Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SpareEye: enhancing the safety of inattentionally blind smartphone users

Using mobile phones while walking for activities that require continuous focus on the screen, such as texting, has become more and more popular in the last years. To avoid colliding with obstacles, such as lampposts and pedestrians, focus has to be taken off the screen in regular intervals. In this paper we introduce SpareEye, an Android application that warns the smartphone user from obstacles in her way. We use only the camera of the phone and no special hardware, ensuring that it requires minimal effort from the user to use the application during everyday life. Experimental results show that we can detect obstacles with high accuracy, with only some false positives and few false negatives.
Formal Notions of Anonymity for Peer-to-peer Networks

Providing anonymity support for peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay networks is critical. Otherwise, potential privacy attacks (e.g., network address traceback) may deter a storage source from providing the needed data. In this paper we use this practical application scenario to verify our observation that network-based anonymity can be modeled as a complexity based cryptographic problem. We show that, if the routing process between senders and recipients can be modeled as abstract entities, network-based anonymity becomes an analogy of cryptography. In particular, perfect anonymity facing an unbounded traffic analyst corresponds to Shannon’s perfect secrecy facing an unbounded cryptanalyst. More importantly, in this paper we propose Probabilistic Polynomial Route (PPR) model, which is a new polynomially-bounded anonymity model corresponding to the Probabilistic Polynomial Time (PPT ) model in cryptography. Afterwards, network-based anonymity attacks are with no exception in BPP. This phenomenon has not been discovered in previous anonymity research. Keywords—Formal notion of anonymity; Probabilistic Polynomial Route model; Chosen Recipient Attack; Chosen Sender Attack; Chosen Route Attack; P2P network.
Graft-Derived Cell-Free DNA as a Marker of Transplant Graft Injury

Abstract: Although short-term success after solid organ transplantation is good, long-term graft and recipient survival are both not satisfactory. Despite therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs), both excessive and insufficient immunosuppression still do occur. There is a need for new biomarkers that, when combined with TDM, can be used to provide more effective and less toxic, personalized immunosuppression to improve long-term survival. Currently used methods are insufficient to rapidly, cost-effectively, and directly interrogate graft integrity after solid organ transplantation. However, because organ transplants are also genome transplants, measurement of graft-derived circulating cell-free DNA (GcfDNA) has shown promise as a way to improve both graft and recipient outcomes after solid organ transplantation through the early detection of severe graft injury, enabling an early intervention. A newly developed droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) method has advantages over expensive high-throughput sequencing methods to rapidly quantify GcfDNA percentages and absolute amounts. This procedure does not require donor DNA and therefore can be applied to any organ donor/recipient pair. The droplet digital polymerase chain reaction method allows for the early, sensitive, specific, and cost-effective direct assessment of graft integrity and can be used to define individual responses to ISDs including the minimal ISD exposures necessary to prevent rejection. This is especially important in patients undergoing ISD switches due to ISD toxicity, infections, or malignancies. Although prospective, multicenter clinical trials in liver, heart, and kidney transplantation have not been completed, early results suggest that GcfDNA can be combined with TDM to guide changes in immunosuppression to provide more effective, and less toxic treatment. Personalized immunosuppression will shift emphasis in transplantation from reaction to prevention and could improve outcome at lower health care costs.
Briefing: Antarctic ice sheet mass loss and future sea-level rise

Sea-level rise, one of the most obvious consequences of climate change, has direct impacts on coastal communities and economic infrastructure. It is important to assess current sea-level rise and forecast future rates. These predictions are made difficult because the potential for rapid destabilisation of some of the world's large ice sheets, in particular the west Antarctic ice sheet, remains poorly constrained. In particular, new processes and new mapping and modelling, currently emerging from the science community, may have a radical impact on forecasts. Here, a summary of observations and models of recent west Antarctic ice sheet dynamics are provided. This summary highlights that sea-level rise above the ∼1 m expected by 2100 is possible if ice sheet response begins to exceed present rates. Moreover, ice losses from Antarctica have an amplified impact on the coastlines of North America and Europe, because of the resulting redistribution of water due to the changed gravitational field near the ice sheet.
Kidney‐specific proteins in patients receiving aprotinin at high‐ and low‐dose regimens during coronary artery bypass graft with cardiopulmonary bypass

Background and objective: The aim was to determine whether the administration of aprotinin can cause deleterious effects on renal function in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods: Sixty consecutive patients with normal preoperative renal function undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery with CPB using the same anaesthetic; CPB and surgical protocols were randomized into three groups. Patients received placebo (Group 1), low‐dose aprotinin (Group 2) or high‐dose aprotinin (Group 3). Renal parameters measured were plasma creatinine, α1‐microglobulin and β‐glucosaminidase (β‐NAG) excretion. Measurements were performed before surgery, during CPB and 24 and 72 h, and 7 and 40 days postoperatively. Results: In the three groups, α1‐microglobulin and β‐NAG excretions significantly increased during CPB, at 24 and 72 h, and 7 days postoperatively (P < 0.05) and had returned to preoperative levels at postoperative day 40. Plasma creatinine levels were within normal values at times recorded. In Groups 2 and 3, α1‐microglobulin excretion during CPB was significantly higher than in Group 1 (P < 0.001), and 24 h after surgery it still remained significantly higher in Group 3 compared to Groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Aprotinin caused a significant increase in α1‐microglobulin excretion but not in β‐NAG excretion during CPB, which may be interpreted as a greater renal tubular overload without tubular damage. This effect persisted for 24 h after surgery when high‐dose aprotinin doses had been administered. Creatinine plasma levels were not sensitive to detect these prolonged renal effects in our study.
A word-to-phrase statistical translation model

This article addresses the development of statistical models for phrase-based machine translation (MT) which extend a popular word-alignment model proposed by IBM in the early 90s. A novel decoding algorithm is directly derived from the optimization criterion which defines the statistical MT approach. Efficiency in decoding is achieved by applying dynamic programming, pruning strategies, and word reordering constraints. It is known that translation performance can be boosted by exploiting phrase (or multiword) translation pairs automatically extracted from a parallel corpus. New phrase-based models are obtained by introducing extra multiwords in the target language vocabulary and by estimating the corresponding parameters from either: (i) a word-based model, (ii) phrase-based statistics computed on the parallel corpus, or (iii) the interpolation of the two previous estimates. Word-based and phrase-based MT models are evaluated on a traveling domain task in two translation directions: Chinese-English (12k-word vocabulary) and Italian-English (16k-word vocabulary). Phrase-based models show Bleu score improvements over the word-based model by 19% and 13% relative, respectively.
Long-Term Interest Rates in Globalised Markets

This paper addresses the issue of whether covariation of long-term interest rates across G10 countries has increased in recent years and whether, as a consequence, interest rates have become less subject to the influence of national monetary authorities and domestic fundamentals. A conceptual framework based on the standard parity relations among country interest rates is described, and it is argued that historical trends in interest rates and their relations across countries can be understood reasonably well under this framework as the result of changing fundamentals and shifts in (internationally-priced) risk premia. The main empirical findings are that bilateral covariation of long-term interest rates has gone up in the 1990s among some European countries but there is no evidence of any substantial increase for countries with floating exchange rates. Variance decompositions and country-specific interest rate equations show little evidence of increasing interdependence of domestic . Cet article etudie dans quelle mesure la covariation des taux d’interet a long terme dans les pays du G10 a augmente ces dernieres annees et si, en consequence, les taux d’interet sont devenus moins permeables a l’influence des autorites monetaires nationales et aux evolutions fondamentales internes. Apres la description du cadre conceptuel base sur les relations habituelles de parite des taux d’interet entre pays, il est demontre que, dans ce cadre, les evolutions historiques des taux d’interet et de leurs relations entre pays s’interpretent assez bien comme le resultat d’un changement des evolutions economiques fondamentales et des primes de risque (sur les marches internationaux). Les principales conclusions empiriques sont que la covariation bilaterale des taux d’interet a long terme, s’est accrue dans les annees 90 parmi quelques pays europeens mais qu’il n’y a aucun signe d’accroissement pour les pays a taux de change flottants. Les decompositions de la variance et des .
CLIMATICALLY RELATED MILLENNIAL-SCALE FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH OF CALIFORNIA MARGIN OXYGEN-MINIMUM ZONE DURING THE PAST 60 K.Y

A strong oxygen-minimum zone (OMZ) currently exists along the California margin because of a combination of high surface-water productivity and poor intermediate-water ventilation. However, the strength of this OMZ may have been sensitive to late Quaternary ocean-circulation and productivity changes along the margin. Although sediment-lamination strength has been used to trace ocean-oxygenation changes in the past, oxygen levels on the open margin are not sufficiently low for laminations to form. In these regions, benthic foraminifera are highly sensitive monitors of OMZ strength, and their fossil assemblages can be used to reconstruct past fluctuations. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1017, off Point Conception, exhibit major and rapid faunal oscillations in response to late Quaternary millennial-scale climate change (Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles) on the open central California margin. These faunal oscillations can be correlated to and are apparently synchronous with those reported from Santa Barbara Basin. Together they represent major fluctuations in the strength of the OMZ which were intimately associated with global climate change--weakening, perhaps disappearing, during cool periods and strengthening during warm periods. These rapid, major OMZ strength fluctuations were apparently widespread on the Northeast Pacific margin and must have influenced the evolution of margin biota and altered biogeochemicalmore » cycles with potential feedbacks to global climate change. « less
Eurographics/ Acm Siggraph Symposium on Computer Animation (2006) Re-using Traditional Animation: Methods for Semi-automatic Segmentation and Inbetweening

A large body of traditional animation exists that contains characters with poses, expressions, and appeal not easily achievable with modern 3D techniques. To create new uses for this body of animation, this paper presents components of a system that can help incorporate the animation into re-usable libraries. In particular, we discuss two semi-automatic techniques that allow the re-use of traditional animation. First, support vector machines are used to segment cartoon images from their backgrounds for incorporation into an image library, for such applications as re-sequencing. Second, a radial basis function implicit surface modeling technique and a fast non-rigid elastic registration algorithm provide inbetween contours and textures given two key images of traditional animation. Our system is fast, model-free, and requires minimal animator intervention.
Minimal Noise Variance Decoder for Uncoordinated Multiple Access in VLC

In a visible light communications system (VLC), light sources are responsible for both illumination, communications and positioning. These light sources inevitably interfere each others at the receiver. To retain the appealing advantage that VLC systems can reuse existing lighting infrastructure, using an extra network to control or synchronize the light sources should be avoided. This paper proposes an uncoordinated multiple access scheme for VLC systems with positioning capability. The proposed scheme does not require a central unit to coordinate the transmission of the transmitters. Transmitters can be asynchronous with one another and with the receiver. Each transmitter is allocated a unique codeword with $L$ chips for a system with up to $\frac{L-1}{2}$ transmitters where $L$ is prime. Due to the linear growth in complexity with respect to number of transmitters, our proposed scheme is feasible for systems with large numbers of transmitters. Our novel decoder can minimize the effect of additive Gaussian noise at the receiver side. Simulation results show that the proposed decoder outperforms zero-forcing decoder.
Proposed method to measure the neutrino magnetic moment.

If the neutrino has a finite mass and a magnetic moment it can produce transition radiations when crossing the interface between two media. The transition radiation due to the neutrino magnetic moment can be enhanced by a large Lorentz factor ([gamma]=[ital E][sub [nu]]/[ital m][sub [nu]]) for a small value of [ital m][sub [nu]]. A new application of the transition radiation to measure the neutrino magnetic moment is discussed.
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) in men who have sex with men (MSM)

The impact of increasingly efficient antiretroviral therapy (ART) on survival and general well-being has contributed to a "business as usual" attitude to sex among men who have sex with men (MSM). There has been a recent marked increase of sexually transmitted infections (STI) including syphilis, LGV and Hepatits C among MSM. STIs located in the oral cavity or rectum are asymptomatic in over 80% and 50%, respectively and these sites must be seen as important reservoirs. On the other hand severe proctitis may be mistreated as inflammatory bowel disease without adequate medical history and testing. Due to the reappearance of syphilis, all genital ulcers, non-itching exanthema and severe disease symptoms (e.g. fever, fatigue, lymphadenopathy, hepato-splenomegaly, increased liver enzymes, neurological and ophthalmologic symptoms without other explanations) should lead to testing for syphilis. There is a marked association between STIs and HIV. Syphilis, LGV and Hepatits C are strongly overrepresented in HIV positive MSM, while gonorrhoea, LGV and syphilis increase the HIV susceptibility. Syphilis leads to increased viral load in HIV positive. The major risk factors for Hepatitis B are number of sex partners and receptive anal intercourse. High grade Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) anal lesions can progress to cancer. There is a 30 fold increase risk for anal cancer among MSM, a risk that is doubled in HIV infection, making anal cancer one of the most common non-AIDS tumors. All MSM should be offered Hepatitis A and B vaccination and the inclusion of boys in HPV vaccination programs must be considered. The aim of this article is to describe asymptomatic and symptomatic bacterial and viral STIs of the oral cavity, penis/urethra and rectum and the sexually transmittable viral Hepatitis and HIV in MSM and to inspire the medical establishment to adhere to testing guidelines in this group. This article is built on a review of published findings, the presentation of own data on Gonorrhoea and chlamydia and our own experience in treating all STIs including HIV in MSM since 1982 at a Gay Men's Health Clinic (Venhalsan) at Stockholm South General Hospital, Sweden.
The importance of corpus biopsies for the determination of Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine whether an antral biopsy alone represents an adequate tissue sample to diagnose the presence of Helicobacter pylori on the mucosa. Furthermore, we explored the conditions associated with the presence of H. pylori in the corpus. METHODS Consecutive patients who underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at a single centre between January 1995 and May 1997 were studied. Biopsies were taken at each endoscopy to assess the presence of H. pylori: two antral and two corpus biopsies for histological examination and one antral and one corpus biopsy for the CLO test. RESULTS A total of 620 patients underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, 307 (50%) were H. pylori infected. In 80% of the endoscopies there was total agreement between the performed biopsy tests. The addition of corpus biopsies increases the diagnostic yield by 10% in H. pylori-positive patients. Patients with only corpus infection more often showed atrophy and intestinal metaplasia compared with patients with both antral and corpus infection, 37 vs 20%, respectively (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.4). CONCLUSION One biopsy from the antrum or corpus seems to be inadequate to diagnose the presence of H. pylori on the mucosa. Patients with an infection exclusively in the corpus more often had worse mucosa pathology.
Extraction of Semantic Relationships Starting from Similarity Measurements

An air-compressing direct injection internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber in the shape of a body of revolution which combustion chamber at the end of the compression stroke contains nearly the entire necessary amount of combustion air which by suitable means is circulated about the cylinder axis of the respective pertaining cylinder of the engine. In this engine, a substantial portion of the liquid fuel is in the form of a thin film applied to the combustion chamber wall where it is processed so as to be picked up by and intermixed with the combustion air, whereupon the fuel air mixture is burnt. For purposes of facilitating the processing of the above mentioned fuel film and/or the realization of a pre-oxidation of the fuel, and for facilitating the pick-up of the fuel in the direction of the rotation of the air, additional means are provided and arranged in or on the combustion chamber wall and, when viewed in the direction of rotation of the air are located ahead of the fuel film. These additional means are such that the laminary boundary flow over the fuel film will be destroyed while the main flow of the air in the combustion chamber is not or only immaterially affected.
Tourism in National Parks and Protected Areas: Planning and Management

This text describes the state of the art of tourism planning and management in national parks and protected areas. It also provides guidelines for best practice in tourism operations. Other objectives are to: describe case studies and guidelines that contribute to conservation of biological diversity; consider the role of local communities within or near these areas; outline the development of tourism infrastructure and services; discuss visitor management; provide guidelines to enhance the quality of the tourism experience. The focus is global and the book should appeal to both academics and practitioners.
Favorable Responses to Acute and Chronic Exercise in McArdle Patients

Objective:This study reports acute exercise responses in a large (N = 46) series of patients with McArdle disease and responses to exercise training in a smaller (n = 9) set of patients. Design:Patients were studied during both incremental and steady-state cycle ergometer exercise, using cardiopulmonary testing, and the patients were compared with age- and gender-matched controls. Setting:The study was performed in a university setting (clinical exercise physiology laboratory). Participants:The 46 patients showed common features of McArdle disease. They were definitively diagnosed by histochemistry, biochemistry, and/or molecular genetic analysis. The 46 controls were healthy, sedentary individuals. Intervention:Nine patients were studied before and after an 8-month supervised aerobic exercise training program (including five weekly sessions of walking and/or cycling exercise with a duration no greater than 60 minutes). Main Outcome Measurements:The main indicators of exercise capacity that we measured were peak power output, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), and ventilatory threshold (VT). Results:Exercise capacity (peak power output, 35% control; VO2peak, 44% control; VT, 66% control) was markedly depressed in the patients. The patients who trained improved peak power output (25%), VO2peak (44%), and VT (27%), with no evidence of negative outcomes from training. Although not achieving normal values, the response to training put the patients into the lower limit of normal controls. Conclusions:Under carefully controlled conditions, patients with McArdle disease may perform acute exercise safely, and they may respond favorably to training. This may offer an additional therapeutic option to help normalize the lifestyles of these patients.
Characteristics and Peculiarities of Rural Tourism in the Balearic Islands

AbstractRural tourism is a complement to quality food production efforts in its goal toward restoring vitality among rural areas in Europe, affronting the rest of the world's more productive and less costly food-producing industry. Countries such as France, Italy, Austria and Germany have pioneered rural tourism projects and have proved its revitalizing capacity. Generally, the growth of rural tourism in Spain has resulted in establishments with a wide variety of typologies, prices and levels of comfort. The Balearic Islands have also developed this new sector and the result is a style with characteristics differing from those of other regions. In the Balearic Islands, it is a sector that complements traditional tourism by offering small establishments located in rural areas. Often their services could be ranked as four or five stars and the establishments are commonly managed by people with previous work experience in the sector. The average costumer can be described as a foreigner who stays on the islan.
Doxapram Hydrochloride Aggravates Adrenaline-Induced Arrhythmias Accompanied by Bidirectional Ventricular Tachycardia

Objectives. Doxapram hydrochloride is a respiratory stimulant that has an inhibitory effect on myocardial IK1 potassium channels and is thought to increase membrane instability and excitability in myocardial cells. We examined the arrhythmogenic effects of doxapram hydrochloride in a rat model of halothane adrenaline-induced arrhythmia. Methods. Thirteen female Wistar rats (12–14 weeks old) were used in the study. Animals were anesthetized with inhalation of halothane to permit observation of the effects of doxapram hydrochloride on halothane adrenaline-induced arrhythmia. Time-dependent changes in ECG repolarization characteristics (QT, QTc, JTp, JT, and Tp-e intervals) were studied. Results. Doxapram hydrochloride itself did not induce arrhythmia but did induce bidirectional ventricular tachycardia after addition of adrenaline. Conclusion. Drug-induced impairment of intracellular Ca2+ regulation caused BVT in the absence of genetic abnormalities in proteins in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.