Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Edge Based Technique for Text Detection in Video Frames

Both graphic text and scene text detection in video images with complex background and low resolution is still a challenging and interesting problem for researchers in the field of image processing and computer vision. In this paper, we present a novel technique for detecting both graphic text and scene text in video images by finding segments containing text in an input image and then using statistical features such as vertical and horizontal bars for edges in the segments for detecting true text blocks efficiently. To identify a segment containing text, heuristic rules are formed based on combination of filters and edge analysis. Furthermore, the same rules are extended to grow the boundaries of a candidate segment in order to include complete text in the input image. The experimental results of the proposed method show that the technique performs better than existing methods in terms of a number of metrics.
Race and the Death Penalty

Abstract Scholars have learned a great deal about race and the death penalty. Yet the field has limitations: (1) prior research focuses on African Americans and Hispanics but ignores Asian Americans; (2) researchers have not explored Donald Black's (1989) plan to eliminate discrimination called the “desocialization of law. ” Black notes that jurors who do not know the race of the offender and victim cannot discriminate. Black then outlines proposals aimed at removing race information from trials, while still providing jurors with relevant legal information. We address both issues through an experiment in which mock jurors (N = 1,233 students) recommended a sentence in a capital murder trial consisting of four conditions: (1) Asian American-white; (2) white-Asian American; (3) African American-white; (4) race of offender and victim unknown. The results suggest that Asian Americans are treated the same as whites, while African Americans continue to suffer from discrimination. Here, we consider the potential role of social status in such outcomes. The results also suggest that African American offenders and unknown offenders face the same odds of a death sentence. Here, we consider two potential interpretations. On one hand, jurors in the unknown condition could have seen an African American offender and a white victim in their “mind's eye,” effectively merging the conditions. On the other hand, death sentences could be the same in the conditions for distinct reasons: Death sentences could be high in the unknown condition because of relational distance between the juror and offender, while death sentences could be high in the African American-white condition because of discrimination. We conclude by considering the theoretical and public policy implications of both the central findings.
A Martingale Framework for Detecting Changes in Data Streams by Testing Exchangeability

In a data streaming setting, data points are observed sequentially. The data generating model may change as the data are streaming. In this paper, we propose detecting this change in data streams by testing the exchangeability property of the observed data. Our martingale approach is an efficient, nonparametric, one-pass algorithm that is effective on the classification, cluster, and regression data generating models. Experimental results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the martingale methodology in detecting changes in the data generating model for time-varying data streams. Moreover, we also show that: (1) An adaptive support vector machine (SVM) utilizing the martingale methodology compares favorably against an adaptive SVM utilizing a sliding window, and (2) a multiple martingale video-shot change detector compares favorably against standard shot-change detection algorithms.
The Efficacy of Exercise in Reducing Depressive Symptoms among Cancer Survivors: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the efficacy of exercise to reduce depressive symptoms among cancer survivors. In addition, we examined the extent to which exercise dose and clinical characteristics of cancer survivors influence the relationship between exercise and reductions in depressive symptoms. Methods We conducted a systematic search identifying randomized controlled trials of exercise interventions among adult cancer survivors, examining depressive symptoms as an outcome. We calculated effect sizes for each study and performed weighted multiple regression moderator analysis. Results We identified 40 exercise interventions including 2,929 cancer survivors. Diverse groups of cancer survivors were examined in seven exercise interventions; breast cancer survivors were examined in 26; prostate cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma were examined in two; and colorectal cancer in one. Cancer survivors who completed an exercise intervention reduced depression more than controls, d + = −0.13 (95% CI: −0.26, −0.01). Increases in weekly volume of aerobic exercise reduced depressive symptoms in dose-response fashion (β = −0.24, p = 0.03), a pattern evident only in higher quality trials. Exercise reduced depressive symptoms most when exercise sessions were supervised (β = −0.26, p = 0.01) and when cancer survivors were between 47–62 yr (β = 0.27, p = 0.01). Conclusion Exercise training provides a small overall reduction in depressive symptoms among cancer survivors but one that increased in dose-response fashion with weekly volume of aerobic exercise in high quality trials. Depressive symptoms were reduced to the greatest degree among breast cancer survivors, among cancer survivors aged between 47–62 yr, or when exercise sessions were supervised.
Control of a gantry crane: A reach control approach

We investigate synthesis of piecewise affine feedback controllers to achieve an aggressive maneuver for a gantry crane operating in a cluttered environment. The methodology is based on formulating the problem as a reach control problem on a polytopic state space. The boundaries of this polytope arise from the safety constraints imposed by the environment. We show that these theoretical tools can be merged with an iterative control synthesis method to obtain an aggressive, albeit safe and robust, maneuver without the need for a predefined open-loop trajectory.
PoMMaDe: pushdown model-checking for malware detection

We present PoMMaDe, a Pushd own Model-checking based M alware D etector. In PoMMaDe, a binary program is modeled as a pushdown system (PDS) which allows to track the stack of the program, and malicious behaviors are specified in SCTPL or SLTPL, where SCTPL (resp. SLTPL) is an extension of CTL (resp. LTL) with variables, quantifiers, and predicates over the stack (needed for malware specification). The malware detection problem is reduced to SCTPL/SLTPL model-checking for PDSs. PoMMaDe allows us to detect 600 real malwares, 200 new malwares generated by two malware generators NGVCK and VCL32, and prove benign programs are benign. In particular, PoMMaDe was able to detect several malwares that could not be detected by well-known anti-viruses such as Avira, Avast, Kaspersky, McAfee, AVG, BitDefender, Eset Nod32, F-Secure, Norton, Panda, Trend Micro and Qihoo 360.
Manual de Microvinificación: Guía práctica para la elaboración de vinos

Pszczolkowski, Philippo y Consuelo Ceppi de Lecco Manual de Microvinificacion. Guia practica para la elaboracion de vinos. Santiago, Ediciones Universidad Catolica, 2011 (123 p.) ISBN: 978- 956-14-1214-9
Joint Minimization of Uplink and Downlink Whole-Body Exposure Dose in Indoor Wireless Networks

The total whole-body exposure dose in indoor wireless networks is minimized. For the first time, indoor wireless networks are designed and simulated for a minimal exposure dose, where both uplink and downlink are considered. The impact of the minimization is numerically assessed for four scenarios: two WiFi configurations with different throughputs, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) configuration for phone call traffic, and a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) configuration with a high data rate. Also, the influence of the uplink usage on the total absorbed dose is characterized. Downlink dose reductions of at least 75% are observed when adding more base stations with a lower transmit power. Total dose reductions decrease with increasing uplink usage for WiFi due to the lack of uplink power control but are maintained for LTE and UMTS. Uplink doses become dominant over downlink doses for usages of only a few seconds for WiFi. For UMTS and LTE, an almost continuous uplink usage is required to have a significant effect on the total dose, thanks to the power control mechanism.
Promoter Substitution and Deletion Analysis of Upstream Region Required for rpoS Translational Regulation

ABSTRACT The RpoS sigma factor of enteric bacteria is required for the increased expression of a number of genes that are induced during nutrient limitation and growth into stationary phase and in response to high osmolarity. RpoS is also a virulence factor for several pathogenic species, including Salmonella typhimurium. The activity of RpoS is regulated at both the level of synthesis and protein turnover. Here we investigate the posttranscriptional control of RpoS synthesis by using rpoS-lac protein and operon fusions. Substitution of the native rpoS promoters with the tac orlac UV5 promoters allowed essentially normal regulation after growth into stationary phase in rich medium or after osmotic challenge. Regulation of these fusions required the function ofhfq, encoding the RNA-binding protein host factor I (HF-I). Short deletions from the 5′ end of the rpoS transcript did not affect regulation very much; however, a larger deletion mutation that still retains 220 bp upstream of the rpoS ATG codon, including a proposed antisense element inhibitory for rpoStranslation, was no longer regulated by HF-I. Several models for regulation of rpoS expression by HF-I are discussed.
Realization of dynamic walking for the humanoid robot platform KHR-1

This paper presents three online controllers for maintaining dynamic stability of a humanoid robot and describes simplified walking patterns for easy tuning in real experiments. The legs of a humanoid robot are relatively long and serially connected with compliant force/torque sensor at the ankle. This architecture has the inherent characteristics of a lightly damped system. Most research on balance control overlook the deterministic vibration caused by structural compliance. In addition, the vibration was not positively considered to improve the characteristics of the system. Therefore, a simple inverted pendulum model with a complaint joint is proposed. The proposed model has an advantage in easy parameter identification by experiment. For this model, the damping controller that increases system damping is proposed as a balance controller. Furthermore, the performance of maintaining balance against external forces is experimentally shown. A landing orientation controller at the ankle joints is presented to manage fast and stable ground contact. A landing position controller is implemented in order to modify the prescribed trajectory of the swing foot and to reduce the landing impact during unexpected landing. The effectiveness of the proposed controllers is confirmed by walking experiments that have been applied on the KAIST humanoid robot platform KHR-1.
Blind Deconvolution and Wavelet Packet Scheme for Image Restoration Applied to Rocket Telemetry System

In rocket telemetry imaging systems, the diffraction of the optics can generate a blurred effect and the onboard electronic devices can add noise. In order to solve these problems, this paper proposes a new image restoration scheme that joins Blind Deconvolution and Wavelet Packet. This process takes advantage of Blind Deconvolution for restoring the degraded image with partial or even no information about the imaging system. It uses best basis capacity applied to Wavelet Packet aiming at adapting the image without training or assuming any statistical property of it. Based upon numerical simulation, results are obtained, and a significant improvement on the quality of the restored image is observed.
Constraining the Magnetic Effects on H I Rotation Curves and the Need for Dark Halos

The density profiles of dark halos are usually inferred from the rotation curves of disk galaxies based on the assumption that the gas is a good tracer of the gravitational potential of the galaxies. Some authors have suggested that magnetic pinching forces could alter significantly the rotation curves of spiral galaxies. In contrast to other studies that have concentrated on the vertical structure of the disk, here we focus on the problem of magnetic confinement in the radial direction to determine the magnetic effects on the H I rotation curves. It is shown that azimuthal magnetic fields hardly speed up H I disks of galaxies as a whole. In fact, based on virial constraints we show that the contribution of galactic magnetic fields to the rotation curves cannot be larger than ~10 km s-1 at the outermost point of H I detection, if the galaxies did not contain dark matter at all, and is up to 20 km s-1 in the conventional dark halo scenario. The procedure to estimate the maximum effect of magnetic fields is general and applicable to any particular galaxy disk. The inclusion of the surface terms, namely, the intergalactic (thermal, magnetic, or ram) pressure, does not change our conclusions. Other problems related to the magnetic alternative to dark halos are highlighted. The relevance of magnetic fields in the cuspy problem of dark halos is also discussed.
Speedy Model Selection (SMS) for Copula Models

We tackle the challenge of efficiently learning the structure of expressive multivariate real-valued densities of copula graphical models. We start by theoretically substantiating the conjecture that for many copula families the magnitude of Spearman's rank correlation coefficient is monotonic in the expected contribution of an edge in network, namely the negative copula entropy. We then build on this theory and suggest a novel Bayesian approach that makes use of a prior over values of Spearman's rho for learning copula-based models that involve a mix of copula families. We demonstrate the generalization effectiveness of our highly efficient approach on sizable and varied real-life datasets.
On the DWT- and WPT-OFDM versus FFT-OFDM

We demonstrate simulation approaches for wavelet based OFDM, particularly in DWT and WPT-OFDM as alternative substitutions for Fourier based OFDM. We begin by constructing the models of the inverse and forward transforms, which can be flexible for substitutions in an OFDM system. We explain in detail each model and study the BER performance. The wavelet based OFDM (DWT-OFDM and WPT-OFDM) is assumed to have orthonormal bases properties and satisfy the perfect reconstruction property. We use different wavelet families and compare with conventional FFT-OFDM system. We found that the DWT-OFDM platform is superior as compared to others as it has less error rate, especially when it uses bior5.5 or rbior3.3 wavelet family.
The scientific study of personal wisdom : from contemplative traditions to neuroscience

Preface, Michel Ferrari & Nic M. Weststrate. - Part I: Person-based Wisdom. - Chapter 1. The Need to Distinguish Personal from General Wisdom: A Short History and Empirical Evidence, Ursula M. Staudinger. - Chapter 2. Relevance, Meaning, and the Cognitive Science of Wisdom, John Vervaeke & Leo Ferraro. - Chapter 3. Personal Wisdom in the Balance, Robert J. Sternberg. - Chapter 4. The MORE Life Experience Model: A Theory of the Development of Wisdom, Judith Gluck & Susan Bluck. - Chapter 5. Neurobiological Basis of Personal Wisdom, Jeff D. Sanders & Dilip V. Jeste. - Part II: Wisdom in everyday, real-life contexts. - Chapter 6. From Persons to Positive Influences: Exploring Wisdom in Real-life Contexts, Shih-ying Yang. - Chapter 7. Stories of Wisdom to Live By: Developing Wisdom in a Narrative Mode, Michel Ferrari, Nic M. Weststrate, & Anda Petro. - Chapter 8. Religion, Spirituality, and Personal Wisdom: A Tale of Two Types, Paul Wink & Michele Dillon. - Chapter 9. Social Interpretation of Wisdom, Ricca Edmondson. - Part III: Self-transcendent wisdom. - Chapter 10. The Transpersonal in Personal Wisdom, Michael R. Levenson & Carolyn M. Aldwin. - Chapter 11. The Grinch Who Stole Wisdom, Eleanor Rosch. - Chapter 12. Wisdom of the East and West: A Relational Developmental Systems Perspective, Masami Takahashi. - Chapter 13. The Paradoxical Nature of Personal Wisdom and its Relationship to Human Development in the Cognitive, Reflective, and Affective Domains, Monika Ardelt, W. Andrew Achenbaum, & Hunhui Oh. - Part IV: The transformative potential of wisdom inquiry. - Chapter 14. Wisdom: Object of Study or Basic Aim of Inquiry? , Nicholas Maxwell. - Conclusion, Michel Ferrari & Nic M. Weststrate.
Prehypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the Women's Health Initiative

Background— Prehypertension is common and is associated with increased vascular mortality. The extent to which it increases risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and congestive heart failure is less clear. Methods and Results— We determined the prevalence of prehypertension, its association with other coronary risk factors, and the risk for incident cardiovascular disease events in 60 785 postmenopausal women during 7.7 years of follow-up using Cox regression models that included covariates as time-dependent variables. Prehypertension was present at baseline in 39.5%, 32.1%, 42.6%, 38.7%, and 40.3% of white, black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian women, respectively (P<0.0001 across ethnic groups). Age, body mass index, and prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia increased across blood pressure categories, whereas smoking decreased (all P<0.0001). Compared with normotensive women (referent), adjusted hazard ratios for women with prehypertension were 1.58 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 2.21) for cardiovascular death, 1.76 (95% CI, 1.40 to 2.22) for myocardial infarction, 1.93 (95% CI, 1.49 to 2.50) for stroke, 1.36 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.77) for hospitalized heart failure, and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.44 to 1.92) for any cardiovascular event. Hazard ratios for the composite outcome with prehypertension did not differ between ethnic groups (P=0.71 for interaction), although the numbers of events among Hispanic and Asian women were small. Conclusions— Prehypertension is common and was associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death in white and nonwhite postmenopausal women. Risk factor clustering was conspicuous, emphasizing the need for trials evaluating the efficacy of global cardiovascular risk reduction through primordial prevention.
Parental divorce in late adolescence : discontinuity, repetition and the family ghost.

PARENTAL DIVORCE IN LATE ADOLESCENCE: DISCONTINUITY, REPETITION AND THE FAMILY GHOST FEBRUARY 1994 JOAN M COPPERMAN, B.A., SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST PH . D . , UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor David Todd Interviews were conducted with twenty-one adults who were between the ages of 18 and 25 when their parents divorced. In depth interviews, which included discussion about past family life, took place an average of seven and up to eighteen years after the divorce occurred. The psychoanalytic concept of adolescence as a second individuation was used to conceptualize how the sense of self that offspring have established prior to the divorce is an important mediator of their experience. Most offspring appeared to experience parents ending their relationship as ending the family and declaring it a failure. That divorce was often interpreted as an act of parental will was seen to compromise offsprings' ability to mourn the loss of their families. Most
Towards a Knowledge Compilation Map for Heterogeneous Representation Languages

The knowledge compilation map introduced by Darwiche and Marquis takes advantage of a number of concepts (mainly queries, transformations, expressiveness, and succinctness) to compare the relative adequacy of representation languages to some AI problems. However, the framework is limited to the comparison of languages that are interpreted in a homogeneous way (formulae are interpreted as Boolean functions). This prevents one from comparing, on a formal basis, languages that are close in essence, such as OBDD, MDD, and ADD. To fill the gap, we present a generalized framework into which comparing formally heterogeneous representation languages becomes feasible. In particular, we explain how the key notions of queries and transformations, expressiveness, and succinctness can be lifted to the generalized setting.
Standalone training of context-dependent deep neural network acoustic models

Recently, context-dependent (CD) deep neural network (DNN) hidden Markov models (HMMs) have been widely used as acoustic models for speech recognition. However, the standard method to build such models requires target training labels from a system using HMMs with Gaussian mixture model output distributions (GMM-HMMs). In this paper, we introduce a method for training state-of-the-art CD-DNN-HMMs without relying on such a pre-existing system. We achieve this in two steps: build a context-independent (CI) DNN iteratively with word transcriptions, and then cluster the equivalent output distributions of the untied CD-DNN HMM states using the decision tree based state tying approach. Experiments have been performed on the Wall Street Journal corpus and the resulting system gave comparable word error rates (WER) to CD-DNNs built based on GMM-HMM alignments and state-clustering.
Evaluating ATM technology for distance education in library and information science

Following the lead of distance education studies from Oklahoma and Hawaii, the present study investigated the impact of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology in an interactive environment providing distance education in library and information science at two San Jose State University (SJSU) sites separated by four hundred miles in California. SJSU is in the southernmost city in the San Francisco Bay Area; the distance site, California State University-Fullerton (FLRTN), is in the greater Los Angeles basin. The major purpose of the study was to develop a reliable and valid evaluation instrument. Graduate students were asked to respond to Likert statements via paper-and-pencil administration. Iterative validation of scale components involved 252 responses over three semesters and yielded six scales with final alpha levels from.84 to . 89. These scales were used to evaluate the delivery of five courses in the fall of 1995 (N=112). The comparisons between SJSU and FLRTN showed no significant differences in perceptions regarding site setup, communication, or affective relations; there were significant differences between SJSU and FLRTN in perceptions of instructors, technology, and learning. Comparisons across courses found significant differences between the send vs. receive sites, the sense of community, and the perception of instructors. Analyses of modal item scores found: (1) student reaction was more positive at the originating site, regardless of course (2) students bonded with their distant colleagues, or not, in approximately equal numbers; (3) class discussions are not easy in distance mode; and (4) students believe more face-to-face contact with the instructor would be helpful. By far the most prevalent item score was four on a five-point scale, where five equals positive experiences. Students did not perceive themselves as second-class citizens in this instructional mode when compared with a traditional course arrangement