Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-Power Image Transmission in Wireless Sensor Networks using ScatterWeb Technology

ScatterWeb, a distributed, heterogeneous platform for the ad-hoc deployment of sensor networks, offers hardware and open, fully documented software for the deployment of embedded sensor networks. Already low power by design, the sensor nodes offer additional energy conservation mechanisms and support energy efficient routing, such as, e.g., solar aware routing. Due to advances in CMOS technology, ScatterWeb nodes can now also capture and transmit images at low cost. Depending on the transmission strategy either lower latency or lower power consumption can be achieved. However, both strategies allow for the capturing and transmission of several thousand images using a single AA battery. Together with additional power saving, auto-configuration, and remote reprogramming techniques, these mechanisms enable ScatterWeb nodes to survive many years in real-life scenarios without any in-place maintenance.
International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems Hand Posture Prediction Using Neural Networks within a Biomechanical Model Regular Paper

This paper proposes the use of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in the framework of a biomechanical hand model for grasping. ANNs enhance the model capabilities as they substitute estimated data for the experimental inputs required by the grasping algorithm used. These inputs are the tentative grasping posture and the most open posture during grasping. As a consequence, more realistic grasping postures are predicted by the grasping algorithm, along with the contact information required by the dynamic biomechanical model (contact points and normals). Several neural network architectures are tested and compared in terms of prediction errors, leading to encouraging results. The performance of the overall proposal is also shown through simulation, where a grasping experiment is replicated and compared to the real grasping data collected by a data glove device.
Total quality management: managing the human dimension in natural resource agencies

Stewardship in an era of dwindling human resources requires new approaches to the way business is conducted in the public sector, and Total Quality Management (TQM) can be the avenue for this transformation. Resource agencies are no excep­ tion to this requirement, although modifications to "traditional" private enterprise versions of TQM implementation techniques must be done if success is going to be achieved. The application of TQM within a public resource agency has been the focus of the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) during 1993-94. The lessons learned form the early stages of TQM imple­ mentation within the Department; the impact and implications for resource management teams; a candid discussion of the human dimension of implementation (internal and external); and a discus­ sion of traditional TQM versus public agency TQM are addressed. Although many governmental agencies were complaining about budget reductions in the context of California's stagnet economy, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) took a proactive approach to the problem of managing under these reductions. Under the guidance of State Parks Director Donald Murphy, mid-management levels were cut and the Department reorganized eliminating an entire level of bureaucracy that had increased over the years. Not only did restructuring reduce the potential for park closure, but it prevented the lay-off of field employees who directly serve the visitor. This was done while saving valuable, dwind­ ling tax dollars. Already known for their service, park employees such as rangers, lifeguards, and maintenance workers were directed to give renewed emphasis to "customer" expectations as critical to the future of the DPR. Administrative support to those front-line employees was geared toward meeting their customers' needs; and resource management professionals were decentralized allowing for more rapid and better informed decisions at the field level where the resource issues were occurring. This restructuring began in early 1992, soon after Governor Pete Wilson appointed Donald Murphy as Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the first field Superintendent to ever become Director. Murphy appointed a committee, called the Phoenix Committee— symbolically named after the mythical bird that rose from its own ashes—to look at the Department's organizational
Transforming America: Politics and Culture in the Reagan Years

AcknowledgmentsIntroduction 1. Malaise2. Enter Ronald Reagan, Pragmatic Ideologue3. Reaganomics4. Greed is Good? The American Business System in the Eighties5. Social Problems, Societal Issues6. The Postmodern Moment7. Culture War8. Combating the Evil Empire9. Winning the Cold War10. The Eighties Legacy: The Recentering of Politics and Culture NotesIndex
High Definition Conferencing: Present, Past and Future

Abstract—In this extended abstract we present the UltraGrid system, the current state of the art in high definition conferencing. UltraGrid was the first system to support gigabit rate high definition interactive video conferencing on commodity systems and networks. We review the design and implementation of UltraGrid, discuss experimental results and deployment, and conclude with our vision of the future of conferencing systems
Noise Cancellation by Combining the Discrete Wavelet Transform With the Wiener Filter

In this study by using noise-free signal estimation the reduction of noise in the image is being proposed. The dyadic stationary wavelet transform is used for both the wiener filter and in estimating the noise free signal. Finding a suitable filter bank and choosing other parameters of the wiener filter with respect to obtained signalto-noise ratio (SNR) is our goal. Testing was being performed on the standard images corrupted with the noise. The artificial interference was created from the generated white Gaussian noise, whose power spectrum was modified according to a model of the power spectrum of the image. The adaptive setting parameters of the filtering according to the level of interference in the input signal are being used to improve the filtering performance. The average SNR of the whole test database is increased by about 10.6 dB. The better results can be provided by using the provided algorithm than the classic wavelet wiener filter
State of the Art: Signature Biometrics Verification

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the performance of three estimation algorithms: Expectation Maximization (EM), Greedy EM Algorithm (GEM) and Figueiredo-Jain Algorithm (FJ) - based on the Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) for signature biometrics verification. The simulation results have shown significant performance achievements. The test performance of EER=5.49 % for "EM", EER=5.04 % for "GEM" and EER=5.00 % for "FJ", shows that the behavioral information scheme of signature biometrics is robust and has a discriminating power, which can be explored for identity authentication.
mTORC1 Dependent Regulation of REDD1 Protein Stability

REDD1 is known to be transcriptionally upregulated in hypoxia. During hypoxic stress, REDD1 plays an important role as a mediator of mTORC1 inhibition. REDD1 is also subject to highly dynamic transcriptional regulation in response to a variety of other stress signals. In addition, the REDD1 protein is highly unstable. However, it is currently not well understood how REDD1 protein stability is regulated. In this study, we discovered that mTORC1 regulates REDD1 protein stability in a 26S proteasome dependent manner. Inhibition of mTORC1 resulted in reduced REDD1 protein stability and a consequent decrease in REDD1 expression. Conversely, activation of the mTORC1 pathway increases REDD1 protein levels. We show that REDD1 degradation is not regulated by HUWE1, Cul4a or other Cullin E3 ubiquitin ligases. Our study shows that mTORC1 increases REDD1 protein stability and reveals a novel mTORC1-REDD1 feedback loop. This feedback mechanism may limit the inhibitory action of REDD1 on mTORC1.
Critical reflections on regulation

Increasingly, regulation is being seen as 'decentred' from the state, and even from the well recognised forums of self-regulation. A decentred analysis has several strands, and seeing the nature and problems of regulation from a decentred perspective can be very stimulating. It opens up the cognitive frame of what 'regulation' is, enabling commentators to spot regulation in previously unsuspected places. It can prompt policy thinkers in academia and government to consider a wide range of different configurations of state, market, community, associations and networks to deliver public policy goals. But a decentred understanding of regulation also raises quite fundamental questions of the nature and understanding of regulation, the consequent role of the state, and our understanding of law. It means we can no longer escape the need to address the question of just what it is that is being 'decentred', of what it is that we want the concept of 'regulation' to do, and what some of the implications of that decision might be. The answers to these questions are at best contested and at worse simply incoherent. It is a debate which is sorely needed, however, and which it is the aim of the paper to promote.
Voting over Redistribution: The Occurrence of Polarized Outcomes

The basic insight of the literature concerning the Median Voter Theorem and its applications, dating back to Black (1948), is that the policies implemented by different parties once in o¢ce should approach the median voter’s preferred policy if they run in a single-dimensional and democratic electoral space. This strong prediction has been challenged in recent years using arguments related to the observation that usually the political spaces concern much more than one single dimension and that, once we consider such a space, the Median Voter Theorem cannot be applied. Our idea is that one can challenge the median voter predictions even if we keep considering just one single dimension. Infect also in electoral competitions characterized by a very important issue seen by voters as “salient” is almost impossible to observe in reality the convergence predicted by the Black’s theorem. In the present model we introduce a simple assumption over the process of opinions’ formation of the voters and we show as in equilibrium strategic considerations lead the parties to choose polarized platforms.
Metagenomic Analysis of Chicken Gut Microbiota for Improving Metabolism and Health of Chickens — A Review

Chicken is a major food source for humans, hence it is important to understand the mechanisms involved in nutrient absorption in chicken. In the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the microbiota plays a central role in enhancing nutrient absorption and strengthening the immune system, thereby affecting both growth and health of chicken. There is little information on the diversity and functions of chicken GIT microbiota, its impact on the host, and the interactions between the microbiota and host. Here, we review the recent metagenomic strategies to analyze the chicken GIT microbiota composition and its functions related to improving metabolism and health. We summarize methodology of metagenomics in order to obtain bacterial taxonomy and functional inferences of the GIT microbiota and suggest a set of indicator genes for monitoring and manipulating the microbiota to promote host health in future.
Effect of Powdered Fermented Milk with Lactobacillus helveticus on Subjects with High-Normal Blood Pressure or Mild Hypertension

Objective: Two tripeptides (Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro) that have inhibitory activities for angiotensin I-converting enzyme are produced in milk fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus. In this study we evaluated the effect and safety of powdered fermented milk with L. helveticus CM4 on subjects with high-normal blood pressure or mild hypertension. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted using 40 subjects with high-normal blood pressure (HN group) and 40 subjects with mild hypertension (MH group). Each subject ingested 6 test tablets (12 g) containing powdered fermented milk with L. helveticus CM4 daily for 4 weeks (test group) or the same amount of placebo tablets for 4 weeks (placebo group). Results: During treatment, the decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the test group tended to be greater than in the placebo group for both blood pressure groups. At the end of treatment (week 4), a significant decrease in DBP in the HN group was observed (i.e. 5.0 mm Hg (0.1, 9.9; p = 0.04) compared with the placebo group). There was no significant change in SBP (3.2 mm Hg (95% CI −2.6, 8.9; p = 0.27). In the MH group, SBP decreased by 11.2 mm Hg (4.0, 18.4; p = 0.003) and there was a statistically non-significant decrease in DBP of 6.5 mm Hg (−0.1, 13.0; p = 0.055) compared with the placebo group. No marked changes were observed in other indexes, including pulse rate, body weight and blood serum variables, and no adverse effects attributed to the treatment was found in each group. Conclusions: Daily ingestion of the tablets containing powdered fermented milk with L. helveticus CM4 in subjects with high-normal blood pressure or mild hypertension reduces elevated blood pressure without any adverse effects.
Design and development of compact UHF RFID reader using SD interface

In this study, we developed UHF RFID reader on microSD which can be inserted into external memory on smartphone. A RFID application on smartphone controls RFID reader on microSD card and acquires information from RFID tag via SD interface which mainly uses the external memory. We applied flexible antenna to UHF RFID reader on microSD to guarantee tagging performance within few centimeters. The UHF RFID reader on microSD card which implemented in this research can utilizes development of new smartphone service base on individual item tagging, and provides advantage which expands B2B application to B2C application area.
Shroom3 functions downstream of planar cell polarity to regulate myosin II distribution and cellular organization during neural tube closure

ABSTRACT Neural tube closure is a critical developmental event that relies on actomyosin contractility to facilitate specific processes such as apical constriction, tissue bending, and directional cell rearrangements. These complicated processes require the coordinated activities of Rho-Kinase (Rock), to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and actomyosin contractility, and the Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) pathway, to direct the polarized cellular behaviors that drive convergent extension (CE) movements. Here we investigate the role of Shroom3 as a direct linker between PCP and actomyosin contractility during mouse neural tube morphogenesis. In embryos, simultaneous depletion of Shroom3 and the PCP components Vangl2 or Wnt5a results in an increased liability to NTDs and CE failure. We further show that these pathways intersect at Dishevelled, as Shroom3 and Dishevelled 2 co-distribute and form a physical complex in cells. We observed that multiple components of the Shroom3 pathway are planar polarized along mediolateral cell junctions in the neural plate of E8.5 embryos in a Shroom3 and PCP-dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrate that Shroom3 mutant embryos exhibit defects in planar cell arrangement during neural tube closure, suggesting a role for Shroom3 activity in CE. These findings support a model in which the Shroom3 and PCP pathways interact to control CE and polarized bending of the neural plate and provide a clear illustration of the complex genetic basis of NTDs.
Magnetic Dissipation in Relativistic Jets

The most promising mechanisms for producing and accelerating relativistic jets, and maintaining collimated structure of relativistic jets involve magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) processes. We have investigated the magnetic dissipation mechanism in relativistic jets via relativistic MHD simulations. We found that the relativistic jets involving a helical magnetic field are unstable for the current-driven kink instability, which leads to helically distorted structure in relativistic jets. We identified the regions of high current density in filamentary current sheets, indicative of magnetic reconnection, which are associated to the kink unstable regions and correlated to the converted regions of magnetic to kinetic energies of the jets. We also found that an over-pressured relativistic jet leads to the generation of a series of stationary recollimation shocks and rarefaction structures by the nonlinear interaction of shocks and rarefaction waves. The differences in the recollimation shock structure due to the difference of the magnetic field topologies and strengths may be observable through mm-VLBI observations and space-VLBI mission.
A Synthesis of Research on Training of Union Delegates

Through several surveys, we find that union training and education is important to boost delegates' confidence and activism. Quality, breadth and coverage all matter. Union training should be conceptualised broadly and include what happens outside and after the classroom, both formally and informally. The results raise important practical challenges including structural questions for unions.
Arboreal locomotion in rats – the challenge of maintaining stability

SUMMARY Arboreal locomotion has mainly been looked at to date in the context of investigations into the specialization of primates and other ‘arboreally adapted’ animals. The feat of moving on branches as small or smaller than the body's diameter was tested in rats (Rattus norvegicus) as they moved on horizontal poles of different diameters. The data were compared with data pertaining to terrestrial locomotion. We investigated three-dimensional kinematics and dynamics using biplanar cineradiography with simultaneous substrate reaction force (SRF) measurements. As predicted, rats flexed fore- and hindlimbs and reduced vertical forces during pole locomotion. In addition, the orientation of the mediolateral substrate reaction force resultant (SRR) and impulses switched from lateral to medial. In order to maintain stability during arboreal locomotion, lateral spine movements increased. We propose that the combination of lateral sequence gaits, similar travel speed of the animals and similar contact times, higher or similar peak vertical forces as well as similar mediolateral impulses in forelimbs and hindlimbs are typical of clawed mammals moving on thin supports. Clawed mammals and primates share the reduction of vertical oscillations and side-to-side fluctuations, a crouched posture as well as the increase in lateral spine movements. We conclude that these features are behavioral adaptations caused by the biomechanical constraints of small branch locomotion, regardless of the way they make contact with the substrate.
StaCS: a Static Control Superscalar architecture

Villeneuve St Georges cedex France bdedinechin@cri.ensmp. fr The StaCs (Static Control Superscalar) project, initiated in 1990 at the CAO-VLSI Department of the MASI Laboratory, University of Paris VI, aims to provide an advanced architectural support for compiler algorithms without compromising the efficient exploitation of VLSI technology. This has been achieved mainly by supporting a generalized form of the polycyclic property defined by Rau et al., which allows easy software pipelining of inner loops. The other distinctive characteristic of the StaCs architecture lies in the implementation of a new memory system based on the exploitation of compile-time information.
Review of "Concurrent and real-time systems: the CSP approach" by Steve Schneider. Wiley 1999.

Much has been done to formally talk about processes in the last decades, especially in the field of process algebras. In [Hoa85] A. Hoare laid the foundations of Communicating Sequential Processes (CSP) formalism, while in [Mil89] Milner proposed the slightly different approach of Calculus of Communicating Systems (CCS). Both process algebras have been extensively used to model and verify concurrent systems, and recent publications prove the richness of the formalisms ([Ros97], [Mil99], [Fok00]). Concurrent and Real-time Systems. The CSP Approach was published in 1999 and since then has been one of the most referenced books on CSP. Let us start with the basics. CSP provides a language for writing processes that perform local or external events and communicate with each other. It is very important to understand from the very beginning the view that CSP has on events/actions: there are external events from a set Σ and only one internal event named τ , which means that CSP focuses on the external behavior of processes and regards all possible internal events as identical. For the beginning, we consider the language for sequential processes, without taking communication into account. The simplest process is STOP : it does not perform any action; the next simplest process is SKIP , which can do nothing except performing the special termination event √ . 3 a −→ P (a then P ) performs event a and then behaves as the process P . A process that can engage in any of the events in set A and, after choosing some a ∈ A, behaves as P (a) is called menu (prefix) choice and is written as x : A −→ P (x).
Australia's Unemployment Problem

A number of Australian studies have provided microeconomic and macroeconomic perspectives on the causes of, and solutions to, Australia's unemployment problem. This paper provides an evaluation of these studies. Several important findings can be noted. First, from the cross-sectional studies economists have gained a good understanding of the factors contributing to a high probability of unemployment. Effective use is currently being made of this information. Second, there is general consensus from the time-series studies regarding the estimates of the aggregate labour demand wage and output elasticities. In addition, it has been widely acknowledged that lower real wages and economic growth would help reduce the high rate of unemployment. Despite the information available we are making slow progress towards reducing the unemployment rate. This may be due to political reasons or because we are unsure of how to deliver the wage cuts and faster rates of economic growth presented as solutions to the unemployment problem. Copyright 2000 by The Economic Society of Australia.
Knowledge management strategy model for small to medium enterprises

The focus of knowledge management is not only for academic but already a realization that knowing about knowledge is critical for business growth and business survival. Knowledge management is known as one of the key factors for the enterprises to have a sustainable competitive advantage. Many enterprises would like to have knowledge management implemented in their company but they are often confused about the direction how to create a successful knowledge management and this point is especially true for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Besides the blurry of the step in creating a good knowledge management for SMEs, they also have a lot of doubts of it as knowledge management may costs too much. This skepticism drives SMEs owner to be afraid to spend their resources to implement a knowledge management and it may make them lose their competitive advantage. Methodologies for this research are literature view, observations, interview, and case study. This research is focus to create a model of knowledge management strategy that may help SMEs to better understanding about the useful of knowledge and how to implement the model easily.