Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust algorithm for pupil-glint vector detection in a video-oculography eyetracking system

This work presents a robust real time algorithm for an eye tracking system employing the well-known bright-pupil technique that performs an effective detection of the pupil and glint positions in the image. The accuracy in the processing is essential if a good determination of the eye gaze is desired. This algorithm is competent for unconstrained images and presents an unmatchable behaviour for users using glasses. The algorithm employs mostly commands from Matrox Imaging Library (MIL) that present a wide sort of functions for image processing and pattern recognition.
How reproducible is self-reported information on exposure to smoking, drinking, and dietary patterns? Evidence among Brazilian adults in the Pró-Saúde Study.

CONTEXT Epidemiological studies of the validity and reliability of self-reported information on important risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases are scarce in Brazil. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the test-retest reliability of information--overall and stratified by gender, age and education--on active and passive smoking, alcohol intake and aspects of dietary habits. TYPE OF STUDY Test-retest reliability. SETTING Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS 192 University employees. PROCEDURES Self-administered questionnaires were completed on two occasions, two weeks apart. MAIN MEASUREMENTS Kappa Statistics; Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. RESULTS Information on smoking status and pack-years smoked had almost perfect levels of agreement, respectively, kappa = 0.97 (95% CI, 0.92-1.00), and intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.93 (CI 95%, 0.89-0.96). Characteristics of alcohol intake yielded substantial levels of agreement (kappa ranging from 0.62 to 0.69). The reproducibility of the information on dietary habits varied from 0.67 to 0.79 (kappa). No clear-cut patterns could be identified comparing information by age or gender. There was a slight tendency towards greater reliability among people with higher levels of education. CONCLUSION The reproducibility of information on smoking, drinking, and dietary patterns ranged from substantial to excellent, as investigated in the Pró-Saúde Study, a longitudinal investigation recently launched in Rio de Janeiro.
Silence: A Rhetorical Art for Resisting Discipline(s).

The silences, the empty spaces, the language itself, with its excision of the female, the methods of discourse tell us as much as the content, once we learn to watch for what is left out, to listen for the unspoken, to study the patterns of established science and scholarship with an outsider's eye. -Adrienne Rich Much ofthe past is irrevocably silenced: gestures, conversations, and original manuscripts can never be recaptured. Silence and silencing still greet us in every library, every archive, every text, every newscast-at every tum. As Max Picard tells us, "There are eventless periods in human history, periods in which history seems to carry silence-nothing but silence-around with her; periods in which [wo/]men and events are hidden beneath the silence" (82). Only in the light of recent feminist scholarship recovering and giving voice to women's contributions in the broad history of culture making­ in philosophy, literature, language, writing, societal structure, religion, history, education, reading, psycho logy, and gender-have we in rhetoric begun to probe our own disciplinary silences and silencings. By doing so, we resist the history of rhetoric at the same time that we allow for the possibility of new and "other" rhetorics. If Karlyn Kohrs Campbell's Man Cannot Speak for Herinaugurated the feminist rhetorical proj ect by regendering the rhetor, then the caseade off eminis t rhetori cal studies that followed soon began to re-form each feature of the discipline. Patricia Bizzell, co-editor of The Rhetorical Tradition, surely one of the most successful rhetorical projects in our academic lifetime, writes that the feminist project continues to present the "most trenchant challenges to
E-learning in Iran : Looking at Effectiveness via a Qualitative Study

Developing learning through Information and Communication Technology with the advent of virtual universities and distance learning centers is one of the important issues for many countries world wide. Virtual university and e-learning centers provide opportunities for elearners to learn at their own speed and style of learning. In Iran, e-learning has grown considerably in recent years. There is no doubt about the advantages of e-learning, but the method of implementation of this kind of learning needs to take care of the variables which may improve its effectiveness. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify factors that affect the effectiveness of web-based courses from the perspective of administrators, instructors and staff working in e-learning centers in Iran's universities. Interviews with key informants and reviews of library resources were used in this study. The data obtained were analyzed using qualitative analysis techniques. The findings show that there were not enough attention being given to the quality of ecourses and its implementation. The effectiveness of e-courses should be increased with more coordination and cooperation among instructors, students and staff working at e-learning centers.
Cuckoo Cache: A Technique to Improve Flow Monitoring Throughput

By leveraging the uneven distribution of traffic among network flows, the authors improve the query throughput of Cuckoo hashing. They achieve this by placing the most frequently used items in the table that's accessed first during the Cuckoo query operation. Their scheme is named Cuckoo cache, as it's conceptually similar to a cache but implemented inside the Cuckoo hash with little additional cost. Cuckoo cache is evaluated using a traffic monitoring application fed with real traces. The results are compared with existing Cuckoo hashing implementations and show significant improvements.
Direct connections assist neurons to detect correlation in small amplitude noises

We address a question on the effect of common stochastic inputs on the correlation of the spike trains of two neurons when they are coupled through direct connections. We show that the change in the correlation of small amplitude stochastic inputs can be better detected when the neurons are connected by direct excitatory couplings. Depending on whether intrinsic firing rate of the neurons is identical or slightly different, symmetric or asymmetric connections can increase the sensitivity of the system to the input correlation by changing the mean slope of the correlation transfer function over a given range of input correlation. In either case, there is also an optimum value for synaptic strength which maximizes the sensitivity of the system to the changes in input correlation.
The Mechanism by Which Adenosine and Cholinergic Agents Reduce Contractility in Rat Myocardium: Correlation with Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate and Receptor Densities

The adenosine analogue phenylisopropyladenosine decreased the basal and isoproterenol- stimulated contractile state of isolated rat left atria. The ED50 levels for both responses were similar, suggesting that direct and antiadrenergic effects may be mediated by the same receptor. Phenylisopropyladenosine decreased the cyclic adenosine monophosphate content of isolated atria and inhibited isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in membranes prepared from atria and ventricles, but not as much as did methacholine. A maximally effective concentration of phenylisopropyladenosine or methacholine greatly reduced atrial contractility measured in the presence of either isoproterenol (1 μM) or Ro7-2956 (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 1 mM); however, in the presence of isoproterenol plus Ro7-2956, the contractile effects of phenylisopropyladenosine and methacholine were greatly attenuated. From the contractile data and cyclic adenosine monophosphate analyses, we conclude that direct and antiadrenergic contractile effects of both phenylisopropyladenosine and methacholine result primarily from their effects on cyclic adenosine monophosphate metabolism. The densities of adenosine, muscarinic, and β-adrenergic receptors in rat atrial membranes were found to be 30, 551, and 24 fmol/mg protein, respectively, based on equilibrium-binding assays conducted with 125I-aminobenzyladenosine, [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, and 125I-labeled pindolol. The greater effectiveness of methacholine than phenylisopropyladenosine as a negative inotropic agent and an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase in atria may be related to the relative densities of muscarinic and adenosine receptors.
Application of Kalman Filter for positioning precision improvement in UWB localization system

Accuracy and precision of positioning in UWB localization system depends on the quality of clock oscillators. Usually clock frequencies in particular nodes have different offsets what influences system performance. The paper presents a method for nodes synchronization and distribution of reference time interval. Anchor nodes measure time of arrival of packets conveying reference time information. A Kalman Filter based method for measurement result processing leading to positioning precision improvement is described in the paper. Results of simulations and experiments confirming method efficiency are presented and discussed. Accuracy and precision improvement is presented using CEP (Circular Error Probability) values and positioning error's CDFs (Cumulative Distribution Functions).
Automated image registration by maximization of a region similarity metric

This article presents a robust algorithm for automated registration of images related by rigid‐body transformations. This algorithm uses a new region‐based similarity metric, which enables accurate registration of images of large contrast differences. Region segmentation required by the metric is accomplished using a multiscale segmentation algorithm, and minimization of this metric is done using the Powell direction set method. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate that the algorithm is effective for aligning images from single or multiple imaging modalities without the use of any fiducial markers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 8, 513–518, 1997
A high performance cluster-based broadcasting algorithm for wireless ad hoc networks based on a novel gateway selection approach

In this paper we propose a new broadcasting algorithm for a "stability-based clustering algorithm". In this algorithm a novel traffic isolation method has been used to reduce the control message exchanges. The broadcasting traffic is divided into internal (flow inside a cluster) and external traffic (flow among the clusters). For internal flooding traffic, cluster-heads and gateways are responsible for re-broadcasting but for external ones, border nodes may perform the forwarding function as well. This simplifies the gateway selection method through the local selection of gateway nodes by its cluster head. Therefore a cluster head selects gateway in its own cluster without any knowledge of the other clusters. In the proposed method we significantly reduce the broadcast overhead and also improve the broadcast delivery ratio in mobile networks. Considering the effect of mobility and node density, a number of simulations have been conducted. The results show that the number of re-broadcasting nodes is less than 25% of the total number of nodes gwhich is almost constant with the node mobility, while the broadcast coverage is close to 100%. Moreover, we study the flooding parameters in light and dense networks and show the improvement of the broadcasting performance in comparison to other methods.
Investissement et financement dans un monopole avec bénéfices privés

Cet article etudie l’impact des benefices prives sur l’investissement et le financement d’une entreprise en situation de monopole. A l’origine actionnaire a 100 %, son dirigeant doit decider la part du capital qu’il cede a un investisseur exterieur et/ou l’emprunt qu’il contracte pour financer un investissement en capacite. Nous etudions ici comment se combinent ces deux sources de financement lorsque le dirigeant preleve un benefice prive qui rencherit le cout de production. Nous montrons que l’emprunt devient indirectement une source privilegiee de financement de ces benefices prives.
Resolution mosaic EM algorithm for medical image segmentation

Multiresolution analysis is an established part of the human vision system. It builds different representations of an image with a spatial resolution adapted to the size of objects of interest and to its level of relevance. Multiresolution analysis is an efficient tool for image segmentation. It allows the processing of global features as well as local features in a corresponding proper scale. Furthermore, it simplifies the segmentation process, accelerates the computation, and improves the results. In this work we propose a segmentation algorithm that is based on the multiresolution analysis for the magnetic resonance images of the human brain. It has been evaluated against known algorithm from the literature. The image subject to segmentation is preprocessed to be represented in a mosaic of different resolutions, based on the distribution of the information contained in the image. Then the conventional EM algorithm is applied for the segmentation.
Escherichia coli RadD Protein Functionally Interacts with the Single-stranded DNA-binding Protein*

The bacterial single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) acts as an organizer of DNA repair complexes. The radD gene was recently identified as having an unspecified role in repair of radiation damage and, more specifically, DNA double-strand breaks. Purified RadD protein displays a DNA-independent ATPase activity. However, ATP hydrolytic rates are stimulated by SSB through its C terminus. The RadD and SSB proteins also directly interact in vivo in a yeast two-hybrid assay and in vitro through ammonium sulfate co-precipitation. Therefore, it is likely that the repair function of RadD is mediated through interaction with SSB at the site of damage.
UV‐activated conversion of Hoechst 33258, DAPI, and Vybrant DyeCycle fluorescent dyes into blue‐excited, green‐emitting protonated forms

Hoechst 33258, DAPI and Vybrant DyeCycle are commonly known DNA fluorescent dyes that are excited by UV and emit in the blue region of the spectrum of visible light. Conveniently, they leave the reminder of the spectrum for microscopy detection of other cellular targets labeled with probes emitting in green, yellow or red. However, an exposure of these dyes to UV induces their photoconversion and results in production of the forms of these dyes that are excited by blue light and show fluoresce maxima in green and a detectable fluorescence in yellow and orange regions of the spectrum. Photoconversion of Hoechst 33258 and DAPI is reversible and independent of the dye concentration or the presence of DNA. Spectrofluorimetry and mass spectrometry analyses indicate that exposure to UV induces protonation of Hoechst 33258 and DAPI. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
HOMOTOPY TYPES OF GROUP LATTICES I. P. Kramarev and L. V. Lokutsievskiy

In this article, we study group lattices using the ideas of K. S. Brown and D. Quillen of associating a certain topological space to a partially ordered set. We determine the exact homotopy type for the subgroup lattice of PSL(2, 7), find a connection between different group lattices, and obtain some estimates for the Betti numbers of these lattices using the spectral sequence method.
Time-localized projectors in string field theory with an E-field

We extend the analysis of Bonora et al. [hep-th/0409063] to the case of a constant electric field turned on the world volume and on a transverse direction of a D-brane. We show that time localization is still obtained by inverting the discrete eigenvalues of the lump solution. The lifetime of the unstable soliton is shown to depend on two free parameters: the b parameter and the value of the electric field. As a by-product, we construct the normalized diagonal basis of the star algebra in the B{sub {mu}}{sub {nu}}-field background.
Physiological and Genomic Features of a Novel Sulfur-Oxidizing Gammaproteobacterium Belonging to a Previously Uncultivated Symbiotic Lineage Isolated from a Hydrothermal Vent

Strain Hiromi 1, a sulfur-oxidizing gammaproteobacterium was isolated from a hydrothermal vent chimney in the Okinawa Trough and represents a novel genus that may include a phylogenetic group found as endosymbionts of deep-sea gastropods. The SSU rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Hiromi 1 and the gastropod endosymbionts was approximately 97%. The strain was shown to grow both chemolithoautotrophically and chemolithoheterotrophically with an energy metabolism of sulfur oxidation and O2 or nitrate reduction. Under chemolithoheterotrophic growth conditions, the strain utilized organic acids and proteinaceous compounds as the carbon and/or nitrogen sources but not the energy source. Various sugars did not support growth as a sole carbon source. The observation of chemolithoheterotrophy in this strain is in line with metagenomic analyses of endosymbionts suggesting the occurrence of chemolithoheterotrophy in gammaproteobacterial symbionts. Chemolithoheterotrophy and the presence of homologous genes for virulence- and quorum sensing-related functions suggest that the sulfur-oxidizing chomolithotrophic microbes seek animal bodies and microbial biofilm formation to obtain supplemental organic carbons in hydrothermal ecosystems.
The visible face of intention: why kinematics matters

A key component of social understanding is the ability to read intentions from movements. But how do we discern intentions in others’ actions? What kind of intention information is actually available in the features of others’ movements? Based on the assumption that intentions are hidden away in the other person’s mind, standard theories of social cognition have mainly focused on the contribution of higher level processes. Here, we delineate an alternative approach to the problem of intention-from-movement understanding. We argue that intentions become “visible” in the surface flow of agents’ motions. Consequently, the ability to understand others’ intentions cannot be divorced from the capability to detect essential kinematics. This hypothesis has far reaching implications for how we know other minds and predict others’ behavior.
AWAKE CArdIAC surGEry : WHErE dOEs IT sTAnd TOdAy ?

The technique of Awake coronary artery bypass (ACAB ) is about seven years old, it was first reported by Karagoz and coworkers. They performed few successful cardiac surgeries using thoracic epidural anestehsia in an awake patients without endotracheal general anesthesia. After the initial reports, several authors reported series of cases, totaling to about one thousand cases so far. Ever since the first report, the topic of awake cardiac surgery has remained controversial, because purists argued against the use of regional anesthesia as the sole anesthetic. The author among the other pioneers of the technique has faced questions about the usefulness of this procedure. Having performed about six hundred cardiac surgical cases, the author is of the opinion that at certain situations in one’s anesthetic practice, patients who are contra indicated for administration of general anesthesia (GA) may benefit from the regional anesthetic technique. The author has anesthetized patients (with myasthenia gravis, tracheal stenosis, multiple organ dysfunctions including hepatic and renal dysfunction) who may have carried higher risk with administration of GA . The author believes that the technique of awake surgery has to be practiced step by step. The first step being routine administration of thoracic epidural anesthesia in cardiac surgical population, thus increasing the total number of epidurals in cardiac surgical patients. With this action, the controversy about use of epidural anesthesia in cardiac surgical patients will be settled to some extent. One may debate about the benefits of ACAB by eliciting the risks and benefits of TEA and GA
The development of literacy through social interaction

This volume of New Directions for Child Development is about literacy as a social process. For many years, reading and writing were defined in terms of the structure and correctness of the texts. More recently, educators have begun to appreciate the cognitive processes involved in comprehending and composing text. This volume extends beyond these understandings to explore how reading and writing develop in the course of children's social lives as they interact with parents, teachers, and peers. The contributors examine written language as a mode of social discourse and human development rather than as a distinct cognitive skill. This perspective offers insights about how children draw on social and affective resources to support cognitively challenging aspects of written language. For example, children who explain, explore, argue, and play with language and ideas- whether with parents, teachers, or peers- are more likely to grow as writers and readers than children who do not us language in these ways. The research reported here suggests that literacy must be integrated into children's lives because social and affective interactions support conceptual aspects of academic skills like reading and writing. This shift in perspective involves redefining what it means to become literate and what counts as basic skills. This is the 61st issue of New Directions for Child Development. For more information on this series, see the Journals and Periodicals page.
A bus delay reduction technique considering crosstalk

As the CMOS technology scaled down, the horizontal coupling capacitance between adjacent wires plays a dominant part in wire load, crosstalk interference becomes a serious problem for VLSI design. We focused on the delay increase caused by crosstalk. On-chip bus delay is maximized by the crosstalk effect when adjacent wires simultaneously switch for opposite signal transition directions. This paper proposes a bus delay reduction technique by intentional skewing signal transition timing of adjacent wires. An approximated equation of bus delay shows our delay reduction technique is effective for a repeater-inserted bus. The result of SPICE simulation shows that the total bus delay reduction by from 5% to 20% can be achieved.