Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Procedural generation of topologic road networks for driving simulation

Virtual environments for driving simulation aimed to scientific purposes require three-dimensional models of realistic road networks. The generation of these networks according to the requirements, if done manually by road design specialists, results in a time consuming task. Procedural generation of road networks comes as a solution to this problem with the creation of complete road networks definition adequate to simulation. This paper proposes a method to automatically generate an optimized definition of very large roads network, in an integrated process, from the selection of nodes in a terrain area, to the network topological definition. The human supervisor can interact with this generation process at any stage, in order to obtain custom road networks definitions. The proposed method reduces the use of specialists for preparing large road networks definitions. These definitions are suitable to integrate into a broader process to create road environments, with different road types, appropriate to conducting scientific experiments in driving simulation.
Implementation of text based cryptosystem using Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Data encryption is widely used to ensure security in open networks such as the internet. With the fast development of cryptography research and computer technology, the capabilities of cryptosystems such as of RSA and Diffie-Hellman are inadequate due the requirement of large number of bits. The cryptosystem based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is becoming the recent trend of public key cryptography. This paper presents the implementation of ECC by first transforming the message into an affine point on the Elliptic Curve (EC), over the finite field GF(p). In ECC we normally start with an affine point called Pm(x,y) which lies on the elliptic curve. In this paper we illustrate the process of encryption/decryption of a text message . It is almost infeasible to attempt a brute force attack to break the cryptosystem using ECC.
Dynamic Group-based Scheduling for Two Dimensional Seek Space in MEMS-based Storage

MEMS-based storage is expected to be adopted as a secondary storage of mobile computing devices such as portable media players and digital cameras. Due to its desirable features such as small size, lightweight, low power consumption, and low cost, MEMS-based storage will be widely used for mobile applications that require large volume of multimedia data. However, physical structures of MEMS-based storage are different from other storage devices such as hard disk especially in the way of data placement and head positioning. Hence, it is important to revise OS-level software management schemes for MEMS-based storage. In this paper, we present a new I/O scheduling algorithm for MEMS-based storage called G-MST that exploits two-dimensional structure of MEMS-based storage. The new algorithm aims at reducing total seek distance in the two dimensional MEMS structure and at the same time providing fast and uniform response times. Through simulation experiments, we show that the new I/O scheduling algorithm performs better than existing algorithms in terms of average response time and the variation of response times.
Analyzing Large Biological Datasets with an Improved Algorithm for MIC

A computational framework utilizes the traditional similarity measures for mining the significant relationships in biological annotations is recently proposed by Tatiana V. Karpinets et al. [2]. In this paper, an improved approximation algorithm for MIC (maximal information coefficient) named IAMIC is suggested to perfect this framework for discovering the hidden regularities between biological annotations. Further, IAMIC is the enhanced algorithm for approximating a novel similarity coefficient MIC with generality and equitability, which makes it more appropriate for data exploration. Here it is shown that IAMIC is also applicable for identify the associations between biological annotations.
WriteAhead: Mining Grammar Patterns in Corpora for Assisted Writing

This paper describes WriteAhead, a resource-rich, Interactive Writing Environment that provides L2 learners with writing prompts, as well as ”get it right” advice, to helps them write fluently and accurately. The method involves automatically analyzing reference and learner corpora, extracting grammar patterns with example phrases, and computing dubious, overused patterns. At run-time, as the user types (or mouses over) a word, the system automatically retrieves and displays grammar patterns and examples, most relevant to the word. The user can opt for patterns from a general corpus, academic corpus, learner corpus, or commonly overused dubious patterns found in a learner corpus. WriteAhead proactively engages the user with steady, timely, and spot-on information for effective assisted writing. Preliminary experiments show that WriteAhead fulfills the design goal of fostering learner independence and encouraging self-editing, and is likely to induce better writing, and improve writing skills in the long run.
Implementation of attractive Speech Quality for Mixed Excited Linear Prediction

Nowadays the number of mobile subscribers is increasing all over the world, so the system for the communication has to be improved. Mixed Excited Linear Prediction (MELP) algorithm is developed for reducing the bandwidth of the signal as well as transmission of large data on a single channel. This results in increase channel capacity. This also results in, increasing the number of user in a channel. MELP is basically a speech coding method, relying on a Speech Encoder and Speech Decoder. The MELP speech coder reduces the redundancy of the signal and compresses it which is represented by the MELP code. Speech Decoder includes a Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) filter providing a synthesized speech at its output side in response to voice and unvoiced. MELP also reduces jitter voice. The bit rate of MELP is reducing the reserves of the code book and calculation complexity. This paper describes "the bit rates of MELP coder can be reduced to as low as 2.4kbps without apparent damage to the speech quality. "
Isolation, Characterization and Evaluation of Collagen from Jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye for Use in Hemostatic Applications

Hemostat has been a crucial focus since human body is unable to control massive blood loss, and collagen proves to be an effective hemostat in previous studies. In this study, collagen was isolated from the mesoglea of jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye and its hemostatic property was studied. The yields of acid-soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin-soluble (PSC) were 0.12% and 0.28% respectively. The SDS-PAGE patterns indicated that the collagen extracted from jellyfish mesoglea was type I collagen. The lyophilized jellyfish collagen sponges were cross-linked with EDC and interconnected networks in the sponges were revealed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Collagen sponges exhibited higher water absorption rates than medical gauze and EDC/NHS cross-linking method could improve the stability of the collagen sponges. Compared with medical gauze groups, the blood clotting indexes (BCIs) of collagen sponges were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and the concentration of collagen also had an influence on the hemostatic property (P < 0.05). Collagen sponges had an improved hemostatic ability compared to the gauze control in tail amputation rat models. Hemostatic mechanism studies showed that hemocytes and platelets could adhere and aggregate on the surface of collagen sponge. All properties make jellyfish collagen sponge to be a suitable candidate used as hemostatic material and for wound healing applications.
Oxaloacetate-to-malate conversion by mineral photoelectrochemistry: implications for the viability of the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle in prebiotic chemistry

Abstract The carboxylic acids produced by the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle are possibly a biosynthetic core of initial life, although several steps such as the reductive kinetics of oxaloacetate (OAA) to malate (MA) are problematic by conventional chemical routes. In this context, we studied the kinetics of this reaction as promoted by ZnS mineral photoelectrochemistry. The quantum efficiency φMA of MA production from the photoelectrochemical reduction of OAA followed φMA=0.13 [OAA] (2.1×10−3+[OAA])−1 and was independent of temperature (5 to 50°C). To evaluate the importance of this forward rate under a prebiotic scenario, we also studied the temperature-dependent rate of the backward thermal decarboxylation of OAA to pyruvate (PA), which followed an Arrhenius behavior as log (k−2)=11.74–4956/T, where k−2 is in units of s−1. These measured rates were employed in conjunction with the indirectly estimated carboxylation rate of PA to OAA to assess the possible importance of mineral photoelectrochemistry in the conversion of OAA to MA under several scenarios of prebiotic conditions on early Earth. As an example, our analysis shows that there is 90% efficiency with a forward velocity of 3 yr/cycle for the OAA→MA step of the rTCA cycle at 280 K. Efficiency and velocity both decrease for increasing temperature. These results suggest high viability for mineral photoelectrochemistry as an enzyme-free engine to drive the rTCA cycle through the early aeons of early Earth, at least for the investigated OAA→MA step.
Yet Another Compressed Cache

Cache memories play a critical role in bridging the latency, bandwidth, and energy gaps between cores and off-chip memory. However, caches frequently consume a significant fraction of a multicore chip's area and thus account for a significant fraction of its cost. Compression has the potential to improve the effective capacity of a cache, providing the performance and energy benefits of a larger cache while using less area. The design of a compressed cache must address two important issues: (i) a low-latency, low-overhead compression algorithm that can represent a fixed-size cache block using fewer bits and (ii) a cache organization that can efficiently store the resulting variable-size compressed blocks. This article focuses on the latter issue. Here, we propose Yet Another Compressed Cache (YACC), a new compressed cache design that targets improving effective cache capacity with a simple design. YACC uses super-blocks to reduce tag overheads while packing variable-size compressed blocks to reduce internal fragmentation. YACC achieves the benefits of two state-of-the art compressed caches—Decoupled Compressed Cache (DCC) [Sardashti and Wood 2013a, 2013b] and Skewed Compressed Cache (SCC) [Sardashti et al. 2014]—with a more practical and simpler design. YACC's cache layout is similar to conventional caches, with a largely unmodified tag array and unmodified data array. Compared to DCC and SCC, YACC requires neither the significant extra metadata (i.e., back pointers) needed by DCC to track blocks nor the complexity and overhead of skewed associativity (i.e., indexing ways differently) needed by SCC. An additional advantage over previous work is that YACC enables modern replacement mechanisms, such as RRIP. For our benchmark set, compared to a conventional uncompressed 8MB LLC, YACC improves performance by 8% on average and up to 26%, and reduces total energy by 6% on average and up to 20%. An 8MB YACC achieves approximately the same performance and energy improvements as a 16MB conventional cache at a much smaller silicon footprint, with only 1.6% greater area than an 8MB conventional cache. YACC performs comparably to DCC and SCC but is much simpler to implement.
The gender dimension of globalization: a survey of the literature with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract This literature review presents an overview of current research and publications around economic globalization and gender, with a specific focus on Latin American and Caribbean countries. The objectives of the survey are to uncover the gender dimension of the process and currents trends in Women's status and well being as a result of the various dimensions of economic globalization, especially in developing countries. Specific themes of the review include: globalization as a concept, gendered employment-creating and displacing effects of globalization, gender differentiated effects of labor flexibilization-informalization, the empowerment potential of Women's trade-related employment, gendered impacts of the weakening of the State under globalization, modern technologies and women, international migration, the global sex industry and women, among other themes. In addition, this study provides an overall assessment of the state of the art of the research, where gaps in the literature are identified and further directions for research and inquiry are suggested.
Understanding risks associated with chronic kidney disease: translating observational data to patient care.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD),3 which is defined by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or albuminuria, is projected to affect approximately 10% to 16% of adults worldwide. Over the past 2 decades, there has been growing appreciation of the increased risk of mortality and adverse clinical outcomes in individuals with a decreased eGFR, compared with those with normal renal function. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurs prematurely among patients with CKD. The prevalence is several-fold higher than in the general population, and CVD contributes substantially to increased mortality. Traditional CVD risk factors are more common in these patients, but conventional models (e.g., the Framingham predictive instrument) consistently underestimate risk of future CVD events. A scientific statement by the American Heart Association in 2003 endorsed the position that patients with CKD [eGFR <60 mL · min−1 · (1.73 m2)−1 or microalbuminuria] should be grouped with those at the highest risk for cardiovascular events (coronary risk equivalent); however, the increased CVD risk is neither well recognized nor integrated by the general medical community into the care of individual patients with decreased eGFR or albuminuria. A new clinical practice guideline from the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) group recommends altering the classification schema of CKD (Fig. 1A) (1). The new classification reflects an increasing recognition by nephrologists and cardiologists that urinary albumin excretion [defined by an albumin–creatinine ratio (ACR) >10 mg/g] is independently associated in a stepwise fashion with increased rates of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. This risk appears to increase synergistically in concert with reduction in eGFR [<60 mL · min−1 · (1.73 m2)−1]. The new system, known as CGA, leaves intact the familiar eGFR (G in CGA) categories on which the prior system was focused and adds 2 dimensions: cause (C) …
Comparative Transcriptomics of H. pylori Strains AM5, SS1 and Their hpyAVIBM Deletion Mutants: Possible Roles of Cytosine Methylation

Helicobacter pylori is an important human pathogen and one of the most successful chronic colonizers of the human body. H. pylori uses diverse mechanisms to modulate its interaction with the host in order to promote chronic infection and overcome host immune response. Restriction-modification genes are a major part of strain-specific genes present in H. pylori. The role of N6 - adenine methylation in bacterial gene regulation and virulence is well established but not much is known about the effect of C5 -cytosine methylation on gene expression in prokaryotes. In this study, it was observed by microarray analysis and RT-PCR, that deletion of an orphan C5 -cytosine methyltransferase, hpyAVIBM in H. pylori strains AM5and SS1 has a significant effect on the expression of number of genes belonging to motility, adhesion and virulence. AM5ΔhpyAVIBM mutant strain has a different LPS profile and is able to induce high IL-8 production compared to wild-type. hpyAVIBM from strain 26695 is able to complement mutant SS1 and AM5 strains. This study highlights a possible significance of cytosine methylation in the physiology of H. pylori.
Impacts of company size and culture on quality management practices in manufacturing organisations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of company sizes and culture on quality management practices (QMP) in manufacturing organisations based in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data were collected via a questionnaire survey, and 65 manufacturers in four different sizes were studied. The analysis of survey data was performed with the aid of SPSS.Findings – The study signified five core dimensions of culture that would facilitate QMP implementation, and their relative importance would be dependent on varying company size. Organisation size appears to affect only the culture dimension of Low Power Distance.Research limitations/implications – This research has its limitations due to the fact that the samples were selected manufacturers with varying sizes in T&T. Direct measurements of the impacts of varying company size on culture and QMP were not included in the study.Originality/value – The findings provided some insights in diagnosing the cultur.
The Principal's Guide to School Budgeting

Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors 1. Understanding the Budgeting Process Delineating Between School Finance and School Budgeting Breaking the Budgeting Myths Sources of School Funding Ten Steps to Budgeting Success Final Thoughts Discussion Questions Case Study Application: Fiscal Lessons For the New Principal 2. The Budget-Vision Relationship and the National Standards The National Educational Leadership Standards An Examination of the ELCC & ISLLC Standards Final Thoughts Discussion Questions Case Study Application: Belle Plain Middle School 3. School Culture and Using Data Effectively School Culture Data Driven Decision Making Barriers to the Use of Data Dimensions of Data Types of Data Assessment Final Thoughts Discussion Questions Case Study Application: L. B. Jensen Middle School 4. A Model for Integrating Vision, Budgeting, and Planning Sorenson-Goldsmith Integrated Budget Model Final Thoughts Discussion Questions Case Study Application: Shifting Paradigms with Changing Times (Parts 1-3) 5. Effective and Efficient Budgeting Practices The Budget Plan Adequate Funding in an Era of Accountability Analyzing the School Action and Budget Plans Generated Income Sources Expenditure Accountability and Control Collection and Deposit Structures Budgetary Systems Accounting and Auditing Procedures Final Thoughts Discussion Questions Case Study Application: Sex, Money, and a Tangled Web Woven 6. Building the School Budget Site-Based Decision Making Why Site-Based Decision Making? Who Builds the Budget? School Budget Applications Budget Allocations Restricted Funds Coding Applications Projecting Student Enrollment Important Budget Considerations Final Thoughts Discussion Questions Case Study Application 1: Shifting Paradigms With Changing Times Case Study Application 2: Requisition Season at Cover Elementary 7. Celebrating Success, Acknowledging Opportunities, and Ethical Leadership Celebrating Success Acknowledging Opportunities for Growth and Development The Leadership Role: Ethical and Moral Behaviors Resource A: Selected Templates and Forms Strategy Page Budget Development Spreadsheet Resource B: Experiential Activities The Personal Finance Activity The Personal Finance Case Study: How to Hang On To Your Wallet and Not Lose Your Shirt The Budgeting Codes Activity Accounting Codes Reference Sheet The Budget Development Project Resource C: Budgeting Checklist for School Administrators Resource D: State Departments of Education Websites References Index
Long-Term Outcomes of Surgical and Nonsurgical Management of Sciatica Secondary to a Lumbar Disc Herniation: 10 Year Results from the Maine Lumbar Spine Study

Study Design. A prospective cohort study. Objective. To assess 10-year outcomes of patients with sciatica resulting from a lumbar disc herniation treated surgically or nonsurgically. Summary of Background Data. There is little information comparing long-term outcomes of surgical and conservative therapy of lumbar disc herniation in contemporary clinical practice. Prior studies suggest that these outcomes are similar. Methods. Patients recruited from the practices of orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and occupational medicine physicians throughout Maine had baseline interviews with follow-up questionnaires mailed at regular intervals over 10 years. Clinical data were obtained at baseline from a physician questionnaire. Primary analyses were based on initial treatment received, either surgical or nonsurgical. Secondary analyses examined actual treatments received by 10 years. Outcomes included patient-reported symptoms of leg and back pain, functional status, satisfaction, and work and disability compensation status. Results. Of 507 eligible consenting patients initially enrolled, 10-year outcomes were available for 400 of 477 (84%) surviving patients; 217 of 255 (85%) treated surgically, and 183 of 222 (82%) treated nonsurgically. Patients undergoing surgery had worse baseline symptoms and functional status than those initially treated nonsurgically. By 10 years, 25% of surgical patients had undergone at least one additional lumbar spine operation, and 25% of nonsurgical patients had at least one lumbar spine operation. At 10-year follow-up, 69% of patients initially treated surgically reported improvement in their predominant symptom (back or leg pain) versus 61% of those initially treated nonsurgically (P = 0.2). A larger proportion of surgical patients reported that their low back and leg pain were much better or completely gone (56% vs. 40%, P = 0.006) and were more satisfied with their current status (71% vs. 56%, P = 0.002). Treatment group differences persisted after adjustment for other determinants of outcome in multivariate models. Change in the modified Roland back-specific functional status scale favored surgical treatment, and the relative benefit persisted over the follow-up period. Despite these differences, work and disability status at 10 years were comparable among those treated surgically or nonsurgically. Conclusions. Surgically treated patients with a herniated lumbar disc had more complete relief of leg pain and improved function and satisfaction compared with nonsurgically treated patients over 10 years. Nevertheless, improvement in the patient’s predominant symptom and work and disability outcomes were similar regardless of treatment received. For patients in whom elective discectomy is a treatment option, an individualized treatment plan requires patients and their physicians to integrate clinical findings with patient preferences based on their symptoms and goals.
Identifying physical properties of deformable objects by using particle filters

This paper presents a new approach for estimating physical properties of deformable models from experimental measurements. In contrast to most previous work, we introduce a new method based on particle filters which identifies the different stiffness properties for spring-based models. This approach addresses some important limitations encountered with gradient descent techniques which often converge towards ill solutions or remain fixed in local minima conditions.