Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variational Mannequin Approximation Using Spheres and Capsules

We present a method to approximate a mannequin represented as a triangle/quadrangle mesh using spheres and capsules. We formulate this 3-D approximation problem as a 2-D one, which increases its efficiency by one or even two orders of magnitude. Our algorithm first extracts cross sections from a given mannequin, approximates each cross section with circles using a variant of iterative Lloyd clustering, and finally generates capsules based on the circle sets. Compared with previous methods, our method is much faster and is able to get a tighter result with a given number of primitives. Our method can be directly applied to cloth-body collision handling in real-time cloth animation, and the simulation results by our approach are visually plausible.
Quantification of Parkinsonian Bradykinesia Based on Axis-Angle Representation and SVM Multiclass Classification Method

Accurate evaluation of bradykinesia plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and therapy effect of Parkinson’s disease. However, the subjective assessment shows low consistency among different evaluators, and the objective sensor-based methods cannot accurately distinguish patients with different grades of the 5-point clinical bradykinesia ratings. In this paper, an objective scoring method based on axis-angle representation and multi-class support vector machine (SVM) classifier was employed to estimate the bradykinesia severity. To reduce the dimension of attitude data for the better statistical analysis, the axis-angle representation approach was employed to obtain the 1- D combined orientation angle to express the 3-D hand-grasping assessment task. The significant bradykinesia features extracted from the 1-D combined orientation angle were used to train the SVM classification algorithm to acquire an objective score on the bradykinesia severity. Clinical experiments with 78 patients and 18 age-matched healthy subjects showed that the classification accuracy of the proposed method was 95.349%, which was superior to other related reports. Hence, the proposed objective scoring method can provide a 5-point bradykinesia score in real-time, and matches the clinical assessment approach of neurologists. Moreover, this method improves both the inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability of the bradykinesia assessment.
Outcome predictors in the management of intramedullary classic ependymoma

Abstract This is a retrospective study. The aim of this study was to illustrate the survival outcomes of patients with classic ependymoma (CE) and identify potential prognostic factors. CE is the most common category of spinal ependymomas, but few published studies have discussed predictors of the survival outcome. A Boolean search of the PubMed, Embase, and OVID databases was conducted by 2 investigators independently. The objects were intramedullary grade II ependymoma according to 2007 WHO classification. Univariate Kaplan–Meier analysis and Log-Rank tests were performed to identify variables associated with progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox regression was performed to assess hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS version 23.0 (IBM Corp.) with statistical significance defined as P < . 05. A total of 35 studies were identified, including 169 cases of CE. The mean follow-up time across cases was 64.2 ± 51.5 months. Univariate analysis showed that patients who had undergone total resection (TR) had better PFS and OS than those with subtotal resection (STR) and biopsy (P = .002, P = .004, respectively). Within either univariate or multivariate analysis (P = .000, P = .07, respectively), histological type was an independent prognostic factor for PFS of CE [papillary type: HR 0.002, 95% CI (0.000–0.073), P = . 001, tanycytic type: HR 0.010, 95% CI (0.000–0.218), P = . 003]. It was the first integrative analysis of CE to elucidate the correlation between kinds of factors and prognostic outcomes. Definite histological type and safely TR were foundation of CE's management. Level of Evidence: 4
Application of data video recorder in reconstruction of road accidents

The article presents the theoretical assumptions of the analysis of images recorded by the video recorder in an accident. Several methods described in this article demonstrate the use of video recordings by the DVR (data video recorder — as well as surveillance traffic cameras) which are further analyzed and determine a lot of valuable information to facilitate the reconstruction of road accidents. Calculation of speed, velocity and energy presented in this paper are based on the data obtained from the optical system video recorder and factors such as recording speed film sequences, geometrical size of characteristic point and geometrical size and position of characteristic point of the area. It has been proposed as a way of calculation that takes into account these values. There were also presented the examples of three cases from research confirming the correctness of assumptions. The idea is to build a tool to support an expert in accident reconstruction, to be used in the reconstruction of recordings from recording devices.
Investigation and Optimization of Pin Multiplexing in High-Level Synthesis

This paper investigates the effect of pin multiplexing on the resultant micro-architecture of synthesizable behavioral descriptions for High-Level Synthesis (HLS). A method is presented to find the most efficient pin assignments by assigning multiple logic inputs and outputs to the same physical ports such that the performance degradation and area overhead is minimized. The proposed method is a fast heuristic based on the scheduling results of HLS seen as a black box and hence is flexible enough to work with any HLS tool. Experimental results show that our proposed method is very efficient compared to an exhaustive search and a simulated annealing method at a fraction of the time and much better than randomly selecting the pins to be multiplexed.
The Use of Dried Bovine Hemoglobin and Plasma for Mass Rearing New World Screwworm

Abstract The success of the Screwworm Eradication Program is due to continuous mass rearing and dispersal of large numbers of competitive sterile flies in the field. Spray-dried powders of whole bovine blood, chicken egg, and milk substitute constituted the nutritional components of the traditional artificial larval diet used for mass rearing New World Screwworm (NWS), Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), Diptera: Calliphoridae. However, due to shifting availability and increasing costs of diet ingredients, it is necessary to investigate alternative products for the diet. Recently, spray-dried whole bovine blood became unavailable for purchase in the quantities that the Screwworm Program requires and thus were obliged to purchase bovine blood subproducts. Previous research showed that bovine hemoglobin could be substituted for whole blood with good results in small trials. Here, we report results of NWS larval diets prepared with bovine blood subproducts, hemoglobin and plasma, in 20-liter trays used in mass rearing. Diets were prepared using three separate hemoglobin/plasma ratios. Though all three configurations of hemoglobin and plasma were successful in the larval diet, we found the diets containing 1.5% total plasma, as opposed to 0.5 and 1%, produced heavier larvae and pupae, and resulted in more pupae per unit of diet. Considering cost, we determined that the ideal ratio for the blood portion of the diet for mass rearing is 80% hemoglobin and 20% plasma.
Inhibition of insulin‐like growth factor 1 receptor enhances the efficacy of sorafenib in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and survival

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common primary cancer and second largest cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. The first‐line oral chemotherapeutic agent sorafenib only increases survival in patients with advanced HCC by less than 3 months. Most patients with advanced HCC have shown limited response rates and survival benefits with sorafenib. Although sorafenib is an inhibitor of multiple kinases, including serine/threonine‐protein kinase c‐Raf, serine/threonine‐protein kinase B‐Raf, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)‐1, VEGFR‐2, VEGFR‐3, and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor β, HCC cells are able to escape from sorafenib treatment using other pathways that the drug insufficiently inhibits. The aim of this study was to identify and target survival and proliferation pathways that enable HCC to escape the antitumor activity of sorafenib. We found that insulin‐like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) remains activated in HCC cells treated with sorafenib. Knockdown of IGF1R sensitizes HCC cells to sorafenib treatment and decreases protein kinase B (AKT) activation. Overexpression of constitutively activated AKT reverses the effect of knockdown of IGF1R in sensitizing HCC cells to treatment with sorafenib. Further, we found that ceritinib, a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer, effectively inhibits the IGF1R/AKT pathway and enhances the inhibitory efficacy of sorafenib in human HCC cell growth and survival in vitro, in a xenograft mouse model and in the c‐Met/β‐catenin‐driven HCC mouse model. Conclusion: Our study provides a biochemical basis for evaluation of a new combination treatment that includes IGF1R inhibitors, such as ceritinib and sorafenib, in patients with HCC. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:732‐746)
Arc Erosion Characteristics of Cu-Impregnated Carbon Materials Used for Current Collection in High-Speed Railways

Currently, great attention has been paid to the fast development of high-speed railways all over the world. With an increment of running speed, pantograph arcing has become a significant issue, which can threaten the lifespan and service performance of pantograph strip materials severely. Cu-impregnated carbon strip is one of the most widely used strip materials in high-speed railways, while its arc erosion characteristics and mechanisms are still in absence. In this paper, the arc erosion characteristics of Cu-impregnated carbon materials were experimentally studied. The variations in voltage waveforms between electrodes with time were recorded, and the evolution of the temperature distribution of strip was obtained by a thermal infrared imager. The arc erosion surface was examined using a digital camera, a scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to assess the macroscopic and microscopic morphologies, as well as elemental distributions in or around the arc erosion crater. An interesting arc crater-centered multicolored subarea on the strip surface was found, which was explained from the aspects of the effect of arc-induced temperature and formation of copper oxide film. The arc erosion crater consisted of several overlapped erosion pits, and the mechanism of the pits was understood from the unique microstructure and physical properties of carbon phase and copper phase in the materials. Finally, the formation of spherical copper particles and cracks was illustrated, and their influences on the sliding wear and friction process were discussed.
Automata dynamics preserved under homomorphism: connectness, reachability, optimality

We propose a general approach to analysis and control of dynamical behavior of an automata network. The properties of connectness, reachability and optimality under phase constraints and/or persistently acting perturbations are considered. We reduce automata model complexity by means of model transformations in a class of logical functions. These functions play an important part in our theory and act as Lyapunov functions in stability theory or homomorphisms in automata theory. In terms of these logical functions criteria of existence of above mentioned properties are formulated. Constructive algorithms of generating the logical functions satisfying the criteria as well as examples of their application are described.
A Realistic Distributed Conditional Privacy- Preserving Authentication Scheme for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Nowadays, the research of tradeoff between reliance on the tamper-proof device (TPD) and storage space in authentication scheme has become an interesting topic for vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). Most recently, to minimize the dependencies of TPDs and reduce the storage space, Zhang et al. proposed a conditional privacy-preserving authentication scheme based on a multiple trusted authority one-time identity-based aggregate signature technique. It is more practical than other related schemes due to not depending on ideal TPDs. However, Zhang et al.’s scheme requires a fully trusted third party to participate in the authentication and member secrets generate phase, which may suffer from security bottleneck. To overcome this weakness, in this paper, we construct a realistic distributed conditional privacy-preserving authentication scheme for VANETs using identity-based cryptography and short lifetime region-based certificate. Comparing with Zhang et al.’s scheme, the proposed scheme has more security features but does not reduce computation and communication efficiency. The security analysis shows that our scheme is provably secure in the random oracle model.
CD-TEM: Characterizing impact of TEM sample preparation on CD metrology

Few existing in-line CD metrology techniques can match the sub-surface 3D analytical capability provided by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Recent developments in sample preparation and analysis have resulted in a fully automated TEM workflow that enables widespread use of TEM for critical dimension metrology ("CD-TEM"). To better understand the precision of the TEM workflow, this study explores the impact of variations in sample preparation (thickness, damage layer, and cut placement) on CD metrology and precision.
Neurocognitive functioning predicts frailty index in HIV

Objective To evaluate the association between a frailty index (i.e., scale of accumulated deficits) and neurocognitive functioning among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Methods Observational, cross-sectional data were gathered from the University of California, San Diego, HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program from 2002 to 2016. Eight hundred eleven PLWHA aged 18 to 79 years completed comprehensive physical, neuropsychological, and neuromedical evaluations. The frailty index was composed of 26 general and HIV-specific health maintenance measures, and reflects the proportion of accumulated deficits from 0 (no deficits) to 1 (all 26 deficits). Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between continuous frailty index scores and neurocognitive functioning. Results Participants had a mean age of 44.6 years (11.2), and were mostly male (86.9%) and white (60.2%) with a mean frailty index of 0.26 (0.11). Over the study period, prevalence of HIV-related components (e.g., low CD4) decreased, while non-HIV comorbidities (e.g., diabetes) increased. There were no changes in the frailty index by study year. Higher frailty index was associated with worse global neurocognitive functioning, even after adjusting for covariates (age, employment, and premorbid intellectual functioning; b = −0.007; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.0112 to −0.003; p < 0.001). The cognitive domains of verbal fluency (b = −0.004; 95% CI = −0.006 to −0.002), executive functioning (b = −0.004; 95% CI = −0.006 to −0.002), processing speed (b = −0.005; 95% CI = −0.007 to −0.003), and motor skills (b = −0.006; 95% CI = −0.007 to −0.005) also significantly predicted worse frailty index score (p values <0.001). Conclusion A frailty index can standardize how clinicians identify PLWHA who may be at higher risk of neurocognitive impairment.
Low-Effort Task Distribution of Stencil Computation on Heterogeneous Multi-GPUs: Simulating Graphene Superlattices

This paper proposes a low-cost workload distribution technique for the compute-intensive simulation of electron waves propagating in graphene superlattices, by fully exploiting the compute resources of heterogeneous GPUs concurrently. As old GPUs start failing and new ones are launched in the market, we equip our labs with more recent hardware, creating a variety of distinct GPU families that have non-negligent processing power available, but sometimes unused. Here we show how to exploit them with reduced parallel programming effort of the workload distribution on heterogeneous multi-GPU systems. The speedups obtained when comparing execution against uniform workload distribution (i.e. the same workload on each GPU) range from 1.2x up to 1.8x.
QQS orphan gene and its interactor NF‐YC4 reduce susceptibility to pathogens and pests

Summary Enhancing the nutritional quality and disease resistance of crops without sacrificing productivity is a key issue for developing varieties that are valuable to farmers and for simultaneously improving food security and sustainability. Expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana species‐specific AtQQS (Qua‐Quine Starch) orphan gene or its interactor, NF‐YC4 (Nuclear Factor Y, subunit C4), has been shown to increase levels of leaf/seed protein without affecting the growth and yield of agronomic species. Here, we demonstrate that overexpression of AtQQS and NF‐YC4 in Arabidopsis and soybean enhances resistance/reduces susceptibility to viruses, bacteria, fungi, aphids and soybean cyst nematodes. A series of Arabidopsis mutants in starch metabolism were used to explore the relationships between QQS expression, carbon and nitrogen partitioning, and defense. The enhanced basal defenses mediated by QQS were independent of changes in protein/carbohydrate composition of the plants. We demonstrate that either AtQQS or NF‐YC4 overexpression in Arabidopsis and in soybean reduces susceptibility of these plants to pathogens/pests. Transgenic soybean lines overexpressing NF‐YC4 produce seeds with increased protein while maintaining healthy growth. Pull‐down studies reveal that QQS interacts with human NF‐YC, as well as with Arabidopsis NF‐YC4, and indicate two QQS binding sites near the NF‐YC‐histone‐binding domain. A new model for QQS interaction with NF‐YC is speculated. Our findings illustrate the potential of QQS and NF‐YC4 to increase protein and improve defensive traits in crops, overcoming the normal growth‐defense trade‐offs.
SLAM-based localization of 3D gaze using a mobile eye tracker

Past work in eye tracking has focused on estimating gaze targets in two dimensions (2D), e.g. on a computer screen or scene camera image. Three-dimensional (3D) gaze estimates would be extremely useful when humans are mobile and interacting with the real 3D environment. We describe a system for estimating the 3D locations of gaze using a mobile eye tracker. The system integrates estimates of the user's gaze vector from a mobile eye tracker, estimates of the eye tracker pose from a visual-inertial simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm, a 3D point cloud map of the environment from a RGB-D sensor. Experimental results indicate that our system produces accurate estimates of 3D gaze over a much larger range than remote eye trackers. Our system will enable applications, such as the analysis of 3D human attention and more anticipative human robot interfaces.
Deep neuromuscular blockade and surgical conditions during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: A randomised, blinded study

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is a common surgical procedure. However, muscle contractions and general muscle tension may impair the surgical view and cause difficulties suturing the hernial defect. Deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) paralyses the abdominal wall muscles and may help to create better surgical conditions. OBJECTIVES The current study investigated if deep compared with no NMB improved the surgical view during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. DESIGN Crossover study. SETTING The study was carried out at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark and conducted from May 2015 until February 2017. PARTICIPANTS A total of 34 patients were randomised in an investigator-initiated, assessor-blinded crossover design of deep vs. no NMB during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. INCLUSION CRITERIA Adults scheduled for elective laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. EXCLUSION CRITERIA Known allergy to any study medication, known homozygous variants in the butyrylcholinesterase gene, severe renal disease, neuromuscular disease, lactating or pregnant women, any indication for rapid sequence induction. INTERVENTIONS Deep NMB was established with rocuronium and reversed with sugammadex. Anaesthesia was conducted with propofol and remifentanil. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was evaluation of surgical view assessed on a five-point rating scale. Other outcomes included the surgical conditions during laparoscopic suturing of the hernia defect. RESULTS We found no difference in ratings for the surgical view when comparing deep with no NMB: mean −0.1 (95% confidence interval −0.4 to 0.2) (P = 0.521, paired t test). However, deep compared with no NMB improved the rating score for surgical conditions while suturing the hernia defect (P = 0.012, Mann–Whitney U test). No differences were found in either total length of surgery (P = 0.76) or hernia suturing time (P = 0.81). CONCLUSION Deep compared with no NMB did not change the rating score of the surgical view immediately after introduction of trocars during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, but the surgical condition were improved during suturing of the hernia. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02247466.
Analysts’ Reputational Concerns, Self-Censoring and the International Dispersion Effect

Stocks with higher forecast dispersion earn lower future returns and have a greater upward bias in the mean reported earnings forecast in international markets. Both phenomena are stronger in countries with more transparent information environments, more developed stock markets, stronger investor protection, greater capital openness, and more intense usage of analysts’ earnings forecasts. Using the 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis as a natural experiment, we find that both phenomena become weaker postcrisis in Malaysia, which imposed capital controls, relative to Thailand and South Korea, which opened their financial markets to foreigners. These results suggest that analysts in countries with greater demand for their forecasts and hence greater concerns for reputations are more likely to self-censor their low forecasts, which leads to a stronger dispersion–bias relation and a stronger dispersion effect. The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2016. 2642. This paper was accepted by .
Optimal Synthesis Of Circular Apertures Based On Ludwig Distributions

Ludwig distributions are a generalization of circular Taylor distributions that generate radiation patterns with wide-angle side lobe levels decaying faster than for Taylor patterns. In this paper we show that by means of an appropriate optimization technique the zeros of Ludwig patterns can be perturbed so as to improve or modify pattern and/or aperture distribution characteristics without altering the wide-angle decay behavior. The examples presented include footprint patterns, pencil beam patterns with individually controlled side lobe heights, footprint beams generated by real excitations, and pencil beam patterns with aperture distributions that are smoother than the original Ludwig distribution.
A collaborative surgical approach to upper and lower abdominal cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer

Cytoreductive surgery with complete macroscopic resection in patients with ovarian cancer is associated with improved survival. Institutional reports of combined upper and lower abdominal cytoreductive surgery for more advanced disease have described multidisciplinary approaches. We sought to investigate outcomes in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery in patients with upper and lower abdominal disease at our institution.