Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-Frame Face Classification with Decision-Level Fusion based on Photon-Counting Linear Discriminant Analysis

Face classification has wide applications in security and surveillance. However, this technique presents various challenges caused by pose, illumination, and expression changes. Face recognition with long-distance images involves additional challenges, owing to focusing problems and motion blurring. Multiple frames under varying spatial or temporal settings can acquire additional information, which can be used to achieve improved classification performance. This study investigates the effectiveness of multi-frame decision-level fusion with photon-counting linear discriminant analysis. Multiple frames generate multiple scores for each class. The fusion process comprises three stages: score normalization, score validation, and score combination. Candidate scores are selected during the score validation process, after the scores are normalized. The score validation process removes bad scores that can degrade the final output. The selected candidate scores are combined using one of the following fusion rules: maximum, averaging, and majority voting. Degraded facial images are employed to demonstrate the robustness of multi-frame decision-level fusion in harsh environments. Out-of-focus and motion blurring point-spread functions are applied to the test images, to simulate long-distance acquisition. Experimental results with three facial data sets indicate the efficiency of the proposed decision-level fusion scheme.
Reducing polycystic liver volume in ADPKD: effects of somatostatin analogue octreotide.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES No medical treatment is available for polycystic liver disease, a frequent manifestation of autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 6 months of octreotide (40 mg every 28 days) therapy limited kidney volume growth more effectively than placebo in 12 patients with ADPKD. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS In this secondary, post hoc analysis of the above study, octreotide-induced changes in liver volumes compared with placebo and the relationship between concomitant changes in liver and kidney volumes were evaluated. Those analyzing liver and kidney volumes were blinded to treatment. RESULTS Liver volumes significantly decreased from 1595 +/- 478 ml to 1524 +/- 453 ml with octreotide whereas they did not appreciably change with placebo. Changes in liver volumes were significantly different between the two treatment periods (-71 +/- 57 ml versus +14 +/- 85 ml). Octreotide-induced liver volume reduction was fully explained by a reduction in parenchyma volume from 1506 +/- 431 ml to 1432 +/- 403 ml. Changes in liver volumes were significantly correlated with concomitant changes in kidney volumes (r = 0.67) during octreotide but not during placebo treatment. Liver and kidney volume changes significantly differed with both treatments (octreotide: -71 +/- 57 ml versus +71 +/- 107; placebo: +14 +/- 85 ml versus +162 +/- 114), but net reductions in liver (-85 +/- 103 ml) and kidney (-91 +/- 125 ml) volume growth on octreotide versus placebo were similar. CONCLUSIONS Octreotide therapy reduces liver volumes in patients with ADPKD and is safe.
A Unified MapReduce Domain-Specific Language for Distributed and Shared Memory Architectures

MapReduce is a suitable and efficient parallel programming pattern for processing big data analysis. In recent years, many frameworks/languages have implemented this pattern to achieve high performance in data mining applications, particularly for distributed memory architectures (e.g., clusters). Nevertheless, the industry of processors is now able to offer powerful processing on single machines (e.g., multi-core). Thus, these applications may address the parallelism in another architectural level. The target problems of this paper are code reuse and programming effort reduction since current solutions do not provide a single interface to deal with these two architectural levels. Therefore, we propose a unified domain-specific language in conjunction with transformation rules for code generation for Hadoop and Phoenix++. We selected these frameworks as state-of-the-art MapReduce implementations for distributed and shared memory architectures, respectively. Our solution achieves a programming effort reduction from 41.84% and up to 95.43% without significant performance losses (below the threshold of 3%) compared to Hadoop and Phoenix++.
Precision motion control of a nano stage using repetitive control and double-feedforward compensation

This article presents precision motion control of an XY nano stage using repetitive control and double-feedforward compensation. The XY nano stage is composed of two piezoelectric actuators within a leaf spring mechanism. This study applies a repetitive controller and a Proportional-Integral-Derivative controller to achieve precision trajectory tracking. Moreover, the investigation applies a double-feedforward compensation approach that integrates a Zero-Phase-Error-Tracking-Controller, based on an inverse Prandtl-Ishlinskii model, to improve tracking control performance further. Performance analysis and comparison with experimental results demonstrate that the proposed control structure improves dynamic tracking accuracy of the XY nano stage.
Prelysosomal divergence of transferrin and epidermal growth factor during receptor-mediated endocytosis.

The routes followed by epidermal growth factor and transferrin during their endocytosis by human epithelial cells were compared in double-label studies by using density gradient centrifugation of cell homogenates and fluorescence microscopy with intact cells. Gradient centrifugation studies of cells incubated with radioactively labeled epidermal growth factor and transferrin indicated that both ligands initially were associated with a class of vesicles having a density of 1.037 g/mL and then were rapidly transferred to a membrane compartment having a slightly higher density (1.039 g/mL). Subsequently, the two ligands diverged. Epidermal growth factor ultimately was transferred to a membranous compartment containing lysosomal enzymes (density (1.08 g/mL) where it was degraded. Transferrin was released intact from the cells; very little was transferred to lysosomes. Using fluorescently labeled ligands, it was observed that after cells were warmed to 37 degrees C for 5 min, transferrin and epidermal growth factor gave coincident, punctate fluorescent patterns, strongly suggesting they were localized within the same endocytic vesicles. Subsequently, the epidermal growth factor signal was observed in lysosomes whereas the transferrin signal became weaker and diffuse and did not coincide with the punctate epidermal growth factor fluorescence. The time course of the divergence of the radioactive and fluorescent ligands coupled with the previous morphologic studies on the pathway of epidermal growth factor internalization [Willingham, M. C. , & Pastan, I. (1982) J. Cell Biol. 94, 207-212] suggests that the sorting process is prelysosomal and possibly Golgi associated.
The Twentieth Century to Quine and Derrida

Preface. Introduction. The World We Live In. Three Philosophies of Process: Bergson, Dewey, And Whitehead. Moore and the Revival of Realism. Frege and the Revolution in Logic. Russell. The Tractatus. Logical Positivism. Husserl and the Phenomenological Tradition. Heidegger. Sartre. The Later Wittgenstein. Ordinary Language Philosophy. Quine. Derrida. Notes. Suggestions for Further Reading. Glossary. Index.
Lasing Characteristics of VCSELs Subject to Circularly Polarized Optical Injection

This paper reports experimental investigations of the effects of circularly polarized optical injection on the lasing characteristics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). The operating characteristics of the target VCSELs are changed using available optical injection control parameters including the strength and polarization state of the optical injection as well as the frequency detuning between the injected light and the target VCSEL. Using circularly polarized optical injection with frequency detuning around -10 GHz, the linear output polarization of the stand-alone VCSEL can be converted into circularly polarized or elliptically polarized emission when the VCSEL drive current is close to or below the threshold current of stand-alone VCSEL. In addition, highly nonlinear light-current characteristics are observed in the optically injected VCSEL in the vicinity of threshold.
Twitter Sentiment Polarity Classification & Feature Extraction Mrs

Advancements in social networking site and usage by people for various purposes like posting reviews of products which they purchase online has gained attention of researchers. These reviews are real time messages about people’s opinions on different topics, current issues, complaints about products. One of the most interesting and challenging issue is to analyze these reviews on social sites such as Twitter in order to get valuable hidden patterns. In this paper, we have focused on classifying polarity of tweets into either positive, negative or neutral tweets. Also, we discussed how machine learning algorithms can be applied for classification and feature selection. Future enhancement focuses on how these customer reviews plays a key role in building business decision support systems. Experimental evaluations show how to classify tweets of electronic product datasets.
Pulmonary artery compliance: its role in right ventricular-arterial coupling.

OBJECTIVE The aim was to investigate the ventricular/vascular coupling of the intact right heart under conditions of normal operation and acute pulmonary hypertension. METHODS Right ventricular contractility was obtained by calculating the end systolic pressure-volume relationship (Ees) and the effective pulmonary arterial elastance (Ea), applying the Windkessel parameters of the pulmonary arterial input impedance. Coupling between the ventricle and its load could be determined in terms of Ees and Ea. Acute pulmonary hypertension was induced by injecting glass microspheres into the pulmonary vascular bed until a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of more than 35 mm Hg had been reached. Experimental subjects were Landras/Large white pigs (n = 11), studied under general anaesthesia. Ees was obtained by normalising the right ventricle pressure-diameter equivalent of Ees to stroke volume. The lumped element parameters of the Windkessel analogue were calculated from the pulmonary artery pressure and blood flow. Stroke work was calculated from the pressure-volume loop and oxygen consumption derived from the pressure-volume area. Efficiency was taken to be the ratio between stroke work and oxygen consumption. RESULTS Ea increased significantly as mean pulmonary artery pressure rose, while Ees remained linear and constant. Stroke work, as well as efficiency, increased, with the maximum of the stroke work curve lying to the right of the efficiency maximum. At the control step (before pulmonary artery hypertension), Ees = 1.71 Ea (n = 11). CONCLUSIONS Under control conditions, the right ventricle operates at maximum efficiency and submaximal work output. Compliance of the pulmonary artery is a significant factor in decoupling the right ventricle from its vascular load. As the compliance decreases with acute pulmonary hypertension, the maximum stroke work against load point shifted in such a manner that the right ventricle changed its operational status from a flow to a pressure pump, resulting in a decreased stroke volume.
Relationship between levels of reactive oxygen species and cytokines in sterile men

Objective To explore the role of seminal reactive oxygen species and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-10(IL-10),and interleukin-18(IL-18) in sterile male and explain the molecular mechanism of sterility due to Escherichia coli in men with a genital tract infection.Methods Semen samples were obtained from 30 healthy volunteers(normal group),30 sterile men without infection(sterile men without infection),and 60 sterile men with E.coli infection(men with E.coli infection). The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) were determined by thiobarbituric acid colorimetry,superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity was determined by xanthine oxidase assay,and IL-6,IL-10,IL-18,and TNF-α were measured with ELISA.The correlation between the levels of ROSes and cytokines in the groups was analyzed statistically.Results Men with E.coli infection had higher levels of MDA,IL-6,IL-18,and TNF-α and lower levels of IL-10 and SOD than did the other two groups of men(P0.01). MDA was correlated with TNF-α(r=0.67) and IL-18(r=0.51) and inversely correlated with IL-10(r=-0.54). Conclusion The results suggest that increased reactive oxidative stress,a defective ROS scavenging system,and disrupted cytokine balance may lead to sterility in men with E.coli infection.
L'eau : étalon diélectrique ; étude de lois diélectriques appliquées à l'eau et à des émulsions de pétrole mesurées en micro-ondes

Dans ce travail une base de donnees experimentales internationale de la permittivite statique et complexe de l'eau pure a ete constituee sur tout le spectre de frequence. Une analyse mathematique de toutes ces donnees a permis d'elaborer un schema d'interpolation permettant de donner les valeurs de la permittivite munies de leurs intervalles de confiance a chaque frequence et temperature consideree dans cette etude. A cet effet, plusieurs techniques d'analyse numerique ont ete utilisees. Ce schema est concu a des fins de calibrage et de controle des dispositifs de mesures micro-ondes. A partir de cette base de donnees, diverses theories dielectriques ont ete discutees. Apres un developpement particulier de la theorie des liaisons brisees, une relation conjecturale de la variation relative de la permittivite statique en fonction de la temperature au regard des parametres issus de cette derniere theorie est etablie. Un dispositif interferometrique dans le domaine millimetrique (35ghz), utilisant la propagation guidee, a ete realise pour completer un ensemble de dispositifs hyperfrequences. Une etude des proprietes dielectriques de diverses emulsions d'eau salee et de petrole a ete faite. A partir d'une analyse spectrale un modele de relaxation dielectrique a ete propose et une discussion en termes de percolation a ete suggeree
The relationship between telephone-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression and neuropsychological functioning in Parkinson's disease.

This letter is the first to describe the impact of telephone-based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression on neuropsychological functioning in Parkinson’s disease. Telephone-administered CBT was associated with improvements in verbal memory following 10 weeks of treatment. Baseline verbal and working memory were related to depression improvement over time.
Efficient composite event detection based on DHT protocol

Current communication systems restrict user affordances in terms of expressiveness and interaction. Complex Event Processing (CEP) have gained much importance to overcome these shortcomings. It allows users to interact with powerful expressiveness when defining logical and temporal patterns of exchanged events. This expressiveness allows cleaning network traffic by eliminating the routing of useless events and consequently reducing the overall consumed energy. However, handling the expressiveness of desired events, filtering coming events still challenging features, especially with the growth of data size encapsulated as events in the network. In this work, we rely on Publish/Subscribe system based on Distributed Hash Tables (DHT), which offers intrinsically flexible event routing, scalability and load balancing in order to manage distributed composite events routing. For efficient event filtering, we propose a three dimensional indexing hash space named CECube as a smart data structure for rapid CEP over DHT. The CECube indexes firstly composite subscriptions, then basing on a simple binary search, it serves as publications filter and helps making the right decision for what events should be aggregated and forwarded to the adequate subscribers. The performance of our solution is evaluated using Free Pastry simulator. The results demonstrate firstly that our approach is efficient in terms of filtering process and that the average number of routing nodes is decreased. Secondly, we prove the superiority of our approach as compared to another existing work.
Effect of training on contractile and metabolic properties of wrist extensors in spinal cord–injured individuals

Paretic human muscle rapidly loses strength and oxidative endurance, and electrical stimulation training may partly reverse this. We evaluated the effects of two training protocols on the contractile and metabolic properties of the wrist extensor in 12 C‐5/6 tetraplegic individuals. The wrist extensor muscles were stimulated for 30 min/day, 5 days/week, for 12 weeks, using either a high‐resistance (Hr) or a low‐resistance (Lr) protocol. Total work output was similar in both protocols. The nontrained arm was used as a control. Maximum voluntary torque increased in the Hr (P < 0.05) but not the Lr group. Electrically stimulated peak tetanic torque at 15 HZ, 30 HZ, and 50 HZ were unchanged in the Lr group and tended to increase only at 15 HZ (P < 0.1) in the Hr group. Resistance to fatigue, however, increased (P < 0.05) in both Hr (42%) and Lr (41%) groups. Muscle metabolism was evaluated by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P‐NMRS) during and following a continuous 40‐s 10‐HZ contraction. In the Hr group the cost of contraction decreased by 38% (P < 0.05) and the half‐time of phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery was shortened by 52% (P < 0.05). Thus, long‐term electrically induced stimulation of the wrist extensor muscles in spinal cord injury (SCI) increases fatigue resistance independent of training pattern. However, only the Hr protocol increased muscle strength and was shown to improve muscle aerobic metabolism after training. Muscle Nerve 27: 72–80, 2003
In vitro colchicine-induced polyploid plantlet production and regeneration from leaf explants of the diploid pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivar, ‘Fertility’

Summary Polyploid plantlets, including triploid, tetraploid, and mixoploid, were induced from the European pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivar ‘Fertility’ by in vitro colchicine treatment of leaf explants. The leaf explants were incubated in 0.4% (w/v) colchicine for 24, 48, or 72 h, then transferred to adventitious shoot-induction medium. Regenerated shoots were pre-selected according to their morphological characteristics when compared to control shoots from untreated shoot proliferation cultures. Shoots with putative polyploid morphological characteristics were maintained and proliferated. The ploidy levels of all putative polyploid individuals were analysed by flow cytometry and identified by chromosome counts of shoot tip tissue squashes. Polyploid shoots were rooted, and the resulting plantlets were transferred to the field. Polyploid plantlets had a higher specific leaf mass and larger stomata than those of diploid plantlets.
Adoption of Natural Gas Vehicles – Estimates for the U.S. and the State of Texas

Natural gas vehicles (NGV) have attracted more and more attention from policy makers since natural gas is a clean substitute for traditional fossil fuel that is also readily accessible. In some areas such as the state of Texas, vehicles that do not use traditional fossil fuel (e.g., NGVs) are exempt from paying fuel taxes. Government financial incentives have motivated substantial adoption of NGVs. This paper studies NGV adoption behavior in both U.S. and Texas markets to estimate the dynamics of NGV diffusion. This research employs well-known Bass diffusion models applied to NGV adoption, using data from both the U.S. and Texas. Among several interesting results, we find that NGV adoption through an imitation effect appears to be significant for the U.S. NGV market.
A simple method for increasing the response to artificial selection.

Selection theory usually assumes an equally probable contribution of each selected individual to a large ‘gene pool’ from which the individuals to be measured in the next generation are sampled. With unequal contributions it is possible to find several sets of values for N (the number of selected individuals) and f i (probability of contribution of the i th individual) such that the same selection intensity is attained. It is suggested that the set of values producing minimum genetic drift should be chosen in order to increase the long-term response without any reduction in the short-term advance.
Association Between Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors and Nonverbal IQ in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The present study explored the relationship between nonverbal IQ and restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in 830 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The role of chronological age as a moderator of this relationship was also investigated. For many behaviors, there was a significant interaction between nonverbal IQ and chronological age, such that nonverbal IQ (NVIQ) was more strongly related to the prevalence of RRBs in older children. For the majority of such behaviors (e.g. repetitive use of objects, hand and finger mannerisms), RRB prevalence was negatively associated with NVIQ. However, the prevalence of certain behaviors (e.g. circumscribed interests) showed positive relationships with NVIQ, which provides some support for the idea of different classes of RRBs. For the severity of different RRBs, there were several significant effects for age and NVIQ, but few interactions.
Knowledge and information sharing in a closed information environment

Purpose – The objectives of this research are to ascertain the current status of, and barriers to, knowledge and information sharing; to elicit suggestions for improvement; and to determine whether the situation is different from that experienced by organizations operating in an average business environment.Design/methodology/approach – The approach adopted was a survey conducted within the New Zealand Defence Force, for the purpose of obtaining a deeper understanding.Findings – It was found that much similarity existed between the two types of organizations except that the organization operating in a closed information environment presented as an extreme example of an average organization. In particular, the requirement to maintain high security yet encourage the free flow of knowledge and information presents a considerable challenge.Originality/value – The paper presents some insights into an area about which very little is known and which is, by its nature, difficult to research. It shows how closed i.
Using the UTAUT model to analyze students' ICT adoption

This paper seeks to provide further understanding of issues surrounding acceptance of information and communication technology (ICT) by students of tertiary institutions. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model Venkatesh et al (2003) was employed by the researchers to determine the strength of predictors for students’ intention to accept and use ICT for learning and research. Questionnaires were administered to 400 students in the Social Studies and Business Administration Faculties of Methodist University College, Ghana, with 345 returned, a 86% return rate. Analysis of Moments Structures (AMOS) 20 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 16 were used to analyze the data collected. The measurement and structure model was appraised using Structural Equation Modeling. Effort Expectancy (EE) (0.4, p <.05) significantly predicted Behavioural Intention(BI) to use ICT, while Social influence (SI) and Performance Expectancy (PE) were statistically insignificant, as was Behavioural Intention (BI) on Use Behaviour (UB). However, Facilitating Conditions (FC) (β=.26, p <.01) significantly influenced UB. We recommend that future studies should include students from other faculties and multiple universities for more reliable results and conclusions