Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scaling bandwidth and complexity of hybrid MC/DCT video codecs

Multi-user video conferencing has high and diverse bandwidth and performance requirements. We analyse the scaling behaviour of a standard hybrid video codec by varying the quantization degree, the temporal and spatial resolution. We define a framework to select the set of coding parameters when the bandwidth and complexity constraints are known. Additionally, the efficiency of simulcast and layered solutions to overcome large bandwidth and/or computational resource variations among the participants are compared. In this context, the temporal resolution turns out to be the best-suited parameter to provide multiple resolutions through independent streams dealing with the network unreliability.
Functional Analysis of the Arlequin Mutant Corroborates the Essential Role of the ARLEQUIN/TAGL1 Gene during Reproductive Development of Tomato

Reproductive development of higher plants comprises successive events of organ differentiation and growth which finally lead to the formation of a mature fruit. However, most of the genetic and molecular mechanisms which coordinate such developmental events are yet to be identified and characterized. Arlequin (Alq), a semi-dominant T-DNA tomato mutant showed developmental changes affecting flower and fruit ripening. Sepals were converted into fleshy organs which ripened as normal fruit organs and fruits displayed altered ripening features. Molecular characterization of the tagged gene demonstrated that it corresponded to the previously reported TOMATO AGAMOUS-LIKE 1 (TAGL1) gene, the tomato ortholog of SHATTERPROOF MADS-box genes of Arabidopsis thaliana, and that the Alq mutation promoted a gain-of-function phenotype caused by the ectopic expression of TAGL1. Ectopic overexpression of TAGL1 resulted in homeotic alterations affecting floral organ identity that were similar to but stronger than those observed in Alq mutant plants. Interestingly, TAGL1 RNAi plants yielded tomato fruits which were unable to ripen. They displayed a yellow-orange color and stiffness appearance which are in accordance with reduced lycopene and ethylene levels, respectively. Moreover, pericarp cells of TAGL1 RNAi fruits showed altered cellular and structural properties which correlated to both decreased expression of genes regulating cell division and lignin biosynthesis. Over-expression of TAGL1 is able to rescue the non-ripening phenotype of rin and nor mutants, which is mediated by the transcriptional activation of several ripening genes. Our results demonstrated that TAGL1 participates in the genetic control of flower and fruit development of tomato plants. Furthermore, gene silencing and over-expression experiments demonstrated that the fruit ripening process requires the regulatory activity of TAGL1. Therefore, TAGL1 could act as a linking factor connecting successive stages of reproductive development, from flower development to fruit maturation, allowing this complex process to be carried out successfully.
Early-Life Telomere Dynamics Differ between the Sexes and Predict Growth in the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Telomeres are conserved DNA-protein structures at the termini of eukaryotic chromosomes which contribute to maintenance of genome integrity, and their shortening leads to cell senescence, with negative consequences for organismal functions. Because telomere erosion is influenced by extrinsic and endogenous factors, telomere dynamics may provide a mechanistic basis for evolutionary and physiological trade-offs. Yet, knowledge of fundamental aspects of telomere biology under natural selection regimes, including sex- and context-dependent variation in early-life, and the covariation between telomere dynamics and growth, is scant. In this study of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) we investigated the sex-dependent telomere erosion during nestling period, and the covariation between relative telomere length and body and plumage growth. Finally, we tested whether any covariation between growth traits and relative telomere length depends on the social environment, as influenced by sibling sex ratio. Relative telomere length declined on average over the period of nestling maximal growth rate (between 7 and 16 days of age) and differently covaried with initial relative telomere length in either sex. The frequency distribution of changes in relative telomere length was bimodal, with most nestlings decreasing and some increasing relative telomere length, but none of the offspring traits predicted the a posteriori identified group to which individual nestlings belonged. Tail and wing length increased with relative telomere length, but more steeply in males than females, and this relationship held both at the within- and among-broods levels. Moreover, the increase in plumage phenotypic values was steeper when the sex ratio of an individual’s siblings was female-biased. Our study provides evidence for telomere shortening during early life according to subtly different dynamics in either sex. Furthermore, it shows that the positive covariation between growth and relative telomere length depends on sex as well as social environment, in terms of sibling sex ratio.
Cochlear implantation (CI) for prelingual deafness: the relevance of studies of brain organization and the role of first language acquisition in considering outcome success

Cochlear implantation (CI) for profound congenital hearing impairment, while often successful in restoring hearing to the deaf child, does not always result in effective speech processing. Exposure to non-auditory signals during the pre-implantation period is widely held to be responsible for such failures. Here, we question the inference that such exposure irreparably distorts the function of auditory cortex, negatively impacting the efficacy of CI. Animal studies suggest that in congenital early deafness there is a disconnection between (disordered) activation in primary auditory cortex (A1) and activation in secondary auditory cortex (A2). In humans, one factor contributing to this functional decoupling is assumed to be abnormal activation of A1 by visual projections—including exposure to sign language. In this paper we show that that this abnormal activation of A1 does not routinely occur, while A2 functions effectively supramodally and multimodally to deliver spoken language irrespective of hearing status. What, then, is responsible for poor outcomes for some individuals with CI and for apparent abnormalities in cortical organization in these people? Since infancy is a critical period for the acquisition of language, deaf children born to hearing parents are at risk of developing inefficient neural structures to support skilled language processing. A sign language, acquired by a deaf child as a first language in a signing environment, is cortically organized like a heard spoken language in terms of specialization of the dominant perisylvian system. However, very few deaf children are exposed to sign language in early infancy. Moreover, no studies to date have examined sign language proficiency in relation to cortical organization in individuals with CI. Given the paucity of such relevant findings, we suggest that the best guarantee of good language outcome after CI is the establishment of a secure first language pre-implant—however that may be achieved, and whatever the success of auditory restoration.
HVS-metric-based performance analysis of image denoising algorithms

Image filtering is applied in numerous applications. Although most images after processing are subject to visualization and analysis by humans, MSE and PSNR metrics that do not adequately characterize image visual quality are still basically used in filter design and performance comparisons. This paper presents and generalizes some recent results obtained during our studies on usefulness of novel quality metrics based on human visual system (HVS). Basic attention is paid to DCT-based filters although some other denoising techniques are considered as well. It is demonstrated that the same DCT-based filter (with a tunable parameter) provides optimal values of PSNR and HVS-metrics for different values of tunable parameter. Local analysis of visual quality metrics is carried out indicating directions of the future research.
The clinical utility of measuring total PSA, PSA density, gamma-seminoprotein and gamma-seminoprotein/total PSA in prostate cancer prediction.

BACKGROUND To evaluate whether serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density (serum total PSA level divided by prostate volume), gamma-seminoprotein and gamma-seminoprotein/total PSA ratio could predict prostate cancer (PCa) prior to biopsy. METHODS A total of 316 consecutive patients who had undergone transrectal prostate biopsy and/or transurethral resection were examined. The prostate volume was determined by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and the ability of the above-mentioned four variables to distinguish PCa from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was evaluated. RESULTS PCa was detected in 61 cases. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that both the PSA density and serum total PSA were the most useful predictors of PCa among the four variables. For the patients with a serum total PSA level of 4.1-10.0 ng/ml, PSA density was significantly more accurate than total PSA (p < 0.005). An optimum PSA density value of 0.18 was chosen as a cutoff because it showed the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity, 92 and 54%, respectively. Using this PSA density cutoff, the number of biopsies could have been reduced to 57 from 63% when compared with a PSA density of 0.15. CONCLUSIONS PSA density was significantly more accurate than other variables in predicting PCa. To avoid unnecessary biopsies, the PSA density cutoff value of 0.18 would be recommendable for determining a prostate biopsy for Japanese males with a serum total PSA level of 4.1-10.0 ng/ml.
An acoustic phonetic analysis of intonational prominence in two Australian languages

The intonational typology of two Northern Australian languages, Dalabon and the Kundedjnjenghmi dialect of Bininj Gun-wok, suggests that these languages can be analyzed within the autosegmental-metrical framework of intonation as having two kinds of intonational events that serve to demarcate the boundaries of intonational phrases: pitch accents and boundary tones. Both languages have also previously been described as having lexical stress. In this study, the acoustic correlates of syllables associated with intonational pitch accents, were measured, namely, F0, duration, RMS amplitude and vowel quality, in one lengthy narrative text from each language. The duration of intonational phrase-final syllables was also measured. Results indicate that syllables associated with pitch accents are phonetically lengthened and have marginally higher RMS amplitude. However, there is little variation in vowel quality due to the presence of a pitch accent or intonational prominence. Final syllables are also lengthened at intonational phrase edges, indicating that duration is a cue to this level of prosodic constituency in these languages.
Circulating Oncometabolite 2-Hydroxyglutarate Is a Potential Surrogate Biomarker in Patients with Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-Mutant Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Purpose: Mutations in the IDH1 and IDH2 (IDH1/2) genes occur in approximately 20% of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and lead to accumulation of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) in the tumor tissue. However, it remains unknown whether IDH1/2 mutations can lead to high levels of 2HG circulating in the blood and whether serum 2HG can be used as a biomarker for IDH1/2 mutational status and tumor burden in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Experimental Design: We initially measured serum 2HG concentration in blood samples collected from 31 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a screening cohort. Findings were validated across 38 resected patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from a second cohort with tumor volume measures. Circulating levels of 2HG were evaluated relative to IDH1/2 mutational status, tumor burden, and a number of clinical variables. Results: Circulating levels of 2HG in the screening cohort were significantly elevated in patients with IDH1/2-mutant (median, 478 ng/mL) versus IDH1/2–wild-type (median, 118 ng/mL) tumors (P < 0.001). This significance was maintained in the validation cohort (343 ng/mL vs. 55 ng/mL, P < 0.0001) and levels of 2HG directly correlated with tumor burden in IDH1/2-mutant cases (P < 0.05). Serum 2HG levels ≥170 ng/mL could predict the presence of an IDH1/2 mutation with a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 90%. No differences were noted between the allelic variants IDH1 or IDH2 in regard to the levels of circulating 2HG. Conclusions: This study indicates that circulating 2HG may be a surrogate biomarker of IDH1 or IDH2 mutation status in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and that circulating 2HG levels may correlate directly with tumor burden. Clin Cancer Res; 20(7); 1884–90. ©2014 AACR.
A Normal Baby Girl Born to a Chinese Woman with Classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Women having congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, especially those with salt-losing type, have decreased fertility rates. With advances in genital reconstruction, reproductive medicine and optimisation of antenatal care for this group of patients, more documented successful pregnancies have been reported. We report a Chinese woman with classical salt-losing type of CAH who has successfully delivered a normal baby girl.
Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters in clusters of massive stars

Infrared observations of the environment of the two Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs) with the best known locations on the sky show that they are associated with clusters of massive stars. Observations with ISO revealed that SGR 1806−20 is in a cluster of giant massive stars, still enshrouded in a dense cloud of gas and dust [1]. SGR 1900+14 is at the edge of a similar cluster that was recently found hidden in the glare of a pair of M5 supergiant stars [2]. Since none of the stars of these clusters has shown in the last years significant flux variations in the infrared, these two SGRs do not form bound binary systems with massive stars. SGR 1806−20 is at only ∼0.4 pc, and SGR 1900+14 at ∼0.8 pc from the centers of their parental star clusters. If these SGRs were born with typical neutron star runaway velocities of ∼300 km s−1, they are not older than a few 103 years. We propose that SGR 1806−20 and SGR 1900+14 are ideal laboratories to study the evolution of supernovae explosions inside interstellar bubbles.
Morale in old age: A review of the evidence

This article presents a review of the literature on morale. It presents data on the correlates of morale and refers to related research on self‐image, self‐esteem and well‐being. The aim of the article is to give an overview of factors associated with morale identified in the literature. These are summarized in the table. The article points to the relevance of some of these findings for practice. Attention is drawn to the likely overlap and covariance of many of the correlates and it is suggested that multivariant approaches to the analysis of morale may lead to greater understanding of the primary factors. A statistical modelling approach to the problem is promised in a later article.
Cloud Architecture for Dynamic Service Composition

Service composition provides value-adding services through composing basic Web services, which may be provided by various organizations. Cloud computing presents an efficient managerial, on-demand, and scalable way to integrate computational resources hardware, platform, and software. However, existing Cloud architecture lacks the layer of middleware to enable dynamic service composition. To enable and accelerate on-demand service composition, the authors explore the paradigm of dynamic service composition in the Cloud for Pervasive Service Computing environments and propose a Cloud-based Middleware for Dynamic Service Composition CM4SC. In this approach, the authors introduce the CM4SC 'Composition as a Service' middleware layer into conventional Cloud architecture to allow automatic composition planning, service discovery and service composition. The authors implement the CM4SC middleware prototype utilizing Windows Azure Cloud platform. The prototype demonstrates the feasibility of CM4SC for accelerating dynamic service composition and that the CM4SC middleware-accelerated Cloud architecture offers a novel way for realizing dynamic service composition.
A energy efficient WSN system for limited power source environments

In this work, a Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is analyzed and implemented to control a instrumented process in environments with limited power source. Present propose is based on IEEE 802.15. 4 standard, using Zigbee and Modbus protocols. A simplified and robust system architecture is presented, emphasizing the control subsystem of charge and discharge, using solar panels, as well as software optimized for task of network controlling and sensing, both characteristics which that a reduced consumption of energy. These characteristics were proved by energetic efficiency tests and a system study that will be automated to define a rate optimal operation.
EPIC: Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing

O ver the past two and a half decades, the computer industry has grown accustomed to the spectacular rate of increase in microprocessor performance. The industry accomplished this without fundamentally rewriting programs in a parallel form, without changing algorithms or languages, and often without even recompiling programs. For the time being at least, instruction-level parallel processing has established itself as the only viable approach for achieving higher performance without major changes to software. However, computers have thus far achieved this goal at the expense of tremendous hardware complexity— a complexity that has grown so large as to challenge the industry’s ability to deliver ever-higher performance. This is why we developed the Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC) style of architecture: to enable higher levels of instruction-level parallelism without unacceptable hardware complexity.
The impact of top management turnover on quality management implementation.

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of top management turnover on Strategic Collaborative Quality Management (SCQM) implementation in healthcare organizations. The role of top management turnover in the process and impact of the SCQM model was investigated using a case study of a public hospital. METHODS Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data collection. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Top management turnover is a major threat to the long-term success of the SCQM intervention and makes it very difficult to sustain its benefits. Successful quality management implementation needs supportive and committed leadership and management. Top management stability encourages long-term planning and commitment to pursuing long-term objectives. CONCLUSION This paper has highlighted the critical role of top management stability during the course of quality management implementation.
RNase H Overproduction Corrects a Defect at the Level of Transcription Elongation during rRNA Synthesis in the Absence of DNA Topoisomerase I in Escherichia coli *

It has been suggested that the major function of DNA topoisomerase I in Escherichia coli is to suppress the formation of R-loops, which could inhibit growth. Although the currently available data suggest that the inhibitory effect of R-loops is exerted at the level of gene expression, this has never been demonstrated. In the present report, we show that rRNA synthesis is significantly impaired at the level of transcription elongation in a bacterial strain lacking DNA topoisomerase I. We found that this inhibition is due to transcriptional blocks. RNase H overproduction is also shown to considerably reduce the extent of such transcriptional blocks during rRNA synthesis. Moreover, one of these transcriptional blockage sites is located within a region where extensive R-loop formation was previously shown to occur on a plasmid DNA in the absence of DNA topoisomerase I. Together, these results allow us to propose that an important function of DNA topoisomerase I is to inhibit the formation of R-loops, which may otherwise translate into roadblocks for RNA polymerases. Our results also highlight the potential regulatory role of DNA supercoiling at the level of transcription elongation.
Conceptual Synthesis in Community Ecology

Community ecology is often perceived as a mess, given the seemingly vast number of processes that can underlie the many patterns of interest, and the apparent uniqueness of each study system. However, at the most general level, patterns in the composition and diversity of speciesthe subject matter of community ecologyare influenced by only four classes of process: selection, drift, speciation, and dispersal. Selection represents deterministic fitness differences among species, drift represents stochastic changes in species abundance, speciation creates new species, and dispersal is the movement of organisms across space. All theoretical and conceptual models in community ecology can be understood with respect to their emphasis on these four processes. Empirical evidence exists for all of these processes and many of their interactions, with a predominance of studies on selection. Organizing the material of community ecology according to this framework can clarify the essential similarities and differences among the many conceptual and theoretical approaches to the discipline, and it can also allow for the articulation of a very general theory of community dynamics: species are added to communities via speciation and dispersal, and the relative abundances of these species are then shaped by drift and selection, as well as ongoing dispersal, to drive community dynamics.