Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Minimal genus problem : New approach

The minimal genus problem of connected sums of 4-manifolds and the minimal slice genus of knots in CP 2 are treated. The approach used is twisting operations on knots in S3. We give an upper bound of the smooth slice genus of left-handed torus knots in CP 2 and we study the smooth slice genus of the family of (2, q)-torus knots in CP 2 for any q ≥ 3. T. Lawson conjectured in [23] that the minimal genus of (m,n) ∈ H2(CP 2#CP 2) is given by ( 2 ) + ( n−1 2 ) -this is the genus realized by the connected sum of algebraic curves in each factor. T. Lawson also conjectured in [23] that if X = X1#X2 is the connected sum of two symplectic 4-manifolds with b2 ≥ 3, and if (a, b) ∈ H2(X) = H2(X1)⊕H2(X2) satisfies a.a ≥ 0 and b.b ≥ 0, then the minimal genus for this class is the sum of the minimal genus for the class a and the minimal genus for the class b.
Calycosin Suppresses RANKL-Mediated Osteoclastogenesis through Inhibition of MAPKs and NF-κB

Calycosin, an isoflavonoid phytoestrogen, isolated from Radix Astragali, was reported to possess anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and osteogenic properties, but its impact on osteoclast differentiation remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of calycosin on osteoclastogenesis induced by RANKL. The results showed that calycosin significantly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation from primary bone marrow macrophages (BMMs). Calycosin also dose-dependently suppressed the formation of bone resorption pits by mature osteoclasts. In addition, the expression of osteoclatogenesis-related genes, including cathepsin K (CtsK), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and MMP-9, was significantly inhibited by calycosin. Furthermore, the results indicated that calycosin down-regulated the expression levels of NFATc1 and c-Fos through suppressing the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Our results indicate that calycosin has an inhibitory role in the bone loss by preventing osteoclast formation, as well as its bone resorptive activity. Therefore, calycosin may be useful as a therapeutic reagent for bone loss-associated diseases.
Rentabilidad y concentración, competencia y eficiencia-x en la banca privada ecuatoriana

Proyecto que tiene como finalidad valorar en que medida la restauracion y las regulaciones del estado afectan al nivel de eficiencia y competencia, con el proposito de mejorar la solvencia del sector bancario privado ecuatoriano, se aplica una funcion flexible para la estimacion de la funcion de costos del sector y se determina los niveles de ineficiencia, que podrian disminuir sus costos, las condiciones de mercado son mas favorables para los usuarios de las areas mas pobladas del pais con mercados mas desarrollados, de esta manera se pretende realizar un comparativo con los sistemas bancarios de otros paises, para ello se determina correctamente el nivel de competencia que enfrentan los bancos asi como para obtener una medida relevante de su participacion de mercado.
Tools, Techniques and Approaches for Sustainability: Collected Writings in Environmental Assessment Policy and Management

The Evolving Nature of Environmental Assessment and Management: Linking Tools to Help Deliver Sustainability (W R Sheate) The Nature of Tools: Choices for EIA Process Design and Management (D P Lawrence) The Project Cycle and the Role of EIA and EMS (B Ridgway) A Framework for Tool Selection and Use in Integrated Assessment for Sustainable Development (W De Ridder et al.) The Nature of Decision-Making and Institutional Context: A Systemic Framework for Environmental Decision-Making (R Van Der Vorst et al.) Decision Making and Strategic Environmental Assessment (M Nilsson & H Dalkmann) The Nature of Engagement: In It Together: Organizational Learning Through Participation in Environmental Assessment (P Fitzpatrick) Social and Environmental NGOs as Users of Corporate Social Disclosure (L Danastas & D Gadenne) The Nature of Sustainability: Organisational Sustainability: A Case for Formulating a Tailor-Made Definition (D J Kiewiet & J F J Vos) Beyond the Pillars: Sustainability Assessment as a Framework for Effective Integration of Social, Economic and Ecological Considerations in Significant Decision-Making (R B Gibson) and other papers.
A generic video and radar data fusion system for improved target selection

This paper presents an automotive video and radar data fusion framework that can be used as a preliminary stage of an automatic cruise control or collision mitigation by braking system. The fusion framework finds the optimal assignment of radar and camera target reports and provides improved state estimates for the fused targets. A sophisticated critical path selection is presented and used in the critical target selection module that aims to select the most relevant target. This module is capable of identifying targets that cut into the ego lane or cut out from the ego lane and incorporate that into the final target selection. The selected target is then compared to a state of the art algorithm within the radar sensor. Additional test drives were made to evaluate the performance of the new algorithm. Due to its low computational effort and the sensor independent design the presented algorithm is suitable to be used in the automotive embedded environment.
Offline handwritten Arabic words recognition using Zernike moments and Hidden Markov Models

This paper presents the use of Hidden Markov Models (HMM) to classifying Arabic words that have been represented by moments into a set of predefined classes. The proposed scheme results in enhanced performance because it deals effectively with errors that commonly originate during the feature extraction stage and it accounts for variations due to the individual handwriting performance of different data sets. To overcome the variations in images, each is represented by rotation and scale invariant feature vector known as Pseudo Zernike Moments (PZM). To demonstrate its effectiveness, the proposed classification scheme has been employed in the context of different sets of handwritten Arabic words. The classification results demonstrate that the proposed approach can classify handwritten Arabic word with a error rate less than 10%.
AUDIO MOOD CLASSIFICATION USING RHYTHM AND BASS-LINE PATTERN INFORMATION

This paper discusses an approach for the feature extraction for audio mood classiﬁcation which is an important and tough problem in the ﬁeld of music information retrieval (MIR). In this task the timbral information has been widly used, however many musical moods are characterized not only by timbral information but also by musical scale and temporal features such as rhythm patterns and bass-line patterns. In particular, modern music pieces mostly have certain ﬁxed rhythm and bass-line patterns, and these patterns can characterize the impression of songs. We have proposed the extraction of rhythm and bass-line patterns, and these unit pattern analyses are combined with statistical feature extraction for mood classiﬁcation. Experimental results show that the automatically calculated unit pattern information can be used to effectively classify musical mood.
Age Differences in Consumer Decision Making under Option Framing: From the Motivation Perspective

Option framing effect is the phenomena that participants often accept more options when they are asked to delete undesired options from a full model (subtractive framing) than they do when they are instructed to add desired options to a base model (additive framing). Whether the same effect exists in different age groups is less well known. To explore the roles of age and purchase motivations on the option framing effect for automobiles purchases, this study adopted a 3 (age group: younger, middle-aged, vs. older) × 2 (option framing: additive vs. subtractive) × 2 (focus condition: information vs. emotion) mixed design. To manipulate purchase motivations, participants in the three age groups were instructed to focus on the ratio of utility and price of options (information-focus) or the extent of pleasure induced by the options (emotion-focus) when they made purchase decisions in two framing conditions. The results revealed similar option framing effect across all age groups in the information-focus condition regarding the total price paid for accepted options. In contrast, the framing effect was not found in the emotion-focus condition. In addition, older adults accepted more options and an overall higher price than younger and middle-aged adults in both focus conditions. This difference was more obvious in the emotion-focus condition than in the information-focus condition. Moreover, both the number of accepted options and the total accepted price of the younger group in the information-focus condition were higher than those in the emotion-focus condition, whereas the older and middle-aged groups accepted same number of options and price between two focus conditions. These results imply that purchase motivation is a moderator of the option framing effect and age characteristics linked with motivations must be considered in sales.
Prevention of heterocyclic amine-induced DNA damage in colon and liver of rats by different lactobacillus strains.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of four different lactobacillus (LB) strains, namely Lactobacillus bulgaricus 291, Streptococcus thermophilus F4, S.thermophilus V3 and Bifidobacterium longum BB536, which are used for the production of yogurt, on the DNA-damaging effects of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs). Male F344 rats were treated orally with HCA mixtures containing 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole and 2-amino-3-methyl-3H- imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, which were representative of the HCA contents found in fried beef ('beef mix') and chicken ('chicken mix'). Suspensions of LB were given by gavage to the animals simultaneously with and at different time periods before administration of the HCAs. Subsequently, the extent of DNA migration was measured in colon and liver cells in single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assays. All four strains caused complete inhibition of DNA damage induced with beef mix after administration of 1 x 1010 LB cells/animal, whereas with chicken mix only marginal (non-significant) effects were seen. The inhibition of beef-induced DNA damage was dose dependent and was still significant when 1 x 107 cells/animal were administered. Kinetics studies showed that the protective effects were still significant when LB was given 12 h before the beef mix. A comparison of the present results with chemical analytical data from in vitro experiments suggests that the strong reduction in DNA migration seen in the animals can be only partly explained by direct binding effects. The results of the present study show that LB are highly protective against the genotoxic effects of HCAs under conditions which are relevant for humans and provide a possible explanation for the reduced colon cancer rates observed in some studies in individuals with either high LB counts in their feces or with a high consumption of LB-containing foods.
Watching pattern distribution via massive character recognition

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how image patterns distribute inside their feature space. For this purpose, 832,612 manually ground-truthed handwritten digit patterns are used. Use of character patterns instead of general visual object patterns is very essential for our purpose. First, since there are only 10 classes for digits, it is possible to have an enough number of patterns per class. Second, since the feature space of small binary character images is rather compact, it is easier to observe the precise pattern distribution with a fixed number of patterns. Third, the classes of character patterns can be defined far more clearly than visual objects. Through nearest neighbor analysis on 832, 612 patterns, their distribution in the 32 × 32 binary feature space is observed quantitatively and qualitatively. For example, the visual similarity of nearest neighbors and the existence of outliers, which are surrounded by patterns from different classes, are observed.
Working in partnership

Collaboration between organisations and groups from the public, private and voluntary sectors has been particularly encouraged in Britain’s most disadvantaged communities. This practical guide offers insights into the possibilities and problems of working in partnership. It brings together different aspects of partnership: what it is; why we should do it; how to get started; supporting and developing the partnership; assessing its value and keeping it going. With the help of checklists and practical examples it offers insights, advice and resources for effective partnership working, especially with adult and community groups.
Hubble Space Telescope imaging of globular cluster candidates in low surface brightness dwarf galaxies

Fifty-seven nearby low surface brightness dwarf galaxies (−10 > MV > −16) were searched for globular cluster candidates (GCCs) using Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 imaging in V and I. The sample consists of 18 dwarf spheroidal (dSph), 36 irregular (dIrr), and 3 “transition” type (dIrr/dSph) galaxies with angular sizes less than 3.7 kpc situated at distances 2−6 Mpc in the field and in the nearby groups: M 81, Centaurus A, Sculptor, Canes Venatici I cloud. We find that ∼50% of dSph, dIrr/dSph, and dIrr galaxies contain GCCs. The fraction of GCCs located near the center of dwarf spheroidal galaxies is >2 times higher than for dIrrs. The mean integral color of GCCs in dSphs, (V − I)0 = 1.04 ± 0.16 mag, coincides with the corresponding value for Galactic globular clusters and is similar to the blue globular cluster sub-populations in massive early-type galaxies. The color distribution for GCCs in dIrrs shows a clear bimodality with peaks near (V − I)0 = 0.5 and 1.0 mag. Blue GCCs are presumably young with ages t −6.5 mag in both dSph and dIrr galaxies, reminiscent of excess populations of faint globular clusters in nearby Local Group spiral galaxies. The measurement of structural parameters using King-profile fitting reveals that most GCCs have structural parameters similar to extended outer halo globular clusters in the Milky Way and M 31, as well as the recently discovered population of “faint fuzzy” clusters in nearby lenticular galaxies.
QCD analysis of diffractive and leading-proton DIS structure functions in the framework of fracture functions

We present a combined QCD analysis of recent data produced by the H1 and ZEUS collaborations on the diffractive and leading-proton deep inelastic positron--proton scattering structure functions, $F_2^{D(3)}$ and $F_2^{LP(3)}$, respectively. It is shown that the QCD framework for semi-inclusive processes, based on fracture functions, allows a unified treatment of both diffractive and leading-proton processes, and offers a precise perturbative QCD description for them, alternative to those that rely on model-dependent assumptions, such as Regge factorization, or other non-perturbative approaches
CLG Optical Flow Approach and Frequency Analysis of Cranial Ultrasonogram Image Sequences

The artery pulsation has a strong correlation with the blood flow in the newborn baby head and tissuemotion has a relationship with artery pulsation. In this paper, we propose a novel method to estimate the tissuemotion quantitatively by combining local and global motion estimation methods, namely combined local-global (CLG) optical flow technique in cranial ultrasonogram of newborn babies. Tissue motions are estimated in different coronal sections successfully and their errors are also estimated. Further, we analyze the time variant tissue-motion by using discrete Fourier transform. We also observed the pulsation in the time variant motion images and strong pulsation is observed in the harmonic frequency of tissue-motion that has a relation to the heartbeat frequency of a newborn baby which is helpful for pediatric diagnosis.
Grouping method based on feature matching for tracking and recognition of complex objects

We propose a grouping algorithm for tracking and recognition of complex objects in video images. The algorithm is based on region-growing image segmentation for dividing each image into its constituent elements or segments and feature matching using the characteristic features of these elements. All segments in video images, which can be viewed as simple objects, can be detected and tracked with this algorithm no matter whether they are moving or not. But, for complex-object tracking and recognition, it is additionally necessary to group all elements belonging to these complex objects based on common characteristic features. As a result of the grouping method, the proposed algorithm is able to detect and track moving complex objects like e.g. cars in video images. This paper describes the proposed algorithm in detail and verifies its capabilities by simulation results with MATLAB [1].
Computational Art: Introducing High School Students to Computing via Art

Introducing computer science to high school students in a creative context, and fitting such a course into an overly packed high school curriculum, is a challenge. This paper describes a fruitful collaboration to create and teach an alternative introductory computing curriculum for high school students targeted at introducing students to computing via an artistic context. This curriculum allows students to be introduced to computing in a highly interest based context, attracting diverse student body participation (25% female students in the first offering and 38% female students in the present 2015-16 offering). This curriculum also fulfills student's fine art course requirement making it more readily accessible to a wide audience to `try out' CS while making progress on their academic goals. This curriculum has been used as a successful introduction to computing at the Santa Barbara High School CS Academy in the 2014-2015 school year and is currently being offered again this year. In this paper, we present the curriculum and evaluation of this initial offering.
A Post-compiling Approach that Exploits Code Granularity in Scratchpads to Improve Energy Efficiency

Since most of the energy spent in embedded processors is consumed when accessing instruction and data caches, scratchpad memories (SPMs) are promising for energy efficiency, because they require less energy per access than caches do. Most SPM mapping techniques require the availability of source code and are therefore unable to treat third-party software. This work handles precompiled software while simultaneously mapping code and data elements into SPMs. It evaluates energy savings for code elements defined either by procedure or basic block (BB) boundaries. For a subset of the MiBench program suite, the experimental results show that the adoption of BB boundaries leads to average energy savings of 30% for a 1KB SPM, which are 10% better than when procedure boundaries are considered. For procedure boundaries to achieve average energy savings comparable to those obtained with BBs, SPM size must be increased to 4KB, resulting in a 31% area overhead in the memory subsystem. Higher savings, on the order of 40%, were achieved for real-life use cases exhibiting BBs with high profit/cost ratios. This work also shows that, when exploiting the finer-grain BB boundaries to achieve higher savings, relocatable object files are the most efficient binary media (average patching time is 2.05 seconds), despite the higher number of resulting code elements (mapping takes at most 10 ms).
Additional lossless compression of JPEG images

The task of additional compression of images earlier coded using JPEG is considered. A novel efficient method for coding quantized DCT coefficients is proposed. It is based on coefficient separation into bit planes, taking into account correlation between the values of neighbor coefficients in blocks, between the values of the corresponding coefficients of neighbor blocks as well as between the corresponding coefficients of different color layers. It is shown that the designed technique allows for images already compressed by JPEG to additionally increase compression ratio by 1.3. 2.3 times without introducing additional losses.
Hybrid image stabilization for in vivo microscopic imaging

This paper proposes hybrid image stabilization for in vivo microscopy. In vivo microscopy, which deals with living tissues in a living subject, has been becoming more and more important because it will reveal lots of unknown biological mysteries. One of the fundamental difficulties in in vivo microscopy is that the observing images from the microscope are so unstable due to the subjectpsilas trembling, causing the observation difficulty. This trembling motion comes from the biological motion such as breathing, heartbeat, and so on. We propose hybrid image stabilization as a solution for getting stabilized images with respect to a vibrating subject. The hybrid image stabilization utilizes both hardware stabilization method and software stabilization method. In our hybrid system design, hardware stabilization gets rid of big motion by lens tracking and software stabilization further removes the remaining small motion through a realtime image processing on the image plane. We verify the effectiveness of our approach by showing experimental results with our hybrid image stabilization system.
Optimization of anti-infective dosing regimens during online haemodiafiltration

Abstract Online haemodiafiltration (HDF) is increasingly used in clinical practice as a routine intermittent dialysis modality. It is well known that renal impairment and renal replacement therapy can substantially affect the pharmacokinetic behaviour of several drugs. However, surprisingly few data are available on the need for specific dose adjustments during HDF. Due to convection, drug clearance may be increased during HDF as compared with standard haemodialysis. This may be of particular interest in patients undergoing anti-infective therapy, since under-dosing may compromise patient outcomes and promote the emergence of bacterial resistance. Drug clearance during HDF is determined by (i) dialysis characteristics, (ii) drug characteristics and (iii) patient characteristics. In this review, we will discuss these different determinants of drug clearance during HDF and advise on how to adjust the dose of antibacterial, antimycotic and antiviral agents in patients undergoing HDF. In addition, the possible added value of therapeutic drug monitoring is discussed. The review provides guidance for optimization of anti-infective dosing regimens in HDF patients.
Scale Space Technique for Word Segmentation in Handwritten Manuscripts

Indexing large archives of historical manuscripts is required to allow rapid perusal by scholars and researchers who wish to consult the original manuscripts. However, automatic conversion of handwritten manuscripts to digital form allowing eecient storage and retrieval of the original documents is a challenging problem. Word spotting is a scheme to index such data. The important steps in this scheme are segmentation of a document page into words and creation of lists containing instances of the same word by word image matching. We have developed a novel methodology for segmenting handwritten document images by analyzing the extent of \blobs" in a scale space representation of the image. The algorithm was been applied to around 30 grey level images randomly picked from diierent sections of the George Washington corpus of 6,400 handwritten document images. An accuracy of 77 ? 96 percent was observed with an average accuracy of around 87 percent. The algorithm works well in the presence of noise, shine through and other artifacts which may arise due aging and degradation of the page over a couple of centuries or through the man made processes of photocopying and scanning. end ital-ics mode