Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study on eye quantification in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Face diagnosis is an important part of the inspection in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM considers the body of human as an inseparable whole and the face is just like a mirror that reflects physiological function and pathological changes. Eye is the window of heart, and it¿s the most important part on face for TCM doctors to diagnose patient. In this paper, we present several methods on quantifying eye movement, venation and tear, and then deduce volunteers¿ vitality condition by these measurements.
Motion history to improve communication and switch access for people with severe and multiple disabilities

In this study, a computer-vision based technique called Motion History that visualizes the history of movement of the user, was applied to support communication and switch access for people with severe and multiple disabilities. Seven non-speaking children with severe physical and intellectual disabilities participated in the study, and Motion History successfully helped to investigate their voluntary movement and cognition. In addition, based on the feedback comments of the study, a new system was developed, which used the built-in camera of the tablet PC to observe Motion History, and made the system easier and more mobile to use. One of the features of the system could convert the recognized body movement into a switch control, where a good switch fitting was automatically established based on the motion history.
A Distributed Parallel Genetic Algorithm of Placement Strategy for Virtual Machines Deployment on Cloud Platform

The cloud platform provides various services to users. More and more cloud centers provide infrastructure as the main way of operating. To improve the utilization rate of the cloud center and to decrease the operating cost, the cloud center provides services according to requirements of users by sharding the resources with virtualization. Considering both QoS for users and cost saving for cloud computing providers, we try to maximize performance and minimize energy cost as well. In this paper, we propose a distributed parallel genetic algorithm (DPGA) of placement strategy for virtual machines deployment on cloud platform. It executes the genetic algorithm parallelly and distributedly on several selected physical hosts in the first stage. Then it continues to execute the genetic algorithm of the second stage with solutions obtained from the first stage as the initial population. The solution calculated by the genetic algorithm of the second stage is the optimal one of the proposed approach. The experimental results show that the proposed placement strategy of VM deployment can ensure QoS for users and it is more effective and more energy efficient than other placement strategies on the cloud platform.
Is the fluid mosaic (and the accompanying raft hypothesis) a suitable model to describe fundamental features of biological membranes? What may be missing?

The structure, dynamics, and stability of lipid bilayers are controlled by thermodynamic forces, leading to overall tensionless membranes with a distinct lateral organization and a conspicuous lateral pressure profile. Bilayers are also subject to built-in curvature-stress instabilities that may be released locally or globally in terms of morphological changes leading to the formation of non-lamellar and curved structures. A key controller of the bilayer’s propensity to form curved structures is the average molecular shape of the different lipid molecules. Via the curvature stress, molecular shape mediates a coupling to membrane-protein function and provides a set of physical mechanisms for formation of lipid domains and laterally differentiated regions in the plane of the membrane. Unfortunately, these relevant physical features of membranes are often ignored in the most popular models for biological membranes. Results from a number of experimental and theoretical studies emphasize the significance of these fundamental physical properties and call for a refinement of the fluid mosaic model (and the accompanying raft hypothesis).
Low power and low cost sensor for train velocity estimation

Nowadays railway vehicle speed sensors suffer from insufficient measurement accuracy. E. g. the Doppler radar is prone to adverse weather conditions while wheel speed sensors are not sufficiently robust against wheel slip and wheel wear. However, since velocity sensors are safety relevant components, it becomes clear that conventional sensors are not able to cover all the requirements for an everyday use. To overcome these deficiencies, we introduce a new train speed sensor based on an electromagnetic measurement principle. It does not require physical contact to the surface. Therefore, it does not suffer from slip or wheel wear. Furthermore, it works reliably under various weather conditions so that it offers high availability. We present the technical basis of the sensor and the algorithm for speed estimation based on the raw sensory data. We show results from tests on a test bench and tests on a railway vehicle which was operated on a test track. We compare the sensor results quantitatively with a high accuracy GNSS receiver and a laser tachymeter.
Eficiência das escolas públicas estaduais de Minas Gerais: considerações acerca da qualidade a partir da análise dos dados do SICA e do SIMAVE

Esta dissertacao desenvolve o metodo semi-parametrico denominado Two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis para detectar a fronteira de eficiencia das escolas publicas estaduais de Minas Gerais nos niveis fundamental e Medio. A primeira etapa desse processo consiste em calcular a eficiencia pela DEA e a segunda em comparar os resultados de eficiencia por meio de uma regressao com variaveis de background familiar de infra-estrutura e dotacao das escolas.Os metodos utilizados baseiam-se em contribuicoes recentes dos estudos de eficiencia nao parametrica, Simar e Wilson (1998), e semi-parametrica, Simar e Wilson (2002). Estiveram presentes preocupacoes para o controle de outliers sugeridas pelos trabalhos de Cazals et ali (2002) e Sampaio de Sousa e Stosic (2005). A incorporacao dos procedimentos estatisticos de bootstrap forneceu mais robustez para os resultados encontrados e permitiu encontrar o vies e intervalos de confianca para os indices de eficiencia. As bases censitarias do Sistema Mineiro de Avaliacao da Educacao Publica (SIMAVE), que aplica os exames de proficiencia de Matematica e Portugues para 4a e 8a series do fundamental e 3a serie do ensino medio, e do Sistema Informacional de Custo Aluno (SICA), alem do Censo Educacional MEC/INEP de 2005 permitiram aplicar uma das primeiras analises de eficiencia por escola desenvolvida para o ensino basico do pais. Os resultados encontrados sugerem que uma complementaridade dos insumos, dentro e fora da escola, possibilita o seu melhor desempenho. Escolas localizadas nas mesoregioes do estado onde ha mais abundância de recursos educacionais possuem chance maior de serem mais eficientes e prestarem um ensino de maior qualidade. Porem, existem bons exemplos de desempenho em regioes mais carentes e, em termos gerais, os resultados do produto educacional do estado pode melhorar bastante se se conseguir um maior nivel de eficiencia para as escolas estaduais.
MANIPULATING FACE GENDER : EFFECTS ONCATEGORIZATION AND RECOGNITION

abstract Previous research has shown that faces coded as pixel-based images may be constructed from an appropriately weighted combination of statistical \features" (eigenvectors) which are useful for discriminating members of a learned set of images. We have shown previously that two of the most heavily weighted features are important in predicting face gender. Using a simple computational model, we adjusted weightings of these features in more masculine and more feminine directions for both male and female adult Caucasian faces. In Experiment 1, cross-gender face image alterations (e.g., feminizing male faces) reduced both gender classiica-tion speed and accuracy for young adult Caucasian observers, whereas same-gender alterations (e.g., masculinizing male faces) had no eeect as compared to unaltered controls. EEects on femininity-masculinity ratings mirrored those obtained on gender classiication speed and accuracy. We controlled statistically for possible eeects of image distortion incurred by our gender manipulations. In Experiment 2 we replicated the same pattern of accuracy data. Combined, these data indicate the psychological relevance of the features derived from the computational model. Despite having diierent eeects on the ease of gender classiica-tion, neither sort of gender alteration negatively impacted face recognition (Experiment 3), yielding evidence for a model of face recognition wherein gender and familiarity processing proceed in parallel.
Saccadic Scrolling: Speed Reading Strategy Based on Natural Eye Movements

We present a novel method of text presentation, saccadic scrolling, that translates average eye movement behavior into the movement of a line of text. It seeks to emulate the success of techniques such as rapid serial visual presentation in boosting reading speed, whilst maintaining the familiar line of text appearance. The parameters of saccadic scrolling are described and then tested in a reading speed study with 30 participants. Reading with saccadic scrolling was found to enable all participants to read faster than with continuous scrolling, on average by a factor of 5 times, and almost half to read faster than with rapid serial visual presentation, with a statistically equal average.
Dormant Cells of Staphylococcus aureus Are Resuscitated by Spent Culture Supernatant

We describe the first in vitro model of dormancy in Staphylococcus aureus, showing that cells are generated which can be resuscitated by addition of spent medium supernatant taken from cultures of the same organism. Over 30 days, culturable counts in dormant cultures of S. aureus SH1000 fell from 106–107 cfu/ml to <10 cfu/ml as measured by the Most Probable Number method in liquid culture, while total counts as determined by microscopy, and supported by data from RT-qPCR, remained around 106–107 cells/ml. Supplementing cultures with 25–50% spent medium resulted in a >600-fold increase in bacterial growth. Resuscitation was a specific effect, greatly reduced by boiling or addition of trypsin to the spent supernatant. Supernatant also effected a reduction in lag phase of dormant cultures. SEM demonstrated the presence of small coccoid cells in dormant cultures. The results are similar to those seen with resuscitation promoting factors (Rpfs) in actinobacteria. This is the first time resuscitation has been demonstrated in Staphylococcus aureus, which is an important human pathogen. A better understanding of control and reactivation of dormant cells could lead to major improvements in managing staphylococcal infections; resuscitation could be an important step in restoring susceptibility to antibiotic treatment.
Value sets of graphs edge-weighted with elements of a finite abelian group

Given a graph G = (V, E) of order n and a finite abelian group H = (H, +) of order n, a bijection f of V onto H is called a vertex H-labeling of G. Let g(e) ≡ (f(u) + f(v)) mod H for each edge e = {u, v} in E induce an edge H-labeling of G. Then, the sum Hvalf (G) ≡ ∑ e∈E g(e) mod H is called the H-value of G relative to f and the set HvalS(G) of all H-values of G over all possible vertex H-labelings is called the H-value set of G. Theorems determining HvalS(G) for given H and G are obtained.
Video summarization using motion descriptors

We describe a technique for video summarization that uses motion descriptors computed in the compressed domain to speed up conventional color based video summarization technique. The basic hypothesis of the work is that the intensity of motion activity of a video segment is a direct indication of its 'summarizability. ' We present experimental verification of this hypothesis. We are thus able to quickly identify easy to summarize segments of a video sequence since they have a low intensity of motion activity. Moreover, the compressed domain extraction of motion activity intensity is much simpler than the color-based calculations. We are able to easily summarize these segments by simply choosing a key-frame at random from each low- activity segment. We can then apply conventional color-based summarization techniques to the remaining segments. We are thus able to speed up color-based summarization techniques by reducing the number of segments on which computationally more expensive color-based computation is needed.
Ranking and Classification of Automobile Insurance Policies According to the Number of Claims

In the ratemaking process, the ranking which takes into account the number of claims generated by a policy in a given period of i nsurance, may be helpful. For example, such a ranking allows to classify the newly conclud ed insurance policy to the appropriate tariff groups and to differentiate policies with no claims observed in the insurance history. For this purpose, in this paper we analyze models a pplicable to the modeling of count variables. In the first part of the paper, we prese nt the classical Poisson regression and a modified regression model for data, where there i s a large number of zeros in the values of the counter variable, which is a common situatio n in the insurance data. In the second part, we expand the classical Poisson regression by adding the random effect. The goal is to avoid an unrealistic assumption that in every class all insurance policies are characterized by the same expected number of claims. In the last p rt of the paper, we propose to use k-fold cross-validation to identify the factors whic influence the number of insurance claims the most. Then, setting the parameters of th e Poisson distribution, we create the ranking of policies using the estimated parameters of the model, which give the smallest cross-validation mean squared error. In the paper w e use a real-world data set taken from literature. For all computations we used the free s oftware environment R.
Taking HIV Testing to Families: Designing a Family-Based Intervention to Facilitate HIV Testing, Disclosure, and Intergenerational Communication

Introduction Facility-based HIV testing does not capture many adults and children who are at risk of HIV in South Africa. This underscores the need to provide targeted, age-appropriate HIV testing for children, adolescents, and adults who are not accessing health facilities. While home-based counseling and testing has been successfully delivered in multiple settings, it also often fails to engage adolescents. To date, the full potential for testing entire families and linking them to treatment has not been evaluated. Methods The steps to expand a successful home-based counseling and testing model to a family-based counseling and testing approach in a high HIV prevalence context in rural South Africa are described. The primary aim of this family-based model is to increase uptake of HIV testing and linkage to care for all family members, through promoting family cohesion and intergenerational communication, increasing HIV disclosure in the family, and improving antiretroviral treatment uptake, adherence, and retention. We discuss the three-phased research approach that led to the development of the family-based counseling and testing intervention. Results The family-based intervention is designed with a maximum of five sessions, depending on the configuration of the family (young, mixed, and older families). There is an optional additional session for high-risk or vulnerable family situations. These sessions encourage HIV testing of adults, children, and adolescents and disclosure of HIV status. Families with adolescents receive an intensive training session on intergenerational communication, identified as the key causal pathway to improve testing, linkage to care, disclosure, and reduced stigma for this group. The rationale for the focus on intergenerational communication is described in relation to our formative work as well as previous literature, and potential challenges with pilot testing the intervention are explored. Conclusion This paper maps the process for adapting a novel and largely successful home-based counseling and testing intervention for use with families. Expanding the successful home-based counseling and testing model to capture children, adolescents, and men could have significant impact, if the pilot is successful and scaled-up.
Functional Subunits of Eukaryotic Chaperonin CCT/TRiC in Protein Folding

Molecular chaperones are a class of proteins responsible for proper folding of a large number of polypeptides in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Newly synthesized polypeptides are prone to nonspecific interactions, and many of them make toxic aggregates in absence of chaperones. The eukaryotic chaperonin CCT is a large, multisubunit, cylindrical structure having two identical rings stacked back to back. Each ring is composed of eight different but similar subunits and each subunit has three distinct domains. CCT assists folding of actin, tubulin, and numerous other cellular proteins in an ATP-dependent manner. The catalytic cooperativity of ATP binding/hydrolysis in CCT occurs in a sequential manner different from concerted cooperativity as shown for GroEL. Unlike GroEL, CCT does not have GroES-like cofactor, rather it has a built-in lid structure responsible for closing the central cavity. The CCT complex recognizes its substrates through diverse mechanisms involving hydrophobic or electrostatic interactions. Upstream factors like Hsp70 and Hsp90 also work in a concerted manner to transfer the substrate to CCT. Moreover, prefoldin, phosducin-like proteins, and Bag3 protein interact with CCT and modulate its function for the fine-tuning of protein folding process. Any misregulation of protein folding process leads to the formation of misfolded proteins or toxic aggregates which are linked to multiple pathological disorders.
Increasing viscosity of the intestinal contents alters small intestinal structure and intestinal growth, and stimulates proliferation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in newly-weaned pigs

Sources of viscous soluble fibre, such as barley and oats, have often been included in the weaning diet of the pig to accelerate development of the large intestine. Inclusion of a non-fermentable, viscous compound, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), in a low-fibre weaning diet was tested to assess the influence of digesta viscosity on the gut in the absence of increased fermentation. Two CMC sources, of low and high viscosity, were added to cooked rice-based diet at 40 g/kg total diet. A third control rice diet did not contain any CMC. Diets were fed for 13 d following weaning at 3 weeks of age. Addition of CMC to the diet significantly increased the intestinal viscosity of digesta within the small (P<0·001) and large (P<0·05) intestine. No simple association was found between increases in intestinal viscosity and effects on intestinal morphology and whole-body growth. The average empty-body-weight gain and the small intestinal villus height increased with low-viscosity CMC, but decreased with the high-viscosity CMC group. The full large intestinal weight increased in all pigs fed CMC. Dietary CMC (both low- and high-viscosity) increased the percentage moisture of digesta and faeces, and was associated with increased faecal shedding of enterotoxigenic haemolytic Escherichia coli. Feed ingredients in weaning diets that excessively increase the viscosity of the intestinal digesta may be detrimental to pig health and production.
Lecture 1: August 25th 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 Model of Computation

The starting point for the course is the observation that, by giving a a computer access to a string of random bits, one can frequently obtain algorithms that are far simpler and more elegant than their deterministic counterparts. Sometimes these algorithms can be “derandomized,” although the resulting deterministic algorithms are often rather obscure. In certain restricted models of computation, one can even prove that randomized algorithms are more efficient than the best possible deterministic algorithm.
Significant path selection improves the prediction of novel drug-target interactions

Identifying the interactions between drugs and targets is a crucial step in the process of discovering new drugs. There has been a number of computational methods proposed for the problem. Among them, machine learning-based methods usually utilizes the similarity between drugs and between targets to build kernel matrices, which are used to predict novel drug-target interactions with classification models. While network-based methods usually formulate the prediction as a ranking problem where candidate targets are according to a drug of interest and/or its known targets. A common disadvantage of the network-based methods is that they mainly look for novel targets which are close to known targets in the network. In this study, we proposed a method, namely SigTarget, to overcome this limitation. More specifically, SigTarget ranks candidate targets based on a probability with which they connect to known targets by choosing significant links between known and candidate targets. This method was adapted from an algorithm calculating relative importance between nodes in a network. Simulation results show that SigTarget was better than some existing methods such as TBSI, DBSI and RWR for a set of drugs collected from KEGG database. In addition, we showed the ability of SigTarget in predicting novel drug targets by showing that highly ranked candidate targets obtained from SigTarget are also verified in another drug database, DrugBank.
Making men of them: male socialization for warfare and combative sports

The debate over whether violence and aggressive behavior is innate or learned has been rekindled by several recent publications. Regardless of the merits of this debate, cross-cultural data indicate that the levels of both interand intra-group aggressive behavior differ among societies. Moreover, males in some societies exhibit what has been termed “hypermasculine” behavior. This behavior is characterized by high levels of physical aggression as well as other markers, such as excessive use of alcohol or other drugs, destructiveness, and general belligerence. In this paper, we examine the relationships among socialization for aggression, fortitude, and competitiveness among boys and adolescent males and several indicators of a masculinist ideology. We do the same for the socialization variables and several hypermasculine behaviors.
Abrupt shot boundary detection based on averaged two-dependence estimators learning

Video shot boundary detection is the process of automatically detecting the meaningful boundary in video data. It becomes an essential pre-processing step to video analysis, summarisation and other content-based retrieval. Video frame feature representation also plays an important role in the process where it directly affects to the performance of the system. Histogram dissimilarity-based with the pre-processed features scheme are proposed to represent the temporal characteristic in videos. Motivated by the practical applications with moderate computational time, supervised abrupt shot boundary detection with averaged two-dependence estimators probabilistic classification learning scheme is proposed in this paper. The performance evaluation is performed by TRECVID 2007 videos dataset containing various types of video category. The performance of the proposed scheme can be expressed in terms of precision and recall to detect the correct abrupt video shot.