Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nur Cartoon Effect and Ambient Illumination Based Depth Perception Assessment of 3 D Video

Monitored 3-Dimensional (3D) video experience can be utilized as “feedback information” to fine tune the service parameters for providing a better service to the demanding 3D service customers. The 3D video experience which includes both video quality and depth perception is influenced by several contextual and content related factors (e.g., ambient illumination condition, content characteristics, etc) due to the complex nature of the 3D video. Therefore, effective factors on this experience should be utilized while assessing it. In this paper, structural information of the depth map sequences of the 3D video is considered as content related factor effective on the depth perception assessment. Cartoon-like filter is utilized to abstract the significant depth levels in the depth map sequences to determine the structural information. Moreover, subjective experiments are conducted using 3D videos associated with cartoon-like depth map sequences to investigate the effectiveness of ambient illumination condition, which is a contextual factor, on depth perception. Using the knowledge gained through this study, 3D video experience metrics can be developed to deliver better service to the 3D video service users. Keywords—3D Video, Ambient Illumination, Cartoon Effect, Depth Perception.
The Influence of Neck Muscle Activation on Head and Neck Injuries of Occupants in Frontal Impacts

The aim of the present paper was to study the influence of neck muscle activation on head and neck injuries of vehicle occupants in frontal impacts. A mixed dummy-human finite element model was developed to simulate a frontal impact. The head-neck part of a Hybrid III dummy model was replaced by a well-validated head-neck FE model with passive and active muscle characteristics. The mixed dummy-human FE model was validated by 15 G frontal volunteer tests conducted in the Naval Biodynamics Laboratory. The effects of neck muscle activation on the head dynamic responses and neck injuries of occupants in three frontal impact intensities, low speed (10 km/h), medium speed (30 km/h), and high speed (50 km/h), were studied. The results showed that the mixed dummy-human FE model has good biofidelity. The activation of neck muscles can not only lower the head resultant acceleration under different impact intensities and the head angular acceleration in medium- and high-speed impacts, thereby reducing the risks of head injury, but also protect the neck from injury in low-speed impacts.
The Locality Descriptor: A Holistic Cross-Layer Abstraction to Express Data Locality In GPUs

Exploiting data locality in GPUs is critical to making more efficient use of the existing caches and the NUMA-based memory hierarchy expected in future GPUs. While modern GPU programming models are designed to explicitly express parallelism, there is no clear explicit way to express data locality—i.e., reuse-based locality to make efficient use of the caches, or NUMA locality to efficiently utilize a NUMA system. On the one hand, this lack of expressiveness makes it a very challenging task for the programmer to write code to get the best performance out of the memory hierarchy. On the other hand, hardware-only architectural techniques are often suboptimal as they miss key higher-level program semantics that are essential to effectively exploit data locality. In this work, we propose the Locality Descriptor, a crossl-ayer abstraction to explicitly express and exploit data locality in GPUs. The Locality Descriptor (i) provides the software a flexible and portable interface to optimize for data locality, requiring no knowledge of the underlying memory techniques and resources, and (ii) enables the architecture to leverage key program semantics and effectively coordinate a range of techniques (e.g., CTA scheduling, cache management, memory placement) to exploit locality in a programmer-transparent manner. We demonstrate that the Locality Descriptor improves performance by 26.6% on average (up to 46.6%) when exploiting reuse-based locality in the cache hierarchy, and by 53.7% (up to 2.8X) when exploiting NUMA locality in a NUMA memory system.
Influences of the Mandated Presence of ICT in Saudi Arabia Secondary Schools

 Abstract—In the Saudi Arabia secondary school context, ICT integration is simultaneously the product of a mandate to ICT adoption and the ultimate goal of the education reform. This study utilizes an implementation, Concerns-Based Adoption Model, evaluation, and grounded theory approach together with a thematic analysis to explore the ways of making ICT integration in Saudi schools strategic by identifying stages of concern and levels of use, determining technical, political, and cultural implementation factors, and studying the ways of balancing technology with Islamic values in three specific subject domains (mathematics, science, and Arabic). The findings indicate that mandatory uses of ICT integration impede the transition from ICT adoption to ICT implementation within the overall education reform.
Beautiful eyes guiding powerful hands - The role of intraoperative imaging techniques in the surgical management of gliomas

The aims of the surgical management of cerebral gliomas are to achieve the widest feasible resection and preserve the patient’s functional integrity. This results in an improved survival rate and a favourable quality of life. When treating this disease, current neuroradiological techniques are important for preoperative depiction and planning, and intraoperative image-guided resection, especially when the tumour involves eloquent cortical and subcortical structures. Knowledge of these techniques and their limitations, and appropriate expertise are therefore necessary to gain the complete benefit of their diagnostic and therapeutic power.
ALZA: An Efficient Hybrid Decentralized Payment System

The efficiency of decentralized book systems like Bitcoin and Ethereum has always been a challenge. It is usually measured by three major factors: scalability, throughput, and latency. Scalability refers to how the system capacity is increased by adding more physical resources. Throughput measures the volume of transactions for a given period of time, where most current solutions attempt to improve such as NEO, EOS, etc. Latency measures the processing time of any single transaction. In current blockchain based systems, the block generation rate is the main latency bottleneck. Off-chain processes such as state channels are the most recent work that can integrate partial inbound transactions, reducing latency. Unfortunately, the state channel introduces more issues at the same time, such as cross-channel synchronization, which makes the state channel unavailable for full adoption of current blockchain solutions. In order to solve the efficiency problem, we proposed an end-to-end solution called ALZA, which links the dedicated high-throughput blockchain with self-organizing payment fields. This mechanism allows arbitrary set of users to create payment fields that process extremely low latency transactions within each field. Therefore, users can make transactions almost immediately. Since all transactions are conducted within fields, transaction costs will be reduced by several orders of magnitude. In addition, ALZA distributes main ledger to each client through an innovative replication mechanism. Therefore, the system will be significantly more robust to blockchain system failures. In theory, ALZA can complete millions of transactions in one second, which naturally supports high-frequency trading.
Analysis of ketone-based neurosteroids by reactive low-temperature plasma mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE Neurosteroids are important signalling molecules that modulate neuronal activity. Their low concentrations and low volatility make neurosteroid detection and quantification by ambient mass spectrometry challenging. Here we develop a reactive low-temperature plasma mass spectrometry (LTP-MS) method and demonstrate its potential for fast screening and quantification of neurosteroids in mouse brain. METHODS Ketone-based neurosteroids were analysed with the LTP-MS method. The plasma of the LTP was heated in order to improve the desorption efficiency of low-volatility neurosteroids. Methylamine with a concentration of 500 ppbv was employed as the reactive reagent. Neurosteroids in mouse brain tissue extracts were detected in 70 s with mass errors less than ±3 ppm due to coupling of the ion source with a high-performance mass spectrometer. RESULTS Reaction between neurosteroids and methylamine, seeded into the LTP gas stream, resulted in the formation of protonated methylamine-neurosteroid adducts with 5- to 100-fold abundances, compared to [M + H]+ ions detected in non-reactive LTP-MS. The lowest detectable concentrations of neurosteroid standards were in the range of ng/mL. Concentrations of neurosteroids in male and female mouse brain extracts as determined with reactive LTP-MS were on the level of ng/g, comparable to results obtained with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. CONCLUSIONS The developed reactive LTP-MS is capable of providing sensitive identification and quantification of ketone-based neurosteroids in mouse brain extracts with minimal sample treatment, and showcases the potential of reactive LTP-MS as a tool for fast screening of neurosteroid levels in brain.
Upstream Ultrasonic Level Based Soft Sensing of Volumetric Flow of Non-Newtonian Fluids in Open Venturi Channels

Reliable flow measurements of drilling fluid entering and returning from the wellbore can improve safety of people and assets by avoiding kicks (blowouts) and fluid loss. The return flow with cuttings and entrained gas in the drilling fluid pose a big challenge to the rig operators. An indirect way of measuring the volumetric flow is by measuring the flow level in an already existing open channel in the flow loop, as this level changes with changing volumetric flow. In this paper, different mechanistic and machine learning models, based on one to three fluid levels at specific locations along the custom designed open Venturi channel, are presented. The mechanistic models involve tuning of different correction factors, related to fluid rheology. As rheological properties vary with time, and real-time rheological measurements are not available, these models are valid only for fluids with known rheology. With real-time density as an extra input, fluid specific machine learning models for mass flow, can be applied to any fluids. In contrast, the proposed machine learning models for volumetric flow are robust and not dependent on the rheological properties of the fluids. These models have mean absolute percentage error between 2.05% and 4.76%. Soft sensing of volumetric flow based on non-invasive level measurements presented here has an additional advantage for applications in harsh environments.
A Novel LncRNA, MuLnc1, Associated With Environmental Stress in Mulberry (Morus multicaulis)

Environmental stresses are major constraints that limit the leaf productivity and quality of mulberry. LncRNAs have emerged as important regulators in response to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. However, the functions and mechanisms of most lncRNAs remain largely unknown. A novel lncRNA designated as MuLnc1 was found to be cleaved by mul-miR3954 and produce secondary siRNAs in a 21 nt phase in mulberry. It was demonstrated that one of the siRNAs produced, si161579, can silence the expression of the calmodulin-like protein gene CML27 of mulberry (MuCML27). When MuCML27 was heterologously expressed in Arabidopsis, the transgenic plants exhibited enhanced resistance to Botrytis cinerea and Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000. In addition, the transgenic MuCML27-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants are more tolerant to salt and drought stresses. Furthermore, the network of mul-miR3954-MuLnc1-siRNAs-mRNAs was modeled to elucidate the interaction between lncRNAs and sRNAs with mRNAs. All of these, taken together, suggest that MuLnc1 was associated with environmental stress in mulberry and may be considered as a potential genetic improvement target gene of mulberry. The information provided may shed light on the complicated gene expression regulatory mechanisms in mulberry stress responses.
The Character of South Pole‐Aitken Basin: Patterns of Surface and Subsurface Composition

Using Moon Mineralogy Mapper data, we characterize surface diversity across the enormous South Pole‐Aitken Basin (SPA) by evaluating the abundance and composition of pyroxenes, which are overwhelmingly the most abundant mafic mineral in the region. Although SPA exhibits significant complexity due to billions of years of geologic processes subsequent to formation, the basin has retained regular patterns of compositional heterogeneity across its structure. Four distinct, roughly concentric zones are defined: (1) a central SPA compositional anomaly, which exhibits a pervasive elevated Ca,Fe‐rich pyroxene abundance; (2) a Mg‐pyroxene annulus, which is dominated by abundant Mg‐rich pyroxenes; (3) a heterogeneous annulus, which exhibits localized pyroxene‐rich areas spatially mixed with feldspathic materials; and (4) the SPA exterior, which is primarily feldspathic. Pyroxene compositions in the heterogeneous annulus are similar to those in the Mg‐pyroxene annulus, and Mg‐rich pyroxenes also underlie the more Ca,Fe‐rich pyroxene surface material across the SPA compositional anomaly. The establishment of these four distinct compositional zones across SPA constrains basin evolution models and serves to guide potential sample return (and other science) targets.
Research and application on occupational hazards regulation big data

Big date application soars in commercial and data industries. By analyzing overall framework of occupational hazards regulation big date platform, process from the source to the end-user and the occupational hazards regulation big data application architecture was illustrated in this issue. The data integration, analysis, processing and display technologies were researched to meet the requirements of occupational hazards regulation. Key technologies of big data will bring a new development opportunity for the construction of occupational hazards regulation platform.
Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles Open New Perspectives for Cancer Research

This review summarizes the current knowledge about human cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their emergence as mediators of a new important mechanism of cell-to-cell communication. A special focus is given on the increasing involvement of tumor cell-derived EVs in cancer. The increased amounts of tumor EVs, when compared with their physiological counterparts have been evidenced in various kinds of cancers. Moreover, these tumor EVs are conveying specific molecular components, proteins, mRNAs and miRNAs, DNA fragments. Some of these compounds actively participate to cancerization processes in the near or remote tumor environments. The cooperation in these tumor “communicasomes” of part of the 98% noncoding genomic DNA with the nano/micro extracellular bullets, long considered as cell “dust”, but in fact precisely reflecting the physiological state of the cells, is really fascinating. The search for cancer biomarkers in various tumor EVs is under intense investigation both “in vitro” and in the clinic. Potential use of some of these biomarkers, as biological theranostic tools for diagnosis/prognosis and therapy of many cancers, is a new hopeful thread in cancer research. However, there is still a long way before reaching the promising goal. The first priorities should be to ensure a standardization of EVs purification and nomenclature, to efficiently sort out the different EVs species among their greatly yet uncontrolled heterogeneity and to define a strategy for using the most relevant cancer biomarkers as theranostic tools in the battle to fight cancer.
Multiple sleep latency test in narcolepsy type 1 and narcolepsy type 2: A 5‐year follow‐up study

Excessively sleepy teenagers and young adults without sleep‐disordered breathing are diagnosed with either narcolepsy type 1 or narcolepsy type 2, or hypersomnia, based on the presence/absence of cataplexy and the results of a multiple sleep latency test. However, there is controversy surrounding this nomenclature. We will try to find the differences between different diagnoses of hypersomnia from the results of the long‐term follow‐up evaluation of a sleep study. We diagnosed teenagers who had developed excessive daytime sleepiness based on the criteria of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd edition. Each individual received the same clinical neurophysiologic testing every year for 5 years after the initial diagnosis of narcolepsy type 1 (n = 111) or type 2 (n = 46). The follow‐up evaluation demonstrated that narcolepsy type 1 (narcolepsy‐cataplexy) is a well‐defined clinical entity, with very reproducible clinical neurophysiologic findings over time, whereas patients with narcolepsy type 2 presented clear clinical and test variability. By the fifth year of the follow‐up evaluation, 17.6% of subjects did not meet the diagnostic criteria of narcolepsy type 2, and 23.9% didn't show any two sleep‐onset rapid eye movement periods in multiple sleep latency during the 5‐year follow‐up. Therefore narcolepsy type 1 (narcolepsy‐cataplexy) is a well‐defined syndrome, with the presentation clearly related to the known consequences of destruction of hypocretin/orexin neurons. Narcolepsy type 2 covers patients with clinical and test variability over time, thus bringing into question the usage of the term “narcolepsy” to label these patients.
In-network computing to the rescue of faulty links

Failing network links are usually disabled, and packets are routed around them until the links are repaired. While it is often possible to utilize some of a failing link's capacity, losing what remains of a link's capacity is typically deemed preferable to the erratic effect that unreliable links can have on application-level behavior. We describe a new network function that relies on in-network computing to limit the erratic effect of failing network links, to enable the continued use of those links until they can be repaired. We explore the design space using ns-3, and evaluate our implementation on a physical test-bed that includes programmable switches and reconfigurable hardware. Our current hardware prototype can almost saturate a 10GbE link while using around 10% of our FPGA's resources.
The Effects of Sodium Selenite on Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Reactive Oxygen Species Levels of In Vitro Matured Mouse Oocytes

Objective The aim of present study is to determine the effects of supplementation of oocyte maturation medium with sodium selenite (SS) on oocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Materials and Methods In this experimental study germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), and metaphase II (MII) stage oocytes were recovered from 6-8 week old female mice after superovulation. Some of the GV oocytes were cultured and matured in the presence and absence of SS. Then in vivo and in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes were subjected to mitochondria staining by MitoTracker green, ROS analysis, and mtDNA copy number determination using absolute real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results The maturation rate of GV oocytes to the MII stage significantly increased in the SS supplemented group (79.25%) compared to the control group (72.46%, P<0.05). The intensity of mitochondrial staining was not different among the studied groups, whereas the mitochondria distribution in the cytoplasm of the IVM oocytes showed some aggregation pattern. The in vivo obtained MII oocytes had lower ROS levels and higher mtDNA copy numbers than IVM-MII oocytes (P<0.05). The SS supplemented group had significantly lower ROS levels and higher mtDNA copy numbers than the non-treated group (P<0.05). Conclusion SS increased oocyte mtDNA copy number by decreasing oxidative stress. SS had an association with better oocyte developmental competence.
Integrating ICT in Pre-Primary Education: The Case of Mauritius

In this paper, we give an overview of how pre-primary education is conducted in different countries and also about the positive impact of ICT on early childhood education. Pre-primary education is gaining up more and more importance as it deals with young learners’ future. Brain-based research shows that the period from birth to the age of eight is a critical phase, so quality pre-primary education should be provided to the children for them to perform better in different skills such as mathematics, arts and languages. ICT can be used to enhance the traditional way of teaching and the learning processes. We are of the opinion that the integration of ICT can have long-lasting benefits however a limit should be placed on the amount of time that the young learners will spend in front of a computer screen. We have also made a substantial survey on the requirements of an online tool for pre-primary education in Mauritius. The results obtained are described and explained.
Association Between Psychological Interventions and Chronic Pain Outcomes in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance Chronic noncancer pain (hereafter referred to as chronic pain) is common among older adults and managed frequently with pharmacotherapies that produce suboptimal outcomes. Psychological treatments are recommended, but little information is available regarding their efficacy in older adults. Objective To determine the efficacy of psychological interventions in older adults with chronic pain and whether treatment effects vary by participant, intervention, and study characteristics. Data Sources MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to March 29, 2017. Study Selection Analysis included studies that (1) used a randomized trial design, (2) evaluated a psychological intervention that used cognitive behavioral modalities alone or in combination with another strategy, (3) enrolled individuals with chronic pain (pain ≥3 months) with a sample mean age of 60 years or older, and (4) reported preintervention and postintervention quantitative data. Data Extraction and Synthesis Two of the authors independently extracted data. A mixed-model meta-analysis tested the effects of treatment on outcomes. Analyses were performed to investigate the association between participant (eg, age), intervention (eg, treatment mode delivery), and study (eg, methodologic quality) characteristics with outcomes. Main Outcomes and Measures Pain intensity was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes included pain interference, depressive symptoms, anxiety, catastrophizing beliefs, self-efficacy for managing pain, physical function, and physical health. Results Twenty-two studies with 2608 participants (1799 [69.0%] women) were analyzed. Participants’ mean (SD) age was 71.9 (7.1) years. Differences of standardized mean differences (dD) at posttreatment were pain intensity (dD = −0.181, P = .006), pain interference (dD = −0.133, P = .12), depressive symptoms (dD = −0.128, P = .14), anxiety (dD = −0.205, P = .09), catastrophizing beliefs (dD = −0.184, P = .046), self-efficacy (dD = 0.193, P = .02), physical function (dD = 0.006, P = .96), and physical health (dD = 0.160, P = .24). There was evidence of effects persisting beyond the posttreatment assessment only for pain (dD = −0.251, P = .002). In moderator analyses, only mode of therapy (group vs individual) demonstrated a consistent effect in favor of group-based therapy. Conclusions and Relevance Psychological interventions for the treatment of chronic pain in older adults have small benefits, including reducing pain and catastrophizing beliefs and improving pain self-efficacy for managing pain. These results were strongest when delivered using group-based approaches. Research is needed to develop and test strategies that enhance the efficacy of psychological approaches and sustainability of treatment effects among older adults with chronic pain.