Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selecting Surface Features for Accurate Multi-camera Surface Reconstruction

This paper proposes a novel feature detector for selecting local textures that are suitable for accurate multi-camera surface reconstruction, and in particular planar patch fitting techniques. This approach is in contrast to conventional feature detectors, which focus on repeatability under scale and affine transformations rather than suitability for multi-camera reconstruction techniques. The proposed detector selects local textures that are sensitive to affine transformations, which is a fundamental requirement for accurate patch fitting. The proposed detector is evaluated against the SIFT detector on a synthetic dataset and the fitted patches are compared against ground truth. The experiments show that patches originating from the proposed detector are fitted more accurately to the visible surfaces than those originating from SIFT keypoints. In addition, the detector is evaluated on a performance capture studio dataset to show the real-world application of the proposed detector.
Behavior of Children with Learning Disabilities Interacting With a Therapy Dog

ABSTRACTTherapy using animals is now a widespread phenomenon, but some authorities have argued that there is insufficient evidence either to justify or to guide animal-assisted therapy. This reflects a paucity of adequate quantitative methodology for investigations in this area. The little research that has been carried out suggests that animal presence may increase general social behavior. Our study aimed to develop a methodology to investigate the effects of a dog on the behavior of children with severe learning disabilities. A repeated measures design was used to observe eight children with Down's syndrome in controlled sessions, under the direction of an adult. Each session consisted of seven minutes of interaction with a real dog, and seven minutes with an imitation dog. Differences in visual attending, and verbal and non-verbal initiation and response behaviors indicated that the real dog provided a more sustained focus for positive and co-operative interactions with itself and the adult, than did t.
Robust Self-Tuning Sparse Subspace Clustering

Sparse subspace clustering (SSC) is an effective approach to cluster high-dimensional data. However, how to adaptively select the number of clusters/eigenvectors for different data sets, especially when the data are corrupted by noise, is a big challenge in SSC and also an open problem in field of data mining. In this paper, considering the fact that the eigenvectors are robust to noise, we develop a self-adaptive search method to select cluster number for SSC by exploiting the cluster-separation information from eigenvectors. Our method solves the problem by identifying the cluster centers over eigenvectors. We first design a new density based metric, called centrality coefficient gap, to measure such separation information, and estimate the cluster centers by maximizing the gap. After getting the cluster centers, it is straightforward to group the remaining points into respective clusters which contain their nearest neighbors with higher density. This leads to a new clustering algorithm in which the final randomly initialized k-means stage in traditional SSC is eliminated. We theoretically verify the correctness of the proposed method on noise-free data. Extensive experiments on synthetic and real-world data corrupted by noise demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method comparing to the well-established competitors.
Changes in Bacterial and Archaeal Community Structure and Functional Diversity along a Geochemically Variable Soil Profile

ABSTRACT Spatial heterogeneity in physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils allows for the proliferation of diverse microbial communities. Factors influencing the structuring of microbial communities, including availability of nutrients and water, pH, and soil texture, can vary considerably with soil depth and within soil aggregates. Here we investigated changes in the microbial and functional communities within soil aggregates obtained along a soil profile spanning the surface, vadose zone, and saturated soil environments. The composition and diversity of microbial communities and specific functional groups involved in key pathways in the geochemical cycling of nitrogen, Fe, and sulfur were characterized using a coupled approach involving cultivation-independent analysis of both 16S rRNA (bacterial and archaeal) and functional genes (amoA and dsrAB) as well as cultivation-based analysis of Fe(III)-reducing organisms. Here we found that the microbial communities and putative ammonia-oxidizing and Fe(III)-reducing communities varied greatly along the soil profile, likely reflecting differences in carbon availability, water content, and pH. In particular, the Crenarchaeota 16S rRNA sequences are largely unique to each horizon, sharing a distribution and diversity similar to those of the putative (amoA-based) ammonia-oxidizing archaeal community. Anaerobic microenvironments within soil aggregates also appear to allow for both anaerobic- and aerobic-based metabolisms, further highlighting the complexity and spatial heterogeneity impacting microbial community structure and metabolic potential within soils.
Dynamic object manipulation using a virtual frame by a triple soft-fingered robotic hand

This paper proposes a novel object manipulation method to regulate the position and attitude of an object in the task space with dynamic stability by using a triple soft-fingered robotic hand system. In our previous works, a dynamic object grasping method without use of any external sensing, called “the Blind Grasping”, has been proposed. Although stable grasping in a dynamic sense has been realized by the method, a simultaneous object position and attitude control has not yet been treated, so far. In this paper, instead of using any information of the real object position and attitude, virtual data of object position and attitude are introduced by defining a virtual frame. By using the virtual information, a control signal to regulate the virtual object position and attitude without use of any external sensing is designed. The usefulness of our proposed control method even under the existence of nonholonomic rolling constraints is illustrated through a numerical simulation result.
Planning practices, strategy types and firm performance in the Arabian Gulf region

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate planning practices, strategy types, and the performance of indigenous firms in Bahrain and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach – Data are collected from cheif executive officers (CEOs) and top management of 95 local companies sampled from Chamber of Commerce and Industry databases in Bahrain and UAE using face‐to‐face interviews. Analysis of variance and univariate logistic regression are employed in analyzing the data.Findings – Although most of the firms are long‐term planners, many of them do not have a planning process. Majority of the firms are Prospectors and Analyzers. Prospectors perform considerably better than all the other strategy types. Nevertheless, the firms that are included in this paper appear to be cautious and not aggressive in entering new markets or in taking the lead in introducing and marketing new products.Research limitations/implications – The paper suffers from selection bias by focusing on indigenous‐owne.
Carnosine: physiological properties and therapeutic potential.

Carnosine and related dipeptides are naturally-occurring histidine-containing compounds. They are found in several tissues, particularly in skeletal muscle. Since carnosine was discovered in Russia in 1900, there have been many theories about its biological functions, but none has been proved beyond reasonable doubt [1, 2]. However, this compound is reported to possess antioxidant, buffering, immune-enhancing and neurotransmitter actions. The aim of this review is to discuss carnosine’s properties, functions and therapeutic potential with special reference to its antioxidant activity.
Responsive Care Management: Family Decision Makers in Advanced Cancer

The purpose of this prospective study was to develop a grounded theory explaining the process that family decision makers use to make care decisions with or for a family member with advanced cancer. Adult surrogate decision makers were recruited for multiple interviews over the patient’s care trajectory: 40 surrogates provided 80 semi-structured interviews. Analysis of these narratives revealed a process of responsive care management that is inclusive of, but not limited to, decision-making roles. Monitoring, buffering, and taking over comprise the three phases of the process. Decision making was embedded within the family member’s broader relational and care responsibilities
BTX modification of Na channels in squid axons. I. State dependence of BTX action

The state dependence of Na channel modification by batrachotoxin (BTX) was investigated in voltage-clamped and internally perfused squid giant axons before (control axons) and after the pharmacological removal of the fast inactivation by pronase, chloramine-T, or NBA (pretreated axons). In control axons, in the presence of 2-5 microM BTX, a repetitive depolarization to open the channels was required to achieve a complete BTX modification, characterized by the suppression of the fast inactivation and a simultaneous 50-mV shift of the activation voltage dependence in the hyperpolarizing direction, whereas a single long-lasting (10 min) depolarization to +50 mV could promote the modification of only a small fraction of the channels, the noninactivating ones. In pretreated axons, such a single sustained depolarization as well as the repetitive depolarization could induce a complete modification, as evidenced by a similar shift of the activation voltage dependence. Therefore, the fast inactivated channels were not modified by BTX. We compared the rate of BTX modification of the open and slow inactivated channels in control and pretreated axons using different protocols: (a) During a repetitive depolarization with either 4- or 100-ms conditioning pulses to +80 mV, all the channels were modified in the open state in control axons as well as in pretreated axons, with a similar time constant of approximately 1.2 s. (b) In pronase-treated axons, when all the channels were in the slow inactivated state before BTX application, BTX could modify all the channels, but at a very slow rate, with a time constant of approximately 9.5 min. We conclude that at the macroscopic level BTX modification can occur through two different pathways: (a) via the open state, and (b) via the slow inactivated state of the channels that lack the fast inactivation, spontaneously or pharmacologically, but at a rate approximately 500-fold slower than through the main open channel pathway.
Measures of Psychological Stress and Physical Health in Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: A Literature Review

Studies have demonstrated that the stress of family caregiving places caregivers at risk for developing depression, poor quality of life, and health problems. The purpose of this review was to identify the ways in which variables are operationalized in studies addressing psychological stressors and physical health of family caregivers of stroke survivors. The adapted Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center model provides the organizing conceptual framework for this literature review. A literature search for relevant articles was conducted using Ovid Medline, PsycINFO, and Ovid Nursing Database for the period of July 1999 through June 2009 using the following search terms: caregiver (or family caregiver), stroke, stress, and health. Articles were included if they met the following inclusionary criteria: (a) written in English, (b) published in peer-reviewed journal, (c) focused on adults who were caring for an adult who experienced stroke, (d) included measures of stress and physical health or health-related quality of life, and (e) primarily used quantitative research methods. Twenty-four articles were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Findings related to the variables included in the adapted Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center model are discussed. Variables were not well defined, a wide array of measurement instruments were used, and measures were taken at broadly divergent time frames following stroke. Future research guided by a theoretical framework, consistent measures of variables, and standardized measurement time points would allow for better comparison of findings across studies, thus enabling clinicians to better understand the health risks of family caregivers.
Cellular Photo Digital Breathalyzer for Monitoring Alcohol Use: A Pilot Study

Background: Monitoring alcohol use is important in numerous situations. Direct ethanol metabolites, such as ethyl glucuronide (EtG), have been shown to be useful tools in detecting alcohol use and documenting abstinence. For very frequent or continuous control of abstinence, they lack practicability. Therefore, devices measuring ethanol itself might be of interest. This pilot study aims at elucidating the usability and accuracy of the cellular photo digital breathalyzer (CPDB) compared to self-reports in a naturalistic setting. Method: 12 social drinkers were included. Subjects used a CPDB 4 times daily, kept diaries of alcohol use and submitted urine for EtG testing over a period of 5 weeks. Results: In total, the 12 subjects reported 84 drinking episodes. 1,609 breath tests were performed and 55 urine EtG tests were collected. Of 84 drinking episodes, CPDB detected 98.8%. The compliance rate for breath testing was 96%. Of the 55 EtG tests submitted, 1 (1.8%) was positive. Conclusions: The data suggest that the CPDB device holds promise in detecting high, moderate, and low alcohol intake. It seems to have advantages compared to biomarkers and other monitoring devices. The preference for CPDB by the participants might explain the high compliance. Further studies including comparison with biomarkers and transdermal devices are needed.
Determining Transportation Mode through Cellphone Sensor Fusion

Contextual awareness is a field that allows computer systems to provide users and their applications with valuable information about the world around us, such as the ‘Mode of Transportation’ of a given user. This data can be used in many different ways, for example, the analysis of traffic patterns and CO2 emissions. In this thesis, I designed and implemented a mobile application that determines the user’s current mode of transportation. This is done by applying a Boosted Naive Bayes classifier to data collected from the sensors of the mobile device. Generating this Boosted Naive Bayes classifier required me to first develop an application to collect training data. I then applied several Naive Bayes classifiers to these data. Finally, I applied the AdaBoost algorithm to these classifiers to obtain the boosted classifier. The Boosted Naive Bayes classifier performs better than its unboosted counterparts. Boosting can be a useful tool to apply to context recognition problems. Thesis Supervisor: Professor Seth Teller Title: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department
Online social networks: an emergent recruiter tool for attracting and screening

Purpose – The increased popularity in using online social networks by recruiters has received much positive attention, particularly in the popular press. Using social network theory this paper aims to examine how the structure and governance mechanisms of these networks can assist this process. The authors ask: how do recruiters use online social networks to effectively attract and screen prospective job applicants? Design/methodology/approach – The semi‐structured interview approach is used to gather data from 25 recruitment specialists.Findings – The connector role is identified as a specific attraction mechanism recruiters use to create numerous weak ties, where some are so weak they barely constitute ties at all. The authors then identify branding, transparency and data specificity as three mechanisms recruiters use to strengthen these ties when performing the attracting and screening functions.Originality/value – This is the first paper to analyse online recruitment, using social network theory, and h.
Acquiring formulaic language A computational model

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Analysis of Xyloglucan Fucosylation in Arabidopsis1

Xyloglucan (XyG) is a load-bearing primary wall component in dicotyledonous and non-graminaceous monocotyledonous plants. XyG fucosyltransferase (FUTase), encoded by the Arabidopsis gene AtFUT1, directs addition of fucose (Fuc) residues to terminal galactose residues on XyG side chains. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and analysis of promoter-β-glucuronidase transgenic plants indicated highest expression of AtFUT1 in the upper portion of elongating inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis. XyG FUTase activity was highest in Golgi vesicles prepared from growing Arabidopsis tissues and low in those isolated from mature tissues. There was no discernible correlation between the Fuc contents of XyG oligosaccharides derived from different Arabidopsis organs and the level of AtFUT1 expression in the organs. Thus, organ-specific variations in AtFUT1 expression and enzyme activity probably reflect differential rates of cell wall biosynthesis, rather than differences in levels of XyG fucosylation. The effects of manipulating AtFUT1 expression were examined using an Arabidopsis mutant (atfut1) containing a T-DNA insertion in the AtFUT1 locus and transgenic plants with strong constitutive expression of AtFUT1. No Fuc was detected in XyG derived from leaves or roots of atfut1. Plants overexpressing AtFUT1 had higher XyG FUTase activity than wild-type plants, but the XyG oligosaccharides derived from the transgenic and wild-type plants contained comparable amounts of Fuc, indicating that suitable acceptor substrates are limiting. Galactosyl residues had slightly higher levels of O-acetylation in XyG from plants that overexpressed AtFUT1 than in XyG from wild-type plants. O-Acetylation of galactose residues was considerably reduced in Fuc-deficient mutants (atfut1, mur1, and mur2) that synthesize XyG containing little or no Fuc. These results suggest that fucosylated XyG is a suitable substrate for at least one O-acetyltransferase in Arabidopsis.
Effects of habitat conditions and disturbance on lichen diversity

This thesis includes five papers from four studies on lichen diversity in its broad sense. The overall objectives were to examine species richness, composition, distribution, and abundance of lichens at tree and stand-level, after forest fire, and after prescribed burning. Based on these studies I develop two themes in the thesis: 1) The epiphytic lichen metacommunity – how tree-level lichen diversity depends on local and regional processes, whose importance may vary over time. 2) How disturbance induced habitat loss and mortality may affect lichen diversity and the extinction risk of rare species. Nemoral, epiphytic lichen communities were examined in Uppland, Sweden. Species distribution, richness, and composition were related to factors at both tree and stand-level, e.g. tree age, stand size (number of trees), surrounding landscape, and isolation. Species abundance was mainly related to tree size and stand size (number of trees). For Pleurosticta acetabulum the results indicated an effect of connectivity on stand-level abundance, i.e. a ‘mass-effect’. For species richness, the relationship with tree age was asymptotic and levelled off at ca. 65 years of age. Boreal, epiphytic lichen communities were examined eight years after a forest fire in Minnesota, USA. Lichen abundance was proportionally lower than species richness at burned sites compared with unburned sites. Post-fire colonization was related to species post-fire abundance, and was higher for common species and dead wood preferring species. Crustose, shade preferring, and rare lichens seemed especially vulnerable to the fire. Grassland lichens were surveyed before and after prescribed burning of two old, abandoned fields in central Minnesota. After a low intensity fire, cover of Cladonia spp. was still relatively high and positively related to pre-fire cover. After a high intensity fire no such relationship was seen, and all lichens had experienced high mortality rates. The studies demonstrate that lichen community structure depends on a multitude of local and regional factors, whose importance may vary between diversity measures. They also demonstrate that lichen community response to disturbance depends on disturbance intensity and may vary between diversity measures. Post-disturbance colonization rates are higher for species with high post-disturbance population size, which in turn, may be a function of pre-disturbance population size. However, if disturbance intensity exceeds critical thresholds for species mortality, population size does not matter – all individuals are killed.
The Defensive Consumer: Advertising Deception, Defensive Processing, and Distrust

The authors show that deceptive advertising engenders distrust, which negatively affects people's responses to subsequent advertising from both the same source and second-party sources. This negative bias operates through a process of defensive stereotyping, in which the initial deception induces negative beliefs about advertising and marketing in general, thus undermining the credibility of further advertising.
Principaux domaines d’exercice et compétences associées des infirmières oeuvrant à titre de navigateurs professionnels en oncologie

Fillion et ses collaborateurs (2012) ont recemment concu un cadre conceptuel pour les navigateurs professionnels en oncologie decrivant les principales fonctions de la navigation professionnelle en oncologie. Objectif : Cette etude se fonde sur ce cadre pour definir les principaux domaines d’exercice et les competences associees des navigateurs professionnels en oncologie. Methodes : L’etude a fait appel aux methodes suivantes : revue de la litterature, schematisation des fonctions liees a la navigation au vu des normes et competences de pratique, et validation de ce processus de schematisation aupres de navigateurs professionnels, de leurs gestionnaires et de specialistes des soins infirmiers et comparaison des roles dans des programmes de navigation similaires. Constats : Les competences associees ont ete reliees aux trois principaux domaines d’exercice degages a savoir : 1) fournir de l’information et de l’education; 2) dispenser des soins de soutien et un appui emotionnel; 3) faciliter la coordination et la continuite des soins. Conclusion : Les navigateurs en oncologie occupent une position privilegiee pour ameliorer l’empowerment du patient et de sa famille ainsi que la continuite des soins. Implications : Il s’agit d’un pas important dans l’avancement du role des infirmieres en oncologie occupant des postes de navigateurs et dans le degagement de domaines exigeant de nouvelles recherches. Mots cles: navigation des patients; navigateurs professionnels; intervenant-pivot en oncologie; infirmiere pivot en oncologie; normes de competence; empowerment; continuite des soins; coordination des soins; soins de soutien, soins en collaboration, infirmiere specialisee, domaines de la pratique, principaux domaines d’exercice