Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Block Mode Determination Algorithm Using Adaptive Search Direction Information for Scalable Video Coding ( SVC )

Scalable video coding (SVC) is an extension of H.264/AVC for providing three types of scalabilities: temporal, spatial, and quality. These scalabilities can be combined to make use of network bandwidth. As an extension of the H.264/AVC video standard, an inter-mode prediction technique is used for reducing temporal as well as spatial redundancies by using seven variable-sized macroblocks (MBs) for rate-distortion (R-D) optimization, hierarchical bi-directional motion prediction, and inter-layer prediction. These techniques achieve coding efficiency, but they increase the computational complexity of the SVC encoding system. To reduce the complexity of the SVC encoding system, this paper proposes a fast mode selection method based on an adaptive search direction selection for bi-directional motion prediction. We verify that the proposed algorithm can achieve up to a 51% decrease in encoding time with a negligible loss of quality. Keywords–components; Fast mode decision, Scalable video coding, Combined scalability, Hierarchical bi-directional motion prediction, Search direction
D3-brane Holography

It has recently been conjectured that the AdS5/SYM4 correspondence can be generalized away from the conformal limit, to a duality between supergravity on the full asymptotically flat three-brane background and a theory characterized as N = 4 SYM deformed in the IR by a specific dimension-eight operator. Assuming that this relation is valid, we derive a prescription for computing n-point correlation functions in the holographic theory, which reduces to the standard AdS/CFT recipe at low energies. One- and two-point functions are discussed in detail. The prescription follows from very simple considerations and appears to be applicable to any asymptotically flat background. We also compute the quark-antiquark potential and comment on the description of the baryon in the supergravity picture. We conclude with some comments on the possible relation between our work and recent results in non-commutative field theories.
Of the top of the head: audio-visual speech perception from the nose up

When someone speaks, linguistically relevant movements are produced. Most of the previous work that has examined the visual manifestation of speech has investigated regions around the oral aperture and sometimes the jaw. In the current work we examined whether people could use visual information from the top part of the talker’s face to determine which of two sentences had been uttered. In the first experiment observers saw two pairs of short video clips that showed the top part of a talker’s head as the person uttered a sentence. The audio component of the video was not played. The task was to judge the pair of videos in which the talker said the same sentence (different tokens were used). Observers were able to make this judgment at better than chance levels (on average 71% correct). In the second experiment, the same participants were presented with auditory-visual pairs and had to select in which pair the talker said the same sentence. Once again matching performance was above chance (69% correct). Taken together, the results indicate that participants are sensitive to the speech relatedness of movements from the upper part of the head and face. Implications for audio-visual speech processing as well as for the development of virtual characters are considered.
The Suitability of [11C]-α-Methyl-L-tryptophan as a Tracer for Serotonin Synthesis: Studies With Dual Administration of [11C] and [14C] Labeled Tracer

The tracer [11C]-α-methyl-L-tryptophan (αMTP) has been used to measure brain serotonin synthesis rates with positron emission tomography (PET). To address questions about the accuracy of the kinetic model, [14C]αMTP was used to directly measure conversion to [14C]-α-methyl-serotonin (αM5HT) in monkeys that had been previously studied with PET and [11C]αMTP. Four male, fasted, isoflurane-anesthetized rhesus monkeys were studied with [11C]αMTP and PET. Immediately after the initial 3-hour scan, a second dose of [11C]αMTP was coinjected with 1 mCi of [14C]αMTP, and additional PET data were collected. Approximately 90 minutes after the second αMTP administration, the animals were killed with an overdose of phenobarbital, and brain samples from 21 regions were taken and analyzed by HPLC. Minimal conversion of αMTP to αM5HT occurred; HPLC analysis of 14C radioactivity showed that greater than 96% of the total counts were in fractions corresponding to the αMTP peak. Brain concentrations of serotonin, tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, and αMTP also were determined fluorometrically using external quantification. Patlak plots generated from PET images acquired over 3 hours showed no time period of linear increase, and final slopes were not significantly different from zero, consistent with the finding of minimal conversion to [14C]αM5HT. These data indicate that in the 3-hour period after injection, [11C]αMTP is acting predominantly as a tracer of tryptophan uptake, not serotonin synthesis.
E-Learning as a Solution to the Training Problems of SMEs - A Multiple Case Study

Facing pressures from an increasingly competitive business environment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are called upon to implement strategies that are enabled and supported by information technologies and e-business applications. One of these applications is e-learning, whose aim is to enable the continuous assimilation of knowledge and skills by managers and employees, and thus support organisational training and development efforts through the use of Internet technologies. Little is known however as to the actual role played by e-learning with regard to the training problems faced by SMEs. A multiple case study of 16 SMEs in the Atlantic region of Canada, including 12 that use e-learning with varying degrees of intensity, was designed to explore this question. We observed the firms’ training process in terms of training needs analysis, method selection, tool selection and evaluation, and ascertained how this process is impacted by their use of e-learning. E-learning is then characterised in terms of opportunity and feasibility for the development of SMEs and their region.
Combined 5-FU and ChoKα Inhibitors as a New Alternative Therapy of Colorectal Cancer: Evidence in Human Tumor-Derived Cell Lines and Mouse Xenografts

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third major cause of cancer related deaths in the world. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely used for the treatment of colorectal cancer but as a single-agent renders low response rates. Choline kinase alpha (ChoKα), an enzyme that plays a role in cell proliferation and transformation, has been reported overexpressed in many different tumors, including colorectal tumors. ChoKα inhibitors have recently entered clinical trials as a novel antitumor strategy. Methodology/Principal Findings ChoKα specific inhibitors, MN58b and TCD-717, have demonstrated a potent antitumoral activity both in vitro and in vivo against several tumor-derived cell line xenografts including CRC-derived cell lines. The effect of ChoKα inhibitors in combination with 5-FU as a new alternative for the treatment of colon tumors has been investigated both in vitro in CRC-tumour derived cell lines, and in vivo in mouse xenografts models. The effects on thymidilate synthase (TS) and thymidine kinase (TK1) levels, two enzymes known to play an essential role in the mechanism of action of 5-FU, were analyzed by western blotting and quantitative PCR analysis. The combination of 5-FU with ChoKα inhibitors resulted in a synergistic effect in vitro in three different human colon cancer cell lines, and in vivo against human colon xenografts in nude mice. ChoKα inhibitors modulate the expression levels of TS and TK1 through inhibition of E2F production, providing a rational for its mechanism of action. Conclusion/Significance Our data suggest that both drugs in combination display a synergistic antitumoral effect due to ChoKα inhibitors-driven modulation of the metabolization of 5-FU. The clinical relevance of these findings is strongly supported since TCD-717 has recently entered Phase I clinical trials against solid tumors.
PATH FOLLOWING CONTROL FOR A MOBILE ROBOT PUSHING A BALL

Abstract This paper focuses on the control problem of a mobile robot pushing a ball. In order to drive a rolling ball along a given path, the robot should provide the ball with appropriate force by consecutive pushing operations. A new control algorithm combining a linear feedback control with a normal proportional feedback control is proposed, which steers a reference point to follow the given path and the ball to move around this point simultaneously. In the end, the simulation and real-world experiments address the performance and robustness of this control algorithm.
spatial – spectral approach for deriving high signal quality igenvectors for remote sensing image transformations

Spectral decorrelation (transformations) methods have long been used in remote sensing. Transformation of the image data onto eigenvectors that comprise physically meaningful spectral properties (signal) can be used to reduce the dimensionality of hyperspectral images as the number of spectrally distinct signal sources composing a given hyperspectral scene is generally much less than the number of spectral bands. Determining eigenvectors dominated by signal variance as opposed to noise is a difficult task. Problems also arise in using these transformations on large images, multiple flight-line surveys, or temporal data sets as computational burden becomes significant. In this paper we present a spatial–spectral approach to deriving high signal quality eigenvectors for image transformations which possess an inherently ability to reduce the effects of noise. The approach applies a spatial and spectral subsampling to the data, which is accomplished by deriving a limited set of eigenvectors for spatially contiguous subsets. These subset eigenvectors are compiled together to form a new noise reduced data set, which is subsequently used to derive a set of global orthogonal eigenvectors. Data from two hyperspectral surveys are used to demonstrate that the approach can significantly speed up eigenvector derivation, successfully be applied to multiple flight-line surveys or multi-temporal data sets, derive a representative eigenvector set for the full image data set, and lastly, improve the separation of those eigenvectors representing signal as
An Efficient Approach to Reduce the Energy Consumption in Wireless Sensor Networks through Active Nodes Optimization

A sensor network is made up of numerous small independent sensor nodes with sensing, processing and communicating capabilities. The sensor nodes have limited battery and a minimal amount of on-board computing power. This paper presents a novel methodology that utilizes source and path redundancy technique to effectively reduce the required energy consumption while at the same time maximize the lifetime of the sensor networks. In addition, the proposed methodology presents a strategy to optimize the number of active sensor nodes and assign equal time slots to each sensor nodes for sensing and communicating with the Base Station (BS). Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed methodology significantly minimizes the energy consumption and consequently increases the life time of the sensor nodes.
Diagnostics of induction machines using the zero sequence voltage

Diagnostics of induction machines using the zero sequence voltage is presented in this paper. Both stator-winding fault and broken rotor bar detection are covered. Faults in the stator windings or damaged rotor bar cause asymmetries in the phase impedances of the machine, which give rise to zero sequence voltage components. The measured zero sequence voltage is shown to contain reliable information on the condition of the machine, with little influence from the operating point or imbalances in the phase voltages. The method will be shown to be valid both for line-connected machines and inverter-fed machines.
Rec8 cleavage by separase is required for meiotic nuclear divisions in fission yeast

Sister chromatid cohesion in meiosis is established by cohesin complexes, including the Rec8 subunit. During meiosis I, sister chromatid cohesion is destroyed along the chromosome arms to release connections of recombined homologous chromosomes (homologues), whereas centromeric cohesion persists until it is finally destroyed at anaphase II. In fission yeast, as in mammals, distinct cohesin complexes are used depending on the chromosomal region; Rec8 forms a complex with Rec11 (equivalent to SA3) mainly along chromosome arms, while Psc3 (equivalent to SA1 and SA2) forms a complex mainly in the vicinity of the centromeres. Here we show that separase activation and resultant Rec8 cleavage are required for meiotic chromosome segregation in fission yeast. A non‐cleavable form of Rec8 blocks disjunction of homologues at meiosis I. However, displacing non‐cleavable Rec8 restrictively from the chromosome arm by genetically depleting Rec11 alleviated the blockage of homologue segregation, but not of sister segregation. We propose that the segregation of homologues at meiosis I and of sisters at meiosis II requires the cleavage of Rec8 along chromosome arms and at the centromeres, respectively.
White Blood Cell Count and Sleep Difficulty Examined by the AthensInsomnia Scale in Shift Workers

The aim of this study was to examine the relation between sleep difficulty and white blood cell (WBC) count in shift workers. This was a cross-sectional study in male Japanese workers at a synthetic fiber plant. The subjects were 212 male workers who underwent an annual workplace health checkup in April 2007. For the WBC count the blood test value from the health checkup was used. With regard to insomnia, subjects were asked the first 5 of the 8 questions on the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). An increased WBC count was associated with total AIS score (p<0.05) and work pat- tern (shift work) (p<0.05) in addition to smoking (p<0.001), fasting blood sugar (p<0.01), and BMI (p<0.05). In shift workers, the WBC count was related with total AIS score (p<0.05) and those with higher total AIS score tended to have an increased WBC count (p<0.01). In daytime workers, the count was not associated with AIS score. The present results have shown that shift workers with sleeping problems are more likely to have higher WBC counts, which might suggest low-grade inflammatory changes in those workers. Quality sleep may be necessary for shift workers in particular.
Transcriptional control of the mtr efflux system of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The capacity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to resist structurally diverse hydrophobic agents (HAs) because of the mtr (multiple transferable resistance) efflux system was found to be regulated at the level of transcription by two distinct mechanisms. This was surmised because a deletion that removed > 90% of the coding sequence of the mtrR (multiple transferrable resistance regulator) gene or a single-base-pair deletion within a 13-bp inverted repeat sequence located in its promoter resulted in altered expression of the mtrC gene; mtrC encodes a 44-kDa membrane lipoprotein essential for the efflux of HAs. However, the single-base-pair deletion had the more significant impact on gene expression since it resulted in the loss of expression of mtrR and a threefold increase in the expression of mtrC. Hence, the mtr efflux system in gonococci is subject to both MtrR-dependent and MtrR-independent regulation, and the levels of mtrC mRNA correlate well with HA resistance levels in gonococci.
miRNAs regulate stem cell self-renewal and differentiation

Stem cells undergo symmetric and asymmetric divisions to generate differentiated cells and more stem cells. The balance between self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells is controlled by transcription factors, epigenetic regulatory networks, and microRNAs (miRNAs). Herein the miRNA involvement in the regulation of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation is summarized. miRNA contribution to malignancy through regulating cancer stem cells is described. In addition, the reciprocal associations between miRNAs and epigenetic modifications in control of stem cell fate are discussed.
Airborne Endotoxin Is Associated with Respiratory Illness in the First 2 Years of Life

To determine the influence of endotoxin on the incidence of acute respiratory illness during the first 2 years of life, we carried out a longitudinal follow-up study, beginning at birth, of 332 children born in Prince Edward Island, Canada. We measured 5-day averaged air endotoxin in the homes of children, whose parents provided information by daily symptom diaries and twice-monthly telephone contact for up to 2 years. Endotoxin concentration was 0.49 ± 3.49 EU/m3 (geometric mean ± geometric SD), and number of annualized illness episodes was 6.83 ± 2.80 (mean ± SD). A doubling of the air endotoxin concentration was associated with an increase of 0.32 illness episodes per year (p = 0.0003), adjusted for age, year of study, breast-feeding, environmental tobacco smoke, child care attendance, indoor temperature, and income. Indoor mold surface area and fungal ergosterol were not significantly associated with endotoxin. Airborne endotoxin appears to be a risk factor for clinically symptomatic respiratory illnesses during the first 2 years of life independent of indoor fungus.
Department of Economics Econometrics Working Paper Ewp1108 on Statistical Inference for Inequality Measures Calculated from Complex Survey Data

We examine inference for Generalized Entropy and Atkinson inequality measures with complex survey data, using Wald statistics with variance-covariance matrices estimated from a linearization approximation method. Testing the equality of two or more inequality measures, including subgroup decomposition indices and group shares, are covered. We illustrate with Indian data from three surveys, examining preschool children's height, an anthropometric measure that can indicate long-term malnutrition. Sampling involved an urban/rural stratification with clustering before selection of households. We compare the linearization complex survey outcomes with those from an incorrect independently and identically distributed (iid) assumption and a bootstrap that accounts for the survey design. For our samples, the results from the easy to implement linearization method and the more computationally burdensome bootstrap are typically quite similar. This finding is of interest to applied researchers, as bootstrapping is currently the method that is most commonly used for undertaking statistical inference in this literature.
Characterization of a cryogenically cooled high-pressure gas jet for laser/cluster interaction experiments

We have developed and carried out detailed characterization of a cryogenically cooled (34–300 K), high-pressure (55 kTorr) solenoid driven pulsed valve that has been used to produce dense jets of atomic clusters for high intensity laser interaction studies. Measurements including Rayleigh scattering and short pulse interferometry show that clusters of controlled size, from a few to >104 atoms/cluster can be produced from a broad range of light and heavy gases, at average atomic densities up to 4×1019 atoms/cc. Continuous temperature and pressure control of the valve allows us to vary mean cluster size while keeping the average atomic density constant, and we find that many aspects of the valves behavior are consistent with ideal gas laws. However, we also show that effects including the build up of flow on milliseconds time scales, the cooling of gas flowing into the valve, and condensation of gas inside the valve body at temperatures well above the liquefaction point need to be carefully characterized in.
Putting the State on Trial: The Policing of Protest during the G20 Summit ed. by Margaret E. Beare, Nathalie Des Rosiers, and Abigail C. Deshman (review)

O’Connor succeeds in making the history of early environmentalism in Canada valuable to contemporary environmental organizations. The First Green Wave shows how some groups can fail and some can succeed. The experience of Pollution Probe exemplifies the difficulties of harmonizing the visions and intentions of various members of a group, the difficulties of assessing what environmentalism really is, and what practical actions can be taken to achieve some sort of measurable result. However, many of Pollution Probe’s early successes were achieved by a privileged group of mostly Caucasian young people with elite connections and institutional backing at a time of relative economic prosperity, and perhaps one of greater political hospitality. Further, O’Connor points out, there was little engagement with the working class, and environmental justice issues were not yet on the table. Thus, as factors such as gender, ethnicity, class, indigeneity, and political orientation are now increasingly and inextricably connected with environmental politics, the issues facing contemporary engos are exponentially more complicated than those facing Pollution Probe and its contemporaries. The First Green Wave is meticulously researched and superbly written. O’Connor consulted several major collections of archival records and conducted 67 interviews. The book showcases the influence of Pollution Probe on an astonishing number of significant events in Canadian history, however, while the book does an excellent job of situating the influence of the engo, some episodes, such as the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry are passed over with too much haste. While in some ways this is a strength, as this book is a very clear and fast read, some of the examples could be more thoroughly fleshed out. The First Green Wave paints a particularly strong picture of environmental politics by showing not just that Pollution Probe had a significant influence on business and government, but also how that influence was perceived by the business people and politicians who were affected by it. Nonetheless, it would be useful to have an expanded perspective on how business and government perceived and assessed their responses to the early engos. This minor nitpicking aside, The First Green Wave is an invaluable contribution to the history of the environmental movement, and a very useful, contemporarily relevant assessment of the dynamics of environmental politics. Hereward Longley University of Alberta