Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance analysis of gait recognition with large perspective distortion

In real security scenarios, gait data may be highly distorted due to perspective effects and there may be significant change in appearance, orientation and occlusion between different measurements. To deal with this problem, a new identification technique is proposed by reconstructing 3D models of the walking subject, which are then used to identify subject images from an arbitrary camera. 3D models in one gait cycle are aligned to match silhouettes in a 2D gait cycle by estimating the positions of a 3D and 2D gait cycles in a 3D space. This allows the gait data in a gallery and probe share the same appearance, perspective and occlusion. Generic Fourier Descriptors are used as gait features. The performance is evaluated using a new collected dataset of 17 subjects walking in a narrow walkway. A Correct Classification Rate of 98.8% is achieved. This high recognition rate has still been achieved using a modest number of features. The analysis indicate that the technique can handle truncated gait cycles of different length and is insensitive to noisy silhouettes. However, calibration errors have a negative impact upon recognition performance.
Genetic Ace2 Deficiency Accentuates Vascular Inflammation and Atherosclerosis in the ApoE Knockout Mouse

Rationale: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 opposes the actions of angiotensin (Ang) II by degrading it to Ang 1-7. Objective: Given the important role of Ang II/Ang 1-7 in atherogenesis, we investigated the impact of ACE2 deficiency on the development of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results: C57Bl6, Ace2 knockout (KO), apolipoprotein E (ApoE) KO and ApoE/Ace2 double KO mice were followed until 30 weeks of age. Plaque accumulation was increased in ApoE/Ace2 double KO mice when compared to ApoE KO mice. This was associated with increased expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and an early increase in white cell adhesion across the whole aortae on dynamic flow assay. In the absence of a proatherosclerotic (ApoE KO) genotype, ACE2 deficiency was also associated with increased expression of these markers, suggesting that these differences were not an epiphenomenon. ACE inhibition prevented increases of these markers and atherogenesis in ApoE/ACE2 double KO mice. Bone marrow macrophages isolated from Ace2 KO mice showed increased proinflammatory responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide and Ang II when compared to macrophages isolated from C57Bl6 mice. Endothelial cells isolated from Ace2 KO mice also showed increased basal activation and elevated inflammatory responsiveness to TNF-&agr;. Similarly, selective inhibition of ACE2 with MLN-4760 also resulted in a proinflammatory phenotype with a physiological response similar to that observed with exogenous Ang II (10−7 mol/L). Conclusions: Genetic Ace2 deficiency is associated with upregulation of putative mediators of atherogenesis and enhances responsiveness to proinflammatory stimuli. In atherosclerosis-prone ApoE KO mice, these changes potentially contribute to increased plaque accumulation. These findings emphasize the potential utility of ACE2 repletion as a strategy to reduce atherosclerosis.
The cognitive neuroscience of mind : a tribute to Michael S. Gazzaniga

These essays on a range of topics in the cognitive neurosciences report on the progress in the field over the twenty years of its existence and reflect the many groundbreaking scientific contributions and enduring influence of Michael Gazzaniga, "the godfather of cognitive neuroscience" -- founder of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, founding editor of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, and editor of the major reference work, The Cognitive Neurosciences, now in its fourth edition (MIT Press, 2009). The essays, grouped into four sections named after four of Gazzaniga's books, combine science and memoir in varying proportions, and offer an authoritative survey of research in cognitive neuroscience. "The Bisected Brain" examines hemispheric topics pioneered by Gazzaniga at the start of his career; "The Integrated Mind" explores the theme of integration by domination; the wide-ranging essays in "The Social Brain" address subjects from genes to neurons to social conversations and networks; the topics explored in "Mind Matters" include evolutionary biology, methodology, and ethics. Contributors: Kathleen Baynes, Giovanni Berlucchi, Leo M. Chalupa, Mark D'Esposito, Margaret G. Funnell, Mitchell Glickstein, Scott A. Guerin, Todd F. Heatherton, Steven A. Hillyard, William Hirst, Alan Kingstone, Stephen M. Kosslyn, Marta Kutas, Elisabetta Ladavas, Joseph Ledoux, George R. Mangun, Michael B. Miller, Elizabeth A. Phelps, Steven Pinker, Michael I. Posner, Patricia A. Reuter-Lorenz, Mary K. Rothbart, Andrea Serino, Brad E. Sheese
Ability of Older People with Dementia or Cognitive Impairment to Manage Medicine Regimens: A Narrative Review

Impaired cognition has a significant impact on a person’s ability to manage their medicines. The aim of this paper is to provide a narrative review of contemporary literature on medicines management by people with dementia or cognitive impairment living in the community, methods for assessing their capacity to safely manage medicines, and strategies for supporting independent medicines management. Studies and reviews addressing medicines management by people with dementia or cognitive impairment published between 2003 and 2013 were identified via searches of Medline and other databases. The literature indicates that as cognitive impairment progresses, the ability to plan, organise, and execute medicine management tasks is impaired, leading to increased risk of unintentional non-adherence, medication errors, preventable medication-related hospital admissions and dependence on family carers or community nursing services to assist with medicines management. Impaired functional capacity may not be detected by health professionals in routine clinical encounters. Assessment of patients’ (or carers’) ability to safely manage medicines is not undertaken routinely, and when it is there is variability in the methods used. Self-report and informant report may be helpful, but can be unreliable or prone to bias. Measures of cognitive function are useful, but may lack sensitivity and specificity. Direct observation, using a structured, standardised performance-based tool, may help to determine whether a person is able to manage their medicines and identify barriers to adherence such as inability to open medicine packaging. A range of strategies have been used to support independent medicines management in people with cognitive impairment, but there is little high-quality research underpinning these strategies. Further studies are needed to develop and evaluate approaches to facilitate safe medicines management by older people with cognitive impairment and their carers.
Computer-Aided Tomographic Analysis of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Correlation with Pulmonary Physiologic Tests and Patient-Centred Measures of Perceived Dyspnea and Functional Disability

Objectives This study was designed (a) to evaluate an improved quantitative lung fibrosis score based on a computer-aided diagnosis (CaM) system in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc),—related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), (b) to investigate the relationship between physiologic parameters (forced vital capacity [FVC] and single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide [DLCO]), patient-centred measures of dyspnea and functional disability and CaM and visual reader-based (CoVR) methods, and (c) to identify potential surrogate measures from quantitative and visual HRCT measurement. Methods 126 patients with SSc underwent chest radiography, HRCT and PFTs. The following patient-centred measures were obtained: modified Borg Dyspnea Index (Borg score), VAS for breathing, and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). HRCT abnormalities were scored according to the conventional visual reader-based score (CoVR) and by a CaM. The relationships among the HRCT scores, physiologic parameters (FVC and DLCO, % predicted) results and patient-centred measures, were calculated using linear regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation. Multivariate regression models were performed to identify the predictor variables on severity of pulmonary fibrosis. Results Subjects with limited cutaneous SSc had lower HAQ-DI scores than subjects with diffuse cutaneous SSc (p <0.001). CaM and CoVR scores were similar in the 2 groups. In univariate analysis, a strong correlation between CaM and CoVR was observed (p <0.0001). In multivariate analysis the CaM and CoVR scores were predicted by DLco, FVC, Borg score and HAQ-DI. Age, sex, disease duration, anti-topoisomerase antibodies and mRSS were not significantly associated with severity of pulmonary fibrosis on CaM- and CoVR methods. Conclusions Although a close correlation between CaM score results and CoVR total score was found, CaM analysis showed a more significant correlation with DLco (more so than the FVC), patient-centred measures of perceived dyspnea and functional disability. Computer-aided tomographic analysis is computationally efficient, and in combination with physiologic and patient-centred measures, it could allow a means for accurately assessing and monitoring the disease progression or response to therapy.
Identification of the quantitative trait loci for grain rate in maize

Grain rate (GR) is a very important trait in maize ( Zea mays L.) breeding program related to yield. To realize its genetic basis, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population and different nitrogen (N) regimes were used to map the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for GR in maize. As a result, two QTLs were identified under high N regime and could explain a total of 14.84% of phenotypic variance. Due to additive effect, the QTL on chromosome 6 could decrease 0.029 of GR, while the QTL on chromosome 9 could increase 0.0203 of GR. Under low N regime, one QTL was mapped on chromosome 6 and could account for 9.52% of phenotypic variance, and owning to additive effect, the QTL could make GR decrease by 0.0234. The result in comparison with previous studies showed that the three QTLs in this present study were new quantitative loci associated with GR in maize. These results were beneficial for understanding the genetic basis of GR in maize. Key words : Maize ( Zea mays L.), grain rate, quantitative trait locus, recombinant inbred line, nitrogen.
No Time: Stress and the Crisis of Modern Life

Everyone agrees: there aren't enough hours in the day. But what happened to the promise that technology would provide more leisure time? Instead, everyone is working harder and longer than they did 15 years ago, squeezed and scattered and stressed to the point of burnout. Coping with the dizzying pace of a society drowning in information overload, it's a wonder anyone functions normally. Building on the success of "Whose Brave New World? and "Fastforward and Out of Control, Heather Menzies takes readers on a sobering tour of this troubling phenomenon, highlighting personal stories from a workaholic father and a woman suffering from chronic fatigue. Menzies details the root causes of the frantic quest to speed everything up; looks at the especially difficult situation for those such as teachers, nurses, and social workers who are responsible for social well being; and offers commonsense solutions to a problem affecting all of society.
Preserving Micro Data Release: Categorical and Numerical Data

Data mining techniques, in spite of their benefit in a wide range of applications have also raised threat to privacy and data security. All the attributes in a data base table can be classified into three categories as identifying attributes, sensitive attributes and quasi-identifier attributes. K- Anonymity is the popular approach for privacy preserving data mining and the problems with K- anonymity were overcome by the techniques like l-diversity and t- closeness. Even though, all these techniques increase privacy, they account for too much of information loss. Also the computational complexity of these techniques is high. The privacy problem is addressed by fuzzy based approach for numerical attributes and taxonomy tree based mapping table approach for categorical attribute. The Privacy Level, Disclosure Level values given by the individual allows personalized privacy preservation. Also fuzzy treatment to quasi identifier attribute avoids linking attacks. The proposed Fuzzy and mapping table based, privacy preserving publication of data, requires less computational effort but preserve information, compared to perturbation methods and other K- Anonymity methods.
A modulation strategy for matrix converter with extended control range and reduced switching power losses

This paper is focused on the enhancement of the control range of matrix converters (MCs) operating with non-unity input power factor and, at the same time, on the reduction of the switching power losses. The analysis leads to the determination in closed form of a modulation strategy that features a control range, in terms of output voltage and input power factor, that is greater than that of the traditional strategies under the same operating conditions, and a reduction in the switching power losses. The idea behind the improvement of the modulation strategy is that the control system takes advantage of the information provided by the measurement of load currents, which are usually available in electric drives, and uses a quick algorithm to reduce the number of switch commutations. The feasibility of the proposed strategy is verified by computer simulations and experimental tests.
Interestingness-Based Interval Merger for Numeric Association Rules

We present an algorithm for mining association rules from relational tables containing numeric and categorical attributes. The approach is to merge adjacent intervals of numeric values, in a bottom-up manner, on the basis of maximizing the interestingness of a set of association rules. A modification of the B-tree is adopted for performing this task efficiently. The algorithm takes O(kN) I/O time, where k is the number of attributes and N is the number of rows in the table. We evaluate the effectiveness of producing good intervals.
Regulatory roles of conserved phosphorylation sites in the activation T-loop of the MAP kinase ERK1

Phosphorylation of two highly conserved phosphosites preceding the kinase catalytic subdomain VIII region in the activation T-loop of the MAP kinase ERK1 negatively regulates its protein phosphotransferase activity. Hyperphosphorylation of most protein-serine/threonine kinases in this manner may be a general mechanism for their down-regulation.
What else works? : creative work with offenders

Part I 1. Introduction by Francis Cowe, Jo Brayford and John Deering 2. Creative Work: An Historical Perspective by Maurice Vanstone 3. Travelling Hopefully: Desistance Theory and Probation Practice by Beth Weaver and Fergus McNeill 4. Bringing Sense and Sensitivity to Corrections: from Programmes to 'Fix' Offenders to Services to Support Desistance by Frank J. Porporino Part II 5. Women Offenders: More Troubled than Troublesome? by Jenny Roberts 6. Residential Work with Adult Offenders: Greenhouses or Warehouses? by Francis Cowe and Sally Cherry 7. Creative Working with Minority Ethnic Offenders by Pauline Durrance, Liz Dixon and Hindpal Singh Bhui 8. Asset-based Welfare and Youth Justice: Making it Local by Mark Drakeford and Lee Gregory 9. Dancing through Gaps: a Welsh Approach to Personal Support in Custody for Young People by Jo Brayford and Duncan Holtom 10. Contemporary Sex Offender Treatment: Incorporating the Circles of Support and Good Lives Model by Mark S. Carich, Chris Wilson, Peter A. Carich and Martin C. Calder 11. Getting Out: Offenders in Forestry and Conservation Work Settings by Claudia Carter and Aaron Pycroft 12. Putting the OM into NOMS: Problems and Possibilities for Offender Management by Mike Maguire and Peter Raynor 13. What Else Works - Back to the Future? by Jo Brayford, Francis Cowe and John Deering
A PCA/ICA based feature selection method and its application for corn fungi detection

Dimensionality reduction algorithms help reduce the classification time and sometimes the classification error. For time critical applications, in order to have reduction in the feature acquisition phase, feature selection is preferable to dimensionality reduction, which requires measurement of all inputs. Traditional feature selection methods, such as forward or backward selection, are costly to implement. We introduce a new feature selection method that decides on features to retain, based on how PCA (Principal Component Analysis) or ICA (Independent Component Analysis) values them. We compare the accuracy of our method to PCA and ICA using the same number of principal/independent components. We also do comparison to backward and forward selection with the same number of features. For our experiments, we use spectral measurement data taken from corn kernels infested and undamaged by fungi. Our algorithm selects features with almost as good classification accuracy as forward/backward selection and is a lot faster than those algorithms. It also results in better classification accuracy then using the same number of principal/independent components.
Modeling of Nanoscale Devices

We aim to provide engineers with an introduction to the nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) approach, which is a powerful conceptual tool and a practical analysis method to treat nanoscale electronic devices with quantum mechanical and atomistic effects. We first review the basis for the traditional, semiclassical description of carriers that has served device engineers for more than 50 years. We then describe why this traditional approach loses validity at the nanoscale. Next, we describe semiclassical ballistic transport and the Landauer-Buttiker approach to phase-coherent quantum transport. Realistic devices include interactions that break quantum mechanical phase and also cause energy relaxation. As a result, transport in nanodevices is between diffusive and phase coherent. We introduce the NEGF approach, which can be used to model devices all the way from ballistic to diffusive limits. This is followed by a summary of equations that are used to model a large class of structures such as nanotransistors, carbon nanotubes, and nanowires. Applications of the NEGF method in the ballistic and scattering limits to silicon nanotransistors are discussed.
Aging and Mastication: Changes in Performance and in the Swallowing Threshold with Natural Dentition †

Few comprehensive studies of oral function have been conducted on adult populations. A “Longitudinal and Cross‐Sectional Study of Oral Health in Healthy Veterans” was activated at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Boston in 1969; it included general oral and dental examinations as well as tests of masticatory performance and the swallowing threshold. The current investigation involved 863 subjects from the “Dental Study” who had either their natural teeth or a fixed replacement for missing teeth. Masticatory performance as measured by the subject's ability to reduce a test portion of cut carrot by a mandatory number of chewing strokes remained constant for persons with complete or partially compromised natural dentition. Swallowing threshold performance as measured by the particle size acceptable for swallowing remained constant for persons with complete dentition. Tooth loss significantly decreased the swallowing threshold performance and increased the particle size which the subject was willing to swallow. Older subjects increased the number of chewing strokes and the time required for this test, an observation not related to performance as measured by final particle size. Only with compromised dentition, however, did this increased effort result in increased performance. The results of this study indicate the persistence of masticatory performance (fixed number of strokes per second) with age, and also indicate an age‐related and dentition‐related increase in the effort expended by the subject to prepare the test food for swallowing.
Title Stata.com Meqrlogit — Multilevel Mixed-effects Logistic Regression (qr Decomposition)

Syntax Menu Description Options Remarks and examples Stored results Methods and formulas References Also see Syntax meqrlogit depvar fe equation || re equation || re equation. , options where the syntax of fe equation is indepvars if in , fe options and the syntax of re equation is one of the following: for random coefficients and intercepts levelvar: varlist , re options for random effects among the values of a factor variable levelvar: R.varname , re options levelvar is a variable identifying the group structure for the random effects at that level or is all representing one group comprising all observations. fe options Description Model noconstant suppress constant term from the fixed-effects equation offset(varname) include varname in model with coefficient constrained to 1 re options Description Model covariance(vartype) variance–covariance structure of the random effects noconstant suppress constant term from the random-effects equation collinear keep collinear variables 1 2 meqrlogit — Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression (QR decomposition) options Description Model binomial(varname | #) set binomial trials if data are in binomial form Reporting level(#) set confidence level; default is level(95) or report fixed-effects coefficients as odds ratios variance show random-effects parameter estimates as variances and covariances; the default stddeviations show random-effects parameter estimates as standard deviations and correlations noretable suppress random-effects table nofetable suppress fixed-effects table estmetric show parameter estimates in the estimation metric noheader suppress output header nogroup suppress table summarizing groups nolrtest do not perform likelihood-ratio test comparing with logistic regression display options control column formats, row spacing, line width, display of omitted variables and base and empty cells, and factor-variable labeling
VoiceXML and the W3C Speech Interface Framework

VoiceXML is a markup language for creating voice-user interfaces. It uses speech and telephone touchtone recognition for input and prerecorded audio and text-to-speech synthesis (TTS) for output. It's based on the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C's) Extensible Markup Language (XML) and leverages the Web paradigm for application development and deployment. By having a common language, application developers, platform vendors, and tool providers all can benefit from code portability and reuse. The paper discusses VoiceXML and the W3C speech interface framework.