Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Halitosis: a review of current literature.

PURPOSE Halitosis is defined as an unpleasant odor that emanates from the oral cavity with intra-oral and/or extra-oral origins. Fifty percent of people worldwide view themselves as having halitosis, with 90% of the etiology being intra-oral. Dental hygiene practitioners should be knowledgeable about the current classifications, diagnosis and treatment modalities to best meet the needs of patients either self-reporting or diagnosed with this problem. Classification of halitosis, assessment, diagnosis, intra-oral and systemic contributing factors, treatment, management and clinical application are discussed in this review.
Image denoising based on sparse representation and gradient histogram

Various image priors, such as sparsity prior, non-local self-similarity prior and gradient histogram prior, have been widely used for noise removal, while preserving the image texture. However, the gradient histogram prior used for texture enhancement sometimes generates false textures in the smooth areas. In order to address these problems, the authors propose a robust algorithm combining gradient histogram with sparse representation to obtain good estimates of the sparse coding coefficients of the latent image and realising image denoising while preserving the texture. The proposed model is solved by having a balance between over-enhancement and over-smoothing of the texture in order to preserve the natural texture appearance. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Modeling the Performance of Large-Scale Systems

Performance modeling can be used throughout the development, deployment, and maintenance of system hardware and application software. In this work we illustrate three uses of performance modeling on large-scale systems: the verification of performance during system installation, the comparison of two large-scale systems, and the prediction of performance on possible future architectures. We detail how a performance model gave an expectation of the performance of ASCI Q, a 20Tflop system recently installed at Los Alamos. A comparison between ASCI Q and the Earth Simulator is also detailed resulting in the sizing of an AlphaServer system that has the same performance as the Earth Simulator. Our modeling approach is application centric. A detailed model is developed for each application of interest based on a static analysis of the code but parameterized in terms of its dynamic behavior.
Spatial characterization of electric potentials generated by pulsed microelectrode arrays

This presentation is a report on the in situ characterization of stimulating microelectrodes in the context of multielectrode retinal prosthetic implants. The experimental system approximately replicates the geometric and electrical parameters of Second Sight® Medical Products' Argus™ II Retinal Implant. Topographic maps of electric potentials have been prepared for a 60 electrode structure in which selected electrodes were stimulated with biphasic repetitively pulsed charge densities at 100 µC·cm−2. Surface contour maps were prepared using a 10 µm diameter recording electrode.
Improving 3D EM data segmentation by joint optimization over boundary evidence and biological priors

We present a new automated neuron segmentation algorithm for isotropic 3D electron microscopy data. We cast the problem into the asymmetric multiway cut framework. The latter combines boundary-based segmentation (clustering) with region-based segmentation (semantic labeling) in a single problem and objective function. This joint formulation allows us to augment local boundary evidence with higherlevel biological priors, such as membership to an axonic or dendritic neurite. Joint optimization enforces consistency between evidence and priors, leading to correct resolution of many difficult boundary configurations. We show experimentally on a FIB/SEM dataset of mouse cortex that the new approach outperforms existing hierarchical segmentation and multicut algorithms which only use boundary evidence.
The Role of Hand Dominance in Beginning Braille Readers

Tessa Wright Recently, researchers from the Alphabetic Braille and Contracted Braille Study (ABC Braille Study) presented the results of an analysis of hand movements, a subset of the data from the study (Carlsen, Hannan, & Wormsley; 2007; Carlsen & Wormsley, 2008). This subset of data dealt with the patterns and characteristics of hand movements as a method of optimizing reading efficiency. During these presentations, although information was presented on the effects of reading with one hand versus two, the right hand versus the left, and so forth, the role of hand dominance was frequently questioned. The hand movements that braille readers use when reading have been classified into the following patterns: right hand only, left hand only, left hand marks while right hand reads, parallel, partial independent use of hands (split), or complete independent use of hands (scissors) (Kusajima, 1974; Wormsley, 1979). Two-handed methods are generally regarded as more efficient than one-handed methods. Parallel, split, and scissors patterns are considered the “active” two-hand methods. The split pattern is generally accepted to be more sophisticated and efficient than the parallel pattern, and the scissors pattern is generally accepted to be the most sophisticated and efficient (Wormsley 1979, 1996). A detailed description of hand movement patterns can be found in Wright, Wormsley, and KameiHannan (2009). Hand dominance refers to whether an individual is “right handed” or “left handed. ” Little research, however, has targeted the importance of hand dominance for reading patterns in children who are blind and read
A Descriptor Approach to Robust Leader-Following Output Consensus of Uncertain Multi-Agent Systems With Delay

In this technical note, a descriptor approach to leader-following output consensus of multi-agent systems with both stationary and dynamic leaders is given in the presence of transmission delay and model uncertainty. The proposed method can deal with stable and unstable agents described by general linear models. To this end, a new proportional-derivative-integral (PID) consensus protocol for the closed-loop multi-agent system is proposed under a directed graph. Applying this consensus protocol to the multi-agent system leads to a time-delay closed-loop equation of neutral type. To deal with the resulting neutral system, a descriptor model transformation is used to derive delay-dependent sufficient conditions for the existence of the consensus protocol in terms of certain linear matrix inequalities (LMI). The application of the proposed method is illustrated in a teleoperation system. Simulation results are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Differences in cognitive, motivational and contextual variables between under‐achieving, normally‐achieving, and over‐achieving students: A mixed‐effects analysis

Abstract Background: There are few studies in Spain which analyze the influence of individual, motivational and contextual variables, which might be different between underachieving, normally achieving and overachieving students. Method: A total of 1,398 Spanish high school students participated. Mixed‐effects models were used to analyze data. Results: The results showed some evidence of: (a) Partial mediational effect of self‐concept on the association between cognitive ability and academic achievement. (b) Higher levels of learning goals in the overachieving group than in the underachieving group, but no differences in achievement and reinforcement goals between groups. (c) Positive effect of learning strategies on attainment, both in the underachieving and the nonunderachieving students. (d) Little effect of context variables on academic achievement, both in the underachieving and non‐underachieving students. Conclusions: Underachieving students seem to employ all the learning strategies considered to a lesser extent than normally and overachieving students. They also have a lower level of learning goals. On the contrary, overachieving students score more highly than under and normally achieving students in almost all of the above factors. Resumen Diferencias en variables cognitivas, motivacionales y contextuales entre alumnado con rendimiento menor, igual y mayor al esperado: análisis de efectos mixtos. Antecedentes: apenas existen estudios en España que analicen la influencia de variables cognitivas, motivacionales y contextuales capaces de establecer diferencias entre los estudiantes con rendimiento menor, igual y mayor al esperado. Método: participaron 1.398 estudiantes españoles de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. Se emplearon modelos de efectos mixtos para el análisis de datos. Resultados: los resultados mostraron evidencia de: (a) efecto mediacional parcial del auto‐concepto en la asociación de la habilidad cognitiva y el rendimiento académico; (b) mayores niveles de metas de aprendizaje en el grupo de estudiantes con rendimiento mayor al esperado; (c) efecto positivo de las estrategias de aprendizaje sobre el rendimiento en todos los grupos; (d) efecto pequeño de las variables contextuales sobre el rendimiento en todos los grupos. Conclusiones: los estudiantes con rendimiento menor al esperado emplean en menor medida las estrategias de aprendizaje y las metas orientadas al aprendizaje. Por el contrario, los estudiantes con rendimiento mayor al esperado muestran niveles superiores que el resto de grupos en la mayor parte de variables. Palabras clave: rendimiento menor al esperado, rendimiento mayor al esperado, Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, Análisis de Efectos Mixtos.
Visual categorization method with a Bag of PCA packed Keypoints

Visual categorization is one of a key function in the next generation of a driving assist system, which is expected to reduce a traffic accident. This paper proposes a high performance visual categorization method, which is based on Feature Accelerated Segment Test (FAST) feature point detectors, Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HOG) feature descriptors and Bag-of-Keypoints (BoK). Each feature descriptors were orthogonalized by applying the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the size of dimension. As a result, our proposed method has achieved the recognition rate of 69.5% and the performance of 43.1 ms on a PC in order to categorize one object in an image into traffic related categories, i.e. pedestrians, cars, bikes, bicycles, and so on. The comparison with conventional methods will be also discussed.
Kinetic modeling of [99mTc]TRODAT-1: a dopamine transporter imaging agent.

UNLABELLED [99mTc]Technetium[2-[[2-[[[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo [3.2.1] oct-2-yl]-methyl] (2-mercaptoethyl) amino] ethyl] amino] ethane-thiolato(3-)-N2,N2',S2,S2']oxo-[1R-(exo-exo)] ([99mTc] TRODAT-1) is a useful imaging agent for central nervous system dopamine transporters. The purpose of this study was to characterize the in vivo binding potential and kinetic rate constants of this agent in nonhuman primates. METHODS A series of four SPECT scans were performed on each of two female baboons with a bolus injection of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 (717+/-78 MBq; 19.38+/-2.12 mCi). Dynamic images of the brain were acquired over 4 h using a triple-head camera equipped with fan-beam collimators. Arterial and venous blood were sampled frequently using a peristaltic pump throughout the duration of the study. Regions of interest were drawn on the corresponding MRI scan to which each functional image was coregistered. Using analytical solutions to the three-compartment model with the Levenberg-Marquardt minimization technique, each study was individually fitted to a kinetic parameter vector (method I). Additionally, within each subject, three corresponding intrasubject studies were fitted simultaneously to a single parameter vector by constraining the binding potential, distribution volume and dissociation rate constant to improve the identifiability of the parameter estimates (method II). RESULTS The results clearly indicated that [99mTc] TRODAT-1 localized in the striatum with slower washout rate than other brain regions. A maximal target/nontarget ratio of 3.5 between striatum and cerebellum was obtained. SPECT image analysis of the striatum yielded unconstrained k3/k4 values of 3.4+/-1.4, 2.4+/-0.7, 3.0+/-1.5, and 4.0+/-10.3, with respective constrained (fixed k4) values of 2.9 +/- 0.4, 2.4 +/- 0.4, 1.7+/-0.4 and 1.8+/-0.4 in one baboon using method I. With method II, the corresponding simultaneously fitted values were 2.1+/-0.3 using no constraints and 2.2+/-0.2 using a fixed k4. The second baboon had similar results. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the binding potential and corresponding kinetic rate constants can be reliably estimated in nonhuman primates with dynamic SPECT imaging of the dopamine transporter using a technetium-based tropane analogue. Furthermore, method II parameter vectors compare favorably to those produced using method I based on SEEs.
ANEW NON‐‐EXERCISE‐BASED VO2MAX PREDICTION EQUATION FOR AEROBICALLY TRAINED MENz

The purposes of the present study were to (a) modify previously published VO2max equations using the constant error (CE = mean difference between actual and predicted VO2max) values from Malek et al. (28); (b) cross-validate the modified equations to determine their accuracy for estimating VO2max in aerobically trained men; (c) derive a new non–exercise-based equation for estimating VO2max in aerobically trained men if the modified equations are not found to be accurate; and (d) cross-validate the new VO2max equation using the predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) statistic and an independent sample of aerobically trained men. One hundred and fifty-two aerobically trained men (VO2max mean ± SD = 4,154 ± 629 ml·min-1) performed a maximal incremental test on a cycle ergometer to determine actual VO2max. An aerobically trained man was defined as someone who had participated in continuous aerobic exercise 3 or more sessions per week for a minimum of 1 hour per session for at least the past 18 months. Nine previously published VO2max equations were modified for use with aerobically trained men. The predicted VO2max values from the 9 modified equations were compared to actual VO2max by examining the CE, standard error of estimate (SEE), validity coefficient (r), and total error (TE). Cross-validation of the modified non–exercise-based equations on a random subsample of 50 subjects resulted in a %TE ≥ 13% of the mean of actual VO2max. Therefore, the following non-exercise-based VO2max equation was derived from a random subsample of 112 subjects: VO2max (ml·min-1) = 27.387(weight in kg) + 26.634(height in cm) - 27.572(age in years) + 26.161(h·wk-1 of training) + 114.904(intensity of training using the Borg 6-20 scale) + 506.752(natural log of years of training) - 4,609.791 (R = 0.82, R2 adjusted = 0.65, and SEE = 378 ml·min-1). Cross-validation of this equation on the remaining sample of 40 subjects resulted in a %TE of 10%. Therefore, the non-exercise-based equation derived in the present study is recommended for estimating VO2max in aerobically trained men.
A WDM control architecture and destination conflicts analysis

The well‐known Single‐hop Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks using passive star topology, provide direct connection between the source and the destination of a data packet but require some pretransmission coordination between the stations over a control channel. Since the electronic processing bottleneck that the single control channel architecture introduces is high, we propose a new WDM control architecture to overcome this problem. Also, we develop and analyse a queueing model of the network in order to obtain the queue length distribution and loss probabilities at the receiving sides of the stations. A rigourous method is developed to examine the receiver collision phenomenon and to evaluate the performance reduction due to the finite number of tuneable receivers at each station and finite population. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Privacy and Communication Complexity

Each of two parties $P_\mathcal{X} $ and $P_\matcal{Y} $ holds an n-bit input, x and y, respectively. They wish to privately compute the value of $f( x,y )$. That is, $P_\mathcal{X} $ should not le.
Polyamine Metabolism Is Sensitive to Glycolysis Inhibition in Human Neuroblastoma Cells*

Background: Polyamine metabolism is relevant in neuroblastoma progression. Results: Polyamine synthesis is hampered by glycolysis inhibition in neuroblastoma cells. Conclusion: Glycolysis inhibition triggers signaling events leading to decrease of N-Myc and ODC levels, resulting in decreased polyamine synthesis. Significance: Combined therapies targeting glucose metabolism and polyamine synthesis could be effective in the treatment of n-myc-expressing tumors. Polyamines are essential for cell proliferation, and their levels are elevated in many human tumors. The oncogene n-myc is known to potentiate polyamine metabolism. Neuroblastoma, the most frequent extracranial solid tumor in children, harbors the amplification of n-myc oncogene in 25% of the cases, and it is associated with treatment failure and poor prognosis. We evaluated several metabolic features of the human neuroblastoma cell lines Kelly, IMR-32, and SK-N-SH. We further investigated the effects of glycolysis impairment in polyamine metabolism in these cell lines. A previously unknown linkage between glycolysis impairment and polyamine reduction is unveiled. We show that glycolysis inhibition is able to trigger signaling events leading to the reduction of N-Myc protein levels and a subsequent decrease of both ornithine decarboxylase expression and polyamine levels, accompanied by cell cycle blockade preceding cell death. New anti-tumor strategies could take advantage of the direct relationship between glucose deprivation and polyamine metabolism impairment, leading to cell death, and its apparent dependence on n-myc. Combined therapies targeting glucose metabolism and polyamine synthesis could be effective in the treatment of n-myc-expressing tumors.
Alternative-NHEJ Is a Mechanistically Distinct Pathway of Mammalian Chromosome Break Repair

Characterizing the functional overlap and mutagenic potential of different pathways of chromosomal double-strand break (DSB) repair is important to understand how mutations arise during cancer development and treatment. To this end, we have compared the role of individual factors in three different pathways of mammalian DSB repair: alternative-nonhomologous end joining (alt-NHEJ), single-strand annealing (SSA), and homology directed repair (HDR/GC). Considering early steps of repair, we found that the DSB end-processing factors KU and CtIP affect all three pathways similarly, in that repair is suppressed by KU and promoted by CtIP. In contrast, both KU and CtIP appear dispensable for the absolute level of total-NHEJ between two tandem I-SceI–induced DSBs. During later steps of repair, we find that while the annealing and processing factors RAD52 and ERCC1 are important to promote SSA, both HDR/GC and alt-NHEJ are significantly less dependent upon these factors. As well, while disruption of RAD51 causes a decrease in HDR/GC and an increase in SSA, inhibition of this factor did not affect alt-NHEJ. These results suggest that the regulation of DSB end-processing via KU/CtIP is a common step during alt-NHEJ, SSA, and HDR/GC. However, at later steps of repair, alt-NHEJ is a mechanistically distinct pathway of DSB repair, and thus may play a unique role in mutagenesis during cancer development and therapy.
Assessment the Trend of Inequality in the Distribution of Intensive Care Beds in Iran: Using GINI Index

Background and Aim: While most of the published researches have reported the amount of inequity in geographical distribution of important health resources, only a small number of studies have focused on the trend of inequality in the distribution of these resources. The purpose of this study was to determine the trend of inequality in the distribution of intensive care beds in Iran during 2010 to 2012 by using the Gini coefficient. Methods: This is a cross-sectional research conducted in 2013. The changes over three years (2010 to 2012) were calculated by Gini coefficient to investigate the trend of inequality in geographical distribution of intensive care beds (CCU, ICU and NICU). Results: The Gini coefficient for CCU beds was calculated as 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06 in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The Gini coefficient for ICU beds was calculated as 0.03, 0.05 and 0.05 in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Also, the Gini coefficient for NICU bed was calculated as 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04 in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Conclusion: Regarding to Gini coefficient, the trend of inequality was increased in the distribution of intensive care beds in Iran. Particularly, the inequalities in distribution of CCU beds were significantly increased during past years. In fact, if this trend of inequality continues, the distribution of intensive care beds will be extremely unequal in the next five years in Iran.
The `teacher called mommy': A qualitative study of the experience and meaning of teaching one's own child in an early childhood setting

THE 'TEACHER CALLED MOMMY': A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE EXPERIENCE AND MEANING OF TEACHING ONE’S OWN CHILD IN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTING SEPTEMBER 1996 DOROTHY A. BAUER, B. A. , POMONA COLLEGE M. Ed., LESLEY COLLEGE Ed. D. , UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Maurianne Adams The successful development of children in the early childhood years is facilitated by positive interrelationships within the child's ecosystem. This ecosystem is composed of the family and home environment, and the schools, child care centers, and teachers involved with the child's education and care. However, the educational literature reports conflicts between teachers and parents over the education and guidance of children in the United States throughout this century. The misunderstanding and confusion surrounding the different perspectives of teachers and parents can be problematic for the child's growth and development, and can jeopardize communication between the school and the home. Clarification of the similarities and differences between the teacher and parent roles will add to our understanding of these multiple perspectives, as they influence the child, and will suggest ways to improve teacher preparation with regard to parent and family communication.
Improvement of journal bearing operation at heavy misalignment using bearing flexibility and compliant liners

A flexure journal bearing design is proposed that will improve operational behaviour of a journal bearing at pronounced misalignment. Using a thermoelastohydrodynamic model, it is shown that the proposed flexure journal bearing has vastly increased the hydrodynamic performance compared to the stiff bearing when misaligned. The hydrodynamic performance is evaluated on lubricant film thickness, pressure and temperature. Furthermore, the influence of a compliant bearing liner is investigated and it is found that it increases the hydrodynamic performance when applied to a stiff bearing, whereas the liner has practically no influence on the flexure journal bearing's performance.