Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Participatory Design Research Methodologies: A Case Study in Dancer Sonification

Given that embodied interaction is widespread in HumanComputer Interaction, interests on the importance of body movements and emotions are gradually increasing. The present paper describes our process of designing and testing a dancer sonification system using a participatory design research methodology. The end goal of the dancer sonification project is to have dancers generate aesthetically pleasing music in realtime based on their dance gestures, instead of dancing to prerecorded music. The generated music should reflect both the kinetic activities and affective contents of the dancer’s movement. To accomplish these goals, expert dancers and musicians were recruited as domain experts in affective gesture and auditory communication. Much of the dancer sonification literature focuses exclusively on describing the final performance piece or the techniques used to process motion data into auditory control parameters. This paper focuses on the methods we used to identify, select, and test the most appropriate motion to sound mappings for a dancer sonification system.
Proposition de nouvelles approches dans l’étude des hameçons océaniens

Dans le prolongement des travaux de Jose Garanger sur les hamecons oceaniens, il est propose une methode objective de prise de mesures sur le materiel et, sur une collection provenant du site de Manihina (Ua Huka, archipel des Marquises), est developpe un moyen de reconstituer, a partir des nombreux fragments retrouves en fouille, la forme originelle et la taille des hamecons simples.
Tc-99m DTPA Renography in Patients with Collagen Disease

Purpose This study evaluated the use of Tc-99m DTPA renography in patients with collagen disease. Materials and Methods Tc-99m DTPA renal scintigraphy was performed in 28 patients with clinically diagnosed collagen disease. Twenty-two other patients who underwent renal scintigraphy and were subsequently shown to have no kidney abnormalities served as the control group. Results One quarter of the patients with collagen disease had abnormal findings of renography, despite the absence of abnormal laboratory data. Renograms were 100% sensitive for the detection of renal disease in patients with collagen disease, and their specificity was 53% when serum blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine concentration, and proteinurea were the only measures of renal impairment considered. The glomerular filtration rate was not significantly different between the groups, but the bilateral time to peak was significantly greater in the patients with collagen disease. Hydronephrosis was present in 7% of patients with collagen disease. Conclusion Renography is useful for detecting early changes of renal involvement when the clinical state of collagen disease is evaluated.
Acute vibration induces transient expression of anabolic genes in the murine intervertebral disc.

OBJECTIVE Low-amplitude whole-body vibration has been adopted for the treatment of back pain and spinal disorders. However, there is limited knowledge of the impact of vibration on the intervertebral disc (IVD). This study was undertaken to examine the effects of acute vibration on anabolic and catabolic pathways in the IVD and to characterize the dependence of these changes on time and frequency. METHODS Custom-designed platforms were developed to apply acute vibration to ex vivo and in vivo mouse models. Spinal segments (ex vivo) or mice (in vivo) were subjected to vibration (for 30 minutes at 15-90 Hz with peak acceleration at 0.3g), and IVDs were examined at specific time points after vibration. Gene expression was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein levels were examined by quantitative mass spectrometry and immunofluorescence. RESULTS In the ex vivo model, acute vibration at 15 Hz induced expression of anabolic genes (aggrecan, biglycan, decorin, type I collagen, and Sox9) and suppressed expression of Mmp13, with the most pronounced changes detected 6 hours following vibration. These beneficial effects were frequency dependent and were no longer evident between 45 and 90 Hz. In vivo, the effects on anabolic gene expression were even more robust and were accompanied by decreased expression of Adamts4, Adamts5, and Mmp3. Moreover, significant increases in the protein levels of aggrecan, biglycan, decorin, and type I collagen were detected in vivo. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate dramatic anabolic effects of acute vibration on IVD tissue, responses that are dependent on frequency. The similarity of the in vivo and ex vivo responses indicates that at least some effects of vibration are tissue autonomous.
Board-level solder joint reliability analysis of thermally enhanced BGAs and LGAs

Thermally enhanced ball grid arrays (BGAs) are designed to have reduced thermal resistance through features such as heat slug, heat spreader, and thermal solder joints. This paper studies the design comparison of five types of thermally enhanced BGAs, i.e., conduction cooled BGA (C/sup 2/BGA), metal-core BGA, exposed-die land grid array (LGA), slug LGA, and spreader LGA. The solder joint reliability performance of thermally enhanced BGAs is benchmarked with conventional thin-profile fine-pitch ball grid array (TFBGA). Both global and local three-dimensional finite-element analysis (FEA) models are established to predict the fatigue life of solder joints during thermal cycle testing. Detailed pad design with realistic geometry of solder balls and nonlinear material properties are considered in the model. The fatigue model is based on a modified Darveaux's approach with nonlinear viscoplastic analysis of solder joints. For the test vehicles studied, the critical solder joints are located near the package corner. Design variations investigated include the effects of key package dimensions and material properties. Design variations are mainly reported using C/sup 2/BGA package as the trend for the other four thermally enhanced BGAs was similar. The choice of mold compound (MC) material is critical, and a material with higher coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE/sub 1/) and lower modulus is preferred. Die size, die attach, and slug-attach material have little effect on solder joint reliability. It is observed that there is good correlation of fatigue life between modeling prediction and thermal cycle testing for C/sup 2/BGA. Reliability of C/sup 2/BGA thermal solder joints is proven to be excellent, and heat can be effectively conducted away from the die to the PCB. This is crucial to the design of C/sup 2/BGA. In addition, solder joint fatigue life is found to be related to package warpage induced during thermal cycling test. A design with less package warpage usually has a longer fatigue life.
A note on calculation of asymptotic energy for Ginzburg-Landau functional with epsilon-dependent 1-Lipschitz penalizing term in one dimension

We study asymptotic behavior of the Ginzburg-Landau functional I "" (v) = Z " 2 v 002 (s) + W (v 0 (s)) + a(s)(v(s) + g"(s)) 2 ds as " ! 0, where (g") is a given sequence of 1-Lipschitz functions. In cases where the sequence (g") possesses some additional properties we calculate (rescaled) minimal macroscopic energy associated to I " g" as " ! 0. Thus we obtain partial generalization of our previous results.
Typologie physico-chimique et métallique des eaux du fleuve Sénégal au niveau de la ville de Rosso (Mauritanie)

L’etude concerne une analyse de la typologie physico-chimiques et metalliques des eaux du fleuve Senegal : Cas du delta Mauritanien localise dans la ville de Rosso. L’evaluation de 19 variables est effectuee par dosage volumetrique et spectroscopique (spectroscopie d'absorption atomique Flamme et Four, ICP) selon le Rodier au cours de la periode d’etude dans les deux saisons de l'annee 2006 : Saison froide ''Septembre'' et saison seche ''Mars''. Les resultats montrent que : - Parmi 19 variables physicochimiques et metalliques evalues seules 14 determinent la typologie physicochimique du milieu etudie. - Deux groupements de relevees sont differencies. Le premier rassemble des releves tous effectues en ete et caracterises par des concertations eleves en Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , Zn 2+ et faibles en NO 3- et K + . Le second groupement est forme par des releves hivernaux presentant des caracteristiques physicochimiques opposees a celles des releves du premier groupement. L’effet du facteur « saison » est donc bien degage. Pour les teneurs en Al 3+ et le Sr 2+ le facteur saison n’intervient pas. En outre, l’activite domestique et les rejets des eaux usees favorisent la pollution organique de certaines parties de la zone prospectee alors que les rejets des eaux usees industrielles de la sucrerie senegalaise C.S. S. polluent en Al 2+ et Sr 2+ d’autres stations. Mais, d’une maniere generale les teneurs des elements chimiques evalues sont dans les nomes de l’eau d’irrigation. Mots-cles : eau potable, eau usee, pollution, concentration metallique, parametres physico-chimiques, fleuve Senegal, Mauritanie
Physical inactivity in the Baltic countries.

BACKGROUND Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for heart disease and obesity, two major health problems in the Baltic Republics. This study examined patterns of physical activity level in these countries, and correlates of leisure-time sedentary behavior. METHODS Data from three national surveys of adults conducted in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 1997 were used. Respondents who provided information on their activity level were included in this study (Estonia: n = 2,018; Latvia: n = 2,303; Lithuania: n = 2,140). RESULTS One in three Estonians and one in five Latvians and Lithuanians had a low physical activity level at work. Half the respondents (Lithuania: 60%, Latvia: 52%, Estonia: 43%) participated only in sedentary activities during their leisure time. Leisure-time sedentarity was inversely related to education level in men and women and with income in men. It was also associated with smoking in men and with inadequate vegetable intake in men and women. CONCLUSIONS Sedentary behavior during leisure time should be a public health issue in the Baltic Republics. Health promotion strategies aiming at increasing leisure-time physical activity level will need to target the general population, but particularly individuals from lower socioeconomic strata.
Isolating the magnetic signature of internal waves

Internal waves in the ocean environment produce weak magnetic fields through induction as seawater is conductive. The induced field can be detected in measurements of the magnetic field using a sensitive magnetometer. Isolating the magnetic signature of these ubiquitous phenomena from geomagnetic and noise sources requires careful analysis. The experiment uses two fixed bottom mounted magnetometers, one on shore and the other underwater, and an underwater bottom mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). Raw signals are adjusted for any data corruption and anthropomorphic interference, such as large spike removal through Anderson functions. Wavelet decomposition is used to automatically detect spikes in the magnetic data and allows for their replacement through interpolation schemes. Then filtering techniques, including frequency-domain cancellation (FDC), are used to show the signature of the internal wave. These results are correlated with ADCP data to search for internal wave activity.
Integrity and Privacy of Large Data

There has been considerable recent interest in “cloud storage” wherein a user asks a server to store a large file. One issue is whether the user can verify that the server is actually storing the file, and typically a challenge-response protocol is employed to convince the user that the file is indeed being stored correctly. The security of these schemes is phrased in terms of an extractor which will recover the file given any “proving algorithm” that has a sufficiently high success probability. This forms the basis of proof-of-retrievability (PoR) and proof-of-data-possession (PDP) systems. The contributions of this thesis in secure cloud storage are as below. 1. We provide a general analytical framework for various known PoR schemes that yields exact reductions that precisely quantify conditions for extraction to succeed as a function of the success probability of a proving algorithm. We apply this analysis to several archetypal schemes. In addition, we provide a new methodology for the analysis of keyed PoR schemes in an unconditionally secure setting, and use it to prove the security of a modified version of a scheme due to Shacham and Waters [72] under a slightly restricted attack model, thus providing the first example of a keyed PoR scheme with unconditional security. We also show how classical statistical techniques can be used to evaluate whether the responses of the prover on the storage are accurate enough to permit successful extraction. Finally, we prove a new lower bound on the storage and communication complexity of PoR schemes. 2. We propose a new type of scheme that we term a proof-of-data-observability scheme. Our definition tries to capture the stronger requirement that the server must have an actual copy of M in its memory space while it executes the challenge-response protocol. We give some examples of schemes that satisfy this new security definition. As well, we analyze the efficiency and security of the protocols we present, and we prove some necessary conditions for the existence of these kinds of protocols. 3. We study secure storage on multiple servers. Our contribution in multiple-server PoR systems is twofold. We formalize security definitions for two possible scenarios: (i) when a threshold of servers succeed with high enough probability (worst-case) and (ii) when the average of the success probability of all the servers is above a threshold (average-case). Using coding theory, we show instances of protocols that are secure both in the average-case and the worst-case scenarios.
Oxidized Lipoprotein Uptake Through the CD36 Receptor Activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Purpose Accumulation of oxidized phospholipids/lipoproteins with age is suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD. We investigated the effect of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) on human RPE cells. Methods Primary human fetal RPE (hf-RPE) and ARPE-19 cells were treated with different doses of LDL or ox-LDL. Assessment of cell death was measured by lactate dehydrogenase release into the conditioned media. Barrier function of RPE was assayed by measuring transepithelial resistance. Lysosomal accumulation of ox-LDL was determined by immunostaining. Expression of CD36 was determined by RT-PCR; protein blot and function was examined by receptor blocking. NLRP3 inflammasome activation was assessed by RT-PCR, protein blot, caspase-1 fluorescent probe assay, and inhibitor assays. Results Treatment with ox-LDL, but not LDL, for 48 hours caused significant increase in hf-RPE and ARPE-19 (P < 0.001) cell death. Oxidized LDL treatment of hf-RPE cells resulted in a significant decrease in transepithelial resistance (P < 0.001 at 24 hours and P < 0.01 at 48 hours) relative to LDL-treated and control cells. Internalized ox-LDL was targeted to RPE lysosomes. Uptake of ox-LDL but not LDL significantly increased CD36 protein and mRNA levels by more than 2-fold. Reverse transcription PCR, protein blot, and caspase-1 fluorescent probe assay revealed that ox-LDL treatment induced NLRP3 inflammasome when compared with LDL treatment and control. Inhibition of NLRP3 activation using 10 μM isoliquiritigenin significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited ox-LDL induced cytotoxicity. Conclusions These data are consistent with the concept that ox-LDL play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD by NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation could attenuate RPE degeneration and AMD progression.
Day to Day Variation in Time Trial Cycling Performance

In an attempt to assess the reproducibility of laboratory cycling performance, eight well-trained (VO2max = 4.6 +/- 0.2 l.min-1) male cyclists completed 12 trials involving 4 successive performance rides at each of three total work outputs (approximately 1600, 200, and 14 kilojoules, respectively). These trials, designated as long, medium, and short trials (LT, MT, ST), represented exercise bouts of 105.12 +/- 0.41, 12.03 +/- 0.17 and 0.55 +/- 0.11 minutes, respectively. The trials, conducted on a computerized cycle ergometer in an isokinetic mode, were separated by a minimum of 72 hrs. All trials for each subject were completed at the same time of day. In all trials, subjects were allowed to select the pace in order to complete the ride in the shortest possible time. The mean coefficient of variation (CV) for performance time in each trial was: LT = +/- 1.01%, MT = +/- 0.95%, and ST = +/- 2.43%, respectively. The CV for performance time in ST was significantly greater than the CV in either LT or MT. In LT, performance time was significantly faster, and the mean % VO2max was significantly higher in trial 4 versus trials 1-3. There was no order effect in the MT or ST rides. The CV for mean VO2 (l.min-1), mean % VO2max, and RER during the LT rides were +/- 3.02%, +/- 3.64%, and +/- 3.53%, respectively. These data suggest that trained cyclists have the ability to reproduce endurance performance with a CV of approximately 1.0% in a time-trial protocol. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The use of a filter bank and the Wigner-Ville distribution for time-frequency representation

We present a new method for time-frequency representation, which combines a filter bank and the Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD). The filter bank decomposes a multicomponent signal into a number of single component signals before the WVD is applied. Cross-terms as well as noise are reduced significantly, whereas high time-frequency concentration is attained. Properties of the proposed time-frequency distribution (TFD) are investigated, and the requirements for the filter bank to fulfil these are given. The ability of the proposed non-Cohen's (1995) class TFD to reduce cross-terms as well as noise as well as its ability to approximately reconstruct signals are illustrated by examples. The results are compared with those from the WVD, the Choi-Williams (1989) distribution (CWD), and spectrogram.
Models for microarray gene expression data

This paper describes a general methodology for the analysis of differential gene expression based on microarray data. First, we characterize the data by a linear statistical model that accounts for relevant sources of variation in the data and then we consider estimation of the model parameters. Because microarray studies typically involve thousands of genes, we propose a two-stage method for parameter estimation. The interaction terms for genes and experimental conditions in this model capture all relevant information about differential gene expression in the microarray data. We propose a mixture distribution model for a summary statistic of differential expression that consists of null and alternative component distributions. The mixture model suggests two methods for identifying genes exhibiting differential expression. One is a frequentist method that identifies distinguished genes and the other an empirical Bayes procedure that yields estimated posterior probabilities of differential expression, conditional on observed microarray readings. An extensive case application involving juvenile cystic kidney disease in mice is used to illustrate the methodology. The application controls for variation arising from array, color channel, experimental condition (tissue type), and gene, with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) model including both main effects to normalize the expression data and all interaction terms involving genes. The gene expression profile is found to vary by tissue type as expected, but also by color channel, which was less expected. A concluding section discusses some outstanding research questions related to the analysis of microarray data.
Secrecy Rate Optimizations for a MIMO Secrecy Channel With a Cooperative Jammer

In this paper, we study different secrecy rate optimization techniques for a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) secrecy channel, where a multiantenna cooperative jammer is employed to improve secret communication in the presence of a multiantenna eavesdropper. Specifically, we consider two optimization problems, namely, power minimization and secrecy rate maximization. These problems are not jointly convex in terms of the transmit covariance matrices of the legitimate transmitter and the cooperative jammer. To circumvent these nonconvexity issues, we alternatively design the transmit covariance matrix of the legitimate transmitter and the cooperative jammer. For a given transmit covariance matrix at the cooperative jammer, we solve the power minimization and secrecy rate maximization problems based on a Taylor series expansion. Then, we propose two iterative algorithms to solve these approximated problems. In addition, we develop a robust scheme by incorporating channel uncertainties associated with the eavesdropper. By exploiting S-Procedure, we show that these robust optimization problems can be formulated into semidefinite programming. Moreover, we consider the secrecy rate maximization problem based on game theory, where the jammer introduces charges for its jamming service based on the amount of the interference caused to the eavesdropper. This secrecy rate maximization problem is formulated into a Stackelberg game where the jammer and the transmitter are the leader and the follower of the game, respectively. For the proposed game, Stackelberg equilibrium is analytically derived. Simulation results have been provided to validate the convergence and performance of the proposed algorithms. In addition, it is shown that the proposed robust scheme outperforms the nonrobust scheme in terms of the achieved secrecy rate and the worst-case secrecy rate. Finally, the Stackelberg equilibrium solution has been validated through numerical results.
Massive transfusion and surgical management of iatrogenic aortic laceration associated with cystocentesis in a dog.

CASE DESCRIPTION A 4-year-old 29-kg (63.8-lb) spayed female Husky crossbred was referred for emergency treatment because of catastrophic hemorrhagic shock following attempts at cystocentesis for investigation of suspected urinary tract infection. CLINICAL FINDINGS On arrival at the hospital, clinicopathologic assessments revealed rapidly decreasing PCV and worsening hypoproteinemia, compared with findings immediately prior to referral. The dog had severe hyperlactemia. Ultrasonography revealed the presence of free fluid in the abdomen; the fluid appeared to be blood (determined via abdominocentesis). TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Urgent surgical exploration was undertaken. Two small lacerations in the ventral aspect of the abdominal aorta just dorsal to the bladder were identified and repaired. Multiple transfusions of packed RBCs (5 units) and fresh frozen plasma (3 units) were administered, and autotransfusion of blood (1.2 L) from the abdomen was performed. The dog recovered well from surgery and anesthesia, but developed signs of severe pain and swelling of both hind limbs, which were attributed to reperfusion injury following aortic occlusion during surgery. Treatment included administration of S-adenosylmethionine (23 mg/kg [10.5 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) and analgesia; 5 days after surgery, the hind limb problems had resolved and treatments were discontinued. CLINICAL RELEVANCE In the dog of this report, aortic laceration secondary to cystocentesis was successfully treated with a combination of surgery and massive transfusion; the development of reperfusion injury was an interesting and reversible complication of surgery. The possibility of damage to intra-abdominal structures should be investigated if a dog becomes acutely ill after cystocentesis.