Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Climate Change and Urban Expansion on Hydrologic Ecosystem Services in the Milwaukee River Basin

Land use/land cover (LULC) and climate changes could affect water quantity and quality and thus hydrologic ecosystem services (ES). However, studies of these impacts on hydrologic ES are limited by the current methods and techniques. We attempted to find out how the LULC and climate changes impact hydrologic ES at different temporal scales so that decision-makers can easily understand hydrologic ES variations for guiding management plans. In this study, we analyzed the impacts of LULC and climate changes on hydrologic ES in the Milwaukee River basin, USA with a conceptual modeling framework for hydrologic ES. The model framework was applied to a series of climate and urban expansion scenarios. Two hydrologic responses (streamflow and sediment) and three hydrologic ES (water provision index (WPI), flood regulation index (FRI), and sediment regulation index (SRI)) were calculated. Major findings include: (1) Climate change has much larger impacts than LULC at the monthly scale. For example, the impacts of climate change on streamflow were −6 to 9 m3/s whereas those of LULC change were −0.4 to 0.2 m3/s. Also, WPI (ranging from 0 to 1) changed between −0.16 and 0.07 with climate change but between −0.02 and −0.001 with LULC changes. (2) Compared to changes at the annual scale, the results show much larger variabilities as monthly time-series and mean monthly numbers. These findings suggest that the climate change weighs more than the realistic LULC change in term of impacts on hydrologic ES and those impacts can be identified with results at the monthly temporal scale. This approach with the framework and scenarios can better support management planning for decision-makers with detailed results and temporal precision.
Bi-predictive motion estimation for HEVC on a graphics processing unit (GPU)

High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), the latest video compression standard, will play an important role in many multimedia applications in the foreseeable future. Its superior compression performance enables HEVC to be particularly suitable for high-definition videos in consumer electronics environments; however, it comes with the price of substantially high computational complexity. The HEVC encoding process, especially the Motion Estimation (ME), is very time consuming, which makes HEVC impractical for real-time applications at the moment. In this work, a hybrid encoding architecture with a set of algorithms is proposed, exploring a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to perform both uni-predictive and bi-predictive ME in a highly parallel manner. This reduces the complexity of the uni- and bipredictive ME on the Central Processing Unit (CPU) by up to 99% and 95% respectively, and brings significant overall time savings of up to 57.65% and 54.16% for the low delay P and the random access coding configurations respectively. The Rate-Distortion (RD) performance is only marginally affected in both cases.
Robust multimedia watermarking: Hidden Markov model approach for video sequences

Because of the large amount of frames, similarity between frames and temporal attacks (frame dropping, frame averaging, frame swapping etc.), the process for video watermarking is more difficult than that for image watermarking. Current image watermarking methods are limited to solve all these difficulties. We propose a novel video watermarking system based on the Hidden Markov Model (HMM). This novel watermarking scheme splits the video sequences into a Group of Pictures (GOP) with HMM. Portions of the binary watermark are embedded into each GOP with a wavelet domain watermarking algorithm. The embedding process is the standard additive algorithm [1] in low pass (LL) and high pass (HH) bands in the wavelet domain. This novel system increases the robustness against geometric and temporal attacks, and increases the quality of the watermarked video.
A novel intelligent SOC prediction method of lithium-ion battery packs based on the improved unscented transformation

The development of power lithium-ion battery packs is limited by the research and development level of Battery Management System (BMS). In this paper, an improved unscented transformation method is proposed, which is based on the six-section aero-lithium battery pack as the object of detection. The effective iterative calculation of State of Charge (SOC) value is realized by simplifying the process of three-particle and double Sigma processing. The accuracy of the method is verified by comparing the simulation results with the actual measurement results. Experimental results show that the error of this method is less than 3.00%, which effectively improves the SOC estimation accuracy and is of great significance to energy management and safety assurance of power lithium-ion battery packs.
Interpretations of constructivism and consequences for Computer Assisted Learning

The changes that have occurred in accepted approaches to teaching and learning in recent years have been underpinned by shifts in psychological and pedagogical theory, culminating in moves towards a constructivist view of learning. This paper looks at the consequences of these theoretical shifts for Computer Assisted Learning (CAL). Moshman has identified three interpretations of constructivism: endogenous constructivism which emphasises learner exploration, exogenous constructivism which recognises the role of direct instruction, but with an emphasis on learners actively constructing their own knowledge representations and dialectical constructivism which emphasises the role of interaction between learners, their peers and teachers. This classification scheme provides a framework for looking at the various constructivist approaches to CAL. For example, constructivist CAL materials that draw on the endogenous view include hypermedia environments, simulations and microworlds. Materials that draw on the exogenous view include learner controlled tutorials, cognitive tools and practice modules. Lastly, materials that draw on the dialectical view include Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) tools and support (or scaffolding) tools.
Finite Element Analysis of Corner Strengthening of CFRP-Confined Concrete Column

Strengthening of the concrete structure is one of the most difficult and important tasks of civil engineering. This paper presented the application of nonlinear finite element models in the analysis of Corner Strengthening of CFRP- Confined Concrete Column by using ANSYS software. The finite element models are build using a smeared cracking approach for concrete material and three dimensional layered element for the CFRP composite. The numerical results are compared with the corresponding experimental results of columns. The results show that the stress- strain curve obtained from the analytical data using ANSYS are in good agreement with experimental data. In this paper, the parameters considered are: CFRP strip thickness and its elasticity modulus (locally added at corner column regions for strengthening) in addition to the corner column radius.
Impact of Listening Behavior on Music Recommendation

The next generation of music recommendation systems will be increasingly intelligent and likely take into account user behavior for more personalized recommendations. In this work we consider user behavior when making recommendations with features extracted from a user’s history of listening events. We investigate the impact of listener’s behavior by considering features such as play counts, “mainstreaminess”, and diversity in music taste on the performance of various music recommendation approaches. The underlying dataset has been collected by crawling social media (specifically Twitter) for listening events. Each user’s listening behavior is characterized into a three dimensional feature space consisting of play count, “mainstreaminess” (i.e. the degree to which the observed user listens to currently popular artists), and diversity (i.e. the diversity of genres the observed user listens to). Drawing subsets of the 28,000 users in our dataset, according to these three dimensions, we evaluate whether these dimensions influence figures of merit of various music recommendation approaches, in particular, collaborative filtering (CF) and CF enhanced by cultural information such as users located in the same city or country.
Advanced signal processing techniques for THz imaging and sensing enhancement in material quality control applications

THz imaging and sensing has demonstrated a wide-ranging application potential. However, the transfer of such basic applicability observations to real-world application scenarios is severely obstructed by fundamental limitations imposed by the comparatively long wavelength of this analytic technique. In this presentation, an overview of recent signal processing developments for the enhancement of the analytic performance of THz imaging and sensing systems is presented. The first part of the presentation introduces advanced signal processing techniques to enhance the spectroscopic investigation capability of THz systems. Experiments are performed at particularly difficult application situations, including inter alia very thin material systems or measurements with strongly absorptive features beyond the signal to noise limitations of spectroscopic instrumentation. Model- based numeric procedures for spectroscopic investigation with pulsed THz systems are derived, which enhance the analytic material data quality by two orders of magnitude in comparison to established numeric procedures. Furthermore, computer vision based blind-deconvolution superresolution approaches are introduced, which allow the unassisted increase of imaging resolution beyond the diffraction limit. Experiments performed with a FMCW- based THz imaging system operating from 514 - 640 GHz demonstrate a resolution increase by a factor of 2.3 beyond the diffraction limit, without requiring any prior knowledge on the point-spread function size or shape of the imaging system, but based on a direct analysis of the imaging data of an unknown target sample.
Face Detection From Color Images Using a Fuzzy Pattern Matching Method

This paper describes a new method to detect faces in color images based on the fuzzy theory. We make two fuzzy models to describe the skin color and hair color, respectively. In these models, we use a perceptually uniform color space to describe the color information to increase the accuracy and stableness. We use the two models to extract the skin color regions and the hair color regions, and then comparing them with the prebuilt head-shape models by using a fuzzy theory based pattern-matching method to detect face candidates.
Feature-Based Texture Synthesis and Editing Using Voronoi Diagrams

In this paper, we present a technique to synthesize featured textures easily and interactively.The main idea is to synthesize a new texture by copying irregular patches from the source to the target texture, each of which contains a complete feature.The interior part of the feature is not touched while the cutting and stitching is performed on the background texture between the features.The technique starts by selecting a feature in the source texture by the user, after which the algorithm finds the positions of other features, generates a similar distribution of features, and finally synthesizes the target texture by copying and stitching patches of the target's Voronoi cellular shapes from the source texture. The technique is fast enough to be used interactively to edit textures in a simple and easy way.
Outside-in anatomy based character rigging

For believable character animation, skin deformation should communicate important deformation effects due to underlying muscle movement. Anatomical models that capture these effects are typically constructed from the inside out. Internal tissue is modeled by hand and a surface skin is attached to, or generated from, the internal structure. This paper presents an outside-in approach to anatomical modeling, in which we generate musculature from a predefined structure, which we conform to an artist--sculpted skin surface. Motivated by interactive applications, we attach the musculature to an existing control skeleton and apply a novel geometric deformation model to deform the skin surface to capture important muscle motion effects. Musculoskeletal structure can be stored as a template and applied to new character models. We illustrate the methodology, as integrated into a commercial character animation system, with examples driven by both keyframe animation and recorded motion data.
SODA: Generating SQL for Business Users

The purpose of data warehouses is to enable business analysts to make better decisions. Over the years the technology has matured and data warehouses have become extremely successful. As a consequence, more and more data has been added to the data warehouses and their schemas have become increasingly complex. These systems still work great in order to generate pre-canned reports. However, with their current complexity, they tend to be a poor match for non tech-savvy business analysts who need answers to ad-hoc queries that were not anticipated. This paper describes the design, implementation, and experience of the SODA system (Search over DAta Warehouse). SODA bridges the gap between the business needs of analysts and the technical complexity of current data warehouses. SODA enables a Google-like search experience for data warehouses by taking keyword queries of business users and automatically generating executable SQL. The key idea is to use a graph pattern matching algorithm that uses the metadata model of the data warehouse. Our results with real data from a global player in the financial services industry show that SODA produces queries with high precision and recall, and makes it much easier for business users to interactively explore highly-complex data warehouses.
Increased IL‐1β expression and myofibroblast recruitment in subacromial bursa is associated with rotator cuff lesions with shoulder stiffness

We evaluated whether proinflammatory cytokine expression and myofibroblast recruitment in subacromial bursa was linked to rotator cuff lesions with shoulder stiffness. We analyzed expressions of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α in subacromial bursa and joint fluid collected from 14 patients with cuff tears with stiffness as a study group (Group I) and 14 patients with rotator cuff tears without shoulder stiffness as a control group (Group II) using real‐time RT‐PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. Myofibroblast apoptosis in subacromial bursa was analyzed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase ‐mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate‐biotin nick end‐labeling (TUNEL) and α‐smooth muscle actin immunofluorescence staining. Shoulder function was evaluated using the Constant score. Group I had higher mRNA expression (p < 0.001) and immunoreactivities (p < 0.001) of IL‐1β. They also had higher levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α in joint fluid. Increased IL‐1β mRNA expression in the subacromial bursa and IL‐1β levels in joint fluid were correlated with a preoperative deficit in shoulder motion (p < 0.001) and preoperative Constant scores (p < 0.001). Immunofluorescence observations showed that Group I subjects had more myofibroblasts (p < 0.001) than Group II. In Group II, a significant correlation was found between apoptotic myofibroblasts and total myofibroblasts (p = 0.002), but not in Group I (p = 0.510). Increased expression of IL‐1β and myofibroblast recruitment in the subacromial bursa in rotator cuff lesions are linked to shoulder stiffness. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1090–1097, 2008
Generalized driven decoding for speech recognition system combination

Driven decoding algorithm (DDA) is initially an integrated approach for the combination of 2 speech recognition (ASR) systems. It consists in guiding the search algorithm of a primary ASR system by the one-best hypothesis of an auxiliary system. In this paper, we generalize DDA to confusion-network driven decoding and we propose new combination schemes for multiple system combination. Since previous experiments involved 2 ASR systems on broadcast news data, the proposed extended DDA is evaluated using 3 ASR systems from different labs. Results show that generalized- DDA outperforms significantly ROVER method: we obtain a 15.7% relative word error rate improvement with respect to the best single system, as opposed to 8.5% with the ROVER combination.
Photo-Assisted Analysis of Blepharoplasty Results

Currently, postoperative evaluation of aesthetic results of blepharoplasties mainly consists of subjective assessment by patients, surgeons, or others. We present an objective photo-assisted evaluation for preoperative planning and postoperative evaluation of blepharoplasties. Thirty-one female patients underwent aesthetic blepharoplasty. All types of blepharoplasties were included. An analysis of standardized pre- and postoperative photographs included measurements of eye fissure height, eye fissure width, lid sulcus height, upper lid height, upper iris coverage, scleral show, position of cornea to palpebra inferior, canthal tilt, an analysis of the architecture, and correction of wrinkles of the upper eyelid. Patients' satisfaction was investigated by a standardized questionnaire. All measured data showed postoperative changes to standard values. Upper eyelid wrinkles showed a significant decrease postoperatively. Most patients were highly satisfied with their results. The methods described in the present study help to evaluate the pre- and postoperative situation in blepharoplasty surgery.
Does Farmland Rental Contribute to Reduction of Agrochemical Use? A Case of Grain Production in Gansu Province, China

As a consequence of the new strategy to boost productivity capacity and ensure food security, China’s farmland rental market is developing rapidly, and its impacts on agricultural productivity have been extensively studied. However, the impacts of farmland rental on food safety have not been considered. The aim of this study was to determine the causal effects of farmland rental on fertilizer and pesticide use in wheat and maize production and evaluate the potential effects of this activity on food safety. Survey data obtained from 900 households in eight counties in Gansu province were used in this study, and the propensity score matching (PSM) method was employed to solve selection bias problems with the data. The results showed that farmland rental significantly reduced fertilizer and pesticide use in wheat and maize production, implying a potential reduction in heavy metal contamination of food and drinking water as well as less pesticide residues-remaining in food and contamination of environment. Also, households renting land were more likely to adopt new agricultural technologies and management methods and to acquire more agricultural acknowledges and information than those not renting land and renting out land. Thus, farmland rental is a benefit to the application of new agricultural technologies and management methods, to rational use of agrochemicals, and finally to food safety and environmental conservation. Policies such as encouraging farmland rental, enhancing education of farmers, improving technological innovation, and providing better information transfer should help ensure not only “enough food” but also “safe food”.
Fast and Effective Striping

An algorithm for striping triangle meshes in the context of OpenSG is presented. The technique is similar to STRIPE, however, a careful yet simple implementation leads to significant faster execution. Furthermore, we propose to randomly sample several partitions and chose the one that minimizes a given cost function. More samples are expected to lead to better solutions, thus, introducing a parameter to scale between speed and quality.
Acid Oxidation but Cause Cardiac Dysfunction in Diet-Induced Obesity Increased Glucose Uptake and Oxidation in Mouse Hearts Prevent High Fatty

Copyright © 2009 American Heart Association. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0009-7322. Online 72514 Circulation is published by the American Heart Association. 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108. 832915 2009;119;2818-2828; originally published online May 18, 2009; Circulation Jie Yan, Martin E. Young, Lei Cui, Gary D. Lopaschuk, Ronglih Liao and Rong Tian Acid Oxidation but Cause Cardiac Dysfunction in Diet-Induced Obesity Increased Glucose Uptake and Oxidation in Mouse Hearts Prevent High Fatty http://circ.ahajournals. org/cgi/content/full/CIRCULATIONAHA.108. 832915/DC1 Data Supplement (unedited) at: http://circ.ahajournals. org/cgi/content/full/119/21/2818 located on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is
Elongation, desaturation, and esterification of essential fatty acids by fetal rat brain in vivo.

Tracer amounts of either [1-14C]linolenic (18:3n-3, LNA), or [1-14C]linoleic (18:2n-6, LA) acids were intracranially injected into 19- to 20-day-old rat fetuses, and the time course of the in vivo formation and esterification of their long chain polyenoic metabolites was determined for up to 20 h. A rapid disappearance of free LNA and LA, with apparent half-lives of 60 and 40 min, respectively, was noticed. One hour after LNA injection, 32.3% and 14.3% of the total brain radioactivity was found in the neutral glyceride (NG) and phospholipid (PL) fractions, respectively. After 20 h, PL radioactivity attained a level of 75%. Phosphatidylcholine (PC), diacylglycerol (DG), and triacylglycerol (TG) constituted 40%, 23%, and 9% of the total brain label at 1 h, and 35%, 10% and 14% at 20 h, respectively. Ethanolamine-containing PL (including plasmalogen) radioactivity accounted for about 10% up to 6 h and increased nearly 3-fold at 20 h, primarily due to an increase in the amount of labeled docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), the elongation-desaturation products of LNA. A similar pattern of incorporation into NG and PL fraction was observed after the administration of [1-14C]LA. After 1 h, PC, DG, and TG species constituted 23%, 10%, and 23% of the total brain radioactivity, whereas after 20 h it accounted for 44%, 6%, and 10%, respectively. Although radioactivity in the ethanolamine PL also increased substantially from 4% at 1 h to 29% at 20 h, the main labeled fatty acid in this fraction was LA. Labeled arachidonic acid (AA) constituted 42.7% of the total radioactivity in phosphatidylinositol (PI) at 20 h. At this time, it comprised 12.5% and 14% of the total radioactivity in PC and ethanolamine PL, respectively, suggesting a high degree of esterification selectivity. Comparison of the total amounts of LA and LNA and their corresponding labeled AA and DHA metabolites in brain and liver after 3 and 6 h indicated that the contribution of liver metabolism to the elongation-desaturation under these conditions was negligible. One hour after intracerebral injection of [3H]DHA (22:6n-3) or [3H]AA (20:4n-6), 29.2% and 12% of total radioactivity, respectively, was found in the ethanolamine PL while 20% and 40% was incorporated in PC, respectively. PI labeling by [3H]AA was 6- to 8-fold higher than that seen in the presence of DHA. A high percent of radioactivity (26.9% and 18.2%) was found in DG and TG species. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)