Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust terrain classification by introducing environmental sensors

This paper presents a vision-based off-road terrain classification method that is robust despite large environmental variations caused by seasonal or weather changes. In order to account for an overall image feature variation, we adopted environmental sensors, and to train a neural network based classifier, constructed a database according to environmental conditions. Robust classification could be achieved by selecting the training parameter set best suited for each environmental state. Also, we propose a hardware architecture that enables distributed parallel processing for real- time implementation of the present algorithm. Experimental results for real off-road images show that in spite of dissimilar conditions, degradation of classification performance could be minimized by replacing the nearest parameters.
Oral Reading in Dementia

Reading has been thought to consist of three main processing components: the orthographic, phonological, and semantic lexicons. In traditional psycholinguistic models, these components have been treated independently such that the selective dysfunction of one does not necessarily imply the breakdown of another. Recently, it has been proposed that a word's semantic representation is essential to oral reading such that a disturbance within the semantic lexicon will disrupt processing within the orthographic and/or phonological lexicons. From this view, semantic deterioration should lead to fragmentation of the other systems contributing to reading, resulting in a specific pattern of errors during oral reading. This would include (1) a larger than normal advantage for reading words with regular spelling-to-sound correspondence over words with exception spelling, as well as the production of "regularization errors" when reading exception words; and (2) a smaller than normal difference between reading real words and pronounceable nonwords, or pseudowords (PW's). We found that patients with Semantic Dementia generally conformed to these hypothesized patterns of reading difficulty. Despite the presence of a semantic impairment, however, patients with Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Progressive Non-Fluent Aphasia did not demonstrate these patterns of reading difficulty. Our findings suggest that not all semantic impairments invariably lead to the disruption of the orthographic and phonological lexicons.
Self as Functional Fiction Swann and Buhrmester self as functional fiction

Beginning with James, self-theorists have entertained two complementary visions of the self. The me has denoted people’s representations of themselves, or the characteristics that they impute to themselves. The I has referred to the sense of self, the homunculus-like entity that experiences and reacts to the world, constructs mental representations and memories, guides action, and so on. here we contend that both the me and the I are cognitive constructions or fictions. People rely on these reality based fictions to know what is expected of them, to understand how they fit into the world, and to guide behavior. We review past and contemporary work through the lens of our self as functional fiction perspective. Finally, we discuss the implications of this perspective for several issues, including the nature of accuracy in social perception and the experience of free will.
A Relaxed Eddy Accumulation System for Measuring Surface Fluxes of Total Gaseous Mercury

Abstract A relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) system was designed to continuously measure total gaseous mercury (TGM) fluxes over a forest canopy. TGM concentration measurements were measured at 5-min intervals with a Tekran model 2537A mercury analyzer located above the forest canopy on a walk-up meteorological tower. Ten-minute averages for up- and downdraft mercury concentrations were used to calculate the flux. The multiresolution decomposition technique was used to determine day- and nighttime averaging periods for the turbulent statistics used in the REA technique. This paper documents the REA system for mercury flux measurements and its use over a forest canopy. The REA system response to the averaging times for the turbulent statistics and corrections to up- and downdraft concentrations are major considerations when using the technique with the Tekran mercury analyzer over a forest canopy. TGM flux data collected from 18 August to 12 September 2005 are used here to demonstrate the capabilities of the.
Feral systems and enterprise resource planning systems: content and dynamics.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems continue, even in 2013, to be an important change agenda in business. With a long-term development spanning 15 years, ERP systems have changed profoundly and diversified into a number of businesses. Yet this chapter is initially addressing two major issues left aside in the Information Systems (IS) research on ERP: the technological content and the time dynamics. Using two different small reviews of journal articles from IS journals in 2004 and 2010, it is shown how IS research on ERP delivers strong insight into social processes and conditions around ERP, including forms of employee response to the mandated software routines, but largely disregards the content development of the ERP technology, delivering research where it appears to be enough to characterize the technology through the mere term “ERP”. This means that ERP research is disregarding the profound technology changes and their impact on the challenges for employees, when implementing and operating ERP. Actors within organizations are in fact attempting to cope with these profound technology changes and the business challenges associated with ERP implementations by finding ways to fit their practices into these large integrated systems, and one strategy is developing their own (feral) systems . This development could be due to a multitude of factors, including the level of managerial competence, a lack of contextual understanding of the functions of the existing ERP system and a mistrust of the system. We contend that context and the ideals of ERP systems are often providing rapid and profound changes that many find hard to cope with, and this could be due to a lack of understanding of the content (i.e. software functions, procedures and architecture) of the ERP system. In this chapter we contend that it could be this lack of understanding of the content of the ERP and employee work requirements that could lead to the development of feral information systems. The chapter concludes with a call for more training and education for all employees in the content of the ERP and a need to build more contextual research in the study of ERP.
A multicenter validation of an endoscopic classification with narrow band imaging for gastric precancerous and cancerous lesions

Background and study aim: The reliability and external validity of narrow band imaging (NBI) in the stomach have not been described consistently. The aim of the current study was to describe and estimate the accuracy and reliability of a simplified classification system for NBI in the diagnosis of gastric lesions. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing NBI endoscopy at two reference centers (n = 85, 33 % with dysplasia) were included in two studies. In total, 224 different areas were biopsied and recorded onto video. In the derivation study, previously described NBI features were analyzed in order to develop a simplified classification. In the validation study the accuracy and reliability of this classification were estimated among three groups of endoscopists with different levels of expertise in NBI. Results: The reliability/accuracy results from the derivation study allowed the creation of a simplified NBI classification. In the validation study, “regular vessels with circular mucosa” (pattern A) was associated with normal histology (accuracy 83 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 75 % – 90 %); “tubulo-villous mucosa” (pattern B) was associated with intestinal metaplasia (accuracy 84 %; 95CI 77 % – 91 %; positive likelihood ratio [LR + ] = 4.75); and “irregular vessels and mucosa” (pattern C) was associated with dysplasia (accuracy 95 %; 95CI 90 % – 99 %; LR + = 44.33). The reproducibility of these patterns was high (k = 0.62). “Light-blue crest” was moderately reliable (k = 0.49) but specific (87 %) for intestinal metaplasia. A variable vascular density (additional pattern + ) was the best feature for Helicobacter pylori gastritis (accuracy 70 %; 95CI 59 % – 80 %) but showed only fair reliability (k = 0.38). Non-experienced endoscopists presented lower agreement (k = 0.6 vs. k = 0.75) and accuracy (74 % vs. 86 %) than international experts/experienced endoscopists. Conclusion: A simplified NBI classification is accurate and reliable for the diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia. The classification should be further assessed and validated on a per-patient assessment of NBI, and by comparing NBI with other imaging technologies.
Developing Citizenship Through Community Service: Examining the Relationship Between Community Service Involvement and Self-Perceived Citizenship Among Undergraduates

Title of Thesis: DEVELOPING CITIZENSHIP THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE: EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITY SERVICE INVOLVEMENT AND SELFPERCEIVED CITIZENSHIP AMONG UNDERGRADUATES Jennifer Anne Smist, Master of Arts, 2006 Thesis directed by: Dr. Barbara Jacoby, Affiliate Associate Professor Department of Counseling and Personnel Services This thesis investigated the relationship between community service involvement in curricular and cocurricular community service and students’ self-perceived citizenship. Community service involvement was addressed through four methods: community service as part of a class, with a student organization, as part of a work-study experience, and on one’s own. This study used data collected from 1,205 undergraduate students at the University of Maryland in spring 2006 as part of the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership. The instrument employed in this study was based on a revised version of the Socially Responsible Leadership Scale (SRLS-Rev 2) and was designed to assess student leadership development within the framework of the social change model of leadership development (Higher Education Research Institute, 1996). Self-perceived citizenship scores differed significantly based on whether students participated in community service during college. Community service through student organizations and work-study experiences were found to be significant predictors of self-perceived citizenship.
Pharmacological TLR4 Inhibition Protects against Acute and Chronic Fat-Induced Insulin Resistance in Rats

Aims To evaluate whether pharmacological TLR4 inhibition protects against acute and chronic fat-induced insulin resistance in rats. Materials and Methods For the acute experiment, rats received a TLR4 inhibitor [TAK-242 or E5564 (2x5 mg/kg i.v. bolus)] or vehicle, and an 8-h Intralipid (20%, 8.5 mg/kg/min) or saline infusion, followed by a two-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. For the chronic experiment, rats were subcutaneously implanted with a slow-release pellet of TAK-242 (1.5 mg/d) or placebo. Rats then received a high fat diet (HFD) or a low fat control diet (LFD) for 10 weeks, followed by a two-step insulin clamp. Results Acute experiment; the lipid-induced reduction (18%) in insulin-stimulated glucose disposal (Rd) was attenuated by TAK-242 and E5564 (the effect of E5564 was more robust), suggesting improved peripheral insulin action. Insulin was able to suppress hepatic glucose production (HGP) in saline- but not lipid-treated rats. TAK-242, but not E5564, partially restored this effect, suggesting improved HGP. Chronic experiment; insulin-stimulated Rd was reduced ~30% by the HFD, but completely restored by TAK-242. Insulin could not suppress HGP in rats fed a HFD and TAK-242 had no effect on HGP. Conclusions Pharmacological TLR4 inhibition provides partial protection against acute and chronic fat-induced insulin resistance in vivo.
Symmetric Categories as a Means of Virtualization for Braid Groups and Racks

In this paper we propose, firstly, a categorification of virtual braid groups and groupoids in terms of "locally" braided objects in a symmetric category (SC), and, secondly, a definition of self-distributive structures (SDS) in an arbitrary SC. SDS are shown to produce braided objects in a SC. As for examples, we interpret associativity and the Jacobi identity in a SC as generalized self-distributivity, thus endowing associative and Leibniz algebras with a "local" braiding. Our "double braiding" approach provides a natural interpretation for virtual racks and twisted Burau representation. Homology of categorical SDS is defined, generalizing rack, bar and Leibniz differentials. Free virtual SDS and the faithfulness of corresponding representations of virtual braid groups/groupoids are also discussed.
A DTN-based Ferry Prefetch Scheme

Mobile Internet access is for the ubiquitous Internet, facing traffic explosion, frequent interruption and network partitioning. DTN-based Ferry Prefetch Scheme (DFP) was designed to increase quality of service on area without broadband wireless networks coverage. Based on bit paradox, Pareto effect and strong substitutability of local resources, DFP proposed a cache overlay layer for media distributaries, constructed a resource prefetch programming model in uncertain condition, designed an algorithm to manage resources prefetching to cache. Simulation on NS2 shows that DFP offers a better throughput and moderates traffic explosion in mobile network.
The Effects of Real Exchange Rate Depreciation in an Economy with Extreme Liability Dollarization

This paper studies the effects of real exchange rate depreciation in an economy with extreme liability dollarization using vector autoregression (VAR) methods. Bolivia's extreme liability dollarization makes it an interesting case for empirical testing of the contractionary-depreciations hypothesis. In contrast to the previous contractionary-depreciations literature, the paper uses identification assumptions which are inspired by modern macroeconomic theory and common in the empirical VAR literature on the effects of monetary policy. I find that a real exchange rate depreciation has negligible effects on output, since a contractionary balance-sheet effect on investment is counteracted by the standard expansionary effect on net exports. Furthermore, I find that a real depreciation has inflationary effects. A key finding is that the identification assumptions used in this paper gives more reasonable results than alternative assumptions used in the previous literature.
IconStickers: Converting Computer Icons into Real Paper Icons

In this paper, we propose paper icons called IconStickers that support seamless information management between the computer screen and the real world. An IconSticker is a real-world representation of a computer icon, consisting of a piece of paper on which an icon image and machine-readable information (bar code) are printed. It is printed by dragging-anddropping a computer icon over an "Exit" icon as if taking it off the computer screen. When an IconSticker is scanned with a bar code reader, the original computer icon is accessed. IconStickers allow a user to arrange icons in the real world. They can be stuck on desks, walls, bulletin boards, and pieces of paper to create links with computer information. A prototype version of an IconSticker system is also reported.
Site-Directed Mutagenesis, in Vivo Electroporation and Mass Spectrometry in Search for Determinants of the Subcellular Targeting of Rab7b Paralogue in the Model Eukaryote Paramecium Octaurelia

Protein products of paralogous genes resulting from whole genome duplication may acquire new functions. The role of post-translational modifications (PTM) in proper targeting of Paramecium Rab7b paralogue (distinct from that of Rab7a directly involved in phagocytosis) was studied using point mutagenesis, proteomic analysis and double immunofluorescence after in vivo electroporation of the mutagenized protein. Here we show that substitution of Thr200 by Ala diminished the incorporation of [P32] by 37% and of [C14-]UDP-glucose by 24% into recombinant Rab7b_200 in comparison to the non-mutagenized control. Double confocal imaging revealed that Rab7b_200 was mistargeted upon electroporation into living cells in contrast to non-mutagenized recombinant Rab7b correctly incorporated in the cytostome area. Using nano LC-MS/MS to compare the peptide map of Rab7b with that after deglycosylation with a mixture of five enzymes of different specificity we identified a peptide ion at m/z=677.63+ representing a glycan group attached to Thr200. Based on its mass and quantitative assays with [P32] and [C14]UDP-glucose, the suggested composition of the adduct attached to Thr200 is (Hex)1(HexNAc)1(Phos)3 or (HexNAc)1 (Deoxyhexose)1 (Phos)1 (HexA)1. These data indicate that PTM of Thr200 located in the hypervariable C-region of Paramecium octaurelia Rab7b is crucial for the proper localization/function of this protein. Moreover, the two Rab7 paralogues differ also in another PTM: substantially more phosphorylated amino acid residues are in Rab7b than in Rab7a.
Selection of negative pool for PR-SVM in language recognition

This paper presents a simple approach of negative pool selection to improve the performance of SVM-based phonotactic language recognition system. In this work, how to find a better negative pool of SVM is explained and developed. For evaluating the approach, some open software (HTK, SRILM) and a phone decoder of English are used and experiments were carried out on the NIST-LRE2011 database. The proposed approach outperforms the baseline phonotactic systems considering n-grams up to n=3. In those cases, average of the greatest 24 costs were obtained by generalized sequence forward selection (GSBS) algorithm: 4.02%, 10.45%, 20.34% for the 30s, 10s and 3s closed-set test conditions (meaning 24.01%, 12.97%, 14.82% relative reduction to baseline system, respectively), proving that the method of negative pool selection can improve the performing of SVM.
Characterizing Network Intrusion Prevention System

the last few years, the Internet has experienced explosive growth. Along with the widespread evolution of new emerging services, the quantity and impact of attacks have been continuously increases, attackers continuously find vulnerabilities at various levels, from the network it self to operating system and applications, exploit the to crack system and services. Defense system and network monitoring has becomes essential component of computer security to predict and prevent attacks. Unlike traditional Intrusion Detection System (IDS), Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) has additional features to secure computer network system. In this paper, we present mapping problem and challenges of IPS. When this study was started in late 2000, there are some models and theories have been developed. Unfortunately, only a few works have done mapping the problem in IPS area, especially in hybrid mechanism. Throughout this paper, we summarize the main current methods and the promising and interesting future directions and challenges research field in IPS.
Signature verification based on line directionality

A novel technique is presented for off-line signature recognition and verification. The feature extraction procedure employs directional-vectors, similar to those used in chain codes, which provide a global measure of the signature image. The signature trace is transformed into the feature vector by measuring the directional strength of line segments having a chessboard distance equal to two. A probabilistic neural topology is employed for the design of the classifier. In order to obtain comparable results, the method was applied to a database already used in the literature. The verification procedure provides low classification error for authentic signatures while it eliminates the forgers.
Robust Simultaneous Localization of Nodes and Targets in Sensor Networks Using Range-Only Measurements

Simultaneous localization and tracking (SLAT) in sensor networks aims to determine the positions of sensor nodes and a moving target in a network, given incomplete and inaccurate range measurements between the target and each of the sensors. One of the established methods for achieving this is to iteratively maximize a likelihood function (ML), which requires initialization with an approximate solution to avoid convergence towards local extrema. This paper develops methods for handling both Gaussian and Laplacian noise, the latter modeling the presence of outliers in some practical ranging systems that adversely affect the performance of localization algorithms designed for Gaussian noise. A modified Euclidean Distance Matrix (EDM) completion probl em is solved for a block of target range measurements to approximately set up initial sensor/target positions, and the likelihood function is then iteratively refined through Majorization-Minimizati on (MM). To avoid the computational burden of repeatedly solving increasingly large EDM problems in time-recursive operation an incremental scheme is exploited whereby a new target/node position is estimated from previously available node/target locations to set up the iterative ML initial point for the full spatial c onfiguration. The above methods are first derived under Gaussian noise assumptions, and modification s for Laplacian noise are then considered. Analytically, the main challenges to be overcome in the Laplacian case stem from the non-differentiability of `1 norms that arise in the various cost functions. Simulation r esults confirm that the proposed algorithms significantly outperform existing methods for SLAT in the pr esence of outliers, while offering comparable performance for Gaussian noise.
Prevalence , awareness , treatment and control of hypertension and salt intake in some rural areas of

Background and Purpose: High salt intake through food rich in salt is one of the important risk factors for hypertension, and even modest reduction in salt intake lowers the blood pressure (BP). In Croatia 91.6 % of the total territory is classified as rural and 47.6% of population live in rural regions. The study was conducted in order to determine salt intake and awareness on harmful effect of salt on BP, prevalence, treatment and control of hypertension in rural part of Sisak – Moslavina County (SMC), third largest county in Croatia. Materials and Methods: In total there were 107 participants, 50 (46.7%) male, and 57 (53.3%) female. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP 90 mmHg, and/or current treatment with an antihypertensive medication. Treated hypertension was defined as the current use of an antihypertensive medication. Salt intake was estimated based on questionnaire results. Results: Prevalence of hypertension was 84% for male and 77.2% for female. Out of 88 hypertensive participants, 76.7% were treated, and hypertension of 59.1% was uncontrolled. Salt intake was high. 71% of participants were aware that salt intake is related to hypertension, 70% did not know main sources of salt intake in every day meal, and only 39.2% were advised by health professionals. Conclusion: Prevalence of hypertension, nutrition without variety but rich in salt, and unsatisfactory knowledge on harmful effect of salt on BP and health should attract attention of national and local public health authorities to apply proper measures.