Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accelarated guided waves inspection using compressive sensing and local wavenumber domain analysis

Many structural health monitoring techniques rely on the full field analysis related to stress guided waves propagation. Such techniques can be quite slow as in general the acquisition of the full wave field and its processing, aimed at extracting damage related information, are time consuming processes. Therefore, strategies to reduce the acquisition time and improve the damage detection and quantification are sought. This research describes a method based on Compressive Sensing (CS) and a local wavenumber estimation technique that can lead to fast scanning and improved damage detection. CS theory [Donoho, IEEE TIT, 2006] states the possibility of reconstructing a signal by feeding a limited number of measurements into an L1 norm minimization procedure. As a prerequisite, the signal must be sparse, i.e. it should be well approximated by a linear superposition of a few atoms of an appropriate basis.
HPA Axis Activity under Psychosocial Stress in Patients with Acute and Remitted Panic Disorder

Background: Panic disorder (PD) has been linked to an altered activity of Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. To understand the elevated risk for future psychiatric episodes in PD it is of interest how remitted patients might differ from healthy controls in the activity of the HPA axis. Methods: Fourteen patients with PD and 14 healthy controls were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) on consecutive days twice before and twice after psychotherapeutic intervention. Salivary cortisol and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured repeatedly. Results: The healthy controls showed normal increase of salivary cortisol. By contrast, in patients with PD cortisol responses were absent on all testing days. In respect to RMSSD, the TSST exposure led to a decrease in both groups. Conclusion: The findings suggest that in patients with remitted PD, a hypo-response pattern of the HPA axis after significant symptom reduction might be a risk for future psychiatric episodes (German J Psychiatry 2011; 14(2): 7279).
Automatic Extraction of Compound Verbs from Bangla Corpora

In this paper we present a rule-based technique for the automatic extraction of Bangla compound verbs from raw text corpora. In our work we have (a) proposed rules through which a system could automatically identify Bangla CVs from texts. These rules will be established on the basis of syntactic interpretation of sentences, (b) we shall explain problems of CV identification subject to the semantics and pragmatics of Bangla language, (c) finally, we have applied these rules on two different Bangla corpuses to extract CVs. The extracted CVs were manually evaluated by linguistic experts where our system and achieved an accuracy of around 70%.
Vision-based Global Localization Using a Visual Vocabulary

This paper presents a novel coarse-to-fine global localization approach that is inspired by object recognition and text retrieval techniques. Harris-Laplace interest points characterized by SIFT descriptors are used as natural landmarks. These descriptors are indexed into two databases: an inverted index and a location database. The inverted index is built based on a visual vocabulary learned from the feature descriptors. In the location database, each location is directly represented by a set of scale invariant descriptors. The localization process consists of two stages: coarse localization and fine localization. Coarse localization from the inverted index is fast but not accurate enough; whereas localization from the location database using voting algorithm is relatively slow but more accurate. The combination of coarse and fine stages makes fast and reliable localization possible. In addition, if necessary, the localization result can be verified by epipolar geometry between the representative view in database and the view to be localized. Experimental results show that our approach is efficient and reliable.
Color Design for Illustrative Visualization

Professional designers and artists are quite cognizant of the rules that guide the design of effective color palettes, from both aesthetic and attention-guiding points of view. In the field of visualization, however, the use of systematic rules embracing these aspects has received less attention. The situation is further complicated by the fact that visualization often uses semi-transparencies to reveal occluded objects, in which case the resulting color mixing effects add additional constraints to the choice of the color palette. Color design forms a crucial part in visual aesthetics. Thus, the consideration of these issues can be of great value in the emerging field of illustrative visualization. We describe a knowledge-based system that captures established color design rules into a comprehensive interactive framework, aimed to aid users in the selection of colors for scene objects and incorporating individual preferences, importance functions, and overall scene composition. Our framework also offers new knowledge and solutions for the mixing, ordering and choice of colors in the rendering of semi-transparent layers and surfaces. All design rules are evaluated via user studies, for which we extend the method of conjoint analysis to task-based testing scenarios. Our framework's use of principles rooted in color design with application for the illustration of features in pre-classified data distinguishes it from existing systems which target the exploration of continuous-range density data via perceptual color maps.
Experimental Results of a MANET Testbed in Indoor Stairs Environment

In this paper, we present the implementation and analysis of our Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) testbed considering the Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) and Better Approach To Mobile Adhoc Networking (B.A.T.M.A.N.) protocols. We consider two kinds of stairs experimental models. One when all the nodes are in stationary state and another one when one node is moving. The mobile node moves toward the destination at a regular speed and when arrives at the corner of stairs is stops for about four seconds. In this work, we assess the performance of our MANET testbed in terms of throughput and packet loss. From our experiments, we found that OLSR protocol has a good performance for both experimental models. We observed that throughput decreased about 40 percent compared with one-hop scenario when all nodes are in stationary state. When the node moves, the throughput is decreased because of stairs environment and mobility. By experiments, we observed that OLSR has better behaviour than B.A.T.M.A.N. Protocol.
Using Sensor Morphology for Multirobot Formations

In formation-maintenance (formation control) tasks, robots maintain their relative position with respect to their peers, according to a desired geometric shape. Previous work has examined formation-maintenance algorithms, based on formation control graphs, that ensure the theoretical stability of the formation. However, an exponential number of stable controllers exists. Thus a key question is how to select (construct) a formation controller that optimizes desired properties, such as sensor usage. We present a novel representation of the sensing capabilities of robots in formations, using a monitoring multigraph. We first show that graph-theoretic techniques can then be used to efficiently compute optimal sensing policies that maintain a given formation, while minimizing sensing costs. In particular, separation-bearing (distance-angle) control targets are automatically constructed for each individual robot in the formation, taking into account its specific sensor morphology. Then, we present a protocol allowing control graphs to be switched on line, to allow robots to adjust to sensory failures. We report on results from comprehensive experiments with physical and simulated robots. The results show that the use of the dynamic protocol allows formations of real robots to move significantly faster and with greater precision, while reducing the number of formation failures, due to sensor limitations. We also evaluate the sensitivity of our approach to communication reliability, and discuss opportunities and challenges raised by our approach.
Assessment Of Gastric Emptying In The Mouse Using The [13C]‐Octanoic Acid Breath Test

1. Gastric emptying studies in small laboratory animals are hampered by the deficiency of a technique that is non‐invasive and repeatable. The aim of the present study was to adapt the non‐invasive [13C]‐octanoic acid breath test, which has been validated in humans, to assess both liquid and solid gastric emptying in the mouse.
Achieving anonymity via clustering

Publishing data for analysis from a table containing personal records, while maintaining individual privacy, is a problem of increasing importance today. The traditional approach of de-identifying records is to remove identifying fields such as social security number, name etc. However, recent research has shown that a large fraction of the US population can be identified using non-key attributes (called quasi-identifiers) such as date of birth, gender, and zip code [15]. Sweeney [16] proposed the k-anonymity model for privacy where non-key attributes that leak information are suppressed or generalized so that, for every record in the modified table, there are at least k−1 other records having exactly the same values for quasi-identifiers. We propose a new method for anonymizing data records, where quasi-identifiers of data records are first clustered and then cluster centers are published. To ensure privacy of the data records, we impose the constraint that each cluster must contain no fewer than a pre-specified number of data records. This technique is more general since we have a much larger choice for cluster centers than k-Anonymity. In many cases, it lets us release a lot more information without compromising privacy. We also provide constant-factor approximation algorithms to come up with such a clustering. This is the first set of algorithms for the anonymization problem where the performance is independent of the anonymity parameter k. We further observe that a few outlier points can significantly increase the cost of anonymization. Hence, we extend our algorithms to allow an ε fraction of points to remain unclustered, i.e., deleted from the anonymized publication. Thus, by not releasing a small fraction of the database records, we can ensure that the data published for analysis has less distortion and hence is more useful. Our approximation algorithms for new clustering objectives are of independent interest and could be applicable in other clustering scenarios as well.
Graph-Links

The present paper is a review of the current state of Graph-Link Theory (graph-links are also closely related to homotopy classes of looped interlacement graphs), dealing with a generalisation of knots obtained by translating the Reidemeister moves for links into the language of intersection graphs of chord diagrams. In this paper we show how some methods of classical and virtual knot theory can be translated into the language of abstract graphs, and some theorems can be reproved and generalised to this graphical setting. We construct various invariants, prove certain minimality theorems and construct functorial mappings for graph-knots and graph-links. In this paper, we first show non-equivalence of some graph-links to virtual links.
Decoding spectrotemporal features of overt and covert speech from the human cortex

Auditory perception and auditory imagery have been shown to activate overlapping brain regions. We hypothesized that these phenomena also share a common underlying neural representation. To assess this, we used electrocorticography intracranial recordings from epileptic patients performing an out loud or a silent reading task. In these tasks, short stories scrolled across a video screen in two conditions: subjects read the same stories both aloud (overt) and silently (covert). In a control condition the subject remained in a resting state. We first built a high gamma (70–150 Hz) neural decoding model to reconstruct spectrotemporal auditory features of self-generated overt speech. We then evaluated whether this same model could reconstruct auditory speech features in the covert speech condition. Two speech models were tested: a spectrogram and a modulation-based feature space. For the overt condition, reconstruction accuracy was evaluated as the correlation between original and predicted speech features, and was significant in each subject (p < 10−5; paired two-sample t-test). For the covert speech condition, dynamic time warping was first used to realign the covert speech reconstruction with the corresponding original speech from the overt condition. Reconstruction accuracy was then evaluated as the correlation between original and reconstructed speech features. Covert reconstruction accuracy was compared to the accuracy obtained from reconstructions in the baseline control condition. Reconstruction accuracy for the covert condition was significantly better than for the control condition (p < 0.005; paired two-sample t-test). The superior temporal gyrus, pre- and post-central gyrus provided the highest reconstruction information. The relationship between overt and covert speech reconstruction depended on anatomy. These results provide evidence that auditory representations of covert speech can be reconstructed from models that are built from an overt speech data set, supporting a partially shared neural substrate.
Action Potential Propagation in Dendrites of Rat Mitral Cells In Vivo

Odors evoke β-γ frequency field potential oscillations in the olfactory systems of awake and anesthetized vertebrates. In the rat olfactory bulb, these oscillations reflect the synchronous discharges of mitral cells that result from both their intrinsic membrane properties and their dendrodendritic interactions with local inhibitory interneurons. Activation of dendrodendritic synapses is purportedly involved in odor memory and odor contrast enhancement. Here we investigate in vivo to what extent action potentials propagate to remote dendrodendritic sites in the entire dendritic tree and if this propagation is changed during discharges at 40 Hz. By combining intracellular recording and two-photon microscopy imaging of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), we show that in remote branches of the apical tuft and basal dendrites, transient Ca2+ changes are triggered by single sodium action potentials. Neither the amplitude of these Ca2+ transients nor that of action potentials obtained from intradendritic recordings showed a significant attenuation as a function of the distance from the soma. Calcium channel density seemed homogeneous; however, propagating action potentials occasionally failed to trigger a Ca2+ transient at a site closer to the soma whereas it did farther. This suggests that measurements of calcium transients underestimate the occurrence of sodium action potentials. During 40 Hz bursts of action potentials, [Ca2+]i increases with the number of action potentials in all dendritic compartments. These results suggest that the presence of release sites in dendrites is accompanied by an “axonal-like behavior” of the entire dendritic tree of mitral cells, including their most distal dendritic branches.
Development of a severity classification system for subjective nasal obstruction.

IMPORTANCE Nasal airway obstruction is a common presenting symptom in otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery practices, and the potential for multiple contributing causes requires extensive evaluation. OBJECTIVE To develop a classification system for nasal obstruction using a subjective, validated quality-of-life instrument. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective study of patients' responses on the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) instrument performed from July 2011 through May 2012. All patients were seen at a university-based tertiary medical center. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Scores from patients with or without nasal obstruction were used to develop a classification system after receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The classification subdivides nasal obstruction scores into a range of defined classes. RESULTS Data analysis was performed using results from 345 patients. A score of 30 on the NOSE survey best differentiated patients with and without nasal obstruction. This threshold also provided intervals used to define the other class ranges. Patients were categorized as having mild (range, 5-25), moderate (range, 30-50), severe (range, 55-75), or extreme (range, 80-100) nasal obstruction, depending on responses on the NOSE survey. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The NOSE scale is an important tool for gauging symptoms in patients with nasal obstruction. The proposed classification system will improve patient care by providing a framework for the severity of their symptoms and helping them understand potential treatment effects. If the classification is used in future outcomes research, it will allow physicians to better understand the study patient population and the effect of treatment on each severity class. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA.
Effect of Different Curcuminoid Supplement Dosages on Total In Vivo Antioxidant Capacity and Cholesterol Levels of Healthy Human Subjects

The impact of consuming curcuminoids containing curcumin at 500 mg/day and 6 g/day for 7 days on plasma antioxidant capacity and serum cholesterol level were determined by using vitamin E 200 IU/day consumption as a comparison. Group A and group B subjects consumed 500 mg and 6 g curcumin, respectively, but group C subjects consumed vitamin E 200 IU. By using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, it was found that plasma antioxidant capacity of group A rose from a baseline of 13% to 24% on day 1 and day 7, as against a 19–20% increase for group B. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly decreased after curcumin treatment at 500 mg/day. By consuming vitamin E, both ORAC values and plasma α‐tocopherol concentrations were significantly increased, but only very slight responses on serum cholesterol or triglyceride levels were observed. It is therefore suggested that curcumin supplement would not be appropriate for healthy people except for reducing serum cholesterol or triglyceride levels. The dosage of a daily curcumin supplement at 500 mg is more effective than 6 g, although vitamin E is also considered to be an effective antioxidant supplement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MicroRNAs in plants.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an extensive class of ~22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs thought to regulate gene expression in metazoans. We find that miRNAs are also present in plants, indicating that this class of noncoding RNA arose early in eukaryotic evolution. In this paper 16 Arabidopsis miRNAs are described, many of which have differential expression patterns in development. Eight are absolutely conserved in the rice genome. The plant miRNA loci potentially encode stem-loop precursors similar to those processed by Dicer (a ribonuclease III) in animals. Mutation of an Arabidopsis Dicer homolog, CARPEL FACTORY, prevents the accumulation of miRNAs, showing that similar mechanisms direct miRNA processing in plants and animals. The previously described roles of CARPEL FACTORY in the development of Arabidopsis embryos, leaves, and floral meristems suggest that the miRNAs could play regulatory roles in the development of plants as well as animals.
Mixture importance sampling and its application to the analysis of SRAM designs in the presence of rare failure events

In this paper, we propose a novel methodology for statistical SRAM design and analysis. It relies on an efficient form of importance sampling, mixture importance sampling. The method is comprehensive, computationally efficient and the results are in excellent agreement with those obtained via standard Monte Carlo techniques. All this comes at significant gains in speed and accuracy, with speedup of more than 100times compared to regular Monte Carlo. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such a methodology is applied to the analysis of SRAM designs
A fast bitplane combination algorithm for bitplane coded scalable image/video

Bitplane coding techniques have been proposed as an effective approach to providing a bitstream truncation ability. They have also been adopted into the latest image and video coding standards, such as JPEG 2000, MPEG-4 and the emerging scalable video codec in MPEG-21, where bitplane coding techniques are used to generate a scaleable bitstream for various bitrates. However, bitplane decoding requires lots of bitwise operations while combining bitplanes into coefficients in the decoder. As a result, the straightforward combining algorithm is very inefficient and could become a bottleneck while decoding a high quality enhancement bitstream with several bitplanes. We propose an efficient bitplane combining algorithm which not only greatly speeds up the combining time by a factor of more than eight, but also makes the decoding time independent of the number of bitplanes to be combined. In addition, it is very suitable for VLSI implementation due to the parallel and table-lookup based structure.
Engines of the Brain The Computational Instruction Set of Human Cognition

■ Vast information from the neurosciences may enable bottom-up understanding of human intelligence; that is, derivation of function from mechanism. This article describes such a research program: simulation and analysis of the circuits of the brain has led to derivation of a detailed set of elemental and composed operations emerging from individual and combined circuits. The specific hypothesis is forwarded that these operations constitute the “instruction set” of the brain, that is, the basic mental operations from which all complex behavioral and cognitive abilities are constructed, establishing a unified formalism for description of human faculties ranging from perception and learning to reasoning and language, and representing a novel and potentially fruitful research path for the construction of human-level intelligence.
eHealth Promotion: The Use of the Internet for Health Promotion

The use of the Internet for health promotion is explored in this edition including growth trends, general applicability, and evaluation strategies for online interventions. This article examines the range of preliminary studies of eHealth Promotion interventions and their summary results, and reviews potential evaluation tools and their use in online programming. Also assessed is their utility in population-based programming and review-selected implications for the field.
A Cross-Layer Strategy for Energy-Efficient Reliable Delivery in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we investigate the problem of the lifetime maximization in wireless sensor networks under the constraint of end-to-end transmission success probability, by adopting a cross-layer strategy that considers physical layer (i.e., power control), MAC layer (i.e., retransmission control) and network layer (i.e., routing protocol) jointly. We decouple the problem into separate sub-problems of each layer and propose the optimal algorithm as well as an alternative heuristic algorithm with lower complexity for each sub-problem. We demonstrate through computer simulations that a trade-off relation exists between the network lifetime maximization and the reliability constraint, and the strategy that is designed by combining the proposed algorithm at each layer can significantly increase the network lifetime. We also investigate the effect of the retransmission control on the energy efficiency for different energy consumption models. Simulation results reveal that multiple retransmissions with low power yield little gain when the link distance is short and the power conversion efficiency of the amplifier increases with the transmission power