Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Image Captioning in the Wild: How People Caption Images on Flickr

Automatic image captioning is a well-known problem in the field of artificial intelligence. To solve this problem efficiently, it is also required to understand how people caption images naturally (when not instructed by a set of rules, which tell them to do so in a certain way). This dimension of the problem is rarely discussed. To understand this aspect, we performed a crowdsourcing study on specific subsets of the Yahoo Flickr Creative Commons 100 Million Dataset (YFCC100M) where annotators evaluate captions with respect to subjectivity, visibility, appeal and intent. We use the resulting data to systematically characterize the variations in image captions that appear "in the wild". We publish our findings here along with the annotated dataset.
Compliance display using a tilting-plate tactile feedback device

This paper presents a tactile display device for replicating compliance sensation when interacting with deformable and non-deformable compliant objects in a virtual environment. Two small tilting plates approximately reproduce surface deformations of a compliant object. In addition to tactile information, kinesthetic information is rendered through a modified haptic paddle force feedback device. The tilting plates are moved in conjunction with the measured position of the user's finger as they pressed into the virtual surface. In a psychophysical experiment, we evaluated the effect of adding tilting motion of the device's actuated plates on the perceived compliance of a virtual surface with a kinesthetic stiffness of 60 N/mm. The experiment results indicate that tilting rates of 5, 10, and 20 deg/cm reduced the perceived stiffness of the surface by 3, 9, and 17 N/m, respectively. The advantages of the new device include its light-weight, low-cost, and simple design. These device features make it practical to integrate this compliance display with user interfaces for applications such as video games or even robotic surgery.
Multilingual Topic Models

Scientific publications have evolved several features for mitigating vocabulary mismatch when indexing, retrieving, and computing similarity between articles. These mitigation strategies range from simply focusing on high-value article sections, such as titles and abstracts, to assigning keywords, often from controlled vocabularies, either manually or through automatic annotation. Various document representation schemes possess different cost-benefit tradeoffs. In this paper, we propose to model different representations of the same article as translations of each other, all generated from a common latent representation in a multilingual topic model. We start with a methodological overview on latent variable models for parallel document representations that could be used across many information science tasks. We then show how solving the inference problem of mapping diverse representations into a shared topic space allows us to evaluate representations based on how topically similar they are to the original article. In addition, our proposed approach provides means to discover where different concept vocabularies require improvement.
Multiple developmental mechanisms regulate species-specific jaw size

Variation in jaw size during evolution has been crucial for the adaptive radiation of vertebrates, yet variation in jaw size during development is often associated with disease. To test the hypothesis that early developmental events regulating neural crest (NC) progenitors contribute to species-specific differences in size, we investigated mechanisms through which two avian species, duck and quail, achieve their remarkably different jaw size. At early stages, duck exhibit an anterior shift in brain regionalization yielding a shorter, broader, midbrain. We find no significant difference in the total number of pre-migratory NC; however, duck concentrate their pre-migratory NC in the midbrain, which contributes to an increase in size of the post-migratory NC population allocated to the mandibular arch. Subsequent differences in proliferation lead to a progressive increase in size of the duck mandibular arch relative to that of quail. To test the role of pre-migratory NC progenitor number in regulating jaw size, we reduced and augmented NC progenitors. In contrast to previous reports of regeneration by NC precursors, we find that neural fold extirpation results in a loss of NC precursors. Despite this reduction in their numbers, post-migratory NC progenitors compensate, producing a symmetric and normal-sized jaw. Our results suggest that evolutionary modification of multiple aspects of NC cell biology, including NC allocation within the jaw primordia and NC-mediated proliferation, have been important to the evolution of jaw size. Furthermore, our finding of NC post-migratory compensatory mechanisms potentially extends the developmental time frame for treatments of disease or injury associated with NC progenitor loss.
Abstract: Energy optimization for real-time multiprocessor system-on-chip with optimal DVFS and DPM combination

Energy optimization is a critical design concern for embedded systems. Combining DVFS+DPM is considered as one preferable technique to reduce energy consumption. There are optimal DVFS+DPM algorithms for periodic independent tasks running on uni-processor in the literature. Optimal combination of DVFS and DPM for periodic dependent tasks on multi-core systems is however not yet reported. The challenge of this problem is that the idle intervals of cores is not easy to model. In this paper, a novel technique are proposed to directly model the idle intervals of individual cores such that both DVFS and DPM can be optimized at the same time. Based on this technique, the energy optimization problem is formulated by means of mixed integrated linear programming. We also present techniques to prune the exploration space of the formulation. Experimental results using real-world benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach compared to existing approaches.
Output process of variable bit-rate flows in on-chip networks based on aggregate scheduling

In NoCs often several flows are merged into one aggregate flow due to heavy resource sharing. For strengthening formal performance analysis, we propose an improved model for an output flow of a FIFO multiplexer under aggregate scheduling. The model of the aggregate flow is formally proven and can serve as the basis for a stringent worst case delay and buffer analysis.
A strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease by more than 80%

Abstract Objectives To determine the combination of drugs and vitamins, and their doses, for use in a single daily pill to achieve a large effect in preventing cardiovascular disease with minimal adverse effects. The strategy was to simultaneously reduce four cardiovascular risk factors (low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, serum homocysteine, and platelet function) regardless of pretreatment levels. Design We quantified the efficacy and adverse effects of the proposed formulation from published meta-analyses of randomised trials and cohort studies and a meta-analysis of 15 trials of low dose (50-125 mg/day) aspirin. Outcome measures Proportional reduction in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) events and strokes; life years gained; and prevalence of adverse effects. Results The formulation which met our objectives was: a statin (for example, atorvastatin (daily dose 10 mg) or simvastatin (40 mg)); three blood pressure lowering drugs (for example, a thiazide, a β blocker, and an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor), each at half standard dose; folic acid (0.8 mg); and aspirin (75 mg). We estimate that the combination (which we call the Polypill) reduces IHD events by 88% (95% confidence interval 84% to 91%) and stroke by 80% (71% to 87%). One third of people taking this pill from age 55 would benefit, gaining on average about 11 years of life free from an IHD event or stroke. Summing the adverse effects of the components observed in randomised trials shows that the Polypill would cause symptoms in 8-15% of people (depending on the precise formulation). Conclusion The Polypill strategy could largely prevent heart attacks and stroke if taken by everyone aged 55 and older and everyone with existing cardiovascular disease. It would be acceptably safe and with widespread use would have a greater impact on the prevention of disease in the Western world than any other single intervention.
Influence of Extraction Manufacturing Process on Caffeine Concentration

Coffee is quite popular of the leisure drink, and the ingredients of coffee include caffeine, aroma, protein, tannic acid and fat et al. The references show a small amount of caffeine can stimulate the brain and enhance memory, if caffeine is over the amount that heart, high blood pressure, kidney and coronary artery would be caused a negative impact. In this paper, we use the special ultrasound method with high-frequency, well penetrating power and the sound wave to extract the caffeine. And also, a new extraction equipment is designed to make the coffee powder and extraction liquid of water mixed efficiently. The different operating conditions for extraction experiments are executed and the obtained results are also compared. The results show that caffeine has already reached the saturated condition at 15 second of extracting time and the quantity of caffeine is increased with temperature raised. However, the influence of vibration frequency is not significant.
An osmosensitive voltage‐gated K+ current in rat supraoptic neurons

The magnocellular neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus (MNCs) regulate their electrical behaviour as a function of external osmolality through changes in the activity of osmosensitive ion channels. We now present evidence that the MNCs express an osmosensitive voltage‐gated K+ current (the OKC). Whole‐cell patch‐clamp experiments on acutely isolated MNCs were used to show that increases in the external osmolality from 295 to 325 mosmol/kg cause an increase in a slow, tetraethylammonium‐insensitive outward current. The equilibrium potential for this current is close to the predicted EK in two different concentrations of external K+. The OKC is sensitive to block by Ba2+ (0.3 mm), and by the M‐type K+ current blockers linopirdine (150 μm) and XE991 (5 μm), and to enhancement by retigabine (10 μm), which increases opening of M‐type K+ channels. The OKC is suppressed by muscarine (30 μm) and is decreased by the L‐type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (10 μm), but not by apamin (100 nm), which blocks SK‐type Ca2+‐dependent K+ currents. Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemical data suggest that MNCs express several members of the KV7 (KCNQ) family of K+ channels, including KV7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5. Extracellular recordings of individual MNCs in a hypothalamic explant preparation demonstrated that an XE991‐ and retigabine‐sensitive current contribute to the regulation of MNC firing. Our data suggest that the MNCs express an osmosensitive K+ current that could contribute to the regulation of MNC firing by external osmolality and that could be mediated by KV7/M‐type K+ channels.
Fusion Based 3D Tracking of Mobile Transmitters via Robust Set-Valued State Estimation with RSS Measurements

This paper investigates the problem of location and velocity detection of a mobile agent using Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements captured by geographically distributed seed nodes. With inherently nonlinear power measurements, we derive a powerful linear measurement scheme using an analytical measurement conversion technique which can readily be used with RSS measuring sensors. We also employ the concept of sensor fusion in conjunction for the case of redundant measurements to further enhance the estimation accuracy.
Signal Strength based Scanning Considering Free Capacity for Handover Execution in WiMAX Networks

In mobile networks handover is initiated when there is change in network Quality of Service (QoS) parameters such as signal strength, signal to interference noise ratio (SINR), bit error rate (BER) etc. Handover considering signal strength is a basic scheme in mobile networks. Considering only signal strength is not ideal for WiMAX networks, which has stringent QoS requirements. Signal strength along with hysteresis and threshold serves as an accurate handover mechanism in WiMAX network. But it is not necessary that selected target base station have enough capacity to handle the data of mobile station. In this paper we propose a multiple trigger initiated handover execution which considers the signal strength along with hysteresis and threshold during scanning phase and the estimation of free capacity during handover execution phase. We evaluate our proposed scheme in Opnet Modeler simulator and its performance is verified.
Association Between Adolescent Pregnancy And a Family History of Teenage Births

RESULTS: Compared with young women with no family history of teenage births, young women whose sister had had a teenage birth and those whose sister and mother both had had teenage births were significantly more likely to experience a teenage pregnancy (odds ratios, 4.8 and 5.1, respectively). Young women who had only a sister who had had a teenage birth had greater odds of pregnancy than young women who had only a mother who had had a teenage birth (4.5). Having both a mother and a sister who had had teenage births was independently associated with an elevated risk of pregnancy (3.7), even after controlling for socioeconomic and mothers’ parenting characteristics. Frequent companionship with an older sister was associated with increased odds of teenage pregnancy (4.5); frequent conflict with an older sister who had had a teenage birth was marginally associated with decreased odds of the outcome (0.3).
Trust building in agri-food markets with computer-mediated business relationships

Trust is recognised as an important component for Business-to-Business (B2B) e-commerce success and consolidation among the agribusiness operators, but few studies link trust and e-commerce in agri-food markets. The implementation of trust into technical and organisational solutions is a prerequisite for using the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) potential in the agribusiness network. This paper is aimed at identifying trust-building factors, or trust drivers, in agri-food business relationships, in order to transfer them into computer-mediated business relationships (CMBR). First, the literature on trust both in the general agri-food environment and in e-commerce situation is considered. Then, linkages between these two items were explored through focus group (FG) interviewing. The FG, was held in Italy in April 2004, and involved a group of experts of several industries and levels within the agri-food chains and ICT experts. A content analysis of the meeting verbatim and further elaboration with multidimensional scaling techniques allows for drawing a perceptual map of the dimensions of the logical construct of trust in agri-food e-commerce. Finally, these results are the basis for the elaboration of a first hierarchy of factors, used within an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) framework. The aim of this procedure was to assess the importance of the factors and to evaluate several alternative tools for CMBR, entailing different trust-building characteristics. Preliminary outcomes are consistent with the literature on trust, even if the trust logical framework is affected by the specific context. The main trust dimensions for CMBR in agribusiness are reputation, nonopportunistic behaviour, and integrity according to shared values. The context may influence both the type of factors associated to the relevant dimensions, as well as their relative importance in relationship with the primary goal of building trust, so that in different scenarios both factors importance and hierarchies may be different.
BAS: Beetle Antennae Search Algorithm for Optimization Problems

Meta-heuristic algorithms have become very popular because of powerful performance on the optimization problem. A new algorithm called beetle antennae search algorithm (BAS) is proposed in the paper inspired by the searching behavior of longhorn beetles. The BAS algorithm imitates the function of antennae and the random walking mechanism of beetles in nature, and then two main steps of detecting and searching are implemented. Finally, the algorithm is benchmarked on 2 well-known test functions, in which the numerical results validate the efficacy of the proposed BAS algorithm.
Image based steganography and cryptography

In this paper we describe a method for integrating together cryptography and steganography through image processing. In particular, we present a system able to perform steganography and cryptography at the same time using images as cover objects for steganography and as keys for cryptography. We will show such system is an effective steganographic one (making a comparison with the well known F5 algorithm) and is also a theoretically unbreakable cryptographic one (demonstrating its equivalence to the Vernam Cipher).
The relationship between retinal and choroidal thickness and visual acuity in highly myopic eyes

Background/aims To correlate visual acuity in highly myopic eyes without macular disease with retinal and choroidal thickness as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods 60 eyes of 46 highly myopic patients (spherical equivalent ≥−6 D or axial length ≥26 mm) were studied in a clinical setting. Eyes with any clinical evidence of maculopathy or amblyopia were excluded. Eyes were imaged using the 3D-2000 OCT (Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). Two independent investigators manually measured: choroidal thickness at 500-μm intervals up to 2500-μm nasal and temporal to the fovea, subfoveal choroidal thickness, foveal thickness, outer nuclear layer and photoreceptors in addition to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Statistical analysis was performed. Results Mean age was 45.9±17.9 years (range 18–99), mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) LogMAR was 0.11±0.19 (range 0–1), mean axial length was 28.2±2.4 mm (range 26–35.3) and mean spherical equivalent was −12.05±5.02 D (range −6 to −26). Mean macular choroidal thickness was 157±84.6 μm (range 16.7–426.5), mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 166±88.7 μm (range 13.5–486.5), mean foveal thickness was 221.1±30.3 μm (range 157.5–296), mean outer nuclear layer was 121.3±22.6 μm (range 74–191.5) and mean photoreceptors in addition to RPE was 99.5±10.8 μm (range 71.5–115.5). BCVA (LogMAR) negatively correlated with macular choroidal thickness (r=−0.371, p=0.003), subfoveal choroidal thickness (r=−0.358, p=0.004) and photoreceptors and RPE aggregate (r=−0.346, p=0.006). Conclusions Subfoveal choroidal thickness, mean macular choroidal thickness and outer retinal thickness are the most important predictive factors of visual acuity in highly myopic eyes without macular pathology. Outer nuclear layer and foveal thickness are not related to visual acuity.
Evolution of novel jaw joints promote trophic diversity in coral reef fishes

3 We investigated the functional morphology and ecology of biting among the squamipinnes, an assemblage of nine successful and distinctive reef fish families. We demonstrate that an intramandibular joint (IMJ) may have evolved at least three and possibly five times in this assemblage and discuss the impact of this recurring innovation in facilitating prey-capture by biting. Using character mapping on a supertree for the squamipinnes, we reveal up to seven gains or losses of intramandibular flexion, all associated with trophic transitions between free-living and attached prey utilization. IMJs are basal in six of the studied families whereas the origin of intramandibular flexion in the Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes) coincides with a transition from ram-suction feeding to benthic coral feeding, with flexion magnitude reaching its peak (49 ± 2.7°) in the coral scraping subgenus Citharoedus. Although IMJs generally function to augment vertical gape expansion during biting behaviours to remove small inverte- brates, algae or coral from the reef, the functional ecology of IMJs in the Pomacanthidae (angelfishes) stands in contrast. Pomacanthid IMJs exhibit over 35° of flexion, permitting gape closure when the jaws are fully protruded. We demonstrate the widespread IMJ occurrence among extant biters to result from a complex convergent evolutionary history, indicating that the IMJ is a major functional innovation that enhances biting strategies in several prominent reef fish groups. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 93, 545-555.
Temporal Profile of Cerebrovascular Reactivity Impairment, Gray Matter Volumes, and Persistent Symptoms after Mild Traumatic Head Injury

Objective Increased awareness around neurocognitive deficits after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has progressed the search for objective, diagnostic, and monitoring tools, yet imaging biomarkers for mTBI and recovery are not established in clinical use. It has been suggested that mTBI impairs cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) to CO2, which could be related to post-concussive syndrome (PCS). We investigate CVR evolution after mTBI using blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and possible correlation with PCS. Methods A prospective cohort of 25 mTBI patients and 18 matched controls underwent BOLD MRI CVR measurements. A subset of 19 mTBI patients underwent follow-up testing. Visits took place at a mean of 63 and 180 days after injury. Symptoms were assessed with the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2). Symptoms, CVR and brain volume [gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and whole brain (WB)], age, and sex, were examined between groups and longitudinally within traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Results Traumatic brain injury participants were 72% males, mean age being 42.7 years. Control participants were 61% with mean age of 38.7 years. SCAT2 scores tended to improve among those mTBI patients with follow-up visits (p = 0.07); however, they did not tend to recover to scores of the healthy controls. Brain volumes were not statistically different between groups at the first visit (WM p = 0.71; GM p = 0.36). In mTBI patients, there was a reduction in GM volume between visits 1 and 2 (p = 0.0046). Although mean CVR indexes were similar (WM p = 0.27; GM p = 0.36; and WB p = 0.35), the correlation between SCAT2 and CVR was negative in controls (WM-r = −0.59; p = 0.010; GM-r = −0.56; p = 0.016; brain-r = −0.58; p = 0.012) and weaker and positive in mTBI (brain-r = 0.4; p = 0.046; GM-r = 0.4; p = 0.048). SCAT2 correlated with GM volume (r = 0.5215, p = 0.0075) in mTBI but not in controls (r = 0.2945, p = 0.2355). Conclusion There is a correlation between lower GM CVR indexes and lower performance on SCAT2 in patients with mTBI, which seems to be associated with more symptoms. This correlation seems to persist well beyond 120 days. mTBI may lead to a decrease in GM volume in these patients.