Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attitude and Heave Determination on Ships using MEMS-based Inertial Measurements

We conduct full-scale experimental validation and comparison of three different nonlinear attitude observers, two of them with inherent heave estimation, in two different operational scenarios encountered by an offshore vessel in the North Sea. Two different microelectro-mechanical inertial measurement units are the primary sensors for driving the nonlinear observers, which are aided by gyrocompasses and position reference systems. The results are compared with data from well-proven industry standard vertical reference units.
An Evaluation of Educational Neurological Eye Movement Disorder Videos Posted on Internet Video Sharing Sites

Background: Internet video sharing sites allow the free dissemination of educational material. This study investigated the quality and educational content of videos of eye movement disorders posted on such sites. Methods: Educational neurological eye movement videos were identified by entering the titles of the eye movement abnormality into the search boxes of the video sharing sites. Also, suggested links were followed from each video. The number of views, likes, and dislikes for each video were recorded. The videos were then rated for their picture and sound quality. Their educational value was assessed according to whether the video included a description of the eye movement abnormality, the anatomical location of the lesion (if appropriate), and the underlying diagnosis. Results: Three hundred fifty-four of these videos were found on YouTube and Vimeo. There was a mean of 6,443 views per video (range, 1–195,957). One hundred nineteen (33.6%) had no form of commentary about the eye movement disorder shown apart from the title. Forty-seven (13.3%) contained errors in the title or in the text. Eighty (22.6%) had excellent educational value by describing the eye movement abnormality, the anatomical location of the lesion, and the underlying diagnosis. Of these, 30 also had good picture and sound quality. The videos with excellent educational value had a mean of 9.84 “likes” per video compared with 2.37 for those videos without a commentary (P < 0.001). The videos that combined excellent educational value with good picture and sound quality had a mean of 10.23 “likes” per video (P = 0.004 vs videos with no commentary). There was no significant difference in the mean number of “dislikes” between those videos that had no commentary or which contained errors and those with excellent educational value. Conclusions: There are a large number of eye movement videos freely available on these sites; however, due to the lack of peer review, a significant number have poor educational value due to having no commentary or containing errors. The number of “likes” can help to identify videos with excellent educational value but the number of “dislikes” does not help in discerning which videos have poor educational value.
Studying computer game learning experience through eye tracking

The use of computer games has been a popular but controversial issue. Dickey (2005) points out that instructional technologists are prepared to borrow techniques from various fields of media such as film, television and comics. Computer games, however, are ignored in terms of advancing new methods for instructional models despite a body of research on computer games and the availability of edutainment material in market. Pagulayan, Keeker, Wixon, Romero and Fuller (2003) suggest that ‘the relationship between theories of game design and traditional HCI evaluation methods have yet to be defined but definitely yields an exciting future’. Recently, a few pioneering studies have investigated the use of computer games with eye tracking technology. Sennersten (2004), for example, studied eye movements in an action game tutorial, Kenny, Koesling, Delenay, McLoone and Ward (2005) investigated eye gaze data from a firstperson shooter game. Eye tracking studies can be either top-down or bottom-up. Topdown studies are based on cognitive theories whereas bottom-up approaches analyse the data without having any prior theories relating eye movements to cognitive activity (Ramloll, Trepagnier, Sebrechts & Beedasy, 2004).
Patient involvement in surgery treatment decisions for breast cancer.

PURPOSE High rates of mastectomy and marked regional variations have motivated lingering concerns about overtreatment and failure to involve women in treatment decisions. We examined the relationship between patient involvement in decision making and type of surgical treatment for women with breast cancer. METHODS All women with ductal carcinoma-in-situ and a 20% random sample of women with invasive breast cancer aged 79 years and younger who were diagnosed in 2002 and reported to the Detroit and Los Angeles Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries were identified and surveyed shortly after receipt of surgical treatment (response rate, 77.4%; n = 1,844). RESULTS Mean age was 60.1 years; 70.2% of the women were white, 18.0% were African American, and 11.8% were from other ethnic groups. Overall, 30.2% of women received mastectomy as initial treatment. Most women reported that they made the surgical decision (41.0%) or that the decision was shared (37.1%); 21.9% of patients reported that their surgeon made the decision with or without their input. Among white women, only 5.3% of patients whose surgeon made the decision received mastectomy compared with 16.8% of women who shared the decision and 27.0% of women who made the decision (P < .001, adjusted for clinical factors, predisposing factors, and number of surgeons visited). However, this association was not observed for African American women (Wald test 10.0, P = .041). CONCLUSION Most women reported that they made or shared the decision about surgical treatment. More patient involvement in decision making was associated with greater use of mastectomy. Racial differences in the association of involvement with receipt of treatment suggest that the decision-making process varies by racial groups.
Oligonucleotide primers for polymerase chain reaction amplification of human immunoglobulin variable genes and design of family‐specific oligonucleotide probes

In recent work, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to amplify rearranged mouse and human immunoglobulin heavy and χ light chain variable (V) genes. Here we have optimized the design of the PCR primers for human V genes and used them to amplify cDNA from human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cloning and sequencing revealed a diverse repertoire of V genes, and the presence of members of each human V gene family. After alignment of the sequences, we identified a region conserved within V gene families, but differing between families, and used this to design family‐specific oligonucleotide probes.
Is alpha/beta for prostate tumors really low?

PURPOSE Brenner and Hall's 1999 paper estimating an alpha/beta value of 1.5 Gy for prostate tumors has stimulated much interest in the question of whether this ratio (of intrinsic radiosensitivity to repair capacity) is much lower in prostate tumors than in other types of tumors that proliferate faster. The implications for possibly treating prostatic cancer using fewer and larger fractions are important. In this paper we review updated clinical data and present somewhat different calculations to estimate alpha/beta. METHODS AND MATERIALS Seventeen clinical papers published from 1995 to 2000 were reviewed to obtain estimates of biochemical control from radiotherapy alone using external beam, I-125 implants, or Pd-103 implants. The focus was on intermediate risk patients. Three methods of estimating alpha/beta were employed. First, a simple two-step graphical comparison of isoeffective doses from external beam and implant modalities was made, to see which value of alpha/beta predicted the observed identity of biologic effect. Second, the same data were subjected to Direct Analysis (maximum likelihood estimation), from which an estimate of alpha/beta and also of the T(12) of repair of sublethal damage in the tumors (both with confidence intervals) were obtained. Third, preliminary clinical data comparing two different sizes of high-dose boost doses were analyzed in which significantly different bNED was observed at 2 years. RESULTS The second method gave the definitive result of alpha/beta = 1.49 Gy (95% CI 1.25-1.76) and T(12) = 1.90 h (95% CI 1.42-2.86 h). The first method gave a range from 1.4 to 1.9 Gy and showed that if mean or median dose were used instead of prescribed dose, the estimate of alpha/beta would be substantially below 1 Gy. The third method, although based on early follow-up, was consistent with low values of alpha/beta in the region of 2 Gy or below. The estimate for T(12) is the first value reported for prostate tumors in situ. CONCLUSIONS All the estimates point toward low values of alpha/beta, at least as low as the estimates of Brenner and Hall, and possibly lower than the expected values of about 3 Gy for late complications. Hypofractionation trials for intermediate-risk prostatic cancer appear to be indicated.
Paradoxical interactions between human delta hepatitis agent RNA and the cellular protein kinase PKR

The genome of the human delta hepatitis agent is a circular, highly structured single-stranded RNA lacking regular runs of RNA-RNA duplex longer than 15 bp. We have tested the ability of delta agent RNA to participate in reactions with a protein containing a motif which confers the ability to bind double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Surprisingly, highly purified delta agent RNA preparations from which all traces of contaminating dsRNA have been removed activate PKR, the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase activity of mammalian cells (also known as DAI, P1-eIF-2, and p68 kinase). This behavior is in marked contrast to the interaction of PKR with a number of other highly structured viral single-stranded RNAs, which inhibit, rather than stimulate, activation of this kinase. PKR activation leads to inhibition of protein synthesis in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. Paradoxically, delta RNA failed to elicit the expected PKR-mediated inhibition of cell-free translation. Instead, delta RNA interfered with PKR activation and the translational block induced by dsRNA. We conclude that the interaction of PKR and delta agent RNA may represent a new category of protein-RNA interactions involving the dsRNA binding motif.
Stochastic H2/H∞ control with state-dependent noise

This paper discusses the stochastic H/sub 2//H/sub /spl infin// control problem with state-dependent noise. By means of the stabilization, exact observability and stochastic detectability of stochastic systems, the infinite horizon stochastic H/sub 2//H/sub /spl infin// control design is developed. For the finite horizon H/sub 2//H/sub /spl infin// control problem, our results generalize the corresponding deterministic ones to the stochastic models. Finally, the observer-based suboptimal stochastic H/sub 2//H/sub /spl infin// control is discussed in which the state variables cannot be measured directly, and a feasible design algorithm is proposed.
On Convergence of Value Iteration for a Class of Total Cost Markov Decision Processes

We consider a general class of total cost Markov decision processes (MDP) in which the one-stage costs can have arbitrary signs, but the sum of the negative parts of the one-stage costs is finite for all policies and all initial states. This class, which we refer to as the general convergence (GC) total cost model, contains several important subclasses of problems, e.g., positive costs problems, bounded negative costs problems, and discounted problems with unbounded one-stage costs. We study the convergence of value iteration for the (GC) model, in the Borel MDP framework with universally measurable policies. Our main results include (i) convergence of value iteration when starting from certain functions above the optimal cost function; (ii) convergence of transfinite value iteration starting from zero, as well as convergence of ordinary nontransfinite value iteration for finite control or certain finite state (GC) problems, in the special case where the optimal cost function is nonnegative; and (iii) par.
JFA for speaker recognition with random digit strings

In this paper, we examine the use of Joint Factor Analysis methods on RSR2015 part III (digits), [1]. A tied-mixture HMM is used for segmentation of the utterances into digits, while Joint Factor Analysis and a trainable backend are deployed for feature extraction and LLR calculation, respectively. A novel approach for digit-dependent fusion of UBMcomponent log-likelihood ratios is introduced, yielding the best results so far. The fusion of 5 different JFA features gives an equal-error rate of 3.6%, compared to 6.3% attained by the a baseline GMM-UBM model with score normalization. JFA for feature extraction JFA vs. i-vectors • The text-independent paradigm of i-vector/PLDA has not been successful in text-dependent speakerrecognition. The speaker-phrase variability is hard to be confined into a low-dimensional subspace. • JFA offers the flexibility of confining the channel effects in a subspace while allowing the speaker-phrace factors to lie on the supervector space, [2]. Main JFA equation S = m + Ux + V y + Dz (1) • The hidden variable x varies from one recording to another and is intended to model channel effects. • In text-independent speaker recognition, the term Dz is usually dropped and speakers are characterized by the low-dimensional vector y. Here, we extract either z or y features, [3]. JFA on utterances segmented into digits • JFA can be extended to utterances that are segmented into HMM states (digits). • Features can be global (digit-independent) or local (digit-dependent), supervectors-sized (z-vectors) or subspace (y-vectors). Segmentation and Baum-Welch stats Tied-Mixture HMM • Train a UBMand use its means and covariance matrices as codebook for a Tied-Mixture HMM (TMM) • The TMM has a single Gaussian codebook and digitdependent weights. • Very efficient for training and evaluating (Viterbi algorithm). • We use it also for extracting Baum-Welch stats for local features instead of the UBM. Training and evaluating the system Training the JFA and backend • Train a JFA model using both local and global features, z or y-vectors. (Several combinations are possible.) • Extract z or y-vectors, project them onto the unitsphere). • Train a Joint-Density Backend per feature. Evaluating the model • Apply Viterbi segmentation, extract z or y-vectors and use the JDB to calculate LLRs for each trial. • Apply score normalization and fuse score-normalized LLRs coming from multiple features. Joint-Density Backend An Alternative to PLDA • We model the joint-distribution of pairs of enrollment and test vectors under the same speaker hypothesis, [4]. • We use ”target” trials from the training set t = [ye , y T t ] T . • We estimate mean and covariance matrix (C). Assuming zero mean, C is as follows:
Rapid Endocytosis of Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase into Human Endothelial Cells: Role for Its Vascular Activity

Cytosolic CuZn-SOD (SOD1) is a dimeric, carbohydrate-free enzyme with a molecular weight of about 32 kDa and also circulates in human blood plasma. Due to its molecular mass it has been believed that the enzyme cannot penetrate the cell membrane. Here we report that rapid endocytosis of FITC-CuZn-SOD into human endothelial cells occurs within 5 min. Moreover, relaxation of rat aortic rings in response to CuZn-SOD is associated with a lag time of 45–60 s and only observed in the presence of intact endothelial cells. The results indicate acute and rapid endothelial cell endocytosis of CuZn-SOD, possibly via activation of a receptor-mediated pathway. Intracellular uptake via endocytosis may contribute to the vascular effects of CuZn-SOD, including vasodilation, and is likely to play a role in regulation of vascular tone and diseases such as atherosclerosis.
QOLSR, QoS routing for ad hoc wireless networks using OLSR

This paper describes a novel quality-of-service (QoS) routing protocol for ad hoc networks based on the OLSR protocol. Our protocol, QOLSR, is designed for wireless networks with stationary or moving nodes, where each node is equipped with 802.11 wireless card. The goal of our protocol is not only to find a route from a source to a destination, but an optimal route that satisfies the end-to-end QoS requirement, often given in terms of bandwidth or delay. We present an analytical model to compute the average delay and permissible throughput on links using the IEEE 802.11 medium access protocol and considering correlations and interferences between nodes. This model takes into account packet's collision probability, node's MAC queuing and service times based on the IEEE 802.11 binary exponential backoff algorithm and the events underneath its operation. Afterwards, our protocol assigns weights to individual links based on the average delay and bandwidth metrics of packets over the link. We present a distributed algorithm for multiple QoS requirements to find the source destination optimal paths in terms of bandwidth and delay using the known partial network topology available on each node. However, these optimal paths in partial network topology are not optimal paths in the whole ad hoc network. We show that this problem is due to the heuristic for the selection of MPRs used in OLSR. We propose innovative heuristics for the selection of MPRs based on QoS measurements that allow QOLSR to find optimal paths on the known partial topology having the same bandwidth performances that those on the whole network. The performance evaluation of our protocol in both static and dynamic ad hoc networks is extensively investigated. Mathematical analysis and simulation results show that the QOLSR protocol yields better performance compared to the best-effort OLSR protocol and significantly improves throughput by using our proposed heuristic. Copyright © 2005 AEIT.
cJoin: Join with communicating transactions†

This paper proposes a formal approach to the design and programming of long running transactions (LRTs). We exploit techniques from process calculi to define cJoin, which is an extension of the Join calculus with few well-disciplined primitives for LRT. Transactions in cJoin are intended to describe the transactional interaction of several partners, under the assumption that any partner executing a transaction may communicate only with other transactional partners. In such case, the transactions run by any party are bound to achieve the same outcome (i.e., all succeed or all fail). Hence, a distinguishing feature of cJoin, called dynamic joinability, is that ongoing transactions can be merged to complete their tasks and when this happens either all succeed or all abort. Additionally, cJoin is based on compensations i.e., partial executions of transactions are recovered by executing user-defined programs instead of providing automatic rollback. The expressiveness and generality of cJoin is demonstrated by many examples addressing common programming patterns. The mathematical foundation is accompanied by a prototype language implementation, which is an extension of the JoCaml compiler.
Diagnosability of Hypercubes and Enhanced Hypercubes under the Comparison Diagnosis Model

A. Sengupta and A. Dahbura (1992) discussed how to characterize a diagnosable system under the comparison diagnosis model proposed by J. Maeng and M. Malek (1981) and a polynomial algorithm was given to identify the faulty processors provided that the system's diagnosability is known. However, for a general system, the determination of its diagnosability is not algorithmically easy. This paper proves that, for the important hypercube structured multiprocessor systems (n-cubes), the diagnosability under the comparison model is n when n/spl ges/5. The paper also studies the diagnosability of enhanced hypercube, which is obtained by adding 2/sup n-1/ more links to a regular hypercube of 2/sup n/ processors. It is shown that the augmented communication ability among processors also increases the system's diagnosability under the comparison model. We prove that the diagnosability is n+1 for an enhanced hypercube when n/spl ges/6.
A Primer on Performance Budgeting

The past two decades have witnessed a growing interest for performance management and budgeting reforms in response to louder public demands for government accountability in industrial countries. These reforms are intended to transform public budgeting systems from inputs control to an output and/or outcome focus in the interest of improving operational efficiency and promoting results-oriented accountability. These experiences have significant relevance for public sector reforms in developing countries. This chapter is intended to serve as a guide to policy makers and budget practitioners contemplating reform of their budgeting systems that bring them in conformity with the needs of the 21 century.
Determining evaluation criteria for digital libraries' user interface: a review

Purpose – The present study aims to review the literature concerning Digital Libraries (DLs) and user interfaces in order to identify, determine, and suggest evaluation criteria for a DLs user interface. Accordingly, this study's objectives are threefold: explore which criteria exert a significant relationship with the DLs user interface; identify a set of criteria that appears to be useful for evaluating DLs user interface; and determine evaluation criteria that have more frequency and occurrence in the related texts reviewed.Design/methodology/approach – To do it, first, identifying related texts was necessary. Consequently, keywords such as “DLs user interface evaluation”,” DLs user interfaces”, “DLs evaluation”, “DLs usability”, “user interface evaluation”, “DLs research”, “web sites user interface evaluation”, “user interface standards”, and the like have been searched in the web as well as in some leading databases including Emerald, Proquest, SagePub, ScienceDirect, LISA, ERIC, ACM, and Springer. A.
The radiological diagnosis of acoustic neuromas.

IT HAS BEEN PROVED that the number of acoustic tumors found is in direct relationship to the index of suspicion for such a lesion by the otologist. The possibility of an acoustic tumor should be entertained in all cases of unilateral cochlear or vestibular loss of unknown origin. We feel that these patients should undergo an accurate neurological and audiometric evaluation as well as a clearly defined plan of radiographic examinations. In final analysis, the presence or not of an acoustic tumor must be proved radiographically. A conventional radiographic examination of the skull is always performed in order to rule out the presence of a gross lesion not necessarily related to the problem under investigation. At the same time the petrous pyramids are carefully examined by tomography, which is a simple and safe procedure and constitutes, in our opinion, the most valuable screening test. Tomography should always be performed in
Activating killer immunoglobulin‐like receptor incompatibilities enhance graft‐versus‐host disease and affect survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Objectives: Killer immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) regulate function of natural killer (NK) cells and a subset of T cells. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the impact of donor and recipient activating KIR genes on outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) for patients with hematological malignancies.