Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Camera Control in Computer Graphics

Recent progress in modelling, animation and rendering means that rich, high fidelity virtual worlds are found in many interactive graphics applications. However, the viewer's experience of a 3D world is dependent on the nature of the virtual cinematography, in particular, the camera position, orientation and motion in relation to the elements of the scene and the action. Camera control encompasses viewpoint computation, motion planning and editing. We present a range of computer graphics applications and draw on insights from cinematographic practice in identifying their different requirements with regard to camera control. The nature of the camera control problem varies depending on these requirements, which range from augmented manual control (semi‐automatic) in interactive applications, to fully automated approaches. We review the full range of solution techniques from constraint‐based to optimization‐based approaches, and conclude with an examination of occlusion management and expressiveness in the context of declarative approaches to camera control.
Depressive symptoms in new first-time fathers: associations with age, sociodemographic characteristics, and antenatal psychological well-being.

BACKGROUND New fathers may be as vulnerable as new mothers to depression, and their symptoms also can affect the mother and child. The purpose of this study was to investigate depressive symptoms and associations with paternal age, sociodemographic characteristics, and antenatal psychological well-being in Swedish first-time fathers. METHODS Depressive symptoms, defined as scores of 11 or greater on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, were investigated in 812 men 3 months after their first baby was born. The study sample included primarily Swedish-born, married or cohabiting men who participated in antenatal education classes during the partner's pregnancy. RESULTS In all, 10.3 percent of study men suffered from depressive symptoms. Compared with fathers aged 29-33 years (sample mean age ± 2 yr), the younger fathers had an increased risk for depressive symptoms (OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.50-4.35). Low educational level, low income, poor partner relationship quality, and financial worry increased the risk for depressive symptoms, but these factors could not explain the increased risk among the young. CONCLUSIONS New fathers in their twenties seem to have an increased risk for depressive symptoms that cannot be explained solely by socioeconomic factors. Support should be offered to new fathers with particular focus on the young.
Seeing double without confusion: Structure-from-motion in highly ambiguous scenes

3D reconstruction from an unordered set of images may fail due to incorrect epipolar geometries (EG) between image pairs arising from ambiguous feature correspondences. Previous methods often analyze the consistency between different EGs, and regard the largest subset of self-consistent EGs as correct. However, as demonstrated in [14], such a largest self-consistent set often corresponds to incorrect result, especially when there are duplicate structures in the scene. We propose a novel optimization criteria based on the idea of `missing correspondences'. The global minimum of our optimization objective function is associated with the correct solution. We then design an efficient algorithm for minimization, whose convergence to a local minimum is guaranteed. Experimental results show our method outperforms the state-of-the-art.
Joint Optimization of the Transmit Covariance and Relay Precoder in General Gaussian Amplify-and-Forward Relay Channels

The maximum data rate that can be achieved by the strictly causal full-duplex amplify-and-forward (AF) scheme in general Gaussian relay channels is achieved by Gaussian codebooks and can be cast as the solution of an optimization problem of the input transmit covariance and relay precoder. This problem possesses an intricate nonconvex structure and is hence difficult to solve. To circumvent this difficulty, the relay precoder is assumed to be given and then the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions are used to obtain closed form expressions for the optimal input covariance corresponding to that precoder. These expressions are used to show that subdiagonal precoders suffice to attain the maximum achievable rate of the AF scheme at any source transmit power. In addition to significantly reducing the effort expended in searching for the optimal relay precoder, this observation enables us to find the optimal precoders at low and high source transmit powers. For asymptotically low transmit powers, the optimal relaying mechanism is shown to possess an interlacing structure, thereby resembling half-duplex operation. In contrast, for asymptotically high transmit powers, it is optimal for the relay to be silent. The asymptotic analysis enables us to develop an explicit formulation for a suboptimal precoder that, at intermediate source transmit powers, are shown numerically to outperform asymptotically optimal precoders.
A Feasible Application of Constrained Optimization in the IMRT System

The planning of intensity modulated radiation therapy cancer treatment poses an inverse problem and is usually solved by optimization methods. Treatment planning, in a majority of cases, requires restrictions to be imposed on the healthy organs, sensitive to the radiation, which justifies the use of constrained optimization. The application of these techniques in treatment planning usually involves serious complications and limitations due to the huge number of variables appearing in the planning process. This leads to large computation times and memory requirements. In this paper, strategies and algorithmic issues are proposed in order to cope with these limitations. The proposed methods have been applied and tested in real cases of prostate cancer, obtaining satisfactory results regarding computational limitations
A Behavioral Model of Digital Music Piracy

The increasing pervasiveness of the Internet, broadband connections, and the emergence of digital compression technologies have dramatically changed the face of digital music. Digitally compressed music files are essentially a perfect public economic good, and illegal copying of these files has increasingly become rampant. In this article, we present a study on the behavioral dynamics that impact the piracy of digital audio files and provide a contrast with software piracy. Our results indicate that the general ethical model of software piracy is broadly applicable to audio piracy. However, significant enough differences with software underscore the unique dynamics of audio piracy. We highlight practical implications that can help the recording industry to effectively combat piracy and provide future research directions.
Deregulation of the Protocadherin Gene FAT1 Alters Muscle Shapes: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy

Generation of skeletal muscles with forms adapted to their function is essential for normal movement. Muscle shape is patterned by the coordinated polarity of collectively migrating myoblasts. Constitutive inactivation of the protocadherin gene Fat1 uncoupled individual myoblast polarity within chains, altering the shape of selective groups of muscles in the shoulder and face. These shape abnormalities were followed by early onset regionalised muscle defects in adult Fat1-deficient mice. Tissue-specific ablation of Fat1 driven by Pax3-cre reproduced muscle shape defects in limb but not face muscles, indicating a cell-autonomous contribution of Fat1 in migrating muscle precursors. Strikingly, the topography of muscle abnormalities caused by Fat1 loss-of-function resembles that of human patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD). FAT1 lies near the critical locus involved in causing FSHD, and Fat1 mutant mice also show retinal vasculopathy, mimicking another symptom of FSHD, and showed abnormal inner ear patterning, predictive of deafness, reminiscent of another burden of FSHD. Muscle-specific reduction of FAT1 expression and promoter silencing was observed in foetal FSHD1 cases. CGH array-based studies identified deletion polymorphisms within a putative regulatory enhancer of FAT1, predictive of tissue-specific depletion of FAT1 expression, which preferentially segregate with FSHD. Our study identifies FAT1 as a critical determinant of muscle form, misregulation of which associates with FSHD.
Telomere-independent functions of telomerase in nuclei, cytoplasm, and mitochondria

Telomerase canonical activity at telomeres prevents telomere shortening, allowing chromosome stability and cellular proliferation. To perform this task, the catalytic subunit (telomerase reverse transcriptase, TERT) of the enzyme works as a reverse transcriptase together with the telomerase RNA component (TERC), adding telomeric repeats to DNA molecule ends. Growing evidence indicates that, besides the telomeric-DNA synthesis activity, TERT has additional functions in tumor development and is involved in many different biological processes, among which cellular proliferation, gene expression regulation, and mitochondrial functionality. TERT has been shown to act independently of TERC in the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway, regulating the expression of Wnt target genes, which play a role in development and tumorigenesis. Moreover, TERT RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity has been found, leading to the genesis of double-stranded RNAs that act as precursor of silencing RNAs. In mitochondria, a TERT TERC-independent reverse transcriptase activity has been described that could play a role in the protection of mitochondrial integrity. In this review, we will discuss some of the extra-telomeric functions of telomerase.
Cognitive radio with relay of a primary signal and piggyback modulation

This manuscript proposes a cognitive radio system that shares a frequency with an existing primary system. In the proposed method, a secondary transmitter relays the primary signal and piggybacks its own data on it. Symbol error probabilities of the system are derived analytically. The result shows that the proposed system can communicate at a relatively high speed on the same frequency of the primary system without harm to it.
Frequency conversion by exploiting time in transformation optics

The fundamental framework of transformation optics describes how coordinate transformations on electromagnetic fields can be physically realized through complex material parameters. This approach includes the possibility of transforming time as well as space, but the applications of such transformations remain relatively unexplored. Here we analyze the material properties and wave effects of a one-dimensional spatially varying time transformation. This transformation results in relatively simple electromagnetic material parameters defined by isotropic dielectric constants with a time-varying magnetoelectric coupling constant. We show that the resulting wave and field behavior in this medium is what is expected from the transformation, namely that an input frequency is scaled to a new and arbitrary output frequency defined by the overall magnitude of the time transformation. While the parameters required to realize such a medium are complex, we describe how the needed time-varying magnetoelectric coupling is feasible using an externally tunable electromagnetic metamaterials approach.
An Integrated Metrics Based Extended Dynamic Source Routing Protocol for Wireless Mesh Networks

Wireless mesh networks (WMN) is a new distributed broadband access network. Compared with the typical mobile ad hoc network, it is with less mobility and usually not powered by the battery. Therefore, the traditional mobile ad hoc routing protocols are no longer suitable for WMN. In order to meet the performance requirements of multimedia traffic transmission, the routing protocol designed for WMN must take into account the load balance, fault tolerant and throughput, etc. This paper firstly introduces typical structures and characteristics of WMN, and several relevant WMN routing protocols. Then a method of integrated metrics based extended dynamic source routing (EDSR) protocol is proposed. The analysis and simulation results show that the proposed EDSR protocol improves the throughput of WMN significantly, which reaches the target of load balance simultaneously
Image segmentation via fuzzy object extraction and edge detection and its medical application

A new interactive segmentation method that combines fuzzy connected object extraction and edge detection is proposed. Fuzzy connectedness is a global fuzzy relation, which effectively captures fuzzy "hanging togetherness" of image elements. First, by selecting the seed point, fuzzy connectedness value between each image element and the seed point is computed via dynamic programming. Then, through adjusting the parameter, the different fuzzy connected object could be extracted. Finally, an edge detection method is adopted to detect the object boundary. The algorithm is demonstrated on some medical images: segmentation of knee tissues in CT image and segmentation of brain tissues in MR image. The results show that this method works well for some CT and MR images.
Abnormalities detection in retinal fundus images

The development of an automatic telemedicine system for screening and grading of Diabetic Retinopathy depends (DR) on reliable detection of abnormalities in retinal fundus images. The abnormalities in retinal fundus images due to DR are lesions which includes Micro aneurysms and Haemorrhages. An automatic detection of abnormalities like Micro aneurysm and Haemorrhages in colour fundus images is important to grade the diabetes level of patients in an automated system. The proposed method to detect the abnormalities in retinal fundus image is based on dynamic shape features and SVM classifier. Red lesion detected using two important aids. The first is candidate detection based on pixel classification. Using this technique vasculature and red lesions are separated from the back ground of the image. After removal of the connected vasculature the remaining objects are considered possible red lesions. Second the detected candidates are used to train the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. The abnormalities detection accuracy of the proposed method is about 90% for diartedb1 database and 80% for stare database by cross training.
The End of Politics? Explorations into Modern Antipolitics

Notes on the Contributors - Introduction: Antipolitics: Closing and Colonizing the Public Sphere A.Schedler - Antipolitical Motifs in Western Political Discourse B.Hindess - Logos against Leviathan: The Hobbesian Origins of Modern Antipolitics G.Weiler - Our Own Invisible Hand: Antipolitics as an American Given E.A. Jaffe - The Public Void: Antipolitics in the Former Soviet Union C.H. Fairbanks,Jr - Deliberation and Its Discontents: H. Ross Perot's Antipolitical Populism G.Brown - Populism, Representation, and Menemism J.Nun - Markets versus Politics: On Globalization, Language, and Legitimacy L.Pauly - Politics in Retreat: The Rescoping of Our Political Maps N.Lechner - Index
Explicit Computation of Cusp forms via Hecke Action on Cohomology and its Complexity

In the literature, the standard approach to finding bases of spaces of modular forms is via modular symbols and the homology of modular curves. By using the Eichler-Shimura isomorphism, a work by Wang shows how one can use a cohomological viewpoint to determine bases of spaces of cusp forms on $\Gamma_0(N)$ of weight $k \geq 2$ and character $\chi$. It is interesting to look at the complexity of this alternative approach, and we do this for an explicit implementation of the algorithm suggested by Wang.
Molecular evolution of a multigene family in group A streptococci.

The emm genes are members of a gene family in group A streptococci (GAS) that encode for antiphagocytic cell-surface proteins and/or immunoglobulin-binding proteins. Previously sequenced genes in this family have been named "emm," "fcrA," "enn," "arp," "protH," and "mrp"; herein they will be referred to as the "emm gene family. " The genes in the emm family are located in a cluster occupying 3-6 kb between the genes mry and scpA on the chromosome of Streptococcus pyogenes. Most GAS strains contain one to three tandemly arranged copies of emm-family genes in the cluster, but the alleles within the cluster vary among different strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the conserved sequences at the 3' end of these genes differentiates all known members of this family into four evolutionarily distinct emm subfamilies. As a starting point to analyze how the different subfamilies are related evolutionarily, the structure of the emm chromosomal region was mapped in a number of diverse GAS strains by using subfamily-specific primers in the polymerase chain reaction. Nine distinct chromosomal patterns of the genes in the emm gene cluster were found. These nine chromosomal patterns support a model for the evolution of the emm gene family in which gene duplication followed by sequence divergence resulted in the generation of four major-gene subfamilies in this locus.
Soft Substrates Promote Homogeneous Self-Renewal of Embryonic Stem Cells via Downregulating Cell-Matrix Tractions

Maintaining undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) culture has been a major challenge as mESCs cultured in Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) conditions exhibit spontaneous differentiation, fluctuating expression of pluripotency genes, and genes of specialized cells. Here we show that, in sharp contrast to the mESCs seeded on the conventional rigid substrates, the mESCs cultured on the soft substrates that match the intrinsic stiffness of the mESCs and in the absence of exogenous LIF for 5 days, surprisingly still generated homogeneous undifferentiated colonies, maintained high levels of Oct3/4, Nanog, and Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) activities, and formed embryoid bodies and teratomas efficiently. A different line of mESCs, cultured on the soft substrates without exogenous LIF, maintained the capacity of generating homogeneous undifferentiated colonies with relatively high levels of Oct3/4 and AP activities, up to at least 15 passages, suggesting that this soft substrate approach applies to long term culture of different mESC lines. mESC colonies on these soft substrates without LIF generated low cell-matrix tractions and low stiffness. Both tractions and stiffness of the colonies increased with substrate stiffness, accompanied by downregulation of Oct3/4 expression. Our findings demonstrate that mESC self-renewal and pluripotency can be maintained homogeneously on soft substrates via the biophysical mechanism of facilitating generation of low cell-matrix tractions.
Role of Adiantum philippense L. on Glucose Uptake in Isolated Pancreatic Cells and Inhibition of Adipocyte Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Cell Line

Background: Adiantum philippense (AP) is a pteridophyte that shows antihyperglycemic activity in vivo diabetic model, but the mechanism of action is unknown. Objective: AP was found to play a pivotal role in minimizing the high blood glucose in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Simultaneously, it was observed that it could maintain the normal lipid profile even in diabetic condition. To investigate its insulin-like activity along with its inhibitory role on adipocyte differentiation became the objective of our present study. Materials and Methods: Glucose uptake potential of this fern was done in isolated pancreatic islets and inhibition of adipocyte differentiation was assessed in 3T3-L1 cell line. Before this, the cytotoxic concentration was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on L929 cell line. To determine its role in lipid metabolism, the oil droplets produced in adipocytes were stained with Oil 'O' red staining, and triglyceride levels of various drug treatments were measured spectrophotometrically. Results: This fern extract was found to be actively utilizing glucose in the glucose uptake assay. Moreover, it was also involved in inhibiting differentiation of pro-adipocyte to adipocyte in the 3T3-L1 cell lines. The percentage inhibition as obtained from the absorbance showed that the ethanolic extract at the concentration of 200 μg/ml showed 32.48% inhibition. Conclusion: All the above-mentioned parameters when appraised indicated that this fern could be used as an alternative medicine in managing diabetes associated with obesity. Abbreviations used: AP: Adiantum phillipense; MTT: (3-(4,5- Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide); BSA: Bovine serum albumin; FCS: Fetal calf serum; DMEM: Dulbecco's minimum essential media; RPMI: Roswell park memorial institute medium; DTZ: Dithizone; TG: Triglyceride; PPARγ: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; IBMX: 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine; nm: Nanometer; GI: Growth Inhibition; ELISA: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea

A 63-year-old woman was seen at the otology service at the University of Cincinnati Hospital for evaluation of persistent left-sided otorrhea. The pa­ tient complained of constant watery drainage fol­ lowing placement of a ventilation tube for serous otitis media about 18 months previously. Though the ventilating tube successfully relieved the pa­ tient's mild conductive hearing loss and feeling of fullness, it precipitated chronic otorrhea. Careful questioning of the patient failed to elicit any history of prior otic disease, head trauma, headache, ver­ tigo, or rhinorrhea. There were no previous epi­ sodes of unexplained fever or meningitis. Physical examination, including a neurologic evaluation, was entirely within normal limits except for clear fluid draining through a ventilating tube in the left tympanic membrane. Since the fluid was suspected to be CSF, a metrizamide computed tomography (CT) scan was obtained in an effort to localize any anatomical abnormalities.
Tensiomyographical responses to accelerometer loads in female collegiate basketball players

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to characterise the relationship between relative versus absolute internal and external loads in collegiate basketball players throughout the course of a season. Five Division I basketball players wore triaxial accelerometers throughout the 2015–2016 season and were tensiomyographically assessed weekly. One-way repeated-measure analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) with least-significant-difference (LSD) pairwise comparisons was used to determine which absolute weekly loads were different across the season. Cohen’s d was used to supplement the determination of meaningful relative load changes. Overall RM ANOVA models suggest absolute external load differences occurred (PlayerLoad™ F = 17.63; IMA™ F = 31.63). Two-way RM ANOVA models revealed main effect differences were revealed between muscle groups for Tc (F = 9.11) and Dm (F = 3.25). Meaningful relative load changes between weeks were observed for both external and internal. The present study observed that tensiomyography utilised as a tool to monitor internal load may be more suitable for detecting fatigue from relative external load changes versus absolute load attained. Limiting weekly training volume changes to ≤10% may maintain appropriate adaptation. Mediolateral plane IMA™ and adductor longus muscle group may be pertinent metrics when monitoring female collegiate basketball athletes.
Susceptibility to Anxiety and Shift Difficulty as Determinants of State Anxiety in Air Traffic Controllers

Abstract : The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to assess the anxiety of air traffic controllers who had experienced difficult and easy work shifts. Eighty volunteers completed the STAI before and after two or more eight-hour work shifts. Controllers relatively high in anxiety proneness tended to report higher levels of anxiety in association with control work than those relatively low in anxiety proneness. The mean A-state score after shifts was higher than the mean score before shifts. It was also determined that the increase in anxiety during shifts was greater for difficult shifts. (Author)