Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linear-time online action detection from 3D skeletal data using bags of gesturelets

Sliding window is one direct way to extend a successful recognition system to handle the more challenging detection problem. While action recognition decides only whether or not an action is present in a pre-segmented video sequence, action detection identifies the time interval where the action occurred in an unsegmented video stream. Sliding window approaches can however be slow as they maximize a classifier score over all possible sub-intervals. Even though new schemes utilize dynamic programming to speed up the search for the optimal sub-interval, they require offline processing on the whole video sequence. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for online action detection based on 3D skeleton sequences extracted from depth data. It identifies the sub-interval with the maximum classifier score in linear time. Furthermore, it is suitable for real-time applications with low latency.
Edge color distribution transform: an efficient tool for object detection in images

Object detection in images is a fundamental task in many image analysis applications. Existing methods for low-level object detection always perform the color-similarity analyses in the 2D image space. However, the crowded edges of different objects make the detection complex and error-prone. The paper proposes to detect objects in a new edge color distribution space (ECDS) rather than in the image space. In the 3D ECDS, the edges of different objects are segregated and the spatial relation of a same object is kept as well, which make the object detection easier and less error-prone. Since uniform-color objects and textured objects have different distribution characteristics in ECDS, the paper gives a 3D edge-tracking algorithm for the former and a cuboid-growing algorithm for the latter. The detection results are correct and noise-free, so they are suitable for the high-level object detection. The experimental results on a synthetic image and a real-life image are included.
Currency Recognition Modeling Research Based on BP Neural Network Improved by Gene Algorithm

Both Artificial Neural Networks and Gene Algorithm are a method that people imitates biological treatment pattern and gains the intelligence out of it in order to handle complicated problems. Based on uncertain network model structure and indeterminate initial weights and slow convergence speed for Back Propagation Neural Networks, this paper proposes that make use of Gene Algorithm to improve it in order to find the most suitable network connection weights and network structure, then form GA-BP model and apply it to currency recognition. The experiment indicates that GA-BP model shorten training time for Back Propagation Neural Networks and gain higher recognition speed and better recognition effect, thereby, it is preponderant for image recognition that make use of Gene Algorithm to improve Back Propagation Neural Networks.
“Anti-Caching”-based elastic memory management for Big Data

The increase in the capacity of main memory coupled with the decrease in cost has fueled the development of in-memory database systems that manage data entirely in memory, thereby eliminating the disk I/O bottleneck. However, as we shall explain, in the Big Data era, maintaining all data in memory is impossible, and even unnecessary. Ideally we would like to have the high access speed of memory, with the large capacity and low price of disk. This hinges on the ability to effectively utilize both the main memory and disk. In this paper, we analyze state-of-the-art approaches to achieving this goal for in-memory databases, which is called as “Anti-Caching” to distinguish it from traditional caching mechanisms. We conduct extensive experiments to study the effect of each fine-grained component of the entire process of “Anti-Caching” on both performance and prediction accuracy. To avoid the interference from other unrelated components of specific systems, we implement these approaches on a uniform platform to ensure a fair comparison. We also study the usability of each approach, and how intrusive it is to the systems that intend to incorporate it. Based on our findings, we propose some guidelines on designing a good “Anti-Caching” approach, and sketch a general and efficient approach, which can be utilized in most in-memory database systems without much code modification.
Investment choice and asset allocation of Italian households: the discrete-continuous approach

Financial and monetary policies are considered to be effective depending on the reaction of financial markets which are increasingly populated by households. In this article, from intertemporal settings, I derive a Financial Almost Ideal (FAI) Demand System and I estimate it by highlighting the determinants of both limited participation to financial markets and asset substitutability/complementarity in the allocating stage. Finally, the wealth elasticities provide some further insights on the low diffusion of the newer and more complex financial instruments across Italian households.
- 1-Evaluation of the meteorological forcing used for the Air 1 Quality Model Evaluation InternationaI Initiative ( AQMEII ) air 2 quality simulations

(1) Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, IPSL Laboratoire CEA/CNRS/UVSQ, 9 Orme des Merisiers, F-91191 Gif/Yvette CEDEX, France 10 (2) Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, 4905 11 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 5T4, Canada 12 (3) European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Ispra, 13 Italy 14 (4) Atmospheric Modeling and Analysis Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of 15 Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research, Triangle Park, NC 27711 16 USA 17 (5) Institute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Germany 18 (6) Enviroware srl, via Dante 142, I-20863 Concorezzo (MB), Italy 19 (7) National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), Centre for Atmospheric & Instrumentation 20 Research (CAIR), University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts AL10 9AB, UK 21 (8) CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, 22 Portugal 23 (9) Institute of Coastal Research Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht 24 (10) Department of Atmospheric Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus 25 University, Denmark 26 (11) Meteorological and Hydrological Service in Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia 27 (12) Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland 28 (13) Netherlands Organisation for applied scientific research (TNO), Earth Environmental and Life 29 Sciences, Princetonlaan 6, NL-3584CB Utrecht, The Netherlands 30 (14) Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Environmental Research, Garmisch 31 Partenkirchen 32 (15) Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany 33
adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy: Focus on mediating effects A lifestyle intervention improves fatigue, mental health and social support among

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a lifestyle intervention on fatigue, participation, quality of life, gross motor functioning, motivation, self-efficacy and social support, and to explore mediating effects of physical behavior and physical fitness. Design: A randomized controlled trial with intention to treat analysis. Setting: Rehabilitation centers in university hospitals in the Netherlands. Subjects: Adolescents and young adults with spastic cerebral palsy. Interventions: A six-month lifestyle intervention that consisted of physical fitness training combined with counseling sessions focused on physical behavior and sports participation. Main measures: Fatigue, social participation, quality of life and gross motor functioning. Results: The lifestyle intervention was effective in decreasing fatigue severity during the intervention (difference = –6.72, p = 0.02) and in increasing health-related quality of life with respect to bodily pain (difference = 15.14, p = 0.01) and mental health (difference = 8.80, p = 0.03) during follow-up. Furthermore, the domain participation and involvement of the social support increased during both the intervention (difference = 5.38, p = 0.04) and follow-up (difference = 4.52, p = 0.03) period. Physical behavior or physical fitness explained the observed effects for 22.6%, 9.7% and 28.1% of improvements on fatigue, bodily pain and mental health, but had little effect on social support (2.6%). Interpretation: Fatigue, bodily pain, mental health and social support can be improved using a lifestyle intervention among adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Furthermore, substantial mediating effects were found for physical behavior and physical fitness on fatigue, bodily pain and mental health. 1 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 2Rijndam Rehabilitation Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 4Sophia Rehabilitation, The Hague, The Netherlands 555136 CRE0010.1177/0269215514555136Clinical RehabilitationSlaman et al. research-article2014
Protostellar angular momentum evolution during gravoturbulent fragmentation

Using hydrodynamic simulations we investigate the rotational properties and angular momentum evolution of prestellar and protostellar cores formed from gravoturbulent fragmentation of interstellar gas clouds. We find the specific angu- lar momentum j of molecular cloud cores in the prestellar phase to be on averagej� = 7 × 10 20 cm 2 s −1 in our models. This is comparable to the observed values. A fraction of those cores is gravitationally unstable and goes into collapse to build up protostars and protostellar systems, which then havej� = 8 × 10 19 cm 2 s −1 . This is one order of magnitude lower than their parental cores and in agreement with observations of main-sequence binaries. The loss of specific angular momentum during collapse is mostly due to gravitational torques exerted by the ambient turbulent flow as well as by mutual protostellar encoun- ters in a dense cluster environment. Magnetic torques are not included in our models, these would lead to even larger angular momentum transport. The ratio of rotational to gravitational energy β in cloud cores that go into gravitational collapse turns out to be similar to the observed values. We find that β is roughly conserved during the main collapse phase. This leads to the correlation j ∝ M 2/3 , between specific angular momentum j and core mass M. Although the temporal evolution of the angular momentum of individual protostars or protostellar systems is complex and highly time-variable, this correlation holds well in a statistical sense for a wide range of turbulent environmental parameters. In addition, high turbulent Mach numbers result in the formation of more numerous protostellar cores with, on average, lower mass. Therefore, models with larger Mach numbers result in cores with lower specific angular momentum. We find, however, no dependence on the spatial scale of the turbulence. Our models predict a close correlation between the angular momentum vectors of neighboring protostars during their initial accretion phase. Possible observational signatures are aligned disks and parallel outflows. The latter are indeed observed in some low-mass isolated Bok globules.
An Exact Algorithm for Two-stage Robust Optimization with Mixed Integer Recourse Problems

In this paper, we consider a linear two-stage robust optimization model with a mixed integer recourse problem. Currently, this type of two-stage robust optimization model does not have any exact solution algorithm available. We ﬁrst present a set of suﬃcient conditions under which the existence of an optimal solution is guaranteed. Then, we present a nested column-and-constraint generation algorithm that can derive an exact solution in ﬁnite steps. The algorithm development also yields novel solution methods to solve general mixed integer bi-level programs and some four-level programs. Finally, the proposed framework is demonstrated through an application of a robust rostering problem with part-time staﬀ scheduling in the second stage
Early Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke: Do it or Lose it

Background and Purpose— The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke may be affected by the relative timing of imaging. We measured the impact of scanning an individual patient late versus early after TIA and minor stroke. Methods— Two hundred sixty-three TIA or minor stroke (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score ⩽3) patients with a baseline MRI completed within 24 hours of symptom onset and a follow-up MRI at 90 days were included. Baseline and 90-day scans were assessed independently for the presence of any stroke lesions that could explain the presenting symptoms. The presence and pattern of any stroke lesions were compared at the 2 time points. Results— The presence of a stroke (acute or chronic) in any location was more common on baseline MRI versus 90-day MRI (68% vs 56%; P=0.005). Thirty percent of subjects with negative scans at 90 days had a clearly identifiable stroke at baseline. When interpreted blinded to the baseline scan, the presumed relevant lesion on the 90-day MR scan was the correct lesion in only 53% patients. One-third (34%) of patients had a different lesion pattern on the baseline scan compared with the 90-day scan. Ninety percent (80/89) of these patients had more lesions on the baseline MRI and 10% (9/89) had new lesions on the 90-day MRI. Conclusions— Delayed MRI after TIA or minor stroke reduces the diagnostic yield and results in missed understanding of the lesion pattern. MRI of minor stroke and TIA patients should occur early after symptom onset, and delayed imaging should be interpreted with caution.
Using trainable hearing aids to examine real-world preferred gain.

BACKGROUND While there have been many studies of real-world preferred hearing aid gain, few data are available from participants using hearing aids with today's special features activated. Moreover, only limited data have been collected regarding preferred gain for individuals using trainable hearing aids. PURPOSE To determine whether real-world preferred hearing aid gain with trainable modern hearing aids is in agreement with previous work in this area, and to determine whether the starting programmed gain setting influences preferred gain outcome. RESEARCH DESIGN An experimental crossover study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Following initial treatment, each subject crossed to the opposite group and experienced that treatment. STUDY SAMPLE Twenty-two adults with downward sloping sensorineural hearing loss served as participants (mean age 64.5; 16 males, 6 females). All were experienced users of bilateral amplification. INTERVENTION Using a crossover design, participants were fitted to two different prescriptive gain conditions: VC (volume control) start-up 6 dB above NAL-NL1 (National Acoustic Laboratories-Non-linear 1) target or VC start-up 6 dB below NAL-NL1 target. The hearing aids were used in a 10 to 14 day field trial for each condition, and using the VC, the participants could "train" the overall hearing aid gain to their preferred level. During the field trial, daily hearing aid use was logged, as well as the listening situations experienced by the listeners based on the hearing instrument's acoustic scene analysis. The participants completed a questionnaire at the start and end of each field trial in which they rated loudness perceptions and their satisfaction with aided loudness levels. RESULTS Because several participants potentially experienced floor or ceiling effects for the range of trainable gain, the majority of the statistical analysis was conducted using 12 of the 22 participants. For both VC-start conditions, the trained preferred gain differed significantly from the NAL-NL1 prescriptive targets. More importantly, the initial start-up gain significantly influenced the trained gain; the mean preferred gain for the +6 dB start condition was approximately 9 dB higher than the preferred gain for the -6 dB start condition, and this difference was statistically significant (p < .001). Partial eta squared (n2) = 0.919, which is a large effect size. Deviation from the NAL-NL1 target was not significantly influenced by the time spent in different listening environments, amount of hearing aid use during the trial period, or amount of hearing loss. Questionnaire data showed more appropriate ratings for loudness and higher satisfaction with loudness for the 6 dB below target VC-start condition. CONCLUSIONS When trainable hearing aids are used, the initial programmed gain of hearing instruments can influence preferred gain in the real world.
Transmitral pressure-flow velocity relation. Importance of regional pressure gradients in the left ventricle during diastole.

Effects of regional diastolic pressure differences within the left ventricle on the measured transmitral pressure-flow relation were determined by simultaneous micromanometric left atrial (LAP) and left ventricular pressure (LVP) measurements, and Doppler echocardiograms in 11 anesthetized, closed-chest dogs. Intraventricular pressure recordings at sites that were 2, 4, and 6 cm from the apex were obtained. Profound differences between these sites were noted in the transmitral pressure relation during early (preatrial) diastolic filling. In measurements from apex to base, minimum LVP increased (1.6 +/- 0.7 to 3.1 +/- 0.8 mm Hg, mean +/- SD); the time interval between the first crossover of transmitral pressures and minimum LVP increased (31 +/- 3 to 50 +/- 17 msec); the slope of the rapid-filling LVP wave decreased (74 +/- 13 to 26 +/- 5 mm Hg/sec); the maximum forward (i.e., LAP greater than LVP) transmitral pressure gradient decreased (3.6 +/- 1.3 to 2.1 +/- 0.7 mm Hg); the time interval between the first and second points of transmitral pressure crossover increased (71 +/- 9 to 96 +/- 13 msec); and the area of reversed (i.e., LVP greater than LAP) gradient between the second and third points of transmitral pressure crossover decreased (101 +/- 41 to 40 +/- 33 mm Hg.msec). During atrial contraction, significant regional ventricular apex-to-base gradients were also noted. The slope of the LV A wave decreased (26 +/- 10 to 16 +/- 4 mm Hg/sec); LV end-diastolic pressure decreased (8.1 +/- 2.0 to 7.4 +/- 2.0 mm Hg), and the upstroke of the LV A wave near the base was recorded earlier than near the apex. All differences were significant at the 0.05 level. Simultaneous transmitral Doppler velocity profiles and transmitral pressures were measured at the 4-cm intraventricular site. The average interval between the first and second points of pressure crossover and between the onset of early rapid filling and maximum E-wave velocity were statistically similar (81 +/- 13 vs. 85 +/- 12 msec; NS); and the average area of the forward transmitral pressure gradient associated with acceleration of early flow was significantly greater than the area of reversed gradient associated with deceleration of early flow (133 +/- 36 vs. 80 +/- 46 msec.mm Hg; p less than 0.025). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Tipos de divulgação da informação financeira e não financeira de responsabilidade social empresarial

Information on corporate social responsibility has gained importance in the last decades, not only to users of this information but also to those responsible for preparing it. This importance has intensified since 2007 due to the financial crisis in the US, which was reflected in Portugal in 2008. The growing volume of information can be presented in different ways, portraying actions that influence the company’s performance and how stakeholders see the company and its relationship with the community. The aim of this article is to present different forms of publicizing information on corporate social responsibility and highlight the channels strategically used to this end. Advantages and disadvantages of means currently used to publicize this kind of information are detailed, contributing to the debate on this issue. The literature review was based on recent studies, in order to assess the status of the issue. As for methodology, it is an exploratory analysis of information published on official websites of Portuguese companies listed at the Lisbon Stock Exchange in the first semester of 2016. The results show that there is a variety of information publicized by companies on their activities regarding social responsibility: written and non-written, financial and non-financial, internal and external. The websites and traditional reports seem to be the most used forms of publication, and reports are more often focused on qualitative than quantitative information.
Efficient, robust license plate detection - Niblack revisited

The first processing step in any automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system is the detection of the plates. The presented approach to plate detection makes use of a robust binarization scheme. The contributions of this paper are twofold: We present our approach to license plate detection, which is based on Niblack's binarization scheme. To improve the binarization we pro- pose a theoretically more founded selection of the tuning parameter the scheme relies on. In particular, we propose to replace the standard deviation with the mean absolute differences. This improves the performance, the runtime and the memory consumption and it no longer requires a tuning parameter.
Incremental Data Prefetching for Map Service in Mobile Navigation Application

Map service, the most frequently used service in mobile navigation application, is always the bottle-neck due to the continual map refresh, limitation capacity of wireless network and the vast data volume of the vector map. Data prefetching, responsible for fetching data from Map Server forehand, is considered to be an efficient way to increase map refresh. However, the sticking point is to decrease the data participant in transfer and display. Other than treat all the data objects equally, this paper take the objects' display level into account during prefetching, and presents a hierarchical data management and incremental prefetching strategy based on Hierarchical Hilbert grid, which extends traditional Hilbert grid and curve to multi-level map space, and uses a binary serial number to serialize sub-grids for the sake of describing both spatial and neighborhood relationship among objects.
Multi-objective performance optimization of robotic mechanism

Based on the kinematics of an industrial robot, the three indices, including global kinematic average value, global kinematic volatility value, global kinematic worst value are analyzed and optimized by multi-objective optimization algorithm. The link length parameters of robot are design as the variable, and the multi-objective optimization model is established by the requirements of the robot workspace and kinematics. An improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization (pso) algorithm is proposed by using the distribution entropy and its difference of an approximate Pareto front to assess the diversity and evolutionary status of the population, and getting feedback information to design evolution strategy. Finally, a group of optimum link length is calculated by using this method. The optimized link length parameters of robot can improve the performance index of the robot greatly.