C was 8.7%. BHG contributed an average of 76–80% to hyperglycemia over the observed range of baseline A1C levels. Adding basal insulin for 24 or 28 weeks lowered mean FPG to 117 mg/dL (6.5 mmol/L), A1C to 7.0%, and BHG contribution to 32–41%. Alternative regimens reduced FPG to 146 mg/dL (8.1 mmol/L), A1C to 7.1%, and the contribution of BHG to 64–71%. BHG contributions for patients with A1C averaging 7.6–7.7% were 76% at baseline and 34 and 68% after adding basal insulin or other therapies, respectively. CONCLUSIONS When A1C is >7.0% despite oral therapy, BHG routinely dominates exposure. Intensified therapy reduces A1C and changes this relationship, but BHG amenable to further intervention still accounts for one-third of total hyperglycemia after basal insulin treatment and two-thirds after alternative methods.
A Novel Cluster Validation Approach on Pso-Pac Mechanism in Ad Hoc Network

The ad hoc network places a vital role in contemporary days communication scenario. This network performance gets up while the clustering phenomenon has been incorporated. The cluster formation using the vital parameters is incredible on deciding the efficiency level of the clustered ad hoc networks. The PSO-PAC mechanism forms clusters based on swarm intelligence by considering energy as crucial parameter. This optimized cluster helps to suits the applications where the energy parameter plays a key role. The clusters formed by this mechanism may not ascertain the compactness of the clusters. Thus, this paper proposes D-PAC as an index based validation mechanism to be handled on clusters formed using PSO-PAC. The cluster formation and validation mechanism have been implemented using OMNET++ simulator.
Considerations for minimizing radiation doses to components during X-ray inspection

The ability to undertake non-destructive testing on semiconductor devices, during both their manufacture and their subsequent use in printed circuit boards (PCBs), has become ever more important for checking product quality without compromising productivity. The use of X-ray inspection not only provides a potentially non-destructive test but also allows investigation within optically hidden areas, such as the wire bonding within packages and the quality of post solder reflow of area array devices (e.g. BGAs, CSPs and flip chips). During X-ray inspection the sample is bathed in the ionizing radiation of high-energy photons, so the sample receives a radiation dose. Certain devices are susceptible to damage by ionizing radiation. Therefore, this susceptibility may require the user to consider the radiation dose being given to these items during the X-ray inspection process to ensure critical thresholds are not exceeded. This paper will discuss the issues that a user of these radiation-sensitive components may wish to consider, together with practical suggestions as to how to measure and minimize the radiation dose for best practice during X-ray examination.
Compact Random Feature Maps

Kernel approximation using randomized feature maps has recently gained a lot of interest. In this work, we identify that previous approaches for polynomial kernel approximation create maps that are rank deficient, and therefore do not utilize the capacity of the projected feature space effectively. To address this challenge, we propose compact random feature maps (CRAFTMaps) to approximate polynomial kernels more concisely and accurately. We prove the error bounds of CRAFTMaps demonstrating their superior kernel reconstruction performance compared to the previous approximation schemes. We show how structured random matrices can be used to efficiently generate CRAFTMaps, and present a single-pass algorithm using CRAFTMaps to learn non-linear multi-class classifiers. We present experiments on multiple standard data-sets with performance competitive with state-of-the-art results.
The Majord'Home: a SDN approach to let isps manage and extend their customers'home networks

As the number and variety of connected devices increase, most end-users find themselves unable to manage their home networks properly, not having enough time and/or knowledge to do so. In this paper, we propose a new approach to remove this burden from them, by fully virtualizing the home network and delegating its management and operations to the ISP, while keeping end-users in control. We furthermore define the architecture of our software-based Majord'Home solution. Acting as a majordomo of the home, it handles a representation of the home objects and network constraints, automates the connectivity between heterogeneous elements and thus meets the needs of end-users. We finally describe the first version of our on-going implementation as a proof of concept.
Interval estimation of the attributable risk for multiple exposure levels in case‐control studies with confounders

The attributable risk (AR) is one of the most important and commonly‐used epidemiological indices to assess the public health importance of an association between a risk factor and a disease. When the underlying risk factor has multiple exposure levels in the presence of confounders, we consider the case‐control studies using random sampling to collect the cases and controls here. We develop four asymptotic interval estimators for AR, including the interval estimator using Wald's statistic, the interval estimator using the logarithmic transformation, the interval estimator using the logit transformation, and the interval estimator derived from a quadratic equation. We apply Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the finite‐sample performance of these interval estimators in a variety of situations. We demonstrate that given an adequately large sample size, all the estimators developed here can actually perform reasonably well. We note that the interval estimator using the logit transformation may be of limited use when the number of studied subjects is not large. We also note that the interval estimator using the logarithmic transformation can lose efficiency compared to the interval estimator using Wald's statistic or the interval estimator derived from a quadratic equation developed in this paper. Finally, we use the data taken from a case‐ontrol tudy of the oral contraceptive use in myocardial nfarction patients with various smoking levels to illustrate he practical usefulness of these estimators. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EVALUATION OF TERM UTILITY FUNCTIONS FOR VERY SHORT MULTIDOCUMENT SUMMARIES

We describe results from an application for relevance assessment in a setting related to multidocument summarization. For the task of characterizing given document collections by a short list of relevant terms, we have proposed the term utility function PxR. The measure is competitive to a variety of utility functions commonly used in text mining. Our function incorporates a user-definable parameter that allows for explicit, continuous trade-off between precision and recall, which was preferred by our users over the more opaque term utility functions from text mining. The F β measure is similar but not identical to our measure and will also be discussed. Despite our users' preference for a user-definable parameter, the improvement by setting different user-defined parameter values for each document collection are limited, and a static value for the parameter works almost as well. This seems to be true for the F β measure as well. A simple measure, SR, also performs competitively. In light of this evidence, a user-definable parameter seems to be unnecessary to achieve competitive performance.
IBM Research Report Statistical Modeling for Anomaly Detection, Forecasting and Root Cause Analysis of Energy Consumption for a Portfolio of Buildings

A multi-step statistical analysis procedure is developed to assess energy consumption and to identify energy saving opportunities for large portfolios of buildings such as the New York City’s public school buildings. The method borrows strength from and makes integrated use of the Variable Base Degree Day (VBDD) regression model, multivariate regression model and the Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. The analytical method provides useful information to compute energy performance metrics, detect anomaly, forecast and analyze root causes of the energy consumptions of the buildings, and helps building facility engineers and property managers to achieve significant energy savings, greenhouse gas emission reductions and cost savings.
A Galaxy of Texture Features

The aim of this chapter is to give experienced and new practitioners in image analysis and computer vision an overview and a quick reference to the “galaxy” of features that exist in the field of texture analysis. Clearly, given the limited space, only a corner of this vast galaxy is covered here! Firstly, a brief taxonomy of texture analysis approaches is outlined. Then, a list of widely used texture features is presented in alphabetical order. Finally, a brief comparison of texture features and feature extraction methods based on several literature surveys is given.
Ixodid Tick Infestation in Cattle and Wild Animals in Maswa and Iringa, Tanzania

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are important in human and livestock health worldwide. In November 2012, ixodid ticks were collected and identified morphologically from cattle and wild animals in the Maswa district and Iringa urban, Tanzania. Amblyomma gemma, A. lepidum, and A. variegatum were identified from Maswa cattle, and A. variegatum was the predominant species. A. marmoreum, Hyalomma impeltatum, and Rhipicephalus pulchellus were identified from Iringa cattle in addition to the above 3 Amblyomma species, and A. gemma was the most abundant species. Total 4 Amblyomma and 6 Rhipicephalus species were identified from wild animals of the 2 areas. A. lepidum was predominant in Maswa buffaloes, whereas A. gemma was predominant in Iringa buffaloes. Overall, A. variegatum in cattle was predominant in the Maswa district and A. gemma was predominant in Iringa, Tanzania.