Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methodology for the subjective assessment of the quality of television pictures

This Recommendation provides methodologies for the assessment of picture quality including general methods of test, the grading scales and the viewing conditions. It recommends the double-stimulus impairment scale (DSIS) method and the double-stimulus continuous quality-scale (DSCQS) method as well as alternative assessment methods such as single-stimulus (SS) methods, stimulus-comparison methods, single stimulus continuous quality evaluation (SSCQE) and simultaneous double stimulus for continuous evaluation (SDSCE) method.
FTLE Computation Beyond First-Order Approximation

We present a framework for different approaches to ﬁnite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) computation for 2D vector ﬁelds, based on the advection of seeding circles. On the one hand it uniﬁes the popular ﬂow map approach with techniques based on the evaluation of distinguished trajectories, such as renormalization. On the other hand it allows for the exploration of their order of approximation (ﬁrst-order approximation representing the ﬂow map gradient). Using this framework, we derive a measure for nonlinearity of the ﬂow map, that brings us to the deﬁnition of a new FTLE approach. We also show how the nonlinearity measure can be used as a criterion for ﬂow map reﬁnement for more accurate FTLE computation, and we demonstrate that ridge extraction in supersampled FTLE leads to superior ridge quality.
Role of AmpR in the High Expression of the Plasmid-Encoded AmpC β-Lactamase CFE-1

CFE-1 is a unique plasmid-encoded AmpC β-lactamase with the regulator gene ampR. It imparts high resistance to most cephalosporins with constitutive high-level β-lactamase activity. ABSTRACT CFE-1 is a unique plasmid-encoded AmpC β-lactamase with the regulator gene ampR. It imparts high resistance to most cephalosporins with constitutive high-level β-lactamase activity. Here, the β-lactamase activities and expression levels of ampC with or without ampR were investigated. Results suggested that the resistance of CFE-1 to cephalosporins is caused by a substitution in AmpR, in which the Asp at position 135 is modified to Ala to allow the constitutive high-level expression (derepression) of ampC.
Incidence and Risk of Sorafenib‐Induced Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Hypertension is one of the major side effects of sorafenib, and reported incidences vary substantially among clinical trials. A systematic review was conducted using Medline, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for all longitudinal studies to investigate the incidence and risk of hypertension events in cancer patients treated with sorafenib. A total of 14 randomized controlled trials and 39 prospective single‐arm trials involving 13,555 patients were selected for the meta‐analysis. The relative risk of all‐grade and high‐grade hypertension associated with sorafenib were 3.07 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05–4.60; P<.01) and 3.31 (95% CI, 2.21–4.95; P<.01), respectively. The overall incidence of sorafenib‐induced all‐grade and high‐grade hypertension were 19.1% (95% CI, 15.8%–22.4%) and 4.3% (95% CI, 3.0%–5.5%), respectively. A significantly higher incidence of hypertension was noted in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) compared with those with non‐RCC malignancies (all‐grade: 24.9% [95% CI, 19.7%–30.1%] vs 15.7% [95% CI, 12.1%–19.3%]; P<.05; high‐grade:8.6% [95% CI, 6.0%–11.2%] vs 1.8% [95% CI, 0.9%–2.6%]; P<.05). The trials with median progression‐free survival (PFS) longer than 5.3 months (mean PFS) demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of high‐grade hypertension than trials with shorter PFS (6.3% [95% CI, 4.1%–8.5%] vs 2.6% [95% CI, 1.4%–3.8%]; P<.05). Findings of the meta‐analysis indicated a significantly high risk of sorafenib‐induced hypertension. Patients with RCC have a significantly higher incidence of hypertension and the occurrence of hypertension may be associated with improved prognosis.
A Complex Image Rejection Circuit With Sign Detection Only

In direct-conversion receivers, radio frequency (RF) signals are down-converted to low or zero intermediate frequency (IF) using complex in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) mixers with no prior image filtering. Due to I/Q path gain and phase errors, image leaks into the signal band during the down-conversion process. A generic image rejection algorithm is proposed to reject image in the baseband using a zero-forcing sign-sign adaptive feedback concept. The orthonormal property of complex I/Q channels is exploited to update their gain and phase errors by detecting only four signs, and image is corrected with four multiplications and two additions. The proposed image rejection algorithm can be implemented in a digital, analog, or hybrid form. A complex baseband sample and hold (S/H) with a digital error detector, which is a hybrid example, achieves an image rejection of 65 dB while sampling at 40 MS/s. The prototype chip fabricated in 0.18-mum CMOS occupies 800times450 mum2, and consumes 23 mW at 1.8 V
Role of Socioeconomic Status Measures in Long-term Mortality Risk Prediction After Myocardial Infarction

BackgroundThe relationship of risk factors to outcomes has traditionally been assessed by measures of association such as odds ratio or hazard ratio and their statistical significance from an adjusted model. However, a strong, highly significant association does not guarantee a gain in stratification capacity. Using recently developed model performance indices, we evaluated the incremental discriminatory power of individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) measures after myocardial infarction (MI). MethodsConsecutive patients aged ⩽65 years (N=1178) discharged from 8 hospitals in central Israel after incident MI in 1992 to 1993 were followed-up through 2005. A basic model (demographic variables, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and disease severity indicators) was compared with an extended model including SES measures (education, income, employment, living with a steady partner, and neighborhood SES) in terms of Harrell c statistic, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and net reclassification improvement (NRI). ResultsDuring the 13-year follow-up, 326 (28%) patients died. Cox proportional hazards models showed that all SES measures were significantly and independently associated with mortality. Furthermore, compared with the basic model, the extended model yielded substantial gains (all P<0.001) in c statistic (0.723 to 0.757), NRI (15.2%), IDI (5.9%), and relative IDI (32%). Improvement was observed both for sensitivity (classification of events) and specificity (classification of nonevents). ConclusionsThis study illustrates the additional insights that can be gained from considering the IDI and NRI measures of model performance and suggests that, among community patients with incident MI, incorporating SES measures into a clinical-based model substantially improves long-term mortality risk prediction.
The N-Terminal DH-PH Domain of Trio Induces Cell Spreading and Migration by Regulating Lamellipodia Dynamics in a Rac1-Dependent Fashion

The guanine-nucleotide exchange factor Trio encodes two DH-PH domains that catalyze nucleotide exchange on Rac1, RhoG and RhoA. The N-terminal DH-PH domain is known to activate Rac1 and RhoG, whereas the C-terminal DH-PH domain can activate RhoA. The current study shows that the N-terminal DH-PH domain, upon expression in HeLa cells, activates Rac1 and RhoG independently from each other. In addition, we show that the flanking SH3 domain binds to the proline-rich region of the C-terminus of Rac1, but not of RhoG. However, this SH3 domain is not required for Rac1 or RhoG GDP-GTP exchange. Rescue experiments in Trio-shRNA-expressing cells showed that the N-terminal DH-PH domain of Trio, but not the C-terminal DH-PH domain, restored fibronectin-mediated cell spreading and migration defects that are observed in Trio-silenced cells. Kymograph analysis revealed that the N-terminal DH-PH domain, independent of its SH3 domain, controls the dynamics of lamellipodia. Using siRNA against Rac1 or RhoG, we found that Trio-D1-induced lamellipodia formation required Rac1 but not RhoG expression. Together, we conclude that the GEF Trio is responsible for lamellipodia formation through its N-terminal DH-PH domain in a Rac1-dependent manner during fibronectin-mediated spreading and migration.
Seeing Voices : How Cortical Areas Supporting Speech Production Mediate Audiovisual Speech Perception

Observing a speaker’s mouth profoundly influences speech perception. For example, listeners perceive an ‘‘illusory’’ ‘‘ta’’ when the video of a face producing /ka/ is dubbed onto an audio /pa/. Here, we show how cortical areas supporting speech production mediate this illusory percept and audiovisual (AV) speech perception more generally. Specifically, cortical activity during AV speech perception occurs in many of the same areas that are active during speech production. We find that different perceptions of the same syllable and the perception of different syllables are associated with different distributions of activity in frontal motor areas involved in speech production. Activity patterns in these frontal motor areas resulting from the illusory ‘‘ta’’ percept are more similar to the activity patterns evoked by AV/ta/ than they are to patterns evoked by AV/pa/ or AV/ka/. In contrast to the activity in frontal motor areas, stimulus-evoked activity for the illusory ‘‘ta’’ in auditory and somatosensory areas and visual areas initially resembles activity evoked by AV/pa/ and AV/ka/, respectively. Ultimately, though, activity in these regions comes to resemble activity evoked by AV/ta/. Together, these results suggest that AV speech elicits in the listener a motor plan for the production of the phoneme that the speaker might have been attempting to produce, and that feedback in the form of efference copy from the motor system ultimately influences the phonetic interpretation.
Nonintrusive, Self-Organizing, and Probabilistic Classification and Identification of Plugged-In Electric Loads

Electricity consumption for plugged-in electric loads (PELs) accounts for more use than any other single end-use service in residential and commercial buildings. PELs possess potentials to be efficiently managed for many purposes. However, few existing load identification methods are designed for PELs to handle challenges such as the diversity within each type of PELs and similarity between different types of PELs with similar front-end power supply units. Existing methods provide only absolute decisions which are not reliable when handling these challenges. This paper presents a simple yet efficient and practical hybrid supervised self-organizing map (SSOM)/Bayesian identifier for PELs. The proposed identifier can classify PELs into clusters by inherent similarities due to similar front-end power supply topologies, extract and utilize statistical information, and provide the probability of the unknown load belonging to a specific type of load. Tests based on real-world data validate that the proposed methods are accurate, robust, and applicable.
LIMBS: Open Source, Open Standards, and Open Content To Foster Learning Resource Exchanges

LIMBS is an open source brokerage system developed in the framework of the CALIBRATE project. LIMBS relies on open standards and open contents to promote exchanges of learning resources within a federation of e-learning systems. Contrary to the CELEBRATE brokerage system, from which it derives, LIMBS's role is limited to carrying and routing messages exchanged by the federation members rather than to enforcing semantic interoperability. With LIMBS, semantic interoperability becomes the responsibility of the federation members that rely on "clients" to communicate with the brokerage system and to support the negotiation of common query languages and metadata formats. LIMBS itself adopts a service-oriented architecture so that each service (e.g., resource discovery, digital rights management) can be used separately and combined with any (group) of the others
An adaptive differential relay for CT saturation based on wavelet Transform

Differential protection relays may false tripping for external faults due to current transformer saturation (CT). This paper presents an adaptive technique for transformer differential protection against saturation of current transformers, based on differential currents. A Wavelet Index (WI) by wavelet Transform has been devised using extracted feature from differential currents due to saturation currents. In this technique, with beginning of saturation of current transformers, the restrain currents in area zone of the differential relay will increase. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by using various simulated internal fault on a power transformer, saturation current cases and different magnetizing inrush currents that has been modeled using Electromagnetic Transients Program software. Results of evaluation study show that, proposed wavelet based differential protection scheme can stable in CT saturation events. The obtained results demonstrate precise operation of the proposed algorithm in different conditions.
Optimal Trajectory Generation for Petri nets

Recently, the increasing complexity of IT systems requires the early verification and validation of the system design in order to avoid the costly redesign. Furthermore, the efficiency of system operation can be improved by solving system optimization problems (like resource allocation and scheduling problems). Such combined optimization and validation, verification problems can be typically expressed as reachability problems with quantitative or qualitative measurements. The current paper proposes a solution to compute the optimal trajectories for Petri net-based reachability problems with cost parameters. This is an improved variant of the basic integrated verification and optimization method introduced in [11] combining the efficiency of Process Network Synthesis optimization algorithms with the modeling power of Petri nets.
Fundamental concepts in electrophysiology in cases and reviews.

Assimilating the increasing body of knowledge required for the treatment of patients with cardiac arrhythmias is a substantial task. The trainee is bombarded with chapters and reviews that are important for providing the frame work from which to develop a detailed and nuanced knowledge acquired from clinical experience and ongoing education. Images and Case Reports provide succinct observations of not only a novel or unusual finding, but often of the fundamentals that must be appreciated to place novel findings in context. The Teaching Points series in Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology provides a more in-depth synthesis of case-based learning building on common and uncommon clinical findings. The purpose of this Case-based Curriculum in Clinical Electrophysiology is to provide the clinician and trainee with an easily accessible body of current reviews, cases and Teaching Points that cover a broad range of the field. Links to the individual articles are provided to facilitate using this article as a spring board for review. > Emergence of complex behavior: An interactive model of cardiac excitation provides a powerful tool for understanding electric propagation. Spector PS, et al.1 To facilitate an understanding of the relations between electrophysiologic properties and geometry that govern conduction, block and reentry, Spector and colleagues have developed an interactive model that allows the student to study the effects of varying parameters on conduction, block, reentry and even entrainment (http://circep.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/CIRCEP.110.961524/DC1). 1 > Arrhythmogenic implications of fibroblast-myocyte interactions. Rohr S.2 Myocardial fibrosis has major roles in creating the substrate for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and is reviewed by Rohr.2 > Teaching points with 3-dimensional mapping of cardiac arrhythmias: Taking points: Activation mapping. Del Carpio Munoz F et al.3 > > Teaching points with 3-dimensional mapping of cardiac arrhythmias: Teaching point 3: When early is not early. Del Carpio Munoz F, et al.4 > > Teaching …
Silencing Mist1 Gene Expression Is Essential for Recovery from Acute Pancreatitis

Acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas are tasked with synthesizing, packaging and secreting vast quantities of pro-digestive enzymes to maintain proper metabolic homeostasis for the organism. Because the synthesis of high levels of hydrolases is potentially dangerous, the pancreas is prone to acute pancreatitis (AP), a disease that targets acinar cells, leading to acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM), inflammation and fibrosis—events that can transition into the earliest stages of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Despite a wealth of information concerning the broad phenotype associated with pancreatitis, little is understood regarding specific transcriptional regulatory networks that are susceptible to AP and the role these networks play in acinar cell and exocrine pancreas responses. In this study, we examined the importance of the acinar-specific maturation transcription factor MIST1 to AP damage and organ recovery. Analysis of wild-type and Mist1 conditional null mice revealed that Mist1 gene transcription and protein accumulation were dramatically reduced as acinar cells underwent ADM alterations during AP episodes. To test if loss of MIST1 function was primarily responsible for the damaged status of the organ, mice harboring a Cre-inducible Mist1 transgene (iMist1) were utilized to determine if sustained MIST1 activity could alleviate AP damage responses. Unexpectedly, constitutive iMist1 expression during AP led to a dramatic increase in organ damage followed by acinar cell death. We conclude that the transient silencing of Mist1 expression is critical for acinar cells to survive an AP episode, providing cells an opportunity to suppress their secretory function and regenerate damaged cells. The importance of MIST1 to these events suggests that modulating key pancreas transcription networks could ease clinical symptoms in patients diagnosed with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Patterns of colonization, evolution and gene flow in species of the genus Patella in the Macaronesian Islands

The study of phylogeographical patterns may contribute to a better understanding of factors affecting the dispersal of organisms in ecological and historical times. For intertidal organisms, islands are particularly suitable models allowing the test of predictions related to the efficacy of pelagic larvae dispersal. Here, we study the phylogeographical patterns and gene flow within three groups of species of the genus Patella present in the Macaronesian Islands that have been previously shown to be monophyletic. The genetic variability of around 600 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I was studied by single strand conformation polymorphism and/or sequencing for seven species of limpets. A total of 420 samples were analysed from the Macaronesian archipelagos, North Africa, and Atlantic and Mediterranean shores of the Iberian Peninsula. No clear geographical pattern or temporal congruence was found between the three groups of species, pointing to independent histories and colonization events. However, for the three groups, the split between the Macaronesian and the mainland forms most probably occurred before 3.9 million years ago, predating the establishment of the current circulation patterns. The presence of pelagic larvae in these species is shown to be insufficient to ensure gene flow between continental and Macaronesian populations and between the Macaronesian archipelagos. In the endangered Azorean populations of Patella candei, there is restricted gene flow to Flores and Graciosa.
Smart home gateway for smart grid

This paper presents a smart home computing platform architecture that extends smart home network to be compatible for smart grid integration. The proposed hardware architecture along with a tailored software algorithm empowers utility companies and homeowners to communicate bi-directionally with home appliances via a public mobile network to monitor and manage power consumption of home appliances. The platform also enables homeowners to operate, monitor and control their home appliances locally via a control panel and remotely via their mobile phones.
Comparative Exploration of the Structure–Activity Space of Cloned α-Like Octopamine Receptors from a Marine and a Terrestrial Arthropod

The α-like octopamine receptors (OctR) are believed to be the evolutionary precursor to the vertebrate α2-adrenergic receptors (α2-ARs) based upon sequence similarity and the ability to interact with norepinephrine and a number of compounds that bind with high affinity to α2-ARs. Barnacles and fruit flies are two prominent model marine and terrestrial representatives of the Arthropoda phylum, and although α-like OctRs have been cloned from Balanus improvisus (BiOctR) and Drosophila melanogaster (DmOctR), little is known about the structure–activity space for these important species. A diverse panel of 22 probes spanning different structural classes were employed to interrogate the structure–activity of the BiOctR and DmOctR. While BiOctR and DmOctR exhibited similar functional profiles for mammalian biogenic amine G protein–coupled receptor agonists and antagonists, some ligands had dramatically different mechanisms of action. For instance, significant differences in the efficacy for some agonists were observed, including that vertebrate biogenic amines structurally related to octopamine acted as superagonists at the DmOctR but partial agonists at the BiOctR, and the two species diverged in their sensitivities to the α2-AR antagonist [3H]rauwolscine. Furthermore, sodium enhanced [3H]rauwolscine’s interactions with the BiOctR, but not at a vertebrate α2-AR. Molecular mechanistic studies indicate that rauwolscine interacts with the BiOctR, DmOctR, and α2C-adrenergic receptor at an allosteric site. In addition, compounds that acted as agonists at a cloned α-like BiOctR also induced a hyperactivity response in Balanus cyprids mediated by the α-like OctR, suggesting that the receptor may serve as a higher throughput proxy for discovering compounds with potential cyprid deterrent properties.
Action Observation Circuits in the Macaque Monkey Cortex

In both monkeys and humans, the observation of actions performed by others activates cortical motor areas. An unresolved question concerns the pathways through which motor areas receive visual information describing motor acts. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we mapped the macaque brain regions activated during the observation of grasping actions, focusing on the superior temporal sulcus region (STS) and the posterior parietal lobe. Monkeys viewed either videos with only the grasping hand visible or videos with the whole actor visible. Observation of both types of grasping videos activated elongated regions in the depths of both lower and upper banks of STS, as well as parietal areas PFG and anterior intraparietal (AIP). The correlation of fMRI data with connectional data showed that visual action information, encoded in the STS, is forwarded to ventral premotor cortex (F5) along two distinct functional routes. One route connects the upper bank of the STS with area PFG, which projects, in turn, to the premotor area F5c. The other connects the anterior part of the lower bank of the STS with premotor areas F5a/p via AIP. Whereas the first functional route emphasizes the agent and may relay visual information to the parieto-frontal mirror circuit involved in understanding the agent's intentions, the second route emphasizes the object of the action and may aid in understanding motor acts with respect to their immediate goal.