Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Good Aerobic Capacity Attenuate the Effects of Aging on Cardiovascular Risk Factors? Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in a Latino Population

Background. High aerobic capacity is associated with low cardiovascular (CV) risk. The aim of this study was to determine the CV RF burden in subjects with aerobic capacity ≥10 METs and compare it with those having <10 METs. Methods. Cross-sectional study in 2646 subjects (mean age 48 ± 12 years). Demographics, medical history, physical activity, cardiovascular RFs, fasting lipids and blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were collected. Aerobic capacity was determined by exercise stress test. The ACC/AHA 2013 pooled cohort equation was used to calculate CV risk. Logistic models were built to determine the probability of having ≥2 RFs versus 0‐1 RF, by age and sex, according to aerobic capacity. Results. 15% of subjects had aerobic capacity < 10 METs. The ACC/AHA scores were 15% in men and 6% in women with <10 METs and 5% and 2%, respectively, in those with ≥10 METs. The probability of having ≥2 RFs increased with age in both groups; however, it was significantly higher in subjects with <10 METs (odds ratio [OR]: 2.54; 95% CI: 1.92–3.35). Conclusions. Aerobic capacity ≥ 10 METs is associated with a better CV RF profile and lower CV risk score in all age groups, regardless of gender.
Texture-free large-area depth recovery for planar surfaces

This paper presents a texture-free depth enhancement method for large-area depth recovery. The proposed algorithm identifies a large-area depth missing region, and iteratively segments its contour by setting different initial pixels in each iteration. Coordinate transformation is used to analyze the distribution of each contour segment. By examining distributions of all contour segments, statistical histogram analysis is applied in our approach to select contour pixels. Then, selected pixels are projected into the world coordinate system, and multiple linear regression is utilized for surface function approximation. Missing depth values of a large-area depth missing region can be recovered with guidance of the approximated surface function. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations over state-of-the-art depth enhancement methods demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of our method. Being texture-free, the proposed method has the flexibility of being merged into traditional depth enhancement methods.
Fusion of visual odometry and inertial sensors using dual quaternions and stochastic cloning

The article presents an approach where the visual odometry from the stereo camera is fused with the inertial measurements using an error-state extended Kalman filter. A simplified strapdown inertial mechanization is used to predict the orientation and position of the user while the measurements of the visual odometry are employed to reduce the fast position drift of a pure inertial approach. Within the work the relative orientation and position measurements are considered as a generalized displacement represented as a dual quaternion. Using the framework of stochastic cloning both the rotation and translation measurements are incorporated in a statistically consistent way including a proper treatment of the uncertainties of the previous estimates. An enhanced performance compared to classical dynamical models is obtained for a basic sensor hardware setup and demonstrated for several typical experimental data sets. The described sensor system is completely self-contained and can be used standalone for indoor or combined indoor/outdoor scenarios as well as in hybrid positioning systems.
Soil Transport by Winds on Mars

This paper presents three aspects of the movement of surface material by wind on Mars and assembles them to estimate transport rates. First, the governing equations of motion are presented and their numerical solutions. These are discussed with applications to Mars. Second, an analytical theory is presented from which one may estimate the surface flux. Last, results from low-pressure wind tunnel experiments are presented and are used to complete the semiempirical relationship. The last two sections are in good agreement with basic characteristics of particle motion as determined by the numerical solutions. The numerical results pertain directly to Mars, while the experimental work is performed at reduced pressure to simulate Martian conditions. The resulting transport equation is, however, applicable to both earth and Mars. SALTATION ON MARS
Geometric properties of satisfying assignments of random ε-1-in-k SAT

We study the geometric structure of the set of solutions of a random ε-1-in-k SAT problem [D. Achlioptas, A. Chtcherba, G. Istrate, and C. Moore, The phase transition in 1-in-K SAT and NAE3SAT, in Proceedings of the 12th ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, 2001, pp. 721–722; A. Percus, G. Istrate, and C. Moore (eds.), Computational Complexity and Statistical Physics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 2006]. For l≥1, two satisfying assignments A and B are l-connected if there exists a sequence of satisfying assignments connecting them by changing at most l bits at a time. We first identify a subregion of the satisfiable phase where the set of solutions provably forms one cluster. Next, we provide a range of parameters (c, ε) such that w.h. p. (with high probability) two assignments of a random ε-1-in-k SAT instance with n variables and cn clauses are O(log n)-connected, conditional on being satisfying assignments. Also, for random instances of 1-in-k SAT in the satisfiable phase we show that there exists ν k ∈(0, 1/(k−2)] such that w.h. p. no two satisfying assignments at distance at least ν k ·n form a ‘hole’. We believe that this is true for all ν k >0, and in fact solutions of a random 1-in-k SAT instance in the satisfiable phase form one cluster.
Applying Data Mining for Job Recommendations by Exploring Job Preferences

ii iii iv ABSTRACT Job recommender systems are desired to attain a high level of accuracy while making the predictions which are relevant to the customer, as it becomes a very tedious task to explore thousands of jobs, posted on the web, periodically. Although a lot of job recommender systems exist that use different strategies, here efforts have been put to make the job recommendations on the basis of candidate " s profile matching as well as preserving candidate " s job behavior or preferences. Firstly, the rules predicting the general preferences of the different user groups are mined. Then the job recommendations to the target candidate are made on the basis of content based matching as well as candidate preferences, which are preserved either in the form of mined rules or obtained by candidate " s own applied job history. Through this technique, a significant level of accuracy, around eighty percent, has been achieved over other basic methods of job recommendations.
Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of sporadic cerebellar ataxia.

BACKGROUND It is unknown whether multiple system atrophy of the cerebellar type (MSA-C) and idiopathic cerebellar ataxia with extracerebellar presentation (IDCA-P) represent distinct entities. OBJECTIVE To investigate the discriminative validity of magnetic resonance imaging in sporadic cerebellar ataxia. DESIGN Basal ganglia and infratentorial structures were screened for signal abnormalities and atrophic changes. Magnetic resonance imaging raters were masked to the clinical diagnosis. SETTING Outpatient clinic of a university hospital. PATIENTS Forty-one individuals were diagnosed as having MSA-C (n = 30) or IDCA-P (n = 11) based on their clinical features. RESULTS Shrinkage of the cerebellar vermis and hemispheres was found in both groups. Atrophy of the brainstem and middle cerebellar peduncles was significantly more frequent in patients with MSA-C (P<.001). Hyperintensities of infratentorial structures were common in patients with MSA-C (middle cerebellar peduncles: 87%; pons: 97%) but were absent in patients with IDCA-P. Hypointensities or hyperintensities of basal ganglia structures did not reliably differentiate the groups. CONCLUSIONS Patients with MSA-C were characterized by a higher frequency and severity of magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities (atrophic changes and additional hyperintense signal changes) of the middle cerebellar peduncles and pons. The presence of these magnetic resonance imaging features points to the diagnosis of MSA-C and helps differentiate MSA-C from other types of sporadic cerebellar ataxia with extracerebellar features.
Poppy: Open source 3D printed robot for experiments in developmental robotics

Since the introduction of numerical computers in the robotic field, research on artificial intelligence has been more and more detached from the actual robot body. Eventually, researchers no longer saw the physical incarnation as an essential component of their research leading to algorithms mainly based on symbolic manipulation. In the end of 80's, a novel thought emerged thanks to researchers such as Rodney Brooks [1], Luc Steels [2] or Rolf Pfeifer [3]. In particular, the embodied artificial intelligence rejects the symbolic approach and postulates that it is not possible to have intelligence without the body and the environment [3].
Digital forensic investigation in cloud computing environment: Impact on privacy

Cloud computing as an extensive IT service delivery platform is one of the most promising technologies for rapid business development and operational efficiency improvement. Unfortunately, many of the attractive cloud computing attributes can be utilized for cybercrime purposes and illegal activities. Effective combat of these cybercrimes requires careful application of digital forensics practice in the cloud computing environment. This refers not just to the adoption of specific technical methodologies or tools for cloud forensic investigation, but also to serious consideration of the legal and privacy aspects of this investigation. Accordingly, through this paper we discuss the potential impact of the cloud forensics on privacy in the cloud computing environment, and offer several recommendations for adoption of privacy aware cloud forensic investigation process.
Vinculin acts as a sensor in lipid regulation of adhesion-site turnover

The dynamics of cell adhesion sites control cell morphology and motility. Adhesion-site turnover is thought to depend on the local availability of the acidic phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). PIP2 can bind to many cell adhesion proteins such as vinculin and talin, but the consequences of this interaction are poorly understood. To study the significance of phospholipid binding to vinculin for adhesion-site turnover and cell motility, we constructed a mutant, vinculin-LD, deficient in acidic phospholipid binding yet with functional actin-binding sites. When expressed in cells, vinculin-LD was readily recruited to adhesion sites, as judged by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis, but cell spreading and migration were strongly impaired, and PIP2-dependent disassembly of adhesions was suppressed. Thus, PIP2 binding is not essential for vinculin activation and recruitment, as previously suggested. Instead, we propose that PIP2 levels can regulate the uncoupling of adhesion sites from the actin cytoskeleton, with vinculin functioning as a sensor.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AT STATISTICS CANADA IN THE LINKING OF COMPLEX HEALTH FILES

Many of the common social, economic, occupational and environmental health concerns of today are complex and multi-faceted. Census of Population, vital statistics, cancer morbidity, radiation exposure and work histories are important national data sources because of their comprehensiveness and inclusiveness over time. Record linkage is the process of bringing together two or more data sources relating to the same individual, family or entity.
Energy Aware Routing Protocol for Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper we present Energy Aware Random Asynchronous Wakeup (RAW-E), a novel crosslayer power management and routing protocol for heterogeneous wireless sensor and actor networks. RAW-E is an extension of our previously presented Random Asynchronous Wakeup (RAW), a power saving technique for sensor networks that has been shown to reduce energy consumption without significantly affecting the latency or connectivity of the network. RAW-E is a distributed, randomized algorithm where nodes make local decisions on whether to sleep, or to be active based on the energy level of its neighbors. The primary result of RAW-E is the reduction of energy disparity among sensor nodes. Therefore, while the energy reduction is spread uniformly among nodes, the life of network connectivity is prolonged. RAW-E is scalable to the change in network size, node type, node density and topology. RAW-E accommodates seamlessly such network changes, including the presence of actors in heterogeneous sensor networks. RAW-E takes advantage of actor nodes, and uses their resources when possible, thus reducing the energy consumption of sensor nodes. The performance of our protocol remains very good even in large networks, and it scales with density. Previously we have shown by analysis and simulations that RAW improves communication latency and system lifetime compared to current schemes. Through simulation evaluations, we show that RAW-E adds to those features the improvement on energy consumption and extension of connectivity life for heterogeneous sensor and actor networks
Making sense? The structure and meanings of digital memetic nonsense

ABSTRACT This paper offers the first systematic analysis of ‘digital memetic nonsense’– clusters of seemingly meaningless digital texts imitated and circulated by many participants. We evaluated this phenomenon through two conceptual lenses: theories on nonsense in the pre-digital age and the techno-cultural conditions that facilitate its contemporary formations. A grounded analysis of 139 nonsensical memes led to their typology into 5 genres: linguistic silliness, embodied silliness, pastiche, dislocations, and interruptions. In each of these genres, we show how digital nonsense may potentially serve as a social glue that bonds members of phatic, image-oriented, communities. If, in the past, nonsense was depicted in both intellectual terms, as defiant deconstruction of meaning, and in playful/social terms, its current memetic manifestations lean heavily toward the latter. Rather than being a reflection on ‘referential meaning’, digital nonsense is analyzed as a generative source of ‘affective meaning’ that marks the formation of social connections preceding cognitive understanding. We conclude by highlighting the potentially subversive implications of this shift for participatory barriers and community membership.
TRAcME: Temporal Activity Recognition Using Mobile Phone Data

The aim of human activity recognition is to identify what a user or a group of users are doing at a given point in time, for example travelling or working. Activity recognition plays an important role in mobile and ubiquitous computing both as a goal in itself and as an intermediate task in the design of advanced applications. Virtually all existing activity recognition systems for mobile phones base their predictions on location cues. This approach forces the user to disclose personal information such as her home or work area. In this paper, we present a novel activity recognition system called TRAcME (temporal recognition of activities for mobile environments) which recognises generic human activities from large windows of context, Allenpsilas temporal relations and anonymous landmarks. Unlike existing systems, TRAcME handles simultaneous activities and outputs activities which are consistent with each other at the scale of a userpsilas day.
Minimum Effective Dose of Cattle and Sheep BSE for Oral Sheep Infection

The minimum dose required to cause infection of Romney and Suffolk sheep of the ARQ/ARQ or ARQ/ARR prion protein gene genotypes following oral inoculation with Romney or Suffolk a sheep Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-derived or cattle BSE-derived agent was investigated using doses ranging from 0.0005g to 5g. ARQ/ARQ sheep which were methionine (M) / threonine (T) heterozygous or T/T homozygous at codon 112 of the Prnp gene, dosed ARQ/ARR sheep and undosed controls did not show any evidence of infection. Within groups of susceptible sheep, the minimum effective oral dose of BSE was found to be 0.05g, with higher attack rates following inoculation with the 5g dose. Surprisingly, this study found no effect of dose on survival time suggesting a possible lack of homogeneity within the inoculum. All clinical BSE cases showed PrPd accumulation in brain; however, following cattle BSE inoculation, LRS involvement within Romney recipients was found to be significantly lower than within the Suffolk sheep inoculated group which is in agreement with previous reports.
The α1E Calcium Channel Exhibits Permeation Properties Similar to Low-Voltage-Activated Calcium Channels

The physiological and pharmacological properties of the α1E calcium (Ca) channel subtype do not exactly match any of the established categories described for native neuronal Ca currents. Many of the key diagnostic features used to assign cloned Ca channels to their native counterparts, however, are dependent on a number of factors, including cellular environment, β subunit coexpression, and modulation by second messengers and G-proteins. Here, by examining the intrinsic pore characteristics of a family of transiently expressed neuronal Ca channels, we demonstrate that the permeation properties of α1E closely resemble those described for a subset of low-threshold Ca channels. The α1A (P-/Q-type), α1B(N-type), and α1C (L-type) high-threshold Ca channels all exhibit larger whole-cell currents with barium (Ba) as the charge carrier as compared with Ca or strontium (Sr). In contrast, macroscopic α1E currents are largest in Sr, followed by Ca and then Ba. The unique permeation properties of α1E are maintained at the single-channel level, are independent of the nature of the expression system, and are not affected by coexpression of α2 and β subunits. Overall, the permeation characteristics of α1E are distinct from those described for R-type currents and share some similarities with native low-threshold Ca channels.
Simulation of the Effect of Artificial Water Transfer on Carbon Stock of Phragmites australis in the Baiyangdian Wetland, China

How to explain the effect of seasonal water transfer on the carbon stocks of Baiyangdian wetland is studied. The ecological model of the relationship between the carbon stocks and water depth fluctuation of the reed was established by using STELLA software. For the first time the Michaelis-Menten equation (1) introduced the relation function between the water depth and reed environmental carrying capacity, (2) introduced the concept of suitable growth water depth, and (3) simulated the variation rules of water and reed carbon stocks of artificial adjustment. The model could be used to carry out the research on the optimization design of the ecological service function of the damaged wetland.
Contextualizing connectivity: how internet connection type and parental factors influence technology use among lower-income children

ABSTRACT This project links research on digital inequality, which focuses on connection quality and its outcomes for under-connected individuals, and parental mediation, which focuses on the influence of parents on children’s technology experiences. We examine the internet connection type used by families, the technology experiences of lower-income parents, and their perceptions of opportunities that technology use offers their children. We then determine how these factors influence the frequency and scope of their school-age children’s technology use. Findings show that contextualizing children’s connectivity to account for infrastructural, socio-demographic, and relational influences provides new insights into the technology experiences of lower-income children. One set of findings suggests that direct benefit from increased connectivity is most evident for lower-income parents – those with the lowest household incomes, lowest levels of education, and whose dominant language is not English. These effects remain after controlling for other socio-demographic factors. The second set of results shows that greater connectivity increases how frequently both children and parents use the internet, but is associated only with a greater scope of internet activities for parents. Parents’ online activity scope is important for their children’s online experiences, directly predicting the scope of their online activities. High-scope parents were also significantly more likely to see digital opportunities in their children’s internet use, which in turn also predicted more frequent and broader internet use by their children. We conclude by considering the practical implications of these findings for digital equity initiatives targeting lower-income families.
Static shape control for adaptive wings

A theoretical method was developed, and experimentally validated, to control the static shape of flexible struc-tures by employing internal translational actuators. A finite element model of the structure, without the actuatorspresent, is employed to obtain the multiple-input, multiple-output control-system gain matrices for actuator-loadcontrol as well as actuator-displacement control. The method is applied to the quasistatic problem of maintainingan optimum-wing cross section during various transonic-cruise flight conditions to obtain significant reductionsin the shock-induced drag. Only small, potentially achievable, adaptive modifications to the profile are required.The adaptive-wing concept employs actuators as truss elements of active ribs to reshape the wing cross section bydeforming the structure. Finite element analyses of an adaptive-rib model verify the controlled-structure theory.Experiments on the model were conducted, and arbitrarily selected deformed shapes were accurately achieved.
A Mixed Reality based Training Application for an oil refinery

Working within oil refineries is a very responsible task that requires highly trained and well-educated personnel. They need both a good theoretical knowledge about the processes that place within the vessels and tanks of the refinery and also a very good practical hands-on knowledge about the different devices and their interdependencies. Mixed Reality techniques are used to present such location specific information right on the spot. This combines the advantages of conventional classroom training and on-site inspections, because the trainee has on the one hand the experience of the real plant context and on the other hand access to all information that is available in the classroom.
Sending a Bi-Variate Gaussian Source over a Gaussian MAC

We consider a problem where a memoryless bi-variate Gaussian source is to be transmitted over an additive white Gaussian multiple-access channel with two transmitting terminals and one receiving terminal. The first transmitter only sees the first source component and the second transmitter only sees the second source component. We are interested in the pair of mean squared-error distortions at which the receiving terminal can reproduce each of the source components. It is demonstrated that in the symmetric case, below a certain signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) threshold, which is determined by the source correlation, uncoded communication is optimal. For SNRs above this threshold we present outer and inner bounds on the achievable distortions