Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A visual servoing path-planning strategy for cameras obeying the unified model

Recently, a unified camera model has been introduced in visual control systems in order to describe through a unique mathematical model conventional perspective cameras, fisheye cameras, and catadioptric systems. In this paper, a path-planning strategy for visual servoing is proposed for any camera obeying this unified model. The proposed strategy is based on the projection onto a virtual plane of the available image projections. This has two benefits. First, it allows one to perform camera pose estimation and 3D object reconstruction by using methods for conventional camera that are not valid for other cameras. Second, it allows one to perform image path-planning for multi-constraint satisfaction by using a simplified but equivalent projection model, that in this paper is addressed by introducing polynomial parametrizations of the rotation and translation. The planned image trajectory is hence tracked by using an IBVS controller. The proposed strategy is validated through simulations with image noise and calibration errors typical of real experiments. It is worth remarking that visual servoing path-planning for non conventional perspective cameras has not been proposed yet in the literature.
Finding the hidden path: time bounds for all-pairs shortest paths

The all-pairs shortest paths problem in weighted graphs is investigated. An algorithm called the hidden paths algorithm, which finds these paths in time O(m*+n n/sup 2/ log n), where m* is the number of edges participating in shortest paths, is presented. It is argued that m* is likely to be small in practice, since m*=O(n log n) with high probability for many probability distributions on edge weights. An Omega (mn) lower bound on the running time of any path-comparison-based algorithm for the all-pairs shortest paths problem is proved. <<ETX>>
Thickness and Temperature Dependence of Dielectric Reliability Characteristics in Cerium Dioxide Thin Film

The thickness and temperature dependence of the CeO<sub>2</sub> dielectric reliability characteristics of metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors is studied. The dielectric breakdown strength (E<sub>bd</sub>) of CeO<sub>2</sub> thin films decreases with increasing temperature. The Weibull slope of the charge-to-breakdown (Q<sub>bd</sub>) statistics is a function of the dielectric thickness. However, it is independent of temperature. In this work, the Weibull slope was calculated by the method of maximum-likelihood estimation. At room temperature, the Weibull slopes with thicknesses of 7.3, 11.2, and 13.1 nm are about 1.57, 3.28, and 4.41, respectively. According to a cell-based analytic model, the effectively stress-induced defect size (a<sub>0</sub>) in CeO<sub>2</sub> in the breakdown event was determined to be about 1-2 nm. Therefore, the capture cross section of the generated defects is on the order of 10<sup>-14</sup> cm<sup>2</sup>, which indicated that the defects were neutral centers. In addition, a comparison with SiO<sub>2</sub>- and HfO<sub>2</sub>-gated capacitors was made.
Dynamic control of the execution of trajectories by a mobile robot

The objective is to obtain a control model that enables a mobile robot to follow trajectories that have been defined by path planning. The authors have imposed that the determined path be smoothed during the execution in order to minimize the consumption of energy. At first, they have developed an algorithm of control in an open loop using proprioceptive information. They then consider exteroceptive information in order to carry out an algorithm in a closed loop that allows one to control the motion of the robot on the path that it should follow. <<ETX>>
Reactive Agents in the IVTE Software using Java 3D

1 IVTE Supervisor 2 IVTE Studenship 3 GPEAD Members ABSTRACT This paper describes the Intell igent Virtual Teaching Environment (IVTE) implementation. IVTE software uses the newest technologies to develop educational software. Technologies li ke Multi-Agent Systems, Virtual Reality, Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Distance Learning are being used in it. The paper gives emphasis in reactive agents model and implementation using Java and Java 3D API. It is going to describe an introduction in terms of Multi-Agent Systems, mainly in Reactive Agents aspects. It will be talking briefly about IVTE project, followed by Java, Java 3D API and finall y, Reactive Agents in the IVTE software.
Examining the Role of Patient Experience Surveys in Measuring Health Care Quality

Patient care experience surveys evaluate the degree to which care is patient-centered. This article reviews the literature on the association between patient experiences and other measures of health care quality. Research indicates that better patient care experiences are associated with higher levels of adherence to recommended prevention and treatment processes, better clinical outcomes, better patient safety within hospitals, and less health care utilization. Patient experience measures that are collected using psychometrically sound instruments, employing recommended sample sizes and adjustment procedures, and implemented according to standard protocols are intrinsically meaningful and are appropriate complements for clinical process and outcome measures in public reporting and pay-for-performance programs.
An Automated Screening System for Tuberculosis

Automated screening systems are commonly used to detect some agent in a sample and take a global decision about the subject (e.g., ill/healthy) based on these detections. We propose a Bayesian methodology for taking decisions in (sequential) screening systems that considers the false alarm rate of the detector. Our approach assesses the quality of its decisions and provides lower bounds on the achievable performance of the screening system from the training data. In addition, we develop a complete screening system for sputum smears in tuberculosis diagnosis, and show, using a real-world database, the advantages of the proposed framework when compared to the commonly used count detections and threshold approach.
Rho proteins are negative regulators of TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 signaling in astrocytes

The family of Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) expressed by innate immune cells recognizes a spectrum of microbial components as well as molecules released from injured tissues. TLR ligation activates intracellular signaling cascades that culminate in the up‐regulation of proinflammatory genes. We have recently demonstrated that the up‐regulation of inflammatory cytokines mediated by TLR4 in astrocytes is negatively controlled by the monomeric GTPases of Rho subfamily. The present study was undertaken to examine further the involvement of Rho proteins in the inflammatory response of astrocytes elicited by the ligation of three TLRs that use divergent signaling pathways. Astrocyte cultures established from newborn rat brains were challenged with ligands of TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4. The expression of genes encoding interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα), interferon‐β (IFNβ), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) was up‐regulated 24 hr after the challenge as determined by real‐time RT‐PCR. Pretreatment of the cells with toxin B, which specifically inactivates Rho proteins, enhanced the up‐regulation of gene expression. The extent of this enhancement was both receptor and gene dependent. The enhancing effect of Rho protein inactivation was also evident at the protein level of IL‐6 and NOS2 as reveled by ELISA and immunoblot analyses, respectively. These results suggest that Rho proteins control TLR‐mediated up‐regulation of inflammatory genes in astrocytes by interfering with multiple events along the signaling pathways. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute Compartment Syndrome

Orthopaedic nurses must be continually alert for the dreaded complication of fractures, acute compartment syndrome (ACS). This article reviews the current literature on predisposing factors, pathophysiology (including systemic factors), assessments, various diagnostic methods, and treatments of patients at risk for, or encountering, ACS. A nursing care plan including the pertinent nursing diagnoses for these patients is included, and nursing care before and after fasciotomy is outlined.
ATP release and purinergic signaling in NLRP3 inflammasome activation

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a protein complex involved in IL-1β and IL-18 processing that senses pathogen- and danger-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs). One step- or two step-models have been proposed to explain the tight regulation of IL-1β production during inflammation. Moreover, cellular stimulation triggers adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release and subsequent activation of purinergic receptors at the cell surface. Importantly some studies have reported roles for extracellular ATP, in NLRP3 inflammasome activation in response to PAMPs and DAMPs. In this mini review, we will discuss the link between active ATP release, purinergic signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. We will focus on the role of autocrine or paracrine ATP export in particle-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and discuss how particle activators are competent to induce maturation and secretion of IL-1β through a process that involves, as a first event, extracellular release of endogenous ATP through hemichannel opening, and as a second event, signaling through purinergic receptors that trigger NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Finally, we will review the evidence for ATP as a key pro-inflammatory mediator released by dying cells. In particular we will discuss how cancer cells dying via autophagy trigger ATP-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the macrophages engulfing them, eliciting an immunogenic response against tumors.
Experimental investigation cascaded stimulated Raman in chalcogenide optical fiber

Mid-infrared cascaded Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is experimentally investigated in an AsS optical fiber which fabricated based on As38S62 and As36S64 glasses and whose fiber loss was ∼0.09 dB/m at ∼2000 nm. Using a nanosecond laser operated at ∼1545 nm as the pump source, mid-infrared cascaded SRS up to eight orders is obtained in a 16 m AsS fiber. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of eighth-order cascaded SRS in non-silica optical fibers, and it may contribute to developing tunable Raman fiber lasers in the mid-infrared region based on the C-band pump sources. When the pump wavelength switches to ∼2000 nm, only mid-infrared cascaded SRS up to five orders is obtained.
Release from density-dependent inhibition of growth in the absence of cell locomotion.

3T3 mouse fibroblasts are released from density-dependent inhibition of growth by treatment with insulin. The same insulin treatment stimulates cell locomotion several hours before any new mitoses become visible. Inhibition of cell locomotion by colcemid does not affect the overgrowth stimulation due to insulin. From this it is concluded that cellular locomotion is not a prerequisite for the release from density-dependent inhibition of growth.
Readability of Characters on Mobile Phone Liquid Crystal Displays

Subject performance in reading characters on mobile phone liquid crystal displays was researched by using (a) English sentences with 3 or 4 different sizes of characters on 2 types of displays with different resolutions(n = 23; age = 31.0 ± 6.0 years), (b) Japanese characters in 3 different sizes and 2 types of font (n = 98; age = 44.5 ± 18.5 years), and (c) Japanese characters vertically enlarged 1—4 times (n = 120; age = 46.9 ± 18.6 years). Subjective evaluation, reading speed, number of reading errors, and viewing distance were recorded. Readability was higher with higher resolution displays, and with Gothic than with Mincho font in Japanese. Young subjects shortened the viewing distance as characters became smaller, whereas elderly subjects increased the viewing distance irrespective of the size of characters. Characters of 3–5 mm are appropriate for the young but inadequate for the elderly. Readability of Japanese characters improved when they were vertically enlarged to approximately twice the width.
Electrospun collagen nanofibers for tissue engineering

Design and fabrication of the scaffold is an important part of the tissue engineering process. Nanofibrous scaffolds based on proteins are gaining increasing acceptance due to its structural similarity to the extracellular matrix. Making use of the electrospinning technique, rat tail collagen type I nanofibers were produced using a collagen in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) solution. In addition to optimizing the electrospinning process parameters, the effect of humidity on fiber morphology and diameter was investigated for fiber size control for particular tissue engineering applications. A generalized humidity effect on polymer fiber diameter of the polymer solution electrospinning process was developed. The as spun collagen type I fibers were unstable in aqueous solutions. To impart stability these fibers, the technique of ion implantation was used. Both helium (He) and nitrogen (N) ions were used. Polychromatic ion beam of energies of 0 – 100 MeV (He) and 0 – 300 MeV (N) with doses varied from 4*10 ions /cm 1.2*10 ions/cm were used. The effect of the ion implantation process on collagen fiber stability was investigated as a function of ion dosages. While all implantation conditions gave stable fibers, their swelling characteristics vary. The structural and chemical compositional changes in the stabilized collagen type I fibers were investigated using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that the lowest dose of both the ion species implanted had the highest degree of crosslinking and retained the largest amount of nitrogen which is essential for cell adhesion and important for tissue engineering.
Multicoloring the Mycielskian of Graphs

A k-fold coloring of a graph G is an assignment of k distinct colors to each vertex of G so that adjacent vertices receive no colors in common. The k-th chromatic number of G,denote by chi<sub>k</sub>(G), is the smallest number of colors needed to give G a k-fold coloring. Let mu<sub>p</sub>(G) denote the p-Mycielskian of G. In this paper, we show that chi<sub>k</sub>(mu(W<sub>n</sub>)) = 3k + [k/3] + 1 (n is even, n ges 2k + 2 > 4). Moreover, we investigate the k-th chromatic number of Mycielskians of bipartite graph. Finally, we determine the values of chi<sub>k</sub>(mu<sub>p</sub>(G)) (chi(G) = omega(G) = n ges 3).
Evaluating the performance of user-space and kernel-space web servers

There has been much debate over the past few years about the practice of moving traditional user-space applications, such as web servers, into the kernel for better performance. Recently, the user-space userver web server has shown promising performance for delivering static content. In this paper we first describe how we augmented the userver to enable it to serve dynamic content. We then evaluate the performance of the userver and the kernel-space TUX web server, using the SPECweb99 workload generator under a variety of static and dynamic workloads. We demonstrate that the gap in the performance of the two servers becomes less significant as the proportion of dynamic-content requests increases. In fact, for workloads with a majority of dynamic requests, the µserver outperforms TUX. We conclude that a well-designed user-space web server can compete with an in-kernel server on performance, while retaining the reliability and security benefits that come from operating in user space. The results presented in this paper will help system developers and administrators in choosing between the in-kernel and the user-space approach for web servers.
Enhancement of Si Photovoltaic Module by Introducing III-V/Si Hybrid Configurations and Cost Evaluations under Various Cost Ratios of III-V/Si Photovoltaics

Combining Si PV module technology with an efficient III- V CPVs top PV into a tandem device is an attractive approach to enhance the efficiency of PV modules. Here, a method called III- V/Si hybrid configurations for enhancing the Si module efficiency is placing III- V static CPVs at the edge gap of each Si wafer rather than stacking in the top of Si. The prototype PV module shows the enhancement of efficiency. The cost evaluations of the III- V lSi hybrid configurations compared with Si module is discussed under various presumed cost ratio of 111-V/Si PVs.
Face Expression Detection Using Microsoft Kinect with the Help of A rtificial Neural Network

Ab stract— Face expression detection is very common in co mputer-human interface. So by using the sensor Microsoft Kinect we are detecting the face expression with the help of Artificial Neural Network. Here we are using Supervised Learning to train the network. By Microsoft Kinect sensor it will detect the corresponding expression. In this paper we present a method for face expression distinctly by using MS Kinect in 3D from the input image. Kinect features us by providing the depth information of the foreground objects. We present our experience of using a Kinect depth camera for detection of some common face expressions. Kinect is a motion sensing input device by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game console and Windows PCs.Microsoft has de veloped Software Development Kit(SDK) free to use for non commercial purposes. The SDK includes not only drivers but also APIs, device interfaces, installer documents and resource materials. It’s another exciting milestone for a technology that has captured the imagination of millions, and has become the fastest selling computer electronics device of all time.
ISS-based vehicle yaw stability controller design in backstepping framework

A vehicle yaw stability controller is proposed to make vehicle yaw stable in critical cornering manoeuvres in the paper. Considering vehicle body dynamics, wheel dynamics and tire nonlinear characteristics, a discrete nonlinear time-varying model is firstly constructed, with disturbances standing for tire/road forces estimation error and unmodelled dynamics. Then, the controller is proposed based on sliding mode control in backstepping control framework, in which the control input is calculated step-by-step. The stability of the system is analyzed through input-to-state stability (ISS) theory. Finally, a group of simulations is carried out with a multi-body vehicle dynamics software to evaluate the controller and the results indicate that it can maintain vehicle stable in critical cornering situation.
Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire in China: Reliability, Validity and Clinical Value in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective To evaluate the psychometric properties and clinical utility of Chinese Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ-C) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China. Methods 162 RA patients were recruited in the evaluation process. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested by internal consistency and item analysis. Convergent validity was assessed by correlations of MDHAQ-C with Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Hospital anxiety and depression scales (HAD). Discriminant validity was tested in groups of patients with varied disease activities and functional classes. To evaluate the clinical values, correlations were calculated between MDHAQ-C and indices of clinical relevance and disease activity. Agreement with the Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was estimated. Results The Cronbach's alpha was 0.944 in the Function scale (FN) and 0.768 in the scale of psychological status (PS). The item analysis indicated all the items of FN and PS are correlated at an acceptable level. MDHAQ-C correlated with the questionnaires significantly in most scales and scores of scales differed significantly in groups of different disease activity and functional status. MDHAQ-C has moderate to high correlation with most clinical indices and high correlation with a spearman coefficient of 0.701 for DAS 28 and 0.843 for CDAI. The overall agreement of categories was satisfying. Conclusion MDHAQ-C is a reliable, valid instrument for functional measurement and a feasible, informative quantitative index for busy clinical settings in Chinese RA patients.
Operad and the Moduli Space of Curves

The modular envelope of a cyclic operad is the smallest modular operad containing it. A modular operad is constructed from moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces with boundary; this modular operad is shown to be the modular envelope of the A∞ cyclic operad. This gives a new proof of the result of Harer-Mumford-Thurston-Penner-Kontsevich that a cell complex built from ribbon graphs is homotopy equivalent to the moduli space of curves.
Acellular Scaffold Implantation – No Alternative to Tissue Engineering

Objective Degradation mechanisms of cardiovascular bioprostheses may play an important role in bioartificial implants. The fate of acellular implanted and cellular cardiovascular scaffolds was examined in an in vivo model. Methods Decellularized or native ovine carotid artery (CA, n=42) and aorta (AO, n=42) were implanted subcutaneously into rats for 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Immunohistochemical methods were used to monitor repopulation. Desmin-vimentin, CD31-, CD4- and CD18-antibodies for myocytes, endothelium, and inflammatory cell-infiltration, respectively. Calcification was detected by von-Kossa staining. Cell density was quantified by DNA-isolation. Results Acellular AO and CA matrices showed progressive calcification. Cellular AO and CA matrices trigger a strong inflammatory reaction which subsides after two weeks. CA scaffolds are revascularized progressively, whereas AO biocomposites degenerate. Calcification is less pronounced in cellular AO scaffolds and lacking in CA. Conclusions Acellular bioartificial implants demonstrate degradation mechanisms similar to currently applied cardiovascular bioprostheses. Cellularized viable implants are promising clinical alternatives.
Characteristics of asthma and airway hyper‐responsiveness after premature birth

Asthma‐like symptoms and airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR) are frequently reported in children subsequent to premature birth and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). There is limited knowledge on the mechanisms underlying these respiratory manifestations. Generally, childhood asthma and AHR is described within a context of inheritance, allergy and eosinophilic airway inflammation, and often in relation to cigarette exposures. We investigated these factors in relation to current asthma and AHR in a population‐based cohort of 81 young people, born with gestational age ≤28 wk or birth weight ≤1000 g, and in a matched term‐born control population. In the pre‐term population, asthma and AHR were additionally studied in relation to neonatal respiratory morbidity. At follow up, more pre‐term than control subjects had asthma. Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) was reduced, AHR was substantially increased, and the level of the urinary leukotriene metabolite E4 (U‐LTE4) was increased in the pre‐term population compared to the term‐born. In control subjects, asthma and AHR was associated with a pattern consistent with inheritance, allergy, airway inflammation, and cigarette exposures. In the pre‐terms, asthma and AHR was either unrelated or less related to these factors. Instead, AHR was strongly related to a neonatal history of BPD and prolonged requirement for oxygen treatment. In conclusion, asthma and AHR subsequent to extremely premature birth differed from typical childhood asthma with respect to important features, and AHR was best explained by neonatal variables. These respiratory manifestations thus seem to represent a separate clinical entity.