Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
System Layer Integration of High Efficiency Video Coding

This paper describes the integration of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) into end-to-end multimedia systems, formats, and protocols such as Real-time transport Protocol, the transport stream of the MPEG-2 standard suite, and dynamic adaptive streaming over the Hypertext Transport Protocol. This paper gives a brief overview of the high-level syntax of HEVC and the relation to the Advanced Video Coding standard (H.264/AVC). A section on HEVC error resilience concludes the HEVC overview. Furthermore, this paper describes applications of video transport and delivery such as broadcast, television over the Internet Protocol, Internet streaming, video conversation, and storage as provided by the different system layers.
Levoglucosan levels at background sites in Europe for assessing the impact of biomass combustion on the European aerosol background

Atmospheric levoglucosan has been determined as a proxy for “biomass smoke” in samples from six background stations on a west–east transect extending from the Atlantic (Azores) to the mid-European background site KPZ (K-Puszta, Hungary). Concentration levels of levoglucosan (biannual averages) in the west–east transect range from 0.005 μg/m3 at the oceanic background site AZO (Azores) to 0.52 μg/m3 at AVE (Aveiro, Portugal). The atmospheric concentration of “biomass smoke” (biannual averages) was derived from the levoglucosan data with wood-type-specific conversion factors. Annual averages of wood smoke levels ranged from 0.05 μg/m3 at AZO to 4.3 μg/m3 at AVE. Winter (DJF) averages at the low-level sites AVE and KPZ were 10.8 and 6.7 μg/m3, respectively. Relative contributions of biomass smoke to organic matter (OM) range from around 9–11% at the elevated sites SIL, PDD and SBO, as well as for AZO, to 36% at the low-level site AVE and 28% at KPZ. Surprisingly high relative concentrations of biomass smoke in OM (68 and 47%) were observed for wintry conditions at the continental low-level CARBOSOL sites AVE and KPZ. Thus biomass smoke is a very important constituent of the organic material in the mid and west European background with summer contributions to organic matter of around 1–6% and winter levels of around 20% at the elevated mountain sites and 47–68% at rural flat terrain sites, not including secondary organic aerosol from biomass combustion sources.
Space-Efficiency for Routing Schemes of Stretch Factor Three

We deal with deterministic distributed routing algorithms on arbitrary n-node networks. For each router, we want to minimize the amount of routing information that must be stored in order to implement the local routing algorithm, even if the names of the routers can be chosen in advance. We take also into account the length of the routing paths and consider the stretchfactor, which is the maximum ratio between the length of the paths computed by the routing algorithm and the distance between the source and the destination. We show that there exists an n-node network on which every routing algorithm of stretch factor s<3 requires at least a total of �(n2) bits of routing information. We show a similar result for networks of diameter 2.
Interhemispheric Connections between the Primary Visual Cortical Areas via the Anterior Commissure in Human Callosal Agenesis

Aim: In humans, images in the median plane of the head either fall on both nasal hemi-retinas or on both temporal hemi-retinas. Interhemispheric connections allow cortical cells to have receptive fields on opposite sides. The major interhemispheric connection, the corpus callosum, is implicated in central stereopsis and disparity detection in front of the fixation plane. Yet individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum may show normal stereopsis and disparity vergence. We set out to study a possible interhemispheric connection between primary visual cortical areas via the anterior commissure to explain this inconsistency because of the major role of these cortical areas in elaborating 3D visual perception. Methods: MRI, DTI and tractography of the brain of a 53-year old man with complete callosal agenesis and normal binocular single vision was undertaken. Tractography seed points were placed in both the right and the left V1 and V2. Nine individuals with both an intact corpus callosum and normal binocularity served as controls. Results: Interhemispheric tracts through the anterior commissure linking both V1 and V2 visual cortical areas bilaterally were indeed shown in the subject with callosal agenesis. All other individuals showed interhemispheric visual connections through the corpus callosum only. Conclusion: Callosal agenesis may result in anomalous interhemispheric connections of the primary visual areas via the anterior commissure. It is proposed here that these connections form as alternative to the normal callosal pathway and may participate in binocularity.
Arabidopsis KAM2/GRV2 Is Required for Proper Endosome Formation and Functions in Vacuolar Sorting and Determination of the Embryo Growth Axis[W][OA]

We isolated an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant, katamari2 (kam2), that has a defect in the organization of endomembranes. This mutant had deformed endosomes and formed abnormally large aggregates with various organelles. Map-based cloning revealed that kam2 is allelic to gravitropism defective 2 (grv2). The KAM2/GRV2 gene encodes a homolog of a DnaJ domain–containing RECEPTOR-MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS-8, which is considered to play a vital role in the endocytotic pathway from the plasma membrane to lysosomes in animal cells. Immunofluorescent staining showed that KAM2/GRV2 protein localizes on punctate structures, which did not merge with any markers for Golgi, trans-Golgi network, endosomes, or prevacuolar compartments. KAM2/GRV2, which does not have a predicted transmembrane domain, was peripherally associated with the membrane surface of uncharacterized compartments. KAM2/GRV2 was expressed at the early to middle stages of seed maturation. We found kam2 mis-sorted seed storage proteins by secreting them from cells, indicating that KAM2/GRV2 is involved in the transport of the proteins into protein storage vacuoles. kam2 had another defect in embryogenesis. Half of the developing kam2-1 cotyledons grew into the opposite space of the seeds before the walking stick–shaped embryo stage. Our findings suggest that KAM2/GRV2 is required for proper formation of the endosomes involving protein trafficking to the vacuoles and determination of growth axis of the embryo.
Smoking among Maoris and other minorities in New Zealand.

Frequently, minority groups within countries exhibit different smoking behavior from the majority. This discussion identifies reasons for this different behavior in New Zealand, suggesting educational platforms which may apply to minority groups in general. The first people to settle New Zealand were Polynesians about the 10th century A.D. Their descendants are known as Maoris. The 2nd migration wave started from Britain in the 19th century. Currently, some 90% of the population is of European descent; the dominant culture is Anglo Saxon. The Maoris were allegedly a fit and healthy people when Captain Cook arrived in New Zealand in 1769. Tribal wars were most likely the main cause of premature mortality. The Maori population of 250,000 in the early 1800s had diminished to perhaps 40,000 by 1890. In the early part of this century there was a marked improvement in Maori health. By 1945 there were 98,000 Maoris. By 1975 there were 275,000 and there will probably be close to 500,000 at the turn of the century. From the earliest contact with Europeans, tobacco smoking became popular among men and women. Cigarette smoking is more prevalent among Maoris than among other population groups. This high smoking incidence coincides with the incidence of lung cancer deaths. Maori women are believed to have one of the world's highest female rates. Possible reasons why so many Maoris smoke include: Maoris are social and live and work in groups, and tobacco smoking in many cultures has been a social pasttime; Maoris are mostly in the lower socioeconomic groups, and this class background places more value on short term rather than longterm gains; the Maoris suffer from low self esteem (high unemployment and women poorly treated by their husbands), and people with poor opinions of themselves are unlikely to worry about their future health; Maoris have had to adapt and become bicultural; and land is held communally with no concept of individual ownership. Until recently no differentiation was made on the basis of race or class in smoking education programs. Recently, the awareness of the high rate of smoking among Maoris, with its associated morbidity and mortality, has prompted many health educators to look for ways of focusing on Maoris as a target group. In a series of seminars recently held in Auckland, New Zealand on the delivery of health education to minorities, participants from minority groups made the following suggestions: the educator should be from the same cultural group to enhance communication, empathy, cultural understanding, and acceptance; changes should not be made too quickly; and oral communication is better than written.
The axonal transport of mitochondria

Vigorous transport of cytoplasmic components along axons over substantial distances is crucial for the maintenance of neuron structure and function. The transport of mitochondria, which serves to distribute mitochondrial functions in a dynamic and non-uniform fashion, has attracted special interest in recent years following the discovery of functional connections among microtubules, motor proteins and mitochondria, and their influences on neurodegenerative diseases. Although the motor proteins that drive mitochondrial movement are now well characterized, the mechanisms by which anterograde and retrograde movement are coordinated with one another and with stationary axonal mitochondria are not yet understood. In this Commentary, we review why mitochondria move and how they move, focusing particularly on recent studies of transport regulation, which implicate control of motor activity by specific cell-signaling pathways, regulation of motor access to transport tracks and static microtubule–mitochondrion linkers. A detailed mechanism for modulating anterograde mitochondrial transport has been identified that involves Miro, a mitochondrial Ca2+-binding GTPase, which with associated proteins, can bind and control kinesin-1. Elements of the Miro complex also have important roles in mitochondrial fission–fusion dynamics, highlighting questions about the interdependence of biogenesis, transport, dynamics, maintenance and degradation.
The novel 5-Hydroxytryptamine(1A) antagonist LY426965: effects on nicotine withdrawal and interactions with fluoxetine.

LY426965 [(2S)-(+)-1-cyclohexyl-4-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]2-methyl- 2-phenyl-1-butanone monohydrochloride] is a novel compound with high affinity for the cloned human 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)(1A) receptor (K(i) = 4.66 nM) and 20-fold or greater selectivity over other serotonin and nonserotonin receptor subtypes. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that LY426965 is a full antagonist and has no partial agonist properties. LY426965 did not stimulate [(35)S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio) triphosphate (GTPgammaS) binding to homogenates of cells expressing the cloned human 5-HT(1A) receptor in vitro but did inhibit 300 nM 5-HT-stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding with a K(i) value of 3.07 nM. After both p.o. and s.c. administration, LY426965 blocked the lower lip retraction, flat body posture, hypothermia, and increase in rat serum corticosterone induced by the 5-HT(1A) agonist 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin). In pigeons, LY426965 dose-dependently blocked the stimulus cue induced by 8-OH-DPAT but had no 8-OH-DPAT-like discriminative properties. LY426965 completely reversed the effects of nicotine withdrawal on the auditory startle reflex in rats. In microdialysis experiments, LY426965 administered together with fluoxetine significantly increased extracellular levels of serotonin above those achievable with fluoxetine alone. In electrophysiological studies, the administration of LY426965 produced a slight elevation of the firing rate of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus of anesthetized rats and both blocked and reversed the effects of fluoxetine on 5-HT neuronal activity. These preclinical results indicate that LY426965 is a selective, full 5-HT(1A) antagonist that may have clinical use as pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation and depression and related disorders.
Centromere-associated protein-E is essential for the mammalian mitotic checkpoint to prevent aneuploidy due to single chromosome loss

Centromere-associated protein-E (CENP-E) is an essential mitotic kinesin that is required for efficient, stable microtubule capture at kinetochores. It also directly binds to BubR1, a kinetochore-associated kinase implicated in the mitotic checkpoint, the major cell cycle control pathway in which unattached kinetochores prevent anaphase onset. Here, we show that single unattached kinetochores depleted of CENP-E cannot block entry into anaphase, resulting in aneuploidy in 25% of divisions in primary mouse fibroblasts in vitro and in 95% of regenerating hepatocytes in vivo. Without CENP-E, diminished levels of BubR1 are recruited to kinetochores and BubR1 kinase activity remains at basal levels. CENP-E binds to and directly stimulates the kinase activity of purified BubR1 in vitro. Thus, CENP-E is required for enhancing recruitment of its binding partner BubR1 to each unattached kinetochore and for stimulating BubR1 kinase activity, implicating it as an essential amplifier of a basal mitotic checkpoint signal.
Synthesis and Characterization of Antimony Telluride for Thermoelectric and Optoelectronic Applications

Antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) is an intermetallic compound crystallizing in a hexagonal lattice with R-3m space group. It creates a c lose packed structure of an ABCABC type. As intrinsic semiconductor characterized by excellent electrical properties, Sb2Te3 is widely used as a low-temperature thermoelectric material. At the same time, due to unusual properties (strictly connected with the structure), antimony telluride exhibits nonlinear optical properties, including saturable absorption. Nanostructurization, elemental doping and possibilities of synthesis Sb2Te3 in various forms (polycrystalline, single crystal or thin film) are the most promising methods for improving thermoelectric properties of Sb2Te3.Applications of Sb2Te3 in optical devices (e.g. nonlinear modulator, in particular saturable absorbers for ultrafast lasers) are also interesting. The antimony telluride in form of bulk polycrystals and layers for thermoelectric and optoelectronic applications respectively were used. For optical applications thin layers of the material were formed and studied. Synthesis and structural characterization of Sb2Te3 were also presented here. The anisotropy (packed structure) and its influence on thermoelectric properties have been performed. Furthermore, preparation and characterization of Sb2Te3 thin films for optical uses have been also made.
An electrical solid-state sulphur dioxide vapour sensor based on a polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde composite

Polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde (PVF)-based composites are synthesized and applied for rapid detection and quantification of sulphur dioxide (SO2) vapours by electrical impedance measurements. A series of polymeric composites, namely PVF/single-walled carbon nanotubes (PVFCNTs), PVF/carbon nanoparticles (PVFCNPs), PVF–coumarin-6 (PVFCOU), PVF/thiophene (PVFTH) and PVF/cytochrome-6-oxidase (PVFCY), are synthesized in high yields by a simple one-pot approach. These were characterized by FT-IR, AC conductivity and FESEM. The composites were then used for the impedimetric detection of SO2 vapours, and the sensitivity was found to follow the order: PVFCOU > PVFTH > PVF. The current vs. voltage (I–V) curves further demonstrated a second-order decrease in conduction for PVFCOU upon exposure to SO2 vapours. Amongst the synthesized composites, PVFCOU exhibited an excellent response time of 3 s for 400 ppt SO2, with a limit of detection of 1.15 ppb. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, an AC electrical impedance-based SO2 detection, using the PVFCOU polymeric composite. In addition, this polymeric composite fulfills the dual function of highly efficient sensing and analyte sequestration. Thus, PVFCOU may be an ideal cost-effective solid-state sensor material for onsite vapour sensing applications.
Catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells

Background Of the two existing pre-market proton exchange membrane fuel cells: hydrogen-oxygen and direct methanol, H2/O2 is suggested for applications involving high energy density, while direct methanol holds pragmatic promise for small low power application where ease of fuel handling is critical. Of equal importance, is the energy per unit volume when matching an application to a fuel, since available volume for a mobile application is often a limiting consideration. A simple review of the thermochemical parameters (provided in Table 1) indicates that ethanol has fuel characteristics similar to methanol. However, it substantially exceeds methanol with respect to volumetric energy density providing 68% of the volumetric energy density of gasoline. Thus, from an energy storage point of view, ethanol appears to be a preferred fuel over methanol.
Heterogeneous Effects of Fructose on Blood Lipids in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Because of blood lipid concerns, diabetes associations discourage fructose at high intakes. To quantify the effect of fructose on blood lipids in diabetes, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental clinical trials investigating the effect of isocaloric fructose exchange for carbohydrate on triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol in type 1 and 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library for relevant trials of ≥7 days. Data were pooled by the generic inverse variance method and expressed as standardized mean differences with 95% CI. Heterogeneity was assessed by χ2 tests and quantified by I2. Meta-regression models identified dose threshold and independent predictors of effects. RESULTS Sixteen trials (236 subjects) met the eligibility criteria. Isocaloric fructose exchange for carbohydrate raised triglycerides and lowered total cholesterol under specific conditions without affecting LDL cholesterol or HDL cholesterol. A triglyceride-raising effect without heterogeneity was seen only in type 2 diabetes when the reference carbohydrate was starch (mean difference 0.24 [95% CI 0.05–0.44]), dose was >60 g/day (0.18 [0.00–0.37]), or follow-up was ≤4 weeks (0.18 [0.00–0.35]). Piecewise meta-regression confirmed a dose threshold of 60 g/day (R2 = 0.13)/10% energy (R2 = 0.36). A total cholesterol–lowering effect without heterogeneity was seen only in type 2 diabetes under the following conditions: no randomization and poor study quality (−0.19 [−0.34 to −0.05]), dietary fat >30% energy (−0.33 [−0.52 to −0.15]), or crystalline fructose (−0.28 [−0.47 to −0.09]). Multivariate meta-regression analyses were largely in agreement. CONCLUSIONS Pooled analyses demonstrated conditional triglyceride-raising and total cholesterol–lowering effects of isocaloric fructose exchange for carbohydrate in type 2 diabetes. Recommendations and large-scale future trials need to address the heterogeneity in the data.
Revision Spine Surgery to Manage Pediatric Deformity

&NA; Revision deformity surgery in the growing child is a complex clinical problem. Excellent outcomes can be obtained with meticulous patient evaluation followed by well‐planned and wellexecuted treatment. A multidisciplinary team is crucial to a satisfactory overall outcome. Diagnosis of failed index spine fusion requires a thorough patient history and physical examination, careful patient assessment, and imaging between the index procedure and the presentation for revision and confirmatory testing that validates the diagnosis. Revision surgery may include irrigation and débridement, implant removal, or revision spine fusion with deformity correction. Correction may require either an anterior approach or a posterior approach with osteotomy. For best results, the planned revision must address the mechanism of the failure of the index procedure. If the symptoms or observations are not explained by the diagnosis, then alternative etiologies should be considered.
Highly active antiretroviral therapy-associated flare of oropharyngeal Kaposi sarcoma.

K aposi sarcoma (KS) is a human herpesvirus 8–associated multifocal, angioproliferative tumor that occurs in cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral locations. The presentation of KS in the oral cavity is of prognostic importance as it may be the initial manifestation of generalized KS or even the sentinel clue to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and AIDS. Oral cavity KS is also associated with higher death rates when compared with cutaneous KS alone. Furthermore, oral cavity KS is a prognostic marker of an individual’s response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Despite the role of HAART in effecting stabilization, regression, and a significant reduction in the incidence and morbidity of KS, adverse clinical events that are temporally associated with the onset of HAART are being increasingly recognized. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is characterized by an exuberant immune-mediated inflammatory response to latent antigenic triggers after the initiation or resumption of HAART. It results in the appearance or recurrence of previously treated or undetected opportunistic infections, the flare of viral infections, and the development of neoplasms. To date, however, airway obstruction as a manifestation of a KS flare after HAART is undocumented in the global literature (to our knowledge).
Bounding the Uncertainty of Graphical Games: The Complexity of Simple Requirements, Pareto and Strong Nash Equilibria

We investigate the complexity of bounding the uncertainty of graphical games, and we provide new insight into the intrinsic difficulty of computing Nash equilibria. In particular, we show that, if one adds very simple and natural additional requirements to a graphical game, the existence of Nash equilibria is no longer guaranteed, and computing an equilibrium is an intractable problem. Moreover, if stronger equilibrium conditions are required for the game, we get hardness results for the second level of the polynomial hierarchy. Our results offer a clear picture of the complexity of mixed Nash equilibria in graphical games, and answer some open research questions posed by Conitzer and Sandholm (2003).
Synchronous Context-Free Tree Grammars

We consider pairs of context-free tree grammars combined through synchronous rewriting. The resulting formalism is at least as powerful as synchronous tree adjoining grammars and linear, nondeleting macro tree transducers, while the parsing complexity remains polynomial. Its power is subsumed by context-free hypergraph grammars. The new formalism has an alternative characterization in terms of bimorphisms. An advantage over synchronous variants of linear context-free rewriting systems is the ability to specify tree-to-tree transductions.