Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Algorithm and Architecture Design of High-Quality Video Upscaling Using Database-Free Texture Synthesis

Because of real-time requirements and low hardware-cost constraints, conventional TV scalers can only employ basic interpolation technique and thus introduces some artifacts that degrade the viewing quality of the output sequences. In this paper, a low-complexity super-resolution (SR) algorithm, which can provide vivid output image with rich details and sharp edges, and its associated hardware architecture, is proposed. There are two main contributions in this paper. The first is the development of the database-free texture synthesis technique. With the fractal property of nature images, it is possible to find proper high-resolution patches in a low-resolution input image itself. Therefore, the texture synthesis can be performed without database to provide proper and rich details. In addition, a faithful reconstruction constraint is used to maintain the temporal consistency. The second contribution is the hardware architecture design of the database-free texture synthesis. Partial-sum reuse technique is developed to reduce 76% of computation in the texture synthesis, and a tile-based processing technique is proposed to dramatically reduce the on-chip memory and off-chip memory bandwidth requirements. Experimental results show that the proposed SR algorithm outperforms other ones with reasonable hardware cost, where 766k in gate count and 22 kB in on-chip SRAM are required to achieve full high-definition processing ability at the working frequency of 240 MHz. The results show that the proposed algorithm and architecture are able to provide high-quality output in real-time while solving the problems of zigzag and blurred effects caused by the conventional scalers.
A trial English class with a teaching assistant robot in elementary school

Various studies propose that robots can be an effective tool for language teaching and learning. Especially they have been remarkably successful in elementary English classes [1][2][3][4]. The purpose of this study was to investigate some effects of a teaching assistant robot, Langbot, in elementary English classes in Korea. We adopted IROBIQ as Longbot for a pilot study. We designed some activities for elementary English classes using a teaching assistant robot, Langbot: introduction, look and listen, listen and say, look and say, act out, song and chant. The introduction includes the birth story of Langbot that children want to know where the robot comes from, how old it is, why it came to their classroom, etc, since Hur and Han (2009) found that the robot storytelling was working to increase children's tolerance toward the failure of recognition of a robot [2].
The Mechanism of Dielectric Loss in Paraffin Wax Solutions at High Radio Frequencies

One of the desirable properties of insulating materials is freedom from energy loss in alternating electric fields, and several theories of dielectric absorption have been developed to account for the loss which invariably occurs in practice. These theories are based on the postulation that either free ions or molecular dipoles are present in the dielectric. In each case, however, the theory leads to the same form of variation of the power loss per cycle and of the dielectric constant with frequency and temperature, and unless, therefore, the constitution of the material studied is known, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish the particular mechanism in operation. Lack of this knowledge has been responsible for many unconvincing attempts to correlate experi­mental results with dielectric theory. The composition of simple dielectric liquids can be specified precisely and varied in known manner without difficulty, and, under the stimulus of Debye’s work on polar molecules, knowledge of the behaviour of such media has advanced enormously in recent years. As yet, however, little progress has been made towards relating the properties of solid dielectrics to their chemical and physical constitution. The extent to which the Debye theory in its present form is applicable to these media remains therefore uncertain.
Constraints are the solution, not the problem

Reichle and Reingold (2013) presented the hypothesis that parafoveal preview is a requirement for the average fixation during reading in order for lexical processing to control eye movements. Taking 240 ms as the customary fixation duration in reading a single word, they arrive at their conclusion by decomposing these 240 ms into stages of a strictly serial-processing model. This subtractive accounting finds the visual system coming up short so long as lexical processing is strictly foveal, that is, so long as lexical processing addresses only the word directly in front of the fovea during a fixation. Neurophysiological estimates of latencies in retinal transmission to the brain and in visual encoding leave little more than 60 ms for lexical processing and 90 ms for programming the next saccade. Reichle and Reingold's solution to this processing bottleneck is to propose that lexical processing of the next word usually begins parafoveally, that is, during the fixation of the current word. We question the generality of the solution that Reichle and Reingold (2013) offer. Rather the observation of comparatively short fixation durations may tie in with a wider range of findings on remarkably fast response times in which cognitive, neural, and physiological events unfolding at various time scales conspire to poise the human organism for a variety of stimuli and dramatically reduce the time needed to arrive at sensible response from stimulus onset (Wallot and Van Orden, 2012). We argue that the solution to the problem can be found by investigating the contextual constraints organizing cognitive activity.
Low Power FPGA Implementations of JH and Fugue Hash Functions

Low power techniques in a FPGA implementation of the hash functions called JH and Fugue are presented in this paper. The JH hash function is under consideration for adoption as standard. Pipeline technique (with some variants) and the use of embedded RAM blocks are the techniques in order to reduce the power consumption. Power consumption reduction between 6.3% and 33 % was achieved for JH function and similar a power reduction between 1.7% and 13.3 % was achieved for Fugue by means of the proposed techniques compared with the implementation without any low power issue.
Higher order total variation super-resolution from a single trabecular bone image

Osteoporosis is characterized by a low bone mass density and deterioration of bone micro-architecture. Despite the considerable progress in Computed Tomography (CT), the investigation of 3D trabecular bone micro-architecture in-vivo remains limited due to a lack of spatial resolution compared to the trabeculae size. To improve the analysis of trabecular bone from in-vivo CT images, we investigate super-resolution methods to estimate a higher spatial resolution image from a single lower spatial resolution image. To solve this inverse problem, we considered two regularization strategies involving first or second order differential operators. The methods are tested on experimental micro-CT trabecular bone images at 20 μm which are used as reference images. The first tests suggest that both methods give similar results but total variation regularization implemented with the alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm is more efficient to recover correctly some structural parameters.
Scalable route to CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite thin films by aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition

Methyl-ammonium lead iodide is the archetypal perovskite solar cell material. Phase pure, compositionally uniform methyl-ammonium lead iodide thin films on large glass substrates were deposited using ambient pressure aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition. This opens up a route to efficient scale up of hybrid perovskite film growth towards industrial deployment.
Guessing the Grammatical Function of a Non-Root F-Structure in LFG

Lexical-Functional Grammar (Kaplan and Bresnan, 1982) f-structures are bilexical labelled dependency representations. We show that the Naive Bayes classifier is able to guess missing grammatical function labels (i.e. bilexical dependency labels) with reasonably high accuracy (82--91%). In the experiments we use f-structure parser output for English and German Europarl data, automatically "broken" by replacing grammatical function labels with a generic UNKNOWN label and asking the classifier to restore the label.
Experimental and modeling studies of the link between microstructure and effective diffusivity of cement pastes

ABSTRACT This paper presents a review of complementary experimental and modeling studies of the link between microstructure and diffusivity of cement pastes. These studies were performed in the framework of the workgroup Concrete Engineering Barrier headed by Andra. Knowledge of the link between microstructure and diffusivity is needed to run properly the coupled chemical, transport and mechanical models used to assess the long term behavior of concrete in deep repository conditions. The first part of the paper is devoted to a description of the porous texture of ordinary Portland cement pastes, in particular obtained using Transmission Electronic Microscopy. The second and third parts are respectively dedicated to the presentations of an analytical method and a 3D numerical one, both of them aimed at linking microstructure and diffusivity of cement pastes.
Application of Data Mining in Psychological Evaluation

This paper studies the realizing progress of data mining in psychological evaluation. Based on the matrix of evaluation data and the actual evaluation work, we propose a kind of generalized linear regression model with convex constraint, named as evaluation model, in which the dependent variable and regression coefficients all are unknown. We analyze the algorithm of the model with linear regression method. Then the least square estimate of parameters using the iterative projection algorithm is presented. At last, we use this least square iterative method to work out the parameters of the evaluation model. Our work could be a useful guide for the further research of data mining in psychological evaluation.
Maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption and congenital limb deficiencies.

BACKGROUND Women of childbearing age report high rates of alcohol consumption, which may result in alcohol exposure during early pregnancy. Epidemiological research on congenital limb deficiencies (LDs) and periconceptional exposure to alcohol is inconclusive. METHODS Data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) were examined for associations between LDs and patterns of maternal periconceptional (1 month before conception through the first trimester) alcohol consumption among LD case (n = 906) and unaffected control (n = 8352) pregnancies with expected delivery dates from 10/1997 through 12/2007. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated from unconditional logistic regression analysis for all LDs combined, specific LD subtypes (preaxial/terminal transverse), and LD anatomic groups (upper/lower limbs); interactions with folic acid (FA) supplementation were tested. RESULTS When compared with nondrinkers, inverse associations were found between all LDs combined, preaxial, and upper LDs and any reported periconceptional alcohol consumption (aORs ranged from 0.56-0.83), drinking without binging (aORs: 0.53-0.75), and binge drinking (≥4 drinks/occasion) (aORs: 0.64-0.94); however, none of the binge drinking aORs were statistically significant. Stratification by alcohol type showed inverse associations between all LDs combined, preaxial, transverse, and upper and lower LDs for drinking without binging of wine only (aORs: 0.39-0.67) and between all LDs combined and upper LDs for drinking without binging of combinations of alcohol (aORs: 0.63-0.87). FA did not modify observed associations. CONCLUSION Maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption did not emerge as a teratogen for selected LDs in the NBDPS. Future studies should evaluate additional rare LDs among more highly exposed populations.
Defective Interhemispheric Integration and Anomalous Language Lateralization in Children at Risk for Schizophrenia

The present study was carried out to determine whether children at risk for schizophrenia might exhibit abnormalities in test performance indicative of defective interhemispheric integration and abnormal specialization of language function. Twenty-two high-risk and 22 matched normal children were administered two independent tests of speech comprehension, delivered under monaural and binaural listening conditions, and a standard verbal dichotic listening test. On both comprehension tests the high-risk children exhibited significantly poorer binaural, relative to monaural, recall. On the verbal dichotic test the normal group exhibited a significant right ear advantage whereas for the high-risk group there was no significant difference between right and left ear recall. These results were taken to indicate abnormalities of both interhemispheric integration and language specialization in the high-risk group. Analyses indicate that these two abnormalities may be related in a specific fashion. The implications of these results are discussed within a developmental framework.
Genetic Distinctness and Variation in the Tsushima Islands Population of the Japanese Marten, Martes melampus (Carnivora: Mustelidae), Revealed by Microsatellite Analysis

A carnivoran mammal endemic to Japan, the Japanese marten (Martes melampus) is native in forested regions on Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu (main islands of Japan), and the Tsushima Islands. The Tsushima population is classified as a different subspecies (M. m. tsuensis) from populations on the main islands (M. m. melampus). To elucidate the genetic structure of the Tsushima population, we genotyped 101 individuals from the Tsushima Islands and 43 individuals from Honshu and Kyushu using 10 microsatellite loci, and performed population genetic analyses on the genotype data. Genetic diversity was lower in the Tsushima population than in three geographic populations on the main islands: heterozygosity was 0.189–0.364 in the former, compared to 0.457–0.747 in the latter. In addition, high pairwise Fst values (0.485–0.682) and Nei's standard distance (0.550–1.183) between the Tsushima and main-island populations indicated a high degree of genetic differentiation. Finally, a Bayesian clustering analysis showed that the Tsushima population is apparently differentiated from the main-island populations and comprises two genetic clusters. A factorial correspondence analysis corroborated these results. Our results suggest that restricted gene flow or inbreeding may have reduced genetic diversity in the Tsushima population, which has been geographically isolated from the main-island populations since the formation of Tsushima Strait.
Piecewise surface flattening for non-distorted texture mapping

This paper introduces new techniques for interactive piecewise flattening of parametric 3-D surfaces, leading to a non-distorted, hence realistic, texture mapping. Cuts are allowed on the mapped texture and we make a compromise between discontinuities and distortions. These techniques are based on results from differential geometry, more precisely on the notion of "geodesic curvature": isoparametric curves of the surface are mapped, in a constructive way, onto curves in the texture plane with preservation of geodesic curvature at each point. As an application, we give a concrete example which is a first step towards an efficient and robust CAD tool for shoe modeling.
Surgical anatomy of the pedunculopontine and peripeduncular nuclei

The pedunculopontine nucleus is a promising new target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinsonian patients with gait disturbance and postural instability refractory to other treatment modalities. This region of the brain is unfamiliar territory to most functional neurosurgeons and has been the subject of inaccurate descriptions and representations. This contribution reviews the anatomy of the human pedunculopontine nucleus as well as that of another brainstem nucleus that carries a vaguely similarly sounding name and with which the former has been confused—the peripeduncular nucleus. The stereotactic coordinates for both structures are reviewed, as are methods of anatomical localization in surgical practice. The precise understanding and use of anatomical terminology together with accurate postoperative lead localization are essential when reporting on the clinical effects of novel DBS targets.
Modelling and Analysis of Electric Vehicle DC Fast Charging Infrastructure Based on PSIM

In this paper, DC fast charging infrastructure model using PSIM is proposed. DC Fast charging infrastructure is modelled as a bidirectional three-phase PWM rectifier with constant output voltage control and unity power factor input current control. The specification of the DC fast charging infrastructure is a constant voltage charging mode with capacity of 50 kW. Using a proposed model, a simulation on various levels of State Of Charge (SOC) which are simplified to the battery voltage drop levels was also performed. Lithium ion batteries was used and modelled by The venin equivalent battery model. Analysis of the DC fast charging impacts to the grid seen from the input current Total Harmonics Distortion (THD) were conducted.
Clustering Enterprise Networks by Patent Analysis

The analysis of networks of enterprises can lead to some important insights concerning strategic aspects that can drive the decision making process of different players: business analysts, entrepreneurs, public administrators. In this paper we present the current development status of an integrated methodology to automatically extract enterprise networks from public textual data and analyzing them. We show an application to the enterprises operating in the Italian region of Marche.
Klf4 reverts developmentally programmed restriction of ground state pluripotency

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from pluripotent early epiblast contribute functionally differentiated progeny to all foetal lineages of chimaeras. By contrast, epistem cell (EpiSC) lines from post-implantation epithelialised epiblast are unable to colonise the embryo even though they express the core pluripotency genes Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog. We examined interconversion between these two cell types. ES cells can readily become EpiSCs in response to growth factor cues. By contrast, EpiSCs do not change into ES cells. We exploited PiggyBac transposition to introduce a single reprogramming factor, Klf4, into EpiSCs. No effect was apparent in EpiSC culture conditions, but in ground state ES cell conditions a fraction of cells formed undifferentiated colonies. These EpiSC-derived induced pluripotent stem (Epi-iPS) cells activated expression of ES cell-specific transcripts including endogenous Klf4, and downregulated markers of lineage specification. X chromosome silencing in female cells, a feature of the EpiSC state, was erased in Epi-iPS cells. They produced high-contribution chimaeras that yielded germline transmission. These properties were maintained after Cre-mediated deletion of the Klf4 transgene, formally demonstrating complete and stable reprogramming of developmental phenotype. Thus, re-expression of Klf4 in an appropriate environment can regenerate the naïve ground state from EpiSCs. Reprogramming is dependent on suppression of extrinsic growth factor stimuli and proceeds to completion in less than 1% of cells. This substantiates the argument that EpiSCs are developmentally, epigenetically and functionally differentiated from ES cells. However, because a single transgene is the minimum requirement to attain the ground state, EpiSCs offer an attractive opportunity for screening for unknown components of the reprogramming process.
agnetomotive laser speckle imaging

ernard Choi niversity of California, Irvine eckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic 002 Health Sciences Road East rvine, California 92612 and niversity of California, Irvine epartment of Biomedical Engineering 120 Natural Sciences II rvine, California 92697 Abstract. Laser speckle imaging LSI involves analysis of reflectance images collected during coherent optical excitation of an object to compute wide-field maps of tissue blood flow. An intrinsic limitation of LSI for resolving microvascular architecture is that its signal depends on relative motion of interrogated red blood cells. Hence, with LSI, small-diameter arterioles, venules, and capillaries are difficult to resolve due to the slow flow speeds associated with such vasculature. Furthermore, LSI characterization of subsurface blood flow is subject to blurring due to scattering, further limiting the ability of LSI to resolve or quantify blood flow in small vessels. Here, we show that magnetic activation of superparamagnetic iron oxide SPIO nanoparticles modulate the speckle flow index SFI values estimated from speckle contrast analysis of collected images. With application of an ac magnetic field to a solution of stagnant SPIO particles, an apparent increase in SFI is induced. Furthermore, with application of a focused dc magnetic field, a focal decrease in SFI values is induced. Magnetomotive LSI may enable wide-field mapping of suspicious tissue regions, enabling subsequent high-resolution optical interrogation of these regions. Similarly, subsequent photoactivation of intravascular SPIO nanoparticles could then be performed to induce selective photothermal destruction of unwanted vasculature. © 2010 Society of PhotoOptical Instrumentation Engineers. DOI: 10.1117/1.3285612
Genetic Analysis of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Expressed in Milk and Selectively Transmitted through Breastfeeding

ABSTRACT To develop effective intervention strategies that prevent breast milk transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we must understand the specific viral properties and mechanisms responsible for infant infection. We have used lactating rhesus macaques infected with a pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) stock to analyze the viral genotypes expressed in plasma and milk throughout the disease course and to identify those variants ultimately transmitted to infants through breastfeeding. In these studies we observed mother-to-infant transmission of SIV/DeltaB670 by eight females during the chronic phase of disease, and we analyzed by heteroduplex tracking assays and sequence analysis the distribution and fluctuations in viral genotypes expressed. Each female expressed multiple V1 envelope genotypes in milk near the time of transmission, while a single genotype was found in each of the infants. Variants transmitted to infants were not expressed throughout the maternal disease course but were only detected near the time of transmission. The emergence of the transmitted genotype in the dam typically occurred in plasma before milk and was coincident with increased milk viral loads. Transmitted genotypes tended to be longer and more glycosylated and had a less negative charge over the V1 region compared to viral genotypes expressed in milk but not transmitted. These observations demonstrate that specific viral genotypes are selectively transmitted to infants through breastfeeding and support the hypothesis that transmission occurs as genotypes adapt for efficient expression in milk.