Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A magnetic-assistant multi-ocular tracking system

This paper proposes a hybrid tracking approach which combines the optical and magnetic localization technologies. It first describes the collinear epipolar plane model, then rewrite and enhance the epipolar constraint under this model. Based on it, this paper further discusses the point corresponding and target recognition in multi-ocular infrared tracking systems. Aiming at the calculation complexity during these two processes, it employs magnetic localization technology to tag and roughly localize the tracked targets and then get refined results by optical localization, which dramatically reduces the calculated amount in tracking.
Prenatal growth, BMI, and risk of type 2 diabetes by early midlife.

OBJECTIVE small size at birth has been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Our aim was to evaluate how risk of diabetes associated with low birth weight is affected by accumulation of body mass from childhood to adulthood. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Subjects from the 1958 British birth cohort (born 3-9 March 1958) have been followed regularly since birth. In the survey at 41 years of age, 88 participants reported type 2 diabetes (n = 10683). RESULTS Participants in whom diabetes developed weighed less at birth and had higher BMIs than the others. Birth weight (adjusted for gestational age and sex) was inversely related to risk of diabetes (odds ratio for 1-SD change 0.76, 95% CI 0.56-0.99). All diabetic participants in the lowest third of birth weight were in the highest third of weight gain by 23 years of age. An increased risk of diabetes was found for those in the lowest third of BMI at 7 years of age (2.84, 1.2-6.9), but diabetic participants in this group had excessive weight gain to 23 years of age. All but one diabetic participant in the highest third of childhood BMI remained in the highest third until 23 years of age. Risk of diabetes by BMI at 23 years of age was 22.9-fold (95% CI 12-42) for obese participants and 3.8-fold (2.1-6.9) for overweight participants compared with those of normal weight. CONCLUSIONS There was no increase in risk of diabetes for small size at birth without excessive postnatal weight gain. Adult obesity was the most important risk factor for type 2 diabetes developing by early midlife.
Identification Scheme of Surface Electromyography of Upper Limb Movement

In this study four pairs of Ag/AgCl surface electrodes respectively that pasted on the muscle belly of the biceps, triceps in the upper arm, palmaris longus and the brachioradialis muscle in the forearm are used to collect the electromyography (EMG) signals of six patterns of upper limb movements. The feature vectors of the EMG are extracted by wavelet decomposition method, and then these features are classified by the method of the support vector machine. Experimental results show that the wavelet decomposition is an effective feature extraction method. For small samples, nonlinear and high dimensional classification problems, the support vector machine method has better classification effect and generalization performance than the traditional BP neural network. To speed up the computation of the SVM and adapt the increase of the samples, the incremental SVM is also introduced. By comparing with the traditional SVM method, the advantage of the incremental SVM is demonstrated.
Innovation through Discrimination!? A Formal Analysis of the Net Neutrality Debate

We model the main arguments of the net neutrality debate in a two-sided market framework with network congestion sensitive content providers and Internet consumers on each side, respectively. The platform is controlled by a monopolistic Internet service provider, who may choose to sell content providers prioritized access to its customers. We explicitly consider the adverse effects of traffic prioritization to the remaining best-effort class and find that network discrimination has overall positive effects on welfare, because congestion is better allocated to those content providers with congestion inelastic advertisement revenues. In the long-run, network discrimination leads to infrastructure investments in transmission capacity and encourages innovation on the content provider side. In the short-run, however, discrimination has no effect on innovation because the ISP expropriates the content providers' increased surplus through the price for priority access. This is the downside of network discrimination: Albeit total welfare is increased, content providers will--at least in the short-run--be worse off than under network neutrality.
Apolipoprotein E , health , and mortality in Taiwanese older adults

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a commonly investigated genetic marker, has been linked to health outcomes and longevity. ApoE has three common alleles: E2, E3, and E4, with E3 being the most prevalent allele in most populations. The E4 allele is a common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease (Corder et al., 1996; Eichner et al., 2002; Lahoz et al., 2001; Rosvall et al., 2009), and in some populations, shorter lifespans (Ewbank, 2004, 2007; Schachter et al., 1994; Smith, 2002). The presence of one or two E4 alleles has been [documented as] associated with higher total cholesterol levels among both individuals undergoing and those not undergoing lipid-lowering treatment (Dufouil et al., 2005). The E2 allele may also have neuroprotective effects on the brain (Higgins et al., 1997; Rebeck, Kindy, LaDu, 2002), as it may play a direct role as an anti-oxidant agent (Miyata & Smith, 1996). While several studies have examined the relationship between ApoE and cardiovascular risk factors, few studies have examined the relationship of ApoE to a variety of other biological indicators of health or to indicators of performance-based measures of physical and cognitive function or depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study is to investigate these relationships between ApoE and biomarkers of health, depressive symptoms, and indicators of physical and cognitive function.
Requirement of Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins for leptin receptor signaling

Obesity is a major public health problem in most developed countries and a major risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence indicates that ciliary dysfunction can contribute to human obesity but the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms are unknown. Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a genetically heterogeneous human obesity syndrome associated with ciliary dysfunction. BBS proteins are thought to play a role in cilia function and intracellular protein/vesicle trafficking. Here, we show that BBS proteins are required for leptin receptor (LepR) signaling in the hypothalamus. We found that Bbs2−/−, Bbs4−/− and Bbs6−/− mice are resistant to the action of leptin to reduce body weight and food intake regardless of serum leptin levels and obesity. In addition, activation of hypothalamic STAT3 by leptin is significantly decreased in Bbs2−/−, Bbs4−/− and Bbs6−/− mice. In contrast, downstream melanocortin receptor signaling is unaffected, indicating that LepR signaling is specifically impaired in Bbs2−/−, Bbs4−/− and Bbs6−/− mice. Impaired LepR signaling in BBS mice was associated with decreased Pomc gene expression. Furthermore, we found that BBS1 protein physically interacts with the LepR and that loss of BBS proteins perturbs LepR trafficking. Our data indicate that BBS proteins mediate LepR trafficking and that impaired LepR signaling underlies energy imbalance in BBS. These findings represent a novel mechanism for leptin resistance and obesity.
Time scale analysis of an ATM queueing system with long-range dependent traffic

Several types of network traffic have been shown to exhibit long-range dependence (LRD). In this work, we show that the busy period of an ATM system driven by a long-range dependent process can be very large. We introduce a new traffic model based on a fractional Brownian motion envelope process. We show that this characterization can be used to predict queueing dynamics. Furthermore, we derive a new framework for computing delay bounds in ATM networks based on this traffic model. We show that it agrees with results given by large deviation theory with less computational complexity.
A two-layer lexical tree based beam search in continuous Chinese speech recognition

In this paper, an approach to continuous speech recognition based on a two-layer lexical tree is proposed. The search network is maintained by the two-layer lexical tree, in which the first layer reflects the word net and the phone net while the second layer the dynamic programming (DP). Because the acoustic information is tied in the second layer, the memory cost is so small that it has the ability to process some complicated applications, such as the use of cross-word context-dependent (CD) triphone models, the Chinese fuzzy syllable mapping and the pronunciation modeling. The search algorithm based on the two-layer lexical tree is also proposed, which is derived from the token-passing algorithm. Finally, an implementation of the two-layer lexical tree using the crossword context-dependent triphone models is presented, and the experimental results show that the highly efficient decoding can be achieved without too much memory cost.
Study of optimal placement of energy storage units within a deregulated power system

This paper proposed optimal placement of the energy storage units within a deregulated power system to diminish its hourly cost. Wind generation and load are modeled using actual data approach. Based on a model of the electricity market, we diminish the hourly communal cost using probabilistic optimal power flow (POPF) then use an Improved Adaptive Genetic Algorithm (IAGA) to exploit wind power utilization over a scheduling period. A commerce model is developed to evaluate the economics of the storage system based on the energy time-shift occasion from wind generation. The planned method is used to carry out simulation studies for the IEEE 24-bus system. Transmission line constraints are addressed as a block for efficient wind power integration with higher diffusion levels. Distributed storage is then proposed as a solution to effectively utilize the transmission capacity and put together the wind power more efficiently.
Author's Personal Copy Computational Statistics and Data Analysis Nonparametric Inference in Small Data Sets of Spatially Indexed Curves with Application to Ionospheric Trend Determination

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: a b s t r a c t This paper is concerned with estimation and testing in data sets consisting of a small number (about 20–30) of curves observed at unevenly distributed spatial locations. Such data structures may be referred to as spatially indexed functional data. Motivated by an important space physics problem, we model such data as a mean function plus spatially dependent error functions. Given a small number of spatial locations, the parametric methods for the estimation of the spatial covariance structure of the error functions are not satisfactory. We propose a fully nonparametric estimator for the mean function. We also derive a test to determine the significance of the regression coefficients if the mean function is a linear combination of known covariate functions. In particular, we develop methodology for the estimation a trend in spatially indexed functional data, and for assessing its statistical significance. We apply the new tools to global ionosonde records to test the hypothesis of ionospheric cooling. Nonparametric modeling of the space–time covariances is surprisingly simple, much faster than those previously proposed, and less sensitive to computational errors. In simulated data, the new estimator and test uniformly dominate those based on parametric modeling.
Two distinct myosin light chain structures are induced by specific variations within the bound IQ motifs—functional implications

IQ motifs are widespread in nature. Mlc1p is a calmodulin‐like myosin light chain that binds to IQ motifs of a class V myosin, Myo2p, and an IQGAP‐related protein, Iqg1p, playing a role in polarized growth and cytokinesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The crystal structures of Mlc1p bound to IQ2 and IQ4 of Myo2p differ dramatically. When bound to IQ2, Mlc1p adopts a compact conformation in which both the N‐ and C‐lobes interact with the IQ motif. However, in the complex with IQ4, the N‐lobe no longer interacts with the IQ motif, resulting in an extended conformation of Mlc1p. The two light chain structures relate to two distinct subfamilies of IQ motifs, one of which does not interact with the N‐lobes of calmodulin‐like light chains. The correlation between light chain structure and IQ sequence is demonstrated further by sedimentation velocity analysis of complexes of Mlc1p with IQ motifs from Myo2p and Iqg1p. The resulting ‘free’ N‐lobes of myosin light chains in the extended conformation could mediate the formation of ternary complexes during protein localization and/or partner recruitment.
The Harmonic Balance Method

The harmonic balance method is used in most current commercial RF simulation tools. This is due to the fact that it has certain advantages over other common methods used in SPICE, namely (modified) nodal analysis (MNA), which make it better suited to simulate stiff problems and circuits containing transmission lines, nonlinearities and dispersive effects. In this project, the harmonic balance algorithm is derived and explained; a basic harmonic balance solver is developed and implemented in Matlab and applied to some basic linear and nonlinear circuits.
Rendering with Coherent Layers

Traditional graphics rendering wastes rendering resources by throwing each frame away after use and building the next one from scratch. In selective rendering the aim is to use as much of the previously rendered data as possible for each frame. The main idea is to break a scene first into objects, which are then rendered as their own surfaces. This seminar paper describes selective rendering in general and tells the story of Talisman, a Microsoft technology initiative. Introduced in 1996, it was the first official attempt to extent selective rendering ideas into the real-time hardware domain. The Talisman architecture utilized four major concepts: composited image layers and affine transformations, aggressive use of compression, capturing bandwidth on chip via chunking and multi-pass rendering. Microsoft hoped that Talisman would be widely adopted and prototype implementations of the hardware would be ready soon. However, nothing concrete was ever completed and in 1999 the project was dumped.
Degradation of Phosphonate‐Based Scale Inhibitor Additives in the Presence of Oxidizing Biocides: “Collateral Damages” in Industrial Water Systems

Abstract Organic, phosphorus‐based additives are commonly used in water treatment technologies such as mineral scale and corrosion inhibitors, and dispersing agents. Phosphonates find extensive use as anti‐precipitation inhibitors for sparingly soluble salts such as calcium carbonates and phosphates, calcium/barium/strontium sulfates and others, commonly formed in supersaturated process waters in a wide spectrum of industrial applications. In open recirculating cooling water systems strong oxidizing biocides (eg. ClO−, BrO−, etc.) are also added to control microbiological growth but have detrimental effects on other water treatment chemicals that are sensitive to oxidative degradation. In this paper we report the effect of a hypobromite‐based biocide towards the scale inhibitor AMP (amino‐tris‐(methylene phosphonate)). AMP reacts rapidly with the biocide at room temperature. AMP degradation continues, but it slowly reaches a plateau after 1000 minutes. Even after 50 h the reaction time, only 20% of AMP has decomposed. AMP reacts with the biocide to give the orthophosphate much more rapidly at 43°C than at 25°C due to faster kinetics of decomposition. Results on various other oxidizing biocides on PBTC (2‐Phosphonobutane‐1,2,4‐Tricarboxylic acid) are also presented. PBTC is a very “robust” scale inhibitor. This is confirmed by our degradation studies using biocides such as chlorine (ClO−), bromine (BrO−), their stabilized analogs, BCDMH, and ClO2. Degradation (reversion to orthophosphate) of only up to 5% is observed in our experiments. These results are compared to others reported in the literature showing that PBTC degradation can be up to 25% under “harsher” conditions of higher biocide dosage and temperature. PBTC is virtually stable to the effects of a variety of oxidizing microbiocides, including chlorine, bromine and others.
Does Prospect Theory Explain IPO Market Behavior?

We derive a behavioral measure of the IPO decision-maker's satisfaction with the underwriter's performance based on Loughran and Ritter (2002) and assess its ability to explain the decision-maker's choice among underwriters in subsequent securities offerings. Controlling for other known factors, IPO firms are less likely to switch underwriters for their first seasoned equity offering when our behavioral measure indicates they were satisfied with the IPO underwriter's performance. Underwriters also extract higher fees for subsequent transactions involving satisfied decision-makers. Although our tests suggest there is explanatory power in the behavioral model, they do not speak directly to whether deviations from expected utility maximization determine patterns in IPO initial returns.
FOR CHEMICAL SENSOR ARRAYS

Arrays were introduced in the mid-eighties as a method to counteract the cross-selectivity of gas sensors. Their use has since become a common practice in sensor applications. [1]. The great advantage of this technique is that once arrays are matched with proper multivariate data analysis, the use of non-selective sensors for practical applications becomes possible. Again in the eighties, Persaud and Dodds argued that such arrays has a very close connection with mammalian olfaction systems. This conjecture opened the way to the advent of electronic noses [2], a popular name for chemical sensor arrays used for qualitative analysis of complex samples. It is worth remarking that a gas sensor array is a mere mathematical construction where the sensor outputs are arranged as components of a vector. Arrays can also be utilized to investigate the properties of chemical sensors, or even better, the peculiar behaviour of a sensor as a component of an array. In this chapter, the more common sensor array methodologies are critically reviewed, including the most general steps of a multivariate data analysis. The application of such methods to the study of sensor properties is also illustrated through a practical
In vitro Evaluation of Biofield Treatment on Viral Load Against Human Immunodeficiency-1 and Cytomegalo Viruses

Viral load quantification is the amount of particular viral DNA or RNA in a blood samples. It is one of the surrogate biomarker of AIDS. High viral load indicates that the immune system is failed to fight against viruses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of biofield treatment on HIV-1 and HCMV in terms of viral loads as surrogate marker. The viral load assay was performed on stored stock cultures of HIV infected human plasma samples before and after 7 days of biofield treatment using Roche COBAS® AMPLICOR analyzer. Viral load (HIV-1 RNA and HCMV DNAaemia) was considered as surrogate marker for assessment of the impact of Mr. Trivedi’s biofield treatment in HIV infected stored plasma samples. The viral load quantification of HIV-1 RNA in infected stored plasma samples was significantly reduced by 65% in biofield treated group as compared to control. Additionally, viral load of HCMV DNAaemia in infected stored plasma samples was also reduced by 80% in the biofield treated group as compared to control. Because, children are more prone to HCMV infection and adults are generally liable to suffer from HIV-1 infection. As the biofield treatment has reduced HCMV DNAaemia, it could be beneficial for HIV infected children populations. Altogether, data suggest that biofield treatment has significantly reduced the viral load quantification in HIV-1 and HCMV infected stored plasma samples and could be a suitable alternative treatment strategy for AIDS patients in near future.
Comparing explanations for the Complexity Principle: evidence from argument realization

abstract The likelihood with which language users insert optional words or morphemes that explicitly mark syntactic structure tends to increase in complex grammatical environments. This positive correlation between explicitness and complexity, best known as the Complexity Principle, has been observed for a multitude of case studies in both naturally occurring language and experimental settings. Researchers have sought the explanation for this Complexity Principle in three different domains: cognitive comprehension processing, the language channel, and cognitive production processing. Based on these accounts, we formulate predictions regarding the action radius of the Complexity Principle in the alternation between a direct and prepositional object of the Dutch verb zoeken ‘search’. These predictions are tested against corpus observations. Our results confirm accounts according to which optional elements indicate production difficulties, as well as those that explain the Principle as a result of restrictions on the language channel. In addition, our results indicate that the Principle is sensitive to context-determined restrictions that are the result of its underlying cause. This may present a possible caveat for alternation studies.
Text Classification Using Support Vector Machine with Mixture of Kernel

Recent studies have revealed that emerging modern machine learning techniques are advantageous to statistical models for text classification, such as SVM. In this study, we discuss the applications of the support vector machine with mixture of kernel (SVM-MK) to design a text classification system. Differing from the standard SVM, the SVM-MK uses the 1-norm based object function and adopts the convex combinations of single feature basic kernels. Only a linear programming problem needs to be resolved and it greatly reduces the computational costs. More important, it is a transparent model and the optimal feature subset can be obtained automatically. A real Chinese corpus from FudanUniversityis used to demonstrate the good performance of the SVM- MK.
Eavesdropping: audience interaction in networked audio performance

Eavesdropping is an internet-based, interactive audio system that explores network mediated, musical performance in shared public spaces. The project aims to develop an environment which increases audience interaction and connectedness in a localized, computer-controlled performance. The system is a client-server architecture made of three components: (1) an audio preparation interface, (2) an interactive performance interface, and (3) a machine learning-based conductor. An artificial conductor mixes an acoustic ecology based on mood data entered by participants while learning from their feedback. Technicalities and early evaluation are presented.
Frequency Synchronization in OFDM System

An accurate frequency synchronization method using the zadoff-chu (ZC) constant envelop preamble is analyzed, and a new preamble weighted by pseudo-noise sequence is used for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Using this method, frequency offset estimator range is greatly enlarged with no loss in accuracy. The range of the frequency estimation is ±30 of subcarrier spacing using ZC sequence as preamble. Simulations in the MATLAB for an AWGN channel show that the proposed method achieves superior performance to existing techniques in terms of frequency accuracy and range.