Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power Management of Interactive 3D Games Using Frame Structures

We propose a novel dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) scheme that is specifically directed towards 3D graphics- intensive interactive game applications running on battery-operated portable devices. The key to this DVS scheme lies in parsing each game frame to estimate its rendering workload and then using such an estimate to scale the voltage/frequency of the underlying processor. The main novelty of this scheme stems from the fact that game frames offer a rich variety of "structural" information (e.g. number of brush and alias models, texture information and light maps) which can be exploited to estimate their processing workload. Although DVS has been extensively applied to video decoding applications, compressed video frames do not offer any information (beyond the frame types - I, B or P) that can be used in a similar manner to estimate their processing workload. As a result, DVS algorithms designed for video decoding mostly rely on control-theoretic feedback mechanisms, where the workload of a frame is predicted from the workloads of the previously-rendered frames. We show that compared to such history-based predictors, our proposed scheme performs significantly better for game applications. Our experimental results, based on the Quake II game engine running on Windows XP, show that for the same energy consumption our scheme results in more than 50% improvement in quality (measured in terms of number of frames meeting their deadlines) compared to history-based prediction schemes.
Effects of fluorotherapy on oral changes caused by a vegan diet.

AIM The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of fluorotherapy on the oral health of subjects who had been following a vegan diet (lacking in meat and animal derivatives) for a long period of time (at least 1 year and 6 months). METHODS A preliminary study (t0) evaluated 50 subjects, all from northern Italy and aged 24-60 years (28 male and 22 female) who had been following a vegan diet for a minimum of 18 months to a maximum of 20 years, and compared them with a control group of 50 individuals following a Mediterranean diet. All vegan subjects showed oral changes such as white spots, lesions invisible to the naked eye and decreased salivary pH values (~5-6). In a second study (t1), the 50 vegan subjects were randomly divided into two subgroups of 25. Subgroup SG1 underwent fluorotherapy with sodium fluoride (Elmex fluoride gel® 1.25%) administered once daily for 1 year. Subgroup SG2 served as controls and did not receive fluorotherapy. The following parameters were recorded before the start of fluorotherapy and again after 1 year: salivary pH; Decayed, Missing, Filled teeth Index; presence and location of white spots and lesions not visible to the naked eye; Plaque Index, and Gingival Index. RESULTS In SG1, larger lesions became smaller in diameter and small lesions disappeared, a statistically significant improvement compared with SG2, despite the persistence of restricted eating habits and the oral hygiene conditions being similar to those at t0. Salivary pH showed no significant change in either subgroup. CONCLUSION Daily application of a topical 1.25% fluoride gel is effective in reducing the incidence of white spot lesions caused by a vegan diet.
'Nobody likes damaged goods': the experience of adult visible acne.

OBJECTIVES While mild to severe acne is a common problem in the teenage years, many adults also suffer from the condition. Although there is an appreciable body of dermatological literature on this issue, the psychosocial concomitants of severe, visible adult acne are little elaborated. The aim of this research is to detail the salient experiences of adults with severe visible acne, and to set out the implications of these experiences. DESIGN A phenomenological qualitative approach was adopted to elicit detailed accounts of the impact of visible acne upon the lives of a small sample of sufferers. METHOD 11 adults suffering from severe visible acne took part in semi-structured interviews via e-mail, over an extended period of time. Transcripts of these interviews served as the data for an interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS Five themes emerged, detailing different aspects of respondents' personal and social lives in the context of their acne. These were: powerlessness and the variable nature of acne; comparisons, self-image and identity; the experience of general social interaction; relationships with family and friends; and gender, sexuality, and romantic relationships. CONCLUSIONS These themes allowed a deeper understanding of issues reported in previous quantitative research in the area, as well as revealing findings that had not been previously reported in relation to the experience of adult acne and its impact upon personal and social relationships. With an acknowledgement of these experiences, personal and professional acquaintances have the potential to improve their interpersonal relationship with the person concerned, and encourage positive changes in their psychological health and social interaction.
Effect of enamel morphology on nanoscale adhesion forces of streptococcal bacteria : An AFM study.

We explore the influence of enamel surface morphology on nanoscale bacterial adhesion forces. Three dimensional morphology characteristics of enamel slices, which were treated with phosphoric acid (for 0 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s, and 30 s), were acquired. Adhesion forces of three initial colonizers (Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Streptococcus mitis) and two cariogenic bacterial strains (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus) with etched enamel surfaces were determined. Comparison of the forces was made by using bacterial probe method under atomic force microscope (AFM) in adhesion buffer. The results showed that enamel morphology was significantly altered by etching treatment. The roughness, peak-to-valley height, and valley-to-valley width of the depth profile, surface area, and volume increased linearly with acid exposure time, and reached the maximum at 30s, respectively. The adhesion forces of different strains increased accordingly with etching time. Adhesion forces of S. oralis, S. mitis, S. mutans, and S. sobrinus reached the maximum values of 0.81 nN, 0.84 nN, 0.73 nN, and 0.64 nN with enamel treated for 20s, respectively, whereas that of S. sanguinis at 10s (1.28nN), and dropped on coarser enamel surfaces. In conclusion, enamel micro-scale morphology may significantly alter the direct adhesion forces of bacteria. And there may be a threshold roughness for bacterial adhesion on enamel surface.
The Science of Design: A Multidisciplinary Research Experience for Undergraduates at Humboldt State University

Humboldt State University hosted an NSF-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) during the summer of 2005 with a focus on "The Science of Design". This REU was a joint venture between the Computer Science, Mathematics and Environmental Resources Engineering Departments. Eight students from diverse backgrounds participated in the eight-week program that included an independent research project as well as group activities where students investigated design aspects of engineering, computer science and math modeling. The REU students also attended sessions aimed at building their leadership and teamwork skills. The over-arching concept of the science of design was an effective way to think about design in a multidisciplinary group
Cavernous sinus thrombosis complicating sinusitis

Background Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis is a rare complication of paranasal sinusitis. Objective To familiarize the clinician with the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and appropriate management of septic cavernous sinus thrombosis. Design Case report and literature review. Setting Pediatric intensive care unit in a university hospital. Patient We present a 12-yr-old female with a 1 wk history of an upper respiratory tract infection with worsening dyspnea, cough, and swelling of the left eye progressing to adult respiratory distress syndrome. Secondary to the need for significant mechanical ventilatory support, venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated. Computed tomography scan of the head and neck with contrast revealed bilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis. After broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and aggressive supportive care in conjunction with surgical intervention (maxillary sinus lavage and right orbital exploration) and anticoagulation therapy, the patient recovered. Blood cultures were positive for Viridans streptococcus. At discharge 3 wks later, the patient had improved, but had right-eye blindness. Conclusions The diagnosis of septic cavernous sinus thrombosis requires a high index of suspicion and confirmation by imaging; early diagnosis and surgical drainage of the underlying primary source of infection in conjunction with long-term intravenous antibiotic therapy are critical for an optimal clinical outcome.
Learning Leadership: An Investigation of Principals' Attitudes toward Teachers in Creating the Conditions Conducive for Learning in School-Based Staff Development

The purpose of this research was to determine the attitudes of principals toward teachers as learners by answering the following question: Do principals understand adult learning and do they have the competencies to create the conditions for learning in school-based staff development? Three research questions and a hypothesis undergirded this overall question and supported the investigation of this question. Participants in the study included principals and teachers in grades PK-12. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Instructional Perspectives Inventory (IPI), and the Respect for Partner Scale (RPS) both revised for principals and teachers. Results were analyzed using MANOVA, ANOVA, and t-tests to determine the extent of relationships between variables within and between groups. Results of the study are limited to the district where the data was obtained. Results indicate there is a relationship between the attitudes of principals toward teachers as learners and what teachers as learners believe the attitudes of their principals are toward them in school-based staff development. This relationship does not contribute to creating the conditions conducive for learning in school-based staff development. A gap in the relationship exists in the areas of teacher empathy with learners, teacher trust of learners, accommodating learner uniqueness, and teacher insensitivity toward learners. This gap is defined through a comparison of responses which indicate a contradiction between what principals state they do and what teachers report principals do to create the conditions conducive for learning in school-based staff development. Principals and teachers in this district would benefit by a better understanding and implementation of andragogy which is generally not a part of coursework for principal or Stricker, Arnold, 2006, UMSL, p. iv teacher certification. Recommendations include ongoing discussion sessions be held for principals on how to support the growth and development of teachers. Sessions should: (a) discuss the role of experience and motivation in adult learning; (b) include how to help teachers gain an understanding of and implement self-directed learning, so teachers can become actively involved in and take responsibility for their own learning; and, (c) help principals learn that questions of how, what, when, and why teachers learn, also define teachers as individuals as well. Stricker, Arnold, 2006, UMSL, p. v
The Relationship between Ventricular Repolarization Duration and RR Interval in Normal Subjects and Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Objectives: When either ventricular myocardium becomes ischemic or autonomic nervous system activity changes with age, the relationship between ventricular repolarization duration and RR interval will change as well. We studied the relationship between ventricular repolarization duration and RR interval among normal subjects in different age groups and between patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and age-matched healthy subjects. Methods: Ventricular repolarization duration variability (RDV) spectra were separated into RR-dependent and RR-independent components. We compared spectral measures among normal subjects in different age groups and between patients with MI and age-matched healthy subjects. Results: The RR-dependent component of RDV spectra, which is correlated with autonomic nervous system activity, significantly decreased with age for healthy subjects. The RR-independent component significantly increased in MI patients compared to age-matched healthy subjects. Conclusions: We demonstrated the increase in RDV upon decreasing age and in the presence of MI. Our results support the idea that the RR-dependent part corresponds to the physiology-related part of the RDV spectra and the RR-independent part corresponds to the pathology-related part of the RDV spectra. Our study suggests that these spectral measures are likely to be helpful in the evaluation of a patient with MI and merit further investigation.
Finite-time consensus for leader-following second-order multi-agent system

The finite-time consensus problems of second-order multi-agent system under fixed and switching network topologies are studied in this article. Based on the graph theory, LaSalle's invariance principle and the homogeneity with dilation, the finite-time consensus protocol of each agent using local information is designed. The leader-following finite-time consensus is analysed in detail. Moreover, some examples and simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results.
Onset and establishment of diazotrophs and other bacterial associates in the early life history stages of the coral Acropora millepora

Early establishment of coral–microbial symbioses is fundamental to the fitness of corals, but comparatively little is known about the onset and succession of bacterial communities in their early life history stages. In this study, bacterial associates of the coral Acropora millepora were characterized throughout the first year of life, from larvae and 1‐week‐old juveniles reared in laboratory conditions in the absence of the dinoflagellate endosymbiont Symbiodinium to field‐outplanted juveniles with established Symbiodinium symbioses, and sampled at 2 weeks and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Using an amplicon pyrosequencing approach, the diversity of both nitrogen‐fixing bacteria and of bacterial communities overall was assessed through analysis of nifH and 16S rRNA genes, respectively. The consistent presence of sequences affiliated with diazotrophs of the order Rhizobiales (23–58% of retrieved nifH sequences; 2–12% of 16S rRNA sequences), across all samples from larvae to 12‐month‐old coral juveniles, highlights the likely functional importance of this nitrogen‐fixing order to the coral holobiont. Dominance of Roseobacter‐affiliated sequences (>55% of retrieved 16S rRNA sequences) in larvae and 1‐week‐old juveniles, and the consistent presence of sequences related to Oceanospirillales and Altermonadales throughout all early life history stages, signifies their potential importance as coral associates. Increased diversity of bacterial communities once juveniles were transferred to the field, particularly of Cyanobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria, demonstrates horizontal (environmental) uptake of coral‐associated bacterial communities. Although overall bacterial communities were dynamic, bacteria with likely important functional roles remain stable throughout early life stages of Acropora millepora.
An Investigation of Stock Price Declines Following Corporate Financing Events: Further Evidence

Prior research documents a large downward drift in stock prices following issuances of debt and equity by US firms. We conduct tests based on both stock price and trading volume to provide evidence on the reasons for this apparent market anomaly. We document evidence of earnings management through accruals prior to external financing and lower operating performance afterward that is associated with the amount of capital raised. The earnings management that precedes external financing and the amount of capital raised are associated with both the post-financing decline in stock price and trading volume around earnings announcements that follow for a period of three years. This evidence is consistent with the proposition that firms raise external capital prior to predictable declines in their operating performance and they release upward biased earnings before these events to manage investor expectations. The failure of many investors to incorporate this information into their trading decisions in a timely manner consistent with limited attention and over-confidence appears to drive stock mispricing. Our evidence does not support the conjecture that the financing anomaly is primarily a statistical artifact or that it is a manifestation of the accrual anomaly.
Balance control for an underactuated leg exoskeleton based on capture point concept and human balance strategies

This paper presents a balance control for a powered lower limbs exoskeleton based on the instantaneous capture point concept and human balance strategies. Our goal is to implement it on the exoskeleton EMY-Balance (CEA-LIST). The control is inspired from biomechanic studies and aims at assisting a healthy person while preserving his comfort and his safety to the maximum. We first present briefly how the machine can balance itself according to external perturbations which can come from the user, and how it can imitate human balance strategies. Then, we present how we compute joint torques for the specific actuation of EMY-Balance. We suppose in this study, that the user and the exoskleton share the same control : (1) the proposed control assists stand leg(s) in order to facilitate the balance recovery, (2) the user is supposed to compensate efforts to overcome actuation issues.
Identification of the dynamic equivalent of a power system

This paper presents the identification of the dynamic equivalent of a power system from on-line measurements by using knowledge of coherent generators to determine the model structure. The knowledge of coherent generators is a crucial part of power system model reduction that could indicate how many equivalent generators should there be and how they are interconnected. By using the interpretation of coherency from the graph model of a power system, the coherent generators can be identified without the necessity of dynamic parameters. Test results of a small five bus system are presented and the feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated. It is shown that the obtained dynamic equivalent is more reliable when the model structure is used.
Influence of Flexibility and Variability of Working Hours on Health and Well‐Being

Flexible working hours can have several meanings and can be arranged in a number of ways to suit the worker and/or employer. Two aspects of “flexible” arrangement of working hours were considered: one more subjected to company control and decision (variability) and one more connected to individual discretion and autonomy (flexibility). The aim of the study was to analyze these two dimensions in relation to health and well‐being, taking into consideration the interaction with some relevant background variables related to demographics plus working and social conditions. The dataset of the Third European Survey on working conditions, conducted in 2000 and involving 21,505 workers, was used. Nineteen health disorders and four psycho‐social conditions were tested by means of multiple logistic regression analysis, in which mutually adjusted odds ratios were calculated for age, gender, marital status, number of children, occupation, mode of employment, shift work, night work, time pressure, mental and physical workload, job satisfaction, and participation in work organization. The flexibility and variability of working hours appeared inversely related to health and psycho‐social well‐being: the most favorable effects were associated with higher flexibility and lower variability. The analysis of the interactions with the twelve intervening variables showed that physical work, age, and flexibility are the three most important factors affecting health and well‐being. Flexibility resulted as the most important factor to influence work satisfaction; the second to affect family and social commitment and the ability to do the same job when 60 years old, as well as trauma, overall fatigue, irritability, and headache; and the third to influence heart disease, stomachache, anxiety, injury, and the feeling that health being at risk because of work. Variability was the third most important factor influencing family and social commitments. Moreover, shift and night work confirmed to have a significant influence on sleep, digestive and cardiovascular troubles, as well and health and safety at work. Time pressure also showed a relevant influence, both on individual stress and social life. Therefore, suitable arrangements of flexible working time, aimed at supporting workers' coping strategies, appear to have a clear beneficial effect on worker health and well‐being, with positive consequences also at the company and social level, as evidenced by the higher “feeling to be able to work until 60 years of age”.
Developing cosmopolitanism: Realizing the power of intercultural media and international experiences in a globalized world

ii Dedication . iii Acknowledgements . iv Vita . v List of Tables . viii List of Figures . ix Chapter 1 Introduction . 1 Previous Theoretical Approaches to Foreign Entertainment Media Use and Effects . 1 New Conceptual and Theoretical Approaches to Foreign Media Use and Effects . 9 The Theoretical Relationships and Predictive Model of Cosmopolitanism . 26 Soft Power’s Global Influence . 30 Chapter 2 – Developing Cosmopolitan Measures (Study 1) . 33 Measuring Cosmopolitanism . 33 Assessing Cosmopolitanism . 41 Chapter 3 – Intercultural Experiences and Cosmopolitanism (Study 2) . 49 Theoretical Implications . 49 Introduction . 49 Research Questions and Hypotheses . 53 Method . 55 Results and Findings . 57 vii Discussion . 66 Chapter 4 – Conclusion and Discussion . 70 Conclusions . 70 Implications.72 Limitations and Future Research . 73 References . 78
A comparison of computerised strain gauge plethysmography with D‐dimer testing in screening for deep‐vein thrombosis

There has been a significant increase in the amount of diagnostic testing performed to confirm or refute a diagnosis of deep‐vein thrombosis (DVT), often in low‐risk patients. d‐dimer testing and computer‐assisted strain gauge plethysmography (SGP) are rapid, inexpensive methods of excluding DVT and, in combination with a clinical probability score for DVT, both have been used to accurately exclude DVT. d‐dimer testing, SGP and a combination of both in excluding DVT were compared in 243 ambulant outpatients who followed a prespecified investigation protocol. The negative‐predictive value of d‐dimer testing alone was 100%, 93·9% (95% CI 93·6–94·1) and 80% (95% CI 73·7–86·3) in patients with a low, moderate and high pretest probability (PTP) score for DVT respectively. The corresponding results for SGP were 95·6% (95% CI 95·5–95·7), 86·1% (95% CI 85·9–86·4) and 77·8% (95% CI 75·9–79·7) in patients with a low, moderate and high PTP score for DVT respectively. d‐dimer testing provided a rapid, cost‐effective method for excluding DVT in low‐risk ambulant patients, which was superior to SGP. Combined use of the modalities did not improve any aspect of clinical decision making.